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Seeking to market its handheld game device to hip city dwellers, Sony has hired graffiti artists in major urban areas to spray-paint buildings with simple, totemic images of kids playing with the gadget. But the guerrilla marketing gambit appears to be drawing scorn from some of the street-savvy hipsters it's striving to win over. Coming on the heels of widely publicized news that Sony music CDs infected customers' computers with security-hole-inducing spyware, the campaign for the PlayStation Portable is being derided on the internet as an attempt to buy the credibility of street art. In San Francisco, critics have expressed their disapproval by adding some spray paint of their own to the Sony ads. On a wall outside a beer garden in San Francisco's bohemian Mission District that caters to motorcyclists and bike messengers, someone spray-painted over every character, adding the commentary, "Advertising directed at your counter-culture." Outside Casa Maria, a small Mission bodega, someone wrote, "Get out of my city," added the word "Fony" to the graffiti and penned a four-line ditty slamming Sony. Other cities targeted in the campaign include New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Miami, according to Sony spokeswoman Molly Smith. The advertising, based on original artwork commissioned by Sony's ad agency, features a collection of dizzy-eyed urban kids playing with the PSP as if it were a skateboard, a paddle or a rocking horse, but doesn't include the word Sony or PSP anywhere. When asked about the criticism, Smith countered that art is subjective and that both the content and the medium dovetailed with Sony's belief that the PSP is a "disrupter product" that lets people play games, surf the internet and watch movies wherever they want. "With PSP being a portable product, our target is what we consider to be urban nomads, people who are on the go constantly," Smith said. Floyd Hayes, the head creative director at Cunning Work, which specializes in nontraditional marketing campaigns such as promoting a Sci-Fi Channel TV show about the Bermuda triangle through reward signs (.jpg) for a missing sock, doesn't disapprove of the campaign, though he thinks the seemingly hypnotized kids in the artwork might send the wrong message about the PSP's thrill factor. But Hayes doesn't think Sony has crossed any lines with the faux street art. "Sony and PSP have every right to use this type of media," Hayes said. "They have done it for (a) very long time very successfully and spoke the language of the streets without being patronizing." Piers Fawkes, who runs the IF blog that focuses on new currents in marketing, also liked the campaign. "It's a cheeky wink toward a savvy audience who are already familiar with the product," Fawkes said. "It's reflective of modern approach to marketing. The creative classes are sick of marketing when done badly or blandly, but when it's done in (an) intelligent manner, we appreciate it." Fawkes questioned whether the backlash was very widespread. "I wonder if that's a San Francisco phenomenon," Fawkes said. "I know there's certain mindset there." Sony isn't the first corporation to use graffiti and stencils to market its products. In 2001, IBM paid Chicago and San Francisco more than $120,000 in fines and clean-up costs after its advertising agency spray-painted Linux advertisements on the cities' sidewalks. Unlike IBM, however, Sony says it's paying businesses and building owners for the right to graffiti their walls. Casa Maria was paid $100 for two weeks' use of its wall, according to co-owner Mario Arana. \|\|\|\|\| 1. Because of it's scale. 2. Because it's Sony. 3. Because of the Internet. Maybe it's just us, but as we start to receive photos from all over the country showing defaced Sony PSP ads, we're starting to think that the SonyPSP "graffiti" campaign may indeed be a watershed moment in the battle between graffiti culture and advertising.Why?With the Sony PSP ads, activists now have possibly hundreds of the same ads from one single campaign in many different cities to deface and to make a statement. To our knowledge, no brand has ever done as many ads like this for one single campaign. Collectively, as more and more of the graffiti ads get defaced, it makes for a very strong statement. Individuals are now joining a collective group.Obviously Sony is not a small company. Their size gives them the resources to pull off this campaign. Because it's Sony, more people will take up the fight to rebel against it (as we're seeing now)The internet brings activists quickly together. The internet assisted in the speed in getting the ads up, and now will assist in the speed of getting them defaced and taken down.Will other brands now think twice before venturing into this area? If the protests continue, then yes, advertisers will think twice between trying to replicate something like this on the scale that Sony attempted.One additional thing to note - it's not just Sony who are under the cross-hairs. Tats Cru seem to also to be under attack.Tats Cru, reveared for their dedication to graffiti culture, is coming under strong fire this time for their participation in creating not only these ads but many other like them .For us, all of this does not have simple black and white answers. To be honest, we go back and forth on this debate. At first we liked the Sony ads a bit. That was until we saw the massive scale of the campaign and the amount of sites that have been hit.The Wired article has set things in motion. Because the Sony campaign is so huge, and because so many people have now joined the fight against it, this may indeed be a moment were the advertisers start to lose and the activists and artists start to win.We'll continue to follow it.	A new advertising campaign in USA for the Sony PSP which looks like graffiti and is often sprayed on previously vandalized walls has come under attack from other graffiti artists. A collective group of graffiti artists and street artists are now banding together, vandalizing the look-alike graffiti advertisements. The campaign has offended a lot of graffiti artists and street artists, drawing responses like "keep your desperate corporate long arm out of a movement that is the only thing that is ours!" But not all the responses have been negative, with many artists defending Sony saying they have the right. Other advertising companies have also voiced their support. "Sony and PSP have every right to use this type of media," Floyd Hayes, the head creative director at Cunning Work told Wired News. "They have done it for (a) very long time very successfully and spoke the language of the streets without being patronizing." Sony says it is paying the building owners like Casa Maria for the right to advertise on their walls. Casa Maria was paid $100 for two weeks' use of its wall, co-owner Mario Arana told Wired News. Tats Cru, the graffiti crew responsible for the designs, have also been targeted with insulting slogans on Sony's advertisements.
Seven Iraqi athletes from five different sports qualified for the Olympics Athletes from Iraq have been banned from taking part at this summer's Beijing Games, the International Olympic Committee has announced. The team was already the subject of an interim ban after the Iraqi government replaced the country's Olympic committee with its own appointees. Under the IOC charter, all committees must be free of political influence. Iraq had been planning to send a team of at least seven athletes to the Olympics which start on 8 August. Two rowers, a weightlifter, a sprinter, a discus thrower, a judoka and an archer were in the frame for the trip to Beijing. "The deadline for taking up places for Beijing for all sports except athletics has now passed," said IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies. "The IOC very sadly has now to acknowledge that it is likely there will be no Iraqi presence at the Beijing Olympic Games, despite our best efforts." She added: "Clearly, we'd very much like to have seen Iraq's athletes in Beijing. "We are very disappointed that the athletes have been so ill-served by their own government's actions." The four Iraqi athletes that qualified could have competed under the Olympic flag BBC Radio 5 Live's Gordon Farquhar Hussein al-Amidi, the general secretary of the Iraqi Olympic Committee, said: "This morning we were informed of the final decision of the International Olympic Committee to suspend the membership of the Iraqi Olympic Committee. "It's a final decision, there is no way to appeal. This means that Iraq will not take part in the coming Olympic games. "It is a blow to Iraq and its international reputation, its athletes and its youth. "I swear those athletes who have been training - they phoned me today and they were crying and were very upset." The Iraq government dissolved the National Olympic Committee in May and the interim IOC ban was put in place on 4 June. Davies added that the Iraqi government had been asked to travel to Switzerland to meet the IOC to discuss possible remedies but failed to do so. The committee which the government dismissed was elected in 2004, in line with the Olympic movement's regulations. The Iraqi government said it took the decision to appoint a new committee because the previous one was corrupt and had not been functioning properly. Ahmad al-Samarra'i, chairman of the committee dismissed by the government, and several other members had previously been abducted by gunmen while attending a meeting in central Baghdad in July 2006. They have not been seen since. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A few months ago, it seemed liked nothing could stop Iraqi sprinter Dana Hussain from representing her country in the upcoming Summer Olympics. Iraqi sprinter Dana Hussain was devastated to learn she could not participate in the Beijing Summer Olympics. Then, the International Olympic Committee banned Iraq from competing because of what it says is the government's political interference in sports. Hussain cried for hours after hearing the news, which arrived in the form of a letter to Iraqi officials. "She hasn't stopped. It's like finding out that a close relative has died," said her coach, Yousif Abdul Rahman. Abdul Rahman attempted to console Hussain by assuring her that she could compete in the 2012 Olympics. Watch Hussain react to the news » "In this horrible situation," she said, "who can say I'll even be alive in 2012?" CNN received a copy of the letter sent to Jassim Mohammed Jaffer, Iraqi minister of youth and sports, and Ali Mohsen Ismail, acting secretary general of the Iraqi general secretariat of the Council of Ministers. "We deeply regret this outcome, which severely harms the Iraqi Olympic and Sports Movement and the Iraqi athletes, but which is unfortunately imposed by the circumstances," said the letter, signed by two IOC officials. Watch an official explain the decision » The move stems from an Iraqi government decision in May to suspend the nation's Olympic Committee and form a temporary committee to handle its duties. The Iraqi government thought the committee had not been operating properly and as a result undermined the sporting movement there. The government said the original committee held meetings without quorums and had officials serving in one-year posts for more than five years. Many of the officials also lived outside Iraq, the government said. iReport.com: See a cartoonist's take on the decision Emmanuelle Moreau, a spokeswoman for the International Olympic Committee, said it suspended Iraq's national Olympic Committee in June after the government removed elected officials and put in people the IOC didn't recognize. She said the IOC proposed to the Iraqi government that officials come to the organization's headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, "to discuss possible solutions." But she said they didn't respond. "We're extremely disappointed with the situation. The athletes have been ill-served by the government in Iraq," she said. Moreau said Iraq missed a Wednesday deadline for the entry of athletes to compete in archery, judo, rowing and weightlifting. She said there is a chance that track and field athletes could compete if the original committee is reinstated. The deadline for the track team to register is at the end of the month. The Games begin August 8. A former official from the disbanded Iraq Olympic Committee said the IOC's decision was justified because the government interfered with the national committee by suspending it. The former official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. He said he believed that the government suspended the committee out of "jealousy." The national committee was making great strides, and the government, namely the Ministry of Youth and Sports, wanted control of it, he said. The seven Iraqi athletes who were to travel to China for the Games' start in August are disappointed by the decision, officials said. They include an archer, a weightlifter, a judoka, two rowers and two sprinters, one of whom is Dana Hussain. Her coach called the decision unfair and said he blames "everyone": the Iraqi government and the Iraqi and International Olympic committees. In the end, Abdul Rahman said, the athletes are paying the price. "It's a shame after all the efforts, ambitions, risks and dangers," he said. "I wish from the bottom of my heart they would reconsider this unjust decision for the sake of the athletes." CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq and Jomana Karadsheh contributed to this report. All About Summer Olympics • Iraq • International Olympic Committee	The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has told the Iraqi Olympic Committee that Iraq can not field a team in the 2008 Summer Olympics, which are due to open in Beijing, China August 8, 2008. The Olympic flag The International Olympic committee said that it took this action "as a consequence of the ongoing political interference by the government within the sports movement in Iraq." The Iraqi government suspended its Olympic Committee, the National Olympic Committee of Iraq, which they viewed as dysfunctional for several reasons, including the holding of illegitimate meetings, having officials serve past their post and living outside of the country. Interference by government is not permitted by the IOC. The government of Iraq has said that the decision undermines the effort athletes put into getting a place in the Iraqi Olympic team. Dana Hussain, one of the sprinters who would have been on the Iraqi team, was reported to be distraught by the decision. According to her coach she was "crying for about two hours." Her coach compared the decision to "finding out that a close relative has died." The deadline to register for five of the seven would-be Iraqi Olympians has passed. However, if the National Olympic Committee of Iraq is reinstated, the possibility exists that its two sprinters may be able to compete, if they register before the track and field deadline at the end of July.
TAYLOR, Mich. (WXYZ) - Taylor police along with friends of the Edwards family fanned out on Telegraph Saturday to collect donations for fallen officer Matthew Edwards. The 31 year-old Corporal was gunned down Friday morning at a Taylor apartment complex as he confronted a man trying to break into an apartment. The fundraiser took place near the intersection of Van Born and Telegraph. Volunteers stood out in traffic to collect money to support Edwards’ widow and two children. One of those who came out to help was Tia Ma, a friend of the Edwards family. She says helping the family in this time of need makes her feel like she’s making a difference. Ma tells Action News Edwards’ wife is staying strong, despite the horrible loss. --- Edwards Responding to What Seemed Like A Routine Call Edwards and his partner arrived at the Coppertree apartments at around 5:30 Friday morning after someone reported seeing a man trying to break into an apartment. Officer Edwards confronted the suspect and he opened fire, hitting Edwards. Edwards' partner fired back as he chased the suspect. Neighbors say they heard 15 to 20 shots. A gun, gloves, wad of cash and a cigarette lighter were found on the driveway near the shooting. Both Edwards and the suspect were taken the hospital. Edwards was pronounced dead. The supect has been identified as 36-year-old Tyress Mathews from Westland. He is being treated in the hospital. Police say his wife lives in the apartment complex, but that it is not known why he would try to break into a unit there. This is the first Taylor officer killed in the line duty in the history of the department. The incident is still under investigation. Police say the home invasion may have actually been a domestic situation. Corporal Edwards has been on the Taylor police force for five years. He was honored as officer of the year by Michigan's Police Officer's Association in 2008. The public can make donations to the “Cpl. Matthew Edwards Memorial Fund” at any branch of PNC Bank. \|\|\|\|\| TAYLOR, Mich. - A local city is mourning the death of a police corporal shot and killed on the job in Taylor. Police say Corporal Matthew Edwards was only 31. He leaves behind a wife and two young children. He was recently honored as "Officer of the Year". Police say Edwards died while responding to a domestic dispute. "We all expect to go home at night to our families... Please pray for Officer Edwards' family... Please pray for the Taylor Police Department and the many officers (that) put their own lives before others," said Taylor Police Cmdr. Dan Crowell. Edwards' partner shot the suspect, who was taken to the hospital and had surgery. We're now learning more about that 36-year-old Westland man suspected of killing Edwards. "I asked him if he was having a great birthday and he told me he was going to call me right back, and I didn't hear back from him," said Kameka Jackson, the suspect's girlfriend. That was Thursday night, the last time Jackson heard from her boyfriend, Tyress Matthews, the man who police say pulled the trigger and killed Edwards. "It's like wow. I just know that I got treated perfectly fine," Jackson said. "I don't understand how it got to this. I really don't." While Jackson thought her boyfriend was celebrating his birthday, police say he was involved in a gun battle that took the life of Edwards. It started around 6:00 a.m. Friday when two Taylor Police officers responded to a 911 call that someone was breaking into the Coppertree Apartments. When they arrived, the officers confronted the suspect they caught going through a window. Turns out it was actually a domestic situation. Witnesses say Edwards was talking to Matthews when Matthews all of a sudden pulled out a gun and started firing at Edwards. Edwards' partner quickly returned fire, shooting Matthews several times. The suspect and police traded more than a dozen gunshots. Matthews survived. Edward did not. The 31-year-old leaves behind a wife and two young children. "It's nothing I can say. I just feel sorry for the family," said Jackson. "I can't glorify anything. I can't justify anything. I can't do that. It wouldn't be in my best interest to do that." Jackson said she had no idea her boyfriend of nearly a year was a career criminal serving 16 of the last 20 years in prison for crimes ranging from fleeing and eluding police to armed robbery and three counts of assault with intent to commit murder. We're told Matthews underwent surgery at Oakwood Hospital and is in stable condition and is expected to survive. He could be arraigned as early as Saturday. Meantime, we're told two memorial funds have been setup for the family of Officer Edwards. Donations can be made to the Cpl. Matthew Edwards Memorial Fund at any PNC Bank branch. A second fund has also been establised at PNC Bank by the Thin Blue Line of Michigan. Donations can also be mailed to Thin Blue Line of Michigan, P.O. Box 415, Howell, Mi 48844. \|\|\|\|\| This page no longer exists We are sorry for the inconvenience, but this page no longer exists. Please try the search bar to find the article that you are looking for. \|\|\|\|\| News >> Browse Articles >> Officer Down News -43 Michigan Officer Killed in Early Morning Shootout Detroit Free Press via YellowBrix July 23, 2010 TAYLOR, MI – A Taylor Police officer caught in a shootout in the parking lot of a Taylor townhouse complex has died and another man remains hospitalized, police confirmed. Taylor Police Lt. Mary Sclabassi confirmed the officer died from wounds suffered in a hail of gunfire around 6 a.m. today at Coppertree Townhomes on Pine Street near Northline and Telegraph roads. She said police weren’t immediately identifying the officer while they notified relatives. Police identified the officer as 31-year-old Matthew Edwards, who leaves behind a wife and two children. Edwards was responding to a report of a nearby breaking and entering when he encountered a male suspect, who opened fire, police said. The officer, fatally wounded, returned fire and struck the suspect, who is now in Oakwood Hospital. Lt. John Blair said Edwards is the first Taylor officer ever to be killed in the line of duty. He described the officer as a veteran of the force. “We lost a real good guy today,” Blair said. “It’s a rough day. There are a lot of long faces around here.” Blair said the other man in the shooting was at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, but his condition wasn’t known. Neighbors said the cop and another man traded gunshots, perhaps more than a dozen, though Taylor Police were not commenting on details of the incident this morning. Several neighbors said the gunshots startled them awake around 6 a.m. Neighbors including Lakesha Campbell, 23, said they saw one young man injured, handcuffed and taken away on a stretcher while another neighbor, Jerome Wadsworth, 21, said he saw an injured police officer put into an ambulance and taken from the shooting scene. “I saw the police officer laying on the ground by his squad car” in the parking lot of the Pine Street complex, said resident Valdez Green, 20. “He was laying out there for about five minutes before backup arrived.” There was no immediate word on the condition of the other man. Michigan State Police and officers from Allen Park and Romulus were assisting Taylor Police at the scene. It’s the same Taylor townhouse complex where two men killed 38-year-old mother Wendy Meinke in summer 2006. Both men, Jujuan Willis and Michael Johnson, are serving time in prison.	City of Taylor, within Wayne County, Michigan A Michigan police officer was shot and killed yesterday in an early-morning exchange of gunfire. Corporal Matthew Edwards, 31, of the Taylor Police Department, was responding to a call about a of a home in an apartment complex on Pine Street near Telegraph and Northline Roads, in , Michigan. After arriving at the scene, the Taylor Police Department say that two of their officers observed a man trying to enter an apartment through a window. While his partner walked towards the building, Edwards approached the suspect and began speaking to him. The suspect pulled out a gun and shot at the officer. Edwards and his partner then opened fire on the suspect, who police say is 36-year-old Tyress Matthews from , which resulted in a volley of bullets being exchanged. Residents told investigators that they heard between 15 and 20 gun shots in the shootout, and saw Edwards lying on the ground near his vehicle and screaming for help for about five minutes. Edwards and Matthews were taken to Oakwood Hospital in , where Edwards was pronounced dead. Matthews underwent surgery, and is reported to have non-life threatening injuries. The second officer was not injured in the incident. The and officers from the nearby cities of and are assisting the Taylor PD in investigating the incident. Taylor police Commander Dan Crowell said while the initial report was of a break-in, it was more likely a domestic disturbance. Matthews has "quite a lengthy criminal history". Residents of the apartment complex say that crime and gunfire is a common occurrence there. "I heard the shots. There were a lot of them," Teresa Webster told the ''''. "They woke me up. But I didn't think much of them because we hear so many gunshots around here. There was a stabbing here about a month ago. And three days ago, I found a body in a car in the parking lot. We thought (a teenaged male in the front seat) was passed out, but he was dead." Another resident, Arthur White, told the Associated Press that drug use and teenage delinquency is common in the complex, while Deborah Brown has decided that the incident today has convinced her to move out, following an increase of criminal behavior in recent weeks. Matthew Edwards, a five-year veteran of the Taylor Police Department, is survived by his wife Shannon and two children, Luke, 8, and Moriah, 6. Before returning to his hometown of Taylor in January 2005, Edwards was with the . He is the first Taylor police officer to be killed in the line of duty since it formed in the 1930s. In 2008, Edwards was named Officer of the Year by the Police Officers Association of Michigan for shooting a drunken knife-wielding man who was attempting to .
Borussia Mönchengladbach on Thursday made official what had been widely anticipated since they sacked Andre Schubert following Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at home to Wolfsburg, confirming that they have appointed Dieter Hecking as their new head coach. A statement posted on the club's official website said the 52-year-old former Wolfsburg, Nuremberg and Hannover coach had signed a contract that runs through June of 2019. "In light of the developments over the last few weeks we decided that we needed to inject fresh impetus into the team. Dieter Hecking is precisely the right man, he is a coach with a lot of experience, who has been successful with various teams at different levels," Gladbach's sporting director, Max Eberl said in the statement. Sacked by rivals Wolfsburg in October Hecking, who began his career as a player at Mönchengladbach, enjoyed his greatest success to date at Wolfsburg, where he took over in late 2012 and led them to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga and victory in the German Cup in 2015. Last season he took the Wolves all the way to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. However, Wolfsburg fired Hecking in mid-October after the team got off to a disappointing start to the current campaign, despite having made significant new signings in the summer, such as Germany striker Mario Gomez. Threat of relegation In Gladbach, Hecking has taken over a team who are in 14th place with 16 points - just three above the relegation playoff spot. Coincidentally, his former team, Wolfsburg, are level with the Foals on points, but just above them in the standings based on goal difference. Schubert, who initially took over Gladbach on an interim basis in September 2015, went on to lead the team into the Champions League group stage, but the Foals' weak start to this Bundesliga campaign made him the seventh coach to lose his job - before this season is even half over. \|\|\|\|\| Borussia Mönchengladbach have relieved head coach Andre Schubert of his duties with immediate effect. Gladbach have only picked up a single win in their last 11 Bundesliga outings, and Tuesday's loss to VfL Wolfsburg leaves them just three points ahead of the relegation playoff spot, ahead of Wednesday night's action. In a statement on the club's website, sporting director Max Eberl said, "we have held a lot of talks in recent days, analysed our on-the-pitch development and discussed a great deal, and together with André we have come to the conclusion that it is better for both sides to call an end to our collaboration." Schubert took over as interim coach from Lucien Favre in September 2015, after Gladbach lost their first five matches of the season. He won his first six games and eventually guided the Foals to fourth place, and a spot in this year's UEFA Champions League. Gladbach added that Schubert's successor would be announced "in due course". .@borussia_en have parted ways with head coach Andre Schubert. Click here for the full story 👉 https://t.co/pv1rqis3nu pic.twitter.com/eWHvJboc5t — Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) December 21, 2016 Click here for more Gladbach club news!	Yesterday, German football club announce their appointment of as manager until 2019. Hecking's predecessor was sacked the day before, after one year of service at . File photo of Dieter Hecking. Mönchengladbach has won only one out of its last eleven Bundesliga matches this season. Schubert began as an interim manager of the first team after resigned from the coach position last September. Schubert led Gladbach to the fourth spot in Bundesliga. Schubert's last match as Gladbach's coach ended in a 2–1 loss against VfL Wolfsburg and they are just three points ahead of the relegation playoff. 52-year-old Dieter Hecking began his coaching career in 2000 with a second tier club . Hecking played most of his professional career matches in . In 2003–04, Hecking guided in semifinal. He helped avoid relegation in 2009–10 and finished sixth in the Bundesliga in the following season. In 2014–15, Hecking won the DFB Pokal and the with Wolfsburg and finished the Bundesliga season as runners-up. They qualified for last season's UEFA Champions League. Hecking was sacked from Wolfsburg in October. Mönchengladbach's sporting director said, . == Sources == * * *
Detailed arguments over spending and tax will continue Labour unveiled a dossier claiming the Tory figures were an "incoherent mess". But the Tories retaliated with their own document saying they had already refuted all the claims. They accused Tony Blair of "losing the plot". The Lib Dems, whose leader Charles Kennedy is celebrating becoming a father, focused on their own tax plans. How do they [the Conservatives] square this economic circle? Tony Blair Analysis: Tory manifesto Fact check: Tory budgets The Tories say they can lower taxes, reduce borrowing and raise public spending in key areas by cutting waste. They brand Labour's attacks as "desperate smears". Shadow Treasury spokesman George Osborne said that tax cuts would be set in motion in the first Budget, if the Tories won the election, but not come into effect until the next financial year. That prompted Gordon Brown to say Tory tax plans were "unravelling". Mr Brown said: "When all plans are taken into account, Mr Letwin has a black hole of £18.9bn in year one, £18.5bn in year two and £14.4bn in year three." The cash gap would require either "huge" spending cuts or increased borrowing - which the Bank of England would have to take into account and put pressure on interest rates. Shadow chancellor Mr Letwin hit back, telling BBC News: "On our spending plans it will be possible for us both to reduce borrowing and avoid the tax rises that are implied by Labour's spending plans after the election and to cut taxes by £4bn." Party savings claims Labour Party plans £21bn efficiency savings 100,000 civil service jobs will be axed or changed Lib Dems say they can reduce spending by £26bn by axing the DTI and other savings Tories plan £35bn in savings 235,000 jobs to go, 91,000 into the private sector 40,000 reduction in recruitment freeze 20,000 voluntary redundancy Kennedy joy at son's birth Mr Letwin said that Labour would have to raise taxes if they were re-elected to cover their commitments. "This election is not about questions of accountancy, whether you can or you can't achieve a particular change in a particular department on a particular timescale. "This election is about a massive question of choice for the British public." The Conservatives also suggested Labour was trying to "cover up" a likely rise in council tax bills in England as a result of property revaluations, which in Wales had led to an average increase of 9%. Labour called the claim "scaremongering" and said Wales was not a precedent for council tax in England. New taxes Lib Dem frontbencher David Laws branded the Conservative plans "unrealistic". He said the Tories were offering only £13.3bn of genuinely new savings - and £5.5bn of those were unachievable. HAVE YOUR SAY What's obvious is the amount of tax we're all paying now - the party that can do something about that will get my vote Barbara, Kent Send your comments Treasury spokesman Vince Cable meanwhile highlighted Lib Dem plans for the economy. He said the 50p tax rate on earnings over £100,000 would fund the scrapping of university tuition fees and the introduction of free personal care for elderly and disabled people. The new tax rate would also help plans to replace council tax with a local income tax. The party says the move would be fairer even though some people would have to pay more. Among the smaller parties, the Greens unveiled their manifesto, claiming to be the only party committed to a more just society with "the planet at its heart". \|\|\|\|\| 4.45pm update As the prime minister and chancellor campaigned together again today, this time in Edinburgh, Labour published an overnight 30-page "demolition job" of Tory figures, claiming that the party was counting savings "from day one" which would take at least two years to kick in, after a Tory election victory. Labour's own manifesto is published tomorrow, and the Tories say there will be an £11bn tax shortfall "black hole" under a third Labour term. Tonight Labour's Alistair Darling lead the attack, saying: "A gaffe-prone Conservative party has failed to clear up the confusion about its tax policy. "This lunchtime, Oliver Letwin suggested that the Tories' tax cuts wouldn't come in until 2007/08, but this morning, shadow chief secretary [to the Treasury] George Osborne said that their tax cuts would come in 2006/07. "And yesterday, David Cameron said that the Conservative party's tax cuts would happen right away - 2005/06. George Osborne, a Tory Treasury spokesman, told Sky today that "the spending savings ... begin on day one", before admitting that they would "take two years to implement", and clarifying that the "programme begins on day one". At this morning's Labour press conference, Mr Brown said an analysis of the Conservatives' manifesto showed they were offering the "extraordinary combination of a black hole and severe public spending cuts". And he warned that if the deficit was met by increased public borrowing, the Bank of England might be forced to increase interest rates. The Liberal Democrats joined in the attack on Tory spending plans. The party's Treasury spokesman David Laws described £8bn of the their projected savings as "unrealistic". Mr Blair, meanwhile, warned: "These proposals are a complete economic mess and that will be an economic risk." The joint performance from Mr Blair and Mr Brown - after five days which has seen the pair constantly together - lasted more than an hour. The Tories were not holding a press conference of their own today, but the shadow chancellor defended his plans on Radio 4 and accused the government of planning tax increases. The Tory party chairman, Liam Fox, later attempted to rebut Labour's "demolition job". He said: "While it is flattering for Labour to spend so much time trying to find a chink in the Conservative economic case, it is astonishing that, after eight years in power, they can think of no better reason for being re-elected than that they are not us." This morning the shadow chancellor, Oliver Letwin, insisted that the independent Institute of Financial Studies was confident of the Tories' ability to find £4bn worth of tax cuts. At Labour's press conference, Mr Brown was pressed by reporters to rule out any tax rises in a Labour third term. He merely said: "No politician has been well served by making absolutist commitments like that", and pointed to John Major's experience of promising increased spending, lower borrowing and tax cuts before the 1992 election. Mr Blair said the relative situation of the Labour and Conservative parties had been reversed from the time in the 1980s when Labour was accused of uncosted spending promises. He added: "The Tories' problem is that they have an unresolved contradiction between those who want to lower public spending and [those] who accept spending increases. That's why they have ended up with this mess. "It's a flimsy manifesto because they haven't decided what they want to be." Mr Blair said the Tories had "no idea" how they would find their promised £869m savings in the immigration service, while looking for an "offshore processing centre" for asylum seekers and also promising a 24-hour border patrol service. Alistair Darling raised laughter by saying that the Tories had promised to find £100m of savings through outsourcing the driving tests assessment centre - something the Tories themselves had already done in 1996. Mr Brown attacked the Tory manifesto - 28 pages long - as a document of "few words, and fewer figures". He said it was "a shopping list of promises that do not and cannot add up". It would, he said, repeat the mistakes of John Major's 1992 government which he said ran up "the biggest deficit in our history".	The Conservative Party manifesto, launched earlier today, has been criticised by opponents as being unrealistic. The pledge of £35 billion of savings from "government slimlining", and subsequent tax cuts, has been attacked by Labour and the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives plan to continue funding front-line services at the current rate by relying on economic growth to make up the difference. Labour described the plans as "a complete economic mess", the current Chancellor, Gordon Brown claiming there would be a shortfall of "£18.9bn in year one, £18.5bn in year two and £14.4bn in year three." Labour leader Tony Blair claimed that the Labour and the Conservatives economic roles had reversed since the 1980s, when many had lost faith in Labour's ability to handle the economy. The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell, claimed that £5.5 to 8 billion of cuts were unrealistic. Labour's manifesto is launched tomorrow, and the Liberal Democrats launch theirs on Thursday. Conservative shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin has already criticised Gordon Brown's budget of March this year, claiming it will create an £11bn shortfall.
UNITED NATIONS: More people in India, the world's second most crowded country, have access to a mobile telephone than to a toilet, according to a new UN study on how to cut the number of people with inadequate sanitation. "It is a tragic irony to think that in India, a country now wealthy enough that roughly half of the people own phones, about half cannot afford the basic necessity and dignity of a toilet," said Zafar Adeel, Director of United Nations University's Institute for Water, Environment and Health (IWEH). India has some 545 million cell phones, enough to serve about 45 per cent of the population, but only about 366 million people or 31 per cent of the population had access to improved sanitation in 2008. The recommendations of United Nations University (UNU) released Wednesday are meant to accelerate the pace towards reaching the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on halving the proportion of people without access to safe water and basic sanitation. If current global trends continue, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) predict there will be a shortfall of 1 billion persons from that sanitation goal by the target date of 2015. "Anyone who shirks the topic as repugnant, minimises it as undignified, or considers unworthy those in need should let others take over for the sake of 1.5 million children and countless others killed each year by contaminated water and unhealthy sanitation," said. Adeel. Among the nine recommendations are the suggestions to adjust the MDG target from a 50 per cent improvement by 2015 to 100 per cent coverage by 2025; and to reassign official development assistance equal to 0.002 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to sanitation. The UNU report cites a rough cost of $300 to build a toilet, including labour, materials and advice. "The world can expect, however, a return of between $3 and $34 for every dollar spent on sanitation, realized through reduced poverty and health costs and higher productivity - an economic and humanitarian opportunity of historic proportions," added Adeel. \|\|\|\|\| India has 545 million working cell phones thanks to its booming emerging economy, a number expected to reach 1 billion by 2015, the UN University said on Wednesday. That number exceeds the number of people who have access to toilet or sanitation facilities - only about 366 million, or 31 percent of the 1-billion strong population. India's number of cell phone users soared in just 10 years, from 0.35 per 100 persons in 2000 to 45 per 100 persons this year. Worldwide, an estimated 1.1 billion people of the world population of 6.7 billion people have no access to toilet facilities. The UN Millennium Development Goals call for access to toilets by all people by 2025, The UN University, a Canada-based think tank, made a study on cell phone users in developing countries to demonstrate that some countries may lag behind in achieving the goal of providing toilets and sanitation for all the world population by 2025. "It is a tragic irony to think that in India, a country now wealthy enough that roughly half of the people own phones, half cannot afford the basic necessity and dignity of a toilet," said Zafar Adeel, a director at the UN University. UN University said it would cost an estimated 358 billion dollars to build toilets for half the world population between now and 2015. Each toilet costs 300 dollars. The World Health Organisation and the UN Children's Fund said programmes to provide toilets have fallen behind schedule worldwide and the 2015 goal may not be reached. \|\|\|\|\| A participant displays cane shoe at a fashion show in Delhi RCB's Owner Vijay Mallya with son Sidharth in Bangalore Preity Zinta during an IPL match in Dharamshala Devotees during a religious procession in Amritsar Jyotiraditya Scindia addressing a rally in Bhopal Children trying to get some respite from heat in Agra An ambulance on the Srinagar-Leh national highway Rafael Nadal during a Tennis tournament in Monaco Girls shield themselves from the heat in Bhopal A lady collecting water from Koel river in Palamau Models at the audition for Chennai Intl Fashion Week	Public toilet in India. According to a United Nations survey, more people in India, the second most populous country in the world, have access to mobile phones than to a proper toilet. Over half a billion cell phones are active in India, but only 366 million people there have access to a toilet. "It is a tragic irony to think that in India, a country now wealthy enough that roughly half of the people own phones, about half cannot afford the basic necessity and dignity of a toilet," commented Zafar Adeel, Director of United Nations University's Institute for Water, Environment and Health (IWEH). India's 545 million cell phones serve about 45 per cent of the population of more than one billion. Only 31 per cent (366 million) have access to modern hygienic amenities as of 2008. The United Nations University (UNU) recommends achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) which aims to cut in half the number of people lacking safe water and proper sanitary arrangements. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), there would be a deficit of one billion people from that target aimed for 2015. "Anyone who shirks the topic as repugnant, minimises it as undignified, or considers unworthy those in need should let others take over for the sake of 1.5 million children and countless others killed each year by contaminated water and unhealthy sanitation," Adeel added. "Popular education about the health dangers of poor sanitation is also needed. But this simple measure could do more to save lives, especially those of young people, improve health and help pull India and other countries in similar circumstances out of poverty than any alternative investment. It can also serve as a very significant boost to the local economy," he said. "The world can expect, however, a return of between $3 and $34 for every dollar spent on sanitation, realized through reduced poverty and health costs and higher productivity — an economic and humanitarian opportunity of historic proportions." The nine recommendations made by the UNU include changing the MDG target from 50 per cent by 2015 to 100 per cent coverage by 2025. Another suggested reform was to assign 0.002 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to improving sanitation. Approximately 358 billion dollars would be required to achieve that MDG target, considering that a toilet costs 300 dollars.
The train hit a number of trees after being derailed, which stopped it from falling into a river below [AFP] The train hit a number of trees after being derailed, which stopped it from falling into a river below [AFP] The accident happened at peak commuter time on Monday morning near the city of Merano, in a mountainous area about 300km north of Venice. A landslide has hit and derailed a passenger train in northern Italy, killing at least nine people and injuring 25, emergency services have said. "There are nine confirmed victims, while 28 people have been injured, seven of them seriously," Luis Durnwalder, governor of the German-speaking Bolzano-Bozen province, told Reuters. Local media reported the front car of the train hit two large trees after the landslide struck, which stopped it from falling into a river below. The carriage was left hanging precariously over the river and firefighters used cables to prevent it from slipping further down the mountainside, the ANSA news agency said. The railway line in the province of Bolzano, inaugurated in 2005, is considered one of the most modern tracks in the country. Thomas Widmann, a transport adviser to the local provincial government, told Sky Italia television that the landslide appeared to have been caused by a burst irrigation pipe. Monday's accident was the worst in Europe since a Belgian train crash in February in which 18 people died when two rush-hour commuter trains collided outside Brussels. Italy suffered its worst rail accident in 20 years last June, with 29 people killed when a freight train ferrying liquefied petroleum gas derailed in Viareggio, on Italy's north-west coast, causing a series of explosions. \|\|\|\|\| Landslide derails train in northern Italy, 9 dead ROME — A cascade of rocks and debris slammed onto a small commuter train traveling through the Italian Alps, causing it to derail and killing at least nine people while injuring another 30 aboard. The wreckage — still atop the tracks in a mountain valley near the Austrian border — was mired in mud from the landslide unleashed by a burst irrigation pipe, officials said. One of the two train cars was destroyed, its windows shattered, ANSA news agency reported, adding that about 40 people had been on board at the time of the accident. Irene Hell, an official with the fire department in Bolanzo, the Alpine region's largest city, said nine people were killed. Initially fire officials had reported 11 dead, but Hell said that was due to confusion in the first hours after the tragedy. Sky TV, reporting from the hamlet of Castelbello, near the accident scene, quoted authorities as saying three persons were believed to be missing. Giuseppe Marazzi of the local firefighters said seven of the injured were hospitalized in serious condition. "The landslide occurred at the very passage of the train," Thomas Widmann, a transport official in nearby Bolzano city, told Sky Italia. "It hit the train." He said the burst pipe had triggered the rock fall onto the train around 9:30 a.m. (0730GMT, 3:30 a.m. EDT). Temperatures were too high to freeze the water in the pipe; authorities said they were investigating why it had burst. The train had been nearing its destination of Merano, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Venice, after departing from the small town of Malles. Helicopters, ambulances and firefighters rushed to the scene. Rescuers with shovels were digging in the mud, while a huge crane was on site to remove the wreckage, ANSA said. Trees had prevented the destroyed train car from plunging into a river. The train line runs between the Adige river and mountains. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement A landslide has derailed a train in north-eastern Italy, killing at least nine people and injuring about 30, Italian media say. Monday's accident occurred in a valley near the winter sports town of Merano, close to the Austrian border. Trees prevented the train plunging into a river, and firefighters are said to have used cables to secure the wagons. Officials say the landslide may have been caused by a leaking water pipe further up the hillside. An investigation is under way. The accident took place at around 0900 (0700 GMT) on the line from Castelbello to Laces, not far from the city of Bolzano. It is now only a few trees that are holding up the train and preventing it falling into the river Eyewitness Alex Rowbotham Watching the rescue effort In pictures: Italy derailment The authorities say the mass of water, mud and rock came without warning, burying the regional train as it passed through the alpine valley, the BBC's Bethany Bell reports from the scene. The death toll had been put at 11, although this was later revised down to nine because of what provincial governor Luis Durnwalder said was a "counting error". But he warned Ansa news agency that the toll was not final as "there could still be someone buried in the mud". The train driver is understood to be among the dead. The most seriously injured have been taken by helicopter to nearby hospitals. Rescuers dug frantically with shovels and pickaxes in at least one mud-filled carriage to try to reach the victims, Ansa reported. Eyewitness Alex Rowbotham told the BBC: "The front of the train, the cab, is not there at all and the train is hanging off the rails about five metres from the river. "It is now only a few trees that are holding up the train and preventing it falling into the river." He said the train was on the other side of the Adige river to the main road, and it appeared as if rescuers were building a pontoon across the river to enable them to carry across necessary equipment. Thomas Widmann, transport adviser to the Bolzano provincial government, told Sky Italia that the landslide appeared to have been caused by an irrigation pipe that burst, piling rocks, debris and water on to the oncoming train. The railway line, inaugurated in 2005, is one of the most modern in the country, Ansa said. It runs at the foot of an alpine valley with mountains towering up to 3,000m (9,850ft) above. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	At least nine people have died in northern Italy after a landslide caused the derailment of a passenger train. A further 25 people were injured, according to emergency services. The incident occurred earlier this morning near the border with Austria, in a mountainous region near Merano, a city around 300 kilometres north of Venice. "There are nine confirmed victims, while 28 people have been injured, seven of them seriously," reported the governor of the Bolzano-Bozen province, Luis Durnwalder, to the Reuters news service. Initially, eleven people were reported dead, due to what the governor described as a "counting error". However, he noted that "there could still be someone buried in the mud", so the death count is not yet final. According to the ANSA news agency, the train had about forty passengers on board when it derailed. Sky TV, meanwhile, quoted officials as saying that three people are reported to be missing. The authorities say the landslide was due to a broken irrigation pipe, which caused rocks to fall onto the tracks below. Authorities say they are looking into why the pipe burst. The trains front car hit two trees upon derailment, local media says, which prevented it from dropping off into a river below. The carriage, however, was hanging over the river, and firefighters had to use cables to stop it from falling any more. A crane was also dispatched the scene to help clean up debris, ANSA reported. "The train is hanging off the rails about five meters from the river. It is now only a few trees that are holding up the train and preventing it falling into the river," said a witness, Alex Rowbotham, to the BBC. "... The landslide occurred at the very passage of the train. It hit the train," said Thomas Widmann, a transport official for the city of Bolanzo. The crash was the deadliest in Europe since February, when eighteen people died after two commuter trains ran into each other near Brussels, Belgium. Italy saw its worse rail crash two decades ago, when 29 people died following the derailment of a freight train carrying petroleum gas, resulting in several explosions.
ASUNCION, Paraguay -- The father-and-son owners of a Paraguayan supermarket swept by a huge blaze in 2004 that left at least 374 dead were convicted of manslaughter and handed prison terms of 12 and 10 years respectively, a court announced Saturday. Relatives protested outside the court complex that the sentences were too light, insisting the pair get the maximum 25-year sentence for Paraguay's deadliest fire in modern history. "Assassins! Assassins!" chanted a crowd of hundreds that marched to the court complex after the sentences were announced against businessman Juan Pio Paiva, 64, and his son Daniel Paiva, 40. German Torres, president of a three-judge tribunal, announced the ruling Saturday and said the panel also found the pair guilty of exposing people to danger. The Aug. 1, 2004, blaze claimed 432 lives, most by asphyxiation, as thick smoke swept through a Ycua Bolanos supermarket in the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion. Some 2,000 people were in the packed building, many of them families with young children, when the fire broke out, and prosecutors argued that doors were deliberately ordered shut to prevent looting, trapping many. A private security guard whom prosecutors accused of blocking exits was given a 5-year sentence for negligence, Torres said. Torres said three business associates of Paiva were cleared of any blame, saying they did not have operational responsibilities for the supermarket. In 2006, furious relatives and friends of the victims rampaged through a court room and rioted in the streets when court panel announced it was divided 2-1 in favor of lighter charges but was unable to read its verdict because of the disturbances. Police reported no violence during Saturday's protest march, but some 10 women who lost children or husbands in the inferno fainted in the subtropical heat and were assisted by paramedics. The court cited the elder Paiva for neglecting the overall safety of the public as chief owner of the property, and his son was singled out as responsible for the food court area - where experts believe flames began in inadequately maintained equipment. Beyond 374 confirmed deaths, 450 others were injured and authorities said they still have not confirmed the deaths of nine others whose bodies may have been incinerated by the high heat as the fire raged out of control. "This kind of justice is injustice!" shouted one irate demonstrator, Lys Torres, leader of a group of victims' relatives. She vowed to fight through subsequent appeals court processes for longer prison sentences. The burned-out supermarket in downtown Asuncion remains shuttered, scrawled with messages and tributes left to dead loved ones. \|\|\|\|\| Families set up chairs near the court in memory of the deceased Judges found Juan Pio Paiva guilty of manslaughter, but rejected calls for a harsher sentence over the 2004 blaze. His son Daniel was jailed for 10 years and security guard Daniel Areco for five over the fire which injured 400. Relatives have accused Mr Paiva of blocking people's escape by locking the stores' doors to prevent looting. The first trial on the fire, held in 2006, was annulled by the Supreme Court after thousands of people rioted, believing the original verdict to be too lenient. Lacking safety features But families of the victims have complained that the new prison terms are still too lenient. Hundreds of people protested outside the court calling for the defendants to be given the maximum sentence of 25 years. Three shareholders were acquitted. Several hundred people were inside when the fire broke out The fire began in a chimney that an investigation found had been badly built and badly maintained. The shop was also found to have lacked an effective fire detection system or proper emergency exits. The defendants were charged with negligent homicide and endangering people in the workplace. The court blamed them for chaining shut the doors of the Ycua Bolanos store in Asuncion after the fire had started. During the trial the defendants said they had closed down the supermarket because they feared those inside would start looting, AFP news agency reported. It was the worst fire in Paraguayan history. \|\|\|\|\| Relatives set out white plastic chairs to commemorate each of the victims of the fire [AFP] The owners of a Paraguay supermarket have been jailed for up to 12 years after being convicted of the manslaughter of at least 374 people in a fire. The court blamed Juan Pio Pavia, his son Victor Daniel Pavia and private security guard Daniel Areco for chaining shut the exits of the Ycua Bolanos supermarket after the blaze started. Relatives of the victims protested outside the court on Saturday, complaining that the sentences were too lenient. "Its an outrage. They're responsible for the death of 400 people and they've been given ridiculous sentences," Liz Torres, a spokeswoman for a victims' organisation, said. Victims' families set up 400 white chairs in a main street near the court in memory of the deceased, and hung signs that warned: "If there is no justice, the people will rise up." Edgar Sanchez, the chief prosecutor, said he was satisfied with the outcome, despite having asked for 25 year terms for the three men. "My conscience is clear. I've done my job," he said. Asphyxiation Most of the almost 400 victims died from asphyxiation as thick smoke spread through the supermarket in the capital Asuncion. "This shows that in this country, people with money can kill with impunity" Bersabe Meza, who lost her husband in the fire The court criticised the elder Paiva for neglecting the overall safety of the public as chief owner of the property, and his son was singled out as responsible for the food court area where experts believe that the flames began due to inadequately maintained equipment. marketing The defendants will remain free until their appeals are completed. "This shows that in this country, people with money can kill with impunity," Bersabe Meza, who lost her husband in the fire, said. An earlier trial that ended in December 2006 with five-year-prison sentences for each of the defendants was annulled by the supreme court because the uproar of the outraged victims' families cut short the reading out of the sentences. Recommend this article... Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto: Tags: Tags: Paraguay	A court in Paraguay has completed its trial over the worst fire disaster the country has ever seen. The Ycuá Bolaños supermarket fire in Asunción left 374 dead, 450 others injured and nine missing, presumed dead. Store owner Juan Pio Paiva, 64, received 12 years imprisonment whilst his son Daniel Paiva, 40, was given 10 years. A security guard, Daniel Areco, was given a five-year sentence while three business associates of the Paivas were cleared of any criminal activity. 2,000 people were in the store when fire broke out on August 1, 2004, including many families with young children. Fire doors were shut to prevent looting, worsening the situation. The investigation found that flames broke out in a badly built chimney because of inadequately maintained equipment. A lack of fire escapes, fire detection system and fire suppression system all contributed to the disaster. Most of the deaths were caused by asphyxiation due to the smoke. The nine missing bodies are believed to have been completely destroyed by the extreme temperature. Paiva senior was convicted on the basis that as the owner and chief administrator of the business, including the building, he was responsible for overall safety. His son was responsible for the food court area, the site where the blaze started. The security guard was convicted for blocking the exits, although he was acting on senior orders. The three other businessmen were acquitted as they were not involved in the administration of the store. The Paivas were both convicted of manslaughter and exposing people to danger within the workplace. Areco was found guilty of negligence. The three judge tribunal was headed by German Torres. It replaced an earlier trial in 2006, when the court announced that it was 2-1 in favour of more lenient sentences, but got no further as friends and relatives stormed the courtroom and rioted in the streets outside. The court had been going to hand out five-year sentences to the Paivas. A peaceful protest was also held at yesterday's verdict, with demonstrators shouting "Assassins! Assassins!" and "This kind of justice is injustice!" Ten women who lost relatives fainted in the heat and were hospitalised. The protestors were pressing for those involved to receive the maximum possible sentence of 25 years. One, Lys Torres, vowed to use the appeals courts to press for tougher sentences. "Its an outrage. They're responsible for the death of 400 people and they've been given ridiculous sentences," said Lys, who is a spokeswoman for the relatives and survivors group. "This shows that in this country, people with money can kill with impunity," Bersabe Meza, who lost her husband in the fire, said. Chief prosecuter Edgar Sanchez, who had also requested maximum sentences, said "My conscience is clear. I've done my job."Meanwhile, relatives laid out a white plastic chair in the streets for each of those killed, adorned with signs bearing such notices as "If there is no justice, the people will rise up." The ruined store remains standing, graffitied and adorned in tribute to those who died.
North Korea has fired artillery shots near the disputed sea border with South Korea and the South has returned fire, according to Yonhap news agency. It said the North fired several shells into the sea near the South Korean-controlled Baengnyeong Island off the countries' western coast. On Tuesday, North Korea declared a no-sail zone in waters off its coast, media reports say. South Korea officials said the exchange caused no casualties or damage. The North fired into waters near the border just after 0900 local time (0000 GMT), a spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP. "Our military immediately fired back in response," a Seoul presidential official told the news agency on condition of anonymity. Constant tension The official said the North's artillery rounds landed north of the sea border, while Seoul's forces fired at the rounds while they were in the air, AFP reports. The western sea border is a constant source of military tension between the two Koreas. There have been three deadly exchanges between the two Koreas along the sea border in the past decade. In the most recent incident, last November, their navies fought a brief gun battle that left one North Korean sailor dead and three others wounded. South Korea recognises the Northern Limit Line, drawn unilaterally by the US-led United Nations Command at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, which has never been accepted by North Korea. Talks off Recent talks between the two Koreas about their jointly-run Kaesong industrial estate closed without agreement on 21 January. The attempt at dialogue took place amid fresh tensions apparently provoked by a South Korean think tank's analysis of a likely military coup or mass uprising in the North when the North's leader Kim Jong-il dies. North Korea did recently accept a small amount of aid from South Korea however. The US, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea speak regularly of their hopes that North Korea will rejoin international talks about ending its nuclear programme. \|\|\|\|\| North And South Korea In Sea Border Clash Peter Sharp, Asia correspondent North and South Korea have exchanged fire near a disputed sea border off the west coast of the peninsula. To view this content you need Flash and Javascript enabled in your browser. Please download Flash from the Adobe download website. North Korean artillery fired around 30 rounds into the sea and the South responded with 100 shots from an island near the sea border. There were no injuries and no naval vessels were said to have been involved. A South Korean spokesman told the AFP news agency: "When the north fired, some 20 to 30 columns of water shot up into the sky." The western coastal waters have been the scene of bloody naval exchanges in the past. In November, a North Korean sailor was killed and a South Korean vessel badly shot up when both sides clashed in the disputed waters. Sea borders are disputed The latest incident came two days after North Korea declared two "no sail" zones in the area, leading to fears that the Pyongyang regime was preparing to test-fire another short-range missile in the area. Last month, the communist North warned South Korean shipping to avoid the coastal area, saying its artillery would stage "live fire" exercises in response to "reckless military provocations" from the South. "North Korea will likely continue such low intensity military provocations like this in the next few months," said Baek Seung Joo, of the Korea Institute for Defence Analyses. "But it is unlikely to take things to the extreme as it in general wants to maintain economic cooperation with South Korea. And its ships are out-gunned by the South." The sea border was drawn up by the United Nations Command at the end of the Korea War in 1953 and has long been a source of tension between the two countries.	The (disputed) sea line between North and South Korea. North Korea and South Korea have exchanged fire near the disputed sea-border between the countries. There are no reports of casualties. North Korea fired approximately thirty artillery shells into the water on their side of the border, near South Korea's Baengnyeong Island at 0900 local time (0000 UTC). The South retaliated with around 100 shots. According to the North, it took place as part of an annual drill. The Korean Central News Agency said that the exercise "will go on in the same waters in the future". South Korea maintains that it responded by firing at the North's shells. Later reports from the South said that North Korea fired more shells in the general direction of the disputed border some hours after the initial exchange. This latest incident comes after North Korea declared a 'no-sail' zone off its coastal waters yesterday. It is not the first skirmish around the Military Demarcation Line – the most recent was in November 2009, when a North Korean vessel took "considerable damage" after allegedly crossing the border.
The Associated Press FRESNO, Calif. — Investigators were mystified Wednesday as to why an 11-year-old boy was behind the wheel when the car ran a stop sign and crashed into another vehicle, killing him, his mother and younger sister. California Highway Patrol Officer Stefanie Buck said investigators have not yet been able to interview the car's lone survivor to determine why sixth-grader Jose Manuel Silva Covarrubias was driving. "For whatever reason the 11-year-old didn't stop at the stop sign, and drove the Honda into the path of the Ford," Buck said. "It's a tragedy any way you look at it." His sister, Elizabeth Silva Covarrubias, 6, and their mother, Maria Covarrubias, 30, both of Woodville, were also killed in the accident. Neither the mother nor daughter was wearing a seatbelt, and both were ejected from the back seat. A family friend, Froylon Gonzalez, was sent to a Fresno hospital with life-threatening injuries. Gonzalez, 34, of Woodville, was wearing his seat belt in the passenger seat when the crash happened at a rural intersection. Felipe Zamora Gonzalez, the man's brother, said the family was returning from Jose's soccer team practice, and added that he had never seen Jose drive before. Investigators said the boy was driving a 1993 Honda when he ran a stop sign and was hit broadside. The driver of that vehicle, Charles Seguin, 44, of Porterville, sustained minor injuries. It does not appear drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash, nor did the winter fog typical of the area obscure the view, Buck said. The accident happened at a rural intersection outside Porterville, which is about 70 miles southeast of Fresno. Dondreia Bradley, the superintendent of Woodville Union School District said she was "stunned" to hear that Jose had been behind the wheel. He came from "a wonderful family" with a supportive mother, she said. ___ January 13, 2010 07:35 PM EST Copyright 2010, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| AP Investigators are trying to determine why an 11-year-old boy was driving a car that ran a stop sign in California and crashed into another vehicle, leaving him and two others dead. The collision killed Jose Manuel Silva Covarrubias, his mother, Maria Silva, and six-year-old sister, Elizabeth Silva Covarrubias. California Highway Patrol investigators have not been able to interview the car's lone survivor to determine why the boy was driving on Tuesday night. Family friend Froylon Gonzalez remains in critical condition. Investigators say Jose was driving the 1993 Honda when he ran a stop sign in Tulare County and was hit broadside. The driver of that vehicle had minor injuries. \|\|\|\|\| The 11-year-old driver of a 1993 Honda was among three Woodville residents killed Tuesday evening in a two-vehicle crash near Porterville. Also killed were the driver's mother and 6-year-old sister. The crash occurred around 7:30 p.m., the California Highway Patrol reported. The Honda was eastbound on Avenue 168 when the young driver failed to stop at the Road 152 intersection, officials said. The Honda was struck by a southbound 1999 Ford. The 11-year-old was identified as Jose Manuel Silva Covarrubias. Maria Silva, his mother, and Elizabeth Silva Covarrubias, his younger sister, were ejected from the Honda and found in a nearby walnut orchard, the CHP reported. "For whatever reason, the 11-year-old didn't stop at the stop sign and drove the Honda into the path of the Ford," California Highway Patrol Officer Stefanie Buck said. "It's a tragedy any way you look at it." Another passenger, Froylon Gonzalez, 34, was flown to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno with life-threatening injuries. He was in critical condition late Wednesday. Felipe Zamora Gonzalez, the survivor's brother, said the family was returning from Jose's soccer-team practice when the crash occurred. He said he'd never seen the boy drive before. Investigators had not yet interviewed Felipe Gonzalez on Wednesday afternoon to learn why the sixth-grader was driving, Buck said. Winter fog typical of the area did not appear to be a factor in the crash, Buck said. Dondreia Bradley, superintendent of Woodville Union School District, said she was "stunned" to hear that Jose had been behind the wheel. He came from "a wonderful family," with a supportive mother, she said. The driver of the Ford, Charles Seguin of Porterville, was treated at the scene and released. The Associated Press contributed to this story.	A Honda, with eleven-year-old Jose Covarrubias behind the wheel, ran a stop sign in Porterville, California colliding with a Ford around 7:30 P.M. The eastbound 1993 Honda was sideswiped from the driver's side by a southbound 1999 Ford, killing Jose. His sister, 6-year-old Elizabeth Covarrubias, and mother, Maria Covarrubias, were killed when they ejected, as they were not wearing seatbelts. Family friend Froylon Gonzalez was sent to the hospital with serious injuries, and the driver of the Ford, Charles Seguin, sustained minor injuries. Felipe Gonzalez, Froylon's brother, said the family was returning from Jose's soccer team practice. He also added that he had never seen Jose drive before. Gonzales was the lone survivor of the Honda and has not yet been interviewed. The accident occurred at a rural intersection and it did not appear to law enforcement that drugs, alcohol, or weather were a factor in the collision. The bodies will be buried in Mexico near where the father lives.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 14 - In a victory for city officials here, a state judge ruled on Monday that California's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, overturning a statewide proposition passed in 2000 that defined marriage as between a man and woman. In a tentative ruling, the judge, Richard A. Kramer of San Francisco County Superior Court, said "the denial of marriage to same-sex couples appears impermissibly arbitrary," thus violating the equal protection clause of the state's Constitution. The ruling will not be made final until the judge meets with the various parties to the litigation on March 30. While welcoming the decision, which came in a lawsuit filed by the city against the state, Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco said it was "only the beginning" of a long legal battle that would probably be decided by the California Supreme Court. Mr. Newsom said marriage licenses would not be offered to same-sex couples in San Francisco while the litigation was pending. "We will continue to respect the decisions of the court," Mr. Newsom said. Even so, celebrations erupted at City Hall, as same-sex couples crowded into a news conference held by Mr. Newsom and other city officials, and gay and lesbian leaders said there would be revelry throughout the evening in the Castro, the city's best-known gay district. Marches and rallies were announced in at least a dozen other cities across the state. \|\|\|\|\| Gay and lesbian couples in California have a constitutional right to marry, a San Francisco Superior Court judge ruled Monday. The ruling by Judge Richard Kramer is just the first step in a case that is headed for the state Supreme Court, probably sometime next year. But it marks the first time that a California judge has declared unconstitutional the state law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. "I never thought I would see it in my lifetime," a jubilant Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said outside the courthouse. "It's an amazing day for justice, an amazing day for lesbian and gay families." The ruling comes more than a year after about 4,000 same-sex couples exchanged marriage vows at San Francisco City Hall after Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered that the city clerk issue them marriage licenses. The state Supreme Court declared the marriages invalid last August and ruled that Newsom had exceeded his authority in giving the marriages the go-ahead. Monday's ruling did not revive those marriages but - if it stands - will allow same-sex couples to marry in the future. Currently, only Massachusetts allows same-sex couples to wed. A trial judge in New York has ruled that state's same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional. That decision is on appeal, and a decision on same-sex marriage is pending in Washington state. In his 27-page decision, Kramer - an appointee of former Gov. Pete Wilson, a Republican - said the state's ban on same-sex marriage violates "the basic human right to marry the person of one's choice," and has no rational justification. Rejecting California Attorney General Bill Lockyer's argument that California is entitled to maintain the traditional definition of marriage, Kramer said the same explanation was offered for the state's ban on interracial marriage, which was struck down by the state Supreme Court in 1948. The judge also rejected arguments by opponents of same-sex marriage that the current law promotes procreation and child-rearing by a husband and wife. "One does not have to be married in order to procreate, nor does one have to procreate in order to marry," Kramer said. E-mail Bob Egelko at begelko@sfchronicle.com	Superior Court Judge Richard A. Kramer struck down two California laws that limited marriage in the state to a union of opposite-sex couples. The ruling came one year after San Francisco made worldwide headlines when it opened its city hall to same-sex weddings over Valentine's Day weekend through March 11 2004. Kramer said the two California laws violated the state's constitutional guarantees of privacy and a legal concept called due process - which tries to ensure each person is treated equally by the law. "The denial of marriage to same-sex couples appears impermissibly arbitrary," Kramer wrote in the opinion released Monday. In his decision, Kramer cited United States Supreme Court case law ranging from ''Brown v. Board of Education'' to ''Lawrence v. Texas'' in a step-by-step dismantling of legal arguments against same-sex marriage. Including the following excerpts: '''Traditional definition of marriage:''' "Same-sex marriage cannot be prohibited solely because California has always done so before." '''With California's domestic partner laws, gays don't need marriage:''' "That California has granted marriage-like rights to same-sex couples points to the conclusion that there is no rational state interest in denying them the rites of marriage as well." *'''The purpose of marriage is procreation:''' "The obvious natural and social reality is that one does not have to be married to procreate, nor does one have to procreate in order to be married." Kramer, a Catholic Republican Judge appointed by Pete Wilson, California's previous conservative governor, issued a "stay" on his order, making it a tentative decision by delaying its implementation for 60 days to allow the same-sex marriage opponents time to file an appeal to his ruling. The case is widely expected to be brought before the California Supreme Court. Less than a year ago, the state's Supreme Court annulled more than 4,000 same-sex marriages which took place in San Francisco County in 2004. The court did not rule on the constitutionality of same-sex marriages, but ruled more narrowly that San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom overstepped his authority by unilaterally deciding not to follow state laws he did not agree with instead of challenging the laws in court, which is the proper legal way to overturn or affirm laws in California and much of the United States.
Contador sweeps past the Arc de Triomphe on his way to victory The Discovery Channel rider maintained his 23-second lead over Australian Cadel Evans, with American team-mate Levi Leipheimer taking third place. Italy's Daniele Bennati took victory on the final stage into Paris. The race was marred by several positive doping tests as well as the sacking of race leader Michael Rasmussen. The Dane seemed destined for victory after dominating in the mountains but was sent home by his Rabobank team for lying about his whereabouts in the build-up to the race. Pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov was dumped out of the Tour after testing positive for blood doping following two stage wins in three days while Cristian Moreni and Patrik Sinkewitz also failed drugs tests. 606: DEBATE The 24-year-old Contador is the youngest winner since Jan Ullrich in 1997 and the first Spanish victor since Miguel Indurain in 1995. His margin of victory was also the narrowest since Greg Lemond beat Laurent Fignon by eight seconds in 1989. "There were hard times," said Contador, who was riding in only his seond Tour de France after finishing 31st in 2005. "Saturday's time trial was very hard. I had to fight but it was worth it, it's marvellous." Belgian Tom Boonen won the green jersey for the most consistent finisher, while Colombian Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez won the polka dot jersey as the king of the mountains. Contador's triumph is all the more remarkable given he spent 10 days in a coma in 2002 after suffering swelling to the brain following a crash in the Tour of Asturias. I think we've seen the future of Spanish cycling and perhaps international cycling Lance Armstrong "It really marked me for life," said Contador, reflecting on the illness. "But it allows me to better savour this moment." Seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong was in Paris to see Contador triumph, and he said: "I think we've seen the future of Spanish cycling and perhaps international cycling." Mayor of London Ken Livingstone was on the winner's podium as Contador was presented with the yellow jersey. Charles Wegelius was the highest-placed British finisher in 45th position, with David Millar 69th and Geraint Thomas, the youngest rider in the race, 140th on his Tour debut. Over a million people lined the streets of London when the Tour de France started there three weeks ago. Stage 20 result 1 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre 3hr 51 mins 03 secs 2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole ) " 3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram " 4 Robert Hunter (SA) Barloworld " 5 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step ) " 6 Sebastien Chavanel (Fra) Francaise des Jeux " 7 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC " 8 David Millar (GB) Saunier Duval " 9 Robert Foerster (Ger) Gerolsteiner " 10 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas " Selected others 114 Charles Wegelius (GB) Liquigas +15secs 133 Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld +51 sec Final overall standings 1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel 91hr 26 sec 2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto +23 sec 3 Levi Leipheimer (US) Discovery Channel +31 4 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC +7:08 5 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel +8:17 6 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne +11:37 7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile +12:18 8 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel +12:25 9 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel +14:14 10 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne +14:25 Selected others 45 Charles Wegelius (GB) Liquigas +1hr 46min 25sec 69 David Millar (GB) Saunier Duval-Prodirr +2:32.07 140 Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld +3:46.51 Green jersey (Sprinters) standings 1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step ) 256 points 2 Robert Hunter (SA) Barloworld 234 3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram 232 Polka dot jersey (King of the Mountains) standings 1 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 206 points 2 Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel 128 3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 105 White jersey (Best youth) standings 1 Alberto Contador (Spa) 91hr 26 sec 2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld +16:51 sec 3 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel +49:34 \|\|\|\|\| Contador sweeps past the Arc de Triomphe on his way to victory The Discovery Channel rider maintained his 23-second lead over Australian Cadel Evans, with American team-mate Levi Leipheimer taking third place. Italy's Daniele Bennati took victory on the final stage into Paris. The race was marred by several positive doping tests as well as the sacking of race leader Michael Rasmussen. The Dane seemed destined for victory after dominating in the mountains but was sent home by his Rabobank team for lying about his whereabouts in the build-up to the race. Pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov was dumped out of the Tour after testing positive for blood doping following two stage wins in three days while Cristian Moreni and Patrik Sinkewitz also failed drugs tests. 606: DEBATE The 24-year-old Contador is the youngest winner since Jan Ullrich in 1997 and the first Spanish victor since Miguel Indurain in 1995. His margin of victory was also the narrowest since Greg Lemond beat Laurent Fignon by eight seconds in 1989. "There were hard times," said Contador, who was riding in only his seond Tour de France after finishing 31st in 2005. "Saturday's time trial was very hard. I had to fight but it was worth it, it's marvellous." Belgian Tom Boonen won the green jersey for the most consistent finisher, while Colombian Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez won the polka dot jersey as the king of the mountains. Contador's triumph is all the more remarkable given he spent 10 days in a coma in 2002 after suffering swelling to the brain following a crash in the Tour of Asturias. I think we've seen the future of Spanish cycling and perhaps international cycling Lance Armstrong "It really marked me for life," said Contador, reflecting on the illness. "But it allows me to better savour this moment." Seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong was in Paris to see Contador triumph, and he said: "I think we've seen the future of Spanish cycling and perhaps international cycling." Mayor of London Ken Livingstone was on the winner's podium as Contador was presented with the yellow jersey. Charles Wegelius was the highest-placed British finisher in 45th position, with David Millar 69th and Geraint Thomas, the youngest rider in the race, 140th on his Tour debut. Over a million people lined the streets of London when the Tour de France started there three weeks ago. Stage 20 result 1 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre 3hr 51 mins 03 secs 2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole ) " 3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram " 4 Robert Hunter (SA) Barloworld " 5 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step ) " 6 Sebastien Chavanel (Fra) Francaise des Jeux " 7 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC " 8 David Millar (GB) Saunier Duval " 9 Robert Foerster (Ger) Gerolsteiner " 10 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas " Selected others 114 Charles Wegelius (GB) Liquigas +15secs 133 Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld +51 sec Final overall standings 1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel 91hr 26 sec 2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto +23 sec 3 Levi Leipheimer (US) Discovery Channel +31 4 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC +7:08 5 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel +8:17 6 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne +11:37 7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile +12:18 8 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel +12:25 9 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel +14:14 10 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne +14:25 Selected others 45 Charles Wegelius (GB) Liquigas +1hr 46min 25sec 69 David Millar (GB) Saunier Duval-Prodirr +2:32.07 140 Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld +3:46.51 Green jersey (Sprinters) standings 1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step ) 256 points 2 Robert Hunter (SA) Barloworld 234 3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram 232 Polka dot jersey (King of the Mountains) standings 1 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 206 points 2 Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel 128 3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 105 White jersey (Best youth) standings 1 Alberto Contador (Spa) 91hr 26 sec 2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld +16:51 sec 3 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel +49:34	__noTOC__ Albi, France during stage 13. Alberto Contador of Spain has won the 2007 Tour de France general classification. He won by 23 seconds over Cadel Evans of Australia. Third place went Contador's team mate Levi Leipheimer of United States, 31 seconds behind. As a young rider, Contador also gets the white jersey to go with his yellow. Tom Boonen of Belgium wins the green jersey points classification over Robert Hunter and Erik Zabel. Mauricio Soler of Colombia wins the King of the Mountains classification over Contador and Yaroslav Popovych. Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team won the team competition over Caisse d'Epargne by 19' 36" and Team CSC by 22' 10'. Daniele Bennati of Italy won the final stage 20 in a time of 3h 51' 03". The final 146 km stage saw the riders leave from Marcoussis to enter to complete the eight laps of the traditional circuit around the Champs-Élysées. George Hincapie was given the honor of leading his team and the peloton onto the Champs-Élysées, as he has now guided team mates to victory a record eight times.
South Pole Telescope To Help Astrophysicists Learn What Universe Is Made Of by Staff Writers Antarctica (SPX) Feb 28, 2007 Scientists aimed the South Pole Telescope at Jupiter on the evening of Feb. 16 and successfully collected the instrument's first test observations. Soon, far more distant quarry will fall under the SPT's sights as a team from nine institutions tackles one of the biggest mysteries of modern cosmological research. That mystery: What is dark energy, the force that dominates the universe? "The telescope, camera and optics are all working as designed," said John Carlstrom, the S. Chandrasekhar Distinguished Service Professor in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago, who heads the SPT Team. "First light with the SPT is a major milestone for the project and is a fitting conclusion to a remarkably productive summer season for the South Pole Station. We now look forward to fully characterizing the instrument and beginning cosmological observations," he said. The $19.2 million SPT is funded primarily by the National Science Foundation, with additional support from the Kavli Foundation of Oxnard, Calif., and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation of San Francisco. The telescope stands 75 feet tall, measures 33 feet across and weighs 280 tons. It was test-built in Kilgore, Texas, then taken apart, shipped by boat to New Zealand, and flown to the South Pole. Since November, the SPT team under the guidance of project manager Steve Padin, Senior Scientist in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago, has worked furiously to reassemble and deploy the telescope. As with any construction project at the Earth's southern extremity, the SPT was supported by a long and complex logistical chain stretching around the globe. All cargo to the South Pole is delivered by ski-equipped LC-130 aircraft and the components must be able to be broken down to fit into the aircraft cargo bay. The aircraft, flown by the N.Y. Air National Guard, are elements of Operation Deep Freeze, the military support arm of the U.S. Antarctic Program, which also includes Air Force cargo jets, U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers, Navy cargo handlers and many other logistical and personnel assets. Raytheon Polar Services Company, of Centennial, Colo., is NSF's logistics contractor in Antarctica. RPSC personnel played a variety of essential roles in the successful completion of the SPT project, NSF officials noted. The SPT is designed to pierce the mystery of dark energy. The solution to that question will determine whether what Einstein considered his greatest blunder was actually one of his greatest achievements. Astrophysicists know that the universe has been expanding since the big bang occurred approximately 14 billion years ago. In the late 1990s, astronomers using exploding stars as cosmic tape measures discovered that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. This led them to the idea that dark energy pushes the universe apart, counteracting gravity, the attractive force exerted by all matter in the universe. "We would like to know what makes the universe evolve," said Stephan Meyer, Professor in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago. First light is a major milestone for a telescope. It is literally when light first passes through all parts of the telescope and it becomes operational. First light for the SPT also is a historical milestone because it occurred almost exactly 50 years after a team of 18 men spent the first winter in history at the South Pole as part of the 1956-57 IGY (International Geophysical Year). Under the joint leadership of scientists Paul Siple and Lt. John Tuck, a naval officer, 18 men spent the first winter at the South Pole in a station built by the U.S. Navy in the austral summer of 1956-57, using cargo dropped by U.S. Air Force planes. On Jan. 23, 1957, an official dedication ceremony for the South Pole Station was held at McMurdo Station with speeches, marines in full dress uniforms and a radio proclamation from President Eisenhower. Siple, Tuck and the 16 other "winterovers" were the first people in history to witness sunset and sunrise at the South Pole, events that are separated in Antarctica by six months of darkness and almost unimaginable cold. In the depths of the austral winter at the station, the temperature dropped to -77.2 Celsius (-107 Fahrenheit) on Sept. 18, 1957, the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth at the time. "We were like men who had been fired off in rockets to take up life on another planet. We were in a lifeless, and almost featureless world. However snug and comfortable we might make ourselves, we could not escape from our isolation. We were now face to face with raw nature so grim and stark, that our lives could be snuffed out in a matter of minutes. Every day would bring us new problems to solve and our ingenuity would be taxed over and over again. And all this to carry out a somewhat difficult fragment of the worldwide scientific program of the International Geophysical Year," wrote Siple in his memoir, "Living at the Pole." The men laid the foundation for the scientific legacy that continues into the 21st century, as the National Science Foundation prepares to dedicate the third permanent station at the South Pole and holds the U.S. opening ceremony for the fourth International Polar year 2007-2008, a global scientific campaign involving more than 60 nations. Astronomers work at the South Pole station to take advantage of excellent viewing conditions. The cold, dry atmosphere above the South Pole will allow the SPT to more easily detect the CMB (cosmic microwave background) radiation, the afterglow of the big bang, with minimal interference from water vapor. On the electromagnetic spectrum, the CMB falls somewhere between heat radiation and radio waves. The CMB is largely uniform, but it contains tiny ripples of varying density and temperature. These ripples reflect the seeds that, through gravitational attraction, grew into the galaxies and galaxy clusters visible to astronomers in the sky today. The SPT's first key science project will be to study small variations in the CMB to determine if dark energy began to affect the formation of galaxy clusters by fighting against gravity over the last few billion years. Galaxy clusters are groups of galaxies, the largest celestial bodies that gravity can hold together. "Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is in one of these clusters," Meyer said. "And these clusters of galaxies actually change with time." The CMB allows astronomers to take snapshots of the infant universe, when it was only 400,000 years old. No stars or galaxies had yet formed. If dark energy changed the way the universe expanded, it would have left its "fingerprints" in the way that it forced galaxies apart over the deep history of time. Different causes would produce a different pattern in the formation of galaxy clusters as reflected in the distortion of the CMB. According to one idea, dark energy could be Einstein's cosmological constant: a steady force of nature operating at all times and in all places. Einstein introduced the cosmological constant into his theory of general relativity to accommodate a stationary universe, the dominant idea of the day. If Einstein's idea is correct, scientists will find that dark energy was much less influential in the universe five billion years ago than it is today. "Clusters weren't around in the early universe. They took a long time to evolve," Carlstrom said. Another version of the dark energy theory, called quintessence, suggests a force that varies in time and space. Some scientists even suggest that there is no dark energy at all, and that gravity merely breaks down on vast intergalactic scales. To pinpoint when dark energy became important, the SPT will use a phenomenon called the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect. This effect distorts the CMB as it passes through the hot gas of intervening galaxy clusters. As the microwaves interact with gas in the clusters, some of the microwaves get kicked into a higher frequency. The SPT will measure the slight temperature difference associated with the frequency change and produce an image of the gas in the cluster. The SPT can scan large regions of the sky quickly. Scientists expect it to detect thousands, or even tens of thousands, of galaxy clusters within a few years. "To get a meaningful constraint on dark energy through measuring galaxy clusters, you need something like this South Pole Telescope for the S-Z work," Carlstrom said. "The cluster S-Z signals cover small patches of the sky relative to the intrinsic variations in the cosmic microwave background. To get the necessary resolution, you need a big telescope. Now we have one." Senior members of the SPT team include William Holzapfel, Adrian Lee and Helmuth Spieler, University of California at Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Joe Mohr, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; John Ruhl, Case Western Reserve University; Antony Stark, Harvard-Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory; Matt Dobbs, McGill University; and Erik Leitch, Jet Propulsion Laboratory. \|\|\|\|\| The new South Pole Telescope (SPT) has successfully collected its first light as part of a long-term project to unravel one of the biggest mysteries in cosmology, researchers announced today. The goal of SPT is to learn the nature of mysterious dark energy, an antigravity force that permeates the cosmos and is driving the universe apart at an ever-increasing pace. The telescope does not make conventional images. Instead, it will take advantage of excellent viewing conditions-cold and dry-in Antarctica to detect the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. The CMB is said to be the afterglow of the Big Bang. On the electromagnetic spectrum, the CMB falls somewhere between heat radiation (infrared) and radio waves. Infant universe The CMB is largely uniform, but it contains tiny ripples of varying density and temperature. These ripples reflect the seeds that, through gravitational attraction, grew into the galaxies and galaxy clusters visible to astronomers today. The CMB was imaged in unprecedented detail by the WMAP space telescope, helping to pin down the age of the universe at 13.7 billion years. Now scientists are eager to get more detailed data. SPT will record small variations in the CMB to determine if dark energy began to affect the formation of galaxy clusters by fighting against gravity over the past few billion years. Galaxy clusters are groups of galaxies, the largest celestial bodies that gravity can hold together. "Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is in one of these clusters," said Stephan Meyer of the University of Chicago. "And these clusters of galaxies actually change with time." The CMB allows astronomers to take snapshots of the infant universe, when it was only 400,000 years old. No stars or galaxies had yet formed. If dark energy changed the way the universe expanded, it would have left its "fingerprints" in the way it forced galaxies apart over the deep history of time. Different causes would produce a different pattern in the formation of galaxy clusters. Competing theories According to one idea, dark energy is Albert Einstein's cosmological constant: a steady force of nature operating at all times and in all places. Einstein introduced the cosmological constant into his theory of general relativity to accommodate a stationary universe, the dominant idea of the day. If Einstein's idea is correct, scientists will find that dark energy was much less influential in the universe 5 billion years ago than it is today. "Clusters weren't around in the early universe. They took a long time to evolve," said SPT project leader John Carlstrom of the University of Chicago. Another version of the dark energy theory, called quintessence, suggests a force that varies in time and space. Some scientists even suggest there is no dark energy at all, and that gravity merely breaks down on vast intergalactic scales. To pinpoint when dark energy became important, SPT will use a phenomenon called the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect, which distorts the CMB as it passes through the hot gas of intervening galaxy clusters. As the microwaves interact with gas in the clusters, some of the microwaves get kicked into a higher frequency. SPT will measure the slight temperature difference associated with the frequency change and produce an image of the gas in the cluster. SPT [image] can scan large regions of the sky quickly. Scientists expect it to detect thousands, or even tens of thousands of galaxy clusters within a few years. The $19.2 million telescope is funded primarily by the National Science Foundation (NSF), with additional support from the Kavli Foundation of Oxnard, Calif., and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation of San Francisco.	The new South Pole Telescope has recently collected its first light in a long-term project to learn about the nature of dark energy. It will use the cold and dry conditions in Antarctica to detect cosmic microwave background radiation, which is said to be the afterglow of the Big Bang. The study will help determine if dark energy affected the development of galaxy clusters. Most of the $19.2 million funding for the telescope came from the National Science Foundation.
Impulsará nuestro país sistema operativo Linux Amaury E. del Valle Cuba está organizando la migración progresiva de las computadoras instaladas en los organismos de la Administración Central del Estado hacia el software libre, sobre la base del sistema operativo Linux, eliminando así la presencia casi exclusiva del Windows en las máquinas. La noticia trascendió durante una conferencia ofrecida por Roberto del Puerto, director de la Oficina para la Informatización de la Sociedad, en el III Taller de Software Libre, el cual tuvo lugar durante la recién finalizada Convención Internacional Informática 2005. El sistema operativo Linux, creado en la década de 1980 por Linus Torval, se diferencia de similares como Windows, de Microsoft, en que su código fuente es totalmente abierto, y por tanto puede ser modificado y distribuido por el usuario cuantas veces quiera. La Isla, que posee actualmente más de 1 500 usuarios de Linux y una comunidad de desarrolladores fuerte en varias provincias del país, ya cuenta también con su propia distribución de Linux —un conjunto de programas agrupados de acuerdo a sus prestaciones y calidad— que fue presentada ayer. Además, la Oficina para la Informatización ha diseñado una estrategia que comprende acciones de organización, técnicas, diseño de un marco legal, así como la capacitación y el cambio paulatino de los sistemas de Windows a Linux. La política será rectoreada por un Grupo Nacional, que integran entre otros la propia Oficina, los ministerios de Justicia, del Interior, de Informática y las Comunicaciones, la Red Telemática de Salud (Infomed), la CUJAE, los Joven Club y la Universidad de las Ciencias Informáticas. Esta última, con más de 6 000 estudiantes, ya ha destinado una de sus facultades para el desarrollo de programas sobre Linux. \|\|\|\|\| Edited by Mike Magee Phone +44 208 248 2800 Terms and Conditions of use. To advertise in the UK or Europe email us or for more info click here. To advertise in Asia email here. To advertise in North America email here. Join the INQbot Mail List for a weekly guide to our news stories: Subscribe/unsubscribe here. \|\|\|\|\| Estimado Colega: Del 8 al 14 de Mayo del 2005 celebraremos la XI Convención Internacional "INFORMATICA 2005" que en esta ocasión sesionará como es habitual en La Habana, y llegará además a otras ciudades cubanas mediante el empleo de las bondades de las Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones. El evento será auspiciado por un grupo de prestigiosas instituciones internacionales. Pretendemos que este encuentro se consolide como uno de los mayores foros de intercambio científico y técnico de esta especialidad en América Latina, teniendo en cuenta el creciente interés de especialistas y profesionales de la rama y la gran diversidad de temas a debatir. Formarán parte de la Convención INFORMATICA 2005, 12 eventos científicos, en paralelo con la XI Feria Internacional de Informática, Comunicaciones y Automatización Industrial, concebida para la promoción y comercialización de tecnologías de la información. Además tendremos talleres, cursos y presentaciones virtuales, así como actividades artísticas y recreativas para los acompañantes de los Delegados. CUBAMAGICA y El Comité Organizador de INFORMATICA 2005 le invita a participar en esta edición de la Convención Internacional de Informática de La Habana, con la seguridad de que le resultará técnicamente provechosa y que podrá disfrutar de la tradicional hospitalidad de nuestro país. Ing. Boris Moreno Cordovés Viceministro Informática y Comunicaciones. Presidente del Comité Organizador. T ALLERES: II TALLER INTERNACIONAL DE CALIDAD EN LAS TIC Modelos de calidad. Métodos y herramientas para la gestión de la calidad. Aplicación de técnicas de inteligencia artificial en la mejora de la calidad. inteligencia artificial en la mejora de la calidad. Estándares para el desarrollo y la certificación. Gestión de proyectos. Evaluación y mejora del proceso de software. Métricas e indicadores para la medición. Métodos para el desarrollo offshore. Productos web y su calidad. Gestión de configuración. II TALLER INTERNACIONAL SOBRE SOFTWARE DE GESTIÓN EMPRESARIAL. Soluciones y software para la aplicación de las TICS en: Gestión del Conocimiento, Gestión de las Relaciones con los clientes (CRM), Gestión de las cadenas de suministro (CSCM), Gestión de los Recursos Humanos, Gestión de la Producción (MRO), Gestión Contable Financiera, Sistemas de Costos, Imagen y Gestión Corporativa, DATAWAREHOUSE, ERP, Negocios Inteligentes. II TALLER INTERNACIONAL DE COMERCIO ELECTRÓNICO. Implicaciones Institucionales de adoptar una estrategia para el comercio electrónico. Políticas y marco jurídico. Logística para logro de estrategias. Tendencias y perspectivas que ofrece el comercio electrónico en internet. Capacitación y entrenamiento para el comercio electrónico. PRECIOS: Delegado:$ 250 USD Estudiante pregrado: $ 150 USD Acompañante: $ 100 USD IV TALLER INTERNACIONAL DE AUDITORÍA A LAS TECNOLOGÍAS DE LA INFORMACIÓN Evaluación de riesgos y controles informáticos. Auditorias a los procesos de tecnologías de la información. Experiencias. Nuevos enfoques de control y su auditoria. su auditoria. Importancia del control interno en la auditoría de sistemas de información. La seguridad informática y su auditoría. Los auditores y los cambios tecnológicos. Evolución de la auditoría tradicional a la auditoría moderna. Capacitación de los auditores ante el reto que representa el desarrollo de las tecnologías de la información. II TALLER INTERNACIONAL DE AUTOMÁTICA PARA EL AHORRO ENERGÉTICO Control de procesos. Automática de inmuebles. Flujo variable. Control de movimiento. Automática de control remoto para subestaciones eléctricas. Estudios electroenergéticos integrales. Monitoreo de procesos medioambientales. S IMPOSIOS I SIMPOSIO INTERNACIONAL DE COMPUTACIÓN Y ELECTRÓNICA. Inteligencia computacional. Diseño y aplicaciones con microcontroladores, microprocesadores y microcomputadoras. Arquitectura de computadoras, periféricos e interfaces. Instrumentación virtual remota. Computación configurable: FPGAs y aplicaciones con DSPs. Sensores y microsistemas. Diseño y modelado de sistemas analógicos y digitales, aplicaciones. La computación en el currículo de las Ingenierías Electrónica y de Computación en las enseñanzas de pregrado y postgrado. Enseñanza del hardware en la computación. Enseñanza de la Electrónica. C ONGRESOS XI CONGRESO INTERNACIONAL DE INFORMÁTICA EN LA EDUCACIÓN. “Las NTIC en la transformación de la educación” Universidad Virtual: Educación a Distancia, Laboratorios Virtuales, Gestión Académica y Administrativa, Bibliotecas Virtuales y Gestión del Conocimiento Formación en las NTIC: Formación de profesionales en la NTIC, Formación de profesores en el uso de las NTIC. Bibliotecas Virtuales y Gestión del Conocimiento Formación en las NTIC: Formación de profesionales en la NTIC, Formación de profesores en el uso de las NTIC. Productos de NTIC en la Educación: Productos Multimedia e Hipermedia para la Educación. V CONGRESO INTERNACIONAL DE INFORMÁTICA EN LA SALUD. Informática en la atención primaria de salud. Gestión Hospitalaria. Telemedicina. Informática Educativa. Bioinformática. Redes Telemáticas. Inteligencia Artificial. Informática y Gerencia en Salud. Informática y gestión de los servicios en la salud. II CONGRESO INTERNACIONAL DE PERIODISMO DIGITAL. Periodismo alternativo en soporte digital. Infografía digital. Las TICs y la formación periodística. Fotoperiodismo digital Hardware y software para la prensa. Foros y coberturas on line: periodismo en caliente Contenidos periodísticos en multimedia Radio y televisión por internet Diseño y usabilidad de sitios web en prensa Ética y marco laboral en el nuevo escenario profesional. S EMINARIOS II SEMINARIO INTERNACIONAL DE TELECOMUNICACIONES. Evolución de las redes y los servicios de telecomunicaciones. Migración de la red de telecomunicaciones. Evolución de los planes técnicos fundamentales. Plataformas de servicios. Informática y telecomunicaciones móviles. Evolución de la red de transporte de datos en función de la conectividad social. Convergencia de las comunicaciones de voz y datos en el entorno actual. Nuevas funcionalidades de los Data Center aplicado a las telecomunicaciones. Aplicaciones de voz sobre IP dirigidas a redes privadas. Aplicaciones de posicionamiento global (GPS). Aplicaciones de Test Speech sobre páginas web. Utilización de sistemas de Power Line Current como soportes de VOIP y Tx Datos. Como transitar al protocolo IPv6 en las condiciones de América Latina y el Caribe. Los servicios de Alto Valor añadidos en el Portal Cubasi de ENET–ETECSA. Sistemas de información geográfica aplicada a las telecomunicaciones. V CONFERENCIA INTERNACIONAL DE DERECHO E INFORMÁTICA DE LA HABANA. Gobierno y Administración Electrónica: Una mirada desde el Derecho y para el Derecho. Informática Jurídica: Modernidad e Informatización de la actividad jurídica. Derecho de las tecnologías de Información y las comunicaciones: estado del Arte. Uso y desarrollo del Software Libre: Retos y oportunidades legales. Aspectos legales del Comercio electrónico: logros y dificultades. Normas jurídicas para la seguridad informática. Protección de la información: medios y sistemas de autenticación, confidencialidad e integridad. PLAZOS: Presentación de Ponencias: 15/01/2005 Notificación aceptación de ponencias: 28/02/2005 Entrega Definitiva de ponencias: 15/03/2005 Las ponencias deben ser enviadas a: Email: cubamagica@cubamagica.com Tel: (503) 240-0369 fax: (503) 223-6956	120px On Tuesday, Juventud Rebelde reported that the Central Administration of Cuba is organizing a migration to free and open source software. The announcement was made during a free software workshop organized at the "Convención Internacional Informática 2005" by the director of the state office of information technology, Roberto del Puerto. The plan is to use the Linux operating system as a base, though the administration currently uses Microsoft Windows. The transition is planned to be slow and involves organizational changes, development and creating a legal framework. The Linux user base in Cuba is around 1,500 people and has its own Linux distribution. Cuba also has some free software developers and the University of Information Science, with over 6,000 students, has committed one department for the development of programs for Linux which is a good move towards open source
Now another generation has stories to tell. The Celtics ran roughshod over an overmatched Los Angeles Lakers team tonight at the TD Banknorth Garden, winning Game 6 of the NBA Finals, 131-92, to capture the 17th NBA championship in the franchise’s history. Once again, the Boston Celtics are on top of the basketball world. After returning from Los Angeles with a 3-2 series lead, the Celtics took advantage of their first opportunity to close out a title at home. They played this one to win. Despite 11 first-quarter points from Kobe Bryant, Boston maintained a 24-20 lead after one. But the second quarter was when the Celtics really did their damage, outscoring the Lakers, 34-15, and essentially putting the game away by halftime. Advertisement Boston held Los Angeles to 29 percent shooting in the first half. Meanwhile, the Celtics had 17 assists on 20 field goals, with captain Paul Pierce getting nine by himself. Without Bryant’s 14 points (on 4-of-11 shooting), the score (58-35) would have been even more lopsided. Needing only not to blow a huge lead, the Celtics actually won the third quarter, 31-25. Rajon Rondo had 10 points and 3 assists in the period, running the team out of any potential trouble. Each of the Big Three lived up to his billing in the game. Pierce, who should be a lock to win Finals MVP, had 9 assists in the first half and finished with 17 points, 10 assists, and 3 rebounds. Ray Allen, who barely slept for three days to attend to a medical situation with one of his children, hit 7 three-pointers in the game and led all scorers with 26 points. Allen was poked in the eye midway through the first quarter but returned. And Kevin Garnett was as usual an unstoppable force at home. The Big Ticket got whatever shot he wanted throughout and finished with 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Celtics coach Doc Rivers removed Pierce, Allen, and Garnett from the game at the same time, the superstars embracing their coach with 4:01 on the clock and nothing more left to chance. Advertisement There were no bright spots for the Lakers, but if you wanted to find something resembling one, you could pick Bryant’s first quarter. Bryant was 4 of 7 for 11 points in the first, with three of those shots from long range. Bryant finished with 22 points on 7-of-22 shooting. On the bench late in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach, fans in section 327 chanted, “Where is Kobe?” There are no more games for the Celtics. No more grueling road trips. Just a celebration tonight, and a victory parade later this week. The Celtics may be done, but you haven’t scratched the surface of our celebration coverage tonight. Keep it here as we bring you everything, including video, surrounding Boston’s 17th NBA championship. \|\|\|\|\| With 4:01 left, Doc Rivers made like Carol Burnett and tugged on his left ear. As the crowd wailed, “Hey, hey, hey, goodbye,” to the Lakers, Glen Davis, Leon Powe and Tony Allen replaced Paul Pierce [stats] , Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. The Big Three attempted to leave the floor, but the bear hugs that awaited them from Kendrick Perkins [stats] , P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell had blocked traffic leading to the bench. Referee Joe Crawford pushed them all off the floor to resume play. The Celtics [team stats] were about to win the NBA-record 17th title in franchise history with last night’s 131-92 Game 6 victory over the Lakers. The 39-point gap was the largest winning margin in a clinching game in NBA Finals history. But Rivers remained stoic, his arms crossed. Danny Ainge, the director of basketball operations who had been on the verge of tears when his picture was put up on the Jumbotron, was now being hugged to death by Garnett in the middle of the huddle. Rivers, barely a year after pulling into the dock with a 24-win team, stood with his arms crossed to the end. But his calm was finally washed away when Pierce came up from behind and doused him with a bucket of red Gatorade. The coach turned and hugged his captain. Someone passed him a cell phone and it was Gov. Deval Patrick, offering congratulations instead of the reprieve that would have been the only reason to call last year. Most of all, Rivers thought about his late father, Grady Rivers, who passed away in November. As was the case in Los Angeles when he was asked the question last week, Rivers teared up last night. “Well, I thought I was going to get through this,” he said, stopping for a moment. “It was the first thing I thought of. I thought of my wife, my kids, my mom. My first thought was what would my dad say, and honestly I started laughing because I thought he would probably say, if you knew my dad, ‘It’s about time. What have you been waiting for?’ So that was my first thought.” His second one undoubtedly had nothing to do with the Lakers, who, after cutting the Celtics’ lead in this series to 3-2 with a narrow Game 5 win at Staples Center, barely merited an afterthought last night. From the rowdy fan in a Kobe Bryant jersey who was escorted out of the arena by security at halftime to the LA star himself, who shot a miserable 7-for-22 for his 22 points, the Garden was no place for a Laker in Game 6. Not only did the Lakers shoot 42.2 percent, including a 23 percent second quarter when the Celtics broke the game open, they also lost their spirit early. They were outrebounded by a 48-29 margin and turned the ball over 19 times to the Celtics’ eight. The Celtics won almost all of the telltale races for loose balls and rebounds, and before long the lethargy was evident in the Lakers defense as well. The Celtics blew this one out of reach with a pair of murderous second-quarter runs (11-0, 9-0), hit their first 30-point lead in the third, and coasted home with some wild numbers. \|\|\|\|\| NBA FINALS Lakers are buried in the Garden With L.A. melting down early and suffering one of the worst losses in NBA Finals history, 131-92, the Celtics complete a stifling defensive series to claim their 17th championship. LAKERS-CELTICS NBA FINALS THROUGH THE YEARS 1984 1985 1987 1960s BOSTON -- Beaten L.A.The Lakers came to their final resting place in the frenzied home of their most hated historical rival, drifting far from victory in a 131-92 Game 6 loss to the Boston Celtics that was every bit as uneven as the score indicated.Looking nothing like the team that ripped through the Western Conference, the Lakers were yanked apart at the seams by a Boston team that pushed them from one end to the other in one of the most decisive games in NBA Finals history.The Celtics won the series, 4-2, and took their 17th NBA championship, three more than the Lakers, in front of a jubilant crowd Tuesday at TD Banknorth Garden. The most one-sided game in Finals history remained a 42-point victory by Chicago over Utah (96-54) in 1998.Game 4 will be the one that bothers the Lakers over the next 3 1/2 months, a lost 24-point lead all that needs to be said, but Tuesday night will also sting, the Celtics leading by as many as 43 in the final minutes.There were too many culprits to name for the Lakers, from the recurring frontcourt issues to Kobe Bryant's continual shooting woes to another night of lethargy from the reserves. There will be plenty of time to ponder it all on the Lakers' six-hour flight back home this morning.Bryant spoke in short, clipped sentences after the game, frustration evident in his words and posture."Just upset more than anything," he said. "But I'm proud of the way that we performed all year. I'm proud of my guys. At the same time, understand that second place just means you're the first loser."Paul Pierce was the Finals most valuable player, hitting the Lakers hard on numerous fronts throughout the series -- points, assists, free throws. He had 17 points, 10 assists and made seven of eight free throws in Game 6. He began dancing on the Celtics' bench during a timeout in the final minutes, much to the crowd's delight.Pierce outplayed the regular-season MVP, Bryant, who again shot poorly in Game 6 -- 22 points on seven-for-22 shooting; he made only three of his last 17 shots. For the series, he averaged 25.7 points and shot only 40.5%.As if on cue, the Garden crowd derisively chanted "Where is Kobe?" while the Celtics hovered near a 30-point lead early in the fourth quarter. At the time, Bryant was sitting on the bench with three other starters."Kobe started off that game with a hot hand and then I think his legs, you could see his shot was flat, he didn't get his shot going, and it really changed the course of the game," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol were also flat, again, their Game 5 outburst proving to be no more than a hiccup. Odom didn't make a shot until the 7:54 mark of the fourth quarter, finishing with 14 points after a late individual push. Gasol had 11 points.How bad was it? The "Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye" chant began with five minutes left. Then came a "Seventeen" chant a few minutes later. Then it became official, Commissioner David Stern handing over the championship trophy to the Celtics in a blizzard of green-and-white confetti.The Lakers trailed, 32-29, with seven minutes left in the second quarter but never stood a chance from there. The Celtics' scoring in the final three quarters: 34-31-42."I think if we're going to learn one thing from this series, we can't expect to win a championship by focusing on the offensive end," Bryant said. "We have to be able to hold people down as well."Bryant was then asked how much Andrew Bynum would have helped in this series."Rebounding and a shot-blocker in the middle. He solves a couple of those," Bryant said.The Game 6 stats were ugly across the board for the Lakers. The Celtics had 48 rebounds, the Lakers 29. The Celtics had 14 offensive rebounds, the Lakers a meager two. The Celtics had 33 assists, the Lakers 16. The Celtics had seven turnovers, the Lakers 19. And on and on.And with that, the Lakers' attempt to become the only team to win the Finals after trailing, 3-1, ended after only one victory.Jackson tried to be positive afterward, recapping a season that included the Western Conference championship and Bryant's first MVP trophy."We suffered injuries and survived a season and rebuilt our team and came back and had a great playoff run until the Celtics were able to extinguish that hope," Jackson said. "But we'll look back on this favorably. We were surprised we were here, and we're glad that we had an opportunity, but whenever you get this opportunity, you don't want to let it slip away, and we did."	After 22 years of waiting, the Boston Celtics have won their 17th National Basketball Association championship, adding to the 16 that already hang from the rafters of the TD Banknorth Garden and before that, the old Boston Garden. The Celtics won the game 131 to 92 and won the series with 4 wins over their old rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers' 2. The game was highlighted by Ray Allen's seven 3-pointers, tying the NBA Finals single game record, as well as the Celtics 18 steals, easily a single game record also. Paul Pierce has been chosen series MVP. The season is noted for the biggest single-season turnaround in NBA history as the last Celtics season was considered to be one of the worst in franchise history.
Mayra stepped from her hiding place in the dense brush. The 17-year-old migrant from Guatemala had her one-year-old son on her back. They had crossed the river hours earlier in the dark on small rafts with 70 other migrants. She was hoping she’d be allowed to stay in the United States. \|\|\|\|\| Analysis: PM is on course for fourth term in office. What is his secret and how is next coalition government likely to look? \|\|\|\|\| printable version 28 December 2004 South Asia earthquake and tsunamis A series of earthquakes with epicentres off the Northern Sumatra (Aceh) and resultant tsunamis have hit Southeast Asia and caused serious damage and loss of life. The first, strongest quake on 26 December, at 0058 hours GMT, had the magnitude of 8.9 on the Richter Scale, followed by a second severe quake (0421 GMT). Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, India and Thailand have been affected as well as Malaysia, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Considerable numbers of deaths have already been reported, and figures can be expected to rise in the coming days. The tsunamis have caused large scale damage to infrastructures, including health facilities. According to the latest information received, the scale and magnitude of the tsunamis seem to have been much less destructive in Malaysia, Bangladesh and Myanmar than in other countries, particularly in Sri Lanka, where the greatest level of needs seems to now concentrate. Possible needs in the health sector and WHO's actions At this stage, it is vital to assess the health situation as precisely as possible, and reach all the affected areas. WHO gives priority to rapid health assessment by supporting the efforts of national and local counterparts. In Sri Lanka, a senior WHO official is on the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) evaluation team due to arrive in the country today In Indonesia, WHO is joining the Ministry of Health in a rapid assessment of the situation in Northern Sumatra to leave tomorrow while a Joint UN Mission will be deployed later in the week In Thailand and Myanmar the respective WHO Representatives are working closely with the Ministry of Health to assess affected areas in these countries. In India WHO is in touch with the local government officials and the local UNICEF offices for regular updates of the situation. The Office of the WHO Representative is monitoring the situation with regard to the status of relief measures/operations, health system status and population displacement / relief camps Current figures concerning injured people indicate that hospitals will have to manage mass casualties with appropriate surgical and medical care. While national counterparts can provide the necessary human resources and systems, international partners will have to ensure the provision of necessary supplies. WHO is preparing to supply at least15 New Emergency Health Kits (each kit is designed to cover the basic health needs of 10,000 persons for three months) and 13 trauma kits (each covering 100 interventions) to the countries in the Region. WHO is sending four New Emergency Health Kits (NEHK) tomorrow (28 December) to Colombo, Sri Lanka, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Sri Lanka alone, there are already 250 temporary camps hosting people made homeless by the tsunami. Conditions such as overcrowding and inadequate shelter provide favorable conditions for acute respiratory infections, which can represent a major cause of death, especially for children, if left untreated. South East Asia is endemic for malaria and dengue fever. Flooding and stagnant water create favorable conditions for the mosquito vector. Overcrowding facilitates mosquito bites and therefore transmission. WHO is setting in place a strict monitoring of the epidemiological situation trough the roll back malaria regional program and the regional Denguenet Poor quality and quantity of water and insufficient sanitation, overcrowding and poor hygiene in temporary camps will bring forward the risk for outbreaks of different diarrhoeal diseases. Thorough and sustained water purification is an absolute priority. WHO is providing chlorine and water purification tablets to partners In order to be prepared against possible outbreaks WHO is mobilizing at least 15 diarrhoeal kits (each kit is designed to treat 100 SEVERE cases of diarrhea and/or cholera) Apart from biological pollution, the possibility that the environment be polluted by leaks or overflows from flooded chemical factories and warehouses must also be taken into consideration. Water can be contaminated by gasoline and oil leaking from damaged vehicles. WHO programs for water and sanitation and for international chemical safety have been alerted Dead bodies do not pose any health threat, but they feed fears and can divert precious attention and resources from effective relief efforts. Technical guidance and rational decisions based on sound scientific evidence are another priority need for the health of all the affected and surrounding populations. WHO is working on strengthening health coordination and evidence-based decision making in all affected countries in the region. Coordinating joint action for health is critical. To this end WHO is: strengthening the capacity of its South East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) to ensure harmonization of regional relief operation collaborating with UNDAC and other UN bodies working closely with national authorities Resources Financial support has been received from the Government of Italy and funding for immediate action has been provided by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) . Given the magnitude of the disaster, needs are anticipated to be large, and WHO will revert shortly on the requirements. For more information contact: Rob Holden - Office of the Representative of the Director-General for Health Action in Crises For situation updates Telephone: 41 22 791 2510 Mobile phone: 41 79 475 5558 Email: holdenr@who.int Dr David Nabarro Telephone: +41 79 217 3446 Email: nabarrod@who.int Marianne Muller - External Relations, Health Action in Crises For resource mobilization Telephone: 41 22 791 1887 Email: mullerm@who.int	'''December 28, 2004''' The toll from the recent earthquake and tsunami disaster that affected coasts of a dozen Asian and African nations has risen to nearly 60,000 people reported dead. The nations struck by the catastrophe are struggling to bury the bodies of the dead before disease adds to the already high casaulty figures. Health experts, such as Dr. David Nabarro, head of crisis operations at the World Health Organization (WHO), are predicting that as many as an additional 60,000 people could perish if disease spreads due to lack of safe drinking water, overcrowding in camps, and potential leaks of deadly toxins from factories affected by the disaster. The WHO is attempting to focus its relief efforts on saving lives and preventing disease in this ongoing crisis.
Felipe Massa looks to be planning a repeat of his Valencia performance after he took a comfortable pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday evening. The Brazilian upped the ante after McLarens Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen had set the fastest times, lapping his F2008 in 1m 44.801s. With Hamilton next on 1m 45.465s ahead of Raikkonen on 1m 45.617s, it is probably safe to assume that Massa is running to a lighter fuel strategy. McLarens Heikki Kovalainen split the two BMW Saubers on his final run, his 1m 45.873s leaving him between Robert Kubica (1m 45.779s) and Nick Heidfeld (1m 45.964s). Monza winner Sebastian Vettel was the only Red Bull-backed runner to make the top 10 this time, taking his Toro Rosso to seventh on 1m 46.244s ahead of Toyotas Timo Glock (1m 46.328s) and the Williams duo of Nico Rosberg (1m 46.611s) and Kazuki Nakajima (a top 10 first timer with 1m 47.547s). Q2 weeded out Toyotas Jarno Trulli (1m 45.038s), Hondas Jenson Button (1m 45.133s), Red Bulls Mark Webber and David Coulthard (1m 45.212s and 1m 45.298s respectively), and the unfortunate Fernando Alonso, whose Renault quit on him with fuel supply problems in Turn 18 during his out lap. Renaults Nelson Piquet lost out to Coulthards final effort in Q1, the Brazilians 1m 46.037s leaving him 16th in the line-up. Sebastien Bourdais didnt get it together either, failing to push his Toro Rosso beyond 1m 46.389s. Rubens Barrichellos weekend didnt get any better for Honda, with 1m 46.583s for 18th. The two Force Indias were at the back. Adrian Sutil lapped in 1m 46.940s, but Giancarlo Fisichella did nothing to endear himself to his mechanics, who had worked flat out to get him running near the end of the session following his earlier practice shunt, only for him to put his repaired VJM01 off into the barriers in Turn 3. \|\|\|\|\| Massa grabs pole at Singapore GP SINGAPORE Ferrari's Felipe Massa clinched pole position for the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday, qualifying quickest under the floodlights for Formula One's first night-time race. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton, a point ahead of Brazilian Massa in the standings, steered his McLaren to second on the grid with world champion Kimi Raikkonen to start third for Ferrari on Sunday. BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica qualified in fourth place while McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen was fifth. Double world champion Fernando Alonso, who had topped the final two practice sessions and looked set to challenge for pole, suffered a massive disappointment when his engine died and he cruised to a halt midway through the second qualifying session.	File photo of Felipe Massa (2008) Marina Bay Street Circuit Ferrari driver Felipe Massa won the second session and the pole position for the Sunday FIA 2008 Formula One SingTel Singapore Grand Prix on the street circuit at Marina Bay, Singapore. This will be the first nightly Formula One event that utilizes artificial lighting and the 800th Formula One World Championship race overall. The previous GP at Singapore held in 1973 was not part of the Formula One. First to end the qualifying was Italian Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India), burying his car in the wall. Nelson Piquet Jr. driving for (Renault) was expected to slip into the second session in the 15th place but was bundled out by David Coulthard or the Red Bull team. Piquet's teammate Fernando Alonso, who topped the second free practice session, performed better in the first session but unexpectedly stopped, showing no time in the second. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) jumped to 10th place during the last laps of the session; He was lucky to join the battle for pole. Still, Massa was able to beat Hamilton, who will start second tomorrow. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) won the first session, but showed third time in the third. Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) will be split by Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) on the starting grid tomorrow. Previous pole-postion holder and GP winner Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) will start 7th tomorrow.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has arrived in Taiwan for a visit that has sparked anger from China. He travelled from Taipei to southern Taiwan to comfort to those affected by last month's Typhoon Morakot, the worst typhoon there in 50 years. Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou approved the visit after his government was accused of offering a slow and inefficient response to the typhoon. China considers the Dalai Lama a separatist seeking Tibet independence. At least 571 people were killed, with another 106 missing and feared dead in the typhoon. As the Dalai Lama arrived at a Taipei train station, there was a scuffle between police and some 50 supporters of Tibet's unification with China, the Associated Press news agency reported. On Monday, the Dalai Lama will visit the worst-hit village of Hsiaolin, where nearly 500 people were buried by a mudslide. Pro-China criticism He will lead a mass prayer and address the island's Buddhist followers during his five-day visit. However, he has cancelled a press conference after criticism from pro-China groups about his decision to visit and a request from Taiwan to refrain from discussing politics. Prior to arriving, the Dalai Lama told reporters that his trip was of a "non-political" nature, and that he was going to Taiwan for humanitarian and religious reasons. Last week, Beijing said it was "resolutely opposed" to the Dalai Lama's visit. Tibet and Taiwan are highly sensitive issues for the Chinese government, as it claims both as its territory. Despite agreeing to the visit, President Ma has announced he will not meet the Dalai Lama - a move seen as wanting closer economic ties with China which is its biggest trade partner, reports the BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei. \|\|\|\|\| The Dalai Lama canceled an international news conference scheduled for this morning on the first full day of his visit amid government concern over the political connotations. The Dalai Lama was expected to arrive on a flight at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 21:50 yesterday evening. During his stay, he will visit the typhoon-devastated areas of Southern Taiwan , talk to victims, chair prayer meetings, and give speeches. The Tibetan leader is scheduled to leave Taiwan on Friday, Sept. 4. The Kaohsiung City Government said yesterday afternoon it had received a request from the Dalai Lama's team to bring forward his visit to disaster areas to the morning and cancel the news conference, originally scheduled for that part of the day. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu strongly suggested spending more time in the disaster zone, the Dalai Lama's representative in Taiwan , Dawa Tsering, told reporters, adding that humanitarian and religious were paramount. "Don't politicize it, that will be no good for anybody," the Tibetan official said. The invitation by opposition Democratic Progressive Party chiefs of counties and cities in the disaster areas for the visit caused a furor in Beijing. Harsh criticism from China reportedly led to the ruling Kuomintang sending its top spokesman, Li Chien-jung, to Beijing to assuage the Communist regime's fears. Cable station TVBS said the Chinese team at the Taipei Deaflympics would give the Saturday Sept. 5 opening ceremony a miss, only arriving in the country late at night, possibly as a reprisal against the government's decision to allow the Dalai Lama's visit. Before boarding his flight in New Delhi yesterday, the Tibetan leader issued a three-point statement, emphasizing his invitation came from the Taiwan ese people, and not from any political group. He said his only aims were to console the victims of the typhoon and to pray for disasters to stay away from the people of Taiwan . President Ma Ying-jeou has emphasized the religious and humanitarian nature of the Dalai Lama's visit, but has said he would not meet him. Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng criticized plans for today's international news conference, saying questions from reporters about politics could divert attention away from the humanitarian intent of the Nobel Peace Prize winner's visit. Kuomintang Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung said the Dalai Lama possessed sufficient wisdom to discern whether his trip to Taiwan had a religious or a political motive. The Dalai Lama should come to help Taiwan , not to increase its problems, Wu said. The Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation said it would take the Dalai Lama by a specially chartered train from Taoyuan to Kaohsiung after the religious leader's arrival. Kaohsiung County did not wait until the Dalai Lama's arrival to hold a Buddhist prayer meeting for the victims. Apart from Taiwan ese Buddhist leaders, the daylong event in Chiahsien Township yesterday was also attended by Catholic Cardinal Paul Shan and by political leaders. Ma visited two military camps and two typhoon-hit villages yesterday. Premier Liu told reporters that at least 80 percent of the people made homeless should find a new temporary home at the military settlements by tonight. He said 1,500 homeless had already entered the military camps, with a further 2,500 to complete the move before Sept. 1, he said.	Dalai Lama in 2007 The spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, has begun his visit to Taiwan. He has travelled to southern Taiwan to offer condolences to victims of the recent typhoon, Morokot, which was the worst in 50 years. The visit has sparked condemnation from China, which regards the Dalai Lama as a rebel seeking independence for Tibet. Taiwan, in the form of the Republic of China, also assert their independence from Mainland China, against the country's wishes. Upon the Dalai Lama's arrival at a Taipei train station, scuffles broke out between supporters and police, according to the Associated Press. This morning he cancelled a planned international news conference after there was concern over the politicising of his visit. The Dalai Lama's representative in Taiwan was quoted as saying "Don't politicize it, that will be no good for anybody." As he boarded his flight yesterday, the Dalai Lama emphasised his visit was not of a political nature and instead he was invited by the Taiwanese people. He is due to lead a mass prayer for the Buddhist followers on the island.
Sorry for inconvenience! You have been redirected to this page due to the following reasons:-- Your session has expired. You have closed the browser, without logging out. If the problem persists, kindly remove all the temporary files and cookies from your browser. For IE - 1. Click on tools from the task bar of browser. 2. Click on Internet Options. 3. Click on "Delete temporary files." For Mozilla Firefox - 1. Click on tools from the task bar of browser. 2. Click on "Clear recent history." \|\|\|\|\| A policeman stands guard as a passenger train passes by after a blast in Kakpora, 25 km (15 miles) south of Srinagar April 2, 2010. Suspected separatist guerrillas blew up part of a railway track in Kashmir on Friday, the first such attack since a train service opened last year. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Suspected separatist guerrillas blew up part of a railway track in Kashmir on Friday, the first such attack since a train service opened last year. The blast followed days of gunbattles between Indian troops and separatist militants in the region that killed at least 14 people. “There were no casualties, as no trains were running when the militants set off a powerful bomb on the railway track,” Aijaz Ahmad, a police official said. He said train services have been suspended. No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the explosion which took place in the Pulwama area in south Kashmir. Kashmir valley’s first train chugs through rice fields and meadows from Qazigund area in the south to Baramulla in the north. While resentment against New Delhi’s rule regularly erupts into protests in Kashmir, mainstream political parties in the state say building transport links and improving civic amenities is key to peace in the region. Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in full but rule in part and have fought two wars over the region, where officials say more than 47,000 people have been killed in over two decades of violence.	Nearly two feet of the rail route in Kashmir, India was blown up by militants near the Pulwama district, affecting train services from north to south Kashmir. The blast came a few days after militants fought with the Indian army in the area, thereby killing fourteen people. "There were no casualties, as no trains were running when the militants set off a powerful bomb on the railway track," said Aijaz Ahmad, a local police official. He added that train services have been temporarily suspended. According to police, the attackers detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near Galbug at about 10 PM local time (4:30 PM UTC), Thursday night. Two feet of the rail track on the Qazigund-Baramulla area was damaged. This track was developed two years ago, police sources stated. The attack came just before senior officers were supposed to inspect ongoing works in the Kashmiri railways. The track was repaired on Friday morning and train services resumed in the region. Kamal Saine, Deputy Inspector General of Police, south Kashmir, told the Press Trust of India agency that the damage to the track was not significant and it took a short time to mend it.
Your Blood Turns Cold... and only screams leave your lips. What's lurking in the shadows, hiding in the next room and waiting - only you can find out, if you dare. Visit Terror Nights Haunted House in Tyler, Texas and start your Halloween off right - full of fear and fright. Featuring 25 rooms spread across a staggering 10,000 square feet, this intense, cutting edge haunted event features custom movie quality special effects, amazing actors, unique themes, and extremely detailed sets. Now you may be asking yourself is it safe to embark upon a journey to the very heart of horror? Our honest answer to that must be no. Only the most courageous will make it out of the 10,000 square foot self guided, fully interactive tour alive! \|\|\|\|\| Hangman's House of Horrors had a record-setting 1998 season! The Hangman entertained almost 33,000 patrons and raised over $400,000. All proceeds from the 1998 season go to provide local programs and services on behalf of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. We have exceeded our own records and remain the most successful charity haunted house in the nation! Copyright © 1989-1998, La-De-Da Productions, All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Facebook Twitter Pinterest Cutting Edge Haunted House. (PRNewsFoto/Cutting Edge Haunted House) × Cutting Edge Haunted House. (PRNewsFoto/Cutting Edge Haunted House) DALLAS and FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Taking on a part-time job for the holidays is a great way to earn a little extra money, but before applying as a greeter to the local big box store, consider another possibility. That's right, as the dark and dangerous Texas nights grow longer, the area's haunted attractions are gearing up for a season of unprecedented thrills, chills and hair-raising good times. And they're searching for a few good zombies to take up arms and defend Dallas-Fort Worth's reputation as the scare capital of the world. The benefits of working at a haunt are many, including free uniforms, a complimentary hair and makeup consultation and make-over, inspirational background music, plenty of on-the-job exercise opportunities and more. Working at a haunted attraction is the most fun you can have with your rags and bandages on, while actually getting paid at the same time. Every night is "ghoul's night out" when you're working on the fright line! Take advantage of this spooktacular seasonal employment opportunity by visiting the employment page at CuttingEdgeHauntedHouse.com or Hauntedhousepark.com to find out where and when to apply. But be warned; it's frightfully addictive! http://www.cuttingedgehauntedhouse.com or http://www.hauntedhousepark.com (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120110/DA33144) What: Cutting Edge Haunted House When: Accepting Applications Now Thru October! Where: Apply online to request an interview. www.CuttingEdgeHauntedHouse.com/Employment.cfm 1701 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76102 What: Thrillvania Haunted House Park When: Accepting Applications Now Thru October! Where: Apply online to request an interview. www.HauntedHousePark.com/Employment/ 2330 County Road 138, Terrell, Texas 75161 About Cutting Edge Haunted House and Thrillvania Haunted House Park Cutting Edge Haunted House and Thrillvania Haunted House Park are dark Halloween attractions located in Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas filled with terrifying live actors, amazing special effects and incredible monsters. These intense, multi-themed haunted houses are widely considered to be two of the best Haunted Houses in the nation, full of chilling detail and unbelievable scares! Come see what new horrors lurk in the twisting corridors of Texas's ultimate haunted houses. Visit www.cuttingedgehauntedhouse.com or www.hauntedhousepark.com or call 817-675-7459 for more information. Media Contact: Todd James / Tammy Saxton – 817-675-7459 or cuttingedgehauntedhouse@earthlink.net. SOURCE Cutting Edge Studios RELATED LINKS \|\|\|\|\| DETROIT, Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- America Haunts, home to more than 30 of the most terrifying, bloodcurdling scream-inducing haunted houses and attractions in the United States, announced its 2013 season opening schedule. Starting Sept. 6 at The Edge of Hell and The Beast in Kansas City, Mo., fans will get their first look at the newest crop of monsters and zombies from beyond. Sixteen more America Haunts attractions will open their doors for the season the following week on Friday the 13th (as if that day was not scary enough already). America Haunts attractions annually lure the bravest souls while providing the most safe, fun and horrifying haunted entertainment. To maintain the standard of excellence in the haunted attraction industry, each venue works year-round to present guests with an even more spine chilling experience than their last visit. Staffs featuring high quality technical crews and talented makeup artists and actors combine to provide thrill-seekers the Hollywood-quality scare they seek. "Each America Haunts attraction has the ability to either scare you a little or a lot," said Ben Armstrong of America Haunts. "We have the most fun with those who think that no haunted house is going to scare them. It's fun to then see them become so terrified they don't even think twice about leaving behind friends and family to save themselves." America Haunts Opening Dates Friday, Sept. 6 Edge of Hell Haunted House Kansas City, MO The Beast Kansas City, MO Friday, Sept. 13 13th Floor Denver 13th Floor Phoenix 13th Floor San Antonio Bennett's Curse Baltimore Chambers of Edgar Allan Poe Kansas City, MO Cutting Edge Fort Worth, TX Erebus Haunted House Pontiac, MI House of Torment Austin, TX The Haunting of Lemp Brewery St. Louis Macabre Cinema Haunted House Kansas City, MO Necropolis 13 Baton Rouge, LA Nightmare on 13th Salt Lake City Spookywoods Greensboro Winston-Salem, NC The 13th Gate Baton Rouge, LA The Darkness St. Louis The Dent Schoolhouse Cincinnati Friday, Sept. 20 7 Floors of Hell Cleveland Pennhurst Asylum Philadelphia Saturday, Sept. 21 Headless Horseman Ulster Park, NY Friday, Sept. 27 Bates Motel Philadelphia Creepywoods Haunted Forest Baltimore Netherworld Atlanta Nightmare New England Boston Nightmare on the Bayou Houston Scream Zone San Diego The Asylum Denver The Haunted Hotel San Diego The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park San Diego The Scare House Pittsburgh Saturday, Sept. 28 Thrillvania Dallas For information on hours and ticket prices, go to www.AmericaHaunts.com/attractions With 30 haunted houses and attractions across the country, America Haunts delivers fear-based entertainment to more than a million thrill seekers each season. America Haunts has been featured on the Travel Channel and its members recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records on multiple occasions. The organization is committed to providing technical excellence, stunning set design, Hollywood-quality make-up, costumes and actors. Members enjoy nothing more than delivering, a good old-fashioned scare. Visit AmericaHaunts.com. SOURCE America Haunts Copyright (C) 2013 PR Newswire. All rights reserved	With Halloween approaching, numerous haunted attractions all over Texas are preparing for the big "haunt" season. Directors and staff of such attractions must invest significant time preparing their buildings; such efforts gear up significantly during September. ''Wikinews'' caught up with some owners of these attractions to learn more about the hard work it takes to prepare for opening night. ''Slaughterhouse'' attraction in Dallas. ''Terror Nights'', an attraction in Tyler, opens for the season on September 27. Ryan Laepple, owner and director of the haunt, states he's currently involved in "a blur of safety inspections, auditions, actor training, and last but not least event advertising." Laepple went on to say he stays "pretty busy until the show opens on the 27th and then things calm down some. As long as not too many things in the haunt break at once." Dean Jarnig, the director of ''Zombie Manor'' in , said he and staff have recently been spraying flame-retardant chemicals and installing new lights. Jarnig also stated he and staff are working on a promotional video for their attraction, which opens on Friday September 13. ''Hangman's House of Horrors'' in is celebrating both its twenty fifth anniversary and final operational year. Some individuals who act in these attractions refer to their fellow actors as extended family. This year, some sources have even encouraged holiday job seekers to consider working at a haunted attraction to earn money. One whimsically listed the job's benefits as "... free uniforms, a complimentary hair and makeup consultation and make-over, inspirational background music, plenty of on-the-job exercise opportunities and more." Long a staple in American culture, "", as they're commonly called, range in size from small garage-sized projects, up to multi floor buildings outfitted with the most elaborate of lighting and special effects. == Sources == * Terror Nights Haunted House, Tyler Texas, September 12, 2013 (date of access) * Darkwood Haunted Mall, September 12, 2013 (date of access) * Welcome to Hangman's House of Horrors, September 12, 2013 (date of access) * Zombie Major, Arlington, Texas, September 12, 2013 (date of access) * *
Estelle Getty, best known for her portrayal of acid-tongued Sicilian mother Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls, died Tuesday morning (July 22), three days short of her 85th birthday. She had been battling advanced dementia for years. According to her website, she passed away in her own home, surrounded by family. Born Estelle Scher in New York City on July 25, 1923, Getty started out her career in the Yiddish theater, but her focus soon shifted to settling down and raising a family with Arthur Gettleman, whom she married in 1946. They remained together until Arthur's death in 2004. She didn't return to acting until many years later, making her first screen appearance in 1978's Team-Mates, followed by small parts in Tootsie and Mask. But it was her 1982 role on Broadway as Harvey Fierstein's interfering mother in the play Torch Song Trilogy that catapulted her into the limelight and landed her the role of Sophia on The Golden Girls in 1985. Always ready with a cutting remark, Sophia was an integral part of the series' character and earned Getty seven consecutive Supporting Actress Emmy nominations between 1986 and 1992, including a win in 1988. Her performance also earned three Golden Globe nominations, including a win for Leading Role in a Comedy series in 1986. She also reprised the role in several spin-off shows, including The Golden Palace and Empty Nest. Getty is survived by sons Carl and Barry Gettleman, a brother, David Scher, and a sister, Rosilyn Howard. Share your memories of Estelle Getty and her acerbic Sophia at our PopWatch tribute. \|\|\|\|\| In this Aug. 28, 1998 file photo, actress Estelle Getty displays the Emmy she won at the 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Calif. Getty won best supporting actress in a comedy series for her role in "The Golden Girls." Getty has died at the age of 84. Her son, Carl Gettleman, says she died early Tuesday at home in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon, file) Estelle Getty of 'Golden Girls' dies at 84 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Estelle Getty, the diminutive actress who spent 40 years struggling for success before landing a role of a lifetime in 1985 as the sarcastic octogenarian Sophia on TV's "The Golden Girls," has died. She was 84. Getty, who suffered from advanced dementia, died at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday at her Hollywood Boulevard home, said her son, Carl Gettleman of Santa Monica. "She was loved throughout the world in six continents, and if they loved sitcoms in Antarctica she would have been loved on seven continents," her son said. "She was one of the most talented comedic actresses who ever lived." "The Golden Girls," featuring four female retirees sharing a house in Miami, grew out of NBC programming chief Brandon Tartikoff's belief that television was ignoring its older viewers. Three of its stars had already appeared in previous series: Bea Arthur in "Maude," Betty White in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and Rue McClanahan in "Mama's Family." The last character to be cast was Sophia Petrillo, the feisty 80-something mother of Arthur's character. "Our mother-daughter relationship was one of the greatest comic duos ever, and I will miss her," Arthur said in a statement. When she auditioned, Getty was appearing on stage in Hollywood as the carping Jewish mother in Harvey Fierstein's play "Torch Song Trilogy." In her early 60s, she flunked her "Golden Girls" test twice because it was believed she didn't look old enough to play 80. "I could understand that," she told an interviewer a year after the show debuted. "I walk fast, I move fast, I talk fast." She came prepared for the third audition, however, wearing dowdy clothes and telling an NBC makeup artist, "To you this is just a job. To me it's my entire career down the toilet unless you make me look 80." The artist did, Getty got the job and won two Emmys. "The only comfort at this moment is that although Estelle has moved on, Sophia will always be with us," White said in an e-mail to The Associated Press after Getty's death was announced. "The Golden Girls" culminated a long struggle for success during which Getty worked low-paying office jobs to help support her family while she tried to make it as a stage actress. "I knew I could be seduced by success in another field, so I'd say, 'Don't promote me, please,'" she recalled. She also appeared in small parts in a handful of films and TV movies during that time, including "Tootsie," "Deadly Force" and "Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story." After her success in "The Golden Girls," other roles came her way. She played Cher's mother in "Mask," Sylvester Stallone's in "Stop or My Mom Will Shoot" and Barry Manilow's in the TV film "Copacabana." Other credits included "Mannequin" and "Stuart Little" (as the voice of Grandma Estelle). "The Golden Girls," which ran from 1985 to 1992, was an immediate hit, and Sophia, who began as a minor character, soon evolved into a major one. Audiences particularly loved the verbal zingers Getty would hurl at the other three. When McClanahan's libidinous character Blanche once complained that her life was an open book, Sophia shot back, "Your life's an open blouse." Getty had gained a knack for one-liners in her late teens when she did standup comedy at a Catskills hotel. Female comedians were rare in those days, however, and she bombed. Undeterred, she continued to pursue a career in entertainment, and while her parents were encouraging, her father also insisted that she learn office skills so she would have something to fall back on. Born Estelle Scher to Polish immigrants in New York, Getty fell in love with theater when she saw a vaudeville show at age 4. She married New York businessman Arthur Gettleman (the source of her stage name) in 1947, and they had two sons, Carl and Barry. The marriage prevailed despite her long absences on the road and in "The Golden Girls." Getty was evasive about her height, acknowledging only that she was "under 5 feet and under 100 pounds." In addition to her son Carl, Getty is survived by son Barry Gettleman, of Miami; a brother, David Scher of London; and a sister, Rosilyn Howard of Las Vegas. Associated Press Writers Robert Jablon and Solvej Schou contributed to this report.	Getty at the 41st Emmy Awards. Emmy Award winning American actress Estelle Getty has died at the age of 84. Getty had been previously diagnosed with dementia which had been in its advanced stages. She died while at her home in Hollywood, California early Tuesday morning. "She was loved throughout the world in six continents, and if they loved sitcoms in Antarctica she would have been loved on seven continents. She was one of the most talented comedic actresses who ever lived," said her son Carl Gettleman. Getty was probably most famous for her starring role as ''Sophia Petrillo'' in the American television show ''The Golden Girls'' where she co-starred with actresses Bea Arthur, Betty White and Rue McClanahan. It ran from 1985 until 1992 having aired 180 episodes, and was an immediate success. In 1986, Getty was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, winning one, for her role in the show for "Actress In A Supporting Role - Series, Mini-Series Or Television Movie" and "Actress In A Leading Role - Musical Or Comedy Series". Ironically, though she played the oldest of the four roommates, and the mother of Arthur's character, Dorothy Zbornak, she was actually younger than Arthur or White. "Our mother-daughter relationship was one of the greatest comic duos ever, and I will miss her," stated Arthur in a statement to the press. "The only comfort at this moment is that although Estelle has moved on, Sophia will always be with us," said White to the ''Associated Press. Getty also starred in several movies after the show including ''Mask'' where she played the mother of singer and song writer Cher and ''Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot'' where she also played the mother of actor Sylvester Stallone. She also starred in the television show spin off of ''The Golden Girls'' titled ''The Golden Palace'' and made a two episode appearance on another spin off called ''Empty Nest''. Getty was born in New York City on July 25, 1923, passing away just three days before her 85th birthday.
America's first Muslim congressman has provoked outrage by apparently comparing President George W Bush to Adolf Hitler and hinting that he might have been responsible for the September 11 attacks. Addressing a gathering of atheists in his home state of Minnesota, Keith Ellison, a Democrat, compared the 9/11 atrocities to the destruction of the Reichstag, the German parliament, in 1933. This was probably burned down by the Nazis in order to justify Hitler's later seizure of emergency powers. "It's almost like the Reichstag fire, kind of reminds me of that," Mr Ellison said. "After the Reichstag was burned, they blamed the Communists for it, and it put the leader [Hitler] of that country in a position where he could basically have authority to do whatever he wanted." To applause from his audience of 300 members of Atheists for Human Rights, Mr Ellison said he would not accuse the Bush administration of planning 9/11 because "you know, that's how they put you in the nut-ball box - dismiss you". Vice-President Dick Cheney's stance of refusing to answer some questions from Congress was "the very definition of totalitarianism, authoritarianism and dictatorship", he added. Mr Ellison also raised eyebrows by telling his audience: "You'll always find this Muslim standing up for your right to be atheists all you want." A convert to Islam who was previously linked to the extremist Nation of Islam, Mr Ellison, 42, has cultivated a moderate image since being elected last November, concentrating on issues such as health and education. He is an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq. But he angered his own anti-war supporters by voting for a budget bill that aims to end the war over the next 18 months. His followers want an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. After his speech was reported, Mr Ellison said he accepted that Osama bin Laden was responsible for 9/11. But his demagogic comments threaten to plunge him in controversy. Mark Drake, of the Republican party in Minnesota, said: "To compare the democratically elected leader of the United States of America to Hitler is an absolute moral outrage which trivialises the horrors of Nazi Germany." \|\|\|\|\| In a speech to the Minnesota atheists last Sunday, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison broke one of the most important, yet unwritten rules in political speech: The Minnesota Democrat used an analogy involving Nazi Germany to score political points. Opinion: A Nazi Analogy is Never a Good Idea This rhetorical tactic has gotten a slew of politicians in trouble. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., made the analogy about Guantanamo, former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., used it when the Democrats were set to fillibuster, Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., used it when the Republicans were set to filibuster, and Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., used the analogy in reference to stem cell research. The list goes on and on. Democrats and Republicans have attempted to score political points with a Hilter or Nazi analogy. It generates sensational news for a cycle as the opposing side attempts to score political points until the offending politician concedes that the analogy was wrong. The Star Tribune reported Sunday night that Ellison said of 9/11, “It’s almost like the Reichstag fire, kind of reminds me of that. After the Reichstag was burned, they blamed the Communists for it and it put the leader of that country [Hitler] in a position where he could basically have authority to do whatever he wanted.” The Reichstag fire was exploited by Hitler to consolidate his power and usher in the Nazi regime. By Monday morning, a comparison of 9/11 to the Reichstag had morphed into a comparison of President Bush to Adolf Hitler. Mark Drake, communications director for the Republican Party of Minnesota, wrote in a press release, “Keith Ellison’s despicable comments likening President Bush to Adolf Hitler need to be immediately repudiated by all Democrats in Minnesota. To compare the democratically elected leader of the United States of America to Hitler is an absolute moral outrage which trivializes the horrors of Nazi Germany.” By Tuesday, a nationally read Minnesota blog, Powerline, had picked up the story and it had spread to hundreds of conservative sites. “In promoting the disgusting conspiracy myths of radical ‘truthers’ and extremist Muslims, Ellison is simply working his latest hustle to the growing audience in the nut-ball box,” wrote Scott Johnson. “It’s an audience that includes the Minneapolis atheists who fancy themselves too intelligent to believe in God.” By Wednesday, Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten penned a column in which she asked, “Where is George Bush, with all his shortcomings, in the terrible tale of the Reichstag fire and its aftermath? On what grounds does Ellison compare Bush with Hitler, who butchered 6 million Jews and many others?” Kersten is no stranger to using a Nazi analogy to score political points. Last year, she compared those who thought Terri Schiavo had a right to die with dignity (a majority of Americans at the time) to the Nazis. Much like Ellison’s gaffe, it’s a loose analogy: \|\|\|\|\| For the last four years, Vice President Dick Cheney has made the controversial claim that his office is not fully part of the Bush administration in order to exempt it from a presidential order regulating federal agencies’ handling of classified national security information, officials said Thursday. Cheney has held that his office is not fully part of the executive branch of government despite the continued objections of the National Archives, which says his office’s failure to demonstrate that it has proper security safeguards in place could jeopardize the government’s top secrets. According to documents released Thursday by a House committee, Cheney’s staff has blocked efforts by the National Archives’ Information Security Oversight Office to enforce a key component of the presidential order: a mandatory on-site inspection of the vice president’s office. At least one of those inspections would have come at a particularly delicate time -- when Cheney’s former chief of staff, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, and other aides were under criminal investigation for their suspected roles in leaking the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame. In an eight-page letter to Cheney on Thursday, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) also charged that Cheney or his top staffers tried to abolish the Information Security Oversight Office this year after its director tried repeatedly to force Cheney’s office to comply with the presidential order. Advertisement Cheney spokeswoman Lea Anne McBride confirmed the vice president’s position Thursday but said she could not discuss the matter in detail, including whether Cheney or his aides tried to abolish the information security office. “We are confident that we are conducting this office properly under the law,” McBride said. Some legal scholars and government secrecy experts noted the irony in Cheney’s stance that his office is not fully part of the executive branch, given his claims of executive privilege when refusing to provide information requested by Congress. Cheney’s office has also refused to file required reports with the National Archives elaborating how much national security information was being classified and declassified, which was first reported by the Chicago Tribune last year. Documents released Thursday offer new details about the intensifying dispute between the office of the vice president and the National Archives. The archives has appealed to Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales to intervene but has not received a response. Advertisement President Bush amended an existing executive order regarding classified information in 2003 to address post-Sept. 11 concerns that sensitive data were being mishandled. Cheney’s staff filed annual reports with the National Archives in 2001 and 2002, as required of all federal agencies that handle national security matters. But it hasn’t filed any of the reports since 2003, when Bush’s order established a uniform, government-wide system for safeguarding classified national security information to ensure it is not accidentally released or leaked for political gain. Waxman and others criticized Cheney and his staff, saying their refusal to comply with the presidential order could endanger national security. “To my knowledge, this was the first time in the nearly 30-year history of the Information Security Oversight Office that a request for access to conduct a security inspection was denied by a White House office,” Waxman wrote to Cheney. Advertisement What’s more, the congressman said, it suggests that the vice president considers himself above the law -- even when the directive in question was created by his own boss, Bush. “This is a very dangerous position he is taking and a ridiculous one, but it is a quite serious one,” Waxman, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said in an interview. “I don’t know if he is covering something up or not, but ... when somebody refuses to make this information available, you wonder what they don’t want the inspectors from the National Archives to know.” A frequent critic of the Bush administration, Waxman also asked Cheney how the vice president’s office could claim, as it has in correspondence he cited in his letter, that it was not “an entity within the executive branch.” Advertisement One Cheney staffer familiar with the matter said Thursday that the vice president has not complied with the order because his office has dual functions: It is part of the executive branch -- the Bush administration -- but also part of the legislative branch, given Cheney’s position as president of the Senate. As such, the vice president’s office has no legal obligation to abide by the order because it only applies to the executive branch, said the Cheney staffer, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the inner workings of the office and requested anonymity. Cheney’s position is articulated in the 2004 edition of an annual government directory of senior officials known as the Plum Book: “The vice presidency is a unique office that is neither a part of the executive branch nor a part of the legislative branch, but is attached by the Constitution to the latter. The vice presidency performs functions in both the legislative branch ... and in the executive branch.” Advertisement Waxman said Cheney’s refusal to allow oversight of its classification system was a problem for another reason: The office has had a history of leaks of classified information in recent years. In his letter to the vice president, Waxman said two Cheney staffers -- including Libby -- have been criminally prosecuted in the alleged illegal disclosure of classified information. Waxman also said the Libby prosecution uncovered information suggesting that Cheney himself “apparently misused the declassification process for political reasons ... as part of a damage-control effort” to defend the administration’s rationale for going to war in Iraq. “Your office may have the worst record in the executive branch for safeguarding classified information,” Waxman wrote. Advertisement Steven Aftergood, director of the Federation of American Scientists: Project on Government Secrecy, said the information that Cheney’s office is required to report is essentially trivial, most of it routine data on classification and declassification activity levels. “But the significance of the dispute is enormous. It reveals with unusual clarity how stubbornly this vice president resists oversight,” Aftergood said. “If the executive order on classification can be violated at will, as the vice president has done, then agencies can abuse secrecy to conceal all kinds of mischief, and worse.” Gordon Silverstein, a constitutional scholar at UC Berkeley, said Cheney’s claims were all the more noteworthy given his repeated assertions of executive privilege, based on his senior position within the Bush administration, as a reason why he has not had to testify before Congress or provide lawmakers with information on such national security issues as torture, interrogation and CIA renditions of terrorists. “Here’s a guy who raises ‘executive privilege’ to historic levels to exempt himself from all rules and oversight, and now he says he’s not part of the executive branch?” said Silverstein. “Here we have a subordinate part of the executive branch asserting independent constitutional authority even against its own superior. It is flabbergasting.” Advertisement -- josh.meyer@latimes.com	Congressman Keith Ellison Freshman Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), the only Muslim in the U.S. Congress, has caused controversy after comparing President Bush to Adolf Hilter, and suggesting that the Bush Administration may have been complicit in the terror attacks of 9/11. Speaking to a group of atheists in his home district in Minnesota, Ellison equated the 9/11 attacks and aftermath to the 1933 Reichstag fire in Germany, which helped cement Hitler's power. He carefully parsed his words stating that he would not 'accuse' the Bush Administration of planning 9/11 because "you know, that's how they put you in the nut-ball box - dismiss you". Ellison, a co-sponsor of a bill to impeach Cheney for "high crimes and misdemeanors," described the Vice President as "the very definition of totalitarianism, authoritarianism and dictatorship" and further condemned his refusal to answer Congress' questions. Ellison's promise: "You'll always find this Muslim standing up for your right to be atheists all you want," reportedly "raised eyebrows" among the 300 present. Ellison later clarified that he believes that Osama bin Laden was in fact responsible for the attacks of 9/11. Condemnation came quickly with Republican Mark Drake of Ellison's home state saying: "To compare the democratically elected leader of the United States of America to Hitler is an absolute moral outrage which trivialises the horrors of Nazi Germany."
Did Massimo Galioto a homeless Rome man murder Beau Solomon? How a scuffle which broke out led to a University of Wisconsin student found days later dead. Italian authorities have arrested 41 year old homeless man Massimo Galioto in connection to the murder of Beau Solomon, a 19 year old sophomore at the University of Wisconsin. The arrest comes after Solomon was found four days after arriving in Rome for a study abroad trip floating in Rome’s Tiber River, his shirt bloodied and his head with a noticeable wound. Why was Beau Solomon University of Wisconsin student killed in Rome? Things would go wrong after Beau Solomon joined friends Thursday night, the day of his arrival for drinks at the Trastevere district of Rome near Piazza Trilussa, only to never be seen again after parting later that night. Friends and school authorities at Rome’s John Cabot University, where Solomon was suppose to study for the next six weeks raised the alarm after the student failed to appear at orientation the following morning. Interviewed by authorities, fellow students told that Solomon had not appeared drunk or disorientated following parting the evening before. Those claims would be later contested by Galiato’s partner, Alessia, a woman whom shared a tent with the homeless man by the river banks. Augmenting suspicion of foul play were dubious credit charges to the tune of $1700 (1500 EURO) having been ratcheted up on Beau Solomon’s credit card barely a few hours after he had gone missing, on the day of his arrival in Rome, last Thursday. The credit charges told local media outlets were placed in Milan, some 355 miles north of Rome in the early hours of Friday morning. Since taken into custody, authorities booked Massimo Galioto on charges of aggravated homicide. Of note, local media outlet, Oggi told of authorities yet to have charged the detained man with the theft of Solomon’s wallet and phone. Raising the notion that more than one party, or another party altogether was involved in the theft of Solomon’s items with Galioto believed to be directly responsible for Beau Solomon’s death. According to a report via the dailybeast, authorities conveyed the belief that a gang of thugs who prey on foreign tourists may have been involved in mugging the American, while authorities maintain that Massimo Galioto was responsible for throwing the 19 year old student in the river. A report via abc quoted investigators who told they were looking into the hypothesis that Solomon was robbed, went to the riverbank under a bridge in Trastevere where he got into a scuffle with Galioto, who then pushed him into the Tiber. WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports State-run RAI television on Tuesday interviewed a woman identified as Galioto’s companion, Alessia, who said Solomon had come down the stairs to their settlement along the Tiber early Friday with two people who robbed him. From there the two men were witnessed getting into a scuffle with Massimo Galioto purportedly pushing the hapless youth into the river. Autopsy results that should indicate whether Solomon died from drowning or was dead before he was thrown into the Tiber River are expected this week. That said, preliminary autopsy results indicate that Solomon suffered injuries consistent with a fall and with days spent in the water. Of question is whether Galioto had sought to murder the student or whether an ensuing scuffle inadvertently contributed to the Beau Solomon’s murder? Further interviews with the homeless man’s female friends Alessia led to the woman claiming a drunk Solomon had made his way to the river bank and ‘had bumped into Massimo and they began to argue.’ Told Alessia: ‘They were pushing each other. Massimo pushed him, the boy pushed back, and then he fell in the water.’ Of note, Alessia insisted that Massimo did not flee the scene. Solomon’s injuries are reportedly consistent with a fall and with days spent in water, according to preliminary autopsy results seen by the ANSA news agency. Fears for the worse were validated come Monday, when Beau Solomon’s body was found over the weekend at the Tigres River, with John Cabot University releasing the following statement: ‘John Cabot University is deeply saddened to announce that the body of Beau Solomon, the missing American visiting student, has been found in the Tiber River,’ ‘We express our most heartfelt condolences to the Solomon family and to all those who loved Beau.’ Also releasing a statement was the University of Wisconsin which told: ‘All of us at UW-Madison are greatly saddened by this loss. Beau was a bright and caring young man who lived the Wisconsin Idea through his work at Badger Boys State and his desire to travel and experience other cultures.’ Reiterated Chancellor Rebecca Blank, ‘Our hearts go out to Beau’s family and friends at this difficult time.’ While local authorities initially failed to make the connection with the discovery of Solomon’s body over the weekend, with no identification on him, it wasn’t when pressured by the American Embassy that police realized that the discovered body was that of the missing American. Of question is who Beau Solomon may have left the bar with Thursday night, who stole his belongings and who exactly came to use his credit card? Yet to be ascertained is the exact cause of death of the University of Wisconsin sophomore student and whether Beau Solomon may have had ingested lethal or toxic substances? \|\|\|\|\| The Pope has met with the parents of Beau Solomon, the 19-year-old American student whose body was found in Rome's Tiber river after an altercation with a homeless man. A statement from the Vatican said that Pope Francis had expressed to Beau's parents, Nick and Jodi, during the unscheduled meeting strong sentiments of 'compassion and his closeness in prayer to the Lord for for the young man who died so tragically. Beau, from Wisconsin, is believed to have been mugged by a North African crime gang that he chased to the Tiber River where he was then allegedly killed by a homeless man, Massimo Galioto. Scroll down for video Pope Francis, right, met with the parents of Beau Solomon who came to Rome on a five-week course Nick and Jodi Solomon flew to Rome after their son was reported missing on Friday morning According to the Vatican Pope Francis expressed his condolences for the young man who 'died so tragically' Cole Solomon pictured center in the white vest, beside his brother Beau in the multi-colored vest, as well as the rest of the family said investigators were treating the incident as a murder Shortly after arriving in Rome, he sent a text message to his mother saying 'Everything's so pretty. It's so beautiful.' He then went out drinking with fellow students in the Piazza Trilussa area which is popular with tourists and students. He also replied to his father asking from an update saying: 'So amazing here.' When Solomon left the bar in the early house of Friday morning, police believe he was mugged by two of the gang members who stole his wallet and mobile phone. Solomon, who was a keen American footballer, gave chase two north African men who ran down an embankment towards the river near the Garibaldi bridge. Italian media said CCTV footage near the riverbank shows Solomon then getting into a scuffle with Galioto, who has an encampment underneath the bridge. The footage apparently shows the moment Solomon was pushed into the river. His body was recovered almost three miles downstream from the scene of the attack, on Monday. Beau Solomon was drinking with friends on the early hours of Friday morning after which he was mugged by a north African crime gang and ended up in the River Tiber following a scuffle with a homeless man Galioto, 40, has been arrested by Italian authorities who claim he is 'seriously suspected of aggravated homicide'. Solomon's roommate, who was in the bar with him on Thursday night, assumed his friend had gone home. It was only when Solomon failed to show up for an orientation meeting at the college on Friday was he reported missing. An initial investigation has shown that Solomon suffered head injuries and his clothing was badly bloodstained. The ANSA news agency said preliminary autopsy results indicated that he had suffered injuries consistent with a fall and with days spent in the water. The police official said investigators were in particular looking to see if he was conscious when he fell in the water. Garibaldi Bridge is one of the busiest in Rome and connects the bar-filled Trastevere neighborhood to the other side of the city's historic center. Brawl: A woman only identified as Alessia, who shares a tent with Galioto, says the pair got into an argument, pushing match and then Solomon fell into the river Fight: Solomon is said to have come down to this part of the riverbank after being robbed, according to Alessia; this is where he subsequently got in a fight Italian state TV said charges worth $1,700 were run up Saturday on Solomon's credit card at a Milan store, hundreds of miles from where he was last seen in Rome. Comments by Galioto's companion suggested that the people who stole Solomon's wallet might have used the credit card, not Galioto. Solomon was in Rome for a five-week exchange program at John Cabot University. Devastated: Madisun Holverson , pictured left, wrote: 'The world has suffered a great loss but he will always be with us in our memories and in our hearts. You are loved so much Beau, rest in peace' John Cabot, an English-language university in the Italian capital, said it had been alerted by Solomon's roommate that he had lost contact with Solomon around 1 am Friday and was worried when he didn't show up for orientation later that day. The president of John Cabot, Franco Pavoncello, said the school takes maximum measures to keep its students safe on campus and around its residences, using both Italian soldiers and private security forces. But Pavoncello said it was up to Italian authorities to keep people safe on the streets of Rome. Solomon's family said they understand he had suffered a serious head wound and had blood on his shirt He said: 'Nightlife is nightlife. It's not up to the president of John Cabot University to do an evaluation of the dangers of Rome's nightlife, it's up to judicial authorities.' On Wednesday morning, the university said it wanted to clarify statements made by its president Mr Pavoncello. They said Pavoncello was asked whether Rome was dangerous at night. The college said it was an issue for the public authorities as they could not give a 'yes or no' answer. The college said it has its own private security which patrols the area. Solomon had just completed his first year as a personal finance major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Cole Solomon, Beau Solomon's 23-year-old brother, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Monday that investigators were treating the incident as a murder. Another brother, Jake Solomon, described Beau as an athlete who successfully battled cancer for years as a child. Solomon had just completed his first year in college and was on an exchange course in Rome On Tuesday, the US ambassador to Italy, John Phillips, pledged his assistance to Italian authorities investigating the death. He said: 'My heart goes out to his family and friends.' 'We express our most heartfelt condolences to the Solomon family and to all those who loved Beau,' said a statement from the Rome-based English language university where Solomon had just arrived for an exchange program. Madisun Holverson, a friend of Beau's, paid tribute to him on Facebook. 'The world has suffered a great loss but he will always be with us in our memories and in our hearts. You are loved so much Beau, rest in peace.' Solomon's family was in Italy and John Cabot University was in contact with Italian authorities, the US Embassy and his US college, its President Franco Pavoncello told The Associated Press. On Sunday, Nick Solomon, Beau's father, posted a heartbreaking snap of the whole family along with the message: 'Wanting us all together soon. Mom and I are on our way. Please God help us find out son.' There have been several recent cases of American students in Rome running into trouble, especially during a night out drinking. Many American students are surprised to find that alcohol can be easily acquired in Italian supermarkets, bars or restaurants. In 2012, a US student was allegedly stabbed by his roommate, a fellow student at John Cabot University, after what police said was a night of alcohol and possible drug use. The stabbed student survived. \|\|\|\|\| ROME — A homeless man was charged with murder Tuesday in connection with the death of U.S. college student Beau Solomon, who vanished just hours after arriving in the Italian capital last week. Beau Solomon. Courtesy family The 19-year-old sophomore was due to study at John Cabot University, a small Rome-based liberal arts college. Solomon's body was found in the Tiber River on Monday. The visiting student from the University of Wisconsin-Madison as last seen around 1 a.m. on Friday (7 p.m. ET Thursday) while at a pub in Rome. He had arrived in the city only hours earlier. His roommate became "worried when he did not see Beau at orientation" later in the day, John Cabot University said in a statement issued Sunday. Investigators identified the accused as Massimo Galioto, a 40-year-old homeless man. He was being charged with "aggravated murder," a police spokesman told NBC News. After the disappearance, Solomon's parents called their son's credit card company and "realized thousands of dollars had been charged" in Milan to his account, according to his brother Jake Solomon. Milan is about 350 miles north of Rome. Play Facebook Twitter Google Plus Embed Italian Police Investigate Death of American Student 0:43 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog On Monday, another brother had told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the teen's body had been found with a head wound and blood on his shirt. "It's a murder investigation," Cole Solomon told the newspaper before the arrest was made. The personal finance major had been due to participate in a study abroad program. "We express our most heartfelt condolences to the Solomon family and to all those who loved Beau," John Cabot University said in a statement. \|\|\|\|\| The brother of an American teenager found dead in the river Tiber in Rome has said authorities are investigating whether he was robbed and murdered. Cole Solomon, Beau Solomon’s 23-year-old brother, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that investigators were treating his death as murder. His brother had suffered a head wound and there was blood on his shirt. Cole said thousands of dollars had been charged to Beau’s credit card after his disappearance. On Monday morning, police in Rome said they had arrested a man in connection with the case. Massimo Galioto, a 40-year-old from Rome of no fixed address, was stopped overnight on murder charges and is the prime suspect in the case, police said in a statement. Beau Solomon, 19, had arrived in the Italian capital on Thursday evening to attend a university summer school and went missing later that night after going out with fellow students. The group had walked about 10 minutes from John Cabot University accommodation to G-Bar in the Trastevere neighbourhood, a picturesque area popular with American students and tourists, where Solomon was last seen at about 1am. Assuming he had gone home, the students returned to their residence. On realising Solomon was missing, they returned to the bar to look for him. The alarm was raised on Friday after he failed to turn up for registration at the university. His body was discovered by the Guglielmo Marconi bridge, about three miles downriver from Trastavere. The student’s parents, Jodi and Nick Solomon, received a bank alert at about 4am on Friday, informing them of a transaction of about $2.23 (€2, £1.70). A quick succession of larger charges followed, including a purchase of clothing and a transaction in Milan. The Solomons were unable to phone their son as his US phone number would not work, although they had spoken to him shortly after he arrived in Italy. “Everything’s so pretty. It’s so beautiful,” he told his mother, shortly after going out that evening. The student also replied to a request from his father for an update on Rome life, which was received at about 11pm on Thursday. “So amazing here,” the message said. Solomon’s parents arrived in Rome on Monday, having travelled from their home in Spring Green, Wisconsin, on emergency passports. Speaking to the Guardian, they described their son as a rule follower who was determined to sprint through his studies and graduate within three years. Solomon had just finished his first year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he majored in personal finance. He had taken Italian classes in preparation for the six-week summer school at John Cabot. Before Solomon travelled to Rome, his parents had advised him on how to look after his possessions while in Rome. “The only doubts we had were pickpocketing,” his father said. Beau was the third of four boys. His brothers have remained at home in Wisconsin while their parents travelled to Italy. Jake Solomon described his younger sibling as an active member of the community and said he had wanted to become a politician. “He’s an amazing kid,” he told WMTV on Sunday. The discovery of Solomon’s body came two years after another American student was found dead after disappearing on a night out in Rome. The body of John Durkin, 21, was found in a train tunnel in February 2014. He had gone missing two days earlier after going out with friends in Campo de’ Fiori, a nightlife hotspot in the centre of the city. An economics student at Bates College in Maine, Durkin had arrived in Italy a month earlier as part of a study abroad programme arranged through Trinity College in Connecticut. \|\|\|\|\| SHARE Beau Solomon Family submitted By of the A University of Wisconsin-Madison student who vanished just hours after arriving in Italy to study abroad has been found dead, and authorities have launched a criminal investigation. Beau Solomon, a 19-year-old cancer survivor, disappeared after going to a bar in Rome with friends on Thursday night. "It's a murder investigation," his brother Cole said. Cole, 23, said his brother's body was found in the Tiber River with a wound on his head and blood on his shirt. Thousands of dollars were charged to Solomon's credit card after his disappearance, he said. UW-Madison officials confirmed that Solomon's death was being treated as a criminal investigation by local authorities in Rome, and said the school was working with John Cabot University, as well as American and Italian authorities, to help his family and support the investigation. "All of us at UW-Madison are greatly saddened by this loss," Chancellor Rebecca Blank said. "Beau was a bright and caring young man who lived the Wisconsin Idea through his work at Badger Boys State and his desire to travel and experience other cultures. Our hearts go out to Beau's family and friends at this difficult time." The other UW-Madison students participating in the John Cabot University program are all safe and accounted for, university officials said. Without citing names, the Italian news agency ANSA reported Monday that two people had come forward and told police they witnessed a person thrown into the Tiber River. Solomon's body was found without a wallet or cellphone, leading police to believe he was robbed before being thrown into the river, ANSA reported. On Friday, John Cabot officials reported to Italian authorities and the American Embassy that Solomon was missing after arriving in Rome just one day before. The university said Solomon's roommate alerted school officials that he had lost contact with him about 1 a.m. Friday while they were together at a pub in the city, and was worried when he didn't see Beau at orientation that morning. "We express our most heartfelt condolences to the Solomon family and to all those who loved Beau," John Cabot University said in a statement released Monday. In an interview Sunday with the Journal Sentinel, Solomon's 26-year-old brother, Jake, described him as "an awesome brother" with "a big heart" who dreamed of becoming a lawyer. He also called him the "toughest S.O.B. that we've ever met." The 19-year-old battled cancer for 10 years until the age of 12, after which he went on to participate in high school sports, work as a camp counselor for Badger Boys State and teach at youth quarterback camps around Wisconsin. His parents, Nick and Jodi Solomon, left for Italy Sunday to assist in the search. Beau was the third of four boys, and was especially close with Max, his 12-year-old brother, Jake said. Solomon, a Spring Green native, had just completed his first year at UW-Madison in personal finance. He previously studied at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College and University of Wisconsin-Richland. John Cabot University, founded in 1972, describes itself as "An American university in the heart of Rome." The liberal arts school offers undergraduate degrees and study abroad programs to English-speaking students from around the world. UW-Madison officials said that, based on the investigation so far, there is no indication of a broader risk to students in Rome. Counseling for students and staff is available through University Health Services, which can be reached at (608) 265-5600. \|\|\|\|\| (ANSA) - Rome, July 4 - A body found in the Tiber Monday is that of an American student who has been missing in Rome since Thursday night-Friday morning, police said Monday, adding they believed he had been murdered. University of Wisconsin student Beau Solomon, 19, who came to Rome to do a five-week course at John Cabot University, was dumped into the river and probably suffered a fatal head wound on his way down into the river, the police said after two witnesses came came forward and the murder probe was opened. The body, which had a deep wound to the head, is set to be identified by Solomon's parents later Monday. The body was found without a wallet or cellphone, leading police to believe Solomon was robbed before being thrown into the river. Solomon was last seen at about 1 a.m. local time at a bar in Piazza Trilussa, in Rome's popular Trastevere neighbourhood, on July 1. The police and the family have reportedly said Solomon's credit cards were used since he disappeared. Solomon, described as a "sociable and sporty" young man, had defeated a rare cancer of the eye as a boy. After Solomon's body was found in the river, John Cabot issued a statement saying: "We express our most heartfelt condolences to the Solomon family and to all those who loved Beau". After the disappearance, Solomon's parents called their son's credit card company and "realized thousands of dollars had been charged" in Milan to his account, his brother, Jake Solomon, said. The sophomore was last seen around 1 a.m. on Friday while at a pub in Rome, and his roommate became "worried when he did not see Beau at orientation that morning," John Cabot University said in a statement issued Sunday. "John Cabot University also informed the American Embassy and the student's home school, which notified the family," the statement added. Solomon's parents arrived in Italy Monday, Jake Solomon said. The University of Wisconsin-Madison's dean of students, Lori Berquam, said the school had been working with Italian and American authorities to locate Solomon. "We ask all Badgers to keep Beau and his family in their thoughts and prayers," Berquam said in a statement Sunday. Solomon's disappearance was reported to Italian authorities by college officials at 9 p.m. local time on Friday, a spokesman for the police told NBC News. "In our family, he is the one who does it all right. He's an incredible athlete. He is the one that keeps us all together," Jake Solomon told NBC News before his brother was confirmed dead. "He was driven, career oriented," he said, adding that his brother is a cancer survivor. Abby Korenchan, 19, who graduated high school with Solomon said the news of	Map showing locations pertaining to the robbery of Beau Solomon. Map showing scene and bar locations pertaining to the robbery of Beau Solomon. On Tuesday, police charged homeless forty-year-old Massimo Galioto with the aggravated murder of Beau Solomon, a college student from Wisconsin, US. The police arrested the man after finding the student's body in the in on Monday. The defendant has attorney Michele Vincelli. According to reports, Massimo Galioto is homeless and lived in a tent under a bridge. Italian police said two witnesses reported they saw someone being thrown from the Garibaldi bridge into the Tiber River. The authorities also reportedly obtained CCTV footage near the bank of the river, showing the incident. A homeless woman sharing a tent with Massimo Galioto said she saw Massimo Galioto and Beau Solomon fighting each-other, and then saw Beau Solomon fall into the river. The woman alleged Beau Solomon was drunk and the company included two people from North Africa. On Monday, Italian police found Beau Solomon's body near Guglielmo Marconi bridge about three miles (five kilometres) downstream from Trastevere, where the student was last seen at about 1AM in G-Bar in ''Piazza Trilussa'' on Friday night after his first day in Italy. Solomon was beginning a at . His parents arrived on Monday using emergency passports. The body had no mobile device or wallet, suggesting to local authorities it was a robbery. The body also had a head wound and bloody shirt, the victim's 23-year-old brother Cole Solomon told the '''' on Monday. Last week on Friday morning, Beau Solomon's parents received bank alerts. According to the student's brother Jake Solomon, the bank told his parents Beau's bank card was charged "thousands of dollars". Authorities later confirmed the amount as about 1,500 (about 1700). The credit card of the victim was charged in over 300 miles away from Rome on Friday. Beau Solomon was aged 19. He came to Italy to attend summer school on Thursday. Beau Solomon did not attend university next morning, and the institution reported him missing to the local authorities at 9PM.
Iran-backed Gaza Terrorists Kill Three in Continuing Rocket Attacks on Israel Share With Friends By Alan Gray, NewsBlaze Israel Continues Humanitarian Aid to Gaza, Despite Rocket Attacks Throughout the six month ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas, Hamas continued to fire rockets into Israel, from various places in Gaza. Although Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had asked Hamas not to end the ceasefire, but to extend it, Hamas ended it on Friday (Dec. 19). During the "ceasefire," terrorists in Gaza continued to fire 325 rockets into Israel. Since ending the ceasefire 10 days ago, they fired more than 200 missiles, rockets and mortars. Hamas may have been emboldened by the thought of using their upgraded arsenal of rockets, which can travel much further than those used previously. Month Rockets June 260 July 25 August 25 September 3 October 2 November 150 December 120 Attacks over the weekend killed a 30-year-old resident of the southern Negev city of Netivot and wounded four others. Three Israelis were killed in separate rocket attacks on Israeli cities today. In one attack in Ashkelon, a 27-year-old Israeli-Arab construction worker was killed by a Grad rocket fired from Gaza and 16 others were wounded. A number of the other workers were Israeli Arabs. Five of the injured are in serious condition. [ Haaretz ] In the city of Ashdod, a woman was killed at a bus stop and four others were wounded, one seriously. The dead woman had run into a bus station seeking shelter after a rocket warning siren sounded; she died of shrapnel wounds. It is the first time Ashdod has been hit by missiles fired from Gaza. The third attack killed an Israeli in the western Negev, with seven others wounded. [ ynetnews ] Late on Monday, rockets struck the Israeli cities of Ofakim and Yavneh. Yavneh, 22 miles (35 km) from Gaza, is the northernmost Israeli city ever hit by Gaza rockets. Israeli injured in rocket attack on Ashkelon Photo: Edi Israel Nir Marciano, who lives across the road from where the rocket struck in Ashkelon said, "I heard a small blast followed by a bigger one, which rocked the house and the windows. It was simply terrifying. The blast was so strong it blew me inside." [ Ynetnews The stepping-up of attacks by Hamas prompted Israel to begin "Operation Cast Lead" Saturday. More than 150 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israel since then, at least 40 of them today. The IDF say they are using targeted air strikes on Hamas militants and installations in Gaza in an effort to stop the terrorists' more than three years of almost daily attacks on Israel. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Hamas is responsible for the current situation in Gaza and said he had asked Hamas to extend the ceasefire. In a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu al-Gheit, Abbas said "I say in all honesty, we made contact with leaders of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip. We spoke with them in all honesty and directly, and after that we spoke with them indirectly, through more than one Arab and non-Arab side... We spoke with them on the telephone and we said to them: We ask of you, don't stop the ceasefire, the ceasefire must continue and not stop, in order to avoid what has happened, and if only we had avoided it." On Sunday, the IDF targeted 40 weapons smuggling tunnels built by terrorist groups in Gaza. They also struck two mosques that were being used as storage depots for weapons, ammunition and explosives. Following the air strikes, there were secondary explosions indicating that large quantities of the explosives and ammunition had been hit. Dore Gold, Israel's former ambassador to the UN told Gaza residents, "We are not your enemies and we are not fighting against you. This terrorist organization has brought disaster to two peoples. Israel is not fighting the Palestinian people but the Hamas terrorist organization that has taken it upon itself to act against the residents of Israel." Despite the ongoing attacks, 63 truckloads of humanitarian goods were transferred from Israel to Gaza yesterday, plus 120 truckloads today through the Kerem Shalom and Karni crossings. On Sunday, Israel transported 160 tons of food and medicine into Gaza. The IDF provided the aid in coordination with the UN, UNSCO, UNRWA, Red Cross and WHO. On Friday, Israel transferred more than 90 truckloads of vital goods to Gaza residents. \|\|\|\|\| 271 killed so far in Israeli strikes on Gaza (12-28 15:35) The massive Israeli air bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip has killed 271 people so far, the head of the territory's emergency services said. ''We have counted 271 dead and 620 wounded since Saturday'' when Israel launched a wave of warplanes against Islamist targets in the overcrowded territory, said Dr Moawiya Hassanein. Six of the dead were killed on Sunday in the latest Israeli air strikes. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE \ \|\|\|\|\| GAZA CITY (CNN) -- The death toll from a weekend of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza has topped 300, Palestinian medical sources said Monday as a third day of air raids hit the Hamas-ruled territory. Fires rage overnight in Gaza, where Israel has been bombing what it says are Hamas targets. more photos » Another 650-plus people have been wounded in the strikes, the sources said. The U.N. Security Council has called for an immediate end to the airstrikes, which began Saturday. But Israel says its objective is to stop an ongoing stream of rockets fired by Hamas militants into southern Israel, and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Cabinet ministers Sunday that the situation "is liable to continue for some time." Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza, pledges it will defend its land and people in the face of what it calls continued Israeli aggression. Each side blames the other for violating an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire, which formally expired Friday, December 19, but in reality had been weakening for months. Watch as Gaza endures third day of attacks » Israel has struck more than 300 Hamas targets since Saturday, its military said. The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that more than 150 rockets have been launched into Israeli territory from Gaza since the campaign began. One of those hit a home in southern Israel on Saturday, killing one man inside. Watch parts of Gaza reduced to rubble » Palestinian security and medical sources said airstrikes hit the Jebaliya refugee camp in Gaza early Monday, and a home near Hamas leader Ismail Haniya's residence was hit overnight. Hamas security sources said that raid targeted the home of a senior leader in the group's military wing. The Jebaliya raid left five children dead in a home that was damaged when a nearby mosque was targeted, said Dr. Mu'awiya Hassanein. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on that claim. And a few minutes after midnight, an Israeli F-16 fired rockets into at least one building at the Islamic University of Gaza, a Gaza-based journalist at the scene -- whose name was withheld for security reasons -- told CNN. There were no immediate reports of casualties from that strike, which the IDF said targeted "a center for weapon research and development." The Palestinian television station Ramattan showed firefighters trying to put out a fire at a building identified by the Palestinian network as part of the university, while others sifted through large piles of debris and rubble. Read reactions to Israel's strike on Gaza » "There was a loud series of explosions ... the entire apartment I'm in was shaking," said Sami Abdel-Shafi, a Palestinian business consultant in Gaza City. "It was scary and a very disappointing position to be in for the 'nth' time." An Israeli military statement said the targets of the raid were "buildings that were used as meeting places for senior leaders of Hamas." Watch an ambassador say Israel is only defending itself » "One of the structures struck housed explosives laboratories that were an inseparable part of Hamas' research and development program, as well as places that served as storage facilities for the organization," the IDF statement said. "The development of these weapons took place under the auspices of senior lecturers who are activists in Hamas. Among the weapons that have been developed and manufactured at this site are Qassam rockets." There was no immediate response from Hamas to the IDF statement. CNN's Kevin Flower and Elise Labott contributed to this report. All About Gaza • Israel • Hamas \|\|\|\|\| David Cameron has delivered a firm rebuff to Mitt Romney over Britain’s readiness for the Olympics. Speaking at the Olympic Park, the Prime Minister made clear that there were no doubts over the preparations. After Mr Romney’s scepticism about security and the levels of British enthusiasm in a US interview, Mr Cameron told reporters: “You’re going to see beyond doubt that Britain can deliver.” He added: “We’ve delivered this incredible Olympic Park on time, on budget and in real style, 46,000 people have turned a wasteland the size of Hyde Park into an extraordinary city town within one of the world’s most exciting cities.” The Republican presidential candidate had earlier cast doubt on Britain’s readiness for the Olympics as he prepared to meet leaders from all three political parties in Westminster. The former Governor of Massachussets told US TV last night that there were “disconcerting” stories about Britain’s readiness and it was hard to know “just how well it ... will turn out”. Speaking from the Tower of London, the US anchor Brian Williams asked: “In the short time you’ve been here in London, do they look ready to your experienced eye?” Mr Romney replied: “You know, it’s hard to know just how well it will turn out. There are a few things that were disconcerting, the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials, that obvious \|\|\|\|\| GAZA Waves of Israeli airstrikes destroyed Hamas security facilities in Gaza on Saturday in a crushing response to the group’s rocket fire, killing more than 225 the highest one-day toll in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in decades. Israeli military officials said the airstrikes, which went on into the night, were the start of what could be days or even months of an effort to force Hamas to end its rocket barrages into southern Israel. The operation could include ground forces, a senior Israeli security official said. Palestinian officials said that most of the dead were security officers for Hamas, including two senior commanders, and that at least 600 people had been wounded in the attacks. Image Palestinian protesters threw stones at Israeli soldiers in clashes near Jerusalem on Saturday. Credit... Ahmad Gharabli/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images After the initial airstrikes, dozens of rockets were fired into southern Israel, where an emergency was declared. Thousands of Israelis hurried into bomb shelters amid the hail of rockets, including some longer-range models that reached farther north than ever before. One man was killed in the town of Netivot, the first death from rocket fire since it intensified a week ago, and four were wounded. A number of governments and international officials, including leaders of Russia, Egypt, the European Union and the United Nations, condemned Israel’s use of force and also called on Hamas to end the rocket fire. But in strong terms, the Bush administration blamed Hamas for the violence and demanded that it stop firing rockets. A military operation had been forecast and demanded by Israeli officials for weeks, ever since a rocky cease-fire between Israel and Hamas fully collapsed a week ago, leading again to rocket attacks in large numbers against Israel and isolated Israeli operations here. Still, there was a shocking quality to Saturday’s attacks, which began in broad daylight as police cadets were graduating, women were shopping at the outdoor market, and children were emerging from school. Image An injured Palestinian was helped from the rubble after an Israeli airstrike struck Rafah in the Gaza Strip on Saturday. Credit... Hatem Omar/Associated Press The center of Gaza City was a scene of chaotic horror, with rubble everywhere, sirens wailing, and women shrieking as dozens of mutilated bodies were laid out on the pavement and in the lobby of Shifa Hospital so that family members could identify them. The dead included civilians, including several construction workers and at least two children in school uniforms. By afternoon, shops were shuttered, funerals began and mourning tents were visible on nearly every major street of this densely populated city. The leader of the Hamas government in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, said in a statement that “Palestine has never witnessed an uglier massacre.” Later, in a televised speech, he vowed to fight Israel. “We say in all confidence that even if we are hung on the gallows or they make our blood flow in the streets or they tear our bodies apart, we will bow only before God and we will not abandon Palestine,” he said. In Damascus, Syria, Hamas’s supreme leader, Khaled Meshal, said in an interview with Al Jazeera television that he was calling for a new Palestinian intifada against Israel, including the resumption of suicide attacks within Israel for the first time since 2005. Hamas, he said, had accepted “all the peaceful options, but without results.” Image Israelis in a bomb shelter in the town of Netivot watched Ehud Barak, the Israeli defense minister, on television. Dozens of rockets struck southern Israel after the airstrikes in Gaza, sending residents underground. Credit... Rina Castelnuovo for The New York Times Ehud Barak, the Israeli defense minister and chairman of the Labor Party, said the military operation in Gaza would expand and deepen as necessary, adding, “There is a time for calm and a time for fighting, and this is the time for fighting.” “We wanted to attack military targets while the terrorists were inside the facilities and before Hamas was able to get its rockets out that were stored in some of the targets,” said a top Israeli security official, briefing a group of reporters by telephone on condition of anonymity. “Right now, we have to hit Hamas hard to stop the launching,” he added. “I don’t see any other way for Hamas to change its behavior. Hamas is not just a terrorist organization. It actually rules Gaza and is well supported by Iran with some of its leadership in Syria.” Hamas had in recent weeks let it be known that it doubted Israel would engage in a major military undertaking because of its coming elections. But in some ways the elections have made it impossible for officials like Mr. Barak not to react, because the public has grown anxious and angry over the rocket fire, which while causing no recent deaths and few injuries is deeply disturbing for those living near Gaza. Image Plumes of dark smoke rose from Gaza City during the Israeli airstrike. Credit... Edi Israel/European Pressphoto Agency Israeli officials said that anyone linked to the Hamas security structure or government was fair game because Hamas was a terrorist group that sought Israel’s destruction. But with work here increasingly scarce because of an international embargo on Hamas, young men are tempted by the steady work of the police force without necessarily fully accepting the Hamas ideology. One of the biggest tolls on Saturday was at a police cadet graduation ceremony in which 15 people were killed. Spokesmen for Hamas officials, who have mostly gone underground, called on militants to seek revenge and fight to the last drop of blood. Several compared what was happening to the 2006 war between Israel and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, when Israel reacted to the capture and killing of soldiers along its northern border with air raids, followed by a ground attack. Hezbollah is widely viewed as having withstood those assaults and emerged much stronger politically. The Arab League initially called an emergency meeting for Sunday in Cairo with all the foreign ministers from the member states, but later postponed it to Wednesday to give ministers time to respond. Governments that dislike Hamas, like Egypt’s, Jordan’s and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, are in a delicate position. They blame Hamas for having taken over Gaza by force 18 months ago in the aftermath of its election victory in the Palestinian Parliament, and they oppose its rocket fire on Israeli towns and communities. Image Palestinians evacuated a wounded man after an Israeli air strike on Hamas compounds in Gaza on Saturday. Credit... Suhaib Salem/Reuters But the sight of scores of Palestinians killed by Israeli warplanes outraged their citizens, and anti-Israel demonstrations broke out across the region. President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority angrily condemned the Israeli airstrikes. Egypt, worried about possible efforts by Palestinians to enter the country, has set up machine guns along the Gaza border. But on Saturday it temporarily opened the Rafah border crossing in order to allow the wounded to be brought to Egyptian hospitals. In the West Bank and in some Arab parts of Jerusalem and Israel, Palestinians threw stones, causing some injuries. Hamas is officially committed to Israel’s destruction, and after it took over Gaza in 2007, it said it would not recognize Israel, honor previous Palestinian Authority commitments to it or end its violence against Israelis. \|\|\|\|\| Israeli Air Strikes Kill More Than 100 in Gaza printable version send your friend add comment Palestinian medical officials say Israeli airstrikes on Hamas compounds in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 120 people. Officials say the assault wounded more than 100 other people Saturday. They say Gaza police chief Tawfik Jabber was among those killed. The Israeli military confirmed launching strikes on Hamas targets across Gaza, and warned the operation could be expanded. The militant group vowed to avenge the attacks. Tensions between Israel and Hamas have escalated since a six-month cease-fire expired last week. On Friday, two Palestinian girls were killed when a rocket fired by Palestinian militants missed its Israeli target and instead hit a home in the northern Gaza Strip. The deaths occurred as Gaza militants continued to fire rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel. No casualties were reported. Despite the violence, Israel temporarily opened some border crossings Friday to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Despite the violence, Israel temporarily opened some border crossings Friday to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Truckloads of fuel, food and other vital goods crossed into the impoverished territory. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the decision to open the crossings came in response to requests from the international community. Israel has restricted supplies to Gaza to pressure Hamas to stop firing rockets and mortars into Israel. Human rights groups say the blockade has caused a humanitarian crisis for Palestinians struggling without electricity, food and cash. In the past week, Hamas has fired barrages of rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel. The Israeli army has killed a number of militants, including three who were spotted planting explosives near the Israel-Gaza border. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. Saturday, 27 December 2008 VOA News Middle East Previous News Israeli Air Strikes Kill More Than 100 in Gaza Next News \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Israeli F-16 bombers have pounded key targets across the Gaza Strip, killing more than 200 people, local medics say. Most of those killed were policemen in the Hamas militant movement, which controls Gaza, but women and children also died, the Gaza officials said. About 700 others were wounded, as missiles struck security compounds and militant bases, the officials said. Israel said it was responding to an escalation in rocket attacks from Gaza and would bomb "as long as necessary". They were the heaviest Israeli attacks on Gaza for decades. More air raids were launched as night fell. The operation came days after a truce with Hamas expired. Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said "it won't be easy and it won't be short". "There is a time for calm and a time for fighting, and now the time has come to fight," he said. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate halt to the violence, condemning what he called Israel's "excessive use of force leading to the killing and injuring of civilians" and "the ongoing rocket attacks by Palestinian militants". Middle East envoy Tony Blair and the French EU presidency also urged an immediate ceasefire. Palestinian militants frequently fire rockets against Israeli towns from inside the Gaza Strip; large numbers of rocket and mortar shells have been fired at Israel in recent days. In a statement, Israel's military said it targeted "Hamas terror operatives" as well as training camps and weapons storage warehouses. Hamas bases destroyed A Hamas police spokesman, Islam Shahwan, said one of the raids targeted a police compound in Gaza City where a graduation ceremony for new personnel was taking place. At least a dozen bodies of men in black uniforms were photographed at the Hamas police headquarters in Gaza City. Hamas will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood Fawzi Barhoum Hamas spokesman In pictures: Gaza attack aftermath UK concern over Gaza raid Malnutrition and shortages in Gaza Israel warns Hamas over rockets Israel said operations "will continue, will be expanded, and will deepen if necessary". It is the worst attack in Gaza since 1967 in terms of the number of Palestinian casualties, a senior analyst told the BBC in Jerusalem. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni defended the air raids, saying Israel had "no choice". "We're doing what we need to do to defend our citizens," she said in a television broadcast. Israel hit targets across Gaza, striking in the territory's main population centres, including Gaza City in the north and the southern towns of Khan Younis and Rafah. Hamas said all of its security compounds in Gaza were destroyed by the air strikes, which Israel said hit some 40 targets. Mosques issued urgent appeals for people to donate blood and Hamas sources told the BBC's Rushdi Abou Alouf in Gaza that hospitals were soon full. In the West Bank, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas - whose Fatah faction was ousted from Gaza by Hamas in 2007 - condemned the attacks and called for restraint. But Hamas quickly vowed to carry out revenge attacks on Israel in response to the air strikes, firing Qassam rockets into Israeli territory as an immediate reply. One Israeli was killed by a rocket strike on the town of Netivot, 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Gaza, doctors said. "Hamas will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood," spokesman Fawzi Barhoum was reported as saying. The air strikes come amid rumours that an Israeli ground operation is imminent. Calls for ceasefire World leaders urged both sides to halt the violence. Civilians were caught up in the air strikes in heavily-populated Gaza A White House spokesman said the United States "urges Israel to avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas in Gaza". "Hamas' continued rocket attacks into Israel must cease if the violence is to stop," the spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, added. The UK Foreign Office said: "We urge maximum restraint to avoid further civilian casualties." At least 30 missiles were fired by F-16 fighter bombers. Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that about 60 warplanes took part in the first wave of air strikes. Egypt opened its border crossing to the Gaza Strip at Rafah to absorb and treat some of those injured in the south of the territory. Most of the dead and injured were said to be in Gaza City, where Hamas's main security compound was destroyed. The head of Gaza's police forces, Tawfik Jaber, was reportedly among those killed. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Residents spoke of children heading to and from school at the time of the attacks, and there were fears of civilian casualties. Israeli security officials have been briefing about the possibility of a new offensive into Gaza for some days now, says the BBC's Paul Wood, in Jerusalem. But most reports centred on the possibility of a ground offensive, and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was not expected to authorise any operation until Sunday at the earliest. Although a six-month truce between Hamas and Israel was agreed earlier this year, it was regularly under strain and was allowed to lapse when it expired this month. Hamas blamed Israel for the end of the ceasefire, saying it had not respected its terms, including the lifting of the blockade under which little more than humanitarian aid has been allowed into Gaza. Israel said it initially began a staged easing of the blockade, but this was halted when Hamas failed to fulfil what Israel says were agreed conditions, including ending all rocket fire and halting weapons smuggling. Israel says the blockade - in place since Hamas took control of Gaza in June 2007 - is needed to isolate Hamas and stop it and other militants from firing rockets across the border at Israeli towns. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Palestinian-Israeli conflict area and War on Terrorism around the Gaza strip Israel has launched with at least 30 simultaneous missiles strikes on Hamas installations in Gaza City, causing heavy damage. F-16 fighters targeted security compounds in the city’s centre. The “massive” air strikes on Saturday have claimed at least 220 lives, including Gaza police chief Maj. Gen. Tawfiq Jaber. More than 700 were injured, while others were still buried under the rubble, according to Health Ministry officer Moawiya Hassanain. Gaza City hospitals, including Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s main treatment center, are crowded with wounded victims. In response thirteen rockets and mortar shells had also hit southern Israel on Friday, damaging an unoccupied house. Meanwhile, Hamas declared it would retaliate, by launching rocket attacks on and sending suicide bombers to Israel. “Hamas will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood,” warned Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas’ rival, says he “condemns this aggression” and calls for restraint. Hamas-run Gaza Strip. Qassam rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hits southern Ashkelon in Israel. When the Egyptian-mediated truce terminated last week, Israel warned of their potential to launch a major offensive on Gaza, amid senior leaders’ call to topple Hamas. “I will not hesitate to use Israel’s strength to strike at Hamas and Islamic Jihad,” Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced on Thursday, issuing a dire warning that ”tens of thousands of children and innocents” would be at risk “as a result of Hamas’ actions.” Defense Minister Ehud Barak says Israel has temporarily opened some border crossings Friday to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip in response to the international community’s pleas. Two hours after IAF missiles targeted Hamas installations in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian gunmen launched on Saturday a massive attack with Qassam rockets on Israeli territory. Seven struck Ashkelon, killing one person, while another suffered serious injuries, and four others were moderately wounded when their house was hit. They were rushed to the Soroka hospital in Beersheva. According to the IDF, Hamas militants had further launched more than 110 rockets since Saturday, IDF says. Meanwhile, a Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour has called on the United Nations to condemn the deadly violence. "There is no justification for punishing 1.5 million in the Gaza Strip because of the actions of a few. We hope we don't fail in having a reaction from the Security Council tonight," he said. Dr Moawiya Hassanein has said "we have counted 271 dead and 620 wounded since Saturday." The 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict, referred to as "Operation Cast Lead" (מבצע עופרת יצוקה - also known as "Operation Solid Lead") by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is an Israeli air strike operation launched on December 27, 2008 at 11:30 am local time (9:30 am UTC) against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials justified the offensive as a retaliation against daily Palestinian Qassam rocket and mortar fire on Israel's southern communities.
CTV Release 6/10/2008 12:05:48 PM Toronto, ON - CTV Inc., together with Copyright Music & Visuals, today announced that CTV Inc. has acquired all rights to 'The Hockey Theme' in perpetuity, preserving the song's legacy and ensuring it will be heard on national television for years to come. 'The Hockey Theme' song will now live on CTV Inc. properties TSN, RDS and across Canada on CTV during coverage of the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympics as outlined below. The deal between CTV and Copyright Music & Visuals was agreed to in principle after the CBC publicly announced last Friday at 5 p.m. ET that a deal could not be reached with the rights holders. Due diligence was completed earlier today. The song, which was created by Vancouver's Dolores Claman in 1968, will now be used in NHL broadcasts on TSN and RDS beginning this Fall. In addition, CTV will utilize the song as part of its hockey coverage during the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. "The song has a long and storied history in Canadian sports and has become ingrained in the hearts and minds of hockey fans across the country. It is an iconic tune, embraced by Canadians everywhere, and we felt it was imperative to save it. We know we will be in hockey forever, so there's no doubt this acquisition will create value for us," said Rick Brace, President, Revenue, Business Planning and Sports, CTV Inc. "It's an honour and a privilege to own such a cherished piece of Canadiana." "I am very moved by how so many Canadians have taken the hockey theme to heart. We are so pleased the song has found a new home," said Claman. "Throughout our negotiations, CTV displayed a tremendous amount of respect for my family and the song. 'The Hockey Theme' means so much to Canadians, and we know it's in good hands with CTV." The announcement complements TSN's new six-year multi-platform NHL deal, featuring more coverage of Canadian teams than ever before with at least one Canadian team in every game. Earlier this year, RDS extended its exclusive rights agreement with the Montreal Canadiens through the 2011-12 season. CTV, together with TSN and RDS, boast the most powerful and prestigious sports programming lineup in the country featuring the NHL and Stanley Cup Playoffs, NFL games and the Super Bowl, every CFL game including the Grey Cup, International Hockey including the World Juniors, NBA, Blue Jays Baseball, all four golf Majors, all four tennis Grand Slam events, Season of Champions Curling, NASCAR and F1, and this month's NBA Finals and UEFA EURO® 2008. \|\|\|\|\| CTV purchases The Hockey Theme Dolores Claman's song had been used on Hockey Night in Canada since 1968. Dolores Claman's song had been used on Hockey Night in Canada since 1968. CTV Inc. has acquired the rights to The Hockey Theme in perpetuity, the network announced Monday. The agreement was reached with Copyright Music & Visuals, which was unable to renew a deal with CBC Sports. CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore said he was disappointed but not surprised the song was shopped elsewhere. "The two sides were so far apart and there was so much bad blood that we knew a deal would be difficult," he said. "The reality is it takes two sides to do a deal and we tried everything we could to do a deal. "We offered arbitration, mediation — we offered to meet their price. On Friday, when it came right down to it, we never got a response from them on our latest offer and find out, in the meantime, they appeared to be negotiating with CTV." Moore said CBC had negotiated for 14 months but to no avail, and that the agency was asking for $2.5 million to $3 million for use in perpetuity. "If they got that from CTV, we would never have been able to get there," Moore told CBC Newsworld. "It is not a responsible price for us. "If that is the price CTV wants to pay, it won't be the first time nor will it be the last time, probably, that they outbid us for something. They have a lot more profits than we do." The song had been used on Hockey Night in Canada since 1968. "Hockey is a game, it's not a song," Moore said. "We have the No. 1 sports property in Canada. "I don't expect one less viewer to tune in on Saturday to watch Hockey Night in Canada. They will continue to watch their favourite team." According to a release, CTV said it agreed to a deal with Copyright Music & Visuals after Friday's deadline with CBC passed. The agency represents the song's composer, Dolores Claman, who was born in Vancouver. "The song has a long and storied history in Canadian sports, and has become ingrained in the hearts and minds of hockey fans across the country. It is an iconic tune, embraced by Canadians everywhere, and we felt it was imperative to save it," said Rick Brace of CTV Inc. Moore said he was surprised a rival network would purchase something so inextricably linked to the Hockey Night brand. "It's a constant commercial for our network," he said. Lawsuit complicated negotiations Earlier on Monday, CBC Sports had said it planned to bring in noted sports and entertainment lawyer Gord Kirke in a last-ditch effort to bring about a mediated resolution. Complicating the bid for a settlement was an outstanding lawsuit filed against the CBC in late 2004 surrounding its use for ringtones and downloads. Moore said CBC wanted to resolve that issue along with the song's future use, but that representatives for Claman wanted to keep them separate. Claman, 80, has written about 2,000 jingles over her career, including the Ontario theme A Place to Stand, which she co-wrote with her husband, Richard Morris. "I am very moved by how so many Canadians have taken the hockey theme to heart. We are so pleased the song has found a new home," said Claman, who now resides in Britain. Before Kirke's involvement was announced, CBC Sports announced plans to launch a new national contest in conjunction with Nettwerk Music Group to find a new theme song. Canadians will be invited to write and record an original song for Hockey Night in Canada, with fans and a jury of experts to choose the best new composition. "I think it'll help us get a new demographic," Moore said. "The theme that we had was a great theme. [But] it was 39 years old. Maybe it's time for something else." The son of Stompin' Tom Connors said Monday his father is open to licensing his famed hockey song to CBC as a replacement. "If they want to use The Hockey Song, it's a good song, whether Tom sings it or not," Tom Connors Jr. said. "There's other versions out there. "Even if they wanted to commission some other band, like a big [name] band if they wanted to do more of a Hockey Night theme, everything is open for negotiations, of course. That's the business we're in." 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.	CTV has bought rights to broadcast The Hockey Theme The Hockey Theme was the former theme song of Hockey Night in Canada The CTV Television Network has acquired the rights to ''The Hockey Theme''. Composed by Dolores Claman, ''The Hockey Theme'' was the theme song of ''Hockey Night in Canada'', one of the most popular Canadian television programs, since 1968. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) latest license to broadcast ''The Hockey Theme'' had expired at the conclusion of the latest NHL season. On June 6, negotiations between Claman and CBC broke down, with the CBC announcing that a deal could not be reached. The CBC offered to resume negotiation with a mediator today. However, by mid-afternoon today, Claman's representatives announced that they had sold the rights to CTV. CTV will use this song in its broadcasts of National Hockey League (NHL) games on The Sports Network (TSN) and Réseau des sports (RDS), as well as during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Deborah Smith, Science Editor November 28, 2006 Global efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions have had little impact with the rate of emissions more than doubling since the 1990s. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research scientist, Mike Raupach, said that from 2000 to 2005, the growth rate of carbon dioxide emissions was more than 2.5 per cent per year. "In the 1990s it was less than one per cent per year." In 2005, 7.9 billion tonnes of carbon were emitted into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. This was near the high end of the fossil fuel use scenarios considered by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said Dr Raupach, who is also co-chair of the Global Carbon Project, an international scientific collaboration to study the carbon cycle. "On our current path, it will be difficult to reign in carbon emissions enough to stabilise the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration at 450 ppm," he said. While China had the highest current growth rate in emissions, its emissions per person were still below the global average and its accumulated contribution since the start of the industrial revolution more than 200 years ago was only five per cent of the global total. By comparison, the US and Europe have each contributed more than 25 per cent of accumulated global emissions. Paul Fraser, also from CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, said the findings were supported by measurements of carbon dioxide levels in the air, which grew by two parts per million in 2005. This was the fourth year in a row of above-average growth, Dr Fraser said. "To have four years in a row of above-average carbon dioxide growth is unprecedented." The two scientists presented their latest findings at a meeting at Tasmania's Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, which is run by CSIRO and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Dr Fraser said the 30-year record of air collected at Cape Grim, showed growth rates of carbon dioxide were slightly more than one part per million in the early 1980s, but in recent years carbon dioxide levels has increased at almost twice this rate. "The trend over recent years suggests the growth rate is accelerating, signifying that fossil fuels are having an impact on greenhouse gas concentrations in a way we haven't seen in the past." \|\|\|\|\| Rachel Kleinman November 28, 2006 CARBON emissions are escaping into the earth's atmosphere at an unprecedented rate, an international group of scientists has warned. In 2005, about 7.9 billion tonnes of carbon were released globally, according to figures published yesterday by the CSIRO. Scientist Mike Raupach, who also co-chairs the international Global Carbon Project, was surprised by his research results. "It shows recent efforts globally to reduce emissions have had little impact on emissions growth," he said. The rate of emissions had grown by about 2.5 per cent each year since 2000, compared with less than 1 per cent growth each year in the 1990s. Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere a separate measure to carbon emissions had also increased at an unprecedented rate. Science Minister Julie Bishop yesterday announced that research on climate change would benefit from a $500 million Federal Government upgrade to science infrastructure. Funded programs include systems to explore the effect of climate change on Australia's geological structure and marine environment, and an online atlas of native Australian species. Another $640 million will be contributed by universities, state governments and the private sector. \|\|\|\|\| Atmospheric scientists have warned that carbon dioxide emissions are increasing more rapidly, despite international efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels. They have found the amount of carbon dioxide being pumped into the atmosphere has doubled in the past 20 years. CSIRO scientists have found global carbon dioxide emissions reached almost eight billion tonnes last year. New data from the Cape Grim air pollution monitoring station in north-west Tasmania shows carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 2.5 per cent each year for the past five years. Atmospheric scientist Paul Fraser says the increase in carbon dioxide comes mostly from developing countries and temperatures will continue to rise. "Over the last 20 or so years the rate of increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has almost doubled," he said. "It started off 20 odd years ago at one part per million per year and it's now up to two. "Once we start reducing emissions, just what level of greenhouse gases the atmosphere will stabilise at is difficult to say. "But I'm afraid it will be relatively high, which means something like a two degree warming over the next 100 years."	CO2 BubblesAtmospheric scientists warn that greenhouse gas emissions are increasing more rapidly, despite global efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, new research by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) shows. According to CSIRO research scientist Dr Mike Raupach, 7.9 billion tonnes of carbon were emitted into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide in 2005 - a doubling in the rate of increase since 1990 - and the rate of increase continues to accelerate. Data from the Cape Grim air pollution monitoring station in north-west Tasmania shows carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 2.5% each year for the past five years. "From 2000 to 2005, the growth rate of carbon dioxide emissions was more than 2.5% per year, whereas in the 1990s it was less than 1% per year," Dr Raupach says. Dr Raupach, who co-chairs the international Global Carbon Project also, was surprised by his research results. "It shows recent efforts globally to reduce emissions have had little impact on emissions growth," he said. The CSIRO found that in global terms, China has the highest current growth rate in CO2 emissions although it's emissions per person are below the global average. China's accumulated contribution since the start the 1800s is only five per cent of the global total. The USA and Europe have each contributed more than 25% of accumulated global emissions. Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere — a separate measure to carbon emissions — had also increased at an unprecedented rate. Dr Paul Fraser, also from CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, said that atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide grew by two parts per million in 2005, the fourth year in a row of above-average growth. "To have four years in a row of above-average carbon dioxide growth is unprecedented," Dr Fraser said. He said the trend over recent years suggests the growth rate is accelerating, "signifying that fossil fuels are having an impact on greenhouse gas concentrations in a way we haven’t seen in the past."
Ms Kelly apologised but said risks were not substantial Names, addresses and phone numbers - but no financial information - were among details on a computer hard drive which went missing in the US in May. It belonged to a contractor working for the Driving Standards Agency, she said. It is the second time in a month ministers have apologised for a loss of data after HM Revenue and Customs lost discs containing 25m people's details. Ms Kelly said the details of learner drivers had been formatted specifically to meet the security requirements of the private contractor, Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd, and were not "readily usable or accessible" by third parties. Risks 'not substantial' She said the details were not sent in the post - but the hard drive had not been found where it had been expected to be, in a "secure facility" in Iowa. The information commission had judged the risks presented by the loss were not "substantial" and there was no need to notify each person individually. MISSING DRIVERS' DETAILS Name Address Phone number Fee paid Test centre Payment code E-mail where provided Analysis: Testing times for PM 'No fraud' from lost discs The details did not include bank account details, National Insurance numbers, driving licence numbers or dates of birth, she said. "Nevertheless I apologise for any uncertainty or concern that these individuals may experience," Ms Kelly said. She added the Driving Standards Agency had set up a dedicated advice line for candidates who took their driving theory test between September 2004 and April 2007. Ms Kelly said the loss had emerged as part of a Department of Transport audit, as part of a review of data security across government departments. 'Systemic failure' It appears a junior minister, Stephen Ladyman, was informed about the problem in June and agreed a series of procedures and wide audit with Pearson - but did not make the information public. Details of candidates were sent electronically to Pearson Driving Assessments in Iowa. The hard drive was then sent to another state before being brought back to Iowa, where it went missing. Ms Kelly said the Department of Transport was making changes to the way it handled data - including more electronic transfer and "secure couriers" for that information which could not be transmitted that way, as well as increased emphasis on the Data Protection Act. HAVE YOUR SAY Lost social security data, lost learner driver data. Fiasco after fiasco Steve Godrich Send us your comments It follows the loss of personal details of more than 6,000 drivers by the Driver and Vehicle Agency in Coleraine, Northern Ireland in November. Ms Kelly said that agency would be merged with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea to reduce the risk of it happening again. And in October, the prime minister had to apologise for the loss of two discs containing the entire child benefit database - personal details of 25 million people including National Insurance numbers and bank accounts. 'Spy-in-the-sky' Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said it was further evidence of a lack of competence and "systemic failure" by the government in handling private data. "Quite simply the government is failing in its duty to obey its own laws on data protection," she said. This constant attempt to gather data, to get more data, to know more about you, to link it more together, all of that it seems to me is what comes into question Susan Kramer Lib Dems Ms Villiers told Ms Kelly: "This incident and the HM Revenue and Customs disaster are another blow to your plans for an untested spy-in-the-sky national road pricing scheme." Susan Kramer, for the Liberal Democrats described the further loss of data from another government department as "mind-bending". She said: "Perhaps the answer is we should be holding less data on people or it should automatically be destroyed. "I still can't get to the bottom of how old some of this data was on people who'd applied for drivers' licences. "This constant attempt to gather data, to get more data, to know more about you, to link it more together, all of that it seems to me is what comes into question." 'Deep regret' Pearson plc, the parent company of Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd, said: "We take great care over the quality and security of our data and we deeply regret this incident. "There is no loss of sensitive financial data and no evidence of misuse. We have put in place additional measures to strengthen data security further." The BBC's Justin Webb said the company had reported the missing hard drive to Iowa police, but referred to it has having been "mislaid" and said there was no evidence it had been stolen. Ms Kelly's statement followed Chancellor Alistair Darling's presentation of an interim report by Kieran Poynter, UK chairman at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, into the loss of the two child benefit discs. \|\|\|\|\| Analysis The mayor is dependent on the central government for most of their funds, so how much power do they really have?	Some personal details of 3 million British learner drivers who had applied for the 'theory test' component of their Driving licence have been lost in Iowa, in the USA. The data was lost on a hard drive that was owned by Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd, a private contractor to the UK driving standards agency. Details were given by the UK Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly, in the House of Commons at 1730 UTC yesterday. It is the first major loss of data in the UK since information on 25 million people was lost by HM Revenue in October. In her statement to MPs, Ruth Kelly confirmed that no banking information was contained within the lost data, nor were individuals' dates of birth. She highlighted that security measures had been taken, and that the information that had been stored was not in a format "readily usable or accessible" by standard means. Political figures in the UK continue to raise concerns about both the specific loss of this information, and the nature of governments ability to safely gather and maintain information. Susan Kramer, representing the Liberal Democrats stated "This constant attempt to gather data, to get more data, to know more about you, to link it more together, all of that it seems to me is what comes into question."
Lahore, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistani air force planes swooped down on the country's troubled tribal region on the border with Afghanistan Tuesday, launching a blistering airstrike that left as many as 50 militants dead, Pakistan Army sources said. People flee Miran Shah, North Waziristan, after heavy fighting between Islamic militants and security forces. The strike in the Miran Shah region was the latest salvo in intense fighting between Pakistani security forces and Taliban and al Qaeda militants that broke out Saturday, as the summer cease-fire crumbled even further. Those battles -- in North Waziristan, part of the country's largely lawless tribal region -- killed up to 150 militants, as well as 50 government troops, an army spokesman said. Another 20 security forces have been wounded. Intelligence sources said 12 to 15 soldiers remain missing. According to the army spokesman, the military operation, which was launched Sunday, will continue until peace is completely restored to North Waziristan. Pakistani officials offered few other details about the scope of the latest fighting which follows recent attacks on Pakistani security forces and a breakdown over the summer of a ceasefire between the Islamabad government and tribal leaders. That truce was blamed for an increase in attacks on U.S. troops over the border in Afghanistan, as Taliban fighters were able to prepare, train, and reconstitute weapons supplies without interference from the Pakistani government. The Taliban are the former Afghan regime that sheltered al Qaeda until the U.S.-led war following the September 11, 2001 attacks. U.S. intelligence officials say al Qaeda has established a "safe haven" in Waziristan, just over the border into Pakistan -- and that Osama bin Laden is believed to be in the area. American and NATO troops pushed the terrorist network and its Taliban allies out of power in Afghanistan following the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, but top leaders -- including al Qaeda mastermind bin Laden -- are believed to have found refuge in the mountainous border zone. Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, cracked down on al Qaeda militants and arrested many in the Waziristan area before the truce was reached, but critics say he has failed to prevent the militants from gaining strength within the country. E-mail to a friend CNN's Dan Rivers in Islamabad contributed to this report All About Pakistan • Islamabad • The Taliban • Al Qaeda \|\|\|\|\| 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. \|\|\|\|\| Tens of thousands of Pakistani civilians are fleeing a town on the border with Afghanistan following three days of fighting which has killed up to 250 people, locals and military officials said today. About 90% of the population of Mir Ali, a town of 50,000 people in the lawless north Waziristan region, has fled the fighting using cars and tractors or on foot, a local man told the Reuters news agency. "Just one or two people are staying behind in each house to guard their belongings," Sher Khan said. About 50 suspected al-Qaida and Taliban-linked militants were killed in a new wave of air strikes today close to Mir Ali, an army spokesman said. However, local resident Noor Hassan said the attack had struck the bazaar in a village just outside the town, with a number of civilians killed. "The bombing destroyed many shops and homes," said Mr Hassan. "We are leaving." Previously, the military said the battles - the fiercest in the region since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001 - had left 150 militants and 45 soldiers dead, with up to 15 troops listed as missing. Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, who secured a new five-year term in office in a controversial vote at the weekend, faces intense US pressure to crack down on militant activity. Washington fears North Waziristan has become a safe haven for al-Qaida forces, which are using it as a launching pad to attack coalition forces in Afghanistan. The Pakistani army operation has proved unexpectedly bloody, with soldiers struggling to impose any authority in the remote, mountainous area. The army, which has used helicopters and jets to strafe militant positions, said it had re-established contact with 35 soldiers reported missing in an ambush yesterday. Fifteen more soldiers remain unaccounted for. The pro-Taliban rebels are well trained and equipped, and are using the "latest weaponry and lots of money" brought across the border, a Pakistani official told the AFP news agency. Fighting has centred on Mir Ali, the second-largest town in the region. One official said up to a dozen civilians were killed yesterday after a shell hit a home. Many locals have since fled the town. "Our homes have been severely damaged. Most families have moved to relatives' homes in neighbouring towns," resident Faridullah Khan told the agency. Other people were using loudspeakers at the mosques to beg the military not to fire at their homes, a local resident said. The fighting follows the collapse of several peace deals in which tribal elders were meant to curb local militancy in return for a withdrawal of security forces. \|\|\|\|\| The army faces well-armed, well-trained militants in Waziristan Unconfirmed reports say 50 more rebels died in fresh air strikes on Tuesday. It is the heaviest fighting in the Waziristan region, which borders Afghanistan, for many months. Locals are reported to be fleeing the clashes. US and Nato have been pressing Pakistan to do more to stop militants crossing the border to attack their troops. The fighting is centred around the town of Mir Ali. The bombing destroyed many shops and homes... We are leaving Noor Hassan, Mir Ali resident Waziristan clash: Your views Latest reports say many of its residents are trying to escape, but it is unclear how many are going. One man interviewed by the BBC Urdu service on Tuesday morning who was among those leaving said that his nephew had been killed by army shelling. The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that Mir Ali is known as a base for foreign militants with links to the Taleban and al-Qaeda. The violence has been escalating since mid-July when a ceasefire between the army and the militants broke down. Access for journalists to the tribal areas is restricted and it is impossible to independently verify the casualty figures. 'Punitive action' Military aircraft struck "one or two places" near Mir Ali on Tuesday, army spokesman Maj Gen Waheed, the Associated Press news agency reports. There were unconfirmed reports that about 50 militants had been killed. As well as soldiers confirmed killed, the army says up to 15 soldiers who went missing on Monday are still unaccounted for. The army says it has rejected a ceasefire proposed by the militants and will "continue punitive action till complete peace is restored", AP said. Our correspondent says that, by all accounts, the fighting in North Waziristan has been extraordinarily fierce. The army has been bombing suspected militant positions in villages using helicopter gun ships and jet fighters. Locals report civilians among the dead, including women and children. The battles are said to have begun when militants ambushed a number of army convoys on Saturday. All changed Traditionally the security forces kept out of the tribal border areas. That all changed in 2001 after Gen Musharraf allied Pakistan to the US-led 'war on terror' and vowed to crack down on militants based in the tribal regions. The militants want to overthrow Gen Musharraf For much of that time there has been a heavy military presence in Waziristan. But militants have still managed to increase their influence and control in many areas. Hundreds of soldiers have been killed. But critics say that the military has not done enough to crack down on the militants. Moreover, elements in the army and the intelligence services have been accused of helping them. The military campaigns are deeply unpopular in Pakistan as they are widely seen as being carried out under American pressure. Another batch of more than 200 soldiers were captured recently by militants, apparently without a fight. The militants say they will kill them unless a number of prisoners are released and military deployment ends in their area. So far, a number of the soldiers have been freed, while several others have been killed.	thumb The Pakistani army says that at least 150 to 200 Taliban militants, along with 50 Pakistani troops have been killed in between al-Qaeda, Taliban fighters and Pakistani troops along the border region of Pakistan and Afghanistan in an area known as . At least 20 other troops were injured and at least 15 are reported to be missing. 12 civilians are also reported to have been killed. "We have told them to surrender and give up their weapons," said Major General of the Pakistani army, Waheed Arshad. Militants say that they are going to attempt to overthrow the government and take the newly elected Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf out of power. The battles began on Saturday October 6 in the town of Mir Ali and have lasted three days so far. Army officials say that they will "continue punitive action until complete peace is restored." The battles were triggered after several Pakistani officials were targeted and peace talks with officials in Islamabad failed to go forward. In September, Osama bin Laden issued a new audio tape in which he told militants to resist Pakistani troops and rebel against the army. He also asked militants to seek revenge for the assault on the Red Mosque when almost 100 were killed by militants and troops.
Since 2000, Warren Buffett has auctioned off lunches with himself to support a San Francisco nonprofit organization. Over the course of ten years, Buffett has brought in $5.9 million in donations through these charity auctions. According to Reuters, this year's auction has broken all previous records, bringing in a staggering $2.63 million for the Glide Foundation, an organization providing food, health care, housing and job training for San Francisco's homeless. Reverend Cecil Williams, the organization's founder, explained that the auction was especially helpful this year, with the economy making it difficult for the charity to operate. The national recession has pushed demand for the nonprofit's services up 30 percent, while donations have dropped 20 percent. "I'm jumping for joy. There's no doubt about it," Williams, 80, said after the high bid had topped $1.5 million. The winner of the eBay auction can bring up to seven friends along with them to dine with Buffett at the Smith & Wollensky steakhouse in New York City. \|\|\|\|\| By Sonya Bryskine Epoch Times Staff Billionaire investor Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, joins California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (not in picture) in a coversation during the Women's Conference 2008 at the Long Beach Convention Centre in Long Beach, California. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images) Lunch with the billionaire and well-known philanthropist Warren Buffett has attracted a record auction bid of $2.63 million at the 11th annual charity fundraiser.The winning bidder, who wished to remain anonymous, will have a chance to dine with Buffett at New York’s prestigious Smith and Wollensky steakhouse.Buffett earned his title of “legendary investor Warren Buffett” after turning the textile manufacturer Berkshire Hathaway into a billion-dollar enterprise.The annual lunch function has given business entrepreneurs an opportunity to discuss with Buffett topics such as investment strategies, corporate governance, and philanthropy. The winner can also bring nine guests to share the occasion.This year’s auction was 24 percent higher than the previous record, set in 2008 when hedge-fund manager Zhao Danyang of Hong Kong paid $2.11 million.The chance to have lunch with the celebrated billionaire investor drew nine bidders and 77 bids, according to EBay Inc.Buffett, the 79-year-old investor who is chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., has raised about $8.56 million with the auctions to help the Glide Foundation, which serves meals to the needy. A group led by Courtenay Wolfe of Salida Capital won last year with a bid of $1.68 million.“It’s actually a remarkable calibration of his value,” said Jeff Matthews, author of Pilgrimage to Warren Buffett’s Omaha and founder of hedge fund Ram Partners LP. “It measures what people think his worth to them is,” he continued, reports Bloomberg.According to the 2010 Forbes Magazine review Buffett’s fortune was estimated at $47 billion, making his the third wealthiest person in the world. He runs behind telecommunications investor Carlos Slim and Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates in the worldwide rankings.Buffett is noted for his adherence to the value investing philosophy and for his personal frugality despite his immense wealth. Buffett is also a notable philanthropist and serves as a member of the board of trustees at Grinnell College.However, Buffett’s philanthropy has recently earned him no less respect. He has vowed to give away 85 percent of his wealth to the Gates Foundation. The Foundation was described as the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world by the Economist and was founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. The primary aims of the foundation are, globally, to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and in America, to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology.	File photo of billionaire Warren Buffett. Billionaire Warren Buffett, Chief Executive of , auctioned lunch with himself on eBay for US$2.63 million. Bidding, which started on eBay a few weeks ago, attracted nine bidders, offering huge sums for the opportunity to have a steak lunch with the man said to be a "legendary investor". The winning bidder, an anonymous individual, will be parting with $2.63 million for a meal with the world-famed investor and has the opportunity to bring along seven friends for the meal. This, the latest of Buffett's charity auctions, is providing funds to the , a charity that provides food, health care, housing and job training for 's homeless. Over the last ten years, Buffett has netted $5.9 million in donations through such auctions.
S4C Viewing Figures Top 20 Welsh Programmes - Week ending 23/09/2007 Programme Title Transmission Date and Time Company Thousands of Viewers POBOL Y CWM Monday (20:25), Wednesday (18:00) and Sunday (18:20) BBC Cymru 101 POBOL Y CWM Wednesday (20:00), Thursday (18:00) and Sunday (18:45) BBC Cymru 95 POBOL Y CWM Friday (19:15), Sunday (19:05) and Monday 24/09 (18:00) BBC Cymru 88 POBOL Y CWM Monday (20:00), Tuesday (18:00) and Sunday (18:00) BBC Cymru 72 CWPAN RYGBI'R BYD 2007 (Cymru v Japan) Thursday (19:25) Sunset & Vine 60 Y CLWB RYGBI (Munster v Sgarlets) Saturday (17:10) BBC Cymru 53 YSGOLORIAETH BRYN TERFEL Sunday (19:30), Monday 24/09 (21:30), Tuesday 25/09 (22:00) and Friday 28/09 (20:25) Hanner: Hanner 46 WEDI 7 Monday (19:00) and Tuesday (13:30) Tinopolis 42 WEDI 7 Thursday (19:00) and Friday (13:30) Tinopolis 41 CWPAN RYGBI'R BYD 2007 (Yr Alban v Romania) Tuesday (19:45) Sunset & Vine 40 JONATHAN Wednesday (21:00) BBC Cymru 39 Y TY CYMREIG Wednesday (20:25), Friday (14:25) and Saturday (13:30) Fflic 38 NEWYDDION Monday (19:30) BBC Cymru 34 PENAWDAU NEWYDDION Monday (20:55) BBC Cymru 33 WEDI 7 Wednesday (19:00) and Thursday (13:30) Tinopolis 33 PENAWDAU NEWYDDION Wednesday (20:55) BBC Cymru 30 NEWYDDION Wednesday (19:30) BBC Cymru 30 NEWYDDION Tuesday (19:30 BBC Cymru 29 WEDI 7 Tuesday (19:00) and Wednesday (13:30) Tinopolis 29 GWESTY CYMRU Friday (22:00) and Saturday (21:20) SMS 27 Source: BARB From November 1st 2005 to the 22nd of January 2006 there was an incorrect application of a new S4C station code in the BARB viewing measurement system. This resulted in S4C's data being under-reported by an estimated 6% in peak hours and 3% across all hours for this period. These percentages should not be attributed to individual programmes as they are estimates over time and should not be assigned to specific programmes. \|\|\|\|\| Pobol y Cwm marking its 35th anniversary THE BBC’S longest running television soap, Pobol y Cwm, is celebrating 35 years on air. It was first broadcast by BBC Wales on October 16, 1974 moving to S4C when it was launched in 1982. Over the past three decades famous faces, from broadcaster Michael Aspel to Welsh Big Brother star Imogen Thomas, have appeared on the show, which also featured a young Ioan Gruffudd until 1994. Storylines have become increasingly dramatic and from showing two nights a week it has extended to five. One of the original cast members is Emyr Wyn, pictured, who plays Dai Ashurst and joined PYC in 1978. The actor, who lives in Llandeilo, has seen many changes over the years. But he believes the soap’s enduring success is its characters, storyline and use of Welsh language. “When PYC started it was the only Welsh language drama on television,” he says. “It’s still an integral part of Welsh-language TV. It’s the only Welsh soap and in the last 10 years it’s become even more accessible. It has lots of non-Welsh speaking viewers too. PYC is on Sky Plus and I remember getting a shock when I went to a skiing chalet in France years ago and switched on the television and PYC came on!” Wyn has been attacked by women in supermarkets who didn’t like what he was doing on screen and admits being a soap character five days a week can be like ‘living in a parallel universe”. A programme marking 35 years of Pobol y Cwm will be broadcast on Radio Cymru on Saturday at 9am. See Saturday’s Western Mail Magazine for a special feature on the soap. \|\|\|\|\| Explore the BBC This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.	'''Friday, October 16, 2009''' Welsh language television soap-opera Pobol y Cwm celebrated the 35th anniversary of broadcasting on Friday. Pobol y Cwm — Welsh for "People of the Valley" — made its first broadcast on BBC One Wales on October 16, 1974. It was transferred onto the Welsh channel S4C in 1982 and has been broadcast there ever since, but is still filmed in the BBC Cymru studios. It is one of the most watched programmes on the Welsh channel and the longest-running television soap-opera produced by the BBC. The episode marking the 35th anniversary of the day the show was debuted was broadcast on Friday. On the S4C website, the viewing figures state that the show is one of the most watched on the television channel, with viewing figures of around 70,000 on a regular basis. It is also the only soap-opera produced in the United Kingdom that is spoken in a language other than English and one of the two currently running regional soap-operas in the UK, the other being Scottish soap-opera River City. The television programme is the third-longest-running soap-opera overall, behind ITV soap-operas Emmerdale and Coronation Street. BBC Radio Cymru are to broadcast a programme at 0900 BST on Saturday to celebrate 35 years of programming for the show. Welsh actor Emyr Wyn said about the show: "When PYC started it was the only Welsh language drama on television. "It’s still an integral part of Welsh-language TV. It’s the only Welsh soap and in the last 10 years it’s become even more accessible. It has lots of non-Welsh speaking viewers too. PYC is on Sky+ and I remember getting a shock when I went to a skiing chalet in France years ago and switched on the television and PYC came on!"
Please Note: You've requested an ABCNews.com page that does not exist. If you've reached this page by selecting a bookmark that worked previously, it's likely the file moved to a new location because of our recent redesign. Please update your bookmarks. If you still can't find the page your looking for, check out our homepage or use the search form below: \|\|\|\|\| ABC News Cartoon Backlash: Iranian Newspaper Seeks Holocaust Caricatures Iranian Paper Says It Will Hold Contest for Cartoons on the Holocaust By NASSER KARIMI TEHRAN, Iran Feb 7, 2006 (AP) A prominent Iranian newspaper says it is going to hold a competition for cartoons on the Holocaust to test whether the West will apply the principle of freedom of expression to the Nazi genocide against Jews as it did to the caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Hamshahri, which is among the top five of Iran's mass circulation papers, made clear the contest is a reaction to European newspapers' publication of Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, which have led to demonstrations, boycotts and attacks on European embassies across the Islamic world. Hundreds of Iranians hurled stones, and sometimes gasoline bombs, at the Danish and Austrian embassies in Tehran in protest against the cartoons on Monday. The Austrian mission was targeted as the country currently holds the EU presidency. The newspaper said Tuesday the contest would be launched on Feb. 13 and would be co-convened by itself and the House of Caricatures, a Tehran exhibition center for cartoons. Both the paper and the cartoon center are owned by the Tehran Municipality, which is dominated by allies of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is well known for his opposition to Israel. Last year Ahmadinejad provoked outcries when he said on separate occasions that Israel should be "wiped out" and the Holocaust was a "myth." Hamshahri invited foreign cartoonists to enter the competition and said it wanted to see how open the West was to caricatures of the Holocaust. "Does the West extend freedom of expression to the crimes committed by the United States and Israel, or an event such as the Holocaust? Or is its freedom only for insulting religious sanctities?" Hamshahri wrote, referring to the Prophet Muhammad cartoons, in a short article on its back page. The paper disclosed its plan to hold the competition in an inside page on Monday, saying it would announce details on Tuesday. But Tuesday's edition said the plans would be published next Monday. Meanwhile, state television reported Tuesday that Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had called his Danish counterpart, Per Stig Moeller, and urged Copenhagen and other European governments to "compensate for their mistake" in publishing the drawings. \|\|\|\|\| Iranian leader: Holocaust a 'myth' TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has described the Holocaust as "a myth" and suggested that Israel be moved to Europe, the United States, Canada or Alaska. The United States, Israel and the European Commission -- along with individual European countries -- have condemned the remark. Ahmadinejad sparked widespread international condemnation in October when he called for Israel to be "wiped off the map." Last week, he also expressed doubt about the killing by the Nazis of six million Jews during World War II, but Wednesday was the first occasion when he said in public that the Holocaust was a myth. "They have invented a myth that Jews were massacred and place this above God, religions and the prophets," Ahmadinejad said in a speech to thousands of people in the Iranian city of Zahedan, according to a report on Wednesday from Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. "The West has given more significance to the myth of the genocide of the Jews, even more significant than God, religion, and the prophets," he said. "(It) deals very severely with those who deny this myth but does not do anything to those who deny God, religion, and the prophet." "If you have burned the Jews, why don't you give a piece of Europe, the United States, Canada or Alaska to Israel," Ahmadinejad said. "Our question is, if you have committed this huge crime, why should the innocent nation of Palestine pay for this crime?" Mark Regev, spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry, said: "The combination of a regime with a radical agenda, together with a distorted sense of reality that is clearly indicated by the statements we heard today, put together with nuclear weapons -- I think that's a dangerous combination that no one in the international community can accept." "What the Iranian president has shown us today is that he is clearly outside the international consensus, he is clearly outside international norms and international legitimacy, and in so doing he has shown the Iranian government for what it is -- a rogue regime opposed to peace and stability and a threat to all its neighboring countries," Regev said. In addition, Ahmadinejad spoke in Zahedan about Iran's nuclear program, maintaining it will insist on its right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. "Those who themselves produce nuclear arms should not raise hue and cry against those who only want to gain access to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes," he said, according to a report from the Islamic Republic News Agency. "Countries which have arsenals of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons which can be used against other countries at their whim and those who supplied the Baathist regime with (chemical) weapons that killed thousands of innocent Iranians ... now go to all lengths to block Iran from gaining access to peaceful nuclear technology," he said. "We are sure they have criminal intentions, and there was never any doubt that they were piling weapons of mass destruction to be used against less powerful nations," Ahmadinejad said, according to the IRNA report. 'Completely unacceptable' In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said his government had summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires to make "unmistakably clear" its displeasure, The Associated Press said. "I cannot hide the fact that this weighs on bilateral relations and on the chances for the negotiation process, the so-called nuclear dossier," Steinmeier said, referring to European talks with Iran on its nuclear program. (Full story) The White House said the comments underlined the need for the international community to work together to "keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons." "All responsible leaders in the international community recognize how outrageous such comments are," spokesman Scott McClellan said, Reuters reported. In Brussels, European Commission spokeswoman Emma Udwin said such "completely unacceptable" comments would do nothing to restore confidence in Iran. "We feel very strongly that Iran is damaging its own interests with these kind of remarks," she added. The Spanish government said it "emphatically condemns" the remarks by the Iranian president. "These statements from the highest levels of Iran, added to previous statements, do not contribute in any way to the peace process between Arabs and Israelis, nor to the stability of the Middle East region," the Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Ahmadinejad's views contrast with those of his moderate predecessor Mohammad Khatami, who urged a dialogue among civilizations. Some conservative allies in Iran have criticized the current president's remarks, AP reported, because they fear he is damaging the country's image. Moderates have urged the ruling Islamic establishment to rein in the president. But Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei supports Ahmadinejad's calls for Israel's elimination, the news agency added. Tehran-based political analyst Mahmoud Alinejad said the president could feel his speeches strengthen Iran diplomatically. "There is a perception, based on past experience that only when Iran threatens and pushes does the West back off," he told Reuters. CNN producer Michal Zippori contributed to this report.	The website of Hamshahri newspaper was brought down this week in response to an internet attack. Hamshahri Daily is an Iranian newspaper that sponsored a contest to produce cartoons denying the existence of the Holocaust. Service to the website was restored today, after several days offline. Hamshahri Daily sponsored the cartoon competition on February 8. The contest followed upon the controversy caused by the twelve cartoons published by the Danish newspaper w:Jyllands-Posten\|. Those twelve cartoons sparked outrage and have led to widespread demonstrations and boycotts. Last year, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denied the existence of the Holocaust, saying "They have invented a myth that Jews were massacred and place this above God, religions and the prophets". The Hamashahri website was the subject of a 'denial-of-service' attack. In a denial-of-service attack, attackers bombard the website with requests for pages until the server overloads. Hamshahri Daily is owned by the Tehran Municipality, which is allied with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ahmadinejad is the former mayor of Tehran.
Irish PM Bertie Ahern steered the EU through the treaty negotiations "We've made a decision based on the commitment that we gave when we put the constitution together in draft form," Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern said. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the treaty could be modified in the light of the French and Dutch votes. Ireland's main parties back the treaty, but no referendum date has been set. UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said on Monday that the EU as a whole would have to decide the future of the constitution. He told the UK Parliament there was "no point" in pursuing plans for a UK referendum after France and the Netherlands had voted "No". Crucial summit French President Jacques Chirac and Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder say they want the ratification process to continue. EU heads of government will try to find some way out of the crisis when they gather in Brussels on 16 June for a summit. Poland and Portugal say they will stick to their plans to hold referendums on the constitution. The constitution has to be ratified by all 25 member states to enter into force. Several countries have already ratified it, but so far only Spain did so through a referendum. In 2001 the Irish people unexpectedly rejected the Nice Treaty. But the following year, they were asked to vote again and they approved the treaty, after reassurances were given over Irish military neutrality. \|\|\|\|\| Ireland intends to go ahead with its referendum on the EU constitution, despite its resounding rejection by French and Dutch voters, the Irish Foreign Minister said today. There had been speculation that Ireland would follow Britain's lead and decide to suspend its referendum, ignoring calls from France and Germany for all EU member states to continue with the ratification process. Ireland has yet to set a date for the referendum, and may in any case find events running away with its plans. EU leaders are due to discuss the fate of the constitutional charter at an emergency summit next week, with growing support for a "ratification holiday" while France and the Netherlands find a way to get back on board. The document can only come into effect if all 25 member states approve it. The Polish president said today that his country was likely to delay its vote if next week's meeting fails to come up with a clear line the constitution's future. In an interview with the Financial Times published today, Tony Blair defended the constitution and said Europe would still need a new set of rules established in due course. Speaking for his trip to Washington, where he is due to meet President Bush later today, the Prime Minister said: "The constitution is a perfectly sensible way forward and at some point Europe is going to have to adopt rules for the future of Europe - and if it doesn't, it is not going to function properly." Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, told MPs yesterday that the Government was shelving the legislation paving the way for a vote until the EU itself managed to achieve some "clarity" about the future of the constitution. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning, Mr Straw denied that EU leaders would try to cherry-pick parts of the treaty and push them through without fanfare or consultation. "There will be no introduction of this constitutional treaty, or indeed of anything that looks like a constitutional treaty, by the back door. That could only come in the UK by a full debate and by a referendum," he said. But he said proposals that could be implemented without a plebiscite included one to give national parliaments more say over EU decisions and another to base a member states voting power on its population. Neither of these proposals was rejected by Britains various political parties, he argued. "It would be absurd, if we could find a way of strengthening the role of the British House of Commons over EU legislation, to say that had to go to a referendum," he said. "The voting system will have to be changed at some stage because the Nice (Treaty) formula will have to be changed." Mr Straw said that more momentous changes, such as the creation of a European foreign minister, would still have to be included in a constitutional treaty and subject to a referendum. British ministers now privately anticipate a slow and lingering death for the blueprint rejected by the French and Dutch electorates last week, although a Populus poll for The Times shows that half the British electorate would still like a vote.	Despite the strong 'no' votes in both France and the Netherlands, the Irish foreign minister Dermot Ahern has confirmed that Ireland will still hold a referendum on the proposed European Union constitution. This comes following the Irish rejection of the Nice Treaty in 2002. Speaking to BBC radio Mr. Ahern said "We've made a decision based on the commitment that we gave when we put the constitution together in draft form." He went on to say "Over 50 percent of the population of Europe have already ratified the convention. What do you say to those people: 'Your votes mean nothing'?" (note that the only country where the constitution was directly ratified by the population and not by the parliament so far is Spain). Unlike in most European countries, in Ireland by law any change to the core treaties of the EU must be put to a referendum. The constitution was agreed upon by EU heads of state earlier this year under Ireland's European presidency. It is backed by all major Irish political parties including the main opposition, Fine Gael.
Apple dived into the competitive social networking business on Wednesday, introducing Ping, a service geared to music lovers that is built into iTunes, as it revamped its lineup of iPods and other products. The company also introduced an upgraded version of its Apple TV set-top box that is smaller and, at $99, cheaper than its predecessor. It allows users to stream television shows from Fox and ABC for 99 cents, and it can also stream movies from Netflix and iTunes podcasts. Along with the new iPods, which include upgraded versions of the Shuffle, Nano and Touch models, Apple introduced a new version of its mobile operating system, iOS. At an event in San Francisco, Steven P. Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, said the new iPods represented the biggest upgrade to the company’s line of popular music players since they were first introduced in 2001. “This year, we’ve gone wild,” Mr. Jobs said. While the upgrades to the iPod lineup and to Apple TV were widely expected, Mr. Jobs surprised many in the audience with the introduction of Ping. The new social network will be instantly available to 160 million iTunes users, as long as they download the latest version of the software, which Apple released Tuesday. In Ping, users will be able to follow friends and see what music they have downloaded or bought, what concerts they plan to attend and what music they have reviewed. They will also be able to follow bands and get updates on their new releases, concert tours and other events. “Ping is for social music discovery,” Mr. Jobs said. “You can follow people and you can be followed.” Mr. Jobs said Ping would have simple privacy controls. Anyone will be able to follow bands, and users will be able to say whether they want to be followed by anyone or only by people they approve. The new iPod Touch is thinner than the previous model and comes equipped with front- and rear-facing cameras, as well as Apple’s FaceTime video chatting software. It also has the same high-resolution “retina” display that Apple first showcased on the iPhone 4 earlier this year. The iPod Touch comes in three models. The 8-gigabyte version costs $229, the 32-gigabyte version is $299 and the 64-gigabyte version is $399. They will be available next week. \|\|\|\|\| Calling it the biggest change to the iPod line ever, Apple CEO Steve Jobs today unveiled a whole new line of Apple's iPods. Apple CEO Steve Jobs discusses the features of the new Apple iPod Nano at a news conference in San Francisco, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010. (Paul Sakuma/AP Photo) (Paul Sakuma/AP Photo) "Every year, we try to improve iPods, to make them better than ever for our users. This year, we've gone wild," Jobs said at the company's fall event in San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center. "It's the biggest change in the iPod line ever." Jobs kicked off the event with updates about new international retail stores, the latest operating system and a new gaming feature. But then he moved on to what he called the "entree." He wowed the audience with an even tinier iPod shuffle, a smaller, multitouch iPod nano and an updated iPod touch that includes a front-facing camera that can be used for video chats. Similar to previous nanos, the new version includes FM radio and a pedometer. But the updated version, which is 42 percent lighter and 46 percent smaller, no longer relies on a clickwheel for control. Instead, the square-shaped device features multi-touch control that lets users tap buttons on the screen to choose songs, control volume, display pictures and more. The new device will cost $149 for the 8 gigabyte version and $179 for 16 gigabytes. New iPod Touch Includes FaceTime Video Chat The revamped iPod Touch includes several features already on the iPhone 4, including a front-facing camera that lets users video chat with Apple's FaceTime. The video conferencing tool can only be used over Wi-Fi networks and with others who have the newest iPod Touch or the iPhone 4. Prices for the iPod Touch start at $229. Jobs also announced that Apple updated the baby of the of iPod family -- the iPod shuffle. The new device still speaks names of songs and artists, but now is smaller and speaks names of playlists. "It's really cute," he said, adding that the device will cost $49. All devices on the iPod line will be available next week. \|\|\|\|\| Apple unveils social network, new iPod and TV tool SAN FRANCISCO — Apple has launched a music-centered social network at iTunes and unveiled slick new iPod and Apple TV gadgets that promised to win the iconic company more devotees. Ping was built into iTunes 10 software made available as a free download at itunes.com. "It is sort of like Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes," Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said, referring to the world's top online social networking and microblogging services. "It is not Facebook. It is not Twitter. It is something else we've come up with. It's all about music," he said. Ping will automatically be available to the more than 160 million iTunes members worldwide when they update to the new version. "Apple is now in the social networking game, but it is music centric which is really cool," said analyst and Altimeter Group partner Michael Gartenberg. "It is not about competing with Facebook or Twitter. This is about something they use in addition. When I want to hang with my music friends this is where I go." Ping could be a threat to News Corporation-owned social networking website MySpace, which recreated itself as an online community for music fans after being eclipsed by Facebook. Forrester analyst Mark Mulligan said the iTunes upgrade "fell short" but that the Ping approach has a lot of value. "This social functionality (which looks like the best of MySpace, Last.FM, Twitter and Facebook) will be a valuable way of driving music discovery," Mulligan wrote in a blog post. "But it needs more." Jobs introduced Ping along with a dramatically overhauled iPod line and a second-generation of Apple TV box that streams television shows and movies over the Web to high-definition television sets. Jobs, dressed in his trademark long-sleeved black shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes, said the Apple TV device would cost 99 dollars, down from 229 dollars. Apple released the first version of its digital media receiver TV in 2007 but it never caught on with the public and has been referred to by the company as a "hobby." "Apple TV hasn't been a big hit," Jobs acknowledged as he revealed the palm-sized low-priced model he hoped will change that situation. "But, we've learned a lot," he added. "People want Hollywood movies and TV shows whenever they want them; they don't want amateur hour, they want professional content." The device is plugged into television sets but also links wirelessly to Apple's hot-selling iPad tablet computers so people could start watching shows on one of the devices and then switch to the other when convenient. "This is to the TV what iPhone was to the phone," Gartenberg said as he left the event. "The way they taught consumers to use the phone they are now teaching them about the Apple way to use the TV set" he continued. Jobs said Apple TV owners will be able to rent HD movies for 4.99 dollars and television shows from the Fox and ABC networks for 99 cents. US users can also stream content from movie rental service Netflix, he said. "We think the rest of the studios will see the light and get on board with this pretty fast," Jobs said. The new model Apple TV will be available in about four weeks. Jobs also said he was rolling out "the biggest change in the iPod lineup ever." The new iPod Touch allows for video calling. It has front- and rear-facing cameras, which let a user hold video chats with iPhone or other iPod Touch owners using Wi-Fi and an Apple program called "FaceTime." The Touch got the vivid screen from the latest generation iPhone and was touted as the world's most popular portable gaming device. Apple was capitalizing on the allure to videogame players with Game Center software that lets users of the company's mobile gadgets play against each other online. Epic Games president Mike Capps joined Jobs on stage to demonstrate a gorgeous "Project Sword" medieval adventure game the studio plans to release for play on iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch devices before the end of the year. "Game Center allows you to challenge your friends and they can challenge you," Jobs said. "If you don't have any friends, it will auto-match you." Richer, more social games make Apple gadgets harder targets to competitors, according to Gartenberg. "They put a lot of pressure on Google without saying the word 'Google'," the analyst said. "We've never seen anything like that title from Epic on a phone." Smartphones built on Google-backed Android software have been striving to gain ground on the iPhone. Jobs also showed off a new iPod Shuffle for 49 dollars and a touchscreen version of the middle-range iPod Nano starting at 149 dollars. The new iPod Touch costs 229 dollars for the eight-gigabyte model, 299 dollars for the 32GB model and 399 dollars for the 64GB version. He said the new iPods would be available next week. Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »	In a music-themed media event yesterday, Apple Inc. unveiled three new portable music players, as well as an upgraded system. Apple also announced updates for its software and mobile operating system. The annual event started at 10 a.m. (1700 ) in the in San Francisco, California. Apple Steve Jobs, who led yesterday's keynote speech at the event, was dressed in his typical black long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans, and tennis shoes. He began by discussing new international , an update to the company's iOS mobile operating system, and the release of a new gaming app, . Jobs then turned his attention to what he called the "entrée" of the day. Apple will release new versions of its , , and lines next week in what Jobs called "the biggest change in the iPod line ever." The iPod Shuffle's capabilities have been extended to playlists, meaning that it will now be able to read off the names of songs, artists, and playlists. The new device is priced at 49. Jobs also showed off the company's new iPod Nano. The Nano, now smaller and without a , features a new screen that allows users to touch virtual buttons to control the device. The new design is 42 percent lighter and 46 percent smaller, but still includes functions on previous Nanos, such as an and a . The 8 version will cost US$149, while the 16 GB version will be priced at US$179. Jobs announced an updated iPod Touch as well, an announcement that had been widely expected for some time. The new, thinner Touch has been upgraded with features matching some already on the company's recently-released , including the and dual video cameras. One camera, located on the back the of the iPod Touch, is for recording video, while the other camera, located on the front, is for use with Apple's program. FaceTime allows users of the latest iPhone and iPod Touch models to conduct video chats with each other over networks. The iPod Touch starts at US$229 for a 8 GB model, US$299 for 32 GB, and US$399 for 64 GB. Another major product refresh unveiled yesterday was the Apple TV. The was first released in 2007, but was never very popular. Jobs even admitted that, although Apple has "sold a lot of them, they've never been a huge hit." The US$99 second-generation Apple TV is both smaller and cheaper than its predecessor, which was priced at US$229. The new version will let consumers stream content from online sources, including , and rent both movies and television shows. Apple has made a deal with and to let users rent episodes of shows for 99, instead of buying programs. "We think the rest of the studios will see the light and get on board with this pretty fast," added Jobs. movies can be rented for US$4.99, and the new Apple TV will be available for purchase in around four weeks. Among the less-hyped updates was one to , previously named AirTunes. AirPlay lets users stream music, photos, and videos from iOS devices to other Wi-Fi-enabled systems. AirPlay would let a video on an be played on a television via Apple TV. Along with an iOS update came one for Apple's online music store application, iTunes. The biggest news involving iTunes 10, which is available for download now, is Apple's new music-based social network, . "It is sort of like Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes," described Jobs. "It is not Facebook. It is not Twitter. It is something else we've come up with. It's all about music." Built into iTunes, Ping allows a user to follow both friends and artists to find new music and concert tours, and anyone with an iTunes account will be able to access Ping upon updating to iTunes 10. Ping will have settings for privacy as well, giving users the option to approve followers. Jobs also introduced a new iTunes logo, which does not include an image of a CD on it because music sales on iTunes are expected to overtake CD sales soon. Jobs concluded the event by bringing out , a member of the award-winning band . Martin, who played a few songs on the piano, including the hit song "," jokingly called his performance "the toughest closing gig I've ever had." Although many of yesterday's announcements had been predicted ahead of time, some had speculated that Apple would go even further. Apple defied expectations of a new music service. They also did not extend the amount of time a buyer could sample music on iTunes, as some had guessed. == Sources == * * *
Rock and jazz musician Jeff Healey died Sunday in a Toronto hospital after a battle with cancer, his publicist said. He was 41. Canadian musician Jeff Healey plays his unique sit-down style before a crowd in Windsor, Ont., in July 2001. (Chris Wattie/Canadian Press) Healey lost his sight at age one as a result of Retinoblastoma, a rare form of retinal cancer. Due to his blindness, Healey taught himself to play guitar with the instrument held across his lap while seated. His unique playing style, combined with his blues-oriented vocals, earned him a reputation as a teenage musical prodigy. He shared stages with George Harrison, B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. But Healey's true love was jazz, the genre that dominated his three most recent albums. His death came weeks before the release of his first rock album in eight years, his website said. Mess of Blues is slated for a North American release on April 22. Much of Healey's commercial success came as the frontman for the Jeff Healey Band, a Juno-winning act that achieved platinum record sales in the United States with the 1988 record See the Light. Despite deteriorating record sales in the 1990s, Healey kept busy with radio shows on the CBC and a local Toronto jazz station where he spun long-forgotten classics from his personal collection of more than 30,000 vinyl records. The Grammy-nominated musician is survived by his wife Christie and two children. \|\|\|\|\| Jeff Healey and his band perform in New York's Central Park in July 2000. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Stephen Chernin Despite long battle with cancer, Jeff Healey's death still shocking, bandmate TORONTO — Acclaimed jazz and rock guitarist Jeff Healey was remembered Sunday as a musician of rare ability who had a wicked sense of humour and a generous nature as fans and bandmates mourned his death at age 41, following a battle with cancer. Bandmates of Canadian rock and jazz legend Jeff Healey were among those shocked by the news of his death Sunday. Healey died Sunday evening in a Toronto hospital surrounded by family and a bandmate, Colin Bray. Bray, the bass player with Jeff Healey's jazz Wizards and the frontman's long-time friend, said he and many others expected the guitarist to rally from this latest illness. "I don't think any of us thought this was going to happen," Bray said in a telephone interview. "We just thought he was going to bounce back as he always does." Healey had battled with cancer since the age of one when a rare form of retinal cancer known as Retinoblastoma claimed his eyesight. Bray said Healey had been hospitalized for a week and that his advanced lung cancer made his final hours difficult. Healey had undergone numerous operations in recent years to remove tumours from his lungs and leg. Bray and fellow bandmate Gary Scriven remembered their frontman as not only a world-class musician but an incredibly strong person with the capacity to motivate those he worked with. Scriven called Healey inspirational and praised the boundless enthusiasm that allowed him to continue performing live only four weeks before his death. "He drew his strength from somewhere, I don't know where, but it spread among the band and flowed into the audience," Scriven said. Healey rose to stardom as the leader of the Jeff Healey Band, a rock-oriented trio that garnered a Juno award, international acclaim and platinum record sales with the 1988 album "See the Light." But Bray and Scriven said Healey's true love was jazz, the genre that dominated his last three albums with the Jazz Wizards. Healey's guitar prowess was characterized by a unique playing-style that saw him lay the instrument across his lap. It led him to share stages with such rock luminaries as George Harrison, Stevie Ray Vaughan and B.B. King, but Bray said jazz allowed him to exercise his other instrumental talents such as trumpet and drums. Healey's love of jazz also led him to host radio shows on the CBC and a local Toronto station where he spun long-forgotten numbers from his personal collection of over 30,000 vinyl records. But Bray said his "best friend" saw himself first and foremost as an entertainer and said Healey seemed to derive therapeutic benefits from playing live shows. Recalling Healey's weakened condition at his final performance on Feb. 2 in Goderich, Ont., Bray said Healey seemed to draw strength as the set progressed. "At the end of it, I can't believe how much better he looked. It was like blood to him." Healey's death came weeks before the release of his first rock album in eight years. "Mess of Blues" is slated for a North American release on April 22. Healey is backed on the album by the resident band at Jeff Healey's Roadhouse, the blues club he founded and named after a 1989 Patrick Swayze movie in which he appeared. The album features two live tracks recorded in the last few months of his life. The Grammy-nominated musician is survived by his wife Christie and two children; daughter Rachel, 13 and son Derek, 3. Funeral and memorial arrangements have not yet been announced.	Jeff Healey playing with his Jazz Wizards Band in Peterborough, Ontario on September 8, 2007. Musician Jeff Healey, 41, has died in Toronto, Canada from cancer, it was announced Sunday. Healey is internationally known for his 1988 album ''See the Light'' and for his appearance the following year in the movie ''Road House'' with Patrick Swayze. His hits included ''Angel Eyes''. He was born Norman Jeffery Healey on March 25, 1966 in Toronto. At the age of 1, he was blinded from retinoblastoma, but still learned how to play the guitar by positioning the instrument on his lap. Healey was host of various Canadian radio programs in recent years and was set to release a new blues-rock album within weeks. He is survived by his wife and two children, 13-year-old Rachel and 3-year-old Derek.
(CNN) -- A collision involving two big-rigs and a car Wednesday caused an explosion that sent flames and clouds of smoke billowing and collapsed a highway overpass just north of Detroit, Michigan. Fire rages at the site of a tanker crash and overpass collapse on I-75 north of Detroit, Michigan, Wednesday. One of the tankers was traveling on the Interstate 75 about 8:30 p.m. in Hazel Park, near the Nine-Mile overpass, when the collision caused an explosion, said Lt. Shannon Simms of the Michigan State Police. It was headed northbound, said Bill Shreck of the Department of Transportation. Hazel Park is about 10 miles north of downtown Detroit. The explosion erupted upward, causing the overpass, carrying two lanes in each direction, to collapse, Simms said. Watch footage of fire » Firefighters put out the blaze late Wednesday and were able to locate all three drivers of the vehicles involved in the crash. The three suffered minor injuries. One of the tankers was filled with thousands of gallons of fuel, Simms said. "I just saw a huge ball of flame go up when I was at the red light, just went up in flame," said witness Mary Greib. "I took off running." Said another witness, who did not want to be identified: "We had a woman in a light-colored, midsized vehicle of some sort that was hesitant to pass the tanker. A number of vehicles were attempting to go around her in different directions." He said he was one of them, and passed her on the right, after which the explosion occurred. "We are not sure what happened," he said. Vince Brennan said he was on the eighth floor of a nearby building when he heard the explosion coming from where "a vicious curve" exists on the highway. "I heard a whole bunch of boom, boom, boom," he said. He ran to the window and looked down on a McDonald's restaurant. "You couldn't even see it, it was so black with smoke," he said. "The flames had to be 30, 40 feet in the air." All About Detroit \|\|\|\|\| Gasoline tanker explodes on I-75 north of Detroit HAZEL PARK, Mich. — An interstate north of Detroit is shut down following a gasoline tanker explosion and overpass collapse. Flames are shooting hundreds of feet in the air from the site on Interstate 75 in Hazel Park, about 10 miles north of downtown Detroit. Michigan State Police say there are no immediate reports of injuries. But Lt. Shannon Sims says the tanker driver hasn't been located and the wreckage of the truck can't be approached because of intense heat. Sims says the tanker was headed north on I-75 when it exploded beneath the 9 Mile Road overpass about 8 p.m. Half the overpass has collapsed onto the northbound lanes of I-75 while the rest remains standing. Sims says authorities don't yet know what caused the explosion. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. HAZEL PARK, Mich. (AP) — Flames are shooting hundreds of feet in the air from a gasoline tanker explosion that has forced the shutdown of an interstate north of Detroit. Interstate 75 in Hazel Park, about 10 miles north of downtown Detroit, was shut down Wednesday evening. Radio station WWJ-AM reports that an overpass at the crash site collapsed after the tanker and a tractor-trailer collided about 8:30 p.m. The station says several other vehicles may have been involved in the crash, but only one minor injury was immediately reported. A Hazel Park Fire Department dispatcher says he cannot immediately provide details. Witnesses say flames and black, billowing plumes of smoke are reaching 150 to 200 feet into the air. WWJ reports gas that has reached sewers along the freeway has caught fire. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.	A tanker explosion on Interstate 75 has destroyed a part of the Nine Mile Road overpass in Hazel Park, Michigan, a northern suburb of Detroit. One man, truck driver Ronald Martinez, has been killed and only 4 injuries have been reported. I-75 (red) in Michigan On July 15, 2009 at about 8:15 PM EST, a tanker carrying thousands of gallons of gasoline collided with a semi-truck from Meijer grocery stores, causing an explosion that resulted in heavy black smoke that could be seen for miles. It is believed that the tanker was clipped from behind by driver Saied Haidarian-Shahri, 27, of nearby Clawson. The tanker's two parts broke in half when a semi-truck rammed into the gasoline-filled tanker and it exploded. The driver of the semi-truck sustained only minor injuries. Saied Haidarian-Shahri was a relatively new driver, getting his license within the past 6 months. Reports say he was doing 70 mph in a 50 mph zone, called the "9 Mile Curve", along the Chrysler Freeway. There were no traffic violations on his license. He has been blamed for causing the accident. The explosion resulted in the collapse of the Nine Mile Road overpass over the freeway. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has decided that the rest of the overpass cannot be saved. MDOT has closed down the freeway between Interstate 696 and Eight Mile Road both northbound and southbound. Local streets surrounding the site have been closed too. This is expected to cause trouble for commuters who travel one of the most used freeways in the metro area. About 2,000 residents of Hazel Park are now without power due to the accident.
By Sushil Sharma BBC News, Kathmandu There have been a number of protests in Kathmandu They were protesting against his February take-over of the government. They are the biggest protests since the king declared a state of emergency and suspended civil rights. The king said the move was needed to combat Nepal's Maoist rebels who want to replace the monarchy with a communist republic. Baton charges Opposition parties say that about 100 people were arrested in the capital, Kathmandu, and that many others were taken into custody in other parts of the country. The figures could not be independently verified. The king assumed direct control on 1 February There have been no comments yet from the authorities, who in the past have played down opposition claims. The Kathmandu demonstrators shouted slogans calling for the restoration of democracy. Police baton-charged demonstrators in some parts of the country. Friday has a symbolic importance for the political parties. It was on this day in 1990 that joint opposition protests forced the-then king to establish multi-party democracy after 30 years of direct rule. The opposition has once again come together following the royal assumption of direct powers on 1 February. Opposition members have been holding protests at the royal move since then, despite rallies now being illegal. The king said that he assumed direct powers because the parties failed to tackle the long-running Maoist insurgency. Hundreds of opposition leaders and activists were arrested after 1 February. About 300, including some top leaders, were freed last week. The political parties have dubbed the royal move undemocratic and unconstitutional. \|\|\|\|\| UN urged on Nepal abuses Printer Friendly \| Email Article \| RSS GENEVA (Reuters) - Human rights groups are calling for United Nations action against alleged civil liberties violations in Nepal as the capital Kathmandu braces for pro-democracy rallies. Nicolas Howen, secretary general of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), said on Friday violence against democracy advocates was intensifying and called on the U.N. to condemn Nepal for violating human rights and install rights monitors in the country. Over 600 activists, journalists, lawyers and students have been detained while carrying out peaceful activities since Nepal's King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency and suspended civil liberties on February 1, the ICJ, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said in a statement. Howen, speaking on the sidelines of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights annual session in Geneva, urged the U.N. to appoint a special investigator to probe reported abuses. "We see no sign that the rule of law is being restored," Howen said. "The appalling violence against civilians carried out by the Maoists and security forces continues and the democratic parties, human rights organisations and the media are still intimidated and controlled." Nepal braced for more pro-democracy rallies on Friday even though rallies are banned and authorities have vowed to stamp out protests against King Gyanendra's sacking of the multi-party government and seizure of power. Gyanendra has said he took power to crush a Maoist revolt and blamed bickering politicians for failing to end the insurgency in which more than 11,000 people have been killed since 1996. Arjun Karki, president of the Federation of Non-governmental Organisations in Nepal, warned that a crackdown on demonstrators could deepen the cycle of violence. "If they are suppressed, those who support democracy are forced to use other means," he said. "So those who repress democracy should really consider their actions first." Human Rights Watch spokeswoman Loubna Freih called on members of the U.N. Commission, especially the United States, to support a Swiss initiative to condemn Nepal for its abuses. The European Union, the UK and Denmark already support the Swiss plan, she said. In Nepal overnight, soldiers killed at least 18 Maoist rebels after the insurgents attacked their base in the deadliest clash in the past five weeks. The Maoists control large parts of Nepal's countryside and want to establish a communist republic. Peace talks have failed to get off the ground and the king seems determined to use the poorly equipped army to crush the rebels even though defence experts say it faces a protracted guerrilla war because of the mountainous terrain. © Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.	'''April 8, 2005''' More than 500 activists, journalists, lawyers and students were arrested Friday in Nepal, whilst protesting against King Gyanendra's take-over of the country's government. Human rights groups have now called for a UN investigation into alleged abuses of civil liberties after King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency at the start of February. "We see no sign that the rule of law is being restored," Nicolas Howen, secretary general of the International Commission of Jurists, said. "The appalling violence against civilians carried out by the Maoists and security forces continues and the democratic parties, human rights organisations and the media are still intimidated and controlled." The state of emergency was initiated to properly tackle Nepal's Maoist rebels who, according to King Gyanendra, seek to replace the monarchy with a communist republic. Fears are now growing that violence in the country will continue to increase and insurgency in Nepal has claimed the lives of at least 11,000 people since 1996. Arjun Karki, president of the Federation of Non-governmental Organisations in Nepal said today: "If they are suppressed, those who support democracy are forced to use other means. So those who repress democracy should really consider their actions first." Elsewhere in Nepal today, soldiers repelled a rebel assault on one of their bases in the country's northwest, say reports.
© WENN Will.i.am has revealed that the new Black Eyed Peas album will be "positive" and "feel-good".The singer and producer, whose sixth studio LP with the band is called The Beginning, said that the record provides reassurance in a time of "uncertainty".Discussing the new album, he told The AP: "It symbolises growth, new beginnings and starts, a fresh new perspective."It's a positive, feel-good [album] at the time where there's question marks and uncertainty. People want to be reminded that it's going to be all right."Will.i.am also confirmed that the LP will be out by the end of the year.It was recently announced that Black Eyed Peas hit 'I Gotta Feeling' has broken a record after passing six million downloads. \|\|\|\|\| Black Eyed Peas’ hit single I Gotta Feeling officially holds the title of the most-downloaded digital song which has been legally purchased over six million times, or roughly once every five seconds since its release. Celebrating the occasion, the band’s will.i.am said in a statement that the achievement signals a better future for the music industry: I am so proud to be leading our industry with 6 million digital sales. It means so much for the future of the music industry. The song spent fourteen weeks at the #1 slot on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. I think you’ll agree that I Gottta Feeling, released in June 2009, is a digital phenomenon. iTunes is still ranking the song as the bestselling track of all time and it amassed nearly 40 million views on YouTube, which is pretty astonishing knowing that only a handful of music videos get that many views. The #1 most-viewed music video on YouTube remains Lady GaGa’s Bad Romance which has been viewed over 255 million times at press time. Black Eyed Peas’ 100-date North American tour has grossed $47.7 million as of the end of June, the band noted. The tour is scheduled to end on August 23 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSD4vsh1zDA via DipDive \|\|\|\|\| Peas 'I Gotta Feeling' downloaded 6 million times NEW YORK — The Black Eyed Peas have more proof of the ubiquity of "I Gotta Feeling." Their No. 1 hit has become the first song to reach the 6 million mark in digital downloads. The milestone was announced Friday and confirmed by Nielsen SoundScan. For the group's leader, will.i.am, the moment is about much more than the song. "We came out in '98 and our career, if you would look at it on chart, there's no dips in it," he said in a phone interview Thursday. "For our career to still be healthy and vibrant and doing things like 6 million downloads, it's pretty significant." It's also significant, he said, in a time when illegal downloading is the norm. "That means that they chose to support the group, support the art," he said. "God knows how many people listened to it online and didn't buy it, downloaded it for free and didn't think about it." The upbeat song about good vibes was No. 1 for 14 weeks; will.i.am said the reason it was so successful was because it gave people hope in a downward time. "It's a positive, feel-good song at the time where there's question marks and uncertainty. People want to be reminded that it's going to be all right," he said. The song was one of the hits from the group's multiplatinum "The E.N.D.," which was released last year. Although it is still on the charts, will.i.am said a new album, "The Beginning," is almost finished and likely due at the end of the year. "It symbolizes growth, new beginnings and starts, fresh new perspective," he said. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.	File photo of the Black Eyed Peas in Paris US hip hop group Black Eyed Peas has announced that it is almost finished with its new studio album, ''The Beginning''. The group's leader and producer, will.i.am (William James Adams, Jr.), says that the recording "symbolizes growth, new beginnings and starts, fresh new perspective. It's a positive, feel-good album at the time where there's question marks and uncertainty. People want to be reminded that it's going to be all right." ''The Beginning'' is the group's sixth studio album and is set to be released by the end of the year. It comes one year after the release of multiplatinum ''The E.N.D.'' and one of its hit singles "I Gotta Feeling". "I Gotta Feeling" officially became the most downloaded digital song last Friday, having reached six million legal digital downloads. Released in June 2009, the song topped the charts for fourteen weeks. iTunes still lists the song as the bestselling of all time, and its music video on YouTube has reached approximately 38 million views. Will.i.am said of the milestone, "We came out in '98 and our career, if you would look at it on chart, there's no dips in it. For our career to still be healthy and vibrant and doing things like 6 million downloads, it's pretty significant."
For such a little guy Samuel David Cheney, weighing in at 8 lbs., 6 oz., sure prompted a hefty debate in the run-up to his birth in Washington this morning. He’s the son of Mary Cheney, and his grandfather is Vice President Dick Cheney. Ms. Cheney, an executive at A.O.L. and official in her father’s reelection campaign, will raise the boy with Heather Poe, her longtime partner. She has been criticized by gay rights groups for not pushing harder for gay marriage, and by social conservatives for having a child outside of traditional marriage. The Cheneys have responded sharply to political questions about the child. At a forum in New York City last winter, Ms. Cheney said, as quoted in The New York Times: “This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue. It is my child….Every piece of remotely responsible research” had demonstrated “no difference between children who are raised by same-sex parents and children raised by opposite-sex parents.” And Mr. Cheney, during an appearance on CNN, told Wolf Blitzer, the host, that he was “out of line” for asking the vice president to respond to a critical statement from Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian group. \|\|\|\|\| Thursday, May 24, 2007; 2:34 AM Baby Cheney, Weighed on Political Scale, Too M ary Cheney gave birth yesterday to perhaps the most anticipated baby in contemporary U.S. politics -- her first child, Samuel David Cheney , whom she will raise with her longtime partner, Heather Poe . The 8-pound 6-ounce boy is the sixth grandchild for Dick Cheney . The vice president and his wife, Lynne , both beaming, posed for a photo with him just hours after his 9:46 a.m. birth at Washington's Sibley Hospital. And that, it seems, will be that for now in terms of public comment from the family about the baby, who launched a lively debate when Cheney, 38, first discussed her pregnancy in December. Some gay activists have chastised the AOL executive for not being a stronger advocate for same-sex marriage, while some social conservatives have decried the trend of gay couples raising children. But the Cheneys have avoided stepping into a debate about the debate. The veep became testy when CNN's Wolf Blitzer asked him about it in a January interview. At an N.Y.C. forum sponsored by Glamour magazine last winter, Mary Cheney responded to questions, saying: "This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue. It is my child." But she also went on to declare that "every piece of remotely responsible research" had demonstrated "no difference between children who are raised by same-sex parents and children raised by opposite-sex parents." Cheney and Poe, a former park ranger, have been together for 15 years and live in Great Falls. And no, there's no more word on how the pregnancy came about. The Salon Soiree That Became a Real Hair-Puller Who says Georgetown parties are boring? What started as an elegant spring fundraiser devolved into a street brawl Wednesday night -- with three arrests, one black eye and a ruined $4,000 Dolce & Gabbana suit. Eyebrow groomer to the stars Erwin Gomez and partner James Packard-Gomez invited 125 people to a lymphoma/leukemia benefit at their new salon on Wisconsin Avenue. The big draw was singer Julia Nixon , who agreed to perform three sets on a stage erected in the salon's back garden. The party had just gotten started when a neighbor, former ANC member Gunnar Halley , came in to complain about noise. Gomez explained that he had checked with city officials and the noise level was in compliance, said his partner, but Halley called the police, who came, agreed with the salon owners, and left. According to Packard-Gomez, it was about 8:30 p.m. when glass, rocks and brick came flying over the fence into the garden filled with party guests. "We were all freaking out," he said, and so he climbed over the fence into his neighbor's back yard -- and, he says, was beaten up by Halley and partner Dale O'Quinn . He scrambled back over the fence and called the police, but a second fistfight occurred when he went around the block to stand in front of his neighbor's house. Packard-Gomez was sent to the emergency room; Halley, O'Quinn and David Rahnemoon (a friend of Gomez's) were arrested for simple assault and spent the night in jail. "I couldn't understand how it escalated to this degree," said Packard-Gomez yesterday, who sustained a black eye, a cut over the other eye, a bruised elbow and a trashed suit. Halley, reached at his law office late yesterday, said Packard-Gomez attacked him, and denied throwing anything into the garden. He said the altercation was a result of a "fundamental misunderstanding" and said he hoped "we're going to be able to become good neighbors once again." Police officials said the investigation is continuing. \|\|\|\|\| Mary Cheney Has Son by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff Posted: May 23, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET (Washington) Mary Cheney, the openly gay daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, has given birth to a son. Samuel David Cheney was born this morning at Sibley Hospital in Washington, weighing in at 8 lbs., 6 oz. Cheney and her partner of 15 years, Heather Poe, live in Virginia. Under that state's law Poe is not considered a co-parent and has no legal rights. The pregnancy raised the ire of religious conservatives who accused Cheney of having the baby for poitical purposes to push "a gay agenda" In a February speech at Barnard College she dismissed the criticism. "This is a baby," Cheney said. "This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue. It is my child." A week earlier Dick Cheney became testy when CNN's Wolf Blitzer asked him what he thought of conservatives who are critical of his daughter's pregnancy. Cheney told Blitzer he was "over the line." Samuel David is Dick Cheney's sixth grandchild. ©365Gay.com 2007	Dick and Lynne Cheney pose with their grandson Samuel David Mary Cheney, the openly lesbian daughter of United States Vice President Dick Cheney, has a given birth to a son, named Samuel David Cheney. The baby was born weighing 8 lbs and 6 ounces (3.9 kg). Cheney intends to raise the child with her partner, Heather Poe. Samuel David is the sixth grandchild of the Vice President. The grandparents, Dick and wife, Lynne, posed for pictures with the newborn within hours of Samuel David's arrival. In February, while pregnant, Mary said: "This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue. It is my child."
MIAMI (Reuters) - Strengthening far more swiftly and vigorously than predicted, Hurricane Bertha became a “major” hurricane in the open Atlantic on Monday, with sustained winds of at least 115 miles per hour (185 kph), U.S. forecasters said. Hurricane Bertha is seen in a satellite image taken on July 7, 2008. REUTERS/NOAA/Handout The second named storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season was heading west-northwest in the direction of Bermuda when it became a Category 3 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity, the National Hurricane Center said. “A gradual turn toward the northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days,” the Miami-based center said. That could take Bertha near Bermuda, a wealthy mid-Atlantic British colony that is viewed as one of the more storm-proof islands in the region, with tough building codes and a storm-conscious population. The National Hurricane Center said it did not expect Bertha to get much stronger due to unfavorable atmospheric conditions in its path. But the storm has already delivered surprises and forecasting long-range hurricane intensities and tracks is an uncertain science. At 5 p.m. EDT, the storm’s center was located around 1,150 miles southeast of Bermuda and it was moving at around 12 mph (19 kph) to the west-northwest. Energy markets have paid close attention Atlantic storms since the devastating 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, during which a number of powerful hurricanes ripped through the Gulf of Mexico, toppling oil rigs and severing pipelines. None of the computer models used to predict storm tracks indicated Bertha would steer south into the Caribbean or toward the Gulf. Hurricane forecasters have predicted this six-month season, which began on June 1, will be average or above average. An average season has 10 tropical storms, of which six reach hurricane strength with winds of at least 74 mph (119 kph). The record 2005 season, which included Katrina which swamped New Orleans and killed 1,500 people on the U.S. Gulf Coast, saw 28 storms. Bertha formed last Thursday near the Cape Verde islands off Africa. It is unusual for storms to form so far east so early in the season. When it does happen, it is frequently a harbinger of heightened storm activity. More information about the hurricane is available at the National Hurricane Center's Web site (www.nhc.noaa.gov/#BERTHA). \|\|\|\|\| Bertha Builds Into 1st Atlantic Hurricane Storm Whirling West-Northwest Toward Caribbean Islands; Could Reach Category 2 Strength Like this Story? Share it: Share On Facebook Tweet This infrared satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Hurricane Center shows Hurricane Bertha gaining strength over the Atlantic at 4:45 a.m. Eastern, July 7, 2008. (CBS/NOAA/National Hurricane Center) Interactive Storm Tracker Follow all the storms of the 2010 season with satellite images, warnings and wind speed charts. Storm Tracker Interactive Storm Season Track the latest storms, see how they form, get preparation tips and more. Hurricane Bertha continues to strengthen as it moves over the central Atlantic Ocean.As of 11 a.m. EDT Monday, the Atlantic season's first hurricane was centered about 775 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. National Hurricane Center forecasters say Bertha is expected to turn in the general direction of Bermuda.It's still to early to tell whether Bertha will hit the island, but forecasters urged residents to monitor the storm's progress.Maximum sustained winds have increased to speeds of 90 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is expected during the next 24 hours, and forecasters say Bertha could become a Category 2 hurricane later Monday.Bertha is headed west-northwest at about 15 mph and is expected to slow down in the next couple of days. \|\|\|\|\| MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Hurricane Bertha strengthened to a Category 3 storm Monday afternoon, but slowed in pace hours after becoming the first hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic season, according to the National Hurricane Center. A satellite picture from 4:45 p.m. ET Monday shows Hurricane Bertha over the Atlantic. At 5 p.m., Bertha was 730 miles (1,175 kilometers) east of the northern Leeward Islands and was moving west-northwest near 12 mph -- down from the morning's 15 mph. Bermuda could be affected by the hurricane this weekend. "It is still way too soon to determine whether or not Bertha will affect Bermuda," the center said. There is a slight chance Bertha could make landfall in the United States. "A gradual turn toward the northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days," the center said. See Bertha's projected path » Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 115 mph, up from 90 mph earlier in the day. A Category 3 storm has wind speeds of 111 mph to 130 mph. Learn more about hurricanes » The storm formed Thursday in the far eastern Atlantic, off the coast of Africa, near the southern Cape Verde Islands. It strengthened into a hurricane early Monday. The first tropical storm of the season, Arthur, formed May 31 near the coast of Belize and dumped heavy rain on Central America and southern Mexico. All About Hurricanes and Cyclones • Bermuda \|\|\|\|\| Hurricane BERTHA Public Advisory Home Public Adv Fcst/Adv Discussion Wind Probs Maps/Charts Archive 000 WTNT32 KNHC 080831 TCPAT2 BULLETIN HURRICANE BERTHA ADVISORY NUMBER 21 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL022008 500 AM AST TUE JUL 08 2008 ...POWERFUL BERTHA MAINTAINING MAJOR HURRICANE STATUS... AT 500 AM AST...0900Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 53.3 WEST OR ABOUT 675 MILES... 1085 KM...EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS AND ABOUT 1035 MILES...1660 KM...SOUTHEAST OF BERMUDA. BERTHA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH...17 KM/HR...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 48 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 120 MPH...195 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. BERTHA IS A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY MAY OCCUR TODAY... BUT A GRADUAL WEAKENING TREND IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 30 MILES...45 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES...185 KM. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 955 MB...28.20 INCHES. REPEATING THE 500 AM AST POSITION...21.4 N...53.3 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...120 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...955 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 1100 AM AST. $$ FORECASTER PASCH \|\|\|\|\| Tropical Storm Bertha forms--and sets a record Posted by: JeffMasters, 11:17 AM EDT on July 03, 2008 Figure 1. Visible satellite image of Bertha shortly before becoming a tropical storm. Note the large field of stratocumulus clouds to the storm's northwest, indicating stable air lying over cooler SSTs. The forecast Most of the computer models foresee a west-northwest track into the mid-Atlantic over the next five days, with a possible recurvature to the north by the end of the period. Whether this recurvature takes place depends on how strong Bertha gets. A larger, stronger storm will be more likely to "feel" the approach of the approaching trough of low pressure and recurve. A shallower, weaker storm might be able to avoid recurvature and continue west-northwest towards Bermuda. The hurricane season of 2008 sets a new record Today's formation of Bertha at 25° West longitude is the farthest east a tropical storm has ever formed in the Atlantic so early in the season. It is also the farthest east a tropical storm has formed in the month of July. Reliable records of Eastern Atlantic storms go back to 1967, the beginning of the geostationary satellite era. Is the formation of Bertha a harbinger of an active hurricane season? Probably. According the the "as shown in (Goldenberg 2000), if one looks only at the June-July Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes occurring south of 22°N and east of 77°W (the eastern portion of the Main Development Region [MDR] for Atlantic hurricanes), there is a strong association with activity for the remainder of the year. According to the data from 1944-1999, total overall Atlantic activity for years that had a tropical storm or hurricane form in this region during JJ have been at least average and often times above average. So it could be said that a JJ storm in this region is pretty much a "sufficient" condition for a year to produce at least average activity." Elsewhere in the tropics A tropical wave Both the GFS and NOGAPS models are forecasting the development of a tropical disturbance in the southern Gulf of Mexico's Bay of Campeche on Monday. The tropics are getting active! I'll post an update Friday morning. Happy 4th of July weekend! Jeff Masters Tropical Storm Bertha is here. Overnight, a significant amount of heavy thunderstorm activity built up around the center, aided by Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) about 26°C (1°C above average for this date). This temperature is right at the threshold of where tropical storms can form. Also aiding the storm is 5-10 knots of wind shear . Bertha has good organization and a favorable environment for intensification, and should continue to slowly intensify today. There is not much African dust or dry air near the storm, and the main impediment to future intensification will be a region of colder SSTs the storm will track over on Friday and Saturday. These cooler SSTs have created some stable air to the northwest of Bertha. Evidence of this stable air in satellite imagery (Figure 1) can be seen in the form of a large area of stratocumulus clouds to the northwest of Bertha.Visible satellite image of Bertha shortly before becoming a tropical storm. Note the large field of stratocumulus clouds to the storm's northwest, indicating stable air lying over cooler SSTs.Most of the computer models foresee a west-northwest track into the mid-Atlantic over the next five days, with a possible recurvature to the north by the end of the period. Whether this recurvature takes place depends on how strong Bertha gets. A larger, stronger storm will be more likely to "feel" the approach of the approaching trough of low pressure and recurve. A shallower, weaker storm might be able to avoid recurvature and continue west-northwest towards Bermuda.Today's formation of Bertha at 25° West longitude is the farthest east a tropical storm has ever formed in the Atlantic so early in the season. It is also the farthest east a tropical storm has formed in the month of July. Reliable records of Eastern Atlantic storms go back to 1967, the beginning of the geostationary satellite era.Probably. According the the Hurricane FAQ A tropical wave (93L) that passed through the Lesser Antilles Islands last night has grow less organized this morning, due to an increase in wind shear to 15-20 knots. The disturbance is a rather small one, and thus vulnerable to wind shear. QuikSCAT satellite imagery from this morning shows no sign of a surface circulation. The SHIPS intensity model predicts wind shear will increase above 30 knots by Saturday morning over 93L, and it is unlikely this disturbance will develop into a tropical depression.Both the GFS and NOGAPS models are forecasting the development of a tropical disturbance in the southern Gulf of Mexico's Bay of Campeche on Monday. The tropics are getting active!I'll post an update Friday morning. Happy 4th of July weekend!Jeff Masters Top of Page : Reader Comments Top of Page : New Comment	Just hours after Tropical Storm Bertha became the first hurricane of the , Bertha strengthened to a "major" storm at category three on the five-step scale of hurricane intensity, the (NHC) said. Five-day track map of Hurricane Bertha.At 5 p.m. EDT, the storm was packing sustained winds of 120 miles an hour and was located about 695 miles east-northeast of the Northern and about 1085 miles southeast of Bermuda. Forecasters say that Bertha is moving west-northwest at about 12 miles an hour and is expected to slow down in the next couple of days. "A gradual turn toward the northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days," the NHC said. While the NHC noted that it is still too early to tell if Bertha will strike land, residents are being urged to continue to monitor the storm's progress. Further strengthening is unlikely, according to the NHC, due to unfavorable atmospheric conditions. Bertha first formed on Thursday in the eastern Atlantic off of Africa. The storm is the easternmost tropical storm to form over the Atlantic in the month of July.
The U.S. recovery is dismal when compared with other post-World War Two recessions and is far from where it should be in terms of growth and employment. But this may be the best that we can expect with the tools that the government has used. \|\|\|\|\| BAGHDAD, June 16, 2006 The new lead terrorist in Iraq is a founding member of al Qaeda in Iraq and had a close relationship with the now-killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, coalition officials said. Officials revealed yesterday that Abu Ayyub al-Masri succeeded Zarqawi following the Jordanian terrorist's elimination June 7 in a precision-bomb attack on his safe house in Iraq. They said Masri fully bought into Zarqawi's bloody tactics that have left thousands of innocent men, women and children across Iraq dead or maimed. Al-Masri - which means "the Egyptian" - is another foreign fighter who trained in Afghanistan like Zarqawi, coalition officials said. No one knows his real name. The terrorist is said to be about 38 years old and got his beginning in Egypt, where he joined the Islamic Brotherhood. He fled from Egypt and moved to Afghanistan, where he trained in explosives at the al-Faruq Al Qaeda camp. There he met Zarqawi, officials said. After the fall of the Taliban, Masri escaped to Iraq and set up with the Jordanian-born Zarqawi. The Egyptian specialized in vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices. He helped establish the Baghdad cell of Al Qaeda in early 2003, officials said. Later he worked the "rat line" down the Euphrates River Valley supplying suicide bombers via Syria. Officials said he probably directed that operation from Fallujah. Following Zarqawi's death, Masri issued a statement on a terrorist web site that threatened massive retaliation against Iraqi and coalition targets. Officials believe the terrorist is in the vicinity of Baghdad. Coalition officials said the death of Zarqawi and subsequent operations have severely disrupted Al Qaeda in Iraq operations. However, they expect Masri to continue the same tactics that Zarqawi followed. They also said it is a mistake to concentrate on one individual, and said many other terrorist leaders are in their sites.	The U.S. identified the new Al-Qaeda leader in Iraq as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, an Egyptian with ties to Ayman al-Zawahiri. Zawahiri was the number two in command of Al-Qaeda. "We think that Abu Ayyub al-Masri is in fact, probably, Abu Hamza al-Muhajir. They are probably one and the same" said Major General William Caldwell, spokesman for the U.S. military in Iraq. Abu Ayyub al-Masri is thought to specialise in bomb making. The announcement came eight days after Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who had been identified by al-Qaeda as its leader in Iraq, had been "terminated" in a U.S. airstrike near Baqubah.
Sun 25 Mar 2007 A file photo of a British patrol boat conducting a patrol in the Shatt al-Arab waterways of Basra, south of Baghdad, February 15, 2007. The British envoy to Tehran on Sunday requested access to 15 detained British naval personnel who Iran says entered Iranian waters illegally despite Britain's insistence they were in Iraqi territory, a diplomat said. REUTERS/British Royal Marines/Crown Copyright/Handout Iran considers charges against sailors By David Clarke BERLIN (Reuters) - Iran said on Sunday it was considering charging 15 British sailors and marines with illegally entering its waters, but added it may give consular access to them after an investigation. Prime Minister Tony Blair denied the navy personnel had been in Iranian waters and said Tehran should be under no illusion how seriously Britain considers the detentions. The incident raised tensions that were already high with the West over Tehran's nuclear programme. The U.N. Security Council imposed new sanctions on Iran on Saturday. London and Washington have also accused Tehran of fomenting violence in Iraq. "This is a very serious situation and there is no doubt at all that these people were taken from a boat in Iraqi waters," Blair told reporters at a European Union summit in Berlin. Iran captured the 15 Royal Navy personnel at the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab waterway, which marks the southern stretch of Iraq's border with Iran, in the Gulf on Friday. "The charge against them is the illegal entrance into Iranian waters and this issue is being considered legally," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters at the United Nations. An Iranian official said Mottaki told Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett in a telephone call that Iran may give British diplomats access to the detained sailors at some later stage. Britain said two boatloads of Royal Navy sailors and marines had searched a merchant vessel on a U.N.-approved mission in Iraqi waters when Iranian gunboats encircled and captured them. Beckett told Mottaki the personnel should be released. "She made it very clear that our personnel were operating in Iraqi waters," a British foreign office spokesman said. "She called for their safe return and asked for immediate consular access". No immediate timetable for further contacts was established. "They should not be under any doubt at all about how seriously we regard this act, which was unjustified and wrong," Blair said in his first statement since the sailors were seized. Unlike the United States, Britain has diplomatic relations with Iran. Blair had initially refrained from commenting publicly on the capture to avoid raising the stakes with Tehran. The Iranian government says the sailors strayed into its territory and foreign ministry official Ebrahim Rahimpour said Tehran had tried to remain patient over border violations. "But violations, incidents and contradictory remarks of British officials after each incident have created reactions among (Iranian) people and officials," Rahimpour said, according to the official IRNA news agency on Sunday. "This has led us to more and more precise investigations in regards to these suspicious incidents," he was quoted as saying. CONSULAR ACCESS The incident sent oil prices to a three-month high on Friday. It took place a day after Iran launched a week of naval war games along its coast, including the Gulf's northern reaches which give access to the oil output of Iraq, Iran and Kuwait. Blair said it was "simply not true" the British forces had entered Iranian territorial waters. "The quicker it is resolved, the easier it will be for all of us," he said. Britain's Ambassador Geoffrey Adams met Rahimpour on Sunday and requested access to the captured sailors, a British diplomat in Tehran told Reuters. "Iranian officials in charge are following up this issue," Iran's Rahimpour said later. Iranian television reported the meeting, without giving details. It said the British envoy had been summoned. Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported on Saturday the 15 sailors and marines had been transferred to Tehran. This has not been independently confirmed. (Additional reporting by Edmund Blair and Frederick Dahl in Tehran, Jeremy Lovell in London) (c) Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world. \|\|\|\|\| Iran defiantly rebuffed international demands yesterday for the release of 15 seized British naval personnel, claiming that the sailors and Royal Marines had confessed to entering its waters in an illegal act of aggression, and were now to be prosecuted in the Iranian capital. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mohammad Ali Hosseini, claimed in a statement that the Britons were engaged 'in illegal and suspicious' activities, suggesting that Iran might claim they were spying. Iran, the US and the UK have been involved in a tit-for-tat round of accusations. Washington and London accuse Iran of widespread interference in Iraq, including the supply of weapons that have resulted in the deaths of soldiers serving in the multinational forces there. The West also accuses Iran of engaging in uranium enrichment to develop a nuclear weapon. Last night the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to impose tougher sanctions against Iran in the hope of sending a strong message that it will grow increasingly isolated by refusing to abort its nuclear enrichment programme. A senior Iranian official told the Fars news agency that the 14 British men and one woman had been taken to Tehran for further investigation. He added that 'documents and evidence existed' - including from the sailors' own GPS equipment - that demonstrated that they knew they had strayed into Iranian waters. The claims were hotly denied by British officials and US officials, who said that the two high-powered British 'ribs' - rigid inflatable boats - were 'miles' inside Iraqi waters when they were surrounded by Iranian patrol boats on Friday. The British claim appeared to be backed up by an eyewitness account from an Iraqi fisherman who told Reuters that he saw the capture of the servicemen, following their inspection of a ship suspected of carrying smuggled cars. The fisherman added that the ship was anchored on the Iraqi side of the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab waterway, the border between the two countries. It was also confirmed yesterday that the men had been detained by members of the naval force of the Revolutionary Guard, the organisation accused by both the US and Britain of channelling arms and other material to Shia militias in Iraq. In London, Foreign Office minister Lord Triesman held an hour-long meeting with Iran's ambassador, Rasoul Movahedian - the second meeting in two days between British officials and Iran's ambassador - to demand the 'immediate release' of the seized Britons. The meeting was described as 'frank but friendly'. The demand was supported by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who pledged 'support and solidarity' yesterday for Britain over the seizure, and said the incident must not complicate a push to impose further sanctions on Iran. Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, says the country's nuclear programme is aimed only at generating power. The new package of sanctions targets Iran's arms exports, its state-owned bank, Sepah, and senior figures in the Revolutionary Guard. 'We are doing our utmost in co-operation with the British authorities,' Solana told journalists at an EU summit in Berlin. 'They have our support and solidarity.' He said a second UN Security Council resolution to impose sanctions on Iran would go ahead regardless. 'The resolution will follow its course,' he said. The demand for the men's release was echoed by Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Foreign Minister of Germany, which holds the EU presidency. A spokesman for Iran's defence forces, General Alireza Afshar, said the 'arrest' was made by members of the Revolutionary Guard within the Iranian territorial waters on Friday, and added that the servicemen were being interrogated and were now 'facing prosecution' after confessing to an act of 'aggression' in Iranian waters. He told Iranian radio that the arrested Britons were in 'good health' and that the 'confessions' would be made public. \|\|\|\|\| Officials say GPS data shows the personnel were in Iraqi waters MoD news briefing Vice Admiral Charles Style said the sailors had been "ambushed" in the Gulf after searching a vessel and their detention was "unjustified and wrong". Tony Blair said it was time to "ratchet up" pressure on Iran, with whom the UK has now suspended bilateral contacts. Reports suggest the only woman among the group will be freed shortly. An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman is quoted as saying Faye Turney, 26, would be released either later on Wednesday or on Thursday. Iran has insisted the group were in its waters when they were taken last Friday. The eight sailors and seven marines, based on HMS Cornwall, which has its home port in Plymouth, were taken at gunpoint by Iranian Revolutionary Guards after they had searched a merchant vessel. UK VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Crew boards merchant ship 1.7NM inside Iraqi waters 2 HMS Cornwall was south-east of this, and inside Iraqi waters 3 Iran tells UK that merchant ship was at a different point, still within Iraqi waters 4 After UK points this out, Iran provides alternative position, now within Iranian waters UK version in more detail Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki told Turkey's CNN-Turk television the 15 - thought to be at the guards' base in Tehran - were in "completely good health". Iran's embassy in London also issued a statement in response to the UK data, in which it said the sailors and marines had been 0.5 km inside Iranian waters at the time they were seized. The statement, quoted by the official IRNA news agency, said "the governments of Iran and Britain have the ability to solve the incident through contacts and close co-operation". At a briefing in London, the Ministry of Defence said it "unambiguously contested" Iran's claims that the Royal Navy personnel had strayed into Iranian waters. Speaking later, Mr Blair told MPs it was time to increase pressure on Iran "in order to make sure the Iranian government understands their total isolation on this issue". The seizure of the personnel was "unacceptable, wrong and illegal" and the UK was now in talks with all its key allies and partners, he said. The market has been on pins and needles with the Iran situation Phil Flynn Alaron Trading Iran tension affects oil prices Mr Blair added: "Our thoughts are with the servicemen and the servicewoman and their families, and their safe return is our paramount concern." The prime minister said: "These personnel were patrolling in Iraqi waters under a United Nations mandate. Their boarding and checking of the Indian merchant vessel was routine - there was no justification therefore for their detention." Mr Blair said the personnel had been "doing their job" and the government would be talking to international partners in Nato and the UN to reach a "sensible" solution. The UK government said the Iranians initially said the merchant vessel searched by the navy personnel had been at a point within Iraqi waters, before later providing a second, alternative position, within Iranian waters. In a statement to the Commons, Mrs Beckett said: "We find it impossible to believe, given the seriousness of the incident, that the Iranians could have made such a mistake with the original coordinates." She told MPs that Britain were suspending bilateral contacts with Iran until the navy personnel were released. HAVE YOUR SAY The country of Iran needs to have a good long hard look at how this situation will look to the rest of the world Gary, UK Send us your comments Iranian view on stand-off Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "The seizure of our personnel was clearly unjustified and the evidence the foreign secretary and the MoD has presented shatters the credibility of any claim they were operating in Iranian waters." BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the freeze on ties between the two countries meant that until the Britons were returned there would be "no inward or outward visits to Iran" and no UK visas would be granted to Iranian officials. \|\|\|\|\| TRIESMAN: NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUING OVER RELEASE OF BRITISH SAILORS (25/03/07) 'Well we've consistently, through a series of meetings with the Iranians and you're right, there's one that's just taken place in Tehran just a very short time ago. We've been insisting that they should be released immediately - there is no reason to hold them - that they should be released unharmed and that we should be in a position to assure their families that they are in good health and that they're safe. And that is our aim. That is the direction that we are travelling in. These things are always very difficult, as we found out with the people seized in Ethiopia just a couple of weeks ago. They're delicate discussions. My belief is that they will come to a good outcome but you can never be certain and that's why I don't speculate about it.' Iran Country Profile Captured UK personnel in Iran: official statements - March/April 2007 Speaking about the latest negotiations with the Iranian authorities over the release of the seized British sailors, Foreign Office Minister, Lord Triesman, said:'Well we've consistently, through a series of meetings with the Iranians and you're right, there's one that's just taken place in Tehran just a very short time ago. We've been insisting that they should be released immediately - there is no reason to hold them - that they should be released unharmed and that we should be in a position to assure their families that they are in good health and that they're safe. And that is our aim. That is the direction that we are travelling in. These things are always very difficult, as we found out with the people seized in Ethiopia just a couple of weeks ago. They're delicate discussions. My belief is that they will come to a good outcome but you can never be certain and that's why I don't speculate about it.' Back to current News To view archived news: 1. Select year, click go 2. Select month 3. Select day Year: 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC	''The Australian'' has reported that an internet website "run by associates of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad" states that the 15 British sailors who were arrested by Iranian Revolutionary Guards could face charges of espionage. The source website for this claim remains unknown; however, ''Rajanews.com'', a news website run by some of supporters of Ahmadinejad said on their website: "If the charges of espionage is brought against them the result would be heavy punishment by current law." "If it is proven that they deliberately entered Iranian territory, they will be charged with espionage. If that is proven, they can expect a very serious penalty since according to Iranian law, espionage is one of the most serious offenses," said the news report which also called the sailors "insurgents." Individuals who are tried and found guilty of espionage or spying would be penalized by death, according to Iranian law. An inflatable British patrol boat similar to the two seized by Iran on March 23, 2007. (File photo: Patrol boat assigned to HMS ''Cardiff'' seen in Iraq in 2002) The Iranian government initially gave the position of the incident as being ''outside'' Iranian territorial waters. General Alireza Afshar, Iran's top military general, then stated that the sailors were engaged "in illegal and suspicious activities" inside Iranian waterways at the time of their detention and that the sailors "have admitted to violating the territorial waters of the Islamic republic". After the UK queried the statement by General Alireza Afshar, the Iranian government gave a revised position for the incident, now placing it ''inside'' Iranian territorial waters. Reports also say that the sailors are being held until five Iranian guards, detained in Iraq by the United States early in 2007, are released to the Iranian government. "As soon as the corps’s five members are released, the Britons can go home," an unnamed source close to the command of Qods Force, who also said that Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei approved of the trade off. The sailors and marines, from the frigate , had been inspecting, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1723, a ship that was believed to be smuggling cars into Iraq, though it was subsequently cleared after inspection when Iranian gunboats surrounded the sailors and arrested them at gunpoint. Reports also say that the sailors were taken to the Iranian capital of Tehran where they are allegedly going to appear before a court. It is not known when they will appear before the court in Iran or when the hearing will be held. As a result of the detention of the sailors, the United Kingdom has activated their "", which is Britain's crisis management team as the U.K. denies that the sailors were in Iranian waters. Tony Blair, the U.K.'s Prime Minister, calls the situation "unjustified and wrong." "This is a very serious situation and there is no doubt at all that these people were taken from a boat in Iraqi waters. I hope the Iranian government understands how fundamental an issue this is for us. They should not be under any doubt at all about how seriously we regard this act, which was unjustified and wrong. It is simply not true that they went into Iranian territorial waters," Blair claimed during a news conference today who also stated that the situation could be resolved within the next couple of days. "The quicker it is resolved, the easier it will be for all of us," added Blair. In a press release March 25, Minister stated, "We've been insisting that the sailors should be released immediately - there is no reason to hold them - that they should be released unharmed and that we should be in a position to assure their families that they are in good health and that they're safe." Triesman indicated that meetings have taken place with Iranian officials over the release of the seized British sailors, and that "they're delicate discussions."
Tensions over Iran's nuclear intentions rose sharply in the past week, after Iran, over the objections of Germany, France, Britain, the European Union and the United States, removed atomic energy agency seals from uranium enrichment equipment at the Natanz nuclear plant. On Saturday, Mr. Ahmadinejad would not say whether the resumed research would include small-scale uranium enrichment, a step in the production of nuclear fuel for an energy plant, or, as part of a more complex process, in the creation of a nuclear bomb. On Thursday, the Europeans said their negotiations with Tehran, which included a range of incentives to end all nuclear activities, had ended. On Friday, the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, met with President Bush in Washington and promised to step up pressure on Iran. The same day, the Iranian foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, said the his government was obliged by law to bar international inspectors from its nuclear sites if its case was referred to the Security Council. The law, passed recently by Parliament, requires that, in the case of referral, the government end voluntary measures of compliance with the atomic energy agency. "Now it is time for the Western countries to build confidence and prove to us that they will allow our people to achieve scientific progress," Mr. Ahmadinejad said Saturday. "Despite their own scientific and technological development, these countries have a medieval mind set. They tell us that we do not have the right to scientific progress. This kind of language has expired." Mr. Ahmadinejad also addressed his recent comments about Israel on Saturday. Last month, he described Israel as a "disgraceful blot" that should be destroyed. He said his earlier comment had been misquoted. "There is no new policy," he said. "They created a lot of hue and cry over that." He added, "It is clear what we say: Let the Palestinians participate in free elections and they will say what they want." \|\|\|\|\| INTERNATIONAL 01.14.2006 Saturday - ISTANBUL 20:07 Iran Challenges Europe in Nuclear Crisis By Foreign New Desk, Istanbul Published: Saturday, January 14, 2006 zaman.com Iran, angered by statements pouring in from European countries over its nuclear program, has announced plans to cut off all voluntary cooperation with the international community if they are sent to the United Nations Security Council to apply for the introduction of sanctions. Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucher Mouttaki warned Europe will lose the chance of reconciliation with Iran and will be forced to halt the studies of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). After Iran announced plans to resume its nuclear fuel studies earlier this week, the big guns of the European Union, Germany, France, and Britain’s foreign ministers gathered in the German capital Berlin to send Iran’s nuclear dossier to the Security Council. Following a counter-statement by Iran, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her British counterpart Jack Straw underlined as recently as Friday that a military intervention in the country was out of question and are pushing for a diplomatic solution to the issue. Following the meeting of the EU’s big three on Thursday Iranian foreign minister was the first to react against the decision to send his country to the Council. Mouttaki told the official Iranian news agency, IRNA, the West will bare the consequences if Iran is sent to the Council. The minister threatened to obstruct the IAEA controls at its nuclear plants and maintain its uranium enrichment program. Mouttaki insisted Iran’s nuclear activities are greatly exaggerated and recalled they had signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty and that it was only natural for them to conduct uranium enrichment studies. “Iran does not need to have permission from any country. It is our legal right to have nuclear energy,” he determined. US President George Bush, in a statement on the issue released following his talk with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said that they cannot allow countries such as Iran to blackmail peace loving countries like themselves. Bush said diplomatic efforts will continue and passing a decision on Iran by the Security Council will be a part of these efforts. Merkel said she shares the same concerns with Washington over Iran and to cooperate with the US is of benefit to Germany. “Iran crossed the line,” the chancellor said Thursday. Straw, who came together with his German and French counterparts and Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, on the same day, said yesterday, sanctions over Iran may come to the agenda if the country refuses to obey the demands of the international community. The British secretary, speaking to BBC radio, told in a response a question about a possible attack on Iran, “No one speaks about an invasion or striking Iran.” The dispute, he said, can only be solved through peaceful channels and reminded he has not spoken to the US about possible military intervention. There is no clear proof that Iran will use its nuclear program to develop weapons secretly, but the strong suspicion remains that Iran has an intention to produce nuclear bombs. Rice also emphasized the use of force against Iran is not a choice “for the moment.” The US Secretary of State in an interview to CBS Evening News, responded: “The US President would remove this choice from the table and nobody would ask him to do this. We are now on a diplomatic mission and we will not deviate from this route at this point,” when asked “Will the US use force to stop Iran?” On Friday, France announced it is too early to ask for sanctions against Iran. French Foreign Ministry speaker Jean-Baptiste Mattei said, “We, and our allies, think the demand for sanction has not yet matured.” In line with these efforts, Russia called on Tehran to suspend its nuclear activities and resume its cooperation with the IAEA. The United States and EU countries accuse Iran of secretly attempting to develop nuclear weapons; however, the Tehran administration rejects these accusations. After Iran removed the seals from its nuclear plants earlier this week, the EU trio announced the talks, which had been ongoing for 2.5 years, had reached a dead end and it was time for the UN to become involved. The EU’s big three will meet in London next week to discuss the issue along with the US, China and Russia. Other News in INTERNATIONAL Saudis Blame Pilgrims for Stampede in Mecca Sharon Cannot be Awakened Turkish Expectations High for Austrian EU Term Presidency \|\|\|\|\| The news conference was the second of Ahmadinejad's presidency At a rare news conference in Tehran, Mr Ahmadinejad said they were needed only by people who "want to solve everything through the use of force". The president defended Tehran's recent move to restart nuclear research, which has sparked international condemnation. Iran says it has a right to peaceful nuclear technology and denies that it is covertly seeking to develop weapons. The US, UK, France and Germany are threatening to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council, which could impose sanctions. Leaders who believe they can create peace for themselves by creating war for others are mistaken President Ahmadinejad Excerpts: Ahmadinejad remarks But the president said a referral would not end its nuclear plans. "If they want to destroy the Iranian nation's rights by that course, they will not succeed," he said. Tehran has said it will stop snap UN inspections of nuclear sites if its case is sent to the Council. The crisis intensified this week when Iran removed seals at three nuclear facilities, ending a two-year freeze. 'Arrogant rulers' Mr Ahmadinejad told reporters Tehran pursued an active foreign policy which sought peace, based on justice. IRAN'S NUCLEAR STANDOFF Sept 2002: Work begins on Iran's first reactor at Bushehr Dec 2002: Satellites reveal Arak and Natanz sites, triggering IAEA inspections Nov 2003: Iran suspends uranium enrichment and allows tougher inspections June 2004: IAEA rebukes Iran for not fully co-operating Nov 2004: Iran suspends enrichment under deal with EU Aug 2005: Iran rejects EU plan and re-opens Isfahan plant Jan 2006: Iran re-opens Natanz facility In depth: Nuclear fuel cycle Iranian press scorns criticism He criticised the "double standards" of Western countries which already had nuclear weapons, and attacked "arrogant rulers" for causing suffering. "Leaders who believe they can create peace for themselves by creating war for others are mistaken," he said. A few had a "medieval mindset" and sought to deprive Iran of valuable technology, without evidence of wrongdoing, he added. Mr Ahmadinejad sparked international outrage with his hardline stance towards Israel, following his election last June. He repeated both his attacks and calls for a referendum for Palestinians to choose their future political fate. "(Israelis) have no roots in Palestine and almost all are immigrants," he said. "Let the nation of Palestine decide among themselves." Diplomatic divisions Western countries are now seeking to persuade other members of UN nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to agree to refer Iran to the Council. The Iranians crossed a line by reactivating nuclear facilities the UN had shut Albert Arnim, Dresden, Germany Send us your views Head-to-head: nuclear crisis European, Russian, Chinese and US officials are due to meet in London on Monday, when they are expected to set a date for the crucial IAEA meeting. On Friday, US President George W Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed that the crisis should be resolved through peaceful means. Washington, Israel and many European powers distrust Iran, partly because it had kept its nuclear research secret for 18 years before it was revealed in 2002. Since last August, Iran has resumed all nuclear activity apart from enrichment, which can produce fuel for power stations or, under certain conditions, for bombs. Tehran has always said it has the right under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty - which it has signed - to research nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.	Map highlighting Iran Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke out in a rare news conference on Saturday against statements made by Europe and the United States, saying that if any country refers it to the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear program, that it will end their voluntary compliance with surprise inspections and other nuclear cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. He also warned that Europe will lose the chance of reconciliation if it pursues sanctions. President Ahmadinejad said that even if Iran is referred to the Security Council for possible sanctions, the action would still not stop its nuclear program. "They keep on threatening us that we have to either accept what they say or they will send us to the Security Council," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said during a news conference in the Iranian capital of . Iran's statements came as Europe and the U.S. began to build support for reporting Iran to the U.N. Security Council. However, China has been cautious and has warned the move could only escalate the confrontation. Meanwhile, President George W. Bush, and Chancellor Angela Merkel, urged U.N. intervention. "The world needs to send a common message to Iran that their behavior...is unacceptable," Bush said. The U.S. and Europe continue to have growing concerns that Iran is trying to produce nuclear weapons. On Tuesday, Britain, France and Germany issued a statement declaring that 2 1/2 years of tense negotiations with Tehran were a "dead end" and urged the U.N. Security Council to intervene. The U.N. Security Council Iranian Foreign Minister, Manoucher Mouttaki, said to the press yesterday that "the West will bear the consequences if Iran is sent to the Council. Iran does not need to have permission from any country. It is our legal right to have nuclear energy." In response the Bush administration, along with Chancellor Angela Merkel, said that they "cannot allow countries such as Iran to blackmail peace-loving countries like themselves." Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that his "country does not need nuclear weapons. They are needed only by people who want to solve everything through the use of force." He then went on to say, "Leaders who believe they can create peace for themselves by creating war for others are mistaken." Tehran has always said it has the right under Article VI of the — which the nation has signed but not ratified — to research nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
DENVER - Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said in a tearful news conference Tuesday that nobody in the organization saw any hint that wide receiver Kenny McKinley was suicidal before he took his life."We've all seen him recently. He's been the same person every time we see him. Liked junk food and chips and things like that," McDaniels said. "He was in the cafeteria, or in the training room, when we were seeing him the last so many weeks here. Nothing that would alarm us to anything like this."However, an Arapahoe County Sheriff's report that was released Tuesday quoted one investigator as saying McKinley had been depressed over a knee surgery he had a month ago."He had made statements while playing dominoes shortly after the surgery that he should just kill himself," the officer reported. "No one believed he was serious."The report provided no explanation for the source of the investigator's information.The report also said McKinley had made statements about not knowing what he would do without football. It said McKinley had flown to South Carolina 10 days earlier to see his young son and had brought him back with him to Denver on Sunday night.Two female friends who were taking care of his son discovered McKinley's body inside his home in the 16800 block of East Caley Place Monday and called 911. Detectives who responded to his home a few miles from the Broncos headquarters found McKinley's body with a pillow over his head and a semiautomatic pistol on top of the pillow. They also noted a strong odor of freshly burned marijuana, according to the report.Arapahoe County Coroner Michael Dobersen said Tuesday that McKinley, 23, died of a gunshot wound to the head. He said a preliminary investigation "suggests the wound to be self-inflicted."The team gathered Tuesday morning and met with grief counselors to help them deal with the death of their friend, who was on injured reserve after hurting his left knee in August and requiring surgery for the second time in eight months.McDaniels said the tragedy would likely bring teammates together."I think our team is like a family, and together, we'll push through," McDaniels said. "Our team is a close-knit group and it was good to have them together here today to share in the grieving process."He says there will be a moment of silence in honor of McKinley and his accomplishments at the Broncos next home game Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts."It's not going to be a normal week. We're not going to try to pretend it's a normal week. We're going to do our work and get ready to go, and really respect everybody's ability to go through this differently," McDaniels said.He also said the Broncos will wear white decals with the No. 11 in navy on their helmets and leave McKinley's locker in place for the remainder of the season as a tribute.Linebacker Wesley Woodyard said McKinley was his usual joking and jovial self in recent weeks, something his college teammates agreed with after he visited the South Carolina campus earlier this month.Woodyard said he saw McKinley a week and a half ago when the receiver was retrieving some items from his locker at Dove Valley. They ribbed each other, as usual."He had a big smile on his face. He just walked out of the building," Woodyard said. "And that's the last thing we remember, that huge smile."Woodyard said nobody saw any signs that their friend was hurting on the inside."Every memory that we have of Kenny is a joke and a big smile," Woodyard said.He said the Broncos will prepare for their game against the Colts with heavy hearts."We've got to play with him on our shoulders and in our hearts," Woodyard said. "So, I think that's something that's going to allow us to continue to push through this week.""We're not going to ask everybody to be the same, and we're not all going to be the same. So I think the players will understand the week is going to go forward and we're going to have to handle that as well as get ready for the Colts and be ready to play on Sunday," McDaniels said.Officials say at about 3:25 p.m. on Monday, deputies responded to a home in the 16800 block of East Caley Place to investigate a report of a possible suicide.Deputies discovered McKinley's body in the second floor master bedroom of his home after responding to investigate a report of a possible suicide. He is the third Broncos player to die a sudden death in the past four years. On New Year's Day 2007, cornerback Darrent Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting in downtown Denver. In Feb. 2007, running back Damien Nash, 24, collapsed and died during a charity basketball game."Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley," President and CEO Pat Bowlen said on the Broncos' official website. "He was part of the Broncos family and will be greatly missed by our organization. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny's family and friends."McKinley, who was born in Baker, Louisiana was a standout player at South Carolina and climbed into the SEC record books with 207 receptions -- the third-most in conference history, according to NFL.com. He also became just the 12th player in league history to collect more than 2,700 receiving yards.A trust fund benefiting Kenny McKinley's 1-year-old son, Keon, has been established through the NFL Players Association.The Denver Broncos will make a contribution to this fund, which benefits Keon with his future educational and health needs.Contributions can be sent to:Kenny McKinley's Trust Fundc/o NFL Players Association1133 20th Street NWWashington, DC 20036 \|\|\|\|\| Denver Bronco wide receiver McKinley found dead Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley has been found dead in his home in an apparent suicide, police in the US state of Colorado have said. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said authorities were called to McKinley's house in Centennial on Monday and found his body in a bedroom. He said detectives believed the 23-year-old had shot himself. McKinley, a fifth-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, played in eight games with the Broncos as a rookie. He was placed on injured reserve in December after suffering a knee injury. "Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley," team president Pat Bowlen said. "He was part of the Broncos family and will be greatly missed by our organisation. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny's family and friends," he added. In January 2007, Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting. Three months later, back-up running back Damien Nash collapsed and died after a charity basketball game in St Louis.	McKinley while with the in 2009 , an American football player for the , has been found dead at the age of 23. The was found dead in the master bedroom of his home in the Denver suburbs. The cause of death is suspected to be suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. President and CEO of the Denver Broncos released a statement about McKinley's death on the Broncos' official website. He said "Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley. He was part of the Broncos family and will be greatly missed by our organization. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny's family and friends." Andrew Bondarowicz, McKinley's agent, said McKinley had been visiting family in and had only shortly returned to Denver at the time of his death. Originally from , McKinley was selected in the fifth round of the . In college, he became only the 12th player in history to collect more than 2,700 receiving yards. McKinley has become the third young Broncos player to die in recent years. was shot dead on New Year's Eve in 2007 and died after he collapsed during a charity basketball game a month later. 's said on his page "No NFL team has been hit harder than Denver. Darrent Williams, Damien Nash. Kenny McKinley. RIP."
KHARTOUM - Sudan accused Chad today of mounting a second series of air strikes on its territory and said the conflict between the African neighbours must be resolved politically. "This morning at 10:30 local time (0730 GMT), another visit took place on the same location and using the same method," Sudanese army spokesman Othman al-Aghbash told reporters. The conflict between Sudan and Chad "cannot be resolved by military methods, it must be resolved through political means," he said, appearing to tone down Friday’s threat of a possible military response. On Friday, Sudan accused Chad of mounting air strikes 60 kilometres within Sudanese territory but Chad hit back swiftly saying Khartoum was "the robber who cries thief." Aghbach also denied the presence of any Chadian armed groups in Sudan following charges by some diplomats that Sudanese-backed Chadian rebels who had launched an offensive on Ndjamena on May 4 had retreated back into Sudan. Chad has accused Sudan of supporting rebels seeking to oust President Idriss Deby Itno, while Khartoum has accused Ndjamena of backing ethnic minority rebels in the western Sudanese province of Darfur. Peace between Chad and Sudan is regarded as essential to any lasting settlement to the six-year-old conflict in Darfur. \|\|\|\|\| Sudan has accused Chad's Deby of being involved in a recent attack on Khartoum [AFP] The alleged raids, the latest of which Khartoum says took place on Saturday, come days after Chad said Sudan had sent armed groups across its border. Sudan has accused neighbouring Chad of launching a third air raid on its territory, a day after it said Ndjamena was responsible for two other bombings. "There was another air strike this morning at around 10am," Ali Youssef Ahmed, head of protocol at Sudan's foreign ministry, said on Saturday, a day after the first two alleged raids occurred. "This aggression continues [and] this makes the situation graver." 'Act of war' Ahmed on Friday said that that there had been casualties in the first two alleged raids, calling them an "act of war". Ahmed declined to comment on whether Sudan planned to retaliate, saying: "We are considering all options." Mohammed Vall, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Khartoum, said the Sudanese government has consulted ambassadors of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, complaining of Chad's behaviour. "There has never been an open war between the two countries, but this is a very serious development," he said. "The Sudanese authorities have made it very clear that they reserve the right to retaliate." Chad denial Chad late on Friday hit back at Sudanese accusations saying Khartoum was "the robber who cries thief". Mahamat Hissene, a government spokesman, told reporters that Chad "is surprised to learn that the regime in Khartoum is protesting against action by the Chadian air force on Sudanese territory". Hissene said that any confrontations would be "simply the consequence of the attack on Chad organised by Sudan, using mercenaries armed, trained, financed and directed by satellite by the Khartoum regime". Both countries have regularly accused each other of backing fighters bent on overthrowing their respective governments. Ahmed said Sudan's foreign ministry had called in Chad's ambassador to demand an explanation for the two sorties and had informed the Khartoum-based ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Three warplanes Chad accused Sudan of backing an armed incursion into its territory last week, after the two countries had signed a pact in Doha, Qatar. They had agreed in that deal to normalise relations and reject any support for rebel groups hostile to either of them. Chad said it had stopped the advance, after clashes that killed 125 fighters. Sudan denied involvement in the raid, saying it was a confrontation between Chad's government and "opposition groups". Chad and Sudan resumed shaky diplomatic ties in November after cutting them in May 2008. Sudan has accused Idriss Deby, the president of Chad, of being involved in an attack on the Sudanese capital by Darfur rebels on May 11, 2008.	Sudan blamed Chad on Sunday of launching an air strike on its territory, a day after accusing the country of mounting two other raids. "This morning at 10.30 local time 0.730 GMT, another visit took place on the same location and using the same method," said Othman al-Aghbash, a spokesman for the Sudanese army. Sudan also accused Chad earlier on Friday of launching a pair of airstrikes into Sudanese territory. Chad promptly dismissed the accusations, claiming that Sudan was "the robber who cries thief." Ali Youssef Ahmed, the head of the Sudanian foreign ministry, called the Friday air strikes an "act of war". He did not comment on whether Sudan was considering to retaliate to the alleged attacks, only saying that "we are considering all options." A spokesman for the Chadian government told reporters that "is surprised to learn that the regime in Khartoum is protesting against action by the Chadian air force on Sudanese territory". A confrontation would be "simply the consequence of the attack on Chad organised by Sudan, using mercenaries armed, trained, financed and directed by satellite by the Khartoum regime", he said.
CHICAGO – Ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's plan to auction off President Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat marked the culmination of years of scheming for personal gain that included trying to extort a congressman and pressuring businesses to hire his wife, prosecutors alleged Thursday. A sweeping 19-count federal indictment alleges that Blagojevich discussed with aides the possibility of getting a Cabinet post in the new president's administration, substantial fundraising assistance or a high-paying job in exchange for the Senate seat. Obama's deputy press secretary, Josh Earnest, said the White House would not comment on the indictment, which does not allege any wrongdoing by Obama or his top aides. Prosecutors also accused Blagojevich and members of his inner circle of plotting to line their pockets with millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains. They are accused of squeezing contractors, hospital owners and others seeking state business for kickbacks they planned to split after the governor left office. "I'm saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment," Blagojevich, who was in Walt Disney World with his family, said in a statement. "I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name." Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, was the congressman, attorneys familiar with the case said Thursday. The attorneys spoke on condition of anonymity because the congressman isn't named in the indictment and the information is secret grand jury material. The indictment says the congressman asked about a $2 million grant included in the state budget for a school. But Blagojevich allegedly told a state official to tell the lawmaker his brother would have to raise campaign funds or the grant wouldn't go through. At the time, Emanuel represented the 5th District on Chicago's North Side. Some of the funds were later released, even though no fundraiser had been held. The indictment does not say which of Emanuel's two brothers was involved. Emanuel's brother Ari is a Hollywood agent and the inspiration for Ari Gold, the Type-A superagent on the HBO series "Entourage." His brother Ezekiel is an oncologist. The indictment also alleges that Blagojevich: _Was involved in a corrupt scheme to get a massive kickback in exchange for the refinancing of billions of dollars in state pension funds. _Told an aide he didn't want executives with two financial institutions getting further state business after he concluded they were not helping his wife get a high-paying job. _Withheld state aid sought by the Tribune Co. unless the company fired unfriendly editorial writers at the Chicago Tribune. Also, convicted fixer Tony Rezko paid Patti Blagojevich a $14,396 real estate commission "even though she had done no work" to earn it and later hired her at a salary of $12,000 a month plus another $40,000 fee, the indictment said. Others charged were brother Robert Blagojevich; former chief of staff Alonzo Monk; one-time chief fundraiser Christopher G. Kelly; Springfield lobbyist-millionaire William F. Cellini; and another former chief of staff, John Harris. Prosecutors said Harris has agreed to cooperate. Robert Blagojevich is chairman of the Friends of Rod Blagojevich campaign fund. "We were hoping that it wouldn't happen but now we go to trial and win," said his attorney, Michael Ettinger. Cellini attorney Dan Webb said his client never had a substantive conversation with Blagojevich, much less conspired with him. Messages were left for attorneys for Monk, Kelly and Harris. Blagojevich faces 16 counts of wire fraud, racketeering and extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements. Most of those charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors said at least $188,370 belonging to Friends of Blagojevich is subject to forfeiture. If the money can't be found, Blagojevich might have to forfeit his Washington, D.C., apartment and Chicago home. Blagojevich, 52, was arrested Dec. 9 on a criminal complaint and U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald had faced a Tuesday deadline to supplant it with an indictment handed up by a federal grand jury. The Democrat's arrest led to his political downfall: The Illinois House impeached him Jan. 9. The Senate convicted him and removed him from office Jan. 29. Illinois lawmakers had considered stripping Blagojevich of his Senate-appointment powers after his arrest, but couldn't agree on legislation. Blagojevich shocked everyone by naming former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to the seat Dec. 30. Burris has since come under fire for changing his story about the circumstances surrounding his appointment. He also acknowledged trying, unsuccessfully, to raise money for Blagojevich. Burris would not comment on the indictment, spokesman Jim O'Connor said. Earlier in the day, Burris told reporters with The Hill as he came off the Senate floor that it "has nothing to do with me." Blagojevich's administration has been under federal investigation for years and Kelly and Rezko already have been convicted of federal crimes and are awaiting sentencing. Thursday's indictment said that in 2003 the former governor's first year in office Blagojevich, Monk, Kelly and Rezko agreed to direct big-money state business involved in refinancing billions of dollars in pension bonds as part of a deal with a lobbyist who promised a massive kickback in return. The lobbyist wasn't identified. Rezko raised more than $1 million in campaign contributions for Blagojevich and also was a major Obama fundraiser. Illinois residents said they were tired of the corruption. "I'm so disgusted," said Linda Dowdy, a 59-year-old Belleville tavern manager who calls herself a hardcore Democrat. She lamented that even well-intentioned politicians don't last long in office. "He may have every intention of going in and trying to change things and of making things better," she said. "But once he's in, he doesn't have any choice but to be as crooked as they are or he's not gonna stay in there." ___ Associated Press writers Tammy Webber and Michael Tarm in Chicago and David Mercer in Champaign contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| CHICAGO Rod R. Blagojevich, the ousted governor of Illinois, used his chance to fill the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama as one more money-making plan in a vast racketeering scheme, federal prosecutors said Thursday, an operation they portrayed as the “Blagojevich Enterprise.” In a 19-count indictment, prosecutors said the “primary purpose of the Blagojevich Enterprise was to exercise and preserve power over the government of the State of Illinois for the financial and political benefit of” Mr. Blagojevich, his family and his friends. Running 75 pages, the indictment had been expected for nearly four months, since Mr. Blagojevich was arrested. The former governor, a second-term Democrat whose political career has come apart, was charged with 16 felonies, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents. Five of his closest advisers his brother, one of his top fund-raisers, two of his former chiefs of staff and a Springfield businessman were also charged with crimes. Mr. Blagojevich, who was believed to be vacationing with his family near Walt Disney World in Florida when the indictment was announced here late Thursday, issued a statement through his publicist. “I’m saddened and hurt, but I am not surprised by the indictment,” he said. “I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name.” \|\|\|\|\| By Andrew Stern and Michael Conlon CHICAGO (Reuters) - Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been indicted for corruption while in office, including trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat that was held by President Barack Obama, prosecutors said on Thursday. A federal grand jury indicted the 52-year-old Democrat on 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents. Blagojevich, who claims he did nothing wrong and is a victim of a political witch-hunt, has promised to fight the charges in court and has a book contract to tell his side. He faces more than 300 years in prison if convicted and at least $4 million in fines, plus restitution, according to the indictment. Blagojevich was in his second term when the state legislature kicked him out of office nine weeks ago, after his arrest in December. He was accused of seeking cash, campaign contributions and jobs for himself and others in exchange for state appointments, state business, legislation and pension fund investments. Among those actions were attempts to leverage his authority to appoint a U.S. senator to take over Obama's seat after his election as president in November, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said. The governor was caught on court-approved wiretaps describing the Senate seat as something so valuable "you just don't give it away for nothing." Blagojevich added he might appoint himself if he could not get anything for the seat. The charges on the indictment date back to 2002, before he was elected governor. Prosecutors accuse Blagojevich of trying to profit with a circle of friends, who would then divide the spoils after he left office. The 19-count indictment also charged his older brother Robert, two former top aides and two businessmen. Robert Blagojevich, 53, a Nashville businessman, was former chairman of his brother's campaign fund. Blagojevich and his former chief of staff, John Harris, have been free on bond since a brief court appearance on December 9 -- the day they were arrested. Harris, 47, was charged with a single count of fraud and has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. The former governor's wife, Patricia, was named in the indictment but not charged. The couple and their two daughters were on vacation in Florida on Thursday, according to media reports. CNN said they were staying at the Walt Disney World theme park and resort. (Editing by John O'Callaghan)	Milorad "Rod" Blagojevich Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of the US state of Illinois, was indicted on Thursday on charges of corruption for allegedly planning to "sell" Barack Obama's Senate seat when the latter vacated it to become President. Five of his advisers, including Blagojevich's brother Robert, were also indicted. The others are former fundraiser, Christopher Kelly, former chief of staff John Harris, former aide Lon Monk, and the lobbyist William Cellini. A jury indicted Blagojevich on sixteen felony counts, among them wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, and racketeering conspiracy. The indictment states that if convicted, the ex-governor could face over three hundred years in prison, as well as US$4 million worth of fines, including restitution. The governor insists that he did nothing illegal, and claims that he was the victim of a politically motivated witch hunt. He pledged to fight his charges in court. "I'm saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment. I am innocent," read a statement released by Blagojevich. "I now will fight in the courts to clear my name. I would ask the good people of Illinois to wait for the trial and afford me the presumption of innocence that they would give to all their friends and neighbors." Blagojevich, a governor serving his second term, was arrested on December 9 of last year on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Shortly thereafter, the Illinois House impeached him before the Senate, which nearly unanimously convicted him and expelled him from office.
Barack Obama announces 2012 re-election bid Mr Obama has seen his approval rating dip during two years in office Continue reading the main story Related Stories US President Barack Obama has announced his intention to stand for a second term in office in 2012. Mr Obama's team released a video on his official website and sent an e-mail to supporters announcing his plans. The president has an online network of millions of Americans and his web campaign was widely seen as a key plank of his election success in 2008. The announcement was widely expected, and his campaign team are set to file election papers this week. Mr Obama does not actually appear in the video, posted on YouTube as well as the official campaign website. Instead supporters look back to the 2008 campaign and talk of their hopes for the 2012 bid. "I don't agree with Obama on everything but I respect him and I trust him," Ed, from North Carolina, says in the video, a line seen as voicing a perspective aimed at attracting liberals and independents who have criticised some of Mr Obama's policies. In his e-mail to supporters, Mr Obama said the campaign would start small and grow over time, "with people organising block-by-block, talking to neighbours, co-workers, and friends". Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. "So even though I'm focused on the job you elected me to do, and the race may not reach full speed for a year or more, the work of laying the foundation for our campaign must start today." Unveiling a new look for Mr Obama's campaign website, his team told supporters: "The idea is to improve upon what's worked for the past four years, scrap what hasn't, and build a campaign that reflects the thoughts and experiences of the supporters who've powered this movement." Analysts say the president will now work to convince US citizens he has delivered the type of change he promised America in 2008. And during the next 20 months before the presidential election, he will have to defend the policies his administration has worked to impose, like his healthcare overhaul and his efforts to revitalise the economy. Continue reading the main story Analysis It's hardly man-bites-dog that a president will seek re-election. But it is unusual for an incumbent to show his hand before all his likely challengers. One inference is that nervy Republicans have their doubts as to whether Mr Obama is beatable. But another conclusion is that the president knows he has lost ground and support since 2008, and realises he must get out of the blocks quickly. There are a couple of interesting things about the video announcing the campaign. First, Barack Obama is nowhere to be seen. And second, there's a strong grass-roots flavour to it, with individual voters talking about what they can do to help their man - ending in the slogan "it begins with us." This echoes the word-of-mouth excitement about Obama in 2008, but the technique is also reminiscent of the Tea Party. Is the president seeking to emulate their electoral tactics?" Mr Obama's re-election campaign is reportedly seeking to raise as much as $1bn (£620m), an increase on the $750m raised for the 2008 campaign. As the incumbent, Mr Obama's team will be able to call on the support of different donors than they did in 2008, when cash was raised through huge numbers of small individual donations and Mr Obama began the campaign as an outsider. After the 'shellacking' A number of Republican presidential hopefuls are expected to seek the nomination to run against Mr Obama. Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee are thought likely to run again, with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Haley Barbour, currently governor of Mississippi, also tipped to stand. John McCain's 2008 running mate Sarah Palin remains hugely popular with some Republicans but divides opinion nationally. However, as it stands, Tim Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota, is the only leading candidate to have formally declared his candidacy. Mr Obama took office in January 2009 with near-record approval ratings, but has seen his support fall during his first two years in office. In November 2010, Mr Obama's Democratic Party lost control of the House of Representatives and shed several Senate seats in mid-term elections to Congress. Continue reading the main story Post-war incumbents Since WWII only two presidents have failed to secure a second term after serving a full first term Democrat Jimmy Carter, damaged by the Iran hostage crisis, was beaten by Ronald Reagan in 1980 In 1992 Republican George H W Bush lost to Bill Clinton and his slogan 'It's the economy, stupid' In 1974 Republican Gerald Ford succeeded Richard Nixon, but was voted out in 1976 The president called the result a "shellacking" and vowed to listen to the concerns of US voters. Despite shedding some support, polling by the Pew Research Center suggests Mr Obama is in a similar position at this stage to George W Bush and a stronger position than Bill Clinton, both of whom went on to win re-election convincingly. In polling carried out in March, some 47% of registered voters said they would like to re-elect Mr Obama, with just 37% saying they would vote for an as-yet-unknown Republican candidate. Some commentators have pointed to a possible play with numbers in the announcement: Mr Obama's announcement was made on the fourth day of the fourth month of the year, by the 44th US president. \|\|\|\|\| President Barack Obama began his bid for re-election in 2012 by releasing a campaign video on his website and sending an e-mail to supporters that said the job of preparing for his campaign “must start today.” Obama filed paperwork today with the Federal Election Commission and spoke with supporters tonight in a conference call that also was broadcast on his campaign website. “We’re doing this now because the politics we believe in does not start with expensive TV ads or extravaganzas, but with you -- with people organizing block-by-block, talking to neighbors, co-workers and friends,” Obama wrote in an e-mail. “That kind of campaign takes time to build.” The campaign will be “farther reaching, more focused, and more innovative than anything we’ve built before,” Obama said. “Even though I’m focused on the job you elected me to do, and the race may not reach full speed for a year or more, the work of laying the foundation for our campaign must start today.” The filing with federal election officials allows Obama to begin fundraising and other organizational efforts for winning a second White House term. The campaign will have its headquarters in Chicago, the president’s adopted hometown and base for his 2008 victory. Obama, 49, said this will be his “final campaign, at least as a candidate,” and signed the message, “Barack.” Video Interviews The two-minute video features interviews with supporters and doesn’t include any spoken words from Obama. It starts with a man in North Carolina, the state that will host the Democratic National Convention next year and one that he carried in 2008. The video also includes images from his historic 2008 campaign, when he was elected the first black U.S. president, including his announcement speech in Springfield, Illinois, and a Fox News television screen showing him the victor of the Iowa caucuses in January 2008, the first official contest on the nomination campaign. The Republican National Committee responded to the Obama video by distributing to reporters editorial criticism from newspapers and blogs saying that Obama is conducting “a backseat presidency” by failing to tackle “exploding costs of entitlement spending” in such areas as Medicare and Medicaid. “Obama has shown a distinct lack of leadership on the budget debate,” the RNC said, adding that he chose “politics over substance by sitting on the sidelines” on overhauling programs. Policy Challenges The president is beginning his campaign as he confronts foreign policy challenges that include the turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa. There is also continued economic stress at home. The national unemployment rate is projected to be 8.3 percent in 2012, according to a median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News in March. While that would be down from the current 8.8 percent figure, no president since World War II has been re-elected with the jobless rate higher than 7.5 percent. Obama likely will give a formal speech on his re-election bid at a later date. He is scheduled to make an April 14 fundraising stop in Chicago, where donors four years ago provided him some of his earliest funding. Additional April fundraising events are being planned in California and New York. Campaign’s Cost Analysts who track fundraising say they expect the 2012 presidential election to cost $3 billion, about 50 percent more than the $2 billion the Federal Election Commission said was spent in 2008 by candidates, the political parties and outside groups. Obama raised a record $745 million in 2007 and 2008 for his presidential campaign and was the first major-party nominee to reject public financing for the general election. Jim Messina, a former White House deputy chief of staff, has moved to Chicago to run the campaign. Also back in Chicago to handle the campaign’s messaging and strategy is David Axelrod, a former senior Obama adviser in the White House. The president’s job approval was at 42 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll taken March 22-28 with an error margin of plus-or-minus 2.2 percentage points. That was down from 46 percent in a March 3 Quinnipiac survey and at its lowest level in the university’s surveys on Obama. Also, 50 percent of the registered voters surveyed by the Hamden, Connecticut-based polling institute said Obama didn’t deserve re-election in 2012, compared with 41 percent who said he should receive a second four-year term. In a hypothetical race with an unidentified Republican opponent, voter sentiment was statistically tied: 36 percent for Obama, 37 percent for a Republican. Republican Race The Republican nomination contest remains wide open, with potential candidates ranging from former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to real estate developer Donald Trump. Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who is exploring a Republican presidential bid, released a campaign-style video on the Internet today in response to Obama’s announcement. “How can America win the future, when we’re losing the present?” Pawlenty asks in the video, which highlights unemployment and record home foreclosures. “In order for America to take a new direction, it’s going to take a new president.” Other prospective Republican candidates include former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucuses in 2008, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana, and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who is stepping down as the Obama-appointed ambassador to China in April. Barbour, Santorum Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has expressed interest in the Republican race, as has former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. The lack of a clear frontrunner has encouraged others, including Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, a Tea Party favorite, to position themselves for potential runs. The Iowa caucuses, the first electoral test in the nomination process, are tentatively scheduled for Feb. 6, 2012. Pawlenty announced March 21 that he is forming a committee to explore a bid, becoming the first major prospective candidate to do so. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia said March 3 he was creating a website to explore a run. Four years ago, when no incumbent was in the presidential contest, a total of 17 Republicans and Democrats had signaled their candidacies or set up exploratory committees by the end of January 2007, including Obama and then-Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, who now serves as secretary of state. To contact the reporters on this story: John McCormick in Chicago at jmccormick16@bloomberg.net; Roger Runningen in Washington, at rrunningen@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Silva at msilva34@bloomberg.net	File photo of current US President, Barack Obama. US President Barack Obama has released details on his plan to run for re-election next year. A video was released on Obama's official website and e-mails sent to supporters. The announced plan to run for a second term was widely expected; the campaign team are expected to file for election papers later this week. In his e-mail to supporters Obama says, "we're doing this now because the politics we believe in does not start with expensive TV ads or extravaganzas, but with you — with people organizing block-by-block, talking to neighbors, co-workers, and friends. And that kind of campaign takes time to build." The president also revealed a new look for his website stating, "the idea is to improve upon what's worked for the past four years, scrap what hasn't, and build a campaign that reflects the thoughts and experiences of the supporters who've powered this movement." The November 2012 election is 20 months away. Several candidates hope to receive the nomination to stand against Obama but so far only one, former governor of Minnesota , has made an official bid. During the first term of his presidency Obama has seen his popularity drop with conflicts in the Middle East and Africa as well as the economic climate back home. In 2012 the unemployment rate in the United States is projected to stand at 8.3%. Although this is lower than the current 8.8%, no president since World War II has been re-elected with an unemployment figure above 7.5%.
Westchester to spend $50M on fair housing Text Size: Normal \| Large \| Larger Westchester County must spend millions of dollars to build affordable housing and integrate mostly white communities in a historic civil rights settlement stemming from a federal desegregation lawsuit. The landmark agreement that was announced yesterday dictates that Westchester spend more than $50 million to build 750 units in the next seven years in parts of the county where there are few, if any, minorities. The decision has national ramifications that could affect thousands of municipalities that accept federal housing funds, though Westchester is the first to reach an agreement. Map: 18 Westchester communities could be targeted for affordable housing "The money will stay in Westchester so that minorities will have more opportunities to live in communities where they have been excluded," County Executive Andrew Spano said. "We have a good chance in making this happen." Communities in Westchester that may have to build such housing - those where less than 3 percent of the population is black and 7 percent is Hispanic - are Ardsley, Bedford, Bronxville, Scarsdale, North Salem, North Castle, Pound Ridge and many more that will be determined by a complex formula that includes information from the 2010 census. Access to public transportation will also play a key role in where units are built. Although Spano called it a punitive lawsuit that never should have been filed and believed the county did nothing wrong, he said the settlement was in the best interest of taxpayers. The risk of losing what is estimated to be in the ballpark of $180 million was far too great, Spano said. As part of the agreement, the county will pay $21.6 million to the federal government, which would then return it to the county through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to build units. (2 of 3) Westchester will also set aside $30 million to build affordable housing in the next seven years and pay $8.4 million to the federal government; $2.5 million of that will go to pay the Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York's legal fees. That's the group that filed the lawsuit. The group's executive director, Craig Gurian, said in a statement that the decision marks an opportunity for Westchester "to make a long-neglected promise" of becoming "one community with no exclusion." The county must also fund a targeted marketing, education and outreach program. The court appointed a monitor, attorney James E. Johnson, to ensure that the parties are reaching their goals. The monitor will be given "great authority" in the matter, and the agreement addresses some of the complexities and obstacles such as local zoning ordinances that have been a roadblock in the past, said Ken Zimmerman, a senior adviser for HUD. The settlement would likely deter future lawsuits as it sets forth the framework for complying with federal housing programs, he said. Building affordable housing is a great step forward for the county and for minorities, though implementing the plan could be tricky if communities aren't on board, said Randolph McLaughlin, a civil rights attorney and law professor at Pace University. "The county is going to be forced to make some very difficult decisions," McLaughlin said. "A lot of work needs to be done." Nonetheless, he said, it was a victory for blacks and Hispanics in need of affordable places to live. "It's good for everyone. It's good for the communities there and the municipalities," McLaughlin said. "It's a great leap forward for the county and the African-American and Hispanic communities." The Anti-Discrimination Center filed the lawsuit three years ago, accusing Westchester of failing to provide affordable housing in its affluent suburbs and failing to reduce segregation in municipalities such as its larger cities, despite taking $52 million in federal housing aid from 2000 through 2006 and doling it out to communities. (3 of 3) The center sued under the False Claims Act of 1863, a law aimed at protecting federal dollars from being used fraudulently. Paving the way for the settlement, Judge Denise L. Cote of U.S. District Court in Manhattan ruled in a summary judgment in February that the county failed to analyze race as an impediment to affordable housing and misrepresented its integration efforts. The judge then wrote that by not doing an appropriate analysis, Westchester didn't comply with requirements to further fair housing. The judge also said the county's policy of cooperating with its 45 municipalities was not a productive way of increasing affordable housing. The case was adjourned repeatedly in recent months as the sides worked on a settlement. The agreement, brokered among the U.S. Justice Department, HUD, Westchester County and the Anti-Discrimination Center, represents a seismic shift in HUD's housing philosophy under President Barack Obama, officials said. Communities that accept federal funds must show they are actually building housing in places that aren't diverse. The settlement represents a new "model of inclusion," said Ron Sims, HUD's deputy secretary. "For too long, the policies that would have ensured progress in those goals have laid dormant," Sims said. "I believe this order has given Westchester County the tool kit to accomplish its goals." Spano said he expects to work with municipalities on implementation, though the county will have more tools - and a much larger stick - to ensure housing gets built. Before the settlement can be completed, the county Board of Legislators' approval is needed. The details will be given a thorough review, said Chairman William Ryan, D-White Plains, who didn't expect it to be held up. "There's a recognition there are some areas where the county would like to see more minorities," he said. "Our objective has always been to provide safe, clean and affordable units." \|\|\|\|\| No communities have been chosen to receive the homes, officials said. But according to the Anti-Discrimination Center, more than two dozen predominantly white towns or villages are eligible, including Bedford, Bronxville, Eastchester, Hastings-on-Hudson, Harrison, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, New Castle, Pelham Manor, Rye and Scarsdale. A federal monitor, James E. Johnson, has been appointed to ensure that the county abides by the settlement. Given that 120,000 acres in the county meet the criteria, the monitor “should have no difficulty making sure that Westchester ends its policy of allowing affordable housing to be off-limits in the most highly white neighborhoods in the county,” Mr. Gurian said. The lawsuit, filed under the federal False Claims Act, argued that when Westchester applied for federal Community Development Block Grants for affordable housing and other projects, county officials treated part of the application as boilerplate lying when they claimed to have complied with mandates to encourage fair housing. A Westchester official originally dismissed the suit as “garbage.” But the county was largely repudiated in February when Judge Denise L. Cote ruled in Federal District Court that between 2000 and 2006 it had misrepresented its efforts to desegregate overwhelmingly white communities when it applied for the federal housing funds. Judge Cote concluded that Westchester had made little or no effort to find out where low-income housing was being placed, or to finance homes and apartments in communities that opposed affordable housing. As part of Monday’s agreement, the county admitted that it has the authority to challenge zoning rules in villages and towns that in many cases implicitly discourage affordable housing by setting minimum lot sizes, discouraging higher-density developments or appropriating vacant property for other purposes. Westchester agreed to “take legal action to compel compliance if municipalities hinder or impede the county” in complying with the agreement. It was unclear Monday to what extent localities could thwart the agreement, if any chose to do so. Mary Beth Murphy, the town supervisor of Somers, which is among the possible locales for new housing, said that while she was unaware of the agreement, “we certainly are committed to affordable housing and have amended our zoning legislation in recent years to create more opportunities.” \|\|\|\|\| County north of NYC to market housing to nonwhites WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The suburban county just north of New York City agreed Monday to create hundreds of affordable homes in heavily white communities and encourage nonwhites to move in. The agreement, reached with the help of the federal department of Housing and Urban Development, settles a $180 million lawsuit brought by the Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York against Westchester County. Both sides said the agreement, which was being filed in federal court, could have far-reaching national consequences. "The settlement will have a major impact on the way federal housing and community development funds are used throughout the country," the center said. Susan Tolchin, Westchester's deputy county executive, said, "HUD's new focus is to make suburbia inclusive and diverse and this is going to be what they want all communities that take funds to do." Westchester admitted no wrongdoing. County Executive Andrew Spano said the county had "for many years considered the impact of race on affordable housing." But the lawsuit said Westchester failed to build affordable housing and reduce segregation in some of the county's more affluent communities. A federal judge ruled in February that Westchester failed to analyze, as required, how race could affect access to fair housing when it sought federal housing and development funds. The county said Monday that was a technicality, but the ruling apparently spurred the settlement. "Westchester can no longer hide from the ugly reality of continuing residential segregation," said Craig Gurian, the anti-discrimination center's executive director. Westchester said it will build or acquire 750 apartments or houses in its suburban towns and villages in the next seven years. Of that number, 630 are to be built in neighborhoods that are less than 3 percent black and 7 percent Hispanic. The county has dense urban areas but is best known for such suburban bedroom communities as Scarsdale and Chappaqua, where former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton live. Most of those villages are heavily white. The county's population is just less than 1 million. Whites cannot be excluded from buying the homes, but the agreement calls for Westchester to market them throughout the county and in nearby areas with large nonwhite populations, Tolchin said. That includes New York City, which abuts Westchester along the Bronx line. The agreement also calls for Westchester to pay the federal government $21.6 million, which the government will then return to the county to help pay for the housing. An additional $10.9 million will be paid to the anti-discrimination center, its lawyers and the government. Tolchin said the agreement recognizes that the county does not control local zoning and creates a monitor who could "give us some flexibility about the (seven-year) deadline." Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| HUD AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCE LANDMARK CIVIL RIGHTS AGREEMENT IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY Agreement seen as a national model for inclusive, diverse and sustainable communities WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Justice today announced a historic civil rights settlement with Westchester County, New York. The landmark agreement will result in the construction of 750 units of affordable housing in neighborhoods with small minority populations; will remove existing impediments to fair and affordable housing; and will require the County to take active steps to ensure its housing and development practices are fair to families without regard to their race or ethnicity. "This is about expanding the geography of opportunity for families who may have been limited in their housing choices. The agreement we announce today demonstrates Westchester County's commitment to make sure its neighborhoods are open to everyone, regardless of the color of their skin," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "This agreement signals a new commitment by HUD to ensure that housing opportunities be available to all, and not just to some." Westchester County receives a yearly Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation from HUD and, as a condition of receiving this block grant funding, agrees to "affirmatively further fair housing." From 2000 to 2008, the County certified that it had complied with this requirement. The Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York (ADC) disputed this certification and filed a complaint under The False Claims Act. A federal court ruled that Westchester County failed its legal obligation to explicitly analyze "the existence and impact of race discrimination on housing opportunities and choice in its jurisdiction." As a result, HUD and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York helped to broker today's agreement whereby Westchester County agreed to make a $51.6 million investment in affordable housing over the next seven years in areas of the County where it has historically not provided affordable housing. The settlement also provides for payment of $7.5 million to ADC. "This landmark agreement significantly advances the cause of promoting residential integration, the cause that led us to initiate this litigation more than three years ago," said Craig Gurian, Executive Director of the Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York. "It signals a new day for Westchester County, and I applaud HUD and the Department of Justice for joining with ADC to begin to make real the long-neglected promise that we can become one community, with no exclusion." "The resolution of this case is a positive step toward creating new housing opportunities and advancing integrated residential patterns in Westchester County," said Ron Sims, HUD Deputy Secretary and former Executive of King County, Washington. "This settlement reflects an approach to equitable development in suburban areas that can serve as a model for building inclusive, diverse and sustainable communities across the country." Westchester County will also undertake and fund targeted marketing, public education and other outreach efforts to promote fair and affordable housing in areas that have historically not provided such opportunities. Finally, the County's compliance with the agreement will be overseen by a court-appointed monitor who will have the authority to recommend additional actions. The monitor will be James E. Johnson, a member of the law firm Debevoise and Plimpton. The agreement announced today must still be approved by Westchester County's Board of Legislators. ### \|\|\|\|\| 04-Jan-10 dotDefender Blocked Your Request Please contact the site administrator, and provide the following Reference ID: C9A5-FCAE-FB1A-5462	In a settlement, hailed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a "historic civil rights settlement," the county government for Westchester County, New York has agreed to spend US$51.6 million to build 750 affordable housing units that will primarily be offered to non-white minorities. 2000 United States Census. The settlement is the result of a federal lawsuit filed by the Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York (ADC) against the county under the False Claims Act, which alleged that the county was negligent in its oversight of federal funds that it received from HUD for community development which stipulated that it "affirmatively further fair housing." The ADC suit which claimed $180 million in damages, also said the county failed to build affordable housing and reduce segregation in some of the more affluent communities. Prior to the settlement, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that Westchester had failed to analyze the effect of race in relation to access to fair housing when it applied for HUD funds. The county redistributed the federal funds to town and village governments, and the court concluded it did so without ensuring that guidelines were being followed or considering where the affordable housing was being placed. Westchester County admitted no wrongdoing and says it has "for many years considered the impact of race on affordable housing," according to County Executive Andrew Spano. Westchester County will also pay $8.4 million as a fine to the federal government and $2.5 million to cover legal expenses of the ADC. 630 of the 750 housing units must be built in communities which are less than 3% black and less than 7% Hispanic. The county will be required to market the homes "aggressively" to minorities, though federal law prevents them from being offered exclusively to certain races. The case is a landmark for HUD and the way that the Obama administration will use the government agency. "This is about expanding the geography of opportunity for families who may have been limited in their housing choices. The agreement we announce today demonstrates Westchester County's commitment to make sure its neighborhoods are open to everyone, regardless of the color of their skin," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "This agreement signals a new commitment by HUD to ensure that housing opportunities be available to all, and not just to some." "This is consistent with the president’s desire to see a fully integrated society," said HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims. "Until now, we tended to lay dormant. This is historic, because we are going to hold people’s feet to the fire." It is not yet decided where the affordable housing will be placed, but Westchester County has a number of towns and hamlets which qualify under the stipulated racial requirements, including Chappaqua, which is noted as the official residence of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton. "Some constituents have had strong reactions, but that's just based on what they read in the papers and what the headlines are," said County Legislator Peter Harckham. "But there are no details yet to get excited about." "I certainly approve of nondiscriminatory policy for housing," Alan Harrow, a resident of Somers, told ''The Journal News''. "Looking at it from my own point of view, I moved into this very rural area, and if there's suddenly a large housing development and 200 families there, it's probably something I won't really welcome."
Flood Hits Kakheti Region Several villages of the Lagodekhi district, in the eastern Georgian region of Kakheti, were flooded after the Kabali river burst its bank last night. No casualties were reported. Floods and landslides in Georgia have already affected the Svaneti, Racha-Lechkhumi, the mountainous districts of the Adjara Autonomous Republic, several districts of Shida Karti, Kvemo Kartli and the Imereti regions. At the government session on May 4 Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli instructed local authorities to assess the damage caused by floods and landslides within two months. Draft amendments to the 2005 budget, envisaging allocation of 20 million Lari for flood relief measures, were discussed at the government’s session. These amendments have already been submitted to the Parliament for consideration. \|\|\|\|\| Georgia: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 1 Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2005/0074 OCHA Situation Report No. 1 Georgia - Floods Situation 1. Due to the almost week-long torrential rains, most of the western Georgia regions and some parts of eastern and southern Georgia suffer from severe flooding. Roads, bridges, houses and other buildings have been covered by heavy water in Lentekhi, Mestia, Oni, Ambrolauri, Tsageri (Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti) and Kutaisi, Khoni, Tskaltubo districts (Imereti). As reported in media, about 500 families ask for immediate evacuation. The situation has been further complicated by the fact that clearing operations were hard to carry out due to freak weather and damaged roads. There is still no access to some villages located in Svaneti regions where the local population, left without water, electricity and roads is awaiting external assistance. In Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti regions, rivers Rioni, Krikhula and Lekhumi flooded land plots, houses and a 300-meter long bank-protecting constructions. Several roads, bridges and water pumps have been washed away and need urgent repair. Over 30 families have been evacuated from Ambrolauri district, Racha. 61 houses are completely destroyed and 173 families have been evacuated in Tsageri, Oni, Lentekhi and Tskhaltubo districts. 2. The river has destroyed roads in Lentekhi, Svaneti and has stranded residents of over 40 villages. In Laghani village of the Mestia district of Zemo Svaneti region a landslide has been reported. It is noteworthy that many other locations in the region are under threat of landslides. 3. 50 houses have been flooded in Kutaisi and Tskhaltubo cities in Imereti where the Rioni River has come out of the banks. 4. There was threat of flooding in Tbilisi as well, as the River Mtkvari level was raised the evening of 26 April, as a result around 10 houses were flooded in the Kvemo Ponichala settlement where Rescuers of Emergency Situations and Civil Safety Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs rescued 8 persons. 5. According to preliminary assessment, the priority problem is roads/bridges infrastructure in addition to houses, poultry and cattle that were washed away by water. 6. Floods also struck parts of central/eastern Georgia. The villages of Dzevera and Uplistsikhe in the Gori district of the Shida Kartli region suffered after the Mtkvari and Liakhvi rivers burst their banks on April 26. 7. It has been reported that several districts of South Ossetia were hit by flooding as well, particularly Java and Kvaisa districts that are completely isolated. 8. In Mtskheta-Mtianeti region roads are washed away, one bridge is damaged on river Aragvi, nearby territory is flooded. Two houses are destroyed in Kazbegi district. 9. Weather conditions improved in most of the regions of western Georgia, but landslides hit the mountainous region of Khulo in Adjara Autonomous Republic on the night of 27-28 April, cutting off access to several villages there. There is still a threat of so-called "secondary effects" of heavy rains and snow melting - landslides, especially in mountainous regions of Georgia that are normally prone to such disasters. 10. No casualties have been reported. National Response 11. In the morning of 27 April a special Governmental Session was called to discuss and define the Government action plan in response to the disaster and to estimate the damage. As per a Presidential Instruction, military equipment and road transports were mobilized for immediate assistance. Due to lack of access to certain areas it is very difficult to calculate real figures of the damage. Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said that the government could allocate 20 million GEL for flood relief activities. It is expected that much more financial resources will be needed to eliminate the damage caused. The Prime Minister mentioned priority actions such as urgent assistance to the homeless and pledged to purchase new houses for the affected. 12. Two battalions of reservists were immediately mobilized in Kutaisi, part of which managed to reach some affected villages by foot, and provided immediate assistance to the local population. Local municipalities managed to bear the primary responsibility for urgent assistance, including accommodation and food aid. 13. Emergency Situations and Civil Safety Service (ESCSS) has been activated and has sent its representatives to Racha-Lechkhumi, Imereti and Shida Kartli. ESCSS has been working closely with local administrations. 14. A Special Crisis Group has been set up under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for provision of updated information regarding the disaster to international organizations and foreign media representatives. The Deputy Minister George Gomiashvili leads the crisis group. A round-the-clock hot-line has been set at: (995 32) 28 47 47. Late on 28 April the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia issued a Circular Note for international community with the request of assistance in providing technical equipment, such as heavy machinery, potable water tanks, water filters and pumps, and emergency items. 15. The President of Georgia has offered assistance to the breakaway south Ossetian authorities and local population. No response has been given by the authorities in this region as yet. International Response 16. The Office of the UN Resident Coordinator under the framework of the international Disaster Management Team (DMT) - comprising all UN relief agencies present in Georgia, several interested donors, ICRC, IFRC, and international NGOs - is in constant contact with the Government of Georgia at the central level. The DMT is convening on regular basis and updated information is being shared. The DMT member agencies have also reviewed their in-country available stocks of relief items. Discussions about possible responses are ongoing as well as planning for rapid needs assessment. However, at the regional level, the World Food Programme office in Kutaisi is maintaining contact with the Regional Governors of Imereti and Kvemo Svaneti - both these areas are amongst the worst affected and closely monitoring the situation. 17. A number of spot assessments have been conducted by UN agencies and NGOs working in areas affected by the emergency, including in Imereti, Racha-Lechkumi and Kvemo Svaneti. Further assessments will take place in conjunction with local authorities over the coming days focusing on a selected number of areas thought to be worst affected, specifically in Lentekhi, Tsageri, Tskaltubo and Upper Svaneti. This will also include the deployment of an IFRC FACT needs assessment team. Detailed planning of these assessments in presently ongoing. The DMT and the IFRC FACT Team will work closely to coordinate the needs assessments and response actions. Meanwhile, on 30 April, the DMT pre-assessment mission, led by WFP Sub-Office in Kutaisi and comprising of World Vision and UMCOR staff will take place in Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi, most probably in Adjara. This mission will look at the overall situation with a focus on food security, health needs and infrastructure. 18. The UN Country Team in Georgia, donor agencies as well as many international NGOs stand ready to provide assistance to the affected population and assist Georgia to alleviate the effects of the landslides and floods. A number of international donor agencies - including the US, German, French Embassies in Tbilisi - have already announced pledges of assistance. 19. This Situation Report and information on ongoing emergencies is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int. Tel. +41-22-917 1234 Fax: +41-22-917 00 23 E-mail: ochagva@un.org In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 Desk Officers: Ms. Charlotta Benedek E-mail: benedek@un.org Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1205 Mr. Ricardo Mena Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1455 E-mail: menar@un.org Press contact: (GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653 (N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-917-892 1669	map of republic of Georgia A shipment of humanitarian aid from the Italian government was delivered to Tbilisi, the capital of flood ravaged Georgia on Tuesday. Norway and the United States sent tents, clothes, food and generators for electricity. German and Latvian aid is expected soon. In the eastern region of Kakheti, several villages of the Lagodekhi district were flooded after the Kabali river burst its bank Tuesday night. No casualties were reported. Torrential rains lasting nearly a week combined with snow-melt to create in the worst floods in 20 years in the Caucasus republic. A third of the country is effected, mostly in the western portion, with damage reported to buildings, homes and many roads. Over 1000 people were forced to evacuate. Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli called for an assessment of the flood and mudslide damages. Amendments to the 2005 budget are foreseen in the range of 20 million Lari to cover disaster relief efforts.
Ronaldo ruptured a tendon in his left knee in February Former Brazil striker Ronaldo has agreed to join Sao Paulo-based outfit Corinthians after fighting back from a serious knee injury. The 32-year-old, who left AC Milan last June, made his comeback in a charity match in Morocco last month. "We've reached a verbal agreement for Ronaldo to play there (Corinthians)," said his agent Fabiano Farah. The Brazilian has agreed a one-year contract with the club who have won promotion back to the first division. Corinthians confirmed negotiations were at an advanced stage. "In the next few hours, the two sides should provide the final formalities to close the deal and set a date for the presentation of the athlete," said a statement on the club's website. It will be the first time Ronaldo has played for a Brazilian club since leaving Cruzeiro at the age of 17 to join PSV Eindhoven. 606: DEBATE The three-time world player of the year spent nine months on the sidelines after rupturing a tendon in his left knee while playing for AC Milan in February. His contract with Milan expired on 30 June and he was training with Brazilian outfit Flamengo in an effort to return to full fitness. The former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan striker recently turned down an offer to join Italian side Siena. \|\|\|\|\| Thursday, 4 December 2008 When Robinho this week urged that, if he were in Mark Hughes' position, he would sign Ronaldo for Manchester City, it suggested he had not seen his compatriot recently. To judge from Ronaldo's most recent outing, a 23-minute cameo in a charity match in Morocco last month, the once-lithe World Cup winner possesses a physique more associated with former Portsmouth and Newcastle striker Micky Quinn. It is not the pies that are the problem, though. Ronaldo has in the past shown a Paul Gascoigne-like ability to lose weight rapidly if needed. The reason the three-time World Footballer of the Year is currently reduced to playing charity matches for his football fix is his knees. He is just still 32 - but even within the Brazilian Football Federation there are whispers he may be a year or two older. It is not just the 17 years and more than 550 senior matches playing at the sharp end of the professional game which have weakened his knees. It is the ligament and tendon injuries, two to his right knee, one to his left. Before City, or anyone else, takes a chance on Ronaldo he has to convince them, and himself, that his knees are strong enough to support him through both the necessary training to get match-fit, and the cut, thrust and tackling of combat. Bobby Robson believed Ronaldo had the gifts to be the best the game had ever seen when he signed him from PSV for Barcelona, but feared injury would prevent him reaching such a height. It was a prescient judgement. For a while Ronaldo was the best in the world but those knees let him down. He spent three of his five years at Inter recuperating from injury, a period interspersed with an unsuccessful seven-minute comeback. He got fit in time to score the winning goals in the 2002 World Cup final, which helped banish the nightmare of his mysterious appearance in the 1998 final, then rewarded Inter for their patience him by departing for Real Madrid. By now Ronaldo had begun to put on weight. His manager at São Cristóvão once said: "When we had breakfast at the club, every player was given half a loaf of bread and cheese. When we asked if anybody wanted seconds, Ronaldo was always the first to stick his hand up, and also for thirds... I don't know where he used to put it all.” Superstar footballer or not Il Fenomeno discovered, like ordinary mortals, than once you are heading towards 30 years of age it becomes apparent where you 'put it all'. His girth prompted a mixed relationship with the Real support who felt Ronaldo frequently failed to pull his excessive weight. However, he could still be sensational. Anyone who saw Ronaldo's performance in the fabled Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford, when the United fans applauded their conqueror off the pitch, and a watching Roman Abramovich decided this football lark looked attractive, will not forget it. Robson, who described him as 'a brilliant boy to work with' expressed concern early on about the quality of advice he received. Steve McManaman, who played with Ronaldo at Real Madrid also speaks highly of him as a person while recognizing that his lifestyle is not ideal for an athlete. 'Ronie's house is always crazy,” McManaman said while at Real, “you'll walk in there will be people he's sort of collected - everybody from judges and doctors to street musicians.” He goes on to describes lines of women sunbathing, tortoises falling into the pool and Ronaldo working the decks in his 'party room'. What with the injuries and the off-field activities Ronaldo never fulfilled the potential Robson envisaged. Nevertheless his CV includes almost every individual or team honour except for a Champions League winners' medal. Or, of course, anything from England. Might that change? Ronaldo still recalls that night at Old Trafford fondly and was receptive to a move to Manchester City when it was mooted in September. Paris St-Germain have also been linked with him - and he does own a flat in the French capital. Should he make a comeback, however, it is more likely to be in Rio - he has been training with Flamengo who have expressed an interest in signing him, if fit. Or he might follow in the footsteps of Pele to the United States. \|\|\|\|\| Ronaldo ruptured a tendon in his left knee in February Former Brazil striker Ronaldo admits he could retire rather than prolong his career after fighting back from another serious knee injury. The 32-year-old, who left AC Milan last June, made his comeback in a charity match in Morocco earlier this week. "I don't know if I will continue to play or if I will retire," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I have not taken a decision yet. I am in no hurry to make a decision. I want to complete my recovery." The three-time world player of the year had spent nine months on the sidelines after rupturing a tendon in his left knee while playing for AC Milan in February. Ronaldo will go down in football history as one of the world's greatest-ever players AC Milan's technical director Leonardo His contract with Milan expired on 30 June and he has been training with Brazilian outfit Flamengo in an effort to return to full fitness. The former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan striker turned down an offer to join Italian side Siena earlier this month and admits doubts remain over whether he will make a comeback. "I could decide tomorrow or in a month's time what to do, but I still don't know," he said. "It was beautiful to return to play because football is my life but it was just an exhibition as I only played for 22 minutes. Professional football is a different issue." AC Milan's technical director Leonardo told BBC Sport that Ronaldo would "go down in football history as one of the world's greatest-ever players". The Brazilian said he had been in regular contact with his compatriot since he left Milan in June. "We are very good friends and Milan also still have a very good relationship with Ronaldo," Leonardo added. "At the moment, he is deciding everything. He has to complete the treatment and get fit - then he can make a decision." Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Ronaldo, shown here in 2005. Three-time soccer world player of the year Ronaldo has agreed to return home to Brazil and join Corinthians in São Paulo. Ronaldo (born Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima), 32, is coming back from a major knee injury after rupturing a tendon in his left knee nine months ago - the third such injury in his career. In June, Italian powerhouse A.C. Milan let Ronaldo go instead of resigning him as he had reached the end of his contract. Many people thought this injury could be the end of Ronaldo's career - including Ronaldo himself. "I don't know if I will continue to play or if I will retire," Ronaldo told Gazzetta dello Sport in November. "I have not taken a decision yet. I am in no hurry to make a decision. I want to complete my recovery." Apparently, that decision has been made. Ronaldo's agent, Fabiano Farah stated today, "We've reached a verbal agreement for Ronaldo to play there São Paulo)." It is unofficially believed that Ronaldo will receive a one year contract, and the Corinthians posted a statement to their website, writing: "In the next few hours, the two sides should provide the final formalities to close the deal and set a date for the presentation of the athlete." Ronaldo has scored 319 goals in 451 appearances over seventeen seasons with PSV Eindhoven, F.C. Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and AC Milan.
NEW YORK - Wall Street edged higher in choppy trading Monday, with investors making few moves as they waited for companies to start reporting their fourth-quarter earnings this week. advertisement With few firms issuing profit warnings and some forecasting year-over-year earnings growth as high as 20 percent, analysts expressed confidence that the market would continue its advance. “There’s reason to be more optimistic than most people were after seeing that crummy jobs figure on Friday,” said Philip S. Dow, managing director of equity strategy at Dain Rauscher Wessels in Minneapolis. “Whenever business begins to come back, that’s not a recovery you measure in months, you measure it in years.” The Dow Jones industrial average closed Monday up 26.29 points, or 0.2 percent, at 10,485.18, after gaining 0.5 percent last week. The broader gauges were also higher. The Nasdaq composite index, full of technology stocks, closed up 24.86 points, or 1.2 percent, at 2,111.78, after rising 4 percent last week. This was a new 2 1/2-year closing high for the Nasdaq, which last closed higher on July 3, 2001, when it stood at 2,140.80. The Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index rose 5.37 points, or 0.5 percent, to 1,127.23, following a weekly gain of 1.2 percent. The market was still digesting Friday’s employment data from the Labor Department, which said unemployment dropped to a 14-month low of 5.7 percent while payrolls increased by just 1,000 jobs, a sign that many have given up the search for work. For the most part, though, investors were focused on the strong earnings outlook. But analysts also warned that some of the expected profit gains may already be reflected in stock prices, as companies have anticipated for some time that they would benefit from easy year-over-year comparisons. It may be more difficult for them to best last year’s returns in future quarters, said Neil Massa, equity trader at John Hancock Funds. FREE VIDEO • The latest news Jan. 12: Modest gains on Monday; major recall at GM; Computer Associates under investigation MSNBC.com “In the short term, there’s no danger earnings will disappoint, it doesn’t look like interest rates will be hiked for a while, so that all bodes well,” Massa said. “However, I think we’re definitely in an overbought position, and bound to sell off a little bit. But I think the trend is still upward.” SunTrust Banks Inc. closed down 19 cents at $70.78, despite issuing fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded the expectations of analysts. Other companies expected to report quarterly results this week include Delta Air Lines, General Electric Co., Apple Computer Inc. and Intel Corp. Adecco SA, the world’s largest employment company, lost $5.23 to close at $11.70 after postponing publication of its audited 2003 results because of unresolved control and compliance issues. Countrywide Financial Corp. closed down 86 cents at $71.18 after narrowing its outlook for the year and saying it expects quarterly earnings at the lower end of its forecast due to demand for less interest-rate sensitive products. Computer Associates International Inc. lost 13 cents to close at $27.99 after announcing that regulators have alerted it to a possible enforcement action. Merck & Co. declined $1.23 to $45.90 after brokerage firm Credit Suisse First Boston downgraded it, citing weak growth in its core domestic drug lines. Meanwhile, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. gained 52 cents to close at $29.53 after CSFB upgraded its rating on recent product launches and advancing intermediate-term pipeline opportunities. Also Monday, Nasdaq officials announced it will list the shares of six firms that trade on the New York Stock Exchange, including Hewlett-Packard Co., Charles Schwab Corp. and Walgreen Co., under a new dual-listing program. Analysts said dual listing will allow investors a greater chance to find the best price for a stock. Advancers outnumbered decliners slightly more than 5 to 4 on the NYSE. Volume was moderate. The Russell 2000 index, which tracks smaller company stocks, closed up 7.81 points, or 1.4 percent, at 583.01. Overseas, Japan’s financial markets were closed Monday for a national holiday, and were scheduled to reopen Tuesday. In Europe, France’s CAC-40 declined 0.4 percent, Britain’s FTSE 100 closed down 0.4 percent and Germany’s DAX index shed 0.5 percent. © 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. advertisement \|\|\|\|\| Bear Stearns lived up to the "bear" part of its name Friday, with new troubles for the investment bank once again dimming hopes for a speedy recovery in the credit markets. The major indexes all fell more than 2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 281.42 points to 13181.91, with selling accelerating in the final hour of trading. Every one of the blue-chip index's 30 companies ended the day in the red. This was the third-biggest one-day loss for the index this year, and it is now 5.8% below its record-high close, set on July 19. The S&P; 500 lost ... \|\|\|\|\| NEW YORK Stocks slid sharply on Friday after Bear Stearns said credit markets were in their worst shape in two decades, while jobs data aroused further concerns about weakness in the economy. Bear Stearns Cos. stock fell 6 percent after the comments from its chief financial officer, which exacerbated mortgage jitters and drove the three major indexes down more than 2 percent in a broad market sell-off. Earlier, Standard & Poor's lowered its outlook on Bear Stearns' debt to "negative," saying the biggest U.S. underwriter of mortgage bonds may have problems, including with its hedge funds, that could hurt the firm "for an extended period." "It's particularly ugly right now," said Peter Kenny, managing director at Knight Equity Markets in Jersey City, New Jersey. "The Bear Stearns comments are what really pushed the market over the edge." The Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 281.42 points, or 2.09 percent, to 13,181.91, with every one of its 30 components ending the day in the red. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq had their worst one-day percentage drops since the February 27 global equity rout. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 39.14 points, or 2.66 percent, to 1,433.06. The Nasdaq Composite Index sank 64.73 points, or 2.51 percent, to 2,511.25. The sharp declines prompted the New York Stock Exchange to institute downside trading curbs at 3:29 p.m. (1929 GMT). The day's sell-off ended a week of wild market swings, pushing all indexes firmly down into negative territory for the week -- the Dow fell 0.7 percent, while the S&P 500 shed 1.8 percent and the Nasdaq lost 2 percent. U.S. crude oil futures ended more than a dollar lower, sparking worries in energy markets that petroleum demand might drop as the economy slows. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, September crude fell $1.38, or 1.8 percent, to settle at $75.48 a barrel. U.S. government bond prices climbed, as falling stocks sent jittery investors scrambling for the safety of Treasury debt, bond traders and fund managers said. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note jumped 23/32 in price to 98-19/32, while its yield fell to 4.68 percent from 4.77 percent late on Thursday. The CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, which is known as Wall Street's fear gauge, jumped 18.6 percent to end at 25.16. It was the seventh trading session that the VIX rose above 20. ECONOMIC TROUBLE? Wall Street has been dogged by concerns that deteriorating lending conditions could hurt the economy and a rash of disappointing economic data, including weaker-than-expected jobs growth and slower service sector growth, added to already frayed nerves. U.S. employers expanded their payrolls in July at the slowest pace since February, adding only 92,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.6 percent, its highest level since the start of the year, a government report showed on Friday. In another sign of malaise in the economy, the Institute for Supply Management said its index for the service sector was 55.8 in July, reflecting a much slower pace of growth than June's reading of 60.7. Any reading over 50 indicates growth. Problems in the housing sector, where lenders are encountering difficulties with rising mortgage defaults and prices are declining in many metro markets, appeared to spread into hiring as construction businesses cut jobs. NO EASY CREDIT Bear Stearns stock, which had already slid 24 percent over the past three months, fell as low as $106.55, its lowest since November 2005, before recouping some of its losses by the close. Bear Stearns ended at $108.35, down 6.3 percent on the New York Stock Exchange. Bear Stearns has struggled with three hedge funds that ran into trouble because of high-risk mortgage investments gone awry. On Friday, Bear Stearns Chief Financial Officer Sam Molinaro said bond market turmoil sending investors fleeing from risk may be a worse predicament than the 1987 stock market crash and the bursting of the Internet bubble in 2000. At its session low, the stock of Bear Stearns suffered its biggest percentage drop since September 17, 2001, the first day of trading after the attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center's twin towers in New York. Financial shares had already been dragging on the market, after the latest signs mortgage market distress, American Home Mortgage Investment Corp. announced plans to close most operations on Friday and lay off nearly 7,000 employees.. Worries about credit also extended to credit card companies on the theory that consumers struggling with mortgage payments would also fall behind on credit card debt. American Express shares fell 5.6 percent to $57.49, while MasterCard dropped 8 percent to $131.26. Shares of Network Appliance Inc. fell 20 percent to $22.97 on the Nasdaq, after the data storage network equipment maker said revenue fell more than its previous pessimistic forecast amid slower spending by large customers in the United States and Europe. Trading was active on the NYSE, with about 2.12 billion shares changing hands, well above last year's estimated daily average of 1.84 billion, while on Nasdaq, about 2.51 billion shares traded, also surging ahead of last year's daily average of 2.02 billion. Declining stocks outnumbered advancing ones by a ratio of about 5 to 1 on the NYSE and by about 4 to 1 on Nasdaq. (Additional reporting by Ellis Mnyandu and Caroline Valetkevitch) \|\|\|\|\| Jittery home-mortgage lenders are cutting off credit or raising interest rates for a growing portion of Americans, extending well beyond the market for subprime loans for people with the weakest credit records. This worsening credit crunch threatens to put further pressure on the housing market, where prices are flat to declining in much of the country. The Trend: Nervous home-mortgage lenders are returning to more-conservative practices and are raising interest rates and cutting back on a category of loans between prime and subprime. Nervous home-mortgage lenders are returning to more-conservative practices and are raising interest rates and cutting back on a category of loans between prime and subprime. The Issue: The worsening credit situation threatens to put more pressure on the housing market, where prices are flat to declining in much of the country. The worsening credit situation threatens to put more pressure on the housing market, where prices are flat to declining in much of the country. What's Next: Economist Thomas Lawler said he expects the credit squeeze will make "the late summer home-sales season even worse than the dismal spring season." Lenders say they are being forced to raise interest rates and stop offering certain loans because mortgage-bond investors have lost their appetite for a broad range of mortgages considered risky. That includes those dubbed Alt-A, a category between prime and subprime that often involves borrowers who don't fully document their income or assets, or those buying investment properties. Notably, American Home Mortgage Investment Corp. , which stopped making loans earlier this week, said late yesterday it would cease most operations, slashing its work force to about 750 from more than 7,000. "It is with great sadness that American Home has had to take this action," Chief Executive Michael Strauss said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the market conditions in both the secondary mortgage market as well as the national real estate market have deteriorated to the point that we have no realistic alternative." ENLARGE Lenders are tightening standards and "raising rates like crazy," said Melissa Cohn, chief executive of Manhattan Mortgage, a New York mortgage broker. She said Wells Fargo WFC -0.59 % & Co. is charging 8% for a prime jumbo 30-year fixed-rate loan that carried a 6 7/8% rate late last week. (Jumbo loans are those too large to be sold to government-sponsored mortgage investors Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.) A Wells spokesman said rates are lower on loans made directly by the bank than on those through brokers. The market for mortgage-backed securities is "very panicked," Michael Perry, chief executive of IndyMac Bancorp Inc., another big lender, said in a message on the lender's Web site yesterday. Seeking to soothe the market, Countrywide Financial Corp., the nation's largest home lender, said it had plenty of funds available to weather the industry's troubles. The fright among investors is forcing lenders to go back to more-conservative practices that were the norm before the housing boom of the first half of this decade. Many now are focusing on loans to borrowers who are willing to document their income, can make a down payment of at least 5% and have a history of paying bills on time. Alt-A loans accounted for about 13% of U.S. home loans granted last year, according to Inside Mortgage Finance, and subprime loans about 20%. Industry executives have said subprime lending is likely to shrink by more than 50% this year, and now much of the Alt-A market is vanishing too. This credit squeeze "will further crimp the effective demand for housing, and will make the late summer home-sales season even worse than the dismal spring season," said Thomas Lawler, a housing economist in Vienna, Va. Tom Lamalfa, managing director of Wholesale Access, a mortgage-research firm in Columbia, Md., expects that half or more of the market for no- and low-documentation loans will disappear. Some people use so-called low-doc loans to avoid paper work or because they are self-employed and have trouble showing a steady stream of income. But low-doc mortgages also can be used by people exaggerating their incomes. National City Corp. , another large lender, said yesterday that it is suspending originations of stated-income loans, which don't require the borrower to verify income. Wachovia Corp. WB 0.32 % said it had stopped making Alt-A loans through brokers, joining a trend among big lenders to rely less on outsiders to arrange mortgages. Wells Fargo told brokers this week that it was making "day-to-day" decisions on the pricing and availability of Alt-A loans amid reduced investor demand. Several dozen lenders have gone out of business in the past six months, and others are teetering. Shares of Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co. fell 35% yesterday on the Nasdaq Stock Market after auditors said its "financial and operational viability" is uncertain if a pending merger isn't completed. Write to James R. Hagerty at bob.hagerty@wsj.com and Ruth Simon at ruth.simon@wsj.com \|\|\|\|\| HOW THE FED WORKS HOW THE FED WORKS The Federal Open Market Committee: Who votes on setting interest rates? WASHINGTON Federal Reserve policymakers welcome recent declines in inflationary pressures, but they aren't declaring victory, dashing any remaining hopes for an interest rate cut in 2007. Fed officials in a unanimous move left their target for short-term interest rates at 5.25%, the highest in 61/2 years, following the conclusion of their two-day meeting Thursday. The Fed has not changed rates since June 2006 after raising them 17 times over two years. STATEMENT: What the Fed said In their post-meeting statement, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues said the economy was expected to continue to grow at a "moderate pace" during the rest of the year, suggesting growth is not so strong as to warrant a rate increase to slow the economy. But while inflation data have "improved modestly" recently, "a sustained moderation … has yet to be convincingly demonstrated," the Fed officials said. They warned there was a risk inflation pressures could build, disappointing those who had been hoping the Fed would cut rates soon to boost the economy. "Some market participants may have been holding out for a signal that (the Fed) will cut rates, and they didn't get that," Raymond James & Associates chief economist Scott Brown says. He expects the Fed will leave rates unchanged for the rest of 2007, but, "The next move is as likely to be higher as it is to be lower." Financial markets erased modest gains seen prior to the announcement. The Dow Jones industrial average closed the day down 5.45 points at 13,422.28. Inflation has moderated in recent months but still remains on the high side of what some Fed officials, including Bernanke, have deemed their comfort zone of 1% to 2%. The Fed's preferred inflation measure, based on spending excluding food and energy, was 2% in April, down from 2.4% in February. The Fed's decision to leave short-term rates unchanged means a wide range of borrowing costs and interest rates will likely stay the same. Consumers with home equity lines of credit, car loans, variable-rate credit cards and other consumer loans tied to the prime rate will likely see little, if any, change in rates. Mortgage rates, which have risen in recent months, will likely not move higher as worries about rate increases diminish, Quicken Loans chief economist Bob Walters says. Savers hoping for higher rates of return may be disappointed, because rates on certificates of deposit are also not expected to change much. Contributing: Sandra Block Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map. \|\|\|\|\| 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.	New York Stock Exchange The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 280 points, Friday, to 13181.91, just two weeks after soaring to a historic record of 14,000. Two other major indexes, the Nasdaq and the Standard and Poor 500, fell more than 2% in a widespread market sell-off. Shares of Bear Stearns, the largest United States underwriter of mortgage bonds, fell 6.3% today, resulting from Standard and Poor's altering its outlook toward the company to "negative" from "stable". The investment banking firm recently saw two of its major hedge funds sink after exposure to the sub-prime mortgage decline. Standard and Poor's report said the firm may have problems, including its hedge funds, that could hurt the firm "for an extended period." The company held a press conference at noon, but was unable to salvage its stock, leading to heavy losses in the rest of the financial sector. Chief Financial Officer Sam Molinaro remarked that the credit market was in the worst condition he had seen in 22 years. American Express shares fell 5.6%, while homebuilder Hovnanian Enterprises fell 9.4% in the sell-off which impacted all the indexes. American Home Mortgage Investment Corporation shares fell 52.07% in the session after announcing plans to close most operations and lay off over 6000 employees. The company has also lost its lending license in four states including New York. "It is with great sadness that American Home has had to take this action," Chief Executive Michael Strauss said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the market conditions in both the secondary mortgage market as well as the national real estate market have deteriorated to the point that we have no realistic alternative." Analysts say that the weakness in the stock markets and economy in general could prompt the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, consequently allowing inflation to rise, but that it would also support stocks and ease borrowing. The Fed has not changed interest rates since June 2006.
Friday, May 16, 2008 - Page updated at 12:00 AM E-mail article Print view Share: Digg Newsvine Nigerian pipeline fire kills as many as 100 LAGOS, Nigeria — More than 100 people were feared dead Thursday after a construction vehicle struck an oil pipeline on the outskirts of Lagos, Nigeria's biggest city, setting off an oil-fed inferno that spread to surrounding homes and a school. "The fire was very high," said Johnson Fabunmi, a doctor who lives in the area. "Everyone was running for their life." There were vastly differing accounts of the toll. Nigerian Red Cross officials said at least 100 people died, but a representative of the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency said only 10 died, including a 2-year-old, and that 36 were injured. Pipeline fires are common in Nigeria. More than 400 people died in two similar pipeline explosions in Lagos in 2006 and at least 40 died in December. Authorities frequently blame the disasters on criminal gangs who break into the pipelines to siphon fuel for sale, attracting crowds of people who come in their wake to scavenge for fuel. There also have been many rebel attacks on oil pipelines in Nigeria, Africa's leading exporter of crude oil, the eighth largest in the world, and a key U.S. supplier. Attacks on oil pipelines are common, particularly in the troubled, oil-rich southeastern Delta region. But the Lagos police said Thursday's fire appeared to be an accident. \|\|\|\|\| 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?	Roadworks have triggered a massive explosion and fire on a fuel pipeline running through Ijegun, a suburb on the outskirts of Nigerian capital Lagos. Although the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency puts the current death toll at ten, the Nigerian Red Cross says at least 100 people have died. The oil pipeline was fractured after a construction vehicle struck it and erupted into a fireball, with fuel running down the street. At least twelve homes caught fire, and students ran from a nearby school that was also threatened. According to witnesses, students are among the dead. Firefighters have extinguished the blaze and work is now underway to try and reunite people separated during the fire and account for those present at the time. Disasters such as this happen regularly in Nigeria, but they are usually attributable to organised criminals breaking into pipes for their content or terrorist attacks, whereas this event appears to have been an accident.
Ruling in a case that pressed the outer limits of free speech, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that even anti-gay protesters who picketed the funerals of U.S. troops with signs reading, "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," cannot be sued.In an 8-1 decision, the justices upheld an appellate court's decision to strike down a jury verdict against Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. Phelps and his family gained national attention — and stirred deep anger — for using military funerals as a backdrop to proclaim an anti-gay and anti-military message.The church believes that the United States is too tolerant of sin and that the death of American soldiers is God's punishment.Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said that when the disputed words "address matters of public import on public property" and when the protest is conducted "in a peaceful manner, in full compliance with the guidance of local officials," they are protected.Roberts cited past rulings that shielded offensive words and outrageous protests.He pointed to the decision that freed protesters who burned the American flag and another that protected a Hustler magazine satirist who portrayed the Rev. Jerry Falwell in an outhouse. Last year, Roberts spoke for the court in striking down on free-speech grounds a law that made it crime to sell videos of illegal dog-fighting.The "bedrock principle underlying the 1st Amendment," Roberts said in quoting the flag-burning ruling by the late liberal Justice William J. Brennan Jr., is that the government cannot punish words or ideas "simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable."The decision Wednesday drew a howl of protest from Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. — like Roberts, a conservative — who said that the father of the dead Marine who sued the protesters was "not a public figure" who could be expected to tolerate such an onslaught, but a private person who sought to "bury his son in peace.""Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case," Alito wrote. "In order to have a society in which public issues can be openly and vigorously debated, it is not necessary to allow the brutalization of innocent victims."Five years ago, Phelps and his daughters were sued after they picketed near the funeral for Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who died in Iraq in 2006.Police had kept picketers at least 200 feet from the funeral procession. The demonstrators' signs included one that said, "Thank God for IEDs," a reference to the roadside bombs that have claimed many soldiers' lives in Iraq.The messages did not refer to the late Marine. His father, Albert Snyder, testified that he saw the signs only when he watched television coverage in the evening.A few weeks later, however, Snyder saw a posting on Westboro church's website that scorned him and said he had raised his son to serve the devil.A jury awarded Snyder $11 million in damages for the emotional distress he suffered, but a judge reduced the amount to $5 million. A U.S. appeals court, siding with the Phelps family, said the verdict could not stand.The Supreme Court took up the case of Snyder vs. Phelps. The issue was difficult for the justices because the public picketing targeted a private family funeral.If the picketing had taken place at the Pentagon or Capitol Hill, no one would have questioned the Phelps' right to carry their signs, even with their offensive messages.Lawyers for the father argued that the verdict should stand because he was a private figure, not a public person, and because the protest was a targeted assault on a private memorial service.In the end, the justices concluded the picketing was more a public protest than a mean-spirited private assault.The picketing, Roberts wrote, "is certainly hurtful and its contribution to public discourse may be negligible. But Westboro addressed matters of public import on public property, in a peaceful manner.""On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker," Roberts wrote. "As a nation we have chosen a different course — to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate."The decision does not appear to affect the laws in 43 states that seek to keep the protesters away from military funerals. In the past, the court has said that officials may regulate where marches and protests take place, so long as they do not ban them or their message entirely.The Veterans of Foreign Wars said they were "greatly disappointed with the result.""The Westboro Baptist Church may think they have won, but the VFW will continue to support community efforts to ensure no one hears their voice," said Richard Eubank, the VFW's national commander. \|\|\|\|\| The First Amendment protects a fringe church's anti-gay protests at military funerals, a nearly unanimous Supreme Court ruled Wednesday in a powerful opinion that spoke to the nation's tolerance for even hateful public speech. The court's most liberal and most conservative justices joined in a decision likely to define the term. It writes a new chapter in the court's findings that freedom of speech is so central to the nation that it protects cruel and unpopular protests - even, in this case, at the moment of a family's most profound grief. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote that Westboro Baptist Church's picketing at fallen soldiers' funerals "is certainly hurtful and its contribution to public discourse may be negligible." But he said the reaction may not be "punishing the speaker." "As a nation we have chosen a different course - to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate," Roberts said. The court sided with a group on the outskirts of American life: a tiny family church in Topeka, Kan., that has drawn disdain across the nation for its protests of military funerals and its lewd signs proclaiming God's hatred. Its message is that military deaths - and virtually any natural disaster - are divine punishment for the country's tolerance of homosexuality. At issue was the protest in 2006 at the funeral of 20-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder in Westminster, Md., who had been killed in Iraq - one of more than 600 funerals the group has picketed. His father, Albert, filed a lawsuit seeking damages, saying the group had turned the event into a "circus." Margie Phelps, the daughter of Westboro's founder, the Rev. Fred W. Phelps, and a lawyer who argued the case before the court, called Wednesday's decision a providential ruling that was more than she had hoped for. It could encourage the group to challenge some of the more than 40 state and federal laws that seek to protect funerals from disruption, she said in a telephone interview. Asked whether the decision would change the church's tactics, Phelps said, "We're going to picket more." The court's lone dissenter was Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., who said the First Amendment does not convey the right to "brutalize" private individuals. "Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case," he wrote. Sean E. Summers, who represented Snyder, said his client was naturally disappointed and worried about other families who will be confronted by Westboro. \|\|\|\|\| DoD Identifies Marine Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, 20, of Finksburg, Md., died March 3 from a non combat-related vehicle accident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Service Support Group-1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. Media with questions about this Marine can call the Twentynine Palms Public Affairs Office at 760-830-5476.	The United States Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the protects the free speech rights of an anti-gay church that pickets the funerals of U.S. soldiers, even if they use hateful and offensive language. In an 8 to 1 decision, the Court upheld a lower court's ruling that struck down an award of $5 million to a slain soldier's father, Albert Snyder. Snyder had sued Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church of , Kansas for picketing the funeral of his son, 20-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder who was killed in Iraq in 2006. Snyder said the protest caused him emotional pain and turned his son's funeral into a "circus." Pastor Fred Phelps The protest was well publicized, a was called, and the funeral procession was diverted away from the protesters, who carried signs such as "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," "God Hates Fags" and "America Is Doomed." The funeral itself was not disturbed and it was carried out on public land, following local laws. Snyder learned of the content of the slogans only later on television. Snyder's son was not a homosexual. The church pickets military soldiers' funerals because they believe that the United States is too tolerant of homosexuality and that the death of U.S. soldiers is divine retribution. They have picketed more than 600 funerals. The Court's decision rested in part on the basis that the subject of the church's speech related to controversial public issues and was not a private attack on Snyder. "The church conducted its picketing peacefully on matters of public concern at a public place adjacent to a public street," Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote in his opinion for the court. "Such space occupies a special position in terms of First Amendment protection." Roberts said that large number of protests conducted by the church against many groups, including Catholics and Jews, is evidence that Phelps and his church were not personally attacking Snyder, but were "expressing deeply held views on public topics." Roberts wrote, "As a nation we have chosen ... to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate." , the only Justice to rule against the Church wrote that, "Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case. In order to have a society in which public issues can be openly and vigorously debated, it is not necessary to allow the brutalization of innocent victims." Snyder was disappointed in the ruling: "My first thought was eight justices don't have the common sense God gave a goat. We found out today we can no longer bury our dead in this country with dignity." == Sources == * * * *
State College, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Joe Paterno, whose tenure as the most successful coach in major college football history ended abruptly in November amid allegations that he failed to respond forcefully enough to a sex abuse scandal involving a former assistant, died Sunday, his family said. He was 85. The longtime Penn State head coach was diagnosed with what his family had called a treatable form of lung cancer shortly after the university's Board of Trustees voted to fire him. He had been hospitalized in December after breaking his pelvis in a fall at his home and again in January for what his son called minor complications from his cancer treatments. "It is with great sadness that we announce that Joe Paterno passed away earlier today," the family statement said. "His loss leaves a void in our lives that will never be filled." Paterno died at 9:25 a.m. Sunday, surrounded by his family, State College's Mount Nittany Medical Center said in a statement. Paterno, who was affectionately known as "JoePa" by generations of his players and football fans alike, was widely admired in football circles for what he called his "Grand Experiment" -- his expectation that big-time college football players could succeed on the field while upholding high academic and moral standards away from the gridiron. Outpouring of grief at Penn State Under his leadership, the Nittany Lions won two national championships, went undefeated five times and finished in the top 25 national rankings 35 times, according to his official Penn State biography. At the same time, the program never fell under NCAA sanctions for major infractions while producing 13 Academic All-Americans since 2006. In 2009, according to the university, the Nittany Lions posted an 85% graduation rate. "The acclaim for Joe Paterno has stemmed largely from the contrast between the high academic and moral standards he has tried to exemplify and the shameless conduct that often embarrasses and dishonors the college sport he cherishes," author Michael O'Brien wrote in a 1999 biography of Paterno, "No Ordinary Joe." How will you remember him? Penn State's board of trustees and President Rodney Erickson said in a statement, "We grieve for the loss of Joe Paterno, a great man who made us a greater university. His dedication to ensuring his players were successful both on the field and in life is legendary and his commitment to education is unmatched in college football. His life, work and generosity will be remembered always." Dignitaries offer condolences The university is "considering appropriate ways" to honor Paterno's legacy, the statement said, and its athletics department is "consulting with members of the Penn State community on the nature and timing of the gathering." Paterno was born in 1926 in Brooklyn to second-generation Italian immigrants, according to O'Brien's book. He attended Brown University, where he played quarterback and cornerback, according to another Penn State biography. When Paterno decided to forgo a career in law and make coaching his career, his family said Sunday, his father, Angelo, had one command: "Make an impact." "As the last 61 years have shown, Joe made an incredible impact. That impact has been felt and appreciated by our family in the form of thousands of letters and well wishes along with countless acts of kindness from people whose lives he touched." Paterno coached at Penn State as an assistant from 1950 to 1965 and became head coach in 1966. Decked out in his soon-to-become trademark thick glasses, white socks and sneakers, Paterno quickly became a memorable fixture on the football field, leading the Nittany Lions to undefeated seasons in 1968, 1969 and again in 1973 and the first national championship of his tenure in 1982. Named National Coach of the Year five times, Paterno was added to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006, but his induction was delayed until 2007 because of injuries he suffered in a sideline collision. He became the winningest coach in major college football history in 2011 with 409 victories. Paterno "died as he lived," the family statement said Sunday. "He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been. His ambitions were far reaching, but he never believed he had to leave this Happy Valley to achieve them. He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community." Read family statement In addition to his exploits on the sidelines, Paterno had a significant impact on the university's academic programs. Paterno and his wife, Suzanne, donated more than $4 million to the university over the years for faculty endowments, scholarships and building projects, according to the university. "Penn State has been very good to both Sue and me," he said in 1998, according to his university biography. "He has been many things in his life -- a soldier, scholar, mentor, coach, friend and father," the family statement said. To his wife, "he was and is her soul mate, and the last several weeks have shown the strength of their love. To his children and grandchildren he is a shining example of how to live a good, decent and honest life, a standard to which we aspire." Honored with glowing words of praise from players and presidents alike -- President Ronald Reagan said Paterno never forgot that "he is a teacher who's preparing his students not just for the season, but for life," according to a university biography -- he received the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Distinguished American Award in 1991. In doing so, he became the first active coach to do so, according to the biography. "What are coaches?" he said at the dinner celebrating his award, according to his university biography. "Number one, we're teachers and we're educators. We have the same obligation as all teachers at our institutions, except we probably have more influence over our young people than anyone other than their families," he said. It was his perceived failure to meet those obligations that led to his downfall as the only coach many Penn State football fans had ever known. In October, state authorities charged two university officials with misleading investigators and failing to report alleged sexual abuse in 2002, after a Penn State assistant told a grand jury he saw former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky performing what appeared to be anal sex on a boy in a shower at the football complex. The assistant reported it to Paterno the next day, who said he passed the report along to then-Athletic Director Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, a university vice president who oversaw campus police. Curley went on leave and Schultz retired shortly after the grand jury report was revealed. The next month, the university fired Paterno and Penn State President Graham Spanier. Curley and Schultz, who have pleaded not guilty to charges including perjury and failing to report the alleged 2002 incident, issued statements Sunday expressing their sorrow at Paterno's death. "Joe has been an integral part of my life for more than 35 years," Curley said. "Joe coached me, mentored me, taught me what it meant to compete with integrity and honor, and above all demonstrated with each day that he lived, the power of humility." At the time of his firing, Paterno said in a statement released by his son, Scott Paterno, that he was "distraught" over the sex abuse scandal. A timeline of Penn State child sex abuse scandal In an interview with the Washington Post published January 14, Paterno said that he felt inadequate to deal with the allegations. "I didn't know exactly how to handle it and I was afraid to do something that might jeopardize what the university procedure was," the Post quoted him as saying. "So I backed away and turned it over to some other people, people I thought would have a little more expertise than I did. It didn't work out that way." SI column: Legacy more than final chapter Sandusky, who faces more than 50 counts involving sexual acts with 10 boys since 1994, has pleaded not guilty. "Nobody did more for the academic reputation of Penn State than Joe Paterno," Sandusky said in a statement Sunday. "He maintained a high standard in a very difficult profession. Joe preached toughness, hard work and clean competition. Most importantly, he had the courage to practice what he preached. Nobody will be able to take away the memories we all shared of a great man, his family, and all the wonderful people who were a part of his life." Bill O'Brien, who was named Penn State's head football coach following Paterno's firing, said Sunday, "The Penn State Football program is one of college football's iconic programs because it was led by an icon in the coaching profession in Joe Paterno. There are no words to express my respect for him as a man and as a coach. To be following in his footsteps at Penn State is an honor. Our families, our football program, our university and all of college football have suffered a great loss, and we will be eternally grateful for Coach Paterno's immeasurable contributions." Paterno's family said Sunday he died "with a peaceful mind, comforted by his 'living legacy' of five kids, 17 grandchildren, and hundreds of young men whose lives he changed in more ways than can begin to be counted." In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that donations be made to the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania or the Penn State-THON, a charity dance marathon held by Penn State fraternities and sororities. CNN's Susan Candiotti contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| Earlier this evening, Onward State reported that Joe Paterno had passed away; however, the mountain of evidence stacked opposite that report became too much to ignore. At this time, I would like to issue an official retraction of our earlier tweets. I never, in a million years, would have thought that Onward State might be cited by the national media. Today, I sincerely wish it never had been. To all those who read and passed along our reports, I sincerely apologize for having mislead you. To the Penn State community and to the Paterno family, most of all, I could not be more sorry for the emotional anguish I am sure we at Onward State caused. There are no excuses for what we did. We all make mistakes, but it’s impossible to brush off one of this magnitude. Right now, we deserve all of the criticism headed our way. In this day and age, getting it first often conflicts with getting it right, but our intention was never to fall into that chasm. All I can do now is promise that in the future, we will exercise caution, restraint, and humility. I can only hope and pray that the outstanding work our writers and photographers do on a day-to-day basis is not overshadowed by the events of tonight. I understand that our reputation is in serious question, but I hope you will continue to stand by us as we do everything in our power to make amends. To begin that process, I will be stepping down from my post as Managing Editor, effective immediately. I take full responsibility for the events that transpired tonight, and for the black mark upon the organization that I have caused. I ask not for your forgiveness, but for your understanding. I am so very, very, sorry, and we at Onward State continue to pray for Coach Paterno. Sincerely, Devon Edwards \|\|\|\|\| Photos View gallery zoom Featured Video Close Video Despite a flurry of reports saying he had died, former Penn State football head coach Joe Paterno was still alive late Saturday night, according to his family. Based on a tweet from Penn State student news outlet Onward State, American broadcaster CBS announced that the beloved — and recently embattled — coach had died of complications from lung cancer at 85. Less than an hour later, Onward State made a retraction on its Twitter account, “Our 8:45 pm tweet about Joe Paterno's death appears to be inaccurate, according to @JayPaterno, who says he's alive. We were confident when we ran with it, and are still trying to figure out where our process failed. We apologize sincerely for error.” Son Scott Paterno also took to Twitter to deny the claims. “CBS report is wrong — Dad is alive but in serious condition. We continue to ask for your prayers and privacy during this time.” CBS quickly retracted its story, but not before the claim made rounds on the Internet. Several news sources, including the Toronto Sun, CP24 and the Huffington Post, all spread the news of Paterno’s death before issuing corrections. By 10:20 p.m., Onward State managing editor Devon Edwards had resigned. He expressed his remorse for “misleading” readers and apologized to Penn State and Paterno’s family, saying “getting it first often conflicts with getting it right, but our intention was never to fall into that chasm.” Earlier Saturday, Paterno's doctors announced his condition had worsened, and students had gathered on Penn State campus to hold vigils. Reporters and photographers were seen stationed outside Paterno’s home. Paterno, the most successful college football coach of all time, made headlines in 2011 when he was fired in the aftermath of the child sex abuse charges against former assistant Jerry Sandusky. Paterno was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly afterward. \|\|\|\|\| State College, Pa. • Joe Paterno’s doctors say the former Penn State coach’s condition has become “serious” after he experienced complications from lung cancer in recent days. The winningest major college football coach of all time, Paterno was diagnosed shortly after Penn State’s Board of Trustees ousted him Nov. 9 in the aftermath of the child sex abuse charges against former assistant Jerry Sandusky. Paterno has been getting treatment since, and his health problems worsened when he broke his pelvis — an injury that first cropped up when he was accidentally hit in preseason practice last year. “Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications,” family spokesman Dan McGinn said in a brief statement Saturday to The Associated Press. “His doctors have now characterized his status as serious. “His family will have no comment on the situation and asks that their privacy be respected during this difficult time,” he said. Paterno’s sons Scott and Jay each took to Twitter Saturday night to refute reports that their father had died. Wrote Jay Paterno: “I appreciate the support & prayers. Joe is continuing to fight.” The 85-year-old Paterno has been in the hospital since Jan. 13 for observation for what his family had called minor complications from his cancer treatments. Not long before that, he conducted his only interview since losing his job, with The Washington Post. Paterno was described as frail then and wearing a wig. The second half of the two-day interview was conducted by his bedside. Roughly 200 students and townspeople gathered Saturday night at a statue of Paterno just outside a gate at Beaver Stadium. Some brought candles, while others held up their smartphones to take photos of the scene. The mood was somber, with no chanting or shouting. Story continues below “Drove by students at the Joe statue,” Jay Paterno tweeted. “Just told my Dad about all the love & support--inspiring him.” The final days of Paterno’s Penn State career were easily the toughest in his 61 years with the university and 46 seasons as head football coach. Sandusky, a longtime defensive coordinator who was on Paterno’s staff during two national title seasons, was arrested Nov. 5 and ultimately charged with sexually abusing a total of 10 boys over 15 years. His arrest sparked outrage not just locally but across the nation, and there were widespread calls for Paterno to quit. Paterno announced late on Nov. 9 that he would retire at the end of the season but just hours later he received a call from board vice chairman John Surma, telling him he had been terminated as coach. By that point, a crowd of students and media were outside the Paterno home. When news spread that Paterno had been dumped, there was rioting in State College. Police on Saturday evening had barricaded off the block where Paterno lives, and a police car was stationed about 50 yards from his home. Several people had gathered in the living room of the house. No one was outside, other than reporters and photographers stationed there. Trustees said this week they pushed Paterno out in part because he failed a moral responsibility to report an allegation made in 2002 against Sandusky to authorities outside the university. They also felt he had challenged their authority and that, as a practical matter, with all the media in town and attention to the Sandusky case, he could no longer run the team. Paterno testified before the grand jury investigating Sandusky that he had relayed to his bosses an accusation that came from graduate assistant Mike McQueary, who said he saw Sandusky abusing a boy in the showers of the Penn State football building. Paterno told the Post that he didn’t know how to handle the charge, but a day after McQueary visited him, he spoke to the athletic director and the administrator with oversight over the campus police. \|\|\|\|\| The turn for the worse in Paterno’s condition on Saturday sent his scandal-scarred program, and the larger university community that seemed to revolve around that program, to yet another emotional nadir. Paterno, at one time perhaps the most beloved coach in America, had been fired by the school’s Board of Trustees on Nov. 9 in the wake of a child sex-abuse scandal involving longtime Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Nine days later, it was revealed Paterno had lung cancer. Paterno, who won two national championships and a Division I-record 409 games in his 46 seasons as Penn State’s head coach, was hospitalized most recently on Jan. 13, just hours after granting an interview to a Washington Post reporter in his State College home, his first and only interview since the Sandusky scandal broke. Sitting up in his bed with a blanket over his legs, and speaking in a hoarse whisper, Paterno seemed fully aware of his impending mortality, saying: “I’m worried about my kids, my family. They’re concerned about me, so I’m concerned about them.” Family members also understood that his health was slipping rapidly. In that same interview, conducted over two days at the Paterno home, he acknowledged not knowing how to react when graduate assistant Michael McQueary approached him in 2002 with an account of Sandusky having inappropriate sexual contact with a boy in the Penn State locker room. “I didn’t know exactly how to handle it,” Paterno said. “I backed away and turned it over to some other people, people I thought would have a little more expertise than I did. It didn’t work out that way.” Three other top university officials lost their jobs in the wake of the scandal, and Sandusky faces 52 counts of child molestation. As news of Paterno’s condition spread Saturday night, hundreds of students gathered at his bronze statue outside Beaver Stadium for an impromptu vigil, according to the Centre Daily Times, while police barricaded McKee Street, where Paterno and wife Sue live. The first false report of Paterno’s death apparently was made by Onward State, a Penn State student-run Web site, at 8:45 p.m. Two minutes later, CBS Sports’s Web site posted a blog item saying Paterno had died. Another 10 minutes went by before the first official refuting of the false reports, and at 9:22 p.m., Scott Paterno, another of Paterno’s sons, tweeted: “Dad is alive but in serious condition. We continue to ask for your prayers and privacy during this time.” Devon Edwards, the Onward State managing editor, announced his resignation late Saturday night. “I take full responsibility for the events that transpired tonight, and for the black mark upon the organization that I have caused,” he wrote on Facebook. Staff writer Sally Jenkins contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| By Audrey Snyder, Special for USA TODAY STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The bronze statue of Joe Paterno had hundreds of candles burning brightly below it Saturday night. With the former Penn State head football coach less than a mile away at Mount Nittany Medical Center, students cried, hugged and prayed Paterno would pull through. The 85-year-old was reported to be in "serious condition" according to a Penn State spokesman. Paterno has undergone chemotherapy since he was diagnosed with lung cancer in November. Hundreds of students flocked to Paterno's statue and placed Penn State pennants and blue and white ball caps at his feet. As erroneous reports of Paterno's death swirled, students shoveled the snow out from underneath the statue and a line of more than 100 students and townspeople formed. People posed for pictures at the statue while about 100 yards away recruits in for their official visits walked out of Beaver Stadium. The scene at the medical center was anything but normal as news trucks lined the parking lot waiting for updates on major college football's winningest coach. A priest from Penn State's Catholic campus ministry, the on-campus church the family regularly attends, exited the hospital around 8 p.m. ET and declined comment. Two of Paterno's sons, Scott and former quarterbacks coach Jay, tweeted that their father was "still fighting" around 10 p.m.	Joe Paterno (pictured in 2006) was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions football team from 1966 to 2011. A posting yesterday on the social networking web site Twitter by the 's student ''Onward State'', which incorrectly reported the death of former coach , has led to the resignation of one of its managing editors. Paterno died today. Paterno had been hospitalized over the weekend due to complications from , and was in serious condition. The Onward State blog had picked up word of his death at the age of 85, which was then posted on Twitter at 8:45 PM EST. Various news organizations began to pick up the story after word of the report had been picked up by . Penn State students held a in front of a statue of Paterno on campus after word of the erroneous passing. However, CBS soon retracted the story after posts from other Paterno family members on Twitter reported that Joe had not died. At 10:20 PM EST, the managing editor for Onward State, Devon Edwards, officially retracted the story, saying in another tweet; "Our 8:45 pm tweet about Joe Paterno's death appears to be inaccurate, according to @JayPaterno, who says he's alive. We were confident when we ran with it, and are still trying to figure out where our process failed. We apologize sincerely for error." Additionally, Edwards also announced that he would be resigning from his position at Onward State, effective immediately. In a blog post officially announcing his resignation, Edwards explained that "In this day and age, getting it first often conflicts with getting it right, but our intention was never to fall into that chasm. All I can do now is promise that in the future, we will exercise caution, restraint, and humility." This morning, a report officially confirmed that Joe Paterno had died — today — from lung cancer at the age of 85. == Sources == * * * * * *
'Star Wars' is set to return to cinema screens this August in an animated movie titled 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'. The 100-minute film from creator George Lucas takes place between the events of 'Attack of the Clones' and 'Revenge of the Sith'. It will feature a host of characters from the most recent 'Star Wars' movies including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala. Advertisement The film will act as a launch for the forthcoming Star Wars animation series, with the story continuing in a run of 30-minute "mini-movies" which will premiere on the Cartoon Network, according to the Digitalspy website. Speaking about the animated movie, creator George Lucas said: "I felt there were a lot more Star Wars stories left to tell. I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward." Lucas will oversee production of the film and television series which will be produced by Lucasfilm Animation. 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' opens on 15 August. \|\|\|\|\| LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - He said "Revenge of the Sith" would be his final "Star Wars" film, but creator George Lucas is taking another shot at silver screens with the animated "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" in movie theaters in August. Lucasfilm Ltd. and the Warner Bros. film studio said on Tuesday they would release the movie on August 15, ahead of the fall debut of an animated TV series of the same name on cable television's Cartoon Network and TNT. "I felt there were a lot more 'Star Wars' stories left to tell," Lucas said in a statement. "I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward." The six-film "Star Wars" series is one of Hollywood's most lucrative franchises. It started with the initial "Star Wars" in 1977 and ended with 2005's "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith." At the time of "Sith," Lucas said he would not make another "Star Wars" movie, but has said he was in development on the animated TV show. In fact, Lucas told Reuters he thought he might go back to making artistic films, although he never said exactly what he had on his mind. The "Star Wars" movies tell about battles for intergalactic superiority in space, and "Clone Wars" promises more of the same stories -- only in animation. Key characters such as Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala will be joined by new heroes like Anakin's padawan learner, Ahsoka. Lucasfilm said each episode on TV would be like a 30-minute "mini-movie" with Jedi Knights battling villains such as Count Dooku and General Grievous. Also on Tuesday, Lucas' company began showing "web-only documentaries" telling of the development of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" on the Web site starwars.com. (Editing by Dan Whitcomb and Eric Beech)	George Lucas, creator of the ''Star Wars'' franchise. George Lucas has announced that there will be one last ''Star Wars'' movie to end the saga, but it won't have any actors visible. ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'', an animated film is scheduled to be released into theaters on August 15 of this year. "I felt there were a lot more 'Star Wars' stories left to tell. I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward," said Lucas in a statement to the media. Lucas says that although the film is animated, people can expect the same kind of galactic space battles and action that all the other ''Star Wars'' films have. The approximate running time of the film is 100 minutes. The film is produced by Warner Brothers and Lucasfilm LTD. The new movie is also set to continue as an animated, 30 minute "mini-movie" series this autumn. The show can be seen on the Cartoon Network.
Mr Flight is consulting lawyers Howard Flight quit as a Tory deputy chairman after apparently suggesting the party planned extra spending cuts. But the South Downs and Arundel MP is fighting Mr Howard's decision to stop him being a Tory election candidate. Mr Howard defended the decision at a news conference on Monday. He told reporters: "If you believe in honesty you must act on it." Overshadowing? Mr Flight is consulting his lawyers about his political future - he insists only local Tory members can decide to deselect him. The Tory leadership instead says the legal position is clear and Conservative candidates have to be on its approved list. Mr Howard wanted to talk about childcare at Monday's news conference but all the questions focused on the row over his treatment of Mr Flight. It is not about the ability of people to express a different view Michael Howard Legal position: Tory statement He refused to say what would happen if Mr Flight's local association stuck by its MP. But he said: "It is not about the ability of people to express a different view from my view or a different view from the leadership of the Conservative Party. "It is about the suggestion that the Conservative Party is saying one thing before an election and intends to do something else afterwards. That is not the case." Who decides? But Mr Howard accused Labour of negative campaigning and said Tony Blair would "say anything and do anything to cling to power". Earlier, Mr Flight said he wanted his local Tory association to hold an emergency general meeting (EGM). He told BBC News: "They selected me and they, if you like, dispose of me or keep me. Mr McCartney says spy claims are a diversion tactic "I am advised that that is the correct constitutional position." Mr Flight expects to have his barrister's advice about his legal position late on Monday or on Tuesday. The local association has begun looking for a new candidate but Mr Flight says they have to deselect him first. 'Disarray' The local association's honorary president, Lady O'Cathain, urged the party to settle the dispute quickly. Lawyers needed to make clear the legal position, she said, with Mr Flight given a chance to make his case to local members at an EGM. Lady O'Cathain told BBC News the MP had been loyal and hard working but had made a "huge mistake". Labour chairman Ian McCartney claimed Mr Flight has simply told the truth about Tory plans. "Howard Flight opened the Tories' locker and inside we find plans for massive cuts," he said. Bugs? At a news conference, Mr McCartney repeatedly sidestepped questions about claims the Tories believe a Labour "mole" secretly tape recorded Mr Flight's comments. He called the spying claims a "desperate diversion attempt" and denied Labour was using "dirty tricks". There are newspaper reports that the Tories have checked their offices for bugs because of fears about listening devices. Liberal Democrat chairman Matthew Taylor said Mr Flight had been treated harshly. "Whilst I disagree with his views, it seems extraordinary to sack somebody for telling the truth," he said. It has also been revealed that Michael Howard was forced to suspend a constituency association for refusing to deselect a Conservative candidate. Adrian Hilton was abandoned after it came to light he had suggested the signing of the Maastricht Treaty, under John Major's government, was an act of treason. He had been brought in to fight the seat in Slough after Robert Oulds was sacked for being pictured on the internet with a range of guns, rifles and a hunting knife. Slough Conservative Association has now been placed on "support status" and is being run from Conservative campaign headquarters, a senior party spokesman said. \|\|\|\|\| The former Tory deputy chairman, Howard Flight, was last night heading for a direct confrontation with his party leader Michael Howard over his abrupt removal from political life following his gaffe on the party's £35bn spending cuts plans. The multimillionaire called in lawyers to advise him on seeking an emergency general meeting of Arundel and South Downs Conservative Association in an attempt to overturn its move to seek a candidate to replace him. Conservative Central Office remained determined to stop him. Senior Tories told the Guardian yesterday that the unequivocal nature of Mr Howard's action was likely to cause long-term harm to his leadership, particularly if his election campaign was unsuccessful. Further pressure was applied on Mr Flight when a party spokesman confirmed that he had been sacked from running the Conservative City Circle campaign to raise £20m from the City for May's expected general election. Mr Flight was working with a number of leading City figures and Tory high fliers to raise the cash. They included Mark Archer, deputy chief executive of Allianz Dresdner Asset Management (UK), and Philip Keevil, managing director of Citigroup Global Markets, and an accomplished fundraiser for Oxford University and the London Symphony Orchestra. He also worked closely with another multimillionaire, Colin Barrow, a rising star on Westminster city council and a trustee of the influential Tory thinktank, Policy Exchange. None of them could be contacted yesterday but a Tory MP who is close to the organisation said: "Conservative City Circle is very much Mr Flight's creation. They are bound to be unhappy about his abrupt removal." Mr Flight, who was taped at a private meeting speculating that the Tories' £35bn pledged spending cuts would only "be the start" if they won the election, said in a statement last night: "I was unanimously approved as a candidate five weeks ago. "I am seeking to address a general meeting of the local party and there should then be a vote as to whether they want to keep me as the candidate for Arundel and South Downs. Apart from anything else, whatever the result, it is crucially important that this is seen to be done properly." Earlier the former Tory cabinet minister Lord Tebbit, writing in the Independent on Sunday, warned the saga could "inflate a storm in a teacup to a political gale. Politics is about judgement as well as logic and many Tories will question if Flight should be virtually expelled from parliament". Senior Tory MPs said that dissatisfaction with the sacking the MP was more widespread than just among Thatcherities. One senior backbencher said: "Nothing will probably happen this side of an election, but if Mr Howard loses, he will be taken to task over this." Mr Howard defended his position in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, saying: "It's a terrible let-down when someone goes and behaves like this. What I can't have is someone misrepresenting my view, misrepresenting what we do in government and suggesting that we say one thing in private and another thing in public. That's not the way I do politics." Labour last night continued to press the issue home. The Cabinet Office minister, David Miliband, said: "The real issue is not one individual but the Tory policy agenda he has exposed. The Tories are now in disarray and their tax and spending proposals are unravelling."	At a news conference intended to be on the Conservatives' childcare policies, Michael Howard's decision to sack Conservative MP Howard Flight has continued to dominate as the ex-Tory deputy chairman's expulsion from the party was the subject of every question. The affair began when the MP for Arundel and South Downs was recorded as saying that the conservatives' spending cuts of £35bn would 'only be the start' under a Tory Government. This issue has been of particular significance in the run-up to the expected General election on May 5th. Mr. Flight has resisted his removal from the candidate list, insisting it is the prerogative of the local party members only and not head office. He has taken legal advice as to summoning an emergency general meeting of Arundel and South Downs Conservative Association. Howard Flight has insisted that he would not stand as an independent candidate.
Loud 'boom' heard at Georgia hostage standoff South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley fired several guns during a visit to FN Manufacturing in Columbia Friday. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley fired several guns during a visit to FN Manufacturing in Columbia Friday.A year ago officials announced Columbia Police Department officers soon would be carrying FN's Gov. Haley fires "quite a few" guns during visit to Columbia firearm manufacturer Gov. Haley fires "quite a few" guns during visit to Columbia firearm manufacturer What started as a small crack on the Blue Ridge Parkway just north of Asheville is getting bigger. BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NC (WYFF) - What started as a small crack on the Blue Ridge Parkway just north of Asheville is getting bigger. When it was first noticed July 12, the crack was about 150 feet long and A current Columbia Police Department employee is speaking out about what she said is atypical and unexplained activity in the department. A current Columbia Police Department employee is speaking out about what she said is atypical and unexplained activity in the department. Navarro: Drugs found at prominent city figure's house, no action taken Navarro: Drugs found at prominent city figure's house, no action taken The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office is warning those planning on attending the annual Coonfest Party this Saturday that deputies will be patrolling the water in "full force." The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office is warning those planning on attending the annual Coonfest Party this Saturday that deputies will be patrolling the water in "full force." Sheriff: Deputies to be out in 'full force' at Coonfest Sheriff: Deputies to be out in 'full force' at Coonfest Sources involved in the investigation into the Columbia Police Department confirm to WIS that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is working with State Law Enforcement Division agents. Both agencies are looking into multiple allegations involving Interim Police Chief Ruben Santiago and former Captain Dave Navarro. Sources involved in the investigation into the Columbia Police Department confirm to WIS that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is working with State Law Enforcement Division agents. Both agencies are The South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Aiken County Coroner's Office are continuing to investigate a fatal accident in Aiken County Saturday. Richland County deputies are asking for the community's assistance in identifying the person or persons who randomly shot and killed a dog that was in a fenced yard. An NFL cheerleader and former teacher has been indicted in Kenton County on allegations that she had sex with a student. NFL cheerleader indicted for having sex with student NFL cheerleader indicted for having sex with student Twenty years ago on Sept 21, 1989, Hurricane Hugo's winds blew their way into the history books of South Carolinians as the category 4 storm made landfall in Charleston. CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Twenty years ago on Sept 21, 1989, Hurricane Hugo's winds blew their way into the history books of South Carolinians as the category 4 storm made landfall in Charleston. While More than 20 years after Hurricane Hugo struck the Charleston area, the former mayor of Folly Beach is taking a look back on the storm that changed his city forever. (Statesboro, Georgia-AP) January 17, 2006 - Reports from a hostage stand-off at an attorney's office in Statesboro indicate a loud boom has been heard in the area. Police say a man and woman are holding the hostage and authorities at bay. Reporters at the scene say they heard a loud boom about 6:00am coming from the site. Police have not said what caused the noise. Police cordoned off part of downtown Monday after a lawyer was taken hostage in his office near City Hall. The two suspects have told police they are armed with an explosive device. Police identified one of the suspects as 43-year-old Robert Eugene Brower, a former client of the lawyer. Authorities have not released the name of the hostage, but broadcast reports identify him as Michael Hostilo. In a news conference Monday night, Police Chief Stan York said Brower was angry about having been convicted in a criminal case in which the lawyer was his court-appointed attorney. York would not elaborate on the couple's demands, saying they only wanted to call attention to the case. City spokeswoman Maggie Fitzgerald said there were initially three hostages, but two of them were released unharmed. Statesboro, a city of 22,000, is home to Georgia Southern University. It is about 50 miles northeast of Savannah and 225 miles southeast of Atlanta. Posted 7:29am by Bryce Mursch \|\|\|\|\| STATESBORO, Ga. Police cordoned off part of downtown Monday in this small southeast Georgia college town after an attorney was taken hostage in his office near City Hall. The two suspects, a man and a woman, told police they were armed with an explosive device. Eleven hours after the incident occurred, police were still trying to negotiate with two suspects. Trooper Larry Schnall, a spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol, said a SWAT team was sent to the scene. A woman who answered the phone Monday at the office of Zettler Hostilo & Register LLP, where the lawyer taken hostage apparently works, said the office was closed and hung up. There were initially three hostages, but two were released unharmed, said Maggie Fitzgerald, a city spokeswoman. "They are upset with some legal issues within the recent past and want to get those issues resolved," Fitzgerald said of the suspects without elaborating. She did say the man the suspects are holding is unharmed. The suspects, a man and a woman, say they are armed with an improvised explosive device, Fitzgerald said. Statesboro, a city of 22,000 that is home to Georgia Southern University, is 225 miles southeast of Atlanta. The community's Martin Luther King Day parade, which was to pass by the county courthouse near the scene, was canceled because of the standoff. \|\|\|\|\| Couple holding attorney hostage Georgia authorities try to negotiate surrender amid bomb fears YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Georgia or or Create Your Own (CNN) -- A couple claiming to have a bomb held a lawyer hostage in his Georgia office Monday while negotiators tried to persuade them to surrender, authorities said. The standoff near the Bulloch County courthouse prompted city officials to cancel a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Statesboro, about 50 miles northwest of Savannah, City Manager George Wood said. "The individuals have indicated that they are very upset with some legal issues from the recent past and want to get those issues resolved," Wood said in a written statement Monday afternoon. "They want to call attention to this case, and they hope to have the issues resolved peacefully. We are doing everything possible to end this situation without anyone being hurt." The nature of the legal issues in question was unclear Monday evening. The couple took over the lawyer's office about 9:15 a.m. and let two people go shortly afterward, said John Bankhead, a spokesman for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. There were no reports of injuries in the standoff, he said. Wood said hostage negotiators were in contact with the couple, who "indicated they have an improvised explosive device." The area around the office was cordoned off, and surrounding buildings were evacuated. He identified the man as Robert Eugene Brower, 43. The woman's name was not released. The GBI, Georgia State Patrol, Bulloch County sheriff's deputies and the FBI were assisting Statesboro police in the standoff, Bankhead said.	Map highlighting Bulloch County Georgia A male and a female took 3 people hostage at a law firm in Statesboro, Georgia. Police blocked off a part of this rural town on Monday. Two suspects , a man and a woman, took a lawyer hostage and claimed that they had explosives. The suspects, Robert Eugene Brower, 43, a former client of the lawyer, and the female whose name was not released, gave up after demands for cigarettes and food were met and they spoke with a family member. The standoff lasted for 24 hours and ended, "peacefully," at around 10AM said Larry Schnall, a spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol. The last of the 3 hostages to be released was identified as Michael Hostilo. He and the other two hostages were not injured. There is no word on the names of the other hostages. Earlier reports stated that there had been a "loud boom" coming from the scene at about six o'clock this morning. Authorities have not stated what the booms were. Police are now inside the building to locate and defuse the explosive device that the suspects claimed to have had. Initially when police arrived, there were 3 hostages, but 2 had been recently released and were unharmed, said Maggie Fitzgerald, a city spokeswoman. "They are upset with some legal issues within the recent past and want to get those issues resolved. We are doing everything possible to end this situation without anyone being hurt." In a news conference Monday night, Police Chief Stan York said Brower was angry about "having been convicted in a criminal case", in which the lawyer was his court-appointed attorney. York did not elaborate on the demands of the hostage-takers, other than saying, "they only wanted to call attention to the case." Georgia State Trooper Larry Schnall, a spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol, said a SWAT team was sent to the scene. This morning authorities convinced the two suspects to give-up, but "incidents leading to an escalation resulted in some gunfire," Stan York in a press conference just moments ago. No one was hurt in the brief eruption of gunfire. Police later said when the suspects tried to surrender they became apprehensive and made a threatening gesture prompting authorities to draw their guns and open fire. The standoff began at around 9AM on Monday.
AFP Nineteen people died and three are missing after a boat carrying teachers and school children sank in Burma, an official said on Thursday. The students were travelling to a football tournament when the overloaded ferry sank early on Wednesday on a river in the flood-prone Irrawaddy Delta region. "The latest information is 19 people were killed and three others missing. About 79 people were on board when the boat sank," according to the official, who did not want to be named. Advertisement: Story continues below The Irrawaddy Delta was the area that suffered worst when Cyclone Nargis hit southern Burma in May 2008. The catastrophic storm killed around 138,000 people and left thousands more homeless. Most people living in the low-lying region - the least developed part of the impoverished army-ruled country - rely heavily on poorly-maintained river ferries for transportation around its flooded plains. \|\|\|\|\| By NAW NOREEN Published: 7 October 2010 At least 19 people, including children as young as five, have been killed after a ferry boat flipped as it navigated a creek in Burma’s southern Irrawaddy delta. The majority of the 70 people on board were students and teachers from schools in Irrawaddy division’s Saluseik and Padaukgon villages, close to Labutta township. They had been travelling to an inter-village football tournament in Michaungai along one of the many waterways used for transport in the delta. Reports of the number of those killed however vary: AFP quoted Burmese officials yesterday as saying that 13 had died, while the China-based People’s Daily claimed that at least two dozen were killed. A rescue worker said the boat came under heavy rain on the way to Michaungai, and flipped when it was struck by a wave at around 10am yesterday. “The boat flipped at a confluence of creeks – these are small, narrow creeks connecting villages,” he said, speaking to DVB on condition of anonymity. He said that most of the bodies were of children aged between five and 15. Around 20 people were saved by nearby fishermen and rescue teams made up of local authorities and NGOs operating in the region, he added. Some 20 people are still missing. The boat was reportedly overloaded with passengers and lost balance. Locals in Labutta say that most of the younger victims died when they became trapped underneath the boat after it had flipped. Labutta, where some 80,000 people died in May 2008 following cyclone Nargis, had been experiencing heavy rain and strong winds for about four days prior to the accident. The weather had reportedly caused a number of strong currents and waves in the surrounding creeks and rivers.	A view of the , in which the boat sank, killing at least nineteen people. Nineteen people were killed and three are unaccounted for after an overloaded sank in a river in a flooded region of Burma. Many young children, travelling to an inter-village football tournament in Michaungai, were killed when the boat sank. During the rescue efforts, bodies of children aged between five and fifteen were recovered from the water, along with the bodies of two teachers and two local villagers. Authorities are continuing to search for three people who are still missing after the disaster. There were 79 people aboard the boat when it sank in the , according to an unnamed official. A rescue worker suggested that there had been heavy rain around 10 a.m., when the ferry struck a strong wave and sank. “The boat flipped at a confluence of creeks—these are small, narrow creeks connecting villages," he said. Locals suggested that the boat, which was reportedly overloaded, flipped and lost balance, trapping young children underneath. The accident took place as strong winds and heavy rain battered the area, causing large waves and strong currents in waterways. Reports indicate that many residents of the vast region rely heavily on poorly-maintained river ferries for cheap transportation, since many areas are inaccessible by road. 138,000 people were killed and thousands more were left homeless when when devastated the region in May 2008. == Sources == * * *
(Entertainment Weekly) -- NBC confirmed online reports today that Kevin Eubanks, Jay Leno's affable bandleader, will step down from his post sometime after original installments of "The Tonight Show" resume in March. Eubanks told the Peacock Network he wants to try other things, a network insider said, though it's still not clear when he'll abdicate his late night gig (or whether the entire band will go with him). For now, he is expected to be present for Leno's much-talked about return to "Tonight" on March 1. Eubanks' potential replacement and the band's status is one of many logistical issues confronting Leno, as he and executive producer Debbie Vickers prepare for their next chapter in late night. One thing's for certain: he and his staff won't return to "The Tonight Show's" old sound stage on the Burbank lot, much less take over the fancy new digs that were built for Conan O'Brien in Universal City. Instead, Leno will tape "Tonight" from the set of his short-lived primetime show, also in Burbank, though the look of the place is sure to change. NBC has yet to decide, in the meantime, what do with O'Brien's old sound stage -- though it could accommodate, say, a multi-camera sitcom (NBC's developing five, in fact, for the 2010-11 season). Once back on "Tonight," Leno will likely stick with the brief opening segment where he high-fives members of the audience, not to mention running gags like "Headlines." NBC is not ready to announce his first guest (Jerry Seinfeld occupied the chair when Leno premiered in primetime just four months ago). Promos for Leno's return are expected to start airing this week during the Winter Olympics -- though the comedian got a nice boost by participating in a promo for CBS' "The Late Show" with David Letterman and Oprah Winfrey that aired during the Super Bowl. The low-cost spot ended up upstaging most of the other commercials that cost millions to produce and air. See the original article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly © 2009 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Kevin Eubanks wants a break from 'Tonight Show' Jay Leno's longtime bandleader Kevin Eubanks is planning at least a part-time split even as Leno reclaims his Tonight Show, reports USA TODAY's Gary Levin. "Kevin has expressed interest in pursuing personal touring and recording opportunities," the network said in a statement. "However, he will return to the show" on March 1, when Leno resurfaces in late night, and whether and when he exits for good has yet to be determined. Conan O'Brien's bandleader and drummer Max Weinberg took leaves of absence to tour with Bruce Springsteen. Eubanks has been Tonight's bandleader since 1995, but began his tenure in 1992, when Leno replaced Johnny Carson, as a guitarist under Branford Marsalis.	Kevin Eubanks, the veteran bandleader to American late-night television personality Jay Leno, confirmed reports on Wednesday that he will, at least temporarily, leave the ''The Tonight Show''. According to an NBC spokesperson, "Kevin Eubanks has expressed interest in pursuing personal touring and recording opportunities." Eubanks has been the bandleader for the show since 1995. He furthermore followed Leno in his move to the primetime slot last year, when Leno hosted a short-lived talk show. This was until the new host Conan O'Brien left ''Tonight'' after only seven months following a contractual dispute. ''The Tonight Show'' is slated to resume this March with Leno reinstated as host. For now, Eubanks is expected stay with Leno for the show's return and for an indefinite period of time following. It is yet to be made clear if Eubanks is willing to permanently abdicate his position and whether his entire The Tonight Show Band will go with him once he leaves. == Related news == * * *
The BBC Trust has suspended online educational service BBC Jam after UK commercial companies registered complaints of the site exercising unfair competition in the online games market to the European Commission. The online destination that offered games and activities with an educational bent to kids six to 16 will cease to operate after March 20, according to Chitra Bharucha, acting BBC chairman. The site was due for a market impact assessment this year, but this action was suspended in the light of the new accusations. While the Beeb is not admitting non-compliance, the Trust is formally requesting new proposals for how the net should deliver its Charter obligation to promote education and learning in an online environment. BBC Jam was approved in 2003 and launched in 2006. The service has a total budget of US$290 million with approximately US$85 million of that earmarked for independent content producers. The Trust is expecting to receive new proposals from the pubnet within the next three months about Jam’s replacement. The new program is believed to have the same budget as the suspended one. \|\|\|\|\| The free service supports the national curriculum BBC Jam, aimed at children aged between five and 16, delivers free content supporting school curricula in English, Welsh and other UK languages. Online companies said the service damaged their businesses and a review will take place. NUT Cymru questioned whether private firms would provide the same service. And the Welsh Assembly Government has also expressed concern. BBC Jam went live in January 2006, with the BBC pledging to invest £150m over five years. Much of the English-language content is available in Welsh with core subjects also available in Irish and Scots Gaelic. In total, 189 staff across the UK, including 19 in Wales, work on the project, which will be suspended from 20 March pending a review. 'Valuable resource' The decision by the BBC Trust follows a complaint from commercial online companies to the European Commission that BBC Jam had a negative impact on their businesses. The trust has asked the corporation's management to come up with fresh proposals for how the BBC should deliver its charter obligation to promote learning for school-aged children. Rhys Williams of teaching union NUT Cymru said the service was a valuable educational asset. He added: "As a union we believe that education should be a public service and when you start talking about the commercial online companies the alarm bells start ringing and we think 'has this been too successful?' "It's only 15 months old and it's been cut at very short notice. It makes us very worried. "It is part of (the BBC's) educational role. "One wonders to what extent commercial companies are going to step into the gap that the BBC has left in terms of Welsh language provision." 'Real concerns' BBC Wales Controller, Menna Richards, said she was "disappointed" the service had been suspended. She said: "We do know that hundreds of thousands of parents, children and teachers have found BBC Jam to be a very valuable resource. "I think the next step for us now is to seek clarification about what we can do to respond to the demand for further proposals for online learning. "We in BBC Wales are determined to play a part in that to ensure that school children in Wales in both English and Welsh get the best possible resource available." On the position of BBC Jam staff, Ms Richards said: "There are real concerns, BBC Wales has around 20 people employed to work on BBC Jam. "They do a fantastic job, they are talented people and they find themselves in this position through no fault of their own. "We at BBC Wales will be doing everything we can to support them over the next few months." A spokesperson for the Welsh Assembly Government said: "They (BBC Jam) provide a good service especially through the medium of Welsh. "We hope their service will resume as soon as the review is over."	BBC Jam promotional image, with logo. Kids will have to look elsewhere for educational entertainment, after the European Commission received complaints that the British Broadcasting Corporation's website was "unfair competition" to the commercial online games market. The site, called BBC jam, will be suspended on March 20, 2007, pending review, per the BBC Trust. ''BBC jam'' offers educationally-oriented games aimed at 5 to 16-year-olds, created with an operating budget of £150 million (US$290 million) over five years, US$85 million of which allocated to independent content producers. The government funded service is formally requesting proposals on how it should promote education and learning digitally, without being "non-compliant". NUT Cymru, a Welsh teachers' union, is worried about the closure. Both NUT Cymru and the Welsh Assembly Goverment have questioned the extent to which commercial firms would step in and fulfill the terms of the Welsh Language Act 1993.
Briatore out at Renault, team not disputing charge LONDON — Renault split with team principal Flavio Briatore on Wednesday and said it would not contest a charge that Nelson Piquet Jr. was ordered to crash during a Formula One race. Renault, however, still must attend a World Motor Sport Council hearing on Monday in Paris to discover its punishment for the crash that helped Fernando Alonso win last year's Singapore Grand Prix. Renault could be thrown out of F1, but the dual departure of Briatore and engineering executive director Pat Symonds appears to be a move aimed at reducing the penalty. "The ING Renault F1 team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix," the team said in a statement. "It also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore, and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team." Piquet Jr., who was fired by Renault last month after 1 1/2 seasons with the team, crashed on the 13th lap of last year's race. Alonso secured an unlikely victory as other cars came in to refuel while the Spanish driver had enough fuel to move ahead of the field. Governing body FIA began investigating last month, and offered Piquet Jr. immunity against prosecution in return for his testimony. Data showed Piquet Jr. accelerating into the crash, rather than braking. Last week, Briatore denied any wrongdoing and started legal proceedings in France against Piquet Jr. and his father, three-time world champion Nelson Piquet, for making false allegations and attempted blackmail. Briatore, a 58-year-old Italian, started out at the Benetton F1 team in 1988, overseeing Michael Schumacher's world title triumphs in 1994 and 1995 as team principal. He left Benetton in 1997 but helped Renault buy the team in 2000 and he was appointed managing director. In 2005 and '06, Briatore helped the French manufacturer and Alonso become world champions. Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, a co-owner of English soccer club Queens Park Rangers with Briatore, said he felt sorry for the Italian. "Obviously, I'm surprised at what has happened, and I'm taken by surprise today that they've decided to walk away," Ecclestone said. "I've no idea what will happen. We'll have to wait and see." Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Flavio Briatore, the team principal of Renault’s Formula One team, has quit amid allegations that the team ordered one of its drivers to crash last season to allow its other driver to win. Luca Bruno/Associated Press Pat Symonds, Renault’s director of engineering, also quit, according to a statement issued by the French team on its official Web site: The ING Renault F1 Team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the F.I.A. concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. It also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team. Before attending the hearing before the F.I.A. World Motor Sport Council in Paris on 21 September 2009, the team will not make any further comment. The drama began to unfold two weeks ago. Around the time of the Belgium Grand Prix, a news item from Globo Television in Brazil claimed that Renault had ordered its driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash on purpose to help his teammate, Fernando Alonso, win the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. GrandPrix.com followed up that report with a confirmation from the Federation International de l’Automobile, which said it was investigating “alleged incidents at a previous F.I.A. Formula 1 World Championship event.” The race in question was remarkable because it was the first of only two races that Alonso won last year. Alonso is a two-time champion, but last year the Renault cars were not competitive. At Singapore, he started in 15th position on the grid and reports the following day hailed the drive as one of his best ever, while noting the role Piquet’s crash played in the win. “Piquet ran into a wall and destroyed his car, forcing the safety car to go on the track while the debris was cleaned up,” wrote Brad Spurgeon of The New York Times. “The race was therefore suspended behind the safety car, and most of the cars prepared to enter the pits to take advantage of the situation. But Alonso had already made his pit stop, and would therefore move up.” GrandPrix.com wrote, “There was more than a little irony in the result of the Singapore Grand Prix. Nelson Piquet has seemed out of his depth this year and in Singapore he crashed heavily on lap 13. But in doing so he handed victory to his team-mate Fernando Alonso, who had gambled on a very short 12-lap first stint.” During its investigation, the F.I.A. interviewed Piquet, who was fired by Renault at the end of July. That interview was leaked to the press last week, and statements made by Piquet pointed an accusatory finger at Briatore and Symonds. From The Times of London: “The proposal to deliberately cause an accident was made to me shortly before the race took place, when I was summoned by Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds in Mr. Briatore’s office,” Piquet told the F.I.A. “Mr. Symonds, in the presence of Mr. Briatore, asked me if I would be willing to sacrifice my race for the team by ‘causing a safety car.’ Every F1 race driver knows that the safety car is deployed on a track when there is an accident which leads to the track being blocked either by debris or a stationary car, and where it is difficult to recover a damaged car, as was the case here.” Piquet explained he was in a “very fragile and emotional state of mind” at the time the proposal was put to him because he had been given no formal assurances that his drive at Renault was safe for 2009. “When I was asked to crash my car I accepted because I hoped it could improve my position within the team at this critical time in the race season,” he said. “At no point was I told by anyone that by agreeing to cause an incident, I would be guaranteed a renewal of my contract or any other advantage. However, in the context, I thought that it would be helpful in achieving this goal. I therefore agreed to cause the incident.” Briatore denied the accusations. According to The Associated Press, Briatore started criminal proceedings against Piquet after the statement was leaked. “Things came out that should have not been said. We can’t defend ourselves and our position after such a leak,” he said last Sunday. “It’s not right to call a team guilty before it is judged.” Renault is scheduled to appear before the F.I.A.’s International Motor Sport Council in Paris next Monday to answer Piquet’s claims, reports Agence France-Presse. If the team is found guilty of fixing the race, it could be expelled from Formula One.	Renault F1 team boss Flavio Briatore and engineering director Pat Symonds have both split ways with the team. The move comes as Renault announce they will not fight a charge of race-fixing. Marina Bay Street Circuit while Alonso moves towards victory. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) accused Renault of ordering Nelson Piquet, Jr. to crash during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. The wreck brought out the safety car and most other competitors made refueling stops while it was out. However, Renault's Fernando Alonso had pitted unusually early and was able to move up to take one of just two victories that year. The safety car during its critical appearance at the race. The FIA interviewed Piquet after an investigation was triggered by claims published by Globo TV. Piquet's interview was leaked, and he placed the blame squarely on Briatore and Symonds. "The proposal to deliberately cause an accident was made to me shortly before the race took place, when I was summoned by Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds in Mr. Briatore’s office... When I was asked to crash my car I accepted because I hoped it could improve my position within the team at this critical time in the race season," Piquet said in the interview. Piquet further stated that he received no assurances he would still be racing for Renault in 2009. Although he continued to race for Renault in 2009, he was sacked midway through the current season. Renault will discover their punishment at a hearing before the World Motor Sport Council in Paris, France. They face the possibility of being banned from Formula One. Piquet has received immunity from the FIA for his testimony. Data showed Piquet accelerating into the wall instead of braking as he approached it. Briatore has a long history with Renault. He started off with Benetton Formula in 1988 and was team principal for Michael Schumacher's 1994 and 1995 world title wins. He left in 1997 but Renault made him head again after he helped the French firm buy the team in 2000. He was there for Alonso's world championship wins in 2005 and 2006.
The Taliban remains undeafeted despite more US troops being drafted into the country [Reuters] The Taliban remains undeafeted despite more US troops being drafted into the country [Reuters] According to the Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM), civilian deaths have risen amid increased insecurity and the Taliban remains far from being defeated. The current year has been the most violent in Afghanistan since the US-led forces invaded the land-locked central Asian country in 2001, an Afghan rights group has said. "In terms of insecurity, 2010 has been the worst year since the demise of the Taliban regime in late 2001," it said on Monday. "Not only have the number of security incidents increased, the space and depth of the insurgency and counter-insurgency-related violence have maximised dramatically," ARM said. About 1,074 civilians were killed and more than 1,500 injured in war-related incidents in the first six months of 2010, compared with 1,059 killed in the same period last year, ARM said. Taliban 'resilient' In late December, Barack Obama, the US president, ordered an extra 30,000 American troops into Afghanistan as part of a new strategy designed to reverse the Taliban momentum and speed up an end to the nine-year war. But ARM's mid-year report entitled "Civilian Casualties of Conflict", said that Obama's policy of intensifying operations against the Taliban has not disrupted, dismantled or defeated the fighters. On the contrary, it says, "the insurgency has become more resilient, multi-structured and deadly". "Up to 1,200 security incidents were record in June, the highest number of incidents compared to any month since 2002," it said. Most civilian deaths - 661 - were caused by Taliban fighters, who showed "little or no respect for the safety and protection of non-combatants in their armed rebellion against the government and its foreign supporters", it said. The United States and Nato have more than 140,000 troops in Afghanistan with another 10,000 due in coming weeks as part of the counter-insurgency strategy. The Taliban's main weapon, homemade bombs known as improvised explosive devices, were blamed for most of the deaths and injuries among Afghan civilians in the period, ARM said. ARM said that suicide attacks by Taliban bombers were the second biggest killer of civilians in the first half of this year, killing 127 non-combatants. It said a reduction in air strikes, ordered by the former commander of foreign forces, US General Stanley McChrystal, had resulted in fewer civilian deaths attributed to US-led forces. \|\|\|\|\| Afghan monitor says 2010 worst year of war KABUL — This year has been the most violent since the Afghan war began in 2001 and civilian deaths have risen slightly with the increased insecurity, a local rights group said Monday. A massive US-led increase in troops has failed to quell the Taliban-led insurgency, Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM) said. "In terms of insecurity, 2010 has been the worst year since the demise of the Taliban regime in late 2001," it said. "Not only have the number of security incidents increased, the space and depth of the insurgency and counter-insurgency-related violence have maximised dramatically," ARM said. In late December, US President Barack Obama ordered an extra 30,000 American troops into Afghanistan as part of a new counter-insurgency strategy designed to reverse the Taliban momentum and speed up an end to the nine-year war. But ARM's mid-year report "Civilian Casualties of Conflict" said Obama's policy of intensifying operations against the Taliban has not disrupted, dismantled or defeated the insurgents. On the contrary, it says, "the insurgency has become more resilient, multi-structured and deadly". About 1,074 civilians were killed and more than 1,500 injured in war-related incidents in the first six months of 2010, compared with 1,059 killed in the same period last year, ARM said. "Up to 1,200 security incidents were recorded in June, the highest number of incidents compared to any month since 2002," it said. Military commanders had warned that boosted troops numbers would lead to more battles, and subsequently higher death tolls. But ARM said "little or no justification has been offered as to why a defeated Taliban is gaining strength, popularity and the ability to threaten the future of Afghanistan" nine years after being overthrown. In a breakdown of parties to blame for civilian deaths, ARM says 61 percent were caused by insurgents, 30 percent by US, NATO and Afghan forces, six percent by "criminals and private security firms", with three percent unknown. The United States and NATO have more than 140,000 troops in Afghanistan with another 10,000 due in coming weeks as part of the counter-insurgency strategy. The Taliban's main weapon, bombs known as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), were blamed for most of the Afghan civilian casualties, with suicide attacks the second biggest killer, ARM said. It said a reduction in air strikes, ordered by the recently sacked commander of foreign forces, US General Stanley McChrystal, had resulted in fewer civilian deaths attributed to US-led forces. Other country-insurgency measures introduced by McChrystal "were also deemed helpful", the report said. Last week NATO apologised for the deaths of six civilians in a mistaken air strike and said that six Afghan soldiers died in a "friendly fire" incident. Rules of engagement that aim to prevent civilian casualties have come under fire from some quarters, however, with the arrival of McChrystal's successor, US General David Petraeus, who took command on July 4. Many soldiers complain they are hamstrung by the rules, attributing to them a spike in deaths and injuries. ISAF officials say the rules will not change. So far this year, more than 350 foreign soldiers have died in the Afghan war, around 30 for July alone. The total last year was 520. ARM's findings echo those of a UN report late last year that found most civilian casualties in 2009 -- up 11 percent in the first 10 months of the year over the same 2008 period -- were caused by Taliban attacks. Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »	The Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM), an Afghan human-rights group, stated yesterday that 2010 was the worst year in terms of violence for the country since US-led troops occupied the country in 2001. The ARM says that civilian deaths have risen and that Taliban insurgents have not been defeated despite a surge in troops in Afghanistan. "In terms of insecurity, 2010 has been the worst year since the demise of the Taliban regime in late 2001. Not only have the number of security incidents increased, the space and depth of the insurgency and counter-insurgency-related violence have maximised dramatically," the ARM said. ARM's figures state that over 1,074 civilians were killed and over 1,500 wounded in war violence in the first half of this year, an slight increase over 1,059 deaths in the same time period in 2009. "Up to 1,200 security incidents were recorded in June, the highest number of incidents compared to any month since 2002," the ARM commented. According to the ARM, over half of civilian deaths in the first six months of this year were caused by Taliban insurgents that showed "little or no respect for the safety and protection of non-combatants in their armed rebellion against the government and its foreign supporters." The group also said that the second highest cause of civilian deaths were suicide attacks by the Taliban. The suicide attacks killed 127 people. Also, the ARM reported that a reduction of US and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) air strikes reduced their share of civilians killed. The air strike reduction had been ordered by the former commander of foreign forces, General Stanley McChrystal, who was fired by US president Barack Obama for making rude comments about top government officials. In December of last year, US president Barack Obama sent an additional 30,000 soldiers into the country in an effort to halt the Taliban's influence in the region. However, the ARM says in its mid-year report, titled "Civilian Casualties of Conflict", that the move failed to have any lasting effect, and that "the insurgency has become more resilient, multi-structured and deadly". According to the ARM, most of the injuries and deaths were attributed homemade bombs — otherwise known as improvised explosive devices. These bombs are considered the Taliban's main weapon. 140,000 soldiers from both the US and NATO are stationed in Afghanistan; another 10,000 are scheduled to enter the landlocked Asian country in the next few weeks. Over 350 US and NATO troops have been killed so far this year, compared with 520 last year. Over 30 troops have been killed in the first 12 days of July.
POSTED: 11:44 am EST February 9, 2009 The mayor of Flint has announced his resignation, only weeks before he was to face a recall election. Don Williamson, 75, said Monday he is retiring because of health concerns. “My doctors have all told me that I should think about relaxing my schedule,” said the major. Williamson has been suffering from sinus infections and kidney stones. The mayor will leave his post effective at midnight Saturday and newly named City Administrator Michael Brown will become the acting mayor. Williamson was re-elected Flint mayor in 2007 when he defeated challenger Dayne Walling with 51 percent of the vote. The Feb. 24 recall stemmed from claims Williamson mismanaged city funds and violated the public trust by misrepresenting the city's finances. Recall supporters also said he endangered public safety by proposing the elimination of 59 police officers and nine firefighters. Williamson announced last year he would run for governor of Michigan in 2010 as a Democrat. It was not immediately clear how his announcement Monday will effect that race. Williamson is a millionaire who received a token $1 salary as mayor. His resignation will be effective Feb. 15 at midnight. A primary mayoral election will be scheduled for May and a special election will follow in August. \|\|\|\|\| Flint Mayor Don Williamson resigns by The Flint Journal Monday February 09, 2009, 6:30 PM This is an updated version of a story first posted at 11:27 a.m. Flint, Michigan -- The Don is gone. Mayor Don Williamson announced today that he is "retiring," finally putting to rest weeks of speculation. In an 11:20 a.m. news conference, Williamson cited health reasons for leaving office. His resignation is effective midnight Sunday. He took no questions from the media, and read from a prepared statement. "Last month, I celebrated my third sinus infection in 13 months and my eighth kidney stone since Nov. 1. My doctors have told me that I should think about relaxing my schedule and reducing the demands on my time," said Williamson, 75. Williamson, a multi-millionaire, said his life has been blessed with financial and political success. "In my political life, I received the greatest honor of all, the trust and respect that the voters of this great city placed in me when they elected me mayor in 2003 and then re-elected me in 2007," Williamson said. Williamson praised new city administrator Mike Brown and deputy mayor Darryl Buchanan. Buchanan was present at the news conference but Brown was not. Brown becomes acting mayor when Williamson leaves office and will lead the city until after an August election. Williamson said there will be a lot of work for Buchanan and Brown as the city tries to deal with a "financial crisis." "It has been a great pleasure and honor to serve the hometown where Patsy and I have lived our whole lives," Williamson said. Rumors for weeks had been swirling that Williamson -- whose larger-than-life and often confrontational personality won him many of his supporters and his enemies -- would resign as mayor ahead of the Feb. 24 recall election. Williamson repeatedly, and adamantly, denied those rumors. And, many were surprised by Williamson's decision. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton could only said "I'm shocked" when told of Williamson's resignation. Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell said he was "absolutely shocked that the mayor resigned." He said, though, that the city is left in capable hands with the appointment of Mike Brown. "And with Darryl Buchanan working with Mr. Brown, it will be a good team," Pickell said. Williamson last week dumped right-hand man Buchanan and hired Brown, who worked for the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce, as the new city administrator. He also appointed a new interim police chief, John Keahey, who is the third person in less than a month to fill the post. The mayor initially won a term as mayor in 2003, and then was re-elected in 2007 in a close election against challenger Dayne Walling. Since then, there's been a string of bad news, including budget deficits, layoffs, controversy over a proposed drag strip and turmoil at City Hall. Williamson has pointed to some successes in the city, including the revitalization of downtown and the new alternative energy plant. Flint voters in 2002 recalled then-Mayor Woodrow Stanley -- an election that led to a state takeover. \|\|\|\|\| Mayor will leave office midnight Sunday (02/09/09) -- During a morning news conference today, Flint Mayor Don Williamson said he will retire from office effective Sunday, Feb. 15 at midnight. The mayor did not take questions from reporters after making the announcement. Click here to see Mayor Williamson's entire news conference. "In leaving, I wish only the very best for our city as it continues down the road we have paved," he said. Advertisement The action comes less than two weeks before Williamson was to face a recall election. In everything there is a season. And I have decided that now is the time to retire from public life, effective midnight, Sunday Feb. 15," Williamson said. "In my absence, I want to assure you that Mike Brown will ably lead the city until August, when the voters can decide on my permanent replacement. He shares my strong belief in the support of our neighborhoods and my excitement about growing downtown development. He brings great energy and experience that I think will be important to carry Flint through the next period in history." Longtime City Council opponent Scott Kincaid said it "was a super-fantastic day" for the city of Flint. When ABC12's Gabe Gutierrez asked for her reaction, Councilwoman Jackie Poplar said, "Hallelujah." ABC12 News has not been able to contact Williamson supporters for their reaction. Williamson, now in his second term, would have served until November 2011. According to City Charter, Williamson's successor will be newly-hired City Administrator Mike Brown. Brown replaced former City Administrator Darryl Buchanan last week. At that time, Williams appointed Buchanan to the newly-created position of deputy mayor. Williamson wouldn't explain what the deputy mayor position means, but did say that Buchanan will stay on in a capacity under interim Mayor Mike Brown. Click here to get us on your iPhone.. Click here for more Mid-Michigan and Flint news Comment on this story below and we may read what you have to say on the air. (Copyright ©2009 WJRT-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) \|\|\|\|\| Community remains shocked by retirement decision (02/09/09)--As confident as Flint Mayor Don Williamson is, he didn't win his first nor his second bid for the city's top job. But persistence -- or stubbornness -- eventually paid off for him. That, for many, made him a mayor like few others. Click here to see Mayor Williamson's entire news conference. You can't live in Mid-Michigan for very long, without knowing the name Don Williamson. Advertisement "We have a tremendous response. People are ready for a change. They're tired of the politicians," he said when the first ran for mayor in 1991. Despite a plan to put 50 police cars on the street, he did not make it past the primary. In 1995, Williamson made a second run for the city's top job. The race was both heated and ugly. Williamson took on Woodrow Stanley, the incumbent mayor, but he also lodged serious accusations against another challenger, Sam Riddle. In the end, it wasn't enough. Williamson finished dead last in a five-man primary. But in 2003, the third time proved the charm. Williamson beat Floyd Clack in the general election, but didn't take over until the following summer. The city was still under state financial control, and at City Hall, that meant a lengthy power struggle with Ed Kurtz. In fact, it was the middle of 2004 before Williamson fully took on the responsibilities of mayor. In 2007, Williamson faced a close and heated race against Dayne Walling. In the end, the mayor kept the job by earning fewer than 600 votes. Through the years, he's been a polarizing figure as mayor. That's part of the legacy Williamson will leave behind when he retires this weekend. The sudden retirement of Flint's mayor came as a shock to many residents of the city. Everyone seemed to have an opinion about the mayor Monday. And in our unscientific survey, most are sad to see him go. Click here to get us on your iPhone.. Click here for more Mid-Michigan and Flint news Comment on this story below and we may read what you have to say on the air. (Copyright ©2009 WJRT-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) \|\|\|\|\| John Keahey named Flint interim police chief, David Forystek out as interim chief after less than a month on the job by Shannon Murphy \| The Flint Journal Friday February 06, 2009, 11:40 AM FLINT, Michigan -- The Flint police department now has its third interim chief in less than a month. Mayor Don Williamson today announced that Office John Keahey is now the new interim chief. David Forystek, who was named chief Jan. 14, was demoted to the department's traffic bureau. Keahey was previously a major with the now-defunct Citizens Service Bureau. It is unknown why the most recent change was made. Along with a new interim chief, Williamson announced that four officers have been promoted to sergeant and one sergeant has been promoted to lieutenant. Flint Journal feedback: What do you think of this change in the Flint interim police chief position? Tell us your view in the comments area below. Extras: See below for related articles on this police chief situation. Forystek took over when interim Chief David Dicks placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a federal charge. Officials alleged Dicks stole more than $46,000 in government funding in a no-show job as a security guard for Career Alliance. \|\|\|\|\| Flint Mayor Don Wiliamson appoints longtime community leader Mike Brown as new city administrator to replace Darryl Buchanan by Joe Lawlor \| The Flint Journal Wednesday February 04, 2009, 10:40 PM FLINT, Michigan — A half-hour conversation with a man he barely knows was enough for Mayor Don Williamson to find his latest city administrator. Another week, another shakeup at City Hall. Williamson on Wednesday tabbed longtime Flint community leader Michael Brown to replace Darryl Buchanan as the city's director of day-to-day operations. Flint Journal extras Meet Michael Brown Age: 61 Residence: Flint New job: Appointed as Flint's city administrator on Wednesday, replacing Darryl Buchanan. Salary: $95,000-a-year. Experience: Current executive vice president at the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce; Past president of Capital Area United Way, United Way of Genesee and Lapeer Counties and the American Red Cross for Genesee and Lapeer counties. The vote: The City Council voted Wednesday 6-2 to appoint Brown. Voting yes were Scott Kincaid, Carolyn Sims, Jackie Poplar, Delrico Loyd, Jim Ananich and Sandy Hill. Voting no were Sheldon Neeley and Ehren Gonzales. The move means that Brown would now become interim mayor if Williamson loses his Feb. 24 recall election -- something that Williamson doesn't think will happen. "I plan to be the mayor for another eight years," Williamson reiterated on Wednesday. It was a whirlwind afternoon for Brown, who just a few months ago left a job in Lansing to become executive vice president of the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce. "This unfolded pretty quickly," said Brown. Brown, who lives in the college cultural district off of East Court Street, said he had a 30 minute conversation with the mayor about 2 p.m. on Wednesday and was offered the job immediately. Three hours later, the City Council approved the appointment. Why the change? Williamson declined to discuss the move and said he would have more to say on the matter at news conference Thursday. "I think (Brown) was a fantastic choice," said Williamson, who will name Buchanan deputy mayor. Buchanan was named city administrator after Williamson's re-election in 2007 and would have been his successor if Williamson were to be recalled. Buchanan, a former councilman, couldn't be reached for comment on Wednesday evening. If Williamson were to be recalled, Brown would step in as interim mayor until a May 5 special mayoral election. Brown said he's not interested in running for mayor. Williamson submitted Brown's name for the appointment at a special council meeting on Wednesday that was supposed to be a sleepy meeting about liquor licenses. The City Council approved the appointment 6-2 for a job that handles the day-to-day operations of the city. Brown said he sees his new role as an interim duty and doesn't have plans to campaign for something bigger. "I don't see myself running for mayor," said Brown, who served as the city's director of community development in the 1980s. In 2002, Brown failed to get enough signatures to get on the ballot after Woodrow Stanley was recalled as Flint's mayor. How did this latest role in city government come about? Brown said some people in the business community were talking with the mayor about bringing him on as city administrator. He declined to say who they were, except to say it wasn't his boss, Tim Herman, the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce's chief executive officer. Herman could not be reached for comment Wednesday night. Brown said there's a good chance he could return to work at the chamber at some point. But he said that's something he still needs to talk over with Herman. Brown said he will work to make sure relations are smooth with City Council and other area public officials. Brown takes over as administrator with the city experiencing deep financial problems, and several months after there were numerous layoffs. "Obviously, there's a lot of challenges," Brown said. "I have an excellent relationship with most of the public officials in Genesee County. We need to combine a lot of our energies to get these problems solved." Brown, 61, moved back to Flint in November after working for the Capital Area United Way in Lansing for five years. He has deep roots in the Flint community, working as the president of the United Way of Genesee and Lapeer Counties from 1996-2002. He was also previously the executive director of the American Red Cross for Genesee and Lapeer Counties. Phil Shaltz, a partner at Uptown Developments, said while Buchanan did a "phenomenal job," Brown will be "excellent" in helping to spur development and for his managerial skills. "I think this is a brilliant move by the mayor," Shaltz said. Council members said they didn't see it coming. "I think Michael Brown will be a good city administrator," said Councilman Scott Kincaid, a political enemy of Williamson. "He did an excellent job leading the United Way. I have a lot of confidence in him." "This was a good pick by the mayor," said Councilman Jim Ananich. Councilman Sheldon Neeley said he voted "no" but only because it was a rush job. "This is not a "no" vote against Michael Brown," Neeley said. "There's a lot of questions that still need to be answered." Recall organizer Alex Harris said it doesn't make any sense for Williamson, who normally hires his "cronies," to hire Brown unless something else is going on. "I could see a scenario playing out where the mayor resigns," Harris said. \|\|\|\|\| Interim Flint Police Chief David Dicks charged with theft of government funds by Ron Fonger and Shannon Murphy \| The Flint Journal Wednesday January 14, 2009, 4:10 PM Note: The date and time stamp on this article have been updated from its original post 1:25 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. Additional details, information and elements were added. Flint Journal extras: See below for past articles on David Dicks and the Career Alliance investigation. FLINT, Michigan -- Flint's interim police Chief David Dicks was charged today with defrauding the U.S. government by collecting federal funds for private security work while he was actually on duty as a city police officer and inspector. Dicks was charged in federal court today with theft of government funds and released on an unsecured $25,000 bond, but apparently remained on the job. Flint Mayor Don Williamson called Dicks a "super, super fantastic man. I feel sorry for him and his family." "I don't believe David Dicks stole anything," said Williamson, who scheduled a press conference for 4 p.m. today to discuss the police department. But federal prosecutors painted a different picture in a 10-page criminal complaint, saying Dicks essentially charged taxpayers twice by claiming to be two different places at the same time. David E. Wendt, a special agent with the U.S. Department of Labor, said in an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court that Dicks was paid more than $46,000 in federal funds for work he claimed to do for City Security, a contractor for Career Alliance Inc. Dicks submitted time sheets to City Security claiming he was on the job for Career Alliance while other records showed he was being paid as a city police officer or inspector or enrolled in classes at Mott Community College. Dicks appeared in federal court today with attorney Frank Manley. Manley called the charge against Dicks "unfortunate." "At least it allows us to defend against months and months of rumor and innuendo," Manley said. "Chief Dicks maintains he is innocent. He's hurt because he believes it's not true." Wearing a gray suit and tie, the police chief laced his hands and turned his thumbs, waiting to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hluchaniuk today. Dicks' father, Flint Super Chief Richard Dicks, sat behind his son in court, telling Manley at one point, "Everything's all right." Richard Dicks is the chief executive officer-licensee for City Security, the affidavit said. The company had a nearly 15-year monopoly on security contracts with Career Alliance. Williamson said he believes a lot went wrong at Career Alliance, which has been the subject of criminal investigations for more than a year. Other people connected to the nonprofit job training agency should be in trouble with the law, said Williamson, who called the complaint against Dicks "selective enforcement." The mayor said he would have to get more information before deciding whether Dicks, who faces up to 10 years in prison, would continue his role as interim chief. He was appointed last year to replace former acting Chief Gary Hagler. In Flint, Harold Horton, 45, of Burton, said today's charge against Dicks reinforced his belief that Flint officials are "all crooked." "I think they should push him through the court system as far as they can ... It's getting to be as bad as it was down in Detroit," Horton said. Flint Councilman Delrico Loyd called on Dicks to resign as police chief. He said it's possible Dicks could still have a job waiting for him while the case works its way through the legal system, but he believes Dicks should not lead the city's police department. "Oh my God," Loyd said, when he heard about the charge. "This goes to show that everything done in the darkness will eventually be brought out into the light." Councilman Ehren Gonzales suggested Dicks be placed on unpaid leave until the charge is resolved. Hluchaniuk scheduled a preliminary exam for Feb. 3 for Dicks, and prosecutors said they would present the case to a federal grand jury within 30 days. As conditions of his bond, Hluchaniuk told Dicks not to leave Michigan without permission from pretrial services, not to use alcohol or controlled substances, and to avoid contact with potential witnesses. The allegation that Dicks pocketed federal money is the latest controversy in his career. Less than a year into his term as chief, Dicks has been a polarizing figure with supporters viewing him as people-friendly leader who understands what the community wants and needs. Dicks experienced the city's violence firsthand on the day he was announced as chief when he learned his son had been shot to death on the city's north side. But critics -- including many in his own department -- see him as a crony of Williamson, and claim he only got his job because he does whatever the mayor tells him. Dicks was already under federal investigation in June when Williamson tapped him to lead the city police department. The appointment rankled cops who wondered why Dicks -- a patrol officer at the time -- had leapfrogged senior command staff. Dicks had been fired in 2004 by the city after he was charged with drunken driving following an off-duty crash in Flint Township. Dicks, who couldn't find his city issued pistol or identification card after the crash, later pleaded to a reduced charge in the case. A longtime supporter of Williamson, Dicks drew the ire of fellow officers when the mayor reinstated him to the department and selected him in December 2006 to be a member of his handpicked Citizens Service Bureau. Money woes forced Williamson to disband the group in early 2008 and a few months later Dicks was named interim chief. Dicks gained national attention last summer when he announced that his officers would arrest anyone caught wearing saggy pants in the city. He backed down after the American Civil Liberties Union threatened to sue if he followed through on the plan. The ACLU locked horns with Dicks again last summer when he banned police union leaders from speaking to the media. Staff writers Joe Lawlor and Bryn Mickle contributed to this story. \|\|\|\|\| There is something missing for Flint voters this year: racial diversity. When voters carried Don Williamson and Dayne Walling to victory in Tuesday's primary election, they made history. For the first time since the city adopted a strong mayor form of government, both mayoral nominees are white. So no matter who wins come November, this majority black city will elect a white man to be in charge. It's an issue that frustrates some. A look back at Flint mayoral elections 1975: James Rutherford 20,679 Floyd J. McCree 20,474 1979: James Rutherford 20,738 Floyd J. McCree 12,902 1983: James A. Sharp Jr. 21,718 James Rutherford 20,467 1987: Matt Collier 22,874 James A. Sharp Jr. 19,509 1991: Woodrow Stanley 25,946 Matt Collier 17,686 1995: Woodrow Stanley 21,687 Don Williamson 9,168 1999: Woodrow Stanley 17,224 Scott Kincaid 16,393 2003: Don Williamson 13,906 Floyd Clack 9,228 Source: Flint city clerk's office "We will remain an oppressed people until we learn how to support our own and support a qualified African-American person," said Donna Poplar, co-chairwoman of Sisters United, a politically active group of black women. "We have too many sell-out black folks." That's not an objection to white politicians or leadership but frustration with a lack of teamwork and cooperation within the black community, Poplar said. Tuesday's race featured four black candidates who combined to win a majority of votes from predominantly black precincts and one-third of the vote citywide -- the same percentage won by Williamson, the top finisher. But the vote was divided among the candidates so that even in predominantly black neighborhoods, no candidate individually received more than Williamson, who also won strong support from blacks when he was elected in 2003. "It was definitely a matter of the votes being split," said Nancy Fisher, a General Motors retiree who is black and wished there were fewer candidates on the ballot. Fisher said she is willing to support a white candidate -- "color has nothing to do with the ability to do what you're going to do" -- but she will not follow blindly. "They have to prove themselves to me," she said. "Do you have my interests at hand? What are you going to do to make a difference?" While there might be a tendency to embrace Tuesday's vote as a step toward greater racial harmony, the actual numbers show race remains a powerful force in Flint's voting booths. More than 55 percent of the vote in predominantly black precincts went to one of the four black candidates on Tuesday's ballot. And 88 percent of the votes in predominantly white neighborhoods went to one of the three white candidates. Turnout was a record low for a mayoral primary in Flint as 16.2 percent of voters cast ballots, according to the city clerk's office. "We don't go out to voice our opinion where it counts the most," said Frances Gilcreast, president of the Flint NAACP chapter. According to the most recent U.S. census estimates, Flint's population is 55.8 percent black and 39.3 percent white. Predominantly black precincts accounted for almost 50 percent of the votes cast Tuesday. Votes from predominantly white precincts accounted for 41 percent. The other 9 percent came from racially mixed precincts. Flint remains one of the most racially segregated cities in the nation. In recent history, the City Council has chosen to elect a black president when the mayor is white and vice versa. The city's mayors traditionally have gone out of their way to appoint high-ranking administrators of different ethnicities. Gilcreast said it is important for the city's leaders to realize that all parts of the city must come together. "You've got to try to work with whoever is in that position," Gilcreast said. "If you leave our segment of the community out, there is nothing positive that is going to happen in Flint." \|\|\|\|\| Business Services Industry Brainerd Int'l Raceway Hosts Memorial Day Carnival and Drag Races News & Business Editors/Sports Writers TECUMSEH, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 2000 This year's Memorial Day Weekend, The Colonel's International Inc. (Nasdaq:COLO) held its first Memorial Day Weekend event at The Colonel's Brainerd International Raceway, in Brainerd, Minnesota. For the first time in its 31 year history, the raceway hosted the largest carnival in Minnesota featuring rides and a midway at its 800 acre facility in Brainerd. Carnival goers also attended Drag races held on the track throughout the weekend. Amateur drag racing is one of this country's most popular weekend sports. Tens of thousands of weekend drag racing enthusiasts are members of local clubs which hold regional competitions throughout racing season. The Colonel's BIR championship racecourse is known as the upper midwest's premier motorsports facility. Located in Brainerd, Minnesota, 120 miles north of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, facilities include a championship 3 mile race course, 1/4 mile drag strip, 30,000 grandstand seats, private corporate viewing suites, a hospitality area, concession arcades, private garages, electronic scoreboards, control tower, and nearly 550 acres of campgrounds. In addition to the carnival which is one of Minnesota's largest, this past weekend's four day event included all classes of bucket drag racing such as super comp, stock and super stock, brackets 1 through 3, bike levels 1 and 2 competitions, trophy and junior dragster races. Over 450 drag racers competed for prize money totaling more than $10,000. According to company Chairman, Donald J. Williamson, of The Colonel's International, "We are looking forward to a great success at the raceway this year. We just kicked off our drag racing season three weeks ago with an extremely popular season opener and are looking forward to another great season of events. This weekend was great fun for many families with the carnival and drag races, and we were pleased with a good turnout from all over the state. We are planning a lot of similar future weekends and anticipate becoming a frequent destination for more sports and entertainment events as we continue to develop our facility." The Colonel's International, Inc. is a holding company for The Colonel's Truck Accessories, Inc. (CTA), The Colonel's Rugged Liner, Inc. (CRL) and The Colonel's Brainerd International Raceway, Inc. (BIR). CTA manufactures approximately 47 different liners and also manufactures fiberglass tonneau covers for all makes and models of pickup trucks, as well as shells and caps. It currently purchases additional products, such as tool boxes, running boards, tires, wheels, mats, bug shields, visors, grill covers, light covers, trim pieces, running lights and racks for distribution through retail sales and distribution stores. CRL manufactures non-skid bedliners and bed mats, ground lowering kits and a sliding three-piece tonneau cover. Additionally, BIR operates the Brainerd International Raceway and provides spectator events, such as road and drag races, including races for sports cars, motorcycles and go-karts. For more information about the company and its divisions, see its web sites at www.colonelsintl.com; www.brainerdrace.com; www.groundforce.com; or www.ruggedliner.com The Private Securities Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this Press Release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made) contains statements that are forward looking, such as those relating to consummation of transactions, anticipated future revenues and/or success of current product offerings. Such forward looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ materially from those expressed in any forward looking statements. For further information, contact Lynne Perlmutter of The Consilium at 305-856-5668. \|\|\|\|\| System Message Unable to retrieve document The document you requested could not be retrieved. Please contact the site administrator to report this problem.	Citing health reasons, the Mayor of Flint, Michigan, Don Williamson announced Monday at an 11:20 A.M. news conference that he was resigning from office effective Sunday February 15, 2009 at midnight. Williamson, age 75, indicated that he had multiple sinus infections and kidney stones since November 1 and his doctors wanted him to slow down by reducing his schedule. Genesee County, Michigan (orange). A number of events has lead to speculation about Williamson's resignation. His interim Police Chief, David Dicks, has been charged with defrauding the United States government stemming from the Federal investigation into his father's security company, City Security, and its contract with Career Alliance in January. Further, a recall election was scheduled for February 24. The snap selection of Michael Brown to be the new Flint City Administrator and his current City Administrator Darryl Buchanan to the non-City Charter position of "deputy mayor" last week Wednesday. Last Thursday a press conference, originally announced to explain the switch in City Administrators and the position of "deputy mayor," was canceled. And finally, on Friday the Interim Police Chief David Forystek was replaced with a new Interim Police Chief, John Keahey. This returned Forystek to department's traffic bureau. Over the last weekend, Williamson denied the rumors. Buchanan was at the press conference while Brown did not attend. Williamson is a multi-millionaire. He is majority stockholder and chairman of the publicly traded The Colonel's International Inc. (Nasdaq:COLO). Williamson first stepped onto the political field by running for Mayor of Flint in 1991 but failed to get out the primary. In 1999 he lost to Woodrow Stanley in the general election. In 2003 election — the first full term election after the recall of Stanley — Williamson won the office of Mayor, while the city was still under state financial administration, succeeding Mayor James W. Rutherford into office. In 2007, Williamson won a narrow re-election over Dayne Walling. He was only drawing a US$1 per year salary. A number of problems have cropped up since then including budget deficits, layoffs, and proposed drag strip. Some leaders in the community that were surprised at his resignation. The ''Flint Journal'' quoted Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton as stating "I'm shocked." While County Sheriff Robert Pickell stated to the ''Journal'' that he was "absolutely shocked that the mayor resigned." Pickel added, that "with Darryl Buchanan working with Mr. Brown, it will be a good team." City Councilor, and Williamson opponent, Scott Kincaid is quoted by ABC 12 News as stating that this "was a super-fantastic day" for the city of Flint. City Councilor Jackie Poplar said "Hallelujah!" to ABC 12. According to the City Charter, Michael Brown as the Flint City Administrator will take over as Temporary Mayor, with no veto nor ability to remove mayorial appointees with out City Council approval. A primary will be scheduled for the May election date and the general election in August for a replacement mayor. The recall was based on charges that Williamson mishandled city funds and misstated the status of the city's finances. An additional recall charge according to recall supporters was he disregarded public safety by moving to eliminate 59 police officers and nine firefighters.
By MICHAEL RIEDEL Actress Natasha Richardson is brain dead - after falling in a ski accident in Canada - and is now on sad journey home to New York, friends told The Post today. Richardson, who was being treated at a Montreal hospital, is being transported to New York this afternoon so her mom Vanessa Redgrave, two children and other loved ones can say goodbye before she's taken off life-support, friends said. Redgrave was in London when the accident happened but arrived in New York today to see her gravely injured daughter, sources said. Liam Neeson, husband of the Broadway and screen star, left shooting of his movie in Toronto to rush to Richardson's side in Montreal and now on the trip home. The British-born Richardson, 45, fell during a private lesson at Mont Tremblant resort yesterday and allegedly told resort employees she felt fine. RIEDEL: RICHARDSON THE SHINING LIGHT OF BROADWAY MORE: HELMETS A BIG PART OF SAFETY ON SLOPES But an hour later, she complained of an extreme headache and was rushed to a nearby hospital. Richardson was on a beginner's slope and reportedly not wearing a helmet when she fell - although headgear is not required. "She did not show any visible sign of injury but the ski patrol followed strict procedures and brought her back to the bottom of the slope and insisted she should see a doctor," said a statement from the resort, which is almost 80 miles northwest of Montreal. "Approximately an hour after the incident Mrs. Richardson was not feeling good." Richardson was initially taken to the Centre Hospitalier Laurentien in Sainte Agathe and was later transferred to Hopital du Sacre-Coeur in Montreal. The actress - who is the elder daughter of Oscar-winner Vanessa Redgrave and late director Tony Richardson - comes from a long line of noted British players. Maternal grandparents Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, uncle and aunt Corin Redgrave and Lynn Redgrave are all actors. Sister Joely Richardson currently has a recurring role in the FX show "Nip/Tuck." Natasha Richardson was mostly recently on TV as a guest judge on the Bravo hit "Top Chef." She also appeared in the 1994 movie "Nell" alongside future husband Neeson. They were married a short time later and they have two sons. The elder son, Michael, 13, was with Richardson on the slopes, while the younger Daniel, 12, was here in New York when the accident happened, friends said. Richardson reached her Broadway peak in 1998, winning the Tony for playing Sally Bowles in "Cabaret." Richardson is close friends with her ex-husband Robert Fox and he's expected to be with her today. With Post Wire Services \|\|\|\|\| Sources close to Tony-award winning actress Natasha Richardson tell FOXNews.com that the 45-year-old actress is brain dead, and being transported back to New York City before she is to be taken off life support. Richardson's condition deteriorated following a skiing accident on Monday on a beginner's trail at the Mont Tremblant ski resort in Quebec, Canada. A spokeswoman for Montreal's Sacré-Coeur hospital, where Richardson was transferred after being sent initially to nearby Centre Hospitalier Laurentien in Ste-Agathe, said a family representative was expected to release a statement Wednesday. PHOTOS: Click for photos of Natasha Richardson. Richardson, who is married to actor Liam Neeson, was reported in serious condition with a head injury by multiple outlets early Tuesday. "We know that she has had an accident but we really do not know any more details," said Kika Markham, who is married to Richardson's uncle, Corin Redgrave. "We are very concerned." Neeson left the set of a movie he was filming in Toronto to be by his wife's side. "Liam Neeson left the Toronto set immediately to fly to Montreal upon news of his wife’s accident," a rep for his film said in a statement to Canadian TV. "We do not have any details at this time but we hope for the best and our thoughts and prayers are with Natasha and Liam and their family." Neeson's reps told FOXNews.com they had "no information at this time regarding this matter." Mont Tremblant said Richardson fell on a beginner's trail during a ski lesson and later reported not feeling well. She was not wearing a helmet, nor was one required, they said. "She did not show any visible sign of injury, but the ski patrol followed strict procedures and brought her back to the bottom of the slope and insisted she should see a doctor," said a statement from the resort. Mont Tremblant spokeswoman Catherine Lacasse said Richardson was getting a private lesson and that she said she was fine at first. "An hour later she said she didn't feel well. She had a headache, so we sent her to the hospital," Lacasse said. "There were no signs of impact and no blood, nothing." Richardson, is the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave and the late director Tony Richardson. She married Neeson in 1994 after they both appeared in the film "Nell." The couple have two sons. In January, Richardson and her mother played the roles of mother and daughter in a one-night benefit concert version of "A Little Night Music," in New York. The Associated Press contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| It's been a minute!Sorry we've slacked recently; it's actually been super busy over here in X17 world! We're focused on our YouTube channel which is growing by the day -- you need to check it out if you haven't already.And we're working on something REALLY BIG ... a new web site! We're going to unleash the BEAST that everyone's been waiting for for years ... we're going to offer you our ENTIRE archive, at your fingertips!Here's what that means: What you see on X17online is a selection of our photos and videos since 2006 but we've got stuff dating back to 1995 and there's a ton of stuff you've never seen, old and new. With our new site, you'll be able to see every single photo and video in our archive -- that's more than 4 MILLION PHOTOS and more than 50,000 VIDEOS! AND! AND! You'll be able to license any of it for your own blog, vlog, Insta, Snap, whatever.So when we say stay tuned, we mean keep it right here, dialed into this channel and pay attention 'cause it's gonna hit right around the new year. We want 2021 to be WAY better than 2020 and this is just our little way of pitching in :) \|\|\|\|\| Actress Natasha Richardson arrives with her husband, Liam Neeson, to present an award at the Conde Nast Traveler's annual readers choice award show in New York on Oct. 16, 2006. Richardson, a member of Britain's Redgrave theatrical dynasty, was critically injured while skiing at a resort near Montreal on Monday. Photograph by: Lucas Jackson, Reuters files NEW YORK — Family and friends gathered Wednesday at a Manhattan hospital to say "goodbye" to actress Natasha Richardson, a star of one of Britain's most prominent acting families, who suffered an apparently fatal head injury in a skiing accident in Quebec. Richardson's actor husband, Liam Neeson, was at her bedside after accompanying her on the flight from Canada Tuesday, as was her mother, legendary actress Vanessa Redgrave. Among grief-struck visitors was actress Lauren Bacall, who attended the couple's 1994 wedding at their white clapboard farmhouse in rural Millbrook, 140 kilometres north of New York City. Actress Meryl Streep and author Joan Didion also dropped by. "There is no chance," a family friend told People magazine. "It is a fact that her heart is beating, but she is brain-dead." New York celebrity columnist Liz Smith said later Wednesday that doctors had taken Richardson off life support, city media reported. The Tony Award-winning actress suffered what appeared to be a minor fall during a private skiing lesson Monday on a meandering beginner's trail at Mont Tremblant, Que. But she later developed a severe headache. Neurosurgeons say that the circumstances of her head injury suggest that she should have sought medical attention right away. "There is a percentage of people who seem to have a relatively trivial injury but they will end up really deteriorating, even becoming comatose and some even will die," said Judith Marcoux, a neurosurgeon at the Montreal General Hospital. "It is treatable, but the sooner the better. We know that when patients are operated on very early — when they are still conscious — they tend to do extremely well. But when they are already deeply comatose, their outcome is much less guaranteed." Without knowing the exact circumstances of Richardson's injury, experts suggested to the Montreal Gazette that she probably suffered from an epidural hematoma. This happens when blood gathers between the dura mater — the tough outer membrane of the brain — and the skull, placing the brain under increasing pressure. "The brain is soft and it's protected inside of the skull," Marcoux explained. "If we bleed in the abdomen, we can bleed a litre and it won't compress the gut. But if you bleed inside of our head, the skull is not expandable." Alain Ptito, an associate professor of neurosurgery at McGill University, said a brain injury can be complicated by a pre-existing condition. If a patient is on blood-thinning medication, the risk of a brain hemorrhage is much greater. Other possibilities are that Richardson sustained a subdural hematoma — a bleeding within the dura mater, or that she twisted the vertebral artery in her neck, momentarily depriving her brain of oxygen. Neeson, who had been on a film shoot in Toronto, rushed to join her as she was hospitalized in Montreal's Hopital du Sacre-Coeur. It was there, friends have said, that doctors told Neeson there was little hope she would regain brain function. It is believed the subsequent flight back to New York, where the couple has an apartment in Manhattan's Upper West Side, was made largely for the benefit of Neeson and Richardson's boys, Daniel, 12, and Michael, 13. The youngsters spent much of Wednesday at the family apartment, but the night before had visited their mother at her bedside in Manhattan's Lenox Hill hospital. Michael arrived at about 8:45 p.m. with his maternal grandmother, who also lives in New York. Vanessa Redgrave arrived wearing a grey head scarf, and walked with a cane. Daniel arrived about an hour later, accompanied by his mother's aunt, actress Lynn Redgrave, and her sister Joely Richardson, 44, a TV actress who currently stars in Nip/Tuck. The entire group, except Neeson and Vanessa Redgrave left the hospital at about midnight, exiting through a frosted glass-panelled door that prevented the throng of photographers on the pavement outside from snapping their approach. The family split time between their Manhattan apartment and the farm in Millbrook, near to where Neeson suffered a broken pelvis nine years ago when he collided with a deer while riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Radio show host Howard Stern and TV talk king Regis Philbin were among Neeson and Richardson's celebrity neighbours who expressed shock at how a simple skiing accident could have such tragic consequences. Another neighbour, real-estate broker Adrienne Cleere, turned up at the hospital where she recalled meeting the couple at charity events. She said she found them "family-oriented and caring, as opposed to most celebrities." Richardson, whose late father was Oscar-winning director Tony Richardson, won her Tony in 1998 for playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret. Her performance propelled her to international stardom in her own right. She also met Neeson on Broadway when they starred together in Anna Christie. Richardson became known by many younger moviegoers for her role as Lindsay Lohan's mother in the 1998 remake of Disney's The parent Trap. She was a recent guest judge in the Bravo TV show Top Chef, and was also preparing to co-star with her mother in a Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music. © Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun \|\|\|\|\| Photo: PA Richardson, who hails from the Redgrave acting dynasty, fell on a beginner's slope during a private lesson on Monday afternoon. She initially appearing unhurt but an hour after the fall had to be taken to a local hospital after complaining of feeling unwell. She was later transferred to a hospital 75 miles away in Montreal where she was admitted to intensive care. Her husband, the actor Liam Neeson, 56, immediately left filming in Toronto to be at his wife's bedside. Her mother, Vanessa Redgrave, 72, who was believed to have been in America, was also understood to be flying to Canada. Richardson, 45, a novice skier, was on holiday in Canada, where her husband was filming his latest film, "Chloe", and staying at the popular Mont Tremblant resort. Catherine Lacasse, from the Mont Tremblant ski station, told The Daily Telegraph that Richardson was enjoying a private lesson with her ski instructor when she fell but did not appear to seriously injure herself. She was skiing on the middle of the track and there were no obstacles for her to collide with. She said: "The instructor called the ski patrol from the ski station and they came to see her. "She was talking and making jokes and there was no sign of any apparent injury. She said she was okay and didn't want to go to hospital or see a doctor. "She wanted to go back to her room - she walked back - and the ski instructor went with her and stayed with her all the time. "About an hour later she said she was not feeling that good after all. She said she had a headache. "They agreed to dial 911 and an ambulance came to take her away. "When she left the resort she appeared fine. There was no blood or sign of impact." Richardson was taken to the Centre Hospitalier Laurentien, close to the resort, at around 4pm local time. An hour later, as her condition deteriorated, she was transferred 75 miles south to the Sacre Coeur hospital in Montreal. Corin Redgrave, her uncle, said: "I have heard this morning from a family representative about Natasha's accident and am very saddened." His wife, Kika Markham, 65, added: "We don't know what is happening. All we can do is just wait for news. We haven't heard anything new since this morning. "We keep waiting, but there has been no update. All we know is that Natasha is in intensive care." A spokesman said they had been asked by the family not to release any information. Richardson's agents in London and Los Angeles said they were making no comment. Richardson, who starred in films such as The Parent Trap and Maid in Manhattan, is best known for her stage work. She had been tipped to perform on Broadway with her mother next year in Stephen Sondheim's musical "A Little Light Music" after the pair brought the house down in a recent one-off charity performance. Neeson and Richardson, who have been married since 1994, have two sons, Michael, 13, and Daniel, 12. Set in the heart of a 943 square mile national park, Mont Tremblant is the region's most popular ski resort. It is the highest peak in the Laurantian mountains and offers 600 acres of skiing. \|\|\|\|\| TheSpec.com - BreakingNews - Injured actress has flown to U.S., Quebec hospital reports Injured actress has flown to U.S., Quebec hospital reports Associated Press file photo In an Oct. 17, 2008 file photo actors Liam Neeson, right, and partner Natasha Richardson arrive for the Times BFI London Film Festival in London. Published reports say actress Richardson is in critical condition after a skiing accident in Quebec yesterday. Associated Press file photo In an Oct. 17, 2008 file photo actors Liam Neeson, right, and partner Natasha Richardson arrive for the Times BFI London Film Festival in London. Published reports say actress Richardson is in critical condition after a skiing accident in Quebec yesterday. Associated Press file photo In an Oct. 17, 2008 file photo actors Liam Neeson, right, a ... In an Oct. 17, 2008 file photo actors Liam Neeson, right, a ... Associated Press file photo In an Oct. 17, 2008 file photo actors Liam Neeson, right, and partner Natasha Richardson arrive for the Times BFI London Film Festival in London. Published reports say actress Richardson is in critical condition after a skiing accident in Quebec yesterday. Took tumble on Tremblant ski hill March 17, 2009 Tobi Cohen The Canadian Press MONTREAL — Actress Natasha Richardson was quietly spirited away from a Montreal hospital this afternoon as speculation raged about the seriousness of her condition after a fall at the posh Mont Tremblant ski resort. One day after Richardson took a tumble that a resort spokesperson said looked harmless enough, media reports varied widely about her condition — with some saying she was brain dead. Both the New York Post and FOXNews.com said Richardson was brain dead and had been transported to New York City to be taken off life-support. Other Hollywood “insider” websites suggested the 45-year-old actress had swelling of the brain. Josée-Michelle Simard, a spokeswoman for Sacré-Coeur Hospital in Montreal, confirmed this afternoon the celebrity had been a patient but that she left around 12:30 p.m. and was headed out of the country. Mont Tremblant spokeswoman Lyne Lortie said Richardson was conscious and showed no signs of a serious head injury after she fell on a beginner run around noon Monday while in the company of an experienced instructor. Lortie said the Tony-award-winning actress was in the middle of the private lesson at the resort north of Montreal when she suffered what appeared to be a relatively unspectacular fall. While Richardson seemed fine, the ski patrol wanted to take a closer look so she was taken to the bottom of the hill by sled, Lortie said. “She showed really no visible sign of injury and she was talking and showed absolutely no sign of confusion,” she said. “It was right in the middle of the slope so she didn’t hit anyone or a tree. It was a fall as anyone can do. It wasn’t a violent fall at all.” A family member confirmed Richardson had a skiing accident but the extent of her injuries was unclear. “We know that she has had an accident but we really do not know any more details,” said Kika Markham, who is married to Richardson’s uncle, Corin Redgrave. “We are very concerned.” Lortie said the ski patrol wanted Richardson to see a doctor but she insisted on returning to her room at Mont Tremblant’s Hotel Quintessence. The ski patrol and instructor stayed with her for about an hour after which she began complaining of a headache and not feeling well. Lortie said they immediately called an ambulance and she was taken to the Centre Hospitalier Laurentian near Mont Tremblant before being transferred to Sacré-Coeur. The Canadian Press was told initially on Monday that someone with the same name as Richardson had been admitted to Sacré-Coeur’s intensive care unit, but employees said later in the day they had no records of someone with that name at the hospital. Simard of Sacré-Coeur said the family was to release a statement on Wednesday. Richardson is married to actor Liam Neeson and is the daughter of famous British actress Vanessa Redgrave. Neeson was reportedly in Toronto at the time of Richardson’s accident filming the movie “Chloe” with Julianne Moore. Producers confirmed that Neeson immediately left the Toronto set upon news of his wife’s accident. Richardson comes from a long line of successful actors. She was born in London to Redgrave and the late British director Tony Richardson. Her maternal grandparents were Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson and her uncle Corin and aunt Lynn Redgrave are also both actors. Sister Joely Richardson is also an actress, best known for starring in the TV series “Nip/Tuck.” Richardson trained at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama which initially led to a career in regional theatre, then later to film and television roles. Richardson won a Tony award in 1998 for her turn in “Cabaret.” Film credits include “The Parent Trap,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Evening,” “Gothic,” “A Month in the Country” and “Nell” in which she appeared with Neeson. In January, Richardson and her mother played the roles of mother and daughter in a one-night benefit concert version of ”A Little Night Music,” the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical, at Studio 54 in New York. Richardson has been married to “Schindler’s List” star Neeson since 1994. The couple have two sons. \|\|\|\|\| ASSOCIATED PRESS MONTREAL - British actress Natasha Richardson is in critical condition in a Montreal hospital after being severely injured in a skiing accident in Quebec, according to published reports. People.com and IrishCentral.com reported that the Tony award-winning actress and wife of Liam Neeson suffered a head injury Monday and is in a Montreal hospital. People.com said Richardson was initially taken to a hospital near the luxury Mont Tremblant ski resort in Quebec, and was later transferred to the Montreal hospital. A family member confirmed Richardson had had a skiing accident. "We know that she has had an accident but we really do not know any more details," said Kika Markham, who is married to Richardson's uncle, Corin Redgrave. "We are very concerned." Richardson, 45, is the elder daughter of Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave and the late director Tony Richardson, and belongs to a British acting dynasty. Her maternal grandparents were the actors Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, and her uncle Corin and aunt Lynne Redgrave are also both actors. Sister Joely Richardson is also an actress, best known for starring in TV series "Nip/Tuck." Richardson's films include "Gothic," ''A Month in the Country," "Nell" - in which she appeared with future husband Liam Neeson - "The Parent Trap" and "Maid in Manhattan." Trained at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, Richardson has had extensive stage experience in the West End and Broadway. She won a Tony Award in 1998 for playing Sally Bowles in "Cabaret." In January, Richardson and her mother played the roles of mother and daughter in a one-night benefit concert version of "A Little Night Music," the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical, at the Nokia Theatre Times Square in New York. She married Neeson in 1994, and the couple has two sons.	Richardson at the UK premiere of ''The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian''. According to conflicting reports, British actress Natasha Richardson is brain dead following a severe head injury from a skiing accident on Monday. The New York Post reported that friends of Richardson said she "was brain dead", after earlier reporting that she was "dead". They later issued a correction which said she was brain dead. Other media reports say that her brain is severely swollen. Fox News Channel also reports Richardson as brain dead. Richardson was transported by plane from Sacré-Coeur Hospital in Montreal, Canada to a care facility in New York City in the United States. She remains in very critical condition and reports say she is not likely to survive. Once in the U.S., she will be taken off life support. Richardson, 45, was taking a private skiing lesson in Mont-Tremblant in Quebec when reports say she fell, hitting her head. Despite the fall, witnesses say she did not appear to have been seriously injured. An hour after the fall and after she returned to her hotel room, Richardson began to feel ill and was taken to a local hospital. She was later transported to Sacré-Coeur Hospital. "She was talking and making jokes and there was no sign of any apparent injury. She said she was okay and didn't want to go to hospital or see a doctor. About an hour later she said she was not feeling that good after all. She said she had a headache. They agreed to dial 911 and an ambulance came to take her away," Mont-Tremblant resort ski station spokeswoman Catherine Lacasse to The Daily Telegraph. Richardson's husband, actor Liam Neeson, has left Toronto where he was filming a movie and will be with Natasha when she arrives in the U.S.. He was acting in the movie 'Chloe', which was being filmed in the area. Both were staying at the resort in Mont-Tremblant. The couple have two children who were also staying with them, Daniel Jack age 12 and Micheal Richard Antonio age 13. They are said to have been skiing with their mother when she fell. "Liam Neeson left the Toronto set immediately to fly to Montreal upon news of his wife’s accident. We do not have any details at this time, but we hope for the best and our thoughts and prayers are with Natasha and Liam and their family," said spokespeople for Neeson in a statement to the press. Richardson's family and spokespeople are expected to issue a statement sometime after she arrives in New York City.
The six-nation talks with North Korea, stalled for more than a year, are expected to at an as yet unspecified date, probably in the Chinese capital. The chief US envoy dealing with North Korea is in Beijing for talks with regional allies on a framework for renewed dialogue over the North's nuclear weapons programme. North Korea pulled out of the talks last year after the US-imposed financial sanctions on its companies and senior officials. On Tuesday Kim Kye Gwan, the top North Korean envoy to the talks, flew into Beijing to finalise procedures during what is likely to be a delicate diplomatic process. In October, in defiance of international pressure, North Korea went ahead with its first nuclear weapon test saying it had effectively been forced into a corner by the US. Days later however, it announced that it was prepared to revive the six-party talks on its nuclear programme. There has been speculation that the apparent about face was the result of massive pressure from China, a key donor to North Korea and the closest thing it has to an ally. On Monday Chun Yung-woo, the South Korean envoy to the meetings, told reporters that ensuring the right procedures for the talks was more important than determining when to restart negotiations. "We will mainly focus on the procedure of the talks as it is essential to accomplish substantial progress rather than talking just for the sake of talking," he said. Talks 'any time' For his part Kim Kye Gwan, the North Korean envoy, said the timing of the next round of talks would depend on the United States. "I said on October 31 that we can enter the talks at any time," he said shortly after his arrival in Beijing, "I said that because we can do that from a dignified position as we have taken defensive measures through our nuclear test to counter sanctions and pressure against us." Kim's arrival in the Chinese capital has raised speculation that he may hold an informal meeting with Christopher Hill, the chief US envoy to the talks. On Monday the US State Department said a meeting between Kim and Hill was "an open possibility". Hill himself has said he is optimistic about the outcome of the current dialogue. \|\|\|\|\| Mr Kim says North Korea and the US must narrow their differences The envoys of all the other parties to the talks except Russia are also in the Chinese capital for the meetings. North Korea's envoy Kim Kye-gwan said his country was ready for talks, which he said would be on an "equal level" following its 9 October nuclear test. US envoy Christopher Hill said he expects talks to restart "very soon". Mr Hill met Kim Kye-gwan earlier on Tuesday. Both men are also meeting separately with diplomats from South Korea, Japan and China. Beijing hopes the "relevant parties can have an in-depth exchange of ideas in order to promote the early resumption of talks," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said. 'Defensive measures' Mr Kim, upon arrival in Beijing, said North Korea was ready to start talks at "any time". "We have taken defensive measures against sanctions imposed on us, through the nuclear experiment," he told reporters. "As we have attained that position, we can now have discussions on an equal level." But Mr Kim admitted there were differences with the US that still needed to be narrowed. Mr Hill told reporters when he arrived in Beijing on Monday that he expected the multi-party talks to "get going at some point very soon". North Korea's nuclear test on 9 October triggered international alarm and condemnation, and prompted the UN to impose financial and arms sanctions. But at the end of last month, Pyongyang agreed to restart six-party talks at an informal meeting between Mr Hill and Mr Kim in Beijing. The talks - which are ultimately aimed at halting North Korea's nuclear ambitions - stalled a year ago after Pyongyang pulled out in protest at US financial sanctions imposed upon it. While the resumption of talks has been welcomed by all parties to the talks, Japan warned at the time that they were conditional on North Korea giving up its nuclear weapons.	Graphic from the showing seismic activity at the time of the test The envoys of the United States, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea have reached Beijing. They will hold a meeting to negotiate over the North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. The US State Department has said that a meeting between Christopher Hill, US negotiator, and DPRK's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan was an “open possibility”. The top North Korean envoy, , had indicated that the initiative for negotiations should be taken by the United States and that the DPRK was ready to negotiate at any time. He said that DPTK was in a “dignified position” as it had demonstrated through its nuclear test that it could defend itself against sanctions and other pressures. Any meetings between the envoys will be informal and, according to the Chun Yung-woo the South Korean envoy, will concentrate on preparing the ground for negotiations and will not address the issues directly. Christopher Hill said "The issue for us is to make sure we are extremely well-planned and ready for the six-party talks, which we do anticipate will get going at some point very soon," The negotiations are expected to discuss such matters as US economic sanctions against DRPK, the recent underground nuclear test in North Korea and the development of long range ballistic missiles by the DPRK.
More bombs, explosives, detonators turn up in and around shaken Beirut Incidents follow discovery of unarmed device earlier this week By Nour Samaha and Mira Borji Friday, February 23, 2007 \|\|\|\|\| Lebanese police find small amount of abandoned explosives on Beirut street, 2nd this week BEIRUT, Lebanon: Police found abandoned explosives and detonators on a Beirut street Thursday, the second such discovery this week, sowing fear in a public still recovering from the recent bombings of two commuter buses and street clashes. The explosives — 19 sticks of TNT, weighing a total of about eight kilograms (about 18 pounds) — were contained in a wooden box abandoned next to a streetside garbage container in Ashrafieh, the Christian sector of the Lebanese capital, police said. Police were called in and traffic was blocked as sappers examined the box. A search of the area uncovered another box about 100 meters (yards) away containing 13 detonators, police added. It was the second time explosives were found in the city since Monday, when a two kilogram- (4.4 pound-) bomb was found concealed inside a used car tire in south Beirut, a stronghold of the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah group. The finds stoked fears gripping residents of the Lebanese capital and its vicinity after bombings earlier this month and street clashes in January amid the months' long political standoff between the government and opposition. On Feb. 13, two bombs exploded minutes apart exploded on a busy commuter mountain road in the Christian heartland northeast of Beirut, killing three passengers and injuring 20 others. Beirut has been hit by a series of mysterious bombs in the last two years. The biggest was a suicide truck bombing that killed former premier Rafik Hariri in February 2005. Besides, an opposition campaign since December to oust the government turned violent in January, with street clashes and rioting. Eight people were killed. sfg-wnt	Map showing Beirut. In Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, the Internal Security Forces (ISF) found bomb-making equipment in three separate caches on Thursday, two days after a bomb was discovered in Beirut. This had stroke fears among many Lebanese who were still dramatized by recent bus bombings and street clashes. A wooden box, armed with nineteen TNT sticks, was found in Beirut's Christian neighborhood, Achrafieh, by a scrap collector. The box was found in a dumpster on Hikmeh Avenue leading to Corniche al-Nahr, facing the Murr Television Station and the Mont Liban Radio building. The box of TNT sticks was found approximately at 8:30 a.m. The police immediately rushed to the scene and cut off the city from the public to disarm the bomb. Half an hour later, employees of Lebanon's privatized waste management company, Sukleen, found an aluminum box packed with thirteen detonators. The box was found about 200 meters away from the wooden one. By the end of the day, bombs were found on the road leading to the Kesrouan village of Ghbaleh, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. However, NNA stated that the bombs were not meant to explode. ISF's investigation was immediately conducted.
England coach Steve McClaren says his side must deliver England v Croatia Wembley, London Wednesday 21 November Kick-off: 2000 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC One & BBC Radio 5 Live (commentary on BBC Sport website for UK users only); Coverage on on BBC Sport website Steve McClaren admits England are under pressure to prove they deserve to reach Euro 2008 in Wednesday's decisive qualifier with Croatia at Wembley. England need a point to secure their place in next summer's tournament. And coach McClaren said: "There is great spirit and strength in the squad, and a steely resolve and determination, but there can be no excuses. "The players have got to go out there and prove they deserve to reach Euro 2008. It is not done and dusted." McClaren admitted he had endured tough times in his first 12 months in charge, but said: "I am thrilled to be in this position. "We know we have got to finish things off, but we are in a far better position now that we have things in our own hands than we were a week ago. 606: DEBATE England were gifted a qualification lifeline when Israel beat Russia 2-1 on Saturday - had Russia won, England would have been all but out of next summer's tournament. The players were handed another psychological boost on Tuesday when the injured captain John Terry trained with the rest of the squad. But Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard confirmed that he would stand in as captain because Terry was not fit enough to play. Striker Peter Crouch said he was willing to shoulder the burden of being England's main goal threat in the key Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia should that be McClaren's decision. The coach told a news conference that he had picked his team, but would not tell the players until 1830 on Tuesday evening. The team will be made public on Wednesday. I have done the lone striker role for Liverpool and for England before so it would be nothing new Peter Crouch The 26-year-old Liverpool forward said: "I've played enough games for England now to be able to accept the responsibility. "It's a massive game, but if selected I believe I can do the business." He added: "I have done the lone striker role for Liverpool and for England before so it would be nothing new. "We have got enough attacking players in the rest of the team who can join up with me and I can't see it being a problem. "In David Beckham and the others we have quality and creativity, and I know if I get in the right positions they'll find me." England were handed a lifeline on Saturday by Israel's surprise 2-1 over Russia, a result that puts Steve McClaren's side in the driving seat to reach the finals in Austria and Switzerland next summer. Crouch believes England will not waste the opportunity to qualify and says they will benefit from having such a tough time in qualification. "It was out of our hands for a little bit and we do not want that to happen again," said Crouch. "We have to stand up and be counted now, it's in our hands and when we do qualify, we know we can have a great tournament. "I wouldn't say we have been shocked, but we're maybe a bit wounded from some results we've had and I think we are capable of a lot more. "I'm sure we will come good in the tournament next summer and we can all look forward to that if we get the job done on Wednesday." \|\|\|\|\| Analysis The mayor is dependent on the central government for most of their funds, so how much power do they really have? \|\|\|\|\| THE FA Steve McClaren was in charge of the England senior team for 18 games. READ ALOUD FA statement 22 November 2007 VIDEO: FA Press Conference The FA confirm that the contract of Steve McClaren will be terminated with immediate effect. At a meeting this morning, The FA Board unanimously decided to terminate the contract of England Head Coach Steve McClaren with immediate effect. The Board also terminated the contract of Assistant Coach Terry Venables. The Board have agreed that there will now be a full root and branch examination of the whole England senior team set-up, which will begin with immediate effect. This will be led by Brian Barwick reporting into the Chairman, who will update the Board. Chief Executive Brian Barwick has been given authority to identify the new Head Coach and to report back to the Board with his recommendation. There is no definitive timeframe for the recruitment of the new Coach. FA Chairman Geoff Thompson said, "Like every England fan, we are all bitterly disappointed that we have failed to qualify for Euro 2008, and I know Steve feels that disappointment more than anyone. "Of course we have no divine right to play in major tournaments, but it is quite right that qualification is expected. "I would like to thank Steve for the work he has done since taking on the position last summer. His commitment to the job could not be questioned and I wish him the best for the future. "The recruitment process for the new Coach begins now and we will do everything to get the right man for the job." SEARCH SEARCH GO \| powered by \|\|\|\|\| English defeat would add up to £1bn loss By David Bond Last Updated: 12:52am GMT 21/11/2007 Have your say Read comments England's players can be in no doubt by now about the consequences of failure against Croatia at Wembley tonight. But for the British economy the impact could be even more disastrous - costing £1 billion, to be precise. While most of England manager Steve McClaren's squad are well cushioned from the credit crunch, with reports suggesting that the average Premier League player's salary is now more than £1 million a year, defeat would add to the pervading sense of economic gloom. Figures from past tournaments demonstrate the economic boost that accompanies England's presence in World Cups and European Championships. According to one study, by the Centre for Economic and Business Research, based on an examination of the impact of the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2004, the effect of non-qualification could be as much as £1 billion. The report predicted England's failure to reach Euro 2008 would lead to a dramatic drop in advertising revenue for television companies, along with a sharp fall in income for betting companies and supermarkets. advertisement Around £300 million was spent on advertising during last summer's World Cup in Germany. Beer sales would also go flat - the last thing the brewing industry needs after it emerged yesterday that their profits had tumbled by 78 per cent between 2004 and 2006. The CEBR suggested that a successful tournament for England would contribute to a boost of more than £285 million for pubs, clubs and off-licences. However, the Football Association insist that the immediate financial impact of failure tonight is manageable. Having announced that they had secured a £425 million deal for their domestic television rights with ITV and Setanta between 2008 and 2012, they recently added another £150 million for their overseas television rights. They also have a £100 million sponsorship programme with partners such as Nationwide, Umbro, Carlsberg, E.on and McDonald's which is not affected by non-qualification for major tournaments. The FA estimate that they will miss out on around £10 million in income from selling licensing and merchandising rights for the duration of next summer's tournament. But the longer-term impact on the image and marketability of the English game may suffer. Having negotiated a £2.7 billion TV rights deal, the Premier League are enjoying an unprecedented boom at present. With almost half of the competition's teams under foreign ownership, there can be no doubting the league's international appeal. Yesterday, Keith Harris, chairman of the investment bank Seymour Pierce, who advised Randy Lerner and Thaksin Shinawatra on their recent takeovers at Aston Villa and Manchester City, respectively, warned that the influx of overseas owners was not about to stop. He added that it was a trend which should not be feared by English football fans. "Are the foreigners coming to rape, pillage and take a quick turn before returning with their booty to their overseas base?" Harris asked. "The reality is a long way from this fantasy view". Will foreign businessmen stop investing in the game because England miss out on Euro 2008? Unlikely. However, according to one football marketing expert, the feel-good factor for English football associated with a winning national team is good for the whole of the sport in this country. Alex Fynn, the former Saatchi and Saatchi executive who was instrumental in the foundation of the Premier League, argued: "The knock-on for the whole game is very significant. "Maybe not as much as in the past, because the Premier League is so strong, but there's no doubt it can have a damaging effect for the whole of English football's economy." Have your say Post this story to: del.icio.us \| Digg \| Newsvine \| NowPublic \| Reddit Comments Didn't you submit exactly the same article a few weeks ago? In fact, this is the 3rd article on the subject in a couple of months. Come on Telegraph, sort it out. Posted by Puma King on November 21, 2007 12:50 PM Report this comment I have to agree with you Dan. Where did these figures come from? Does a drop in spending in supermarkets and on beer really equate to money lost from the UK economy? Surely that money would be spent elsewhere, and as Dan notes, possibly on more meaningful pursuits. Next time the Telegraph starts throwing around some headline grabbing numbers, i suggest it backs them up with some solid research and statistics. Posted by SteelyAdam on November 21, 2007 8:49 AM Report this comment Less football-related television advertising and a drop in beer consumption? HaHaHaHa!! You make that sound like a bad thing! Somehow, I get the sense that these economic numbers are being generated by some panicky football alarmist. What would the alternative be? A fitter, quieter, better-dressed England? There's a lot of people who could work with that. Posted by Dan Hamilton on November 21, 2007 6:28 AM Report this comment Post a comment Please remember that the submission of any material to telegraph.co.uk is governed by our Terms and Conditions (clause 5 in particular) and by submitting material you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions. Your name: * Your email address: * (We won't publish this.) Your site's URL: (If you have one.) Please click the post button only once - your comment will not be published immediately. * = Required information	England did win this October 13, 2007 match versus Estonia, 3-0 at Wembley Stadium. Steve McClaren and his deputy Terry Venables have both been sacked by the English Football Association after a unanimous decision by board members during an emergency meeting held earlier today. The decision was announced by the FA chief executive Brian Barwick in a press conference held this morning after widespread speculation due to the poor performance of the English national team which last night failed to qualify for the UEFA Euro 2008 competition. The cost of removing him from his post is thought to cost £2.6 million. According to a study by the Centre for Economic and Business Research, missing out on Euro 2008 could cost the British economy as much as £1 billion. The recruiting process has already started to find the next manager for the team, only 18 months after 46-year-old McClaren was given the role. During the press conference the FA admitted that not qualifying for the competition was "embarrassing".
Voters in Groom will cast their ballots in a federal by-election this Saturday — but in the conservative heartland, the result is all but a foregone conclusion. Key points: The federal seat of Groom in southern Queensland has only ever been held by the Liberals, Nationals or LNP The federal seat of Groom in southern Queensland has only ever been held by the Liberals, Nationals or LNP Locals will vote for their new MP at a by-election this Saturday, after John McVeigh resigned in September Locals will vote for their new MP at a by-election this Saturday, after John McVeigh resigned in September The LNP won 70.5 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote at the 2019 election and is expected to win the by-election Based in a rich agricultural district on Queensland's Darling Downs, Groom has been in Liberal, National and LNP hands since it was gazetted in 1984. Toowoomba local Stewart Dorman describes the region as "ultra conservative". "I joke that a two-headed fish would win in Groom as long as it was LNP," he said. As a former taxi driver, Mr Dorman has had thousands of political conversations with fellow Groom voters while driving around the Garden City over the years. Toowoomba is the largest population centre in the seat of Groom. ( ABC Southern Qld: Nathan Morris ) "They're pretty rusted-on — 'that's the way dad voted and that's the way grandad voted'," Mr Dorman said. Polls and previous elections point to a comfortable win for the LNP's Garth Hamilton, who unexpectedly won pre-selection despite the Prime Minister and business leaders calling for a strong female candidate. One local LNP member, who did not wish to be named, told the ABC the decision to pre-select Mr Hamilton almost prompted her to vote Labor as she was concerned the party wasn't moving with the times. But, with the LNP winning more than 70 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote in the 2019 election, those concerns seem unlikely to change its fortunes. How do voters feel? Michelle says she plans to vote LNP as the candidate has been "out and about". ( ABC Southern Qld: Nathan Morris ) On a weekday lunchtime in Toowoomba's main street, the ABC canvassed voters' views on living in such a safe seat. Op shop manager Michelle, aged in her 50s, said she had "no interest" in politics and was only voting in the by-election because it was mandatory. "At this stage nothing's changing," she said. Michelle planned to vote for the LNP's Garth Hamilton, the only candidate who had visited her shop. Stewart Dorman says Groom voters are "pretty rusted-on!" ( ABC Southern Queensland: Peter Gunders ) "He's been out and he's been about," she said. Teresa, who's in her 60s, was left-leaning but still followed local politics closely, despite knowing her preferred party was unlikely to win. "I'm just ever hopeful that there might be a change," she said. Teresa believes the LNP has become "too comfortable" in the seat and wishes more independents would run. "I just think they would represent actually the Toowoomba area rather than toe the line with the party politics," she said. No pork-barrelling in a safe seat Professor of Government and Economics at the University of Southern Queensland, Geoff Cockfield, said Groom was one of the few "true safe seats" left in Australia, with most areas experiencing significant demographic change, along with highly volatile voting. "It matters in things like the attention the seat gets at election time," he said. "You miss out on the pork-barrelling — new sports stadiums, parks, change rooms, all those visible things that are promised. "And while you won't necessarily miss out on big infrastructure projects [in a safe seat], you go to the back of the queue. Rachel Barron says she "always votes for the underdog". ( ABC Southern Qld: Nathan Morris ) "If Groom was more marginal, the second Toowoomba range crossing would have come sooner." While Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Ruhl wouldn't be drawn in to the discussion on pork-barrelling, he did say a safe seat provided an "air of stability". "It does help when the government is in power," he said. "[But] history shows us that if you're in a marginal seat — potentially, but not always — you get a chance to ask for those big projects that are great for small business." LNP candidate Garth Hamilton, a mining engineer, said he wasn't taking his party's popularity for granted. "I'd be a strong voice within the Morrison Government," he said. "I've got a great example set by [former MPs] Ian MacFarlane and John McVeigh in getting things done for Groom and I'll work hard to continue to do that." The ALP's candidate in the 2020 by-election is Chris Meibusch, who has run unsuccessfully for the seat twice before. Veterinarian Sandra Jephcott, for the Sustainable Australia Party, and vape shop owner Craig Farquharson, for the Liberal Democrats, are also running. 'Underdog' voters not disheartened Back on the streets, Toowoomba resident Matthew Baldwin said he had noticed the younger generation was far more politically engaged than his peers in their 30s. Toowoomba's Matthew Baldwin says people in their 20s seem more politically minded than his peers in their 30s. ( ABC Southern Qld: Nathan Morris ) "I would probably not vote for the LNP myself, so the fact that it's so safe doesn't reflect on how I'm going to vote," he said. "It doesn't dishearten me that it's this way. "You're always going to have your opinion and your vote and it might not be the one that gets in. But as time goes on, possibly it could happen." Young mum Rachel Barron, from Cambooya, said she took pride in voting "for the underdog". "I'd like to shake things up a bit more," she said. "I don't know if I could make a difference ... against [the LNP's] 70 per cent but I guess it all starts with one person at a time." \|\|\|\|\| The campaign hasn’t exactly been a barbecue stopper, but we’re two days out from the significant event of a federal by-election. This is to be held in Groom, which is centred upon Toowoomba in Queensland’s Darling Downs region, and will result in the election of a replacement for John McVeigh, who has held the seat for the Liberal National Party since 2016. McVeigh’s winning margin in 2019 was 20.5%, which you would normally think would mean Labor would sit the by-election out, but they have in fact done the election-watching community a solid by fielding a candidate. That’s more than can be said for One Nation and the Greens, with the by-election having attracted a meagre field of four candidates, the other two being from the Liberal Democrats and Sustainable Australia. While an LNP victory is surely a foregone conclusion, the size of the swing will serve as a real world measure of how well the Morrison government is travelling, a particularly notable fact in these days of skepticism about opinion polls. It is also convenient that it will do so in Queensland, which has so often been the crucible of federal elections over the course of the present century, and which recently delivered Labor a morale-boosting win at state level. For more detail, I now have a complete guide to the by-election in business, and will be doing my live results reporting thing as the numbers come in on Saturday evening. \|\|\|\|\| Sustainable Australia Party Sustainable Australia Party is an independent community movement from the political centre, with a positive plan for an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable Australia. We believe in an evidence-based approach to policy - not an extreme left or right ideology. Sandra Jephcott for Groom Sandra Jephcott is a veterinarian and farmer and lives on a 4000 hectare property west of Toowoomba near the town of Surat. Toowoomba is Sandra's social, business and healthcare centre. Born in PNG, Sandra was educated in Armidale NSW and completed her veterinary degree (BVSc) at University of Queensland, Master of Science (MSc) at James Cook University and MBA at Bond University. Her extensive veterinary work experience includes farming and livestock in PNG, an equine clinic in South Australia, head veterinarian for a pastoral company throughout Queensland and NT, and head veterinarian for a large agricultural company in Russia. She was nominated for Queensland Rural Woman of the Year. Sandra has a strong volunteering background including involvement with Bush Heritage, Australian Veterinary Association and Agforce. Sandra believes that the Groom by-election offers voters an opportunity to send a message to the two major parties that we’re not happy with business as usual politics - including rampant overdevelopment and systemic political corruption that negatively impacts on the environment. Campaign issues In Groom, Sandra and Sustainable Australia Party are campaigning to: Protect our environment Better manage water security , including through lower wastage water security Act on climate change Preserve Toowoomba's limited green space [1] Stop overdevelopment Save Mt Lofty's pristine escarpment from housing development escarpment from housing development Protect prime agricultural land around Toowoomba from housing sprawl Better planning for Toowoomba's flood and bushfire-prone geography, including proper community consultation, infrastructure provision and lower population growth Support the environmentally appropriate route for inland rail Stop corruption Establish a federal anti-corruption commission to remove the undue influence of vested interests, including property developers Stop foreign ownership of our farms, housing and land And much more... SAP's full policy platform can be found here: www.sustainableaustralia.org.au/policies Get involved > Donate Please donate to Sandra's campaign: Click here. > Volunteer If you'd like to letterbox or hand out HTV cards, click here and mention 'Groom by-election' in your comment. Also, see polling places below... > Join Sign up: Click here > Contact Email: groom @ sustainableaustralia.org.au Phone: TBC Facebook: votesustainable Twitter: votesustainable Instagram: votesustainable Preferences As an independent community party, after you Vote 1 for Sustainable Australia Party, we prefer that YOU decide where to direct your own preferences. Number all boxes. More here. REMEMBER: You cannot waste your vote by voting for a minor party! Voting for a minor party is the only way to send a clear message that you are not happy with Lib/Lab! If you vote 1 Sustainable Australia and we don't win, your vote flows on at full value to the next party you choose e.g. Lib or Lab at [2] or later. Polling place volunteering Important: SAP volunteer and voting centre behaviour guidelines HERE Early Voting Centres / Election day Voting Centres See: https://www.aec.gov.au/groom/ Pre-polling - 11 November to 27 November Polling day - 28 November [1] Brisbane Times: "Despite holding a Carnival of Flowers each year, Toowoomba came in last nationally for its resident's access to green space." \|\|\|\|\| Donations to help me spend more time working on this site or recognise work I've done are very welcome. You can use the PayPal button below or email me for bank account details. Please only donate if you are sure you can afford to do so. \|\|\|\|\| Toowoomba-based federal MP John McVeigh has resigned from politics, effective immediately. Key points: Federal LNP MP John McVeigh has resigned, effective immediately Federal LNP MP John McVeigh has resigned, effective immediately Mr McVeigh has been the Member for Groom in Toowoomba since 2016 Mr McVeigh has been the Member for Groom in Toowoomba since 2016 He says he is stepping down to concentrate on caring for his wife Mr McVeigh has been the LNP's Member for Groom since 2016. He said he made the difficult decision to quit politics so he could concentrate on caring for his wife Anita, who has been suffering from a major illness. "A further relapse earlier this year requiring hospitalisation in Sydney was a tremendous shock to our family," he said. "This has been cause for significant reflection for all of us over recent months. "I want to make it very clear that we are truly blessed as a family that her health is on the improve again and it is now my family's absolute priority … to keep it that way. "Hence the need for me to step down from the demands and absences of being a Federal Member of Parliament." Find more local news Tell us your location and find more local ABC News and information 'I regret the short-term disruption' Mr McVeigh said it had been a difficult decision to submit his resignation to the Speak of the House of Representatives. "In accordance with house practice, this is automatically deemed to take effect immediately," he said. "I certainly regret what will be a short-term disruption here in the electorate of Groom." Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Mr McVeigh had been a hard working and passionate advocate for regional Australia. Mr McVeigh also served on the Toowoomba City Council and was the State Member for Toowoomba South, before quitting to run for the seat of Groom. He was appointed Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government in 2017, but was left out of the Ministry when Scott Morrison became Prime Minister. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tony Smith, is now considering possible dates for the by-election for Groom. \|\|\|\|\| This table provides the number of votes and the percentage of the first preference vote won by each of the parties in a state or territory The data also includes the current first preferences swing by party - a comparison of the current percentage of national first preference votes for each party compared to the percentage of first preference votes received at the previous federal election. This table is sortable by selecting column headers. \|\|\|\|\| This table provides the number of first preference votes received for all candidates in the division. The data includes swing - a comparison of the percentage of first preference votes received at the previous federal election compared to the current federal election. This table is sortable by selecting on column headers. \|\|\|\|\| Townsville had the highest rate of youth, indigenous and general unemployment across the country, with Indigenous unemployment at 23.1 per cent followed closely behind by Cairns (22.9) and Mackay (20.8). Four Queensland cities took out the top five spots for annual employment growth, with Toowoomba coming in second followed by Cairns, Mackay and Townsville in fifth spot. Brisbane came in halfway out of the capital cities for residents who have completed Year 12 and those who have completed a bachelor degree or higher, behind Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. Hou s ing Mackay took out the spot for most affordable housing across the nation, where dwelling price to income ratio was 4.4, compared to the most expensive city, the Sunshine Coast, where the ratio was 9.3. Brisbane sat halfway in terms of annual household income compared to the other capital cities, coming in fourth at $81,000, behind Canberra, Sydney and Perth. Three sunshine state cities recorded the five highest rates of homelesness, with 847 people living homeless in Cairns per 100,000 people, 588 in Mackay and 539 in Townsville. Gold Coast residents were under the most rent stress, with 16.7 per cent living in rentals that pull 30 per cent or more from their household income. Liveability and Sustainability Despite holding a Carnival of Flowers each year, Toowoomba came in last nationally for its resident's access to green space. According to ABS data, only 66.3 per cent of dwellings in the flower city were within 400 meters of a green space and only 3.8 per cent of the city had a portion of land defined as a green space. Toowoomba also recorded the highest proportion of obese adults across the country, at about one third of the population. Brisbane was the second biggest greenhouse gas emitter behind Perth, emitting 20 tonnes of direct emissions per capita and nine tonnes per capita of indirect emissions from the generation of electricity, according to the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Queensland cities also varied in terms of feelings of safety, with Sunshine Coast residents feeling most safe after dark, at 60.6 per cent. About one third of Cairns residents, 35.7 per cent, felt safe after dark in their area, the lowest ranking across the country. Suicide rates were also higher in Queensland compared to other states and territories, with Mackay and Cairns recording the largest number of suicides, at 19.5 people and 19.4 per 100,000 people respectively, according to the Social Health Atlas of Australia. Innovation Brisbane had among the highest rate of workers in knowledge-intensive industries including IT, communications and financial services, coming in fourth at 13.8 per cent behind Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. Brisbane also boasted the second highest share of households with an active broadband connection at 82.4 per cent and had 45 patent applications per 100,000 people, third behind Sydney and Canberra. Gold Coast and Tweed Heads recorded the largest number of new businesses that started actively trading in its city, at an entry rate of 17 per cent, ahead of Sydney. Infrastructure and investment Only 65 percent of jobs in Brisbane were accessible by car within 30 minutes, compared to Cairns and Mackay which boasted top marks for job accessibility for drivers. Brisbane was behind eastern coast capitals in taking up walking or cycling to work but was in the top four cities for proportion of people who took public transport to work, at 11.4 per cent, above the national average of 6.1 per cent. Brisbane drivers also felt the drag of peak hour, with delays almost doubling in peak hour conditions, behind Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart. If you or someone you know needs support, help can be found at Lifeline on 13 11 14.	Groom, highlighted in green, within the state of Queensland. Portrait of Jephcott. Voters in the Australian of are scheduled to go to the polls in a this week following the resignation of MP for family reasons. Groom is located in the state of Queensland, and is centred around the city of . At the last , the Liberal National Party, Queensland's dominant conservative party, won this seat by over 70% of the , and since the seat's creation in 1984, it has been held by conservative political parties. Some political analysts considered this a foregone conclusion, with analyst Kevin Bonham having declared it on his blog as "Australia's most boring by-election", however Bonham noted the size of the swing may have been indicative of the dominant centre left 's general performance in Queensland. There was a 4.2% swing against the Labor Party in the state of Queensland at the previous federal election. ''Wikinews'' spoke to one of the four candidates running in the by-election, Sandra Jephcott, who is running for the party. Sustainable Australia describes itself as a "independent community movement from the political centre". According to the party's website, Jephcott is a and farmer, who has completed a veterinary degree from the University of Queensland, as well as a at and a Master of Science at . With ''Wikinews'', Jephcott discussed climate change, COVID-19, water security, and foreign ownership.
The coppery moon was clearly visible across much of Britain Enlarge Image The eclipse began at 2018 GMT, with the Moon totally immersed in the shadow of the Earth between 2244 and 2358 GMT. During "totality" the moon appeared reddish in colour, as only light that had been filtered through the Earth's atmosphere reached the Moon's surface. The eclipse was visible from the whole of Europe, Africa, South America, and eastern parts of the US and Canada. The coppery red Moon was visible across large areas of the UK thanks to clear skies. Robin Scagell, from the Society for Popular Astronomy, said that it was "one of the best lunar eclipses from Britain for years". TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE Occurs when Moon passes into Earth's shadow Penumbra: Region where Earth blocks some (but not all) Sun rays Umbra: Zone where Earth blocks all direct sunlight - total eclipse "It was fascinating to watch the Moon's graceful movement through the shadow of the Earth and check its coppery glow," he said. The last total eclipse visible from the UK was back in May 2004, but it was obscured by cloudy skies. Lunar eclipses occur when the Sun, Earth and Moon are in a near-perfect line in space. The Moon travels through the long cone-shaped shadow that the Earth casts in space. At totality, the only light reaching the Moon's surface at this point has been refracted through the Earth's atmosphere. The appearance of the lunar surface varies according to how much dust is in the Earth's upper atmosphere. For example, following major volcanic eruptions, the Moon appears to be a deep red and almost invisible. As there have not been any recent sizeable eruptions, astronomers had predicted that the Moon would be bathed in a bright orange light. In Belgium, about 200 people gathered at the Mira observatory in Grimbergen to witness the eclipse. KEY TIMES FOR ECLIPSE Moon enters penumbra: 2018 Moon enters umbra: 2130 Totality begins: 2244 Mid-eclipse: 2321 Totality ends: 2358 Moon leave umbra: 0111 Moon leaves penumbra: 0224 (All times are in GMT) "We were especially concerned about whether our equipment would make it through this kind of weather," he said. "But then, after some clouds, it was all perfect throughout the entire eclipse." In Tehran, the director of Iran's Amateur Astronomy Association, Amir Shirazi, said he and other astronomy fans would be staying up all night to watch. "This is the last lunar eclipse in the Iranian current year and we are not going to have another beautiful and complete eclipse like this one for five years," he said. After Saturday's eclipse, the next to be seen over western Europe will take place on 21 February 2008, but in the middle of the night between 0300 GMT and 0400 GMT. And though eastern Australia, Alaska and New Zealand missed out on this total lunar eclipse they will be able to see the next one, due to take place on 28 August. Did you watch the eclipse? Where did you watch it? Tell us about your experiences and if you took any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. Name: Email address: Town and Country: Phone number (optional): Comments: The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published. \|\|\|\|\| Create New Countdown Count down to the New Year, birthdays, weddings, birthdays, retirement & more. Who will enter 2017 first and last? 26 hours after the first bottle of bubbly pops on Millenium Island, Baker Island greets the New Year. More	Graphical illustration of where the eclipse will be visible.Source: NASA, see here. Southampton, U.K.Photo credit: Rhys400D. Valladolid, Spain. There will be a full lunar eclipse starting on Saturday, March 3. Earth's passage between the Sun and the Moon will begin casting its shadow on the surface of the Moon starting at 20:18 UTC. The Moon will be totally eclipsed by the Earth's shadow between 22:44 and 23:58 UTC. Cloudless conditions would make for a great viewing experience as the Lunar phase is now full. The color of the moon will be like that of copper. In England, the lunar eclipse will occur between 8:18pm and until 2:24am. A chart to calculate the time offset from UTC puts the eclipse starting at 3:18pm EST in North America. The moon will be totally eclipsed 21 minutes prior to sunset in that time zone. The moonrise will occur during the period it is eclipsed, at 6:01pm. Viewers will be able to see the moon re-emerge from the Earth's shadow, weather permitting. The eclipse will take place during the Hindu festival of Holi. Phases of the lunar eclipse on March, 3rd 2007. View in France.
Cuba's Angel Valodia Matos, left, kicks match referee Sweden's Chakir Chelbat in the face during a bronze medal match against Kazakhstan's Arman Chilmanov in the men's taekwondo +80 kilogram class at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008. Matos attacked the official, throwing punches and kicks, after being declared the loser in his bronze medal match. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Cuban taekwondo athlete banned after kicking ref BEIJING (AP) — A Cuban taekwondo athlete and his coach were banned for life after Angel Matos kicked the referee in the face following his bronze-medal match disqualification. Cuban coach Leudis Gonzalez offered no apology for Matos' actions during the men's over-80 kg (176 pounds) match. Matos was winning 3-2, with 1:02 in the second round, when he fell to the mat after being hit by his opponent, Kazakhstan's Arman Chilmanov. He was sitting there, awaiting medical attention, when he was disqualified for taking too much injury time. Fighters get one minute, and Matos was disqualified when his time ran out. Matos angrily questioned the call, pushed a judge, then pushed and kicked referee Chakir Chelbat of Sweden. Matos then spat on the floor and was escorted out. "He was too strict," Gonzalez said, referring to the decision to disqualify Matos. Afterward, he charged the match was fixed, accusing the Kazakhs of offering him money. "This is a strong violation of the spirit of taekwondo and the Olympic Games. The sanctions are the following and are effective immediately: Lifetime ban of the coach and athlete in all championships sanctioned by the (World Taekwondo Federation) and at the same time, all records of this athlete at the Beijing Games will immediately be erased," said the announcer, reading a WTF release. In his first match, Matos defeated Italy's Leonardo Basile, then beat China's Liu Xiaobo 2-1 in the quarterfinals. But he lost to South Korean Cha Dong-min in the semis to land in the bronze-medal match. "To me it was obvious he was unable to continue," Chilmanov said. "His toe on his left foot was broken." Matos won the gold medal in this division at the 2000 Sydney Games, dedicating the victory to his mother, who died on the day of the opening ceremony. At the 2004 Athens Games, he finished 11th. Matos' tantrum followed a day of confusion on the mats. Earlier Saturday, China's double gold medalist Chen Zhong crashed out in the quarterfinals after initially being declared the winner. The day was rife with upsets. Working her way through the easier of the two pools, Norway's relatively unheralded Nina Solheim won her first two bouts with a comfortable point margin and defeated 2005 world champion Natalia Falavigna of Brazil in the semis to meet world champion Maria del Rosario Espinoza of Mexico for the over 67-kg (147.4 pounds) title. Espinoza won the final handily, going ahead in the first round and never falling behind. The final score was 4-1. She had her hands full getting through the quarters 4-2 against Sweden's Karolina Kedzierska, who launched several high kicks that did not connect. Espinoza then took on Britain's Sarah Stevenson, the 2006 European champion, in the semis. Espinoza dominated the match, earning her final berth with a 4-1 win. Espinoza was to fight Chen in the semis, but the judges overturned an earlier ruling and made Stevenson the winner of the quarterfinal bout in which Chen scored in the closing seconds of the second round and then Stevenson tagged her with a head kick — worth two points — in the third. The judges ruled Stevenson's kick wasn't solid enough for points, and Chen was declared the winner 1-0. After Britain protested, and the result was changed to put Stevenson in the semifinal. The decision brought loud jeers from the crowd. China did not appeal. It was the first time a match result has been overturned since taekwondo became an official Olympic sport in 1990. "I obviously had scored. I don't know if they weren't watching or what," Stevenson said. "That's one of the things I hate about this sport." Stevenson won bronze, along with Brazil's Falavigna. Cha made it four-for-four gold medals for South Korea. In taekwondo, countries are allowed to enter only four athletes. Cha fell behind when Alexandros Nikolaidis of Greece nailed him with a head kick 15 seconds into the bout. But he came back with a body kick and a head shot of his own to take back the lead, adding another point to go 4-3 going into the third round. Nikolaidis evened it out at 4-4 with a body kick, but Cha scored with just 18 seconds left to claim the gold in the men's over-80 kg (176 pounds) division. Daba Modibo Keita of Mali, the 2007 world champion, was defeated in overtime in the quarterfinals by Nigeria's Chika Yagazie Chukwumerije. The Nigerian then went up against Athens silver medalist Nikolaidis. Nikolaidis scored with a head kick in the third round, then again in the final second to advance to the final. The bronzes went to Chilmanov, who beat Matos, and Chukwumerije. \|\|\|\|\| Warriors coach Ivan Cleary reflects on a match of missed opportunities but is happy with a win on the back of his side's best 80 minutes of defence.	Cuban Taekwondo athlete Ángel Matos was banned for life yesterday after an assault on Swedish referee Chakir Chelbat during the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. Matos was competing in the bronze medal match against Arman Chilmanov of Kazakhstan when he sustained an injury. As he lay on the mat with medical attendants, Matos was disqualified for exceeding the one minute injury time limit. When Chilmanov was declared the winner of the bout, Matos delivered a kick to the face of Chelbat. Touch judges rushed in to try to control the situation. Matos pushed one of them and then spat on the floor. Both Matos and his coach Leudis Gonzalez were banned for life from all official Taekwondo events for their behavior in the incident. The World Taekwondo Federation released a statement referring to the incident as a "strong violation of the spirit of Taekwondo and the Olympic Games". They also called for all records of Matos to be removed from the Olympic records. Later coach Leudis Gonzalez claimed the Kazaks offered him money to lose the bout. WTF secretary general Yang Jin-suk said "due process must be followed before officially banning the two." Matos won the gold medal in Sydney in 2000; he finished in 11th place in Athens four years later.
EU wants Saudi gas price talks before WTO accession By Dominic Evans RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's trade deal with Washington removes its biggest hurdle to joining the World Trade Organisation but a European Union official said on Saturday the oil giant must still address EU questions over Saudi gas prices. The world's biggest crude exporter signed a bilateral market access deal with the United States on Friday in a low-key ceremony which should pave the way for Saudi accession to the WTO by December -- 12 years after it first sought membership. The OPEC producer has already signed a similar accord with the European Union. But that deal, signed in 2003, left two issues outstanding. "One related to insurance, which has now been cleared up, and the other was on (gas feedstock prices for) petrochemicals," said Bernard Savage, EU delegation head in Saudi Arabia. He said petrochemicals producers in Saudi Arabia obtained natural gas -- a raw material in the production of petrochemicals -- at rates below international prices, putting producers in Europe at a disadvantage. "We have been having discussions with the Saudis on this," Savage told Reuters, adding he did not believe the issue was an insurmountable obstacle to the kingdom's WTO accession. "The objective is for Saudi Arabia to join the WTO formally at the Hong Kong ministerial meeting (in December). That is our objective and that is the Saudi objective," he said. Joining the WTO will boost investor confidence in a country which is reaping the rewards of record oil prices but which has until recently, shown little urgency in liberalising its economy or setting clear a legal framework for business. OPENING MARKETS The U.S. deal requires Saudi Arabia to open its markets to more U.S. farm and manufactured goods as well as service firms in sectors including banking, telecommunications, energy, express delivery, transport and hotel and restaurant management. In return economists say the kingdom can expect increased investment flowing from greater confidence in its commercial legal framework. "Foreign businessmen feel there is a legal infrastructure they can rely on -- that there is a channel for disputes," said Brad Bourland, chief economist at Samba Financial Group. Saudi Arabia first applied to join the WTO in 1993, when it was known as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and is one of the largest economies still outside the organisation. Its efforts to join accelerated sharply in the last two years, partly to avoid being left out in the cold as Washington began talks on free trade agreements with Saudi Arabia's neighbours such as Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. It has had to overcome political resistance in the United States, particularly from pro-Israel groups which want an end to the Arab state's direct boycott of Israel. As part of the deal, Saudi Arabia has promised not to enforce aspects of the Arab League boycott of Israel that apply to U.S. firms doing business with Israel, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman's office said. Portman said the agreement will also ensure "greater openness, further development of the rule of law, and political and economic reform in Saudi Arabia". Washington has been pushing for reform in the conservative Muslim kingdom since the Sept 11 attacks, carried out by mainly Saudi hijackers. © Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved. \|\|\|\|\| IndyStar.com Business Saudi Arabia completes talks with U.S. on WTO membership Sign up for business enewsletters Get the jump on business news with IndyStar.com's Fresh Start and Mid-Day Update newsletters. Register today Tom Wood Lexus 2006 Lexus ES 330 $359/month 2006 Lexus RX330 $399/month 2006 Lexus ES 330 $359/month 2006 Lexus RX330 $399/month Tom Wood Jaguar Volvo Land Rover 2006 Volvo XC90 $385/mo 2003 Jaguar XK8 Coupe $48,984 2006 Volvo XC90 $385/mo 2003 Jaguar XK8 Coupe $48,984 Coast to Coast Quality Luxury Imports Huge Price Reduction! Every Vehicle Below Book Value Quality Luxury Imports BMWs, Lexus, Mercedes only at Coast to Coast Huge Price Reduction! Every Vehicle Below Book Value Quality Luxury Imports BMWs, Lexus, Mercedes only at Coast to Coast View all Top Car Deals Washington (AP) -- The Bush administration said Friday that it had successfully completed negotiations with Saudi Arabia over that country's application to join the World Trade Organization. U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman said the agreement reached between the two countries would provide new export opportunities for U.S. farmers, manufacturers and service industries. The agreement with the United States was one of the last major hurdles to the country's WTO membership. Saudi Arabia now must complete negotiations at the WTO in Geneva on the formal document that will set the terms under which the world's largest oil producer will become a member. Saudi Arabia has been trying for more than a decade to become a member of the 148-nation Geneva-based organization that sets the rules for world trade. Copyright 2006 IndyStar.com. All rights reserved	The current members of the WTO Saudi Arabia signed on Friday a trade agreement with the United States, which was considered to be one the last major hurdles to the World Trade Organisation membership of the kingdom. Now, Saudis have to complete negotiations at the Geneva-based WTO on the formal accession document. The deal opens Saudi markets to US farm and manufactured goods, as well as most services, including IT, financial, energy and tourism sectors. It also forced Saudis not to boycott US companies which are doing business with Israel. The kingdom also promised to have normal trade relations with all 148 WTO members, which include Israel. The other problem remains a Saudi-EU row over gas prices. The EU officials accused Saudi Arabia of selling the natural gas to their home petrochemicals at rates below international market prices, which could cause losses to the European producers.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. A 7.0-magnitude earthquake which struck off the coast of Haiti is feared to have killed hundreds of people across the Caribbean country. In the space of a minute, Haiti's worst quake in two centuries wrecked the HQ of the UN mission, Haiti's national palace and numerous other buildings. A "large number" of UN personnel were reported missing by the organisation. Describing it as a "catastrophe", Haiti's envoy to the US said the cost of the damage could run into billions. The quake, which struck about 15km (10 miles) south-west of the capital, Port-au-Prince, was quickly followed by two strong aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. The tremor hit at 1653 (2153 GMT), the US Geological Survey said. Phone lines to the country failed shortly afterwards. Aid workers and reporters at the scene estimated the number of dead to be in the hundreds or even thousands. Vehicles ferrying the injured to hospital were hampered by rubble blocking the capital's streets. Bodies, white with dust, could be seen piled on the back of a pick-up truck. As night fell, Rachmani Domersant, an operations manager with the Food for the Poor charity, said: "The whole city is in darkness. "You have thousands of people sitting in the streets with nowhere to go. There are people running, crying, screaming," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. Adding that he had seen no rescue vehicles in the hillside suburb of Petionville, he said: "People are trying to dig victims out with flashlights. "I think hundreds of casualties would be a serious understatement." As the poorest country in the western hemisphere, Haiti is likely to need international aid in order to cope with the quake's impact, the BBC's Nick Davies reports from neighbouring Jamaica. 'Three million affected' In a statement issued in New York, the UN said that its local HQ in Haiti had "sustained serious damage along with other UN installations" and "a large number" of personnel were missing. EYEWITNESS Carel Pedre, TV and radio presenter, Port-au-Prince I saw a lot of people crying for help, a lot of buildings collapsed, a lot of car damage, a lot of people without help, people bleeding. I saw a movie theatre, a supermarket, a cybercafe, an apartment building which collapsed. Now it's dark outside, there is no electricity, all the phone networks are down, so there's no way that people can get in touch with their family and friends. There are aftershocks every 15 to 20 minutes. They last from three to five seconds. The first shock was really strong, people were falling in the streets and buildings collapsed. I didn't see any emergency services, the people at the neighbourhood were trying to help each other. The streets are narrow and there is lot of traffic and everyone is trying to reach family and friends. Traffic now is really difficult. People don't know where to go or where to start. Eyewitness: 'Blood all over them' UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy said it was unclear how many people had been inside the building. The UN's stabilisation mission plays a vital role in ensuring security in Haiti. Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the US, said the presidential palace, the tax office, the ministry of commerce and the foreign ministry had all been damaged, but the airport was intact. The World Bank, which said its local offices were destroyed but that most staff were accounted for, planned to send a team to help Haiti assess damage and plan a recovery, Reuters reported. Mike Blanpied of the US Geological Survey said that, based on the location and size of the quake, about three million people would have been severely shaken by its impact. "This quake occurred under land as opposed to off-shore, so a lot of people were directly exposed to the shaking coming off that earthquake fault, which was quite shallow," he told the BBC. US President Barack Obama said in a statement that his "thoughts and prayers" were with the people of Haiti and America stood ready to assist them. 'Rubble and wire' In the minutes after the quake, Henry Bahn, a visiting official from the US Department of Agriculture, said he had seen houses which had tumbled into a ravine. HAITI COUNTRY PROFILE Half of Caribbean island of Hispaniola History of violence, instability and dictatorship Population of 10 million people Most live on less than $2 a day Democratic rule restored in 2006 Economy in ruins and unemployment is chronic UN peacekeepers deployed - foreign aid seen as vital Massive deforestation has left just 2% forest "Everybody is just totally, totally freaked out and shaken," said Mr Bahn, who described the sky as "just grey with dust". He said he had been walking to his hotel room when the ground began to shake. "I just held on and bounced across the wall," he said. "I just hear a tremendous amount of noise and shouting and screaming in the distance." He said rocks were strewn all over the place, and the ravine where several homes had fallen in was "just full of collapsed walls and rubble and barbed wire". BBC News website readers in the Dominican Republic, which borders Haiti on the island of Hispaniola, said they had also felt the quake. "My family is on the 8th floor of a tower in downtown Santo Domingo," wrote Max Levine. "We felt a swaying of the building for 5-10 seconds. All the lamps were swinging. There was a 20-second pause and then another similar sway. We rushed out of the building with many others to the street." In the immediate aftermath of the quake, a tsunami watch was put out for Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas, but this was later lifted. Have you been affected by the earthquake? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: You can send pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can click here to upload. Click here to see terms and conditions At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Versión en Español Earthquake Summary Earthquake Summary Poster Felt Reports Severe damage and casualties in the Port-au-Prince area. Felt throughout Haiti and the Dominican Republic, in Turks and Caicos Islands, southeastern Cuba, eastern Jamaica, in parts of Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, and as far as Tampa, Florida and Caracas, Venezuela. Tectonic Summary The January 12, 2010, Haiti earthquake occurred in the boundary region separating the Caribbean plate and the North America plate. This plate boundary is dominated by left-lateral strike slip motion and compression, and accommodates about 20 mm/y slip, with the Caribbean plate moving eastward with respect to the North America plate. Haiti occupies the western part of the island of Hispaniola, one of the Greater Antilles islands, situated between Puerto Rico and Cuba. At the longitude of the January 12 earthquake, motion between the Caribbean and North American plates is partitioned between two major east-west trending, strike-slip fault systems -- the Septentrional fault system in northern Haiti and the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system in southern Haiti. The location and focal mechanism of the earthquake are consistent with the event having occurred as left-lateral strike slip faulting on the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system. This fault system accommodates about 7 mm/y, nearly half the overall motion between the Caribbean plate and North America plate. The Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system has not produced a major earthquake in recent decades. The EPGFZ is the likely source of historical large earthquakes in 1860, 1770, 1761, 1751, 1684, 1673, and 1618, though none of these has been confirmed in the field as associated with this fault. Earthquake Information for Caribbean Tsunami Information NOAA West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center The earthquake locations and magnitudes cited in these NOAA tsunami bulletins are very preliminary and may be superceded by USGS locations and magnitudes computed using more extensive data sets. Tsunami Information Links USGS Podcast Interview: Michael Blanpied, associate coordinator for the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, answers questions about the earthquake, its severe shaking, and the possibility of additional hazards, such as landslides and a tsunami. Poster of the Seismicity of the Caribbean Plate and Vicinity \|\|\|\|\| PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Desperately needed aid from around the world slowly made its way Thursday into Haiti, where a leadership vacuum left rescuers scrambling on their own to save the trapped and injured and get relief supplies into the capital. President Barack Obama announced that "one of the largest relief efforts in our recent history" is moving toward Haiti, with thousands of troops and a broad array of civilian rescue workers flying or sailing in to aid the stricken country — backed by more than $100 million in relief funds. To the Haitians, Obama promised: "You will not be forsaken." The nascent flow of rescue workers showed some results: A newly arrived search team pulled a U.N. worker alive from the organization's collapsed headquarters. He stood, held up a fist in celebration, and was helped off to a hospital. Planes carrying teams from China, France, Spain and the United States landed at Port-au-Prince's airport with searchers and tons of water, food, medicine and other supplies — with more promised from around the globe. But it took six hours to unload a Chinese plane because the airport lacked the needed equipment — a hint of possible bottlenecks ahead as a global response brings a stream of aid flights to the airport, itself damaged by Tuesday's magnitude-7 earthquake. Search and rescue squads from Virginia and Iceland arrived Wednesday and some groups — from Cuba's government and Doctors Without Borders — used staff already in the country to treat victims immediately after the quake. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that "tens of thousands, we fear, are dead" and said United States and the world must do everything possible to help Haiti surmount its "cycle of hope and despair." The U.S. dispatched troops and ships along with aid to Haiti, and other nations were joining the effort to help the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation, where the international Red Cross estimated 3 million people — a third of the population — may need emergency relief. Since Tuesday's earthquake, President Rene Preval has maintained his typical low profile, granting only a couple of media interviews and making few public appearances. He said his own residences were damaged in the quake and the Parliament building collapsed. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the U.S. had been in touch with Preval, and added: "We're not taking over Haiti. We are helping to stabilize Haiti, we're helping to provide them lifesaving support." There seemed to be little official presence in much of Port-au-Prince: Trucks carrying police and U.N. workers or equipment to clear away debris were often stuck in traffic on roads filled with pickup trucks, cars and pedestrians. At many collapsed buildings, neighbors and volunteers dug through rubble — often with bare hands — to free trapped residents without help from the government. Yet the often-chaotic city was surprisingly calm, despite the devastation. Journalists heard little or no gunfire and saw no major violence. Survivors set up camps amid piles of salvaged goods, including food scavenged from the rubble. Bodies lay in the street, often covered by a white cloth, in the tropical heat. Some people dragged the dust-covered dead along the roads, trying to reach a hospital where they might leave them. Others tried to carry dead relatives to nearby hills for impromptu burials, prompting Brazil's military — the biggest continent among U.N. peacekeepers — to warn the practice could lead to an epidemic. It said it is asking authorities to create a new cemetery. The Brazilian military said it also was worried that bodies could be left too long because many Voodoo followers in Haiti do not allow the dead to be touched before all their rituals are concluded. "This is much worse than a hurricane," said Jimitre Coquillon, a doctor's assistant working at a triage center set up in a hotel parking lot. "There's no water. There's nothing. Thirsty people are going to die." The aid group Doctors Without Borders treated wounded at two hospitals that withstood the quake and set up tent clinics elsewhere to replace its damaged facilities. Cuba, which already had more than 300 doctors in Haiti, treated injured in field hospitals. Obama promised Haitians an all-out rescue and humanitarian effort, including the military and civilian emergency teams from across the U.S., adding that America — and the world — "stands with you." Clinton said the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Carl Vinson "will be on the horizon soon, the Coast Guard has performed magnificently in helping to evacuate the injured, particularly American citizens." The U.S. Army said a detachment of more than 100 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division was heading out from Fort Bragg in North Carolina, looking for locations to set up tents and other essentials in preparation for the arrival of another 800 personnel on Friday. That's in addition to some 2,200 Marines to be sent, as the military prepares to help with security, search and rescue missions and the delivery of humanitarian supplies. More than a half-dozen U.S. military ships also are expected to help, with the largest, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, arriving later Thursday. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that 91 injured French nationals were evacuated to the Caribbean island of Martinique in three planes that had delivered aid and medical personnel. There was no firm estimate on how many people died in the quake. Preval said Wednesday the toll could be in the thousands. The acrid smell of drywall and ancient dust that filled the air immediately after the quake has faded, giving way to the usual aromas of Port-au-Prince — flowers and mango trees, with a hint of gasoline and urine. Police officers carried the injured in their pickup trucks. Wisnel Occilus, a 24-year-old student, was wedged between two other survivors in a truck bed headed to a police station. He was in an English class when the quake struck and the building collapsed. "The professor is dead. Some of the students are dead, too," said Occilus, who suspected he had several broken bones. "Everything hurts." Other survivors carried injured to hospitals in wheelbarrows and on stretchers fashioned from doors. Calls to emergency services weren't getting through because systems that connect different phone networks were still not working, said officials from a telecommunications provider in Haiti. About 3,000 police and international peacekeepers cleared debris, directed traffic and maintained security in the capital. But law enforcement was stretched thin even before the quake and would be ill-equipped to deal with major unrest. The U.N.'s 9,000-member peacekeeping force sent patrols across the capital's streets while securing the airport, port and main buildings. Looting began immediately after the quake, with people seen carrying food from collapsed buildings, but aid workers said disturbances were rare. Inmates were reported to have escaped from the damaged main prison in Port au Prince, said Elisabeth Byrs, a U.N. humanitarian spokeswoman in Geneva. Port-au-Prince's ruined buildings fell on both the poor and the prominent: The body of Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot, 63, was found in the ruins of his office, said the Rev. Pierre Le Beller of the Saint Jacques Missionary Center in Landivisiau, France. Haitian Senate President Kelly Bastien was rescued from the collapsed Parliament building and taken to a hospital in the neighboring Dominican Republic. The president of Haiti's Citibank was also among the survivors being treated there, said Rafael Sanchez Espanol, director of the Homs Hospital in Santiago. The State Department announced one American had died in Haiti, saying that at least 164 U.S. citizens have been evacuated since the quake. Coast Guard C-130 planes have airlifted 42 American officials and their families and another 72 private citizens to safety, Crowley said. Another 370 Americans were awaiting flights out, he said. There were about 45,000 Americans living in Haiti at the time of the earthquake. The International Committee of the Red Cross said it set up a Web site to help Haitians find missing loved ones. Robert Zimmerman, deputy head of the group's tracing unit, said people in Haiti and abroad can use the site to register names of missing relatives. ___ Associated Press contributors to this story: Jonathan Katz and Jennifer Kay in Port-au-Prince; Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations; Frank Jordans and Bradley S. Klapper in Geneva; Jenny Barchfield in Paris; Pauline Jelinek in Washington; Tales Azzoni in Sao Paulo. \|\|\|\|\| Related Links Twenty Interesting Earthquake Facts The quake hit at 1:53 p.m. PST, according to the USGS. The Associated Press reports that a hospital collapsed shortly after the quake and people were heard screaming for help. It was centered 10 km below ground-- that's just a little greater than 6 miles-- USGS reports indicated. A 7.0 earthquake has hit the country of Haiti, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A hospital has apparently collapsed following the strong temblor.The quake hit at 1:53 p.m. PST, according to the USGS.The Associated Press reports that a hospital collapsed shortly after the quake and people were heard screaming for help.It was centered 10 km below ground-- that's just a little greater than 6 miles-- USGS reports indicated. Since the initial 7.0 magnitude quake hit, three strong aftershocks have also struck, according to the USGS. A 5.9 magnitude quake hit at 2 p.m PST, followed by a 5.5 magnitude quake at 2:12 p.m PST, and a 5.1 magnitude quake at 3:12 p.m. PST. The quake was originally reported at a 7.3 by the USGS, but was later downgraded to a 7.0. The earthquake happened about 14 miles (22 kilometers) west of the Caribbean nation's capital, Port-au-Prince.Since the initial 7.0 magnitude quake hit, three strong aftershocks have also struck, according to the USGS. Amagnitude quake hit at 2 p.m PST, followed by amagnitude quake at 2:12 p.m PST, and amagnitude quake at 3:12 p.m. PST.The quake was originally reported at a 7.3 by the USGS, but was later downgraded to a 7.0. \|\|\|\|\| Latest Earthquakes in the World - Past 7 days Latest Earthquakes Magnitude 2.5 or Greater in the United States and Adjacent Areas and Magnitude 4.5 or Greater in the Rest of the World - Last 7 days Versión en Español This list contains all earthquakes with magnitude greater than 2.5 located by the USGS and contributing networks in the last week (168 hours). Magnitudes 4.5 and above are in bold font. Magnitudes 6 and above are in red. (Some early events may be obscured by later ones on the maps.) The most recent earthquakes are at the top of the list. Times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Click on the word "map" to see a ten-degree tall map displaying the earthquake. Click on an event's "DATE" to get a detailed report. DISCLAIMER If you cannot see the list, Click here to go to the top of the list. Update time = Sun Nov 1 5:06:26 UTC 2009 Most recent earthquakes are at the top of this list. Back to world earthquake map DISCLAIMER - The maps and lists show events which have been located by the USGS and contributing agencies within the last 7 days. They should not be considered to be complete lists of all events M2.5+ in the US and adjacent areas and especially should not be considered to be complete lists of all events M4.5+ in the world. Beginning January 1, 2009, earthquakes outside the US below M4.5 are not reported unless NEIC obtains felt reports. The World Data Center for Seismology, Denver (a part of the USGS National Earthquake Information Center) continues to receive data from observatories throughout the world for several months after the events occurred, and using those data, adds new events and revises existing events in later publications. For a description of these later publications and the data available, see Scientific Data. \|\|\|\|\| HONOLULU (Reuters) - The United States will provide both military and civilian disaster assistance to Haiti following the devastating earthquake there, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday. "The United States is offering our full assistance to Haiti and to others in the region. We will be providing both civilian and military disaster relief and humanitarian assistance and our prayers are with the people who have suffered, their families and their loved ones," Clinton said at the start of a speech on Asian relations in Honolulu, Hawaii. (reporting by Andrew Quinn; editing by Stacey Joyce) \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Aid organizations have deployed emergency response teams to Haiti and appealed for donations after the Caribbean nation was was struck by a devastating earthquake described by local officials as a "catastrophe of major proportions." The magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck southern Haiti on Tuesday, knocking down buildings and inflicting a new catastrophe on the western hemisphere's poorest nation. Humanitarian charity Oxfam said Wednesday it was rushing rescue teams to the country from around the region to provide clean water, sanitation, shelter and emergency supplies and called for donations to fund its efforts. Impact Your World: How you can help "At this stage it is too early to tell the severity of the earthquake in Haiti, but the early signs are not good with communications down across the country," said Jane Cocking, humanitarian director of Oxfam. Kristie van de Wetering, a former Oxfam employee based in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, said the situation in the capital was "very chaotic" with many buildings reduced to rubble. "We can hear people calling for help from every corner. The aftershocks are ongoing and making people very nervous," she said. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said volunteers in Haiti were assisting the injured and supporting hospitals which had been overwhelmed by the disaster. It said it had enough supplies in Haiti for 3,000 families. Experts in disaster response are due to arrive in the country later Wednesday to coordinate international relief efforts, it said. "The most urgent needs at this time are search and rescue, field hospitals, emergency health, water purification, emergency shelter, logistics and telecommunications," the group said in a statement. The quake struck about 15 km (10 miles) southwest of Port-au-Prince shortly before 5 p.m. local time, cutting off communications across much of the country. "Port-au-Prince is devastated, lot of deaths. SOS. SOS...," wrote Louise Ivers, the clinical director of medical charity Partners In Health, in an e-mail to the group's offices in Boston, Massachusetts. She added: "Temporary field hospital ... needs supplies, pain meds, bandages. Please help us." Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the U.S., told CNN's Wolf Blitzer by telephone that the country was going throug "I'm calling on all friends of Haiti and people who are listening to me to please come to our aid," said Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the U.S. told CNN's Wolf Blitzer by telephone. "Today as Haiti is going through the worst day in its history I am calling for all others who got help from us in the beginning to help in support," Joseph said. "The only thing I can do now is pray and hope for the best." Singer Wyclef Jean, nephew of ambassador Joseph, stressed the need for help for what is considered among the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere. "We're going to need immediate aid," Jean told Blitzer on CNN. "We're going to need the United States and the international community to react immediately." He founded Yele Haiti, whose community service programs include food distribution and emergency relief. In Washington U.S. President Barack Obama said the government would "stand ready to assist the people of Haiti." At the Pentagon, the U.S. military said humanitarian aid was being prepared for shipping, but it was not yet clear where or how it would be sent. A U.S. aviation source said the control tower at the Port-au-Prince international airport collapsed, possibly hindering efforts to fly relief supplies into the country. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters that Washington is offering "our full assistance" to Haiti. "And our prayers are with the people who have suffered, their families and their loved ones," she said. The deputy chief of the U.S. mission in Haiti, David Lindwall, told Clinton that he saw "significant damage" from the quake and said U.S. officials there expect "serious loss of life," Crowley said. And Clinton's husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton -- now the U.N. special envoy for Haiti -- said the world body was "committed to do whatever we can to assist the people of Haiti in their relief, rebuilding and recovery efforts." Haiti's government is backed by a U.N. peacekeeping mission established after the ouster of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004. The United States has been heavily involved in Haiti commercially, politically and militarily for most of the last century. U.S. intervention under Clinton restored Aristide to power in 1994 after a 1991 coup, and a U.S. jet hustled him out of the country again in 2004 following a rapidly spreading uprising against his government. With people stripping the trees for fuel and to clear land for agriculture, the mountainous countryside has been heavily deforested. That has led to severe erosion and left Haitians vulnerable to massive landslides when heavy rains fall. Roads in Haiti were unsafe to travel on because of a lack of lighting and because many buildings along transportation routes had collapsed or were not deemed safe, said Ian Rodgers of the relief organization Save the Children. "What I can hear is very distressed people," Rogers said. "There is a lot of distress and wailing of people trying to find loved ones." A representative for the aid group Catholic Relief Services in Haiti described the situation in the nation as "a total disaster," said Robyn Fieser, regional information officer for the group. Haiti's dense population will increase the risk to its people, Jean said. The nation's need for aid will range from water and food to medical and building supplies. "This is the worst devastation that we as Haitian people have faced," he said. Hurricane Gordon killed more than 1,000 people in 1994, while Hurricane Georges killed more than 400 and destroyed the majority of the country's crops in 1998. And in 2004, Hurricane Jeanne killed more than 3,000 people even as it passed north of Haiti, with most of the deaths in the northwestern city of Gonaives. Gonaives was hit heavily again in 2008 when four tropical systems passed through. According to the U.N. Office for the Special Envoy for Haiti, unemployment reaches 70 percent nationally, and 78 percent of Haitians live on less than $2 a day. CNN's Edvige Jean-Francois, Shasta Darlington, Deb Feyerick, Matt Smith, Mike Mount and Pierre Meilhan contributed to this report.	Map of where the quake struck. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Haiti earlier today at 21:53 UTC, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, no tsunami warning was issued, contradicting some media reports that said there was one in place. The quake's magnitude was revised down from an initial report of 7.3 on the Richter scale. "A destructive widespread tsunami threat does not exist based on historical earthquake and tsunami data," the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. "However, there is the possibility of a local tsunami that could affect coasts located usually no more than a 100 km 60 miles from the earthquake epicentre." The USGS reports that the epicentre was fifteen kilometres (ten miles) southwest of Port-au-Prince and southeast of Miami, Florida, at a depth of ten kilometres. According to USGS analyst Dale Grant, this tremor was "the largest quake recorded in this area"; the last strong quake was in 1984, and had a magnitude of 6.7, he noted. "Everybody is just totally, totally freaked out and shaken. The sky is just gray with dust," said Henry Bahn, an official with the US Department of Agriculture who was visiting in Haiti and a witness to the incident. "I just held on and bounced across the wall. I just hear a tremendous amount of noise and shouting and screaming in the distance," he commented, as quoted by the Associated Press. A map indicating the intensity of the earthquake in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, made by USGSAccording to data from the USGS, there were thirteen aftershocks after the initial tremors, the strongest of which was 5.9 on the Richter scale; seven others measured in at 5.0 or higher – all the aftershocks were 4.0 or greater. No deaths have yet been reported, but a hospital in Port-au-Prince was damaged, and a US government official said several houses fell into a ravine. An analyst for USGS in Colorado commented that there could be many deaths from an earthquake of this strength. "I think we are going to see substantial damage and casualties," he said. The USGS's Mike Blanpied remarked that about three million people were impacted by the earthquake, given its location. "This quake occurred under land as opposed to off-shore, so a lot of people were directly exposed to the shaking coming off that earthquake fault, which was quite shallow," he said. A lack of communications makes it difficult to ascertain what damage was done. US embassy personnel were "literally in the dark" due to power failures, said State Department spokesman P. J. Crowley. "They reported structures down. They reported a lot of walls down. They did see a number of bodies in the street and on the sidewalk that had been hit by debris. So clearly, there's going to be serious loss of life in this," he said, as quoted by AP. A reporter for Reuters said he had seen "dozens of dead and injured people" amidst collapsed buildings. "We are trying to get in touch with our people on the ground but we are experiencing communication problems, which is not unusual in a disaster such as this," said United Nations spokeswoman Stephanie Bunker to Agence France-Presse. === Aid appeals and international reaction === Appeals for aid flooded in following the disaster. In a phone call to CNN, the Haitian ambassador to the US, Raymond Joseph, said: "I'm calling on all friends of Haiti and people who are listening to me to please come to our aid. Today as Haiti is going through the worst day in its history I am calling for all others who got help from us in the beginning to help in support. The only thing I can do now is pray and hope for the best." US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promised that her country would also provide assistance to Haitians. "The United States is offering our full assistance to Haiti and to others in the region. We will be providing both civilian and military disaster relief and humanitarian assistance and our prayers are with the people who have suffered, their families and their loved ones." President Barack Obama also said that the country would be "ready to assist" Haiti.
By Phil McNulty England's Wayne Rooney is dejected at the final whistle Steve McClaren's side looked on course to qualify courtesy of Wayne Rooney's spectacular 29th-minute volley. Steven Gerrard missed a glorious chance before Roman Pavluchenko scored from the spot after 69 minutes following Rooney's foul on Konstanin Zurianov. He struck again from close range four minutes later - now Russia will qualify if they beat Israel and Andorra. It capped a dramatic turnaround on the Luznikhi Stadium's artificial pitch after England had looked in no trouble until Russia coach Guus Hiddink introduced Pavluchenko in the second half. England as expected, were without captain John Terry after he suffered a recurrence of his knee injury in training and Sol Campbell came in as replacement. McClaren will have been peturbed to see the synthetic surface being heavily watered before kick-off, a move clearly designed to make conditions more favourable for Hiddink's side. Russia had plenty of possession in the early exchanges but England's revamped defence, with Everton's Joleon Lescott in for injured Ashley Cole, protected keeper Paul Robinson. England suffered an anxious moment after 11 minutes when Aleksandr Kerzhakov tumbled under a challenge from Joe Cole but Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo rightly ignored their penalty claims. Robinson was called into action when he turned a low drive from Zurianov on to an upright in the 25th minute - and four minutes later England were ahead. Michael Owen met Micah Richards' punt forward with a prodigious leap, and Rooney was lurking to chest down and lash a brilliant volley high past Russia keeper Vladimir Gabulov. England survived in comfort until half-time, and should have doubled their advantage four minutes after the interval. Gareth Barry's free-kick found captain Gerrard totally unmarked at the far post, but he steered a tame finish wide with the goal at his mercy. And Richards just failed to apply the finishing touch to a Rooney flick as England tried to seal the three points. Russia took advantage of England's generosity in front of goal to turn the game on its head in the space of four minutes. Rooney was the villain after 69 minutes, hauling down Zurianov to concede a penalty, even though the initial offence took place outside the area. Substitute Pavluchenko slammed home the penalty and struck again after 73 minutes, pouncing to score from close range after Robinson parried Alexei Berezutsky's shot. The dramatic turn in fortunes forced McClaren into a triple substitution, sending on Peter Crouch, Frank Lampard and Stewart Downing for Lescott, Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips. But it was Russia who almost added a third when a rebound off Rio Ferdinand bounced inches wide with Robinson beaten. England threw everything forward in the closing stages, but Russia held out. Russia: Gabulov, Alexei Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Vasili Berezutsky (Torbinsky 46), Aniukov, Zurianov, Semshov, Bilyaletdinov, Zhirkov, Arshavin (Kolodin 90), Kerzhakov (Pavluchenko 58). Subs Not Used: Malafeev, Pogrebniak, Shirokov, Sychev. Booked: Vasili Berezutsky, Pavluchenko. Goals: Pavluchenko 69 pen, 73. England: Robinson, Richards, Ferdinand, Campbell, Lescott (Lampard 79), Wright-Phillips (Downing 80), Gerrard, Barry, Cole (Crouch 80), Rooney, Owen. Subs Not Used: James, Shorey, Luke Young, Neville. Booked: Ferdinand, Rooney. Goals: Rooney 29. Att: 84,700 Ref: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain). \|\|\|\|\| Steve McClaren has pointed an accusing finger at Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo for the 'disgraceful' decision that has helped to leave England on the brink of a humiliating failure to reach Euro 2008. Empics Another bad day at the office for Macca England were in front and, in McClaren's eyes, in control when Cantalejo ruled Wayne Rooney tugged Konstantin Zyryanov's shirt inside the box. The foul was clear enough, but TV replays showed the foul occurred outside the area. Yet up stepped Roman Pavlyuchenko to level from the spot - and when the Russian substitute netted again four minutes later, England's dreams were in tatters. McClaren now knows if Russia beat Israel in Tel Aviv next month then Guus Hiddink's men will qualify at the expense of his own side once they have completed the formality of hammering Andorra in Moscow four days later - on the same night England are completing their campaign against Croatia. Such a scenario would see England miss the final stages of a major championship for the first time since the 1994 World Cup, cost the Football Association millions in lost potential sponsorship - and almost certainly McClaren his job. For that depressing situation, McClaren feels Cantalejo should shoulder responsibility. 'It is an absolute disgrace,' fumed McClaren. 'We were comfortable, and they were running out of ideas. If that penalty had not been awarded, I am absolutely confident we would have won the game. We were in total control. 'I am not blaming anybody - but the penalty was given by a referee in a bad position because it was outside the box. 'I don't fault the players; I don't fault their attitude; I don't fault their endeavour - and I don't fault what they did in the game. 'Because of one decision, we went from being in a winning position to losing.' McClaren did not mention, however, the fact that the officials also failed to spot that Rooney was marginally offside when he sent his first-half opener arrowing into the roof of Russia's goal. Cantalejo could hardly be blamed for Steven Gerrard's awful miss at the start of the second half - when a cooler head from the captain would have seen England establish a two-goal lead and pave the path to next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland. Instead, McClaren is left pinning his hopes on Israel - who did hold Russia to a draw in Moscow earlier in qualifying, although that was at a time when they had some hope of reaching the finals themselves. 'Nobody likes losing games, and I certainly don't,' he said. 'The players are devastated in the dressing room - but we stick together. 'This group is not over yet. It is out of our hands - but it is not over.' Understandably, McClaren refused to get into any discussion over his future - or the outcome in Tel Aviv next month, given the two situations are inextricably linked. 'It was in our hands - now it is not,' he admitted. 'But Russia still have to go to Israel and win. The pressure is still on them. We just have to wait. 'As I have said all along, this group is decided over 12 games - not 10 or 11. Let's see where we end up.' As someone who was in the frame to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson as England manager, Russia coach Guus Hiddink was entitled to feel an extra degree of satisfaction at victory. Like McClaren, he felt his team was in control and isolated the central positioning of left-back Joleon Lescott and the difficulty Joe Cole had in patrolling the same flank, as one of the major reasons for his optimism, even at half-time when Russia's position looks as bleak as England's is now. 'We got a lot of space on our right-hand side during the first half,' said Hiddink. 'The final touch was not good enough but the threat was there. 'I would not be arrogant enough to say I was confident at half-time but I did feel if we got an equaliser we would get another. 'The England defenders do not like being under pressure and in the second half we made them do things they did not want to do.' It is impossible to know what the outcome would have been had the rival managers been in the opposite dug-outs but the pedigree of one does outshine the other quite conclusively. Hiddink though is too wily a customer to believe the job is done just yet. 'England are not my concern,' he said. 'I just know we now have to beat Israel away from home, which will be difficult, and then Andorra. That is why this result is so vital for us.' Your views on this story? Email newsdesk@soccernet.com Join the discussion on our Message Boards	England's qualification for UEFA Euro 2008 is in doubt after a 2-1 defeat to Russia. scored two goals in the second half today, although both sides had their chances. Russia had a penalty appeal turned down by the Spanish referee after eleven minutes, while Konstantin Zyrianov saw his drive pushed onto the goalposts by England's goalkeeper Paul Robinson. Needing to win on an artificial pitch in Moscow to be certain of qualification, England took the lead after 29 minutes when Wayne Rooney opened the scoring with a volley. Both Steven Gerrard and Micah Richards missed chances to seal victory for England, and Russia equalised with a Roman Pavlyuchenko penalty after Wayne Rooney brought down Konstantin Zyrianov. England manager Steve McClaren said the penalty shot was a 'disgraceful' decision, as the offence appeared to have happened just outside the penalty area. Pavlyuchenko scored Russia's winner just four minutes later. England have one match remaining against leaders Croatia on November 21, but the defeat to Russia means that other results must go their way if they are to qualify for next year's tournament in Austria and Switzerland. Russia will qualify ahead of England if they defeat both Israel and Andorra in their final two matches.
Jason Hudson's white Chevrolet Suburban went missing from the home and was found on Chicago's West Side this morning. A spokesperson from the Cook County medical examiner's office told the Chicago Tribune the body of a black boy was found inside. Television news coverage showed the vehicle being towed away. William Balfour, the estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson's sister Julia, was questioned by police and reportedly denied involvement in the murders and kidnapping but, at some point, he stopped talking. Yesterday (10/26), he was taken into custody for violating conditions of parole following a 1999 conviction for attempted murder. Also yesterday, Hudson offered up a $100,000 reward for the safe return of King. The family posted a blog at the performer's MySpace page thanking well-wishers for their support and asking for help in finding the boy. Family members said King's mother, Julia Hudson, had been separated from Balfour for some time, according to the Tribune. A family friend told the paper that Balfour recently threatened to take King away. The murders of Donerson and Jason Hudson occurred at about 9 a.m. Friday (10/24) when a gunman shot through the front door of the family's home, striking Hudson and then entering the house and shooting Donerson, sources told the Tribune. Neighbors, who reportedly are used to hearing gunfire in the neighborhood, did not call police. A family member reportedly found Donerson's body at about 3 p.m. and called authorities, who then found Hudson's body. After rocketing to stardom as a contestant on "American Idol" and winning an Oscar for her performance in the film "Dreamgirls," Jennifer Hudson found sanctuary in her mother's South Side Chicago home. "My faith in God and my family--they're very realistic and very normal; they're not into the whole limelight kind of thing, so when I go home to Chicago, that's just another place that's home," Hudson recently told the Associated Press. "I stand in line with everybody else, or, when I go home to my mom, I'm just Jennifer, [so she says], 'You get up and you take care of your own stuff.' And I love that; I don't like when people tell you everything you want to hear. I want to hear the truth, you know what I mean?" The singer/actress co-stars alongside Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Dakota Fanning in the recently released film "The Secret Life of Bees." \|\|\|\|\| Will be right back... Thank you for your patience. Our engineers are working quickly to resolve the issue.	The FBI has stated that they believe a dead body found in a white SUV in Chicago, Illinois, is that of 7-year-old Julian King. King was the nephew of American singer and Academy Award winning actress, Jennifer Hudson. King was kidnapped from his home in Chicago on Friday after someone shot and killed Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, 57 and brother, Jason, 29. An AMBER Alert was issued shortly after the incident, and on Sunday, a US$100,000 reward was offered for his safe return. "We found a body who we believe to be the missing victim in Chicago, the nephew of Jennifer Hudson. We are working with Chicago police to get a positive identification of the victim," said the FBI in a statement. An autopsy is scheduled to take place on Tuesday. Police found the SUV, belonging to Jason, while searching for the boy on Monday. It had been parked in an area of brownstone houses and apartment buildings on the West-side of Chicago. It was found around 7:00 a.m. (CDT). Police searched the vehicle as it matched the description of the SUV sought in connection with the murder, kidnapping. Police have detained and questioned several people, and some reports say that includes William Balfour, who police previous thought to have kidnapped King. Reports say he is Julia's ex-boyfriend, having since been separated. Police deny that he is a suspect in either the murders or kidnapping and will not confirm or deny if he is or was in custody. So far no charges have been filed against anyone for the crimes.
The row is seen by some as Gen Musharraf's biggest challenge Iftikhar Chaudhry was suspended by the president in March amid claims of corruption, but the Supreme Court on Friday quashed all charges. Mr Chaudhry has now become a focus of opposition to Gen Musharraf. Gen Musharraf, who seized power in 1999, is facing mounting criticism of his rule and a wave of violence. "The president respects the decision of the Supreme Court," Gen Musharraf's spokesman was quoted as saying by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan. "The president has stated earlier that any judgement the Supreme Court arrives at will be honoured, respected and adhered to," the spokesman said. The government also said the case had no political motive. Jubilant crowds On Friday, the Supreme Court judges ruled by 10 votes to three to quash all charges against Mr Chaudhry, calling his suspension "illegal". Delivering the court's verdict, presiding Judge Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday said: "The reference [against Mr Chaudhry] has been set aside and the chief justice has been reinstated." Lawyers applauded the ruling as it was read out, and jubilant crowds outside the court shouted chants of "Go Musharraf, go". Mr Chaudhry's lawyer, Aitzaz Ahsan, told reporters: "He has been restored and it is a victory for the entire nation." Judge Chaudhry is a staunch opponent of Gen Musharraf Officials alleged that several people had complained to the president that Mr Chaudhry had misused his office and received favours. In particular, he was alleged to have procured a top police job for his son. But critics say the government has not shown similar zeal in pursuing more serious charges - such as financial embezzlement and property fraud - against other top judges. They have been accusing the president of plotting to remove an independent-minded judge to forestall legal challenges to his plan to ask parliament for another five-year term in office. Mr Chaudhry's suspension in March triggered mass protests. He has become a highly controversial figure in recent months as he has toured the country. Although he has not directly criticised Gen Musharraf, his campaign road show has definitely taken on the feel of a political campaign, the BBC's Dan Isaacs in Islamabad says. The judicial crisis has been overshadowed by the recent siege of Islamabad's radical Red Mosque and a spate of bombings that have killed scores of people. \|\|\|\|\| "If someone takes the machines away or makes the data disappear then where will we go?" asks Shahid Khaqan Abbasi \|\|\|\|\| Chaudhry assumes office, lawyers welcome landmark verdict Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry today assumed charge of his office, a day after his reinstatement through a landmark judgment of 13-member bench of the apex court. Islamabad, July 21 : Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry today assumed charge of his office, a day after his reinstatement through a landmark judgment of 13-member bench of the apex court. A large number of lawyers reached to the official residence of the chief justice here and congratulated him. After his reinstatement, the national flag and the flag of the Supreme Court of Pakistan were hoisted at the residence of the chief justice here. The chief justice in his brief comment on the verdict said: "I am thankful to Almighty Allah." He signed a notification to assume his office, which says: "Consequent upon the decision of the 13-member bench, I have assumed the charge of my office." After the verdict on Friday, the people were overwhelmed with jubilation. Lawyers and other people embraced each other and distributed sweets. The workers of political parties were also took to streets. The lawyers in Lahore and other cities of Punjab were overwhelmed with jubilation. The Peshsawar High Court Bar Association organized a torch-bearing procession. In Sindh lawyers and other people welcome enthusiastically the landmark judgment, offered thanksgiving prayers and distributed sweets. On Saturday, the apex court's senior judge, Mr. Justice Rana Bhagwan Das called on Chaudhry at his residence and offered his felicitations. Both also exchanged views on different matters. Justice Rana Bhagwan Das was officiating as the Acting Chief Justice following the filing of the March 9 presidential reference against Chaudhry. ANI \|\|\|\|\| By M Ilyas Khan BBC News, Karachi Judge Chaudhry had faced accusations of abuse of power Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was suspended by President Pervez Musharraf in March, facing charges of misconduct and abuse of powers. The case was dealt with by his fellow judges. Now they have restored the chief justice with full powers. The government's response has been one of passive acquiescence. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the government would abide by the court's verdict. Absence The judgement came on a day which - in other respects - was unusually quiet. For the first time since the bloody military operation against the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad this month, there was no major bomb attack reported anywhere in the country. And all the political and civil society activists who usually flocked to the courts in their thousands during the proceedings against Mr Chaudhry were conspicuous by their absence. We promised the people that we are fighting for the rule of law, and we will see to it that the movement comes to its logical end Ahsan Bhawan, lawyer It appears the political parties issued no calls to their workers to converge on the Supreme Court. Most people stayed away due to the fear of a bomb attack. It was only three days ago that 15 people were killed at a rally in Islamabad that the judge was due to address. But more than 1,000 lawyers who attended the court were ecstatic following the announcement of the verdict. They chanted the now traditional cry of "Go Musharraf go", but this time more in euphoria than anger. Legal experts are of the opinion that the judgement marks a watershed in Pakistan's legal history and will have far reaching implications for the rule of law in the country. "The country has been reborn today," said an emotionally charged Ali Ahmad Kurd, one of the lawyers who represented the chief justice. "Until today it was a body without a soul." The message for the government of Gen Musharraf is not even remotely comforting. "The court has completely demolished the government's case and has put an uncomfortable question mark on its moral standing," says Wasim Ahmad Shah, a legal affairs correspondent who works for Dawn newspaper. "In coming days, the government will find it increasingly difficult to deny that it tried to get rid of a constitutional office holder with malafide intentions." There are already calls on the president to apologise, to resign, or at least to explain to the nation that his action of 9 March was in good faith. Undercutting the government's moral standing is an increasingly assertive movement of lawyers which has just tasted its first triumph. "This is not the end, but the beginning of our movement," says Ahsan Bhawan, the president of the Lahore Bar Association. "We promised the people that we are fighting for the rule of law, and we will see to it that the movement comes to its logical end. We are entering a new phase of our campaign today." United force Lawyers' groups have been active in their opposition to the military government since October 1999, when Gen Musharraf captured power in a bloodless coup. But the sacking of the chief justice catapulted them into a united force to which also galvanised several opposition political groups and civil society activists, thereby creating a wider movement against the government. A bomb blast in Islamabad on Tuesday left 15 dead Observers feel that the reinstated chief justice is likely to emerge as more powerful than he was before 9 March. "For the first time in the history of the country, we have a chief justice who knows that the lawyers stand united behind him, and that the wider public supports him," says Wasim Shah. But this is also likely to keep him under pressure when it comes to handing down judgements on such controversial questions as the re-election of Gen Musharraf, observers say. Gen Musharraf declared recently that he would like to be re-elected from the present parliament, whose term comes to an end in November, and that he would also like to remain as the army chief. The opposition groups and the lawyers believe both these steps are unconstitutional, and are likely to challenge them in the Supreme Court in coming days and weeks. Chief Justice Chaudhry demonstrated himself to be an independent minded judge before 9 March when he delivered several judgements that went against the government. He reversed the privatisation of a steel mills which was ordered by the prime minister, and forced the intelligence agencies to declare the whereabouts of dozens of political activists who were being kept in "undeclared" custody. Problems multiplied Many observers believe he was suspended by Gen Musharraf, anticipating court cases concerning his re-election and whether he is entitled to be both president and head of the army, because he wanted a more pliable judge in his place. He clearly has not got what he wanted. And in the meantime Gen Musharraf's problems have multiplied. Since the beginning of July, his government has been facing a maddening rush from Islamist suicide bombers who are ostensibly out to avenge the Islamabad Red Mosque bloodbath. More than 100 people, most of them military personnel, have been killed in such attacks in northern Pakistan, threatening anarchy in the region. And his efforts to strike a deal with the largest opposition party of the country, the Pakistan Peoples Party, have borne no fruit so far. As such, the devastating blow from the Supreme Court could not have come at a worse time. And it has brought a "reincarnated" Justice Chaudhry to the helm in an area which alone can offer legal backing for Gen Musharraf's future ambitions. His only other course may be to suspend the constitution and declare an emergency in the country.	Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry The 13 member larger bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan reinstated Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as Chief Justice of Pakistan on Friday through a short order. The verdict was reached 10 to 3 in favor of Justice Chaudhry. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry through a panel of senior lawyers headed by Barrister Aitezaz Ahsan filed a constitutional petition challenging his suspension as Chief Justice of Pakistan by President General Pervez Musharraf on March 9 this year. Musharraf has indicated that he will accept the court's decision. The Pakistani lawyer community hailed the decision of the court. The Peshsawar High Court Bar Association organized even organized a procession as a mark of celebrations. Chaudhry, an opponent of Musharraf, had been accused of abuse of power but the charges were quashed by the court's decision, seen as a blow to Musharraf's government.
A political crisis in Somalia deepened on Monday as parliament voted against the president’s attempt to sack his prime minister as his enfeebled government struggles to cling power. President Abdullahi Yusuf said on Sunday that he wanted to dismiss Nur Hassan Hussein, the prime minister, following a dispute over the creation of a new cabinet. But parliament, which would need to authorise his dismissal, voted on Monday to keep Mr Hussein in office. The country’s interim government has never established any authority and is threatened by Islamist insurgents, pirates and the imminent withdrawal of its African military backers. Jean Ping, chairman of the African Union commission, said late on Sunday the prime minister’s dismissal would undermine efforts to bring peace to Somalia, which has been decimated by nearly two decades of conflict. “The chairperson ... urges [the president and prime minister] to overcome the internecine divisions that are consuming their energy, in order to meet the daunting challenges confronting their country,” said a statement from the AU. Mr Yusuf, a former warlord, has clashed repeatedly with Mr Hussein, who was installed as prime minister in November 2007 to replace a predecessor who was also fired. The president has prioritised security issues and displayed little interest in reconciliation with his foes. Mr Hussein, however, won praise from the west and UN for securing a peace deal in Djibouti in August with some of the government’s moderate Islamist enemies. On the attempted sacking, Roger Middleton, a consultant researcher at Chatham House, a UK think-tank, said: “This has the hallmarks of a last desperate attempt by the president to claw back his position and something for himself. But I can’t see it working.” A surge in piracy off the Somali coast has drawn international attention back to the country but Islamists have seized control of most of south and central Somalia and Ethiopia is preparing to withdraw troops it had sent to protect the enfeebled interim government. The Ethiopian withdrawal before the end of this year could leave the government fatally exposed to Islamist hardliners who continue to attack it, including the al-Shabaab group said by the US to be linked to al-Qaeda. Mr Middleton said that threat was preoccupying the president. “If you have a new prime minister who is less likely to compromise, then it makes it harder to achieve a diplomatic or political solution. Perhaps his calculation is that the international community would then have to support him militarily,” he said. Mr Yusuf’s government and Addis Ababa have urged the deployment of a UN “stabilisation” force in Somalia to take over from the Ethiopians and ill-equipped African Union troops. The UN Security Council is due to debate Somalia and piracy on Tuesday but diplomats said there was little hope that it would send a UN military force to the country. Some also express doubt over whether Ethiopia will withdraw. One western diplomat who follows Somalia said donors had told the president previously: “If he sacks the prime minister and destroys the Djibouti [peace] agreement then the international community will reconsider its support, perhaps focusing only on humanitarian aid.” \|\|\|\|\| Parliamentary support for Hussein, right, comes after moves by Ahmed to remove him [AFP] Parliamentary support for Hussein, right, comes after moves by Ahmed to remove him [AFP] Member of parliament on Monday voted strongly in favour of keeping Hussein and his cabinet in office, going against the demand by Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed that the prime minister be removed. Somalia's parliament has given its backing to the transitional government of Nur Hassan Hussein, the country’s prime minister, a day after the president moved to dismiss him. "143 MPs recognised the existence of the government, 20 rejected it and 7 abstained," Aden Mohamed Nur, the parliamentary speaker, said a special parliament session in Baidoa. "Therefore the government of Nur Adde [Hassan Hussein] is legitimate," he said. Hussein, who became Somalia’s prime minister in November 2007, has in the last few months been in dispute with Yusuf over efforts towards a peace deal with the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), the country’s main opposition group. Yusuf compliant Yusuf said on Sunday that his move to sack Hussein and the entire cabinet was because the country was mired in instability. The president needs parliament's approval to sack the prime minister, the Somali transitional government's federal charter says. "It was difficult to work with the president, who disapproved of the peace process," Hussein said before the vote. "The president was interfering with the activities of the prime minister and parliament. "It is up to parliament to make a decision in order to save the transitional federal institutions and the rule of law." Yusuf said on Monday that he would not try to undermine the parliament's decision. 'Peace effort threatened' Hussein on Sunday said that the Yusuf had tried to destroy a UN-sponsored reconciliation process between the transitional federal government (TFG) and the ARS. "The president abused the power of his office and undermined the legitimacy of parliament ... The president was attempting to sabotage peace efforts between TFG and the ARS," Hussein said. Jean Ping, the African Union Commission chairman, said that disputes within the transitional federal government could derail peace efforts. Yusuf's move to sack Hussein "has the potential of undermining the sustained efforts being made by the AU, IGAD and the larger international community, including the United Nations, to further reconciliation, peace, and stability in Somalia", the AU said in a statement. IGAD is the Inter-Government Authority on Development, an organisation which has been involved in peace negotiations in Somalia and in the setting up of the country’s transitional institutions. No-trust vote The latest parliamentary vote in favour of Hussein comes three months after he survived a vote of no-confidence in the wake of accusation that he had embezzled state funds. The transitional government, which is based in Baidoa, has struggled to exert its influence across the rest of the country since it was established in 2004. Somalia has been without an effective government since the overthrow of president Mohamed Siad Barre in January 1991 by rebel forces. \|\|\|\|\| 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. \|\|\|\|\| Somali Parliament Backs Prime Minister Somali PM Nur Hassan Hussein Somalia's parliament has given Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein a strong vote of confidence, a day after the president said he was firing him. In a special session Monday, lawmakers voted 143 to 20 with seven abstentions to keep Mr. Hussein in office. There was no immediate reaction from President Abdullahi Yusuf, who told VOA Somali service on Sunday that he would abide by parliament's decision. Earlier Sunday, the president accused Mr. Hussein and his ministers of corruption, inefficiency, and treason. The power struggle raises new questions about the future of the Somali government as it struggles with a rising Islamist insurgency. In a statement, African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping says the dispute could undermine efforts to stabilize Somalia and establish peace. The government recently reached a peace deal with a moderate Islamist group, the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia. But hardline Islamists rejected the deal and have continued taking over towns in the country's center and south. On Sunday, a spokesman for the leading insurgent group al-Shabab told reporters his group wants to impose Islamic law in Somalia, and will never accept a power-sharing deal. Fighting over the last two years, involving Ethiopian-backed government forces and a variety of Islamist groups, has killed thousands of Somalis and displaced at least a million others. Ethiopia has said it will pull its troops within a few weeks. Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP. Somalia's parliament has given Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein a strong vote of confidence, a day after the president said he was firing him.In a special session Monday, lawmakers voted 143 to 20 with seven abstentions to keep Mr. Hussein in office.There was no immediate reaction from President Abdullahi Yusuf, who told VOA Somali service on Sunday that he would abide by parliament's decision.Earlier Sunday, the president accused Mr. Hussein and his ministers of corruption, inefficiency, and treason.The power struggle raises new questions about the future of the Somali government as it struggles with a rising Islamist insurgency.In a statement, African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping says the dispute could undermine efforts to stabilize Somalia and establish peace.The government recently reached a peace deal with a moderate Islamist group, the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia. But hardline Islamists rejected the deal and have continued taking over towns in the country's center and south.On Sunday, a spokesman for the leading insurgent group al-Shabab told reporters his group wants to impose Islamic law in Somalia, and will never accept a power-sharing deal.Fighting over the last two years, involving Ethiopian-backed government forces and a variety of Islamist groups, has killed thousands of Somalis and displaced at least a million others.Ethiopia has said it will pull its troops within a few weeks. \|\|\|\|\| NAIROBI, Kenya The president of Somalia announced Sunday that he was unilaterally firing the prime minister, throwing Somalia’s beleaguered government, and the nation itself, into further disarray. President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, a warlord in his 70s who has been steadily marginalized for several months because he is widely seen as an obstacle to peace, said he was dismissing Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, a former aid official, because the government had “failed to accomplish its duties.” But it is not even clear that the president has the authority to do this. According to the transitional government’s charter, only Parliament can hire or fire the prime minister. And most analysts believe Parliament a fractious, unpredictable group that is dominated by former warlords actually supports the prime minister, which means a high-level showdown may be coming next. Mr. Nur said he was not going anywhere. On Sunday, he insisted the president had no right to fire him and that only “Parliament has the authority to sack the government.”	Somalia's overwhelmingly voted Monday to keep as their prime minister, blocking President 's attempt at dismissing the prime minister and his "corrupt, inefficient" government. President Yusuf announced his motion to dismiss Hussein on Sunday, saying his government was "unable to perform its duties" in matters such as dealing with the Islamic militants who have taken over most of the country. The latest dispute between the two involved efforts to reconcile with the (ARS), the country's main opposition group. The UN-sponsored peace process has been decried by Yusuf as dealing with terrorists. Hussein countered that the president had no authority to strip the prime minister of his post, and that the transitional federal charter required the approval of parliament for such an action. "The president was speaking in his usual personal capacity, contrary to the rules and regulations," Hussein said prior to the special parliamentary session in . Despite Yusuf's hope that the parliament would endorse his decision, members of parliament were strongly supportive of Hussein's government, with 143 members recognizing the government's legitimacy, 20 rejecting its legitimacy and 7 abstaining. "Therefore the government of Hassan Hussein is legitimate," said , the parliamentary speaker. Hussein, whom Yusuf appointed little more than a year ago after the resignation of , had previously survived a in September, when he faced accusations of embezzling state funds. "The only obstacle in front of my government was the president," Hussein told members of parliament after the vote, "and since I have the confidence of the MPs I hope it will be effective henceforth." Yusuf had no immediate comment on the vote, but he had previously stated he would comply with parliament's decision if they chose to block his dismissal. The relationship between the president and prime minister has grown increasingly strained over the issue of Islamic militancy. Yusuf has blamed the prime minister for the instability plaguing the politically fragile state, while Hussein has accused the president of trying to "sabotage" peace efforts between the transitional government and the ARS. Fighting between the Islamic opposition and Somali-backed troops from Ethiopia, the African Union, and the UN has killed thousands of Somalis and displaced millions. , chairman of the , said the dispute within the transitional government has the potential of undermining efforts for "further reconciliation, peace, and stability in Somalia." The UN also issued a statement condemning the dispute, and demonstrators gathered in the streets of Mogadishu to denounce the president's move. Although moderate Islamists from the ARS have agreed to enter into reconciliation talks, hardliner insurgents have rejected the attempts at peace and continue to take over towns in the central and northern regions of Somalia. Since the fall of the , organizations like Al-Shabaab have become leading insurgent groups. A spokesman for Al-Shabaab told reporters on Sunday that they intend to impose Sharia law on all of Somalia, and that a peace deal would never be accepted.
Telstra’s DC-HSPA+ upgrade promises extremely high-speed wireless broadband across much of Australia. As ever, capital city business types are the focus for its rollout, but how well does it perform in the rural areas which are suddenly the focus of national politics? Today I headed to Dubbo in the central west of NSW to find out. Broadband is clearly on people’s minds out here. Quite unprompted, my taxi driver offers his own definition of “the Australian version of broadband”: someone from the far west of the state driving to Dubbo to see their banker and their insurance agent and do their major shopping once every six months. Operating at a rather different pace, I’m on a lightning morning visit to Dubbo with the goal of testing just how well the new Ultimate USB device works far away from the CBD environments I usually inhabit (and to which it is initially being marketed). I’m travelling to a lot of places performing that task over the next two weeks, and Dubbo is perhaps the most remote. Despite that, it does appear on Telstra’s list of supported locations for DC-HSPA+, so I’m curious to see how well it performs. But even before the testing begins, it turns out that my taxi driver is something of a communications buff. He tells me where all the main mobile towers in town are located, and offers the bonus advice that if your mobile phone works at the South Dubbo Tavern, it will work pretty much anywhere. He’s also firmly in favour of wireless broadband to get higher speeds. The way he tells it, fibre has already been a failure. “They wired us all up with fibre but they couldn’t get the switching right,” he says. I don’t argue with him (arguing with taxi drivers is never wise unless it’s about where you live). I can’t help quietly wondering though if this is some confused blending of non-activated fibre being laid and Telstra not letting anyone into the local exchange for ADSL upgrades, as it has been known to do. What I do know about Dubbo’s communications infrastructure is that Telstra’s Next G mobile network it has recently been upgraded to allow DC-HSPA+, which potentially offers speeds of up to 20Mbps on the Ultimate USB (even if it rarely reaches those in practice). I also know that (unlike many other rural towns) Telstra doesn’t restrict its claim about its availability to the Dubbo CBD. So in the surrounds of the Orana Mall on the eastern side of the city, I sit down to see how well the connection works. The answer to that question is: rather well. In my mall tests (using Speedtest.net), I got a download speed of 6.7Mbps, and upload speed of 1.2Mbps. The connection I got at Dubbo Airport (on the opposite side of town) didn’t claim to be dual channel, but still managed 6.4Mbps and 1.95Mbps respectively. In both cases, it also stayed connected without dramas, which is just as important as raw speed. To put this into perspective: I got better performance from the Ultimate USB modem in a Dubbo shopping mall than I did in my own apartment in Sydney (3.56Mbps download/0.53Mbps upload). I also got better performance than I do from my wired ADSL connection (4.24Mbps upload/0.31Mbps download). And the speeds were slightly better than the Lifehacker offices in the Sydney CBD (6.15Mbps download/0.98Mbps upload), which is likely to be where a lot of these modems initially get sold. In other words: nobody’s getting 20Mbps, but Dubbo’s doing about as well as everybody else. A direct comparison isn’t entirely fair, of course. I almost certainly have more choices for ADSL2+ providers at my local exchange than most Dubbo residents, so I’ve got more options to start with. Telstra doesn’t claim that the area of Sydney where I live is specifically covered by the enhanced service, and I suspect the aged wiring in my unit block might be a restriction on my connection speeds that’s not going away in a hurry. Nor would it be fair to conclude that this means that wireless in general (or Next G in particular) would solve all our broadband woes cheaply and easily. It’s more than likely that I’m the only person utilising the improved network today, given the modems have only just been released and can’t be purchased unless you’re a large enterprise. If the same service was on offer to the 30,000-odd people who reside directly in Dubbo, I doubt I’d see the same performance. And that’s before taking into account the 100,000+ people in the wider area for whom Dubbo is the commercial centre. There’s no suggestion so far that DC-HSPA+ technology will be extended beyond Telstra’s current “50% of the population target”, though that could of course change once we have an election result. But there’d certainly need to be a few more towers to get to that goal. My taxi driver unwittingly undermined his own pro-wireless enthusiasm when he acknowledged that fact: “Of course, the average mobile phone can’t throw a signal more than about four blocks.” A single-focus modem might do a little better, but there’s clearly a lot of work to be done. Nonetheless, the fact that the network performed so well at this stage shows that rural Australia doesn’t automatically have to be a broadband backwater. Whether it can manage that in other states and locations is something I’ll be testing over the next couple of weeks. \|\|\|\|\| Telstra's 42 Mbps modem. Photo: Telstra supplied Telstra doubled the speeds of its Next G network but delayed its announcement for a week after the election campaign, fearing it may "influence the debate" between the independents who are deciding who will govern the country. The telecommunications company yesterday launched a 42 megabits per second (Mbps) USB wireless modem capable of typical user speeds of between 1.1 and 20 Mbps in selected areas. Upload speeds vary from anywhere between 0.3 and 3 Mbps. The previous modems were capable of 21 Mbps peak speeds, half that of the new modems. Real-world download speeds were between 0.5 Mbps and 8 Mbps. To put this into some perspective, the new wireless modem, if operating at full real-world speeds, allows users to download a 3 megabyte song three times faster. It will now download in 1.2 seconds instead of 3 using the new modem. For movies, which are of a greater file size, it will be much more noticeable. Broadband was a key policy difference between the parties during the election campaign and it is also shaping up as one of the concerns of the country MPs who are deciding who will form the next government. Telstra's speed bump could be interpreted by some as supporting the Coalition's claims that existing wireless networks could be substitutes for Labor's more expensive fibre-to-the-home proposal. “We just didn’t want to feel like we were influencing the [telecommunications] debate,” Telstra spokesman Craig Middleton said of the announcement timing, which was delayed from 25 August. The dual-carrier technology used will cover approximately 50 per cent of the population at launch. It allows networks to send and receive wireless data using two channels simultaneously If elected, the Labor government plans to spend $43 billion on a nationwide fibre network supporting speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second, whereas the Coalition would spend $6 billion on a mishmash of technologies that would include upgrading existing copper networks and more wireless to support 12 megabits per second peak baseline speeds. Opposition leader Tony Abbott has said in the past that Australians shouldn’t assume wireless technologies won’t ever be comparable to fixed-line technology. Telstra's upgrade shows that wireless broadband is creeping up to the 100 Mbps minimum speeds promised by Labor's national broadband network. ZDNet reported that Telstra said its new service shouldn't be seen as a substitute for Labor's National Broadband Network. In a video presentation, Telstra wireless engineer Jared King tested the speed of the network using the device in various locations around Melbourne. In one test at the top of the Eureka Skydeck - Melbourne’s tallest building - King was able to achieve speeds of around 24 Mbps down. That speed is comparable to fixed-line ADSL2+ speeds currently available in homes today. Telstra currently has only 2000 devices capable of the new speeds in the country and is only at first giving its business customers the opportunity to put them through their paces. Come October 5 the device will be available outright for $299. Business customers will be able to purchase it on a $69 plan over 24 months with 6 gigabytes of included data allowance. Consumer plans would be similar when launched later this year, company representatives said. The speed boost wouldn't appear in mobile handsets for a couple of years, they said. The author of this article is on Twitter: @bengrubb \|\|\|\|\| CORPORATE and business customers on Telstra's Next G wireless broadband network could soon be downloading files at twice their current speeds. Telstra will upgrade on the network using dual-channel technology, which allows carriers to use two channels simultaneously on select mobile base towers to achieve peak download speeds of up to 42 megabits per second. But real speeds are more likely to range from 1.1Mbps to 20Mbps, less than half the advertised speed, according to Telstra executive director of wireless Mike Wright. Upload speeds range from 300 kilobits per second to 3Mbps. "It's possible to achieve better than the typical user speed claims, but those claims occur in the ideal network environment with good signal quality. When you're out on the streets you get a lot of variation where the network is subject to signal quality, your location and the network load," Mr Wright said. Telstra was due to announce the speed boost last week, but delayed the announcement so it would not been seen as interfering in the election, in which broadband was a key theme. The upgrade will cover about 50 per cent of the population, with all capital CBDs receiving the speed boost while another 100 regional centres -- including Wollongong in NSW, Bendigo in Victoria and Townsville in Queensland -- will get speed increases of 500Kbps to 8Mbps. Download speeds fall to between 500Kbps and 3Mbps for customers outside the CBDs and nominated regional centres. Mr Wright said Telstra would try to extend availability of the speed increase as demand rose. The peak download speed increase, from 21Mbps to 42Mbps, was made possible by a software upgrade to Telstra's Next G network in February. The upgrade was achieved with network partner Ericsson, with Qualcomm and Sierra Wireless joining to deliver a HSPA+ Dual Carrier chipset and device. At present, the upgrade is only available to Telstra business, enterprise and government customers who buy and use the telco's Ultimate USB modem. Telstra is expecting 42Mbps-compatible PDAs and handsets to be available in the coming year. The telco has released the Ultimate USB modem for $299 outright or $0 on a 24-month contract at $69 a month, including 6GB of download data. Those prices could drop in the year ahead as the telco invests to chase and keep more customers. Meanwhile, Vodafone Hutchison Australia has more than doubled the data download on most of its mobile cap plans. Customers on VHA's $29 consumer plan have had their data quota increased from 50MB to 200MB. Those on a $49 plan have had the 500MB quota tripled to 1.5GB. \|\|\|\|\| By Stuart Corner Business IT - Networking Page 1 of 2 Telstra has become the first telco in the world to launch dual carrier HSPA+ services offering downstream speeds up to a theoretical maximum of 42Mbps. The service is presently available in all capital city CBDs [to within 5km of the CBD] and selected metropolitan areas, associated airports and in more than 100 regional locations. (Telstra's web page devoted to the new service has a link to a list of all areas where the service is available, but the link was not working at the time of writing.)Telstra is quoting "typical" downstream bandwidths in the range 1.Mbps to 20Mbps. A Telstra video showed the modem delivering around 10Mbps in a number of locations in the Melbourne CBD and iTWire was able to obtain 10Mbps from our office in the inner Sydney suburb of Enmore.(This was achieved using speedtest.net and a server in Canberra operated by AussieHQ Interestingly the other two available nearby servers, operated by Optus in Melbourne and Sydney, delivered less than half this speed).The service is being offered at the same price as current Next G broadband services (the modem is available at $0 on a $69 per month 6GB contract, or can be bought for $299). However because of a shortage of supply of the modems, they are being offered initially only to Telstra Enterprise And Government and Telstra Business customers with account managers.Mike Wright, Telstra's executive director of networks and access technologies, said Telstra had at present only 2000 of the modems, dubbed the Telstra Ultimate USB Modem, but was expecting more shortly. "There is another shipment coming in late September and from then and after that we will have the supply to meet demand forecasts."He added that, like previous HSPA services launched on Next G, the new service and delivery of the new modem had been made possible only through close co-operation between Telstra, network supplier Ericsson, chipmaker Qualcomm and modem manufacturer, Sierra Wireless. \|\|\|\|\| About Telstra Enter Keywords Select Start Date January February March April May June July August September October November December 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Select End Date January February March April May June July August September October November December 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 WORLD FIRST: Mobile broadband boost puts Australia on top of the world Media Release 30 August 2010 Prev - Next Australia's fastest mobile broadband modem - The Telstra Ultimate USB Download Hi-res JPG (290KB) The Telstra Ultimate USB modem side view Download Hi-res JPG (427KB) The Telstra Ultimate USB delivers typical download speeds of up to 20Mbps Download Hi-res JPG (737KB) Three generations of mobile broadband device from Telstra Download Hi-res JPG (413KB) Pricing and availability for business customers * Capital CBD's means within 5km from the GPO in each capital city. Outside the selected areas, the remaining metropolitan areas of all capitals cities and many other regional and rural locations support typical download speeds from 550kbps to 8Mbps, and elsewhere typical speeds are from 550kbps to 3Mbps. Actual speeds vary due to factors such as distance from the base station, local conditions, user numbers, hardware and software configuration, download source and other factors. See Telstra for details of locations. See the Ultimate USB in action (video): Australians now have access to the world’s fastest national mobile broadband service with the launch today of the Telstra Ultimate™ USB Modem across Australia’s capital city CBDs and associated airports, selected metropolitan hubs and more than 100 regional centres.With typical download speeds ranging from 1.1Mbps to 20Mbps in the these selected areas, the Telstra Ultimate™ USB is up to twice as fast as Telstra’s current fastest Next G™ modem.Two thousand devices have launched today for Telstra business customers, before the widespread launch of the Ultimate USB Modem later this year.“Australians are telling us they can’t afford to be tied to the desk all day and these new speeds mean they can now access mobile broadband at speeds typically reserved for the office,” Telstra Business Group Managing Director, Deena Shiff said.“We have been deploying the high-speed capability in the network since December 2009 and now, with the launch of the new Ultimate USB Modem, these new speeds are available to customers across all capital city CBDs and associated airports, selected metropolitan areas and in more than 100 regional locations.“These high-speed zones cover approximately 50 per cent of the Australian population and match the areas of highest customer demand and will make the frustration of waiting around for files to download a thing of the past.“In other metropolitan and regional areas, the Telstra Ultimate USB Modem offers typical download speeds ranging from 550kbps up to 8Mbps, which is still significantly faster than Telstra’s mobile broadband competitors.”Ms Shiff said the new speeds had the potential to increase how and where our small and large business customers work – boosting productivity in the process.“Our customers have told us that they want higher speed mobile broadband so they can work more flexibly outside of the office and we are delighted to be the first in the world to offer these new blistering speeds on a national network.”“The new Telstra Ultimate USB Modem provides customers with the speeds needed to handle large files, multitask and update cloud-hosted applications effortlessly on the go when they are in a coverage area.”The Telstra Ultimate™ USB Modem is the latest jump in mobile broadband technology to be made available on Australia’s largest and fastest national mobile broadband network – the Telstra Next G™ network.The Telstra Ultimate™ USB is the world’s first commercial USB modem to use a new generation of mobile broadband technology called dual channel HSPA+. The modem and enabling network technology was developed in collaboration with leading technology companies Ericsson, Qualcomm and Sierra Wireless.The Telstra Ultimate™ USB can be purchased in conjunction with a range of mobile broadband plans including for $0 upfront with a $69 plan over 24 months (minimum total cost $1,656) or, from 5 October, outright for $299. It is available from 25 August through Telstra Business and Telstra Enterprise & Government account managers.For more information, including Ultimate speed coverage areas, visit: www.telstra.com/business/ultimate Media contact: Craig Middleton 0400 931 772 Reference Number: 309/2010	Telstra logo. On Monday, Australian telecommunications company Telstra has introduced dual carrier standard for broadband Internet business customers in the network. This is the first time this technology is being introduced on national scale. The bandwidths the users can deploy increased into two to three times, with Telstra becoming the world’s fastest national mobile broadband service. The switch started with enabling the service for premium users. After some feedback, Telstra may expand the plan. === Introduction === The higher speeds for wireless are intended to simplify and ease multitasking of users. John Paitaridis, Telstra's executive director, network products and services in Enterprise & Government, said "One of the reasons we decided to launch first to Enterprise And Government and Business customers is that clients are saying that their ability to access applications quicker makes a difference to their business and when they start to equate time savings and doing calculations around productivity it does become a return on investment." Telstra Business Group Managing Director Deena Shiff also stated that the efforts aren't as sudden as it might seem, having feedback of many users as the base. === Technology === Telstra GSM and NextG mobile phone tower Previous modems were able to reach peak speed 21Mbps, with real life speeds ranging from 0.5Mbps to 8 Mbps. The theoretically expected maximum of the new technology is 42Mbps with user speeds varying between 1.1 and 20 Mbps. The new speed is twice as fast. This is caused by that the dual-carrier "Evolved High-Speed Packet Access" technology allows networks to send and receive wireless data using two channels simultaneously. This technology can be deployed on Next G networks. Telstra switched to them in February, thus making the switch to HSPA possible now. === Election campaign === Tony Abbott in 2010. Telstra delayed the implementation of the new technology until elections end. This decision was intended to avoid wrong interpretation of them by . Coalition's claims include that wireless networks can be an alternative to the "''fibre-to-the-home''" proposal to introduce more expensive wired Internet. The announcement of the new technology, initially planned on August 25, was delayed, with Telstra spokesman Craig Middleton explaining, "We just didn't want to feel like we were influencing the telecommunications debate." The political parties have different plans on development and funds on the Internet. The Labor party aims to spend AUD 43 billion to bring 1 Gbps wired Internet nationwide, and the Coalition plans to spend AUD 6 billion to introduce a variety of improvements including upgrade of existing copper Internet as well as expansion of wireless Internet to support 12Mbps. Opposition leader Tony Abbott has said in the past that Australians shouldn’t assume wireless technologies won’t ever be comparable to fixed-line technology. Telstra's upgrade shows that wireless broadband is reaching the 100 Mbps minimum speeds promised by Labor's national broadband network. === Distribution === A NextG Telstra wireless USB modem Telstra has only 2000 devices which support the new technology. This is why the opportunity to try it out is being given only to the Business plan customers, and they receive it for the same price as they were paying for the previous NextG plan. Since October 5, the device will be available for sale, with the Business customers able to buy it with 75% discount and a prepaid data allowance. The upgrade is expected to cover roughly 50% of the population. This is happening at the same time as one of Telstra's competitors is doubling data download quotas on mobile cap plans. As some testing showed, real life download speeds reached only about the half of the maximum. Telstra executive director of wireless Mike Wright explained that the predicted figures were the estimates, with real life speeds lower due to interfering environmental conditions: "It's possible to achieve better than the typical user speed claims, but those claims occur in the ideal network environment with good signal quality. When you're out on the streets you get a lot of variation where the network is subject to signal quality, your location and the network load."
Indonesia threatens to close Adam Air in 3 weeks; airline has defaulted on debt payments JAKARTA, Indonesia: Indonesia threatened Monday to close low-cost carrier Adam Air after two of its largest shareholders announced plans to pull out of the beleaguered company. The airline has defaulted on debt payments to airplane leasing companies, which has forced the company to ground 12 of its 22 planes, said Adam Suherman, whose family together with Sandra Ang owns a 50 percent stake. Transportation Minister Jusman Djamal said the airline, which already has sliced its number of routes from 52 to 12 — has three weeks to prove it is economically viable. If it cannot meet its financial obligations, he said, "its operating license will be revoked." No specific conditions were released to the media. "We have defaulted and the investors have done nothing about it," he told The Associated Press. "We'll continue to operate as long as we have planes," said Suherman. He said there were no plans to file for bankruptcy. Global Transport Service or (GTS) and Bright Star Perkasa — which together control the other 50 percent stake in Adam Air — said Monday they decided to sell their shares back to the owner citing financial mismanagement. Adam Air's "life expectancy is less than a month," said GTS director Gustiono Kustianto. The airline has outstanding debt of US$14 million to aircraft leasing companies and free capital of just US$4.8 million, he said. GTS bought into Adam Air last year for US$17 million, when it was suffering capital problems after the deadly New Year's Day crash in the sea off the coast of Sulawesi island. Kustianto claimed the founding owners have agreed to gradually buy the shares back for US$11 million. Adam Air has had a string of accidents in just over a year, including the plunging of a jetliner into the sea from 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) that killed all 102 people on board. The cause of that crash has not yet been determined. Last week, a Boeing 737-400 skidded off a runway while landing in heavy rain, injuring five people and badly damaging the aircraft. "Since we joined, our priority has been safety" and Adam Air's management has ignored a push by its new investors to improve, Kustianto said. \|\|\|\|\| Bhakti consortium pulls out of Adam Air over safety issues Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A consortium led by Indonesian investment company PT Bhakti Investama decided last week to pull out of domestic private airline Adam Air on disappointment over the latter's handling of safety issues, a company official said Monday."Any potential losses arising from the decision will be covered by Bhakti's founder, the family of Harry Tanoesoedibyo. So Bhakti itself will not incur any losses," Henry Suparman, investor relations official at Bhakti Investama, told Thomson Financial.Suparman did not cite any specific safety incident at Adam Air but said that after nearly one year of investing in Adam Air, Bhakti has not seen any significant progress in the airline's handling of safety issues.Indonesia's airline industry has seen a series of major accidents in recent years. Among the worst was when an Adam Air jet plunged into the sea off Sulawesi island on January 1, 2007, killing all 102 on board,"In the airline industry, safety is number one. We have placed our people in management but after one year we still did not see any improvement," Suparman said.Bhakti's wholly owned unit, PT Global Transport Service (GTS), together with Bright Star Perkasa, acquired a combined 50 percent stake in Adam Air last year. The founders of Adam Air, the Suherman family, still owns the other 50 percent.Suparman said the consortium's decision to withdraw from Adam Air was recommended by Gustiono Kustianto, president of Global Transport, who is also the vice president of Adam Air.Lawyer Marx Andryan, from the Hotman Paris Hutapea law firm which represents Global Transport and Bright Star, told Thomson Financial his clients have evidence to prove that Adam Air has not been prudently addressing safety issues such as in pilot recruitment, aircraft maintenance and insurance coverage."We also feel that the management is not transparent in disclosing Adam Air's financial condition," he said.Adam Air's founding family has agreed to buy back the shares from Global Transport and Bright Star, he said. (*) COPYRIGHT © 2008 Previous Stories \|\|\|\|\| (Adds new quotes from airline president) JAKARTA, March 17 (Reuters) - Indonesian budget carrier Adam Air may face temporary closure because a leasing firm seized more than half its fleet after the airline defaulted on payments, the airline's president said on Monday. Adam Air, which like all other Indonesian airlines has been banned by the European Union because of safety concerns, was forced to cut back several scheduled flights on Monday because it did not have enough aircraft, causing delays for some passengers. "Out of 22 planes, now we only have 10 because 12 of them have been declared in default. The other 10 have been declared in default as well, but I'm still trying to work out a way to restructure the payments," Adam Suherman, the airline's president director, told Reuters. Suherman later told reporters the firm needed a cash injection and faced a deadline later this week over insurance payments. "There is a possibility starting on March 21 Adam Air will temporarily cease operations until there is a decision from the shareholders regarding the insurance premium," Suherman said. "I have informed the shareholders that the company needs a cash injection," he added. PT Bhakti Investama Tbk BHIT.JK, an investment firm which indirectly owns 50 percent of Adam Air, will sell its stake in the airline back to Suherman, the founding shareholder, for 100 billion rupiah ($11 million), according to Hotman Paris Hutapea, a lawyer acting for Bhakti. In January 2007, an Adam Air plane crashed into the sea off Sulawesi island, with all 102 people on board presumed dead. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| Indonesia has grounded several airplanes of the low-cost carrier Adam Air after one of the company's Boeing 737-300s broke apart on landing. As Chad Bouchard reports from Jakarta, the incident is the latest in a string of transportation accidents in the country over the last two months. The Adam Air Boeing 737-300 jolted to a stop at an airport in Surabaya Wednesday, after landing hard enough to bend and crack the midsection of the jetliner's fuselage. Safety investigator Ertata Lananggalih says all 148 passengers are safe, but some sustained minor injuries. He says the weather was very bad at the time, and the pilot was forced to land in heavy rain. The flight arrived on schedule, but the fuselage gave way after the plane touched down on the tarmac. The government has ordered an investigation into the causes of the incident, but meanwhile, seven of Adam Air's 737-300s - nearly a third of the company's fleet - have been grounded until each airplane passes a safety inspection. This is the second serious incident involving an Adam Air jetliner this year, and some Indonesian lawmakers have called for the company to discontinue operations pending a full investigation of its maintenance practices. An Adam Air jetliner en route from Surabaya to Manado crashed into the sea during bad weather on January 1, killing all 102 people on board. No bodies have been recovered, and search teams have only found a few pieces of wreckage so far. Officials say the plane damaged this week was manufactured in 1994 and passed safety tests before departure from Jakarta. Lananggalih says investigators are still compiling data from the country's weather agency and from the air traffic control center in Surabaya. He says members of his team have interviewed the airplane's pilot, which may help to determine the cause of the incident. Indonesia has also seen maritime disasters over the past two months, including a shipwreck in late December that killed at least 400 people. Another shipwreck Thursday killed at least 15. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered a special commission to examine the country's transportation safety.	This B737-400 is roughly comparable to the aircraft involved in all the accidents mentioned in this story. Indonesian budget airline Adam Air has been given a three-week ultimatum by the authorities to prove its economic stability or its license will be revoked, said Transportation Minister Jusman Djamal. This is because major financial difficulties have become apparent today, with two major shareholders pulling out of the company. PT Global Transport Service (GTS) and Bright Star Perkasa, who between them own a 50% stake in the company, have decided to sell back all their shares to their original owners, who control the other 50%. These are the family of founder Adam Suherman and Sandra Ang. The companies invested in the airline last year, when the company was struggling after the New Year's Day disappearance of Adam Air Flight 574 with 102 on board. The Boeing 737 (B737) was ultimately determined to have crashed into the sea near Sulawesi, and all on board are presumed dead. Shortly afterwards, Adam Air Flight 172, another B737, snapped in half during a hard landing, but held together preventing fatalities. These were not the first serious accidents for the company, as in February 2006 Flight 782 became lost for several hours after navigation systems failed and the plane entered a radar blackspot, forcing a subsequent emergency landing many miles from the intended route. The given reasons for the withdrawal are a lack of improvement in safety and financial irregularities. The company has now also defaulted on debt payments to aircraft lease firms, resulting in 12 of their 22 planes being seized, and has cut the number of routes served from 52 to 12. The remaining ten planes are also in default and at risk of seizure. Adam Air owes leasing companies US$14 million compared to free capital of $4.8 million of free capital. They have agreed to buy back shares gradually for $11 million (100 billion rupiah), $6 million less than the investment firms paid for them. The cost difference will be borne by Harry Tanoesoedibyo's family, the founder of PT Bhakti Investama, of which GTS is a wholly owned subsidiary. The companies have also lost 157 billion rupiah worth of investment in the company since the April 2007 deal. 9,325 Rupiah are currently worth US$1. GTS director Gustiono Kustianto said that "Since we joined, our priority has been safety" but that Adam Air's management had been unresponsive to pressure from the new investors to improve its poor record. Last weeek another company B737 shot off the runway during landing, damaging the plane and injuring five. Lawyer Marx Andryan of Hotman Paris Hutapea, representing the investment firms, said they have documents proving the company has not adequatly seen to pilot recruitment, maintenance and insurance. Suherman said "We have defaulted and the investors have done nothing about it. We'll continue to operate as long as we have planes," adding that there are no current plans to declare bankruptcy. "Out of 22 planes, now we only have 10 because 12 of them have been declared in default. The other 10 have been declared in default as well, but I'm still trying to work out a way to restructure the payments," he told ''Reuters''. He went on to say that a cash injection is required, and that "There is a possibility starting on March 21 Adam Air will temporarily cease operations until there is a decision from the shareholders regarding the insurance premium."
(Xinhua) Updated: 2007-07-08 13:58 Investigators said Wednesday's karaoke bar explosion which claimed lives of 25 people in Benxi, northeast China's Liaoning Province, was caused by explosives secretly stored by the bar owner Qu Yijie. "After more than three days' efforts, we found self-ignition of the explosives led to the explosion," the investigators of the July 4 karaoke bar explosion concluded in a terse brochure made available to Xinhua Sunday. No more details were given. The explosion occurred at the Tianying karaoke bar in Tianshifu Township of Benxi Autonomous County of Manchu Nationality in Liaoning on Wednesday night, killing 25 people on the spot and injuring 41 more. The explosion also leveled the two-storey entertainment venue to the ground and damaged some nearby buildings. The 25 dead victims included the bar owner Qu Yijie - known locally as Qu Hua - his elder brother and his elder brother's wife, said Fu Qingbin, a spokesman for the Benxi county government. More than 10 teenage girls were celebrating a birthday for a 19-year-old girl Sun Bo, who worked at a nearby department store and most of them died in the blast, including Sun herself, Fu said. The victims also included a motorcycle driver and a truck driver who were passing the door of the KTV bar and a couple who owned a nearby carwash shop, he said. The relatives of the victims have been arranged to stay in local hotels, waiting to discuss the issue of compensation with local authorities. The 41 people injured in the blast are still being treated in local hospitals and are in a stable condition, local health authorities said. Four people suffered serious injuries, while 37 others suffered fractures, chest injuries and broken ribs, said a physician. One seriously wounded person has been transferred to Benxi City Central Hospital. The others are either in Benxi County No. 1 hospital or at a hospital in Tianshifu Township, said Jiang Yongcheng, deputy director of the Benxi County Health Bureau. A dozen medical experts have gone to Benxi County to help treat the victims. Police questioned the parlor owner's wife and some employees of the parlor in order to establish the cause of the fatal blast. \|\|\|\|\| JFK: A Vision for America Hardcover – Illustrated by Stephen Kennedy Smith, Douglas Brinkley Published in commemoration of the centennial of President John F. Kennedy’s birth, here is the definitive compendium of JFK’s most important and brilliant speeches, accompanied by commentary and reflections by leading American and international figures. Edited by JFK’s nephew Stephen Kennedy Smith and renowned historian Douglas Brinkley. Combined with over seven hundred documentary photos, it tells the story, in words and pictures, of JFK’s life and presidency, and depicts his compelling vision for America. JFK: A Vision for America Grit & Grind: 10 Principles For Living An Extraordinary Life Hardcover by Rhonda Vetere It's not WHAT challenges you face in life but HOW you face them that determines how fast you reach your goals. Rhonda Vetere, seasoned C-Suite technology veteran, knows firsthand that there's no such thing as a perfect, struggle-free life. In her work as a Global Technology Executive, she's faced down some of the biggest financial crises of modern times, and she knows it's not WHAT challenges you face in life but HOW you face them that matters. Grit & Grind uses real-life stories of how Vetere and her team navigate the volatile tech industry and illustrates a simple 10-part practice for building bone-deep confidence in your own abilities no matter what the challenge is. Grit & Grind: 10 Principles For Living An Extraordinary Life Pound The Stone: 7 Lessons To Develop Grit On The Path To Mastery Paperback by Joshua Medcalf Pound The Stone is the intense and inspiring story of a young man’s journey through the obstacles, defeats, and eventual victories that come while developing grit on the path to mastery. Told in the same engaging fable style as Chop Wood Carry Water, this is a deeper dive into the timeless principles that guide and inspire anyone who seeks greatness in life, and covers everything from true success, to the perfection trap, the value of failure, why courage is contagious, and why vulnerability can save your life. Pound The Stone will move and inspire you. Pound The Stone: 7 Lessons To Develop Grit On The Path To Mastery \|\|\|\|\| Your news how you want it. On the go and no time to finish that story right now? Your News is the place for you to save content to read later from any device. Register with us and content you save will appear here so you can access them to read later.	The Liaoning region of China More than a ton of TNT stored illegally in the basement of a karaoke bar caused the recent explosion that killed 25 people and injured 41 more in the north-eastern Chinese town of Tianshifu, news reports say. Qu Yujie or Yijie (known locally as Qu Hua), owner of the two-storey Tianying Karaoke Hall and Bath House which was levelled by the blast was amongst those killed. He was described as "a successful businessman" who owned a local colliery. Many residents of Tianshifu, where the blast occurred stated that he regularly used the basement of the building as a storage site for his explosives. His elder brother and his elder brother's wife were also among the deceased according to Benxi county government spokesman Fu Qingbin. As part of a short statement regarding investigative results made available to state news agency ''Xinhua'' on Sunday, the following conclusion as in to the cause of the disaster was given: "After more than three days' efforts, we found self-ignition of the explosives led to the explosion,". Reports state that there were many students celebrating the end of exams at the bar when the explosion occurred - eight teenage girls who were part of a group of 13 from a local department store celebrating a the 19th birthday of Sun Bo, including Bo herself, and several pedestrians outside the building were amongst the casualties of the disaster. The drivers of a truck and a motorcycle passing the building when it exploded were also killed, as were a couple who owned a car wash near to the site. The explosion also buried a number of cars under tons of concrete and blew out windows in nearby buildings. Police estimated that over a ton of TNT was required given the force of the explosion, and noted that the explosives had been manufactured by a factory in the local area. This was backed up by the ''Beijing News'' quoting an investigator as saying "The explosion was so powerful that there must have been about one tonne of explosives,". The coal mine the explosives were intended for is one of around 3-400 in the local area, which operate both legally with licences and illegally without. Detonators were also recovered from ground zero. Relatives of the deceased are currently being put up at local hotels in preparation for compensation discusions with the authorities. Of the 41 injured survivors, all are still being treated in local hospitals, four with "serious injuries" and the remaining 37 with "fractures, chest injuries and broken ribs", according to one physician. One person suffered injuries of a severity that required him to be taken to the Benxi City Central Hospital, while the rest are in either Benxi County No. 1 hospital or at a hospital in Tianshifu itself, according to deputy director of the Benxi County Health Bureau Jiang Yongcheng. A dozen extra medical experts have also gone to Benxi County to help treat the victims.
The adventurer was 63 when his plane disappeared in September 2007 DNA tests have confirmed two large bones found near the wreckage of a plane in California are those of US millionaire Steve Fossett, police say. The adventurer was 63 when he disappeared in September 2007 while on a solo flight from a Nevada ranch. The bones were found last Wednesday 0.5 miles (0.8km) east of a crash site in isolated eastern California. Fossett's shoes and driver's licence were also found. Both showed evidence of animal bite marks, police said. "A California Department of Justice Forensics lab has determined that items containing DNA - discovered last week - match James Stephen Fossett's DNA," said police coroners in California. Click here to see a map of the area Remains found The plane wreckage was located in a remote stretch of the Sierra Nevada mountains last month after a hiker handed items belonging to the record-breaking adventurer to police. SOME OF FOSSETT'S RECORDS 1998/2002: Long-distance for solo ballooning 2001/2002: Duration for solo ballooning 2002: First solo round-the-world balloon flight First balloon crossings of Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, South Atlantic, South Pacific, Indian Oceans Seven fastest speed sailing titles 13 World Sailing Speed Record Council titles 2001: Fastest transatlantic sailing 2004: Fastest round-the-world sailing Round-the-world titles for medium airplanes US transcontinental titles for non-military aircraft In pictures: Steve Fossett Profile: Steve Fossett Investigators flown to the crash site by helicopter said the single-engine Bellanca Super Decathlon seemed to have struck the mountainside head-on. Most of the fuselage had disintegrated, with engine parts scattered over a debris field stretching about 150ft (46m) by 400ft (122m). Madera County Sheriff John Anderson said Fossett would have died on impact, adding that it was not unusual for animals to drag away remains. The adventurer's widow, Peggy, described the discovery of the bones last week as "another step in the process of completing the investigation into the tragic accident that took Steve's life". Steve Fossett became the first person to circle the globe solo in a balloon in 2002 and had about 100 other world records to his name. For more than a year after he took off from the Nevada ranch there was no trace of him, despite an intensive search. He was declared legally dead earlier this year. But the hiker's discovery of his belongings last month triggered an aerial search of the area and the wreckage was found about 0.25 miles (0.4km) away. Click here to return Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Bones found last week near where Steve Fossett's plane crashed in eastern California's Sierra Nevadas are those of the adventurer, authorities said Monday. Fossett, seen here with his wife, Peggy, disappeared after a solo flight in 2007. Testing at California's state crime lab determined that "two large bones" recovered Wednesday matched Fossett's DNA, a spokeswoman for the Madera County Sheriff's Department in California said. Madera County Sheriff John Anderson said last week that confirmation that the bones were Fossett's would allow authorities to conclude with certainty that Fossett is dead. Fossett was last seen on the morning of September 3, 2007, when he took off from the Flying-M Ranch outside Minden, Nevada. He was scouting locations for an attempt to break the land-speed record in a rocket-propelled car. Searchers found the bones, Fossett's driver's license, a pair of shoes and a $100 bill on Wednesday, Anderson said last week. The discovery site was a little more than a half-mile from where Fossett's plane wreckage was found on October 1 in a remote area of the Sierra Nevadas at an altitude of 10,000 feet. See map showing takeoff site, crash site » The site of Wednesday's discovery also is about a quarter-mile from where a hiker reported finding two aviation identification cards with Fossett's name and $1,000 in cash in late September, Anderson said. Animal chew marks were found on the driver's license and the shoes, Anderson said. He said the marks indicate that "animals possibly [moved] the body." Previous DNA tests on what were believed to be bone fragments at and near the crash site showed that the fragments weren't human remains, Anderson said. The National Transportation Safety Board has been investigating the wreck. Fossett made his money in the financial services industry but became renowned for his daredevil exploits. Read about Fossett's milestones » Fossett was the first person to circle the globe solo in a balloon, in 2002, and the first to fly a plane around the world solo without refueling three years later. He also set world records in round-the-world sailing and cross-country skiing. All About Steve Fossett • U.S. National Transportation Safety Board	According to California's Madera County Sheriff's office, DNA tests performed on bones found at the site of a plane crash in October, are confirmed to be those of adventurer Steve Fossett. Steve Fossett in 2006 Image: NASA/Kim Shiflett The last known whereabouts of Fossett was on September 3, 2007. He had taken a small plane from a ranch in Minden, Nevada to search for a site to try and break the land-speed record. He had not been seen since and authorities feared his plane had crashed and he had died. "A California Department of Justice Forensics lab has determined that items containing DNA - discovered last week - match James Stephen Fossett's DNA," said the Sheriff's department in a statement. Items were found last week at his crash site in the Sierra Nevada Mountains along with his identification card, a one-hundred dollar bill, and a pair of shoes. A few bones believed to be his were found a short distance from the crash. Teeth marks were found in his ID card, leaving authorities to believe his body was moved by animals. Forensic investigators say Fossett would have died immediately on impact. In September, a hiker found other identification cards and money just under a mile from where authorities later found the wreckage of his plane on October 1.
A still from the famous 1967 Bigfoot film, which may or may not show a man in a gorilla suit. The much-anticipated Bigfoot press conference Friday afternoon in Palo Alto, Calif., revealed little more than two men — introduced by a self-styled Sasquatch seeker — claiming to possess the 7-foot "body" of a "bipedal creature" on ice in a secret location, awaiting an autopsy. The men, Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer, were joined in the press conference by Tom Biscardi, host of an Bigfoot Internet radio show, who said the men approached him with their "find," saying, "We want to talk to Tom Biscardi... They didn't want to meet anyone else." Biscardi showed reporters two blurry photos, claiming one was the mouth of the "creature" while the other was another creature running through the Georgia woods. The men claimed they "stumbled on the creature," but would not reveal more because they were concerned about it being an "endangered species." Biscardi reiterated his invitation to FOX News Channel anchor Megyn Kelly to come to Georgia and view the body, and plugged his Internet radio show. He said there wouldn't be anything more revealed Friday, but promised that he would "assemble" a group of scientists to examine the alleged corpse. Whitton recounted how he and Dyer found the "body," and said that more Bigfoots "paralleled" them as they were loading it onto a flatbed truck. Biscardi said Whitton and Dyer had gotten death threats from Sasquatch fanatics, whom Whitton deemed "psychos." None of this was likely to dissuade skeptics, even among Bigfoot experts, who questioned Biscardi's past ventures and noticed that the body in the freezer looked a lot like a Sasquatch Halloween costume available on the Internet . "It definitely looks like our costume," Jerry Parrino, owner of TheHorrorDome.com, told FOXNews.com. "This 'body' has little to do with Bigfoot and everything to do with a Sasquatch costume that someone developed after watching too many gorilla movies," warned Loren Coleman , who runs the influential Cryptomundo blog devoted to strange and unknown animals. "The teeth that seem to have been placed in the mouth could be my late mother's false teeth." "I've had interactions with Tom Biscardi in the past, and based on that history, I would say that anything he is involved in is suspect," Idaho State anthropologist and Bigfoot investigator Jeffrey Meldrum told Scientific American . U.S. Fish and Wildlife Reserve spokesman Tom Mackenzie told the Associated Press his agency isn't taking the claim seriously and won't investigate. "It's not on endangered species on any list that we've got," he said. • Click here to read Coleman's reasons for skepticism on Cryptomundo.com. • Click here to read Scientific American's interview with Meldrum. • Click here to buy the full-sized Sasquatch Halloween costume. The Associated Press contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| 13 hours 3 min 47 sec ago Bigfind: Trekkers claim to have body of Bigfoot Play video (NECN) - The two men who claim to have found a "Bigfoot" creature, held a press conference to explain there findings and dispell some rumors. Matt Whitton and Rick Dyer say "we're not Bigfoot hunters originally, but we are now the best Bigfoot trackers in the world." Matt says he and his business partner Rick, wanted to get away for awhile so they went to the woods of North Georgia. He says the pair went deep into the woods, far off the main road, where they stumbled upon the creature. From there Matt waited with it, while Rick went and got a truck where they moved it out. While they were moving the body away from its location, they say three other Bigfoots were "paralleling" them as they moved out. Whitton, an officer on medical leave from the Clayton County Police Department, and Dyer, a former corrections officer, announced the discovery in early July. The pair hope to win over skeptics when they present DNA, additional pictures and results from an autopsy to be performed next week. \|\|\|\|\| Bigfoot found in Georgia? California spots where Sasquatch was reportedly sighted Two Bigfoot hunters claim to have bagged the body of a creature they say is the great hairy one and plan to present their evidence today at noon a hotel in Palo Alto, according to news reports. Rick Dyer, who also offers Bigfoot tours, and Matthew Whitton say they made the find in northern Georgia. And yes, there’s a photo. Which got us wondering where a traveler might go to find his or her own Bigfoot. Bigfootencounters.com has compiled a handy database of sightings nationwide where you can access dated reports on each “encounter” submitted by contributors. Update: LAT’s intrepid Web Scout David Sarno has a roundup of what he calls “all this Bigfoot ridiculousness happening right now.” Sightings in California include: A 1995 sighting two miles from the Chilao Campground in the Angeles National Forest north of La Cañada Flintridge. A 1987 sighting near the Hermit Gulch Campground on Catalina Island (”The color of its body was either a brown or a reddish brown all over. Its strides were smooth and efficient. The palms were open and facing down in a slight curled position with the thumbs folded beneath…”) A 1977 report about Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale [California], where apparently many locals have reported Bigfoot-like sightings over the years. (”Witnesses told very similar tales of large hair-covered man-like apes observed crossing the highway, or looking in their windows at their homes usually after midnight.”) A 2007 sighting on the Merced River in Yosemite that includes photographs of Bigfoot prints. – Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times staff writer [Photo of a carved wooden sasquatch courtesy of the Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau] Permalink \| E-mail \| Print \| Add to My Trips \|\|\|\|\| Georgia men claim hairy, frozen corpse is Bigfoot ATLANTA (AP) — Two men claim they've bagged Bigfoot, and they say the have the hairy corpse of the legendary creature stored away in a freezer. Matt Whitton and Rick Dyer say they stumbled across the corpse in the woods of northern Georgia, across the country from the remote regions of the Northwest where people usually claim to see the man-ape. Still, the Georgia men say DNA will prove once and for all that the frozen creature is Sasquatch. They plan to present DNA test results and photographs during a news conference Friday in Palo Alto, Calif. They're not winning over any skeptics, though. "What I've seen so far is not compelling in the least, and I think the pictures cast grave doubts on their claim," Jeffrey Meldrum, a Bigfoot researcher and Idaho State University professor, told the Scientific American. "It just looks like a costume with some fake guts thrown on top for effect." Meldrum said the DNA test likely won't prove anything and, at best, might yield a gene sequence that doesn't match any other known primates. Whitton, an officer on medical leave from the Clayton County Police Department, and Dyer, a former corrections officer, announced the discovery in early July. The picture they sent out in a news release and on their Web site — http://www.bigfoottracker.com — shows what appears to be a hairy corpse crammed into a chest freezer. The accompanying announcement describes the creature as a 7-foot-7 male, weighing 550 pounds with 16-inch human-like feet and reddish hair. Messages left for Whitton and Dyer early Friday on their Bigfoot Tipline were not returned. They have so far offered three different tales so far about how they came to find the creature: In one, the animal was shot by a former felon, and the men followed it into the woods. In a second version, they found a "family of Bigfoot" in North Georgia mountains. In the third, the two were hiking and stumbled upon the corpse with open wounds. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Reserve spokesman Tom Mackenzie said officers also are not taking the claim seriously and will not investigate Bigfoot because it not a federal priority. "It's not on endangered species on any list that we've got," Mackenzie said. \|\|\|\|\| This is a 1977 still photo made from a 16mm film made by Ivan Marx reportedly showing the legendary Big Foot cavorting in the hills of northern California. (AP Photo/File) This image provided Monday, Oct. 29, 2007 by hunter Rick Jacobs shows an image taken by a camera with an automatic trigger set up in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest on Sept. 16, 2007. The only thing certain about the critter photographed by a hunter's camera is that some people have gotten the notion it could be a Sasquatch, or bigfoot. Others say it's just a bear with a bad skin infection. AP Photo/Rick Jacobs Daryl Colyer, lead field researcher for the Texas Bigfoot Research Center, delivers the kickoff presentation Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005, at the Texas Bigfoot Conference in Jefferson, Texas. Hundreds gathered Saturday at the fifth annual Texas Bigfoot Conference to look at casts of footprints and hear about the latest sightings and other evidence they say proves Bigfoot exists. AP Photo/D.J. Peters Update Friday, 8/15, 8:05 p.m. ET: Bigfoot Turns Out to Be an Opossum (the story below remains as originally written). Two Georgia men claim to have found in the northern woods of that state something that has been often reported but never proven to exist: a Bigfoot. They say they have a body, photos of the body, and DNA evidence — some or all of which will be revealed this Friday, Aug. 15, at a press conference in Palo Alto, Calif. If the group does have a Bigfoot carcass (and if they actually show the body, instead merely displaying photographs of a supposed body), then perhaps scientists will take note. Still, it's not clear how, exactly, the group will prove that what they have is a Bigfoot. Because there is no comparison specimen, there is no DNA analysis that can definitively identify Bigfoot tissue. Readers may recall the much-hyped press conference held on May 30, where a man claimed he would provide "definitive proof" of alien visitation. His "proof" turned out to be a short fuzzy video clip of what he said was an alien head outside his window trying to ogle his teen daughters. Needless to say, top scientists were not awestruck by his evidence. History repeats? This is not the first time a Bigfoot body has been claimed to have been found. A man named Tom Biscardi, founder of something called the Great American Bigfoot Research Organization, once claimed he had captured a Bigfoot. On Aug. 19, 2005, Biscardi appeared on the radio show "Coast to Coast with George Noory." Biscardi claimed his group had captured a Bigfoot a week earlier, a male beast that weighed over 400 pounds and stood 8-feet tall. He said he would be presenting photos of it several days later. It turned out to be a hoax. Interestingly, Biscardi is also involved in the new Bigfoot body discovery. Speaking on behalf of the Georgia men this week, Biscardi said, "Extensive scientific studies will be done on the body by a team of scientists including a molecular biologist, an anthropologist, a paleontologist and other scientists over the next few months at an undisclosed location" under armed guard. If it all sounds very cloak-and-dagger, it is. Unnamed experts? Undisclosed location? Sounds more like "The X-Files" than real science. Marketing scheme? In 2005, Biscardi promoted a pay-per-view cable TV show in which he offered viewers the chance to see a Bigfoot captured on live television for only $59.95. That never happened, but Biscardi did recently direct and produce a film called "Bigfoot Lives." Surely the publicity from this press conference might boost his film's sales... Bigfoot researcher Loren Coleman, while stopping short of authenticating the claims, wrote on the Web site Cryptomundo.com, "I feel, in all honesty, this, indeed, may be the real deal, and I say this carefully after reviewing information that has been shared privately with me." So has a Bigfoot finally been found, after all these years? Or is this just the latest hoax to embarrass Bigfoot believers and bring further ridicule to a field sorely in need of science? Apparently we will see. Benjamin Radford is managing editor of the Skeptical Inquirer science magazine. He has investigated Bigfoot, lake monsters, and other mysterious creatures for over a decade. His latest book is "Lake Monster Mysteries: Investigating the World's Most Elusive Creatures." This and other books can be found on his website.	During a press conference in Palo Alto, California, hunters of the mythical creature ''Bigfoot'' claimed to have found a corpse of the creature. Matt Whitton and Rick Dyer say that they were hunting for the creature in the forests of Northeastern Georgia in the United States when they came across the corpse of one of the alleged animals. After finding the body, Whitton and Dyer allegedly took it home, where it is currently being stored in a freezer. Despite the possibility of the historic find, they will not say where they found the body. "We have no intentions of revealing the location. We want to protect this creature," stated Whitton during the press conference. He also mentioned that an autopsy is going to be conducted on the body. The two men had earlier claimed that DNA evidence, photos and video would be presented during the conference, but only one photo was shown. Whitton states that all evidence will be provided once the autopsy, scheduled for next week, is completed. The single photo shown at the conference portrays a blurred black figure in the distance. Whitton claims the creature was walking "parallel" to them as they hauled out the corpse. Another photo on Whitton's website ''www.searchingforbigfoot.com'' shows what is allegedly the corpse, decapitated and stuffed into a freezer. Tom Biscardi, founder of the ''Great American Bigfoot Research Organization'', joined Whitton and Dyer at the press conference. Biscardi has previously been caught in a hoax. In 2005, his organization claimed to have caught a live male Bigfoot. Science website ''LiveScience'', run by Imaginova, openly speculates that this is a hoax because of the involvement of Biscardi. It theorizes that this may be a marketing scheme to promote an upcoming film by Biscardi, entitled ''Bigfoot Lives''. At least one other person states that the group's pronouncement is a hoax. Jerry Parrino, owner of ''TheHorrorDome.com'', a website that sells Halloween costumes, was quoted as saying to ''Fox News'' that the photo appeared to resemble a costume that is being sold on his site. "It definitely looks like our costume. This body has little to do with Bigfoot and everything to do with a Sasquatch costume that someone developed," stated Parrino. Despite the claim, the Fish and Wildlife Reserve refuses to investigate the alleged discovery because it does not appear on an endangered species list in either the state of Georgia or the U.S..
Mark Weiss/Getty Images Great White is hoping to make peace with the past—and put their legal problems behind them. The "Once Bitten, Twice Shy"-dispensing '80s hard-rock band will pay $1 million to settle lawsuits resulting from the deadly 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire that took the lives of 100 people, including the group's own guitarist, Ty Longley. Federal court documents released Tuesday revealed Great White made the offer to survivors and family members of victims to settle its role in the inferno at the Station. The blaze was touched off when stage pyrotechnics ignited flammable soundproofing foam. There was no immediate comment from Great White lead singer Jack Russell or a band lawyer. On Aug. 18, the town of West Warwick and the state of Rhode Island agreed to pay $10 million each to victims of the blaze to settle all claims of negligence for allegedly failing to take appropriate safety measures. Those settlements must be approved by the victims and the court and with the condition that insurers fork over the maximum coverage stipulated on the town's insurance policy. All told, nearly $175 million could change hands to settle all the claims filed in the wake of the fire, according to the Providence Journal. \|\|\|\|\| Ty Longley Guitar, 2000 BIRTHDAY - September 4, 1971 BIRTHPLACE - Sharon, PA ETHNIC HERITAGE - Mutt MARRIAGE - Single, no children FAVORITE BANDS/MUSICIANS - Jimi Hendrix, SRV, Bask, Badlands, Slipknot, Zeppelin, Francis Dunnery, Badi Assad, Great White!!! FAVORITE ACTOR/ACTRESS - Al Pacino & Meg Ryan (just cuz she's so cute!) FAVORITE ALBUM - Billy Joel-The Stranger, Francis Dunnery-Fearless, Badlands, Great White-Latest & Greatest FAVORITE ESCAPE - Good friends, family, journaling, and senselessly noodling on my guitar! HOBBIES - Boogie Boarding, biking and being a freak! CAR - Buick Century (my blue beauty!) SPORTS - Steelers rule!	Location of Rhode Island within the United States United States hard rock band Great White has filed a settlement offer of US$1 million to families of victims of the Station nightclub fire. 100 people died including band guitarist Ty Longley and over 200 were injured in the February 2003 disaster in Rhode Island. The fire started when band manager Daniel Bichele ignited pyrotechnics towards the beginning of a concert by Great White at the club. Cheap packing foam had been used as soundproofing material to surround the stage, and this ignited. Great White were never charged, but Bichele was given a 15-year sentence with 11 of those suspended in 2006 for 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter, to which he pleaded guilty. He was paroled in March this year. The settlement offer would need to be approved by each of the over 300 plaintiffs, as well as the federal judge. It would add to $175 million already offered by dozens of defendants in the case. No money has been handed out to any of the claimants as yet, and a law professor from Duke University has been hired to develop a formula that will determine how much each party is entitled to. The fire was the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in US history.
TB rate down in U.S., but drug-resistant cases rise elsewhere The CDC says tuberculosis prevalence dropped 11.8% last year, as the World Health Organization reports about 440,000 multi-drug-resistant cases worldwide in 2008, a third of them fatal. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week that TB prevalence in this country dropped 11.8% last year, the largest yearly decline since the government began monitoring the disease in 1953. But on the same day, the World Health Organization reported that an estimated 440,000 people worldwide had multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in 2008, and a third of them died. Even with tuberculosis cases falling sharply in the United States to historic lows, strains of drug-resistant disease are gaining ground elsewhere in the world. Nearly half of the cases were in China and India, which have been hit hardest by the outbreak. But in some areas of the world, especially three provinces in Russia, more than 1 in every 4 cases of tuberculosis result from the hard-to-treat strain. Overall, there were 9.4 million new TB cases in 2008 and 1.8 million deaths, so the drug-resistant strains are a relatively small problem. But experts fear they will displace conventional strains of the TB mycobacterium, complicating treatment. Conventional TB treatment costs about $20 and takes six months. Drug-resistant strains can cost as much as $500 and take as long as two years to treat. The CDC said there were 11,540 U.S. TB cases reported in 2009, 40% of them in people born in this country. The rate of disease was 11 times as high in foreign-born people as in native-born Americans. The rates in blacks and Latinos were eight times as high as the rate in whites, and the rate in Asians was 26 times as high. A total of 108 U.S. cases of multi-drug-resistant TB were reported in 2008, the most recent year for which data are available. Experts suspect that the sharp decline in TB cases is related to improved screening for the disease among potential immigrants and the weak economy, which has slowed immigration and caused many immigrants to return to their homes soon after arrival. The California Department of Public Health said the state had seen the largest decline in TB cases since 2000: an 8.6% drop to 2,472 cases. thomas.maugh@ latimes.com \|\|\|\|\| WHO: Not sure if drug-resistant TB is worsening LONDON — The World Health Organization says it doesn't have enough information to know if it is winning the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis. In a new report on the global status of drug-resistant TB based on data from 2008, the agency says almost half of all people with the disease are in China and India, with both countries reporting about 100,000 new cases each. High rates of drug-resistant TB strains were also seen in eastern Europe and central Asia, with up to 60 percent of people who already had TB in some parts of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan developing drug-resistant versions. About 4 percent of all TB cases worldwide are thought to be non-responsive to the usual TB drugs. The agency estimated there were between 390,000 and 510,000 cases of drug-resistant TB in 2008, including about 150,000 people who were killed by the disease. But those numbers are based on modeling and come with a big margin of error. The report is based on information from 35 countries worldwide, leaving a huge gap in the global TB picture. "The country data reported to WHO make it impossible at this time to conclude whether the (drug-resistant TB) epidemic worldwide is growing or shrinking," the agency wrote in its report. In the United States, the proportion of TB cases that are resistant to at least two first-line antibiotics remained stable in 2008, at less than 1 percent. And there were no cases that year of extensively drug-resistant TB, which is resistant to most available treatments, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC does not yet have data on drug-resistant TB for last year. But other, preliminary data indicate a historic drop in new tuberculosis cases of all kinds in 2009 — the largest single-year decrease in more than 50 years of federal record keeping. TB rates fell more than 11 percent in 2009, to 3.8 cases per 100,000 people. Generally, the annual decline is about 4 percent. CDC officials are investigating, but say it could be related to fewer cases coming in to the country through immigration. Drug-resistant tuberculosis usually arises when people are poorly treated or take substandard medicines. It takes longer to treat than regular TB and requires more expensive drugs, which also cause bad side effects like liver damage. In recent years, WHO and other health authorities have warned the collision of TB with the AIDS virus could fuel simultaneous epidemics — and asked for more money to fight both. In its latest report, however, the agency acknowledged there is little proof of that. Again citing missing data, the agency says "it has not been possible to conclude whether an overall association between (drug-resistant) TB and HIV epidemics exists." In Estonia, Latvia and Moldova, WHO said people infected with both HIV and TB were more likely to develop drug-resistant TB. But there is no information from many countries across Africa where the most people with HIV live. Some health experts wondered why WHO's report failed to mention in detail one of the main drivers of drug resistance: bad medicines. "Many substandard drugs are fakes, but we are also concerned about legitimately manufactured copies — mainly from India and China — which are not made to exacting high standards," said Philip Stevens, a health policy expert at the London think-tank International Policy Network. Stevens said the lack of global TB data was troubling. "WHO doesn't really have a clue as to the true extent of the problem," he said. "It's difficult then, to start promoting targets and goals when you don't know what baseline you are starting from." WHO reported rates of drug-resistant TB were dropping in some parts of Russia with previously large outbreaks. "It's good news that it can be controlled even in those difficult regions," said Ruth McNerney, a TB expert at London's School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who was not connected to the report. McNerney said that though progress was being made, authorities need more money to fight it, and more information about where the disease is striking. "We've got to find out where there are very serious problems, otherwise we won't know about it until it's too late." AP Medical Writer Mike Stobbe in Atlanta contributed to this report. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis killed 150,000 people in 2008 and infects between 400,000 and 500,000 people globally, according to World Health Organization estimates released on Thursday. Health WHO said the numbers suggest the hard-to-treat infection is spreading and said there is an urgent need for countries to set up labs to fight it. So-called MDR-TB is especially common in Russia, Tajikistan, China and India, WHO said in a report. It said an especially hard-to-treat form called extensively drug resistant TB or XDR-TB is also growing. "Almost 50 percent of MDR-TB cases worldwide are estimated to occur in China and India. In 2008, MDR-TB caused an estimated 150,000 deaths," the WHO report said. The report uses new methods and new surveillance data from countries around the world, so the figures cannot be compared to older surveys of MDR-TB. But WHO said the findings are startling and show a need to find infected patients and treat them promptly. Tuberculosis is caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. More than 2 billion people are infected but nearly all TB infections are latent, with carriers showing no symptoms and they are not infectious. However, one in 10 will become sick with active TB due mainly to a weakened immune system -- often because of AIDS. Antibiotics can eradicate the infection, but it takes months. And with MDR or XDR-TB, the standard cocktail of antibiotics does not work and stronger drugs must be used, often for a longer time. Surgery may also be required to remove pockets of infection. HARD-HIT REGIONS "In 2008, an estimated 390,000 to 510,000 cases of MDR-TB emerged globally (best estimate, 440,000 cases)," the latest WHO report reads. "Among all incident TB cases globally, 3.6 percent are estimated to have MDR-TB." New data show regions of Russia have especially high rates of MDR-TB, the report found. Between 24 percent and 28 percent of new cases there are MDR-TB. "Tajikistan, in its first ever survey, found proportions of 16.5 percent MDR-TB among new TB cases and 61.6 percent MDR-TB among previously treated TB patients in Dushanbe city and Rudaki district, or the highest proportion ever reported among previously treated TB patients in a subnational area," it said. China's first survey of drug-resistant TB shows 5.7 percent of newly infected people have the MDR version and more than a quarter of those who had been undergoing treatment had MDR-TB. WHO defines MDR-TB as infections that cannot be eradicated by the antibiotics isoniazid and rifampicin. Extensively drug-resistant TB resist the main two drugs as well as fluoroquinolone antibiotics and the second-line anti-TB injectable drugs amikacin, kanamycin or capreomycin. It is expensive to treat these infections but the WHO report says it is worth doing so. "Although the cost of drugs alone for treating the average MDR-TB patient is 50 to 200 times higher than for treating a drug-susceptible TB patient and the overall costs for care have been found to be 10 times higher or more, treatment of MDR-TB has been shown to be a cost-effective intervention," the report reads. Previous WHO reports show that aggressive treatment has cured 36 million TB patients over the past 15 years. \|\|\|\|\| printable version News release Drug-resistant tuberculosis now at record levels 18 MARCH 2010 \| GENEVA \| WASHINGTON DC -- In some areas of the world, one in four people with tuberculosis (TB) becomes ill with a form of the disease that can no longer be treated with standard drugs regimens, a World Health Organization (WHO) report says. For example, 28% of all people newly diagnosed with TB in one region of north western Russia had the multidrug-resistant form of the disease (MDR-TB) in 2008. This is the highest level ever reported to WHO. Previously, the highest recorded level was 22% in Baku City, Azerbaijan, in 2007. In the new WHO's Multidrug and Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: 2010 Global Report on Surveillance and Response, it is estimated that 440 000 people had MDR-TB worldwide in 2008 and that a third of them died. In sheer numbers, Asia bears the brunt of the epidemic. Almost 50% of MDR-TB cases worldwide are estimated to occur in China and India. In Africa, estimates show 69 000 cases emerged, the vast majority of which went undiagnosed. Related links Multidrug and extensively drug-resistant TB [pdf 3.19Mb] 2010 Global Report More on tuberculosis Encouraging signs Tuberculosis programmes face tremendous challenges in reducing MDR-TB rates. But there are encouraging signs that even in the presence of severe epidemics, governments and partners can turn around MDR-TB by strengthening efforts to control the disease and implementing WHO recommendations. Two regions in the Russian Federation, Orel and Tomsk, have achieved a remarkable decline in MDR-TB in about five years. These regions join two countries, Estonia and Latvia, which have reversed rising high rates of MDR-TB, ultimately achieving a decline. The United States of America and China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), have achieved sustained successes in controlling MDR-TB. Slow progress Progress remains slow in most other countries. Worldwide, of those patients receiving treatment, 60% were reported as cured. However, only an estimated 7% of all MDR-TB patients are diagnosed. This points to the urgent need for improvements in laboratory facilities, access to rapid diagnosis and treatment with more effective drugs and regimens shorter than the current two years. WHO is engaged in a five year project to strengthen TB laboratories with rapid tests in nearly 30 countries. This will ensure more people benefit early from life-saving treatments. It is also working closely with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the international community on increasing access to treatment. Additional information Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is caused by bacteria that are resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, the most effective anti-TB drugs. MDR-TB results from either primary infection with resistant bacteria or may develop in the course of a patientâ€™s treatment. Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is a form of TB caused by bacteria that are resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin (i.e. MDR-TB) as well as any fluoroquinolone and any of the second-line anti-TB injectable drugs (amikacin, kanamycin or capreomycin). These forms of TB do not respond to the standard six-month treatment with first-line anti-TB drugs and can take up to two years or more to treat with drugs that are less potent, more toxic and much more expensive, from 50 to 200 times higher. While a course of standard TB drugs cost approximately US$ 20, MDR-TB drugs can cost up to US$ 5 000, and XDR-TB treatment is far more expensive. In 2008, there were an estimated 9.4 million new TB cases, and 1.8 million TB deaths. 440 000 MDR-TB cases are estimated to have emerged in the same year with 150 000 MDR-TB deaths. No official estimates have been made on the number of XDR-TB cases, but there may be around 25 000 a year with most cases fatal. Since XDR-TB was first defined in 2006, a total of 58 countries have reported at least one case of XDR-TB. Funding MDR-TB control In 27 high burden countries (i.e. countries estimated to have had at least 4000 MDR-TB cases arising annually and/or at least 10% of newly registered TB cases with MDR-TB), 1.3 million M/XDR-TB cases will need to be treated between 2010 and 2015 at a cost of US$ 16 billion over six years, rising from US$ 1.3 billion in 2010 to US$ 4.4 billion in 2015. Planned budget for 2010 are far below these figures, amounting to less than US$ 0.5 billion for all 27 countries. Actual funding available for 2010 was US$ 280 million. Funding needed for MDR-TB control in 2015 will be 16 times higher than what is currently available in 2010. Strengthening laboratories There is an urgent need to expand and accelerate in countries access to new, rapid technologies that can diagnose MDR-TB in two days rather than traditional methods which can take up to four months. EXPAND TB is a five year project targeting 27 countries, launched in 2008 and implemented by WHO, the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), the Stop TB Partnership's Global Drug Facility (GDF) and the Global Laboratory Initiative (GLI) with financial support from UNITAID. So far it has carried out a wide range of activities in 12 countries, including upgrading of infrastructure and training of staff. Technology transfer has started in countries, paving the way for more patients to be diagnosed accurately and rapidly enrolled on treatment. These upgrades should lead to eventual routine surveillance of drug resistance in affected countries. Countries and case studies Six countries are featured throughout the report in special focus sections. Bangladesh (one of the very few developing countries in which continuous surveillance among previously treated TB cases is being carried out in selected areas); China (first nationwide drug resistance survey conducted); Ethiopia (one of the first countries to introduce rapid molecular laboratory tests); Nepal and Romania (successful treatments of MDR-TB through Green Light Committee Initiative programmes); South Africa (policy changes for improving the management and care of M/XDR-TB). MDR-TB in Africa In Africa, there is a low percentage of MDR-TB reported among new TB cases compared with that in regions such as Eastern Europe and Central Asia, due in part to the limited laboratory capacity to conduct drug resistance surveys. Latest estimates of WHO put the number of MDR-TB cases emerging in 2008 in Africa at 69 000. Previous reports found high levels of mortality among people living with HIV and infected with MDR-TB and XDR-TB. In KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, an outbreak of XDR-TB killed 52 out of 53 people within three weeks, most of whom were HIV positive. Risk factors: HIV and MDR-TB Studies show that TB patients co-infected with HIV in three Eastern European countries (Estonia, Latvia, and the Republic of Moldova) were at a higher risk of having MDR-TB compared to TB patients without HIV infection. Similar findings have been made in studies from Lithuania, Ukraine and Mozambique. The report highlights several reasons why drug-resistant TB may be associated with HIV, particularly in some Eastern European countries. However, more research is needed to determine whether there is an overlap between the MDR-TB and HIV epidemics worldwide. Reporting on MDR-TB globally This report presents drug resistance data from 114 countries and updated information from 35 of them. Despite the growing understanding of the magnitude and trends in drug-resistant TB, major gaps remain in geographical areas covered. Since 1994, only 59% of all countries globally have been able to collect high quality representative data on drug resistance. There is an urgent need to obtain information, particularly from Africa and those high MDR-TB burden countries where data have never been reported: Bangladesh, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and Nigeria. Moreover, countries need to expand the scope of their surveys to cover entire populations, repeat surveys are needed to better understand trends in drug resistance and countries need to move towards adopting systematic continuous surveillance. For more information contact: Glenn Thomas - Communication Officer Stop TB, WHO Mobile phone: +41 79 509 0677 E-mail: thomasg@who.int	Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' is the most common cause of tuberculosis The World Health Organization released their annual report on the world prevalence of tuberculosis in 2008. The report said that there were 9.8 million cases of tuberculosis, with 1.8 million resulting in death. The report also said that there were 440,000 cases of multi drug resistant tuberculosis, with about one-third of them being fatal. The average cost to treat a case of tuberculosis was US$20 (€14.78, £13.32), over a six month period. The cost to treat a case of drug resistant tuberculosis was US$500 (€365.55, £333.00), and up-to two years of treatment. Some of the hardest hit regions include nations of the former Soviet Union, and specifically Tajikistan which according to the report "had proportions of 16.5 percent MDR-TB ''sic'':Multi-Drug Resistant tuberculosis among new TB cases and 61.6 percent MDR-TB among previously treated TB patients in Dushanbe city and Rudaki district, or the highest proportion ever reported among previously treated TB patients in a subnational area,". The prevalence of tuberculosis in the United States dropped 11.5% with only 11,540 new cases, with 108 of them being drug resistant.
Suspicious blaze breaks out at Bronx church St. Nicholas of Tolentine Harbus for News The two-alarm blaze broke out just before the noon Mass at St. Nicholas of Tolentine as the University Heights church started to fill up with parishioners, the pastor said. A suspicious fire ignited in a Bronx church Friday, filling the sanctuary with flames and smoke and forcing its pastor to hustle several worshippers to safety. The two-alarm blaze broke out just before the noon Mass at St. Nicholas of Tolentine as the University Heights church started to fill up with parishioners, the pastor said. "I rushed over and smoke was billowing out," Father Joseph Girone said. "People were inside the church praying at the time and they had no idea there was a fire." The fire started in a former confessional-turned-storage room in the vestibule of the church, blocking the main entrance. "I got them out through the rectory door," a shaken Girone said. "Lots of people have issues with God but I don't know who could have done this," the priest said. "I'm very sad." Investigators immediately suspected arson. It was not immediately clear what was used to ignite the fire, which took an hour to extinguish, FDNY officials said. Several firefighters suffered minor injuries when part of a plaster ceiling collapsed on them as they battled the blaze, FDNY officials said. "It is very suspicious," FDNY Deputy Chief Kevin Scanlon said. "The fire accelerated rapidly [and] it was a heavy fire that didn't have the normal flow of a fire." FDNY investigators are trying to figure out whether the blaze is connected to other recent church fires in the borough, including one that engulfed the Glory of Christ Church in Parkchester in December. Parishioners at St. Nicholas - deemed "The Cathedral of the Bronx" - were disheartened by the blaze. "Why would someone do something so evil?," wailed Marina Pietri, 46, as she picked up her son from the parish elementary school, which was evacuated during the fire. "This church has been a pillar of the community for years," Pietri said. "I'm so upset. It's devastating." The parish was established in 1906 and the current building has been there since the 1950s. A church official said it was too early to estimate how long it would take to fix the church or how much the repairs would cost. Some determined parishioners vowed to hold a "Stations of the Cross" ceremony Friday night as planned, even though they would have to do it outside. Others were distraught. "I feel sorry and I want to cry because this has been my home away from home for a long time," said Isabel Gonzales, 52, who has been a parishioner for 28 years. "I just want to know why." \|\|\|\|\| A mysterious fire tore through a Bronx church yesterday, sending the pastor and parishioners scrambling for their lives. The blaze broke out in a storage room at St. Nicholas of Tolentine in University Heights. More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze for an hour before getting it under control. Some firefighters reported minor injuries when part of the ceiling fell. “The whole vestibule is damaged. The ceiling, the walls and the doors,” said Father Joseph Tran, a priest at the church.	Second-alarm flames engulfed a Bronx, New York church, St Nicholas of Tolentine, just before noon on Friday, forcing its pastor and seven worshippers into the streets. The blaze began in a confessional-converted-storage room near the vestibule of the church. "I rushed over and smoke was billowing out," said Father Joseph Girone. Girone rushed parishioners through the church rectory door as the entrance had been blocked. Over 100 firefighters fought the blaze, and several reported minor injuries due to ceiling collapse. Fire Department (FDNY) officials immediately suspected arson. "The fire accelerated rapidly and it was a heavy fire that didn't have the normal flow of a fire", said FDNY Deputy Chief Kevin Scanlon. Investigators are determining whether the fire is related to a series of church burnings that have been occurring across the borough. Parishioners are distraught by the destruction of their beloved church. Father Joseph Tran said, "The whole vestibule is damaged. The ceiling, the walls and the doors". Isabel Gonzales, a regular attendant for 28 years, said, "I feel sorry and I want to cry because this has been my home away from home for a long time". A church official reported that it was too early to determine construction lengths or repair costs. Devoted worshippers promised that they would hold a "Stations of the Cross" gathering outside on Friday night.
BAGHDAD The United States urged Iran on Monday to stop supporting militias in Iraq in the most high-profile meeting between the two countries in almost 30 years that both sides later described as positive. The rare talks in Baghdad were narrowly focused on Iraq's spiralling sectarian violence and did not touch on Iran's controversial nuclear program, which has ratcheted up tensions between the two arch foes in recent months. "Positive" was how both sides characterized the four-hour meeting that began with a handshake between U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Kazemi-Qomi at Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's office in Baghdad. In new violence in Iraq, a truck bomb exploded near an important Sunni Muslim mosque in central Baghdad, killing 24 people and wounding 68 others shortly after the talks broke up. The Iranians appeared keen for further talks, with Kazemi-Qomi calling the meeting "a first step in negotiations between these two sides" and saying Tehran would seriously consider an Iraqi invitation for further discussions. For his part, Crocker said he had been less interested in arranging further meetings than laying out Washington's case that Shi'ite Iran is arming, funding and training Shi'ite militias in Iraq, a charge Iran denies. He said he did not produce any evidence, although the U.S. military has previously displayed what it says are Iranian-made rockets, mortars and roadside bombs seized in Iraq. The military says the bombs have killed scores of American soldiers. "The purpose of this effort was not to build a legal case. Presumably the Iranians know what they are doing. Our point was simply to say we know as well. We wanted to say it is dangerous for Iraq and dangerous for the region," Crocker said. "The talks proceeded positively. What we need to see is Iranian action on the ground. Right now their actions are running at cross purposes to their stated policy." Kazemi-Qomi, speaking at a separate media conference several hours later, said Iran also saw positive steps in the talks. "Some problems have been raised and studied and I think this was a positive step ... In the political field, the two sides agreed to support and strengthen the Iraqi government, which was another positive item achieved in these talks," he said. He said Iran had offered to help train and arm Iraq's security forces, presently the job of the U.S. military. The meeting marked a shift in the U.S. policy of shunning almost all contact with Iranian officials since Washington severed formal diplomatic ties with Tehran in 1980, 14 months after Iran's Islamic Revolution and five months after Americans were seized in a hostage crisis at the U.S. embassy in Tehran. Crocker said he would refer to Washington a proposal by the Iranians for a mechanism with Iranian, U.S. and Iraqi participation to coordinate Iraqi security matters. DANGEROUS He said he had told the Iranians they must end their support for the militias, stop supplying them with explosives and ammunition and rein in the activities of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Qods Force in Iraq. The Iranians had rejected the allegations but did not respond in detail. In turn, they had criticized the "occupying" U.S. military's training and equipping of the new Iraqi army, saying it was "inadequate to the challenges faced". "In terms of what happens next we are going to want to wait and see not what is said next but what happens on the ground, whether we start to see some indications of change of Iranian behavior," Crocker said. In a brief address to the delegations before the start of the talks, Maliki said Iraq would not be a launchpad for any attacks on neighboring states, an apparent reference to Iranian fears of a U.S. attack. It would also not brook any regional interference in its affairs, he added. U.S. and Iranian officials had said they did not expect any breakthroughs from the talks, which come as U.S. warships hold war games in the Gulf and after Tehran said it had uncovered spy networks on its territory run by Washington and its allies. While mid-ranking officials from Iran and the United States have met occasionally in the past, Monday's talks are the most high profile since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. (With additional reporting by Mariam Karouny, Mussab Al-Khairalla and Paul Tait in Baghdad and Edmund Blair in Tehran) \|\|\|\|\| NEWS MIDDLE EAST Iran and US hold 'positive' talks Kazemi-Qomi sat directly opposite Crocker in the meeting at al-Maliki's home in Baghdad [AFP] Talks between Iran and the US on Iraq's security situation have concluded "positively", the US ambassador to Iraq says. Ryan Crocker met his Iranian counterpart Hassan Kazemi-Qomi in Baghdad's Green Zone, the first public high level talks since ties were broken in 1980 and a reversal of Washington's policy not to negotiate with Iran. Monday's talks were confined to the limited agenda of Iraq's security. "Discussions focused on how we might support as effectively as possible Iraq, its people and its government in restoring peace and stability to the country and furthering a political reconciliation process," Crocker said. 'Positive' steps Although he said Iran and the US agreed in principle on Iraq security issues, "what we need to see is Iranian action on the ground". Your Views "Let the people of Iraq vote if they want the US to stay or leave" Bob Kaye, Bohemia, US Send us your views Kazemi-Qomi said Iran also saw "positive" steps in the talks. "Some problems have been raised and studied and I think this was a positive step ... In the political field, the two sides agreed to support and strengthen the Iraqi government, which was another positive item achieved in these talks," he told state television. Crocker said the Iranians had proposed setting up a mechanism with Iranian, US and Iraqi participation to co-ordinate on Iraq's security. He said he would refer the proposal to Washington. Kazemi-Qomi told reporters that Iran had offered to help train and arm Iraq's military. From Tehran, Manouchehr Mottaki , Iraq 's foreign minister, left open the possibility of future meetings with the US but only if Washington admitted its war in Iraq and other regional issues have not been successful. "We are hopeful that Washington's realistic outlook toward the current issues in Iraq, a confession about its failed policy there and the region as well as an indication of determination to change the policy would guarantee the success of the current talks and possible further negotiations." Crocker said that "the Iranians did not go into any great detail" during the meeting at the home of Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone. 'Opening of a door' "They made the assertion that the coalition presence was an occupation and the effort to train the Iraqi security forces had been inadequate to the challenges." It was the first high-level meeting between the two countries for 27 years. Iraqi officials also attended the meeting. Al-Maliki told both sides that Iraqis want a stable country free of foreign forces and regional interference. He also said that the US-led forces in Iraq were only here to help build up the army and police and the country would not be used as a launching ground for a US attack on its neighbours - a clear reference to Iran . Hoda Abdel-Hamid, Al Jazeera's Iraq correspondent, said that the meeting should be viewed as the "opening of a door". "Both parties are deeply suspicious of one another. The issues are complicated and intertwined, so you can't look at the I raq situation without looking at broader regional issues. "Publicly, the US wants Iran to stop training and providing the Shia militias with weapons, and logistical and financial support [and] Iran wants a US timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq. " Iran has some of the strongest political and economic ties in Iraq . "[But] Iraq also needs the US at this stage because of its security situation. It cannot take care of security issues by itself," she said. Talks hailed Hoshiyar Zebari, the Iraqi foreign minister, said: "I think it is a positive development. We should encourage it and build on it. This is just the beginning of the process." Iran 's nuclear programme, which Washington believes to be a bid for developing atomic weapons, was not discussed at the meeting. Crocker said that the US expected Iran to propose a second meeting on Iraq . As the meeting ended, a truck bomb exploded outside one of Baghdad 's most revered shrines in the business district of Sinak, killing at least 19 people and damaging the Abdel Qadir Gilani mosque. Source: Al Jazeera and agencies	Ryan C. Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq.In talks mediated by Iraqi officials on Monday, the United States Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker met for approximately four hours with Iranian officials in Baghdad's Green Zone, in what Ambassador Crocker described as a "businesslike" meeting. It was the first formal meeting between the United States and Iran in 27 years. The meeting focused solely on the security situation in Iraq and the common interests of all three parties in improving stability in the country. The U.S. and Iran broke off diplomatic contact following the 1980 hostage crisis and relations between the two continue to be strained over several issues, including Iran's nuclear program. U.S. ambassador Crocker made a point of indicating that the meetings were not to be characterized as bilateral between the U.S. and Iran. "The Iraqis were not only present and participating; in a very real sense, they took the lead in organizing discussion," said Crocker. The first session was hosted by the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, while the final session was hosted by Iraq's National Security Advisor Dr. Mowaffak al-Rubaie. In a teleconference Monday following the meeting, Crocker suggested that the U.S. was able to find some common ground with Iran. "At the level of policy and principle, the Iranian position, as articulated by the Iranian Ambassador, was very close to our own," said Crocker. He indicated that the common principles are "support for a stable, secure, democratic, federal Iraq that is able to control its borders, is at peace with its neighbors and is bringing prosperity to its citizens." However, Crocker did point out some areas of concern for the U.S. with regard Iran in what the U.S. sees as "Iranian behavior inconsistent with stated Iranian policy." U.S. concerns on alleged Iranian support for insurgent militias in Iraq was brought up at the meeting. "We told the Iranians today that their support for armed militia groups that are challenging the authority of the Iraqi Government and attacking coalition soldiers needs to stop." Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, suggested some common ground was found with the United States and described the talks as "positive". "Some problems have been raised and studied and I think this was a positive step," said Kazemi-Qomi. "In the political field, the two sides agreed to support and strengthen the Iraqi government, which was another positive item achieved in these talks," Kazemi-Qomi told Iranian television. Iraq's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, stressed that the U.S. needed to admit its current policies in Iraq were not working. "We are hopeful that Washington's realistic outlook toward the current issues in Iraq, a confession about its failed policy there and the region as well as an indication of determination to change the policy would guarantee the success of the current talks and possible further negotiations." Iran signaled it would be willing to participate in further talks with the United States. Kazemi-Qomi declared the meeting "a first step in negotiations between these two sides." On the question of whether or not further meetings between Iraq, Iran and the United States might be held, Crocker stated that "the Iraqi side indicated that they would want to issue an invitation for another meeting sometime in the near future." Once the U.S. received an invitation, Crocker said they would "give it close consideration, but nothing was fixed in this meeting with respect to a follow-on meeting."
Sri Lanka is returning to a state of war It said escalating violence had made the Norwegian-brokered truce redundant. The accord came into effect in February 2002 ahead of inconclusive peace talks. Since mid-2006 troops and rebels have fought regular clashes, despite the deal still technically being in place. There was no immediate response from the Tigers, who want independence for Tamils in Sri Lanka's north and east. 'Moribund' "The Cease Fire Agreement [CFA] had been violated nearly 10,000 times by the Tamil Tigers, so we should annul this agreement," the cabinet's spokesman on security matters, Keheliya Rambukwella, told the BBC. "National security is threatened at every corner," he said. There was great optimism when the CFA was signed Mr Rambukwella said that the "foremost thing in the country is to uphold national security" which was why the government had taken the decision. He said that withdrawal from the CFA was not a declaration of war against the Tamil Tigers, and would be done in a way that does not breach the conditions of the agreement. Under the February 2002 ceasefire brokered by Norway, both the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers have the option to withdraw from the CFA after giving two weeks' written notice to the Norwegian foreign minister. Last week, Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said in public that the truce between the two sides was "moribund" and that the CFA was a "joke". Correspondents say that even though both sides acknowledged this to be true, neither wanted to be seen as the first formally to withdraw from the ceasefire. Mr Rambukwella argued that the government had already taken steps to address the grievances of the minority Tamil community and was holding talks with moderate Tamil parties. So far there has been no word from the Tamil Tigers on the government's announcement, but some analysts have warned that the development will only serve to polarise the two sides. About 5,000 people have been killed since early 2006, taking the total number of dead since the war erupted in 1983 to around 70,000. Bus bombing Earlier on Wednesday, a bomb targeting a bus in the capital, Colombo, killed at least four people and injured another 20, police and military officials said. The blast took place as the military bus was passing a busy junction in a district that houses key military installations, reports said. A hospital official told Reuters that two of those killed were soldiers. Military officials said they suspected the Tamil Tigers. The rebels denied involvement, Reuters reported. \|\|\|\|\| The government of Sri Lanka says it is withdrawing from a cease-fire agreement with Tamil rebels because the pact has become meaningless. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi the withdrawal is largely symbolic because the Norwegian-brokered truce collapsed two years ago. The government's decision to end a 2002 truce agreement with Tamil rebels came as virtually everyone acknowledged that the pact existed only in name. The announcement came late Wednesday after a meeting among senior Cabinet ministers. Sri Lanka's foreign secretary, Palitha Kohona, says the government is "reluctantly" ending the truce because it did not achieve what it was supposed to - a peace settlement with the rebels, known as the LTTE. "From the beginning it was observed only in the breach by the LTTE. In the first couple of years, it used the cease-fire agreement to regroup, rearm, and then in 2005 it launched massive attacks on government forces," said Kohona. "In a real practical sense, this agreement served very little purpose." Sri Lanka's Labor Minister Mervin Silva tries to close the door of his vehicle, while a policeman puts his arm around him protectively, outside state-run Rupavahini television network, 27 Dec 2007 Both the rebels and the government routinely blame each other for the resumption of hostilities. The fighting began soon after a hard-line government took over in Colombo, and the rebels accused the government of a lack of seriousness in pursuing peace talks. The Tamil rebels want an autonomous homeland for Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community. In the past two years, near-daily clashes on the battlefield, assassinations and bombings have killed about 5,000 people. Political analysts say ending the truce will polarize the two sides even further. They say the government, which has scored some military successes against the rebels, wants to defeat them on the battlefield. Foreign Secretary Kohona says ending the country's ethnic conflict should not be linked to negotiations with the rebels. "A political settlement is not necessarily going to be with the Tamil Tigers," added Kohona. It will take into account the concerns of the Tamil people of Sri Lanka and the other minorities of Sri Lanka." Norwegian mediators have expressed concern about the government's decision to end the truce, calling it a "serious step." Norway's foreign ministry Web site says there have been increasingly frequent and brutal attacks by both parties, and there is concern that violence and hostilities will escalate further. The truce had received wide international support, and raised hopes of ending the country's quarter-century long ethnic conflict. But the formal ending of the cease-fire means the civil war could drag on for years.	The government of Sri Lanka says it is withdrawing from a cease-fire agreement with Tamil rebels because, in the opinion of the government, the pact has become meaningless. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi the withdrawal is largely symbolic because the Norwegian-brokered truce collapsed two years ago. There have be many clashes between the government and the rebels since mid-2006. This happened despite the fact that they were still in a cease-fire. The government's decision to end a 2002 truce agreement with Tamil rebels came as a vast majority of people believed that the pact existed only in name. The announcement came late Wednesday after a meeting among senior Cabinet ministers. Sri Lanka's foreign secretary, Palitha Kohona, says the government is "reluctantly" ending the truce because it did not achieve what it was supposed to - a peace settlement with the rebels, known as the LTTE. "From the beginning it was observed only in the breach by the LTTE. In the first couple of years, it used the cease-fire agreement to regroup, rearm, and then in 2005 it launched massive attacks on government forces," said Kohona. "In a real practical sense, this agreement served very little purpose." Both the rebels and the government routinely blame each other for the resumption of hostilities. The fighting began soon after a hard-line government took over in Colombo, and the rebels accused the government of a lack of seriousness in pursuing peace talks. The Tamil rebels want an autonomous homeland for Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community. In the past two years, near-daily clashes on the battlefield, assassinations and bombings have killed about 5,000 people. Political analysts say ending the truce will polarize the two sides even further. They say the government , which has scored some military successes against the rebels, wants to defeat them on the battlefield. Sri Lankan foreign Secretary Kohona says ending the country's ethnic conflict should not be linked to negotiations with the rebels. "A political settlement is not necessarily going to be with the Tamil Tigers," added Kohona. It will take into account the concerns of the Tamil people of Sri Lanka and the other minorities of Sri Lanka." Norwegian mediators have expressed concern about the government's decision to end the truce, calling it a "serious step." Norway's foreign ministry Web site says there have been increasingly frequent and brutal attacks by both parties, and there is concern that violence and hostilities will escalate further. The truce had received wide international support, and raised hopes of ending the country's quarter-century long ethnic conflict. But many think that the formal ending of the cease-fire means the civil war could drag on for years.
Type in your email address to register upon upload (then check your email for your registration link). In order to be able to leave a comment you must be registered ImageShack user with username chosen. Please log in or register in order to continue.. Text comment Voice comment \|\|\|\|\| The actor Tom Cruise has been in damage control this week after a video showing him extolling the virtues of Scientology spread across the internet. The appearance of the nine-minute clip coincided with the publication of Andrew Morton's book Tom Cruise: An Unauthorised Biography, which alleges that Cruise ranks second in command in the Church of Scientology. On the video, Cruise is shown speaking about the religion while the soundtrack to his Mission: Impossible films plays in the background. "It's rough and tumble, and it's wild and woolly and it's a blast," he says. "It's a blast. It really is fun, because ... there is nothing better than ... going out there and fighting the fight and, suddenly you see, things are better." Scientology lawyers fired off letters to Morton's publisher and have demanded that Gawker.com - a website running the Cruise video - remove the clip, alleging breach of copyright. Nick Denton, on Gawker.com, replied: "It's newsworthy, and we will not be removing it." Scientologists did force YouTube to remove footage of Cruise's rant. YouTube posted a message above a still of the clip, saying: "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim." But by then millions of people had seen it and it had spread to other websites. On the video, dressed in a black turtleneck sweater with a look of intensity in his eyes, the 45-year-old Cruise makes a series of impassioned claims about his religion, including its ability to help get people off drugs, rehabilitate criminals and "bring peace and unite cultures". Here is a transcript of Cruise's remarks: I think it's a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist, and it's something that you have to earn because a Scientologist does - he or she - have the ability to create new and better realities and improve conditions. Ah, being a Scientologist you look at someone and you know absolutely that you can help them, so for me it really is KSW [keeping Scientology working] and it's just like it's something that, ah, I don't mince words with that, with anything, but that policy has really gone, boy, the first time I went through and went, you know what, when I read it I went, you know, this is it, this is exactly it. Being a Scientologist when you drive past an accident it's not like anyone else, it's you drive past and you know you have to do something about it because you know you're the only one that can really help. But that's what drives me. I know that we have an opportunity to really help for the first time effectively change people's lives and I am dedicated. I am absolutely uncompromisingly dedicated to that. Orgs are there to help but we as the public, we have a responsibility, it's not just orgs, it's not just David Miscavige, not just me - it's you, it's everyone out there that's re-reading KSW and looking at what needs to be done and saying, 'Okay am I gonna do it or am I not gonna do it', period. And am I gonna look at that guy or am I too afraid 'cause I have my own ethics to put in someone else's ethics, and that's all it comes down to, and I won't hesitate to put ethic in on someone else because I put it ruthlessly in on myself. Man, I think that I respect that in others and I'm there to help. We are here to help. Look, either you're onboard or you're not onboard. Okay. But if you're onboard, you're onboard just like the rest of us. We are the authorities on getting people off drugs, we are the authorities on the mind, the authority on improving conditions ... we can rehabilitate criminals, we are the way to happiness, we bring peace and unite cultures. Once you know these tools and you know that they work then it's not good enough. And I'm just doing okay, travelling the world and meeting the people that I have met, talking with these leaders in various fields, they want help and they are depending on people who know and who can be effective and do it and that's us. That is our responsibility to do that. It is the time now, now is the time, okay - it is being a Scientologist, people are turning to you so you better know it and if you don't, then, you know, go and learn it [laughs]. But don't pretend you know it and whatever - it's like we're here to help and if you're a Scientologist you see, like, you see things the way they are, in all its worth, you know, in all of its complexities, and the more you know as a Scientologist the more you become overwhelmed by it, and so when they said, you know, have you met an SP [laughs] ... I thought, what a beautiful thing - maybe one day it will be like that - you know what I'm saying, maybe one day it will be like that - wow SPs - they'll read about that in history books. I just go through that tech and it's just literally - it's not how to run from an SP, it's PTS - it's how to confront, shatter suppression, you apply it and it's like, boom. Because they don't come up to me and do that - they won't do it to me - not to my face you know or anywhere near my vicinity where they feel they can be confronted. I wish the world was a different place. I'd like to go on vacation and go and romp and play and just do that. You know what I mean. I mean that's what I want it to be. That's how most times I'd like to do that but I can't. You know, you can sit here and wish it was different and then you look at it and then you go, this is it alright. You know, I have to do something, I have to do it because I can't live with myself if I don't and that really is it. I don't care if someone thinks it's hard or easy. You are helping, you are contributing all you can or you're not, because I'm carrying my love alright. And not only that, as much as I'm carrying I still feel I've got to give more - there's still a thing of let's go - you can see the look in her eyes, you know, the ones that are doing something and, you know, the spectators - the ones that are going, 'Well, it's easy for you.' What am I doing? It's just that thing. I've cancelled that in my area [laughs]. Man, it's like you're in or you're out. As spectators it's something like we have no time for, so it's our responsibility to educate ... We have a responsibility to say 'Hey, this the way it should be done' - do it this way and people are actually getting better and let's get it done. Let's really get it done and have enough love and compassion and toughness that you're going to do it. And do it right ... It's rough and tumble, and it's wild and woolly and it's a blast. It's a blast. It really is fun, because ... there is nothing better than ... going out there and fighting the fight and, suddenly you see things are better. I want to know that I have done everything I could every day. When I think about those people out there who are depending on us, you know, we have more work. I need more help. You gotta get those spectators in the playing field or out of the arena. Really, that's how I feel about it. DECIPHERING (POSSIBLY) CRUISE * KSW Keep Scientology Working. * PTS Potential trouble source. * SP Suppressive person. * Sea-orgs High-ranking Scientologists. On the web Gawker.com \|\|\|\|\| Attention random asshats emailing me and asking me how to cosplay: go here For visual Stimuli, here. Someone emailed me earlier today talking about a tool a group’s been using to attack the scientology website. It’s an interesting tool, created to overload/create malformed strings and crash a website’s database. I don’t think it’s particularly legal unlike vamping/raep/gigaloading.The url looks something like this when you execute the program http://www.iheartfurries.org/html/en_US/feature/search/index.html?query=#rand#+&index=cos%2Ccos_rtc&go.x=16&go.y=13 And #rand# is the part where you pick whether you want it to try numbers or characters, how many of the selected to try, you can alter the number of threads (higher the better, but be prepared for larger fail rates) and the timeout time. Kinda cool, in a violent way. I tried it and crashed my own server for a few minutes, quite cool Lets you know how much your server REALLY can take. Make sure you get your site’s search url correct or you’re going to end up not being able to do much with the tool. You can find it over here.	Administrators for ''711chan.org'', one of the websites responsible for starting Project Chanology, a "raid" or attack against the Church of Scientology and their website, slowed down their "attack". In an exclusive interview with ''Wikinews'', an administrator of ''711chan'' states that they will "probably stay away from the CoS Church of Scientology." "We're probably just going to stay away from the CoS raid. It was poorly managed. We could've brought down a lot more if we weren't just a bunch of unorganized brats," said 'Plasma', an administrator on ''711chan.org''. "Many people from 711chan still want to raid, but the administration is sick of it," added Plasma who also stated that "Partyvan IRC actually has decided to remove the raid." Much of the reason stems from the fact that the attack on the Church was meant to stay within ''711chan'' and that users were to stay "anonymous." An e-mail was leaked on the internet when the attack began exposing the script used to attack the Church's website. "This is not what the raid originally started as. Partyvan declares this as a threat to the network, and Anonymous alike. We have been under constant botnet attacks, 711chan hacked, and tons of drama over this. You guys did a very poor job of staying Anonymous. It's obvious that a lot of you broke rules 1, and 2," said a statement on ''711chan's'' website. The rules they refer to, according to Plasma, mean the "Rules of the Internet" and are: Both key rules were broken by users, according to Plasma. The attack on Scientology was launched on Wednesday January 16 by a group labelled "Anonymous", on the website "Insurgency Wiki", a spinoff of 4chan which is also affiliated with ''711chan''. The "History" section of the site explains, in a satirical fashion, that the incident was prompted by the Church of Scientology's attempts to remove a promotional video featuring Scientologist Tom Cruise from YouTube. Though YouTube complied with the Church of Scientology's requests to take down the video, other sites such as Gawker.com stated that they will keep hosting the video. One poster admitted to being a part of the effort, writing in a blog post "I have myself, as per instructions, loaded up Gigaloader and started bombarding the Scientology homepage. Theres ''sic'' something in the hilarious anarchy of the net that produces these 'events' every now and again." The poster wrote that "Prompted I think by the Tom Cruise video, a new obsession is taking hold on the internet. An insurgency against The Church of Scientology." Not long after their attack, a previously unknown group called ''The Regime'' used keylogging to gain an administrator password to 711chan.org. "I was actually away from home when I noticed my personal dedi was compromised (my bash_history file had lots of strange entries), so I informed Partyvan IRC staff (the CoS raid room as well as 711chan's IRC room are there) and minutes later, 711chan's machine was also compromised. I arrived home around an hour later, and immediately restored the contents of the 711 machine back to a previous state. I also got the passwords reset on my dedi and that was back in order. I went to bed shortly after that," said Plasma in regards to ''The Regime's'' attack on ''711chan''. "The next morning I wake up to hundreds of MSN windows and emails telling me both servers have been compromised again, and our backups for 711 have been removed. The software we use to run 711chan's machine got bugged up somehow and make it difficult for me to fix things, which is why the site didn't respond at all for most of the day. At the time of writing this I still haven't got the backups reloaded onto the machine," added Plasma. Plasma states that ''711chan.org'' will be off line at least until the end of January, possibly longer, but the site is not expected to change. "I shut down our server to prevent any more damage. Right now, our plan is to lay low and get stuff started up on a more secure machine. We'll be back up by the end of the month, hopefully. 711chan will probably be staying the same it is, however," said Plasma. But they didn't go down without a fight adds Plasma. "As who the "Regime" is? I took a look at one of the things they planted on my machine, which lead me to # regime on GameSurge IRC. `immortal' and about 30 drones were in that channel. Members of the g00ns community (allies of 711, also linked to Partyvan IRC) found out they had dox (documents such as phone numbers, addresses, SSN numbers, names, that sort of thing) on `immortal' and his wife. I actually have these details and attempted to call him, but it went unanswered," said Plasma. The information that ''711chan.org'' obtained was later posted on the website operated by ''The Regime''. ''Wikinews'' has attempted to contact ''The Regime'' a second time regarding the incident, and they have only replied with "your articles are bullshit."
Canadian terror suspect Khadr was shot by U.S. forces before capture: witness GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - A young Canadian terror suspect was shot twice in the back by U.S. forces during a 2002 firefight in Afghanistan after he allegedly killed an American commando, according to a U.S. fighter's eyewitness account revealed Monday. Omar Khadr, who was 15 at the time, already had been injured by shrapnel in his chest and was facing away from the fight when he was shot inside an al-Qaida compound, according to the unidentified U.S. fighter. Defence lawyers said the new details would help them make a case that Khadr should not be tried before a military tribunal because his alleged offences occurred in a combat setting, and therefore should not be considered war crimes committed by an irregular "enemy combatant." The Toronto-born Khadr, now 21, is charged with hurling a grenade that killed army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Speer. The eyewitness also says a second enemy fighter was alive inside the compound when he entered, casting doubt, defence lawyers say, on the government's conclusion that Khadr hurled the grenade. "It does raise questions as to basic facts of the government's case," said the defence lawyer, navy Lt. Cmdr. William Kuebler. The witness account was included in motions handed out to reporters at a pretrial hearing for Khadr, whose case is on track to become the first to go to trial at Guantanamo. At the hearing, defence lawyers urged the judge to drop the charges against Khadr, arguing that prosecuting somebody so young at the time of the alleged offence would violate international treaties protecting child soldiers. The judge, army Col. Peter Brownback, did not immediately issue a ruling. The Pentagon's case against Khadr, twice derailed by legal challenges, is scheduled for trial in May before the first U.S. war-crime tribunals since the Second World War era. As a child, Khadr travelled through Afghanistan and Pakistan and met terrorist leaders including Osama bin Laden through his father, Ahmad Said al-Khadr, a suspected al-Qaida financier who was killed in Pakistan in 2003. He later attended terrorist training camps and planted landmines targeting American convoys, according to court documents. Lawyers said he was not old enough to think differently from his family. "He is a victim of al-Qaida, not a member of al-Qaida," Kuebler told the judge. Military prosecutors rejected arguments that Congress did not intend for the tribunals authorized by a 2006 law to apply to minors. Protections afforded child soldiers under international law do not apply to Khadr, they said. "Any immunities under international law have been abrogated by U.S. prosecution of him," Andy Oldham, a Justice Department prosecutor, told the judge. Khadr was captured in Afghanistan after the firefight and has been held at Guantanamo for more than five years. During the hearing, he did not speak and appeared bored, drawing and fidgeting during the arguments. Khadr faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He has been charged with war crimes including murder, conspiracy, and providing material support to terrorism. Defence lawyers also argued the law authorizing U.S. military tribunals should not apply to Khadr because the alleged offences occurred before the court was created by the U.S. Congress in 2006, after the U.S. Supreme Court threw out the rules for a previous court system. Prosecutors, however, said Congress clearly meant for the tribunals to prosecute terrorism suspects who were involved in or supported the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Human rights observers said the continuing emergence of the new details about the firefight reflected a closed process at Guantanamo. At Khadr's last pretrial hearing in November, his lawyers said they learned only a few days earlier about the existence of an eyewitness whose account of the firefight could help them make a case that he was not an "unlawful enemy combatant" and disqualify him for trial. Kuebler said it was not the same witness. "It emphasizes that we need a truly independent, transparent process," said Jumana Musa, advocacy director of London-based Amnesty International. A Pentagon spokesman, navy Cmdr. Jeffrey Gordon, disputed the contention that the Guantanamo trials are not open, noting the attendance of journalists and independent observers. The military has charged four of about 275 detainees now held at Guantanamo on suspicion of terrorism or links to al-Qaida or the Taliban. Authorities have said they plan to prosecute about 80 prisoners, including the alleged architect of the Sept. 11 attacks and 14 other so-called "high-value" detainees. \|\|\|\|\| (New York, February 1, 2008) – The United States should try Omar Khadr, a Guantanamo detainee arrested when he was 15 years old, in a court that meets juvenile justice and fair trial standards or repatriate him to Canada for rehabilitation, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, and Human Rights First said today in a joint letter to the US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. On February 4, a military commission at Guantanamo Bay will consider whether the United States may proceed in prosecuting Khadr, a Canadian citizen, for war crimes and other offenses in Afghanistan in 2002. If the proceedings go forward, Khadr, now 21, will become the first person in recent years to be tried by a western nation for alleged war crimes committed as a child.“For the past five years, the United States has ignored Khadr’s rights as a child,” said Jennifer Daskal, senior counterterrorism counsel at Human Rights Watch. “The US should not make matters worse by prosecuting him before an unfair military tribunal that fails to recognize his juvenile status at the time of the alleged crime.”US forces captured Khadr after a firefight in Afghanistan in July 2002. He has been charged with murder for allegedly throwing a grenade that killed US Army Sergeant First Class Christopher Speer, as well as attempted murder, conspiracy, providing material support for terrorism, and spying. Khadr has been detained at Guantanamo Bay since November 2002, and has alleged that he was subjected to abusive interrogations and prolonged solitary confinement. He said he was shackled in painful positions, threatened with rape, and used as a “human mop” after he urinated on the floor during one interrogation session.International juvenile justice standards allow for detention of juveniles only as a last resort and require prompt determination of juvenile cases. In addition, treaties binding on the United States oblige governments to provide for the rehabilitation of former child soldiers within their jurisdiction.Khadr, however, was detained for more than two years before he was provided access to an attorney, and for more than three years before he was charged before the initial military commissions at Guantanamo established in 2001. While other children detained at Guantanamo were given special housing and education, and were eventually released to rehabilitation programs in Afghanistan, Khadr has been housed with adult detainees and has had no access to education or other rehabilitation assistance.“Khadr has now spent a quarter of his life behind bars at Guantanamo,” said Daskal. “Yet he is still waiting for the United States to respect his basic rights.”At the hearing that begins on Monday, Khadr’s legal counsel will argue that the US military commissions do not have jurisdiction to proceed against children, and that the case should be dropped. They will also argue that even if the commission decides it can go forward, it lacks jurisdiction to consider the specific offenses with which Khadr has been charged.Salim Hamdan, a 37-year-old Yemeni charged with conspiracy and providing material support for terrorism based on allegations that he served as a driver and bodyguard to al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, will also appear before a military commission next week. Like Khadr, Hamdan will argue that the charges against him should be dismissed.Hamdan’s lawyers will also argue that they should be allowed to interview eight Guantanamo detainees – including high-value detainees such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammad – who may possess exculpatory or other relevant information regarding the facts in his case.The government contends that other Guantanamo Bay detainees are presumptively off limits as witnesses, and cited fears that at least some of them might reveal classified evidence regarding the CIA.“It’s hard to see how Hamdan could ever get a fair trial if his lawyers can’t talk to key witnesses simply because they have been subject to an illegal CIA detention program and possibly mistreated,” Daskal said.Other than Khadr and Hamdan, only one person is currently facing charges before the commissions. Mohammad Jawad, a 23-year-old Afghan who has been in US custody since he was 17, is being charged with attempted murder for allegedly throwing a hand grenade into a vehicle carrying two American soldiers in Afghanistan in 2002. The charges against Jawad were approved by the Bush administration on January 30 and he will likely make his first appearance before the commissions in early March.David Hicks, the only person to be convicted by the military commissions, pled guilty in April 2006 to one count of providing material support to terrorism and has since then completed his nine-month sentence in his native Australia.Approximately 270 other detainees continue to be held at Guantanamo without charge. Under the terms of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 , they are prohibited from bringing habeas corpus petitions to challenge the basis for their detention. The US Supreme Court is actively considering the legality of those habeas corpus-stripping provisions, and a decision is expected by June. \|\|\|\|\| Lawyers for Omar Khadr will ask the U.S. military to drop charges faced by the young Canadian as they attend a pretrial hearing at the Guantanamo Naval Base on Monday. They have maintained that Khadr, the only Canadian being held at the military detention facility in Cuba, should go free because trying him for crimes he allegedly committed as a minor contravenes international law. Khadr, 23, has been in custody at Guantanamo Bay since 2002. He was arrested at age 15, following a shootout in Afghanistan. Omar Khadr in a 2002 file photo, at age 15, around the time he was captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Khadr's lawyers say he should be freed because he was a minor when he was arrested six years ago. (Canadian Press) He is accused of murder in the death of American medic Sgt. First Class Christopher J. Speer. Khadr is also charged with spying, conspiracy and supporting terrorism. Dennis Edney, Khadr's Canadian lawyer, told CBC Newsworld on Sunday that one of the pretrial motions will ask that Khadr be treated as a child soldier. "Here he is, as alleged by the Americans, to be picked up in a battlefield, and therefore, why is he not being treated as a child soldier?: Edney said. "The Bush administration has refused to do so. We'll be asking the judge to consider the law that applies and make a ruling in that regard." Kadhr's military defence team has 15 different motions prepared. Some essentially assert that the military commission process itself is illegitimate because it was set up by Congress at the urging of the Bush White House in 2006, four years after the alleged crimes were committed. "Khadr's [U.S. military] lawyer, Lt.-Cmdr. Bill Kuebler, says that's a violation of a very entrenched legal principle: you can't pass a law, define crimes, and then retroactively go back and convict people," CBC journalist Bill Gillespie explained. The defence team will also seek rulings, either Monday or on another day, on motions saying Khadr was 15 at the time of his arrest, and that under international law should be regarded as a child soldier. Kuebler and other defence lawyers were expected to argue that the military commission doesn't have the jurisdiction to try a child, that they only have the jurisdiction to try adults, and therefore on those grounds, as well, the charges should be dismissed. Groups want PM's intervention Human rights groups say Prime Minister Stephen Harper should intervene in the case. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, and Human Rights First are urging Harper to formally request that the United States either try Khadr under juvenile justice rules, or send him back to Canada. Foreign policy analyst Christopher Sands, who is with the Hudson Institute in Washington — a public policy research group — said U.S. prosecutors are keen on reaching a resolution. "After several hearings over whether his status was correct or not under U.S. law, whether he could be tried as a military combatant or had other conditions which should be applied, we've gone through a lot of this now over the last couple of years, and finally we're getting to the point where we may actually see a trial," Sands said.	Khadr, at the age of fourteen.A military tribunal at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp is hearing arguments today over the legality of trying Canadian Omar Khadr for alleged war crimes, given his status as a minor at the time of the incident. Khadr is charged with the murder of Sgt. Christopher Speer, in addition to attempted murder, conspiracy, providing material support for terrorism, and spying. The charges stem from a 2002 incident in which the 15-year old allegedly threw a grenade at U.S. troops after they directed an air-strike at the Afghan compound he was sharing with Mujahideen insurgents. A number of groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have sent a letter to Secretary of Defence Robert Gates alleging that the military tribunal is "not equipped to meet juvenile justice standards" and that Khadr should either be tried before a civilian court or repatriated to Canada. Edney (L) and Kuebler (R) Jennifer Daskal, senior counter-terrorism counsel at Human Rights Watch explained that the United States "should not make matters worse by prosecuting him before an unfair military tribunal." Khadr's lawyer Dennis Edney challenged the attempts to label the 21-year old as a war criminal asking "...Why is he not being treated as a child soldier?" Lt Cdr Bill Kuebler, the American military commissions counsel in the case, agreed that the charges should be dismissed since the tribunal lacked the jurisdiction to prosecute minors. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper however, has said that his country will not intervene in the case to seek extradition of Khadr, re-affirming Canada's status as the only Western country who has not demanded the release or extradition of their citizens held in Guantanamo. Claiming to have been abused, threatened with rape and forced into painful positions since his arrival in Guantanamo in 2002 , Omar Khadr has been the subject of two psychiatric assessments that claimed he suffered from mental disorder as a result of his imprisonment, and was at risk of suicide. Khadr was previously charged by the Guantanamo military commission in November 2005, before the judicial body was ruled "unlawful" by the Supreme Court. Last June, a military judge dismissed a second series of charges against Khadr because his 2004 Combatant Status Review Tribunal had classified as an "enemy combatant" rather than an "illegal enemy combatant", meaning that he did not qualify under the Military Commissions Act. Three months later, however, the Court of Military Commission Review ruled that the Commission would be allowed to make its own determination of the legality of a combatant.
BBC Television Centre up for sale The BBC has been making programmes at Television Centre for more than 50 years Continue reading the main story Related Stories Television Centre, the landmark west London home of BBC television and news, has gone on the market. The corporation said it was inviting bid proposals from people looking for a conventional, freehold property or those interested in a joint venture. The latter could see listed parts of the building preserved in a "hub for creative businesses and a visitor destination". The doughnut-shaped building first opened in Shepherd's Bush in 1960. Among the shows recorded in its studios were Fawlty Towers, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Blue Peter and Strictly Come Dancing, as well as earlier series of Doctor Who. The site is also home to the Blue Peter garden, which will be relocated to a studio roof at the Salford site. The BBC said the main aim of the sale, first announced in 2007, was to maximise the site's value to the BBC and licence fee payers. The 14-acre site, where 5,000 staff are based, is expected to be empty by 2015. Chris Kane, head of BBC Workplace, said: "With high investor demand for commercial property in London and a shortage of landmark sites as distinctive as Television Centre, we anticipate strong competition for both conventional and innovative proposals." Richard Deverell, W12 programme director, said: "Television Centre has played an extraordinary and central role in the history of the BBC, which will not be forgotten." BBC News is set to move to central London next year while BBC Sport, children's programmes and TV's Breakfast are moving to Salford, Greater Manchester. \|\|\|\|\| LONDON—British Broadcasting Corp. on Monday took the first steps toward selling Television Centre, home to BBC Vision and BBC News, a move that could fetch as much as £300 million ($490 million) at a time when the media organization is under pressure to cut costs. The corporation initially decided to sell Television Centre in 2007, just before the economic downturn, but only in November appointed commercial property consultants...	The BBC Television Centre in 2007 The has been placed up for sale by the corporation. Plans to sell the centre originally came forward in 2007 but the BBC only appointed Lambert Smith Hampton, a commercial property consultant, in November of last year. The building which is based in , London was opened in 1960 and is the home of and . The BBC stated they were interested in preserving parts of the building while setting up a "hub for creative businesses and a visitor destination." According to the head of BBC Workplace, , "With high investor demand for commercial property in London and a shortage of landmark sites as distinctive as Television Centre, we anticipate strong competition for both conventional and innovative proposals." The property has been valued between £150 million to £300 million but is expected to fetch around £200 million. 5000 staff are currently based at the centre which BBC bosses hope to be empty by 2015. The BBC is creating a new development in Salford, Greater Manchester. Several departments including , , and children's shows are moving to Salford while BBC News is being relocated within central London.
Rooney ends Roma resistance Match report by Simon Hart from Old Trafford AS Roma avoided another embarrassment but they still left Old Trafford a beaten side after Wayne Rooney's second-half goal proved enough to earn Manchester United FC a 1-0 victory and a three-point advantage at the top of UEFA Champions League Group F. One goal enough For United, it seems one goal, rather than the seven they scored against Roma in April, is more than enough right now. This was their sixth 1-0 success in eight matches and it came via a player who appears to enjoy facing the Giallorossi – Rooney driving in his third goal in as many games against the Serie A team after latching on to a Nani through pass 20 minutes from time. Goalkeeping debutants Given Roma's desire to make amends for last term's 7-1 humbling here and United's own early-season goal shortage, it was no real surprise that neither of the UEFA Champions League debutants between the posts, United's Tomasz Kuszczak and Roma's Gianluca Curci, was seriously tested in the early stages. Curci was playing after first-choice keeper Doni fell ill earlier in the day yet, despite that setback, it was Roma who looked the more assured side in possession with captain Francesco Totti prominent in most of their best work. Totti threat After finding his range with a couple of long-range strikes straight at Kuszczak, Totti had the Polish custodian struggling to gather one low free-kick shortly after the half-hour. There was also one delicious diagonal ball from the Roma No10 which, dissecting the United back line, seemed to have sent Mancini clear before the assistant's flag halted his run. At the other end Cristiano Ronaldo headed over from Nani's cross on 22 minutes before Nani then showed some lovely footwork to get past two black shirts down the left and deliver a far-post cross which the unmarked Rooney volleyed over. Game comes to life After that tentative opening period, the game came to life after the restart. Totti missed a golden opportunity when Nemanja Vidić's slip left him with a clear sight on goal and he blazed his shot over. It was the story of Roma's night, with Totti then laying the ball back to Alberto Aquilani who flashed it wide. For all the visitors' probing, United began to impose themselves in enemy territory, however, and after Nani's cross had struck the crossbar, Rooney's drive warmed Curci's fingertips. Rooney then lifted the ball over the Roma back line for Ronaldo to backheel into the net but he was offside. The reprieve was temporary as Rooney fired a low shot across Curci and in off the far post for his first goal of the season. No luck Roma sought a reply but Luciano Spalletti's men could be justified in feeling Old Trafford really is not their lucky ground: David Pizarro – a replacement for the injured Aquilani – shot low at Kuszczak, Mauro Esposito spurned another late opportunity and, in between, the United goal survived an almighty scramble. Roma can take heart but it is United who took the points. ©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| By Howard Nurse Rooney gave Curci no chance with a sweetly-struck winner There was to be no repeat of the 7-1 drubbing handed out to Roma in April by United in last season's quarter-final. Chances were at a premium with Cristiano Ronaldo and Francesco Totti restricted to long-range efforts. Rooney broke the deadlock with a sharp 15-yard finish after he was set up by Nani to leave United three points clear at the top of Group F. United seem to have a habit of winning 1-0 and once again they failed to hit anything like top form against a resolute Roma outfit. The entire match was a tactical affair in which United demonstrated plenty of intent but very little of the attacking verve which served them so well last season. Roma, who were knocked off the top of Serie A on Saturday when they slumped to a 4-1 home defeat to Inter Milan, were content to soak up what United threw at them. 606: DEBATE The result may stay the same but the performances are getting better Reddevil1288 Both sides went into the game with stand-in goalkeepers - but neither was seriously tested with long-distance shots from Francesco Totti and Cristiano Ronaldo causing few alarms. United - with Louis Saha starting a game for the first time since February - began passing the ball around crisply but Roma quickly smothered the Red Devils with Daniele de Rossi brilliantly screening the visiting defence. Totti's 30-yard free-kick evaded the wall and Tomasz Kuszczak, in for the injured Edwin van der Sar, needed two attempts to cushion the ball to his chest. United should have gone ahead on 33 minutes when Nani got round the back of the Roma defence only for a carefree Rooney to volley over from a good position. That apart, Sir Alex Ferguson will have been disappointed to see his side lacking momentum in wide positions with Ronaldo and Nani dropping deep far too often. If United were too relaxed in the first period, they immediately threatened at the start of the second when a Ronaldo raid down the right was cleared by a relieved Phillipe Mexes in front of his own goal. Roma spurned their best chance when Giuly set up Totti, who blazed over the advancing Kuszczak from close range five minutes after the restart. Alberto Aquilani fired another warning to United moments later when he fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box as the Italians sensed a goal was possible. United were still struggling to get sufficient men forward with Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick content to sit deep in the crowded midfield and unable to make their mark on proceedings. Nani enjoyed one of his best displays for Man Utd so far Rooney produced a bright moment when he cut inside the left side of the Roma defence before unleashing a powerful low shot which Curci pushed away for a corner. Carlos Tevez replaced the tiring Saha and United soon had the ball in the net when the Argentine found Ronaldo, who audaciously back-heeled home from an offside position. Rooney clinched victory 20 minutes from time with an exquisite finish to raise the roof off Old Trafford. Carrick found Nani and he cleverly played the ball through to Rooney who turned outside and found the net off the inside of the far post with a crisp 15-yard shot. Tevez almost made it 2-0 with a sizzling 22-yard effort while Kuszczak did well at the other end to collect a well-struck Simone Perrotta effort. And United finished the game with 10 men after Cristiano Ronaldo left the field with a head wound which required four stitches. Roma should have levelled three minutes from time when Totti played the ball back for Mauro Esposito, who carelessly blazed wide from 10 yards with United stretched at the back. Ferguson said beforehand that he would settle for a 1-0 win. It was not always pretty but it went to script and United are well on their way towards qualifying for the knockout stages. "The second half we improved and the goal was a fabulous goal. "Luck happens in football, no question about that. I think we got a break in the last 15 minutes of the match when they started to risk a bit." "Even when you are playing against opponents of Manchester United's stature, with the players they have." Man Utd: Kuszczak, O'Shea, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Nani (Giggs 79), Saha (Tevez 66), Rooney (Anderson 84). Subs Not Used: Heaton, Pique, Simpson, Eagles. Goal: Rooney 70. Roma: Curci, Cicinho, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto, De Rossi, Aquilani (Pizarro 61), Giuly (Esposito 79), Perrotta, Mancini (Vucinic 74), Totti. Subs Not Used: Bertagnoli, Antunes, Barusso, Brighi. Booked: Mexes. Att: 73,652. Ref: Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).	Manchester United defeated AS Roma 1-0 in Group F of the UEFA Champions League 2007-08 at Old Trafford, Manchester, England. Wayne Rooney scored the only goal of the match, his first goal of the season for Manchester United, in the 70th minute. Manchester United currently lead Group F with two wins from two matches. AS Roma are second on goal difference ahead of Sporting CP, who defeated FC Dynamo Kyiv 2-1.
Keep up with local news and get breaking news alerts with our e-mail newsletter Tim Horton's and Cold Stone Creamery will soon be combining their menus at some locations. The Ontario, Canada-based coffee and doughnut chain announced a co-branding deal with Scottsdale, Ariz.-based ice cream chain Cold Stone, owned by Kahala Corp. A three-month test of two stores in Rhode Island led to a double-digit percentage gain in sales, said Kevin Blackwell, chief executive officer of Cold Stone parent Kahala Corp. The companies are developing menu items that incorporate products from both restaurants. The companies are working with franchisees to build Cold Stone stores within 50 Tim Hortons locations, while another 50 of the coffee shops will go into the ice cream parlors. The restaurants should begin opening in the next 90 days. The renovations are expected to cost about $100,000 per location, Blackwell said. Cold Stone has locations in stores in Hamilton and Oxford. Tim Horton's has a location in Monroe. The companies will be co-branding stores in Ohio as well as Michigan, New York, Maine and Connecticut, according to a news release. Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com. \|\|\|\|\| Web Exclusive Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Will Team Up in 100 Stores Execs hope the partnership will extend popular dayparts and fuel menu innovations. Tim Hortons Inc., the No. 1 quick-serve chain in Canada, and Kahala Corp., parent company of Cold Stone Creamery and 11 other brands, announced February 6 that 100 existing Cold Stone and Tim Hortons stores will enter into a co-branding initiative. Fifty stores from each brand will add the other chain's menu to its own by spring 2009. To kick off the initiative, an Ohio Cold Stone store opened this past Saturday with the addition of Tim Hortons' complete menu. As opposed to some co-branding efforts that end up taking away from one brand's business, Cold Stone and Tim Hortons executives say their partnership is complementary because the two chains serve different dayparts: Cold Stone does most of its business in the evening, while Tim Hortons' offerings of coffee, doughnuts, sandwiches, and soups make it a more natural choice for breakfast and lunch crowds. “We're very excited about the complementary daypart piece,” says David Clanachan, chief operations officer of Tim Hortons. “It's something unique in what we see from a co-branding perspective: It's not cannibalistic, and it leverages existing assets and people and resources.” The co-branded stores will be located in Michigan, Western New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Maine, and Connecticut, all of which are states where both companies already have a strong brand presence. The decision follows a successful test run, launched in November, of Cold Stone sections in two Rhode Island Tim Hortons stores. Lee Knowlton, chief operating officer of Kahala Corp., says both stores experienced incremental sales increases and that the initiative didn't suffer from any of the trade off effect that can occur when customers opt for new menu items at the expense of existing ones. “You could really see the synergy between the two brands,” Knowlton says. “It's exceeded both of our expectations.” The co-branded stores will offer both restaurants' full menus and digital menuboards with video graphics to familiarize customers with each brand. To accommodate the new traffic patterns, co-branded Cold Stone stores will extend their hours to open at either 6 or 7 a.m. (from 10 or 11 a.m.), and some Tim Hortons locations will stay open until midnight on weekends (instead of their previous close time of 10 or 11 p.m.). It's something unique in what we see from a co-branding perspective: It's not cannibalistic, and it leverages existing assets and people and resources.” Participating stores will feature new co-branded menu items, as well, something Clanachan says came at the request of customers. “You see a customer come in [who is] a Tim Horton's customer and say, 'Can I get a scoop of that ice cream in my coffee?'” Clanachan says. “There's product creation that's happening.” New menu offerings will include muffins a la mode and coffee floats. Other than that, the stores will operate the same as the two Rhode Island test locations. When customers enter the store, they can order from Cold Stone's menu on the left or from Tim Hortons' on the right. All customers then move to a register in the center of the restaurant. Knowlton says even small details such as the two brands' coordinating color schemes made the collaboration seamless. “They fit together really naturally,” Knowlton says. “If you were to walk into one of these stores, you would say, 'Wow, that's always been there.'” Robin Hilmantel is an editorial intern at QSR. \|\|\|\|\| Feb. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Tim Hortons Inc., Canada’s largest restaurant company, and ice-cream chain Cold Stone Creamery will create 100 co-branded stores in the U.S. to expand sales throughout the day. A three-month test of two stores in Rhode Island led to a double-digit percentage gain in sales, said Kevin Blackwell, chief executive officer of Cold Stone parent Kahala Corp. The companies are also developing menu items that incorporate products from both restaurants. Tim Hortons is looking to broaden its American presence after a third-quarter loss in the U.S. prompted them to shut 15 locations in New England. The coffee-shop chain competes with McDonald’s Corp., Starbucks Corp. and Dunkin’ Donuts Inc. at its 500 U.S. locations. Cold Stone, which allows customers to choose from a variety of toppings to mix with their ice cream, wants to expand customer traffic during mornings and midday. “This truly hits that morning and lunch day-part that will help drive sales,” Blackwell said in a telephone interview yesterday. “The results have been fantastic.” The companies are testing product combinations, including Tim Hortons coffee with a scoop of Cold Stone’s French vanilla ice cream and a muffin a la mode, said Lee Knowlton, chief operating officer of Kahala. The co-branded stores may feature the new items within four to six weeks, he said. Doughnuts, Ice Cream The restaurants are expected to open in the next 90 days in the northern U.S., stretching from Maine to Michigan. The companies will work with franchisees to build Cold Stone stores within 50 Tim Hortons locations, while another 50 of the coffee shops will go into the ice cream parlors. The renovations are expected to cost about $100,000 per location, Blackwell said. During mornings, the menus will primarily focus on Tim Hortons coffees, doughnuts and pastries, with some information on Cold Stone’s ice-cream cakes and pies, before shifting the emphasis by evening, Blackwell said. He hopes to duplicate or top the double-digit sales gains from the first two stores as the warmer weather approaches. The companies may expand the venture based on how the initial 100 stores perform, he said. “The brands are very complementary,” said David Clanachan, chief operating officer of Tim Hortons. “It’s not cannibalistic. We’re not fighting for the same food-service dollar.” Tim Hortons, based in Oakville, Ontario, rose 10 cents to C$29.90 at 4 p.m. in Toronto Stock Exchange trading. Kahala, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, bought Cold Stone Creamery in 2007. The closely held company owns 13 brands including Ranch 1 Grilled Chicken and Blimpie sandwich shops. To contact the reporter on this story: Courtney Dentch in New York at cdentch1@bloomberg.net. To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jennifer Sondag at jsondag@bloomberg.net. \|\|\|\|\| LOS ANGELES, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Coffee and doughnut shop Tim Hortons Inc THI.TO and ice cream shop Cold Stone Creamery announced plans on Friday to test a combination of their brands in a total of 100 stores in the United States in a bid to boost traffic. Fifty stores from each brand will be involved in the test, which will focus on existing restaurants in Michigan, western New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Maine and Connecticut. Tim Hortons test shops will add a section that sells Cold Stone ice cream and Cold Stone stores will add Tim Hortons menu items. Cold Stone gets most of its traffic and sales in the evening while Tim Hortons’ main business is breakfast and lunch, said Lee Knowlton, chief operating officer of Kahala Corp, Cold Stone’s parent. “We have it covered from breakfast to after-dinner treats,” Knowlton said. Tim Hortons has roughly 3,300 restaurants in Canada and the Northeast United States. Cold Stone Creamery has more than 1,450 shops in 11 countries. (Reporting by Lisa Baertlein, editing by Matthew Lewis)	Tim Hortons, a popular Canadian express coffee and doughnut chain, has announced that they will be co-branding with another popular chain, Cold Stone Creamery, an American ice cream parlor chain. The deal includes a total of 100 new stores, at CA$121,690 (US$100,000) each. Each company will have 50 stores that they will build as, or convert into, dual-operation franchises. Each of the 50 stores will offer menus from each company and be located in 7 states, mostly in the Northeastern U.S.. Executives at Tim Hortons believe that mixing the two together is perfect because Tim Hortons makes most of their profit in the morning, while the Creameries are more popular in the evening. The idea proved successful when tested for three months in Rhode Island, in two different stores. "We're very excited about the complementary daypart piece. It's something unique in what we see from a co-branding perspective," said Tim Hortons chief of operations, David Clanachan. Construction has already started and stores are expected to open in May. Tim Hortons was founded by Canadian ice hockey player Tim Horton. The first store opened in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964. In July of 2007, there were over 2,700 locations in Canada and 500 in the U.S.. Cold Stone Creamery was founded in 1988 in Scottsdale, Arizona. There are over 1,400 operation, in locations such as Japan, South Korea and the U.S..
At least 38 people have been killed after a fire engulfed a drugs-treatment facility in a city outside Kazakhstan's largest city Almaty, emergency officials say. The fire, whose cause has not been established, started at roughly 5:30am (2330 GMT) on Saturday in Taldykorgan. Officials said the blaze spread rapidly because firefighters were not informed quickly enough. The Kazakh emergency situations ministry said in a statement: "As a result of the catastrophic situation ... According to tentative data, 38 people were killed, of which 36 were patients and two were medical personel." The ministry said rescuers were able to save 40 patients and medical staff, while firefighters took hours to put out the blaze, which spread out over an area of almost 650 square metres. Karim Masimov, the Kazakh prime minister, has called for the creation of a commission to investigate the cause of the fire, according to a statement on the government's main web portal. "The country's prime minister has entrusted the commission with carefully investigating the cause of this tragedy, and taking exhaustive measures to render assistance to the victims," it said. High-level panel The high-level commission will be led by Serik Akhmedov, the vice-prime minister, the statement said. Deadly fires are common in the former Soviet Union, with retirement homes and other state-run facilities particularly prone to such accidents. In 2006, 45 women were killed when a fire erupted at a drugs treatment clinic in Moscow. The women had been trapped behind locked doors and barred windows during the inferno. \|\|\|\|\| Firefighters took hours to tackle the blaze A fire at a hospital facility for drug addicts in the city of Taldykorgan in south-eastern Kazakhstan has killed 38 people, according to officials. The country's emergency ministry said 40 staff and patients were rescued. The fire was large, it said, covering 650 sq m (7,000 sq ft). Prime Minister Karim Masimov is reported to have ordered an inquiry. Safety regulations are often violated in Kazakhstan, with frequent workplace accidents and fires as a result. There were almost 10,000 fires in Kazakhstan in the first eight months of 2009, AP news agency quoted the emergency ministry as saying. Commission According to one report, firefighters were still tackling the blaze hours after it started. There are as yet no details on the cause of the fire, which broke out early on Sunday, or why it was so deadly. Prime Minister Masimov immediately ordered a commission to be set up to investigate the cause of the fire, a government spokeswoman said, according to Russian news agency Ria-Novosti. "Today the head of the government signed such a decree; the commission will be led by Deputy Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov who, in the nearest future, will be flying from Astana to Taldykorgan," a spokeswoman was quoted as saying.	A fire at a drug treatment hospital near Almaty, Kazakhstan, killed it least 38 people on Saturday, authorities have said. Ten more people have been hospitalised, two of them in critical condition. The blaze started at approximately 05.30 local time (23.30 UTC) in Taldykorgan. The fire spread quickly, consuming almost 650 square metres of land. "According to tentative data, 38 people were killed, of which 36 were patients and two were medical personnel," the national emergency situation ministry stated. The ministry says that emergency crews managed to rescue up to forty people and medical personnel from the burning building. Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Bozhko said that the inhabitants of the building may have been hampered in their escape by locked doors and barred windows. There was apparently no fire alarm on the premises, and firefighters had not been alerted to the fire quickly enough to contain it. In a statement on the Internet, Kazakh prime minister Karim Masimov called for a commission to investigate the cause of the fire: "The country's prime minister has entrusted the commission with carefully investigating the cause of this tragedy, and taking exhaustive measures to render assistance to the victims."
In its long-lasting battle against YouTube, Turkey officials banned a new set of Google-owned IPs in an attempt to stop Turkish Internet users from accessing the dreaded video platform. According to the online edition of the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet, Turkey’s Telecommunications Communication Presidency (TIB) came out Friday June 4th and announced that it blocked access to some Google IP addresses due to legal reasons. The news came after users started experiencing problems since the middle of the week with services like Google Translate, Google Analytics, Google Docs, Google Tools and Google Books. To set things straight, nothing new happened between Google and Turkey to trigger such a harsh reaction from Ankara government. The situation between the Turkish officials and Mountain-View management hasn't changed since March 2007, when because of a defamatory YouTube video against the country's founding father, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the presidency decided through a court order to ban access to YouTube in their country. As Hürriyet shows, aided by Turkish lawyer Mehmet Ali Köksal, the court order and the government's recent actions don't show an escalation or a conflictual position against Google, but more a technical mishap from the Ankara officials. Due to the fact that Google owns its personal DNS from which it can change the IPs of its own services according to their own needs and various technical reasons, it's serving Google Search, YouTube, and its huge portfolio of services practically from a fixed range of Internet addresses. When Turkey technicians tried to ban a new set of YouTube IPs, they again narrowed down the small area of Google IPs. But this time around, they managed to restrict access of other Google services which now may use former YouTube IPs, already banned across Turkey in the last two years. So what did we learn from this? If you live in country A and hate country B, and would want to see citizens of country B have a miserable life, just shoot a video in which you are making fun of country B's government / history, put it on YouTube and voila. Country B's government will just go crazy and ban the entire Google network (or Facebook, or Wikipedia, or Flickr, or Twitter, etc, see example 1 or example 2). \|\|\|\|\| BAR: The Telecommunications Communication Presidency says it blocked access to some Google IP addresses 'due to legal reasons.' Translation and document-sharing tools are among the Google sites recently barred in Turkey, which has maintained a widely unpopular two-year ban on YouTube for perceived insults against the country’s founder. Turkey’s Telecommunications Communication Presidency, or TİB, released an official statement Friday saying it had blocked access to some Google IP addresses “because of legal reasons.” Internet users in the country have recently complained about difficulties in accessing docs.google.com, translate.google.com, books.google.com, google-analytics.com and tools.google.com. According to the TİB statement, some Google applications may be completely inaccessible or, at the very least, take a long time to load, a move that may affect websites, portals and even the performance of individual computers. “Leaving the legal status aside, first of all, they have victimized us,” lawyer Mehmet Ali Köksal said when asked to explain the vague statement from the TİB, adding that an Information Technology Law Congress, in which TİB representatives are expected to participate, will be held in İzmir between Wednesday and Friday. “We have created a Google document [page] and were running our operations from there; now we cannot communicate either,” he said. Köksal said the TİB’s act does not punish Google but only individuals, adding that the directorate’s bans are akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater. “They have the court decision to ban Google sites, which is very wrong but the court has decided [so],” he said. “There are also some controversial decisions on banning YouTube; absurd things like banning it while it is already banned.” Access to YouTube has been banned by Turkish authorities since May 5, 2008, because of videos deemed offensive to Turkish Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Because Google owns YouTube, the sites’ Domain Name Systems are the same. When a user types a domain name into the address bar of a browser, the DNS directs the browser to the site’s actual address, or IP number. Internet service providers in Turkey, however, redirect browsers when users attempt to access a banned site such as YouTube; instead of the site they wanted, they get a message saying “Access to this site is banned by court order.” To avoid such controls, many users change their DNS settings, allowing them to bypass Turkish Internet service providers. “I guess they are trying to bar the access to those DNS providers,” said Köksal. “The explanation they made contradicts itself somewhat. They say, ‘There is a court order, so we are turning the functioning of the Internet in Turkey upside down a little.’” Many people have criticized the YouTube ban, arguing that it is illogical to ban the whole site for a single video, Köksal said, adding that authorities are now attempting to ban Google services that are not even the target of court orders. “The content providers sometimes change their DNSs. It is a wrong act to bar other services of Google because of the changed DNS,” he said. “This is like shutting down a printing district when the aim is shutting down one newspaper.” \|\|\|\|\| Turkish ISPs Block Several Google Services? According to numerous Twitter sources, as well as Turkish blogs, ISPs in Turkey have started blocking several Google services. Google’s translation of one such report reveals that ISPs have sent emails to customers, informing them that the services have been blocked for legal reasons. It’s currently unclear exactly which services have been blocked; one report claims that the unavailable services include Google Analytics, Mail and Docs. The same source claims that the Turkish government actually tried to block YouTube’s new IPs and (perhaps inadvertently) blocked a number of other Google services in the process. *Update: according to commenter Emrah Gunduz, the unavailable services are “Google Translate, Sites, Code, AppEngine, Docs, Groups, Feedburner. Other Google services are reachable, but Analytics and Adsense are working slower.” The news comes hot on the heels of Bangladesh and Pakistan’s blockade of Facebook. In Turkey, many popular sites such as YouTube and Last.FM have been blocked from time to time. Now, other Google services join the list; if the reports are true, this could cause numerous problems to individuals and companies who rely on using Google’s services in their work and daily life. Thanks to Oğuz Serdar for the tip. For more social media coverage, follow Mashable Social Media on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook Tags: ban, blockade, Google, turkey \|\|\|\|\| Desde primera hora de este sábado, ELMUNDO.es no se puede consultar desde Turquía. El acceso a esta página web ha sido bloqueado por el gobierno turco, que ya había amenazado con llevar a cabo esta censura el pasado miércoles si no se retiraba una noticia relativa a un vídeo sexual del líder de la oposición. Cuando se teclea 'www.elmundo.es' aparece una pantalla con el siguiente mensaje: "After techncal analysis and legal evaluation based on the catalog crimes of the Law no 5651, Administrative mesaure has been taken for this website (elmundo.es) according to decision no 421.02.00.2010-165899 dated 14/05/2010 of "Telekomünikasyon İletişim Başkanlığı". El pasado miércoles, el gobierno turco ya amenazó con bloquear ELMUNDO.es por la publicación de una información, firmada por el colaborador del periódico Fran Martínez desde Estambul, que relataba la dimisión del líder de la oposición Deniz Baykal, después de que apareciera un vídeo en el que se le ve desnudo con su antigua secretaria (ahora diputada) Nesrin Baytok. Las imágenes fueron publicadas por el site www.habervaktim.com, y recogidas después por otras tantas páginas de vídeos. La primera advertencia llegó a la redacción de ELMUNDO.es la tarde del miércoles. Una carta firmada por la Autoridad de Información y Tecnología de la Comunicación, entidad dependiente de la Presidencia de Comunicación del Gobierno turco, amenazó con el bloqueo inminente del sitio web. "Dado que estamos recibiendo muchas quejas con respecto a la dirección [la de la noticia en cuestión] y puesto que dicho contenido de Internet está prohibido en Turquía, le rogamos que eliminarlo en un plazo de una hora, o su sitio será bloqueado inmediatamente en Turquía", dice la carta. Finalmente ha sido a primera hora de este sábado cuando las autoridades han bloqueado el acceso a la página. Una maniobra que ha tenido gran repercusión en la prensa turca y de la que se han hecho eco diarios como 'Gazeteciler', 'Aktif Haber' o 'Beyaz Gazete'. La 'libertad de prensa' en Turquía Reporteros Sin Fronteras sitúa a Turquía en la posición 122 de 175 países en cuanto a libertad de prensa. En la clasificación del año pasado estaba en la posición 102, por lo que ha bajado 20 posiciones. 40 periodistas están encarcelados actualmente en Turquía según el Sindicato de Periodistas de Turquía. 2.601 páginas web han sido cerrados en los últimos dos años, entre ellos Myspace y Youtube. Según informa Fran Martínez, el vídeo ha sido prohibido en Turquía "porque hay una investigación en curso y viola el derecho a la privacidad del Sr. Baykal". \|\|\|\|\| by Handan T. Satiroglu - Turkey - Surfing YouTube.com, a favorite global pastime, is anything but a predictable experience within the confines of the Turkish Republic. Before browsing, one has to wonder, “Is it blocked?” “Unblocked?” or “Is the entire site blocked or just a few select videos?” Turkey first denied access to Youtube in March of 2007 because Greek nationalists had posted derogatory videos of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the much-revered founder of modern day Turkey. After a brief lifting of the ban, in September 2007, a series of anti-nationalist videos incurred the wrath of Turkish authorities once again, and led to Youtube’s subsequent banning. Although the site was intermittently available soon after, once videos defaming Ataturk and the Republic in general resurfaced, the block was promptly reinstituted in January 2008. On this autumn-tinged October morning, the site remains inaccessible from my temporary home in Turkey. In a rising tide of intimidation and restriction of freedom of speech in Turkey, Youtube is hardly an isolated case. Although Youtube’s blockage has become emblematic of the wider issue of censorship, it is estimated that 853 different sites are currently blocked in Turkey – positioning Turkey in the league of countries such as Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. The wide gamut of sites that read in bold red letters in Turkish Bu siteye erisim mahkeme karariyla engellenmistir (access to this site has been blocked by a court decision) include but are certainly not limited to: GeoCities, WordPress, Careerbuilder, Paris-based Dailymotion, CNN Political Ticker, independent news portals such as Bianet, sites purporting evolution rather than creationism (like that of eminent evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins), as well as numerous Turkish blogging sites. Paris-based Reporters Without Borders condemns the denying of sites as a “serious violation of free speech and freedom of information,” and urges authorities to restore access. November 1, 2007 is infamously noted in Turkish communications history for marking the date of increased freedom of speech violations when Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) adopted the Internet Publication Law No. 5621, which includes stringent guidelines for what is deemed appropriate online content. In addition, under this new law, all commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are obliged to save and store details of all the websites visited by their subscribers for the length of at least one year – a violation which the Turkish ISP community described as a “gross violation of privacy.” The new regulations have outraged human rights experts and Internet service provider businesses in the country, so much so that this past June, academics, lawyers and ISP professionals gathered in Abant, a small, mountainous Northwestern town, to discuss at length the past, present and future of censorship in Turkey. Sponsored by the Ankara Bar Association and turkinternet.com , the two-day meeting “convened in an attempt to find solutions for the disturbing frequency by which the Turkish government has been blocking websites, especially in the last year,” wrote Today’s Zaman, Turkey’s third largest English language newspaper. Turkey has long had a contentious relationship with freedom of speech. The question of “thought freedom” burst into the international limelight last year with the assassination of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink who was charged on three separate occasions with the crime of “insulting Turkishness” under Article 301. Since the draconian Turkish Penal Code Article 301 was introduced in 2005 and made it a crime to insult “Turkishness”, – replacing an even more stringent law – 96 writers and intellectuals have been prosecuted, including high profile cases such as novelist Elif Safak, slain leftist journalist Ahmet Taner, and Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk. Oktay Eksi, a critical Turkish columnist put the issue of censorship into more perspective in his daily column in the mainstream Turkish newspaper Hurriyet: “Since shortly before the inception of the Republic in 1923, a journalist has been murdered on average every 1.5 years in Turkey,” he lamented. According to Reporters Without Borders, Turkey ranks 101st in the world in the area of freedom of press, only trailing behind Uganda, Lebanon, and Indonesia. – not a record that bodes well with the country’s European ambitions. Thus, given its extensive human rights violations, it is hardly surprising that the Turkish Republic has stamped another restrictive law on its citizens. In an interview with me, Dr. Howard Eissenstat, of Seton Hall and the Crown Center, explains that the new Internet law is “part and parcel of a worrying network of laws – of which Article 301 is the most prominent – that fundamentally limits freedom of expression in Turkey.” Most worrisome is the new law’s ability to incriminate even those in chat rooms. Fikret Ilkiz, lawyer of Turkey’s left leaning newspaper Cumhuriyet (read widely by Turkey’s educated elite), believes Turkey is on a slippery slope with a law whose wording is too general, “leaving the door wide open for authorities to prosecute” even comments left on chat rooms or blogs. Case in point: Mathew Mullenweg, developer of the widely used blogging platform Wordpress was issued a letter in late 2007 by the Turkish Civil Court acting on behalf of one of Turkey’s Islamist creationist heavyweights Adnan Okur, on the grounds that the platform allegedly published “defamatory and unlawful statements about their client.” The Court’s decision resulted in the restriction of more than one million weblogs hosted by WordPress. Under the same law, Okur also pressed charges on similar grounds against eksisozluk.com (sour dictionary), a free, semi-mock, user generated dictionary. Bea Vanni, a long time American resident of Istanbul, summed up the prevailing attitude among Turkey’s expatriates in her popular blog: “This court saw fit to police the blogosphere to claim damage over someone's opinion,” she wrote. “Obviously, the plaintiff didn't like some words said about him and filed suit in one of the most conservatively religious and Islamist areas of Istanbul. It would probably be laughed at in any other court here.” In the same city, Aydin (who requested anonymity for security purposes), a gregarious, 29 year-old artist in show business echoed similar sentiments. Expressing disappointment at the arbitrary manner in which individuals and websites come under fire, he stated in a tone barely tinged with resentment: “Some of the sites have been shut down with the decision of a court in a small Anatolian town, where people do not even know how to reset a computer.” In a nearby internet café, where clusters of teens nestle into their seats to play racy video games, their swearing and screaming filling the room, another regular user tells me: “All it takes is one individual to decide what is fit for public consumption.” Indeed, more than 20,000 individual complaints have been made to the Internet Department in collaboration with the Telecommunications Authority of Turkey. Proceedings have begun for half of these complaints. But save a few voices of protest mainly from artists, intellectuals and the ISP community, a general sense of apathy permeates the country upon the issue of media censorship – a fact in my three months of stay here that I’ve found hard to reconcile with the public’s nationalist zeal. Turks become animated when talking about the glorious days of the Ottoman Empire. The white crescent and star on a crimson red background – the Turkish flag - is a common sight in every office, café, street and building. So, how can stifling freedom of speech not be a source of embarrassment or resentment for Turks? This is a question that runs deep, Dr. Howard reminds me. “While many Turks are clearly embarrassed by particular cases or particular laws, there is a basic popular acceptance of limits on freedom of expression in Turkey. Turkish popular culture is marked by a particularly militant, populist nationalism that extends across virtually the entire political spectrum.” He continues: “In this context, many types of criticism are simply seen as unacceptable. This has created a context in which many Turkish citizens see limits on freedom of expression as not only acceptable but necessary.” I’ll draw this line of thought into a harsh conclusion and propose that censorship perhaps reflects an underlying insecurity and lack of confidence within the nation and is an agreement among Turks to maintain the status quo. About the Author Handan Tülay Satiroglu is a Turkish-American independent journalist who divides her time between the U.S. and Europe. She has an MA in Sociology from New Mexico State University, and a B.A. from Colorado State University. In addition to her writing career, she has also taught at Northern Virginia College in the United States. Her articles have been featured in various online and print venues including, World Politics Review, The World & I Online, The Smart Set, Vision and Positive Health Magazine, among others. She was born in Colorado and has lived in Turkey, Spain, and Belgium. Visit her website at www.handansatiroglu.com.	Access to search engine Google has been limited and most of Google's online services cannot be accessed in Turkey. The access limitation happened due to the blocking of an IP set that belongs to Google. These IP addresses were shared between YouTube and other Google services. The Turkish news site reports that Turkey's Telecommunications Communication Presidency (TCP) (a government agency that manages Turkish ISPs) indefinitely shut off access to several Google services. The shut-off came after the banning of YouTube for alleged insults against Turkish Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. TCP released an official statement Friday, saying it had blocked access to some Google IP addresses "because of legal reasons". Under Turkish law, it is an offence to "insult Turkishness." states that the limited access to Google could be a result of the government trying to block specific DNS addresses that relate to Google, as part of its ongoing attempts to block YouTube. Since Google services share common software and IP addresses, the search engine itself suffers from access restrictions. Turkish citizens are concerned that this move of the governmental agency was another step towards a complete ban on Google, as exists in China. Several Internet sites have been banned in Turkey in recent years, and although some of them were subsequently unbanned, most of them remain inaccessible. ''Engelli Web'', a website listing banned sites reports that currently YouTube (since May 2008), (since June 26, 2009), and Spanish newspaper (since May 14, 2010) are among the banned sites in Turkey. MySpace and were also among banned sites for a period of time. Websites will be blocked following a court decision or if TCP decides to block on its behalf. ''RetweetToday'' reports that Turkish citizens on Twitter have also reported access problems. Comments about the blockage are being shared using hashtags such as ''TurkeyCensorGoogle'' and ''TurkeyGoogleBan'', as well as ''NoGoogleNoWeb''.
Cindy Sheehan Urges Canada to Welcome US Deserters -- 05/04/2006 Cindy Sheehan Urges Canada to Welcome US Deserters By Howard Williams CNSNews.com Correspondent May 04, 2006 Ottawa (CNSNews.com) - America's so-called "Peace Mom" arrived Thursday in Canada's capital to urge politicians to give safe haven to U.S. military deserters escaping service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sheehan also called on Canada to pull its own troops out of Afghanistan. Referring to her past protests outside the White House and outside President George W. Bush's Texas ranch, Cindy Sheehan called on ordinary Canadians to pitch tents outside the residence of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The Ottawa visit is part of a cross-Canada tour being undertaken by Sheehan to urge the country to repeat its controversial policies of the 1960s when hundreds of American deserters wanting to avoid military service in Vietnam were given safe haven. Most of Sheehan's audiences are students on university campuses. The Toronto Star newspaper described her as "now the most visible face in the U.S. anti-war movement." Talking to reporters before addressing a university audience in Ottawa Thursday, Sheehan suggested the only reason Canadian troops are in Afghanistan is to free up more American troops to fight in Iraq. Sheehan claimed that while most Canadians opposed the Iraq war, they did not realize that Canadian troops were directly helping the U.S.-led efforts in Iraq by serving in Afghanistan. Canadians, she said, "should take their tents and put them on the prime minister's lawn and say, 'I want to know why you're making our soldiers fight and die, and kill innocent people in Afghanistan, and I'm not moving until you let me know.'" Sheehan's biggest audience in Canada thus far, was about 300 students at the University of Toronto on Wednesday night, but she has been getting a fair amount of television coverage as well. Most newspapers have tucked their coverage of her tour on the inside pages, without much fanfare. There have been no mass rallies in support of her campaign, which comes during the week that memorial services were being held for four Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan. In an oblique reference to those memorial services, Sheehan told reporters: "My heart goes out to all the (Canadian) families who have had loved ones killed in Afghanistan." She said that "until recently," Canada had been a "peace beacon" for the United States, welcoming and giving asylum to American slaves and more recently to deserters not wanting to serve in foreign wars. Sheehan's son Casey, 24, was killed in the Baghdad suburb of Sadr City just over two years ago. He had been in Iraq for just five days when his unit was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire. Sheehan said: "I begged him (Casey) not to go to Iraq. I said 'I'll take you to Canada,' but he said, 'Mom, I have to go. It's my duty. My buddies are going.'" Subscribe to the free CNSNews.com daily E-Brief. Send a Letter to the Editor about this article. \|\|\|\|\| “ It is the nature of babies to be in bliss. ” Deepak Chopra Back to top © 2005 The Halifax Herald Limited \|\|\|\|\| American anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan wants the Canadian government to grant sanctuary to U.S. army deserters. "I told him, 'I'll do anything. I'll take you to Canada. Let's go to Canada, or if you don't want to go to Canada, then I'll run you over with my car and break your legs,'" she said. Sheehan said the U.S. government lied to her son and other soldiers by telling them they wouldn't be forced to participate in war if they signed up. Two American military deserters who arrived in Canada separately in 2004 — Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey — have been denied refugee status in Canada. They argued that the Iraq occupation violates international human rights and was illegal. Hinzman has appealed and the Federal Court is now reviewing the decision. Many others are anxiously watching the case. There are currently 20 active refugee claims by American military deserters. About 150 deserters are known to be living in Canada, according to the War Resisters Support Campaign, though the organization believes the number could be as high as 1,500. It's estimated 40,000 to 60,000 U.S. draft dodgers fled to Canada during the Vietnam War. Sheehan, who is in Ottawa as part of a cross-Canada tour, will be speaking at Carleton University Thursday night.	Cindy Sheehan, a prominent U.S. anti-war activist, appeared at a news conference at the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario on Thursday to speak being in Afghanistan, and in favour of Canada giving U.S. deserters refugee status. "I believe our war resisters are legitimate refugees," Ms. Sheehan said while also alleging that the soldiers are within their rights to desert because many are "lied to" by U.S. military recruiters who tell them they won't have to fight in Iraq. Sheehan, the mother of a fallen American soldier who served in Iraq, called on the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to "open the border" to U.S. military deserters. "My son was an honourable, honest person lied to by his recruiter," she said. Sheehan said that Canadian soldiers being in Afghanistan enables the United States to carry on its "illegal and immoral" war in Iraq. "I believe my country shouldn't be in Afghanistan anyway," Ms. Sheehan told reporters on Parliament Hill. "It's never about spreading freedom or democracy or making the world safe, it's about lining the war profiteers' pockets. My country supported Osama bin Laden in the fight against Russia," she said. "And now they go in and tear down that country. It's back in the hands of the drug lords, it's producing more opium than ever, and it's not safe. There's not any rebuilding going on, because it's being occupied by occupying forces." She made an address to approximately 300 students on Wednesday night at the University of Toronto. Her appearances are part of a cross-county campaign targeted at university campuses.
The captured sailors have been shown on Iranian television Iranian TV footage It also calls on Tehran to allow the UK consular access to the personnel, but stops short of "deploring" Iran's action, as requested by the UK. Iran, which the UK later confirmed had sent it a note, said it was not helpful to try to engage third parties. Meanwhile, an Iranian TV channel says it is to broadcast a "confession" by one of the detained navy personnel. Official TV channel Al-Alam did not say what the confession would contain or the identity of the sailor involved. The Foreign Office said of the note, sent to the British embassy: "We can confirm that, as reported in the Iranian media, the Iranian government has sent a formal note to the British embassy. Confidential "Such exchanges are always confidential, so we cannot divulge any details, but we are giving the message serious consideration and will soon respond formally to the Iranian government." Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the note may contain "matters of substance" which may be the beginning of a "proper exchange" and could "offer the possibility of a solution". This case can and should be settled through bilateral channels. Iran's UN mission Letter urges Iraq withdrawal On a visit to British troops in Afghanistan on Friday, Chancellor Gordon Brown welcomed the UN statement. He said it was calling definitively for the navy crew's release. "That's the unanimous view of the international community." Mr Brown described the treatment of captured Leading Seaman Faye Turney, 26, an interview with whom has been shown on Iranian TV, as "cruel, callous, inhuman and unacceptable". Responding to the UN statement, David Cameron, the Conservative leader, said: "Really there's only one right outcome to this which is for Iran to release those people that they took captive, that they should be released without any further ado. It's as clear and as simple as that." The British ambassador to the UN, Sir Emyr Jones Parry, said the UN's statement was a "good outcome" for the UK. Sir Emyr added that it sent the "right message" to Iran to allow access to the sailors and marines, and secure their prompt release. UK VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Crew boards merchant ship 1.7NM inside Iraqi waters 2 HMS Cornwall was south-east of this, and inside Iraqi waters 3 Iran tells UK that merchant ship was at a different point, still within Iraqi waters 4 After UK points this out, Iran provides alternative position, now within Iranian waters UK version in more detail The UK failed to win support for a stronger statement deploring Iran's actions, following opposition led by Russia. Iran's UN mission said in a statement: "This case can and should be settled through bilateral channels. "The British government's attempt to engage third parties, including the Security Council, with this case is not helpful." Satellite data The UN Security Council statement was agreed following more than four hours of negotiations. In full, it said: "Members of the Security Council expressed grave concern at the capture by the Revolutionary Guard and the continuing detention by the government of Iran of 15 United Kingdom naval personnel and appealed to the government of Iran to allow consular access in terms of the relevant international laws. "Members of the Security Council support calls, including by the secretary general in his March 29 meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, for an early resolution of this problem, including the release of the 15 UK personnel." The Britons, based on HMS Cornwall, were seized a week ago by Iranian Revolutionary Guards as they returned from searching a vessel in the northern Gulf. Iran says they had strayed into Iranian territorial waters, a claim which the UK has denied. Earlier this week, the Royal Navy produced satellite data it said proved its case. Second 'letter' Meanwhile, Iran has released a second letter, apparently written by Leading Seamen Turney, which urges the UK to withdraw from Iraq. The letter, which was released by the Iranian embassy in London and addressed to British MPs, states: "Isn't it time for us to start withdrawing our forces from Iraq and let them determine their own future?" It also says that "even through our wrongdoing" the Iranians have "treated us well and humanely". On Thursday, Ali Larijani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, said the release of Leading Seamen Turney had been delayed, and spoke about the UK's "incorrect attitude". \|\|\|\|\| Top headlines in your inbox Sign up for Morning Rush and get all the news you need to start your day. Recaptcha SIGN UP This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.	The United Nations Security Council has issued a statement calling for a "early resolution" to the rising tensions between United Kingdom and Iran by releasing all 15 British sailors and marines who were detained by Iranian forces on March 23. "Members of the Security Council expressed grave concern at the capture by the Revolutionary Guard and the continuing detention by the government of Iran of 15 United Kingdom naval personnel and appealed to the government of Iran to allow consular access in terms of the relevant international laws," said the U.N. Security Council in a statement. "Members of the Security Council support calls, including by the secretary general in his March 29 meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, for an early resolution of this problem including the release of the 15 UK personnel," added the statement. United Nations Security Council. All 15 members of the Council agreed to the wording of the statement and released it after nearly four hours of debate, but Russia and South Africa opposed to having the statement or the Council's recommendations be "too harsh" or to put the blame fully on the Iranian government. Iran released a statement shortly after the Security Council met saying that getting the U.N. involved, "will not be helpful." "This case can and should be settled through bilateral channels. The British government's attempt to engage third parties, including the Security Council, with this case is not helpful," said a statement released by Iran's U.N Mission. The sailors and marines from the frigate had been inspecting, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1723, a ship that was believed to be smuggling cars into Iraq, though it was subsequently cleared after inspection when Iranian gunboats surrounded the sailors and arrested them at gunpoint. On Thursday, Iran stated that they are "suspending" the release of the 15 soldiers, including a female soldier, 26, who was supposed to be released "very soon."
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Enabling Cookies in Internet Explorer 7, 8 & 9 Open the Internet Browser Click Tools > Internet Options > Privacy > Advanced Check Override automatic cookie handling For First-party Cookies and Third-party Cookies click Accept Click OK and OK Enabling Cookies in Firefox Open the Firefox browser Click Tools > Options > Privacy > Use custom settings for history Check Accept cookies from sites Check Accept third party cookies Select Keep until: they expire Click OK Enabling Cookies in Google Chrome Open the Google Chrome browser Click Tools > Options > Privacy Options > Under the Hood > Content Settings Check Allow local data to be set Uncheck Block third-party cookies from being set Uncheck Clear cookies Close all Enabling Cookies in Mobile Safari (iPhone, iPad) \|\|\|\|\| Immigration detention centre closures set to save Government $88.8m Updated Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed the closure of four detention centres on the Australian mainland, in a move he says will save the budget $88.8 million a year. Several sources have told the ABC the Immigration Department was formally notified of the move a week ago. The Scherger detention centre in far-north Queensland as well as the empty Pontville facility in Tasmania are among the sites to shut down. The other two facilities to close are at Leonora in Western Australia and Port Augusta in South Australia. Meanwhile, PM has been told that a fifth centre, the Inverbrackie facility in the Adelaide Hills, will also be closed. Contractors working for the department have been anticipating the announcement for several days. In a statement, Mr Morrison says the four closures will save the Government $88.8 million a year. The Scherger detention centre, Port Augusta residential housing and Leonora alternative place of detention are all set to close by the end of February. The Pontville facility will be handed back to the Department of Defence at an unspecified date, the statement says. "These sites are remote, relatively small and expensive," Mr Morrison said. "While I acknowledge there will be an impact on some local business and service provider staff, these closures bring significant financial savings for the Government and the Australian taxpayer. "The savings, which amount to at least $7.4 million a month, comprise the costs payable to the detention services provider, infrastructure and leasing arrangements and detention contractual arrangements." Mr Morrison says the four facilities were never meant to be permanent. He has indicated there may be more closures in the future, saying the centres are no longer needed because the Government's border protection policies are slowing the flow of asylum seeker boats to Australia. "This is the first down payment on closures of detention centres," he said. "And as time goes on and we're able to further draw down that detention population - because we've been able to address the border protection challenge - then I expect there'll be further savings down the track." In April last year the Coalition also promised if it was elected it would shut the Inverbrackie centre "as soon as practicable". Today, a spokesman for Jamie Briggs, the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, told PM this promise will be kept, and there will be more said on the matter soon. Serco, which operates nine detention centres and four alternative places of detention, has contracts with the Immigration Department which are due to expire later this year, according to the company's website. The Government has been reviewing the future of Australia's various detention centres as it aims to divert all new boat arrivals offshore. Labor claims credit for closure Federal Labor MP Nick Champion says it is because of the actions of the previous Government that a number of immigration detention centres are now able to be closed. "That's a result of the actions of the previous government - the Rudd government - in adopting the New Guinea solution which saw a massive decline in the numbers seeking asylum through irregular means in Australia," he said. The Greens' Immigration spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young says she is concerned about where the asylum seekers will be moved to. "Christmas Island is already crowded; Manus Island and Nauru are not fit to hold anybody, let alone more people," she said. "Mr Morrison needs to be upfront with the Australian people about exactly where people in those camps are going to go." Closure to have economic impact on communities The Mayor of Brighton, in Tasmania, says the closure of the Pontville detention centre will be an economic blow to the community. Mayor Tony Foster says he is also angry that the Federal Government did not inform him of the decision before announcing it. "Somewhere between 45 and 48 [staff] were able to service the centre while it was open, so that business is no longer there," he said. "Very disappointing, disheartening ... there's been no consultation. "I think it is absolutely just the way that this Government is treating the whole of Australia at the moment." Tanya Browning, the acting chief executive of the Western Australia's shire of Leonora, says the decision to close the detention centre in her town is disappointing. But she says it has not come as a complete surprise. "We certainly will miss some of the staff that are here, especially those that have chosen to make Leonora their home," she said. "That's a loss that certainly will be felt. "Fortunately our community is very resilient. "We are prepared for those types of events, [like] when mines close, and we might have a loss of a number of people within the community." Topics: refugees, immigration, federal-government, government-and-politics, australia, weipa-4874, qld, pontville-7030, tas, leonora-6438, sa, port-augusta-5700, wa, darwin-0800, nt First posted \|\|\|\|\| Sarah Dingle reported this story on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 18:10:00 DAVID MARK: The Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says the Government will close four detention centres in Australia, saving almost $90 million a year. He says the detainees at the four centres at Scherger in Queensland, Leonora in Western Australia, and Port Augusta in South Australia will be moved to other centres, though it's not clear where. The other detention centre at Pontville in Tasmania is now empty, and PM has been told that a fifth centre, the Inverbrackie facility in the Adelaide Hills, will also be closed. Scott Morrison says the centres were never designed to be permanent. Sarah Dingle reports. SARAH DINGLE: By the end of next month, four immigration detention centres will be shut down in an apparent attempt to save money. Queensland's Scherger centre, Western Australia's Leonora facility, immigration housing at Port Augusta and Tasmania's Pontville centre will close. Detainees will be transferred to other facilities. In April last year the Coalition also promised if it was elected it would shut the Inverbrackie centre in the Adelaide Hills "as soon as practicable". Today a spokesman for the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development told PM this promise will be kept, and there will be more said on this soon. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says the centres are no longer needed because the arrival of asylum seeker boats has slowed under the new Government's policies. SCOTT MORRISON: This Government is taking control of our borders, which enables us to shut mainland detention centres down in Australia. This will save taxpayers around $89 million a year and it's the first down-payment on the dividend of stronger border protection. SARAH DINGLE: But the United Voice union, which represents workers at detention facilities, says dozens of staff have just found out their workplace is shutting down via the media. Assistant National Secretary Sharon Caddie. SHARON CADDIE: There are about 100 workers who are affected, and there are many more casuals and contractors who are involved. We are currently in negotiations with Serco to make a new enterprise agreement which talks about the wages and conditions that will apply to workers in detention centres. In fact, we've got a meeting scheduled with the company tomorrow, so we're quite surprised to be hearing this announcement from the Government today when really what should happen is the employers should be talking to their workers first. SARAH DINGLE: Sharon Caddie says some detainees may be distressed at being moved and she's worried about detention centre staff who'll have to deal with that. SHARON CADDIE: I think we're dealing with people that are already in an extremely stressful situation. The prospect of now being shifted to unknown alternate sites will clearly worsen that situation, and ultimately it's the workers in the receiving detention centres that are going to have to deal with the fallout of a Government who clearly doesn't understand how to deal with people. SARAH DINGLE: The Immigration Minister says closing the four centres will save around $88 million a year. But the local mayor near the Pontville centre, Tony Foster, says it's a huge waste because the centre was only opened three years ago at a cost of about $15 million. TONY FOSTER: The lack of communication from the current Government with myself has been nothing short of pathetic. We haven't had any dialogue since they took office, whereby the previous government certainly would've advised us beforehand of any pending closure. So very disappointing from that aspect. SARAH DINGLE: Pontville has been empty for some months after the previous federal government decided to move its younger detainees, including almost 200 children, into the community. Mayor Tony Foster says while Pontville was operating, it revived the local economy. TONY FOSTER: This one is close to the city centre, next to a capital. It afforded all sorts of opportunities for people to be able to work here that they didn't get when they had to fly in and fly out. People saw the benefits. The people there, even the detainees, they got involved in the community wherever it was possible, and the community engaged with them as well on a volunteer basis. SARAH DINGLE: The Pontville and Scherger facilities will be handed back to the Defence Department. Tony Foster says he'd rather see Pontville become a prison for 18 to 24 year old males where they could learn a trade before being released. DAVID MARK: Sarah Dingle.	A spokesperson for the Australian , , announced plans this week to close four mainland immigration detention facilities — Scherger, at , Queensland; Leonora, in , Western Australia; Port Augusta, in , South Australia; and Inverbrackie facilities in , the , South Australia — by the end of February. The detainees would be relocated to other detention centres. Pontville detention facility, in , Tasmania, was empty and would also be closed. The detention centres staff learned about planned closure of their workplaces from the media rather than the employer directly, , an Australian , commented. It estimated the number of affected people as 100 workers and "many more" casuals and contractors. Pontville, Brighton location in Tasmania. In a statement, Australian referred to recent border protection practices to justify the decision. On Tuesday, he told radio, "This Government is taking control of our borders, which enables us to shut mainland detention centres down in Australia. This will save taxpayers around $89 million a year and it's the first down-payment on the dividend of stronger border protection. ... These sites are remote, relatively small and expensive. The savings ... amount to at least $7.4 million a month". He also noted that the Pontville and Scherger detention facilities would be returned to the . The local mayor near the Pontville detention centre, Tony Foster, said the centre was opened only three years ago and revived the local economy. Foster also complained about the short notice from the new federal government . He cited recent centre upgrade costs of $15 million, estimated the number of local small businesses serving the centre between 45 and 48, and said he would explore the option of converting it to a "corrections facility for 18 to 24 year olds" with the relevant state and Commonwealth officials. Pontville and Brighton, 3km apart. Scott Donaghy, who runs the ''Brighton's Best Bakehouse'' business in Brighton, said "Staff members come in for breakfast, coffee, lunch, having a meeting. Not only were they coming in but there was more money coming into the general area from wages and people living here. I'm disappointed at the fact that another employer is gone from the area." A pharmacist-in-charge at ''Brighton Discount Drug Store'' also commented, saying that staff members from the detention centre came to Brighton for lunch and shopping. The announcement follows controversial reports of wrecked refugee boats found near Indonesian shores by the local police. The refugees had reported being towed back from Australia by the Australian Navy, which had originally deceptively claimed Christmas Island as the refugees' destination.
UK loses top AAA credit rating for first time since 1978 It is thought the downgrade will not have an adverse impact on the government's ability to borrow The UK has lost its top AAA credit rating for the first time since 1978 on expectations that growth will "remain sluggish over the next few years". The ratings agency Moody's became the first to cut the UK from its highest rating, to Aa1. Moody's said that the government's debt reduction programme faced significant "challenges" ahead. Chancellor George Osborne said the decision was "a stark reminder of the debt problems facing our country". "Far from weakening our resolve to deliver our economic recovery plan, this decision redoubles it," he added. "We will go on delivering the plan that has cut the deficit by a quarter, and given us record low interest rates and record numbers of jobs." In announcing the ratings cut, Moody's cited the "challenges that subdued medium-term growth prospects pose to the government's fiscal consolidation programme, which will now extend well into the next parliament". It added that the UK's huge debts were unlikely to reverse until 2016. The UK's net sovereign debt was the equivalent of 68% of the country's annual economic output, or GDP, at the end of last year. All three major credit agencies last year put the UK on "negative outlook", meaning they could downgrade its rating if performance deteriorates. Difficult road ahead The UK has had a top AAA credit rating since 1978 from both Moody's and S&P. In his Autumn Statement in December, Mr Osborne acknowledged public finances were taking longer to rectify than planned, and admitted he would be forced to extend austerity measures by at least another year. Germany and Canada are the only major economies to currently have a top AAA rating - as much of the world has been shaken by the financial crisis of 2008 and its subsequent debt crises. A downgrade of a credit rating does not necessarily substantially damage the ability to borrow. The US - the world's biggest economy - was downgraded from its AAA rating last year, a move that has not materially changed its borrowing costs. The UK has experienced a double-dip recession since 2008. It grew in the third quarter of last year - boosted by the impact of the Olympics, but shrunk again by 0.3% in the last three months of 2012. Earlier this month, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said the Bank of England should be ready to inject more money into the economy to boost growth. The Bank has so far pumped £375bn into the financial system, creating money to buy-back government bonds. \|\|\|\|\| George Osborne has come under attack over what Labour calls his "catastrophic economic policy failure" after the UK lost its top-grade AAA credit rating. International agency Moody's downgraded it by one notch to AA1, citing slow growth and a rising debt burden. The Chancellor said the coalition would not "run away" from its economic problems and it was determined to stick by its plan for recovery. The downgrade is a major blow for Mr Osborne, who has been coming under increasing pressure to take action to stimulate the economy. In the last election, Mr Osborne made safeguarding Britain's credit rating one of his key pledges. He has used maintaining the rating for government bonds as one of the main arguments for the Government's austerity programme. The Chancellor insisted the Government was delivering on its commitment to tackle the UK's debt. He said: "We have a stark reminder of the debt problems facing our country - and the clearest possible warning to anyone who thinks we can run away from dealing with those problems. "We are not going to run away from our problems, we are going to overcome them." He added: "In the end, the test of our credibility as a country is there every day in the markets when we borrow money on behalf of this country from investors all around the world. Moody's said it did not expect Britain's slow recovery to change "At the moment we can do that very cheaply with very low interest rates precisely because people have confidence that we have got a plan, we've got to stick to that plan and we are going to deliver that plan." Labour's shadow chancellor Ed Balls told Sky News: "They (the Government) are paying the price for an absolute catastrophic failure of economic policy and everybody can see that now pretty much other than the chancellor and the prime minister. "Until they face up to reality, we're just going to have more of the same." Moody's said Britain's recovery was proving to be significantly slower than previous rebounds from recession and it did not expect the situation to change. "(There's) increasing clarity that, despite considerable structural economic strengths, the UK's economic growth will remain sluggish over the next few years," it said. Moody's is the first of the major credit rating agencies to knock the UK off of its top rating. The ratings agency also cut the Bank of England's AAA rating by one notch, also to AA1. The US' top credit rating was downgraded by one notch in 2011. Sky's Economics Editor Ed Conway said: "The fact that Britain has lost its AAA crown for the first time since credit ratings were given to the UK back in the 1970s, is a really big blow to Britain's reputation. "It's something of an economic blow, but in a way it's more of a political problem for George Osborne. He made a key part of the Conservative election pledge to safeguard Britain's credit rating." Moody's said that the British economy is constrained both by the troubled global economy and the drag from businesses and the Government slashing its debt burdens. "Moreover, while the Government's recent Funding for Lending Scheme has the potential to support a surge in growth, Moody's believes the risks to the growth outlook remain skewed to the downside," it said. Labour has insisted that withdrawing demand from the economy has put it more at risk by stunting growth. Mr Balls said: "This credit rating downgrade is a humiliating blow to a prime minister and chancellor who said keeping our AAA rating was the test of their economic and political credibility. "In the Budget the government must urgently take action to kick-start our flatlining economy and realise that we need growth to get the deficit down. If David Cameron and George Osborne fail to do so and put political pride above the national economic interest we face more long-term damage and pain for businesses and families." \|\|\|\|\| The Chancellor said the coalition was determined to stick by its plan for economic recovery after the rating was lowered by a notch to AA1. The credit rating agency warned late on Friday that "subdued" growth prospects and a "high and rising debt burden" were weighing on the economy. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls called the downgrade "a humiliating blow" to the Prime Minister and Chancellor, who he said "must urgently take action to kick-start our flatlining economy". But Mr Osborne said the loss of the gold-plated status did not mean the Government should change course. "We have a stark reminder of the debt problems facing our country - and the clearest possible warning to anyone who thinks we can run away from dealing with those problems," he said. "Far from weakening our resolve to deliver our economic recovery plan, this decision redoubles it. "We will go on delivering the plan that has cut the deficit by a quarter, and given us record low interest rates and record numbers of jobs." Mr Osborne went on: "As the rating agency says, Britain faces huge challenges at home from the debts built up over many, many years, and it is made no easier by the very weak economic situation in Europe. "Crucially for families and businesses, they say that 'the UK's creditworthiness remains extremely high' thanks in part to a 'strong track record of fiscal consolidation' and our 'political will'. "They also make it absolutely clear that they could downgrade the UK's credit rating further in the event of 'reduced political commitment to fiscal consolidation'. "We are not going to run away from our problems, we are going to overcome them." The downgrade is a major blow for Mr Osborne, who has been coming under increasing pressure to take action to stimulate the economy. The Chancellor has used maintaining the top credit rating for Government bonds as one of the key arguments for the Government's austerity programme. However, Labour has insisted that withdrawing demand from the economy has put it more at risk by stunting growth. The statement from Moody's highlights the problems the weak medium-term economic outlook poses for deficit reduction plans. It now expects the "period of sluggish growth" to "extend into the second half of the decade". "The main driver underpinning Moody's decision to downgrade the UK's Government bond rating to AA1 is the increasing clarity that, despite considerable structural economic strengths, the UK's economic growth will remain sluggish over the next few years due to the anticipated slow growth of the global economy and the drag on the UK economy from the ongoing domestic public- and private-sector deleveraging process," the agency said. "Moody's says that the country's current economic recovery has already proven to be significantly slower - and believes that it will likely remain so - compared with the recovery observed after previous recessions, such as those of the 1970s, early 1980s and early 1990s." Mr Balls said: "This credit rating downgrade is a humiliating blow to a Prime Minister and Chancellor who said keeping our AAA rating was the test of their economic and political credibility. "It would be a big mistake to get carried away with what Moody's or any other credit rating agency says. "Tonight's verdict does not change the fact that the credit rating agencies have made major misjudgements over recent years, not least in giving top ratings to US sub-prime mortgages before the global financial crash. "But what matters is the economic reality that the credit rating agencies are responding to. Moody's themselves say the main driver of their decision is the weak growth in Britain's economy. "Their judgment is in response to nearly three years of stagnation, a double-dip recession, billions more borrowing as confirmed this week and broken fiscal rules. This is why the Chancellor is fast running out of credibility." Mr Balls went on: "The issue is no longer whether this Chancellor can admit his mistakes but whether the Prime Minister can now see that, with UK economic policy so badly downgraded in every sense, things have got to change. "In the Budget the Government must urgently take action to kick-start our flatlining economy and realise that we need growth to get the deficit down. "If David Cameron and George Osborne fail to do so and put political pride above the national economic interest we face more long-term damage and pain for businesses and families." \|\|\|\|\| George Osborne was dealt a severe political blow tonight as the UK was stripped of its top notch rating by the credit agency Moody’s. Britain was downgraded by one notch from AAA to Aa1 by the agency, which first put the UK’s sovereign rating on negative watch one year ago. Moody’s said that the move was prompted by “continued weakness in the UK’s medium-term growth outlook” and the country’s “high and rising debt burden”. The UK economy contracted by 0.3 per cent in the final three months of 2012 after suffering a post-Olympics comedown. The economy has grown by just 1 per cent since the Chancellor took office in June 2010. Last December the Chancellor was forced to abandon his plan to reduce the national debt as a share of GDP by the end of the Parliament thanks to weak tax revenues which slowed his deficit reduction timetable. This week the Government’s official watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility warned that without an unlikely surge of revenues in the final two months of the financial year the deficit for 2012/13 would be higher than the previous year. The downgrade came after the UK financial markets had closed, but is unlikely to come as a shock to investors as such a move had been widely expected for months. The economic impact is also likely to be limited. The US and France have seen their borrowing costs decline since they lost their own AAA ratings. The downgrade, however, is a serious political embarrassment for Mr Osborne who said upon taking office that retaining the UK’s AAA rating was an economic “benchmark” against which he wished to be judged by the British public. The Chancellor insisted tonight that the downgrade would not prompt him to adopt an economic Plan B as many critics have been urging. “Tonight we have a stark reminder of the debt problems facing our country - and the clearest possible warning to anyone who thinks we can run away from dealing with those problems” he said in a statement. “Far from weakening our resolve to deliver our economic recovery plan, this decision redoubles it”. The chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, Olivier Blanchard, has urged Mr Osborne to slow the pace of his planned spending cuts this year in order to support growth – a plan also urged by the Labour opposition and a growing number of independent economists. Two of the other major global credit agencies – Standard & Poor’s and Fitch – also have Britain on “negative outlook” and could follow Moody’s in downgrading the country’s sovereign debt after next month’s Budget. \|\|\|\|\| The west's leading economic thinktank warned George Osborne he might need to accept a slower pace of deficit reduction as it toned down the staunch backing it has provided for the government's austerity programme since the 2010 election. Admitting it had over-estimated the strength of Britain's recovery from its longest and deepest post-war recession, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said a "flexible approach" to budget cuts would be called for if fears of a triple-dip recession materialised. Nonetheless, the Paris-based thinktank again gave Osborne its support as it released its annual healthcheck on the UK economy at a press conference at the Treasury. But it cautioned that measures would be needed to boost Britain's long-term growth potential and to tackle inequality once recovery was assured. And it joined the Washington-based International Monetary Fund in advising the chancellor that he needed a fall-back position should growth again disappoint in 2013. "The fiscal stance [the strategy to cut Britain's record peacetime budget deficit] remains appropriate", the OECD said. "However, if growth significantly underperforms expectations over the coming months, the flexibility of the fiscal framework should be utilised." The UK is one quarter of negative growth away from entering a triple-dip recession after official figures for the last three months of 2012 showed that the economy shrank by 0.3%. The OECD added that the Bank of England should take the lead in stimulating the economy, but that Osborne had won himself enough credibility to slow up the pace of deficit reduction if that was warranted by slower-than-expected growth. Angel Gurría, the OECD's secretary general, also said the government needed to do more to protect the poor from the impact of budget cuts and to encourage people back into work. "Fiscal consolidation needs to be embedded in a comprehensive package that also promotes growth. Further structural reforms are key to a stronger, more inclusive and prosperous Britain", he said. The OECD said a prolonged period of weak growth risked worsening social inequalities. "Labour market conditions are widening the income gap between full-time employees and an increasing share of the workforce on part-time, insecure and often low-paid jobs. This comes in a context where income inequality in the UK was already high and rising before the recession," the report said. It added: "Fairness is important to ensure public support for the necessary fiscal consolidation effort, which will need to be sustained over a protracted period. Restraint on spending on public services, imposed by the budget situation, will hit the poor hardest, as their consumption of public services is higher relative to their income than for the more affluent and they have less access to alternative services." The OECD called for efforts to be made to boost skills, to improve work incentives for lone parents and second earners under the Universal Credit welfare reform, improve the Work Capability Assessment and support for return to work for those who are fit, and take steps to tackle fuel and water poverty through better targeted financial support. It said: "Measures to lower childcare costs and increase public support to make work pay for these individuals should be considered, although this comes with a fiscal cost. Other growth-enhancing reforms should also be pursued. Investment in productive assets is low in an international context, hampering innovation and growth. R&D support policies and corporate taxation should be reformed, with more focus on rewarding social returns in excess of private returns. Increased investment in productive infrastructure could boost long-term growth, and would justify further prioritisation in spending." The OECD said the global economic slowdown and uncertainty about the euro area outlook, coupled with austerity measures and attempts by companies and individuals to pay down their debts were "generating strong headwinds for the UK economy". It added: "The timing of the recovery is, however, difficult to predict. Official and private growth projections have proved too optimistic over the past two years. "Risks facing the economic outlook are primarily on the downside, and are particularly linked to international developments, including the euro area sovereign debt crisis, policy uncertainty in the US and the outlook for emerging economies." The OECD said Osborne was right not to raise taxes or cut spending further in the 2012 autumn statement in an attempt to meet his original 2015 target of reducing public debt as a share of national output. "Nevertheless, global developments have shown that the consequences of losing market confidence can be sudden and severe and a sharp rise in interest rates would be particularly damaging to an economy with the UK's level of indebtedness." \|\|\|\|\| UK GDP: Economy shrank at end of 2012 The UK economy shrank by 0.3% in the last three months of 2012, further fuelling fears that the economy could re-enter recession. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the fall in output was largely due to a drop in mining and quarrying, after maintenance delays at the UK's largest North Sea oil field. The economy had grown by 0.9% in the previous quarter, boosted by the London 2012 Olympic Games. For the whole year, growth was flat. The ONS said that the "bumpy economy" was on a "sluggish trend". Manufacturing fell by 1.5% in the fourth quarter, the services sector was flat, but construction output rose by 0.3%. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Within the manufacturing sector, mining and quarrying output fell by 10.2%, the biggest decline since records began in 1997, driven by disruption to North Sea oil and gas fields. If oil and gas extraction were excluded from the overall gross domestic product (GDP) calculations, then the data would have shown that the economy shrank by only 0.1% in the fourth quarter, the ONS said. GDP is the sum of all goods and services made in the economy. 'Difficult road' This is the first estimate of how the economy performed in the fourth quarter, and is subject to at least two further revisions as further data is collected. "It confirms what we already knew - that Britain, like many European countries, still faces a very difficult economic situation," the Treasury said in a statement. Continue reading the main story Analysis One thing is clear - yesterday's market rumours of a leak of the GDP data with a positive figure were misguided. The fall of 0.3% in the fourth quarter was more or less in line with expectations, although many analysts thought it might be closer to zero. The ONS pointed out that North Sea maintenance had hit oil and gas extraction, and that excluding that the slide in output was 0.1%. Construction, previously a section of the economy on the slide, was back in positive territory with a rise of 0.3%. But the dominant services sector was flat with a post Olympic hangover. In the words of the ONS, the underlying picture was flat over 2012, with the economy working well below its potential. "While the economy is healing, it is a difficult road." But Jonathan Portes, an economist from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, said there was a "co-ordinated policy failure across Europe". "Underlying it, ignoring all the special factors, what we see is the economy is not delivering the sustainable growth that we would normally see at this point in the cycle," he told the BBC. "This is due to the [UK] government's policies and the failure of governments in the eurozone. "They should not have cut the deficit so quickly and before the recovery was sustained." 'No positives' The CBI business group said it expected growth "to continue to be fairly flat through the winter but momentum will gradually build later in the year, as the global economy picks up a little and confidence lifts". Lee Hopley, chief economist at EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, said there were "no positive takeaways" from the figures. "Even assuming some unwinding of activity from the Olympics boost in the previous quarter, this still leaves no real signs of underlying growth in the economy. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. "The news from industry was particularly weak, with November's sharp drop on output contributing to a rather grim fourth quarter and leaving the overall picture for manufacturing in 2012 the weakest since 2009." Economists at IHS Global Insight noted that GDP in the fourth quarter of 2012 was 3.3% below the peak level seen in the first quarter of 2008. They estimate that it will not return to that level until the first half of 2015 - a gap of seven years. Fallback The after-effects of the Olympics and Paralympics was evident in the services sector. Services make up about three-quarters of the UK's economic activity. In the third quarter, the sector grew by 1.2%. The ONS said there was some evidence of "fallback" in the fourth quarter, seen in the hotel and restaurant industries and in land transport. The biggest impact, though, was in sports activities, amusement and recreation, which dropped 22.5%, and contributed 0.2 percentage points to the fall in overall GDP.	George Osborne: "Far from weakening our resolve to deliver our economic recovery plan, this decision redoubles it". The US-based agency announced on Saturday their decision to downgrade their rating of the United Kingdom economy from AAA to AA1 - stating that lack of economic growth and austerity continuing into 2016 are to blame. Moody's Investors Service said in a statement: "The main driver underpinning Moody's decision to downgrade the UK's Government bond rating to AA1 is the increasing clarity that, despite considerable structural economic strengths, the UK's economic growth will remain sluggish over the next few years due to the anticipated slow growth of the global economy and the drag on the UK economy from the ongoing domestic public- and private-sector deleveraging process". , the , said that the move to lower the credit rating was a "stark reminder" of the debt problems that the country is facing and that the government is planning to stick to it's original deficit reduction plan. He went on to say "Far from weakening our resolve to deliver our economic recovery plan, this decision redoubles it". The British economy shrank by 0.3% in the final quarter of 2012 and output remained flat throughout last year - the economy would have to grow in the first quarter of 2013 in order to avoid a recession. The warned George Osborne last month that he should slow down the rate of his deficit reduction and austerity programme if Britain entered a triple-dip recession. The has said that the government must reduce the number of spending cuts and focus on growth. , the , said: "This credit rating downgrade is a humiliating blow to a Prime Minister and Chancellor who said keeping our AAA rating was the test of their economic and political credibility."
Australian government forces refugee boats back to Indonesia By Mark Church 10 January 2014 Over the past month, the Australian navy has forced or towed at least two asylum seeker vessels back to Indonesia under the Abbott government’s so-called “turn back the boats” program. These highly dangerous operations, which could have led to the loss of lives, have also heightened tensions with the Indonesian government, which has publicly opposed the practice. The policy was introduced last September by Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s government after an election in which his Liberal-National Coalition sought to outdo the Labor Party in a bipartisan bidding war to adopt the most draconian anti-refugee policy. Both parties declared their determination to “stop the boats,” effectively tearing up the international Refugee Convention, which recognises a basic right to flee persecution. Intent on keeping its operations totally secret from the Australian people, the government has refused to even confirm that the two boats were forced back, let alone provide any details of the methods used. But according to Indonesian police, a refugee boat ran aground on Indonesia’s Rote Island, about 500 kilometres northwest of Australia, on December 19 after being turned back. The vessel was carrying 47 people fleeing war-torn areas of Africa and the Middle East. Interviewed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, passengers said they were intercepted on December 10. After three days of waiting, they were towed back toward Indonesia. Falsely told they were headed for Australia’s Christmas Island, they were later dumped and left to fend for themselves. The boat ran out of fuel shortly afterward and drifted before beaching on Rote. A second boat carrying 45 refugees was discovered on Rote’s shore this week after being turned back on New Year’s Day. A disaster was only narrowly averted. Rote police chief Hidayat told the Fairfax Media: “They were rescued by the locals, because the boat engines were dead. The boat now is wreckage, near some reefs.” One of the refugees on board, Yusuf, told the media that the navy towed their vessel back toward Indonesia, after threatening the crew and passengers and also claiming they were being taken to Christmas Island. Asylum seekers who resisted were handcuffed and assaulted. “Some of our people, they jump in the water as a protest,” he said. The boat was later cut adrift in rough seas in the middle of the night near Rote. These incidents raise the obvious question: have other boats have been lost at sea as a result of the government’s policy? The fate of these two vessels only became known because they were reported by the local police on Rote. In response to the revelations, Abbott yesterday vowed to continue to do “whatever is necessary” to “stop the boats.” The Fairfax Media reported that the government had purchased oceangoing lifeboats in which to send back refugees whose boats were unseaworthy. Such a practice will only compound the likelihood of greater refugee disasters, with both Canberra and Jakarta washing their hands of the perils confronting asylum seekers, including women and children, set adrift on the high seas in lifeboats. Already, over the past 12 years—beginning with the October 2001 SIEV X tragedy, in which 353 refugees drowned—many hundreds have perished in the waters between Indonesia and Australia. Successive governments in Canberra have refused to take any responsibility for the rescue of people seeking asylum in Australia, instead regarding deaths as useful deterrents to discourage refugees. Abbott described the turn-back policy as “absolutely non-negotiable,” dismissing criticism from Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who restated Jakarta’s longstanding public opposition to it. “I shall repeat this once again: Indonesia rejects and is against the policy of boat turnbacks because it’s not a solution,” Natalegawa told the media. Abbott claimed that his government had no intention to “in any way trespass on Indonesia’s sovereignty,” but Indonesia’s Antara news service quoted a refugee who said one Australian ship travelled seven miles into Indonesian territory on December 13 before releasing his boat, which it was towing. Last November, the Indonesian government refused to allow a refugee vessel to be pushed back, forcing the Abbott government to accept the boat after a two-day standoff that left asylum seekers dangerously stranded at sea. The conflict over refugees has exacerbated the tensions that erupted two months ago after documents leaked by former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden revealed details of extensive US-Australian spying operations in Indonesia, including the bugging of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s phone calls. Amid public outrage in Indonesia, Yudhoyono suspended cooperation with Australia on intercepting refugee boats, as well as intelligence exchanges and military exercises. In reiterating Indonesia’s rejection of the turning back of boats, Natalegawa said restoring relations would take some time, despite him holding intensive discussions with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in a bid to resolve the diplomatic crisis. Nevertheless, Abbott yesterday declared that relations between the two countries were “very strong.” He pointed to comments by Indonesia’s military commander, General Moeldoko, who told the Jakarta Post that Australian Defence Force chief, General David Hurley, had phoned him to say that “Indonesia should understand if Australia drove back undocumented migrants.” Moeldoko was reported as saying: “I have agreed. Therefore, we don’t need to feel offended.” Last night, however, Yudhoyono’s office backed his foreign minister’s rejection of Australia policy, saying turning boats back to Indonesia was “unhelpful.” General Moeldoko said he had been misreported in the media. Mahfudz Siddiq, head of the Indonesian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, warned that relations could worsen if Australia’s “provocative” action in sending back two boats was followed by the use of lifeboats. “This of course would not be accepted by Indonesian military, because it has been a defence issue and breaching water territory sovereignty,” he said. “The situation is not helpful. It will get worse for our bilateral relations,” he told the Fairfax Media. “Unless the situation is handled soon, I fear it will deteriorate further after the spying affair and the end of our military co-operation.” \|\|\|\|\| Indonesian military chief says he discussed boat turnbacks with ADF commander Updated Indonesian government officials appear at odds over Indonesia's stance on Australia's policy of turning back asylum seeker boats, with the country's military chief saying he agrees while the foreign and security affairs ministers reject the hard-line measure. The chief of Indonesia's National Armed Forces, General Moeldoko, has told the Jakarta Post that he spoke with Australian Defence Force chief David Hurley about asylum seeker boats allegedly forced back into Indonesian waters by the Navy, and that he understands Australia's policy. "Following [our] halted military cooperation with Australia, the country's Defence Force chief called me to discuss several issues, including how to deal with the boat people," General Moeldoko told the paper. "I have agreed. Therefore, we don't need to feel offended." However a spokesman for the office of Indonesia's Coordinating Legal and Security Affairs Minister, which has been assigned to deal with the asylum-seeker issue, says there is no agreement on Australia's policy, echoing recent comments by the foreign minister Marty Natalegawa. "As far as I know, we have no such agreement," spokesman Agus Barnas told the Post. "Also, our office hasn’t been notified about any deals our military made [with Australia's]." And Mr Natalegawa this week said: "On the push-back policy itself, let me put on record our rejection of the policy. Pushing back the boats is not a solution." Neither Prime Minister Tony Abbott nor Immigration Minister Scott Morrison have been willing to describe what a tow-back operation involves. In a statement, Mr Morrison repeated that the Government would not comment on "operational" matters. "For operational security reasons, the Government does not disclose, confirm or otherwise comment on reports of on-water activities in relation to Operation Sovereign Borders," he said. "Australian personnel serving within Border Protection Command conduct themselves professionally and responsibly, in accordance with their operational protocols." Asylum seekers claim they were mistreated by Australian Navy The apparent discord comes amid claims from two men who say they were mistreated by the Australian Navy when their asylum seeker boats were towed back towards Indonesia and abandoned at sea. Though difficult to verify, both men's stories are strikingly similar. One man named Yusuf identified himself as a Sudanese asylum seeker, and says he and his wife paid $6,000 to travel from Indonesia to Australia. They boarded a boat with more than 40 others, and reached a small island off the coast of Darwin before the engine broke down on New Year's Day. Yusuf says after the group called the United Nations for help, two Australian naval ships arrived. The ship numbers he gave correlate to those for HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Glenelg. Yusuf says the Navy used force on some people, including women, while transferring them to one of the Navy boats. Yusuf says a number of people were restrained and that some of the people onboard jumped into the water. "Some of our people, they jump on the water as a protest. Nine people, and then they take them aboard," he said. It was the start of a tow-back that was to last five days. Yusuf says those onboard were told they were being taken to Christmas Island, denied their satellite and navigation tools and given one meal a day. He claims the Navy fixed one of the boat's engines before the asylum seekers were forced back onto their boat. He says the Navy then abandoned the group in the middle of the night, in rough seas off Indonesia's Rote Island. They made it ashore on the island, and are now in an immigration centre in Kupang. Yusuf's account is similar to a story told by Marke, who identified himself as Somali. He was onboard the first boat reportedly towed back to Indonesian territory on December 10. Marke also claims there was some rough handling of asylum seekers by personnel from HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Maitland. Marke says his experience was a simple roping manoeuvre, followed by a tactical deception about their destination. "They put a rope. Then they said, 'We are going to Australia, to Christmas Island'. They told us a lie," he said. A few days later Marke and his fellow asylum seekers were put back onto their boat. Boat arrivals sent to back of queue for family reunion visas Meanwhile, the Federal Government has moved to make it harder for refugees who arrived by boat and are now living in Australia to be reunited with their families. Mr Morrison says anyone who arrives by boat will go to the back of the queue when applying for family reunion visas. The move applies retrospectively to people as far back as 2001. In a statement, Mr Morrison says those who arrive by boat should not be prioritised over applicants who arrive in Australia through legitimate means. Topics: immigration, community-and-society, federal-government, defence-and-national-security, indonesia, australia First posted \|\|\|\|\| Indonesia says second asylum seeker boat forced back by Australian Navy Updated Indonesian police have told the ABC that a second boat carrying asylum seekers has been forced back to Indonesian waters by the Australian Navy. The first boat was found shortly before Christmas on an island called Rote in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara region. It allegedly had been "pushed" or forced back into Indonesian waters by the Australian Navy. The 47 asylum seekers on board have told authorities they were adrift after running out of fuel, before running aground on the island about six days later. A second boat carrying 45 asylum seekers has now been found on the same island. Local police Chief Hidayat says group also claims their boat was pushed back by the Australian Navy. Indonesia's foreign minister, Marty Natalegawa, has again reiterated his country's opposition to any move by Australia to turn asylum seeker boats around. "Let me just once again put on record our rejection of [policies] that resemble the pushing back the boat," he said. "Such policy is not actually conducive to a comprehensive solution to the issue." Dr Natalegawa has previously raised his concerns with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who told him Australia would press ahead with the policy. The recent news is likely to further strain relations between Australia and Indonesia, which have been tense since revelations of a spying scandal came to light late last year. Dr Natalegawa says he is in almost daily contact with Ms Bishop, as Australia and Indonesia work to restore relations. "It's not something that can be simply restored willy-nilly by the adoption of certain declaration or agreement. What's needed is gradual process of restoration of confidence or trust and this is where we are just now," he said. News of the first alleged turn back was only recently reported in local Indonesian news, after refugee rights activists noticed reports and posted them on Twitter. Local police chief Hidayat says the asylum seekers had been on a boat trying to get to the Ashmore Islands. He says the group left South Sulawesi bound for Australia on December 8. They were then intercepted on December 13 by the Australian Navy and "pushed" back to Indonesian waters. On December 19, they were found on Rote Island, where Indonesian authorities picked them up. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has released a statement in relation to reports surrounding the first boat. The statement says the Government will not comment on the reports. "For operational security reasons, the Government does not disclose, confirm or otherwise comment on reports of on-water activities in relation to Operation Sovereign Borders," the statement said. "Australia respects Indonesia's territorial sovereignty and will continue to do so, just as Indonesia has stated it respects Australia's territorial sovereignty. "It is not the policy or practice of the Australian Government to violate Indonesian territorial sovereignty. Any suggestion to the contrary is false." Labor, Greens call for answers on boat turn-backs Labor and the Greens say the Government must reveal the details of the alleged incident. "We've got a situation where a boat has been towed back by Australian officers, the boat has run aground. These people could have drowned," Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said. "How many other boats has this occurred to that we've never heard about? The Federal Government has previously outlined its intention to "turn back" boats "where it is safe to do so" as part of its asylum seeker policy. Under Operation Sovereign Borders, Mr Morrison had been providing information about what it calls "on-water operations" during a weekly briefing given each Friday. Mr Morrison has in the past refused to release more information about asylum seeker operations because of "national security" and "the protection of public safety". He gave his last weekly briefing in December and it is unclear whether they will continue this year, with reports a weekly email may be distributed instead. Topics: navy, defence-forces, defence-and-national-security, federal-government, foreign-affairs, government-and-politics, refugees, immigration, indonesia, australia, asia First posted \|\|\|\|\| United Indonesia Cabinet 2009-2014 Thu, 10/22/2009 12:06 PM \| Headlines Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto Madiun, East Java/Dec. 2, 1950 Education : Indonesian Military Academy Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Java Background : Professional (Navy) His appointment comes as no surprise due to his strategic role in the campaign team for Yudhoyono and Boediono following his retirement as the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief. President Yudhoyono has long had confidence in his fellow 1973 Military Academy graduate Djoko, whom he named TNI commander in 2006. Djoko emulates his predecessor Widodo Adi Sucipto as a former military chief promoted to chief security minister. Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro Semarang/June 16, 1951 Education : PhD in economics/mineral resources from the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado (1988) Religion : Catholic Ethnicity: Java Background : Professional The appointment of Purnomo as a defense minister shocked the public, considering his background serves him best in the economic sector. Before serving as the energy and mineral resources minister for the past five years, Purnomo served in the same post under president Megawati Soekarnoputri. He served as president of OPEC before Indonesia decided to quit from the organization. Agriculture Minister Suswono Tegal, Central Java/April 20, 1959 Education : Master's in Agribusiness from Agribusiness Management Magister, Bogor Institute of Agriculture Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Java Background : Politician (PKS) Suswono emerged as an expert in agriculture and plantation following his function as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Commission for Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry between 2004 and 2009. As PKS representative, Suswono is likely to continue the policies already installed by his predecessor Anton Apriyantono, the party's senior activist. Health Minister Endang R. Sedyaningsih Banyumas, Central Java/Feb. 1, 1955 Education : Doctor of Public Health, Harvard School of Public HealthBackground : Professional Until her appointment, Endang was mostly unknown, despite her academic credentials as director of the Center for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research and Programme Development. She has also participated in research on avian influenza since 2006. In 2001, Endang was stationed at the WHO headquarters in Geneva at the department of communicable disease surveillance and response as temporary technical advisor. Her name was a last-minute replacement for previous candidate Nila Anfasa Moeloek. State Minister for Research and Technology Suharna Surapranata Bandung/Dec. 13, 1955 Education : Master's in Physics Engineering from the Bandung Institute of Technology Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Sunda Background : Politician (PKS) His appointment as the new research minister will see him give up his post as a legislator for his West Java constituency. The chairman of the PKS advisory board previously worked at the Technology Research and Application Agency (BPPT). Suharna said that among his jobs would be to adopt research and technology to help boost Indonesia's economic competitiveness. State Minister for National Development Planning Armida Alisjahbana Bandung/Aug. 16, 1960 Education : PhD in Economics, University of Washington, Seattle Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Sunda Background : Professional (Academician from the Padjajaran University). Armida, the daughter of former Foreign Minister Mochtar Kusuma Atmadja, is not well known as one the country's economic thinkers despite her involvement in numerous research projects both at home and overseas. Coordinating Minister for the Economy M. Hatta Radjasa Palembang, South Sumatra/Dec. 18, 1953 Education : Bandung Institute of Technology Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Palembang Background : Politician (National Mandate Party/PAN) While still retaining the role of secretary-general of the PAN, Hatta emerged as a trusted man in Yudhoyono's inner circle. His appointment to such a key post, despite a lack of experience in this portfolio, signifies Yudhoyono's trust in him personally rather than the influence of the PAN. This is Hatta's fourth Cabinet posting after previously serving as state secretary, transportation minister and research and technology minister. Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar Padang, West Sumatra/Oct. 31, 1958 Education : Muhammadiyah University (1984) Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Minang Background : Politician (PAN) He consistently supported Yudhoyono's re-election bid while other fellow National Mandate Party (PAN) executives preferred rival presidential candidate Wiranto. Patrialis, who was a lawmaker between 1999 and 2009, once worked as a public transportation and taxi driver to fund his study at Muhammadiyah University's School of Law in Jakarta. He turned to politics after years as a lawyer. Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan Lampung/May 17, 1962 Education : Master's of Management from PPM Management Institute Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Lampung Background : Politician (PAN) Zulkifli served as a lawmaker from the PAN, representing his hometown of Lampung. He was a member of the House's Commission VI on mining and a member of the House's budgetary committee. Zulkifli was president director of PT Panamas Mitra Inti Lestari. He is also deputy chairman of the empowerment committee at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Jakarta branch. Zulkifli said among his tasks was to control forest fires. Education Minister Mohammad Nuh Surabaya/June 17, 1959 Education : PhD in science from Universite Sciences et Techniques de Montpellier, France Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Java Background : Professional (academician) Known as an information technology expert, Muhammad Nuh's exposure in education came when he served as the rector of the November 10 Institute of Technology in Surabaya just before his first appointment as minister in 2005 to replace Sofyan Djalil following the first Cabinet reshuffle under Yudhoyono. Nuh is among a few ministers who are maintained by President Yudhoyono. State Minister for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Syarifuddin Hasan (Syarief Hasan) Palopo, South Sulawesi/June 17, 1949 Education : PhD from Krisnadwipayana University (Unkris), Jakarta Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Makassar Background : Democratic Party politician. Spending most of his time with the House of Representatives's defense and foreign affair commission, Syarief Hasan is widely known as Yudhoyono's lobbyist and bumper against attacks from politicians in the House. Syarief, a successful businessman, is among Yudhoyono's confidants. State Minister for State Enterprises Mustafa Abubakar Pidie, Aceh/Oct. 15, 1949 Education : PhD from IPB Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Aceh Background : Professional, and former Golkar member. Despite his past as a party activist, Mustafa has demonstrated both his high integrity and his success in cleansing the once corrupt-infested state logistic company PT Bulog. As former acting governor of Aceh between 2005 and 2007, Mustafa emerges as a Acehnese success story at the national stage.	Christmas Island (left), Rote Island (right). The back arriving asylum seekers to , Indonesia, after claiming destination, reported Monday of last week. Last Thursday, Australian Prime Minister supported lack of transparency on the issue. Indonesian police found the two ships reportedly forcibly towed back from Australia on December 19, and on January 6 after being towed on . A self-identified Sudanese asylum seeker from one of the boats reported the Navy ship numbers, identifying them as and , and said the refugees were denied access to navigation tools during the duration of the route and abandoned in sea in the middle of the night. Commenters called such practice "", "tow-backs", "turn-backs". Police chief Hidayat Rote Island, speaking to Fairfax Media, said the second boat was adrift: "They were rescued by the locals, because the boat engines were dead. The boat now is wreckage, near some reefs." The Australian government had also planned to purchase additional lifeboats for refugee expulsion from Australian waters, Fairfax Media reported. Australian government originally had no response, but after protests by and the , Tony Abbott commented. Last Thursday, he supported lack of transparency on the issue by saying "I'd rather be criticised a bit for being a bit of a closed book on the issue, and actually stop the boats. I'm pleased to say that it's now several weeks since we've had a boat, and the less we talk about operational details on the water, the better when it comes to stopping the boats." Defence Force chief David Hurley also claimed professional behaviour of board officers and the Navy when handling arriving refugees boats. chief General Moeldoko said according to the , and an spokesperson confirmed, that they agreed on the push-backs approach mid-December with no further comment; with Mr Abbot calling the relationship "very strong", while Indonesia's legal and security affairs minister and foreign affairs minister both disapproved of the approach. General Moeldoko reportedly later said the media had misreported him. The United Nations (UNRA) was seeking explanation from the Australian government, it reported in a press briefing this Saturday. The UNRA spokesperson, Babar Baloch, raised legal concerns by saying that "Any such approach would raise significant issues and potentially could place Australia in breach of its obligations under the and international law. If people who are in need for international protection seek a country's safety, then they must be allowed to go through a process which helps to determine if these people are in need." Marke, another self-identified Somali asylum seeker, claimed earlier similar treatment, on December 10: that the Australian Navy — HMAS ''Parramatta'' and — had claimed Christmas Island destination, towed his boat for several days, and subsequently dropped at an undisclosed location. == Sources == * * * * *
Mr Morrison used the 1950s' space-age craze to market the Pluto Platter The man who invented the Frisbee, one of the world's most popular toys, has died at his home in Utah aged 90. Walter Frederick Morrison conceived and developed his aerodynamic plastic disc in the 1950s, and hundreds of millions have been sold worldwide since. Frisbee historian Phil Kennedy said Mr Morrison and his future wife, Lu, got the idea from playing with a metal cake pan on the beach in California. He originally called his toy the Pluto Platter and sold it at local fairs. The platter's novel aerodynamic shape allowed it to hover briefly or travel surprisingly long distances, kept aloft by its rotation. In pictures: Decades of Frisbee fun In 1957 Mr Morrison sold the rights to the California firm Wham-O, which discovered that youngsters were calling the toy a "Frisbie" after the name of a well-known pie. The company changed the spelling to avoid trademark infringement and the Frisbee was born. On the official Frisbee website, Wham-O paid tribute to Mr Morrison, who was known as Fred. "As Frisbee discs keep flying though the air, bringing smiles to faces, Fred's spirit lives on. Smooth flights, Fred," it read. Mr Morrison's son, Walt, told the Associated Press that his father had suffered from cancer, and that "old age had caught up" with him. How would you get through your youth without learning to throw a Frisbee? Kay McIff, lawyer for Walter Frederick Morrison "He was a nice guy. He helped a lot of people. He was an entrepreneur. He was always looking for something to do," he added. Lawyer Kay McIff, who represented Mr Morrison in a royalties case, said: "That simple little toy has permeated every continent in every country. As many homes have Frisbees as any other device ever invented. "How would you get through your youth without learning to throw a Frisbee?" Mr Morrison, who died at his home in Monroe, on Tuesday, is survived by three children. Walt Morrison said the family planned to hold a memorial service on Saturday at the Cowboy Corral in Elsinore, Utah. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| coronavirus Patients whose vaccine appointment cards were lost in the post have been told they will have to wait another three weeks for the jab. Everyone over the age of 65 was due to receive a vaccine by early March but one GP practice in Fife disclosed that they had been “inundated” with calls from patients who had still not received their letter.Patients whose vaccine appointment cards were lost in the post have been told they will have to wait another three weeks for the jab. Everyone over the age of 65 was due to receive a vaccine by early March but one GP practice in Fife disclosed that they had been “inundated” with calls from patients who had still not received their letter.Patients whose vaccine appointment cards were lost in the post have been told they will have to wait another three weeks for...	Walter Frederick Morrison in the 1950s, with his invention that he originally identified as the "Pluto Platter". Inventor Walter Frederick Morrison has died of the age of 90. He was famous for being the inventor of the flying disc, more commonly identified as the frisbee. Kay McIff, a Utah House Representative and Morrison's son announced that he had died in the city of Monroe in Utah, United States. Morrison, whose son Walt said that "old age caught up" with him, had been suffering from cancer. In the year 1957, he sold the rights to the product, which he called the "Pluto Platter", to California company Wham-O, who sold the product with this name. Then, the company noticed that consumers were colloquially calling the flying disc a "Frisbie", which is the name of a well known pie. Wham-O changed the name of the product to Frisbee to prevent copyright infringement. Over 200 million frisbees have now been sold around the world. On the official Wham-O website, a statement was released which said: "As Frisbee discs keep flying though the air, bringing smiles to faces, Fred's spirit lives on. Smooth flights, Fred." The company continued to pay tribute to Fred, as he was called. "He was a nice guy. He helped a lot of people. He was an entrepreneur. He was always looking for something to do," Wham-O commented. Kay McIff, a lawyer who represented Morrison in a court case involving royalties, said about the Frisbee: "That simple little toy has permeated every continent in every country, as many homes have Frisbees as any other device ever invented. How would you get through your youth without learning to throw a Frisbee?"
Federal police intervene in Mexico unrest President Fox dispatched forces this weekend in bid to quell violent protests in southern town of Oaxaca. \| Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor – Five months after leftist protesters occupied the center of Oaxaca in southern Mexico, President Vicente Fox sent federal security forces this weekend to resolve a deadly conflict that has stained the image of a town famed for its colonial facades and gourmet food. The move came after three men, including an American journalist, were killed Friday by gun-fire. But for many it comes five months too late, and at too high a price. Subscribe for free. Get all the Monitor's headlines by e-mail. E-mail this story Write a letter to the Editor Printer-friendly version Permission to reprint/republish del.icio.us What's this? ] digg What's this? ] Like their counterparts in the US, Mexico's federal police are only ordered to resolve local or state conflicts in extreme circumstances. But this protest, which began in May as a teachers' strike for higher pay and morphed into an unwavering demand for the governor's resignation, has long since turned acute. Protesters have barricaded the center of town and chased local police from the streets. At least six people have been killed. Children have missed 100 days of class, and the tourist sector has lost millions of dollars. Many say the violence has been left to simmer in large part because of a power vacuum after the July 2 presidential election, the closest in the country's history. Although the crisis is motivated by local factors, intervention has national consequences. "The [Fox administration] has not stepped in because of how complicated the situation is politically," says Alberto Aziz, an analyst at the Center for Research and Higher Learning in Social Anthropology who has studied civil resistance movements in Mexico. "The federal government has not resolved it for the sake of a political alliance." Political considerations Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the leftist candidate who lost the race, has declared the presidential elections fraudulent and illegitimate. The ensuing political divisions have left many to believe that the only way to push through legislation is an alliance between the National Action Party (PAN), to which President Fox and incoming president Felipe Calderón belong, and the long-ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the party of Oaxaca governor Ulises Ruiz. "This is an extreme expression of a power vacuum in Mexico politics," says John Ackerman, a law professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. "It shows the desperate need of the PAN to maintain PRI support. If not [López Obrador's party] gets more powerful, and the opposition becomes more threatening." Situation brewing since May The teachers' strike, which began five months ago, drew protesters from across the state under an umbrella group, called the Oaxaca People's Popular Assembly. They have maintained that they will stop at nothing short of the resignation of Governor Ruiz. Violence ensued Friday when gunmen attempted to remove a street blockade. Bradley Roland Will of New York, an independent journalist, was shot in the stomach and died later at a hospital. The next day, Fox, who had been resisting pressure to use force in Oaxaca, ordered federal police to intervene. The forces, clad in riot gear and backed by trucks and helicopters took positions on the edges of the city Sunday. Some in Oaxaca are suspicious that the Fox administration is only taking action now because a foreigner was killed, fueling even more distrust. "That would pain me if it were true," says Fredy Alcantara, the president of the hotel and motel association of Oaxaca. "A Mexican life counts as much as a foreigner's." Thousands of striking teachers are scheduled to return to classes Monday, while other protesters prepared for resistance. Some fear that federal force will not resolve the conflict, and that it might just provoke more violence. "What the government should have done was find a way for the governor to step down," says Mr. Aziz. Still, the government intervention came as a relief to many. Mr. Alcantara says that the tourist sector has lost $440 million in five months, and that the school's 1.3 million children have lost some 100 days of classes. "In Oaxaca, we have been waiting for this for five months," Alcantara says. "We have lost our liberties, free transit, the education of our children, cultural celebrations, the ability to walk outside at night," he says. "We have been kidnapped by radical groups, and the government should have intervened after the first day." • Ms. Llana is Latin America correspondent for the Monitor and USA Today. Wire services were used in this report. \|\|\|\|\| 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. \|\|\|\|\| Jen Gerson: Alberta needs to suck it up and adopt a sales tax if it doesn’t want to be dependent on oil royalties	After five months of tense protests in the Oaxacan state capital, Oaxaca City, in Southern Mexico, Mexican president, Vicente Fox, ordered Federal forces to remove protesters and striking teachers from the city centre. On Sunday, Mexican police forces clothed in riot gear, armed with tear gas and assault rifles, and backed up by armoured vehicles took up positions on the edge of the city to begin their march into the city centre. A male protester manning one barricade was killed as federal police stormed the city, Police did not immediately confirm that. But it is still uncertain whether more than one million schoolchildren would return to classes Monday in the embattled city where riot police and burned-out vehicles still line the streets. Oaxaca suffers from a stand-off between the state government of Oaxaca and the People's Popular Assembly of Oaxaca (APPO), a consortium of groups including teachers, farmers, and other workers. The impetus for federal involvement in Oaxaca appears to stem from the murder of four protesters and wounding of at least one other by state-sanctioned paramilitaries on Friday the 28th. Also potentially contributing to federal interdiction could be a desire, formed following the protests in Mexico City after the country's recent elections, to forge stronger ties between Vicente Fox's National Action Party (PAN) and the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). The protests began in May as a teacher's strike. Police and state forces - often in plain-clothes - have shot at protesters, setting off clashes in which at least eight people have died. It is still too early to tell when federal police will withdraw from Oaxaca City. Protesters have decided to abandon the centre and regroup at a local university. The protesters accuse Ruiz of corruption and rigging elections. Daniel Reyes a teacher, told reporters "We are going to leave this area . . . while we regroup and look at strategies to recover this area," leaving open the possibility of continued protests, extended federal occupation, and ongoing violence.
US Unemployment Rate Edges Higher Unemployed Sergio Fuentes,(R)gets some help from state worker at State of California Employment Development Department in San Jose, 1 Sep 2009 Companies in the United States are shedding more jobs, pushing the country's unemployment rate to a 26-year high of 9.8 percent. The U.S. Labor Department said Friday that employers cut 263,000 jobs in September, with companies in the service industries, including banks, restaurants and retailers, hit especially hard. The United States has now lost 7.2 million jobs since the recession began in December 2007. The new data is sparking fears that unemployment could threaten an economic recovery. Top U.S. officials have warned that any economic recovery would be slow and uneven, and some have predicted the U.S. unemployment rate will top 10 percent before the situation improves. Also Thursday, the U.S. Commerce Department said factory orders fell for the first time in five months, dropping eight-tenths of a percent in August. Orders for durable goods - items intended to last several years, including everything from appliances to airliners - fell 2.6 percent, the steepest drop since January. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Friday the latest jobs data was tough news but promised "we are going to recover." He also noted that the pace of jobs losses, while bad, is better than it was when President Barack Obama first took office. However, he added "less bad is not our measure of success." The U.S. government has been spending billions of dollars - part of a massive $787 billion stimulus package - to help spark economic growth. There have been some signs the economy is improving. The Commerce Department said Thursday that spending on home construction jumped in August for its biggest increase in 16 years. The National Association of Realtors said pending sales of previously owned homes rose more than 12 percent in August, compared to August of last year. A separate Commerce Department report said consumer spending - which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity - rose at its fastest pace in nearly eight years, jumping 1.3 percent in August. Still, during testimony before a U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee Friday, a top economic official warned about the problem of underemployment. Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Keith Hall said the number of Americans who have settled for part-time jobs, or who have given up looking for work has doubled since the recession began. Companies in the United States are shedding more jobs, pushing the country's unemployment rate to a 26-year high of 9.8 percent.The U.S. Labor Department said Friday that employers cut 263,000 jobs in September, with companies in the service industries, including banks, restaurants and retailers, hit especially hard.The United States has now lost 7.2 million jobs since the recession began in December 2007. The new data is sparking fears that unemployment could threaten an economic recovery.Top U.S. officials have warned that any economic recovery would be slow and uneven, and some have predicted the U.S. unemployment rate will top 10 percent before the situation improves.Also Thursday, the U.S. Commerce Department said factory orders fell for the first time in five months, dropping eight-tenths of a percent in August.Orders for durable goods - items intended to last several years, including everything from appliances to airliners - fell 2.6 percent, the steepest drop since January.U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Friday the latest jobs data was tough news but promised "we are going to recover."He also noted that the pace of jobs losses, while bad, is better than it was when President Barack Obama first took office. However, he added "less bad is not our measure of success."The U.S. government has been spending billions of dollars - part of a massive $787 billion stimulus package - to help spark economic growth. There have been some signs the economy is improving.The Commerce Department said Thursday that spending on home construction jumped in August for its biggest increase in 16 years. The National Association of Realtors said pending sales of previously owned homes rose more than 12 percent in August, compared to August of last year.A separate Commerce Department report said consumer spending - which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity - rose at its fastest pace in nearly eight years, jumping 1.3 percent in August.Still, during testimony before a U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee Friday, a top economic official warned about the problem of underemployment.Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Keith Hall said the number of Americans who have settled for part-time jobs, or who have given up looking for work has doubled since the recession began. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. E-mail Print Digg Yahoo Buzz Facebook del.icio.us StumbleUpon \|\|\|\|\| Employers cut another 263,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate rose to a 26-year high of 9.8%, raising worries that the persistently weak labor market could undermine a nascent economic recovery from the worst U.S. recession since the Great Depression. The economy, by most accounts, has begun to grow again. But Friday's Labor Department report underscored the risk that without jobs, consumers won't have income to spend and that will restrain growth and give employers little reason to resume hiring after 21 consecutive months of job losses. The bleak report comes amid continuing talks between the White House and Congress on extending of some parts of the stimulus package enacted in February, such as unemployment benefits and health-insurance subsidies. "The pace of the recovery is likely to slow," said Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist for research firm IHS Global Insight. "Ultimately, if we don't get job growth, we're not going to get sustained growth in consumer spending. How could we get a really strong recovery without consumers?" Podcast Economist John Canally of LPL Financial discusses the report showing the unemployment rate climbed to 9.8%. With the economy propped up by government spending on programs such as "cash for clunkers," economists worry the fragile recovery will fizzle if employers don't soon begin hiring. Programs such as extensions of unemployment benefits to the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers have helped stabilize the housing market and construction spending. Manufacturing output has begun to rebound as companies look to rebuild inventories, while companies have used productivity gains to regain profits. But hiring hasn't followed. The number of unemployed -- officially at 15.1 million -- is greater than the population of all but four states. The proportion of people who have been searching for work for longer than half a year rose to 35.6% of the unemployed, from a third of the work force in August. The dismal state of the job market led to a decline of 571,000 in the labor force, a sign that discouraged workers have given up looking for work entirely. Investors signaled concern that the economy isn't recovering as steadily as many had hoped. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 21 points, or 0.2%, to 9487.67. A separate report Friday showed more disappointing news: Factory orders fell 0.8% in August from a month earlier, after four months of increases. Write to Conor Dougherty at conor.dougherty@wsj.com Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A1 \|\|\|\|\| After several months in which the American economy flashed tentative signs of improvement, a sobering report on the national job market released on Friday amplified worries that a lengthy period of lean times lay ahead. The economy shed 263,000 jobs in September, and the unemployment rate edged up to 9.8 percent from 9.7 percent in August, according to the Labor Department’s monthly snapshot of the employment picture. Though the job market worsened, the pace of deterioration remained markedly slower than during the early months of the year, when roughly 700,000 jobs a month were disappearing. That improvement seems consistent with the widespread belief that the recession has given way to economic growth. Yet the report also buttressed fears that economic expansion would be weak and hesitant, with scarce paychecks and economic anxiety remaining prominent features of American life well into next year. “This is a weak report,” said Stuart G. Hoffman, chief economist at the PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh. “The rate of job loss has tapered off, but we still haven’t reached the point where businesses are willing to hire.” \|\|\|\|\| American employers cut 263,000 jobs last month, pushing the unemployment rate up to a 26-year high of 9.8%, in a sign of ongoing gloom in the labour market that stoked fears of a slow recovery from the worst financial downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The official figures from the US department of labour were far worse than economists had forecast. Together with a drop in factory orders and a slump in sales for Detroit's car manufacturers, they sent stockmarkets lower and sparked renewed talk of the possibility of a "double dip" recession. September was the 21st consecutive month of shrinkage for the US workforce. The number of job losses accelerated sharply from a revised tally of 201,000 during August, and the rate of unemployment ticked up from 9.7% to 9.8%. Speaking at a meeting of the White House's taskforce on middle-class families, Joe Biden, the US vice-president, acknowledged that the jobs report was "bad news" and said the recovery was likely to come in fits and starts. "One job lost is one job too many," Biden said. "There's still too many hard-working Americans without a pay cheque, too many families struggling to get by." Concern about the US economy contributed to a drop in London share prices, with the FTSE 100 index falling 48 points to 4999. Wall Street stocks opened sharply lower but, after its biggest fall for two months yesterday, the Dow Jones industrial average was down only 20 points to 9488 by late morning. Most US experts believe that the world's largest economy is no longer in recession, with GDP likely to show a rise for the third quarter. But the US economy has lost 7.2m jobs since the downturn began at the end of 2007, and 15.1 million people are looking for work. Companies are continuing to cut costs. Among the weakest sectors was construction, hit by plunging property prices, where 64,000 jobs disappeared. Employers cut 51,000 manufacturing jobs and 39,000 retail positions. Even the government's payroll declined, falling by 53,000, in spite of public works funded by the Obama administration's $787bn (£500bn) stimulus package. Nigel Gault, chief US economist at IHS Global Insight, said there was "no silver lining" to the figures, with leading indicators such as temporary jobs and the length of the working week still declining. Adding to the misery, the commerce department said that new orders to US factories for manufactured goods fell by 0.8% in August, the largest decline in five months. Yesterday, Detroit's struggling carmakers said that the end of the government's "cash for clunkers" subsidy programme had sent their business plunging, with General Motors and Chrysler both recording year-on-year sales drops of more than 40% for September. The weak picture ought to mean that there will be no increase in US interest rates until 2012 at the earliest, according to Ian Morris, HSBC's head of US economics. "[Federal Reserve chairman Ben] Bernanke should tell his colleagues to hold fire on all the hawkish talk until we get at least one month of positive payrolls," Morris said.	Companies in the United States are shedding more jobs, pushing the country's unemployment rate to a 26-year high of 9.8%. The US Labor Department said on Friday that employers cut 263,000 jobs in September, with companies in the service industries — including banks, restaurants and retailers — hit especially hard. This is the 21st consecutive month of job losses in the country. The United States has now lost 7.2 million jobs since the recession officially began in December 2007. The new data has sparked fears that unemployment could threaten an economic recovery. Top US officials have warned that any recovery would be slow and uneven, and some have predicted the unemployment rate will top 10% before the situation improves. "Continued household deleveraging and rising unemployment may weigh more on consumption than forecast, and accelerating corporate and commercial property defaults could slow the improvement in financial conditions," read a report by the International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook, predicting that unemployment will average 10.1% by next year and not go back down to five percent until 2014. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com, said that “it’s a very fragile and tentative recovery. Policy makers need to do more.” "The number came in weaker than expected. We saw a lot of artificial involvement by the government to prop up the markets, and now that that is starting to end, the private sector isn't yet showing signs of life," said Kevin Caron, a market strategist for Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. Also on Thursday, the US Commerce Department said factory orders fell for the first time in five months, dropping eight-tenths of a percent in August. Orders for durable goods — items intended to last several years (including everything from appliances to airliners) — fell 2.6%, the largest drop since January of this year. The US government has been spending billions of dollars — part of a $787 billion stimulus package — to help spark economic growth. There have been some signs the economy is improving. The Commerce Department said on Thursday that spending on home construction jumped in August for its biggest increase in 16 years. A real estate trade group, the National Association of Realtors, said pending sales of previously owned homes rose more than 12 percent in August, compared to August 2008. A separate Commerce Department report said that consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, rose at its fastest pace in nearly eight years, jumping 1.3 percent in August. Other reports have provided cause for concern. A banking industry trade group said Thursday the number of US consumers making late payments, or failing to make payments, on loans and credit cards is on the rise. A survey by a business group, the Institute for Supply Management, Thursday showed US manufacturing grew in September, but at a slower pace than in August when manufacturing increased for the first time in a year and a half. Stock markets reacted negatively to the reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 41 points in early trading, reaching a level of 9467. This follows a drop of 203 points on Thursday, its largest loss in a single day since July. The London FTSE index fell 55 points, or 1.1%, to reach 4993 points by 15.00 local time.

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Seeking to market its handheld game device to hip city dwellers, Sony has hired graffiti artists in major urban areas to spray-paint buildings with simple, totemic images of kids playing with the gadget. But the guerrilla marketing gambit appears to be drawing scorn from some of the street-savvy hipsters it's striving to win over. Coming on the heels of widely publicized news that Sony music CDs infected customers' computers with security-hole-inducing spyware, the campaign for the PlayStation Portable is being derided on the internet as an attempt to buy the credibility of street art. In San Francisco, critics have expressed their disapproval by adding some spray paint of their own to the Sony ads. On a wall outside a beer garden in San Francisco's bohemian Mission District that caters to motorcyclists and bike messengers, someone spray-painted over every character, adding the commentary, "Advertising directed at your counter-culture." Outside Casa Maria, a small Mission bodega, someone wrote, "Get out of my city," added the word "Fony" to the graffiti and penned a four-line ditty slamming Sony. Other cities targeted in the campaign include New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Miami, according to Sony spokeswoman Molly Smith. The advertising, based on original artwork commissioned by Sony's ad agency, features a collection of dizzy-eyed urban kids playing with the PSP as if it were a skateboard, a paddle or a rocking horse, but doesn't include the word Sony or PSP anywhere. When asked about the criticism, Smith countered that art is subjective and that both the content and the medium dovetailed with Sony's belief that the PSP is a "disrupter product" that lets people play games, surf the internet and watch movies wherever they want. "With PSP being a portable product, our target is what we consider to be urban nomads, people who are on the go constantly," Smith said. Floyd Hayes, the head creative director at Cunning Work, which specializes in nontraditional marketing campaigns such as promoting a Sci-Fi Channel TV show about the Bermuda triangle through reward signs (.jpg) for a missing sock, doesn't disapprove of the campaign, though he thinks the seemingly hypnotized kids in the artwork might send the wrong message about the PSP's thrill factor. But Hayes doesn't think Sony has crossed any lines with the faux street art. "Sony and PSP have every right to use this type of media," Hayes said. "They have done it for (a) very long time very successfully and spoke the language of the streets without being patronizing." Piers Fawkes, who runs the IF blog that focuses on new currents in marketing, also liked the campaign. "It's a cheeky wink toward a savvy audience who are already familiar with the product," Fawkes said. "It's reflective of modern approach to marketing. The creative classes are sick of marketing when done badly or blandly, but when it's done in (an) intelligent manner, we appreciate it." Fawkes questioned whether the backlash was very widespread. "I wonder if that's a San Francisco phenomenon," Fawkes said. "I know there's certain mindset there." Sony isn't the first corporation to use graffiti and stencils to market its products. In 2001, IBM paid Chicago and San Francisco more than $120,000 in fines and clean-up costs after its advertising agency spray-painted Linux advertisements on the cities' sidewalks. Unlike IBM, however, Sony says it's paying businesses and building owners for the right to graffiti their walls. Casa Maria was paid $100 for two weeks' use of its wall, according to co-owner Mario Arana. \|\|\|\|\| 1. Because of it's scale. 2. Because it's Sony. 3. Because of the Internet. Maybe it's just us, but as we start to receive photos from all over the country showing defaced Sony PSP ads, we're starting to think that the SonyPSP "graffiti" campaign may indeed be a watershed moment in the battle between graffiti culture and advertising.Why?With the Sony PSP ads, activists now have possibly hundreds of the same ads from one single campaign in many different cities to deface and to make a statement. To our knowledge, no brand has ever done as many ads like this for one single campaign. Collectively, as more and more of the graffiti ads get defaced, it makes for a very strong statement. Individuals are now joining a collective group.Obviously Sony is not a small company. Their size gives them the resources to pull off this campaign. Because it's Sony, more people will take up the fight to rebel against it (as we're seeing now)The internet brings activists quickly together. The internet assisted in the speed in getting the ads up, and now will assist in the speed of getting them defaced and taken down.Will other brands now think twice before venturing into this area? If the protests continue, then yes, advertisers will think twice between trying to replicate something like this on the scale that Sony attempted.One additional thing to note - it's not just Sony who are under the cross-hairs. Tats Cru seem to also to be under attack.Tats Cru, reveared for their dedication to graffiti culture, is coming under strong fire this time for their participation in creating not only these ads but many other like them .For us, all of this does not have simple black and white answers. To be honest, we go back and forth on this debate. At first we liked the Sony ads a bit. That was until we saw the massive scale of the campaign and the amount of sites that have been hit.The Wired article has set things in motion. Because the Sony campaign is so huge, and because so many people have now joined the fight against it, this may indeed be a moment were the advertisers start to lose and the activists and artists start to win.We'll continue to follow it.	A new advertising campaign in USA for the Sony PSP which looks like graffiti and is often sprayed on previously vandalized walls has come under attack from other graffiti artists. A collective group of graffiti artists and street artists are now banding together, vandalizing the look-alike graffiti advertisements. The campaign has offended a lot of graffiti artists and street artists, drawing responses like "keep your desperate corporate long arm out of a movement that is the only thing that is ours!" But not all the responses have been negative, with many artists defending Sony saying they have the right. Other advertising companies have also voiced their support. "Sony and PSP have every right to use this type of media," Floyd Hayes, the head creative director at Cunning Work told Wired News. "They have done it for (a) very long time very successfully and spoke the language of the streets without being patronizing." Sony says it is paying the building owners like Casa Maria for the right to advertise on their walls. Casa Maria was paid $100 for two weeks' use of its wall, co-owner Mario Arana told Wired News. Tats Cru, the graffiti crew responsible for the designs, have also been targeted with insulting slogans on Sony's advertisements.
Seven Iraqi athletes from five different sports qualified for the Olympics Athletes from Iraq have been banned from taking part at this summer's Beijing Games, the International Olympic Committee has announced. The team was already the subject of an interim ban after the Iraqi government replaced the country's Olympic committee with its own appointees. Under the IOC charter, all committees must be free of political influence. Iraq had been planning to send a team of at least seven athletes to the Olympics which start on 8 August. Two rowers, a weightlifter, a sprinter, a discus thrower, a judoka and an archer were in the frame for the trip to Beijing. "The deadline for taking up places for Beijing for all sports except athletics has now passed," said IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies. "The IOC very sadly has now to acknowledge that it is likely there will be no Iraqi presence at the Beijing Olympic Games, despite our best efforts." She added: "Clearly, we'd very much like to have seen Iraq's athletes in Beijing. "We are very disappointed that the athletes have been so ill-served by their own government's actions." The four Iraqi athletes that qualified could have competed under the Olympic flag BBC Radio 5 Live's Gordon Farquhar Hussein al-Amidi, the general secretary of the Iraqi Olympic Committee, said: "This morning we were informed of the final decision of the International Olympic Committee to suspend the membership of the Iraqi Olympic Committee. "It's a final decision, there is no way to appeal. This means that Iraq will not take part in the coming Olympic games. "It is a blow to Iraq and its international reputation, its athletes and its youth. "I swear those athletes who have been training - they phoned me today and they were crying and were very upset." The Iraq government dissolved the National Olympic Committee in May and the interim IOC ban was put in place on 4 June. Davies added that the Iraqi government had been asked to travel to Switzerland to meet the IOC to discuss possible remedies but failed to do so. The committee which the government dismissed was elected in 2004, in line with the Olympic movement's regulations. The Iraqi government said it took the decision to appoint a new committee because the previous one was corrupt and had not been functioning properly. Ahmad al-Samarra'i, chairman of the committee dismissed by the government, and several other members had previously been abducted by gunmen while attending a meeting in central Baghdad in July 2006. They have not been seen since. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A few months ago, it seemed liked nothing could stop Iraqi sprinter Dana Hussain from representing her country in the upcoming Summer Olympics. Iraqi sprinter Dana Hussain was devastated to learn she could not participate in the Beijing Summer Olympics. Then, the International Olympic Committee banned Iraq from competing because of what it says is the government's political interference in sports. Hussain cried for hours after hearing the news, which arrived in the form of a letter to Iraqi officials. "She hasn't stopped. It's like finding out that a close relative has died," said her coach, Yousif Abdul Rahman. Abdul Rahman attempted to console Hussain by assuring her that she could compete in the 2012 Olympics. Watch Hussain react to the news » "In this horrible situation," she said, "who can say I'll even be alive in 2012?" CNN received a copy of the letter sent to Jassim Mohammed Jaffer, Iraqi minister of youth and sports, and Ali Mohsen Ismail, acting secretary general of the Iraqi general secretariat of the Council of Ministers. "We deeply regret this outcome, which severely harms the Iraqi Olympic and Sports Movement and the Iraqi athletes, but which is unfortunately imposed by the circumstances," said the letter, signed by two IOC officials. Watch an official explain the decision » The move stems from an Iraqi government decision in May to suspend the nation's Olympic Committee and form a temporary committee to handle its duties. The Iraqi government thought the committee had not been operating properly and as a result undermined the sporting movement there. The government said the original committee held meetings without quorums and had officials serving in one-year posts for more than five years. Many of the officials also lived outside Iraq, the government said. iReport.com: See a cartoonist's take on the decision Emmanuelle Moreau, a spokeswoman for the International Olympic Committee, said it suspended Iraq's national Olympic Committee in June after the government removed elected officials and put in people the IOC didn't recognize. She said the IOC proposed to the Iraqi government that officials come to the organization's headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, "to discuss possible solutions." But she said they didn't respond. "We're extremely disappointed with the situation. The athletes have been ill-served by the government in Iraq," she said. Moreau said Iraq missed a Wednesday deadline for the entry of athletes to compete in archery, judo, rowing and weightlifting. She said there is a chance that track and field athletes could compete if the original committee is reinstated. The deadline for the track team to register is at the end of the month. The Games begin August 8. A former official from the disbanded Iraq Olympic Committee said the IOC's decision was justified because the government interfered with the national committee by suspending it. The former official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. He said he believed that the government suspended the committee out of "jealousy." The national committee was making great strides, and the government, namely the Ministry of Youth and Sports, wanted control of it, he said. The seven Iraqi athletes who were to travel to China for the Games' start in August are disappointed by the decision, officials said. They include an archer, a weightlifter, a judoka, two rowers and two sprinters, one of whom is Dana Hussain. Her coach called the decision unfair and said he blames "everyone": the Iraqi government and the Iraqi and International Olympic committees. In the end, Abdul Rahman said, the athletes are paying the price. "It's a shame after all the efforts, ambitions, risks and dangers," he said. "I wish from the bottom of my heart they would reconsider this unjust decision for the sake of the athletes." CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq and Jomana Karadsheh contributed to this report. All About Summer Olympics • Iraq • International Olympic Committee	The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has told the Iraqi Olympic Committee that Iraq can not field a team in the 2008 Summer Olympics, which are due to open in Beijing, China August 8, 2008. The Olympic flag The International Olympic committee said that it took this action "as a consequence of the ongoing political interference by the government within the sports movement in Iraq." The Iraqi government suspended its Olympic Committee, the National Olympic Committee of Iraq, which they viewed as dysfunctional for several reasons, including the holding of illegitimate meetings, having officials serve past their post and living outside of the country. Interference by government is not permitted by the IOC. The government of Iraq has said that the decision undermines the effort athletes put into getting a place in the Iraqi Olympic team. Dana Hussain, one of the sprinters who would have been on the Iraqi team, was reported to be distraught by the decision. According to her coach she was "crying for about two hours." Her coach compared the decision to "finding out that a close relative has died." The deadline to register for five of the seven would-be Iraqi Olympians has passed. However, if the National Olympic Committee of Iraq is reinstated, the possibility exists that its two sprinters may be able to compete, if they register before the track and field deadline at the end of July.
TAYLOR, Mich. (WXYZ) - Taylor police along with friends of the Edwards family fanned out on Telegraph Saturday to collect donations for fallen officer Matthew Edwards. The 31 year-old Corporal was gunned down Friday morning at a Taylor apartment complex as he confronted a man trying to break into an apartment. The fundraiser took place near the intersection of Van Born and Telegraph. Volunteers stood out in traffic to collect money to support Edwards’ widow and two children. One of those who came out to help was Tia Ma, a friend of the Edwards family. She says helping the family in this time of need makes her feel like she’s making a difference. Ma tells Action News Edwards’ wife is staying strong, despite the horrible loss. --- Edwards Responding to What Seemed Like A Routine Call Edwards and his partner arrived at the Coppertree apartments at around 5:30 Friday morning after someone reported seeing a man trying to break into an apartment. Officer Edwards confronted the suspect and he opened fire, hitting Edwards. Edwards' partner fired back as he chased the suspect. Neighbors say they heard 15 to 20 shots. A gun, gloves, wad of cash and a cigarette lighter were found on the driveway near the shooting. Both Edwards and the suspect were taken the hospital. Edwards was pronounced dead. The supect has been identified as 36-year-old Tyress Mathews from Westland. He is being treated in the hospital. Police say his wife lives in the apartment complex, but that it is not known why he would try to break into a unit there. This is the first Taylor officer killed in the line duty in the history of the department. The incident is still under investigation. Police say the home invasion may have actually been a domestic situation. Corporal Edwards has been on the Taylor police force for five years. He was honored as officer of the year by Michigan's Police Officer's Association in 2008. The public can make donations to the “Cpl. Matthew Edwards Memorial Fund” at any branch of PNC Bank. \|\|\|\|\| TAYLOR, Mich. - A local city is mourning the death of a police corporal shot and killed on the job in Taylor. Police say Corporal Matthew Edwards was only 31. He leaves behind a wife and two young children. He was recently honored as "Officer of the Year". Police say Edwards died while responding to a domestic dispute. "We all expect to go home at night to our families... Please pray for Officer Edwards' family... Please pray for the Taylor Police Department and the many officers (that) put their own lives before others," said Taylor Police Cmdr. Dan Crowell. Edwards' partner shot the suspect, who was taken to the hospital and had surgery. We're now learning more about that 36-year-old Westland man suspected of killing Edwards. "I asked him if he was having a great birthday and he told me he was going to call me right back, and I didn't hear back from him," said Kameka Jackson, the suspect's girlfriend. That was Thursday night, the last time Jackson heard from her boyfriend, Tyress Matthews, the man who police say pulled the trigger and killed Edwards. "It's like wow. I just know that I got treated perfectly fine," Jackson said. "I don't understand how it got to this. I really don't." While Jackson thought her boyfriend was celebrating his birthday, police say he was involved in a gun battle that took the life of Edwards. It started around 6:00 a.m. Friday when two Taylor Police officers responded to a 911 call that someone was breaking into the Coppertree Apartments. When they arrived, the officers confronted the suspect they caught going through a window. Turns out it was actually a domestic situation. Witnesses say Edwards was talking to Matthews when Matthews all of a sudden pulled out a gun and started firing at Edwards. Edwards' partner quickly returned fire, shooting Matthews several times. The suspect and police traded more than a dozen gunshots. Matthews survived. Edward did not. The 31-year-old leaves behind a wife and two young children. "It's nothing I can say. I just feel sorry for the family," said Jackson. "I can't glorify anything. I can't justify anything. I can't do that. It wouldn't be in my best interest to do that." Jackson said she had no idea her boyfriend of nearly a year was a career criminal serving 16 of the last 20 years in prison for crimes ranging from fleeing and eluding police to armed robbery and three counts of assault with intent to commit murder. We're told Matthews underwent surgery at Oakwood Hospital and is in stable condition and is expected to survive. He could be arraigned as early as Saturday. Meantime, we're told two memorial funds have been setup for the family of Officer Edwards. Donations can be made to the Cpl. Matthew Edwards Memorial Fund at any PNC Bank branch. A second fund has also been establised at PNC Bank by the Thin Blue Line of Michigan. Donations can also be mailed to Thin Blue Line of Michigan, P.O. Box 415, Howell, Mi 48844. \|\|\|\|\| This page no longer exists We are sorry for the inconvenience, but this page no longer exists. Please try the search bar to find the article that you are looking for. \|\|\|\|\| News >> Browse Articles >> Officer Down News -43 Michigan Officer Killed in Early Morning Shootout Detroit Free Press via YellowBrix July 23, 2010 TAYLOR, MI – A Taylor Police officer caught in a shootout in the parking lot of a Taylor townhouse complex has died and another man remains hospitalized, police confirmed. Taylor Police Lt. Mary Sclabassi confirmed the officer died from wounds suffered in a hail of gunfire around 6 a.m. today at Coppertree Townhomes on Pine Street near Northline and Telegraph roads. She said police weren’t immediately identifying the officer while they notified relatives. Police identified the officer as 31-year-old Matthew Edwards, who leaves behind a wife and two children. Edwards was responding to a report of a nearby breaking and entering when he encountered a male suspect, who opened fire, police said. The officer, fatally wounded, returned fire and struck the suspect, who is now in Oakwood Hospital. Lt. John Blair said Edwards is the first Taylor officer ever to be killed in the line of duty. He described the officer as a veteran of the force. “We lost a real good guy today,” Blair said. “It’s a rough day. There are a lot of long faces around here.” Blair said the other man in the shooting was at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, but his condition wasn’t known. Neighbors said the cop and another man traded gunshots, perhaps more than a dozen, though Taylor Police were not commenting on details of the incident this morning. Several neighbors said the gunshots startled them awake around 6 a.m. Neighbors including Lakesha Campbell, 23, said they saw one young man injured, handcuffed and taken away on a stretcher while another neighbor, Jerome Wadsworth, 21, said he saw an injured police officer put into an ambulance and taken from the shooting scene. “I saw the police officer laying on the ground by his squad car” in the parking lot of the Pine Street complex, said resident Valdez Green, 20. “He was laying out there for about five minutes before backup arrived.” There was no immediate word on the condition of the other man. Michigan State Police and officers from Allen Park and Romulus were assisting Taylor Police at the scene. It’s the same Taylor townhouse complex where two men killed 38-year-old mother Wendy Meinke in summer 2006. Both men, Jujuan Willis and Michael Johnson, are serving time in prison.	City of Taylor, within Wayne County, Michigan A Michigan police officer was shot and killed yesterday in an early-morning exchange of gunfire. Corporal Matthew Edwards, 31, of the Taylor Police Department, was responding to a call about a of a home in an apartment complex on Pine Street near Telegraph and Northline Roads, in , Michigan. After arriving at the scene, the Taylor Police Department say that two of their officers observed a man trying to enter an apartment through a window. While his partner walked towards the building, Edwards approached the suspect and began speaking to him. The suspect pulled out a gun and shot at the officer. Edwards and his partner then opened fire on the suspect, who police say is 36-year-old Tyress Matthews from , which resulted in a volley of bullets being exchanged. Residents told investigators that they heard between 15 and 20 gun shots in the shootout, and saw Edwards lying on the ground near his vehicle and screaming for help for about five minutes. Edwards and Matthews were taken to Oakwood Hospital in , where Edwards was pronounced dead. Matthews underwent surgery, and is reported to have non-life threatening injuries. The second officer was not injured in the incident. The and officers from the nearby cities of and are assisting the Taylor PD in investigating the incident. Taylor police Commander Dan Crowell said while the initial report was of a break-in, it was more likely a domestic disturbance. Matthews has "quite a lengthy criminal history". Residents of the apartment complex say that crime and gunfire is a common occurrence there. "I heard the shots. There were a lot of them," Teresa Webster told the ''''. "They woke me up. But I didn't think much of them because we hear so many gunshots around here. There was a stabbing here about a month ago. And three days ago, I found a body in a car in the parking lot. We thought (a teenaged male in the front seat) was passed out, but he was dead." Another resident, Arthur White, told the Associated Press that drug use and teenage delinquency is common in the complex, while Deborah Brown has decided that the incident today has convinced her to move out, following an increase of criminal behavior in recent weeks. Matthew Edwards, a five-year veteran of the Taylor Police Department, is survived by his wife Shannon and two children, Luke, 8, and Moriah, 6. Before returning to his hometown of Taylor in January 2005, Edwards was with the . He is the first Taylor police officer to be killed in the line of duty since it formed in the 1930s. In 2008, Edwards was named Officer of the Year by the Police Officers Association of Michigan for shooting a drunken knife-wielding man who was attempting to .
Borussia Mönchengladbach on Thursday made official what had been widely anticipated since they sacked Andre Schubert following Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at home to Wolfsburg, confirming that they have appointed Dieter Hecking as their new head coach. A statement posted on the club's official website said the 52-year-old former Wolfsburg, Nuremberg and Hannover coach had signed a contract that runs through June of 2019. "In light of the developments over the last few weeks we decided that we needed to inject fresh impetus into the team. Dieter Hecking is precisely the right man, he is a coach with a lot of experience, who has been successful with various teams at different levels," Gladbach's sporting director, Max Eberl said in the statement. Sacked by rivals Wolfsburg in October Hecking, who began his career as a player at Mönchengladbach, enjoyed his greatest success to date at Wolfsburg, where he took over in late 2012 and led them to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga and victory in the German Cup in 2015. Last season he took the Wolves all the way to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. However, Wolfsburg fired Hecking in mid-October after the team got off to a disappointing start to the current campaign, despite having made significant new signings in the summer, such as Germany striker Mario Gomez. Threat of relegation In Gladbach, Hecking has taken over a team who are in 14th place with 16 points - just three above the relegation playoff spot. Coincidentally, his former team, Wolfsburg, are level with the Foals on points, but just above them in the standings based on goal difference. Schubert, who initially took over Gladbach on an interim basis in September 2015, went on to lead the team into the Champions League group stage, but the Foals' weak start to this Bundesliga campaign made him the seventh coach to lose his job - before this season is even half over. \|\|\|\|\| Borussia Mönchengladbach have relieved head coach Andre Schubert of his duties with immediate effect. Gladbach have only picked up a single win in their last 11 Bundesliga outings, and Tuesday's loss to VfL Wolfsburg leaves them just three points ahead of the relegation playoff spot, ahead of Wednesday night's action. In a statement on the club's website, sporting director Max Eberl said, "we have held a lot of talks in recent days, analysed our on-the-pitch development and discussed a great deal, and together with André we have come to the conclusion that it is better for both sides to call an end to our collaboration." Schubert took over as interim coach from Lucien Favre in September 2015, after Gladbach lost their first five matches of the season. He won his first six games and eventually guided the Foals to fourth place, and a spot in this year's UEFA Champions League. Gladbach added that Schubert's successor would be announced "in due course". .@borussia_en have parted ways with head coach Andre Schubert. Click here for the full story 👉 https://t.co/pv1rqis3nu pic.twitter.com/eWHvJboc5t — Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) December 21, 2016 Click here for more Gladbach club news!	Yesterday, German football club announce their appointment of as manager until 2019. Hecking's predecessor was sacked the day before, after one year of service at . File photo of Dieter Hecking. Mönchengladbach has won only one out of its last eleven Bundesliga matches this season. Schubert began as an interim manager of the first team after resigned from the coach position last September. Schubert led Gladbach to the fourth spot in Bundesliga. Schubert's last match as Gladbach's coach ended in a 2–1 loss against VfL Wolfsburg and they are just three points ahead of the relegation playoff. 52-year-old Dieter Hecking began his coaching career in 2000 with a second tier club . Hecking played most of his professional career matches in . In 2003–04, Hecking guided in semifinal. He helped avoid relegation in 2009–10 and finished sixth in the Bundesliga in the following season. In 2014–15, Hecking won the DFB Pokal and the with Wolfsburg and finished the Bundesliga season as runners-up. They qualified for last season's UEFA Champions League. Hecking was sacked from Wolfsburg in October. Mönchengladbach's sporting director said, . == Sources == * * *
Detailed arguments over spending and tax will continue Labour unveiled a dossier claiming the Tory figures were an "incoherent mess". But the Tories retaliated with their own document saying they had already refuted all the claims. They accused Tony Blair of "losing the plot". The Lib Dems, whose leader Charles Kennedy is celebrating becoming a father, focused on their own tax plans. How do they [the Conservatives] square this economic circle? Tony Blair Analysis: Tory manifesto Fact check: Tory budgets The Tories say they can lower taxes, reduce borrowing and raise public spending in key areas by cutting waste. They brand Labour's attacks as "desperate smears". Shadow Treasury spokesman George Osborne said that tax cuts would be set in motion in the first Budget, if the Tories won the election, but not come into effect until the next financial year. That prompted Gordon Brown to say Tory tax plans were "unravelling". Mr Brown said: "When all plans are taken into account, Mr Letwin has a black hole of £18.9bn in year one, £18.5bn in year two and £14.4bn in year three." The cash gap would require either "huge" spending cuts or increased borrowing - which the Bank of England would have to take into account and put pressure on interest rates. Shadow chancellor Mr Letwin hit back, telling BBC News: "On our spending plans it will be possible for us both to reduce borrowing and avoid the tax rises that are implied by Labour's spending plans after the election and to cut taxes by £4bn." Party savings claims Labour Party plans £21bn efficiency savings 100,000 civil service jobs will be axed or changed Lib Dems say they can reduce spending by £26bn by axing the DTI and other savings Tories plan £35bn in savings 235,000 jobs to go, 91,000 into the private sector 40,000 reduction in recruitment freeze 20,000 voluntary redundancy Kennedy joy at son's birth Mr Letwin said that Labour would have to raise taxes if they were re-elected to cover their commitments. "This election is not about questions of accountancy, whether you can or you can't achieve a particular change in a particular department on a particular timescale. "This election is about a massive question of choice for the British public." The Conservatives also suggested Labour was trying to "cover up" a likely rise in council tax bills in England as a result of property revaluations, which in Wales had led to an average increase of 9%. Labour called the claim "scaremongering" and said Wales was not a precedent for council tax in England. New taxes Lib Dem frontbencher David Laws branded the Conservative plans "unrealistic". He said the Tories were offering only £13.3bn of genuinely new savings - and £5.5bn of those were unachievable. HAVE YOUR SAY What's obvious is the amount of tax we're all paying now - the party that can do something about that will get my vote Barbara, Kent Send your comments Treasury spokesman Vince Cable meanwhile highlighted Lib Dem plans for the economy. He said the 50p tax rate on earnings over £100,000 would fund the scrapping of university tuition fees and the introduction of free personal care for elderly and disabled people. The new tax rate would also help plans to replace council tax with a local income tax. The party says the move would be fairer even though some people would have to pay more. Among the smaller parties, the Greens unveiled their manifesto, claiming to be the only party committed to a more just society with "the planet at its heart". \|\|\|\|\| 4.45pm update As the prime minister and chancellor campaigned together again today, this time in Edinburgh, Labour published an overnight 30-page "demolition job" of Tory figures, claiming that the party was counting savings "from day one" which would take at least two years to kick in, after a Tory election victory. Labour's own manifesto is published tomorrow, and the Tories say there will be an £11bn tax shortfall "black hole" under a third Labour term. Tonight Labour's Alistair Darling lead the attack, saying: "A gaffe-prone Conservative party has failed to clear up the confusion about its tax policy. "This lunchtime, Oliver Letwin suggested that the Tories' tax cuts wouldn't come in until 2007/08, but this morning, shadow chief secretary [to the Treasury] George Osborne said that their tax cuts would come in 2006/07. "And yesterday, David Cameron said that the Conservative party's tax cuts would happen right away - 2005/06. George Osborne, a Tory Treasury spokesman, told Sky today that "the spending savings ... begin on day one", before admitting that they would "take two years to implement", and clarifying that the "programme begins on day one". At this morning's Labour press conference, Mr Brown said an analysis of the Conservatives' manifesto showed they were offering the "extraordinary combination of a black hole and severe public spending cuts". And he warned that if the deficit was met by increased public borrowing, the Bank of England might be forced to increase interest rates. The Liberal Democrats joined in the attack on Tory spending plans. The party's Treasury spokesman David Laws described £8bn of the their projected savings as "unrealistic". Mr Blair, meanwhile, warned: "These proposals are a complete economic mess and that will be an economic risk." The joint performance from Mr Blair and Mr Brown - after five days which has seen the pair constantly together - lasted more than an hour. The Tories were not holding a press conference of their own today, but the shadow chancellor defended his plans on Radio 4 and accused the government of planning tax increases. The Tory party chairman, Liam Fox, later attempted to rebut Labour's "demolition job". He said: "While it is flattering for Labour to spend so much time trying to find a chink in the Conservative economic case, it is astonishing that, after eight years in power, they can think of no better reason for being re-elected than that they are not us." This morning the shadow chancellor, Oliver Letwin, insisted that the independent Institute of Financial Studies was confident of the Tories' ability to find £4bn worth of tax cuts. At Labour's press conference, Mr Brown was pressed by reporters to rule out any tax rises in a Labour third term. He merely said: "No politician has been well served by making absolutist commitments like that", and pointed to John Major's experience of promising increased spending, lower borrowing and tax cuts before the 1992 election. Mr Blair said the relative situation of the Labour and Conservative parties had been reversed from the time in the 1980s when Labour was accused of uncosted spending promises. He added: "The Tories' problem is that they have an unresolved contradiction between those who want to lower public spending and [those] who accept spending increases. That's why they have ended up with this mess. "It's a flimsy manifesto because they haven't decided what they want to be." Mr Blair said the Tories had "no idea" how they would find their promised £869m savings in the immigration service, while looking for an "offshore processing centre" for asylum seekers and also promising a 24-hour border patrol service. Alistair Darling raised laughter by saying that the Tories had promised to find £100m of savings through outsourcing the driving tests assessment centre - something the Tories themselves had already done in 1996. Mr Brown attacked the Tory manifesto - 28 pages long - as a document of "few words, and fewer figures". He said it was "a shopping list of promises that do not and cannot add up". It would, he said, repeat the mistakes of John Major's 1992 government which he said ran up "the biggest deficit in our history".	The Conservative Party manifesto, launched earlier today, has been criticised by opponents as being unrealistic. The pledge of £35 billion of savings from "government slimlining", and subsequent tax cuts, has been attacked by Labour and the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives plan to continue funding front-line services at the current rate by relying on economic growth to make up the difference. Labour described the plans as "a complete economic mess", the current Chancellor, Gordon Brown claiming there would be a shortfall of "£18.9bn in year one, £18.5bn in year two and £14.4bn in year three." Labour leader Tony Blair claimed that the Labour and the Conservatives economic roles had reversed since the 1980s, when many had lost faith in Labour's ability to handle the economy. The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell, claimed that £5.5 to 8 billion of cuts were unrealistic. Labour's manifesto is launched tomorrow, and the Liberal Democrats launch theirs on Thursday. Conservative shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin has already criticised Gordon Brown's budget of March this year, claiming it will create an £11bn shortfall.
UNITED NATIONS: More people in India, the world's second most crowded country, have access to a mobile telephone than to a toilet, according to a new UN study on how to cut the number of people with inadequate sanitation. "It is a tragic irony to think that in India, a country now wealthy enough that roughly half of the people own phones, about half cannot afford the basic necessity and dignity of a toilet," said Zafar Adeel, Director of United Nations University's Institute for Water, Environment and Health (IWEH). India has some 545 million cell phones, enough to serve about 45 per cent of the population, but only about 366 million people or 31 per cent of the population had access to improved sanitation in 2008. The recommendations of United Nations University (UNU) released Wednesday are meant to accelerate the pace towards reaching the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on halving the proportion of people without access to safe water and basic sanitation. If current global trends continue, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) predict there will be a shortfall of 1 billion persons from that sanitation goal by the target date of 2015. "Anyone who shirks the topic as repugnant, minimises it as undignified, or considers unworthy those in need should let others take over for the sake of 1.5 million children and countless others killed each year by contaminated water and unhealthy sanitation," said. Adeel. Among the nine recommendations are the suggestions to adjust the MDG target from a 50 per cent improvement by 2015 to 100 per cent coverage by 2025; and to reassign official development assistance equal to 0.002 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to sanitation. The UNU report cites a rough cost of $300 to build a toilet, including labour, materials and advice. "The world can expect, however, a return of between $3 and $34 for every dollar spent on sanitation, realized through reduced poverty and health costs and higher productivity - an economic and humanitarian opportunity of historic proportions," added Adeel. \|\|\|\|\| India has 545 million working cell phones thanks to its booming emerging economy, a number expected to reach 1 billion by 2015, the UN University said on Wednesday. That number exceeds the number of people who have access to toilet or sanitation facilities - only about 366 million, or 31 percent of the 1-billion strong population. India's number of cell phone users soared in just 10 years, from 0.35 per 100 persons in 2000 to 45 per 100 persons this year. Worldwide, an estimated 1.1 billion people of the world population of 6.7 billion people have no access to toilet facilities. The UN Millennium Development Goals call for access to toilets by all people by 2025, The UN University, a Canada-based think tank, made a study on cell phone users in developing countries to demonstrate that some countries may lag behind in achieving the goal of providing toilets and sanitation for all the world population by 2025. "It is a tragic irony to think that in India, a country now wealthy enough that roughly half of the people own phones, half cannot afford the basic necessity and dignity of a toilet," said Zafar Adeel, a director at the UN University. UN University said it would cost an estimated 358 billion dollars to build toilets for half the world population between now and 2015. Each toilet costs 300 dollars. The World Health Organisation and the UN Children's Fund said programmes to provide toilets have fallen behind schedule worldwide and the 2015 goal may not be reached. \|\|\|\|\| A participant displays cane shoe at a fashion show in Delhi RCB's Owner Vijay Mallya with son Sidharth in Bangalore Preity Zinta during an IPL match in Dharamshala Devotees during a religious procession in Amritsar Jyotiraditya Scindia addressing a rally in Bhopal Children trying to get some respite from heat in Agra An ambulance on the Srinagar-Leh national highway Rafael Nadal during a Tennis tournament in Monaco Girls shield themselves from the heat in Bhopal A lady collecting water from Koel river in Palamau Models at the audition for Chennai Intl Fashion Week	Public toilet in India. According to a United Nations survey, more people in India, the second most populous country in the world, have access to mobile phones than to a proper toilet. Over half a billion cell phones are active in India, but only 366 million people there have access to a toilet. "It is a tragic irony to think that in India, a country now wealthy enough that roughly half of the people own phones, about half cannot afford the basic necessity and dignity of a toilet," commented Zafar Adeel, Director of United Nations University's Institute for Water, Environment and Health (IWEH). India's 545 million cell phones serve about 45 per cent of the population of more than one billion. Only 31 per cent (366 million) have access to modern hygienic amenities as of 2008. The United Nations University (UNU) recommends achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) which aims to cut in half the number of people lacking safe water and proper sanitary arrangements. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), there would be a deficit of one billion people from that target aimed for 2015. "Anyone who shirks the topic as repugnant, minimises it as undignified, or considers unworthy those in need should let others take over for the sake of 1.5 million children and countless others killed each year by contaminated water and unhealthy sanitation," Adeel added. "Popular education about the health dangers of poor sanitation is also needed. But this simple measure could do more to save lives, especially those of young people, improve health and help pull India and other countries in similar circumstances out of poverty than any alternative investment. It can also serve as a very significant boost to the local economy," he said. "The world can expect, however, a return of between $3 and $34 for every dollar spent on sanitation, realized through reduced poverty and health costs and higher productivity — an economic and humanitarian opportunity of historic proportions." The nine recommendations made by the UNU include changing the MDG target from 50 per cent by 2015 to 100 per cent coverage by 2025. Another suggested reform was to assign 0.002 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to improving sanitation. Approximately 358 billion dollars would be required to achieve that MDG target, considering that a toilet costs 300 dollars.
The train hit a number of trees after being derailed, which stopped it from falling into a river below [AFP] The train hit a number of trees after being derailed, which stopped it from falling into a river below [AFP] The accident happened at peak commuter time on Monday morning near the city of Merano, in a mountainous area about 300km north of Venice. A landslide has hit and derailed a passenger train in northern Italy, killing at least nine people and injuring 25, emergency services have said. "There are nine confirmed victims, while 28 people have been injured, seven of them seriously," Luis Durnwalder, governor of the German-speaking Bolzano-Bozen province, told Reuters. Local media reported the front car of the train hit two large trees after the landslide struck, which stopped it from falling into a river below. The carriage was left hanging precariously over the river and firefighters used cables to prevent it from slipping further down the mountainside, the ANSA news agency said. The railway line in the province of Bolzano, inaugurated in 2005, is considered one of the most modern tracks in the country. Thomas Widmann, a transport adviser to the local provincial government, told Sky Italia television that the landslide appeared to have been caused by a burst irrigation pipe. Monday's accident was the worst in Europe since a Belgian train crash in February in which 18 people died when two rush-hour commuter trains collided outside Brussels. Italy suffered its worst rail accident in 20 years last June, with 29 people killed when a freight train ferrying liquefied petroleum gas derailed in Viareggio, on Italy's north-west coast, causing a series of explosions. \|\|\|\|\| Landslide derails train in northern Italy, 9 dead ROME — A cascade of rocks and debris slammed onto a small commuter train traveling through the Italian Alps, causing it to derail and killing at least nine people while injuring another 30 aboard. The wreckage — still atop the tracks in a mountain valley near the Austrian border — was mired in mud from the landslide unleashed by a burst irrigation pipe, officials said. One of the two train cars was destroyed, its windows shattered, ANSA news agency reported, adding that about 40 people had been on board at the time of the accident. Irene Hell, an official with the fire department in Bolanzo, the Alpine region's largest city, said nine people were killed. Initially fire officials had reported 11 dead, but Hell said that was due to confusion in the first hours after the tragedy. Sky TV, reporting from the hamlet of Castelbello, near the accident scene, quoted authorities as saying three persons were believed to be missing. Giuseppe Marazzi of the local firefighters said seven of the injured were hospitalized in serious condition. "The landslide occurred at the very passage of the train," Thomas Widmann, a transport official in nearby Bolzano city, told Sky Italia. "It hit the train." He said the burst pipe had triggered the rock fall onto the train around 9:30 a.m. (0730GMT, 3:30 a.m. EDT). Temperatures were too high to freeze the water in the pipe; authorities said they were investigating why it had burst. The train had been nearing its destination of Merano, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Venice, after departing from the small town of Malles. Helicopters, ambulances and firefighters rushed to the scene. Rescuers with shovels were digging in the mud, while a huge crane was on site to remove the wreckage, ANSA said. Trees had prevented the destroyed train car from plunging into a river. The train line runs between the Adige river and mountains. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement A landslide has derailed a train in north-eastern Italy, killing at least nine people and injuring about 30, Italian media say. Monday's accident occurred in a valley near the winter sports town of Merano, close to the Austrian border. Trees prevented the train plunging into a river, and firefighters are said to have used cables to secure the wagons. Officials say the landslide may have been caused by a leaking water pipe further up the hillside. An investigation is under way. The accident took place at around 0900 (0700 GMT) on the line from Castelbello to Laces, not far from the city of Bolzano. It is now only a few trees that are holding up the train and preventing it falling into the river Eyewitness Alex Rowbotham Watching the rescue effort In pictures: Italy derailment The authorities say the mass of water, mud and rock came without warning, burying the regional train as it passed through the alpine valley, the BBC's Bethany Bell reports from the scene. The death toll had been put at 11, although this was later revised down to nine because of what provincial governor Luis Durnwalder said was a "counting error". But he warned Ansa news agency that the toll was not final as "there could still be someone buried in the mud". The train driver is understood to be among the dead. The most seriously injured have been taken by helicopter to nearby hospitals. Rescuers dug frantically with shovels and pickaxes in at least one mud-filled carriage to try to reach the victims, Ansa reported. Eyewitness Alex Rowbotham told the BBC: "The front of the train, the cab, is not there at all and the train is hanging off the rails about five metres from the river. "It is now only a few trees that are holding up the train and preventing it falling into the river." He said the train was on the other side of the Adige river to the main road, and it appeared as if rescuers were building a pontoon across the river to enable them to carry across necessary equipment. Thomas Widmann, transport adviser to the Bolzano provincial government, told Sky Italia that the landslide appeared to have been caused by an irrigation pipe that burst, piling rocks, debris and water on to the oncoming train. The railway line, inaugurated in 2005, is one of the most modern in the country, Ansa said. It runs at the foot of an alpine valley with mountains towering up to 3,000m (9,850ft) above. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	At least nine people have died in northern Italy after a landslide caused the derailment of a passenger train. A further 25 people were injured, according to emergency services. The incident occurred earlier this morning near the border with Austria, in a mountainous region near Merano, a city around 300 kilometres north of Venice. "There are nine confirmed victims, while 28 people have been injured, seven of them seriously," reported the governor of the Bolzano-Bozen province, Luis Durnwalder, to the Reuters news service. Initially, eleven people were reported dead, due to what the governor described as a "counting error". However, he noted that "there could still be someone buried in the mud", so the death count is not yet final. According to the ANSA news agency, the train had about forty passengers on board when it derailed. Sky TV, meanwhile, quoted officials as saying that three people are reported to be missing. The authorities say the landslide was due to a broken irrigation pipe, which caused rocks to fall onto the tracks below. Authorities say they are looking into why the pipe burst. The trains front car hit two trees upon derailment, local media says, which prevented it from dropping off into a river below. The carriage, however, was hanging over the river, and firefighters had to use cables to stop it from falling any more. A crane was also dispatched the scene to help clean up debris, ANSA reported. "The train is hanging off the rails about five meters from the river. It is now only a few trees that are holding up the train and preventing it falling into the river," said a witness, Alex Rowbotham, to the BBC. "... The landslide occurred at the very passage of the train. It hit the train," said Thomas Widmann, a transport official for the city of Bolanzo. The crash was the deadliest in Europe since February, when eighteen people died after two commuter trains ran into each other near Brussels, Belgium. Italy saw its worse rail crash two decades ago, when 29 people died following the derailment of a freight train carrying petroleum gas, resulting in several explosions.
ASUNCION, Paraguay -- The father-and-son owners of a Paraguayan supermarket swept by a huge blaze in 2004 that left at least 374 dead were convicted of manslaughter and handed prison terms of 12 and 10 years respectively, a court announced Saturday. Relatives protested outside the court complex that the sentences were too light, insisting the pair get the maximum 25-year sentence for Paraguay's deadliest fire in modern history. "Assassins! Assassins!" chanted a crowd of hundreds that marched to the court complex after the sentences were announced against businessman Juan Pio Paiva, 64, and his son Daniel Paiva, 40. German Torres, president of a three-judge tribunal, announced the ruling Saturday and said the panel also found the pair guilty of exposing people to danger. The Aug. 1, 2004, blaze claimed 432 lives, most by asphyxiation, as thick smoke swept through a Ycua Bolanos supermarket in the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion. Some 2,000 people were in the packed building, many of them families with young children, when the fire broke out, and prosecutors argued that doors were deliberately ordered shut to prevent looting, trapping many. A private security guard whom prosecutors accused of blocking exits was given a 5-year sentence for negligence, Torres said. Torres said three business associates of Paiva were cleared of any blame, saying they did not have operational responsibilities for the supermarket. In 2006, furious relatives and friends of the victims rampaged through a court room and rioted in the streets when court panel announced it was divided 2-1 in favor of lighter charges but was unable to read its verdict because of the disturbances. Police reported no violence during Saturday's protest march, but some 10 women who lost children or husbands in the inferno fainted in the subtropical heat and were assisted by paramedics. The court cited the elder Paiva for neglecting the overall safety of the public as chief owner of the property, and his son was singled out as responsible for the food court area - where experts believe flames began in inadequately maintained equipment. Beyond 374 confirmed deaths, 450 others were injured and authorities said they still have not confirmed the deaths of nine others whose bodies may have been incinerated by the high heat as the fire raged out of control. "This kind of justice is injustice!" shouted one irate demonstrator, Lys Torres, leader of a group of victims' relatives. She vowed to fight through subsequent appeals court processes for longer prison sentences. The burned-out supermarket in downtown Asuncion remains shuttered, scrawled with messages and tributes left to dead loved ones. \|\|\|\|\| Families set up chairs near the court in memory of the deceased Judges found Juan Pio Paiva guilty of manslaughter, but rejected calls for a harsher sentence over the 2004 blaze. His son Daniel was jailed for 10 years and security guard Daniel Areco for five over the fire which injured 400. Relatives have accused Mr Paiva of blocking people's escape by locking the stores' doors to prevent looting. The first trial on the fire, held in 2006, was annulled by the Supreme Court after thousands of people rioted, believing the original verdict to be too lenient. Lacking safety features But families of the victims have complained that the new prison terms are still too lenient. Hundreds of people protested outside the court calling for the defendants to be given the maximum sentence of 25 years. Three shareholders were acquitted. Several hundred people were inside when the fire broke out The fire began in a chimney that an investigation found had been badly built and badly maintained. The shop was also found to have lacked an effective fire detection system or proper emergency exits. The defendants were charged with negligent homicide and endangering people in the workplace. The court blamed them for chaining shut the doors of the Ycua Bolanos store in Asuncion after the fire had started. During the trial the defendants said they had closed down the supermarket because they feared those inside would start looting, AFP news agency reported. It was the worst fire in Paraguayan history. \|\|\|\|\| Relatives set out white plastic chairs to commemorate each of the victims of the fire [AFP] The owners of a Paraguay supermarket have been jailed for up to 12 years after being convicted of the manslaughter of at least 374 people in a fire. The court blamed Juan Pio Pavia, his son Victor Daniel Pavia and private security guard Daniel Areco for chaining shut the exits of the Ycua Bolanos supermarket after the blaze started. Relatives of the victims protested outside the court on Saturday, complaining that the sentences were too lenient. "Its an outrage. They're responsible for the death of 400 people and they've been given ridiculous sentences," Liz Torres, a spokeswoman for a victims' organisation, said. Victims' families set up 400 white chairs in a main street near the court in memory of the deceased, and hung signs that warned: "If there is no justice, the people will rise up." Edgar Sanchez, the chief prosecutor, said he was satisfied with the outcome, despite having asked for 25 year terms for the three men. "My conscience is clear. I've done my job," he said. Asphyxiation Most of the almost 400 victims died from asphyxiation as thick smoke spread through the supermarket in the capital Asuncion. "This shows that in this country, people with money can kill with impunity" Bersabe Meza, who lost her husband in the fire The court criticised the elder Paiva for neglecting the overall safety of the public as chief owner of the property, and his son was singled out as responsible for the food court area where experts believe that the flames began due to inadequately maintained equipment. marketing The defendants will remain free until their appeals are completed. "This shows that in this country, people with money can kill with impunity," Bersabe Meza, who lost her husband in the fire, said. An earlier trial that ended in December 2006 with five-year-prison sentences for each of the defendants was annulled by the supreme court because the uproar of the outraged victims' families cut short the reading out of the sentences. Recommend this article... Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto: Tags: Tags: Paraguay	A court in Paraguay has completed its trial over the worst fire disaster the country has ever seen. The Ycuá Bolaños supermarket fire in Asunción left 374 dead, 450 others injured and nine missing, presumed dead. Store owner Juan Pio Paiva, 64, received 12 years imprisonment whilst his son Daniel Paiva, 40, was given 10 years. A security guard, Daniel Areco, was given a five-year sentence while three business associates of the Paivas were cleared of any criminal activity. 2,000 people were in the store when fire broke out on August 1, 2004, including many families with young children. Fire doors were shut to prevent looting, worsening the situation. The investigation found that flames broke out in a badly built chimney because of inadequately maintained equipment. A lack of fire escapes, fire detection system and fire suppression system all contributed to the disaster. Most of the deaths were caused by asphyxiation due to the smoke. The nine missing bodies are believed to have been completely destroyed by the extreme temperature. Paiva senior was convicted on the basis that as the owner and chief administrator of the business, including the building, he was responsible for overall safety. His son was responsible for the food court area, the site where the blaze started. The security guard was convicted for blocking the exits, although he was acting on senior orders. The three other businessmen were acquitted as they were not involved in the administration of the store. The Paivas were both convicted of manslaughter and exposing people to danger within the workplace. Areco was found guilty of negligence. The three judge tribunal was headed by German Torres. It replaced an earlier trial in 2006, when the court announced that it was 2-1 in favour of more lenient sentences, but got no further as friends and relatives stormed the courtroom and rioted in the streets outside. The court had been going to hand out five-year sentences to the Paivas. A peaceful protest was also held at yesterday's verdict, with demonstrators shouting "Assassins! Assassins!" and "This kind of justice is injustice!" Ten women who lost relatives fainted in the heat and were hospitalised. The protestors were pressing for those involved to receive the maximum possible sentence of 25 years. One, Lys Torres, vowed to use the appeals courts to press for tougher sentences. "Its an outrage. They're responsible for the death of 400 people and they've been given ridiculous sentences," said Lys, who is a spokeswoman for the relatives and survivors group. "This shows that in this country, people with money can kill with impunity," Bersabe Meza, who lost her husband in the fire, said. Chief prosecuter Edgar Sanchez, who had also requested maximum sentences, said "My conscience is clear. I've done my job."Meanwhile, relatives laid out a white plastic chair in the streets for each of those killed, adorned with signs bearing such notices as "If there is no justice, the people will rise up." The ruined store remains standing, graffitied and adorned in tribute to those who died.
North Korea has fired artillery shots near the disputed sea border with South Korea and the South has returned fire, according to Yonhap news agency. It said the North fired several shells into the sea near the South Korean-controlled Baengnyeong Island off the countries' western coast. On Tuesday, North Korea declared a no-sail zone in waters off its coast, media reports say. South Korea officials said the exchange caused no casualties or damage. The North fired into waters near the border just after 0900 local time (0000 GMT), a spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP. "Our military immediately fired back in response," a Seoul presidential official told the news agency on condition of anonymity. Constant tension The official said the North's artillery rounds landed north of the sea border, while Seoul's forces fired at the rounds while they were in the air, AFP reports. The western sea border is a constant source of military tension between the two Koreas. There have been three deadly exchanges between the two Koreas along the sea border in the past decade. In the most recent incident, last November, their navies fought a brief gun battle that left one North Korean sailor dead and three others wounded. South Korea recognises the Northern Limit Line, drawn unilaterally by the US-led United Nations Command at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, which has never been accepted by North Korea. Talks off Recent talks between the two Koreas about their jointly-run Kaesong industrial estate closed without agreement on 21 January. The attempt at dialogue took place amid fresh tensions apparently provoked by a South Korean think tank's analysis of a likely military coup or mass uprising in the North when the North's leader Kim Jong-il dies. North Korea did recently accept a small amount of aid from South Korea however. The US, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea speak regularly of their hopes that North Korea will rejoin international talks about ending its nuclear programme. \|\|\|\|\| North And South Korea In Sea Border Clash Peter Sharp, Asia correspondent North and South Korea have exchanged fire near a disputed sea border off the west coast of the peninsula. To view this content you need Flash and Javascript enabled in your browser. Please download Flash from the Adobe download website. North Korean artillery fired around 30 rounds into the sea and the South responded with 100 shots from an island near the sea border. There were no injuries and no naval vessels were said to have been involved. A South Korean spokesman told the AFP news agency: "When the north fired, some 20 to 30 columns of water shot up into the sky." The western coastal waters have been the scene of bloody naval exchanges in the past. In November, a North Korean sailor was killed and a South Korean vessel badly shot up when both sides clashed in the disputed waters. Sea borders are disputed The latest incident came two days after North Korea declared two "no sail" zones in the area, leading to fears that the Pyongyang regime was preparing to test-fire another short-range missile in the area. Last month, the communist North warned South Korean shipping to avoid the coastal area, saying its artillery would stage "live fire" exercises in response to "reckless military provocations" from the South. "North Korea will likely continue such low intensity military provocations like this in the next few months," said Baek Seung Joo, of the Korea Institute for Defence Analyses. "But it is unlikely to take things to the extreme as it in general wants to maintain economic cooperation with South Korea. And its ships are out-gunned by the South." The sea border was drawn up by the United Nations Command at the end of the Korea War in 1953 and has long been a source of tension between the two countries.	The (disputed) sea line between North and South Korea. North Korea and South Korea have exchanged fire near the disputed sea-border between the countries. There are no reports of casualties. North Korea fired approximately thirty artillery shells into the water on their side of the border, near South Korea's Baengnyeong Island at 0900 local time (0000 UTC). The South retaliated with around 100 shots. According to the North, it took place as part of an annual drill. The Korean Central News Agency said that the exercise "will go on in the same waters in the future". South Korea maintains that it responded by firing at the North's shells. Later reports from the South said that North Korea fired more shells in the general direction of the disputed border some hours after the initial exchange. This latest incident comes after North Korea declared a 'no-sail' zone off its coastal waters yesterday. It is not the first skirmish around the Military Demarcation Line – the most recent was in November 2009, when a North Korean vessel took "considerable damage" after allegedly crossing the border.
The Associated Press FRESNO, Calif. — Investigators were mystified Wednesday as to why an 11-year-old boy was behind the wheel when the car ran a stop sign and crashed into another vehicle, killing him, his mother and younger sister. California Highway Patrol Officer Stefanie Buck said investigators have not yet been able to interview the car's lone survivor to determine why sixth-grader Jose Manuel Silva Covarrubias was driving. "For whatever reason the 11-year-old didn't stop at the stop sign, and drove the Honda into the path of the Ford," Buck said. "It's a tragedy any way you look at it." His sister, Elizabeth Silva Covarrubias, 6, and their mother, Maria Covarrubias, 30, both of Woodville, were also killed in the accident. Neither the mother nor daughter was wearing a seatbelt, and both were ejected from the back seat. A family friend, Froylon Gonzalez, was sent to a Fresno hospital with life-threatening injuries. Gonzalez, 34, of Woodville, was wearing his seat belt in the passenger seat when the crash happened at a rural intersection. Felipe Zamora Gonzalez, the man's brother, said the family was returning from Jose's soccer team practice, and added that he had never seen Jose drive before. Investigators said the boy was driving a 1993 Honda when he ran a stop sign and was hit broadside. The driver of that vehicle, Charles Seguin, 44, of Porterville, sustained minor injuries. It does not appear drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash, nor did the winter fog typical of the area obscure the view, Buck said. The accident happened at a rural intersection outside Porterville, which is about 70 miles southeast of Fresno. Dondreia Bradley, the superintendent of Woodville Union School District said she was "stunned" to hear that Jose had been behind the wheel. He came from "a wonderful family" with a supportive mother, she said. ___ January 13, 2010 07:35 PM EST Copyright 2010, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| AP Investigators are trying to determine why an 11-year-old boy was driving a car that ran a stop sign in California and crashed into another vehicle, leaving him and two others dead. The collision killed Jose Manuel Silva Covarrubias, his mother, Maria Silva, and six-year-old sister, Elizabeth Silva Covarrubias. California Highway Patrol investigators have not been able to interview the car's lone survivor to determine why the boy was driving on Tuesday night. Family friend Froylon Gonzalez remains in critical condition. Investigators say Jose was driving the 1993 Honda when he ran a stop sign in Tulare County and was hit broadside. The driver of that vehicle had minor injuries. \|\|\|\|\| The 11-year-old driver of a 1993 Honda was among three Woodville residents killed Tuesday evening in a two-vehicle crash near Porterville. Also killed were the driver's mother and 6-year-old sister. The crash occurred around 7:30 p.m., the California Highway Patrol reported. The Honda was eastbound on Avenue 168 when the young driver failed to stop at the Road 152 intersection, officials said. The Honda was struck by a southbound 1999 Ford. The 11-year-old was identified as Jose Manuel Silva Covarrubias. Maria Silva, his mother, and Elizabeth Silva Covarrubias, his younger sister, were ejected from the Honda and found in a nearby walnut orchard, the CHP reported. "For whatever reason, the 11-year-old didn't stop at the stop sign and drove the Honda into the path of the Ford," California Highway Patrol Officer Stefanie Buck said. "It's a tragedy any way you look at it." Another passenger, Froylon Gonzalez, 34, was flown to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno with life-threatening injuries. He was in critical condition late Wednesday. Felipe Zamora Gonzalez, the survivor's brother, said the family was returning from Jose's soccer-team practice when the crash occurred. He said he'd never seen the boy drive before. Investigators had not yet interviewed Felipe Gonzalez on Wednesday afternoon to learn why the sixth-grader was driving, Buck said. Winter fog typical of the area did not appear to be a factor in the crash, Buck said. Dondreia Bradley, superintendent of Woodville Union School District, said she was "stunned" to hear that Jose had been behind the wheel. He came from "a wonderful family," with a supportive mother, she said. The driver of the Ford, Charles Seguin of Porterville, was treated at the scene and released. The Associated Press contributed to this story.	A Honda, with eleven-year-old Jose Covarrubias behind the wheel, ran a stop sign in Porterville, California colliding with a Ford around 7:30 P.M. The eastbound 1993 Honda was sideswiped from the driver's side by a southbound 1999 Ford, killing Jose. His sister, 6-year-old Elizabeth Covarrubias, and mother, Maria Covarrubias, were killed when they ejected, as they were not wearing seatbelts. Family friend Froylon Gonzalez was sent to the hospital with serious injuries, and the driver of the Ford, Charles Seguin, sustained minor injuries. Felipe Gonzalez, Froylon's brother, said the family was returning from Jose's soccer team practice. He also added that he had never seen Jose drive before. Gonzales was the lone survivor of the Honda and has not yet been interviewed. The accident occurred at a rural intersection and it did not appear to law enforcement that drugs, alcohol, or weather were a factor in the collision. The bodies will be buried in Mexico near where the father lives.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 14 - In a victory for city officials here, a state judge ruled on Monday that California's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, overturning a statewide proposition passed in 2000 that defined marriage as between a man and woman. In a tentative ruling, the judge, Richard A. Kramer of San Francisco County Superior Court, said "the denial of marriage to same-sex couples appears impermissibly arbitrary," thus violating the equal protection clause of the state's Constitution. The ruling will not be made final until the judge meets with the various parties to the litigation on March 30. While welcoming the decision, which came in a lawsuit filed by the city against the state, Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco said it was "only the beginning" of a long legal battle that would probably be decided by the California Supreme Court. Mr. Newsom said marriage licenses would not be offered to same-sex couples in San Francisco while the litigation was pending. "We will continue to respect the decisions of the court," Mr. Newsom said. Even so, celebrations erupted at City Hall, as same-sex couples crowded into a news conference held by Mr. Newsom and other city officials, and gay and lesbian leaders said there would be revelry throughout the evening in the Castro, the city's best-known gay district. Marches and rallies were announced in at least a dozen other cities across the state. \|\|\|\|\| Gay and lesbian couples in California have a constitutional right to marry, a San Francisco Superior Court judge ruled Monday. The ruling by Judge Richard Kramer is just the first step in a case that is headed for the state Supreme Court, probably sometime next year. But it marks the first time that a California judge has declared unconstitutional the state law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. "I never thought I would see it in my lifetime," a jubilant Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said outside the courthouse. "It's an amazing day for justice, an amazing day for lesbian and gay families." The ruling comes more than a year after about 4,000 same-sex couples exchanged marriage vows at San Francisco City Hall after Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered that the city clerk issue them marriage licenses. The state Supreme Court declared the marriages invalid last August and ruled that Newsom had exceeded his authority in giving the marriages the go-ahead. Monday's ruling did not revive those marriages but - if it stands - will allow same-sex couples to marry in the future. Currently, only Massachusetts allows same-sex couples to wed. A trial judge in New York has ruled that state's same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional. That decision is on appeal, and a decision on same-sex marriage is pending in Washington state. In his 27-page decision, Kramer - an appointee of former Gov. Pete Wilson, a Republican - said the state's ban on same-sex marriage violates "the basic human right to marry the person of one's choice," and has no rational justification. Rejecting California Attorney General Bill Lockyer's argument that California is entitled to maintain the traditional definition of marriage, Kramer said the same explanation was offered for the state's ban on interracial marriage, which was struck down by the state Supreme Court in 1948. The judge also rejected arguments by opponents of same-sex marriage that the current law promotes procreation and child-rearing by a husband and wife. "One does not have to be married in order to procreate, nor does one have to procreate in order to marry," Kramer said. E-mail Bob Egelko at begelko@sfchronicle.com	Superior Court Judge Richard A. Kramer struck down two California laws that limited marriage in the state to a union of opposite-sex couples. The ruling came one year after San Francisco made worldwide headlines when it opened its city hall to same-sex weddings over Valentine's Day weekend through March 11 2004. Kramer said the two California laws violated the state's constitutional guarantees of privacy and a legal concept called due process - which tries to ensure each person is treated equally by the law. "The denial of marriage to same-sex couples appears impermissibly arbitrary," Kramer wrote in the opinion released Monday. In his decision, Kramer cited United States Supreme Court case law ranging from ''Brown v. Board of Education'' to ''Lawrence v. Texas'' in a step-by-step dismantling of legal arguments against same-sex marriage. Including the following excerpts: '''Traditional definition of marriage:''' "Same-sex marriage cannot be prohibited solely because California has always done so before." '''With California's domestic partner laws, gays don't need marriage:''' "That California has granted marriage-like rights to same-sex couples points to the conclusion that there is no rational state interest in denying them the rites of marriage as well." *'''The purpose of marriage is procreation:''' "The obvious natural and social reality is that one does not have to be married to procreate, nor does one have to procreate in order to be married." Kramer, a Catholic Republican Judge appointed by Pete Wilson, California's previous conservative governor, issued a "stay" on his order, making it a tentative decision by delaying its implementation for 60 days to allow the same-sex marriage opponents time to file an appeal to his ruling. The case is widely expected to be brought before the California Supreme Court. Less than a year ago, the state's Supreme Court annulled more than 4,000 same-sex marriages which took place in San Francisco County in 2004. The court did not rule on the constitutionality of same-sex marriages, but ruled more narrowly that San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom overstepped his authority by unilaterally deciding not to follow state laws he did not agree with instead of challenging the laws in court, which is the proper legal way to overturn or affirm laws in California and much of the United States.
Contador sweeps past the Arc de Triomphe on his way to victory The Discovery Channel rider maintained his 23-second lead over Australian Cadel Evans, with American team-mate Levi Leipheimer taking third place. Italy's Daniele Bennati took victory on the final stage into Paris. The race was marred by several positive doping tests as well as the sacking of race leader Michael Rasmussen. The Dane seemed destined for victory after dominating in the mountains but was sent home by his Rabobank team for lying about his whereabouts in the build-up to the race. Pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov was dumped out of the Tour after testing positive for blood doping following two stage wins in three days while Cristian Moreni and Patrik Sinkewitz also failed drugs tests. 606: DEBATE The 24-year-old Contador is the youngest winner since Jan Ullrich in 1997 and the first Spanish victor since Miguel Indurain in 1995. His margin of victory was also the narrowest since Greg Lemond beat Laurent Fignon by eight seconds in 1989. "There were hard times," said Contador, who was riding in only his seond Tour de France after finishing 31st in 2005. "Saturday's time trial was very hard. I had to fight but it was worth it, it's marvellous." Belgian Tom Boonen won the green jersey for the most consistent finisher, while Colombian Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez won the polka dot jersey as the king of the mountains. Contador's triumph is all the more remarkable given he spent 10 days in a coma in 2002 after suffering swelling to the brain following a crash in the Tour of Asturias. I think we've seen the future of Spanish cycling and perhaps international cycling Lance Armstrong "It really marked me for life," said Contador, reflecting on the illness. "But it allows me to better savour this moment." Seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong was in Paris to see Contador triumph, and he said: "I think we've seen the future of Spanish cycling and perhaps international cycling." Mayor of London Ken Livingstone was on the winner's podium as Contador was presented with the yellow jersey. Charles Wegelius was the highest-placed British finisher in 45th position, with David Millar 69th and Geraint Thomas, the youngest rider in the race, 140th on his Tour debut. Over a million people lined the streets of London when the Tour de France started there three weeks ago. Stage 20 result 1 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre 3hr 51 mins 03 secs 2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole ) " 3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram " 4 Robert Hunter (SA) Barloworld " 5 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step ) " 6 Sebastien Chavanel (Fra) Francaise des Jeux " 7 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC " 8 David Millar (GB) Saunier Duval " 9 Robert Foerster (Ger) Gerolsteiner " 10 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas " Selected others 114 Charles Wegelius (GB) Liquigas +15secs 133 Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld +51 sec Final overall standings 1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel 91hr 26 sec 2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto +23 sec 3 Levi Leipheimer (US) Discovery Channel +31 4 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC +7:08 5 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel +8:17 6 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne +11:37 7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile +12:18 8 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel +12:25 9 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel +14:14 10 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne +14:25 Selected others 45 Charles Wegelius (GB) Liquigas +1hr 46min 25sec 69 David Millar (GB) Saunier Duval-Prodirr +2:32.07 140 Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld +3:46.51 Green jersey (Sprinters) standings 1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step ) 256 points 2 Robert Hunter (SA) Barloworld 234 3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram 232 Polka dot jersey (King of the Mountains) standings 1 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 206 points 2 Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel 128 3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 105 White jersey (Best youth) standings 1 Alberto Contador (Spa) 91hr 26 sec 2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld +16:51 sec 3 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel +49:34 \|\|\|\|\| Contador sweeps past the Arc de Triomphe on his way to victory The Discovery Channel rider maintained his 23-second lead over Australian Cadel Evans, with American team-mate Levi Leipheimer taking third place. Italy's Daniele Bennati took victory on the final stage into Paris. The race was marred by several positive doping tests as well as the sacking of race leader Michael Rasmussen. The Dane seemed destined for victory after dominating in the mountains but was sent home by his Rabobank team for lying about his whereabouts in the build-up to the race. Pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov was dumped out of the Tour after testing positive for blood doping following two stage wins in three days while Cristian Moreni and Patrik Sinkewitz also failed drugs tests. 606: DEBATE The 24-year-old Contador is the youngest winner since Jan Ullrich in 1997 and the first Spanish victor since Miguel Indurain in 1995. His margin of victory was also the narrowest since Greg Lemond beat Laurent Fignon by eight seconds in 1989. "There were hard times," said Contador, who was riding in only his seond Tour de France after finishing 31st in 2005. "Saturday's time trial was very hard. I had to fight but it was worth it, it's marvellous." Belgian Tom Boonen won the green jersey for the most consistent finisher, while Colombian Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez won the polka dot jersey as the king of the mountains. Contador's triumph is all the more remarkable given he spent 10 days in a coma in 2002 after suffering swelling to the brain following a crash in the Tour of Asturias. I think we've seen the future of Spanish cycling and perhaps international cycling Lance Armstrong "It really marked me for life," said Contador, reflecting on the illness. "But it allows me to better savour this moment." Seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong was in Paris to see Contador triumph, and he said: "I think we've seen the future of Spanish cycling and perhaps international cycling." Mayor of London Ken Livingstone was on the winner's podium as Contador was presented with the yellow jersey. Charles Wegelius was the highest-placed British finisher in 45th position, with David Millar 69th and Geraint Thomas, the youngest rider in the race, 140th on his Tour debut. Over a million people lined the streets of London when the Tour de France started there three weeks ago. Stage 20 result 1 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre 3hr 51 mins 03 secs 2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole ) " 3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram " 4 Robert Hunter (SA) Barloworld " 5 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step ) " 6 Sebastien Chavanel (Fra) Francaise des Jeux " 7 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC " 8 David Millar (GB) Saunier Duval " 9 Robert Foerster (Ger) Gerolsteiner " 10 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas " Selected others 114 Charles Wegelius (GB) Liquigas +15secs 133 Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld +51 sec Final overall standings 1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel 91hr 26 sec 2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto +23 sec 3 Levi Leipheimer (US) Discovery Channel +31 4 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC +7:08 5 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel +8:17 6 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne +11:37 7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile +12:18 8 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel +12:25 9 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel +14:14 10 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne +14:25 Selected others 45 Charles Wegelius (GB) Liquigas +1hr 46min 25sec 69 David Millar (GB) Saunier Duval-Prodirr +2:32.07 140 Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld +3:46.51 Green jersey (Sprinters) standings 1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step ) 256 points 2 Robert Hunter (SA) Barloworld 234 3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram 232 Polka dot jersey (King of the Mountains) standings 1 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 206 points 2 Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel 128 3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 105 White jersey (Best youth) standings 1 Alberto Contador (Spa) 91hr 26 sec 2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld +16:51 sec 3 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel +49:34	__noTOC__ Albi, France during stage 13. Alberto Contador of Spain has won the 2007 Tour de France general classification. He won by 23 seconds over Cadel Evans of Australia. Third place went Contador's team mate Levi Leipheimer of United States, 31 seconds behind. As a young rider, Contador also gets the white jersey to go with his yellow. Tom Boonen of Belgium wins the green jersey points classification over Robert Hunter and Erik Zabel. Mauricio Soler of Colombia wins the King of the Mountains classification over Contador and Yaroslav Popovych. Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team won the team competition over Caisse d'Epargne by 19' 36" and Team CSC by 22' 10'. Daniele Bennati of Italy won the final stage 20 in a time of 3h 51' 03". The final 146 km stage saw the riders leave from Marcoussis to enter to complete the eight laps of the traditional circuit around the Champs-Élysées. George Hincapie was given the honor of leading his team and the peloton onto the Champs-Élysées, as he has now guided team mates to victory a record eight times.
South Pole Telescope To Help Astrophysicists Learn What Universe Is Made Of by Staff Writers Antarctica (SPX) Feb 28, 2007 Scientists aimed the South Pole Telescope at Jupiter on the evening of Feb. 16 and successfully collected the instrument's first test observations. Soon, far more distant quarry will fall under the SPT's sights as a team from nine institutions tackles one of the biggest mysteries of modern cosmological research. That mystery: What is dark energy, the force that dominates the universe? "The telescope, camera and optics are all working as designed," said John Carlstrom, the S. Chandrasekhar Distinguished Service Professor in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago, who heads the SPT Team. "First light with the SPT is a major milestone for the project and is a fitting conclusion to a remarkably productive summer season for the South Pole Station. We now look forward to fully characterizing the instrument and beginning cosmological observations," he said. The $19.2 million SPT is funded primarily by the National Science Foundation, with additional support from the Kavli Foundation of Oxnard, Calif., and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation of San Francisco. The telescope stands 75 feet tall, measures 33 feet across and weighs 280 tons. It was test-built in Kilgore, Texas, then taken apart, shipped by boat to New Zealand, and flown to the South Pole. Since November, the SPT team under the guidance of project manager Steve Padin, Senior Scientist in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago, has worked furiously to reassemble and deploy the telescope. As with any construction project at the Earth's southern extremity, the SPT was supported by a long and complex logistical chain stretching around the globe. All cargo to the South Pole is delivered by ski-equipped LC-130 aircraft and the components must be able to be broken down to fit into the aircraft cargo bay. The aircraft, flown by the N.Y. Air National Guard, are elements of Operation Deep Freeze, the military support arm of the U.S. Antarctic Program, which also includes Air Force cargo jets, U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers, Navy cargo handlers and many other logistical and personnel assets. Raytheon Polar Services Company, of Centennial, Colo., is NSF's logistics contractor in Antarctica. RPSC personnel played a variety of essential roles in the successful completion of the SPT project, NSF officials noted. The SPT is designed to pierce the mystery of dark energy. The solution to that question will determine whether what Einstein considered his greatest blunder was actually one of his greatest achievements. Astrophysicists know that the universe has been expanding since the big bang occurred approximately 14 billion years ago. In the late 1990s, astronomers using exploding stars as cosmic tape measures discovered that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. This led them to the idea that dark energy pushes the universe apart, counteracting gravity, the attractive force exerted by all matter in the universe. "We would like to know what makes the universe evolve," said Stephan Meyer, Professor in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago. First light is a major milestone for a telescope. It is literally when light first passes through all parts of the telescope and it becomes operational. First light for the SPT also is a historical milestone because it occurred almost exactly 50 years after a team of 18 men spent the first winter in history at the South Pole as part of the 1956-57 IGY (International Geophysical Year). Under the joint leadership of scientists Paul Siple and Lt. John Tuck, a naval officer, 18 men spent the first winter at the South Pole in a station built by the U.S. Navy in the austral summer of 1956-57, using cargo dropped by U.S. Air Force planes. On Jan. 23, 1957, an official dedication ceremony for the South Pole Station was held at McMurdo Station with speeches, marines in full dress uniforms and a radio proclamation from President Eisenhower. Siple, Tuck and the 16 other "winterovers" were the first people in history to witness sunset and sunrise at the South Pole, events that are separated in Antarctica by six months of darkness and almost unimaginable cold. In the depths of the austral winter at the station, the temperature dropped to -77.2 Celsius (-107 Fahrenheit) on Sept. 18, 1957, the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth at the time. "We were like men who had been fired off in rockets to take up life on another planet. We were in a lifeless, and almost featureless world. However snug and comfortable we might make ourselves, we could not escape from our isolation. We were now face to face with raw nature so grim and stark, that our lives could be snuffed out in a matter of minutes. Every day would bring us new problems to solve and our ingenuity would be taxed over and over again. And all this to carry out a somewhat difficult fragment of the worldwide scientific program of the International Geophysical Year," wrote Siple in his memoir, "Living at the Pole." The men laid the foundation for the scientific legacy that continues into the 21st century, as the National Science Foundation prepares to dedicate the third permanent station at the South Pole and holds the U.S. opening ceremony for the fourth International Polar year 2007-2008, a global scientific campaign involving more than 60 nations. Astronomers work at the South Pole station to take advantage of excellent viewing conditions. The cold, dry atmosphere above the South Pole will allow the SPT to more easily detect the CMB (cosmic microwave background) radiation, the afterglow of the big bang, with minimal interference from water vapor. On the electromagnetic spectrum, the CMB falls somewhere between heat radiation and radio waves. The CMB is largely uniform, but it contains tiny ripples of varying density and temperature. These ripples reflect the seeds that, through gravitational attraction, grew into the galaxies and galaxy clusters visible to astronomers in the sky today. The SPT's first key science project will be to study small variations in the CMB to determine if dark energy began to affect the formation of galaxy clusters by fighting against gravity over the last few billion years. Galaxy clusters are groups of galaxies, the largest celestial bodies that gravity can hold together. "Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is in one of these clusters," Meyer said. "And these clusters of galaxies actually change with time." The CMB allows astronomers to take snapshots of the infant universe, when it was only 400,000 years old. No stars or galaxies had yet formed. If dark energy changed the way the universe expanded, it would have left its "fingerprints" in the way that it forced galaxies apart over the deep history of time. Different causes would produce a different pattern in the formation of galaxy clusters as reflected in the distortion of the CMB. According to one idea, dark energy could be Einstein's cosmological constant: a steady force of nature operating at all times and in all places. Einstein introduced the cosmological constant into his theory of general relativity to accommodate a stationary universe, the dominant idea of the day. If Einstein's idea is correct, scientists will find that dark energy was much less influential in the universe five billion years ago than it is today. "Clusters weren't around in the early universe. They took a long time to evolve," Carlstrom said. Another version of the dark energy theory, called quintessence, suggests a force that varies in time and space. Some scientists even suggest that there is no dark energy at all, and that gravity merely breaks down on vast intergalactic scales. To pinpoint when dark energy became important, the SPT will use a phenomenon called the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect. This effect distorts the CMB as it passes through the hot gas of intervening galaxy clusters. As the microwaves interact with gas in the clusters, some of the microwaves get kicked into a higher frequency. The SPT will measure the slight temperature difference associated with the frequency change and produce an image of the gas in the cluster. The SPT can scan large regions of the sky quickly. Scientists expect it to detect thousands, or even tens of thousands, of galaxy clusters within a few years. "To get a meaningful constraint on dark energy through measuring galaxy clusters, you need something like this South Pole Telescope for the S-Z work," Carlstrom said. "The cluster S-Z signals cover small patches of the sky relative to the intrinsic variations in the cosmic microwave background. To get the necessary resolution, you need a big telescope. Now we have one." Senior members of the SPT team include William Holzapfel, Adrian Lee and Helmuth Spieler, University of California at Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Joe Mohr, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; John Ruhl, Case Western Reserve University; Antony Stark, Harvard-Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory; Matt Dobbs, McGill University; and Erik Leitch, Jet Propulsion Laboratory. \|\|\|\|\| The new South Pole Telescope (SPT) has successfully collected its first light as part of a long-term project to unravel one of the biggest mysteries in cosmology, researchers announced today. The goal of SPT is to learn the nature of mysterious dark energy, an antigravity force that permeates the cosmos and is driving the universe apart at an ever-increasing pace. The telescope does not make conventional images. Instead, it will take advantage of excellent viewing conditions-cold and dry-in Antarctica to detect the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. The CMB is said to be the afterglow of the Big Bang. On the electromagnetic spectrum, the CMB falls somewhere between heat radiation (infrared) and radio waves. Infant universe The CMB is largely uniform, but it contains tiny ripples of varying density and temperature. These ripples reflect the seeds that, through gravitational attraction, grew into the galaxies and galaxy clusters visible to astronomers today. The CMB was imaged in unprecedented detail by the WMAP space telescope, helping to pin down the age of the universe at 13.7 billion years. Now scientists are eager to get more detailed data. SPT will record small variations in the CMB to determine if dark energy began to affect the formation of galaxy clusters by fighting against gravity over the past few billion years. Galaxy clusters are groups of galaxies, the largest celestial bodies that gravity can hold together. "Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is in one of these clusters," said Stephan Meyer of the University of Chicago. "And these clusters of galaxies actually change with time." The CMB allows astronomers to take snapshots of the infant universe, when it was only 400,000 years old. No stars or galaxies had yet formed. If dark energy changed the way the universe expanded, it would have left its "fingerprints" in the way it forced galaxies apart over the deep history of time. Different causes would produce a different pattern in the formation of galaxy clusters. Competing theories According to one idea, dark energy is Albert Einstein's cosmological constant: a steady force of nature operating at all times and in all places. Einstein introduced the cosmological constant into his theory of general relativity to accommodate a stationary universe, the dominant idea of the day. If Einstein's idea is correct, scientists will find that dark energy was much less influential in the universe 5 billion years ago than it is today. "Clusters weren't around in the early universe. They took a long time to evolve," said SPT project leader John Carlstrom of the University of Chicago. Another version of the dark energy theory, called quintessence, suggests a force that varies in time and space. Some scientists even suggest there is no dark energy at all, and that gravity merely breaks down on vast intergalactic scales. To pinpoint when dark energy became important, SPT will use a phenomenon called the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect, which distorts the CMB as it passes through the hot gas of intervening galaxy clusters. As the microwaves interact with gas in the clusters, some of the microwaves get kicked into a higher frequency. SPT will measure the slight temperature difference associated with the frequency change and produce an image of the gas in the cluster. SPT [image] can scan large regions of the sky quickly. Scientists expect it to detect thousands, or even tens of thousands of galaxy clusters within a few years. The $19.2 million telescope is funded primarily by the National Science Foundation (NSF), with additional support from the Kavli Foundation of Oxnard, Calif., and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation of San Francisco.	The new South Pole Telescope has recently collected its first light in a long-term project to learn about the nature of dark energy. It will use the cold and dry conditions in Antarctica to detect cosmic microwave background radiation, which is said to be the afterglow of the Big Bang. The study will help determine if dark energy affected the development of galaxy clusters. Most of the $19.2 million funding for the telescope came from the National Science Foundation.
Impulsará nuestro país sistema operativo Linux Amaury E. del Valle Cuba está organizando la migración progresiva de las computadoras instaladas en los organismos de la Administración Central del Estado hacia el software libre, sobre la base del sistema operativo Linux, eliminando así la presencia casi exclusiva del Windows en las máquinas. La noticia trascendió durante una conferencia ofrecida por Roberto del Puerto, director de la Oficina para la Informatización de la Sociedad, en el III Taller de Software Libre, el cual tuvo lugar durante la recién finalizada Convención Internacional Informática 2005. El sistema operativo Linux, creado en la década de 1980 por Linus Torval, se diferencia de similares como Windows, de Microsoft, en que su código fuente es totalmente abierto, y por tanto puede ser modificado y distribuido por el usuario cuantas veces quiera. La Isla, que posee actualmente más de 1 500 usuarios de Linux y una comunidad de desarrolladores fuerte en varias provincias del país, ya cuenta también con su propia distribución de Linux —un conjunto de programas agrupados de acuerdo a sus prestaciones y calidad— que fue presentada ayer. Además, la Oficina para la Informatización ha diseñado una estrategia que comprende acciones de organización, técnicas, diseño de un marco legal, así como la capacitación y el cambio paulatino de los sistemas de Windows a Linux. La política será rectoreada por un Grupo Nacional, que integran entre otros la propia Oficina, los ministerios de Justicia, del Interior, de Informática y las Comunicaciones, la Red Telemática de Salud (Infomed), la CUJAE, los Joven Club y la Universidad de las Ciencias Informáticas. Esta última, con más de 6 000 estudiantes, ya ha destinado una de sus facultades para el desarrollo de programas sobre Linux. \|\|\|\|\| Edited by Mike Magee Phone +44 208 248 2800 Terms and Conditions of use. To advertise in the UK or Europe email us or for more info click here. To advertise in Asia email here. To advertise in North America email here. Join the INQbot Mail List for a weekly guide to our news stories: Subscribe/unsubscribe here. \|\|\|\|\| Estimado Colega: Del 8 al 14 de Mayo del 2005 celebraremos la XI Convención Internacional "INFORMATICA 2005" que en esta ocasión sesionará como es habitual en La Habana, y llegará además a otras ciudades cubanas mediante el empleo de las bondades de las Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones. El evento será auspiciado por un grupo de prestigiosas instituciones internacionales. Pretendemos que este encuentro se consolide como uno de los mayores foros de intercambio científico y técnico de esta especialidad en América Latina, teniendo en cuenta el creciente interés de especialistas y profesionales de la rama y la gran diversidad de temas a debatir. Formarán parte de la Convención INFORMATICA 2005, 12 eventos científicos, en paralelo con la XI Feria Internacional de Informática, Comunicaciones y Automatización Industrial, concebida para la promoción y comercialización de tecnologías de la información. Además tendremos talleres, cursos y presentaciones virtuales, así como actividades artísticas y recreativas para los acompañantes de los Delegados. CUBAMAGICA y El Comité Organizador de INFORMATICA 2005 le invita a participar en esta edición de la Convención Internacional de Informática de La Habana, con la seguridad de que le resultará técnicamente provechosa y que podrá disfrutar de la tradicional hospitalidad de nuestro país. Ing. Boris Moreno Cordovés Viceministro Informática y Comunicaciones. Presidente del Comité Organizador. T ALLERES: II TALLER INTERNACIONAL DE CALIDAD EN LAS TIC Modelos de calidad. Métodos y herramientas para la gestión de la calidad. Aplicación de técnicas de inteligencia artificial en la mejora de la calidad. inteligencia artificial en la mejora de la calidad. Estándares para el desarrollo y la certificación. Gestión de proyectos. Evaluación y mejora del proceso de software. Métricas e indicadores para la medición. Métodos para el desarrollo offshore. Productos web y su calidad. Gestión de configuración. II TALLER INTERNACIONAL SOBRE SOFTWARE DE GESTIÓN EMPRESARIAL. Soluciones y software para la aplicación de las TICS en: Gestión del Conocimiento, Gestión de las Relaciones con los clientes (CRM), Gestión de las cadenas de suministro (CSCM), Gestión de los Recursos Humanos, Gestión de la Producción (MRO), Gestión Contable Financiera, Sistemas de Costos, Imagen y Gestión Corporativa, DATAWAREHOUSE, ERP, Negocios Inteligentes. II TALLER INTERNACIONAL DE COMERCIO ELECTRÓNICO. Implicaciones Institucionales de adoptar una estrategia para el comercio electrónico. Políticas y marco jurídico. Logística para logro de estrategias. Tendencias y perspectivas que ofrece el comercio electrónico en internet. Capacitación y entrenamiento para el comercio electrónico. PRECIOS: Delegado:$ 250 USD Estudiante pregrado: $ 150 USD Acompañante: $ 100 USD IV TALLER INTERNACIONAL DE AUDITORÍA A LAS TECNOLOGÍAS DE LA INFORMACIÓN Evaluación de riesgos y controles informáticos. Auditorias a los procesos de tecnologías de la información. Experiencias. Nuevos enfoques de control y su auditoria. su auditoria. Importancia del control interno en la auditoría de sistemas de información. La seguridad informática y su auditoría. Los auditores y los cambios tecnológicos. Evolución de la auditoría tradicional a la auditoría moderna. Capacitación de los auditores ante el reto que representa el desarrollo de las tecnologías de la información. II TALLER INTERNACIONAL DE AUTOMÁTICA PARA EL AHORRO ENERGÉTICO Control de procesos. Automática de inmuebles. Flujo variable. Control de movimiento. Automática de control remoto para subestaciones eléctricas. Estudios electroenergéticos integrales. Monitoreo de procesos medioambientales. S IMPOSIOS I SIMPOSIO INTERNACIONAL DE COMPUTACIÓN Y ELECTRÓNICA. Inteligencia computacional. Diseño y aplicaciones con microcontroladores, microprocesadores y microcomputadoras. Arquitectura de computadoras, periféricos e interfaces. Instrumentación virtual remota. Computación configurable: FPGAs y aplicaciones con DSPs. Sensores y microsistemas. Diseño y modelado de sistemas analógicos y digitales, aplicaciones. La computación en el currículo de las Ingenierías Electrónica y de Computación en las enseñanzas de pregrado y postgrado. Enseñanza del hardware en la computación. Enseñanza de la Electrónica. C ONGRESOS XI CONGRESO INTERNACIONAL DE INFORMÁTICA EN LA EDUCACIÓN. “Las NTIC en la transformación de la educación” Universidad Virtual: Educación a Distancia, Laboratorios Virtuales, Gestión Académica y Administrativa, Bibliotecas Virtuales y Gestión del Conocimiento Formación en las NTIC: Formación de profesionales en la NTIC, Formación de profesores en el uso de las NTIC. Bibliotecas Virtuales y Gestión del Conocimiento Formación en las NTIC: Formación de profesionales en la NTIC, Formación de profesores en el uso de las NTIC. Productos de NTIC en la Educación: Productos Multimedia e Hipermedia para la Educación. V CONGRESO INTERNACIONAL DE INFORMÁTICA EN LA SALUD. Informática en la atención primaria de salud. Gestión Hospitalaria. Telemedicina. Informática Educativa. Bioinformática. Redes Telemáticas. Inteligencia Artificial. Informática y Gerencia en Salud. Informática y gestión de los servicios en la salud. II CONGRESO INTERNACIONAL DE PERIODISMO DIGITAL. Periodismo alternativo en soporte digital. Infografía digital. Las TICs y la formación periodística. Fotoperiodismo digital Hardware y software para la prensa. Foros y coberturas on line: periodismo en caliente Contenidos periodísticos en multimedia Radio y televisión por internet Diseño y usabilidad de sitios web en prensa Ética y marco laboral en el nuevo escenario profesional. S EMINARIOS II SEMINARIO INTERNACIONAL DE TELECOMUNICACIONES. Evolución de las redes y los servicios de telecomunicaciones. Migración de la red de telecomunicaciones. Evolución de los planes técnicos fundamentales. Plataformas de servicios. Informática y telecomunicaciones móviles. Evolución de la red de transporte de datos en función de la conectividad social. Convergencia de las comunicaciones de voz y datos en el entorno actual. Nuevas funcionalidades de los Data Center aplicado a las telecomunicaciones. Aplicaciones de voz sobre IP dirigidas a redes privadas. Aplicaciones de posicionamiento global (GPS). Aplicaciones de Test Speech sobre páginas web. Utilización de sistemas de Power Line Current como soportes de VOIP y Tx Datos. Como transitar al protocolo IPv6 en las condiciones de América Latina y el Caribe. Los servicios de Alto Valor añadidos en el Portal Cubasi de ENET–ETECSA. Sistemas de información geográfica aplicada a las telecomunicaciones. V CONFERENCIA INTERNACIONAL DE DERECHO E INFORMÁTICA DE LA HABANA. Gobierno y Administración Electrónica: Una mirada desde el Derecho y para el Derecho. Informática Jurídica: Modernidad e Informatización de la actividad jurídica. Derecho de las tecnologías de Información y las comunicaciones: estado del Arte. Uso y desarrollo del Software Libre: Retos y oportunidades legales. Aspectos legales del Comercio electrónico: logros y dificultades. Normas jurídicas para la seguridad informática. Protección de la información: medios y sistemas de autenticación, confidencialidad e integridad. PLAZOS: Presentación de Ponencias: 15/01/2005 Notificación aceptación de ponencias: 28/02/2005 Entrega Definitiva de ponencias: 15/03/2005 Las ponencias deben ser enviadas a: Email: cubamagica@cubamagica.com Tel: (503) 240-0369 fax: (503) 223-6956	120px On Tuesday, Juventud Rebelde reported that the Central Administration of Cuba is organizing a migration to free and open source software. The announcement was made during a free software workshop organized at the "Convención Internacional Informática 2005" by the director of the state office of information technology, Roberto del Puerto. The plan is to use the Linux operating system as a base, though the administration currently uses Microsoft Windows. The transition is planned to be slow and involves organizational changes, development and creating a legal framework. The Linux user base in Cuba is around 1,500 people and has its own Linux distribution. Cuba also has some free software developers and the University of Information Science, with over 6,000 students, has committed one department for the development of programs for Linux which is a good move towards open source
Now another generation has stories to tell. The Celtics ran roughshod over an overmatched Los Angeles Lakers team tonight at the TD Banknorth Garden, winning Game 6 of the NBA Finals, 131-92, to capture the 17th NBA championship in the franchise’s history. Once again, the Boston Celtics are on top of the basketball world. After returning from Los Angeles with a 3-2 series lead, the Celtics took advantage of their first opportunity to close out a title at home. They played this one to win. Despite 11 first-quarter points from Kobe Bryant, Boston maintained a 24-20 lead after one. But the second quarter was when the Celtics really did their damage, outscoring the Lakers, 34-15, and essentially putting the game away by halftime. Advertisement Boston held Los Angeles to 29 percent shooting in the first half. Meanwhile, the Celtics had 17 assists on 20 field goals, with captain Paul Pierce getting nine by himself. Without Bryant’s 14 points (on 4-of-11 shooting), the score (58-35) would have been even more lopsided. Needing only not to blow a huge lead, the Celtics actually won the third quarter, 31-25. Rajon Rondo had 10 points and 3 assists in the period, running the team out of any potential trouble. Each of the Big Three lived up to his billing in the game. Pierce, who should be a lock to win Finals MVP, had 9 assists in the first half and finished with 17 points, 10 assists, and 3 rebounds. Ray Allen, who barely slept for three days to attend to a medical situation with one of his children, hit 7 three-pointers in the game and led all scorers with 26 points. Allen was poked in the eye midway through the first quarter but returned. And Kevin Garnett was as usual an unstoppable force at home. The Big Ticket got whatever shot he wanted throughout and finished with 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Celtics coach Doc Rivers removed Pierce, Allen, and Garnett from the game at the same time, the superstars embracing their coach with 4:01 on the clock and nothing more left to chance. Advertisement There were no bright spots for the Lakers, but if you wanted to find something resembling one, you could pick Bryant’s first quarter. Bryant was 4 of 7 for 11 points in the first, with three of those shots from long range. Bryant finished with 22 points on 7-of-22 shooting. On the bench late in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach, fans in section 327 chanted, “Where is Kobe?” There are no more games for the Celtics. No more grueling road trips. Just a celebration tonight, and a victory parade later this week. The Celtics may be done, but you haven’t scratched the surface of our celebration coverage tonight. Keep it here as we bring you everything, including video, surrounding Boston’s 17th NBA championship. \|\|\|\|\| With 4:01 left, Doc Rivers made like Carol Burnett and tugged on his left ear. As the crowd wailed, “Hey, hey, hey, goodbye,” to the Lakers, Glen Davis, Leon Powe and Tony Allen replaced Paul Pierce [stats] , Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. The Big Three attempted to leave the floor, but the bear hugs that awaited them from Kendrick Perkins [stats] , P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell had blocked traffic leading to the bench. Referee Joe Crawford pushed them all off the floor to resume play. The Celtics [team stats] were about to win the NBA-record 17th title in franchise history with last night’s 131-92 Game 6 victory over the Lakers. The 39-point gap was the largest winning margin in a clinching game in NBA Finals history. But Rivers remained stoic, his arms crossed. Danny Ainge, the director of basketball operations who had been on the verge of tears when his picture was put up on the Jumbotron, was now being hugged to death by Garnett in the middle of the huddle. Rivers, barely a year after pulling into the dock with a 24-win team, stood with his arms crossed to the end. But his calm was finally washed away when Pierce came up from behind and doused him with a bucket of red Gatorade. The coach turned and hugged his captain. Someone passed him a cell phone and it was Gov. Deval Patrick, offering congratulations instead of the reprieve that would have been the only reason to call last year. Most of all, Rivers thought about his late father, Grady Rivers, who passed away in November. As was the case in Los Angeles when he was asked the question last week, Rivers teared up last night. “Well, I thought I was going to get through this,” he said, stopping for a moment. “It was the first thing I thought of. I thought of my wife, my kids, my mom. My first thought was what would my dad say, and honestly I started laughing because I thought he would probably say, if you knew my dad, ‘It’s about time. What have you been waiting for?’ So that was my first thought.” His second one undoubtedly had nothing to do with the Lakers, who, after cutting the Celtics’ lead in this series to 3-2 with a narrow Game 5 win at Staples Center, barely merited an afterthought last night. From the rowdy fan in a Kobe Bryant jersey who was escorted out of the arena by security at halftime to the LA star himself, who shot a miserable 7-for-22 for his 22 points, the Garden was no place for a Laker in Game 6. Not only did the Lakers shoot 42.2 percent, including a 23 percent second quarter when the Celtics broke the game open, they also lost their spirit early. They were outrebounded by a 48-29 margin and turned the ball over 19 times to the Celtics’ eight. The Celtics won almost all of the telltale races for loose balls and rebounds, and before long the lethargy was evident in the Lakers defense as well. The Celtics blew this one out of reach with a pair of murderous second-quarter runs (11-0, 9-0), hit their first 30-point lead in the third, and coasted home with some wild numbers. \|\|\|\|\| NBA FINALS Lakers are buried in the Garden With L.A. melting down early and suffering one of the worst losses in NBA Finals history, 131-92, the Celtics complete a stifling defensive series to claim their 17th championship. LAKERS-CELTICS NBA FINALS THROUGH THE YEARS 1984 1985 1987 1960s BOSTON -- Beaten L.A.The Lakers came to their final resting place in the frenzied home of their most hated historical rival, drifting far from victory in a 131-92 Game 6 loss to the Boston Celtics that was every bit as uneven as the score indicated.Looking nothing like the team that ripped through the Western Conference, the Lakers were yanked apart at the seams by a Boston team that pushed them from one end to the other in one of the most decisive games in NBA Finals history.The Celtics won the series, 4-2, and took their 17th NBA championship, three more than the Lakers, in front of a jubilant crowd Tuesday at TD Banknorth Garden. The most one-sided game in Finals history remained a 42-point victory by Chicago over Utah (96-54) in 1998.Game 4 will be the one that bothers the Lakers over the next 3 1/2 months, a lost 24-point lead all that needs to be said, but Tuesday night will also sting, the Celtics leading by as many as 43 in the final minutes.There were too many culprits to name for the Lakers, from the recurring frontcourt issues to Kobe Bryant's continual shooting woes to another night of lethargy from the reserves. There will be plenty of time to ponder it all on the Lakers' six-hour flight back home this morning.Bryant spoke in short, clipped sentences after the game, frustration evident in his words and posture."Just upset more than anything," he said. "But I'm proud of the way that we performed all year. I'm proud of my guys. At the same time, understand that second place just means you're the first loser."Paul Pierce was the Finals most valuable player, hitting the Lakers hard on numerous fronts throughout the series -- points, assists, free throws. He had 17 points, 10 assists and made seven of eight free throws in Game 6. He began dancing on the Celtics' bench during a timeout in the final minutes, much to the crowd's delight.Pierce outplayed the regular-season MVP, Bryant, who again shot poorly in Game 6 -- 22 points on seven-for-22 shooting; he made only three of his last 17 shots. For the series, he averaged 25.7 points and shot only 40.5%.As if on cue, the Garden crowd derisively chanted "Where is Kobe?" while the Celtics hovered near a 30-point lead early in the fourth quarter. At the time, Bryant was sitting on the bench with three other starters."Kobe started off that game with a hot hand and then I think his legs, you could see his shot was flat, he didn't get his shot going, and it really changed the course of the game," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol were also flat, again, their Game 5 outburst proving to be no more than a hiccup. Odom didn't make a shot until the 7:54 mark of the fourth quarter, finishing with 14 points after a late individual push. Gasol had 11 points.How bad was it? The "Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye" chant began with five minutes left. Then came a "Seventeen" chant a few minutes later. Then it became official, Commissioner David Stern handing over the championship trophy to the Celtics in a blizzard of green-and-white confetti.The Lakers trailed, 32-29, with seven minutes left in the second quarter but never stood a chance from there. The Celtics' scoring in the final three quarters: 34-31-42."I think if we're going to learn one thing from this series, we can't expect to win a championship by focusing on the offensive end," Bryant said. "We have to be able to hold people down as well."Bryant was then asked how much Andrew Bynum would have helped in this series."Rebounding and a shot-blocker in the middle. He solves a couple of those," Bryant said.The Game 6 stats were ugly across the board for the Lakers. The Celtics had 48 rebounds, the Lakers 29. The Celtics had 14 offensive rebounds, the Lakers a meager two. The Celtics had 33 assists, the Lakers 16. The Celtics had seven turnovers, the Lakers 19. And on and on.And with that, the Lakers' attempt to become the only team to win the Finals after trailing, 3-1, ended after only one victory.Jackson tried to be positive afterward, recapping a season that included the Western Conference championship and Bryant's first MVP trophy."We suffered injuries and survived a season and rebuilt our team and came back and had a great playoff run until the Celtics were able to extinguish that hope," Jackson said. "But we'll look back on this favorably. We were surprised we were here, and we're glad that we had an opportunity, but whenever you get this opportunity, you don't want to let it slip away, and we did."	After 22 years of waiting, the Boston Celtics have won their 17th National Basketball Association championship, adding to the 16 that already hang from the rafters of the TD Banknorth Garden and before that, the old Boston Garden. The Celtics won the game 131 to 92 and won the series with 4 wins over their old rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers' 2. The game was highlighted by Ray Allen's seven 3-pointers, tying the NBA Finals single game record, as well as the Celtics 18 steals, easily a single game record also. Paul Pierce has been chosen series MVP. The season is noted for the biggest single-season turnaround in NBA history as the last Celtics season was considered to be one of the worst in franchise history.
Mayra stepped from her hiding place in the dense brush. The 17-year-old migrant from Guatemala had her one-year-old son on her back. They had crossed the river hours earlier in the dark on small rafts with 70 other migrants. She was hoping she’d be allowed to stay in the United States. \|\|\|\|\| Analysis: PM is on course for fourth term in office. What is his secret and how is next coalition government likely to look? \|\|\|\|\| printable version 28 December 2004 South Asia earthquake and tsunamis A series of earthquakes with epicentres off the Northern Sumatra (Aceh) and resultant tsunamis have hit Southeast Asia and caused serious damage and loss of life. The first, strongest quake on 26 December, at 0058 hours GMT, had the magnitude of 8.9 on the Richter Scale, followed by a second severe quake (0421 GMT). Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, India and Thailand have been affected as well as Malaysia, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Considerable numbers of deaths have already been reported, and figures can be expected to rise in the coming days. The tsunamis have caused large scale damage to infrastructures, including health facilities. According to the latest information received, the scale and magnitude of the tsunamis seem to have been much less destructive in Malaysia, Bangladesh and Myanmar than in other countries, particularly in Sri Lanka, where the greatest level of needs seems to now concentrate. Possible needs in the health sector and WHO's actions At this stage, it is vital to assess the health situation as precisely as possible, and reach all the affected areas. WHO gives priority to rapid health assessment by supporting the efforts of national and local counterparts. In Sri Lanka, a senior WHO official is on the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) evaluation team due to arrive in the country today In Indonesia, WHO is joining the Ministry of Health in a rapid assessment of the situation in Northern Sumatra to leave tomorrow while a Joint UN Mission will be deployed later in the week In Thailand and Myanmar the respective WHO Representatives are working closely with the Ministry of Health to assess affected areas in these countries. In India WHO is in touch with the local government officials and the local UNICEF offices for regular updates of the situation. The Office of the WHO Representative is monitoring the situation with regard to the status of relief measures/operations, health system status and population displacement / relief camps Current figures concerning injured people indicate that hospitals will have to manage mass casualties with appropriate surgical and medical care. While national counterparts can provide the necessary human resources and systems, international partners will have to ensure the provision of necessary supplies. WHO is preparing to supply at least15 New Emergency Health Kits (each kit is designed to cover the basic health needs of 10,000 persons for three months) and 13 trauma kits (each covering 100 interventions) to the countries in the Region. WHO is sending four New Emergency Health Kits (NEHK) tomorrow (28 December) to Colombo, Sri Lanka, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Sri Lanka alone, there are already 250 temporary camps hosting people made homeless by the tsunami. Conditions such as overcrowding and inadequate shelter provide favorable conditions for acute respiratory infections, which can represent a major cause of death, especially for children, if left untreated. South East Asia is endemic for malaria and dengue fever. Flooding and stagnant water create favorable conditions for the mosquito vector. Overcrowding facilitates mosquito bites and therefore transmission. WHO is setting in place a strict monitoring of the epidemiological situation trough the roll back malaria regional program and the regional Denguenet Poor quality and quantity of water and insufficient sanitation, overcrowding and poor hygiene in temporary camps will bring forward the risk for outbreaks of different diarrhoeal diseases. Thorough and sustained water purification is an absolute priority. WHO is providing chlorine and water purification tablets to partners In order to be prepared against possible outbreaks WHO is mobilizing at least 15 diarrhoeal kits (each kit is designed to treat 100 SEVERE cases of diarrhea and/or cholera) Apart from biological pollution, the possibility that the environment be polluted by leaks or overflows from flooded chemical factories and warehouses must also be taken into consideration. Water can be contaminated by gasoline and oil leaking from damaged vehicles. WHO programs for water and sanitation and for international chemical safety have been alerted Dead bodies do not pose any health threat, but they feed fears and can divert precious attention and resources from effective relief efforts. Technical guidance and rational decisions based on sound scientific evidence are another priority need for the health of all the affected and surrounding populations. WHO is working on strengthening health coordination and evidence-based decision making in all affected countries in the region. Coordinating joint action for health is critical. To this end WHO is: strengthening the capacity of its South East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) to ensure harmonization of regional relief operation collaborating with UNDAC and other UN bodies working closely with national authorities Resources Financial support has been received from the Government of Italy and funding for immediate action has been provided by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) . Given the magnitude of the disaster, needs are anticipated to be large, and WHO will revert shortly on the requirements. For more information contact: Rob Holden - Office of the Representative of the Director-General for Health Action in Crises For situation updates Telephone: 41 22 791 2510 Mobile phone: 41 79 475 5558 Email: holdenr@who.int Dr David Nabarro Telephone: +41 79 217 3446 Email: nabarrod@who.int Marianne Muller - External Relations, Health Action in Crises For resource mobilization Telephone: 41 22 791 1887 Email: mullerm@who.int	'''December 28, 2004''' The toll from the recent earthquake and tsunami disaster that affected coasts of a dozen Asian and African nations has risen to nearly 60,000 people reported dead. The nations struck by the catastrophe are struggling to bury the bodies of the dead before disease adds to the already high casaulty figures. Health experts, such as Dr. David Nabarro, head of crisis operations at the World Health Organization (WHO), are predicting that as many as an additional 60,000 people could perish if disease spreads due to lack of safe drinking water, overcrowding in camps, and potential leaks of deadly toxins from factories affected by the disaster. The WHO is attempting to focus its relief efforts on saving lives and preventing disease in this ongoing crisis.
Felipe Massa looks to be planning a repeat of his Valencia performance after he took a comfortable pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday evening. The Brazilian upped the ante after McLarens Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen had set the fastest times, lapping his F2008 in 1m 44.801s. With Hamilton next on 1m 45.465s ahead of Raikkonen on 1m 45.617s, it is probably safe to assume that Massa is running to a lighter fuel strategy. McLarens Heikki Kovalainen split the two BMW Saubers on his final run, his 1m 45.873s leaving him between Robert Kubica (1m 45.779s) and Nick Heidfeld (1m 45.964s). Monza winner Sebastian Vettel was the only Red Bull-backed runner to make the top 10 this time, taking his Toro Rosso to seventh on 1m 46.244s ahead of Toyotas Timo Glock (1m 46.328s) and the Williams duo of Nico Rosberg (1m 46.611s) and Kazuki Nakajima (a top 10 first timer with 1m 47.547s). Q2 weeded out Toyotas Jarno Trulli (1m 45.038s), Hondas Jenson Button (1m 45.133s), Red Bulls Mark Webber and David Coulthard (1m 45.212s and 1m 45.298s respectively), and the unfortunate Fernando Alonso, whose Renault quit on him with fuel supply problems in Turn 18 during his out lap. Renaults Nelson Piquet lost out to Coulthards final effort in Q1, the Brazilians 1m 46.037s leaving him 16th in the line-up. Sebastien Bourdais didnt get it together either, failing to push his Toro Rosso beyond 1m 46.389s. Rubens Barrichellos weekend didnt get any better for Honda, with 1m 46.583s for 18th. The two Force Indias were at the back. Adrian Sutil lapped in 1m 46.940s, but Giancarlo Fisichella did nothing to endear himself to his mechanics, who had worked flat out to get him running near the end of the session following his earlier practice shunt, only for him to put his repaired VJM01 off into the barriers in Turn 3. \|\|\|\|\| Massa grabs pole at Singapore GP SINGAPORE Ferrari's Felipe Massa clinched pole position for the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday, qualifying quickest under the floodlights for Formula One's first night-time race. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton, a point ahead of Brazilian Massa in the standings, steered his McLaren to second on the grid with world champion Kimi Raikkonen to start third for Ferrari on Sunday. BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica qualified in fourth place while McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen was fifth. Double world champion Fernando Alonso, who had topped the final two practice sessions and looked set to challenge for pole, suffered a massive disappointment when his engine died and he cruised to a halt midway through the second qualifying session.	File photo of Felipe Massa (2008) Marina Bay Street Circuit Ferrari driver Felipe Massa won the second session and the pole position for the Sunday FIA 2008 Formula One SingTel Singapore Grand Prix on the street circuit at Marina Bay, Singapore. This will be the first nightly Formula One event that utilizes artificial lighting and the 800th Formula One World Championship race overall. The previous GP at Singapore held in 1973 was not part of the Formula One. First to end the qualifying was Italian Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India), burying his car in the wall. Nelson Piquet Jr. driving for (Renault) was expected to slip into the second session in the 15th place but was bundled out by David Coulthard or the Red Bull team. Piquet's teammate Fernando Alonso, who topped the second free practice session, performed better in the first session but unexpectedly stopped, showing no time in the second. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) jumped to 10th place during the last laps of the session; He was lucky to join the battle for pole. Still, Massa was able to beat Hamilton, who will start second tomorrow. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) won the first session, but showed third time in the third. Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) will be split by Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) on the starting grid tomorrow. Previous pole-postion holder and GP winner Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) will start 7th tomorrow.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has arrived in Taiwan for a visit that has sparked anger from China. He travelled from Taipei to southern Taiwan to comfort to those affected by last month's Typhoon Morakot, the worst typhoon there in 50 years. Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou approved the visit after his government was accused of offering a slow and inefficient response to the typhoon. China considers the Dalai Lama a separatist seeking Tibet independence. At least 571 people were killed, with another 106 missing and feared dead in the typhoon. As the Dalai Lama arrived at a Taipei train station, there was a scuffle between police and some 50 supporters of Tibet's unification with China, the Associated Press news agency reported. On Monday, the Dalai Lama will visit the worst-hit village of Hsiaolin, where nearly 500 people were buried by a mudslide. Pro-China criticism He will lead a mass prayer and address the island's Buddhist followers during his five-day visit. However, he has cancelled a press conference after criticism from pro-China groups about his decision to visit and a request from Taiwan to refrain from discussing politics. Prior to arriving, the Dalai Lama told reporters that his trip was of a "non-political" nature, and that he was going to Taiwan for humanitarian and religious reasons. Last week, Beijing said it was "resolutely opposed" to the Dalai Lama's visit. Tibet and Taiwan are highly sensitive issues for the Chinese government, as it claims both as its territory. Despite agreeing to the visit, President Ma has announced he will not meet the Dalai Lama - a move seen as wanting closer economic ties with China which is its biggest trade partner, reports the BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei. \|\|\|\|\| The Dalai Lama canceled an international news conference scheduled for this morning on the first full day of his visit amid government concern over the political connotations. The Dalai Lama was expected to arrive on a flight at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 21:50 yesterday evening. During his stay, he will visit the typhoon-devastated areas of Southern Taiwan , talk to victims, chair prayer meetings, and give speeches. The Tibetan leader is scheduled to leave Taiwan on Friday, Sept. 4. The Kaohsiung City Government said yesterday afternoon it had received a request from the Dalai Lama's team to bring forward his visit to disaster areas to the morning and cancel the news conference, originally scheduled for that part of the day. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu strongly suggested spending more time in the disaster zone, the Dalai Lama's representative in Taiwan , Dawa Tsering, told reporters, adding that humanitarian and religious were paramount. "Don't politicize it, that will be no good for anybody," the Tibetan official said. The invitation by opposition Democratic Progressive Party chiefs of counties and cities in the disaster areas for the visit caused a furor in Beijing. Harsh criticism from China reportedly led to the ruling Kuomintang sending its top spokesman, Li Chien-jung, to Beijing to assuage the Communist regime's fears. Cable station TVBS said the Chinese team at the Taipei Deaflympics would give the Saturday Sept. 5 opening ceremony a miss, only arriving in the country late at night, possibly as a reprisal against the government's decision to allow the Dalai Lama's visit. Before boarding his flight in New Delhi yesterday, the Tibetan leader issued a three-point statement, emphasizing his invitation came from the Taiwan ese people, and not from any political group. He said his only aims were to console the victims of the typhoon and to pray for disasters to stay away from the people of Taiwan . President Ma Ying-jeou has emphasized the religious and humanitarian nature of the Dalai Lama's visit, but has said he would not meet him. Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng criticized plans for today's international news conference, saying questions from reporters about politics could divert attention away from the humanitarian intent of the Nobel Peace Prize winner's visit. Kuomintang Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung said the Dalai Lama possessed sufficient wisdom to discern whether his trip to Taiwan had a religious or a political motive. The Dalai Lama should come to help Taiwan , not to increase its problems, Wu said. The Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation said it would take the Dalai Lama by a specially chartered train from Taoyuan to Kaohsiung after the religious leader's arrival. Kaohsiung County did not wait until the Dalai Lama's arrival to hold a Buddhist prayer meeting for the victims. Apart from Taiwan ese Buddhist leaders, the daylong event in Chiahsien Township yesterday was also attended by Catholic Cardinal Paul Shan and by political leaders. Ma visited two military camps and two typhoon-hit villages yesterday. Premier Liu told reporters that at least 80 percent of the people made homeless should find a new temporary home at the military settlements by tonight. He said 1,500 homeless had already entered the military camps, with a further 2,500 to complete the move before Sept. 1, he said.	Dalai Lama in 2007 The spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, has begun his visit to Taiwan. He has travelled to southern Taiwan to offer condolences to victims of the recent typhoon, Morokot, which was the worst in 50 years. The visit has sparked condemnation from China, which regards the Dalai Lama as a rebel seeking independence for Tibet. Taiwan, in the form of the Republic of China, also assert their independence from Mainland China, against the country's wishes. Upon the Dalai Lama's arrival at a Taipei train station, scuffles broke out between supporters and police, according to the Associated Press. This morning he cancelled a planned international news conference after there was concern over the politicising of his visit. The Dalai Lama's representative in Taiwan was quoted as saying "Don't politicize it, that will be no good for anybody." As he boarded his flight yesterday, the Dalai Lama emphasised his visit was not of a political nature and instead he was invited by the Taiwanese people. He is due to lead a mass prayer for the Buddhist followers on the island.
Sorry for inconvenience! You have been redirected to this page due to the following reasons:-- Your session has expired. You have closed the browser, without logging out. If the problem persists, kindly remove all the temporary files and cookies from your browser. For IE - 1. Click on tools from the task bar of browser. 2. Click on Internet Options. 3. Click on "Delete temporary files." For Mozilla Firefox - 1. Click on tools from the task bar of browser. 2. Click on "Clear recent history." \|\|\|\|\| A policeman stands guard as a passenger train passes by after a blast in Kakpora, 25 km (15 miles) south of Srinagar April 2, 2010. Suspected separatist guerrillas blew up part of a railway track in Kashmir on Friday, the first such attack since a train service opened last year. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Suspected separatist guerrillas blew up part of a railway track in Kashmir on Friday, the first such attack since a train service opened last year. The blast followed days of gunbattles between Indian troops and separatist militants in the region that killed at least 14 people. “There were no casualties, as no trains were running when the militants set off a powerful bomb on the railway track,” Aijaz Ahmad, a police official said. He said train services have been suspended. No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the explosion which took place in the Pulwama area in south Kashmir. Kashmir valley’s first train chugs through rice fields and meadows from Qazigund area in the south to Baramulla in the north. While resentment against New Delhi’s rule regularly erupts into protests in Kashmir, mainstream political parties in the state say building transport links and improving civic amenities is key to peace in the region. Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in full but rule in part and have fought two wars over the region, where officials say more than 47,000 people have been killed in over two decades of violence.	Nearly two feet of the rail route in Kashmir, India was blown up by militants near the Pulwama district, affecting train services from north to south Kashmir. The blast came a few days after militants fought with the Indian army in the area, thereby killing fourteen people. "There were no casualties, as no trains were running when the militants set off a powerful bomb on the railway track," said Aijaz Ahmad, a local police official. He added that train services have been temporarily suspended. According to police, the attackers detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near Galbug at about 10 PM local time (4:30 PM UTC), Thursday night. Two feet of the rail track on the Qazigund-Baramulla area was damaged. This track was developed two years ago, police sources stated. The attack came just before senior officers were supposed to inspect ongoing works in the Kashmiri railways. The track was repaired on Friday morning and train services resumed in the region. Kamal Saine, Deputy Inspector General of Police, south Kashmir, told the Press Trust of India agency that the damage to the track was not significant and it took a short time to mend it.
Your Blood Turns Cold... and only screams leave your lips. What's lurking in the shadows, hiding in the next room and waiting - only you can find out, if you dare. Visit Terror Nights Haunted House in Tyler, Texas and start your Halloween off right - full of fear and fright. Featuring 25 rooms spread across a staggering 10,000 square feet, this intense, cutting edge haunted event features custom movie quality special effects, amazing actors, unique themes, and extremely detailed sets. Now you may be asking yourself is it safe to embark upon a journey to the very heart of horror? Our honest answer to that must be no. Only the most courageous will make it out of the 10,000 square foot self guided, fully interactive tour alive! \|\|\|\|\| Hangman's House of Horrors had a record-setting 1998 season! The Hangman entertained almost 33,000 patrons and raised over $400,000. All proceeds from the 1998 season go to provide local programs and services on behalf of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. We have exceeded our own records and remain the most successful charity haunted house in the nation! Copyright © 1989-1998, La-De-Da Productions, All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Facebook Twitter Pinterest Cutting Edge Haunted House. (PRNewsFoto/Cutting Edge Haunted House) × Cutting Edge Haunted House. (PRNewsFoto/Cutting Edge Haunted House) DALLAS and FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Taking on a part-time job for the holidays is a great way to earn a little extra money, but before applying as a greeter to the local big box store, consider another possibility. That's right, as the dark and dangerous Texas nights grow longer, the area's haunted attractions are gearing up for a season of unprecedented thrills, chills and hair-raising good times. And they're searching for a few good zombies to take up arms and defend Dallas-Fort Worth's reputation as the scare capital of the world. The benefits of working at a haunt are many, including free uniforms, a complimentary hair and makeup consultation and make-over, inspirational background music, plenty of on-the-job exercise opportunities and more. Working at a haunted attraction is the most fun you can have with your rags and bandages on, while actually getting paid at the same time. Every night is "ghoul's night out" when you're working on the fright line! Take advantage of this spooktacular seasonal employment opportunity by visiting the employment page at CuttingEdgeHauntedHouse.com or Hauntedhousepark.com to find out where and when to apply. But be warned; it's frightfully addictive! http://www.cuttingedgehauntedhouse.com or http://www.hauntedhousepark.com (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120110/DA33144) What: Cutting Edge Haunted House When: Accepting Applications Now Thru October! Where: Apply online to request an interview. www.CuttingEdgeHauntedHouse.com/Employment.cfm 1701 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76102 What: Thrillvania Haunted House Park When: Accepting Applications Now Thru October! Where: Apply online to request an interview. www.HauntedHousePark.com/Employment/ 2330 County Road 138, Terrell, Texas 75161 About Cutting Edge Haunted House and Thrillvania Haunted House Park Cutting Edge Haunted House and Thrillvania Haunted House Park are dark Halloween attractions located in Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas filled with terrifying live actors, amazing special effects and incredible monsters. These intense, multi-themed haunted houses are widely considered to be two of the best Haunted Houses in the nation, full of chilling detail and unbelievable scares! Come see what new horrors lurk in the twisting corridors of Texas's ultimate haunted houses. Visit www.cuttingedgehauntedhouse.com or www.hauntedhousepark.com or call 817-675-7459 for more information. Media Contact: Todd James / Tammy Saxton – 817-675-7459 or cuttingedgehauntedhouse@earthlink.net. SOURCE Cutting Edge Studios RELATED LINKS \|\|\|\|\| DETROIT, Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- America Haunts, home to more than 30 of the most terrifying, bloodcurdling scream-inducing haunted houses and attractions in the United States, announced its 2013 season opening schedule. Starting Sept. 6 at The Edge of Hell and The Beast in Kansas City, Mo., fans will get their first look at the newest crop of monsters and zombies from beyond. Sixteen more America Haunts attractions will open their doors for the season the following week on Friday the 13th (as if that day was not scary enough already). America Haunts attractions annually lure the bravest souls while providing the most safe, fun and horrifying haunted entertainment. To maintain the standard of excellence in the haunted attraction industry, each venue works year-round to present guests with an even more spine chilling experience than their last visit. Staffs featuring high quality technical crews and talented makeup artists and actors combine to provide thrill-seekers the Hollywood-quality scare they seek. "Each America Haunts attraction has the ability to either scare you a little or a lot," said Ben Armstrong of America Haunts. "We have the most fun with those who think that no haunted house is going to scare them. It's fun to then see them become so terrified they don't even think twice about leaving behind friends and family to save themselves." America Haunts Opening Dates Friday, Sept. 6 Edge of Hell Haunted House Kansas City, MO The Beast Kansas City, MO Friday, Sept. 13 13th Floor Denver 13th Floor Phoenix 13th Floor San Antonio Bennett's Curse Baltimore Chambers of Edgar Allan Poe Kansas City, MO Cutting Edge Fort Worth, TX Erebus Haunted House Pontiac, MI House of Torment Austin, TX The Haunting of Lemp Brewery St. Louis Macabre Cinema Haunted House Kansas City, MO Necropolis 13 Baton Rouge, LA Nightmare on 13th Salt Lake City Spookywoods Greensboro Winston-Salem, NC The 13th Gate Baton Rouge, LA The Darkness St. Louis The Dent Schoolhouse Cincinnati Friday, Sept. 20 7 Floors of Hell Cleveland Pennhurst Asylum Philadelphia Saturday, Sept. 21 Headless Horseman Ulster Park, NY Friday, Sept. 27 Bates Motel Philadelphia Creepywoods Haunted Forest Baltimore Netherworld Atlanta Nightmare New England Boston Nightmare on the Bayou Houston Scream Zone San Diego The Asylum Denver The Haunted Hotel San Diego The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park San Diego The Scare House Pittsburgh Saturday, Sept. 28 Thrillvania Dallas For information on hours and ticket prices, go to www.AmericaHaunts.com/attractions With 30 haunted houses and attractions across the country, America Haunts delivers fear-based entertainment to more than a million thrill seekers each season. America Haunts has been featured on the Travel Channel and its members recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records on multiple occasions. The organization is committed to providing technical excellence, stunning set design, Hollywood-quality make-up, costumes and actors. Members enjoy nothing more than delivering, a good old-fashioned scare. Visit AmericaHaunts.com. SOURCE America Haunts Copyright (C) 2013 PR Newswire. All rights reserved	With Halloween approaching, numerous haunted attractions all over Texas are preparing for the big "haunt" season. Directors and staff of such attractions must invest significant time preparing their buildings; such efforts gear up significantly during September. ''Wikinews'' caught up with some owners of these attractions to learn more about the hard work it takes to prepare for opening night. ''Slaughterhouse'' attraction in Dallas. ''Terror Nights'', an attraction in Tyler, opens for the season on September 27. Ryan Laepple, owner and director of the haunt, states he's currently involved in "a blur of safety inspections, auditions, actor training, and last but not least event advertising." Laepple went on to say he stays "pretty busy until the show opens on the 27th and then things calm down some. As long as not too many things in the haunt break at once." Dean Jarnig, the director of ''Zombie Manor'' in , said he and staff have recently been spraying flame-retardant chemicals and installing new lights. Jarnig also stated he and staff are working on a promotional video for their attraction, which opens on Friday September 13. ''Hangman's House of Horrors'' in is celebrating both its twenty fifth anniversary and final operational year. Some individuals who act in these attractions refer to their fellow actors as extended family. This year, some sources have even encouraged holiday job seekers to consider working at a haunted attraction to earn money. One whimsically listed the job's benefits as "... free uniforms, a complimentary hair and makeup consultation and make-over, inspirational background music, plenty of on-the-job exercise opportunities and more." Long a staple in American culture, "", as they're commonly called, range in size from small garage-sized projects, up to multi floor buildings outfitted with the most elaborate of lighting and special effects. == Sources == * Terror Nights Haunted House, Tyler Texas, September 12, 2013 (date of access) * Darkwood Haunted Mall, September 12, 2013 (date of access) * Welcome to Hangman's House of Horrors, September 12, 2013 (date of access) * Zombie Major, Arlington, Texas, September 12, 2013 (date of access) * *
Estelle Getty, best known for her portrayal of acid-tongued Sicilian mother Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls, died Tuesday morning (July 22), three days short of her 85th birthday. She had been battling advanced dementia for years. According to her website, she passed away in her own home, surrounded by family. Born Estelle Scher in New York City on July 25, 1923, Getty started out her career in the Yiddish theater, but her focus soon shifted to settling down and raising a family with Arthur Gettleman, whom she married in 1946. They remained together until Arthur's death in 2004. She didn't return to acting until many years later, making her first screen appearance in 1978's Team-Mates, followed by small parts in Tootsie and Mask. But it was her 1982 role on Broadway as Harvey Fierstein's interfering mother in the play Torch Song Trilogy that catapulted her into the limelight and landed her the role of Sophia on The Golden Girls in 1985. Always ready with a cutting remark, Sophia was an integral part of the series' character and earned Getty seven consecutive Supporting Actress Emmy nominations between 1986 and 1992, including a win in 1988. Her performance also earned three Golden Globe nominations, including a win for Leading Role in a Comedy series in 1986. She also reprised the role in several spin-off shows, including The Golden Palace and Empty Nest. Getty is survived by sons Carl and Barry Gettleman, a brother, David Scher, and a sister, Rosilyn Howard. Share your memories of Estelle Getty and her acerbic Sophia at our PopWatch tribute. \|\|\|\|\| In this Aug. 28, 1998 file photo, actress Estelle Getty displays the Emmy she won at the 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Calif. Getty won best supporting actress in a comedy series for her role in "The Golden Girls." Getty has died at the age of 84. Her son, Carl Gettleman, says she died early Tuesday at home in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon, file) Estelle Getty of 'Golden Girls' dies at 84 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Estelle Getty, the diminutive actress who spent 40 years struggling for success before landing a role of a lifetime in 1985 as the sarcastic octogenarian Sophia on TV's "The Golden Girls," has died. She was 84. Getty, who suffered from advanced dementia, died at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday at her Hollywood Boulevard home, said her son, Carl Gettleman of Santa Monica. "She was loved throughout the world in six continents, and if they loved sitcoms in Antarctica she would have been loved on seven continents," her son said. "She was one of the most talented comedic actresses who ever lived." "The Golden Girls," featuring four female retirees sharing a house in Miami, grew out of NBC programming chief Brandon Tartikoff's belief that television was ignoring its older viewers. Three of its stars had already appeared in previous series: Bea Arthur in "Maude," Betty White in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and Rue McClanahan in "Mama's Family." The last character to be cast was Sophia Petrillo, the feisty 80-something mother of Arthur's character. "Our mother-daughter relationship was one of the greatest comic duos ever, and I will miss her," Arthur said in a statement. When she auditioned, Getty was appearing on stage in Hollywood as the carping Jewish mother in Harvey Fierstein's play "Torch Song Trilogy." In her early 60s, she flunked her "Golden Girls" test twice because it was believed she didn't look old enough to play 80. "I could understand that," she told an interviewer a year after the show debuted. "I walk fast, I move fast, I talk fast." She came prepared for the third audition, however, wearing dowdy clothes and telling an NBC makeup artist, "To you this is just a job. To me it's my entire career down the toilet unless you make me look 80." The artist did, Getty got the job and won two Emmys. "The only comfort at this moment is that although Estelle has moved on, Sophia will always be with us," White said in an e-mail to The Associated Press after Getty's death was announced. "The Golden Girls" culminated a long struggle for success during which Getty worked low-paying office jobs to help support her family while she tried to make it as a stage actress. "I knew I could be seduced by success in another field, so I'd say, 'Don't promote me, please,'" she recalled. She also appeared in small parts in a handful of films and TV movies during that time, including "Tootsie," "Deadly Force" and "Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story." After her success in "The Golden Girls," other roles came her way. She played Cher's mother in "Mask," Sylvester Stallone's in "Stop or My Mom Will Shoot" and Barry Manilow's in the TV film "Copacabana." Other credits included "Mannequin" and "Stuart Little" (as the voice of Grandma Estelle). "The Golden Girls," which ran from 1985 to 1992, was an immediate hit, and Sophia, who began as a minor character, soon evolved into a major one. Audiences particularly loved the verbal zingers Getty would hurl at the other three. When McClanahan's libidinous character Blanche once complained that her life was an open book, Sophia shot back, "Your life's an open blouse." Getty had gained a knack for one-liners in her late teens when she did standup comedy at a Catskills hotel. Female comedians were rare in those days, however, and she bombed. Undeterred, she continued to pursue a career in entertainment, and while her parents were encouraging, her father also insisted that she learn office skills so she would have something to fall back on. Born Estelle Scher to Polish immigrants in New York, Getty fell in love with theater when she saw a vaudeville show at age 4. She married New York businessman Arthur Gettleman (the source of her stage name) in 1947, and they had two sons, Carl and Barry. The marriage prevailed despite her long absences on the road and in "The Golden Girls." Getty was evasive about her height, acknowledging only that she was "under 5 feet and under 100 pounds." In addition to her son Carl, Getty is survived by son Barry Gettleman, of Miami; a brother, David Scher of London; and a sister, Rosilyn Howard of Las Vegas. Associated Press Writers Robert Jablon and Solvej Schou contributed to this report.	Getty at the 41st Emmy Awards. Emmy Award winning American actress Estelle Getty has died at the age of 84. Getty had been previously diagnosed with dementia which had been in its advanced stages. She died while at her home in Hollywood, California early Tuesday morning. "She was loved throughout the world in six continents, and if they loved sitcoms in Antarctica she would have been loved on seven continents. She was one of the most talented comedic actresses who ever lived," said her son Carl Gettleman. Getty was probably most famous for her starring role as ''Sophia Petrillo'' in the American television show ''The Golden Girls'' where she co-starred with actresses Bea Arthur, Betty White and Rue McClanahan. It ran from 1985 until 1992 having aired 180 episodes, and was an immediate success. In 1986, Getty was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, winning one, for her role in the show for "Actress In A Supporting Role - Series, Mini-Series Or Television Movie" and "Actress In A Leading Role - Musical Or Comedy Series". Ironically, though she played the oldest of the four roommates, and the mother of Arthur's character, Dorothy Zbornak, she was actually younger than Arthur or White. "Our mother-daughter relationship was one of the greatest comic duos ever, and I will miss her," stated Arthur in a statement to the press. "The only comfort at this moment is that although Estelle has moved on, Sophia will always be with us," said White to the ''Associated Press. Getty also starred in several movies after the show including ''Mask'' where she played the mother of singer and song writer Cher and ''Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot'' where she also played the mother of actor Sylvester Stallone. She also starred in the television show spin off of ''The Golden Girls'' titled ''The Golden Palace'' and made a two episode appearance on another spin off called ''Empty Nest''. Getty was born in New York City on July 25, 1923, passing away just three days before her 85th birthday.
America's first Muslim congressman has provoked outrage by apparently comparing President George W Bush to Adolf Hitler and hinting that he might have been responsible for the September 11 attacks. Addressing a gathering of atheists in his home state of Minnesota, Keith Ellison, a Democrat, compared the 9/11 atrocities to the destruction of the Reichstag, the German parliament, in 1933. This was probably burned down by the Nazis in order to justify Hitler's later seizure of emergency powers. "It's almost like the Reichstag fire, kind of reminds me of that," Mr Ellison said. "After the Reichstag was burned, they blamed the Communists for it, and it put the leader [Hitler] of that country in a position where he could basically have authority to do whatever he wanted." To applause from his audience of 300 members of Atheists for Human Rights, Mr Ellison said he would not accuse the Bush administration of planning 9/11 because "you know, that's how they put you in the nut-ball box - dismiss you". Vice-President Dick Cheney's stance of refusing to answer some questions from Congress was "the very definition of totalitarianism, authoritarianism and dictatorship", he added. Mr Ellison also raised eyebrows by telling his audience: "You'll always find this Muslim standing up for your right to be atheists all you want." A convert to Islam who was previously linked to the extremist Nation of Islam, Mr Ellison, 42, has cultivated a moderate image since being elected last November, concentrating on issues such as health and education. He is an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq. But he angered his own anti-war supporters by voting for a budget bill that aims to end the war over the next 18 months. His followers want an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. After his speech was reported, Mr Ellison said he accepted that Osama bin Laden was responsible for 9/11. But his demagogic comments threaten to plunge him in controversy. Mark Drake, of the Republican party in Minnesota, said: "To compare the democratically elected leader of the United States of America to Hitler is an absolute moral outrage which trivialises the horrors of Nazi Germany." \|\|\|\|\| In a speech to the Minnesota atheists last Sunday, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison broke one of the most important, yet unwritten rules in political speech: The Minnesota Democrat used an analogy involving Nazi Germany to score political points. Opinion: A Nazi Analogy is Never a Good Idea This rhetorical tactic has gotten a slew of politicians in trouble. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., made the analogy about Guantanamo, former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., used it when the Democrats were set to fillibuster, Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., used it when the Republicans were set to filibuster, and Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., used the analogy in reference to stem cell research. The list goes on and on. Democrats and Republicans have attempted to score political points with a Hilter or Nazi analogy. It generates sensational news for a cycle as the opposing side attempts to score political points until the offending politician concedes that the analogy was wrong. The Star Tribune reported Sunday night that Ellison said of 9/11, “It’s almost like the Reichstag fire, kind of reminds me of that. After the Reichstag was burned, they blamed the Communists for it and it put the leader of that country [Hitler] in a position where he could basically have authority to do whatever he wanted.” The Reichstag fire was exploited by Hitler to consolidate his power and usher in the Nazi regime. By Monday morning, a comparison of 9/11 to the Reichstag had morphed into a comparison of President Bush to Adolf Hitler. Mark Drake, communications director for the Republican Party of Minnesota, wrote in a press release, “Keith Ellison’s despicable comments likening President Bush to Adolf Hitler need to be immediately repudiated by all Democrats in Minnesota. To compare the democratically elected leader of the United States of America to Hitler is an absolute moral outrage which trivializes the horrors of Nazi Germany.” By Tuesday, a nationally read Minnesota blog, Powerline, had picked up the story and it had spread to hundreds of conservative sites. “In promoting the disgusting conspiracy myths of radical ‘truthers’ and extremist Muslims, Ellison is simply working his latest hustle to the growing audience in the nut-ball box,” wrote Scott Johnson. “It’s an audience that includes the Minneapolis atheists who fancy themselves too intelligent to believe in God.” By Wednesday, Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten penned a column in which she asked, “Where is George Bush, with all his shortcomings, in the terrible tale of the Reichstag fire and its aftermath? On what grounds does Ellison compare Bush with Hitler, who butchered 6 million Jews and many others?” Kersten is no stranger to using a Nazi analogy to score political points. Last year, she compared those who thought Terri Schiavo had a right to die with dignity (a majority of Americans at the time) to the Nazis. Much like Ellison’s gaffe, it’s a loose analogy: \|\|\|\|\| For the last four years, Vice President Dick Cheney has made the controversial claim that his office is not fully part of the Bush administration in order to exempt it from a presidential order regulating federal agencies’ handling of classified national security information, officials said Thursday. Cheney has held that his office is not fully part of the executive branch of government despite the continued objections of the National Archives, which says his office’s failure to demonstrate that it has proper security safeguards in place could jeopardize the government’s top secrets. According to documents released Thursday by a House committee, Cheney’s staff has blocked efforts by the National Archives’ Information Security Oversight Office to enforce a key component of the presidential order: a mandatory on-site inspection of the vice president’s office. At least one of those inspections would have come at a particularly delicate time -- when Cheney’s former chief of staff, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, and other aides were under criminal investigation for their suspected roles in leaking the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame. In an eight-page letter to Cheney on Thursday, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) also charged that Cheney or his top staffers tried to abolish the Information Security Oversight Office this year after its director tried repeatedly to force Cheney’s office to comply with the presidential order. Advertisement Cheney spokeswoman Lea Anne McBride confirmed the vice president’s position Thursday but said she could not discuss the matter in detail, including whether Cheney or his aides tried to abolish the information security office. “We are confident that we are conducting this office properly under the law,” McBride said. Some legal scholars and government secrecy experts noted the irony in Cheney’s stance that his office is not fully part of the executive branch, given his claims of executive privilege when refusing to provide information requested by Congress. Cheney’s office has also refused to file required reports with the National Archives elaborating how much national security information was being classified and declassified, which was first reported by the Chicago Tribune last year. Documents released Thursday offer new details about the intensifying dispute between the office of the vice president and the National Archives. The archives has appealed to Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales to intervene but has not received a response. Advertisement President Bush amended an existing executive order regarding classified information in 2003 to address post-Sept. 11 concerns that sensitive data were being mishandled. Cheney’s staff filed annual reports with the National Archives in 2001 and 2002, as required of all federal agencies that handle national security matters. But it hasn’t filed any of the reports since 2003, when Bush’s order established a uniform, government-wide system for safeguarding classified national security information to ensure it is not accidentally released or leaked for political gain. Waxman and others criticized Cheney and his staff, saying their refusal to comply with the presidential order could endanger national security. “To my knowledge, this was the first time in the nearly 30-year history of the Information Security Oversight Office that a request for access to conduct a security inspection was denied by a White House office,” Waxman wrote to Cheney. Advertisement What’s more, the congressman said, it suggests that the vice president considers himself above the law -- even when the directive in question was created by his own boss, Bush. “This is a very dangerous position he is taking and a ridiculous one, but it is a quite serious one,” Waxman, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said in an interview. “I don’t know if he is covering something up or not, but ... when somebody refuses to make this information available, you wonder what they don’t want the inspectors from the National Archives to know.” A frequent critic of the Bush administration, Waxman also asked Cheney how the vice president’s office could claim, as it has in correspondence he cited in his letter, that it was not “an entity within the executive branch.” Advertisement One Cheney staffer familiar with the matter said Thursday that the vice president has not complied with the order because his office has dual functions: It is part of the executive branch -- the Bush administration -- but also part of the legislative branch, given Cheney’s position as president of the Senate. As such, the vice president’s office has no legal obligation to abide by the order because it only applies to the executive branch, said the Cheney staffer, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the inner workings of the office and requested anonymity. Cheney’s position is articulated in the 2004 edition of an annual government directory of senior officials known as the Plum Book: “The vice presidency is a unique office that is neither a part of the executive branch nor a part of the legislative branch, but is attached by the Constitution to the latter. The vice presidency performs functions in both the legislative branch ... and in the executive branch.” Advertisement Waxman said Cheney’s refusal to allow oversight of its classification system was a problem for another reason: The office has had a history of leaks of classified information in recent years. In his letter to the vice president, Waxman said two Cheney staffers -- including Libby -- have been criminally prosecuted in the alleged illegal disclosure of classified information. Waxman also said the Libby prosecution uncovered information suggesting that Cheney himself “apparently misused the declassification process for political reasons ... as part of a damage-control effort” to defend the administration’s rationale for going to war in Iraq. “Your office may have the worst record in the executive branch for safeguarding classified information,” Waxman wrote. Advertisement Steven Aftergood, director of the Federation of American Scientists: Project on Government Secrecy, said the information that Cheney’s office is required to report is essentially trivial, most of it routine data on classification and declassification activity levels. “But the significance of the dispute is enormous. It reveals with unusual clarity how stubbornly this vice president resists oversight,” Aftergood said. “If the executive order on classification can be violated at will, as the vice president has done, then agencies can abuse secrecy to conceal all kinds of mischief, and worse.” Gordon Silverstein, a constitutional scholar at UC Berkeley, said Cheney’s claims were all the more noteworthy given his repeated assertions of executive privilege, based on his senior position within the Bush administration, as a reason why he has not had to testify before Congress or provide lawmakers with information on such national security issues as torture, interrogation and CIA renditions of terrorists. “Here’s a guy who raises ‘executive privilege’ to historic levels to exempt himself from all rules and oversight, and now he says he’s not part of the executive branch?” said Silverstein. “Here we have a subordinate part of the executive branch asserting independent constitutional authority even against its own superior. It is flabbergasting.” Advertisement -- josh.meyer@latimes.com	Congressman Keith Ellison Freshman Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), the only Muslim in the U.S. Congress, has caused controversy after comparing President Bush to Adolf Hilter, and suggesting that the Bush Administration may have been complicit in the terror attacks of 9/11. Speaking to a group of atheists in his home district in Minnesota, Ellison equated the 9/11 attacks and aftermath to the 1933 Reichstag fire in Germany, which helped cement Hitler's power. He carefully parsed his words stating that he would not 'accuse' the Bush Administration of planning 9/11 because "you know, that's how they put you in the nut-ball box - dismiss you". Ellison, a co-sponsor of a bill to impeach Cheney for "high crimes and misdemeanors," described the Vice President as "the very definition of totalitarianism, authoritarianism and dictatorship" and further condemned his refusal to answer Congress' questions. Ellison's promise: "You'll always find this Muslim standing up for your right to be atheists all you want," reportedly "raised eyebrows" among the 300 present. Ellison later clarified that he believes that Osama bin Laden was in fact responsible for the attacks of 9/11. Condemnation came quickly with Republican Mark Drake of Ellison's home state saying: "To compare the democratically elected leader of the United States of America to Hitler is an absolute moral outrage which trivialises the horrors of Nazi Germany."
Did Massimo Galioto a homeless Rome man murder Beau Solomon? How a scuffle which broke out led to a University of Wisconsin student found days later dead. Italian authorities have arrested 41 year old homeless man Massimo Galioto in connection to the murder of Beau Solomon, a 19 year old sophomore at the University of Wisconsin. The arrest comes after Solomon was found four days after arriving in Rome for a study abroad trip floating in Rome’s Tiber River, his shirt bloodied and his head with a noticeable wound. Why was Beau Solomon University of Wisconsin student killed in Rome? Things would go wrong after Beau Solomon joined friends Thursday night, the day of his arrival for drinks at the Trastevere district of Rome near Piazza Trilussa, only to never be seen again after parting later that night. Friends and school authorities at Rome’s John Cabot University, where Solomon was suppose to study for the next six weeks raised the alarm after the student failed to appear at orientation the following morning. Interviewed by authorities, fellow students told that Solomon had not appeared drunk or disorientated following parting the evening before. Those claims would be later contested by Galiato’s partner, Alessia, a woman whom shared a tent with the homeless man by the river banks. Augmenting suspicion of foul play were dubious credit charges to the tune of $1700 (1500 EURO) having been ratcheted up on Beau Solomon’s credit card barely a few hours after he had gone missing, on the day of his arrival in Rome, last Thursday. The credit charges told local media outlets were placed in Milan, some 355 miles north of Rome in the early hours of Friday morning. Since taken into custody, authorities booked Massimo Galioto on charges of aggravated homicide. Of note, local media outlet, Oggi told of authorities yet to have charged the detained man with the theft of Solomon’s wallet and phone. Raising the notion that more than one party, or another party altogether was involved in the theft of Solomon’s items with Galioto believed to be directly responsible for Beau Solomon’s death. According to a report via the dailybeast, authorities conveyed the belief that a gang of thugs who prey on foreign tourists may have been involved in mugging the American, while authorities maintain that Massimo Galioto was responsible for throwing the 19 year old student in the river. A report via abc quoted investigators who told they were looking into the hypothesis that Solomon was robbed, went to the riverbank under a bridge in Trastevere where he got into a scuffle with Galioto, who then pushed him into the Tiber. WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports State-run RAI television on Tuesday interviewed a woman identified as Galioto’s companion, Alessia, who said Solomon had come down the stairs to their settlement along the Tiber early Friday with two people who robbed him. From there the two men were witnessed getting into a scuffle with Massimo Galioto purportedly pushing the hapless youth into the river. Autopsy results that should indicate whether Solomon died from drowning or was dead before he was thrown into the Tiber River are expected this week. That said, preliminary autopsy results indicate that Solomon suffered injuries consistent with a fall and with days spent in the water. Of question is whether Galioto had sought to murder the student or whether an ensuing scuffle inadvertently contributed to the Beau Solomon’s murder? Further interviews with the homeless man’s female friends Alessia led to the woman claiming a drunk Solomon had made his way to the river bank and ‘had bumped into Massimo and they began to argue.’ Told Alessia: ‘They were pushing each other. Massimo pushed him, the boy pushed back, and then he fell in the water.’ Of note, Alessia insisted that Massimo did not flee the scene. Solomon’s injuries are reportedly consistent with a fall and with days spent in water, according to preliminary autopsy results seen by the ANSA news agency. Fears for the worse were validated come Monday, when Beau Solomon’s body was found over the weekend at the Tigres River, with John Cabot University releasing the following statement: ‘John Cabot University is deeply saddened to announce that the body of Beau Solomon, the missing American visiting student, has been found in the Tiber River,’ ‘We express our most heartfelt condolences to the Solomon family and to all those who loved Beau.’ Also releasing a statement was the University of Wisconsin which told: ‘All of us at UW-Madison are greatly saddened by this loss. Beau was a bright and caring young man who lived the Wisconsin Idea through his work at Badger Boys State and his desire to travel and experience other cultures.’ Reiterated Chancellor Rebecca Blank, ‘Our hearts go out to Beau’s family and friends at this difficult time.’ While local authorities initially failed to make the connection with the discovery of Solomon’s body over the weekend, with no identification on him, it wasn’t when pressured by the American Embassy that police realized that the discovered body was that of the missing American. Of question is who Beau Solomon may have left the bar with Thursday night, who stole his belongings and who exactly came to use his credit card? Yet to be ascertained is the exact cause of death of the University of Wisconsin sophomore student and whether Beau Solomon may have had ingested lethal or toxic substances? \|\|\|\|\| The Pope has met with the parents of Beau Solomon, the 19-year-old American student whose body was found in Rome's Tiber river after an altercation with a homeless man. A statement from the Vatican said that Pope Francis had expressed to Beau's parents, Nick and Jodi, during the unscheduled meeting strong sentiments of 'compassion and his closeness in prayer to the Lord for for the young man who died so tragically. Beau, from Wisconsin, is believed to have been mugged by a North African crime gang that he chased to the Tiber River where he was then allegedly killed by a homeless man, Massimo Galioto. Scroll down for video Pope Francis, right, met with the parents of Beau Solomon who came to Rome on a five-week course Nick and Jodi Solomon flew to Rome after their son was reported missing on Friday morning According to the Vatican Pope Francis expressed his condolences for the young man who 'died so tragically' Cole Solomon pictured center in the white vest, beside his brother Beau in the multi-colored vest, as well as the rest of the family said investigators were treating the incident as a murder Shortly after arriving in Rome, he sent a text message to his mother saying 'Everything's so pretty. It's so beautiful.' He then went out drinking with fellow students in the Piazza Trilussa area which is popular with tourists and students. He also replied to his father asking from an update saying: 'So amazing here.' When Solomon left the bar in the early house of Friday morning, police believe he was mugged by two of the gang members who stole his wallet and mobile phone. Solomon, who was a keen American footballer, gave chase two north African men who ran down an embankment towards the river near the Garibaldi bridge. Italian media said CCTV footage near the riverbank shows Solomon then getting into a scuffle with Galioto, who has an encampment underneath the bridge. The footage apparently shows the moment Solomon was pushed into the river. His body was recovered almost three miles downstream from the scene of the attack, on Monday. Beau Solomon was drinking with friends on the early hours of Friday morning after which he was mugged by a north African crime gang and ended up in the River Tiber following a scuffle with a homeless man Galioto, 40, has been arrested by Italian authorities who claim he is 'seriously suspected of aggravated homicide'. Solomon's roommate, who was in the bar with him on Thursday night, assumed his friend had gone home. It was only when Solomon failed to show up for an orientation meeting at the college on Friday was he reported missing. An initial investigation has shown that Solomon suffered head injuries and his clothing was badly bloodstained. The ANSA news agency said preliminary autopsy results indicated that he had suffered injuries consistent with a fall and with days spent in the water. The police official said investigators were in particular looking to see if he was conscious when he fell in the water. Garibaldi Bridge is one of the busiest in Rome and connects the bar-filled Trastevere neighborhood to the other side of the city's historic center. Brawl: A woman only identified as Alessia, who shares a tent with Galioto, says the pair got into an argument, pushing match and then Solomon fell into the river Fight: Solomon is said to have come down to this part of the riverbank after being robbed, according to Alessia; this is where he subsequently got in a fight Italian state TV said charges worth $1,700 were run up Saturday on Solomon's credit card at a Milan store, hundreds of miles from where he was last seen in Rome. Comments by Galioto's companion suggested that the people who stole Solomon's wallet might have used the credit card, not Galioto. Solomon was in Rome for a five-week exchange program at John Cabot University. Devastated: Madisun Holverson , pictured left, wrote: 'The world has suffered a great loss but he will always be with us in our memories and in our hearts. You are loved so much Beau, rest in peace' John Cabot, an English-language university in the Italian capital, said it had been alerted by Solomon's roommate that he had lost contact with Solomon around 1 am Friday and was worried when he didn't show up for orientation later that day. The president of John Cabot, Franco Pavoncello, said the school takes maximum measures to keep its students safe on campus and around its residences, using both Italian soldiers and private security forces. But Pavoncello said it was up to Italian authorities to keep people safe on the streets of Rome. Solomon's family said they understand he had suffered a serious head wound and had blood on his shirt He said: 'Nightlife is nightlife. It's not up to the president of John Cabot University to do an evaluation of the dangers of Rome's nightlife, it's up to judicial authorities.' On Wednesday morning, the university said it wanted to clarify statements made by its president Mr Pavoncello. They said Pavoncello was asked whether Rome was dangerous at night. The college said it was an issue for the public authorities as they could not give a 'yes or no' answer. The college said it has its own private security which patrols the area. Solomon had just completed his first year as a personal finance major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Cole Solomon, Beau Solomon's 23-year-old brother, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Monday that investigators were treating the incident as a murder. Another brother, Jake Solomon, described Beau as an athlete who successfully battled cancer for years as a child. Solomon had just completed his first year in college and was on an exchange course in Rome On Tuesday, the US ambassador to Italy, John Phillips, pledged his assistance to Italian authorities investigating the death. He said: 'My heart goes out to his family and friends.' 'We express our most heartfelt condolences to the Solomon family and to all those who loved Beau,' said a statement from the Rome-based English language university where Solomon had just arrived for an exchange program. Madisun Holverson, a friend of Beau's, paid tribute to him on Facebook. 'The world has suffered a great loss but he will always be with us in our memories and in our hearts. You are loved so much Beau, rest in peace.' Solomon's family was in Italy and John Cabot University was in contact with Italian authorities, the US Embassy and his US college, its President Franco Pavoncello told The Associated Press. On Sunday, Nick Solomon, Beau's father, posted a heartbreaking snap of the whole family along with the message: 'Wanting us all together soon. Mom and I are on our way. Please God help us find out son.' There have been several recent cases of American students in Rome running into trouble, especially during a night out drinking. Many American students are surprised to find that alcohol can be easily acquired in Italian supermarkets, bars or restaurants. In 2012, a US student was allegedly stabbed by his roommate, a fellow student at John Cabot University, after what police said was a night of alcohol and possible drug use. The stabbed student survived. \|\|\|\|\| ROME — A homeless man was charged with murder Tuesday in connection with the death of U.S. college student Beau Solomon, who vanished just hours after arriving in the Italian capital last week. Beau Solomon. Courtesy family The 19-year-old sophomore was due to study at John Cabot University, a small Rome-based liberal arts college. Solomon's body was found in the Tiber River on Monday. The visiting student from the University of Wisconsin-Madison as last seen around 1 a.m. on Friday (7 p.m. ET Thursday) while at a pub in Rome. He had arrived in the city only hours earlier. His roommate became "worried when he did not see Beau at orientation" later in the day, John Cabot University said in a statement issued Sunday. Investigators identified the accused as Massimo Galioto, a 40-year-old homeless man. He was being charged with "aggravated murder," a police spokesman told NBC News. After the disappearance, Solomon's parents called their son's credit card company and "realized thousands of dollars had been charged" in Milan to his account, according to his brother Jake Solomon. Milan is about 350 miles north of Rome. Play Facebook Twitter Google Plus Embed Italian Police Investigate Death of American Student 0:43 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog On Monday, another brother had told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the teen's body had been found with a head wound and blood on his shirt. "It's a murder investigation," Cole Solomon told the newspaper before the arrest was made. The personal finance major had been due to participate in a study abroad program. "We express our most heartfelt condolences to the Solomon family and to all those who loved Beau," John Cabot University said in a statement. \|\|\|\|\| The brother of an American teenager found dead in the river Tiber in Rome has said authorities are investigating whether he was robbed and murdered. Cole Solomon, Beau Solomon’s 23-year-old brother, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that investigators were treating his death as murder. His brother had suffered a head wound and there was blood on his shirt. Cole said thousands of dollars had been charged to Beau’s credit card after his disappearance. On Monday morning, police in Rome said they had arrested a man in connection with the case. Massimo Galioto, a 40-year-old from Rome of no fixed address, was stopped overnight on murder charges and is the prime suspect in the case, police said in a statement. Beau Solomon, 19, had arrived in the Italian capital on Thursday evening to attend a university summer school and went missing later that night after going out with fellow students. The group had walked about 10 minutes from John Cabot University accommodation to G-Bar in the Trastevere neighbourhood, a picturesque area popular with American students and tourists, where Solomon was last seen at about 1am. Assuming he had gone home, the students returned to their residence. On realising Solomon was missing, they returned to the bar to look for him. The alarm was raised on Friday after he failed to turn up for registration at the university. His body was discovered by the Guglielmo Marconi bridge, about three miles downriver from Trastavere. The student’s parents, Jodi and Nick Solomon, received a bank alert at about 4am on Friday, informing them of a transaction of about $2.23 (€2, £1.70). A quick succession of larger charges followed, including a purchase of clothing and a transaction in Milan. The Solomons were unable to phone their son as his US phone number would not work, although they had spoken to him shortly after he arrived in Italy. “Everything’s so pretty. It’s so beautiful,” he told his mother, shortly after going out that evening. The student also replied to a request from his father for an update on Rome life, which was received at about 11pm on Thursday. “So amazing here,” the message said. Solomon’s parents arrived in Rome on Monday, having travelled from their home in Spring Green, Wisconsin, on emergency passports. Speaking to the Guardian, they described their son as a rule follower who was determined to sprint through his studies and graduate within three years. Solomon had just finished his first year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he majored in personal finance. He had taken Italian classes in preparation for the six-week summer school at John Cabot. Before Solomon travelled to Rome, his parents had advised him on how to look after his possessions while in Rome. “The only doubts we had were pickpocketing,” his father said. Beau was the third of four boys. His brothers have remained at home in Wisconsin while their parents travelled to Italy. Jake Solomon described his younger sibling as an active member of the community and said he had wanted to become a politician. “He’s an amazing kid,” he told WMTV on Sunday. The discovery of Solomon’s body came two years after another American student was found dead after disappearing on a night out in Rome. The body of John Durkin, 21, was found in a train tunnel in February 2014. He had gone missing two days earlier after going out with friends in Campo de’ Fiori, a nightlife hotspot in the centre of the city. An economics student at Bates College in Maine, Durkin had arrived in Italy a month earlier as part of a study abroad programme arranged through Trinity College in Connecticut. \|\|\|\|\| SHARE Beau Solomon Family submitted By of the A University of Wisconsin-Madison student who vanished just hours after arriving in Italy to study abroad has been found dead, and authorities have launched a criminal investigation. Beau Solomon, a 19-year-old cancer survivor, disappeared after going to a bar in Rome with friends on Thursday night. "It's a murder investigation," his brother Cole said. Cole, 23, said his brother's body was found in the Tiber River with a wound on his head and blood on his shirt. Thousands of dollars were charged to Solomon's credit card after his disappearance, he said. UW-Madison officials confirmed that Solomon's death was being treated as a criminal investigation by local authorities in Rome, and said the school was working with John Cabot University, as well as American and Italian authorities, to help his family and support the investigation. "All of us at UW-Madison are greatly saddened by this loss," Chancellor Rebecca Blank said. "Beau was a bright and caring young man who lived the Wisconsin Idea through his work at Badger Boys State and his desire to travel and experience other cultures. Our hearts go out to Beau's family and friends at this difficult time." The other UW-Madison students participating in the John Cabot University program are all safe and accounted for, university officials said. Without citing names, the Italian news agency ANSA reported Monday that two people had come forward and told police they witnessed a person thrown into the Tiber River. Solomon's body was found without a wallet or cellphone, leading police to believe he was robbed before being thrown into the river, ANSA reported. On Friday, John Cabot officials reported to Italian authorities and the American Embassy that Solomon was missing after arriving in Rome just one day before. The university said Solomon's roommate alerted school officials that he had lost contact with him about 1 a.m. Friday while they were together at a pub in the city, and was worried when he didn't see Beau at orientation that morning. "We express our most heartfelt condolences to the Solomon family and to all those who loved Beau," John Cabot University said in a statement released Monday. In an interview Sunday with the Journal Sentinel, Solomon's 26-year-old brother, Jake, described him as "an awesome brother" with "a big heart" who dreamed of becoming a lawyer. He also called him the "toughest S.O.B. that we've ever met." The 19-year-old battled cancer for 10 years until the age of 12, after which he went on to participate in high school sports, work as a camp counselor for Badger Boys State and teach at youth quarterback camps around Wisconsin. His parents, Nick and Jodi Solomon, left for Italy Sunday to assist in the search. Beau was the third of four boys, and was especially close with Max, his 12-year-old brother, Jake said. Solomon, a Spring Green native, had just completed his first year at UW-Madison in personal finance. He previously studied at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College and University of Wisconsin-Richland. John Cabot University, founded in 1972, describes itself as "An American university in the heart of Rome." The liberal arts school offers undergraduate degrees and study abroad programs to English-speaking students from around the world. UW-Madison officials said that, based on the investigation so far, there is no indication of a broader risk to students in Rome. Counseling for students and staff is available through University Health Services, which can be reached at (608) 265-5600. \|\|\|\|\| (ANSA) - Rome, July 4 - A body found in the Tiber Monday is that of an American student who has been missing in Rome since Thursday night-Friday morning, police said Monday, adding they believed he had been murdered. University of Wisconsin student Beau Solomon, 19, who came to Rome to do a five-week course at John Cabot University, was dumped into the river and probably suffered a fatal head wound on his way down into the river, the police said after two witnesses came came forward and the murder probe was opened. The body, which had a deep wound to the head, is set to be identified by Solomon's parents later Monday. The body was found without a wallet or cellphone, leading police to believe Solomon was robbed before being thrown into the river. Solomon was last seen at about 1 a.m. local time at a bar in Piazza Trilussa, in Rome's popular Trastevere neighbourhood, on July 1. The police and the family have reportedly said Solomon's credit cards were used since he disappeared. Solomon, described as a "sociable and sporty" young man, had defeated a rare cancer of the eye as a boy. After Solomon's body was found in the river, John Cabot issued a statement saying: "We express our most heartfelt condolences to the Solomon family and to all those who loved Beau". After the disappearance, Solomon's parents called their son's credit card company and "realized thousands of dollars had been charged" in Milan to his account, his brother, Jake Solomon, said. The sophomore was last seen around 1 a.m. on Friday while at a pub in Rome, and his roommate became "worried when he did not see Beau at orientation that morning," John Cabot University said in a statement issued Sunday. "John Cabot University also informed the American Embassy and the student's home school, which notified the family," the statement added. Solomon's parents arrived in Italy Monday, Jake Solomon said. The University of Wisconsin-Madison's dean of students, Lori Berquam, said the school had been working with Italian and American authorities to locate Solomon. "We ask all Badgers to keep Beau and his family in their thoughts and prayers," Berquam said in a statement Sunday. Solomon's disappearance was reported to Italian authorities by college officials at 9 p.m. local time on Friday, a spokesman for the police told NBC News. "In our family, he is the one who does it all right. He's an incredible athlete. He is the one that keeps us all together," Jake Solomon told NBC News before his brother was confirmed dead. "He was driven, career oriented," he said, adding that his brother is a cancer survivor. Abby Korenchan, 19, who graduated high school with Solomon said the news of	Map showing locations pertaining to the robbery of Beau Solomon. Map showing scene and bar locations pertaining to the robbery of Beau Solomon. On Tuesday, police charged homeless forty-year-old Massimo Galioto with the aggravated murder of Beau Solomon, a college student from Wisconsin, US. The police arrested the man after finding the student's body in the in on Monday. The defendant has attorney Michele Vincelli. According to reports, Massimo Galioto is homeless and lived in a tent under a bridge. Italian police said two witnesses reported they saw someone being thrown from the Garibaldi bridge into the Tiber River. The authorities also reportedly obtained CCTV footage near the bank of the river, showing the incident. A homeless woman sharing a tent with Massimo Galioto said she saw Massimo Galioto and Beau Solomon fighting each-other, and then saw Beau Solomon fall into the river. The woman alleged Beau Solomon was drunk and the company included two people from North Africa. On Monday, Italian police found Beau Solomon's body near Guglielmo Marconi bridge about three miles (five kilometres) downstream from Trastevere, where the student was last seen at about 1AM in G-Bar in ''Piazza Trilussa'' on Friday night after his first day in Italy. Solomon was beginning a at . His parents arrived on Monday using emergency passports. The body had no mobile device or wallet, suggesting to local authorities it was a robbery. The body also had a head wound and bloody shirt, the victim's 23-year-old brother Cole Solomon told the '''' on Monday. Last week on Friday morning, Beau Solomon's parents received bank alerts. According to the student's brother Jake Solomon, the bank told his parents Beau's bank card was charged "thousands of dollars". Authorities later confirmed the amount as about 1,500 (about 1700). The credit card of the victim was charged in over 300 miles away from Rome on Friday. Beau Solomon was aged 19. He came to Italy to attend summer school on Thursday. Beau Solomon did not attend university next morning, and the institution reported him missing to the local authorities at 9PM.
Iran-backed Gaza Terrorists Kill Three in Continuing Rocket Attacks on Israel Share With Friends By Alan Gray, NewsBlaze Israel Continues Humanitarian Aid to Gaza, Despite Rocket Attacks Throughout the six month ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas, Hamas continued to fire rockets into Israel, from various places in Gaza. Although Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had asked Hamas not to end the ceasefire, but to extend it, Hamas ended it on Friday (Dec. 19). During the "ceasefire," terrorists in Gaza continued to fire 325 rockets into Israel. Since ending the ceasefire 10 days ago, they fired more than 200 missiles, rockets and mortars. Hamas may have been emboldened by the thought of using their upgraded arsenal of rockets, which can travel much further than those used previously. Month Rockets June 260 July 25 August 25 September 3 October 2 November 150 December 120 Attacks over the weekend killed a 30-year-old resident of the southern Negev city of Netivot and wounded four others. Three Israelis were killed in separate rocket attacks on Israeli cities today. In one attack in Ashkelon, a 27-year-old Israeli-Arab construction worker was killed by a Grad rocket fired from Gaza and 16 others were wounded. A number of the other workers were Israeli Arabs. Five of the injured are in serious condition. [ Haaretz ] In the city of Ashdod, a woman was killed at a bus stop and four others were wounded, one seriously. The dead woman had run into a bus station seeking shelter after a rocket warning siren sounded; she died of shrapnel wounds. It is the first time Ashdod has been hit by missiles fired from Gaza. The third attack killed an Israeli in the western Negev, with seven others wounded. [ ynetnews ] Late on Monday, rockets struck the Israeli cities of Ofakim and Yavneh. Yavneh, 22 miles (35 km) from Gaza, is the northernmost Israeli city ever hit by Gaza rockets. Israeli injured in rocket attack on Ashkelon Photo: Edi Israel Nir Marciano, who lives across the road from where the rocket struck in Ashkelon said, "I heard a small blast followed by a bigger one, which rocked the house and the windows. It was simply terrifying. The blast was so strong it blew me inside." [ Ynetnews The stepping-up of attacks by Hamas prompted Israel to begin "Operation Cast Lead" Saturday. More than 150 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israel since then, at least 40 of them today. The IDF say they are using targeted air strikes on Hamas militants and installations in Gaza in an effort to stop the terrorists' more than three years of almost daily attacks on Israel. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Hamas is responsible for the current situation in Gaza and said he had asked Hamas to extend the ceasefire. In a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu al-Gheit, Abbas said "I say in all honesty, we made contact with leaders of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip. We spoke with them in all honesty and directly, and after that we spoke with them indirectly, through more than one Arab and non-Arab side... We spoke with them on the telephone and we said to them: We ask of you, don't stop the ceasefire, the ceasefire must continue and not stop, in order to avoid what has happened, and if only we had avoided it." On Sunday, the IDF targeted 40 weapons smuggling tunnels built by terrorist groups in Gaza. They also struck two mosques that were being used as storage depots for weapons, ammunition and explosives. Following the air strikes, there were secondary explosions indicating that large quantities of the explosives and ammunition had been hit. Dore Gold, Israel's former ambassador to the UN told Gaza residents, "We are not your enemies and we are not fighting against you. This terrorist organization has brought disaster to two peoples. Israel is not fighting the Palestinian people but the Hamas terrorist organization that has taken it upon itself to act against the residents of Israel." Despite the ongoing attacks, 63 truckloads of humanitarian goods were transferred from Israel to Gaza yesterday, plus 120 truckloads today through the Kerem Shalom and Karni crossings. On Sunday, Israel transported 160 tons of food and medicine into Gaza. The IDF provided the aid in coordination with the UN, UNSCO, UNRWA, Red Cross and WHO. On Friday, Israel transferred more than 90 truckloads of vital goods to Gaza residents. \|\|\|\|\| 271 killed so far in Israeli strikes on Gaza (12-28 15:35) The massive Israeli air bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip has killed 271 people so far, the head of the territory's emergency services said. ''We have counted 271 dead and 620 wounded since Saturday'' when Israel launched a wave of warplanes against Islamist targets in the overcrowded territory, said Dr Moawiya Hassanein. Six of the dead were killed on Sunday in the latest Israeli air strikes. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE \ \|\|\|\|\| GAZA CITY (CNN) -- The death toll from a weekend of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza has topped 300, Palestinian medical sources said Monday as a third day of air raids hit the Hamas-ruled territory. Fires rage overnight in Gaza, where Israel has been bombing what it says are Hamas targets. more photos » Another 650-plus people have been wounded in the strikes, the sources said. The U.N. Security Council has called for an immediate end to the airstrikes, which began Saturday. But Israel says its objective is to stop an ongoing stream of rockets fired by Hamas militants into southern Israel, and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Cabinet ministers Sunday that the situation "is liable to continue for some time." Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza, pledges it will defend its land and people in the face of what it calls continued Israeli aggression. Each side blames the other for violating an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire, which formally expired Friday, December 19, but in reality had been weakening for months. Watch as Gaza endures third day of attacks » Israel has struck more than 300 Hamas targets since Saturday, its military said. The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that more than 150 rockets have been launched into Israeli territory from Gaza since the campaign began. One of those hit a home in southern Israel on Saturday, killing one man inside. Watch parts of Gaza reduced to rubble » Palestinian security and medical sources said airstrikes hit the Jebaliya refugee camp in Gaza early Monday, and a home near Hamas leader Ismail Haniya's residence was hit overnight. Hamas security sources said that raid targeted the home of a senior leader in the group's military wing. The Jebaliya raid left five children dead in a home that was damaged when a nearby mosque was targeted, said Dr. Mu'awiya Hassanein. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on that claim. And a few minutes after midnight, an Israeli F-16 fired rockets into at least one building at the Islamic University of Gaza, a Gaza-based journalist at the scene -- whose name was withheld for security reasons -- told CNN. There were no immediate reports of casualties from that strike, which the IDF said targeted "a center for weapon research and development." The Palestinian television station Ramattan showed firefighters trying to put out a fire at a building identified by the Palestinian network as part of the university, while others sifted through large piles of debris and rubble. Read reactions to Israel's strike on Gaza » "There was a loud series of explosions ... the entire apartment I'm in was shaking," said Sami Abdel-Shafi, a Palestinian business consultant in Gaza City. "It was scary and a very disappointing position to be in for the 'nth' time." An Israeli military statement said the targets of the raid were "buildings that were used as meeting places for senior leaders of Hamas." Watch an ambassador say Israel is only defending itself » "One of the structures struck housed explosives laboratories that were an inseparable part of Hamas' research and development program, as well as places that served as storage facilities for the organization," the IDF statement said. "The development of these weapons took place under the auspices of senior lecturers who are activists in Hamas. Among the weapons that have been developed and manufactured at this site are Qassam rockets." There was no immediate response from Hamas to the IDF statement. CNN's Kevin Flower and Elise Labott contributed to this report. All About Gaza • Israel • Hamas \|\|\|\|\| David Cameron has delivered a firm rebuff to Mitt Romney over Britain’s readiness for the Olympics. Speaking at the Olympic Park, the Prime Minister made clear that there were no doubts over the preparations. After Mr Romney’s scepticism about security and the levels of British enthusiasm in a US interview, Mr Cameron told reporters: “You’re going to see beyond doubt that Britain can deliver.” He added: “We’ve delivered this incredible Olympic Park on time, on budget and in real style, 46,000 people have turned a wasteland the size of Hyde Park into an extraordinary city town within one of the world’s most exciting cities.” The Republican presidential candidate had earlier cast doubt on Britain’s readiness for the Olympics as he prepared to meet leaders from all three political parties in Westminster. The former Governor of Massachussets told US TV last night that there were “disconcerting” stories about Britain’s readiness and it was hard to know “just how well it ... will turn out”. Speaking from the Tower of London, the US anchor Brian Williams asked: “In the short time you’ve been here in London, do they look ready to your experienced eye?” Mr Romney replied: “You know, it’s hard to know just how well it will turn out. There are a few things that were disconcerting, the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials, that obvious \|\|\|\|\| GAZA Waves of Israeli airstrikes destroyed Hamas security facilities in Gaza on Saturday in a crushing response to the group’s rocket fire, killing more than 225 the highest one-day toll in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in decades. Israeli military officials said the airstrikes, which went on into the night, were the start of what could be days or even months of an effort to force Hamas to end its rocket barrages into southern Israel. The operation could include ground forces, a senior Israeli security official said. Palestinian officials said that most of the dead were security officers for Hamas, including two senior commanders, and that at least 600 people had been wounded in the attacks. Image Palestinian protesters threw stones at Israeli soldiers in clashes near Jerusalem on Saturday. Credit... Ahmad Gharabli/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images After the initial airstrikes, dozens of rockets were fired into southern Israel, where an emergency was declared. Thousands of Israelis hurried into bomb shelters amid the hail of rockets, including some longer-range models that reached farther north than ever before. One man was killed in the town of Netivot, the first death from rocket fire since it intensified a week ago, and four were wounded. A number of governments and international officials, including leaders of Russia, Egypt, the European Union and the United Nations, condemned Israel’s use of force and also called on Hamas to end the rocket fire. But in strong terms, the Bush administration blamed Hamas for the violence and demanded that it stop firing rockets. A military operation had been forecast and demanded by Israeli officials for weeks, ever since a rocky cease-fire between Israel and Hamas fully collapsed a week ago, leading again to rocket attacks in large numbers against Israel and isolated Israeli operations here. Still, there was a shocking quality to Saturday’s attacks, which began in broad daylight as police cadets were graduating, women were shopping at the outdoor market, and children were emerging from school. Image An injured Palestinian was helped from the rubble after an Israeli airstrike struck Rafah in the Gaza Strip on Saturday. Credit... Hatem Omar/Associated Press The center of Gaza City was a scene of chaotic horror, with rubble everywhere, sirens wailing, and women shrieking as dozens of mutilated bodies were laid out on the pavement and in the lobby of Shifa Hospital so that family members could identify them. The dead included civilians, including several construction workers and at least two children in school uniforms. By afternoon, shops were shuttered, funerals began and mourning tents were visible on nearly every major street of this densely populated city. The leader of the Hamas government in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, said in a statement that “Palestine has never witnessed an uglier massacre.” Later, in a televised speech, he vowed to fight Israel. “We say in all confidence that even if we are hung on the gallows or they make our blood flow in the streets or they tear our bodies apart, we will bow only before God and we will not abandon Palestine,” he said. In Damascus, Syria, Hamas’s supreme leader, Khaled Meshal, said in an interview with Al Jazeera television that he was calling for a new Palestinian intifada against Israel, including the resumption of suicide attacks within Israel for the first time since 2005. Hamas, he said, had accepted “all the peaceful options, but without results.” Image Israelis in a bomb shelter in the town of Netivot watched Ehud Barak, the Israeli defense minister, on television. Dozens of rockets struck southern Israel after the airstrikes in Gaza, sending residents underground. Credit... Rina Castelnuovo for The New York Times Ehud Barak, the Israeli defense minister and chairman of the Labor Party, said the military operation in Gaza would expand and deepen as necessary, adding, “There is a time for calm and a time for fighting, and this is the time for fighting.” “We wanted to attack military targets while the terrorists were inside the facilities and before Hamas was able to get its rockets out that were stored in some of the targets,” said a top Israeli security official, briefing a group of reporters by telephone on condition of anonymity. “Right now, we have to hit Hamas hard to stop the launching,” he added. “I don’t see any other way for Hamas to change its behavior. Hamas is not just a terrorist organization. It actually rules Gaza and is well supported by Iran with some of its leadership in Syria.” Hamas had in recent weeks let it be known that it doubted Israel would engage in a major military undertaking because of its coming elections. But in some ways the elections have made it impossible for officials like Mr. Barak not to react, because the public has grown anxious and angry over the rocket fire, which while causing no recent deaths and few injuries is deeply disturbing for those living near Gaza. Image Plumes of dark smoke rose from Gaza City during the Israeli airstrike. Credit... Edi Israel/European Pressphoto Agency Israeli officials said that anyone linked to the Hamas security structure or government was fair game because Hamas was a terrorist group that sought Israel’s destruction. But with work here increasingly scarce because of an international embargo on Hamas, young men are tempted by the steady work of the police force without necessarily fully accepting the Hamas ideology. One of the biggest tolls on Saturday was at a police cadet graduation ceremony in which 15 people were killed. Spokesmen for Hamas officials, who have mostly gone underground, called on militants to seek revenge and fight to the last drop of blood. Several compared what was happening to the 2006 war between Israel and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, when Israel reacted to the capture and killing of soldiers along its northern border with air raids, followed by a ground attack. Hezbollah is widely viewed as having withstood those assaults and emerged much stronger politically. The Arab League initially called an emergency meeting for Sunday in Cairo with all the foreign ministers from the member states, but later postponed it to Wednesday to give ministers time to respond. Governments that dislike Hamas, like Egypt’s, Jordan’s and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, are in a delicate position. They blame Hamas for having taken over Gaza by force 18 months ago in the aftermath of its election victory in the Palestinian Parliament, and they oppose its rocket fire on Israeli towns and communities. Image Palestinians evacuated a wounded man after an Israeli air strike on Hamas compounds in Gaza on Saturday. Credit... Suhaib Salem/Reuters But the sight of scores of Palestinians killed by Israeli warplanes outraged their citizens, and anti-Israel demonstrations broke out across the region. President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority angrily condemned the Israeli airstrikes. Egypt, worried about possible efforts by Palestinians to enter the country, has set up machine guns along the Gaza border. But on Saturday it temporarily opened the Rafah border crossing in order to allow the wounded to be brought to Egyptian hospitals. In the West Bank and in some Arab parts of Jerusalem and Israel, Palestinians threw stones, causing some injuries. Hamas is officially committed to Israel’s destruction, and after it took over Gaza in 2007, it said it would not recognize Israel, honor previous Palestinian Authority commitments to it or end its violence against Israelis. \|\|\|\|\| Israeli Air Strikes Kill More Than 100 in Gaza printable version send your friend add comment Palestinian medical officials say Israeli airstrikes on Hamas compounds in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 120 people. Officials say the assault wounded more than 100 other people Saturday. They say Gaza police chief Tawfik Jabber was among those killed. The Israeli military confirmed launching strikes on Hamas targets across Gaza, and warned the operation could be expanded. The militant group vowed to avenge the attacks. Tensions between Israel and Hamas have escalated since a six-month cease-fire expired last week. On Friday, two Palestinian girls were killed when a rocket fired by Palestinian militants missed its Israeli target and instead hit a home in the northern Gaza Strip. The deaths occurred as Gaza militants continued to fire rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel. No casualties were reported. Despite the violence, Israel temporarily opened some border crossings Friday to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Despite the violence, Israel temporarily opened some border crossings Friday to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Truckloads of fuel, food and other vital goods crossed into the impoverished territory. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the decision to open the crossings came in response to requests from the international community. Israel has restricted supplies to Gaza to pressure Hamas to stop firing rockets and mortars into Israel. Human rights groups say the blockade has caused a humanitarian crisis for Palestinians struggling without electricity, food and cash. In the past week, Hamas has fired barrages of rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel. The Israeli army has killed a number of militants, including three who were spotted planting explosives near the Israel-Gaza border. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. Saturday, 27 December 2008 VOA News Middle East Previous News Israeli Air Strikes Kill More Than 100 in Gaza Next News \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Israeli F-16 bombers have pounded key targets across the Gaza Strip, killing more than 200 people, local medics say. Most of those killed were policemen in the Hamas militant movement, which controls Gaza, but women and children also died, the Gaza officials said. About 700 others were wounded, as missiles struck security compounds and militant bases, the officials said. Israel said it was responding to an escalation in rocket attacks from Gaza and would bomb "as long as necessary". They were the heaviest Israeli attacks on Gaza for decades. More air raids were launched as night fell. The operation came days after a truce with Hamas expired. Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said "it won't be easy and it won't be short". "There is a time for calm and a time for fighting, and now the time has come to fight," he said. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate halt to the violence, condemning what he called Israel's "excessive use of force leading to the killing and injuring of civilians" and "the ongoing rocket attacks by Palestinian militants". Middle East envoy Tony Blair and the French EU presidency also urged an immediate ceasefire. Palestinian militants frequently fire rockets against Israeli towns from inside the Gaza Strip; large numbers of rocket and mortar shells have been fired at Israel in recent days. In a statement, Israel's military said it targeted "Hamas terror operatives" as well as training camps and weapons storage warehouses. Hamas bases destroyed A Hamas police spokesman, Islam Shahwan, said one of the raids targeted a police compound in Gaza City where a graduation ceremony for new personnel was taking place. At least a dozen bodies of men in black uniforms were photographed at the Hamas police headquarters in Gaza City. Hamas will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood Fawzi Barhoum Hamas spokesman In pictures: Gaza attack aftermath UK concern over Gaza raid Malnutrition and shortages in Gaza Israel warns Hamas over rockets Israel said operations "will continue, will be expanded, and will deepen if necessary". It is the worst attack in Gaza since 1967 in terms of the number of Palestinian casualties, a senior analyst told the BBC in Jerusalem. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni defended the air raids, saying Israel had "no choice". "We're doing what we need to do to defend our citizens," she said in a television broadcast. Israel hit targets across Gaza, striking in the territory's main population centres, including Gaza City in the north and the southern towns of Khan Younis and Rafah. Hamas said all of its security compounds in Gaza were destroyed by the air strikes, which Israel said hit some 40 targets. Mosques issued urgent appeals for people to donate blood and Hamas sources told the BBC's Rushdi Abou Alouf in Gaza that hospitals were soon full. In the West Bank, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas - whose Fatah faction was ousted from Gaza by Hamas in 2007 - condemned the attacks and called for restraint. But Hamas quickly vowed to carry out revenge attacks on Israel in response to the air strikes, firing Qassam rockets into Israeli territory as an immediate reply. One Israeli was killed by a rocket strike on the town of Netivot, 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Gaza, doctors said. "Hamas will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood," spokesman Fawzi Barhoum was reported as saying. The air strikes come amid rumours that an Israeli ground operation is imminent. Calls for ceasefire World leaders urged both sides to halt the violence. Civilians were caught up in the air strikes in heavily-populated Gaza A White House spokesman said the United States "urges Israel to avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas in Gaza". "Hamas' continued rocket attacks into Israel must cease if the violence is to stop," the spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, added. The UK Foreign Office said: "We urge maximum restraint to avoid further civilian casualties." At least 30 missiles were fired by F-16 fighter bombers. Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that about 60 warplanes took part in the first wave of air strikes. Egypt opened its border crossing to the Gaza Strip at Rafah to absorb and treat some of those injured in the south of the territory. Most of the dead and injured were said to be in Gaza City, where Hamas's main security compound was destroyed. The head of Gaza's police forces, Tawfik Jaber, was reportedly among those killed. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Residents spoke of children heading to and from school at the time of the attacks, and there were fears of civilian casualties. Israeli security officials have been briefing about the possibility of a new offensive into Gaza for some days now, says the BBC's Paul Wood, in Jerusalem. But most reports centred on the possibility of a ground offensive, and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was not expected to authorise any operation until Sunday at the earliest. Although a six-month truce between Hamas and Israel was agreed earlier this year, it was regularly under strain and was allowed to lapse when it expired this month. Hamas blamed Israel for the end of the ceasefire, saying it had not respected its terms, including the lifting of the blockade under which little more than humanitarian aid has been allowed into Gaza. Israel said it initially began a staged easing of the blockade, but this was halted when Hamas failed to fulfil what Israel says were agreed conditions, including ending all rocket fire and halting weapons smuggling. Israel says the blockade - in place since Hamas took control of Gaza in June 2007 - is needed to isolate Hamas and stop it and other militants from firing rockets across the border at Israeli towns. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Palestinian-Israeli conflict area and War on Terrorism around the Gaza strip Israel has launched with at least 30 simultaneous missiles strikes on Hamas installations in Gaza City, causing heavy damage. F-16 fighters targeted security compounds in the city’s centre. The “massive” air strikes on Saturday have claimed at least 220 lives, including Gaza police chief Maj. Gen. Tawfiq Jaber. More than 700 were injured, while others were still buried under the rubble, according to Health Ministry officer Moawiya Hassanain. Gaza City hospitals, including Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s main treatment center, are crowded with wounded victims. In response thirteen rockets and mortar shells had also hit southern Israel on Friday, damaging an unoccupied house. Meanwhile, Hamas declared it would retaliate, by launching rocket attacks on and sending suicide bombers to Israel. “Hamas will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood,” warned Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas’ rival, says he “condemns this aggression” and calls for restraint. Hamas-run Gaza Strip. Qassam rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hits southern Ashkelon in Israel. When the Egyptian-mediated truce terminated last week, Israel warned of their potential to launch a major offensive on Gaza, amid senior leaders’ call to topple Hamas. “I will not hesitate to use Israel’s strength to strike at Hamas and Islamic Jihad,” Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced on Thursday, issuing a dire warning that ”tens of thousands of children and innocents” would be at risk “as a result of Hamas’ actions.” Defense Minister Ehud Barak says Israel has temporarily opened some border crossings Friday to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip in response to the international community’s pleas. Two hours after IAF missiles targeted Hamas installations in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian gunmen launched on Saturday a massive attack with Qassam rockets on Israeli territory. Seven struck Ashkelon, killing one person, while another suffered serious injuries, and four others were moderately wounded when their house was hit. They were rushed to the Soroka hospital in Beersheva. According to the IDF, Hamas militants had further launched more than 110 rockets since Saturday, IDF says. Meanwhile, a Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour has called on the United Nations to condemn the deadly violence. "There is no justification for punishing 1.5 million in the Gaza Strip because of the actions of a few. We hope we don't fail in having a reaction from the Security Council tonight," he said. Dr Moawiya Hassanein has said "we have counted 271 dead and 620 wounded since Saturday." The 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict, referred to as "Operation Cast Lead" (מבצע עופרת יצוקה - also known as "Operation Solid Lead") by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is an Israeli air strike operation launched on December 27, 2008 at 11:30 am local time (9:30 am UTC) against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials justified the offensive as a retaliation against daily Palestinian Qassam rocket and mortar fire on Israel's southern communities.
CTV Release 6/10/2008 12:05:48 PM Toronto, ON - CTV Inc., together with Copyright Music & Visuals, today announced that CTV Inc. has acquired all rights to 'The Hockey Theme' in perpetuity, preserving the song's legacy and ensuring it will be heard on national television for years to come. 'The Hockey Theme' song will now live on CTV Inc. properties TSN, RDS and across Canada on CTV during coverage of the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympics as outlined below. The deal between CTV and Copyright Music & Visuals was agreed to in principle after the CBC publicly announced last Friday at 5 p.m. ET that a deal could not be reached with the rights holders. Due diligence was completed earlier today. The song, which was created by Vancouver's Dolores Claman in 1968, will now be used in NHL broadcasts on TSN and RDS beginning this Fall. In addition, CTV will utilize the song as part of its hockey coverage during the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. "The song has a long and storied history in Canadian sports and has become ingrained in the hearts and minds of hockey fans across the country. It is an iconic tune, embraced by Canadians everywhere, and we felt it was imperative to save it. We know we will be in hockey forever, so there's no doubt this acquisition will create value for us," said Rick Brace, President, Revenue, Business Planning and Sports, CTV Inc. "It's an honour and a privilege to own such a cherished piece of Canadiana." "I am very moved by how so many Canadians have taken the hockey theme to heart. We are so pleased the song has found a new home," said Claman. "Throughout our negotiations, CTV displayed a tremendous amount of respect for my family and the song. 'The Hockey Theme' means so much to Canadians, and we know it's in good hands with CTV." The announcement complements TSN's new six-year multi-platform NHL deal, featuring more coverage of Canadian teams than ever before with at least one Canadian team in every game. Earlier this year, RDS extended its exclusive rights agreement with the Montreal Canadiens through the 2011-12 season. CTV, together with TSN and RDS, boast the most powerful and prestigious sports programming lineup in the country featuring the NHL and Stanley Cup Playoffs, NFL games and the Super Bowl, every CFL game including the Grey Cup, International Hockey including the World Juniors, NBA, Blue Jays Baseball, all four golf Majors, all four tennis Grand Slam events, Season of Champions Curling, NASCAR and F1, and this month's NBA Finals and UEFA EURO® 2008. \|\|\|\|\| CTV purchases The Hockey Theme Dolores Claman's song had been used on Hockey Night in Canada since 1968. Dolores Claman's song had been used on Hockey Night in Canada since 1968. CTV Inc. has acquired the rights to The Hockey Theme in perpetuity, the network announced Monday. The agreement was reached with Copyright Music & Visuals, which was unable to renew a deal with CBC Sports. CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore said he was disappointed but not surprised the song was shopped elsewhere. "The two sides were so far apart and there was so much bad blood that we knew a deal would be difficult," he said. "The reality is it takes two sides to do a deal and we tried everything we could to do a deal. "We offered arbitration, mediation — we offered to meet their price. On Friday, when it came right down to it, we never got a response from them on our latest offer and find out, in the meantime, they appeared to be negotiating with CTV." Moore said CBC had negotiated for 14 months but to no avail, and that the agency was asking for $2.5 million to $3 million for use in perpetuity. "If they got that from CTV, we would never have been able to get there," Moore told CBC Newsworld. "It is not a responsible price for us. "If that is the price CTV wants to pay, it won't be the first time nor will it be the last time, probably, that they outbid us for something. They have a lot more profits than we do." The song had been used on Hockey Night in Canada since 1968. "Hockey is a game, it's not a song," Moore said. "We have the No. 1 sports property in Canada. "I don't expect one less viewer to tune in on Saturday to watch Hockey Night in Canada. They will continue to watch their favourite team." According to a release, CTV said it agreed to a deal with Copyright Music & Visuals after Friday's deadline with CBC passed. The agency represents the song's composer, Dolores Claman, who was born in Vancouver. "The song has a long and storied history in Canadian sports, and has become ingrained in the hearts and minds of hockey fans across the country. It is an iconic tune, embraced by Canadians everywhere, and we felt it was imperative to save it," said Rick Brace of CTV Inc. Moore said he was surprised a rival network would purchase something so inextricably linked to the Hockey Night brand. "It's a constant commercial for our network," he said. Lawsuit complicated negotiations Earlier on Monday, CBC Sports had said it planned to bring in noted sports and entertainment lawyer Gord Kirke in a last-ditch effort to bring about a mediated resolution. Complicating the bid for a settlement was an outstanding lawsuit filed against the CBC in late 2004 surrounding its use for ringtones and downloads. Moore said CBC wanted to resolve that issue along with the song's future use, but that representatives for Claman wanted to keep them separate. Claman, 80, has written about 2,000 jingles over her career, including the Ontario theme A Place to Stand, which she co-wrote with her husband, Richard Morris. "I am very moved by how so many Canadians have taken the hockey theme to heart. We are so pleased the song has found a new home," said Claman, who now resides in Britain. Before Kirke's involvement was announced, CBC Sports announced plans to launch a new national contest in conjunction with Nettwerk Music Group to find a new theme song. Canadians will be invited to write and record an original song for Hockey Night in Canada, with fans and a jury of experts to choose the best new composition. "I think it'll help us get a new demographic," Moore said. "The theme that we had was a great theme. [But] it was 39 years old. Maybe it's time for something else." The son of Stompin' Tom Connors said Monday his father is open to licensing his famed hockey song to CBC as a replacement. "If they want to use The Hockey Song, it's a good song, whether Tom sings it or not," Tom Connors Jr. said. "There's other versions out there. "Even if they wanted to commission some other band, like a big [name] band if they wanted to do more of a Hockey Night theme, everything is open for negotiations, of course. That's the business we're in." 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.	CTV has bought rights to broadcast The Hockey Theme The Hockey Theme was the former theme song of Hockey Night in Canada The CTV Television Network has acquired the rights to ''The Hockey Theme''. Composed by Dolores Claman, ''The Hockey Theme'' was the theme song of ''Hockey Night in Canada'', one of the most popular Canadian television programs, since 1968. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) latest license to broadcast ''The Hockey Theme'' had expired at the conclusion of the latest NHL season. On June 6, negotiations between Claman and CBC broke down, with the CBC announcing that a deal could not be reached. The CBC offered to resume negotiation with a mediator today. However, by mid-afternoon today, Claman's representatives announced that they had sold the rights to CTV. CTV will use this song in its broadcasts of National Hockey League (NHL) games on The Sports Network (TSN) and Réseau des sports (RDS), as well as during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Deborah Smith, Science Editor November 28, 2006 Global efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions have had little impact with the rate of emissions more than doubling since the 1990s. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research scientist, Mike Raupach, said that from 2000 to 2005, the growth rate of carbon dioxide emissions was more than 2.5 per cent per year. "In the 1990s it was less than one per cent per year." In 2005, 7.9 billion tonnes of carbon were emitted into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. This was near the high end of the fossil fuel use scenarios considered by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said Dr Raupach, who is also co-chair of the Global Carbon Project, an international scientific collaboration to study the carbon cycle. "On our current path, it will be difficult to reign in carbon emissions enough to stabilise the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration at 450 ppm," he said. While China had the highest current growth rate in emissions, its emissions per person were still below the global average and its accumulated contribution since the start of the industrial revolution more than 200 years ago was only five per cent of the global total. By comparison, the US and Europe have each contributed more than 25 per cent of accumulated global emissions. Paul Fraser, also from CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, said the findings were supported by measurements of carbon dioxide levels in the air, which grew by two parts per million in 2005. This was the fourth year in a row of above-average growth, Dr Fraser said. "To have four years in a row of above-average carbon dioxide growth is unprecedented." The two scientists presented their latest findings at a meeting at Tasmania's Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, which is run by CSIRO and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Dr Fraser said the 30-year record of air collected at Cape Grim, showed growth rates of carbon dioxide were slightly more than one part per million in the early 1980s, but in recent years carbon dioxide levels has increased at almost twice this rate. "The trend over recent years suggests the growth rate is accelerating, signifying that fossil fuels are having an impact on greenhouse gas concentrations in a way we haven't seen in the past." \|\|\|\|\| Rachel Kleinman November 28, 2006 CARBON emissions are escaping into the earth's atmosphere at an unprecedented rate, an international group of scientists has warned. In 2005, about 7.9 billion tonnes of carbon were released globally, according to figures published yesterday by the CSIRO. Scientist Mike Raupach, who also co-chairs the international Global Carbon Project, was surprised by his research results. "It shows recent efforts globally to reduce emissions have had little impact on emissions growth," he said. The rate of emissions had grown by about 2.5 per cent each year since 2000, compared with less than 1 per cent growth each year in the 1990s. Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere a separate measure to carbon emissions had also increased at an unprecedented rate. Science Minister Julie Bishop yesterday announced that research on climate change would benefit from a $500 million Federal Government upgrade to science infrastructure. Funded programs include systems to explore the effect of climate change on Australia's geological structure and marine environment, and an online atlas of native Australian species. Another $640 million will be contributed by universities, state governments and the private sector. \|\|\|\|\| Atmospheric scientists have warned that carbon dioxide emissions are increasing more rapidly, despite international efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels. They have found the amount of carbon dioxide being pumped into the atmosphere has doubled in the past 20 years. CSIRO scientists have found global carbon dioxide emissions reached almost eight billion tonnes last year. New data from the Cape Grim air pollution monitoring station in north-west Tasmania shows carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 2.5 per cent each year for the past five years. Atmospheric scientist Paul Fraser says the increase in carbon dioxide comes mostly from developing countries and temperatures will continue to rise. "Over the last 20 or so years the rate of increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has almost doubled," he said. "It started off 20 odd years ago at one part per million per year and it's now up to two. "Once we start reducing emissions, just what level of greenhouse gases the atmosphere will stabilise at is difficult to say. "But I'm afraid it will be relatively high, which means something like a two degree warming over the next 100 years."	CO2 BubblesAtmospheric scientists warn that greenhouse gas emissions are increasing more rapidly, despite global efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, new research by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) shows. According to CSIRO research scientist Dr Mike Raupach, 7.9 billion tonnes of carbon were emitted into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide in 2005 - a doubling in the rate of increase since 1990 - and the rate of increase continues to accelerate. Data from the Cape Grim air pollution monitoring station in north-west Tasmania shows carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 2.5% each year for the past five years. "From 2000 to 2005, the growth rate of carbon dioxide emissions was more than 2.5% per year, whereas in the 1990s it was less than 1% per year," Dr Raupach says. Dr Raupach, who co-chairs the international Global Carbon Project also, was surprised by his research results. "It shows recent efforts globally to reduce emissions have had little impact on emissions growth," he said. The CSIRO found that in global terms, China has the highest current growth rate in CO2 emissions although it's emissions per person are below the global average. China's accumulated contribution since the start the 1800s is only five per cent of the global total. The USA and Europe have each contributed more than 25% of accumulated global emissions. Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere — a separate measure to carbon emissions — had also increased at an unprecedented rate. Dr Paul Fraser, also from CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, said that atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide grew by two parts per million in 2005, the fourth year in a row of above-average growth. "To have four years in a row of above-average carbon dioxide growth is unprecedented," Dr Fraser said. He said the trend over recent years suggests the growth rate is accelerating, "signifying that fossil fuels are having an impact on greenhouse gas concentrations in a way we haven’t seen in the past."
Ms Kelly apologised but said risks were not substantial Names, addresses and phone numbers - but no financial information - were among details on a computer hard drive which went missing in the US in May. It belonged to a contractor working for the Driving Standards Agency, she said. It is the second time in a month ministers have apologised for a loss of data after HM Revenue and Customs lost discs containing 25m people's details. Ms Kelly said the details of learner drivers had been formatted specifically to meet the security requirements of the private contractor, Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd, and were not "readily usable or accessible" by third parties. Risks 'not substantial' She said the details were not sent in the post - but the hard drive had not been found where it had been expected to be, in a "secure facility" in Iowa. The information commission had judged the risks presented by the loss were not "substantial" and there was no need to notify each person individually. MISSING DRIVERS' DETAILS Name Address Phone number Fee paid Test centre Payment code E-mail where provided Analysis: Testing times for PM 'No fraud' from lost discs The details did not include bank account details, National Insurance numbers, driving licence numbers or dates of birth, she said. "Nevertheless I apologise for any uncertainty or concern that these individuals may experience," Ms Kelly said. She added the Driving Standards Agency had set up a dedicated advice line for candidates who took their driving theory test between September 2004 and April 2007. Ms Kelly said the loss had emerged as part of a Department of Transport audit, as part of a review of data security across government departments. 'Systemic failure' It appears a junior minister, Stephen Ladyman, was informed about the problem in June and agreed a series of procedures and wide audit with Pearson - but did not make the information public. Details of candidates were sent electronically to Pearson Driving Assessments in Iowa. The hard drive was then sent to another state before being brought back to Iowa, where it went missing. Ms Kelly said the Department of Transport was making changes to the way it handled data - including more electronic transfer and "secure couriers" for that information which could not be transmitted that way, as well as increased emphasis on the Data Protection Act. HAVE YOUR SAY Lost social security data, lost learner driver data. Fiasco after fiasco Steve Godrich Send us your comments It follows the loss of personal details of more than 6,000 drivers by the Driver and Vehicle Agency in Coleraine, Northern Ireland in November. Ms Kelly said that agency would be merged with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea to reduce the risk of it happening again. And in October, the prime minister had to apologise for the loss of two discs containing the entire child benefit database - personal details of 25 million people including National Insurance numbers and bank accounts. 'Spy-in-the-sky' Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said it was further evidence of a lack of competence and "systemic failure" by the government in handling private data. "Quite simply the government is failing in its duty to obey its own laws on data protection," she said. This constant attempt to gather data, to get more data, to know more about you, to link it more together, all of that it seems to me is what comes into question Susan Kramer Lib Dems Ms Villiers told Ms Kelly: "This incident and the HM Revenue and Customs disaster are another blow to your plans for an untested spy-in-the-sky national road pricing scheme." Susan Kramer, for the Liberal Democrats described the further loss of data from another government department as "mind-bending". She said: "Perhaps the answer is we should be holding less data on people or it should automatically be destroyed. "I still can't get to the bottom of how old some of this data was on people who'd applied for drivers' licences. "This constant attempt to gather data, to get more data, to know more about you, to link it more together, all of that it seems to me is what comes into question." 'Deep regret' Pearson plc, the parent company of Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd, said: "We take great care over the quality and security of our data and we deeply regret this incident. "There is no loss of sensitive financial data and no evidence of misuse. We have put in place additional measures to strengthen data security further." The BBC's Justin Webb said the company had reported the missing hard drive to Iowa police, but referred to it has having been "mislaid" and said there was no evidence it had been stolen. Ms Kelly's statement followed Chancellor Alistair Darling's presentation of an interim report by Kieran Poynter, UK chairman at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, into the loss of the two child benefit discs. \|\|\|\|\| Analysis The mayor is dependent on the central government for most of their funds, so how much power do they really have?	Some personal details of 3 million British learner drivers who had applied for the 'theory test' component of their Driving licence have been lost in Iowa, in the USA. The data was lost on a hard drive that was owned by Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd, a private contractor to the UK driving standards agency. Details were given by the UK Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly, in the House of Commons at 1730 UTC yesterday. It is the first major loss of data in the UK since information on 25 million people was lost by HM Revenue in October. In her statement to MPs, Ruth Kelly confirmed that no banking information was contained within the lost data, nor were individuals' dates of birth. She highlighted that security measures had been taken, and that the information that had been stored was not in a format "readily usable or accessible" by standard means. Political figures in the UK continue to raise concerns about both the specific loss of this information, and the nature of governments ability to safely gather and maintain information. Susan Kramer, representing the Liberal Democrats stated "This constant attempt to gather data, to get more data, to know more about you, to link it more together, all of that it seems to me is what comes into question."
Lahore, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistani air force planes swooped down on the country's troubled tribal region on the border with Afghanistan Tuesday, launching a blistering airstrike that left as many as 50 militants dead, Pakistan Army sources said. People flee Miran Shah, North Waziristan, after heavy fighting between Islamic militants and security forces. The strike in the Miran Shah region was the latest salvo in intense fighting between Pakistani security forces and Taliban and al Qaeda militants that broke out Saturday, as the summer cease-fire crumbled even further. Those battles -- in North Waziristan, part of the country's largely lawless tribal region -- killed up to 150 militants, as well as 50 government troops, an army spokesman said. Another 20 security forces have been wounded. Intelligence sources said 12 to 15 soldiers remain missing. According to the army spokesman, the military operation, which was launched Sunday, will continue until peace is completely restored to North Waziristan. Pakistani officials offered few other details about the scope of the latest fighting which follows recent attacks on Pakistani security forces and a breakdown over the summer of a ceasefire between the Islamabad government and tribal leaders. That truce was blamed for an increase in attacks on U.S. troops over the border in Afghanistan, as Taliban fighters were able to prepare, train, and reconstitute weapons supplies without interference from the Pakistani government. The Taliban are the former Afghan regime that sheltered al Qaeda until the U.S.-led war following the September 11, 2001 attacks. U.S. intelligence officials say al Qaeda has established a "safe haven" in Waziristan, just over the border into Pakistan -- and that Osama bin Laden is believed to be in the area. American and NATO troops pushed the terrorist network and its Taliban allies out of power in Afghanistan following the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, but top leaders -- including al Qaeda mastermind bin Laden -- are believed to have found refuge in the mountainous border zone. Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, cracked down on al Qaeda militants and arrested many in the Waziristan area before the truce was reached, but critics say he has failed to prevent the militants from gaining strength within the country. E-mail to a friend CNN's Dan Rivers in Islamabad contributed to this report All About Pakistan • Islamabad • The Taliban • Al Qaeda \|\|\|\|\| 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. \|\|\|\|\| Tens of thousands of Pakistani civilians are fleeing a town on the border with Afghanistan following three days of fighting which has killed up to 250 people, locals and military officials said today. About 90% of the population of Mir Ali, a town of 50,000 people in the lawless north Waziristan region, has fled the fighting using cars and tractors or on foot, a local man told the Reuters news agency. "Just one or two people are staying behind in each house to guard their belongings," Sher Khan said. About 50 suspected al-Qaida and Taliban-linked militants were killed in a new wave of air strikes today close to Mir Ali, an army spokesman said. However, local resident Noor Hassan said the attack had struck the bazaar in a village just outside the town, with a number of civilians killed. "The bombing destroyed many shops and homes," said Mr Hassan. "We are leaving." Previously, the military said the battles - the fiercest in the region since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001 - had left 150 militants and 45 soldiers dead, with up to 15 troops listed as missing. Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, who secured a new five-year term in office in a controversial vote at the weekend, faces intense US pressure to crack down on militant activity. Washington fears North Waziristan has become a safe haven for al-Qaida forces, which are using it as a launching pad to attack coalition forces in Afghanistan. The Pakistani army operation has proved unexpectedly bloody, with soldiers struggling to impose any authority in the remote, mountainous area. The army, which has used helicopters and jets to strafe militant positions, said it had re-established contact with 35 soldiers reported missing in an ambush yesterday. Fifteen more soldiers remain unaccounted for. The pro-Taliban rebels are well trained and equipped, and are using the "latest weaponry and lots of money" brought across the border, a Pakistani official told the AFP news agency. Fighting has centred on Mir Ali, the second-largest town in the region. One official said up to a dozen civilians were killed yesterday after a shell hit a home. Many locals have since fled the town. "Our homes have been severely damaged. Most families have moved to relatives' homes in neighbouring towns," resident Faridullah Khan told the agency. Other people were using loudspeakers at the mosques to beg the military not to fire at their homes, a local resident said. The fighting follows the collapse of several peace deals in which tribal elders were meant to curb local militancy in return for a withdrawal of security forces. \|\|\|\|\| The army faces well-armed, well-trained militants in Waziristan Unconfirmed reports say 50 more rebels died in fresh air strikes on Tuesday. It is the heaviest fighting in the Waziristan region, which borders Afghanistan, for many months. Locals are reported to be fleeing the clashes. US and Nato have been pressing Pakistan to do more to stop militants crossing the border to attack their troops. The fighting is centred around the town of Mir Ali. The bombing destroyed many shops and homes... We are leaving Noor Hassan, Mir Ali resident Waziristan clash: Your views Latest reports say many of its residents are trying to escape, but it is unclear how many are going. One man interviewed by the BBC Urdu service on Tuesday morning who was among those leaving said that his nephew had been killed by army shelling. The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that Mir Ali is known as a base for foreign militants with links to the Taleban and al-Qaeda. The violence has been escalating since mid-July when a ceasefire between the army and the militants broke down. Access for journalists to the tribal areas is restricted and it is impossible to independently verify the casualty figures. 'Punitive action' Military aircraft struck "one or two places" near Mir Ali on Tuesday, army spokesman Maj Gen Waheed, the Associated Press news agency reports. There were unconfirmed reports that about 50 militants had been killed. As well as soldiers confirmed killed, the army says up to 15 soldiers who went missing on Monday are still unaccounted for. The army says it has rejected a ceasefire proposed by the militants and will "continue punitive action till complete peace is restored", AP said. Our correspondent says that, by all accounts, the fighting in North Waziristan has been extraordinarily fierce. The army has been bombing suspected militant positions in villages using helicopter gun ships and jet fighters. Locals report civilians among the dead, including women and children. The battles are said to have begun when militants ambushed a number of army convoys on Saturday. All changed Traditionally the security forces kept out of the tribal border areas. That all changed in 2001 after Gen Musharraf allied Pakistan to the US-led 'war on terror' and vowed to crack down on militants based in the tribal regions. The militants want to overthrow Gen Musharraf For much of that time there has been a heavy military presence in Waziristan. But militants have still managed to increase their influence and control in many areas. Hundreds of soldiers have been killed. But critics say that the military has not done enough to crack down on the militants. Moreover, elements in the army and the intelligence services have been accused of helping them. The military campaigns are deeply unpopular in Pakistan as they are widely seen as being carried out under American pressure. Another batch of more than 200 soldiers were captured recently by militants, apparently without a fight. The militants say they will kill them unless a number of prisoners are released and military deployment ends in their area. So far, a number of the soldiers have been freed, while several others have been killed.	thumb The Pakistani army says that at least 150 to 200 Taliban militants, along with 50 Pakistani troops have been killed in between al-Qaeda, Taliban fighters and Pakistani troops along the border region of Pakistan and Afghanistan in an area known as . At least 20 other troops were injured and at least 15 are reported to be missing. 12 civilians are also reported to have been killed. "We have told them to surrender and give up their weapons," said Major General of the Pakistani army, Waheed Arshad. Militants say that they are going to attempt to overthrow the government and take the newly elected Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf out of power. The battles began on Saturday October 6 in the town of Mir Ali and have lasted three days so far. Army officials say that they will "continue punitive action until complete peace is restored." The battles were triggered after several Pakistani officials were targeted and peace talks with officials in Islamabad failed to go forward. In September, Osama bin Laden issued a new audio tape in which he told militants to resist Pakistani troops and rebel against the army. He also asked militants to seek revenge for the assault on the Red Mosque when almost 100 were killed by militants and troops.
Since 2000, Warren Buffett has auctioned off lunches with himself to support a San Francisco nonprofit organization. Over the course of ten years, Buffett has brought in $5.9 million in donations through these charity auctions. According to Reuters, this year's auction has broken all previous records, bringing in a staggering $2.63 million for the Glide Foundation, an organization providing food, health care, housing and job training for San Francisco's homeless. Reverend Cecil Williams, the organization's founder, explained that the auction was especially helpful this year, with the economy making it difficult for the charity to operate. The national recession has pushed demand for the nonprofit's services up 30 percent, while donations have dropped 20 percent. "I'm jumping for joy. There's no doubt about it," Williams, 80, said after the high bid had topped $1.5 million. The winner of the eBay auction can bring up to seven friends along with them to dine with Buffett at the Smith & Wollensky steakhouse in New York City. \|\|\|\|\| By Sonya Bryskine Epoch Times Staff Billionaire investor Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, joins California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (not in picture) in a coversation during the Women's Conference 2008 at the Long Beach Convention Centre in Long Beach, California. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images) Lunch with the billionaire and well-known philanthropist Warren Buffett has attracted a record auction bid of $2.63 million at the 11th annual charity fundraiser.The winning bidder, who wished to remain anonymous, will have a chance to dine with Buffett at New York’s prestigious Smith and Wollensky steakhouse.Buffett earned his title of “legendary investor Warren Buffett” after turning the textile manufacturer Berkshire Hathaway into a billion-dollar enterprise.The annual lunch function has given business entrepreneurs an opportunity to discuss with Buffett topics such as investment strategies, corporate governance, and philanthropy. The winner can also bring nine guests to share the occasion.This year’s auction was 24 percent higher than the previous record, set in 2008 when hedge-fund manager Zhao Danyang of Hong Kong paid $2.11 million.The chance to have lunch with the celebrated billionaire investor drew nine bidders and 77 bids, according to EBay Inc.Buffett, the 79-year-old investor who is chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., has raised about $8.56 million with the auctions to help the Glide Foundation, which serves meals to the needy. A group led by Courtenay Wolfe of Salida Capital won last year with a bid of $1.68 million.“It’s actually a remarkable calibration of his value,” said Jeff Matthews, author of Pilgrimage to Warren Buffett’s Omaha and founder of hedge fund Ram Partners LP. “It measures what people think his worth to them is,” he continued, reports Bloomberg.According to the 2010 Forbes Magazine review Buffett’s fortune was estimated at $47 billion, making his the third wealthiest person in the world. He runs behind telecommunications investor Carlos Slim and Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates in the worldwide rankings.Buffett is noted for his adherence to the value investing philosophy and for his personal frugality despite his immense wealth. Buffett is also a notable philanthropist and serves as a member of the board of trustees at Grinnell College.However, Buffett’s philanthropy has recently earned him no less respect. He has vowed to give away 85 percent of his wealth to the Gates Foundation. The Foundation was described as the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world by the Economist and was founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. The primary aims of the foundation are, globally, to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and in America, to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology.	File photo of billionaire Warren Buffett. Billionaire Warren Buffett, Chief Executive of , auctioned lunch with himself on eBay for US$2.63 million. Bidding, which started on eBay a few weeks ago, attracted nine bidders, offering huge sums for the opportunity to have a steak lunch with the man said to be a "legendary investor". The winning bidder, an anonymous individual, will be parting with $2.63 million for a meal with the world-famed investor and has the opportunity to bring along seven friends for the meal. This, the latest of Buffett's charity auctions, is providing funds to the , a charity that provides food, health care, housing and job training for 's homeless. Over the last ten years, Buffett has netted $5.9 million in donations through such auctions.
S4C Viewing Figures Top 20 Welsh Programmes - Week ending 23/09/2007 Programme Title Transmission Date and Time Company Thousands of Viewers POBOL Y CWM Monday (20:25), Wednesday (18:00) and Sunday (18:20) BBC Cymru 101 POBOL Y CWM Wednesday (20:00), Thursday (18:00) and Sunday (18:45) BBC Cymru 95 POBOL Y CWM Friday (19:15), Sunday (19:05) and Monday 24/09 (18:00) BBC Cymru 88 POBOL Y CWM Monday (20:00), Tuesday (18:00) and Sunday (18:00) BBC Cymru 72 CWPAN RYGBI'R BYD 2007 (Cymru v Japan) Thursday (19:25) Sunset & Vine 60 Y CLWB RYGBI (Munster v Sgarlets) Saturday (17:10) BBC Cymru 53 YSGOLORIAETH BRYN TERFEL Sunday (19:30), Monday 24/09 (21:30), Tuesday 25/09 (22:00) and Friday 28/09 (20:25) Hanner: Hanner 46 WEDI 7 Monday (19:00) and Tuesday (13:30) Tinopolis 42 WEDI 7 Thursday (19:00) and Friday (13:30) Tinopolis 41 CWPAN RYGBI'R BYD 2007 (Yr Alban v Romania) Tuesday (19:45) Sunset & Vine 40 JONATHAN Wednesday (21:00) BBC Cymru 39 Y TY CYMREIG Wednesday (20:25), Friday (14:25) and Saturday (13:30) Fflic 38 NEWYDDION Monday (19:30) BBC Cymru 34 PENAWDAU NEWYDDION Monday (20:55) BBC Cymru 33 WEDI 7 Wednesday (19:00) and Thursday (13:30) Tinopolis 33 PENAWDAU NEWYDDION Wednesday (20:55) BBC Cymru 30 NEWYDDION Wednesday (19:30) BBC Cymru 30 NEWYDDION Tuesday (19:30 BBC Cymru 29 WEDI 7 Tuesday (19:00) and Wednesday (13:30) Tinopolis 29 GWESTY CYMRU Friday (22:00) and Saturday (21:20) SMS 27 Source: BARB From November 1st 2005 to the 22nd of January 2006 there was an incorrect application of a new S4C station code in the BARB viewing measurement system. This resulted in S4C's data being under-reported by an estimated 6% in peak hours and 3% across all hours for this period. These percentages should not be attributed to individual programmes as they are estimates over time and should not be assigned to specific programmes. \|\|\|\|\| Pobol y Cwm marking its 35th anniversary THE BBC’S longest running television soap, Pobol y Cwm, is celebrating 35 years on air. It was first broadcast by BBC Wales on October 16, 1974 moving to S4C when it was launched in 1982. Over the past three decades famous faces, from broadcaster Michael Aspel to Welsh Big Brother star Imogen Thomas, have appeared on the show, which also featured a young Ioan Gruffudd until 1994. Storylines have become increasingly dramatic and from showing two nights a week it has extended to five. One of the original cast members is Emyr Wyn, pictured, who plays Dai Ashurst and joined PYC in 1978. The actor, who lives in Llandeilo, has seen many changes over the years. But he believes the soap’s enduring success is its characters, storyline and use of Welsh language. “When PYC started it was the only Welsh language drama on television,” he says. “It’s still an integral part of Welsh-language TV. It’s the only Welsh soap and in the last 10 years it’s become even more accessible. It has lots of non-Welsh speaking viewers too. PYC is on Sky Plus and I remember getting a shock when I went to a skiing chalet in France years ago and switched on the television and PYC came on!” Wyn has been attacked by women in supermarkets who didn’t like what he was doing on screen and admits being a soap character five days a week can be like ‘living in a parallel universe”. A programme marking 35 years of Pobol y Cwm will be broadcast on Radio Cymru on Saturday at 9am. See Saturday’s Western Mail Magazine for a special feature on the soap. \|\|\|\|\| Explore the BBC This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.	'''Friday, October 16, 2009''' Welsh language television soap-opera Pobol y Cwm celebrated the 35th anniversary of broadcasting on Friday. Pobol y Cwm — Welsh for "People of the Valley" — made its first broadcast on BBC One Wales on October 16, 1974. It was transferred onto the Welsh channel S4C in 1982 and has been broadcast there ever since, but is still filmed in the BBC Cymru studios. It is one of the most watched programmes on the Welsh channel and the longest-running television soap-opera produced by the BBC. The episode marking the 35th anniversary of the day the show was debuted was broadcast on Friday. On the S4C website, the viewing figures state that the show is one of the most watched on the television channel, with viewing figures of around 70,000 on a regular basis. It is also the only soap-opera produced in the United Kingdom that is spoken in a language other than English and one of the two currently running regional soap-operas in the UK, the other being Scottish soap-opera River City. The television programme is the third-longest-running soap-opera overall, behind ITV soap-operas Emmerdale and Coronation Street. BBC Radio Cymru are to broadcast a programme at 0900 BST on Saturday to celebrate 35 years of programming for the show. Welsh actor Emyr Wyn said about the show: "When PYC started it was the only Welsh language drama on television. "It’s still an integral part of Welsh-language TV. It’s the only Welsh soap and in the last 10 years it’s become even more accessible. It has lots of non-Welsh speaking viewers too. PYC is on Sky+ and I remember getting a shock when I went to a skiing chalet in France years ago and switched on the television and PYC came on!"
Please Note: You've requested an ABCNews.com page that does not exist. If you've reached this page by selecting a bookmark that worked previously, it's likely the file moved to a new location because of our recent redesign. Please update your bookmarks. If you still can't find the page your looking for, check out our homepage or use the search form below: \|\|\|\|\| ABC News Cartoon Backlash: Iranian Newspaper Seeks Holocaust Caricatures Iranian Paper Says It Will Hold Contest for Cartoons on the Holocaust By NASSER KARIMI TEHRAN, Iran Feb 7, 2006 (AP) A prominent Iranian newspaper says it is going to hold a competition for cartoons on the Holocaust to test whether the West will apply the principle of freedom of expression to the Nazi genocide against Jews as it did to the caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Hamshahri, which is among the top five of Iran's mass circulation papers, made clear the contest is a reaction to European newspapers' publication of Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, which have led to demonstrations, boycotts and attacks on European embassies across the Islamic world. Hundreds of Iranians hurled stones, and sometimes gasoline bombs, at the Danish and Austrian embassies in Tehran in protest against the cartoons on Monday. The Austrian mission was targeted as the country currently holds the EU presidency. The newspaper said Tuesday the contest would be launched on Feb. 13 and would be co-convened by itself and the House of Caricatures, a Tehran exhibition center for cartoons. Both the paper and the cartoon center are owned by the Tehran Municipality, which is dominated by allies of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is well known for his opposition to Israel. Last year Ahmadinejad provoked outcries when he said on separate occasions that Israel should be "wiped out" and the Holocaust was a "myth." Hamshahri invited foreign cartoonists to enter the competition and said it wanted to see how open the West was to caricatures of the Holocaust. "Does the West extend freedom of expression to the crimes committed by the United States and Israel, or an event such as the Holocaust? Or is its freedom only for insulting religious sanctities?" Hamshahri wrote, referring to the Prophet Muhammad cartoons, in a short article on its back page. The paper disclosed its plan to hold the competition in an inside page on Monday, saying it would announce details on Tuesday. But Tuesday's edition said the plans would be published next Monday. Meanwhile, state television reported Tuesday that Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had called his Danish counterpart, Per Stig Moeller, and urged Copenhagen and other European governments to "compensate for their mistake" in publishing the drawings. \|\|\|\|\| Iranian leader: Holocaust a 'myth' TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has described the Holocaust as "a myth" and suggested that Israel be moved to Europe, the United States, Canada or Alaska. The United States, Israel and the European Commission -- along with individual European countries -- have condemned the remark. Ahmadinejad sparked widespread international condemnation in October when he called for Israel to be "wiped off the map." Last week, he also expressed doubt about the killing by the Nazis of six million Jews during World War II, but Wednesday was the first occasion when he said in public that the Holocaust was a myth. "They have invented a myth that Jews were massacred and place this above God, religions and the prophets," Ahmadinejad said in a speech to thousands of people in the Iranian city of Zahedan, according to a report on Wednesday from Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. "The West has given more significance to the myth of the genocide of the Jews, even more significant than God, religion, and the prophets," he said. "(It) deals very severely with those who deny this myth but does not do anything to those who deny God, religion, and the prophet." "If you have burned the Jews, why don't you give a piece of Europe, the United States, Canada or Alaska to Israel," Ahmadinejad said. "Our question is, if you have committed this huge crime, why should the innocent nation of Palestine pay for this crime?" Mark Regev, spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry, said: "The combination of a regime with a radical agenda, together with a distorted sense of reality that is clearly indicated by the statements we heard today, put together with nuclear weapons -- I think that's a dangerous combination that no one in the international community can accept." "What the Iranian president has shown us today is that he is clearly outside the international consensus, he is clearly outside international norms and international legitimacy, and in so doing he has shown the Iranian government for what it is -- a rogue regime opposed to peace and stability and a threat to all its neighboring countries," Regev said. In addition, Ahmadinejad spoke in Zahedan about Iran's nuclear program, maintaining it will insist on its right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. "Those who themselves produce nuclear arms should not raise hue and cry against those who only want to gain access to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes," he said, according to a report from the Islamic Republic News Agency. "Countries which have arsenals of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons which can be used against other countries at their whim and those who supplied the Baathist regime with (chemical) weapons that killed thousands of innocent Iranians ... now go to all lengths to block Iran from gaining access to peaceful nuclear technology," he said. "We are sure they have criminal intentions, and there was never any doubt that they were piling weapons of mass destruction to be used against less powerful nations," Ahmadinejad said, according to the IRNA report. 'Completely unacceptable' In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said his government had summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires to make "unmistakably clear" its displeasure, The Associated Press said. "I cannot hide the fact that this weighs on bilateral relations and on the chances for the negotiation process, the so-called nuclear dossier," Steinmeier said, referring to European talks with Iran on its nuclear program. (Full story) The White House said the comments underlined the need for the international community to work together to "keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons." "All responsible leaders in the international community recognize how outrageous such comments are," spokesman Scott McClellan said, Reuters reported. In Brussels, European Commission spokeswoman Emma Udwin said such "completely unacceptable" comments would do nothing to restore confidence in Iran. "We feel very strongly that Iran is damaging its own interests with these kind of remarks," she added. The Spanish government said it "emphatically condemns" the remarks by the Iranian president. "These statements from the highest levels of Iran, added to previous statements, do not contribute in any way to the peace process between Arabs and Israelis, nor to the stability of the Middle East region," the Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Ahmadinejad's views contrast with those of his moderate predecessor Mohammad Khatami, who urged a dialogue among civilizations. Some conservative allies in Iran have criticized the current president's remarks, AP reported, because they fear he is damaging the country's image. Moderates have urged the ruling Islamic establishment to rein in the president. But Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei supports Ahmadinejad's calls for Israel's elimination, the news agency added. Tehran-based political analyst Mahmoud Alinejad said the president could feel his speeches strengthen Iran diplomatically. "There is a perception, based on past experience that only when Iran threatens and pushes does the West back off," he told Reuters. CNN producer Michal Zippori contributed to this report.	The website of Hamshahri newspaper was brought down this week in response to an internet attack. Hamshahri Daily is an Iranian newspaper that sponsored a contest to produce cartoons denying the existence of the Holocaust. Service to the website was restored today, after several days offline. Hamshahri Daily sponsored the cartoon competition on February 8. The contest followed upon the controversy caused by the twelve cartoons published by the Danish newspaper w:Jyllands-Posten\|. Those twelve cartoons sparked outrage and have led to widespread demonstrations and boycotts. Last year, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denied the existence of the Holocaust, saying "They have invented a myth that Jews were massacred and place this above God, religions and the prophets". The Hamashahri website was the subject of a 'denial-of-service' attack. In a denial-of-service attack, attackers bombard the website with requests for pages until the server overloads. Hamshahri Daily is owned by the Tehran Municipality, which is allied with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ahmadinejad is the former mayor of Tehran.
Irish PM Bertie Ahern steered the EU through the treaty negotiations "We've made a decision based on the commitment that we gave when we put the constitution together in draft form," Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern said. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the treaty could be modified in the light of the French and Dutch votes. Ireland's main parties back the treaty, but no referendum date has been set. UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said on Monday that the EU as a whole would have to decide the future of the constitution. He told the UK Parliament there was "no point" in pursuing plans for a UK referendum after France and the Netherlands had voted "No". Crucial summit French President Jacques Chirac and Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder say they want the ratification process to continue. EU heads of government will try to find some way out of the crisis when they gather in Brussels on 16 June for a summit. Poland and Portugal say they will stick to their plans to hold referendums on the constitution. The constitution has to be ratified by all 25 member states to enter into force. Several countries have already ratified it, but so far only Spain did so through a referendum. In 2001 the Irish people unexpectedly rejected the Nice Treaty. But the following year, they were asked to vote again and they approved the treaty, after reassurances were given over Irish military neutrality. \|\|\|\|\| Ireland intends to go ahead with its referendum on the EU constitution, despite its resounding rejection by French and Dutch voters, the Irish Foreign Minister said today. There had been speculation that Ireland would follow Britain's lead and decide to suspend its referendum, ignoring calls from France and Germany for all EU member states to continue with the ratification process. Ireland has yet to set a date for the referendum, and may in any case find events running away with its plans. EU leaders are due to discuss the fate of the constitutional charter at an emergency summit next week, with growing support for a "ratification holiday" while France and the Netherlands find a way to get back on board. The document can only come into effect if all 25 member states approve it. The Polish president said today that his country was likely to delay its vote if next week's meeting fails to come up with a clear line the constitution's future. In an interview with the Financial Times published today, Tony Blair defended the constitution and said Europe would still need a new set of rules established in due course. Speaking for his trip to Washington, where he is due to meet President Bush later today, the Prime Minister said: "The constitution is a perfectly sensible way forward and at some point Europe is going to have to adopt rules for the future of Europe - and if it doesn't, it is not going to function properly." Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, told MPs yesterday that the Government was shelving the legislation paving the way for a vote until the EU itself managed to achieve some "clarity" about the future of the constitution. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning, Mr Straw denied that EU leaders would try to cherry-pick parts of the treaty and push them through without fanfare or consultation. "There will be no introduction of this constitutional treaty, or indeed of anything that looks like a constitutional treaty, by the back door. That could only come in the UK by a full debate and by a referendum," he said. But he said proposals that could be implemented without a plebiscite included one to give national parliaments more say over EU decisions and another to base a member states voting power on its population. Neither of these proposals was rejected by Britains various political parties, he argued. "It would be absurd, if we could find a way of strengthening the role of the British House of Commons over EU legislation, to say that had to go to a referendum," he said. "The voting system will have to be changed at some stage because the Nice (Treaty) formula will have to be changed." Mr Straw said that more momentous changes, such as the creation of a European foreign minister, would still have to be included in a constitutional treaty and subject to a referendum. British ministers now privately anticipate a slow and lingering death for the blueprint rejected by the French and Dutch electorates last week, although a Populus poll for The Times shows that half the British electorate would still like a vote.	Despite the strong 'no' votes in both France and the Netherlands, the Irish foreign minister Dermot Ahern has confirmed that Ireland will still hold a referendum on the proposed European Union constitution. This comes following the Irish rejection of the Nice Treaty in 2002. Speaking to BBC radio Mr. Ahern said "We've made a decision based on the commitment that we gave when we put the constitution together in draft form." He went on to say "Over 50 percent of the population of Europe have already ratified the convention. What do you say to those people: 'Your votes mean nothing'?" (note that the only country where the constitution was directly ratified by the population and not by the parliament so far is Spain). Unlike in most European countries, in Ireland by law any change to the core treaties of the EU must be put to a referendum. The constitution was agreed upon by EU heads of state earlier this year under Ireland's European presidency. It is backed by all major Irish political parties including the main opposition, Fine Gael.
Apple dived into the competitive social networking business on Wednesday, introducing Ping, a service geared to music lovers that is built into iTunes, as it revamped its lineup of iPods and other products. The company also introduced an upgraded version of its Apple TV set-top box that is smaller and, at $99, cheaper than its predecessor. It allows users to stream television shows from Fox and ABC for 99 cents, and it can also stream movies from Netflix and iTunes podcasts. Along with the new iPods, which include upgraded versions of the Shuffle, Nano and Touch models, Apple introduced a new version of its mobile operating system, iOS. At an event in San Francisco, Steven P. Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, said the new iPods represented the biggest upgrade to the company’s line of popular music players since they were first introduced in 2001. “This year, we’ve gone wild,” Mr. Jobs said. While the upgrades to the iPod lineup and to Apple TV were widely expected, Mr. Jobs surprised many in the audience with the introduction of Ping. The new social network will be instantly available to 160 million iTunes users, as long as they download the latest version of the software, which Apple released Tuesday. In Ping, users will be able to follow friends and see what music they have downloaded or bought, what concerts they plan to attend and what music they have reviewed. They will also be able to follow bands and get updates on their new releases, concert tours and other events. “Ping is for social music discovery,” Mr. Jobs said. “You can follow people and you can be followed.” Mr. Jobs said Ping would have simple privacy controls. Anyone will be able to follow bands, and users will be able to say whether they want to be followed by anyone or only by people they approve. The new iPod Touch is thinner than the previous model and comes equipped with front- and rear-facing cameras, as well as Apple’s FaceTime video chatting software. It also has the same high-resolution “retina” display that Apple first showcased on the iPhone 4 earlier this year. The iPod Touch comes in three models. The 8-gigabyte version costs $229, the 32-gigabyte version is $299 and the 64-gigabyte version is $399. They will be available next week. \|\|\|\|\| Calling it the biggest change to the iPod line ever, Apple CEO Steve Jobs today unveiled a whole new line of Apple's iPods. Apple CEO Steve Jobs discusses the features of the new Apple iPod Nano at a news conference in San Francisco, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010. (Paul Sakuma/AP Photo) (Paul Sakuma/AP Photo) "Every year, we try to improve iPods, to make them better than ever for our users. This year, we've gone wild," Jobs said at the company's fall event in San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center. "It's the biggest change in the iPod line ever." Jobs kicked off the event with updates about new international retail stores, the latest operating system and a new gaming feature. But then he moved on to what he called the "entree." He wowed the audience with an even tinier iPod shuffle, a smaller, multitouch iPod nano and an updated iPod touch that includes a front-facing camera that can be used for video chats. Similar to previous nanos, the new version includes FM radio and a pedometer. But the updated version, which is 42 percent lighter and 46 percent smaller, no longer relies on a clickwheel for control. Instead, the square-shaped device features multi-touch control that lets users tap buttons on the screen to choose songs, control volume, display pictures and more. The new device will cost $149 for the 8 gigabyte version and $179 for 16 gigabytes. New iPod Touch Includes FaceTime Video Chat The revamped iPod Touch includes several features already on the iPhone 4, including a front-facing camera that lets users video chat with Apple's FaceTime. The video conferencing tool can only be used over Wi-Fi networks and with others who have the newest iPod Touch or the iPhone 4. Prices for the iPod Touch start at $229. Jobs also announced that Apple updated the baby of the of iPod family -- the iPod shuffle. The new device still speaks names of songs and artists, but now is smaller and speaks names of playlists. "It's really cute," he said, adding that the device will cost $49. All devices on the iPod line will be available next week. \|\|\|\|\| Apple unveils social network, new iPod and TV tool SAN FRANCISCO — Apple has launched a music-centered social network at iTunes and unveiled slick new iPod and Apple TV gadgets that promised to win the iconic company more devotees. Ping was built into iTunes 10 software made available as a free download at itunes.com. "It is sort of like Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes," Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said, referring to the world's top online social networking and microblogging services. "It is not Facebook. It is not Twitter. It is something else we've come up with. It's all about music," he said. Ping will automatically be available to the more than 160 million iTunes members worldwide when they update to the new version. "Apple is now in the social networking game, but it is music centric which is really cool," said analyst and Altimeter Group partner Michael Gartenberg. "It is not about competing with Facebook or Twitter. This is about something they use in addition. When I want to hang with my music friends this is where I go." Ping could be a threat to News Corporation-owned social networking website MySpace, which recreated itself as an online community for music fans after being eclipsed by Facebook. Forrester analyst Mark Mulligan said the iTunes upgrade "fell short" but that the Ping approach has a lot of value. "This social functionality (which looks like the best of MySpace, Last.FM, Twitter and Facebook) will be a valuable way of driving music discovery," Mulligan wrote in a blog post. "But it needs more." Jobs introduced Ping along with a dramatically overhauled iPod line and a second-generation of Apple TV box that streams television shows and movies over the Web to high-definition television sets. Jobs, dressed in his trademark long-sleeved black shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes, said the Apple TV device would cost 99 dollars, down from 229 dollars. Apple released the first version of its digital media receiver TV in 2007 but it never caught on with the public and has been referred to by the company as a "hobby." "Apple TV hasn't been a big hit," Jobs acknowledged as he revealed the palm-sized low-priced model he hoped will change that situation. "But, we've learned a lot," he added. "People want Hollywood movies and TV shows whenever they want them; they don't want amateur hour, they want professional content." The device is plugged into television sets but also links wirelessly to Apple's hot-selling iPad tablet computers so people could start watching shows on one of the devices and then switch to the other when convenient. "This is to the TV what iPhone was to the phone," Gartenberg said as he left the event. "The way they taught consumers to use the phone they are now teaching them about the Apple way to use the TV set" he continued. Jobs said Apple TV owners will be able to rent HD movies for 4.99 dollars and television shows from the Fox and ABC networks for 99 cents. US users can also stream content from movie rental service Netflix, he said. "We think the rest of the studios will see the light and get on board with this pretty fast," Jobs said. The new model Apple TV will be available in about four weeks. Jobs also said he was rolling out "the biggest change in the iPod lineup ever." The new iPod Touch allows for video calling. It has front- and rear-facing cameras, which let a user hold video chats with iPhone or other iPod Touch owners using Wi-Fi and an Apple program called "FaceTime." The Touch got the vivid screen from the latest generation iPhone and was touted as the world's most popular portable gaming device. Apple was capitalizing on the allure to videogame players with Game Center software that lets users of the company's mobile gadgets play against each other online. Epic Games president Mike Capps joined Jobs on stage to demonstrate a gorgeous "Project Sword" medieval adventure game the studio plans to release for play on iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch devices before the end of the year. "Game Center allows you to challenge your friends and they can challenge you," Jobs said. "If you don't have any friends, it will auto-match you." Richer, more social games make Apple gadgets harder targets to competitors, according to Gartenberg. "They put a lot of pressure on Google without saying the word 'Google'," the analyst said. "We've never seen anything like that title from Epic on a phone." Smartphones built on Google-backed Android software have been striving to gain ground on the iPhone. Jobs also showed off a new iPod Shuffle for 49 dollars and a touchscreen version of the middle-range iPod Nano starting at 149 dollars. The new iPod Touch costs 229 dollars for the eight-gigabyte model, 299 dollars for the 32GB model and 399 dollars for the 64GB version. He said the new iPods would be available next week. Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »	In a music-themed media event yesterday, Apple Inc. unveiled three new portable music players, as well as an upgraded system. Apple also announced updates for its software and mobile operating system. The annual event started at 10 a.m. (1700 ) in the in San Francisco, California. Apple Steve Jobs, who led yesterday's keynote speech at the event, was dressed in his typical black long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans, and tennis shoes. He began by discussing new international , an update to the company's iOS mobile operating system, and the release of a new gaming app, . Jobs then turned his attention to what he called the "entrée" of the day. Apple will release new versions of its , , and lines next week in what Jobs called "the biggest change in the iPod line ever." The iPod Shuffle's capabilities have been extended to playlists, meaning that it will now be able to read off the names of songs, artists, and playlists. The new device is priced at 49. Jobs also showed off the company's new iPod Nano. The Nano, now smaller and without a , features a new screen that allows users to touch virtual buttons to control the device. The new design is 42 percent lighter and 46 percent smaller, but still includes functions on previous Nanos, such as an and a . The 8 version will cost US$149, while the 16 GB version will be priced at US$179. Jobs announced an updated iPod Touch as well, an announcement that had been widely expected for some time. The new, thinner Touch has been upgraded with features matching some already on the company's recently-released , including the and dual video cameras. One camera, located on the back the of the iPod Touch, is for recording video, while the other camera, located on the front, is for use with Apple's program. FaceTime allows users of the latest iPhone and iPod Touch models to conduct video chats with each other over networks. The iPod Touch starts at US$229 for a 8 GB model, US$299 for 32 GB, and US$399 for 64 GB. Another major product refresh unveiled yesterday was the Apple TV. The was first released in 2007, but was never very popular. Jobs even admitted that, although Apple has "sold a lot of them, they've never been a huge hit." The US$99 second-generation Apple TV is both smaller and cheaper than its predecessor, which was priced at US$229. The new version will let consumers stream content from online sources, including , and rent both movies and television shows. Apple has made a deal with and to let users rent episodes of shows for 99, instead of buying programs. "We think the rest of the studios will see the light and get on board with this pretty fast," added Jobs. movies can be rented for US$4.99, and the new Apple TV will be available for purchase in around four weeks. Among the less-hyped updates was one to , previously named AirTunes. AirPlay lets users stream music, photos, and videos from iOS devices to other Wi-Fi-enabled systems. AirPlay would let a video on an be played on a television via Apple TV. Along with an iOS update came one for Apple's online music store application, iTunes. The biggest news involving iTunes 10, which is available for download now, is Apple's new music-based social network, . "It is sort of like Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes," described Jobs. "It is not Facebook. It is not Twitter. It is something else we've come up with. It's all about music." Built into iTunes, Ping allows a user to follow both friends and artists to find new music and concert tours, and anyone with an iTunes account will be able to access Ping upon updating to iTunes 10. Ping will have settings for privacy as well, giving users the option to approve followers. Jobs also introduced a new iTunes logo, which does not include an image of a CD on it because music sales on iTunes are expected to overtake CD sales soon. Jobs concluded the event by bringing out , a member of the award-winning band . Martin, who played a few songs on the piano, including the hit song "," jokingly called his performance "the toughest closing gig I've ever had." Although many of yesterday's announcements had been predicted ahead of time, some had speculated that Apple would go even further. Apple defied expectations of a new music service. They also did not extend the amount of time a buyer could sample music on iTunes, as some had guessed. == Sources == * * *
Rock and jazz musician Jeff Healey died Sunday in a Toronto hospital after a battle with cancer, his publicist said. He was 41. Canadian musician Jeff Healey plays his unique sit-down style before a crowd in Windsor, Ont., in July 2001. (Chris Wattie/Canadian Press) Healey lost his sight at age one as a result of Retinoblastoma, a rare form of retinal cancer. Due to his blindness, Healey taught himself to play guitar with the instrument held across his lap while seated. His unique playing style, combined with his blues-oriented vocals, earned him a reputation as a teenage musical prodigy. He shared stages with George Harrison, B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. But Healey's true love was jazz, the genre that dominated his three most recent albums. His death came weeks before the release of his first rock album in eight years, his website said. Mess of Blues is slated for a North American release on April 22. Much of Healey's commercial success came as the frontman for the Jeff Healey Band, a Juno-winning act that achieved platinum record sales in the United States with the 1988 record See the Light. Despite deteriorating record sales in the 1990s, Healey kept busy with radio shows on the CBC and a local Toronto jazz station where he spun long-forgotten classics from his personal collection of more than 30,000 vinyl records. The Grammy-nominated musician is survived by his wife Christie and two children. \|\|\|\|\| Jeff Healey and his band perform in New York's Central Park in July 2000. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Stephen Chernin Despite long battle with cancer, Jeff Healey's death still shocking, bandmate TORONTO — Acclaimed jazz and rock guitarist Jeff Healey was remembered Sunday as a musician of rare ability who had a wicked sense of humour and a generous nature as fans and bandmates mourned his death at age 41, following a battle with cancer. Bandmates of Canadian rock and jazz legend Jeff Healey were among those shocked by the news of his death Sunday. Healey died Sunday evening in a Toronto hospital surrounded by family and a bandmate, Colin Bray. Bray, the bass player with Jeff Healey's jazz Wizards and the frontman's long-time friend, said he and many others expected the guitarist to rally from this latest illness. "I don't think any of us thought this was going to happen," Bray said in a telephone interview. "We just thought he was going to bounce back as he always does." Healey had battled with cancer since the age of one when a rare form of retinal cancer known as Retinoblastoma claimed his eyesight. Bray said Healey had been hospitalized for a week and that his advanced lung cancer made his final hours difficult. Healey had undergone numerous operations in recent years to remove tumours from his lungs and leg. Bray and fellow bandmate Gary Scriven remembered their frontman as not only a world-class musician but an incredibly strong person with the capacity to motivate those he worked with. Scriven called Healey inspirational and praised the boundless enthusiasm that allowed him to continue performing live only four weeks before his death. "He drew his strength from somewhere, I don't know where, but it spread among the band and flowed into the audience," Scriven said. Healey rose to stardom as the leader of the Jeff Healey Band, a rock-oriented trio that garnered a Juno award, international acclaim and platinum record sales with the 1988 album "See the Light." But Bray and Scriven said Healey's true love was jazz, the genre that dominated his last three albums with the Jazz Wizards. Healey's guitar prowess was characterized by a unique playing-style that saw him lay the instrument across his lap. It led him to share stages with such rock luminaries as George Harrison, Stevie Ray Vaughan and B.B. King, but Bray said jazz allowed him to exercise his other instrumental talents such as trumpet and drums. Healey's love of jazz also led him to host radio shows on the CBC and a local Toronto station where he spun long-forgotten numbers from his personal collection of over 30,000 vinyl records. But Bray said his "best friend" saw himself first and foremost as an entertainer and said Healey seemed to derive therapeutic benefits from playing live shows. Recalling Healey's weakened condition at his final performance on Feb. 2 in Goderich, Ont., Bray said Healey seemed to draw strength as the set progressed. "At the end of it, I can't believe how much better he looked. It was like blood to him." Healey's death came weeks before the release of his first rock album in eight years. "Mess of Blues" is slated for a North American release on April 22. Healey is backed on the album by the resident band at Jeff Healey's Roadhouse, the blues club he founded and named after a 1989 Patrick Swayze movie in which he appeared. The album features two live tracks recorded in the last few months of his life. The Grammy-nominated musician is survived by his wife Christie and two children; daughter Rachel, 13 and son Derek, 3. Funeral and memorial arrangements have not yet been announced.	Jeff Healey playing with his Jazz Wizards Band in Peterborough, Ontario on September 8, 2007. Musician Jeff Healey, 41, has died in Toronto, Canada from cancer, it was announced Sunday. Healey is internationally known for his 1988 album ''See the Light'' and for his appearance the following year in the movie ''Road House'' with Patrick Swayze. His hits included ''Angel Eyes''. He was born Norman Jeffery Healey on March 25, 1966 in Toronto. At the age of 1, he was blinded from retinoblastoma, but still learned how to play the guitar by positioning the instrument on his lap. Healey was host of various Canadian radio programs in recent years and was set to release a new blues-rock album within weeks. He is survived by his wife and two children, 13-year-old Rachel and 3-year-old Derek.
(CNN) -- A collision involving two big-rigs and a car Wednesday caused an explosion that sent flames and clouds of smoke billowing and collapsed a highway overpass just north of Detroit, Michigan. Fire rages at the site of a tanker crash and overpass collapse on I-75 north of Detroit, Michigan, Wednesday. One of the tankers was traveling on the Interstate 75 about 8:30 p.m. in Hazel Park, near the Nine-Mile overpass, when the collision caused an explosion, said Lt. Shannon Simms of the Michigan State Police. It was headed northbound, said Bill Shreck of the Department of Transportation. Hazel Park is about 10 miles north of downtown Detroit. The explosion erupted upward, causing the overpass, carrying two lanes in each direction, to collapse, Simms said. Watch footage of fire » Firefighters put out the blaze late Wednesday and were able to locate all three drivers of the vehicles involved in the crash. The three suffered minor injuries. One of the tankers was filled with thousands of gallons of fuel, Simms said. "I just saw a huge ball of flame go up when I was at the red light, just went up in flame," said witness Mary Greib. "I took off running." Said another witness, who did not want to be identified: "We had a woman in a light-colored, midsized vehicle of some sort that was hesitant to pass the tanker. A number of vehicles were attempting to go around her in different directions." He said he was one of them, and passed her on the right, after which the explosion occurred. "We are not sure what happened," he said. Vince Brennan said he was on the eighth floor of a nearby building when he heard the explosion coming from where "a vicious curve" exists on the highway. "I heard a whole bunch of boom, boom, boom," he said. He ran to the window and looked down on a McDonald's restaurant. "You couldn't even see it, it was so black with smoke," he said. "The flames had to be 30, 40 feet in the air." All About Detroit \|\|\|\|\| Gasoline tanker explodes on I-75 north of Detroit HAZEL PARK, Mich. — An interstate north of Detroit is shut down following a gasoline tanker explosion and overpass collapse. Flames are shooting hundreds of feet in the air from the site on Interstate 75 in Hazel Park, about 10 miles north of downtown Detroit. Michigan State Police say there are no immediate reports of injuries. But Lt. Shannon Sims says the tanker driver hasn't been located and the wreckage of the truck can't be approached because of intense heat. Sims says the tanker was headed north on I-75 when it exploded beneath the 9 Mile Road overpass about 8 p.m. Half the overpass has collapsed onto the northbound lanes of I-75 while the rest remains standing. Sims says authorities don't yet know what caused the explosion. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. HAZEL PARK, Mich. (AP) — Flames are shooting hundreds of feet in the air from a gasoline tanker explosion that has forced the shutdown of an interstate north of Detroit. Interstate 75 in Hazel Park, about 10 miles north of downtown Detroit, was shut down Wednesday evening. Radio station WWJ-AM reports that an overpass at the crash site collapsed after the tanker and a tractor-trailer collided about 8:30 p.m. The station says several other vehicles may have been involved in the crash, but only one minor injury was immediately reported. A Hazel Park Fire Department dispatcher says he cannot immediately provide details. Witnesses say flames and black, billowing plumes of smoke are reaching 150 to 200 feet into the air. WWJ reports gas that has reached sewers along the freeway has caught fire. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.	A tanker explosion on Interstate 75 has destroyed a part of the Nine Mile Road overpass in Hazel Park, Michigan, a northern suburb of Detroit. One man, truck driver Ronald Martinez, has been killed and only 4 injuries have been reported. I-75 (red) in Michigan On July 15, 2009 at about 8:15 PM EST, a tanker carrying thousands of gallons of gasoline collided with a semi-truck from Meijer grocery stores, causing an explosion that resulted in heavy black smoke that could be seen for miles. It is believed that the tanker was clipped from behind by driver Saied Haidarian-Shahri, 27, of nearby Clawson. The tanker's two parts broke in half when a semi-truck rammed into the gasoline-filled tanker and it exploded. The driver of the semi-truck sustained only minor injuries. Saied Haidarian-Shahri was a relatively new driver, getting his license within the past 6 months. Reports say he was doing 70 mph in a 50 mph zone, called the "9 Mile Curve", along the Chrysler Freeway. There were no traffic violations on his license. He has been blamed for causing the accident. The explosion resulted in the collapse of the Nine Mile Road overpass over the freeway. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has decided that the rest of the overpass cannot be saved. MDOT has closed down the freeway between Interstate 696 and Eight Mile Road both northbound and southbound. Local streets surrounding the site have been closed too. This is expected to cause trouble for commuters who travel one of the most used freeways in the metro area. About 2,000 residents of Hazel Park are now without power due to the accident.
By Sushil Sharma BBC News, Kathmandu There have been a number of protests in Kathmandu They were protesting against his February take-over of the government. They are the biggest protests since the king declared a state of emergency and suspended civil rights. The king said the move was needed to combat Nepal's Maoist rebels who want to replace the monarchy with a communist republic. Baton charges Opposition parties say that about 100 people were arrested in the capital, Kathmandu, and that many others were taken into custody in other parts of the country. The figures could not be independently verified. The king assumed direct control on 1 February There have been no comments yet from the authorities, who in the past have played down opposition claims. The Kathmandu demonstrators shouted slogans calling for the restoration of democracy. Police baton-charged demonstrators in some parts of the country. Friday has a symbolic importance for the political parties. It was on this day in 1990 that joint opposition protests forced the-then king to establish multi-party democracy after 30 years of direct rule. The opposition has once again come together following the royal assumption of direct powers on 1 February. Opposition members have been holding protests at the royal move since then, despite rallies now being illegal. The king said that he assumed direct powers because the parties failed to tackle the long-running Maoist insurgency. Hundreds of opposition leaders and activists were arrested after 1 February. About 300, including some top leaders, were freed last week. The political parties have dubbed the royal move undemocratic and unconstitutional. \|\|\|\|\| UN urged on Nepal abuses Printer Friendly \| Email Article \| RSS GENEVA (Reuters) - Human rights groups are calling for United Nations action against alleged civil liberties violations in Nepal as the capital Kathmandu braces for pro-democracy rallies. Nicolas Howen, secretary general of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), said on Friday violence against democracy advocates was intensifying and called on the U.N. to condemn Nepal for violating human rights and install rights monitors in the country. Over 600 activists, journalists, lawyers and students have been detained while carrying out peaceful activities since Nepal's King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency and suspended civil liberties on February 1, the ICJ, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said in a statement. Howen, speaking on the sidelines of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights annual session in Geneva, urged the U.N. to appoint a special investigator to probe reported abuses. "We see no sign that the rule of law is being restored," Howen said. "The appalling violence against civilians carried out by the Maoists and security forces continues and the democratic parties, human rights organisations and the media are still intimidated and controlled." Nepal braced for more pro-democracy rallies on Friday even though rallies are banned and authorities have vowed to stamp out protests against King Gyanendra's sacking of the multi-party government and seizure of power. Gyanendra has said he took power to crush a Maoist revolt and blamed bickering politicians for failing to end the insurgency in which more than 11,000 people have been killed since 1996. Arjun Karki, president of the Federation of Non-governmental Organisations in Nepal, warned that a crackdown on demonstrators could deepen the cycle of violence. "If they are suppressed, those who support democracy are forced to use other means," he said. "So those who repress democracy should really consider their actions first." Human Rights Watch spokeswoman Loubna Freih called on members of the U.N. Commission, especially the United States, to support a Swiss initiative to condemn Nepal for its abuses. The European Union, the UK and Denmark already support the Swiss plan, she said. In Nepal overnight, soldiers killed at least 18 Maoist rebels after the insurgents attacked their base in the deadliest clash in the past five weeks. The Maoists control large parts of Nepal's countryside and want to establish a communist republic. Peace talks have failed to get off the ground and the king seems determined to use the poorly equipped army to crush the rebels even though defence experts say it faces a protracted guerrilla war because of the mountainous terrain. © Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.	'''April 8, 2005''' More than 500 activists, journalists, lawyers and students were arrested Friday in Nepal, whilst protesting against King Gyanendra's take-over of the country's government. Human rights groups have now called for a UN investigation into alleged abuses of civil liberties after King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency at the start of February. "We see no sign that the rule of law is being restored," Nicolas Howen, secretary general of the International Commission of Jurists, said. "The appalling violence against civilians carried out by the Maoists and security forces continues and the democratic parties, human rights organisations and the media are still intimidated and controlled." The state of emergency was initiated to properly tackle Nepal's Maoist rebels who, according to King Gyanendra, seek to replace the monarchy with a communist republic. Fears are now growing that violence in the country will continue to increase and insurgency in Nepal has claimed the lives of at least 11,000 people since 1996. Arjun Karki, president of the Federation of Non-governmental Organisations in Nepal said today: "If they are suppressed, those who support democracy are forced to use other means. So those who repress democracy should really consider their actions first." Elsewhere in Nepal today, soldiers repelled a rebel assault on one of their bases in the country's northwest, say reports.
© WENN Will.i.am has revealed that the new Black Eyed Peas album will be "positive" and "feel-good".The singer and producer, whose sixth studio LP with the band is called The Beginning, said that the record provides reassurance in a time of "uncertainty".Discussing the new album, he told The AP: "It symbolises growth, new beginnings and starts, a fresh new perspective."It's a positive, feel-good [album] at the time where there's question marks and uncertainty. People want to be reminded that it's going to be all right."Will.i.am also confirmed that the LP will be out by the end of the year.It was recently announced that Black Eyed Peas hit 'I Gotta Feeling' has broken a record after passing six million downloads. \|\|\|\|\| Black Eyed Peas’ hit single I Gotta Feeling officially holds the title of the most-downloaded digital song which has been legally purchased over six million times, or roughly once every five seconds since its release. Celebrating the occasion, the band’s will.i.am said in a statement that the achievement signals a better future for the music industry: I am so proud to be leading our industry with 6 million digital sales. It means so much for the future of the music industry. The song spent fourteen weeks at the #1 slot on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. I think you’ll agree that I Gottta Feeling, released in June 2009, is a digital phenomenon. iTunes is still ranking the song as the bestselling track of all time and it amassed nearly 40 million views on YouTube, which is pretty astonishing knowing that only a handful of music videos get that many views. The #1 most-viewed music video on YouTube remains Lady GaGa’s Bad Romance which has been viewed over 255 million times at press time. Black Eyed Peas’ 100-date North American tour has grossed $47.7 million as of the end of June, the band noted. The tour is scheduled to end on August 23 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSD4vsh1zDA via DipDive \|\|\|\|\| Peas 'I Gotta Feeling' downloaded 6 million times NEW YORK — The Black Eyed Peas have more proof of the ubiquity of "I Gotta Feeling." Their No. 1 hit has become the first song to reach the 6 million mark in digital downloads. The milestone was announced Friday and confirmed by Nielsen SoundScan. For the group's leader, will.i.am, the moment is about much more than the song. "We came out in '98 and our career, if you would look at it on chart, there's no dips in it," he said in a phone interview Thursday. "For our career to still be healthy and vibrant and doing things like 6 million downloads, it's pretty significant." It's also significant, he said, in a time when illegal downloading is the norm. "That means that they chose to support the group, support the art," he said. "God knows how many people listened to it online and didn't buy it, downloaded it for free and didn't think about it." The upbeat song about good vibes was No. 1 for 14 weeks; will.i.am said the reason it was so successful was because it gave people hope in a downward time. "It's a positive, feel-good song at the time where there's question marks and uncertainty. People want to be reminded that it's going to be all right," he said. The song was one of the hits from the group's multiplatinum "The E.N.D.," which was released last year. Although it is still on the charts, will.i.am said a new album, "The Beginning," is almost finished and likely due at the end of the year. "It symbolizes growth, new beginnings and starts, fresh new perspective," he said. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.	File photo of the Black Eyed Peas in Paris US hip hop group Black Eyed Peas has announced that it is almost finished with its new studio album, ''The Beginning''. The group's leader and producer, will.i.am (William James Adams, Jr.), says that the recording "symbolizes growth, new beginnings and starts, fresh new perspective. It's a positive, feel-good album at the time where there's question marks and uncertainty. People want to be reminded that it's going to be all right." ''The Beginning'' is the group's sixth studio album and is set to be released by the end of the year. It comes one year after the release of multiplatinum ''The E.N.D.'' and one of its hit singles "I Gotta Feeling". "I Gotta Feeling" officially became the most downloaded digital song last Friday, having reached six million legal digital downloads. Released in June 2009, the song topped the charts for fourteen weeks. iTunes still lists the song as the bestselling of all time, and its music video on YouTube has reached approximately 38 million views. Will.i.am said of the milestone, "We came out in '98 and our career, if you would look at it on chart, there's no dips in it. For our career to still be healthy and vibrant and doing things like 6 million downloads, it's pretty significant."
For such a little guy Samuel David Cheney, weighing in at 8 lbs., 6 oz., sure prompted a hefty debate in the run-up to his birth in Washington this morning. He’s the son of Mary Cheney, and his grandfather is Vice President Dick Cheney. Ms. Cheney, an executive at A.O.L. and official in her father’s reelection campaign, will raise the boy with Heather Poe, her longtime partner. She has been criticized by gay rights groups for not pushing harder for gay marriage, and by social conservatives for having a child outside of traditional marriage. The Cheneys have responded sharply to political questions about the child. At a forum in New York City last winter, Ms. Cheney said, as quoted in The New York Times: “This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue. It is my child….Every piece of remotely responsible research” had demonstrated “no difference between children who are raised by same-sex parents and children raised by opposite-sex parents.” And Mr. Cheney, during an appearance on CNN, told Wolf Blitzer, the host, that he was “out of line” for asking the vice president to respond to a critical statement from Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian group. \|\|\|\|\| Thursday, May 24, 2007; 2:34 AM Baby Cheney, Weighed on Political Scale, Too M ary Cheney gave birth yesterday to perhaps the most anticipated baby in contemporary U.S. politics -- her first child, Samuel David Cheney , whom she will raise with her longtime partner, Heather Poe . The 8-pound 6-ounce boy is the sixth grandchild for Dick Cheney . The vice president and his wife, Lynne , both beaming, posed for a photo with him just hours after his 9:46 a.m. birth at Washington's Sibley Hospital. And that, it seems, will be that for now in terms of public comment from the family about the baby, who launched a lively debate when Cheney, 38, first discussed her pregnancy in December. Some gay activists have chastised the AOL executive for not being a stronger advocate for same-sex marriage, while some social conservatives have decried the trend of gay couples raising children. But the Cheneys have avoided stepping into a debate about the debate. The veep became testy when CNN's Wolf Blitzer asked him about it in a January interview. At an N.Y.C. forum sponsored by Glamour magazine last winter, Mary Cheney responded to questions, saying: "This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue. It is my child." But she also went on to declare that "every piece of remotely responsible research" had demonstrated "no difference between children who are raised by same-sex parents and children raised by opposite-sex parents." Cheney and Poe, a former park ranger, have been together for 15 years and live in Great Falls. And no, there's no more word on how the pregnancy came about. The Salon Soiree That Became a Real Hair-Puller Who says Georgetown parties are boring? What started as an elegant spring fundraiser devolved into a street brawl Wednesday night -- with three arrests, one black eye and a ruined $4,000 Dolce & Gabbana suit. Eyebrow groomer to the stars Erwin Gomez and partner James Packard-Gomez invited 125 people to a lymphoma/leukemia benefit at their new salon on Wisconsin Avenue. The big draw was singer Julia Nixon , who agreed to perform three sets on a stage erected in the salon's back garden. The party had just gotten started when a neighbor, former ANC member Gunnar Halley , came in to complain about noise. Gomez explained that he had checked with city officials and the noise level was in compliance, said his partner, but Halley called the police, who came, agreed with the salon owners, and left. According to Packard-Gomez, it was about 8:30 p.m. when glass, rocks and brick came flying over the fence into the garden filled with party guests. "We were all freaking out," he said, and so he climbed over the fence into his neighbor's back yard -- and, he says, was beaten up by Halley and partner Dale O'Quinn . He scrambled back over the fence and called the police, but a second fistfight occurred when he went around the block to stand in front of his neighbor's house. Packard-Gomez was sent to the emergency room; Halley, O'Quinn and David Rahnemoon (a friend of Gomez's) were arrested for simple assault and spent the night in jail. "I couldn't understand how it escalated to this degree," said Packard-Gomez yesterday, who sustained a black eye, a cut over the other eye, a bruised elbow and a trashed suit. Halley, reached at his law office late yesterday, said Packard-Gomez attacked him, and denied throwing anything into the garden. He said the altercation was a result of a "fundamental misunderstanding" and said he hoped "we're going to be able to become good neighbors once again." Police officials said the investigation is continuing. \|\|\|\|\| Mary Cheney Has Son by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff Posted: May 23, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET (Washington) Mary Cheney, the openly gay daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, has given birth to a son. Samuel David Cheney was born this morning at Sibley Hospital in Washington, weighing in at 8 lbs., 6 oz. Cheney and her partner of 15 years, Heather Poe, live in Virginia. Under that state's law Poe is not considered a co-parent and has no legal rights. The pregnancy raised the ire of religious conservatives who accused Cheney of having the baby for poitical purposes to push "a gay agenda" In a February speech at Barnard College she dismissed the criticism. "This is a baby," Cheney said. "This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue. It is my child." A week earlier Dick Cheney became testy when CNN's Wolf Blitzer asked him what he thought of conservatives who are critical of his daughter's pregnancy. Cheney told Blitzer he was "over the line." Samuel David is Dick Cheney's sixth grandchild. ©365Gay.com 2007	Dick and Lynne Cheney pose with their grandson Samuel David Mary Cheney, the openly lesbian daughter of United States Vice President Dick Cheney, has a given birth to a son, named Samuel David Cheney. The baby was born weighing 8 lbs and 6 ounces (3.9 kg). Cheney intends to raise the child with her partner, Heather Poe. Samuel David is the sixth grandchild of the Vice President. The grandparents, Dick and wife, Lynne, posed for pictures with the newborn within hours of Samuel David's arrival. In February, while pregnant, Mary said: "This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue. It is my child."
MIAMI (Reuters) - Strengthening far more swiftly and vigorously than predicted, Hurricane Bertha became a “major” hurricane in the open Atlantic on Monday, with sustained winds of at least 115 miles per hour (185 kph), U.S. forecasters said. Hurricane Bertha is seen in a satellite image taken on July 7, 2008. REUTERS/NOAA/Handout The second named storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season was heading west-northwest in the direction of Bermuda when it became a Category 3 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity, the National Hurricane Center said. “A gradual turn toward the northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days,” the Miami-based center said. That could take Bertha near Bermuda, a wealthy mid-Atlantic British colony that is viewed as one of the more storm-proof islands in the region, with tough building codes and a storm-conscious population. The National Hurricane Center said it did not expect Bertha to get much stronger due to unfavorable atmospheric conditions in its path. But the storm has already delivered surprises and forecasting long-range hurricane intensities and tracks is an uncertain science. At 5 p.m. EDT, the storm’s center was located around 1,150 miles southeast of Bermuda and it was moving at around 12 mph (19 kph) to the west-northwest. Energy markets have paid close attention Atlantic storms since the devastating 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, during which a number of powerful hurricanes ripped through the Gulf of Mexico, toppling oil rigs and severing pipelines. None of the computer models used to predict storm tracks indicated Bertha would steer south into the Caribbean or toward the Gulf. Hurricane forecasters have predicted this six-month season, which began on June 1, will be average or above average. An average season has 10 tropical storms, of which six reach hurricane strength with winds of at least 74 mph (119 kph). The record 2005 season, which included Katrina which swamped New Orleans and killed 1,500 people on the U.S. Gulf Coast, saw 28 storms. Bertha formed last Thursday near the Cape Verde islands off Africa. It is unusual for storms to form so far east so early in the season. When it does happen, it is frequently a harbinger of heightened storm activity. More information about the hurricane is available at the National Hurricane Center's Web site (www.nhc.noaa.gov/#BERTHA). \|\|\|\|\| Bertha Builds Into 1st Atlantic Hurricane Storm Whirling West-Northwest Toward Caribbean Islands; Could Reach Category 2 Strength Like this Story? Share it: Share On Facebook Tweet This infrared satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Hurricane Center shows Hurricane Bertha gaining strength over the Atlantic at 4:45 a.m. Eastern, July 7, 2008. (CBS/NOAA/National Hurricane Center) Interactive Storm Tracker Follow all the storms of the 2010 season with satellite images, warnings and wind speed charts. Storm Tracker Interactive Storm Season Track the latest storms, see how they form, get preparation tips and more. Hurricane Bertha continues to strengthen as it moves over the central Atlantic Ocean.As of 11 a.m. EDT Monday, the Atlantic season's first hurricane was centered about 775 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. National Hurricane Center forecasters say Bertha is expected to turn in the general direction of Bermuda.It's still to early to tell whether Bertha will hit the island, but forecasters urged residents to monitor the storm's progress.Maximum sustained winds have increased to speeds of 90 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is expected during the next 24 hours, and forecasters say Bertha could become a Category 2 hurricane later Monday.Bertha is headed west-northwest at about 15 mph and is expected to slow down in the next couple of days. \|\|\|\|\| MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Hurricane Bertha strengthened to a Category 3 storm Monday afternoon, but slowed in pace hours after becoming the first hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic season, according to the National Hurricane Center. A satellite picture from 4:45 p.m. ET Monday shows Hurricane Bertha over the Atlantic. At 5 p.m., Bertha was 730 miles (1,175 kilometers) east of the northern Leeward Islands and was moving west-northwest near 12 mph -- down from the morning's 15 mph. Bermuda could be affected by the hurricane this weekend. "It is still way too soon to determine whether or not Bertha will affect Bermuda," the center said. There is a slight chance Bertha could make landfall in the United States. "A gradual turn toward the northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days," the center said. See Bertha's projected path » Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 115 mph, up from 90 mph earlier in the day. A Category 3 storm has wind speeds of 111 mph to 130 mph. Learn more about hurricanes » The storm formed Thursday in the far eastern Atlantic, off the coast of Africa, near the southern Cape Verde Islands. It strengthened into a hurricane early Monday. The first tropical storm of the season, Arthur, formed May 31 near the coast of Belize and dumped heavy rain on Central America and southern Mexico. All About Hurricanes and Cyclones • Bermuda \|\|\|\|\| Hurricane BERTHA Public Advisory Home Public Adv Fcst/Adv Discussion Wind Probs Maps/Charts Archive 000 WTNT32 KNHC 080831 TCPAT2 BULLETIN HURRICANE BERTHA ADVISORY NUMBER 21 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL022008 500 AM AST TUE JUL 08 2008 ...POWERFUL BERTHA MAINTAINING MAJOR HURRICANE STATUS... AT 500 AM AST...0900Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 53.3 WEST OR ABOUT 675 MILES... 1085 KM...EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS AND ABOUT 1035 MILES...1660 KM...SOUTHEAST OF BERMUDA. BERTHA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH...17 KM/HR...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 48 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 120 MPH...195 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. BERTHA IS A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY MAY OCCUR TODAY... BUT A GRADUAL WEAKENING TREND IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 30 MILES...45 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES...185 KM. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 955 MB...28.20 INCHES. REPEATING THE 500 AM AST POSITION...21.4 N...53.3 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...120 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...955 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 1100 AM AST. $$ FORECASTER PASCH \|\|\|\|\| Tropical Storm Bertha forms--and sets a record Posted by: JeffMasters, 11:17 AM EDT on July 03, 2008 Figure 1. Visible satellite image of Bertha shortly before becoming a tropical storm. Note the large field of stratocumulus clouds to the storm's northwest, indicating stable air lying over cooler SSTs. The forecast Most of the computer models foresee a west-northwest track into the mid-Atlantic over the next five days, with a possible recurvature to the north by the end of the period. Whether this recurvature takes place depends on how strong Bertha gets. A larger, stronger storm will be more likely to "feel" the approach of the approaching trough of low pressure and recurve. A shallower, weaker storm might be able to avoid recurvature and continue west-northwest towards Bermuda. The hurricane season of 2008 sets a new record Today's formation of Bertha at 25° West longitude is the farthest east a tropical storm has ever formed in the Atlantic so early in the season. It is also the farthest east a tropical storm has formed in the month of July. Reliable records of Eastern Atlantic storms go back to 1967, the beginning of the geostationary satellite era. Is the formation of Bertha a harbinger of an active hurricane season? Probably. According the the "as shown in (Goldenberg 2000), if one looks only at the June-July Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes occurring south of 22°N and east of 77°W (the eastern portion of the Main Development Region [MDR] for Atlantic hurricanes), there is a strong association with activity for the remainder of the year. According to the data from 1944-1999, total overall Atlantic activity for years that had a tropical storm or hurricane form in this region during JJ have been at least average and often times above average. So it could be said that a JJ storm in this region is pretty much a "sufficient" condition for a year to produce at least average activity." Elsewhere in the tropics A tropical wave Both the GFS and NOGAPS models are forecasting the development of a tropical disturbance in the southern Gulf of Mexico's Bay of Campeche on Monday. The tropics are getting active! I'll post an update Friday morning. Happy 4th of July weekend! Jeff Masters Tropical Storm Bertha is here. Overnight, a significant amount of heavy thunderstorm activity built up around the center, aided by Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) about 26°C (1°C above average for this date). This temperature is right at the threshold of where tropical storms can form. Also aiding the storm is 5-10 knots of wind shear . Bertha has good organization and a favorable environment for intensification, and should continue to slowly intensify today. There is not much African dust or dry air near the storm, and the main impediment to future intensification will be a region of colder SSTs the storm will track over on Friday and Saturday. These cooler SSTs have created some stable air to the northwest of Bertha. Evidence of this stable air in satellite imagery (Figure 1) can be seen in the form of a large area of stratocumulus clouds to the northwest of Bertha.Visible satellite image of Bertha shortly before becoming a tropical storm. Note the large field of stratocumulus clouds to the storm's northwest, indicating stable air lying over cooler SSTs.Most of the computer models foresee a west-northwest track into the mid-Atlantic over the next five days, with a possible recurvature to the north by the end of the period. Whether this recurvature takes place depends on how strong Bertha gets. A larger, stronger storm will be more likely to "feel" the approach of the approaching trough of low pressure and recurve. A shallower, weaker storm might be able to avoid recurvature and continue west-northwest towards Bermuda.Today's formation of Bertha at 25° West longitude is the farthest east a tropical storm has ever formed in the Atlantic so early in the season. It is also the farthest east a tropical storm has formed in the month of July. Reliable records of Eastern Atlantic storms go back to 1967, the beginning of the geostationary satellite era.Probably. According the the Hurricane FAQ A tropical wave (93L) that passed through the Lesser Antilles Islands last night has grow less organized this morning, due to an increase in wind shear to 15-20 knots. The disturbance is a rather small one, and thus vulnerable to wind shear. QuikSCAT satellite imagery from this morning shows no sign of a surface circulation. The SHIPS intensity model predicts wind shear will increase above 30 knots by Saturday morning over 93L, and it is unlikely this disturbance will develop into a tropical depression.Both the GFS and NOGAPS models are forecasting the development of a tropical disturbance in the southern Gulf of Mexico's Bay of Campeche on Monday. The tropics are getting active!I'll post an update Friday morning. Happy 4th of July weekend!Jeff Masters Top of Page : Reader Comments Top of Page : New Comment	Just hours after Tropical Storm Bertha became the first hurricane of the , Bertha strengthened to a "major" storm at category three on the five-step scale of hurricane intensity, the (NHC) said. Five-day track map of Hurricane Bertha.At 5 p.m. EDT, the storm was packing sustained winds of 120 miles an hour and was located about 695 miles east-northeast of the Northern and about 1085 miles southeast of Bermuda. Forecasters say that Bertha is moving west-northwest at about 12 miles an hour and is expected to slow down in the next couple of days. "A gradual turn toward the northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days," the NHC said. While the NHC noted that it is still too early to tell if Bertha will strike land, residents are being urged to continue to monitor the storm's progress. Further strengthening is unlikely, according to the NHC, due to unfavorable atmospheric conditions. Bertha first formed on Thursday in the eastern Atlantic off of Africa. The storm is the easternmost tropical storm to form over the Atlantic in the month of July.
The U.S. recovery is dismal when compared with other post-World War Two recessions and is far from where it should be in terms of growth and employment. But this may be the best that we can expect with the tools that the government has used. \|\|\|\|\| BAGHDAD, June 16, 2006 The new lead terrorist in Iraq is a founding member of al Qaeda in Iraq and had a close relationship with the now-killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, coalition officials said. Officials revealed yesterday that Abu Ayyub al-Masri succeeded Zarqawi following the Jordanian terrorist's elimination June 7 in a precision-bomb attack on his safe house in Iraq. They said Masri fully bought into Zarqawi's bloody tactics that have left thousands of innocent men, women and children across Iraq dead or maimed. Al-Masri - which means "the Egyptian" - is another foreign fighter who trained in Afghanistan like Zarqawi, coalition officials said. No one knows his real name. The terrorist is said to be about 38 years old and got his beginning in Egypt, where he joined the Islamic Brotherhood. He fled from Egypt and moved to Afghanistan, where he trained in explosives at the al-Faruq Al Qaeda camp. There he met Zarqawi, officials said. After the fall of the Taliban, Masri escaped to Iraq and set up with the Jordanian-born Zarqawi. The Egyptian specialized in vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices. He helped establish the Baghdad cell of Al Qaeda in early 2003, officials said. Later he worked the "rat line" down the Euphrates River Valley supplying suicide bombers via Syria. Officials said he probably directed that operation from Fallujah. Following Zarqawi's death, Masri issued a statement on a terrorist web site that threatened massive retaliation against Iraqi and coalition targets. Officials believe the terrorist is in the vicinity of Baghdad. Coalition officials said the death of Zarqawi and subsequent operations have severely disrupted Al Qaeda in Iraq operations. However, they expect Masri to continue the same tactics that Zarqawi followed. They also said it is a mistake to concentrate on one individual, and said many other terrorist leaders are in their sites.	The U.S. identified the new Al-Qaeda leader in Iraq as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, an Egyptian with ties to Ayman al-Zawahiri. Zawahiri was the number two in command of Al-Qaeda. "We think that Abu Ayyub al-Masri is in fact, probably, Abu Hamza al-Muhajir. They are probably one and the same" said Major General William Caldwell, spokesman for the U.S. military in Iraq. Abu Ayyub al-Masri is thought to specialise in bomb making. The announcement came eight days after Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who had been identified by al-Qaeda as its leader in Iraq, had been "terminated" in a U.S. airstrike near Baqubah.
Sun 25 Mar 2007 A file photo of a British patrol boat conducting a patrol in the Shatt al-Arab waterways of Basra, south of Baghdad, February 15, 2007. The British envoy to Tehran on Sunday requested access to 15 detained British naval personnel who Iran says entered Iranian waters illegally despite Britain's insistence they were in Iraqi territory, a diplomat said. REUTERS/British Royal Marines/Crown Copyright/Handout Iran considers charges against sailors By David Clarke BERLIN (Reuters) - Iran said on Sunday it was considering charging 15 British sailors and marines with illegally entering its waters, but added it may give consular access to them after an investigation. Prime Minister Tony Blair denied the navy personnel had been in Iranian waters and said Tehran should be under no illusion how seriously Britain considers the detentions. The incident raised tensions that were already high with the West over Tehran's nuclear programme. The U.N. Security Council imposed new sanctions on Iran on Saturday. London and Washington have also accused Tehran of fomenting violence in Iraq. "This is a very serious situation and there is no doubt at all that these people were taken from a boat in Iraqi waters," Blair told reporters at a European Union summit in Berlin. Iran captured the 15 Royal Navy personnel at the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab waterway, which marks the southern stretch of Iraq's border with Iran, in the Gulf on Friday. "The charge against them is the illegal entrance into Iranian waters and this issue is being considered legally," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters at the United Nations. An Iranian official said Mottaki told Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett in a telephone call that Iran may give British diplomats access to the detained sailors at some later stage. Britain said two boatloads of Royal Navy sailors and marines had searched a merchant vessel on a U.N.-approved mission in Iraqi waters when Iranian gunboats encircled and captured them. Beckett told Mottaki the personnel should be released. "She made it very clear that our personnel were operating in Iraqi waters," a British foreign office spokesman said. "She called for their safe return and asked for immediate consular access". No immediate timetable for further contacts was established. "They should not be under any doubt at all about how seriously we regard this act, which was unjustified and wrong," Blair said in his first statement since the sailors were seized. Unlike the United States, Britain has diplomatic relations with Iran. Blair had initially refrained from commenting publicly on the capture to avoid raising the stakes with Tehran. The Iranian government says the sailors strayed into its territory and foreign ministry official Ebrahim Rahimpour said Tehran had tried to remain patient over border violations. "But violations, incidents and contradictory remarks of British officials after each incident have created reactions among (Iranian) people and officials," Rahimpour said, according to the official IRNA news agency on Sunday. "This has led us to more and more precise investigations in regards to these suspicious incidents," he was quoted as saying. CONSULAR ACCESS The incident sent oil prices to a three-month high on Friday. It took place a day after Iran launched a week of naval war games along its coast, including the Gulf's northern reaches which give access to the oil output of Iraq, Iran and Kuwait. Blair said it was "simply not true" the British forces had entered Iranian territorial waters. "The quicker it is resolved, the easier it will be for all of us," he said. Britain's Ambassador Geoffrey Adams met Rahimpour on Sunday and requested access to the captured sailors, a British diplomat in Tehran told Reuters. "Iranian officials in charge are following up this issue," Iran's Rahimpour said later. Iranian television reported the meeting, without giving details. It said the British envoy had been summoned. Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported on Saturday the 15 sailors and marines had been transferred to Tehran. This has not been independently confirmed. (Additional reporting by Edmund Blair and Frederick Dahl in Tehran, Jeremy Lovell in London) (c) Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world. \|\|\|\|\| Iran defiantly rebuffed international demands yesterday for the release of 15 seized British naval personnel, claiming that the sailors and Royal Marines had confessed to entering its waters in an illegal act of aggression, and were now to be prosecuted in the Iranian capital. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mohammad Ali Hosseini, claimed in a statement that the Britons were engaged 'in illegal and suspicious' activities, suggesting that Iran might claim they were spying. Iran, the US and the UK have been involved in a tit-for-tat round of accusations. Washington and London accuse Iran of widespread interference in Iraq, including the supply of weapons that have resulted in the deaths of soldiers serving in the multinational forces there. The West also accuses Iran of engaging in uranium enrichment to develop a nuclear weapon. Last night the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to impose tougher sanctions against Iran in the hope of sending a strong message that it will grow increasingly isolated by refusing to abort its nuclear enrichment programme. A senior Iranian official told the Fars news agency that the 14 British men and one woman had been taken to Tehran for further investigation. He added that 'documents and evidence existed' - including from the sailors' own GPS equipment - that demonstrated that they knew they had strayed into Iranian waters. The claims were hotly denied by British officials and US officials, who said that the two high-powered British 'ribs' - rigid inflatable boats - were 'miles' inside Iraqi waters when they were surrounded by Iranian patrol boats on Friday. The British claim appeared to be backed up by an eyewitness account from an Iraqi fisherman who told Reuters that he saw the capture of the servicemen, following their inspection of a ship suspected of carrying smuggled cars. The fisherman added that the ship was anchored on the Iraqi side of the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab waterway, the border between the two countries. It was also confirmed yesterday that the men had been detained by members of the naval force of the Revolutionary Guard, the organisation accused by both the US and Britain of channelling arms and other material to Shia militias in Iraq. In London, Foreign Office minister Lord Triesman held an hour-long meeting with Iran's ambassador, Rasoul Movahedian - the second meeting in two days between British officials and Iran's ambassador - to demand the 'immediate release' of the seized Britons. The meeting was described as 'frank but friendly'. The demand was supported by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who pledged 'support and solidarity' yesterday for Britain over the seizure, and said the incident must not complicate a push to impose further sanctions on Iran. Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, says the country's nuclear programme is aimed only at generating power. The new package of sanctions targets Iran's arms exports, its state-owned bank, Sepah, and senior figures in the Revolutionary Guard. 'We are doing our utmost in co-operation with the British authorities,' Solana told journalists at an EU summit in Berlin. 'They have our support and solidarity.' He said a second UN Security Council resolution to impose sanctions on Iran would go ahead regardless. 'The resolution will follow its course,' he said. The demand for the men's release was echoed by Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Foreign Minister of Germany, which holds the EU presidency. A spokesman for Iran's defence forces, General Alireza Afshar, said the 'arrest' was made by members of the Revolutionary Guard within the Iranian territorial waters on Friday, and added that the servicemen were being interrogated and were now 'facing prosecution' after confessing to an act of 'aggression' in Iranian waters. He told Iranian radio that the arrested Britons were in 'good health' and that the 'confessions' would be made public. \|\|\|\|\| Officials say GPS data shows the personnel were in Iraqi waters MoD news briefing Vice Admiral Charles Style said the sailors had been "ambushed" in the Gulf after searching a vessel and their detention was "unjustified and wrong". Tony Blair said it was time to "ratchet up" pressure on Iran, with whom the UK has now suspended bilateral contacts. Reports suggest the only woman among the group will be freed shortly. An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman is quoted as saying Faye Turney, 26, would be released either later on Wednesday or on Thursday. Iran has insisted the group were in its waters when they were taken last Friday. The eight sailors and seven marines, based on HMS Cornwall, which has its home port in Plymouth, were taken at gunpoint by Iranian Revolutionary Guards after they had searched a merchant vessel. UK VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Crew boards merchant ship 1.7NM inside Iraqi waters 2 HMS Cornwall was south-east of this, and inside Iraqi waters 3 Iran tells UK that merchant ship was at a different point, still within Iraqi waters 4 After UK points this out, Iran provides alternative position, now within Iranian waters UK version in more detail Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki told Turkey's CNN-Turk television the 15 - thought to be at the guards' base in Tehran - were in "completely good health". Iran's embassy in London also issued a statement in response to the UK data, in which it said the sailors and marines had been 0.5 km inside Iranian waters at the time they were seized. The statement, quoted by the official IRNA news agency, said "the governments of Iran and Britain have the ability to solve the incident through contacts and close co-operation". At a briefing in London, the Ministry of Defence said it "unambiguously contested" Iran's claims that the Royal Navy personnel had strayed into Iranian waters. Speaking later, Mr Blair told MPs it was time to increase pressure on Iran "in order to make sure the Iranian government understands their total isolation on this issue". The seizure of the personnel was "unacceptable, wrong and illegal" and the UK was now in talks with all its key allies and partners, he said. The market has been on pins and needles with the Iran situation Phil Flynn Alaron Trading Iran tension affects oil prices Mr Blair added: "Our thoughts are with the servicemen and the servicewoman and their families, and their safe return is our paramount concern." The prime minister said: "These personnel were patrolling in Iraqi waters under a United Nations mandate. Their boarding and checking of the Indian merchant vessel was routine - there was no justification therefore for their detention." Mr Blair said the personnel had been "doing their job" and the government would be talking to international partners in Nato and the UN to reach a "sensible" solution. The UK government said the Iranians initially said the merchant vessel searched by the navy personnel had been at a point within Iraqi waters, before later providing a second, alternative position, within Iranian waters. In a statement to the Commons, Mrs Beckett said: "We find it impossible to believe, given the seriousness of the incident, that the Iranians could have made such a mistake with the original coordinates." She told MPs that Britain were suspending bilateral contacts with Iran until the navy personnel were released. HAVE YOUR SAY The country of Iran needs to have a good long hard look at how this situation will look to the rest of the world Gary, UK Send us your comments Iranian view on stand-off Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "The seizure of our personnel was clearly unjustified and the evidence the foreign secretary and the MoD has presented shatters the credibility of any claim they were operating in Iranian waters." BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the freeze on ties between the two countries meant that until the Britons were returned there would be "no inward or outward visits to Iran" and no UK visas would be granted to Iranian officials. \|\|\|\|\| TRIESMAN: NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUING OVER RELEASE OF BRITISH SAILORS (25/03/07) 'Well we've consistently, through a series of meetings with the Iranians and you're right, there's one that's just taken place in Tehran just a very short time ago. We've been insisting that they should be released immediately - there is no reason to hold them - that they should be released unharmed and that we should be in a position to assure their families that they are in good health and that they're safe. And that is our aim. That is the direction that we are travelling in. These things are always very difficult, as we found out with the people seized in Ethiopia just a couple of weeks ago. They're delicate discussions. My belief is that they will come to a good outcome but you can never be certain and that's why I don't speculate about it.' Iran Country Profile Captured UK personnel in Iran: official statements - March/April 2007 Speaking about the latest negotiations with the Iranian authorities over the release of the seized British sailors, Foreign Office Minister, Lord Triesman, said:'Well we've consistently, through a series of meetings with the Iranians and you're right, there's one that's just taken place in Tehran just a very short time ago. We've been insisting that they should be released immediately - there is no reason to hold them - that they should be released unharmed and that we should be in a position to assure their families that they are in good health and that they're safe. And that is our aim. That is the direction that we are travelling in. These things are always very difficult, as we found out with the people seized in Ethiopia just a couple of weeks ago. They're delicate discussions. My belief is that they will come to a good outcome but you can never be certain and that's why I don't speculate about it.' Back to current News To view archived news: 1. Select year, click go 2. Select month 3. Select day Year: 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC	''The Australian'' has reported that an internet website "run by associates of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad" states that the 15 British sailors who were arrested by Iranian Revolutionary Guards could face charges of espionage. The source website for this claim remains unknown; however, ''Rajanews.com'', a news website run by some of supporters of Ahmadinejad said on their website: "If the charges of espionage is brought against them the result would be heavy punishment by current law." "If it is proven that they deliberately entered Iranian territory, they will be charged with espionage. If that is proven, they can expect a very serious penalty since according to Iranian law, espionage is one of the most serious offenses," said the news report which also called the sailors "insurgents." Individuals who are tried and found guilty of espionage or spying would be penalized by death, according to Iranian law. An inflatable British patrol boat similar to the two seized by Iran on March 23, 2007. (File photo: Patrol boat assigned to HMS ''Cardiff'' seen in Iraq in 2002) The Iranian government initially gave the position of the incident as being ''outside'' Iranian territorial waters. General Alireza Afshar, Iran's top military general, then stated that the sailors were engaged "in illegal and suspicious activities" inside Iranian waterways at the time of their detention and that the sailors "have admitted to violating the territorial waters of the Islamic republic". After the UK queried the statement by General Alireza Afshar, the Iranian government gave a revised position for the incident, now placing it ''inside'' Iranian territorial waters. Reports also say that the sailors are being held until five Iranian guards, detained in Iraq by the United States early in 2007, are released to the Iranian government. "As soon as the corps’s five members are released, the Britons can go home," an unnamed source close to the command of Qods Force, who also said that Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei approved of the trade off. The sailors and marines, from the frigate , had been inspecting, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1723, a ship that was believed to be smuggling cars into Iraq, though it was subsequently cleared after inspection when Iranian gunboats surrounded the sailors and arrested them at gunpoint. Reports also say that the sailors were taken to the Iranian capital of Tehran where they are allegedly going to appear before a court. It is not known when they will appear before the court in Iran or when the hearing will be held. As a result of the detention of the sailors, the United Kingdom has activated their "", which is Britain's crisis management team as the U.K. denies that the sailors were in Iranian waters. Tony Blair, the U.K.'s Prime Minister, calls the situation "unjustified and wrong." "This is a very serious situation and there is no doubt at all that these people were taken from a boat in Iraqi waters. I hope the Iranian government understands how fundamental an issue this is for us. They should not be under any doubt at all about how seriously we regard this act, which was unjustified and wrong. It is simply not true that they went into Iranian territorial waters," Blair claimed during a news conference today who also stated that the situation could be resolved within the next couple of days. "The quicker it is resolved, the easier it will be for all of us," added Blair. In a press release March 25, Minister stated, "We've been insisting that the sailors should be released immediately - there is no reason to hold them - that they should be released unharmed and that we should be in a position to assure their families that they are in good health and that they're safe." Triesman indicated that meetings have taken place with Iranian officials over the release of the seized British sailors, and that "they're delicate discussions."
Tensions over Iran's nuclear intentions rose sharply in the past week, after Iran, over the objections of Germany, France, Britain, the European Union and the United States, removed atomic energy agency seals from uranium enrichment equipment at the Natanz nuclear plant. On Saturday, Mr. Ahmadinejad would not say whether the resumed research would include small-scale uranium enrichment, a step in the production of nuclear fuel for an energy plant, or, as part of a more complex process, in the creation of a nuclear bomb. On Thursday, the Europeans said their negotiations with Tehran, which included a range of incentives to end all nuclear activities, had ended. On Friday, the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, met with President Bush in Washington and promised to step up pressure on Iran. The same day, the Iranian foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, said the his government was obliged by law to bar international inspectors from its nuclear sites if its case was referred to the Security Council. The law, passed recently by Parliament, requires that, in the case of referral, the government end voluntary measures of compliance with the atomic energy agency. "Now it is time for the Western countries to build confidence and prove to us that they will allow our people to achieve scientific progress," Mr. Ahmadinejad said Saturday. "Despite their own scientific and technological development, these countries have a medieval mind set. They tell us that we do not have the right to scientific progress. This kind of language has expired." Mr. Ahmadinejad also addressed his recent comments about Israel on Saturday. Last month, he described Israel as a "disgraceful blot" that should be destroyed. He said his earlier comment had been misquoted. "There is no new policy," he said. "They created a lot of hue and cry over that." He added, "It is clear what we say: Let the Palestinians participate in free elections and they will say what they want." \|\|\|\|\| INTERNATIONAL 01.14.2006 Saturday - ISTANBUL 20:07 Iran Challenges Europe in Nuclear Crisis By Foreign New Desk, Istanbul Published: Saturday, January 14, 2006 zaman.com Iran, angered by statements pouring in from European countries over its nuclear program, has announced plans to cut off all voluntary cooperation with the international community if they are sent to the United Nations Security Council to apply for the introduction of sanctions. Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucher Mouttaki warned Europe will lose the chance of reconciliation with Iran and will be forced to halt the studies of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). After Iran announced plans to resume its nuclear fuel studies earlier this week, the big guns of the European Union, Germany, France, and Britain’s foreign ministers gathered in the German capital Berlin to send Iran’s nuclear dossier to the Security Council. Following a counter-statement by Iran, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her British counterpart Jack Straw underlined as recently as Friday that a military intervention in the country was out of question and are pushing for a diplomatic solution to the issue. Following the meeting of the EU’s big three on Thursday Iranian foreign minister was the first to react against the decision to send his country to the Council. Mouttaki told the official Iranian news agency, IRNA, the West will bare the consequences if Iran is sent to the Council. The minister threatened to obstruct the IAEA controls at its nuclear plants and maintain its uranium enrichment program. Mouttaki insisted Iran’s nuclear activities are greatly exaggerated and recalled they had signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty and that it was only natural for them to conduct uranium enrichment studies. “Iran does not need to have permission from any country. It is our legal right to have nuclear energy,” he determined. US President George Bush, in a statement on the issue released following his talk with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said that they cannot allow countries such as Iran to blackmail peace loving countries like themselves. Bush said diplomatic efforts will continue and passing a decision on Iran by the Security Council will be a part of these efforts. Merkel said she shares the same concerns with Washington over Iran and to cooperate with the US is of benefit to Germany. “Iran crossed the line,” the chancellor said Thursday. Straw, who came together with his German and French counterparts and Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, on the same day, said yesterday, sanctions over Iran may come to the agenda if the country refuses to obey the demands of the international community. The British secretary, speaking to BBC radio, told in a response a question about a possible attack on Iran, “No one speaks about an invasion or striking Iran.” The dispute, he said, can only be solved through peaceful channels and reminded he has not spoken to the US about possible military intervention. There is no clear proof that Iran will use its nuclear program to develop weapons secretly, but the strong suspicion remains that Iran has an intention to produce nuclear bombs. Rice also emphasized the use of force against Iran is not a choice “for the moment.” The US Secretary of State in an interview to CBS Evening News, responded: “The US President would remove this choice from the table and nobody would ask him to do this. We are now on a diplomatic mission and we will not deviate from this route at this point,” when asked “Will the US use force to stop Iran?” On Friday, France announced it is too early to ask for sanctions against Iran. French Foreign Ministry speaker Jean-Baptiste Mattei said, “We, and our allies, think the demand for sanction has not yet matured.” In line with these efforts, Russia called on Tehran to suspend its nuclear activities and resume its cooperation with the IAEA. The United States and EU countries accuse Iran of secretly attempting to develop nuclear weapons; however, the Tehran administration rejects these accusations. After Iran removed the seals from its nuclear plants earlier this week, the EU trio announced the talks, which had been ongoing for 2.5 years, had reached a dead end and it was time for the UN to become involved. The EU’s big three will meet in London next week to discuss the issue along with the US, China and Russia. Other News in INTERNATIONAL Saudis Blame Pilgrims for Stampede in Mecca Sharon Cannot be Awakened Turkish Expectations High for Austrian EU Term Presidency \|\|\|\|\| The news conference was the second of Ahmadinejad's presidency At a rare news conference in Tehran, Mr Ahmadinejad said they were needed only by people who "want to solve everything through the use of force". The president defended Tehran's recent move to restart nuclear research, which has sparked international condemnation. Iran says it has a right to peaceful nuclear technology and denies that it is covertly seeking to develop weapons. The US, UK, France and Germany are threatening to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council, which could impose sanctions. Leaders who believe they can create peace for themselves by creating war for others are mistaken President Ahmadinejad Excerpts: Ahmadinejad remarks But the president said a referral would not end its nuclear plans. "If they want to destroy the Iranian nation's rights by that course, they will not succeed," he said. Tehran has said it will stop snap UN inspections of nuclear sites if its case is sent to the Council. The crisis intensified this week when Iran removed seals at three nuclear facilities, ending a two-year freeze. 'Arrogant rulers' Mr Ahmadinejad told reporters Tehran pursued an active foreign policy which sought peace, based on justice. IRAN'S NUCLEAR STANDOFF Sept 2002: Work begins on Iran's first reactor at Bushehr Dec 2002: Satellites reveal Arak and Natanz sites, triggering IAEA inspections Nov 2003: Iran suspends uranium enrichment and allows tougher inspections June 2004: IAEA rebukes Iran for not fully co-operating Nov 2004: Iran suspends enrichment under deal with EU Aug 2005: Iran rejects EU plan and re-opens Isfahan plant Jan 2006: Iran re-opens Natanz facility In depth: Nuclear fuel cycle Iranian press scorns criticism He criticised the "double standards" of Western countries which already had nuclear weapons, and attacked "arrogant rulers" for causing suffering. "Leaders who believe they can create peace for themselves by creating war for others are mistaken," he said. A few had a "medieval mindset" and sought to deprive Iran of valuable technology, without evidence of wrongdoing, he added. Mr Ahmadinejad sparked international outrage with his hardline stance towards Israel, following his election last June. He repeated both his attacks and calls for a referendum for Palestinians to choose their future political fate. "(Israelis) have no roots in Palestine and almost all are immigrants," he said. "Let the nation of Palestine decide among themselves." Diplomatic divisions Western countries are now seeking to persuade other members of UN nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to agree to refer Iran to the Council. The Iranians crossed a line by reactivating nuclear facilities the UN had shut Albert Arnim, Dresden, Germany Send us your views Head-to-head: nuclear crisis European, Russian, Chinese and US officials are due to meet in London on Monday, when they are expected to set a date for the crucial IAEA meeting. On Friday, US President George W Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed that the crisis should be resolved through peaceful means. Washington, Israel and many European powers distrust Iran, partly because it had kept its nuclear research secret for 18 years before it was revealed in 2002. Since last August, Iran has resumed all nuclear activity apart from enrichment, which can produce fuel for power stations or, under certain conditions, for bombs. Tehran has always said it has the right under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty - which it has signed - to research nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.	Map highlighting Iran Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke out in a rare news conference on Saturday against statements made by Europe and the United States, saying that if any country refers it to the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear program, that it will end their voluntary compliance with surprise inspections and other nuclear cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. He also warned that Europe will lose the chance of reconciliation if it pursues sanctions. President Ahmadinejad said that even if Iran is referred to the Security Council for possible sanctions, the action would still not stop its nuclear program. "They keep on threatening us that we have to either accept what they say or they will send us to the Security Council," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said during a news conference in the Iranian capital of . Iran's statements came as Europe and the U.S. began to build support for reporting Iran to the U.N. Security Council. However, China has been cautious and has warned the move could only escalate the confrontation. Meanwhile, President George W. Bush, and Chancellor Angela Merkel, urged U.N. intervention. "The world needs to send a common message to Iran that their behavior...is unacceptable," Bush said. The U.S. and Europe continue to have growing concerns that Iran is trying to produce nuclear weapons. On Tuesday, Britain, France and Germany issued a statement declaring that 2 1/2 years of tense negotiations with Tehran were a "dead end" and urged the U.N. Security Council to intervene. The U.N. Security Council Iranian Foreign Minister, Manoucher Mouttaki, said to the press yesterday that "the West will bear the consequences if Iran is sent to the Council. Iran does not need to have permission from any country. It is our legal right to have nuclear energy." In response the Bush administration, along with Chancellor Angela Merkel, said that they "cannot allow countries such as Iran to blackmail peace-loving countries like themselves." Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that his "country does not need nuclear weapons. They are needed only by people who want to solve everything through the use of force." He then went on to say, "Leaders who believe they can create peace for themselves by creating war for others are mistaken." Tehran has always said it has the right under Article VI of the — which the nation has signed but not ratified — to research nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
DENVER - Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said in a tearful news conference Tuesday that nobody in the organization saw any hint that wide receiver Kenny McKinley was suicidal before he took his life."We've all seen him recently. He's been the same person every time we see him. Liked junk food and chips and things like that," McDaniels said. "He was in the cafeteria, or in the training room, when we were seeing him the last so many weeks here. Nothing that would alarm us to anything like this."However, an Arapahoe County Sheriff's report that was released Tuesday quoted one investigator as saying McKinley had been depressed over a knee surgery he had a month ago."He had made statements while playing dominoes shortly after the surgery that he should just kill himself," the officer reported. "No one believed he was serious."The report provided no explanation for the source of the investigator's information.The report also said McKinley had made statements about not knowing what he would do without football. It said McKinley had flown to South Carolina 10 days earlier to see his young son and had brought him back with him to Denver on Sunday night.Two female friends who were taking care of his son discovered McKinley's body inside his home in the 16800 block of East Caley Place Monday and called 911. Detectives who responded to his home a few miles from the Broncos headquarters found McKinley's body with a pillow over his head and a semiautomatic pistol on top of the pillow. They also noted a strong odor of freshly burned marijuana, according to the report.Arapahoe County Coroner Michael Dobersen said Tuesday that McKinley, 23, died of a gunshot wound to the head. He said a preliminary investigation "suggests the wound to be self-inflicted."The team gathered Tuesday morning and met with grief counselors to help them deal with the death of their friend, who was on injured reserve after hurting his left knee in August and requiring surgery for the second time in eight months.McDaniels said the tragedy would likely bring teammates together."I think our team is like a family, and together, we'll push through," McDaniels said. "Our team is a close-knit group and it was good to have them together here today to share in the grieving process."He says there will be a moment of silence in honor of McKinley and his accomplishments at the Broncos next home game Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts."It's not going to be a normal week. We're not going to try to pretend it's a normal week. We're going to do our work and get ready to go, and really respect everybody's ability to go through this differently," McDaniels said.He also said the Broncos will wear white decals with the No. 11 in navy on their helmets and leave McKinley's locker in place for the remainder of the season as a tribute.Linebacker Wesley Woodyard said McKinley was his usual joking and jovial self in recent weeks, something his college teammates agreed with after he visited the South Carolina campus earlier this month.Woodyard said he saw McKinley a week and a half ago when the receiver was retrieving some items from his locker at Dove Valley. They ribbed each other, as usual."He had a big smile on his face. He just walked out of the building," Woodyard said. "And that's the last thing we remember, that huge smile."Woodyard said nobody saw any signs that their friend was hurting on the inside."Every memory that we have of Kenny is a joke and a big smile," Woodyard said.He said the Broncos will prepare for their game against the Colts with heavy hearts."We've got to play with him on our shoulders and in our hearts," Woodyard said. "So, I think that's something that's going to allow us to continue to push through this week.""We're not going to ask everybody to be the same, and we're not all going to be the same. So I think the players will understand the week is going to go forward and we're going to have to handle that as well as get ready for the Colts and be ready to play on Sunday," McDaniels said.Officials say at about 3:25 p.m. on Monday, deputies responded to a home in the 16800 block of East Caley Place to investigate a report of a possible suicide.Deputies discovered McKinley's body in the second floor master bedroom of his home after responding to investigate a report of a possible suicide. He is the third Broncos player to die a sudden death in the past four years. On New Year's Day 2007, cornerback Darrent Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting in downtown Denver. In Feb. 2007, running back Damien Nash, 24, collapsed and died during a charity basketball game."Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley," President and CEO Pat Bowlen said on the Broncos' official website. "He was part of the Broncos family and will be greatly missed by our organization. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny's family and friends."McKinley, who was born in Baker, Louisiana was a standout player at South Carolina and climbed into the SEC record books with 207 receptions -- the third-most in conference history, according to NFL.com. He also became just the 12th player in league history to collect more than 2,700 receiving yards.A trust fund benefiting Kenny McKinley's 1-year-old son, Keon, has been established through the NFL Players Association.The Denver Broncos will make a contribution to this fund, which benefits Keon with his future educational and health needs.Contributions can be sent to:Kenny McKinley's Trust Fundc/o NFL Players Association1133 20th Street NWWashington, DC 20036 \|\|\|\|\| Denver Bronco wide receiver McKinley found dead Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley has been found dead in his home in an apparent suicide, police in the US state of Colorado have said. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said authorities were called to McKinley's house in Centennial on Monday and found his body in a bedroom. He said detectives believed the 23-year-old had shot himself. McKinley, a fifth-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, played in eight games with the Broncos as a rookie. He was placed on injured reserve in December after suffering a knee injury. "Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley," team president Pat Bowlen said. "He was part of the Broncos family and will be greatly missed by our organisation. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny's family and friends," he added. In January 2007, Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting. Three months later, back-up running back Damien Nash collapsed and died after a charity basketball game in St Louis.	McKinley while with the in 2009 , an American football player for the , has been found dead at the age of 23. The was found dead in the master bedroom of his home in the Denver suburbs. The cause of death is suspected to be suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. President and CEO of the Denver Broncos released a statement about McKinley's death on the Broncos' official website. He said "Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley. He was part of the Broncos family and will be greatly missed by our organization. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny's family and friends." Andrew Bondarowicz, McKinley's agent, said McKinley had been visiting family in and had only shortly returned to Denver at the time of his death. Originally from , McKinley was selected in the fifth round of the . In college, he became only the 12th player in history to collect more than 2,700 receiving yards. McKinley has become the third young Broncos player to die in recent years. was shot dead on New Year's Eve in 2007 and died after he collapsed during a charity basketball game a month later. 's said on his page "No NFL team has been hit harder than Denver. Darrent Williams, Damien Nash. Kenny McKinley. RIP."
KHARTOUM - Sudan accused Chad today of mounting a second series of air strikes on its territory and said the conflict between the African neighbours must be resolved politically. "This morning at 10:30 local time (0730 GMT), another visit took place on the same location and using the same method," Sudanese army spokesman Othman al-Aghbash told reporters. The conflict between Sudan and Chad "cannot be resolved by military methods, it must be resolved through political means," he said, appearing to tone down Friday’s threat of a possible military response. On Friday, Sudan accused Chad of mounting air strikes 60 kilometres within Sudanese territory but Chad hit back swiftly saying Khartoum was "the robber who cries thief." Aghbach also denied the presence of any Chadian armed groups in Sudan following charges by some diplomats that Sudanese-backed Chadian rebels who had launched an offensive on Ndjamena on May 4 had retreated back into Sudan. Chad has accused Sudan of supporting rebels seeking to oust President Idriss Deby Itno, while Khartoum has accused Ndjamena of backing ethnic minority rebels in the western Sudanese province of Darfur. Peace between Chad and Sudan is regarded as essential to any lasting settlement to the six-year-old conflict in Darfur. \|\|\|\|\| Sudan has accused Chad's Deby of being involved in a recent attack on Khartoum [AFP] The alleged raids, the latest of which Khartoum says took place on Saturday, come days after Chad said Sudan had sent armed groups across its border. Sudan has accused neighbouring Chad of launching a third air raid on its territory, a day after it said Ndjamena was responsible for two other bombings. "There was another air strike this morning at around 10am," Ali Youssef Ahmed, head of protocol at Sudan's foreign ministry, said on Saturday, a day after the first two alleged raids occurred. "This aggression continues [and] this makes the situation graver." 'Act of war' Ahmed on Friday said that that there had been casualties in the first two alleged raids, calling them an "act of war". Ahmed declined to comment on whether Sudan planned to retaliate, saying: "We are considering all options." Mohammed Vall, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Khartoum, said the Sudanese government has consulted ambassadors of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, complaining of Chad's behaviour. "There has never been an open war between the two countries, but this is a very serious development," he said. "The Sudanese authorities have made it very clear that they reserve the right to retaliate." Chad denial Chad late on Friday hit back at Sudanese accusations saying Khartoum was "the robber who cries thief". Mahamat Hissene, a government spokesman, told reporters that Chad "is surprised to learn that the regime in Khartoum is protesting against action by the Chadian air force on Sudanese territory". Hissene said that any confrontations would be "simply the consequence of the attack on Chad organised by Sudan, using mercenaries armed, trained, financed and directed by satellite by the Khartoum regime". Both countries have regularly accused each other of backing fighters bent on overthrowing their respective governments. Ahmed said Sudan's foreign ministry had called in Chad's ambassador to demand an explanation for the two sorties and had informed the Khartoum-based ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Three warplanes Chad accused Sudan of backing an armed incursion into its territory last week, after the two countries had signed a pact in Doha, Qatar. They had agreed in that deal to normalise relations and reject any support for rebel groups hostile to either of them. Chad said it had stopped the advance, after clashes that killed 125 fighters. Sudan denied involvement in the raid, saying it was a confrontation between Chad's government and "opposition groups". Chad and Sudan resumed shaky diplomatic ties in November after cutting them in May 2008. Sudan has accused Idriss Deby, the president of Chad, of being involved in an attack on the Sudanese capital by Darfur rebels on May 11, 2008.	Sudan blamed Chad on Sunday of launching an air strike on its territory, a day after accusing the country of mounting two other raids. "This morning at 10.30 local time 0.730 GMT, another visit took place on the same location and using the same method," said Othman al-Aghbash, a spokesman for the Sudanese army. Sudan also accused Chad earlier on Friday of launching a pair of airstrikes into Sudanese territory. Chad promptly dismissed the accusations, claiming that Sudan was "the robber who cries thief." Ali Youssef Ahmed, the head of the Sudanian foreign ministry, called the Friday air strikes an "act of war". He did not comment on whether Sudan was considering to retaliate to the alleged attacks, only saying that "we are considering all options." A spokesman for the Chadian government told reporters that "is surprised to learn that the regime in Khartoum is protesting against action by the Chadian air force on Sudanese territory". A confrontation would be "simply the consequence of the attack on Chad organised by Sudan, using mercenaries armed, trained, financed and directed by satellite by the Khartoum regime", he said.
CHICAGO – Ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's plan to auction off President Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat marked the culmination of years of scheming for personal gain that included trying to extort a congressman and pressuring businesses to hire his wife, prosecutors alleged Thursday. A sweeping 19-count federal indictment alleges that Blagojevich discussed with aides the possibility of getting a Cabinet post in the new president's administration, substantial fundraising assistance or a high-paying job in exchange for the Senate seat. Obama's deputy press secretary, Josh Earnest, said the White House would not comment on the indictment, which does not allege any wrongdoing by Obama or his top aides. Prosecutors also accused Blagojevich and members of his inner circle of plotting to line their pockets with millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains. They are accused of squeezing contractors, hospital owners and others seeking state business for kickbacks they planned to split after the governor left office. "I'm saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment," Blagojevich, who was in Walt Disney World with his family, said in a statement. "I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name." Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, was the congressman, attorneys familiar with the case said Thursday. The attorneys spoke on condition of anonymity because the congressman isn't named in the indictment and the information is secret grand jury material. The indictment says the congressman asked about a $2 million grant included in the state budget for a school. But Blagojevich allegedly told a state official to tell the lawmaker his brother would have to raise campaign funds or the grant wouldn't go through. At the time, Emanuel represented the 5th District on Chicago's North Side. Some of the funds were later released, even though no fundraiser had been held. The indictment does not say which of Emanuel's two brothers was involved. Emanuel's brother Ari is a Hollywood agent and the inspiration for Ari Gold, the Type-A superagent on the HBO series "Entourage." His brother Ezekiel is an oncologist. The indictment also alleges that Blagojevich: _Was involved in a corrupt scheme to get a massive kickback in exchange for the refinancing of billions of dollars in state pension funds. _Told an aide he didn't want executives with two financial institutions getting further state business after he concluded they were not helping his wife get a high-paying job. _Withheld state aid sought by the Tribune Co. unless the company fired unfriendly editorial writers at the Chicago Tribune. Also, convicted fixer Tony Rezko paid Patti Blagojevich a $14,396 real estate commission "even though she had done no work" to earn it and later hired her at a salary of $12,000 a month plus another $40,000 fee, the indictment said. Others charged were brother Robert Blagojevich; former chief of staff Alonzo Monk; one-time chief fundraiser Christopher G. Kelly; Springfield lobbyist-millionaire William F. Cellini; and another former chief of staff, John Harris. Prosecutors said Harris has agreed to cooperate. Robert Blagojevich is chairman of the Friends of Rod Blagojevich campaign fund. "We were hoping that it wouldn't happen but now we go to trial and win," said his attorney, Michael Ettinger. Cellini attorney Dan Webb said his client never had a substantive conversation with Blagojevich, much less conspired with him. Messages were left for attorneys for Monk, Kelly and Harris. Blagojevich faces 16 counts of wire fraud, racketeering and extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements. Most of those charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors said at least $188,370 belonging to Friends of Blagojevich is subject to forfeiture. If the money can't be found, Blagojevich might have to forfeit his Washington, D.C., apartment and Chicago home. Blagojevich, 52, was arrested Dec. 9 on a criminal complaint and U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald had faced a Tuesday deadline to supplant it with an indictment handed up by a federal grand jury. The Democrat's arrest led to his political downfall: The Illinois House impeached him Jan. 9. The Senate convicted him and removed him from office Jan. 29. Illinois lawmakers had considered stripping Blagojevich of his Senate-appointment powers after his arrest, but couldn't agree on legislation. Blagojevich shocked everyone by naming former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to the seat Dec. 30. Burris has since come under fire for changing his story about the circumstances surrounding his appointment. He also acknowledged trying, unsuccessfully, to raise money for Blagojevich. Burris would not comment on the indictment, spokesman Jim O'Connor said. Earlier in the day, Burris told reporters with The Hill as he came off the Senate floor that it "has nothing to do with me." Blagojevich's administration has been under federal investigation for years and Kelly and Rezko already have been convicted of federal crimes and are awaiting sentencing. Thursday's indictment said that in 2003 the former governor's first year in office Blagojevich, Monk, Kelly and Rezko agreed to direct big-money state business involved in refinancing billions of dollars in pension bonds as part of a deal with a lobbyist who promised a massive kickback in return. The lobbyist wasn't identified. Rezko raised more than $1 million in campaign contributions for Blagojevich and also was a major Obama fundraiser. Illinois residents said they were tired of the corruption. "I'm so disgusted," said Linda Dowdy, a 59-year-old Belleville tavern manager who calls herself a hardcore Democrat. She lamented that even well-intentioned politicians don't last long in office. "He may have every intention of going in and trying to change things and of making things better," she said. "But once he's in, he doesn't have any choice but to be as crooked as they are or he's not gonna stay in there." ___ Associated Press writers Tammy Webber and Michael Tarm in Chicago and David Mercer in Champaign contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| CHICAGO Rod R. Blagojevich, the ousted governor of Illinois, used his chance to fill the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama as one more money-making plan in a vast racketeering scheme, federal prosecutors said Thursday, an operation they portrayed as the “Blagojevich Enterprise.” In a 19-count indictment, prosecutors said the “primary purpose of the Blagojevich Enterprise was to exercise and preserve power over the government of the State of Illinois for the financial and political benefit of” Mr. Blagojevich, his family and his friends. Running 75 pages, the indictment had been expected for nearly four months, since Mr. Blagojevich was arrested. The former governor, a second-term Democrat whose political career has come apart, was charged with 16 felonies, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents. Five of his closest advisers his brother, one of his top fund-raisers, two of his former chiefs of staff and a Springfield businessman were also charged with crimes. Mr. Blagojevich, who was believed to be vacationing with his family near Walt Disney World in Florida when the indictment was announced here late Thursday, issued a statement through his publicist. “I’m saddened and hurt, but I am not surprised by the indictment,” he said. “I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name.” \|\|\|\|\| By Andrew Stern and Michael Conlon CHICAGO (Reuters) - Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been indicted for corruption while in office, including trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat that was held by President Barack Obama, prosecutors said on Thursday. A federal grand jury indicted the 52-year-old Democrat on 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents. Blagojevich, who claims he did nothing wrong and is a victim of a political witch-hunt, has promised to fight the charges in court and has a book contract to tell his side. He faces more than 300 years in prison if convicted and at least $4 million in fines, plus restitution, according to the indictment. Blagojevich was in his second term when the state legislature kicked him out of office nine weeks ago, after his arrest in December. He was accused of seeking cash, campaign contributions and jobs for himself and others in exchange for state appointments, state business, legislation and pension fund investments. Among those actions were attempts to leverage his authority to appoint a U.S. senator to take over Obama's seat after his election as president in November, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said. The governor was caught on court-approved wiretaps describing the Senate seat as something so valuable "you just don't give it away for nothing." Blagojevich added he might appoint himself if he could not get anything for the seat. The charges on the indictment date back to 2002, before he was elected governor. Prosecutors accuse Blagojevich of trying to profit with a circle of friends, who would then divide the spoils after he left office. The 19-count indictment also charged his older brother Robert, two former top aides and two businessmen. Robert Blagojevich, 53, a Nashville businessman, was former chairman of his brother's campaign fund. Blagojevich and his former chief of staff, John Harris, have been free on bond since a brief court appearance on December 9 -- the day they were arrested. Harris, 47, was charged with a single count of fraud and has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. The former governor's wife, Patricia, was named in the indictment but not charged. The couple and their two daughters were on vacation in Florida on Thursday, according to media reports. CNN said they were staying at the Walt Disney World theme park and resort. (Editing by John O'Callaghan)	Milorad "Rod" Blagojevich Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of the US state of Illinois, was indicted on Thursday on charges of corruption for allegedly planning to "sell" Barack Obama's Senate seat when the latter vacated it to become President. Five of his advisers, including Blagojevich's brother Robert, were also indicted. The others are former fundraiser, Christopher Kelly, former chief of staff John Harris, former aide Lon Monk, and the lobbyist William Cellini. A jury indicted Blagojevich on sixteen felony counts, among them wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, and racketeering conspiracy. The indictment states that if convicted, the ex-governor could face over three hundred years in prison, as well as US$4 million worth of fines, including restitution. The governor insists that he did nothing illegal, and claims that he was the victim of a politically motivated witch hunt. He pledged to fight his charges in court. "I'm saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment. I am innocent," read a statement released by Blagojevich. "I now will fight in the courts to clear my name. I would ask the good people of Illinois to wait for the trial and afford me the presumption of innocence that they would give to all their friends and neighbors." Blagojevich, a governor serving his second term, was arrested on December 9 of last year on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Shortly thereafter, the Illinois House impeached him before the Senate, which nearly unanimously convicted him and expelled him from office.
Barack Obama announces 2012 re-election bid Mr Obama has seen his approval rating dip during two years in office Continue reading the main story Related Stories US President Barack Obama has announced his intention to stand for a second term in office in 2012. Mr Obama's team released a video on his official website and sent an e-mail to supporters announcing his plans. The president has an online network of millions of Americans and his web campaign was widely seen as a key plank of his election success in 2008. The announcement was widely expected, and his campaign team are set to file election papers this week. Mr Obama does not actually appear in the video, posted on YouTube as well as the official campaign website. Instead supporters look back to the 2008 campaign and talk of their hopes for the 2012 bid. "I don't agree with Obama on everything but I respect him and I trust him," Ed, from North Carolina, says in the video, a line seen as voicing a perspective aimed at attracting liberals and independents who have criticised some of Mr Obama's policies. In his e-mail to supporters, Mr Obama said the campaign would start small and grow over time, "with people organising block-by-block, talking to neighbours, co-workers, and friends". Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. "So even though I'm focused on the job you elected me to do, and the race may not reach full speed for a year or more, the work of laying the foundation for our campaign must start today." Unveiling a new look for Mr Obama's campaign website, his team told supporters: "The idea is to improve upon what's worked for the past four years, scrap what hasn't, and build a campaign that reflects the thoughts and experiences of the supporters who've powered this movement." Analysts say the president will now work to convince US citizens he has delivered the type of change he promised America in 2008. And during the next 20 months before the presidential election, he will have to defend the policies his administration has worked to impose, like his healthcare overhaul and his efforts to revitalise the economy. Continue reading the main story Analysis It's hardly man-bites-dog that a president will seek re-election. But it is unusual for an incumbent to show his hand before all his likely challengers. One inference is that nervy Republicans have their doubts as to whether Mr Obama is beatable. But another conclusion is that the president knows he has lost ground and support since 2008, and realises he must get out of the blocks quickly. There are a couple of interesting things about the video announcing the campaign. First, Barack Obama is nowhere to be seen. And second, there's a strong grass-roots flavour to it, with individual voters talking about what they can do to help their man - ending in the slogan "it begins with us." This echoes the word-of-mouth excitement about Obama in 2008, but the technique is also reminiscent of the Tea Party. Is the president seeking to emulate their electoral tactics?" Mr Obama's re-election campaign is reportedly seeking to raise as much as $1bn (£620m), an increase on the $750m raised for the 2008 campaign. As the incumbent, Mr Obama's team will be able to call on the support of different donors than they did in 2008, when cash was raised through huge numbers of small individual donations and Mr Obama began the campaign as an outsider. After the 'shellacking' A number of Republican presidential hopefuls are expected to seek the nomination to run against Mr Obama. Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee are thought likely to run again, with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Haley Barbour, currently governor of Mississippi, also tipped to stand. John McCain's 2008 running mate Sarah Palin remains hugely popular with some Republicans but divides opinion nationally. However, as it stands, Tim Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota, is the only leading candidate to have formally declared his candidacy. Mr Obama took office in January 2009 with near-record approval ratings, but has seen his support fall during his first two years in office. In November 2010, Mr Obama's Democratic Party lost control of the House of Representatives and shed several Senate seats in mid-term elections to Congress. Continue reading the main story Post-war incumbents Since WWII only two presidents have failed to secure a second term after serving a full first term Democrat Jimmy Carter, damaged by the Iran hostage crisis, was beaten by Ronald Reagan in 1980 In 1992 Republican George H W Bush lost to Bill Clinton and his slogan 'It's the economy, stupid' In 1974 Republican Gerald Ford succeeded Richard Nixon, but was voted out in 1976 The president called the result a "shellacking" and vowed to listen to the concerns of US voters. Despite shedding some support, polling by the Pew Research Center suggests Mr Obama is in a similar position at this stage to George W Bush and a stronger position than Bill Clinton, both of whom went on to win re-election convincingly. In polling carried out in March, some 47% of registered voters said they would like to re-elect Mr Obama, with just 37% saying they would vote for an as-yet-unknown Republican candidate. Some commentators have pointed to a possible play with numbers in the announcement: Mr Obama's announcement was made on the fourth day of the fourth month of the year, by the 44th US president. \|\|\|\|\| President Barack Obama began his bid for re-election in 2012 by releasing a campaign video on his website and sending an e-mail to supporters that said the job of preparing for his campaign “must start today.” Obama filed paperwork today with the Federal Election Commission and spoke with supporters tonight in a conference call that also was broadcast on his campaign website. “We’re doing this now because the politics we believe in does not start with expensive TV ads or extravaganzas, but with you -- with people organizing block-by-block, talking to neighbors, co-workers and friends,” Obama wrote in an e-mail. “That kind of campaign takes time to build.” The campaign will be “farther reaching, more focused, and more innovative than anything we’ve built before,” Obama said. “Even though I’m focused on the job you elected me to do, and the race may not reach full speed for a year or more, the work of laying the foundation for our campaign must start today.” The filing with federal election officials allows Obama to begin fundraising and other organizational efforts for winning a second White House term. The campaign will have its headquarters in Chicago, the president’s adopted hometown and base for his 2008 victory. Obama, 49, said this will be his “final campaign, at least as a candidate,” and signed the message, “Barack.” Video Interviews The two-minute video features interviews with supporters and doesn’t include any spoken words from Obama. It starts with a man in North Carolina, the state that will host the Democratic National Convention next year and one that he carried in 2008. The video also includes images from his historic 2008 campaign, when he was elected the first black U.S. president, including his announcement speech in Springfield, Illinois, and a Fox News television screen showing him the victor of the Iowa caucuses in January 2008, the first official contest on the nomination campaign. The Republican National Committee responded to the Obama video by distributing to reporters editorial criticism from newspapers and blogs saying that Obama is conducting “a backseat presidency” by failing to tackle “exploding costs of entitlement spending” in such areas as Medicare and Medicaid. “Obama has shown a distinct lack of leadership on the budget debate,” the RNC said, adding that he chose “politics over substance by sitting on the sidelines” on overhauling programs. Policy Challenges The president is beginning his campaign as he confronts foreign policy challenges that include the turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa. There is also continued economic stress at home. The national unemployment rate is projected to be 8.3 percent in 2012, according to a median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News in March. While that would be down from the current 8.8 percent figure, no president since World War II has been re-elected with the jobless rate higher than 7.5 percent. Obama likely will give a formal speech on his re-election bid at a later date. He is scheduled to make an April 14 fundraising stop in Chicago, where donors four years ago provided him some of his earliest funding. Additional April fundraising events are being planned in California and New York. Campaign’s Cost Analysts who track fundraising say they expect the 2012 presidential election to cost $3 billion, about 50 percent more than the $2 billion the Federal Election Commission said was spent in 2008 by candidates, the political parties and outside groups. Obama raised a record $745 million in 2007 and 2008 for his presidential campaign and was the first major-party nominee to reject public financing for the general election. Jim Messina, a former White House deputy chief of staff, has moved to Chicago to run the campaign. Also back in Chicago to handle the campaign’s messaging and strategy is David Axelrod, a former senior Obama adviser in the White House. The president’s job approval was at 42 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll taken March 22-28 with an error margin of plus-or-minus 2.2 percentage points. That was down from 46 percent in a March 3 Quinnipiac survey and at its lowest level in the university’s surveys on Obama. Also, 50 percent of the registered voters surveyed by the Hamden, Connecticut-based polling institute said Obama didn’t deserve re-election in 2012, compared with 41 percent who said he should receive a second four-year term. In a hypothetical race with an unidentified Republican opponent, voter sentiment was statistically tied: 36 percent for Obama, 37 percent for a Republican. Republican Race The Republican nomination contest remains wide open, with potential candidates ranging from former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to real estate developer Donald Trump. Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who is exploring a Republican presidential bid, released a campaign-style video on the Internet today in response to Obama’s announcement. “How can America win the future, when we’re losing the present?” Pawlenty asks in the video, which highlights unemployment and record home foreclosures. “In order for America to take a new direction, it’s going to take a new president.” Other prospective Republican candidates include former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucuses in 2008, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana, and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who is stepping down as the Obama-appointed ambassador to China in April. Barbour, Santorum Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has expressed interest in the Republican race, as has former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. The lack of a clear frontrunner has encouraged others, including Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, a Tea Party favorite, to position themselves for potential runs. The Iowa caucuses, the first electoral test in the nomination process, are tentatively scheduled for Feb. 6, 2012. Pawlenty announced March 21 that he is forming a committee to explore a bid, becoming the first major prospective candidate to do so. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia said March 3 he was creating a website to explore a run. Four years ago, when no incumbent was in the presidential contest, a total of 17 Republicans and Democrats had signaled their candidacies or set up exploratory committees by the end of January 2007, including Obama and then-Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, who now serves as secretary of state. To contact the reporters on this story: John McCormick in Chicago at jmccormick16@bloomberg.net; Roger Runningen in Washington, at rrunningen@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Silva at msilva34@bloomberg.net	File photo of current US President, Barack Obama. US President Barack Obama has released details on his plan to run for re-election next year. A video was released on Obama's official website and e-mails sent to supporters. The announced plan to run for a second term was widely expected; the campaign team are expected to file for election papers later this week. In his e-mail to supporters Obama says, "we're doing this now because the politics we believe in does not start with expensive TV ads or extravaganzas, but with you — with people organizing block-by-block, talking to neighbors, co-workers, and friends. And that kind of campaign takes time to build." The president also revealed a new look for his website stating, "the idea is to improve upon what's worked for the past four years, scrap what hasn't, and build a campaign that reflects the thoughts and experiences of the supporters who've powered this movement." The November 2012 election is 20 months away. Several candidates hope to receive the nomination to stand against Obama but so far only one, former governor of Minnesota , has made an official bid. During the first term of his presidency Obama has seen his popularity drop with conflicts in the Middle East and Africa as well as the economic climate back home. In 2012 the unemployment rate in the United States is projected to stand at 8.3%. Although this is lower than the current 8.8%, no president since World War II has been re-elected with an unemployment figure above 7.5%.
Westchester to spend $50M on fair housing Text Size: Normal \| Large \| Larger Westchester County must spend millions of dollars to build affordable housing and integrate mostly white communities in a historic civil rights settlement stemming from a federal desegregation lawsuit. The landmark agreement that was announced yesterday dictates that Westchester spend more than $50 million to build 750 units in the next seven years in parts of the county where there are few, if any, minorities. The decision has national ramifications that could affect thousands of municipalities that accept federal housing funds, though Westchester is the first to reach an agreement. Map: 18 Westchester communities could be targeted for affordable housing "The money will stay in Westchester so that minorities will have more opportunities to live in communities where they have been excluded," County Executive Andrew Spano said. "We have a good chance in making this happen." Communities in Westchester that may have to build such housing - those where less than 3 percent of the population is black and 7 percent is Hispanic - are Ardsley, Bedford, Bronxville, Scarsdale, North Salem, North Castle, Pound Ridge and many more that will be determined by a complex formula that includes information from the 2010 census. Access to public transportation will also play a key role in where units are built. Although Spano called it a punitive lawsuit that never should have been filed and believed the county did nothing wrong, he said the settlement was in the best interest of taxpayers. The risk of losing what is estimated to be in the ballpark of $180 million was far too great, Spano said. As part of the agreement, the county will pay $21.6 million to the federal government, which would then return it to the county through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to build units. (2 of 3) Westchester will also set aside $30 million to build affordable housing in the next seven years and pay $8.4 million to the federal government; $2.5 million of that will go to pay the Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York's legal fees. That's the group that filed the lawsuit. The group's executive director, Craig Gurian, said in a statement that the decision marks an opportunity for Westchester "to make a long-neglected promise" of becoming "one community with no exclusion." The county must also fund a targeted marketing, education and outreach program. The court appointed a monitor, attorney James E. Johnson, to ensure that the parties are reaching their goals. The monitor will be given "great authority" in the matter, and the agreement addresses some of the complexities and obstacles such as local zoning ordinances that have been a roadblock in the past, said Ken Zimmerman, a senior adviser for HUD. The settlement would likely deter future lawsuits as it sets forth the framework for complying with federal housing programs, he said. Building affordable housing is a great step forward for the county and for minorities, though implementing the plan could be tricky if communities aren't on board, said Randolph McLaughlin, a civil rights attorney and law professor at Pace University. "The county is going to be forced to make some very difficult decisions," McLaughlin said. "A lot of work needs to be done." Nonetheless, he said, it was a victory for blacks and Hispanics in need of affordable places to live. "It's good for everyone. It's good for the communities there and the municipalities," McLaughlin said. "It's a great leap forward for the county and the African-American and Hispanic communities." The Anti-Discrimination Center filed the lawsuit three years ago, accusing Westchester of failing to provide affordable housing in its affluent suburbs and failing to reduce segregation in municipalities such as its larger cities, despite taking $52 million in federal housing aid from 2000 through 2006 and doling it out to communities. (3 of 3) The center sued under the False Claims Act of 1863, a law aimed at protecting federal dollars from being used fraudulently. Paving the way for the settlement, Judge Denise L. Cote of U.S. District Court in Manhattan ruled in a summary judgment in February that the county failed to analyze race as an impediment to affordable housing and misrepresented its integration efforts. The judge then wrote that by not doing an appropriate analysis, Westchester didn't comply with requirements to further fair housing. The judge also said the county's policy of cooperating with its 45 municipalities was not a productive way of increasing affordable housing. The case was adjourned repeatedly in recent months as the sides worked on a settlement. The agreement, brokered among the U.S. Justice Department, HUD, Westchester County and the Anti-Discrimination Center, represents a seismic shift in HUD's housing philosophy under President Barack Obama, officials said. Communities that accept federal funds must show they are actually building housing in places that aren't diverse. The settlement represents a new "model of inclusion," said Ron Sims, HUD's deputy secretary. "For too long, the policies that would have ensured progress in those goals have laid dormant," Sims said. "I believe this order has given Westchester County the tool kit to accomplish its goals." Spano said he expects to work with municipalities on implementation, though the county will have more tools - and a much larger stick - to ensure housing gets built. Before the settlement can be completed, the county Board of Legislators' approval is needed. The details will be given a thorough review, said Chairman William Ryan, D-White Plains, who didn't expect it to be held up. "There's a recognition there are some areas where the county would like to see more minorities," he said. "Our objective has always been to provide safe, clean and affordable units." \|\|\|\|\| No communities have been chosen to receive the homes, officials said. But according to the Anti-Discrimination Center, more than two dozen predominantly white towns or villages are eligible, including Bedford, Bronxville, Eastchester, Hastings-on-Hudson, Harrison, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, New Castle, Pelham Manor, Rye and Scarsdale. A federal monitor, James E. Johnson, has been appointed to ensure that the county abides by the settlement. Given that 120,000 acres in the county meet the criteria, the monitor “should have no difficulty making sure that Westchester ends its policy of allowing affordable housing to be off-limits in the most highly white neighborhoods in the county,” Mr. Gurian said. The lawsuit, filed under the federal False Claims Act, argued that when Westchester applied for federal Community Development Block Grants for affordable housing and other projects, county officials treated part of the application as boilerplate lying when they claimed to have complied with mandates to encourage fair housing. A Westchester official originally dismissed the suit as “garbage.” But the county was largely repudiated in February when Judge Denise L. Cote ruled in Federal District Court that between 2000 and 2006 it had misrepresented its efforts to desegregate overwhelmingly white communities when it applied for the federal housing funds. Judge Cote concluded that Westchester had made little or no effort to find out where low-income housing was being placed, or to finance homes and apartments in communities that opposed affordable housing. As part of Monday’s agreement, the county admitted that it has the authority to challenge zoning rules in villages and towns that in many cases implicitly discourage affordable housing by setting minimum lot sizes, discouraging higher-density developments or appropriating vacant property for other purposes. Westchester agreed to “take legal action to compel compliance if municipalities hinder or impede the county” in complying with the agreement. It was unclear Monday to what extent localities could thwart the agreement, if any chose to do so. Mary Beth Murphy, the town supervisor of Somers, which is among the possible locales for new housing, said that while she was unaware of the agreement, “we certainly are committed to affordable housing and have amended our zoning legislation in recent years to create more opportunities.” \|\|\|\|\| County north of NYC to market housing to nonwhites WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The suburban county just north of New York City agreed Monday to create hundreds of affordable homes in heavily white communities and encourage nonwhites to move in. The agreement, reached with the help of the federal department of Housing and Urban Development, settles a $180 million lawsuit brought by the Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York against Westchester County. Both sides said the agreement, which was being filed in federal court, could have far-reaching national consequences. "The settlement will have a major impact on the way federal housing and community development funds are used throughout the country," the center said. Susan Tolchin, Westchester's deputy county executive, said, "HUD's new focus is to make suburbia inclusive and diverse and this is going to be what they want all communities that take funds to do." Westchester admitted no wrongdoing. County Executive Andrew Spano said the county had "for many years considered the impact of race on affordable housing." But the lawsuit said Westchester failed to build affordable housing and reduce segregation in some of the county's more affluent communities. A federal judge ruled in February that Westchester failed to analyze, as required, how race could affect access to fair housing when it sought federal housing and development funds. The county said Monday that was a technicality, but the ruling apparently spurred the settlement. "Westchester can no longer hide from the ugly reality of continuing residential segregation," said Craig Gurian, the anti-discrimination center's executive director. Westchester said it will build or acquire 750 apartments or houses in its suburban towns and villages in the next seven years. Of that number, 630 are to be built in neighborhoods that are less than 3 percent black and 7 percent Hispanic. The county has dense urban areas but is best known for such suburban bedroom communities as Scarsdale and Chappaqua, where former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton live. Most of those villages are heavily white. The county's population is just less than 1 million. Whites cannot be excluded from buying the homes, but the agreement calls for Westchester to market them throughout the county and in nearby areas with large nonwhite populations, Tolchin said. That includes New York City, which abuts Westchester along the Bronx line. The agreement also calls for Westchester to pay the federal government $21.6 million, which the government will then return to the county to help pay for the housing. An additional $10.9 million will be paid to the anti-discrimination center, its lawyers and the government. Tolchin said the agreement recognizes that the county does not control local zoning and creates a monitor who could "give us some flexibility about the (seven-year) deadline." Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| HUD AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCE LANDMARK CIVIL RIGHTS AGREEMENT IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY Agreement seen as a national model for inclusive, diverse and sustainable communities WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Justice today announced a historic civil rights settlement with Westchester County, New York. The landmark agreement will result in the construction of 750 units of affordable housing in neighborhoods with small minority populations; will remove existing impediments to fair and affordable housing; and will require the County to take active steps to ensure its housing and development practices are fair to families without regard to their race or ethnicity. "This is about expanding the geography of opportunity for families who may have been limited in their housing choices. The agreement we announce today demonstrates Westchester County's commitment to make sure its neighborhoods are open to everyone, regardless of the color of their skin," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "This agreement signals a new commitment by HUD to ensure that housing opportunities be available to all, and not just to some." Westchester County receives a yearly Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation from HUD and, as a condition of receiving this block grant funding, agrees to "affirmatively further fair housing." From 2000 to 2008, the County certified that it had complied with this requirement. The Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York (ADC) disputed this certification and filed a complaint under The False Claims Act. A federal court ruled that Westchester County failed its legal obligation to explicitly analyze "the existence and impact of race discrimination on housing opportunities and choice in its jurisdiction." As a result, HUD and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York helped to broker today's agreement whereby Westchester County agreed to make a $51.6 million investment in affordable housing over the next seven years in areas of the County where it has historically not provided affordable housing. The settlement also provides for payment of $7.5 million to ADC. "This landmark agreement significantly advances the cause of promoting residential integration, the cause that led us to initiate this litigation more than three years ago," said Craig Gurian, Executive Director of the Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York. "It signals a new day for Westchester County, and I applaud HUD and the Department of Justice for joining with ADC to begin to make real the long-neglected promise that we can become one community, with no exclusion." "The resolution of this case is a positive step toward creating new housing opportunities and advancing integrated residential patterns in Westchester County," said Ron Sims, HUD Deputy Secretary and former Executive of King County, Washington. "This settlement reflects an approach to equitable development in suburban areas that can serve as a model for building inclusive, diverse and sustainable communities across the country." Westchester County will also undertake and fund targeted marketing, public education and other outreach efforts to promote fair and affordable housing in areas that have historically not provided such opportunities. Finally, the County's compliance with the agreement will be overseen by a court-appointed monitor who will have the authority to recommend additional actions. The monitor will be James E. Johnson, a member of the law firm Debevoise and Plimpton. The agreement announced today must still be approved by Westchester County's Board of Legislators. ### \|\|\|\|\| 04-Jan-10 dotDefender Blocked Your Request Please contact the site administrator, and provide the following Reference ID: C9A5-FCAE-FB1A-5462	In a settlement, hailed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a "historic civil rights settlement," the county government for Westchester County, New York has agreed to spend US$51.6 million to build 750 affordable housing units that will primarily be offered to non-white minorities. 2000 United States Census. The settlement is the result of a federal lawsuit filed by the Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York (ADC) against the county under the False Claims Act, which alleged that the county was negligent in its oversight of federal funds that it received from HUD for community development which stipulated that it "affirmatively further fair housing." The ADC suit which claimed $180 million in damages, also said the county failed to build affordable housing and reduce segregation in some of the more affluent communities. Prior to the settlement, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that Westchester had failed to analyze the effect of race in relation to access to fair housing when it applied for HUD funds. The county redistributed the federal funds to town and village governments, and the court concluded it did so without ensuring that guidelines were being followed or considering where the affordable housing was being placed. Westchester County admitted no wrongdoing and says it has "for many years considered the impact of race on affordable housing," according to County Executive Andrew Spano. Westchester County will also pay $8.4 million as a fine to the federal government and $2.5 million to cover legal expenses of the ADC. 630 of the 750 housing units must be built in communities which are less than 3% black and less than 7% Hispanic. The county will be required to market the homes "aggressively" to minorities, though federal law prevents them from being offered exclusively to certain races. The case is a landmark for HUD and the way that the Obama administration will use the government agency. "This is about expanding the geography of opportunity for families who may have been limited in their housing choices. The agreement we announce today demonstrates Westchester County's commitment to make sure its neighborhoods are open to everyone, regardless of the color of their skin," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "This agreement signals a new commitment by HUD to ensure that housing opportunities be available to all, and not just to some." "This is consistent with the president’s desire to see a fully integrated society," said HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims. "Until now, we tended to lay dormant. This is historic, because we are going to hold people’s feet to the fire." It is not yet decided where the affordable housing will be placed, but Westchester County has a number of towns and hamlets which qualify under the stipulated racial requirements, including Chappaqua, which is noted as the official residence of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton. "Some constituents have had strong reactions, but that's just based on what they read in the papers and what the headlines are," said County Legislator Peter Harckham. "But there are no details yet to get excited about." "I certainly approve of nondiscriminatory policy for housing," Alan Harrow, a resident of Somers, told ''The Journal News''. "Looking at it from my own point of view, I moved into this very rural area, and if there's suddenly a large housing development and 200 families there, it's probably something I won't really welcome."
Flood Hits Kakheti Region Several villages of the Lagodekhi district, in the eastern Georgian region of Kakheti, were flooded after the Kabali river burst its bank last night. No casualties were reported. Floods and landslides in Georgia have already affected the Svaneti, Racha-Lechkhumi, the mountainous districts of the Adjara Autonomous Republic, several districts of Shida Karti, Kvemo Kartli and the Imereti regions. At the government session on May 4 Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli instructed local authorities to assess the damage caused by floods and landslides within two months. Draft amendments to the 2005 budget, envisaging allocation of 20 million Lari for flood relief measures, were discussed at the government’s session. These amendments have already been submitted to the Parliament for consideration. \|\|\|\|\| Georgia: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 1 Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2005/0074 OCHA Situation Report No. 1 Georgia - Floods Situation 1. Due to the almost week-long torrential rains, most of the western Georgia regions and some parts of eastern and southern Georgia suffer from severe flooding. Roads, bridges, houses and other buildings have been covered by heavy water in Lentekhi, Mestia, Oni, Ambrolauri, Tsageri (Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti) and Kutaisi, Khoni, Tskaltubo districts (Imereti). As reported in media, about 500 families ask for immediate evacuation. The situation has been further complicated by the fact that clearing operations were hard to carry out due to freak weather and damaged roads. There is still no access to some villages located in Svaneti regions where the local population, left without water, electricity and roads is awaiting external assistance. In Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti regions, rivers Rioni, Krikhula and Lekhumi flooded land plots, houses and a 300-meter long bank-protecting constructions. Several roads, bridges and water pumps have been washed away and need urgent repair. Over 30 families have been evacuated from Ambrolauri district, Racha. 61 houses are completely destroyed and 173 families have been evacuated in Tsageri, Oni, Lentekhi and Tskhaltubo districts. 2. The river has destroyed roads in Lentekhi, Svaneti and has stranded residents of over 40 villages. In Laghani village of the Mestia district of Zemo Svaneti region a landslide has been reported. It is noteworthy that many other locations in the region are under threat of landslides. 3. 50 houses have been flooded in Kutaisi and Tskhaltubo cities in Imereti where the Rioni River has come out of the banks. 4. There was threat of flooding in Tbilisi as well, as the River Mtkvari level was raised the evening of 26 April, as a result around 10 houses were flooded in the Kvemo Ponichala settlement where Rescuers of Emergency Situations and Civil Safety Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs rescued 8 persons. 5. According to preliminary assessment, the priority problem is roads/bridges infrastructure in addition to houses, poultry and cattle that were washed away by water. 6. Floods also struck parts of central/eastern Georgia. The villages of Dzevera and Uplistsikhe in the Gori district of the Shida Kartli region suffered after the Mtkvari and Liakhvi rivers burst their banks on April 26. 7. It has been reported that several districts of South Ossetia were hit by flooding as well, particularly Java and Kvaisa districts that are completely isolated. 8. In Mtskheta-Mtianeti region roads are washed away, one bridge is damaged on river Aragvi, nearby territory is flooded. Two houses are destroyed in Kazbegi district. 9. Weather conditions improved in most of the regions of western Georgia, but landslides hit the mountainous region of Khulo in Adjara Autonomous Republic on the night of 27-28 April, cutting off access to several villages there. There is still a threat of so-called "secondary effects" of heavy rains and snow melting - landslides, especially in mountainous regions of Georgia that are normally prone to such disasters. 10. No casualties have been reported. National Response 11. In the morning of 27 April a special Governmental Session was called to discuss and define the Government action plan in response to the disaster and to estimate the damage. As per a Presidential Instruction, military equipment and road transports were mobilized for immediate assistance. Due to lack of access to certain areas it is very difficult to calculate real figures of the damage. Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said that the government could allocate 20 million GEL for flood relief activities. It is expected that much more financial resources will be needed to eliminate the damage caused. The Prime Minister mentioned priority actions such as urgent assistance to the homeless and pledged to purchase new houses for the affected. 12. Two battalions of reservists were immediately mobilized in Kutaisi, part of which managed to reach some affected villages by foot, and provided immediate assistance to the local population. Local municipalities managed to bear the primary responsibility for urgent assistance, including accommodation and food aid. 13. Emergency Situations and Civil Safety Service (ESCSS) has been activated and has sent its representatives to Racha-Lechkhumi, Imereti and Shida Kartli. ESCSS has been working closely with local administrations. 14. A Special Crisis Group has been set up under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for provision of updated information regarding the disaster to international organizations and foreign media representatives. The Deputy Minister George Gomiashvili leads the crisis group. A round-the-clock hot-line has been set at: (995 32) 28 47 47. Late on 28 April the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia issued a Circular Note for international community with the request of assistance in providing technical equipment, such as heavy machinery, potable water tanks, water filters and pumps, and emergency items. 15. The President of Georgia has offered assistance to the breakaway south Ossetian authorities and local population. No response has been given by the authorities in this region as yet. International Response 16. The Office of the UN Resident Coordinator under the framework of the international Disaster Management Team (DMT) - comprising all UN relief agencies present in Georgia, several interested donors, ICRC, IFRC, and international NGOs - is in constant contact with the Government of Georgia at the central level. The DMT is convening on regular basis and updated information is being shared. The DMT member agencies have also reviewed their in-country available stocks of relief items. Discussions about possible responses are ongoing as well as planning for rapid needs assessment. However, at the regional level, the World Food Programme office in Kutaisi is maintaining contact with the Regional Governors of Imereti and Kvemo Svaneti - both these areas are amongst the worst affected and closely monitoring the situation. 17. A number of spot assessments have been conducted by UN agencies and NGOs working in areas affected by the emergency, including in Imereti, Racha-Lechkumi and Kvemo Svaneti. Further assessments will take place in conjunction with local authorities over the coming days focusing on a selected number of areas thought to be worst affected, specifically in Lentekhi, Tsageri, Tskaltubo and Upper Svaneti. This will also include the deployment of an IFRC FACT needs assessment team. Detailed planning of these assessments in presently ongoing. The DMT and the IFRC FACT Team will work closely to coordinate the needs assessments and response actions. Meanwhile, on 30 April, the DMT pre-assessment mission, led by WFP Sub-Office in Kutaisi and comprising of World Vision and UMCOR staff will take place in Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi, most probably in Adjara. This mission will look at the overall situation with a focus on food security, health needs and infrastructure. 18. The UN Country Team in Georgia, donor agencies as well as many international NGOs stand ready to provide assistance to the affected population and assist Georgia to alleviate the effects of the landslides and floods. A number of international donor agencies - including the US, German, French Embassies in Tbilisi - have already announced pledges of assistance. 19. This Situation Report and information on ongoing emergencies is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int. Tel. +41-22-917 1234 Fax: +41-22-917 00 23 E-mail: ochagva@un.org In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 Desk Officers: Ms. Charlotta Benedek E-mail: benedek@un.org Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1205 Mr. Ricardo Mena Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1455 E-mail: menar@un.org Press contact: (GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653 (N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-917-892 1669	map of republic of Georgia A shipment of humanitarian aid from the Italian government was delivered to Tbilisi, the capital of flood ravaged Georgia on Tuesday. Norway and the United States sent tents, clothes, food and generators for electricity. German and Latvian aid is expected soon. In the eastern region of Kakheti, several villages of the Lagodekhi district were flooded after the Kabali river burst its bank Tuesday night. No casualties were reported. Torrential rains lasting nearly a week combined with snow-melt to create in the worst floods in 20 years in the Caucasus republic. A third of the country is effected, mostly in the western portion, with damage reported to buildings, homes and many roads. Over 1000 people were forced to evacuate. Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli called for an assessment of the flood and mudslide damages. Amendments to the 2005 budget are foreseen in the range of 20 million Lari to cover disaster relief efforts.
Ronaldo ruptured a tendon in his left knee in February Former Brazil striker Ronaldo has agreed to join Sao Paulo-based outfit Corinthians after fighting back from a serious knee injury. The 32-year-old, who left AC Milan last June, made his comeback in a charity match in Morocco last month. "We've reached a verbal agreement for Ronaldo to play there (Corinthians)," said his agent Fabiano Farah. The Brazilian has agreed a one-year contract with the club who have won promotion back to the first division. Corinthians confirmed negotiations were at an advanced stage. "In the next few hours, the two sides should provide the final formalities to close the deal and set a date for the presentation of the athlete," said a statement on the club's website. It will be the first time Ronaldo has played for a Brazilian club since leaving Cruzeiro at the age of 17 to join PSV Eindhoven. 606: DEBATE The three-time world player of the year spent nine months on the sidelines after rupturing a tendon in his left knee while playing for AC Milan in February. His contract with Milan expired on 30 June and he was training with Brazilian outfit Flamengo in an effort to return to full fitness. The former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan striker recently turned down an offer to join Italian side Siena. \|\|\|\|\| Thursday, 4 December 2008 When Robinho this week urged that, if he were in Mark Hughes' position, he would sign Ronaldo for Manchester City, it suggested he had not seen his compatriot recently. To judge from Ronaldo's most recent outing, a 23-minute cameo in a charity match in Morocco last month, the once-lithe World Cup winner possesses a physique more associated with former Portsmouth and Newcastle striker Micky Quinn. It is not the pies that are the problem, though. Ronaldo has in the past shown a Paul Gascoigne-like ability to lose weight rapidly if needed. The reason the three-time World Footballer of the Year is currently reduced to playing charity matches for his football fix is his knees. He is just still 32 - but even within the Brazilian Football Federation there are whispers he may be a year or two older. It is not just the 17 years and more than 550 senior matches playing at the sharp end of the professional game which have weakened his knees. It is the ligament and tendon injuries, two to his right knee, one to his left. Before City, or anyone else, takes a chance on Ronaldo he has to convince them, and himself, that his knees are strong enough to support him through both the necessary training to get match-fit, and the cut, thrust and tackling of combat. Bobby Robson believed Ronaldo had the gifts to be the best the game had ever seen when he signed him from PSV for Barcelona, but feared injury would prevent him reaching such a height. It was a prescient judgement. For a while Ronaldo was the best in the world but those knees let him down. He spent three of his five years at Inter recuperating from injury, a period interspersed with an unsuccessful seven-minute comeback. He got fit in time to score the winning goals in the 2002 World Cup final, which helped banish the nightmare of his mysterious appearance in the 1998 final, then rewarded Inter for their patience him by departing for Real Madrid. By now Ronaldo had begun to put on weight. His manager at São Cristóvão once said: "When we had breakfast at the club, every player was given half a loaf of bread and cheese. When we asked if anybody wanted seconds, Ronaldo was always the first to stick his hand up, and also for thirds... I don't know where he used to put it all.” Superstar footballer or not Il Fenomeno discovered, like ordinary mortals, than once you are heading towards 30 years of age it becomes apparent where you 'put it all'. His girth prompted a mixed relationship with the Real support who felt Ronaldo frequently failed to pull his excessive weight. However, he could still be sensational. Anyone who saw Ronaldo's performance in the fabled Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford, when the United fans applauded their conqueror off the pitch, and a watching Roman Abramovich decided this football lark looked attractive, will not forget it. Robson, who described him as 'a brilliant boy to work with' expressed concern early on about the quality of advice he received. Steve McManaman, who played with Ronaldo at Real Madrid also speaks highly of him as a person while recognizing that his lifestyle is not ideal for an athlete. 'Ronie's house is always crazy,” McManaman said while at Real, “you'll walk in there will be people he's sort of collected - everybody from judges and doctors to street musicians.” He goes on to describes lines of women sunbathing, tortoises falling into the pool and Ronaldo working the decks in his 'party room'. What with the injuries and the off-field activities Ronaldo never fulfilled the potential Robson envisaged. Nevertheless his CV includes almost every individual or team honour except for a Champions League winners' medal. Or, of course, anything from England. Might that change? Ronaldo still recalls that night at Old Trafford fondly and was receptive to a move to Manchester City when it was mooted in September. Paris St-Germain have also been linked with him - and he does own a flat in the French capital. Should he make a comeback, however, it is more likely to be in Rio - he has been training with Flamengo who have expressed an interest in signing him, if fit. Or he might follow in the footsteps of Pele to the United States. \|\|\|\|\| Ronaldo ruptured a tendon in his left knee in February Former Brazil striker Ronaldo admits he could retire rather than prolong his career after fighting back from another serious knee injury. The 32-year-old, who left AC Milan last June, made his comeback in a charity match in Morocco earlier this week. "I don't know if I will continue to play or if I will retire," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I have not taken a decision yet. I am in no hurry to make a decision. I want to complete my recovery." The three-time world player of the year had spent nine months on the sidelines after rupturing a tendon in his left knee while playing for AC Milan in February. Ronaldo will go down in football history as one of the world's greatest-ever players AC Milan's technical director Leonardo His contract with Milan expired on 30 June and he has been training with Brazilian outfit Flamengo in an effort to return to full fitness. The former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan striker turned down an offer to join Italian side Siena earlier this month and admits doubts remain over whether he will make a comeback. "I could decide tomorrow or in a month's time what to do, but I still don't know," he said. "It was beautiful to return to play because football is my life but it was just an exhibition as I only played for 22 minutes. Professional football is a different issue." AC Milan's technical director Leonardo told BBC Sport that Ronaldo would "go down in football history as one of the world's greatest-ever players". The Brazilian said he had been in regular contact with his compatriot since he left Milan in June. "We are very good friends and Milan also still have a very good relationship with Ronaldo," Leonardo added. "At the moment, he is deciding everything. He has to complete the treatment and get fit - then he can make a decision." Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Ronaldo, shown here in 2005. Three-time soccer world player of the year Ronaldo has agreed to return home to Brazil and join Corinthians in São Paulo. Ronaldo (born Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima), 32, is coming back from a major knee injury after rupturing a tendon in his left knee nine months ago - the third such injury in his career. In June, Italian powerhouse A.C. Milan let Ronaldo go instead of resigning him as he had reached the end of his contract. Many people thought this injury could be the end of Ronaldo's career - including Ronaldo himself. "I don't know if I will continue to play or if I will retire," Ronaldo told Gazzetta dello Sport in November. "I have not taken a decision yet. I am in no hurry to make a decision. I want to complete my recovery." Apparently, that decision has been made. Ronaldo's agent, Fabiano Farah stated today, "We've reached a verbal agreement for Ronaldo to play there São Paulo)." It is unofficially believed that Ronaldo will receive a one year contract, and the Corinthians posted a statement to their website, writing: "In the next few hours, the two sides should provide the final formalities to close the deal and set a date for the presentation of the athlete." Ronaldo has scored 319 goals in 451 appearances over seventeen seasons with PSV Eindhoven, F.C. Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and AC Milan.
NEW YORK - Wall Street edged higher in choppy trading Monday, with investors making few moves as they waited for companies to start reporting their fourth-quarter earnings this week. advertisement With few firms issuing profit warnings and some forecasting year-over-year earnings growth as high as 20 percent, analysts expressed confidence that the market would continue its advance. “There’s reason to be more optimistic than most people were after seeing that crummy jobs figure on Friday,” said Philip S. Dow, managing director of equity strategy at Dain Rauscher Wessels in Minneapolis. “Whenever business begins to come back, that’s not a recovery you measure in months, you measure it in years.” The Dow Jones industrial average closed Monday up 26.29 points, or 0.2 percent, at 10,485.18, after gaining 0.5 percent last week. The broader gauges were also higher. The Nasdaq composite index, full of technology stocks, closed up 24.86 points, or 1.2 percent, at 2,111.78, after rising 4 percent last week. This was a new 2 1/2-year closing high for the Nasdaq, which last closed higher on July 3, 2001, when it stood at 2,140.80. The Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index rose 5.37 points, or 0.5 percent, to 1,127.23, following a weekly gain of 1.2 percent. The market was still digesting Friday’s employment data from the Labor Department, which said unemployment dropped to a 14-month low of 5.7 percent while payrolls increased by just 1,000 jobs, a sign that many have given up the search for work. For the most part, though, investors were focused on the strong earnings outlook. But analysts also warned that some of the expected profit gains may already be reflected in stock prices, as companies have anticipated for some time that they would benefit from easy year-over-year comparisons. It may be more difficult for them to best last year’s returns in future quarters, said Neil Massa, equity trader at John Hancock Funds. FREE VIDEO • The latest news Jan. 12: Modest gains on Monday; major recall at GM; Computer Associates under investigation MSNBC.com “In the short term, there’s no danger earnings will disappoint, it doesn’t look like interest rates will be hiked for a while, so that all bodes well,” Massa said. “However, I think we’re definitely in an overbought position, and bound to sell off a little bit. But I think the trend is still upward.” SunTrust Banks Inc. closed down 19 cents at $70.78, despite issuing fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded the expectations of analysts. Other companies expected to report quarterly results this week include Delta Air Lines, General Electric Co., Apple Computer Inc. and Intel Corp. Adecco SA, the world’s largest employment company, lost $5.23 to close at $11.70 after postponing publication of its audited 2003 results because of unresolved control and compliance issues. Countrywide Financial Corp. closed down 86 cents at $71.18 after narrowing its outlook for the year and saying it expects quarterly earnings at the lower end of its forecast due to demand for less interest-rate sensitive products. Computer Associates International Inc. lost 13 cents to close at $27.99 after announcing that regulators have alerted it to a possible enforcement action. Merck & Co. declined $1.23 to $45.90 after brokerage firm Credit Suisse First Boston downgraded it, citing weak growth in its core domestic drug lines. Meanwhile, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. gained 52 cents to close at $29.53 after CSFB upgraded its rating on recent product launches and advancing intermediate-term pipeline opportunities. Also Monday, Nasdaq officials announced it will list the shares of six firms that trade on the New York Stock Exchange, including Hewlett-Packard Co., Charles Schwab Corp. and Walgreen Co., under a new dual-listing program. Analysts said dual listing will allow investors a greater chance to find the best price for a stock. Advancers outnumbered decliners slightly more than 5 to 4 on the NYSE. Volume was moderate. The Russell 2000 index, which tracks smaller company stocks, closed up 7.81 points, or 1.4 percent, at 583.01. Overseas, Japan’s financial markets were closed Monday for a national holiday, and were scheduled to reopen Tuesday. In Europe, France’s CAC-40 declined 0.4 percent, Britain’s FTSE 100 closed down 0.4 percent and Germany’s DAX index shed 0.5 percent. © 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. advertisement \|\|\|\|\| Bear Stearns lived up to the "bear" part of its name Friday, with new troubles for the investment bank once again dimming hopes for a speedy recovery in the credit markets. The major indexes all fell more than 2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 281.42 points to 13181.91, with selling accelerating in the final hour of trading. Every one of the blue-chip index's 30 companies ended the day in the red. This was the third-biggest one-day loss for the index this year, and it is now 5.8% below its record-high close, set on July 19. The S&P; 500 lost ... \|\|\|\|\| NEW YORK Stocks slid sharply on Friday after Bear Stearns said credit markets were in their worst shape in two decades, while jobs data aroused further concerns about weakness in the economy. Bear Stearns Cos. stock fell 6 percent after the comments from its chief financial officer, which exacerbated mortgage jitters and drove the three major indexes down more than 2 percent in a broad market sell-off. Earlier, Standard & Poor's lowered its outlook on Bear Stearns' debt to "negative," saying the biggest U.S. underwriter of mortgage bonds may have problems, including with its hedge funds, that could hurt the firm "for an extended period." "It's particularly ugly right now," said Peter Kenny, managing director at Knight Equity Markets in Jersey City, New Jersey. "The Bear Stearns comments are what really pushed the market over the edge." The Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 281.42 points, or 2.09 percent, to 13,181.91, with every one of its 30 components ending the day in the red. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq had their worst one-day percentage drops since the February 27 global equity rout. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 39.14 points, or 2.66 percent, to 1,433.06. The Nasdaq Composite Index sank 64.73 points, or 2.51 percent, to 2,511.25. The sharp declines prompted the New York Stock Exchange to institute downside trading curbs at 3:29 p.m. (1929 GMT). The day's sell-off ended a week of wild market swings, pushing all indexes firmly down into negative territory for the week -- the Dow fell 0.7 percent, while the S&P 500 shed 1.8 percent and the Nasdaq lost 2 percent. U.S. crude oil futures ended more than a dollar lower, sparking worries in energy markets that petroleum demand might drop as the economy slows. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, September crude fell $1.38, or 1.8 percent, to settle at $75.48 a barrel. U.S. government bond prices climbed, as falling stocks sent jittery investors scrambling for the safety of Treasury debt, bond traders and fund managers said. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note jumped 23/32 in price to 98-19/32, while its yield fell to 4.68 percent from 4.77 percent late on Thursday. The CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, which is known as Wall Street's fear gauge, jumped 18.6 percent to end at 25.16. It was the seventh trading session that the VIX rose above 20. ECONOMIC TROUBLE? Wall Street has been dogged by concerns that deteriorating lending conditions could hurt the economy and a rash of disappointing economic data, including weaker-than-expected jobs growth and slower service sector growth, added to already frayed nerves. U.S. employers expanded their payrolls in July at the slowest pace since February, adding only 92,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.6 percent, its highest level since the start of the year, a government report showed on Friday. In another sign of malaise in the economy, the Institute for Supply Management said its index for the service sector was 55.8 in July, reflecting a much slower pace of growth than June's reading of 60.7. Any reading over 50 indicates growth. Problems in the housing sector, where lenders are encountering difficulties with rising mortgage defaults and prices are declining in many metro markets, appeared to spread into hiring as construction businesses cut jobs. NO EASY CREDIT Bear Stearns stock, which had already slid 24 percent over the past three months, fell as low as $106.55, its lowest since November 2005, before recouping some of its losses by the close. Bear Stearns ended at $108.35, down 6.3 percent on the New York Stock Exchange. Bear Stearns has struggled with three hedge funds that ran into trouble because of high-risk mortgage investments gone awry. On Friday, Bear Stearns Chief Financial Officer Sam Molinaro said bond market turmoil sending investors fleeing from risk may be a worse predicament than the 1987 stock market crash and the bursting of the Internet bubble in 2000. At its session low, the stock of Bear Stearns suffered its biggest percentage drop since September 17, 2001, the first day of trading after the attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center's twin towers in New York. Financial shares had already been dragging on the market, after the latest signs mortgage market distress, American Home Mortgage Investment Corp. announced plans to close most operations on Friday and lay off nearly 7,000 employees.. Worries about credit also extended to credit card companies on the theory that consumers struggling with mortgage payments would also fall behind on credit card debt. American Express shares fell 5.6 percent to $57.49, while MasterCard dropped 8 percent to $131.26. Shares of Network Appliance Inc. fell 20 percent to $22.97 on the Nasdaq, after the data storage network equipment maker said revenue fell more than its previous pessimistic forecast amid slower spending by large customers in the United States and Europe. Trading was active on the NYSE, with about 2.12 billion shares changing hands, well above last year's estimated daily average of 1.84 billion, while on Nasdaq, about 2.51 billion shares traded, also surging ahead of last year's daily average of 2.02 billion. Declining stocks outnumbered advancing ones by a ratio of about 5 to 1 on the NYSE and by about 4 to 1 on Nasdaq. (Additional reporting by Ellis Mnyandu and Caroline Valetkevitch) \|\|\|\|\| Jittery home-mortgage lenders are cutting off credit or raising interest rates for a growing portion of Americans, extending well beyond the market for subprime loans for people with the weakest credit records. This worsening credit crunch threatens to put further pressure on the housing market, where prices are flat to declining in much of the country. The Trend: Nervous home-mortgage lenders are returning to more-conservative practices and are raising interest rates and cutting back on a category of loans between prime and subprime. Nervous home-mortgage lenders are returning to more-conservative practices and are raising interest rates and cutting back on a category of loans between prime and subprime. The Issue: The worsening credit situation threatens to put more pressure on the housing market, where prices are flat to declining in much of the country. The worsening credit situation threatens to put more pressure on the housing market, where prices are flat to declining in much of the country. What's Next: Economist Thomas Lawler said he expects the credit squeeze will make "the late summer home-sales season even worse than the dismal spring season." Lenders say they are being forced to raise interest rates and stop offering certain loans because mortgage-bond investors have lost their appetite for a broad range of mortgages considered risky. That includes those dubbed Alt-A, a category between prime and subprime that often involves borrowers who don't fully document their income or assets, or those buying investment properties. Notably, American Home Mortgage Investment Corp. , which stopped making loans earlier this week, said late yesterday it would cease most operations, slashing its work force to about 750 from more than 7,000. "It is with great sadness that American Home has had to take this action," Chief Executive Michael Strauss said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the market conditions in both the secondary mortgage market as well as the national real estate market have deteriorated to the point that we have no realistic alternative." ENLARGE Lenders are tightening standards and "raising rates like crazy," said Melissa Cohn, chief executive of Manhattan Mortgage, a New York mortgage broker. She said Wells Fargo WFC -0.59 % & Co. is charging 8% for a prime jumbo 30-year fixed-rate loan that carried a 6 7/8% rate late last week. (Jumbo loans are those too large to be sold to government-sponsored mortgage investors Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.) A Wells spokesman said rates are lower on loans made directly by the bank than on those through brokers. The market for mortgage-backed securities is "very panicked," Michael Perry, chief executive of IndyMac Bancorp Inc., another big lender, said in a message on the lender's Web site yesterday. Seeking to soothe the market, Countrywide Financial Corp., the nation's largest home lender, said it had plenty of funds available to weather the industry's troubles. The fright among investors is forcing lenders to go back to more-conservative practices that were the norm before the housing boom of the first half of this decade. Many now are focusing on loans to borrowers who are willing to document their income, can make a down payment of at least 5% and have a history of paying bills on time. Alt-A loans accounted for about 13% of U.S. home loans granted last year, according to Inside Mortgage Finance, and subprime loans about 20%. Industry executives have said subprime lending is likely to shrink by more than 50% this year, and now much of the Alt-A market is vanishing too. This credit squeeze "will further crimp the effective demand for housing, and will make the late summer home-sales season even worse than the dismal spring season," said Thomas Lawler, a housing economist in Vienna, Va. Tom Lamalfa, managing director of Wholesale Access, a mortgage-research firm in Columbia, Md., expects that half or more of the market for no- and low-documentation loans will disappear. Some people use so-called low-doc loans to avoid paper work or because they are self-employed and have trouble showing a steady stream of income. But low-doc mortgages also can be used by people exaggerating their incomes. National City Corp. , another large lender, said yesterday that it is suspending originations of stated-income loans, which don't require the borrower to verify income. Wachovia Corp. WB 0.32 % said it had stopped making Alt-A loans through brokers, joining a trend among big lenders to rely less on outsiders to arrange mortgages. Wells Fargo told brokers this week that it was making "day-to-day" decisions on the pricing and availability of Alt-A loans amid reduced investor demand. Several dozen lenders have gone out of business in the past six months, and others are teetering. Shares of Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co. fell 35% yesterday on the Nasdaq Stock Market after auditors said its "financial and operational viability" is uncertain if a pending merger isn't completed. Write to James R. Hagerty at bob.hagerty@wsj.com and Ruth Simon at ruth.simon@wsj.com \|\|\|\|\| HOW THE FED WORKS HOW THE FED WORKS The Federal Open Market Committee: Who votes on setting interest rates? WASHINGTON Federal Reserve policymakers welcome recent declines in inflationary pressures, but they aren't declaring victory, dashing any remaining hopes for an interest rate cut in 2007. Fed officials in a unanimous move left their target for short-term interest rates at 5.25%, the highest in 61/2 years, following the conclusion of their two-day meeting Thursday. The Fed has not changed rates since June 2006 after raising them 17 times over two years. STATEMENT: What the Fed said In their post-meeting statement, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues said the economy was expected to continue to grow at a "moderate pace" during the rest of the year, suggesting growth is not so strong as to warrant a rate increase to slow the economy. But while inflation data have "improved modestly" recently, "a sustained moderation … has yet to be convincingly demonstrated," the Fed officials said. They warned there was a risk inflation pressures could build, disappointing those who had been hoping the Fed would cut rates soon to boost the economy. "Some market participants may have been holding out for a signal that (the Fed) will cut rates, and they didn't get that," Raymond James & Associates chief economist Scott Brown says. He expects the Fed will leave rates unchanged for the rest of 2007, but, "The next move is as likely to be higher as it is to be lower." Financial markets erased modest gains seen prior to the announcement. The Dow Jones industrial average closed the day down 5.45 points at 13,422.28. Inflation has moderated in recent months but still remains on the high side of what some Fed officials, including Bernanke, have deemed their comfort zone of 1% to 2%. The Fed's preferred inflation measure, based on spending excluding food and energy, was 2% in April, down from 2.4% in February. The Fed's decision to leave short-term rates unchanged means a wide range of borrowing costs and interest rates will likely stay the same. Consumers with home equity lines of credit, car loans, variable-rate credit cards and other consumer loans tied to the prime rate will likely see little, if any, change in rates. Mortgage rates, which have risen in recent months, will likely not move higher as worries about rate increases diminish, Quicken Loans chief economist Bob Walters says. Savers hoping for higher rates of return may be disappointed, because rates on certificates of deposit are also not expected to change much. Contributing: Sandra Block Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map. \|\|\|\|\| 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.	New York Stock Exchange The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 280 points, Friday, to 13181.91, just two weeks after soaring to a historic record of 14,000. Two other major indexes, the Nasdaq and the Standard and Poor 500, fell more than 2% in a widespread market sell-off. Shares of Bear Stearns, the largest United States underwriter of mortgage bonds, fell 6.3% today, resulting from Standard and Poor's altering its outlook toward the company to "negative" from "stable". The investment banking firm recently saw two of its major hedge funds sink after exposure to the sub-prime mortgage decline. Standard and Poor's report said the firm may have problems, including its hedge funds, that could hurt the firm "for an extended period." The company held a press conference at noon, but was unable to salvage its stock, leading to heavy losses in the rest of the financial sector. Chief Financial Officer Sam Molinaro remarked that the credit market was in the worst condition he had seen in 22 years. American Express shares fell 5.6%, while homebuilder Hovnanian Enterprises fell 9.4% in the sell-off which impacted all the indexes. American Home Mortgage Investment Corporation shares fell 52.07% in the session after announcing plans to close most operations and lay off over 6000 employees. The company has also lost its lending license in four states including New York. "It is with great sadness that American Home has had to take this action," Chief Executive Michael Strauss said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the market conditions in both the secondary mortgage market as well as the national real estate market have deteriorated to the point that we have no realistic alternative." Analysts say that the weakness in the stock markets and economy in general could prompt the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, consequently allowing inflation to rise, but that it would also support stocks and ease borrowing. The Fed has not changed interest rates since June 2006.
Friday, May 16, 2008 - Page updated at 12:00 AM E-mail article Print view Share: Digg Newsvine Nigerian pipeline fire kills as many as 100 LAGOS, Nigeria — More than 100 people were feared dead Thursday after a construction vehicle struck an oil pipeline on the outskirts of Lagos, Nigeria's biggest city, setting off an oil-fed inferno that spread to surrounding homes and a school. "The fire was very high," said Johnson Fabunmi, a doctor who lives in the area. "Everyone was running for their life." There were vastly differing accounts of the toll. Nigerian Red Cross officials said at least 100 people died, but a representative of the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency said only 10 died, including a 2-year-old, and that 36 were injured. Pipeline fires are common in Nigeria. More than 400 people died in two similar pipeline explosions in Lagos in 2006 and at least 40 died in December. Authorities frequently blame the disasters on criminal gangs who break into the pipelines to siphon fuel for sale, attracting crowds of people who come in their wake to scavenge for fuel. There also have been many rebel attacks on oil pipelines in Nigeria, Africa's leading exporter of crude oil, the eighth largest in the world, and a key U.S. supplier. Attacks on oil pipelines are common, particularly in the troubled, oil-rich southeastern Delta region. But the Lagos police said Thursday's fire appeared to be an accident. \|\|\|\|\| 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?	Roadworks have triggered a massive explosion and fire on a fuel pipeline running through Ijegun, a suburb on the outskirts of Nigerian capital Lagos. Although the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency puts the current death toll at ten, the Nigerian Red Cross says at least 100 people have died. The oil pipeline was fractured after a construction vehicle struck it and erupted into a fireball, with fuel running down the street. At least twelve homes caught fire, and students ran from a nearby school that was also threatened. According to witnesses, students are among the dead. Firefighters have extinguished the blaze and work is now underway to try and reunite people separated during the fire and account for those present at the time. Disasters such as this happen regularly in Nigeria, but they are usually attributable to organised criminals breaking into pipes for their content or terrorist attacks, whereas this event appears to have been an accident.
Ruling in a case that pressed the outer limits of free speech, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that even anti-gay protesters who picketed the funerals of U.S. troops with signs reading, "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," cannot be sued.In an 8-1 decision, the justices upheld an appellate court's decision to strike down a jury verdict against Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. Phelps and his family gained national attention — and stirred deep anger — for using military funerals as a backdrop to proclaim an anti-gay and anti-military message.The church believes that the United States is too tolerant of sin and that the death of American soldiers is God's punishment.Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said that when the disputed words "address matters of public import on public property" and when the protest is conducted "in a peaceful manner, in full compliance with the guidance of local officials," they are protected.Roberts cited past rulings that shielded offensive words and outrageous protests.He pointed to the decision that freed protesters who burned the American flag and another that protected a Hustler magazine satirist who portrayed the Rev. Jerry Falwell in an outhouse. Last year, Roberts spoke for the court in striking down on free-speech grounds a law that made it crime to sell videos of illegal dog-fighting.The "bedrock principle underlying the 1st Amendment," Roberts said in quoting the flag-burning ruling by the late liberal Justice William J. Brennan Jr., is that the government cannot punish words or ideas "simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable."The decision Wednesday drew a howl of protest from Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. — like Roberts, a conservative — who said that the father of the dead Marine who sued the protesters was "not a public figure" who could be expected to tolerate such an onslaught, but a private person who sought to "bury his son in peace.""Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case," Alito wrote. "In order to have a society in which public issues can be openly and vigorously debated, it is not necessary to allow the brutalization of innocent victims."Five years ago, Phelps and his daughters were sued after they picketed near the funeral for Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who died in Iraq in 2006.Police had kept picketers at least 200 feet from the funeral procession. The demonstrators' signs included one that said, "Thank God for IEDs," a reference to the roadside bombs that have claimed many soldiers' lives in Iraq.The messages did not refer to the late Marine. His father, Albert Snyder, testified that he saw the signs only when he watched television coverage in the evening.A few weeks later, however, Snyder saw a posting on Westboro church's website that scorned him and said he had raised his son to serve the devil.A jury awarded Snyder $11 million in damages for the emotional distress he suffered, but a judge reduced the amount to $5 million. A U.S. appeals court, siding with the Phelps family, said the verdict could not stand.The Supreme Court took up the case of Snyder vs. Phelps. The issue was difficult for the justices because the public picketing targeted a private family funeral.If the picketing had taken place at the Pentagon or Capitol Hill, no one would have questioned the Phelps' right to carry their signs, even with their offensive messages.Lawyers for the father argued that the verdict should stand because he was a private figure, not a public person, and because the protest was a targeted assault on a private memorial service.In the end, the justices concluded the picketing was more a public protest than a mean-spirited private assault.The picketing, Roberts wrote, "is certainly hurtful and its contribution to public discourse may be negligible. But Westboro addressed matters of public import on public property, in a peaceful manner.""On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker," Roberts wrote. "As a nation we have chosen a different course — to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate."The decision does not appear to affect the laws in 43 states that seek to keep the protesters away from military funerals. In the past, the court has said that officials may regulate where marches and protests take place, so long as they do not ban them or their message entirely.The Veterans of Foreign Wars said they were "greatly disappointed with the result.""The Westboro Baptist Church may think they have won, but the VFW will continue to support community efforts to ensure no one hears their voice," said Richard Eubank, the VFW's national commander. \|\|\|\|\| The First Amendment protects a fringe church's anti-gay protests at military funerals, a nearly unanimous Supreme Court ruled Wednesday in a powerful opinion that spoke to the nation's tolerance for even hateful public speech. The court's most liberal and most conservative justices joined in a decision likely to define the term. It writes a new chapter in the court's findings that freedom of speech is so central to the nation that it protects cruel and unpopular protests - even, in this case, at the moment of a family's most profound grief. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote that Westboro Baptist Church's picketing at fallen soldiers' funerals "is certainly hurtful and its contribution to public discourse may be negligible." But he said the reaction may not be "punishing the speaker." "As a nation we have chosen a different course - to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate," Roberts said. The court sided with a group on the outskirts of American life: a tiny family church in Topeka, Kan., that has drawn disdain across the nation for its protests of military funerals and its lewd signs proclaiming God's hatred. Its message is that military deaths - and virtually any natural disaster - are divine punishment for the country's tolerance of homosexuality. At issue was the protest in 2006 at the funeral of 20-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder in Westminster, Md., who had been killed in Iraq - one of more than 600 funerals the group has picketed. His father, Albert, filed a lawsuit seeking damages, saying the group had turned the event into a "circus." Margie Phelps, the daughter of Westboro's founder, the Rev. Fred W. Phelps, and a lawyer who argued the case before the court, called Wednesday's decision a providential ruling that was more than she had hoped for. It could encourage the group to challenge some of the more than 40 state and federal laws that seek to protect funerals from disruption, she said in a telephone interview. Asked whether the decision would change the church's tactics, Phelps said, "We're going to picket more." The court's lone dissenter was Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., who said the First Amendment does not convey the right to "brutalize" private individuals. "Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case," he wrote. Sean E. Summers, who represented Snyder, said his client was naturally disappointed and worried about other families who will be confronted by Westboro. \|\|\|\|\| DoD Identifies Marine Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, 20, of Finksburg, Md., died March 3 from a non combat-related vehicle accident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Service Support Group-1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. Media with questions about this Marine can call the Twentynine Palms Public Affairs Office at 760-830-5476.	The United States Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the protects the free speech rights of an anti-gay church that pickets the funerals of U.S. soldiers, even if they use hateful and offensive language. In an 8 to 1 decision, the Court upheld a lower court's ruling that struck down an award of $5 million to a slain soldier's father, Albert Snyder. Snyder had sued Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church of , Kansas for picketing the funeral of his son, 20-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder who was killed in Iraq in 2006. Snyder said the protest caused him emotional pain and turned his son's funeral into a "circus." Pastor Fred Phelps The protest was well publicized, a was called, and the funeral procession was diverted away from the protesters, who carried signs such as "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," "God Hates Fags" and "America Is Doomed." The funeral itself was not disturbed and it was carried out on public land, following local laws. Snyder learned of the content of the slogans only later on television. Snyder's son was not a homosexual. The church pickets military soldiers' funerals because they believe that the United States is too tolerant of homosexuality and that the death of U.S. soldiers is divine retribution. They have picketed more than 600 funerals. The Court's decision rested in part on the basis that the subject of the church's speech related to controversial public issues and was not a private attack on Snyder. "The church conducted its picketing peacefully on matters of public concern at a public place adjacent to a public street," Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote in his opinion for the court. "Such space occupies a special position in terms of First Amendment protection." Roberts said that large number of protests conducted by the church against many groups, including Catholics and Jews, is evidence that Phelps and his church were not personally attacking Snyder, but were "expressing deeply held views on public topics." Roberts wrote, "As a nation we have chosen ... to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate." , the only Justice to rule against the Church wrote that, "Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case. In order to have a society in which public issues can be openly and vigorously debated, it is not necessary to allow the brutalization of innocent victims." Snyder was disappointed in the ruling: "My first thought was eight justices don't have the common sense God gave a goat. We found out today we can no longer bury our dead in this country with dignity." == Sources == * * * *
State College, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Joe Paterno, whose tenure as the most successful coach in major college football history ended abruptly in November amid allegations that he failed to respond forcefully enough to a sex abuse scandal involving a former assistant, died Sunday, his family said. He was 85. The longtime Penn State head coach was diagnosed with what his family had called a treatable form of lung cancer shortly after the university's Board of Trustees voted to fire him. He had been hospitalized in December after breaking his pelvis in a fall at his home and again in January for what his son called minor complications from his cancer treatments. "It is with great sadness that we announce that Joe Paterno passed away earlier today," the family statement said. "His loss leaves a void in our lives that will never be filled." Paterno died at 9:25 a.m. Sunday, surrounded by his family, State College's Mount Nittany Medical Center said in a statement. Paterno, who was affectionately known as "JoePa" by generations of his players and football fans alike, was widely admired in football circles for what he called his "Grand Experiment" -- his expectation that big-time college football players could succeed on the field while upholding high academic and moral standards away from the gridiron. Outpouring of grief at Penn State Under his leadership, the Nittany Lions won two national championships, went undefeated five times and finished in the top 25 national rankings 35 times, according to his official Penn State biography. At the same time, the program never fell under NCAA sanctions for major infractions while producing 13 Academic All-Americans since 2006. In 2009, according to the university, the Nittany Lions posted an 85% graduation rate. "The acclaim for Joe Paterno has stemmed largely from the contrast between the high academic and moral standards he has tried to exemplify and the shameless conduct that often embarrasses and dishonors the college sport he cherishes," author Michael O'Brien wrote in a 1999 biography of Paterno, "No Ordinary Joe." How will you remember him? Penn State's board of trustees and President Rodney Erickson said in a statement, "We grieve for the loss of Joe Paterno, a great man who made us a greater university. His dedication to ensuring his players were successful both on the field and in life is legendary and his commitment to education is unmatched in college football. His life, work and generosity will be remembered always." Dignitaries offer condolences The university is "considering appropriate ways" to honor Paterno's legacy, the statement said, and its athletics department is "consulting with members of the Penn State community on the nature and timing of the gathering." Paterno was born in 1926 in Brooklyn to second-generation Italian immigrants, according to O'Brien's book. He attended Brown University, where he played quarterback and cornerback, according to another Penn State biography. When Paterno decided to forgo a career in law and make coaching his career, his family said Sunday, his father, Angelo, had one command: "Make an impact." "As the last 61 years have shown, Joe made an incredible impact. That impact has been felt and appreciated by our family in the form of thousands of letters and well wishes along with countless acts of kindness from people whose lives he touched." Paterno coached at Penn State as an assistant from 1950 to 1965 and became head coach in 1966. Decked out in his soon-to-become trademark thick glasses, white socks and sneakers, Paterno quickly became a memorable fixture on the football field, leading the Nittany Lions to undefeated seasons in 1968, 1969 and again in 1973 and the first national championship of his tenure in 1982. Named National Coach of the Year five times, Paterno was added to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006, but his induction was delayed until 2007 because of injuries he suffered in a sideline collision. He became the winningest coach in major college football history in 2011 with 409 victories. Paterno "died as he lived," the family statement said Sunday. "He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been. His ambitions were far reaching, but he never believed he had to leave this Happy Valley to achieve them. He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community." Read family statement In addition to his exploits on the sidelines, Paterno had a significant impact on the university's academic programs. Paterno and his wife, Suzanne, donated more than $4 million to the university over the years for faculty endowments, scholarships and building projects, according to the university. "Penn State has been very good to both Sue and me," he said in 1998, according to his university biography. "He has been many things in his life -- a soldier, scholar, mentor, coach, friend and father," the family statement said. To his wife, "he was and is her soul mate, and the last several weeks have shown the strength of their love. To his children and grandchildren he is a shining example of how to live a good, decent and honest life, a standard to which we aspire." Honored with glowing words of praise from players and presidents alike -- President Ronald Reagan said Paterno never forgot that "he is a teacher who's preparing his students not just for the season, but for life," according to a university biography -- he received the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Distinguished American Award in 1991. In doing so, he became the first active coach to do so, according to the biography. "What are coaches?" he said at the dinner celebrating his award, according to his university biography. "Number one, we're teachers and we're educators. We have the same obligation as all teachers at our institutions, except we probably have more influence over our young people than anyone other than their families," he said. It was his perceived failure to meet those obligations that led to his downfall as the only coach many Penn State football fans had ever known. In October, state authorities charged two university officials with misleading investigators and failing to report alleged sexual abuse in 2002, after a Penn State assistant told a grand jury he saw former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky performing what appeared to be anal sex on a boy in a shower at the football complex. The assistant reported it to Paterno the next day, who said he passed the report along to then-Athletic Director Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, a university vice president who oversaw campus police. Curley went on leave and Schultz retired shortly after the grand jury report was revealed. The next month, the university fired Paterno and Penn State President Graham Spanier. Curley and Schultz, who have pleaded not guilty to charges including perjury and failing to report the alleged 2002 incident, issued statements Sunday expressing their sorrow at Paterno's death. "Joe has been an integral part of my life for more than 35 years," Curley said. "Joe coached me, mentored me, taught me what it meant to compete with integrity and honor, and above all demonstrated with each day that he lived, the power of humility." At the time of his firing, Paterno said in a statement released by his son, Scott Paterno, that he was "distraught" over the sex abuse scandal. A timeline of Penn State child sex abuse scandal In an interview with the Washington Post published January 14, Paterno said that he felt inadequate to deal with the allegations. "I didn't know exactly how to handle it and I was afraid to do something that might jeopardize what the university procedure was," the Post quoted him as saying. "So I backed away and turned it over to some other people, people I thought would have a little more expertise than I did. It didn't work out that way." SI column: Legacy more than final chapter Sandusky, who faces more than 50 counts involving sexual acts with 10 boys since 1994, has pleaded not guilty. "Nobody did more for the academic reputation of Penn State than Joe Paterno," Sandusky said in a statement Sunday. "He maintained a high standard in a very difficult profession. Joe preached toughness, hard work and clean competition. Most importantly, he had the courage to practice what he preached. Nobody will be able to take away the memories we all shared of a great man, his family, and all the wonderful people who were a part of his life." Bill O'Brien, who was named Penn State's head football coach following Paterno's firing, said Sunday, "The Penn State Football program is one of college football's iconic programs because it was led by an icon in the coaching profession in Joe Paterno. There are no words to express my respect for him as a man and as a coach. To be following in his footsteps at Penn State is an honor. Our families, our football program, our university and all of college football have suffered a great loss, and we will be eternally grateful for Coach Paterno's immeasurable contributions." Paterno's family said Sunday he died "with a peaceful mind, comforted by his 'living legacy' of five kids, 17 grandchildren, and hundreds of young men whose lives he changed in more ways than can begin to be counted." In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that donations be made to the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania or the Penn State-THON, a charity dance marathon held by Penn State fraternities and sororities. CNN's Susan Candiotti contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| Earlier this evening, Onward State reported that Joe Paterno had passed away; however, the mountain of evidence stacked opposite that report became too much to ignore. At this time, I would like to issue an official retraction of our earlier tweets. I never, in a million years, would have thought that Onward State might be cited by the national media. Today, I sincerely wish it never had been. To all those who read and passed along our reports, I sincerely apologize for having mislead you. To the Penn State community and to the Paterno family, most of all, I could not be more sorry for the emotional anguish I am sure we at Onward State caused. There are no excuses for what we did. We all make mistakes, but it’s impossible to brush off one of this magnitude. Right now, we deserve all of the criticism headed our way. In this day and age, getting it first often conflicts with getting it right, but our intention was never to fall into that chasm. All I can do now is promise that in the future, we will exercise caution, restraint, and humility. I can only hope and pray that the outstanding work our writers and photographers do on a day-to-day basis is not overshadowed by the events of tonight. I understand that our reputation is in serious question, but I hope you will continue to stand by us as we do everything in our power to make amends. To begin that process, I will be stepping down from my post as Managing Editor, effective immediately. I take full responsibility for the events that transpired tonight, and for the black mark upon the organization that I have caused. I ask not for your forgiveness, but for your understanding. I am so very, very, sorry, and we at Onward State continue to pray for Coach Paterno. Sincerely, Devon Edwards \|\|\|\|\| Photos View gallery zoom Featured Video Close Video Despite a flurry of reports saying he had died, former Penn State football head coach Joe Paterno was still alive late Saturday night, according to his family. Based on a tweet from Penn State student news outlet Onward State, American broadcaster CBS announced that the beloved — and recently embattled — coach had died of complications from lung cancer at 85. Less than an hour later, Onward State made a retraction on its Twitter account, “Our 8:45 pm tweet about Joe Paterno's death appears to be inaccurate, according to @JayPaterno, who says he's alive. We were confident when we ran with it, and are still trying to figure out where our process failed. We apologize sincerely for error.” Son Scott Paterno also took to Twitter to deny the claims. “CBS report is wrong — Dad is alive but in serious condition. We continue to ask for your prayers and privacy during this time.” CBS quickly retracted its story, but not before the claim made rounds on the Internet. Several news sources, including the Toronto Sun, CP24 and the Huffington Post, all spread the news of Paterno’s death before issuing corrections. By 10:20 p.m., Onward State managing editor Devon Edwards had resigned. He expressed his remorse for “misleading” readers and apologized to Penn State and Paterno’s family, saying “getting it first often conflicts with getting it right, but our intention was never to fall into that chasm.” Earlier Saturday, Paterno's doctors announced his condition had worsened, and students had gathered on Penn State campus to hold vigils. Reporters and photographers were seen stationed outside Paterno’s home. Paterno, the most successful college football coach of all time, made headlines in 2011 when he was fired in the aftermath of the child sex abuse charges against former assistant Jerry Sandusky. Paterno was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly afterward. \|\|\|\|\| State College, Pa. • Joe Paterno’s doctors say the former Penn State coach’s condition has become “serious” after he experienced complications from lung cancer in recent days. The winningest major college football coach of all time, Paterno was diagnosed shortly after Penn State’s Board of Trustees ousted him Nov. 9 in the aftermath of the child sex abuse charges against former assistant Jerry Sandusky. Paterno has been getting treatment since, and his health problems worsened when he broke his pelvis — an injury that first cropped up when he was accidentally hit in preseason practice last year. “Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications,” family spokesman Dan McGinn said in a brief statement Saturday to The Associated Press. “His doctors have now characterized his status as serious. “His family will have no comment on the situation and asks that their privacy be respected during this difficult time,” he said. Paterno’s sons Scott and Jay each took to Twitter Saturday night to refute reports that their father had died. Wrote Jay Paterno: “I appreciate the support & prayers. Joe is continuing to fight.” The 85-year-old Paterno has been in the hospital since Jan. 13 for observation for what his family had called minor complications from his cancer treatments. Not long before that, he conducted his only interview since losing his job, with The Washington Post. Paterno was described as frail then and wearing a wig. The second half of the two-day interview was conducted by his bedside. Roughly 200 students and townspeople gathered Saturday night at a statue of Paterno just outside a gate at Beaver Stadium. Some brought candles, while others held up their smartphones to take photos of the scene. The mood was somber, with no chanting or shouting. Story continues below “Drove by students at the Joe statue,” Jay Paterno tweeted. “Just told my Dad about all the love & support--inspiring him.” The final days of Paterno’s Penn State career were easily the toughest in his 61 years with the university and 46 seasons as head football coach. Sandusky, a longtime defensive coordinator who was on Paterno’s staff during two national title seasons, was arrested Nov. 5 and ultimately charged with sexually abusing a total of 10 boys over 15 years. His arrest sparked outrage not just locally but across the nation, and there were widespread calls for Paterno to quit. Paterno announced late on Nov. 9 that he would retire at the end of the season but just hours later he received a call from board vice chairman John Surma, telling him he had been terminated as coach. By that point, a crowd of students and media were outside the Paterno home. When news spread that Paterno had been dumped, there was rioting in State College. Police on Saturday evening had barricaded off the block where Paterno lives, and a police car was stationed about 50 yards from his home. Several people had gathered in the living room of the house. No one was outside, other than reporters and photographers stationed there. Trustees said this week they pushed Paterno out in part because he failed a moral responsibility to report an allegation made in 2002 against Sandusky to authorities outside the university. They also felt he had challenged their authority and that, as a practical matter, with all the media in town and attention to the Sandusky case, he could no longer run the team. Paterno testified before the grand jury investigating Sandusky that he had relayed to his bosses an accusation that came from graduate assistant Mike McQueary, who said he saw Sandusky abusing a boy in the showers of the Penn State football building. Paterno told the Post that he didn’t know how to handle the charge, but a day after McQueary visited him, he spoke to the athletic director and the administrator with oversight over the campus police. \|\|\|\|\| The turn for the worse in Paterno’s condition on Saturday sent his scandal-scarred program, and the larger university community that seemed to revolve around that program, to yet another emotional nadir. Paterno, at one time perhaps the most beloved coach in America, had been fired by the school’s Board of Trustees on Nov. 9 in the wake of a child sex-abuse scandal involving longtime Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Nine days later, it was revealed Paterno had lung cancer. Paterno, who won two national championships and a Division I-record 409 games in his 46 seasons as Penn State’s head coach, was hospitalized most recently on Jan. 13, just hours after granting an interview to a Washington Post reporter in his State College home, his first and only interview since the Sandusky scandal broke. Sitting up in his bed with a blanket over his legs, and speaking in a hoarse whisper, Paterno seemed fully aware of his impending mortality, saying: “I’m worried about my kids, my family. They’re concerned about me, so I’m concerned about them.” Family members also understood that his health was slipping rapidly. In that same interview, conducted over two days at the Paterno home, he acknowledged not knowing how to react when graduate assistant Michael McQueary approached him in 2002 with an account of Sandusky having inappropriate sexual contact with a boy in the Penn State locker room. “I didn’t know exactly how to handle it,” Paterno said. “I backed away and turned it over to some other people, people I thought would have a little more expertise than I did. It didn’t work out that way.” Three other top university officials lost their jobs in the wake of the scandal, and Sandusky faces 52 counts of child molestation. As news of Paterno’s condition spread Saturday night, hundreds of students gathered at his bronze statue outside Beaver Stadium for an impromptu vigil, according to the Centre Daily Times, while police barricaded McKee Street, where Paterno and wife Sue live. The first false report of Paterno’s death apparently was made by Onward State, a Penn State student-run Web site, at 8:45 p.m. Two minutes later, CBS Sports’s Web site posted a blog item saying Paterno had died. Another 10 minutes went by before the first official refuting of the false reports, and at 9:22 p.m., Scott Paterno, another of Paterno’s sons, tweeted: “Dad is alive but in serious condition. We continue to ask for your prayers and privacy during this time.” Devon Edwards, the Onward State managing editor, announced his resignation late Saturday night. “I take full responsibility for the events that transpired tonight, and for the black mark upon the organization that I have caused,” he wrote on Facebook. Staff writer Sally Jenkins contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| By Audrey Snyder, Special for USA TODAY STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The bronze statue of Joe Paterno had hundreds of candles burning brightly below it Saturday night. With the former Penn State head football coach less than a mile away at Mount Nittany Medical Center, students cried, hugged and prayed Paterno would pull through. The 85-year-old was reported to be in "serious condition" according to a Penn State spokesman. Paterno has undergone chemotherapy since he was diagnosed with lung cancer in November. Hundreds of students flocked to Paterno's statue and placed Penn State pennants and blue and white ball caps at his feet. As erroneous reports of Paterno's death swirled, students shoveled the snow out from underneath the statue and a line of more than 100 students and townspeople formed. People posed for pictures at the statue while about 100 yards away recruits in for their official visits walked out of Beaver Stadium. The scene at the medical center was anything but normal as news trucks lined the parking lot waiting for updates on major college football's winningest coach. A priest from Penn State's Catholic campus ministry, the on-campus church the family regularly attends, exited the hospital around 8 p.m. ET and declined comment. Two of Paterno's sons, Scott and former quarterbacks coach Jay, tweeted that their father was "still fighting" around 10 p.m.	Joe Paterno (pictured in 2006) was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions football team from 1966 to 2011. A posting yesterday on the social networking web site Twitter by the 's student ''Onward State'', which incorrectly reported the death of former coach , has led to the resignation of one of its managing editors. Paterno died today. Paterno had been hospitalized over the weekend due to complications from , and was in serious condition. The Onward State blog had picked up word of his death at the age of 85, which was then posted on Twitter at 8:45 PM EST. Various news organizations began to pick up the story after word of the report had been picked up by . Penn State students held a in front of a statue of Paterno on campus after word of the erroneous passing. However, CBS soon retracted the story after posts from other Paterno family members on Twitter reported that Joe had not died. At 10:20 PM EST, the managing editor for Onward State, Devon Edwards, officially retracted the story, saying in another tweet; "Our 8:45 pm tweet about Joe Paterno's death appears to be inaccurate, according to @JayPaterno, who says he's alive. We were confident when we ran with it, and are still trying to figure out where our process failed. We apologize sincerely for error." Additionally, Edwards also announced that he would be resigning from his position at Onward State, effective immediately. In a blog post officially announcing his resignation, Edwards explained that "In this day and age, getting it first often conflicts with getting it right, but our intention was never to fall into that chasm. All I can do now is promise that in the future, we will exercise caution, restraint, and humility." This morning, a report officially confirmed that Joe Paterno had died — today — from lung cancer at the age of 85. == Sources == * * * * * *
'Star Wars' is set to return to cinema screens this August in an animated movie titled 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'. The 100-minute film from creator George Lucas takes place between the events of 'Attack of the Clones' and 'Revenge of the Sith'. It will feature a host of characters from the most recent 'Star Wars' movies including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala. Advertisement The film will act as a launch for the forthcoming Star Wars animation series, with the story continuing in a run of 30-minute "mini-movies" which will premiere on the Cartoon Network, according to the Digitalspy website. Speaking about the animated movie, creator George Lucas said: "I felt there were a lot more Star Wars stories left to tell. I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward." Lucas will oversee production of the film and television series which will be produced by Lucasfilm Animation. 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' opens on 15 August. \|\|\|\|\| LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - He said "Revenge of the Sith" would be his final "Star Wars" film, but creator George Lucas is taking another shot at silver screens with the animated "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" in movie theaters in August. Lucasfilm Ltd. and the Warner Bros. film studio said on Tuesday they would release the movie on August 15, ahead of the fall debut of an animated TV series of the same name on cable television's Cartoon Network and TNT. "I felt there were a lot more 'Star Wars' stories left to tell," Lucas said in a statement. "I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward." The six-film "Star Wars" series is one of Hollywood's most lucrative franchises. It started with the initial "Star Wars" in 1977 and ended with 2005's "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith." At the time of "Sith," Lucas said he would not make another "Star Wars" movie, but has said he was in development on the animated TV show. In fact, Lucas told Reuters he thought he might go back to making artistic films, although he never said exactly what he had on his mind. The "Star Wars" movies tell about battles for intergalactic superiority in space, and "Clone Wars" promises more of the same stories -- only in animation. Key characters such as Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala will be joined by new heroes like Anakin's padawan learner, Ahsoka. Lucasfilm said each episode on TV would be like a 30-minute "mini-movie" with Jedi Knights battling villains such as Count Dooku and General Grievous. Also on Tuesday, Lucas' company began showing "web-only documentaries" telling of the development of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" on the Web site starwars.com. (Editing by Dan Whitcomb and Eric Beech)	George Lucas, creator of the ''Star Wars'' franchise. George Lucas has announced that there will be one last ''Star Wars'' movie to end the saga, but it won't have any actors visible. ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'', an animated film is scheduled to be released into theaters on August 15 of this year. "I felt there were a lot more 'Star Wars' stories left to tell. I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward," said Lucas in a statement to the media. Lucas says that although the film is animated, people can expect the same kind of galactic space battles and action that all the other ''Star Wars'' films have. The approximate running time of the film is 100 minutes. The film is produced by Warner Brothers and Lucasfilm LTD. The new movie is also set to continue as an animated, 30 minute "mini-movie" series this autumn. The show can be seen on the Cartoon Network.
Mr Flight is consulting lawyers Howard Flight quit as a Tory deputy chairman after apparently suggesting the party planned extra spending cuts. But the South Downs and Arundel MP is fighting Mr Howard's decision to stop him being a Tory election candidate. Mr Howard defended the decision at a news conference on Monday. He told reporters: "If you believe in honesty you must act on it." Overshadowing? Mr Flight is consulting his lawyers about his political future - he insists only local Tory members can decide to deselect him. The Tory leadership instead says the legal position is clear and Conservative candidates have to be on its approved list. Mr Howard wanted to talk about childcare at Monday's news conference but all the questions focused on the row over his treatment of Mr Flight. It is not about the ability of people to express a different view Michael Howard Legal position: Tory statement He refused to say what would happen if Mr Flight's local association stuck by its MP. But he said: "It is not about the ability of people to express a different view from my view or a different view from the leadership of the Conservative Party. "It is about the suggestion that the Conservative Party is saying one thing before an election and intends to do something else afterwards. That is not the case." Who decides? But Mr Howard accused Labour of negative campaigning and said Tony Blair would "say anything and do anything to cling to power". Earlier, Mr Flight said he wanted his local Tory association to hold an emergency general meeting (EGM). He told BBC News: "They selected me and they, if you like, dispose of me or keep me. Mr McCartney says spy claims are a diversion tactic "I am advised that that is the correct constitutional position." Mr Flight expects to have his barrister's advice about his legal position late on Monday or on Tuesday. The local association has begun looking for a new candidate but Mr Flight says they have to deselect him first. 'Disarray' The local association's honorary president, Lady O'Cathain, urged the party to settle the dispute quickly. Lawyers needed to make clear the legal position, she said, with Mr Flight given a chance to make his case to local members at an EGM. Lady O'Cathain told BBC News the MP had been loyal and hard working but had made a "huge mistake". Labour chairman Ian McCartney claimed Mr Flight has simply told the truth about Tory plans. "Howard Flight opened the Tories' locker and inside we find plans for massive cuts," he said. Bugs? At a news conference, Mr McCartney repeatedly sidestepped questions about claims the Tories believe a Labour "mole" secretly tape recorded Mr Flight's comments. He called the spying claims a "desperate diversion attempt" and denied Labour was using "dirty tricks". There are newspaper reports that the Tories have checked their offices for bugs because of fears about listening devices. Liberal Democrat chairman Matthew Taylor said Mr Flight had been treated harshly. "Whilst I disagree with his views, it seems extraordinary to sack somebody for telling the truth," he said. It has also been revealed that Michael Howard was forced to suspend a constituency association for refusing to deselect a Conservative candidate. Adrian Hilton was abandoned after it came to light he had suggested the signing of the Maastricht Treaty, under John Major's government, was an act of treason. He had been brought in to fight the seat in Slough after Robert Oulds was sacked for being pictured on the internet with a range of guns, rifles and a hunting knife. Slough Conservative Association has now been placed on "support status" and is being run from Conservative campaign headquarters, a senior party spokesman said. \|\|\|\|\| The former Tory deputy chairman, Howard Flight, was last night heading for a direct confrontation with his party leader Michael Howard over his abrupt removal from political life following his gaffe on the party's £35bn spending cuts plans. The multimillionaire called in lawyers to advise him on seeking an emergency general meeting of Arundel and South Downs Conservative Association in an attempt to overturn its move to seek a candidate to replace him. Conservative Central Office remained determined to stop him. Senior Tories told the Guardian yesterday that the unequivocal nature of Mr Howard's action was likely to cause long-term harm to his leadership, particularly if his election campaign was unsuccessful. Further pressure was applied on Mr Flight when a party spokesman confirmed that he had been sacked from running the Conservative City Circle campaign to raise £20m from the City for May's expected general election. Mr Flight was working with a number of leading City figures and Tory high fliers to raise the cash. They included Mark Archer, deputy chief executive of Allianz Dresdner Asset Management (UK), and Philip Keevil, managing director of Citigroup Global Markets, and an accomplished fundraiser for Oxford University and the London Symphony Orchestra. He also worked closely with another multimillionaire, Colin Barrow, a rising star on Westminster city council and a trustee of the influential Tory thinktank, Policy Exchange. None of them could be contacted yesterday but a Tory MP who is close to the organisation said: "Conservative City Circle is very much Mr Flight's creation. They are bound to be unhappy about his abrupt removal." Mr Flight, who was taped at a private meeting speculating that the Tories' £35bn pledged spending cuts would only "be the start" if they won the election, said in a statement last night: "I was unanimously approved as a candidate five weeks ago. "I am seeking to address a general meeting of the local party and there should then be a vote as to whether they want to keep me as the candidate for Arundel and South Downs. Apart from anything else, whatever the result, it is crucially important that this is seen to be done properly." Earlier the former Tory cabinet minister Lord Tebbit, writing in the Independent on Sunday, warned the saga could "inflate a storm in a teacup to a political gale. Politics is about judgement as well as logic and many Tories will question if Flight should be virtually expelled from parliament". Senior Tory MPs said that dissatisfaction with the sacking the MP was more widespread than just among Thatcherities. One senior backbencher said: "Nothing will probably happen this side of an election, but if Mr Howard loses, he will be taken to task over this." Mr Howard defended his position in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, saying: "It's a terrible let-down when someone goes and behaves like this. What I can't have is someone misrepresenting my view, misrepresenting what we do in government and suggesting that we say one thing in private and another thing in public. That's not the way I do politics." Labour last night continued to press the issue home. The Cabinet Office minister, David Miliband, said: "The real issue is not one individual but the Tory policy agenda he has exposed. The Tories are now in disarray and their tax and spending proposals are unravelling."	At a news conference intended to be on the Conservatives' childcare policies, Michael Howard's decision to sack Conservative MP Howard Flight has continued to dominate as the ex-Tory deputy chairman's expulsion from the party was the subject of every question. The affair began when the MP for Arundel and South Downs was recorded as saying that the conservatives' spending cuts of £35bn would 'only be the start' under a Tory Government. This issue has been of particular significance in the run-up to the expected General election on May 5th. Mr. Flight has resisted his removal from the candidate list, insisting it is the prerogative of the local party members only and not head office. He has taken legal advice as to summoning an emergency general meeting of Arundel and South Downs Conservative Association. Howard Flight has insisted that he would not stand as an independent candidate.
Loud 'boom' heard at Georgia hostage standoff South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley fired several guns during a visit to FN Manufacturing in Columbia Friday. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley fired several guns during a visit to FN Manufacturing in Columbia Friday.A year ago officials announced Columbia Police Department officers soon would be carrying FN's Gov. Haley fires "quite a few" guns during visit to Columbia firearm manufacturer Gov. Haley fires "quite a few" guns during visit to Columbia firearm manufacturer What started as a small crack on the Blue Ridge Parkway just north of Asheville is getting bigger. BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NC (WYFF) - What started as a small crack on the Blue Ridge Parkway just north of Asheville is getting bigger. When it was first noticed July 12, the crack was about 150 feet long and A current Columbia Police Department employee is speaking out about what she said is atypical and unexplained activity in the department. A current Columbia Police Department employee is speaking out about what she said is atypical and unexplained activity in the department. Navarro: Drugs found at prominent city figure's house, no action taken Navarro: Drugs found at prominent city figure's house, no action taken The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office is warning those planning on attending the annual Coonfest Party this Saturday that deputies will be patrolling the water in "full force." The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office is warning those planning on attending the annual Coonfest Party this Saturday that deputies will be patrolling the water in "full force." Sheriff: Deputies to be out in 'full force' at Coonfest Sheriff: Deputies to be out in 'full force' at Coonfest Sources involved in the investigation into the Columbia Police Department confirm to WIS that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is working with State Law Enforcement Division agents. Both agencies are looking into multiple allegations involving Interim Police Chief Ruben Santiago and former Captain Dave Navarro. Sources involved in the investigation into the Columbia Police Department confirm to WIS that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is working with State Law Enforcement Division agents. Both agencies are The South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Aiken County Coroner's Office are continuing to investigate a fatal accident in Aiken County Saturday. Richland County deputies are asking for the community's assistance in identifying the person or persons who randomly shot and killed a dog that was in a fenced yard. An NFL cheerleader and former teacher has been indicted in Kenton County on allegations that she had sex with a student. NFL cheerleader indicted for having sex with student NFL cheerleader indicted for having sex with student Twenty years ago on Sept 21, 1989, Hurricane Hugo's winds blew their way into the history books of South Carolinians as the category 4 storm made landfall in Charleston. CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Twenty years ago on Sept 21, 1989, Hurricane Hugo's winds blew their way into the history books of South Carolinians as the category 4 storm made landfall in Charleston. While More than 20 years after Hurricane Hugo struck the Charleston area, the former mayor of Folly Beach is taking a look back on the storm that changed his city forever. (Statesboro, Georgia-AP) January 17, 2006 - Reports from a hostage stand-off at an attorney's office in Statesboro indicate a loud boom has been heard in the area. Police say a man and woman are holding the hostage and authorities at bay. Reporters at the scene say they heard a loud boom about 6:00am coming from the site. Police have not said what caused the noise. Police cordoned off part of downtown Monday after a lawyer was taken hostage in his office near City Hall. The two suspects have told police they are armed with an explosive device. Police identified one of the suspects as 43-year-old Robert Eugene Brower, a former client of the lawyer. Authorities have not released the name of the hostage, but broadcast reports identify him as Michael Hostilo. In a news conference Monday night, Police Chief Stan York said Brower was angry about having been convicted in a criminal case in which the lawyer was his court-appointed attorney. York would not elaborate on the couple's demands, saying they only wanted to call attention to the case. City spokeswoman Maggie Fitzgerald said there were initially three hostages, but two of them were released unharmed. Statesboro, a city of 22,000, is home to Georgia Southern University. It is about 50 miles northeast of Savannah and 225 miles southeast of Atlanta. Posted 7:29am by Bryce Mursch \|\|\|\|\| STATESBORO, Ga. Police cordoned off part of downtown Monday in this small southeast Georgia college town after an attorney was taken hostage in his office near City Hall. The two suspects, a man and a woman, told police they were armed with an explosive device. Eleven hours after the incident occurred, police were still trying to negotiate with two suspects. Trooper Larry Schnall, a spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol, said a SWAT team was sent to the scene. A woman who answered the phone Monday at the office of Zettler Hostilo & Register LLP, where the lawyer taken hostage apparently works, said the office was closed and hung up. There were initially three hostages, but two were released unharmed, said Maggie Fitzgerald, a city spokeswoman. "They are upset with some legal issues within the recent past and want to get those issues resolved," Fitzgerald said of the suspects without elaborating. She did say the man the suspects are holding is unharmed. The suspects, a man and a woman, say they are armed with an improvised explosive device, Fitzgerald said. Statesboro, a city of 22,000 that is home to Georgia Southern University, is 225 miles southeast of Atlanta. The community's Martin Luther King Day parade, which was to pass by the county courthouse near the scene, was canceled because of the standoff. \|\|\|\|\| Couple holding attorney hostage Georgia authorities try to negotiate surrender amid bomb fears YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Georgia or or Create Your Own (CNN) -- A couple claiming to have a bomb held a lawyer hostage in his Georgia office Monday while negotiators tried to persuade them to surrender, authorities said. The standoff near the Bulloch County courthouse prompted city officials to cancel a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Statesboro, about 50 miles northwest of Savannah, City Manager George Wood said. "The individuals have indicated that they are very upset with some legal issues from the recent past and want to get those issues resolved," Wood said in a written statement Monday afternoon. "They want to call attention to this case, and they hope to have the issues resolved peacefully. We are doing everything possible to end this situation without anyone being hurt." The nature of the legal issues in question was unclear Monday evening. The couple took over the lawyer's office about 9:15 a.m. and let two people go shortly afterward, said John Bankhead, a spokesman for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. There were no reports of injuries in the standoff, he said. Wood said hostage negotiators were in contact with the couple, who "indicated they have an improvised explosive device." The area around the office was cordoned off, and surrounding buildings were evacuated. He identified the man as Robert Eugene Brower, 43. The woman's name was not released. The GBI, Georgia State Patrol, Bulloch County sheriff's deputies and the FBI were assisting Statesboro police in the standoff, Bankhead said.	Map highlighting Bulloch County Georgia A male and a female took 3 people hostage at a law firm in Statesboro, Georgia. Police blocked off a part of this rural town on Monday. Two suspects , a man and a woman, took a lawyer hostage and claimed that they had explosives. The suspects, Robert Eugene Brower, 43, a former client of the lawyer, and the female whose name was not released, gave up after demands for cigarettes and food were met and they spoke with a family member. The standoff lasted for 24 hours and ended, "peacefully," at around 10AM said Larry Schnall, a spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol. The last of the 3 hostages to be released was identified as Michael Hostilo. He and the other two hostages were not injured. There is no word on the names of the other hostages. Earlier reports stated that there had been a "loud boom" coming from the scene at about six o'clock this morning. Authorities have not stated what the booms were. Police are now inside the building to locate and defuse the explosive device that the suspects claimed to have had. Initially when police arrived, there were 3 hostages, but 2 had been recently released and were unharmed, said Maggie Fitzgerald, a city spokeswoman. "They are upset with some legal issues within the recent past and want to get those issues resolved. We are doing everything possible to end this situation without anyone being hurt." In a news conference Monday night, Police Chief Stan York said Brower was angry about "having been convicted in a criminal case", in which the lawyer was his court-appointed attorney. York did not elaborate on the demands of the hostage-takers, other than saying, "they only wanted to call attention to the case." Georgia State Trooper Larry Schnall, a spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol, said a SWAT team was sent to the scene. This morning authorities convinced the two suspects to give-up, but "incidents leading to an escalation resulted in some gunfire," Stan York in a press conference just moments ago. No one was hurt in the brief eruption of gunfire. Police later said when the suspects tried to surrender they became apprehensive and made a threatening gesture prompting authorities to draw their guns and open fire. The standoff began at around 9AM on Monday.
AFP Nineteen people died and three are missing after a boat carrying teachers and school children sank in Burma, an official said on Thursday. The students were travelling to a football tournament when the overloaded ferry sank early on Wednesday on a river in the flood-prone Irrawaddy Delta region. "The latest information is 19 people were killed and three others missing. About 79 people were on board when the boat sank," according to the official, who did not want to be named. Advertisement: Story continues below The Irrawaddy Delta was the area that suffered worst when Cyclone Nargis hit southern Burma in May 2008. The catastrophic storm killed around 138,000 people and left thousands more homeless. Most people living in the low-lying region - the least developed part of the impoverished army-ruled country - rely heavily on poorly-maintained river ferries for transportation around its flooded plains. \|\|\|\|\| By NAW NOREEN Published: 7 October 2010 At least 19 people, including children as young as five, have been killed after a ferry boat flipped as it navigated a creek in Burma’s southern Irrawaddy delta. The majority of the 70 people on board were students and teachers from schools in Irrawaddy division’s Saluseik and Padaukgon villages, close to Labutta township. They had been travelling to an inter-village football tournament in Michaungai along one of the many waterways used for transport in the delta. Reports of the number of those killed however vary: AFP quoted Burmese officials yesterday as saying that 13 had died, while the China-based People’s Daily claimed that at least two dozen were killed. A rescue worker said the boat came under heavy rain on the way to Michaungai, and flipped when it was struck by a wave at around 10am yesterday. “The boat flipped at a confluence of creeks – these are small, narrow creeks connecting villages,” he said, speaking to DVB on condition of anonymity. He said that most of the bodies were of children aged between five and 15. Around 20 people were saved by nearby fishermen and rescue teams made up of local authorities and NGOs operating in the region, he added. Some 20 people are still missing. The boat was reportedly overloaded with passengers and lost balance. Locals in Labutta say that most of the younger victims died when they became trapped underneath the boat after it had flipped. Labutta, where some 80,000 people died in May 2008 following cyclone Nargis, had been experiencing heavy rain and strong winds for about four days prior to the accident. The weather had reportedly caused a number of strong currents and waves in the surrounding creeks and rivers.	A view of the , in which the boat sank, killing at least nineteen people. Nineteen people were killed and three are unaccounted for after an overloaded sank in a river in a flooded region of Burma. Many young children, travelling to an inter-village football tournament in Michaungai, were killed when the boat sank. During the rescue efforts, bodies of children aged between five and fifteen were recovered from the water, along with the bodies of two teachers and two local villagers. Authorities are continuing to search for three people who are still missing after the disaster. There were 79 people aboard the boat when it sank in the , according to an unnamed official. A rescue worker suggested that there had been heavy rain around 10 a.m., when the ferry struck a strong wave and sank. “The boat flipped at a confluence of creeks—these are small, narrow creeks connecting villages," he said. Locals suggested that the boat, which was reportedly overloaded, flipped and lost balance, trapping young children underneath. The accident took place as strong winds and heavy rain battered the area, causing large waves and strong currents in waterways. Reports indicate that many residents of the vast region rely heavily on poorly-maintained river ferries for cheap transportation, since many areas are inaccessible by road. 138,000 people were killed and thousands more were left homeless when when devastated the region in May 2008. == Sources == * * *
(Entertainment Weekly) -- NBC confirmed online reports today that Kevin Eubanks, Jay Leno's affable bandleader, will step down from his post sometime after original installments of "The Tonight Show" resume in March. Eubanks told the Peacock Network he wants to try other things, a network insider said, though it's still not clear when he'll abdicate his late night gig (or whether the entire band will go with him). For now, he is expected to be present for Leno's much-talked about return to "Tonight" on March 1. Eubanks' potential replacement and the band's status is one of many logistical issues confronting Leno, as he and executive producer Debbie Vickers prepare for their next chapter in late night. One thing's for certain: he and his staff won't return to "The Tonight Show's" old sound stage on the Burbank lot, much less take over the fancy new digs that were built for Conan O'Brien in Universal City. Instead, Leno will tape "Tonight" from the set of his short-lived primetime show, also in Burbank, though the look of the place is sure to change. NBC has yet to decide, in the meantime, what do with O'Brien's old sound stage -- though it could accommodate, say, a multi-camera sitcom (NBC's developing five, in fact, for the 2010-11 season). Once back on "Tonight," Leno will likely stick with the brief opening segment where he high-fives members of the audience, not to mention running gags like "Headlines." NBC is not ready to announce his first guest (Jerry Seinfeld occupied the chair when Leno premiered in primetime just four months ago). Promos for Leno's return are expected to start airing this week during the Winter Olympics -- though the comedian got a nice boost by participating in a promo for CBS' "The Late Show" with David Letterman and Oprah Winfrey that aired during the Super Bowl. The low-cost spot ended up upstaging most of the other commercials that cost millions to produce and air. See the original article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly © 2009 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Kevin Eubanks wants a break from 'Tonight Show' Jay Leno's longtime bandleader Kevin Eubanks is planning at least a part-time split even as Leno reclaims his Tonight Show, reports USA TODAY's Gary Levin. "Kevin has expressed interest in pursuing personal touring and recording opportunities," the network said in a statement. "However, he will return to the show" on March 1, when Leno resurfaces in late night, and whether and when he exits for good has yet to be determined. Conan O'Brien's bandleader and drummer Max Weinberg took leaves of absence to tour with Bruce Springsteen. Eubanks has been Tonight's bandleader since 1995, but began his tenure in 1992, when Leno replaced Johnny Carson, as a guitarist under Branford Marsalis.	Kevin Eubanks, the veteran bandleader to American late-night television personality Jay Leno, confirmed reports on Wednesday that he will, at least temporarily, leave the ''The Tonight Show''. According to an NBC spokesperson, "Kevin Eubanks has expressed interest in pursuing personal touring and recording opportunities." Eubanks has been the bandleader for the show since 1995. He furthermore followed Leno in his move to the primetime slot last year, when Leno hosted a short-lived talk show. This was until the new host Conan O'Brien left ''Tonight'' after only seven months following a contractual dispute. ''The Tonight Show'' is slated to resume this March with Leno reinstated as host. For now, Eubanks is expected stay with Leno for the show's return and for an indefinite period of time following. It is yet to be made clear if Eubanks is willing to permanently abdicate his position and whether his entire The Tonight Show Band will go with him once he leaves. == Related news == * * *
The BBC Trust has suspended online educational service BBC Jam after UK commercial companies registered complaints of the site exercising unfair competition in the online games market to the European Commission. The online destination that offered games and activities with an educational bent to kids six to 16 will cease to operate after March 20, according to Chitra Bharucha, acting BBC chairman. The site was due for a market impact assessment this year, but this action was suspended in the light of the new accusations. While the Beeb is not admitting non-compliance, the Trust is formally requesting new proposals for how the net should deliver its Charter obligation to promote education and learning in an online environment. BBC Jam was approved in 2003 and launched in 2006. The service has a total budget of US$290 million with approximately US$85 million of that earmarked for independent content producers. The Trust is expecting to receive new proposals from the pubnet within the next three months about Jam’s replacement. The new program is believed to have the same budget as the suspended one. \|\|\|\|\| The free service supports the national curriculum BBC Jam, aimed at children aged between five and 16, delivers free content supporting school curricula in English, Welsh and other UK languages. Online companies said the service damaged their businesses and a review will take place. NUT Cymru questioned whether private firms would provide the same service. And the Welsh Assembly Government has also expressed concern. BBC Jam went live in January 2006, with the BBC pledging to invest £150m over five years. Much of the English-language content is available in Welsh with core subjects also available in Irish and Scots Gaelic. In total, 189 staff across the UK, including 19 in Wales, work on the project, which will be suspended from 20 March pending a review. 'Valuable resource' The decision by the BBC Trust follows a complaint from commercial online companies to the European Commission that BBC Jam had a negative impact on their businesses. The trust has asked the corporation's management to come up with fresh proposals for how the BBC should deliver its charter obligation to promote learning for school-aged children. Rhys Williams of teaching union NUT Cymru said the service was a valuable educational asset. He added: "As a union we believe that education should be a public service and when you start talking about the commercial online companies the alarm bells start ringing and we think 'has this been too successful?' "It's only 15 months old and it's been cut at very short notice. It makes us very worried. "It is part of (the BBC's) educational role. "One wonders to what extent commercial companies are going to step into the gap that the BBC has left in terms of Welsh language provision." 'Real concerns' BBC Wales Controller, Menna Richards, said she was "disappointed" the service had been suspended. She said: "We do know that hundreds of thousands of parents, children and teachers have found BBC Jam to be a very valuable resource. "I think the next step for us now is to seek clarification about what we can do to respond to the demand for further proposals for online learning. "We in BBC Wales are determined to play a part in that to ensure that school children in Wales in both English and Welsh get the best possible resource available." On the position of BBC Jam staff, Ms Richards said: "There are real concerns, BBC Wales has around 20 people employed to work on BBC Jam. "They do a fantastic job, they are talented people and they find themselves in this position through no fault of their own. "We at BBC Wales will be doing everything we can to support them over the next few months." A spokesperson for the Welsh Assembly Government said: "They (BBC Jam) provide a good service especially through the medium of Welsh. "We hope their service will resume as soon as the review is over."	BBC Jam promotional image, with logo. Kids will have to look elsewhere for educational entertainment, after the European Commission received complaints that the British Broadcasting Corporation's website was "unfair competition" to the commercial online games market. The site, called BBC jam, will be suspended on March 20, 2007, pending review, per the BBC Trust. ''BBC jam'' offers educationally-oriented games aimed at 5 to 16-year-olds, created with an operating budget of £150 million (US$290 million) over five years, US$85 million of which allocated to independent content producers. The government funded service is formally requesting proposals on how it should promote education and learning digitally, without being "non-compliant". NUT Cymru, a Welsh teachers' union, is worried about the closure. Both NUT Cymru and the Welsh Assembly Goverment have questioned the extent to which commercial firms would step in and fulfill the terms of the Welsh Language Act 1993.
Briatore out at Renault, team not disputing charge LONDON — Renault split with team principal Flavio Briatore on Wednesday and said it would not contest a charge that Nelson Piquet Jr. was ordered to crash during a Formula One race. Renault, however, still must attend a World Motor Sport Council hearing on Monday in Paris to discover its punishment for the crash that helped Fernando Alonso win last year's Singapore Grand Prix. Renault could be thrown out of F1, but the dual departure of Briatore and engineering executive director Pat Symonds appears to be a move aimed at reducing the penalty. "The ING Renault F1 team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix," the team said in a statement. "It also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore, and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team." Piquet Jr., who was fired by Renault last month after 1 1/2 seasons with the team, crashed on the 13th lap of last year's race. Alonso secured an unlikely victory as other cars came in to refuel while the Spanish driver had enough fuel to move ahead of the field. Governing body FIA began investigating last month, and offered Piquet Jr. immunity against prosecution in return for his testimony. Data showed Piquet Jr. accelerating into the crash, rather than braking. Last week, Briatore denied any wrongdoing and started legal proceedings in France against Piquet Jr. and his father, three-time world champion Nelson Piquet, for making false allegations and attempted blackmail. Briatore, a 58-year-old Italian, started out at the Benetton F1 team in 1988, overseeing Michael Schumacher's world title triumphs in 1994 and 1995 as team principal. He left Benetton in 1997 but helped Renault buy the team in 2000 and he was appointed managing director. In 2005 and '06, Briatore helped the French manufacturer and Alonso become world champions. Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, a co-owner of English soccer club Queens Park Rangers with Briatore, said he felt sorry for the Italian. "Obviously, I'm surprised at what has happened, and I'm taken by surprise today that they've decided to walk away," Ecclestone said. "I've no idea what will happen. We'll have to wait and see." Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Flavio Briatore, the team principal of Renault’s Formula One team, has quit amid allegations that the team ordered one of its drivers to crash last season to allow its other driver to win. Luca Bruno/Associated Press Pat Symonds, Renault’s director of engineering, also quit, according to a statement issued by the French team on its official Web site: The ING Renault F1 Team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the F.I.A. concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. It also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team. Before attending the hearing before the F.I.A. World Motor Sport Council in Paris on 21 September 2009, the team will not make any further comment. The drama began to unfold two weeks ago. Around the time of the Belgium Grand Prix, a news item from Globo Television in Brazil claimed that Renault had ordered its driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash on purpose to help his teammate, Fernando Alonso, win the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. GrandPrix.com followed up that report with a confirmation from the Federation International de l’Automobile, which said it was investigating “alleged incidents at a previous F.I.A. Formula 1 World Championship event.” The race in question was remarkable because it was the first of only two races that Alonso won last year. Alonso is a two-time champion, but last year the Renault cars were not competitive. At Singapore, he started in 15th position on the grid and reports the following day hailed the drive as one of his best ever, while noting the role Piquet’s crash played in the win. “Piquet ran into a wall and destroyed his car, forcing the safety car to go on the track while the debris was cleaned up,” wrote Brad Spurgeon of The New York Times. “The race was therefore suspended behind the safety car, and most of the cars prepared to enter the pits to take advantage of the situation. But Alonso had already made his pit stop, and would therefore move up.” GrandPrix.com wrote, “There was more than a little irony in the result of the Singapore Grand Prix. Nelson Piquet has seemed out of his depth this year and in Singapore he crashed heavily on lap 13. But in doing so he handed victory to his team-mate Fernando Alonso, who had gambled on a very short 12-lap first stint.” During its investigation, the F.I.A. interviewed Piquet, who was fired by Renault at the end of July. That interview was leaked to the press last week, and statements made by Piquet pointed an accusatory finger at Briatore and Symonds. From The Times of London: “The proposal to deliberately cause an accident was made to me shortly before the race took place, when I was summoned by Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds in Mr. Briatore’s office,” Piquet told the F.I.A. “Mr. Symonds, in the presence of Mr. Briatore, asked me if I would be willing to sacrifice my race for the team by ‘causing a safety car.’ Every F1 race driver knows that the safety car is deployed on a track when there is an accident which leads to the track being blocked either by debris or a stationary car, and where it is difficult to recover a damaged car, as was the case here.” Piquet explained he was in a “very fragile and emotional state of mind” at the time the proposal was put to him because he had been given no formal assurances that his drive at Renault was safe for 2009. “When I was asked to crash my car I accepted because I hoped it could improve my position within the team at this critical time in the race season,” he said. “At no point was I told by anyone that by agreeing to cause an incident, I would be guaranteed a renewal of my contract or any other advantage. However, in the context, I thought that it would be helpful in achieving this goal. I therefore agreed to cause the incident.” Briatore denied the accusations. According to The Associated Press, Briatore started criminal proceedings against Piquet after the statement was leaked. “Things came out that should have not been said. We can’t defend ourselves and our position after such a leak,” he said last Sunday. “It’s not right to call a team guilty before it is judged.” Renault is scheduled to appear before the F.I.A.’s International Motor Sport Council in Paris next Monday to answer Piquet’s claims, reports Agence France-Presse. If the team is found guilty of fixing the race, it could be expelled from Formula One.	Renault F1 team boss Flavio Briatore and engineering director Pat Symonds have both split ways with the team. The move comes as Renault announce they will not fight a charge of race-fixing. Marina Bay Street Circuit while Alonso moves towards victory. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) accused Renault of ordering Nelson Piquet, Jr. to crash during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. The wreck brought out the safety car and most other competitors made refueling stops while it was out. However, Renault's Fernando Alonso had pitted unusually early and was able to move up to take one of just two victories that year. The safety car during its critical appearance at the race. The FIA interviewed Piquet after an investigation was triggered by claims published by Globo TV. Piquet's interview was leaked, and he placed the blame squarely on Briatore and Symonds. "The proposal to deliberately cause an accident was made to me shortly before the race took place, when I was summoned by Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds in Mr. Briatore’s office... When I was asked to crash my car I accepted because I hoped it could improve my position within the team at this critical time in the race season," Piquet said in the interview. Piquet further stated that he received no assurances he would still be racing for Renault in 2009. Although he continued to race for Renault in 2009, he was sacked midway through the current season. Renault will discover their punishment at a hearing before the World Motor Sport Council in Paris, France. They face the possibility of being banned from Formula One. Piquet has received immunity from the FIA for his testimony. Data showed Piquet accelerating into the wall instead of braking as he approached it. Briatore has a long history with Renault. He started off with Benetton Formula in 1988 and was team principal for Michael Schumacher's 1994 and 1995 world title wins. He left in 1997 but Renault made him head again after he helped the French firm buy the team in 2000. He was there for Alonso's world championship wins in 2005 and 2006.
The Taliban remains undeafeted despite more US troops being drafted into the country [Reuters] The Taliban remains undeafeted despite more US troops being drafted into the country [Reuters] According to the Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM), civilian deaths have risen amid increased insecurity and the Taliban remains far from being defeated. The current year has been the most violent in Afghanistan since the US-led forces invaded the land-locked central Asian country in 2001, an Afghan rights group has said. "In terms of insecurity, 2010 has been the worst year since the demise of the Taliban regime in late 2001," it said on Monday. "Not only have the number of security incidents increased, the space and depth of the insurgency and counter-insurgency-related violence have maximised dramatically," ARM said. About 1,074 civilians were killed and more than 1,500 injured in war-related incidents in the first six months of 2010, compared with 1,059 killed in the same period last year, ARM said. Taliban 'resilient' In late December, Barack Obama, the US president, ordered an extra 30,000 American troops into Afghanistan as part of a new strategy designed to reverse the Taliban momentum and speed up an end to the nine-year war. But ARM's mid-year report entitled "Civilian Casualties of Conflict", said that Obama's policy of intensifying operations against the Taliban has not disrupted, dismantled or defeated the fighters. On the contrary, it says, "the insurgency has become more resilient, multi-structured and deadly". "Up to 1,200 security incidents were record in June, the highest number of incidents compared to any month since 2002," it said. Most civilian deaths - 661 - were caused by Taliban fighters, who showed "little or no respect for the safety and protection of non-combatants in their armed rebellion against the government and its foreign supporters", it said. The United States and Nato have more than 140,000 troops in Afghanistan with another 10,000 due in coming weeks as part of the counter-insurgency strategy. The Taliban's main weapon, homemade bombs known as improvised explosive devices, were blamed for most of the deaths and injuries among Afghan civilians in the period, ARM said. ARM said that suicide attacks by Taliban bombers were the second biggest killer of civilians in the first half of this year, killing 127 non-combatants. It said a reduction in air strikes, ordered by the former commander of foreign forces, US General Stanley McChrystal, had resulted in fewer civilian deaths attributed to US-led forces. \|\|\|\|\| Afghan monitor says 2010 worst year of war KABUL — This year has been the most violent since the Afghan war began in 2001 and civilian deaths have risen slightly with the increased insecurity, a local rights group said Monday. A massive US-led increase in troops has failed to quell the Taliban-led insurgency, Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM) said. "In terms of insecurity, 2010 has been the worst year since the demise of the Taliban regime in late 2001," it said. "Not only have the number of security incidents increased, the space and depth of the insurgency and counter-insurgency-related violence have maximised dramatically," ARM said. In late December, US President Barack Obama ordered an extra 30,000 American troops into Afghanistan as part of a new counter-insurgency strategy designed to reverse the Taliban momentum and speed up an end to the nine-year war. But ARM's mid-year report "Civilian Casualties of Conflict" said Obama's policy of intensifying operations against the Taliban has not disrupted, dismantled or defeated the insurgents. On the contrary, it says, "the insurgency has become more resilient, multi-structured and deadly". About 1,074 civilians were killed and more than 1,500 injured in war-related incidents in the first six months of 2010, compared with 1,059 killed in the same period last year, ARM said. "Up to 1,200 security incidents were recorded in June, the highest number of incidents compared to any month since 2002," it said. Military commanders had warned that boosted troops numbers would lead to more battles, and subsequently higher death tolls. But ARM said "little or no justification has been offered as to why a defeated Taliban is gaining strength, popularity and the ability to threaten the future of Afghanistan" nine years after being overthrown. In a breakdown of parties to blame for civilian deaths, ARM says 61 percent were caused by insurgents, 30 percent by US, NATO and Afghan forces, six percent by "criminals and private security firms", with three percent unknown. The United States and NATO have more than 140,000 troops in Afghanistan with another 10,000 due in coming weeks as part of the counter-insurgency strategy. The Taliban's main weapon, bombs known as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), were blamed for most of the Afghan civilian casualties, with suicide attacks the second biggest killer, ARM said. It said a reduction in air strikes, ordered by the recently sacked commander of foreign forces, US General Stanley McChrystal, had resulted in fewer civilian deaths attributed to US-led forces. Other country-insurgency measures introduced by McChrystal "were also deemed helpful", the report said. Last week NATO apologised for the deaths of six civilians in a mistaken air strike and said that six Afghan soldiers died in a "friendly fire" incident. Rules of engagement that aim to prevent civilian casualties have come under fire from some quarters, however, with the arrival of McChrystal's successor, US General David Petraeus, who took command on July 4. Many soldiers complain they are hamstrung by the rules, attributing to them a spike in deaths and injuries. ISAF officials say the rules will not change. So far this year, more than 350 foreign soldiers have died in the Afghan war, around 30 for July alone. The total last year was 520. ARM's findings echo those of a UN report late last year that found most civilian casualties in 2009 -- up 11 percent in the first 10 months of the year over the same 2008 period -- were caused by Taliban attacks. Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »	The Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM), an Afghan human-rights group, stated yesterday that 2010 was the worst year in terms of violence for the country since US-led troops occupied the country in 2001. The ARM says that civilian deaths have risen and that Taliban insurgents have not been defeated despite a surge in troops in Afghanistan. "In terms of insecurity, 2010 has been the worst year since the demise of the Taliban regime in late 2001. Not only have the number of security incidents increased, the space and depth of the insurgency and counter-insurgency-related violence have maximised dramatically," the ARM said. ARM's figures state that over 1,074 civilians were killed and over 1,500 wounded in war violence in the first half of this year, an slight increase over 1,059 deaths in the same time period in 2009. "Up to 1,200 security incidents were recorded in June, the highest number of incidents compared to any month since 2002," the ARM commented. According to the ARM, over half of civilian deaths in the first six months of this year were caused by Taliban insurgents that showed "little or no respect for the safety and protection of non-combatants in their armed rebellion against the government and its foreign supporters." The group also said that the second highest cause of civilian deaths were suicide attacks by the Taliban. The suicide attacks killed 127 people. Also, the ARM reported that a reduction of US and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) air strikes reduced their share of civilians killed. The air strike reduction had been ordered by the former commander of foreign forces, General Stanley McChrystal, who was fired by US president Barack Obama for making rude comments about top government officials. In December of last year, US president Barack Obama sent an additional 30,000 soldiers into the country in an effort to halt the Taliban's influence in the region. However, the ARM says in its mid-year report, titled "Civilian Casualties of Conflict", that the move failed to have any lasting effect, and that "the insurgency has become more resilient, multi-structured and deadly". According to the ARM, most of the injuries and deaths were attributed homemade bombs — otherwise known as improvised explosive devices. These bombs are considered the Taliban's main weapon. 140,000 soldiers from both the US and NATO are stationed in Afghanistan; another 10,000 are scheduled to enter the landlocked Asian country in the next few weeks. Over 350 US and NATO troops have been killed so far this year, compared with 520 last year. Over 30 troops have been killed in the first 12 days of July.
POSTED: 11:44 am EST February 9, 2009 The mayor of Flint has announced his resignation, only weeks before he was to face a recall election. Don Williamson, 75, said Monday he is retiring because of health concerns. “My doctors have all told me that I should think about relaxing my schedule,” said the major. Williamson has been suffering from sinus infections and kidney stones. The mayor will leave his post effective at midnight Saturday and newly named City Administrator Michael Brown will become the acting mayor. Williamson was re-elected Flint mayor in 2007 when he defeated challenger Dayne Walling with 51 percent of the vote. The Feb. 24 recall stemmed from claims Williamson mismanaged city funds and violated the public trust by misrepresenting the city's finances. Recall supporters also said he endangered public safety by proposing the elimination of 59 police officers and nine firefighters. Williamson announced last year he would run for governor of Michigan in 2010 as a Democrat. It was not immediately clear how his announcement Monday will effect that race. Williamson is a millionaire who received a token $1 salary as mayor. His resignation will be effective Feb. 15 at midnight. A primary mayoral election will be scheduled for May and a special election will follow in August. \|\|\|\|\| Flint Mayor Don Williamson resigns by The Flint Journal Monday February 09, 2009, 6:30 PM This is an updated version of a story first posted at 11:27 a.m. Flint, Michigan -- The Don is gone. Mayor Don Williamson announced today that he is "retiring," finally putting to rest weeks of speculation. In an 11:20 a.m. news conference, Williamson cited health reasons for leaving office. His resignation is effective midnight Sunday. He took no questions from the media, and read from a prepared statement. "Last month, I celebrated my third sinus infection in 13 months and my eighth kidney stone since Nov. 1. My doctors have told me that I should think about relaxing my schedule and reducing the demands on my time," said Williamson, 75. Williamson, a multi-millionaire, said his life has been blessed with financial and political success. "In my political life, I received the greatest honor of all, the trust and respect that the voters of this great city placed in me when they elected me mayor in 2003 and then re-elected me in 2007," Williamson said. Williamson praised new city administrator Mike Brown and deputy mayor Darryl Buchanan. Buchanan was present at the news conference but Brown was not. Brown becomes acting mayor when Williamson leaves office and will lead the city until after an August election. Williamson said there will be a lot of work for Buchanan and Brown as the city tries to deal with a "financial crisis." "It has been a great pleasure and honor to serve the hometown where Patsy and I have lived our whole lives," Williamson said. Rumors for weeks had been swirling that Williamson -- whose larger-than-life and often confrontational personality won him many of his supporters and his enemies -- would resign as mayor ahead of the Feb. 24 recall election. Williamson repeatedly, and adamantly, denied those rumors. And, many were surprised by Williamson's decision. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton could only said "I'm shocked" when told of Williamson's resignation. Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell said he was "absolutely shocked that the mayor resigned." He said, though, that the city is left in capable hands with the appointment of Mike Brown. "And with Darryl Buchanan working with Mr. Brown, it will be a good team," Pickell said. Williamson last week dumped right-hand man Buchanan and hired Brown, who worked for the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce, as the new city administrator. He also appointed a new interim police chief, John Keahey, who is the third person in less than a month to fill the post. The mayor initially won a term as mayor in 2003, and then was re-elected in 2007 in a close election against challenger Dayne Walling. Since then, there's been a string of bad news, including budget deficits, layoffs, controversy over a proposed drag strip and turmoil at City Hall. Williamson has pointed to some successes in the city, including the revitalization of downtown and the new alternative energy plant. Flint voters in 2002 recalled then-Mayor Woodrow Stanley -- an election that led to a state takeover. \|\|\|\|\| Mayor will leave office midnight Sunday (02/09/09) -- During a morning news conference today, Flint Mayor Don Williamson said he will retire from office effective Sunday, Feb. 15 at midnight. The mayor did not take questions from reporters after making the announcement. Click here to see Mayor Williamson's entire news conference. "In leaving, I wish only the very best for our city as it continues down the road we have paved," he said. Advertisement The action comes less than two weeks before Williamson was to face a recall election. In everything there is a season. And I have decided that now is the time to retire from public life, effective midnight, Sunday Feb. 15," Williamson said. "In my absence, I want to assure you that Mike Brown will ably lead the city until August, when the voters can decide on my permanent replacement. He shares my strong belief in the support of our neighborhoods and my excitement about growing downtown development. He brings great energy and experience that I think will be important to carry Flint through the next period in history." Longtime City Council opponent Scott Kincaid said it "was a super-fantastic day" for the city of Flint. When ABC12's Gabe Gutierrez asked for her reaction, Councilwoman Jackie Poplar said, "Hallelujah." ABC12 News has not been able to contact Williamson supporters for their reaction. Williamson, now in his second term, would have served until November 2011. According to City Charter, Williamson's successor will be newly-hired City Administrator Mike Brown. Brown replaced former City Administrator Darryl Buchanan last week. At that time, Williams appointed Buchanan to the newly-created position of deputy mayor. Williamson wouldn't explain what the deputy mayor position means, but did say that Buchanan will stay on in a capacity under interim Mayor Mike Brown. Click here to get us on your iPhone.. Click here for more Mid-Michigan and Flint news Comment on this story below and we may read what you have to say on the air. (Copyright ©2009 WJRT-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) \|\|\|\|\| Community remains shocked by retirement decision (02/09/09)--As confident as Flint Mayor Don Williamson is, he didn't win his first nor his second bid for the city's top job. But persistence -- or stubbornness -- eventually paid off for him. That, for many, made him a mayor like few others. Click here to see Mayor Williamson's entire news conference. You can't live in Mid-Michigan for very long, without knowing the name Don Williamson. Advertisement "We have a tremendous response. People are ready for a change. They're tired of the politicians," he said when the first ran for mayor in 1991. Despite a plan to put 50 police cars on the street, he did not make it past the primary. In 1995, Williamson made a second run for the city's top job. The race was both heated and ugly. Williamson took on Woodrow Stanley, the incumbent mayor, but he also lodged serious accusations against another challenger, Sam Riddle. In the end, it wasn't enough. Williamson finished dead last in a five-man primary. But in 2003, the third time proved the charm. Williamson beat Floyd Clack in the general election, but didn't take over until the following summer. The city was still under state financial control, and at City Hall, that meant a lengthy power struggle with Ed Kurtz. In fact, it was the middle of 2004 before Williamson fully took on the responsibilities of mayor. In 2007, Williamson faced a close and heated race against Dayne Walling. In the end, the mayor kept the job by earning fewer than 600 votes. Through the years, he's been a polarizing figure as mayor. That's part of the legacy Williamson will leave behind when he retires this weekend. The sudden retirement of Flint's mayor came as a shock to many residents of the city. Everyone seemed to have an opinion about the mayor Monday. And in our unscientific survey, most are sad to see him go. Click here to get us on your iPhone.. Click here for more Mid-Michigan and Flint news Comment on this story below and we may read what you have to say on the air. (Copyright ©2009 WJRT-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) \|\|\|\|\| John Keahey named Flint interim police chief, David Forystek out as interim chief after less than a month on the job by Shannon Murphy \| The Flint Journal Friday February 06, 2009, 11:40 AM FLINT, Michigan -- The Flint police department now has its third interim chief in less than a month. Mayor Don Williamson today announced that Office John Keahey is now the new interim chief. David Forystek, who was named chief Jan. 14, was demoted to the department's traffic bureau. Keahey was previously a major with the now-defunct Citizens Service Bureau. It is unknown why the most recent change was made. Along with a new interim chief, Williamson announced that four officers have been promoted to sergeant and one sergeant has been promoted to lieutenant. Flint Journal feedback: What do you think of this change in the Flint interim police chief position? Tell us your view in the comments area below. Extras: See below for related articles on this police chief situation. Forystek took over when interim Chief David Dicks placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a federal charge. Officials alleged Dicks stole more than $46,000 in government funding in a no-show job as a security guard for Career Alliance. \|\|\|\|\| Flint Mayor Don Wiliamson appoints longtime community leader Mike Brown as new city administrator to replace Darryl Buchanan by Joe Lawlor \| The Flint Journal Wednesday February 04, 2009, 10:40 PM FLINT, Michigan — A half-hour conversation with a man he barely knows was enough for Mayor Don Williamson to find his latest city administrator. Another week, another shakeup at City Hall. Williamson on Wednesday tabbed longtime Flint community leader Michael Brown to replace Darryl Buchanan as the city's director of day-to-day operations. Flint Journal extras Meet Michael Brown Age: 61 Residence: Flint New job: Appointed as Flint's city administrator on Wednesday, replacing Darryl Buchanan. Salary: $95,000-a-year. Experience: Current executive vice president at the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce; Past president of Capital Area United Way, United Way of Genesee and Lapeer Counties and the American Red Cross for Genesee and Lapeer counties. The vote: The City Council voted Wednesday 6-2 to appoint Brown. Voting yes were Scott Kincaid, Carolyn Sims, Jackie Poplar, Delrico Loyd, Jim Ananich and Sandy Hill. Voting no were Sheldon Neeley and Ehren Gonzales. The move means that Brown would now become interim mayor if Williamson loses his Feb. 24 recall election -- something that Williamson doesn't think will happen. "I plan to be the mayor for another eight years," Williamson reiterated on Wednesday. It was a whirlwind afternoon for Brown, who just a few months ago left a job in Lansing to become executive vice president of the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce. "This unfolded pretty quickly," said Brown. Brown, who lives in the college cultural district off of East Court Street, said he had a 30 minute conversation with the mayor about 2 p.m. on Wednesday and was offered the job immediately. Three hours later, the City Council approved the appointment. Why the change? Williamson declined to discuss the move and said he would have more to say on the matter at news conference Thursday. "I think (Brown) was a fantastic choice," said Williamson, who will name Buchanan deputy mayor. Buchanan was named city administrator after Williamson's re-election in 2007 and would have been his successor if Williamson were to be recalled. Buchanan, a former councilman, couldn't be reached for comment on Wednesday evening. If Williamson were to be recalled, Brown would step in as interim mayor until a May 5 special mayoral election. Brown said he's not interested in running for mayor. Williamson submitted Brown's name for the appointment at a special council meeting on Wednesday that was supposed to be a sleepy meeting about liquor licenses. The City Council approved the appointment 6-2 for a job that handles the day-to-day operations of the city. Brown said he sees his new role as an interim duty and doesn't have plans to campaign for something bigger. "I don't see myself running for mayor," said Brown, who served as the city's director of community development in the 1980s. In 2002, Brown failed to get enough signatures to get on the ballot after Woodrow Stanley was recalled as Flint's mayor. How did this latest role in city government come about? Brown said some people in the business community were talking with the mayor about bringing him on as city administrator. He declined to say who they were, except to say it wasn't his boss, Tim Herman, the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce's chief executive officer. Herman could not be reached for comment Wednesday night. Brown said there's a good chance he could return to work at the chamber at some point. But he said that's something he still needs to talk over with Herman. Brown said he will work to make sure relations are smooth with City Council and other area public officials. Brown takes over as administrator with the city experiencing deep financial problems, and several months after there were numerous layoffs. "Obviously, there's a lot of challenges," Brown said. "I have an excellent relationship with most of the public officials in Genesee County. We need to combine a lot of our energies to get these problems solved." Brown, 61, moved back to Flint in November after working for the Capital Area United Way in Lansing for five years. He has deep roots in the Flint community, working as the president of the United Way of Genesee and Lapeer Counties from 1996-2002. He was also previously the executive director of the American Red Cross for Genesee and Lapeer Counties. Phil Shaltz, a partner at Uptown Developments, said while Buchanan did a "phenomenal job," Brown will be "excellent" in helping to spur development and for his managerial skills. "I think this is a brilliant move by the mayor," Shaltz said. Council members said they didn't see it coming. "I think Michael Brown will be a good city administrator," said Councilman Scott Kincaid, a political enemy of Williamson. "He did an excellent job leading the United Way. I have a lot of confidence in him." "This was a good pick by the mayor," said Councilman Jim Ananich. Councilman Sheldon Neeley said he voted "no" but only because it was a rush job. "This is not a "no" vote against Michael Brown," Neeley said. "There's a lot of questions that still need to be answered." Recall organizer Alex Harris said it doesn't make any sense for Williamson, who normally hires his "cronies," to hire Brown unless something else is going on. "I could see a scenario playing out where the mayor resigns," Harris said. \|\|\|\|\| Interim Flint Police Chief David Dicks charged with theft of government funds by Ron Fonger and Shannon Murphy \| The Flint Journal Wednesday January 14, 2009, 4:10 PM Note: The date and time stamp on this article have been updated from its original post 1:25 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. Additional details, information and elements were added. Flint Journal extras: See below for past articles on David Dicks and the Career Alliance investigation. FLINT, Michigan -- Flint's interim police Chief David Dicks was charged today with defrauding the U.S. government by collecting federal funds for private security work while he was actually on duty as a city police officer and inspector. Dicks was charged in federal court today with theft of government funds and released on an unsecured $25,000 bond, but apparently remained on the job. Flint Mayor Don Williamson called Dicks a "super, super fantastic man. I feel sorry for him and his family." "I don't believe David Dicks stole anything," said Williamson, who scheduled a press conference for 4 p.m. today to discuss the police department. But federal prosecutors painted a different picture in a 10-page criminal complaint, saying Dicks essentially charged taxpayers twice by claiming to be two different places at the same time. David E. Wendt, a special agent with the U.S. Department of Labor, said in an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court that Dicks was paid more than $46,000 in federal funds for work he claimed to do for City Security, a contractor for Career Alliance Inc. Dicks submitted time sheets to City Security claiming he was on the job for Career Alliance while other records showed he was being paid as a city police officer or inspector or enrolled in classes at Mott Community College. Dicks appeared in federal court today with attorney Frank Manley. Manley called the charge against Dicks "unfortunate." "At least it allows us to defend against months and months of rumor and innuendo," Manley said. "Chief Dicks maintains he is innocent. He's hurt because he believes it's not true." Wearing a gray suit and tie, the police chief laced his hands and turned his thumbs, waiting to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hluchaniuk today. Dicks' father, Flint Super Chief Richard Dicks, sat behind his son in court, telling Manley at one point, "Everything's all right." Richard Dicks is the chief executive officer-licensee for City Security, the affidavit said. The company had a nearly 15-year monopoly on security contracts with Career Alliance. Williamson said he believes a lot went wrong at Career Alliance, which has been the subject of criminal investigations for more than a year. Other people connected to the nonprofit job training agency should be in trouble with the law, said Williamson, who called the complaint against Dicks "selective enforcement." The mayor said he would have to get more information before deciding whether Dicks, who faces up to 10 years in prison, would continue his role as interim chief. He was appointed last year to replace former acting Chief Gary Hagler. In Flint, Harold Horton, 45, of Burton, said today's charge against Dicks reinforced his belief that Flint officials are "all crooked." "I think they should push him through the court system as far as they can ... It's getting to be as bad as it was down in Detroit," Horton said. Flint Councilman Delrico Loyd called on Dicks to resign as police chief. He said it's possible Dicks could still have a job waiting for him while the case works its way through the legal system, but he believes Dicks should not lead the city's police department. "Oh my God," Loyd said, when he heard about the charge. "This goes to show that everything done in the darkness will eventually be brought out into the light." Councilman Ehren Gonzales suggested Dicks be placed on unpaid leave until the charge is resolved. Hluchaniuk scheduled a preliminary exam for Feb. 3 for Dicks, and prosecutors said they would present the case to a federal grand jury within 30 days. As conditions of his bond, Hluchaniuk told Dicks not to leave Michigan without permission from pretrial services, not to use alcohol or controlled substances, and to avoid contact with potential witnesses. The allegation that Dicks pocketed federal money is the latest controversy in his career. Less than a year into his term as chief, Dicks has been a polarizing figure with supporters viewing him as people-friendly leader who understands what the community wants and needs. Dicks experienced the city's violence firsthand on the day he was announced as chief when he learned his son had been shot to death on the city's north side. But critics -- including many in his own department -- see him as a crony of Williamson, and claim he only got his job because he does whatever the mayor tells him. Dicks was already under federal investigation in June when Williamson tapped him to lead the city police department. The appointment rankled cops who wondered why Dicks -- a patrol officer at the time -- had leapfrogged senior command staff. Dicks had been fired in 2004 by the city after he was charged with drunken driving following an off-duty crash in Flint Township. Dicks, who couldn't find his city issued pistol or identification card after the crash, later pleaded to a reduced charge in the case. A longtime supporter of Williamson, Dicks drew the ire of fellow officers when the mayor reinstated him to the department and selected him in December 2006 to be a member of his handpicked Citizens Service Bureau. Money woes forced Williamson to disband the group in early 2008 and a few months later Dicks was named interim chief. Dicks gained national attention last summer when he announced that his officers would arrest anyone caught wearing saggy pants in the city. He backed down after the American Civil Liberties Union threatened to sue if he followed through on the plan. The ACLU locked horns with Dicks again last summer when he banned police union leaders from speaking to the media. Staff writers Joe Lawlor and Bryn Mickle contributed to this story. \|\|\|\|\| There is something missing for Flint voters this year: racial diversity. When voters carried Don Williamson and Dayne Walling to victory in Tuesday's primary election, they made history. For the first time since the city adopted a strong mayor form of government, both mayoral nominees are white. So no matter who wins come November, this majority black city will elect a white man to be in charge. It's an issue that frustrates some. A look back at Flint mayoral elections 1975: James Rutherford 20,679 Floyd J. McCree 20,474 1979: James Rutherford 20,738 Floyd J. McCree 12,902 1983: James A. Sharp Jr. 21,718 James Rutherford 20,467 1987: Matt Collier 22,874 James A. Sharp Jr. 19,509 1991: Woodrow Stanley 25,946 Matt Collier 17,686 1995: Woodrow Stanley 21,687 Don Williamson 9,168 1999: Woodrow Stanley 17,224 Scott Kincaid 16,393 2003: Don Williamson 13,906 Floyd Clack 9,228 Source: Flint city clerk's office "We will remain an oppressed people until we learn how to support our own and support a qualified African-American person," said Donna Poplar, co-chairwoman of Sisters United, a politically active group of black women. "We have too many sell-out black folks." That's not an objection to white politicians or leadership but frustration with a lack of teamwork and cooperation within the black community, Poplar said. Tuesday's race featured four black candidates who combined to win a majority of votes from predominantly black precincts and one-third of the vote citywide -- the same percentage won by Williamson, the top finisher. But the vote was divided among the candidates so that even in predominantly black neighborhoods, no candidate individually received more than Williamson, who also won strong support from blacks when he was elected in 2003. "It was definitely a matter of the votes being split," said Nancy Fisher, a General Motors retiree who is black and wished there were fewer candidates on the ballot. Fisher said she is willing to support a white candidate -- "color has nothing to do with the ability to do what you're going to do" -- but she will not follow blindly. "They have to prove themselves to me," she said. "Do you have my interests at hand? What are you going to do to make a difference?" While there might be a tendency to embrace Tuesday's vote as a step toward greater racial harmony, the actual numbers show race remains a powerful force in Flint's voting booths. More than 55 percent of the vote in predominantly black precincts went to one of the four black candidates on Tuesday's ballot. And 88 percent of the votes in predominantly white neighborhoods went to one of the three white candidates. Turnout was a record low for a mayoral primary in Flint as 16.2 percent of voters cast ballots, according to the city clerk's office. "We don't go out to voice our opinion where it counts the most," said Frances Gilcreast, president of the Flint NAACP chapter. According to the most recent U.S. census estimates, Flint's population is 55.8 percent black and 39.3 percent white. Predominantly black precincts accounted for almost 50 percent of the votes cast Tuesday. Votes from predominantly white precincts accounted for 41 percent. The other 9 percent came from racially mixed precincts. Flint remains one of the most racially segregated cities in the nation. In recent history, the City Council has chosen to elect a black president when the mayor is white and vice versa. The city's mayors traditionally have gone out of their way to appoint high-ranking administrators of different ethnicities. Gilcreast said it is important for the city's leaders to realize that all parts of the city must come together. "You've got to try to work with whoever is in that position," Gilcreast said. "If you leave our segment of the community out, there is nothing positive that is going to happen in Flint." \|\|\|\|\| Business Services Industry Brainerd Int'l Raceway Hosts Memorial Day Carnival and Drag Races News & Business Editors/Sports Writers TECUMSEH, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 2000 This year's Memorial Day Weekend, The Colonel's International Inc. (Nasdaq:COLO) held its first Memorial Day Weekend event at The Colonel's Brainerd International Raceway, in Brainerd, Minnesota. For the first time in its 31 year history, the raceway hosted the largest carnival in Minnesota featuring rides and a midway at its 800 acre facility in Brainerd. Carnival goers also attended Drag races held on the track throughout the weekend. Amateur drag racing is one of this country's most popular weekend sports. Tens of thousands of weekend drag racing enthusiasts are members of local clubs which hold regional competitions throughout racing season. The Colonel's BIR championship racecourse is known as the upper midwest's premier motorsports facility. Located in Brainerd, Minnesota, 120 miles north of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, facilities include a championship 3 mile race course, 1/4 mile drag strip, 30,000 grandstand seats, private corporate viewing suites, a hospitality area, concession arcades, private garages, electronic scoreboards, control tower, and nearly 550 acres of campgrounds. In addition to the carnival which is one of Minnesota's largest, this past weekend's four day event included all classes of bucket drag racing such as super comp, stock and super stock, brackets 1 through 3, bike levels 1 and 2 competitions, trophy and junior dragster races. Over 450 drag racers competed for prize money totaling more than $10,000. According to company Chairman, Donald J. Williamson, of The Colonel's International, "We are looking forward to a great success at the raceway this year. We just kicked off our drag racing season three weeks ago with an extremely popular season opener and are looking forward to another great season of events. This weekend was great fun for many families with the carnival and drag races, and we were pleased with a good turnout from all over the state. We are planning a lot of similar future weekends and anticipate becoming a frequent destination for more sports and entertainment events as we continue to develop our facility." The Colonel's International, Inc. is a holding company for The Colonel's Truck Accessories, Inc. (CTA), The Colonel's Rugged Liner, Inc. (CRL) and The Colonel's Brainerd International Raceway, Inc. (BIR). CTA manufactures approximately 47 different liners and also manufactures fiberglass tonneau covers for all makes and models of pickup trucks, as well as shells and caps. It currently purchases additional products, such as tool boxes, running boards, tires, wheels, mats, bug shields, visors, grill covers, light covers, trim pieces, running lights and racks for distribution through retail sales and distribution stores. CRL manufactures non-skid bedliners and bed mats, ground lowering kits and a sliding three-piece tonneau cover. Additionally, BIR operates the Brainerd International Raceway and provides spectator events, such as road and drag races, including races for sports cars, motorcycles and go-karts. For more information about the company and its divisions, see its web sites at www.colonelsintl.com; www.brainerdrace.com; www.groundforce.com; or www.ruggedliner.com The Private Securities Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this Press Release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made) contains statements that are forward looking, such as those relating to consummation of transactions, anticipated future revenues and/or success of current product offerings. Such forward looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ materially from those expressed in any forward looking statements. For further information, contact Lynne Perlmutter of The Consilium at 305-856-5668. \|\|\|\|\| System Message Unable to retrieve document The document you requested could not be retrieved. Please contact the site administrator to report this problem.	Citing health reasons, the Mayor of Flint, Michigan, Don Williamson announced Monday at an 11:20 A.M. news conference that he was resigning from office effective Sunday February 15, 2009 at midnight. Williamson, age 75, indicated that he had multiple sinus infections and kidney stones since November 1 and his doctors wanted him to slow down by reducing his schedule. Genesee County, Michigan (orange). A number of events has lead to speculation about Williamson's resignation. His interim Police Chief, David Dicks, has been charged with defrauding the United States government stemming from the Federal investigation into his father's security company, City Security, and its contract with Career Alliance in January. Further, a recall election was scheduled for February 24. The snap selection of Michael Brown to be the new Flint City Administrator and his current City Administrator Darryl Buchanan to the non-City Charter position of "deputy mayor" last week Wednesday. Last Thursday a press conference, originally announced to explain the switch in City Administrators and the position of "deputy mayor," was canceled. And finally, on Friday the Interim Police Chief David Forystek was replaced with a new Interim Police Chief, John Keahey. This returned Forystek to department's traffic bureau. Over the last weekend, Williamson denied the rumors. Buchanan was at the press conference while Brown did not attend. Williamson is a multi-millionaire. He is majority stockholder and chairman of the publicly traded The Colonel's International Inc. (Nasdaq:COLO). Williamson first stepped onto the political field by running for Mayor of Flint in 1991 but failed to get out the primary. In 1999 he lost to Woodrow Stanley in the general election. In 2003 election — the first full term election after the recall of Stanley — Williamson won the office of Mayor, while the city was still under state financial administration, succeeding Mayor James W. Rutherford into office. In 2007, Williamson won a narrow re-election over Dayne Walling. He was only drawing a US$1 per year salary. A number of problems have cropped up since then including budget deficits, layoffs, and proposed drag strip. Some leaders in the community that were surprised at his resignation. The ''Flint Journal'' quoted Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton as stating "I'm shocked." While County Sheriff Robert Pickell stated to the ''Journal'' that he was "absolutely shocked that the mayor resigned." Pickel added, that "with Darryl Buchanan working with Mr. Brown, it will be a good team." City Councilor, and Williamson opponent, Scott Kincaid is quoted by ABC 12 News as stating that this "was a super-fantastic day" for the city of Flint. City Councilor Jackie Poplar said "Hallelujah!" to ABC 12. According to the City Charter, Michael Brown as the Flint City Administrator will take over as Temporary Mayor, with no veto nor ability to remove mayorial appointees with out City Council approval. A primary will be scheduled for the May election date and the general election in August for a replacement mayor. The recall was based on charges that Williamson mishandled city funds and misstated the status of the city's finances. An additional recall charge according to recall supporters was he disregarded public safety by moving to eliminate 59 police officers and nine firefighters.
By MICHAEL RIEDEL Actress Natasha Richardson is brain dead - after falling in a ski accident in Canada - and is now on sad journey home to New York, friends told The Post today. Richardson, who was being treated at a Montreal hospital, is being transported to New York this afternoon so her mom Vanessa Redgrave, two children and other loved ones can say goodbye before she's taken off life-support, friends said. Redgrave was in London when the accident happened but arrived in New York today to see her gravely injured daughter, sources said. Liam Neeson, husband of the Broadway and screen star, left shooting of his movie in Toronto to rush to Richardson's side in Montreal and now on the trip home. The British-born Richardson, 45, fell during a private lesson at Mont Tremblant resort yesterday and allegedly told resort employees she felt fine. RIEDEL: RICHARDSON THE SHINING LIGHT OF BROADWAY MORE: HELMETS A BIG PART OF SAFETY ON SLOPES But an hour later, she complained of an extreme headache and was rushed to a nearby hospital. Richardson was on a beginner's slope and reportedly not wearing a helmet when she fell - although headgear is not required. "She did not show any visible sign of injury but the ski patrol followed strict procedures and brought her back to the bottom of the slope and insisted she should see a doctor," said a statement from the resort, which is almost 80 miles northwest of Montreal. "Approximately an hour after the incident Mrs. Richardson was not feeling good." Richardson was initially taken to the Centre Hospitalier Laurentien in Sainte Agathe and was later transferred to Hopital du Sacre-Coeur in Montreal. The actress - who is the elder daughter of Oscar-winner Vanessa Redgrave and late director Tony Richardson - comes from a long line of noted British players. Maternal grandparents Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, uncle and aunt Corin Redgrave and Lynn Redgrave are all actors. Sister Joely Richardson currently has a recurring role in the FX show "Nip/Tuck." Natasha Richardson was mostly recently on TV as a guest judge on the Bravo hit "Top Chef." She also appeared in the 1994 movie "Nell" alongside future husband Neeson. They were married a short time later and they have two sons. The elder son, Michael, 13, was with Richardson on the slopes, while the younger Daniel, 12, was here in New York when the accident happened, friends said. Richardson reached her Broadway peak in 1998, winning the Tony for playing Sally Bowles in "Cabaret." Richardson is close friends with her ex-husband Robert Fox and he's expected to be with her today. With Post Wire Services \|\|\|\|\| Sources close to Tony-award winning actress Natasha Richardson tell FOXNews.com that the 45-year-old actress is brain dead, and being transported back to New York City before she is to be taken off life support. Richardson's condition deteriorated following a skiing accident on Monday on a beginner's trail at the Mont Tremblant ski resort in Quebec, Canada. A spokeswoman for Montreal's Sacré-Coeur hospital, where Richardson was transferred after being sent initially to nearby Centre Hospitalier Laurentien in Ste-Agathe, said a family representative was expected to release a statement Wednesday. PHOTOS: Click for photos of Natasha Richardson. Richardson, who is married to actor Liam Neeson, was reported in serious condition with a head injury by multiple outlets early Tuesday. "We know that she has had an accident but we really do not know any more details," said Kika Markham, who is married to Richardson's uncle, Corin Redgrave. "We are very concerned." Neeson left the set of a movie he was filming in Toronto to be by his wife's side. "Liam Neeson left the Toronto set immediately to fly to Montreal upon news of his wife’s accident," a rep for his film said in a statement to Canadian TV. "We do not have any details at this time but we hope for the best and our thoughts and prayers are with Natasha and Liam and their family." Neeson's reps told FOXNews.com they had "no information at this time regarding this matter." Mont Tremblant said Richardson fell on a beginner's trail during a ski lesson and later reported not feeling well. She was not wearing a helmet, nor was one required, they said. "She did not show any visible sign of injury, but the ski patrol followed strict procedures and brought her back to the bottom of the slope and insisted she should see a doctor," said a statement from the resort. Mont Tremblant spokeswoman Catherine Lacasse said Richardson was getting a private lesson and that she said she was fine at first. "An hour later she said she didn't feel well. She had a headache, so we sent her to the hospital," Lacasse said. "There were no signs of impact and no blood, nothing." Richardson, is the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave and the late director Tony Richardson. She married Neeson in 1994 after they both appeared in the film "Nell." The couple have two sons. In January, Richardson and her mother played the roles of mother and daughter in a one-night benefit concert version of "A Little Night Music," in New York. The Associated Press contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| It's been a minute!Sorry we've slacked recently; it's actually been super busy over here in X17 world! We're focused on our YouTube channel which is growing by the day -- you need to check it out if you haven't already.And we're working on something REALLY BIG ... a new web site! We're going to unleash the BEAST that everyone's been waiting for for years ... we're going to offer you our ENTIRE archive, at your fingertips!Here's what that means: What you see on X17online is a selection of our photos and videos since 2006 but we've got stuff dating back to 1995 and there's a ton of stuff you've never seen, old and new. With our new site, you'll be able to see every single photo and video in our archive -- that's more than 4 MILLION PHOTOS and more than 50,000 VIDEOS! AND! AND! You'll be able to license any of it for your own blog, vlog, Insta, Snap, whatever.So when we say stay tuned, we mean keep it right here, dialed into this channel and pay attention 'cause it's gonna hit right around the new year. We want 2021 to be WAY better than 2020 and this is just our little way of pitching in :) \|\|\|\|\| Actress Natasha Richardson arrives with her husband, Liam Neeson, to present an award at the Conde Nast Traveler's annual readers choice award show in New York on Oct. 16, 2006. Richardson, a member of Britain's Redgrave theatrical dynasty, was critically injured while skiing at a resort near Montreal on Monday. Photograph by: Lucas Jackson, Reuters files NEW YORK — Family and friends gathered Wednesday at a Manhattan hospital to say "goodbye" to actress Natasha Richardson, a star of one of Britain's most prominent acting families, who suffered an apparently fatal head injury in a skiing accident in Quebec. Richardson's actor husband, Liam Neeson, was at her bedside after accompanying her on the flight from Canada Tuesday, as was her mother, legendary actress Vanessa Redgrave. Among grief-struck visitors was actress Lauren Bacall, who attended the couple's 1994 wedding at their white clapboard farmhouse in rural Millbrook, 140 kilometres north of New York City. Actress Meryl Streep and author Joan Didion also dropped by. "There is no chance," a family friend told People magazine. "It is a fact that her heart is beating, but she is brain-dead." New York celebrity columnist Liz Smith said later Wednesday that doctors had taken Richardson off life support, city media reported. The Tony Award-winning actress suffered what appeared to be a minor fall during a private skiing lesson Monday on a meandering beginner's trail at Mont Tremblant, Que. But she later developed a severe headache. Neurosurgeons say that the circumstances of her head injury suggest that she should have sought medical attention right away. "There is a percentage of people who seem to have a relatively trivial injury but they will end up really deteriorating, even becoming comatose and some even will die," said Judith Marcoux, a neurosurgeon at the Montreal General Hospital. "It is treatable, but the sooner the better. We know that when patients are operated on very early — when they are still conscious — they tend to do extremely well. But when they are already deeply comatose, their outcome is much less guaranteed." Without knowing the exact circumstances of Richardson's injury, experts suggested to the Montreal Gazette that she probably suffered from an epidural hematoma. This happens when blood gathers between the dura mater — the tough outer membrane of the brain — and the skull, placing the brain under increasing pressure. "The brain is soft and it's protected inside of the skull," Marcoux explained. "If we bleed in the abdomen, we can bleed a litre and it won't compress the gut. But if you bleed inside of our head, the skull is not expandable." Alain Ptito, an associate professor of neurosurgery at McGill University, said a brain injury can be complicated by a pre-existing condition. If a patient is on blood-thinning medication, the risk of a brain hemorrhage is much greater. Other possibilities are that Richardson sustained a subdural hematoma — a bleeding within the dura mater, or that she twisted the vertebral artery in her neck, momentarily depriving her brain of oxygen. Neeson, who had been on a film shoot in Toronto, rushed to join her as she was hospitalized in Montreal's Hopital du Sacre-Coeur. It was there, friends have said, that doctors told Neeson there was little hope she would regain brain function. It is believed the subsequent flight back to New York, where the couple has an apartment in Manhattan's Upper West Side, was made largely for the benefit of Neeson and Richardson's boys, Daniel, 12, and Michael, 13. The youngsters spent much of Wednesday at the family apartment, but the night before had visited their mother at her bedside in Manhattan's Lenox Hill hospital. Michael arrived at about 8:45 p.m. with his maternal grandmother, who also lives in New York. Vanessa Redgrave arrived wearing a grey head scarf, and walked with a cane. Daniel arrived about an hour later, accompanied by his mother's aunt, actress Lynn Redgrave, and her sister Joely Richardson, 44, a TV actress who currently stars in Nip/Tuck. The entire group, except Neeson and Vanessa Redgrave left the hospital at about midnight, exiting through a frosted glass-panelled door that prevented the throng of photographers on the pavement outside from snapping their approach. The family split time between their Manhattan apartment and the farm in Millbrook, near to where Neeson suffered a broken pelvis nine years ago when he collided with a deer while riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Radio show host Howard Stern and TV talk king Regis Philbin were among Neeson and Richardson's celebrity neighbours who expressed shock at how a simple skiing accident could have such tragic consequences. Another neighbour, real-estate broker Adrienne Cleere, turned up at the hospital where she recalled meeting the couple at charity events. She said she found them "family-oriented and caring, as opposed to most celebrities." Richardson, whose late father was Oscar-winning director Tony Richardson, won her Tony in 1998 for playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret. Her performance propelled her to international stardom in her own right. She also met Neeson on Broadway when they starred together in Anna Christie. Richardson became known by many younger moviegoers for her role as Lindsay Lohan's mother in the 1998 remake of Disney's The parent Trap. She was a recent guest judge in the Bravo TV show Top Chef, and was also preparing to co-star with her mother in a Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music. © Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun \|\|\|\|\| Photo: PA Richardson, who hails from the Redgrave acting dynasty, fell on a beginner's slope during a private lesson on Monday afternoon. She initially appearing unhurt but an hour after the fall had to be taken to a local hospital after complaining of feeling unwell. She was later transferred to a hospital 75 miles away in Montreal where she was admitted to intensive care. Her husband, the actor Liam Neeson, 56, immediately left filming in Toronto to be at his wife's bedside. Her mother, Vanessa Redgrave, 72, who was believed to have been in America, was also understood to be flying to Canada. Richardson, 45, a novice skier, was on holiday in Canada, where her husband was filming his latest film, "Chloe", and staying at the popular Mont Tremblant resort. Catherine Lacasse, from the Mont Tremblant ski station, told The Daily Telegraph that Richardson was enjoying a private lesson with her ski instructor when she fell but did not appear to seriously injure herself. She was skiing on the middle of the track and there were no obstacles for her to collide with. She said: "The instructor called the ski patrol from the ski station and they came to see her. "She was talking and making jokes and there was no sign of any apparent injury. She said she was okay and didn't want to go to hospital or see a doctor. "She wanted to go back to her room - she walked back - and the ski instructor went with her and stayed with her all the time. "About an hour later she said she was not feeling that good after all. She said she had a headache. "They agreed to dial 911 and an ambulance came to take her away. "When she left the resort she appeared fine. There was no blood or sign of impact." Richardson was taken to the Centre Hospitalier Laurentien, close to the resort, at around 4pm local time. An hour later, as her condition deteriorated, she was transferred 75 miles south to the Sacre Coeur hospital in Montreal. Corin Redgrave, her uncle, said: "I have heard this morning from a family representative about Natasha's accident and am very saddened." His wife, Kika Markham, 65, added: "We don't know what is happening. All we can do is just wait for news. We haven't heard anything new since this morning. "We keep waiting, but there has been no update. All we know is that Natasha is in intensive care." A spokesman said they had been asked by the family not to release any information. Richardson's agents in London and Los Angeles said they were making no comment. Richardson, who starred in films such as The Parent Trap and Maid in Manhattan, is best known for her stage work. She had been tipped to perform on Broadway with her mother next year in Stephen Sondheim's musical "A Little Light Music" after the pair brought the house down in a recent one-off charity performance. Neeson and Richardson, who have been married since 1994, have two sons, Michael, 13, and Daniel, 12. Set in the heart of a 943 square mile national park, Mont Tremblant is the region's most popular ski resort. It is the highest peak in the Laurantian mountains and offers 600 acres of skiing. \|\|\|\|\| TheSpec.com - BreakingNews - Injured actress has flown to U.S., Quebec hospital reports Injured actress has flown to U.S., Quebec hospital reports Associated Press file photo In an Oct. 17, 2008 file photo actors Liam Neeson, right, and partner Natasha Richardson arrive for the Times BFI London Film Festival in London. Published reports say actress Richardson is in critical condition after a skiing accident in Quebec yesterday. Associated Press file photo In an Oct. 17, 2008 file photo actors Liam Neeson, right, and partner Natasha Richardson arrive for the Times BFI London Film Festival in London. Published reports say actress Richardson is in critical condition after a skiing accident in Quebec yesterday. Associated Press file photo In an Oct. 17, 2008 file photo actors Liam Neeson, right, a ... In an Oct. 17, 2008 file photo actors Liam Neeson, right, a ... Associated Press file photo In an Oct. 17, 2008 file photo actors Liam Neeson, right, and partner Natasha Richardson arrive for the Times BFI London Film Festival in London. Published reports say actress Richardson is in critical condition after a skiing accident in Quebec yesterday. Took tumble on Tremblant ski hill March 17, 2009 Tobi Cohen The Canadian Press MONTREAL — Actress Natasha Richardson was quietly spirited away from a Montreal hospital this afternoon as speculation raged about the seriousness of her condition after a fall at the posh Mont Tremblant ski resort. One day after Richardson took a tumble that a resort spokesperson said looked harmless enough, media reports varied widely about her condition — with some saying she was brain dead. Both the New York Post and FOXNews.com said Richardson was brain dead and had been transported to New York City to be taken off life-support. Other Hollywood “insider” websites suggested the 45-year-old actress had swelling of the brain. Josée-Michelle Simard, a spokeswoman for Sacré-Coeur Hospital in Montreal, confirmed this afternoon the celebrity had been a patient but that she left around 12:30 p.m. and was headed out of the country. Mont Tremblant spokeswoman Lyne Lortie said Richardson was conscious and showed no signs of a serious head injury after she fell on a beginner run around noon Monday while in the company of an experienced instructor. Lortie said the Tony-award-winning actress was in the middle of the private lesson at the resort north of Montreal when she suffered what appeared to be a relatively unspectacular fall. While Richardson seemed fine, the ski patrol wanted to take a closer look so she was taken to the bottom of the hill by sled, Lortie said. “She showed really no visible sign of injury and she was talking and showed absolutely no sign of confusion,” she said. “It was right in the middle of the slope so she didn’t hit anyone or a tree. It was a fall as anyone can do. It wasn’t a violent fall at all.” A family member confirmed Richardson had a skiing accident but the extent of her injuries was unclear. “We know that she has had an accident but we really do not know any more details,” said Kika Markham, who is married to Richardson’s uncle, Corin Redgrave. “We are very concerned.” Lortie said the ski patrol wanted Richardson to see a doctor but she insisted on returning to her room at Mont Tremblant’s Hotel Quintessence. The ski patrol and instructor stayed with her for about an hour after which she began complaining of a headache and not feeling well. Lortie said they immediately called an ambulance and she was taken to the Centre Hospitalier Laurentian near Mont Tremblant before being transferred to Sacré-Coeur. The Canadian Press was told initially on Monday that someone with the same name as Richardson had been admitted to Sacré-Coeur’s intensive care unit, but employees said later in the day they had no records of someone with that name at the hospital. Simard of Sacré-Coeur said the family was to release a statement on Wednesday. Richardson is married to actor Liam Neeson and is the daughter of famous British actress Vanessa Redgrave. Neeson was reportedly in Toronto at the time of Richardson’s accident filming the movie “Chloe” with Julianne Moore. Producers confirmed that Neeson immediately left the Toronto set upon news of his wife’s accident. Richardson comes from a long line of successful actors. She was born in London to Redgrave and the late British director Tony Richardson. Her maternal grandparents were Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson and her uncle Corin and aunt Lynn Redgrave are also both actors. Sister Joely Richardson is also an actress, best known for starring in the TV series “Nip/Tuck.” Richardson trained at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama which initially led to a career in regional theatre, then later to film and television roles. Richardson won a Tony award in 1998 for her turn in “Cabaret.” Film credits include “The Parent Trap,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Evening,” “Gothic,” “A Month in the Country” and “Nell” in which she appeared with Neeson. In January, Richardson and her mother played the roles of mother and daughter in a one-night benefit concert version of ”A Little Night Music,” the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical, at Studio 54 in New York. Richardson has been married to “Schindler’s List” star Neeson since 1994. The couple have two sons. \|\|\|\|\| ASSOCIATED PRESS MONTREAL - British actress Natasha Richardson is in critical condition in a Montreal hospital after being severely injured in a skiing accident in Quebec, according to published reports. People.com and IrishCentral.com reported that the Tony award-winning actress and wife of Liam Neeson suffered a head injury Monday and is in a Montreal hospital. People.com said Richardson was initially taken to a hospital near the luxury Mont Tremblant ski resort in Quebec, and was later transferred to the Montreal hospital. A family member confirmed Richardson had had a skiing accident. "We know that she has had an accident but we really do not know any more details," said Kika Markham, who is married to Richardson's uncle, Corin Redgrave. "We are very concerned." Richardson, 45, is the elder daughter of Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave and the late director Tony Richardson, and belongs to a British acting dynasty. Her maternal grandparents were the actors Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, and her uncle Corin and aunt Lynne Redgrave are also both actors. Sister Joely Richardson is also an actress, best known for starring in TV series "Nip/Tuck." Richardson's films include "Gothic," ''A Month in the Country," "Nell" - in which she appeared with future husband Liam Neeson - "The Parent Trap" and "Maid in Manhattan." Trained at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, Richardson has had extensive stage experience in the West End and Broadway. She won a Tony Award in 1998 for playing Sally Bowles in "Cabaret." In January, Richardson and her mother played the roles of mother and daughter in a one-night benefit concert version of "A Little Night Music," the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical, at the Nokia Theatre Times Square in New York. She married Neeson in 1994, and the couple has two sons.	Richardson at the UK premiere of ''The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian''. According to conflicting reports, British actress Natasha Richardson is brain dead following a severe head injury from a skiing accident on Monday. The New York Post reported that friends of Richardson said she "was brain dead", after earlier reporting that she was "dead". They later issued a correction which said she was brain dead. Other media reports say that her brain is severely swollen. Fox News Channel also reports Richardson as brain dead. Richardson was transported by plane from Sacré-Coeur Hospital in Montreal, Canada to a care facility in New York City in the United States. She remains in very critical condition and reports say she is not likely to survive. Once in the U.S., she will be taken off life support. Richardson, 45, was taking a private skiing lesson in Mont-Tremblant in Quebec when reports say she fell, hitting her head. Despite the fall, witnesses say she did not appear to have been seriously injured. An hour after the fall and after she returned to her hotel room, Richardson began to feel ill and was taken to a local hospital. She was later transported to Sacré-Coeur Hospital. "She was talking and making jokes and there was no sign of any apparent injury. She said she was okay and didn't want to go to hospital or see a doctor. About an hour later she said she was not feeling that good after all. She said she had a headache. They agreed to dial 911 and an ambulance came to take her away," Mont-Tremblant resort ski station spokeswoman Catherine Lacasse to The Daily Telegraph. Richardson's husband, actor Liam Neeson, has left Toronto where he was filming a movie and will be with Natasha when she arrives in the U.S.. He was acting in the movie 'Chloe', which was being filmed in the area. Both were staying at the resort in Mont-Tremblant. The couple have two children who were also staying with them, Daniel Jack age 12 and Micheal Richard Antonio age 13. They are said to have been skiing with their mother when she fell. "Liam Neeson left the Toronto set immediately to fly to Montreal upon news of his wife’s accident. We do not have any details at this time, but we hope for the best and our thoughts and prayers are with Natasha and Liam and their family," said spokespeople for Neeson in a statement to the press. Richardson's family and spokespeople are expected to issue a statement sometime after she arrives in New York City.
The six-nation talks with North Korea, stalled for more than a year, are expected to at an as yet unspecified date, probably in the Chinese capital. The chief US envoy dealing with North Korea is in Beijing for talks with regional allies on a framework for renewed dialogue over the North's nuclear weapons programme. North Korea pulled out of the talks last year after the US-imposed financial sanctions on its companies and senior officials. On Tuesday Kim Kye Gwan, the top North Korean envoy to the talks, flew into Beijing to finalise procedures during what is likely to be a delicate diplomatic process. In October, in defiance of international pressure, North Korea went ahead with its first nuclear weapon test saying it had effectively been forced into a corner by the US. Days later however, it announced that it was prepared to revive the six-party talks on its nuclear programme. There has been speculation that the apparent about face was the result of massive pressure from China, a key donor to North Korea and the closest thing it has to an ally. On Monday Chun Yung-woo, the South Korean envoy to the meetings, told reporters that ensuring the right procedures for the talks was more important than determining when to restart negotiations. "We will mainly focus on the procedure of the talks as it is essential to accomplish substantial progress rather than talking just for the sake of talking," he said. Talks 'any time' For his part Kim Kye Gwan, the North Korean envoy, said the timing of the next round of talks would depend on the United States. "I said on October 31 that we can enter the talks at any time," he said shortly after his arrival in Beijing, "I said that because we can do that from a dignified position as we have taken defensive measures through our nuclear test to counter sanctions and pressure against us." Kim's arrival in the Chinese capital has raised speculation that he may hold an informal meeting with Christopher Hill, the chief US envoy to the talks. On Monday the US State Department said a meeting between Kim and Hill was "an open possibility". Hill himself has said he is optimistic about the outcome of the current dialogue. \|\|\|\|\| Mr Kim says North Korea and the US must narrow their differences The envoys of all the other parties to the talks except Russia are also in the Chinese capital for the meetings. North Korea's envoy Kim Kye-gwan said his country was ready for talks, which he said would be on an "equal level" following its 9 October nuclear test. US envoy Christopher Hill said he expects talks to restart "very soon". Mr Hill met Kim Kye-gwan earlier on Tuesday. Both men are also meeting separately with diplomats from South Korea, Japan and China. Beijing hopes the "relevant parties can have an in-depth exchange of ideas in order to promote the early resumption of talks," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said. 'Defensive measures' Mr Kim, upon arrival in Beijing, said North Korea was ready to start talks at "any time". "We have taken defensive measures against sanctions imposed on us, through the nuclear experiment," he told reporters. "As we have attained that position, we can now have discussions on an equal level." But Mr Kim admitted there were differences with the US that still needed to be narrowed. Mr Hill told reporters when he arrived in Beijing on Monday that he expected the multi-party talks to "get going at some point very soon". North Korea's nuclear test on 9 October triggered international alarm and condemnation, and prompted the UN to impose financial and arms sanctions. But at the end of last month, Pyongyang agreed to restart six-party talks at an informal meeting between Mr Hill and Mr Kim in Beijing. The talks - which are ultimately aimed at halting North Korea's nuclear ambitions - stalled a year ago after Pyongyang pulled out in protest at US financial sanctions imposed upon it. While the resumption of talks has been welcomed by all parties to the talks, Japan warned at the time that they were conditional on North Korea giving up its nuclear weapons.	Graphic from the showing seismic activity at the time of the test The envoys of the United States, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea have reached Beijing. They will hold a meeting to negotiate over the North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. The US State Department has said that a meeting between Christopher Hill, US negotiator, and DPRK's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan was an “open possibility”. The top North Korean envoy, , had indicated that the initiative for negotiations should be taken by the United States and that the DPRK was ready to negotiate at any time. He said that DPTK was in a “dignified position” as it had demonstrated through its nuclear test that it could defend itself against sanctions and other pressures. Any meetings between the envoys will be informal and, according to the Chun Yung-woo the South Korean envoy, will concentrate on preparing the ground for negotiations and will not address the issues directly. Christopher Hill said "The issue for us is to make sure we are extremely well-planned and ready for the six-party talks, which we do anticipate will get going at some point very soon," The negotiations are expected to discuss such matters as US economic sanctions against DRPK, the recent underground nuclear test in North Korea and the development of long range ballistic missiles by the DPRK.
More bombs, explosives, detonators turn up in and around shaken Beirut Incidents follow discovery of unarmed device earlier this week By Nour Samaha and Mira Borji Friday, February 23, 2007 \|\|\|\|\| Lebanese police find small amount of abandoned explosives on Beirut street, 2nd this week BEIRUT, Lebanon: Police found abandoned explosives and detonators on a Beirut street Thursday, the second such discovery this week, sowing fear in a public still recovering from the recent bombings of two commuter buses and street clashes. The explosives — 19 sticks of TNT, weighing a total of about eight kilograms (about 18 pounds) — were contained in a wooden box abandoned next to a streetside garbage container in Ashrafieh, the Christian sector of the Lebanese capital, police said. Police were called in and traffic was blocked as sappers examined the box. A search of the area uncovered another box about 100 meters (yards) away containing 13 detonators, police added. It was the second time explosives were found in the city since Monday, when a two kilogram- (4.4 pound-) bomb was found concealed inside a used car tire in south Beirut, a stronghold of the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah group. The finds stoked fears gripping residents of the Lebanese capital and its vicinity after bombings earlier this month and street clashes in January amid the months' long political standoff between the government and opposition. On Feb. 13, two bombs exploded minutes apart exploded on a busy commuter mountain road in the Christian heartland northeast of Beirut, killing three passengers and injuring 20 others. Beirut has been hit by a series of mysterious bombs in the last two years. The biggest was a suicide truck bombing that killed former premier Rafik Hariri in February 2005. Besides, an opposition campaign since December to oust the government turned violent in January, with street clashes and rioting. Eight people were killed. sfg-wnt	Map showing Beirut. In Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, the Internal Security Forces (ISF) found bomb-making equipment in three separate caches on Thursday, two days after a bomb was discovered in Beirut. This had stroke fears among many Lebanese who were still dramatized by recent bus bombings and street clashes. A wooden box, armed with nineteen TNT sticks, was found in Beirut's Christian neighborhood, Achrafieh, by a scrap collector. The box was found in a dumpster on Hikmeh Avenue leading to Corniche al-Nahr, facing the Murr Television Station and the Mont Liban Radio building. The box of TNT sticks was found approximately at 8:30 a.m. The police immediately rushed to the scene and cut off the city from the public to disarm the bomb. Half an hour later, employees of Lebanon's privatized waste management company, Sukleen, found an aluminum box packed with thirteen detonators. The box was found about 200 meters away from the wooden one. By the end of the day, bombs were found on the road leading to the Kesrouan village of Ghbaleh, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. However, NNA stated that the bombs were not meant to explode. ISF's investigation was immediately conducted.
England coach Steve McClaren says his side must deliver England v Croatia Wembley, London Wednesday 21 November Kick-off: 2000 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC One & BBC Radio 5 Live (commentary on BBC Sport website for UK users only); Coverage on on BBC Sport website Steve McClaren admits England are under pressure to prove they deserve to reach Euro 2008 in Wednesday's decisive qualifier with Croatia at Wembley. England need a point to secure their place in next summer's tournament. And coach McClaren said: "There is great spirit and strength in the squad, and a steely resolve and determination, but there can be no excuses. "The players have got to go out there and prove they deserve to reach Euro 2008. It is not done and dusted." McClaren admitted he had endured tough times in his first 12 months in charge, but said: "I am thrilled to be in this position. "We know we have got to finish things off, but we are in a far better position now that we have things in our own hands than we were a week ago. 606: DEBATE England were gifted a qualification lifeline when Israel beat Russia 2-1 on Saturday - had Russia won, England would have been all but out of next summer's tournament. The players were handed another psychological boost on Tuesday when the injured captain John Terry trained with the rest of the squad. But Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard confirmed that he would stand in as captain because Terry was not fit enough to play. Striker Peter Crouch said he was willing to shoulder the burden of being England's main goal threat in the key Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia should that be McClaren's decision. The coach told a news conference that he had picked his team, but would not tell the players until 1830 on Tuesday evening. The team will be made public on Wednesday. I have done the lone striker role for Liverpool and for England before so it would be nothing new Peter Crouch The 26-year-old Liverpool forward said: "I've played enough games for England now to be able to accept the responsibility. "It's a massive game, but if selected I believe I can do the business." He added: "I have done the lone striker role for Liverpool and for England before so it would be nothing new. "We have got enough attacking players in the rest of the team who can join up with me and I can't see it being a problem. "In David Beckham and the others we have quality and creativity, and I know if I get in the right positions they'll find me." England were handed a lifeline on Saturday by Israel's surprise 2-1 over Russia, a result that puts Steve McClaren's side in the driving seat to reach the finals in Austria and Switzerland next summer. Crouch believes England will not waste the opportunity to qualify and says they will benefit from having such a tough time in qualification. "It was out of our hands for a little bit and we do not want that to happen again," said Crouch. "We have to stand up and be counted now, it's in our hands and when we do qualify, we know we can have a great tournament. "I wouldn't say we have been shocked, but we're maybe a bit wounded from some results we've had and I think we are capable of a lot more. "I'm sure we will come good in the tournament next summer and we can all look forward to that if we get the job done on Wednesday." \|\|\|\|\| Analysis The mayor is dependent on the central government for most of their funds, so how much power do they really have? \|\|\|\|\| THE FA Steve McClaren was in charge of the England senior team for 18 games. READ ALOUD FA statement 22 November 2007 VIDEO: FA Press Conference The FA confirm that the contract of Steve McClaren will be terminated with immediate effect. At a meeting this morning, The FA Board unanimously decided to terminate the contract of England Head Coach Steve McClaren with immediate effect. The Board also terminated the contract of Assistant Coach Terry Venables. The Board have agreed that there will now be a full root and branch examination of the whole England senior team set-up, which will begin with immediate effect. This will be led by Brian Barwick reporting into the Chairman, who will update the Board. Chief Executive Brian Barwick has been given authority to identify the new Head Coach and to report back to the Board with his recommendation. There is no definitive timeframe for the recruitment of the new Coach. FA Chairman Geoff Thompson said, "Like every England fan, we are all bitterly disappointed that we have failed to qualify for Euro 2008, and I know Steve feels that disappointment more than anyone. "Of course we have no divine right to play in major tournaments, but it is quite right that qualification is expected. "I would like to thank Steve for the work he has done since taking on the position last summer. His commitment to the job could not be questioned and I wish him the best for the future. "The recruitment process for the new Coach begins now and we will do everything to get the right man for the job." SEARCH SEARCH GO \| powered by \|\|\|\|\| English defeat would add up to £1bn loss By David Bond Last Updated: 12:52am GMT 21/11/2007 Have your say Read comments England's players can be in no doubt by now about the consequences of failure against Croatia at Wembley tonight. But for the British economy the impact could be even more disastrous - costing £1 billion, to be precise. While most of England manager Steve McClaren's squad are well cushioned from the credit crunch, with reports suggesting that the average Premier League player's salary is now more than £1 million a year, defeat would add to the pervading sense of economic gloom. Figures from past tournaments demonstrate the economic boost that accompanies England's presence in World Cups and European Championships. According to one study, by the Centre for Economic and Business Research, based on an examination of the impact of the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2004, the effect of non-qualification could be as much as £1 billion. The report predicted England's failure to reach Euro 2008 would lead to a dramatic drop in advertising revenue for television companies, along with a sharp fall in income for betting companies and supermarkets. advertisement Around £300 million was spent on advertising during last summer's World Cup in Germany. Beer sales would also go flat - the last thing the brewing industry needs after it emerged yesterday that their profits had tumbled by 78 per cent between 2004 and 2006. The CEBR suggested that a successful tournament for England would contribute to a boost of more than £285 million for pubs, clubs and off-licences. However, the Football Association insist that the immediate financial impact of failure tonight is manageable. Having announced that they had secured a £425 million deal for their domestic television rights with ITV and Setanta between 2008 and 2012, they recently added another £150 million for their overseas television rights. They also have a £100 million sponsorship programme with partners such as Nationwide, Umbro, Carlsberg, E.on and McDonald's which is not affected by non-qualification for major tournaments. The FA estimate that they will miss out on around £10 million in income from selling licensing and merchandising rights for the duration of next summer's tournament. But the longer-term impact on the image and marketability of the English game may suffer. Having negotiated a £2.7 billion TV rights deal, the Premier League are enjoying an unprecedented boom at present. With almost half of the competition's teams under foreign ownership, there can be no doubting the league's international appeal. Yesterday, Keith Harris, chairman of the investment bank Seymour Pierce, who advised Randy Lerner and Thaksin Shinawatra on their recent takeovers at Aston Villa and Manchester City, respectively, warned that the influx of overseas owners was not about to stop. He added that it was a trend which should not be feared by English football fans. "Are the foreigners coming to rape, pillage and take a quick turn before returning with their booty to their overseas base?" Harris asked. "The reality is a long way from this fantasy view". Will foreign businessmen stop investing in the game because England miss out on Euro 2008? Unlikely. However, according to one football marketing expert, the feel-good factor for English football associated with a winning national team is good for the whole of the sport in this country. Alex Fynn, the former Saatchi and Saatchi executive who was instrumental in the foundation of the Premier League, argued: "The knock-on for the whole game is very significant. "Maybe not as much as in the past, because the Premier League is so strong, but there's no doubt it can have a damaging effect for the whole of English football's economy." Have your say Post this story to: del.icio.us \| Digg \| Newsvine \| NowPublic \| Reddit Comments Didn't you submit exactly the same article a few weeks ago? In fact, this is the 3rd article on the subject in a couple of months. Come on Telegraph, sort it out. Posted by Puma King on November 21, 2007 12:50 PM Report this comment I have to agree with you Dan. Where did these figures come from? Does a drop in spending in supermarkets and on beer really equate to money lost from the UK economy? Surely that money would be spent elsewhere, and as Dan notes, possibly on more meaningful pursuits. Next time the Telegraph starts throwing around some headline grabbing numbers, i suggest it backs them up with some solid research and statistics. Posted by SteelyAdam on November 21, 2007 8:49 AM Report this comment Less football-related television advertising and a drop in beer consumption? HaHaHaHa!! You make that sound like a bad thing! Somehow, I get the sense that these economic numbers are being generated by some panicky football alarmist. What would the alternative be? A fitter, quieter, better-dressed England? There's a lot of people who could work with that. Posted by Dan Hamilton on November 21, 2007 6:28 AM Report this comment Post a comment Please remember that the submission of any material to telegraph.co.uk is governed by our Terms and Conditions (clause 5 in particular) and by submitting material you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions. Your name: * Your email address: * (We won't publish this.) Your site's URL: (If you have one.) Please click the post button only once - your comment will not be published immediately. * = Required information	England did win this October 13, 2007 match versus Estonia, 3-0 at Wembley Stadium. Steve McClaren and his deputy Terry Venables have both been sacked by the English Football Association after a unanimous decision by board members during an emergency meeting held earlier today. The decision was announced by the FA chief executive Brian Barwick in a press conference held this morning after widespread speculation due to the poor performance of the English national team which last night failed to qualify for the UEFA Euro 2008 competition. The cost of removing him from his post is thought to cost £2.6 million. According to a study by the Centre for Economic and Business Research, missing out on Euro 2008 could cost the British economy as much as £1 billion. The recruiting process has already started to find the next manager for the team, only 18 months after 46-year-old McClaren was given the role. During the press conference the FA admitted that not qualifying for the competition was "embarrassing".
Voters in Groom will cast their ballots in a federal by-election this Saturday — but in the conservative heartland, the result is all but a foregone conclusion. Key points: The federal seat of Groom in southern Queensland has only ever been held by the Liberals, Nationals or LNP The federal seat of Groom in southern Queensland has only ever been held by the Liberals, Nationals or LNP Locals will vote for their new MP at a by-election this Saturday, after John McVeigh resigned in September Locals will vote for their new MP at a by-election this Saturday, after John McVeigh resigned in September The LNP won 70.5 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote at the 2019 election and is expected to win the by-election Based in a rich agricultural district on Queensland's Darling Downs, Groom has been in Liberal, National and LNP hands since it was gazetted in 1984. Toowoomba local Stewart Dorman describes the region as "ultra conservative". "I joke that a two-headed fish would win in Groom as long as it was LNP," he said. As a former taxi driver, Mr Dorman has had thousands of political conversations with fellow Groom voters while driving around the Garden City over the years. Toowoomba is the largest population centre in the seat of Groom. ( ABC Southern Qld: Nathan Morris ) "They're pretty rusted-on — 'that's the way dad voted and that's the way grandad voted'," Mr Dorman said. Polls and previous elections point to a comfortable win for the LNP's Garth Hamilton, who unexpectedly won pre-selection despite the Prime Minister and business leaders calling for a strong female candidate. One local LNP member, who did not wish to be named, told the ABC the decision to pre-select Mr Hamilton almost prompted her to vote Labor as she was concerned the party wasn't moving with the times. But, with the LNP winning more than 70 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote in the 2019 election, those concerns seem unlikely to change its fortunes. How do voters feel? Michelle says she plans to vote LNP as the candidate has been "out and about". ( ABC Southern Qld: Nathan Morris ) On a weekday lunchtime in Toowoomba's main street, the ABC canvassed voters' views on living in such a safe seat. Op shop manager Michelle, aged in her 50s, said she had "no interest" in politics and was only voting in the by-election because it was mandatory. "At this stage nothing's changing," she said. Michelle planned to vote for the LNP's Garth Hamilton, the only candidate who had visited her shop. Stewart Dorman says Groom voters are "pretty rusted-on!" ( ABC Southern Queensland: Peter Gunders ) "He's been out and he's been about," she said. Teresa, who's in her 60s, was left-leaning but still followed local politics closely, despite knowing her preferred party was unlikely to win. "I'm just ever hopeful that there might be a change," she said. Teresa believes the LNP has become "too comfortable" in the seat and wishes more independents would run. "I just think they would represent actually the Toowoomba area rather than toe the line with the party politics," she said. No pork-barrelling in a safe seat Professor of Government and Economics at the University of Southern Queensland, Geoff Cockfield, said Groom was one of the few "true safe seats" left in Australia, with most areas experiencing significant demographic change, along with highly volatile voting. "It matters in things like the attention the seat gets at election time," he said. "You miss out on the pork-barrelling — new sports stadiums, parks, change rooms, all those visible things that are promised. "And while you won't necessarily miss out on big infrastructure projects [in a safe seat], you go to the back of the queue. Rachel Barron says she "always votes for the underdog". ( ABC Southern Qld: Nathan Morris ) "If Groom was more marginal, the second Toowoomba range crossing would have come sooner." While Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Ruhl wouldn't be drawn in to the discussion on pork-barrelling, he did say a safe seat provided an "air of stability". "It does help when the government is in power," he said. "[But] history shows us that if you're in a marginal seat — potentially, but not always — you get a chance to ask for those big projects that are great for small business." LNP candidate Garth Hamilton, a mining engineer, said he wasn't taking his party's popularity for granted. "I'd be a strong voice within the Morrison Government," he said. "I've got a great example set by [former MPs] Ian MacFarlane and John McVeigh in getting things done for Groom and I'll work hard to continue to do that." The ALP's candidate in the 2020 by-election is Chris Meibusch, who has run unsuccessfully for the seat twice before. Veterinarian Sandra Jephcott, for the Sustainable Australia Party, and vape shop owner Craig Farquharson, for the Liberal Democrats, are also running. 'Underdog' voters not disheartened Back on the streets, Toowoomba resident Matthew Baldwin said he had noticed the younger generation was far more politically engaged than his peers in their 30s. Toowoomba's Matthew Baldwin says people in their 20s seem more politically minded than his peers in their 30s. ( ABC Southern Qld: Nathan Morris ) "I would probably not vote for the LNP myself, so the fact that it's so safe doesn't reflect on how I'm going to vote," he said. "It doesn't dishearten me that it's this way. "You're always going to have your opinion and your vote and it might not be the one that gets in. But as time goes on, possibly it could happen." Young mum Rachel Barron, from Cambooya, said she took pride in voting "for the underdog". "I'd like to shake things up a bit more," she said. "I don't know if I could make a difference ... against [the LNP's] 70 per cent but I guess it all starts with one person at a time." \|\|\|\|\| The campaign hasn’t exactly been a barbecue stopper, but we’re two days out from the significant event of a federal by-election. This is to be held in Groom, which is centred upon Toowoomba in Queensland’s Darling Downs region, and will result in the election of a replacement for John McVeigh, who has held the seat for the Liberal National Party since 2016. McVeigh’s winning margin in 2019 was 20.5%, which you would normally think would mean Labor would sit the by-election out, but they have in fact done the election-watching community a solid by fielding a candidate. That’s more than can be said for One Nation and the Greens, with the by-election having attracted a meagre field of four candidates, the other two being from the Liberal Democrats and Sustainable Australia. While an LNP victory is surely a foregone conclusion, the size of the swing will serve as a real world measure of how well the Morrison government is travelling, a particularly notable fact in these days of skepticism about opinion polls. It is also convenient that it will do so in Queensland, which has so often been the crucible of federal elections over the course of the present century, and which recently delivered Labor a morale-boosting win at state level. For more detail, I now have a complete guide to the by-election in business, and will be doing my live results reporting thing as the numbers come in on Saturday evening. \|\|\|\|\| Sustainable Australia Party Sustainable Australia Party is an independent community movement from the political centre, with a positive plan for an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable Australia. We believe in an evidence-based approach to policy - not an extreme left or right ideology. Sandra Jephcott for Groom Sandra Jephcott is a veterinarian and farmer and lives on a 4000 hectare property west of Toowoomba near the town of Surat. Toowoomba is Sandra's social, business and healthcare centre. Born in PNG, Sandra was educated in Armidale NSW and completed her veterinary degree (BVSc) at University of Queensland, Master of Science (MSc) at James Cook University and MBA at Bond University. Her extensive veterinary work experience includes farming and livestock in PNG, an equine clinic in South Australia, head veterinarian for a pastoral company throughout Queensland and NT, and head veterinarian for a large agricultural company in Russia. She was nominated for Queensland Rural Woman of the Year. Sandra has a strong volunteering background including involvement with Bush Heritage, Australian Veterinary Association and Agforce. Sandra believes that the Groom by-election offers voters an opportunity to send a message to the two major parties that we’re not happy with business as usual politics - including rampant overdevelopment and systemic political corruption that negatively impacts on the environment. Campaign issues In Groom, Sandra and Sustainable Australia Party are campaigning to: Protect our environment Better manage water security , including through lower wastage water security Act on climate change Preserve Toowoomba's limited green space [1] Stop overdevelopment Save Mt Lofty's pristine escarpment from housing development escarpment from housing development Protect prime agricultural land around Toowoomba from housing sprawl Better planning for Toowoomba's flood and bushfire-prone geography, including proper community consultation, infrastructure provision and lower population growth Support the environmentally appropriate route for inland rail Stop corruption Establish a federal anti-corruption commission to remove the undue influence of vested interests, including property developers Stop foreign ownership of our farms, housing and land And much more... SAP's full policy platform can be found here: www.sustainableaustralia.org.au/policies Get involved > Donate Please donate to Sandra's campaign: Click here. > Volunteer If you'd like to letterbox or hand out HTV cards, click here and mention 'Groom by-election' in your comment. Also, see polling places below... > Join Sign up: Click here > Contact Email: groom @ sustainableaustralia.org.au Phone: TBC Facebook: votesustainable Twitter: votesustainable Instagram: votesustainable Preferences As an independent community party, after you Vote 1 for Sustainable Australia Party, we prefer that YOU decide where to direct your own preferences. Number all boxes. More here. REMEMBER: You cannot waste your vote by voting for a minor party! Voting for a minor party is the only way to send a clear message that you are not happy with Lib/Lab! If you vote 1 Sustainable Australia and we don't win, your vote flows on at full value to the next party you choose e.g. Lib or Lab at [2] or later. Polling place volunteering Important: SAP volunteer and voting centre behaviour guidelines HERE Early Voting Centres / Election day Voting Centres See: https://www.aec.gov.au/groom/ Pre-polling - 11 November to 27 November Polling day - 28 November [1] Brisbane Times: "Despite holding a Carnival of Flowers each year, Toowoomba came in last nationally for its resident's access to green space." \|\|\|\|\| Donations to help me spend more time working on this site or recognise work I've done are very welcome. You can use the PayPal button below or email me for bank account details. Please only donate if you are sure you can afford to do so. \|\|\|\|\| Toowoomba-based federal MP John McVeigh has resigned from politics, effective immediately. Key points: Federal LNP MP John McVeigh has resigned, effective immediately Federal LNP MP John McVeigh has resigned, effective immediately Mr McVeigh has been the Member for Groom in Toowoomba since 2016 Mr McVeigh has been the Member for Groom in Toowoomba since 2016 He says he is stepping down to concentrate on caring for his wife Mr McVeigh has been the LNP's Member for Groom since 2016. He said he made the difficult decision to quit politics so he could concentrate on caring for his wife Anita, who has been suffering from a major illness. "A further relapse earlier this year requiring hospitalisation in Sydney was a tremendous shock to our family," he said. "This has been cause for significant reflection for all of us over recent months. "I want to make it very clear that we are truly blessed as a family that her health is on the improve again and it is now my family's absolute priority … to keep it that way. "Hence the need for me to step down from the demands and absences of being a Federal Member of Parliament." Find more local news Tell us your location and find more local ABC News and information 'I regret the short-term disruption' Mr McVeigh said it had been a difficult decision to submit his resignation to the Speak of the House of Representatives. "In accordance with house practice, this is automatically deemed to take effect immediately," he said. "I certainly regret what will be a short-term disruption here in the electorate of Groom." Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Mr McVeigh had been a hard working and passionate advocate for regional Australia. Mr McVeigh also served on the Toowoomba City Council and was the State Member for Toowoomba South, before quitting to run for the seat of Groom. He was appointed Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government in 2017, but was left out of the Ministry when Scott Morrison became Prime Minister. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tony Smith, is now considering possible dates for the by-election for Groom. \|\|\|\|\| This table provides the number of votes and the percentage of the first preference vote won by each of the parties in a state or territory The data also includes the current first preferences swing by party - a comparison of the current percentage of national first preference votes for each party compared to the percentage of first preference votes received at the previous federal election. This table is sortable by selecting column headers. \|\|\|\|\| This table provides the number of first preference votes received for all candidates in the division. The data includes swing - a comparison of the percentage of first preference votes received at the previous federal election compared to the current federal election. This table is sortable by selecting on column headers. \|\|\|\|\| Townsville had the highest rate of youth, indigenous and general unemployment across the country, with Indigenous unemployment at 23.1 per cent followed closely behind by Cairns (22.9) and Mackay (20.8). Four Queensland cities took out the top five spots for annual employment growth, with Toowoomba coming in second followed by Cairns, Mackay and Townsville in fifth spot. Brisbane came in halfway out of the capital cities for residents who have completed Year 12 and those who have completed a bachelor degree or higher, behind Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. Hou s ing Mackay took out the spot for most affordable housing across the nation, where dwelling price to income ratio was 4.4, compared to the most expensive city, the Sunshine Coast, where the ratio was 9.3. Brisbane sat halfway in terms of annual household income compared to the other capital cities, coming in fourth at $81,000, behind Canberra, Sydney and Perth. Three sunshine state cities recorded the five highest rates of homelesness, with 847 people living homeless in Cairns per 100,000 people, 588 in Mackay and 539 in Townsville. Gold Coast residents were under the most rent stress, with 16.7 per cent living in rentals that pull 30 per cent or more from their household income. Liveability and Sustainability Despite holding a Carnival of Flowers each year, Toowoomba came in last nationally for its resident's access to green space. According to ABS data, only 66.3 per cent of dwellings in the flower city were within 400 meters of a green space and only 3.8 per cent of the city had a portion of land defined as a green space. Toowoomba also recorded the highest proportion of obese adults across the country, at about one third of the population. Brisbane was the second biggest greenhouse gas emitter behind Perth, emitting 20 tonnes of direct emissions per capita and nine tonnes per capita of indirect emissions from the generation of electricity, according to the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Queensland cities also varied in terms of feelings of safety, with Sunshine Coast residents feeling most safe after dark, at 60.6 per cent. About one third of Cairns residents, 35.7 per cent, felt safe after dark in their area, the lowest ranking across the country. Suicide rates were also higher in Queensland compared to other states and territories, with Mackay and Cairns recording the largest number of suicides, at 19.5 people and 19.4 per 100,000 people respectively, according to the Social Health Atlas of Australia. Innovation Brisbane had among the highest rate of workers in knowledge-intensive industries including IT, communications and financial services, coming in fourth at 13.8 per cent behind Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. Brisbane also boasted the second highest share of households with an active broadband connection at 82.4 per cent and had 45 patent applications per 100,000 people, third behind Sydney and Canberra. Gold Coast and Tweed Heads recorded the largest number of new businesses that started actively trading in its city, at an entry rate of 17 per cent, ahead of Sydney. Infrastructure and investment Only 65 percent of jobs in Brisbane were accessible by car within 30 minutes, compared to Cairns and Mackay which boasted top marks for job accessibility for drivers. Brisbane was behind eastern coast capitals in taking up walking or cycling to work but was in the top four cities for proportion of people who took public transport to work, at 11.4 per cent, above the national average of 6.1 per cent. Brisbane drivers also felt the drag of peak hour, with delays almost doubling in peak hour conditions, behind Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart. If you or someone you know needs support, help can be found at Lifeline on 13 11 14.	Groom, highlighted in green, within the state of Queensland. Portrait of Jephcott. Voters in the Australian of are scheduled to go to the polls in a this week following the resignation of MP for family reasons. Groom is located in the state of Queensland, and is centred around the city of . At the last , the Liberal National Party, Queensland's dominant conservative party, won this seat by over 70% of the , and since the seat's creation in 1984, it has been held by conservative political parties. Some political analysts considered this a foregone conclusion, with analyst Kevin Bonham having declared it on his blog as "Australia's most boring by-election", however Bonham noted the size of the swing may have been indicative of the dominant centre left 's general performance in Queensland. There was a 4.2% swing against the Labor Party in the state of Queensland at the previous federal election. ''Wikinews'' spoke to one of the four candidates running in the by-election, Sandra Jephcott, who is running for the party. Sustainable Australia describes itself as a "independent community movement from the political centre". According to the party's website, Jephcott is a and farmer, who has completed a veterinary degree from the University of Queensland, as well as a at and a Master of Science at . With ''Wikinews'', Jephcott discussed climate change, COVID-19, water security, and foreign ownership.
The coppery moon was clearly visible across much of Britain Enlarge Image The eclipse began at 2018 GMT, with the Moon totally immersed in the shadow of the Earth between 2244 and 2358 GMT. During "totality" the moon appeared reddish in colour, as only light that had been filtered through the Earth's atmosphere reached the Moon's surface. The eclipse was visible from the whole of Europe, Africa, South America, and eastern parts of the US and Canada. The coppery red Moon was visible across large areas of the UK thanks to clear skies. Robin Scagell, from the Society for Popular Astronomy, said that it was "one of the best lunar eclipses from Britain for years". TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE Occurs when Moon passes into Earth's shadow Penumbra: Region where Earth blocks some (but not all) Sun rays Umbra: Zone where Earth blocks all direct sunlight - total eclipse "It was fascinating to watch the Moon's graceful movement through the shadow of the Earth and check its coppery glow," he said. The last total eclipse visible from the UK was back in May 2004, but it was obscured by cloudy skies. Lunar eclipses occur when the Sun, Earth and Moon are in a near-perfect line in space. The Moon travels through the long cone-shaped shadow that the Earth casts in space. At totality, the only light reaching the Moon's surface at this point has been refracted through the Earth's atmosphere. The appearance of the lunar surface varies according to how much dust is in the Earth's upper atmosphere. For example, following major volcanic eruptions, the Moon appears to be a deep red and almost invisible. As there have not been any recent sizeable eruptions, astronomers had predicted that the Moon would be bathed in a bright orange light. In Belgium, about 200 people gathered at the Mira observatory in Grimbergen to witness the eclipse. KEY TIMES FOR ECLIPSE Moon enters penumbra: 2018 Moon enters umbra: 2130 Totality begins: 2244 Mid-eclipse: 2321 Totality ends: 2358 Moon leave umbra: 0111 Moon leaves penumbra: 0224 (All times are in GMT) "We were especially concerned about whether our equipment would make it through this kind of weather," he said. "But then, after some clouds, it was all perfect throughout the entire eclipse." In Tehran, the director of Iran's Amateur Astronomy Association, Amir Shirazi, said he and other astronomy fans would be staying up all night to watch. "This is the last lunar eclipse in the Iranian current year and we are not going to have another beautiful and complete eclipse like this one for five years," he said. After Saturday's eclipse, the next to be seen over western Europe will take place on 21 February 2008, but in the middle of the night between 0300 GMT and 0400 GMT. And though eastern Australia, Alaska and New Zealand missed out on this total lunar eclipse they will be able to see the next one, due to take place on 28 August. Did you watch the eclipse? Where did you watch it? Tell us about your experiences and if you took any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. Name: Email address: Town and Country: Phone number (optional): Comments: The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published. \|\|\|\|\| Create New Countdown Count down to the New Year, birthdays, weddings, birthdays, retirement & more. Who will enter 2017 first and last? 26 hours after the first bottle of bubbly pops on Millenium Island, Baker Island greets the New Year. More	Graphical illustration of where the eclipse will be visible.Source: NASA, see here. Southampton, U.K.Photo credit: Rhys400D. Valladolid, Spain. There will be a full lunar eclipse starting on Saturday, March 3. Earth's passage between the Sun and the Moon will begin casting its shadow on the surface of the Moon starting at 20:18 UTC. The Moon will be totally eclipsed by the Earth's shadow between 22:44 and 23:58 UTC. Cloudless conditions would make for a great viewing experience as the Lunar phase is now full. The color of the moon will be like that of copper. In England, the lunar eclipse will occur between 8:18pm and until 2:24am. A chart to calculate the time offset from UTC puts the eclipse starting at 3:18pm EST in North America. The moon will be totally eclipsed 21 minutes prior to sunset in that time zone. The moonrise will occur during the period it is eclipsed, at 6:01pm. Viewers will be able to see the moon re-emerge from the Earth's shadow, weather permitting. The eclipse will take place during the Hindu festival of Holi. Phases of the lunar eclipse on March, 3rd 2007. View in France.
Cuba's Angel Valodia Matos, left, kicks match referee Sweden's Chakir Chelbat in the face during a bronze medal match against Kazakhstan's Arman Chilmanov in the men's taekwondo +80 kilogram class at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008. Matos attacked the official, throwing punches and kicks, after being declared the loser in his bronze medal match. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Cuban taekwondo athlete banned after kicking ref BEIJING (AP) — A Cuban taekwondo athlete and his coach were banned for life after Angel Matos kicked the referee in the face following his bronze-medal match disqualification. Cuban coach Leudis Gonzalez offered no apology for Matos' actions during the men's over-80 kg (176 pounds) match. Matos was winning 3-2, with 1:02 in the second round, when he fell to the mat after being hit by his opponent, Kazakhstan's Arman Chilmanov. He was sitting there, awaiting medical attention, when he was disqualified for taking too much injury time. Fighters get one minute, and Matos was disqualified when his time ran out. Matos angrily questioned the call, pushed a judge, then pushed and kicked referee Chakir Chelbat of Sweden. Matos then spat on the floor and was escorted out. "He was too strict," Gonzalez said, referring to the decision to disqualify Matos. Afterward, he charged the match was fixed, accusing the Kazakhs of offering him money. "This is a strong violation of the spirit of taekwondo and the Olympic Games. The sanctions are the following and are effective immediately: Lifetime ban of the coach and athlete in all championships sanctioned by the (World Taekwondo Federation) and at the same time, all records of this athlete at the Beijing Games will immediately be erased," said the announcer, reading a WTF release. In his first match, Matos defeated Italy's Leonardo Basile, then beat China's Liu Xiaobo 2-1 in the quarterfinals. But he lost to South Korean Cha Dong-min in the semis to land in the bronze-medal match. "To me it was obvious he was unable to continue," Chilmanov said. "His toe on his left foot was broken." Matos won the gold medal in this division at the 2000 Sydney Games, dedicating the victory to his mother, who died on the day of the opening ceremony. At the 2004 Athens Games, he finished 11th. Matos' tantrum followed a day of confusion on the mats. Earlier Saturday, China's double gold medalist Chen Zhong crashed out in the quarterfinals after initially being declared the winner. The day was rife with upsets. Working her way through the easier of the two pools, Norway's relatively unheralded Nina Solheim won her first two bouts with a comfortable point margin and defeated 2005 world champion Natalia Falavigna of Brazil in the semis to meet world champion Maria del Rosario Espinoza of Mexico for the over 67-kg (147.4 pounds) title. Espinoza won the final handily, going ahead in the first round and never falling behind. The final score was 4-1. She had her hands full getting through the quarters 4-2 against Sweden's Karolina Kedzierska, who launched several high kicks that did not connect. Espinoza then took on Britain's Sarah Stevenson, the 2006 European champion, in the semis. Espinoza dominated the match, earning her final berth with a 4-1 win. Espinoza was to fight Chen in the semis, but the judges overturned an earlier ruling and made Stevenson the winner of the quarterfinal bout in which Chen scored in the closing seconds of the second round and then Stevenson tagged her with a head kick — worth two points — in the third. The judges ruled Stevenson's kick wasn't solid enough for points, and Chen was declared the winner 1-0. After Britain protested, and the result was changed to put Stevenson in the semifinal. The decision brought loud jeers from the crowd. China did not appeal. It was the first time a match result has been overturned since taekwondo became an official Olympic sport in 1990. "I obviously had scored. I don't know if they weren't watching or what," Stevenson said. "That's one of the things I hate about this sport." Stevenson won bronze, along with Brazil's Falavigna. Cha made it four-for-four gold medals for South Korea. In taekwondo, countries are allowed to enter only four athletes. Cha fell behind when Alexandros Nikolaidis of Greece nailed him with a head kick 15 seconds into the bout. But he came back with a body kick and a head shot of his own to take back the lead, adding another point to go 4-3 going into the third round. Nikolaidis evened it out at 4-4 with a body kick, but Cha scored with just 18 seconds left to claim the gold in the men's over-80 kg (176 pounds) division. Daba Modibo Keita of Mali, the 2007 world champion, was defeated in overtime in the quarterfinals by Nigeria's Chika Yagazie Chukwumerije. The Nigerian then went up against Athens silver medalist Nikolaidis. Nikolaidis scored with a head kick in the third round, then again in the final second to advance to the final. The bronzes went to Chilmanov, who beat Matos, and Chukwumerije. \|\|\|\|\| Warriors coach Ivan Cleary reflects on a match of missed opportunities but is happy with a win on the back of his side's best 80 minutes of defence.	Cuban Taekwondo athlete Ángel Matos was banned for life yesterday after an assault on Swedish referee Chakir Chelbat during the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. Matos was competing in the bronze medal match against Arman Chilmanov of Kazakhstan when he sustained an injury. As he lay on the mat with medical attendants, Matos was disqualified for exceeding the one minute injury time limit. When Chilmanov was declared the winner of the bout, Matos delivered a kick to the face of Chelbat. Touch judges rushed in to try to control the situation. Matos pushed one of them and then spat on the floor. Both Matos and his coach Leudis Gonzalez were banned for life from all official Taekwondo events for their behavior in the incident. The World Taekwondo Federation released a statement referring to the incident as a "strong violation of the spirit of Taekwondo and the Olympic Games". They also called for all records of Matos to be removed from the Olympic records. Later coach Leudis Gonzalez claimed the Kazaks offered him money to lose the bout. WTF secretary general Yang Jin-suk said "due process must be followed before officially banning the two." Matos won the gold medal in Sydney in 2000; he finished in 11th place in Athens four years later.
EU wants Saudi gas price talks before WTO accession By Dominic Evans RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's trade deal with Washington removes its biggest hurdle to joining the World Trade Organisation but a European Union official said on Saturday the oil giant must still address EU questions over Saudi gas prices. The world's biggest crude exporter signed a bilateral market access deal with the United States on Friday in a low-key ceremony which should pave the way for Saudi accession to the WTO by December -- 12 years after it first sought membership. The OPEC producer has already signed a similar accord with the European Union. But that deal, signed in 2003, left two issues outstanding. "One related to insurance, which has now been cleared up, and the other was on (gas feedstock prices for) petrochemicals," said Bernard Savage, EU delegation head in Saudi Arabia. He said petrochemicals producers in Saudi Arabia obtained natural gas -- a raw material in the production of petrochemicals -- at rates below international prices, putting producers in Europe at a disadvantage. "We have been having discussions with the Saudis on this," Savage told Reuters, adding he did not believe the issue was an insurmountable obstacle to the kingdom's WTO accession. "The objective is for Saudi Arabia to join the WTO formally at the Hong Kong ministerial meeting (in December). That is our objective and that is the Saudi objective," he said. Joining the WTO will boost investor confidence in a country which is reaping the rewards of record oil prices but which has until recently, shown little urgency in liberalising its economy or setting clear a legal framework for business. OPENING MARKETS The U.S. deal requires Saudi Arabia to open its markets to more U.S. farm and manufactured goods as well as service firms in sectors including banking, telecommunications, energy, express delivery, transport and hotel and restaurant management. In return economists say the kingdom can expect increased investment flowing from greater confidence in its commercial legal framework. "Foreign businessmen feel there is a legal infrastructure they can rely on -- that there is a channel for disputes," said Brad Bourland, chief economist at Samba Financial Group. Saudi Arabia first applied to join the WTO in 1993, when it was known as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and is one of the largest economies still outside the organisation. Its efforts to join accelerated sharply in the last two years, partly to avoid being left out in the cold as Washington began talks on free trade agreements with Saudi Arabia's neighbours such as Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. It has had to overcome political resistance in the United States, particularly from pro-Israel groups which want an end to the Arab state's direct boycott of Israel. As part of the deal, Saudi Arabia has promised not to enforce aspects of the Arab League boycott of Israel that apply to U.S. firms doing business with Israel, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman's office said. Portman said the agreement will also ensure "greater openness, further development of the rule of law, and political and economic reform in Saudi Arabia". Washington has been pushing for reform in the conservative Muslim kingdom since the Sept 11 attacks, carried out by mainly Saudi hijackers. © Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved. \|\|\|\|\| IndyStar.com Business Saudi Arabia completes talks with U.S. on WTO membership Sign up for business enewsletters Get the jump on business news with IndyStar.com's Fresh Start and Mid-Day Update newsletters. Register today Tom Wood Lexus 2006 Lexus ES 330 $359/month 2006 Lexus RX330 $399/month 2006 Lexus ES 330 $359/month 2006 Lexus RX330 $399/month Tom Wood Jaguar Volvo Land Rover 2006 Volvo XC90 $385/mo 2003 Jaguar XK8 Coupe $48,984 2006 Volvo XC90 $385/mo 2003 Jaguar XK8 Coupe $48,984 Coast to Coast Quality Luxury Imports Huge Price Reduction! Every Vehicle Below Book Value Quality Luxury Imports BMWs, Lexus, Mercedes only at Coast to Coast Huge Price Reduction! Every Vehicle Below Book Value Quality Luxury Imports BMWs, Lexus, Mercedes only at Coast to Coast View all Top Car Deals Washington (AP) -- The Bush administration said Friday that it had successfully completed negotiations with Saudi Arabia over that country's application to join the World Trade Organization. U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman said the agreement reached between the two countries would provide new export opportunities for U.S. farmers, manufacturers and service industries. The agreement with the United States was one of the last major hurdles to the country's WTO membership. Saudi Arabia now must complete negotiations at the WTO in Geneva on the formal document that will set the terms under which the world's largest oil producer will become a member. Saudi Arabia has been trying for more than a decade to become a member of the 148-nation Geneva-based organization that sets the rules for world trade. Copyright 2006 IndyStar.com. All rights reserved	The current members of the WTO Saudi Arabia signed on Friday a trade agreement with the United States, which was considered to be one the last major hurdles to the World Trade Organisation membership of the kingdom. Now, Saudis have to complete negotiations at the Geneva-based WTO on the formal accession document. The deal opens Saudi markets to US farm and manufactured goods, as well as most services, including IT, financial, energy and tourism sectors. It also forced Saudis not to boycott US companies which are doing business with Israel. The kingdom also promised to have normal trade relations with all 148 WTO members, which include Israel. The other problem remains a Saudi-EU row over gas prices. The EU officials accused Saudi Arabia of selling the natural gas to their home petrochemicals at rates below international market prices, which could cause losses to the European producers.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. A 7.0-magnitude earthquake which struck off the coast of Haiti is feared to have killed hundreds of people across the Caribbean country. In the space of a minute, Haiti's worst quake in two centuries wrecked the HQ of the UN mission, Haiti's national palace and numerous other buildings. A "large number" of UN personnel were reported missing by the organisation. Describing it as a "catastrophe", Haiti's envoy to the US said the cost of the damage could run into billions. The quake, which struck about 15km (10 miles) south-west of the capital, Port-au-Prince, was quickly followed by two strong aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. The tremor hit at 1653 (2153 GMT), the US Geological Survey said. Phone lines to the country failed shortly afterwards. Aid workers and reporters at the scene estimated the number of dead to be in the hundreds or even thousands. Vehicles ferrying the injured to hospital were hampered by rubble blocking the capital's streets. Bodies, white with dust, could be seen piled on the back of a pick-up truck. As night fell, Rachmani Domersant, an operations manager with the Food for the Poor charity, said: "The whole city is in darkness. "You have thousands of people sitting in the streets with nowhere to go. There are people running, crying, screaming," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. Adding that he had seen no rescue vehicles in the hillside suburb of Petionville, he said: "People are trying to dig victims out with flashlights. "I think hundreds of casualties would be a serious understatement." As the poorest country in the western hemisphere, Haiti is likely to need international aid in order to cope with the quake's impact, the BBC's Nick Davies reports from neighbouring Jamaica. 'Three million affected' In a statement issued in New York, the UN said that its local HQ in Haiti had "sustained serious damage along with other UN installations" and "a large number" of personnel were missing. EYEWITNESS Carel Pedre, TV and radio presenter, Port-au-Prince I saw a lot of people crying for help, a lot of buildings collapsed, a lot of car damage, a lot of people without help, people bleeding. I saw a movie theatre, a supermarket, a cybercafe, an apartment building which collapsed. Now it's dark outside, there is no electricity, all the phone networks are down, so there's no way that people can get in touch with their family and friends. There are aftershocks every 15 to 20 minutes. They last from three to five seconds. The first shock was really strong, people were falling in the streets and buildings collapsed. I didn't see any emergency services, the people at the neighbourhood were trying to help each other. The streets are narrow and there is lot of traffic and everyone is trying to reach family and friends. Traffic now is really difficult. People don't know where to go or where to start. Eyewitness: 'Blood all over them' UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy said it was unclear how many people had been inside the building. The UN's stabilisation mission plays a vital role in ensuring security in Haiti. Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the US, said the presidential palace, the tax office, the ministry of commerce and the foreign ministry had all been damaged, but the airport was intact. The World Bank, which said its local offices were destroyed but that most staff were accounted for, planned to send a team to help Haiti assess damage and plan a recovery, Reuters reported. Mike Blanpied of the US Geological Survey said that, based on the location and size of the quake, about three million people would have been severely shaken by its impact. "This quake occurred under land as opposed to off-shore, so a lot of people were directly exposed to the shaking coming off that earthquake fault, which was quite shallow," he told the BBC. US President Barack Obama said in a statement that his "thoughts and prayers" were with the people of Haiti and America stood ready to assist them. 'Rubble and wire' In the minutes after the quake, Henry Bahn, a visiting official from the US Department of Agriculture, said he had seen houses which had tumbled into a ravine. HAITI COUNTRY PROFILE Half of Caribbean island of Hispaniola History of violence, instability and dictatorship Population of 10 million people Most live on less than $2 a day Democratic rule restored in 2006 Economy in ruins and unemployment is chronic UN peacekeepers deployed - foreign aid seen as vital Massive deforestation has left just 2% forest "Everybody is just totally, totally freaked out and shaken," said Mr Bahn, who described the sky as "just grey with dust". He said he had been walking to his hotel room when the ground began to shake. "I just held on and bounced across the wall," he said. "I just hear a tremendous amount of noise and shouting and screaming in the distance." He said rocks were strewn all over the place, and the ravine where several homes had fallen in was "just full of collapsed walls and rubble and barbed wire". BBC News website readers in the Dominican Republic, which borders Haiti on the island of Hispaniola, said they had also felt the quake. "My family is on the 8th floor of a tower in downtown Santo Domingo," wrote Max Levine. "We felt a swaying of the building for 5-10 seconds. All the lamps were swinging. There was a 20-second pause and then another similar sway. We rushed out of the building with many others to the street." In the immediate aftermath of the quake, a tsunami watch was put out for Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas, but this was later lifted. Have you been affected by the earthquake? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: You can send pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can click here to upload. Click here to see terms and conditions At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Versión en Español Earthquake Summary Earthquake Summary Poster Felt Reports Severe damage and casualties in the Port-au-Prince area. Felt throughout Haiti and the Dominican Republic, in Turks and Caicos Islands, southeastern Cuba, eastern Jamaica, in parts of Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, and as far as Tampa, Florida and Caracas, Venezuela. Tectonic Summary The January 12, 2010, Haiti earthquake occurred in the boundary region separating the Caribbean plate and the North America plate. This plate boundary is dominated by left-lateral strike slip motion and compression, and accommodates about 20 mm/y slip, with the Caribbean plate moving eastward with respect to the North America plate. Haiti occupies the western part of the island of Hispaniola, one of the Greater Antilles islands, situated between Puerto Rico and Cuba. At the longitude of the January 12 earthquake, motion between the Caribbean and North American plates is partitioned between two major east-west trending, strike-slip fault systems -- the Septentrional fault system in northern Haiti and the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system in southern Haiti. The location and focal mechanism of the earthquake are consistent with the event having occurred as left-lateral strike slip faulting on the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system. This fault system accommodates about 7 mm/y, nearly half the overall motion between the Caribbean plate and North America plate. The Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system has not produced a major earthquake in recent decades. The EPGFZ is the likely source of historical large earthquakes in 1860, 1770, 1761, 1751, 1684, 1673, and 1618, though none of these has been confirmed in the field as associated with this fault. Earthquake Information for Caribbean Tsunami Information NOAA West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center The earthquake locations and magnitudes cited in these NOAA tsunami bulletins are very preliminary and may be superceded by USGS locations and magnitudes computed using more extensive data sets. Tsunami Information Links USGS Podcast Interview: Michael Blanpied, associate coordinator for the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, answers questions about the earthquake, its severe shaking, and the possibility of additional hazards, such as landslides and a tsunami. Poster of the Seismicity of the Caribbean Plate and Vicinity \|\|\|\|\| PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Desperately needed aid from around the world slowly made its way Thursday into Haiti, where a leadership vacuum left rescuers scrambling on their own to save the trapped and injured and get relief supplies into the capital. President Barack Obama announced that "one of the largest relief efforts in our recent history" is moving toward Haiti, with thousands of troops and a broad array of civilian rescue workers flying or sailing in to aid the stricken country — backed by more than $100 million in relief funds. To the Haitians, Obama promised: "You will not be forsaken." The nascent flow of rescue workers showed some results: A newly arrived search team pulled a U.N. worker alive from the organization's collapsed headquarters. He stood, held up a fist in celebration, and was helped off to a hospital. Planes carrying teams from China, France, Spain and the United States landed at Port-au-Prince's airport with searchers and tons of water, food, medicine and other supplies — with more promised from around the globe. But it took six hours to unload a Chinese plane because the airport lacked the needed equipment — a hint of possible bottlenecks ahead as a global response brings a stream of aid flights to the airport, itself damaged by Tuesday's magnitude-7 earthquake. Search and rescue squads from Virginia and Iceland arrived Wednesday and some groups — from Cuba's government and Doctors Without Borders — used staff already in the country to treat victims immediately after the quake. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that "tens of thousands, we fear, are dead" and said United States and the world must do everything possible to help Haiti surmount its "cycle of hope and despair." The U.S. dispatched troops and ships along with aid to Haiti, and other nations were joining the effort to help the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation, where the international Red Cross estimated 3 million people — a third of the population — may need emergency relief. Since Tuesday's earthquake, President Rene Preval has maintained his typical low profile, granting only a couple of media interviews and making few public appearances. He said his own residences were damaged in the quake and the Parliament building collapsed. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the U.S. had been in touch with Preval, and added: "We're not taking over Haiti. We are helping to stabilize Haiti, we're helping to provide them lifesaving support." There seemed to be little official presence in much of Port-au-Prince: Trucks carrying police and U.N. workers or equipment to clear away debris were often stuck in traffic on roads filled with pickup trucks, cars and pedestrians. At many collapsed buildings, neighbors and volunteers dug through rubble — often with bare hands — to free trapped residents without help from the government. Yet the often-chaotic city was surprisingly calm, despite the devastation. Journalists heard little or no gunfire and saw no major violence. Survivors set up camps amid piles of salvaged goods, including food scavenged from the rubble. Bodies lay in the street, often covered by a white cloth, in the tropical heat. Some people dragged the dust-covered dead along the roads, trying to reach a hospital where they might leave them. Others tried to carry dead relatives to nearby hills for impromptu burials, prompting Brazil's military — the biggest continent among U.N. peacekeepers — to warn the practice could lead to an epidemic. It said it is asking authorities to create a new cemetery. The Brazilian military said it also was worried that bodies could be left too long because many Voodoo followers in Haiti do not allow the dead to be touched before all their rituals are concluded. "This is much worse than a hurricane," said Jimitre Coquillon, a doctor's assistant working at a triage center set up in a hotel parking lot. "There's no water. There's nothing. Thirsty people are going to die." The aid group Doctors Without Borders treated wounded at two hospitals that withstood the quake and set up tent clinics elsewhere to replace its damaged facilities. Cuba, which already had more than 300 doctors in Haiti, treated injured in field hospitals. Obama promised Haitians an all-out rescue and humanitarian effort, including the military and civilian emergency teams from across the U.S., adding that America — and the world — "stands with you." Clinton said the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Carl Vinson "will be on the horizon soon, the Coast Guard has performed magnificently in helping to evacuate the injured, particularly American citizens." The U.S. Army said a detachment of more than 100 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division was heading out from Fort Bragg in North Carolina, looking for locations to set up tents and other essentials in preparation for the arrival of another 800 personnel on Friday. That's in addition to some 2,200 Marines to be sent, as the military prepares to help with security, search and rescue missions and the delivery of humanitarian supplies. More than a half-dozen U.S. military ships also are expected to help, with the largest, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, arriving later Thursday. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that 91 injured French nationals were evacuated to the Caribbean island of Martinique in three planes that had delivered aid and medical personnel. There was no firm estimate on how many people died in the quake. Preval said Wednesday the toll could be in the thousands. The acrid smell of drywall and ancient dust that filled the air immediately after the quake has faded, giving way to the usual aromas of Port-au-Prince — flowers and mango trees, with a hint of gasoline and urine. Police officers carried the injured in their pickup trucks. Wisnel Occilus, a 24-year-old student, was wedged between two other survivors in a truck bed headed to a police station. He was in an English class when the quake struck and the building collapsed. "The professor is dead. Some of the students are dead, too," said Occilus, who suspected he had several broken bones. "Everything hurts." Other survivors carried injured to hospitals in wheelbarrows and on stretchers fashioned from doors. Calls to emergency services weren't getting through because systems that connect different phone networks were still not working, said officials from a telecommunications provider in Haiti. About 3,000 police and international peacekeepers cleared debris, directed traffic and maintained security in the capital. But law enforcement was stretched thin even before the quake and would be ill-equipped to deal with major unrest. The U.N.'s 9,000-member peacekeeping force sent patrols across the capital's streets while securing the airport, port and main buildings. Looting began immediately after the quake, with people seen carrying food from collapsed buildings, but aid workers said disturbances were rare. Inmates were reported to have escaped from the damaged main prison in Port au Prince, said Elisabeth Byrs, a U.N. humanitarian spokeswoman in Geneva. Port-au-Prince's ruined buildings fell on both the poor and the prominent: The body of Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot, 63, was found in the ruins of his office, said the Rev. Pierre Le Beller of the Saint Jacques Missionary Center in Landivisiau, France. Haitian Senate President Kelly Bastien was rescued from the collapsed Parliament building and taken to a hospital in the neighboring Dominican Republic. The president of Haiti's Citibank was also among the survivors being treated there, said Rafael Sanchez Espanol, director of the Homs Hospital in Santiago. The State Department announced one American had died in Haiti, saying that at least 164 U.S. citizens have been evacuated since the quake. Coast Guard C-130 planes have airlifted 42 American officials and their families and another 72 private citizens to safety, Crowley said. Another 370 Americans were awaiting flights out, he said. There were about 45,000 Americans living in Haiti at the time of the earthquake. The International Committee of the Red Cross said it set up a Web site to help Haitians find missing loved ones. Robert Zimmerman, deputy head of the group's tracing unit, said people in Haiti and abroad can use the site to register names of missing relatives. ___ Associated Press contributors to this story: Jonathan Katz and Jennifer Kay in Port-au-Prince; Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations; Frank Jordans and Bradley S. Klapper in Geneva; Jenny Barchfield in Paris; Pauline Jelinek in Washington; Tales Azzoni in Sao Paulo. \|\|\|\|\| Related Links Twenty Interesting Earthquake Facts The quake hit at 1:53 p.m. PST, according to the USGS. The Associated Press reports that a hospital collapsed shortly after the quake and people were heard screaming for help. It was centered 10 km below ground-- that's just a little greater than 6 miles-- USGS reports indicated. A 7.0 earthquake has hit the country of Haiti, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A hospital has apparently collapsed following the strong temblor.The quake hit at 1:53 p.m. PST, according to the USGS.The Associated Press reports that a hospital collapsed shortly after the quake and people were heard screaming for help.It was centered 10 km below ground-- that's just a little greater than 6 miles-- USGS reports indicated. Since the initial 7.0 magnitude quake hit, three strong aftershocks have also struck, according to the USGS. A 5.9 magnitude quake hit at 2 p.m PST, followed by a 5.5 magnitude quake at 2:12 p.m PST, and a 5.1 magnitude quake at 3:12 p.m. PST. The quake was originally reported at a 7.3 by the USGS, but was later downgraded to a 7.0. The earthquake happened about 14 miles (22 kilometers) west of the Caribbean nation's capital, Port-au-Prince.Since the initial 7.0 magnitude quake hit, three strong aftershocks have also struck, according to the USGS. Amagnitude quake hit at 2 p.m PST, followed by amagnitude quake at 2:12 p.m PST, and amagnitude quake at 3:12 p.m. PST.The quake was originally reported at a 7.3 by the USGS, but was later downgraded to a 7.0. \|\|\|\|\| Latest Earthquakes in the World - Past 7 days Latest Earthquakes Magnitude 2.5 or Greater in the United States and Adjacent Areas and Magnitude 4.5 or Greater in the Rest of the World - Last 7 days Versión en Español This list contains all earthquakes with magnitude greater than 2.5 located by the USGS and contributing networks in the last week (168 hours). Magnitudes 4.5 and above are in bold font. Magnitudes 6 and above are in red. (Some early events may be obscured by later ones on the maps.) The most recent earthquakes are at the top of the list. Times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Click on the word "map" to see a ten-degree tall map displaying the earthquake. Click on an event's "DATE" to get a detailed report. DISCLAIMER If you cannot see the list, Click here to go to the top of the list. Update time = Sun Nov 1 5:06:26 UTC 2009 Most recent earthquakes are at the top of this list. Back to world earthquake map DISCLAIMER - The maps and lists show events which have been located by the USGS and contributing agencies within the last 7 days. They should not be considered to be complete lists of all events M2.5+ in the US and adjacent areas and especially should not be considered to be complete lists of all events M4.5+ in the world. Beginning January 1, 2009, earthquakes outside the US below M4.5 are not reported unless NEIC obtains felt reports. The World Data Center for Seismology, Denver (a part of the USGS National Earthquake Information Center) continues to receive data from observatories throughout the world for several months after the events occurred, and using those data, adds new events and revises existing events in later publications. For a description of these later publications and the data available, see Scientific Data. \|\|\|\|\| HONOLULU (Reuters) - The United States will provide both military and civilian disaster assistance to Haiti following the devastating earthquake there, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday. "The United States is offering our full assistance to Haiti and to others in the region. We will be providing both civilian and military disaster relief and humanitarian assistance and our prayers are with the people who have suffered, their families and their loved ones," Clinton said at the start of a speech on Asian relations in Honolulu, Hawaii. (reporting by Andrew Quinn; editing by Stacey Joyce) \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Aid organizations have deployed emergency response teams to Haiti and appealed for donations after the Caribbean nation was was struck by a devastating earthquake described by local officials as a "catastrophe of major proportions." The magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck southern Haiti on Tuesday, knocking down buildings and inflicting a new catastrophe on the western hemisphere's poorest nation. Humanitarian charity Oxfam said Wednesday it was rushing rescue teams to the country from around the region to provide clean water, sanitation, shelter and emergency supplies and called for donations to fund its efforts. Impact Your World: How you can help "At this stage it is too early to tell the severity of the earthquake in Haiti, but the early signs are not good with communications down across the country," said Jane Cocking, humanitarian director of Oxfam. Kristie van de Wetering, a former Oxfam employee based in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, said the situation in the capital was "very chaotic" with many buildings reduced to rubble. "We can hear people calling for help from every corner. The aftershocks are ongoing and making people very nervous," she said. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said volunteers in Haiti were assisting the injured and supporting hospitals which had been overwhelmed by the disaster. It said it had enough supplies in Haiti for 3,000 families. Experts in disaster response are due to arrive in the country later Wednesday to coordinate international relief efforts, it said. "The most urgent needs at this time are search and rescue, field hospitals, emergency health, water purification, emergency shelter, logistics and telecommunications," the group said in a statement. The quake struck about 15 km (10 miles) southwest of Port-au-Prince shortly before 5 p.m. local time, cutting off communications across much of the country. "Port-au-Prince is devastated, lot of deaths. SOS. SOS...," wrote Louise Ivers, the clinical director of medical charity Partners In Health, in an e-mail to the group's offices in Boston, Massachusetts. She added: "Temporary field hospital ... needs supplies, pain meds, bandages. Please help us." Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the U.S., told CNN's Wolf Blitzer by telephone that the country was going throug "I'm calling on all friends of Haiti and people who are listening to me to please come to our aid," said Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the U.S. told CNN's Wolf Blitzer by telephone. "Today as Haiti is going through the worst day in its history I am calling for all others who got help from us in the beginning to help in support," Joseph said. "The only thing I can do now is pray and hope for the best." Singer Wyclef Jean, nephew of ambassador Joseph, stressed the need for help for what is considered among the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere. "We're going to need immediate aid," Jean told Blitzer on CNN. "We're going to need the United States and the international community to react immediately." He founded Yele Haiti, whose community service programs include food distribution and emergency relief. In Washington U.S. President Barack Obama said the government would "stand ready to assist the people of Haiti." At the Pentagon, the U.S. military said humanitarian aid was being prepared for shipping, but it was not yet clear where or how it would be sent. A U.S. aviation source said the control tower at the Port-au-Prince international airport collapsed, possibly hindering efforts to fly relief supplies into the country. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters that Washington is offering "our full assistance" to Haiti. "And our prayers are with the people who have suffered, their families and their loved ones," she said. The deputy chief of the U.S. mission in Haiti, David Lindwall, told Clinton that he saw "significant damage" from the quake and said U.S. officials there expect "serious loss of life," Crowley said. And Clinton's husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton -- now the U.N. special envoy for Haiti -- said the world body was "committed to do whatever we can to assist the people of Haiti in their relief, rebuilding and recovery efforts." Haiti's government is backed by a U.N. peacekeeping mission established after the ouster of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004. The United States has been heavily involved in Haiti commercially, politically and militarily for most of the last century. U.S. intervention under Clinton restored Aristide to power in 1994 after a 1991 coup, and a U.S. jet hustled him out of the country again in 2004 following a rapidly spreading uprising against his government. With people stripping the trees for fuel and to clear land for agriculture, the mountainous countryside has been heavily deforested. That has led to severe erosion and left Haitians vulnerable to massive landslides when heavy rains fall. Roads in Haiti were unsafe to travel on because of a lack of lighting and because many buildings along transportation routes had collapsed or were not deemed safe, said Ian Rodgers of the relief organization Save the Children. "What I can hear is very distressed people," Rogers said. "There is a lot of distress and wailing of people trying to find loved ones." A representative for the aid group Catholic Relief Services in Haiti described the situation in the nation as "a total disaster," said Robyn Fieser, regional information officer for the group. Haiti's dense population will increase the risk to its people, Jean said. The nation's need for aid will range from water and food to medical and building supplies. "This is the worst devastation that we as Haitian people have faced," he said. Hurricane Gordon killed more than 1,000 people in 1994, while Hurricane Georges killed more than 400 and destroyed the majority of the country's crops in 1998. And in 2004, Hurricane Jeanne killed more than 3,000 people even as it passed north of Haiti, with most of the deaths in the northwestern city of Gonaives. Gonaives was hit heavily again in 2008 when four tropical systems passed through. According to the U.N. Office for the Special Envoy for Haiti, unemployment reaches 70 percent nationally, and 78 percent of Haitians live on less than $2 a day. CNN's Edvige Jean-Francois, Shasta Darlington, Deb Feyerick, Matt Smith, Mike Mount and Pierre Meilhan contributed to this report.	Map of where the quake struck. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Haiti earlier today at 21:53 UTC, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, no tsunami warning was issued, contradicting some media reports that said there was one in place. The quake's magnitude was revised down from an initial report of 7.3 on the Richter scale. "A destructive widespread tsunami threat does not exist based on historical earthquake and tsunami data," the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. "However, there is the possibility of a local tsunami that could affect coasts located usually no more than a 100 km 60 miles from the earthquake epicentre." The USGS reports that the epicentre was fifteen kilometres (ten miles) southwest of Port-au-Prince and southeast of Miami, Florida, at a depth of ten kilometres. According to USGS analyst Dale Grant, this tremor was "the largest quake recorded in this area"; the last strong quake was in 1984, and had a magnitude of 6.7, he noted. "Everybody is just totally, totally freaked out and shaken. The sky is just gray with dust," said Henry Bahn, an official with the US Department of Agriculture who was visiting in Haiti and a witness to the incident. "I just held on and bounced across the wall. I just hear a tremendous amount of noise and shouting and screaming in the distance," he commented, as quoted by the Associated Press. A map indicating the intensity of the earthquake in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, made by USGSAccording to data from the USGS, there were thirteen aftershocks after the initial tremors, the strongest of which was 5.9 on the Richter scale; seven others measured in at 5.0 or higher – all the aftershocks were 4.0 or greater. No deaths have yet been reported, but a hospital in Port-au-Prince was damaged, and a US government official said several houses fell into a ravine. An analyst for USGS in Colorado commented that there could be many deaths from an earthquake of this strength. "I think we are going to see substantial damage and casualties," he said. The USGS's Mike Blanpied remarked that about three million people were impacted by the earthquake, given its location. "This quake occurred under land as opposed to off-shore, so a lot of people were directly exposed to the shaking coming off that earthquake fault, which was quite shallow," he said. A lack of communications makes it difficult to ascertain what damage was done. US embassy personnel were "literally in the dark" due to power failures, said State Department spokesman P. J. Crowley. "They reported structures down. They reported a lot of walls down. They did see a number of bodies in the street and on the sidewalk that had been hit by debris. So clearly, there's going to be serious loss of life in this," he said, as quoted by AP. A reporter for Reuters said he had seen "dozens of dead and injured people" amidst collapsed buildings. "We are trying to get in touch with our people on the ground but we are experiencing communication problems, which is not unusual in a disaster such as this," said United Nations spokeswoman Stephanie Bunker to Agence France-Presse. === Aid appeals and international reaction === Appeals for aid flooded in following the disaster. In a phone call to CNN, the Haitian ambassador to the US, Raymond Joseph, said: "I'm calling on all friends of Haiti and people who are listening to me to please come to our aid. Today as Haiti is going through the worst day in its history I am calling for all others who got help from us in the beginning to help in support. The only thing I can do now is pray and hope for the best." US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promised that her country would also provide assistance to Haitians. "The United States is offering our full assistance to Haiti and to others in the region. We will be providing both civilian and military disaster relief and humanitarian assistance and our prayers are with the people who have suffered, their families and their loved ones." President Barack Obama also said that the country would be "ready to assist" Haiti.
By Phil McNulty England's Wayne Rooney is dejected at the final whistle Steve McClaren's side looked on course to qualify courtesy of Wayne Rooney's spectacular 29th-minute volley. Steven Gerrard missed a glorious chance before Roman Pavluchenko scored from the spot after 69 minutes following Rooney's foul on Konstanin Zurianov. He struck again from close range four minutes later - now Russia will qualify if they beat Israel and Andorra. It capped a dramatic turnaround on the Luznikhi Stadium's artificial pitch after England had looked in no trouble until Russia coach Guus Hiddink introduced Pavluchenko in the second half. England as expected, were without captain John Terry after he suffered a recurrence of his knee injury in training and Sol Campbell came in as replacement. McClaren will have been peturbed to see the synthetic surface being heavily watered before kick-off, a move clearly designed to make conditions more favourable for Hiddink's side. Russia had plenty of possession in the early exchanges but England's revamped defence, with Everton's Joleon Lescott in for injured Ashley Cole, protected keeper Paul Robinson. England suffered an anxious moment after 11 minutes when Aleksandr Kerzhakov tumbled under a challenge from Joe Cole but Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo rightly ignored their penalty claims. Robinson was called into action when he turned a low drive from Zurianov on to an upright in the 25th minute - and four minutes later England were ahead. Michael Owen met Micah Richards' punt forward with a prodigious leap, and Rooney was lurking to chest down and lash a brilliant volley high past Russia keeper Vladimir Gabulov. England survived in comfort until half-time, and should have doubled their advantage four minutes after the interval. Gareth Barry's free-kick found captain Gerrard totally unmarked at the far post, but he steered a tame finish wide with the goal at his mercy. And Richards just failed to apply the finishing touch to a Rooney flick as England tried to seal the three points. Russia took advantage of England's generosity in front of goal to turn the game on its head in the space of four minutes. Rooney was the villain after 69 minutes, hauling down Zurianov to concede a penalty, even though the initial offence took place outside the area. Substitute Pavluchenko slammed home the penalty and struck again after 73 minutes, pouncing to score from close range after Robinson parried Alexei Berezutsky's shot. The dramatic turn in fortunes forced McClaren into a triple substitution, sending on Peter Crouch, Frank Lampard and Stewart Downing for Lescott, Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips. But it was Russia who almost added a third when a rebound off Rio Ferdinand bounced inches wide with Robinson beaten. England threw everything forward in the closing stages, but Russia held out. Russia: Gabulov, Alexei Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Vasili Berezutsky (Torbinsky 46), Aniukov, Zurianov, Semshov, Bilyaletdinov, Zhirkov, Arshavin (Kolodin 90), Kerzhakov (Pavluchenko 58). Subs Not Used: Malafeev, Pogrebniak, Shirokov, Sychev. Booked: Vasili Berezutsky, Pavluchenko. Goals: Pavluchenko 69 pen, 73. England: Robinson, Richards, Ferdinand, Campbell, Lescott (Lampard 79), Wright-Phillips (Downing 80), Gerrard, Barry, Cole (Crouch 80), Rooney, Owen. Subs Not Used: James, Shorey, Luke Young, Neville. Booked: Ferdinand, Rooney. Goals: Rooney 29. Att: 84,700 Ref: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain). \|\|\|\|\| Steve McClaren has pointed an accusing finger at Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo for the 'disgraceful' decision that has helped to leave England on the brink of a humiliating failure to reach Euro 2008. Empics Another bad day at the office for Macca England were in front and, in McClaren's eyes, in control when Cantalejo ruled Wayne Rooney tugged Konstantin Zyryanov's shirt inside the box. The foul was clear enough, but TV replays showed the foul occurred outside the area. Yet up stepped Roman Pavlyuchenko to level from the spot - and when the Russian substitute netted again four minutes later, England's dreams were in tatters. McClaren now knows if Russia beat Israel in Tel Aviv next month then Guus Hiddink's men will qualify at the expense of his own side once they have completed the formality of hammering Andorra in Moscow four days later - on the same night England are completing their campaign against Croatia. Such a scenario would see England miss the final stages of a major championship for the first time since the 1994 World Cup, cost the Football Association millions in lost potential sponsorship - and almost certainly McClaren his job. For that depressing situation, McClaren feels Cantalejo should shoulder responsibility. 'It is an absolute disgrace,' fumed McClaren. 'We were comfortable, and they were running out of ideas. If that penalty had not been awarded, I am absolutely confident we would have won the game. We were in total control. 'I am not blaming anybody - but the penalty was given by a referee in a bad position because it was outside the box. 'I don't fault the players; I don't fault their attitude; I don't fault their endeavour - and I don't fault what they did in the game. 'Because of one decision, we went from being in a winning position to losing.' McClaren did not mention, however, the fact that the officials also failed to spot that Rooney was marginally offside when he sent his first-half opener arrowing into the roof of Russia's goal. Cantalejo could hardly be blamed for Steven Gerrard's awful miss at the start of the second half - when a cooler head from the captain would have seen England establish a two-goal lead and pave the path to next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland. Instead, McClaren is left pinning his hopes on Israel - who did hold Russia to a draw in Moscow earlier in qualifying, although that was at a time when they had some hope of reaching the finals themselves. 'Nobody likes losing games, and I certainly don't,' he said. 'The players are devastated in the dressing room - but we stick together. 'This group is not over yet. It is out of our hands - but it is not over.' Understandably, McClaren refused to get into any discussion over his future - or the outcome in Tel Aviv next month, given the two situations are inextricably linked. 'It was in our hands - now it is not,' he admitted. 'But Russia still have to go to Israel and win. The pressure is still on them. We just have to wait. 'As I have said all along, this group is decided over 12 games - not 10 or 11. Let's see where we end up.' As someone who was in the frame to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson as England manager, Russia coach Guus Hiddink was entitled to feel an extra degree of satisfaction at victory. Like McClaren, he felt his team was in control and isolated the central positioning of left-back Joleon Lescott and the difficulty Joe Cole had in patrolling the same flank, as one of the major reasons for his optimism, even at half-time when Russia's position looks as bleak as England's is now. 'We got a lot of space on our right-hand side during the first half,' said Hiddink. 'The final touch was not good enough but the threat was there. 'I would not be arrogant enough to say I was confident at half-time but I did feel if we got an equaliser we would get another. 'The England defenders do not like being under pressure and in the second half we made them do things they did not want to do.' It is impossible to know what the outcome would have been had the rival managers been in the opposite dug-outs but the pedigree of one does outshine the other quite conclusively. Hiddink though is too wily a customer to believe the job is done just yet. 'England are not my concern,' he said. 'I just know we now have to beat Israel away from home, which will be difficult, and then Andorra. That is why this result is so vital for us.' Your views on this story? Email newsdesk@soccernet.com Join the discussion on our Message Boards	England's qualification for UEFA Euro 2008 is in doubt after a 2-1 defeat to Russia. scored two goals in the second half today, although both sides had their chances. Russia had a penalty appeal turned down by the Spanish referee after eleven minutes, while Konstantin Zyrianov saw his drive pushed onto the goalposts by England's goalkeeper Paul Robinson. Needing to win on an artificial pitch in Moscow to be certain of qualification, England took the lead after 29 minutes when Wayne Rooney opened the scoring with a volley. Both Steven Gerrard and Micah Richards missed chances to seal victory for England, and Russia equalised with a Roman Pavlyuchenko penalty after Wayne Rooney brought down Konstantin Zyrianov. England manager Steve McClaren said the penalty shot was a 'disgraceful' decision, as the offence appeared to have happened just outside the penalty area. Pavlyuchenko scored Russia's winner just four minutes later. England have one match remaining against leaders Croatia on November 21, but the defeat to Russia means that other results must go their way if they are to qualify for next year's tournament in Austria and Switzerland. Russia will qualify ahead of England if they defeat both Israel and Andorra in their final two matches.
Jason Hudson's white Chevrolet Suburban went missing from the home and was found on Chicago's West Side this morning. A spokesperson from the Cook County medical examiner's office told the Chicago Tribune the body of a black boy was found inside. Television news coverage showed the vehicle being towed away. William Balfour, the estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson's sister Julia, was questioned by police and reportedly denied involvement in the murders and kidnapping but, at some point, he stopped talking. Yesterday (10/26), he was taken into custody for violating conditions of parole following a 1999 conviction for attempted murder. Also yesterday, Hudson offered up a $100,000 reward for the safe return of King. The family posted a blog at the performer's MySpace page thanking well-wishers for their support and asking for help in finding the boy. Family members said King's mother, Julia Hudson, had been separated from Balfour for some time, according to the Tribune. A family friend told the paper that Balfour recently threatened to take King away. The murders of Donerson and Jason Hudson occurred at about 9 a.m. Friday (10/24) when a gunman shot through the front door of the family's home, striking Hudson and then entering the house and shooting Donerson, sources told the Tribune. Neighbors, who reportedly are used to hearing gunfire in the neighborhood, did not call police. A family member reportedly found Donerson's body at about 3 p.m. and called authorities, who then found Hudson's body. After rocketing to stardom as a contestant on "American Idol" and winning an Oscar for her performance in the film "Dreamgirls," Jennifer Hudson found sanctuary in her mother's South Side Chicago home. "My faith in God and my family--they're very realistic and very normal; they're not into the whole limelight kind of thing, so when I go home to Chicago, that's just another place that's home," Hudson recently told the Associated Press. "I stand in line with everybody else, or, when I go home to my mom, I'm just Jennifer, [so she says], 'You get up and you take care of your own stuff.' And I love that; I don't like when people tell you everything you want to hear. I want to hear the truth, you know what I mean?" The singer/actress co-stars alongside Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Dakota Fanning in the recently released film "The Secret Life of Bees." \|\|\|\|\| Will be right back... Thank you for your patience. Our engineers are working quickly to resolve the issue.	The FBI has stated that they believe a dead body found in a white SUV in Chicago, Illinois, is that of 7-year-old Julian King. King was the nephew of American singer and Academy Award winning actress, Jennifer Hudson. King was kidnapped from his home in Chicago on Friday after someone shot and killed Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, 57 and brother, Jason, 29. An AMBER Alert was issued shortly after the incident, and on Sunday, a US$100,000 reward was offered for his safe return. "We found a body who we believe to be the missing victim in Chicago, the nephew of Jennifer Hudson. We are working with Chicago police to get a positive identification of the victim," said the FBI in a statement. An autopsy is scheduled to take place on Tuesday. Police found the SUV, belonging to Jason, while searching for the boy on Monday. It had been parked in an area of brownstone houses and apartment buildings on the West-side of Chicago. It was found around 7:00 a.m. (CDT). Police searched the vehicle as it matched the description of the SUV sought in connection with the murder, kidnapping. Police have detained and questioned several people, and some reports say that includes William Balfour, who police previous thought to have kidnapped King. Reports say he is Julia's ex-boyfriend, having since been separated. Police deny that he is a suspect in either the murders or kidnapping and will not confirm or deny if he is or was in custody. So far no charges have been filed against anyone for the crimes.
The row is seen by some as Gen Musharraf's biggest challenge Iftikhar Chaudhry was suspended by the president in March amid claims of corruption, but the Supreme Court on Friday quashed all charges. Mr Chaudhry has now become a focus of opposition to Gen Musharraf. Gen Musharraf, who seized power in 1999, is facing mounting criticism of his rule and a wave of violence. "The president respects the decision of the Supreme Court," Gen Musharraf's spokesman was quoted as saying by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan. "The president has stated earlier that any judgement the Supreme Court arrives at will be honoured, respected and adhered to," the spokesman said. The government also said the case had no political motive. Jubilant crowds On Friday, the Supreme Court judges ruled by 10 votes to three to quash all charges against Mr Chaudhry, calling his suspension "illegal". Delivering the court's verdict, presiding Judge Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday said: "The reference [against Mr Chaudhry] has been set aside and the chief justice has been reinstated." Lawyers applauded the ruling as it was read out, and jubilant crowds outside the court shouted chants of "Go Musharraf, go". Mr Chaudhry's lawyer, Aitzaz Ahsan, told reporters: "He has been restored and it is a victory for the entire nation." Judge Chaudhry is a staunch opponent of Gen Musharraf Officials alleged that several people had complained to the president that Mr Chaudhry had misused his office and received favours. In particular, he was alleged to have procured a top police job for his son. But critics say the government has not shown similar zeal in pursuing more serious charges - such as financial embezzlement and property fraud - against other top judges. They have been accusing the president of plotting to remove an independent-minded judge to forestall legal challenges to his plan to ask parliament for another five-year term in office. Mr Chaudhry's suspension in March triggered mass protests. He has become a highly controversial figure in recent months as he has toured the country. Although he has not directly criticised Gen Musharraf, his campaign road show has definitely taken on the feel of a political campaign, the BBC's Dan Isaacs in Islamabad says. The judicial crisis has been overshadowed by the recent siege of Islamabad's radical Red Mosque and a spate of bombings that have killed scores of people. \|\|\|\|\| "If someone takes the machines away or makes the data disappear then where will we go?" asks Shahid Khaqan Abbasi \|\|\|\|\| Chaudhry assumes office, lawyers welcome landmark verdict Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry today assumed charge of his office, a day after his reinstatement through a landmark judgment of 13-member bench of the apex court. Islamabad, July 21 : Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry today assumed charge of his office, a day after his reinstatement through a landmark judgment of 13-member bench of the apex court. A large number of lawyers reached to the official residence of the chief justice here and congratulated him. After his reinstatement, the national flag and the flag of the Supreme Court of Pakistan were hoisted at the residence of the chief justice here. The chief justice in his brief comment on the verdict said: "I am thankful to Almighty Allah." He signed a notification to assume his office, which says: "Consequent upon the decision of the 13-member bench, I have assumed the charge of my office." After the verdict on Friday, the people were overwhelmed with jubilation. Lawyers and other people embraced each other and distributed sweets. The workers of political parties were also took to streets. The lawyers in Lahore and other cities of Punjab were overwhelmed with jubilation. The Peshsawar High Court Bar Association organized a torch-bearing procession. In Sindh lawyers and other people welcome enthusiastically the landmark judgment, offered thanksgiving prayers and distributed sweets. On Saturday, the apex court's senior judge, Mr. Justice Rana Bhagwan Das called on Chaudhry at his residence and offered his felicitations. Both also exchanged views on different matters. Justice Rana Bhagwan Das was officiating as the Acting Chief Justice following the filing of the March 9 presidential reference against Chaudhry. ANI \|\|\|\|\| By M Ilyas Khan BBC News, Karachi Judge Chaudhry had faced accusations of abuse of power Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was suspended by President Pervez Musharraf in March, facing charges of misconduct and abuse of powers. The case was dealt with by his fellow judges. Now they have restored the chief justice with full powers. The government's response has been one of passive acquiescence. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the government would abide by the court's verdict. Absence The judgement came on a day which - in other respects - was unusually quiet. For the first time since the bloody military operation against the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad this month, there was no major bomb attack reported anywhere in the country. And all the political and civil society activists who usually flocked to the courts in their thousands during the proceedings against Mr Chaudhry were conspicuous by their absence. We promised the people that we are fighting for the rule of law, and we will see to it that the movement comes to its logical end Ahsan Bhawan, lawyer It appears the political parties issued no calls to their workers to converge on the Supreme Court. Most people stayed away due to the fear of a bomb attack. It was only three days ago that 15 people were killed at a rally in Islamabad that the judge was due to address. But more than 1,000 lawyers who attended the court were ecstatic following the announcement of the verdict. They chanted the now traditional cry of "Go Musharraf go", but this time more in euphoria than anger. Legal experts are of the opinion that the judgement marks a watershed in Pakistan's legal history and will have far reaching implications for the rule of law in the country. "The country has been reborn today," said an emotionally charged Ali Ahmad Kurd, one of the lawyers who represented the chief justice. "Until today it was a body without a soul." The message for the government of Gen Musharraf is not even remotely comforting. "The court has completely demolished the government's case and has put an uncomfortable question mark on its moral standing," says Wasim Ahmad Shah, a legal affairs correspondent who works for Dawn newspaper. "In coming days, the government will find it increasingly difficult to deny that it tried to get rid of a constitutional office holder with malafide intentions." There are already calls on the president to apologise, to resign, or at least to explain to the nation that his action of 9 March was in good faith. Undercutting the government's moral standing is an increasingly assertive movement of lawyers which has just tasted its first triumph. "This is not the end, but the beginning of our movement," says Ahsan Bhawan, the president of the Lahore Bar Association. "We promised the people that we are fighting for the rule of law, and we will see to it that the movement comes to its logical end. We are entering a new phase of our campaign today." United force Lawyers' groups have been active in their opposition to the military government since October 1999, when Gen Musharraf captured power in a bloodless coup. But the sacking of the chief justice catapulted them into a united force to which also galvanised several opposition political groups and civil society activists, thereby creating a wider movement against the government. A bomb blast in Islamabad on Tuesday left 15 dead Observers feel that the reinstated chief justice is likely to emerge as more powerful than he was before 9 March. "For the first time in the history of the country, we have a chief justice who knows that the lawyers stand united behind him, and that the wider public supports him," says Wasim Shah. But this is also likely to keep him under pressure when it comes to handing down judgements on such controversial questions as the re-election of Gen Musharraf, observers say. Gen Musharraf declared recently that he would like to be re-elected from the present parliament, whose term comes to an end in November, and that he would also like to remain as the army chief. The opposition groups and the lawyers believe both these steps are unconstitutional, and are likely to challenge them in the Supreme Court in coming days and weeks. Chief Justice Chaudhry demonstrated himself to be an independent minded judge before 9 March when he delivered several judgements that went against the government. He reversed the privatisation of a steel mills which was ordered by the prime minister, and forced the intelligence agencies to declare the whereabouts of dozens of political activists who were being kept in "undeclared" custody. Problems multiplied Many observers believe he was suspended by Gen Musharraf, anticipating court cases concerning his re-election and whether he is entitled to be both president and head of the army, because he wanted a more pliable judge in his place. He clearly has not got what he wanted. And in the meantime Gen Musharraf's problems have multiplied. Since the beginning of July, his government has been facing a maddening rush from Islamist suicide bombers who are ostensibly out to avenge the Islamabad Red Mosque bloodbath. More than 100 people, most of them military personnel, have been killed in such attacks in northern Pakistan, threatening anarchy in the region. And his efforts to strike a deal with the largest opposition party of the country, the Pakistan Peoples Party, have borne no fruit so far. As such, the devastating blow from the Supreme Court could not have come at a worse time. And it has brought a "reincarnated" Justice Chaudhry to the helm in an area which alone can offer legal backing for Gen Musharraf's future ambitions. His only other course may be to suspend the constitution and declare an emergency in the country.	Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry The 13 member larger bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan reinstated Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as Chief Justice of Pakistan on Friday through a short order. The verdict was reached 10 to 3 in favor of Justice Chaudhry. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry through a panel of senior lawyers headed by Barrister Aitezaz Ahsan filed a constitutional petition challenging his suspension as Chief Justice of Pakistan by President General Pervez Musharraf on March 9 this year. Musharraf has indicated that he will accept the court's decision. The Pakistani lawyer community hailed the decision of the court. The Peshsawar High Court Bar Association organized even organized a procession as a mark of celebrations. Chaudhry, an opponent of Musharraf, had been accused of abuse of power but the charges were quashed by the court's decision, seen as a blow to Musharraf's government.
A political crisis in Somalia deepened on Monday as parliament voted against the president’s attempt to sack his prime minister as his enfeebled government struggles to cling power. President Abdullahi Yusuf said on Sunday that he wanted to dismiss Nur Hassan Hussein, the prime minister, following a dispute over the creation of a new cabinet. But parliament, which would need to authorise his dismissal, voted on Monday to keep Mr Hussein in office. The country’s interim government has never established any authority and is threatened by Islamist insurgents, pirates and the imminent withdrawal of its African military backers. Jean Ping, chairman of the African Union commission, said late on Sunday the prime minister’s dismissal would undermine efforts to bring peace to Somalia, which has been decimated by nearly two decades of conflict. “The chairperson ... urges [the president and prime minister] to overcome the internecine divisions that are consuming their energy, in order to meet the daunting challenges confronting their country,” said a statement from the AU. Mr Yusuf, a former warlord, has clashed repeatedly with Mr Hussein, who was installed as prime minister in November 2007 to replace a predecessor who was also fired. The president has prioritised security issues and displayed little interest in reconciliation with his foes. Mr Hussein, however, won praise from the west and UN for securing a peace deal in Djibouti in August with some of the government’s moderate Islamist enemies. On the attempted sacking, Roger Middleton, a consultant researcher at Chatham House, a UK think-tank, said: “This has the hallmarks of a last desperate attempt by the president to claw back his position and something for himself. But I can’t see it working.” A surge in piracy off the Somali coast has drawn international attention back to the country but Islamists have seized control of most of south and central Somalia and Ethiopia is preparing to withdraw troops it had sent to protect the enfeebled interim government. The Ethiopian withdrawal before the end of this year could leave the government fatally exposed to Islamist hardliners who continue to attack it, including the al-Shabaab group said by the US to be linked to al-Qaeda. Mr Middleton said that threat was preoccupying the president. “If you have a new prime minister who is less likely to compromise, then it makes it harder to achieve a diplomatic or political solution. Perhaps his calculation is that the international community would then have to support him militarily,” he said. Mr Yusuf’s government and Addis Ababa have urged the deployment of a UN “stabilisation” force in Somalia to take over from the Ethiopians and ill-equipped African Union troops. The UN Security Council is due to debate Somalia and piracy on Tuesday but diplomats said there was little hope that it would send a UN military force to the country. Some also express doubt over whether Ethiopia will withdraw. One western diplomat who follows Somalia said donors had told the president previously: “If he sacks the prime minister and destroys the Djibouti [peace] agreement then the international community will reconsider its support, perhaps focusing only on humanitarian aid.” \|\|\|\|\| Parliamentary support for Hussein, right, comes after moves by Ahmed to remove him [AFP] Parliamentary support for Hussein, right, comes after moves by Ahmed to remove him [AFP] Member of parliament on Monday voted strongly in favour of keeping Hussein and his cabinet in office, going against the demand by Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed that the prime minister be removed. Somalia's parliament has given its backing to the transitional government of Nur Hassan Hussein, the country’s prime minister, a day after the president moved to dismiss him. "143 MPs recognised the existence of the government, 20 rejected it and 7 abstained," Aden Mohamed Nur, the parliamentary speaker, said a special parliament session in Baidoa. "Therefore the government of Nur Adde [Hassan Hussein] is legitimate," he said. Hussein, who became Somalia’s prime minister in November 2007, has in the last few months been in dispute with Yusuf over efforts towards a peace deal with the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), the country’s main opposition group. Yusuf compliant Yusuf said on Sunday that his move to sack Hussein and the entire cabinet was because the country was mired in instability. The president needs parliament's approval to sack the prime minister, the Somali transitional government's federal charter says. "It was difficult to work with the president, who disapproved of the peace process," Hussein said before the vote. "The president was interfering with the activities of the prime minister and parliament. "It is up to parliament to make a decision in order to save the transitional federal institutions and the rule of law." Yusuf said on Monday that he would not try to undermine the parliament's decision. 'Peace effort threatened' Hussein on Sunday said that the Yusuf had tried to destroy a UN-sponsored reconciliation process between the transitional federal government (TFG) and the ARS. "The president abused the power of his office and undermined the legitimacy of parliament ... The president was attempting to sabotage peace efforts between TFG and the ARS," Hussein said. Jean Ping, the African Union Commission chairman, said that disputes within the transitional federal government could derail peace efforts. Yusuf's move to sack Hussein "has the potential of undermining the sustained efforts being made by the AU, IGAD and the larger international community, including the United Nations, to further reconciliation, peace, and stability in Somalia", the AU said in a statement. IGAD is the Inter-Government Authority on Development, an organisation which has been involved in peace negotiations in Somalia and in the setting up of the country’s transitional institutions. No-trust vote The latest parliamentary vote in favour of Hussein comes three months after he survived a vote of no-confidence in the wake of accusation that he had embezzled state funds. The transitional government, which is based in Baidoa, has struggled to exert its influence across the rest of the country since it was established in 2004. Somalia has been without an effective government since the overthrow of president Mohamed Siad Barre in January 1991 by rebel forces. \|\|\|\|\| 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. \|\|\|\|\| Somali Parliament Backs Prime Minister Somali PM Nur Hassan Hussein Somalia's parliament has given Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein a strong vote of confidence, a day after the president said he was firing him. In a special session Monday, lawmakers voted 143 to 20 with seven abstentions to keep Mr. Hussein in office. There was no immediate reaction from President Abdullahi Yusuf, who told VOA Somali service on Sunday that he would abide by parliament's decision. Earlier Sunday, the president accused Mr. Hussein and his ministers of corruption, inefficiency, and treason. The power struggle raises new questions about the future of the Somali government as it struggles with a rising Islamist insurgency. In a statement, African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping says the dispute could undermine efforts to stabilize Somalia and establish peace. The government recently reached a peace deal with a moderate Islamist group, the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia. But hardline Islamists rejected the deal and have continued taking over towns in the country's center and south. On Sunday, a spokesman for the leading insurgent group al-Shabab told reporters his group wants to impose Islamic law in Somalia, and will never accept a power-sharing deal. Fighting over the last two years, involving Ethiopian-backed government forces and a variety of Islamist groups, has killed thousands of Somalis and displaced at least a million others. Ethiopia has said it will pull its troops within a few weeks. Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP. Somalia's parliament has given Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein a strong vote of confidence, a day after the president said he was firing him.In a special session Monday, lawmakers voted 143 to 20 with seven abstentions to keep Mr. Hussein in office.There was no immediate reaction from President Abdullahi Yusuf, who told VOA Somali service on Sunday that he would abide by parliament's decision.Earlier Sunday, the president accused Mr. Hussein and his ministers of corruption, inefficiency, and treason.The power struggle raises new questions about the future of the Somali government as it struggles with a rising Islamist insurgency.In a statement, African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping says the dispute could undermine efforts to stabilize Somalia and establish peace.The government recently reached a peace deal with a moderate Islamist group, the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia. But hardline Islamists rejected the deal and have continued taking over towns in the country's center and south.On Sunday, a spokesman for the leading insurgent group al-Shabab told reporters his group wants to impose Islamic law in Somalia, and will never accept a power-sharing deal.Fighting over the last two years, involving Ethiopian-backed government forces and a variety of Islamist groups, has killed thousands of Somalis and displaced at least a million others.Ethiopia has said it will pull its troops within a few weeks. \|\|\|\|\| NAIROBI, Kenya The president of Somalia announced Sunday that he was unilaterally firing the prime minister, throwing Somalia’s beleaguered government, and the nation itself, into further disarray. President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, a warlord in his 70s who has been steadily marginalized for several months because he is widely seen as an obstacle to peace, said he was dismissing Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, a former aid official, because the government had “failed to accomplish its duties.” But it is not even clear that the president has the authority to do this. According to the transitional government’s charter, only Parliament can hire or fire the prime minister. And most analysts believe Parliament a fractious, unpredictable group that is dominated by former warlords actually supports the prime minister, which means a high-level showdown may be coming next. Mr. Nur said he was not going anywhere. On Sunday, he insisted the president had no right to fire him and that only “Parliament has the authority to sack the government.”	Somalia's overwhelmingly voted Monday to keep as their prime minister, blocking President 's attempt at dismissing the prime minister and his "corrupt, inefficient" government. President Yusuf announced his motion to dismiss Hussein on Sunday, saying his government was "unable to perform its duties" in matters such as dealing with the Islamic militants who have taken over most of the country. The latest dispute between the two involved efforts to reconcile with the (ARS), the country's main opposition group. The UN-sponsored peace process has been decried by Yusuf as dealing with terrorists. Hussein countered that the president had no authority to strip the prime minister of his post, and that the transitional federal charter required the approval of parliament for such an action. "The president was speaking in his usual personal capacity, contrary to the rules and regulations," Hussein said prior to the special parliamentary session in . Despite Yusuf's hope that the parliament would endorse his decision, members of parliament were strongly supportive of Hussein's government, with 143 members recognizing the government's legitimacy, 20 rejecting its legitimacy and 7 abstaining. "Therefore the government of Hassan Hussein is legitimate," said , the parliamentary speaker. Hussein, whom Yusuf appointed little more than a year ago after the resignation of , had previously survived a in September, when he faced accusations of embezzling state funds. "The only obstacle in front of my government was the president," Hussein told members of parliament after the vote, "and since I have the confidence of the MPs I hope it will be effective henceforth." Yusuf had no immediate comment on the vote, but he had previously stated he would comply with parliament's decision if they chose to block his dismissal. The relationship between the president and prime minister has grown increasingly strained over the issue of Islamic militancy. Yusuf has blamed the prime minister for the instability plaguing the politically fragile state, while Hussein has accused the president of trying to "sabotage" peace efforts between the transitional government and the ARS. Fighting between the Islamic opposition and Somali-backed troops from Ethiopia, the African Union, and the UN has killed thousands of Somalis and displaced millions. , chairman of the , said the dispute within the transitional government has the potential of undermining efforts for "further reconciliation, peace, and stability in Somalia." The UN also issued a statement condemning the dispute, and demonstrators gathered in the streets of Mogadishu to denounce the president's move. Although moderate Islamists from the ARS have agreed to enter into reconciliation talks, hardliner insurgents have rejected the attempts at peace and continue to take over towns in the central and northern regions of Somalia. Since the fall of the , organizations like Al-Shabaab have become leading insurgent groups. A spokesman for Al-Shabaab told reporters on Sunday that they intend to impose Sharia law on all of Somalia, and that a peace deal would never be accepted.
Telstra’s DC-HSPA+ upgrade promises extremely high-speed wireless broadband across much of Australia. As ever, capital city business types are the focus for its rollout, but how well does it perform in the rural areas which are suddenly the focus of national politics? Today I headed to Dubbo in the central west of NSW to find out. Broadband is clearly on people’s minds out here. Quite unprompted, my taxi driver offers his own definition of “the Australian version of broadband”: someone from the far west of the state driving to Dubbo to see their banker and their insurance agent and do their major shopping once every six months. Operating at a rather different pace, I’m on a lightning morning visit to Dubbo with the goal of testing just how well the new Ultimate USB device works far away from the CBD environments I usually inhabit (and to which it is initially being marketed). I’m travelling to a lot of places performing that task over the next two weeks, and Dubbo is perhaps the most remote. Despite that, it does appear on Telstra’s list of supported locations for DC-HSPA+, so I’m curious to see how well it performs. But even before the testing begins, it turns out that my taxi driver is something of a communications buff. He tells me where all the main mobile towers in town are located, and offers the bonus advice that if your mobile phone works at the South Dubbo Tavern, it will work pretty much anywhere. He’s also firmly in favour of wireless broadband to get higher speeds. The way he tells it, fibre has already been a failure. “They wired us all up with fibre but they couldn’t get the switching right,” he says. I don’t argue with him (arguing with taxi drivers is never wise unless it’s about where you live). I can’t help quietly wondering though if this is some confused blending of non-activated fibre being laid and Telstra not letting anyone into the local exchange for ADSL upgrades, as it has been known to do. What I do know about Dubbo’s communications infrastructure is that Telstra’s Next G mobile network it has recently been upgraded to allow DC-HSPA+, which potentially offers speeds of up to 20Mbps on the Ultimate USB (even if it rarely reaches those in practice). I also know that (unlike many other rural towns) Telstra doesn’t restrict its claim about its availability to the Dubbo CBD. So in the surrounds of the Orana Mall on the eastern side of the city, I sit down to see how well the connection works. The answer to that question is: rather well. In my mall tests (using Speedtest.net), I got a download speed of 6.7Mbps, and upload speed of 1.2Mbps. The connection I got at Dubbo Airport (on the opposite side of town) didn’t claim to be dual channel, but still managed 6.4Mbps and 1.95Mbps respectively. In both cases, it also stayed connected without dramas, which is just as important as raw speed. To put this into perspective: I got better performance from the Ultimate USB modem in a Dubbo shopping mall than I did in my own apartment in Sydney (3.56Mbps download/0.53Mbps upload). I also got better performance than I do from my wired ADSL connection (4.24Mbps upload/0.31Mbps download). And the speeds were slightly better than the Lifehacker offices in the Sydney CBD (6.15Mbps download/0.98Mbps upload), which is likely to be where a lot of these modems initially get sold. In other words: nobody’s getting 20Mbps, but Dubbo’s doing about as well as everybody else. A direct comparison isn’t entirely fair, of course. I almost certainly have more choices for ADSL2+ providers at my local exchange than most Dubbo residents, so I’ve got more options to start with. Telstra doesn’t claim that the area of Sydney where I live is specifically covered by the enhanced service, and I suspect the aged wiring in my unit block might be a restriction on my connection speeds that’s not going away in a hurry. Nor would it be fair to conclude that this means that wireless in general (or Next G in particular) would solve all our broadband woes cheaply and easily. It’s more than likely that I’m the only person utilising the improved network today, given the modems have only just been released and can’t be purchased unless you’re a large enterprise. If the same service was on offer to the 30,000-odd people who reside directly in Dubbo, I doubt I’d see the same performance. And that’s before taking into account the 100,000+ people in the wider area for whom Dubbo is the commercial centre. There’s no suggestion so far that DC-HSPA+ technology will be extended beyond Telstra’s current “50% of the population target”, though that could of course change once we have an election result. But there’d certainly need to be a few more towers to get to that goal. My taxi driver unwittingly undermined his own pro-wireless enthusiasm when he acknowledged that fact: “Of course, the average mobile phone can’t throw a signal more than about four blocks.” A single-focus modem might do a little better, but there’s clearly a lot of work to be done. Nonetheless, the fact that the network performed so well at this stage shows that rural Australia doesn’t automatically have to be a broadband backwater. Whether it can manage that in other states and locations is something I’ll be testing over the next couple of weeks. \|\|\|\|\| Telstra's 42 Mbps modem. Photo: Telstra supplied Telstra doubled the speeds of its Next G network but delayed its announcement for a week after the election campaign, fearing it may "influence the debate" between the independents who are deciding who will govern the country. The telecommunications company yesterday launched a 42 megabits per second (Mbps) USB wireless modem capable of typical user speeds of between 1.1 and 20 Mbps in selected areas. Upload speeds vary from anywhere between 0.3 and 3 Mbps. The previous modems were capable of 21 Mbps peak speeds, half that of the new modems. Real-world download speeds were between 0.5 Mbps and 8 Mbps. To put this into some perspective, the new wireless modem, if operating at full real-world speeds, allows users to download a 3 megabyte song three times faster. It will now download in 1.2 seconds instead of 3 using the new modem. For movies, which are of a greater file size, it will be much more noticeable. Broadband was a key policy difference between the parties during the election campaign and it is also shaping up as one of the concerns of the country MPs who are deciding who will form the next government. Telstra's speed bump could be interpreted by some as supporting the Coalition's claims that existing wireless networks could be substitutes for Labor's more expensive fibre-to-the-home proposal. “We just didn’t want to feel like we were influencing the [telecommunications] debate,” Telstra spokesman Craig Middleton said of the announcement timing, which was delayed from 25 August. The dual-carrier technology used will cover approximately 50 per cent of the population at launch. It allows networks to send and receive wireless data using two channels simultaneously If elected, the Labor government plans to spend $43 billion on a nationwide fibre network supporting speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second, whereas the Coalition would spend $6 billion on a mishmash of technologies that would include upgrading existing copper networks and more wireless to support 12 megabits per second peak baseline speeds. Opposition leader Tony Abbott has said in the past that Australians shouldn’t assume wireless technologies won’t ever be comparable to fixed-line technology. Telstra's upgrade shows that wireless broadband is creeping up to the 100 Mbps minimum speeds promised by Labor's national broadband network. ZDNet reported that Telstra said its new service shouldn't be seen as a substitute for Labor's National Broadband Network. In a video presentation, Telstra wireless engineer Jared King tested the speed of the network using the device in various locations around Melbourne. In one test at the top of the Eureka Skydeck - Melbourne’s tallest building - King was able to achieve speeds of around 24 Mbps down. That speed is comparable to fixed-line ADSL2+ speeds currently available in homes today. Telstra currently has only 2000 devices capable of the new speeds in the country and is only at first giving its business customers the opportunity to put them through their paces. Come October 5 the device will be available outright for $299. Business customers will be able to purchase it on a $69 plan over 24 months with 6 gigabytes of included data allowance. Consumer plans would be similar when launched later this year, company representatives said. The speed boost wouldn't appear in mobile handsets for a couple of years, they said. The author of this article is on Twitter: @bengrubb \|\|\|\|\| CORPORATE and business customers on Telstra's Next G wireless broadband network could soon be downloading files at twice their current speeds. Telstra will upgrade on the network using dual-channel technology, which allows carriers to use two channels simultaneously on select mobile base towers to achieve peak download speeds of up to 42 megabits per second. But real speeds are more likely to range from 1.1Mbps to 20Mbps, less than half the advertised speed, according to Telstra executive director of wireless Mike Wright. Upload speeds range from 300 kilobits per second to 3Mbps. "It's possible to achieve better than the typical user speed claims, but those claims occur in the ideal network environment with good signal quality. When you're out on the streets you get a lot of variation where the network is subject to signal quality, your location and the network load," Mr Wright said. Telstra was due to announce the speed boost last week, but delayed the announcement so it would not been seen as interfering in the election, in which broadband was a key theme. The upgrade will cover about 50 per cent of the population, with all capital CBDs receiving the speed boost while another 100 regional centres -- including Wollongong in NSW, Bendigo in Victoria and Townsville in Queensland -- will get speed increases of 500Kbps to 8Mbps. Download speeds fall to between 500Kbps and 3Mbps for customers outside the CBDs and nominated regional centres. Mr Wright said Telstra would try to extend availability of the speed increase as demand rose. The peak download speed increase, from 21Mbps to 42Mbps, was made possible by a software upgrade to Telstra's Next G network in February. The upgrade was achieved with network partner Ericsson, with Qualcomm and Sierra Wireless joining to deliver a HSPA+ Dual Carrier chipset and device. At present, the upgrade is only available to Telstra business, enterprise and government customers who buy and use the telco's Ultimate USB modem. Telstra is expecting 42Mbps-compatible PDAs and handsets to be available in the coming year. The telco has released the Ultimate USB modem for $299 outright or $0 on a 24-month contract at $69 a month, including 6GB of download data. Those prices could drop in the year ahead as the telco invests to chase and keep more customers. Meanwhile, Vodafone Hutchison Australia has more than doubled the data download on most of its mobile cap plans. Customers on VHA's $29 consumer plan have had their data quota increased from 50MB to 200MB. Those on a $49 plan have had the 500MB quota tripled to 1.5GB. \|\|\|\|\| By Stuart Corner Business IT - Networking Page 1 of 2 Telstra has become the first telco in the world to launch dual carrier HSPA+ services offering downstream speeds up to a theoretical maximum of 42Mbps. The service is presently available in all capital city CBDs [to within 5km of the CBD] and selected metropolitan areas, associated airports and in more than 100 regional locations. (Telstra's web page devoted to the new service has a link to a list of all areas where the service is available, but the link was not working at the time of writing.)Telstra is quoting "typical" downstream bandwidths in the range 1.Mbps to 20Mbps. A Telstra video showed the modem delivering around 10Mbps in a number of locations in the Melbourne CBD and iTWire was able to obtain 10Mbps from our office in the inner Sydney suburb of Enmore.(This was achieved using speedtest.net and a server in Canberra operated by AussieHQ Interestingly the other two available nearby servers, operated by Optus in Melbourne and Sydney, delivered less than half this speed).The service is being offered at the same price as current Next G broadband services (the modem is available at $0 on a $69 per month 6GB contract, or can be bought for $299). However because of a shortage of supply of the modems, they are being offered initially only to Telstra Enterprise And Government and Telstra Business customers with account managers.Mike Wright, Telstra's executive director of networks and access technologies, said Telstra had at present only 2000 of the modems, dubbed the Telstra Ultimate USB Modem, but was expecting more shortly. "There is another shipment coming in late September and from then and after that we will have the supply to meet demand forecasts."He added that, like previous HSPA services launched on Next G, the new service and delivery of the new modem had been made possible only through close co-operation between Telstra, network supplier Ericsson, chipmaker Qualcomm and modem manufacturer, Sierra Wireless. \|\|\|\|\| About Telstra Enter Keywords Select Start Date January February March April May June July August September October November December 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Select End Date January February March April May June July August September October November December 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 WORLD FIRST: Mobile broadband boost puts Australia on top of the world Media Release 30 August 2010 Prev - Next Australia's fastest mobile broadband modem - The Telstra Ultimate USB Download Hi-res JPG (290KB) The Telstra Ultimate USB modem side view Download Hi-res JPG (427KB) The Telstra Ultimate USB delivers typical download speeds of up to 20Mbps Download Hi-res JPG (737KB) Three generations of mobile broadband device from Telstra Download Hi-res JPG (413KB) Pricing and availability for business customers * Capital CBD's means within 5km from the GPO in each capital city. Outside the selected areas, the remaining metropolitan areas of all capitals cities and many other regional and rural locations support typical download speeds from 550kbps to 8Mbps, and elsewhere typical speeds are from 550kbps to 3Mbps. Actual speeds vary due to factors such as distance from the base station, local conditions, user numbers, hardware and software configuration, download source and other factors. See Telstra for details of locations. See the Ultimate USB in action (video): Australians now have access to the world’s fastest national mobile broadband service with the launch today of the Telstra Ultimate™ USB Modem across Australia’s capital city CBDs and associated airports, selected metropolitan hubs and more than 100 regional centres.With typical download speeds ranging from 1.1Mbps to 20Mbps in the these selected areas, the Telstra Ultimate™ USB is up to twice as fast as Telstra’s current fastest Next G™ modem.Two thousand devices have launched today for Telstra business customers, before the widespread launch of the Ultimate USB Modem later this year.“Australians are telling us they can’t afford to be tied to the desk all day and these new speeds mean they can now access mobile broadband at speeds typically reserved for the office,” Telstra Business Group Managing Director, Deena Shiff said.“We have been deploying the high-speed capability in the network since December 2009 and now, with the launch of the new Ultimate USB Modem, these new speeds are available to customers across all capital city CBDs and associated airports, selected metropolitan areas and in more than 100 regional locations.“These high-speed zones cover approximately 50 per cent of the Australian population and match the areas of highest customer demand and will make the frustration of waiting around for files to download a thing of the past.“In other metropolitan and regional areas, the Telstra Ultimate USB Modem offers typical download speeds ranging from 550kbps up to 8Mbps, which is still significantly faster than Telstra’s mobile broadband competitors.”Ms Shiff said the new speeds had the potential to increase how and where our small and large business customers work – boosting productivity in the process.“Our customers have told us that they want higher speed mobile broadband so they can work more flexibly outside of the office and we are delighted to be the first in the world to offer these new blistering speeds on a national network.”“The new Telstra Ultimate USB Modem provides customers with the speeds needed to handle large files, multitask and update cloud-hosted applications effortlessly on the go when they are in a coverage area.”The Telstra Ultimate™ USB Modem is the latest jump in mobile broadband technology to be made available on Australia’s largest and fastest national mobile broadband network – the Telstra Next G™ network.The Telstra Ultimate™ USB is the world’s first commercial USB modem to use a new generation of mobile broadband technology called dual channel HSPA+. The modem and enabling network technology was developed in collaboration with leading technology companies Ericsson, Qualcomm and Sierra Wireless.The Telstra Ultimate™ USB can be purchased in conjunction with a range of mobile broadband plans including for $0 upfront with a $69 plan over 24 months (minimum total cost $1,656) or, from 5 October, outright for $299. It is available from 25 August through Telstra Business and Telstra Enterprise & Government account managers.For more information, including Ultimate speed coverage areas, visit: www.telstra.com/business/ultimate Media contact: Craig Middleton 0400 931 772 Reference Number: 309/2010	Telstra logo. On Monday, Australian telecommunications company Telstra has introduced dual carrier standard for broadband Internet business customers in the network. This is the first time this technology is being introduced on national scale. The bandwidths the users can deploy increased into two to three times, with Telstra becoming the world’s fastest national mobile broadband service. The switch started with enabling the service for premium users. After some feedback, Telstra may expand the plan. === Introduction === The higher speeds for wireless are intended to simplify and ease multitasking of users. John Paitaridis, Telstra's executive director, network products and services in Enterprise & Government, said "One of the reasons we decided to launch first to Enterprise And Government and Business customers is that clients are saying that their ability to access applications quicker makes a difference to their business and when they start to equate time savings and doing calculations around productivity it does become a return on investment." Telstra Business Group Managing Director Deena Shiff also stated that the efforts aren't as sudden as it might seem, having feedback of many users as the base. === Technology === Telstra GSM and NextG mobile phone tower Previous modems were able to reach peak speed 21Mbps, with real life speeds ranging from 0.5Mbps to 8 Mbps. The theoretically expected maximum of the new technology is 42Mbps with user speeds varying between 1.1 and 20 Mbps. The new speed is twice as fast. This is caused by that the dual-carrier "Evolved High-Speed Packet Access" technology allows networks to send and receive wireless data using two channels simultaneously. This technology can be deployed on Next G networks. Telstra switched to them in February, thus making the switch to HSPA possible now. === Election campaign === Tony Abbott in 2010. Telstra delayed the implementation of the new technology until elections end. This decision was intended to avoid wrong interpretation of them by . Coalition's claims include that wireless networks can be an alternative to the "''fibre-to-the-home''" proposal to introduce more expensive wired Internet. The announcement of the new technology, initially planned on August 25, was delayed, with Telstra spokesman Craig Middleton explaining, "We just didn't want to feel like we were influencing the telecommunications debate." The political parties have different plans on development and funds on the Internet. The Labor party aims to spend AUD 43 billion to bring 1 Gbps wired Internet nationwide, and the Coalition plans to spend AUD 6 billion to introduce a variety of improvements including upgrade of existing copper Internet as well as expansion of wireless Internet to support 12Mbps. Opposition leader Tony Abbott has said in the past that Australians shouldn’t assume wireless technologies won’t ever be comparable to fixed-line technology. Telstra's upgrade shows that wireless broadband is reaching the 100 Mbps minimum speeds promised by Labor's national broadband network. === Distribution === A NextG Telstra wireless USB modem Telstra has only 2000 devices which support the new technology. This is why the opportunity to try it out is being given only to the Business plan customers, and they receive it for the same price as they were paying for the previous NextG plan. Since October 5, the device will be available for sale, with the Business customers able to buy it with 75% discount and a prepaid data allowance. The upgrade is expected to cover roughly 50% of the population. This is happening at the same time as one of Telstra's competitors is doubling data download quotas on mobile cap plans. As some testing showed, real life download speeds reached only about the half of the maximum. Telstra executive director of wireless Mike Wright explained that the predicted figures were the estimates, with real life speeds lower due to interfering environmental conditions: "It's possible to achieve better than the typical user speed claims, but those claims occur in the ideal network environment with good signal quality. When you're out on the streets you get a lot of variation where the network is subject to signal quality, your location and the network load."
Indonesia threatens to close Adam Air in 3 weeks; airline has defaulted on debt payments JAKARTA, Indonesia: Indonesia threatened Monday to close low-cost carrier Adam Air after two of its largest shareholders announced plans to pull out of the beleaguered company. The airline has defaulted on debt payments to airplane leasing companies, which has forced the company to ground 12 of its 22 planes, said Adam Suherman, whose family together with Sandra Ang owns a 50 percent stake. Transportation Minister Jusman Djamal said the airline, which already has sliced its number of routes from 52 to 12 — has three weeks to prove it is economically viable. If it cannot meet its financial obligations, he said, "its operating license will be revoked." No specific conditions were released to the media. "We have defaulted and the investors have done nothing about it," he told The Associated Press. "We'll continue to operate as long as we have planes," said Suherman. He said there were no plans to file for bankruptcy. Global Transport Service or (GTS) and Bright Star Perkasa — which together control the other 50 percent stake in Adam Air — said Monday they decided to sell their shares back to the owner citing financial mismanagement. Adam Air's "life expectancy is less than a month," said GTS director Gustiono Kustianto. The airline has outstanding debt of US$14 million to aircraft leasing companies and free capital of just US$4.8 million, he said. GTS bought into Adam Air last year for US$17 million, when it was suffering capital problems after the deadly New Year's Day crash in the sea off the coast of Sulawesi island. Kustianto claimed the founding owners have agreed to gradually buy the shares back for US$11 million. Adam Air has had a string of accidents in just over a year, including the plunging of a jetliner into the sea from 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) that killed all 102 people on board. The cause of that crash has not yet been determined. Last week, a Boeing 737-400 skidded off a runway while landing in heavy rain, injuring five people and badly damaging the aircraft. "Since we joined, our priority has been safety" and Adam Air's management has ignored a push by its new investors to improve, Kustianto said. \|\|\|\|\| Bhakti consortium pulls out of Adam Air over safety issues Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A consortium led by Indonesian investment company PT Bhakti Investama decided last week to pull out of domestic private airline Adam Air on disappointment over the latter's handling of safety issues, a company official said Monday."Any potential losses arising from the decision will be covered by Bhakti's founder, the family of Harry Tanoesoedibyo. So Bhakti itself will not incur any losses," Henry Suparman, investor relations official at Bhakti Investama, told Thomson Financial.Suparman did not cite any specific safety incident at Adam Air but said that after nearly one year of investing in Adam Air, Bhakti has not seen any significant progress in the airline's handling of safety issues.Indonesia's airline industry has seen a series of major accidents in recent years. Among the worst was when an Adam Air jet plunged into the sea off Sulawesi island on January 1, 2007, killing all 102 on board,"In the airline industry, safety is number one. We have placed our people in management but after one year we still did not see any improvement," Suparman said.Bhakti's wholly owned unit, PT Global Transport Service (GTS), together with Bright Star Perkasa, acquired a combined 50 percent stake in Adam Air last year. The founders of Adam Air, the Suherman family, still owns the other 50 percent.Suparman said the consortium's decision to withdraw from Adam Air was recommended by Gustiono Kustianto, president of Global Transport, who is also the vice president of Adam Air.Lawyer Marx Andryan, from the Hotman Paris Hutapea law firm which represents Global Transport and Bright Star, told Thomson Financial his clients have evidence to prove that Adam Air has not been prudently addressing safety issues such as in pilot recruitment, aircraft maintenance and insurance coverage."We also feel that the management is not transparent in disclosing Adam Air's financial condition," he said.Adam Air's founding family has agreed to buy back the shares from Global Transport and Bright Star, he said. (*) COPYRIGHT © 2008 Previous Stories \|\|\|\|\| (Adds new quotes from airline president) JAKARTA, March 17 (Reuters) - Indonesian budget carrier Adam Air may face temporary closure because a leasing firm seized more than half its fleet after the airline defaulted on payments, the airline's president said on Monday. Adam Air, which like all other Indonesian airlines has been banned by the European Union because of safety concerns, was forced to cut back several scheduled flights on Monday because it did not have enough aircraft, causing delays for some passengers. "Out of 22 planes, now we only have 10 because 12 of them have been declared in default. The other 10 have been declared in default as well, but I'm still trying to work out a way to restructure the payments," Adam Suherman, the airline's president director, told Reuters. Suherman later told reporters the firm needed a cash injection and faced a deadline later this week over insurance payments. "There is a possibility starting on March 21 Adam Air will temporarily cease operations until there is a decision from the shareholders regarding the insurance premium," Suherman said. "I have informed the shareholders that the company needs a cash injection," he added. PT Bhakti Investama Tbk BHIT.JK, an investment firm which indirectly owns 50 percent of Adam Air, will sell its stake in the airline back to Suherman, the founding shareholder, for 100 billion rupiah ($11 million), according to Hotman Paris Hutapea, a lawyer acting for Bhakti. In January 2007, an Adam Air plane crashed into the sea off Sulawesi island, with all 102 people on board presumed dead. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| Indonesia has grounded several airplanes of the low-cost carrier Adam Air after one of the company's Boeing 737-300s broke apart on landing. As Chad Bouchard reports from Jakarta, the incident is the latest in a string of transportation accidents in the country over the last two months. The Adam Air Boeing 737-300 jolted to a stop at an airport in Surabaya Wednesday, after landing hard enough to bend and crack the midsection of the jetliner's fuselage. Safety investigator Ertata Lananggalih says all 148 passengers are safe, but some sustained minor injuries. He says the weather was very bad at the time, and the pilot was forced to land in heavy rain. The flight arrived on schedule, but the fuselage gave way after the plane touched down on the tarmac. The government has ordered an investigation into the causes of the incident, but meanwhile, seven of Adam Air's 737-300s - nearly a third of the company's fleet - have been grounded until each airplane passes a safety inspection. This is the second serious incident involving an Adam Air jetliner this year, and some Indonesian lawmakers have called for the company to discontinue operations pending a full investigation of its maintenance practices. An Adam Air jetliner en route from Surabaya to Manado crashed into the sea during bad weather on January 1, killing all 102 people on board. No bodies have been recovered, and search teams have only found a few pieces of wreckage so far. Officials say the plane damaged this week was manufactured in 1994 and passed safety tests before departure from Jakarta. Lananggalih says investigators are still compiling data from the country's weather agency and from the air traffic control center in Surabaya. He says members of his team have interviewed the airplane's pilot, which may help to determine the cause of the incident. Indonesia has also seen maritime disasters over the past two months, including a shipwreck in late December that killed at least 400 people. Another shipwreck Thursday killed at least 15. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered a special commission to examine the country's transportation safety.	This B737-400 is roughly comparable to the aircraft involved in all the accidents mentioned in this story. Indonesian budget airline Adam Air has been given a three-week ultimatum by the authorities to prove its economic stability or its license will be revoked, said Transportation Minister Jusman Djamal. This is because major financial difficulties have become apparent today, with two major shareholders pulling out of the company. PT Global Transport Service (GTS) and Bright Star Perkasa, who between them own a 50% stake in the company, have decided to sell back all their shares to their original owners, who control the other 50%. These are the family of founder Adam Suherman and Sandra Ang. The companies invested in the airline last year, when the company was struggling after the New Year's Day disappearance of Adam Air Flight 574 with 102 on board. The Boeing 737 (B737) was ultimately determined to have crashed into the sea near Sulawesi, and all on board are presumed dead. Shortly afterwards, Adam Air Flight 172, another B737, snapped in half during a hard landing, but held together preventing fatalities. These were not the first serious accidents for the company, as in February 2006 Flight 782 became lost for several hours after navigation systems failed and the plane entered a radar blackspot, forcing a subsequent emergency landing many miles from the intended route. The given reasons for the withdrawal are a lack of improvement in safety and financial irregularities. The company has now also defaulted on debt payments to aircraft lease firms, resulting in 12 of their 22 planes being seized, and has cut the number of routes served from 52 to 12. The remaining ten planes are also in default and at risk of seizure. Adam Air owes leasing companies US$14 million compared to free capital of $4.8 million of free capital. They have agreed to buy back shares gradually for $11 million (100 billion rupiah), $6 million less than the investment firms paid for them. The cost difference will be borne by Harry Tanoesoedibyo's family, the founder of PT Bhakti Investama, of which GTS is a wholly owned subsidiary. The companies have also lost 157 billion rupiah worth of investment in the company since the April 2007 deal. 9,325 Rupiah are currently worth US$1. GTS director Gustiono Kustianto said that "Since we joined, our priority has been safety" but that Adam Air's management had been unresponsive to pressure from the new investors to improve its poor record. Last weeek another company B737 shot off the runway during landing, damaging the plane and injuring five. Lawyer Marx Andryan of Hotman Paris Hutapea, representing the investment firms, said they have documents proving the company has not adequatly seen to pilot recruitment, maintenance and insurance. Suherman said "We have defaulted and the investors have done nothing about it. We'll continue to operate as long as we have planes," adding that there are no current plans to declare bankruptcy. "Out of 22 planes, now we only have 10 because 12 of them have been declared in default. The other 10 have been declared in default as well, but I'm still trying to work out a way to restructure the payments," he told ''Reuters''. He went on to say that a cash injection is required, and that "There is a possibility starting on March 21 Adam Air will temporarily cease operations until there is a decision from the shareholders regarding the insurance premium."
(Xinhua) Updated: 2007-07-08 13:58 Investigators said Wednesday's karaoke bar explosion which claimed lives of 25 people in Benxi, northeast China's Liaoning Province, was caused by explosives secretly stored by the bar owner Qu Yijie. "After more than three days' efforts, we found self-ignition of the explosives led to the explosion," the investigators of the July 4 karaoke bar explosion concluded in a terse brochure made available to Xinhua Sunday. No more details were given. The explosion occurred at the Tianying karaoke bar in Tianshifu Township of Benxi Autonomous County of Manchu Nationality in Liaoning on Wednesday night, killing 25 people on the spot and injuring 41 more. The explosion also leveled the two-storey entertainment venue to the ground and damaged some nearby buildings. The 25 dead victims included the bar owner Qu Yijie - known locally as Qu Hua - his elder brother and his elder brother's wife, said Fu Qingbin, a spokesman for the Benxi county government. More than 10 teenage girls were celebrating a birthday for a 19-year-old girl Sun Bo, who worked at a nearby department store and most of them died in the blast, including Sun herself, Fu said. The victims also included a motorcycle driver and a truck driver who were passing the door of the KTV bar and a couple who owned a nearby carwash shop, he said. The relatives of the victims have been arranged to stay in local hotels, waiting to discuss the issue of compensation with local authorities. The 41 people injured in the blast are still being treated in local hospitals and are in a stable condition, local health authorities said. Four people suffered serious injuries, while 37 others suffered fractures, chest injuries and broken ribs, said a physician. One seriously wounded person has been transferred to Benxi City Central Hospital. The others are either in Benxi County No. 1 hospital or at a hospital in Tianshifu Township, said Jiang Yongcheng, deputy director of the Benxi County Health Bureau. A dozen medical experts have gone to Benxi County to help treat the victims. Police questioned the parlor owner's wife and some employees of the parlor in order to establish the cause of the fatal blast. \|\|\|\|\| JFK: A Vision for America Hardcover – Illustrated by Stephen Kennedy Smith, Douglas Brinkley Published in commemoration of the centennial of President John F. Kennedy’s birth, here is the definitive compendium of JFK’s most important and brilliant speeches, accompanied by commentary and reflections by leading American and international figures. Edited by JFK’s nephew Stephen Kennedy Smith and renowned historian Douglas Brinkley. Combined with over seven hundred documentary photos, it tells the story, in words and pictures, of JFK’s life and presidency, and depicts his compelling vision for America. JFK: A Vision for America Grit & Grind: 10 Principles For Living An Extraordinary Life Hardcover by Rhonda Vetere It's not WHAT challenges you face in life but HOW you face them that determines how fast you reach your goals. Rhonda Vetere, seasoned C-Suite technology veteran, knows firsthand that there's no such thing as a perfect, struggle-free life. In her work as a Global Technology Executive, she's faced down some of the biggest financial crises of modern times, and she knows it's not WHAT challenges you face in life but HOW you face them that matters. Grit & Grind uses real-life stories of how Vetere and her team navigate the volatile tech industry and illustrates a simple 10-part practice for building bone-deep confidence in your own abilities no matter what the challenge is. Grit & Grind: 10 Principles For Living An Extraordinary Life Pound The Stone: 7 Lessons To Develop Grit On The Path To Mastery Paperback by Joshua Medcalf Pound The Stone is the intense and inspiring story of a young man’s journey through the obstacles, defeats, and eventual victories that come while developing grit on the path to mastery. Told in the same engaging fable style as Chop Wood Carry Water, this is a deeper dive into the timeless principles that guide and inspire anyone who seeks greatness in life, and covers everything from true success, to the perfection trap, the value of failure, why courage is contagious, and why vulnerability can save your life. Pound The Stone will move and inspire you. Pound The Stone: 7 Lessons To Develop Grit On The Path To Mastery \|\|\|\|\| Your news how you want it. On the go and no time to finish that story right now? Your News is the place for you to save content to read later from any device. Register with us and content you save will appear here so you can access them to read later.	The Liaoning region of China More than a ton of TNT stored illegally in the basement of a karaoke bar caused the recent explosion that killed 25 people and injured 41 more in the north-eastern Chinese town of Tianshifu, news reports say. Qu Yujie or Yijie (known locally as Qu Hua), owner of the two-storey Tianying Karaoke Hall and Bath House which was levelled by the blast was amongst those killed. He was described as "a successful businessman" who owned a local colliery. Many residents of Tianshifu, where the blast occurred stated that he regularly used the basement of the building as a storage site for his explosives. His elder brother and his elder brother's wife were also among the deceased according to Benxi county government spokesman Fu Qingbin. As part of a short statement regarding investigative results made available to state news agency ''Xinhua'' on Sunday, the following conclusion as in to the cause of the disaster was given: "After more than three days' efforts, we found self-ignition of the explosives led to the explosion,". Reports state that there were many students celebrating the end of exams at the bar when the explosion occurred - eight teenage girls who were part of a group of 13 from a local department store celebrating a the 19th birthday of Sun Bo, including Bo herself, and several pedestrians outside the building were amongst the casualties of the disaster. The drivers of a truck and a motorcycle passing the building when it exploded were also killed, as were a couple who owned a car wash near to the site. The explosion also buried a number of cars under tons of concrete and blew out windows in nearby buildings. Police estimated that over a ton of TNT was required given the force of the explosion, and noted that the explosives had been manufactured by a factory in the local area. This was backed up by the ''Beijing News'' quoting an investigator as saying "The explosion was so powerful that there must have been about one tonne of explosives,". The coal mine the explosives were intended for is one of around 3-400 in the local area, which operate both legally with licences and illegally without. Detonators were also recovered from ground zero. Relatives of the deceased are currently being put up at local hotels in preparation for compensation discusions with the authorities. Of the 41 injured survivors, all are still being treated in local hospitals, four with "serious injuries" and the remaining 37 with "fractures, chest injuries and broken ribs", according to one physician. One person suffered injuries of a severity that required him to be taken to the Benxi City Central Hospital, while the rest are in either Benxi County No. 1 hospital or at a hospital in Tianshifu itself, according to deputy director of the Benxi County Health Bureau Jiang Yongcheng. A dozen extra medical experts have also gone to Benxi County to help treat the victims.
The adventurer was 63 when his plane disappeared in September 2007 DNA tests have confirmed two large bones found near the wreckage of a plane in California are those of US millionaire Steve Fossett, police say. The adventurer was 63 when he disappeared in September 2007 while on a solo flight from a Nevada ranch. The bones were found last Wednesday 0.5 miles (0.8km) east of a crash site in isolated eastern California. Fossett's shoes and driver's licence were also found. Both showed evidence of animal bite marks, police said. "A California Department of Justice Forensics lab has determined that items containing DNA - discovered last week - match James Stephen Fossett's DNA," said police coroners in California. Click here to see a map of the area Remains found The plane wreckage was located in a remote stretch of the Sierra Nevada mountains last month after a hiker handed items belonging to the record-breaking adventurer to police. SOME OF FOSSETT'S RECORDS 1998/2002: Long-distance for solo ballooning 2001/2002: Duration for solo ballooning 2002: First solo round-the-world balloon flight First balloon crossings of Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, South Atlantic, South Pacific, Indian Oceans Seven fastest speed sailing titles 13 World Sailing Speed Record Council titles 2001: Fastest transatlantic sailing 2004: Fastest round-the-world sailing Round-the-world titles for medium airplanes US transcontinental titles for non-military aircraft In pictures: Steve Fossett Profile: Steve Fossett Investigators flown to the crash site by helicopter said the single-engine Bellanca Super Decathlon seemed to have struck the mountainside head-on. Most of the fuselage had disintegrated, with engine parts scattered over a debris field stretching about 150ft (46m) by 400ft (122m). Madera County Sheriff John Anderson said Fossett would have died on impact, adding that it was not unusual for animals to drag away remains. The adventurer's widow, Peggy, described the discovery of the bones last week as "another step in the process of completing the investigation into the tragic accident that took Steve's life". Steve Fossett became the first person to circle the globe solo in a balloon in 2002 and had about 100 other world records to his name. For more than a year after he took off from the Nevada ranch there was no trace of him, despite an intensive search. He was declared legally dead earlier this year. But the hiker's discovery of his belongings last month triggered an aerial search of the area and the wreckage was found about 0.25 miles (0.4km) away. Click here to return Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Bones found last week near where Steve Fossett's plane crashed in eastern California's Sierra Nevadas are those of the adventurer, authorities said Monday. Fossett, seen here with his wife, Peggy, disappeared after a solo flight in 2007. Testing at California's state crime lab determined that "two large bones" recovered Wednesday matched Fossett's DNA, a spokeswoman for the Madera County Sheriff's Department in California said. Madera County Sheriff John Anderson said last week that confirmation that the bones were Fossett's would allow authorities to conclude with certainty that Fossett is dead. Fossett was last seen on the morning of September 3, 2007, when he took off from the Flying-M Ranch outside Minden, Nevada. He was scouting locations for an attempt to break the land-speed record in a rocket-propelled car. Searchers found the bones, Fossett's driver's license, a pair of shoes and a $100 bill on Wednesday, Anderson said last week. The discovery site was a little more than a half-mile from where Fossett's plane wreckage was found on October 1 in a remote area of the Sierra Nevadas at an altitude of 10,000 feet. See map showing takeoff site, crash site » The site of Wednesday's discovery also is about a quarter-mile from where a hiker reported finding two aviation identification cards with Fossett's name and $1,000 in cash in late September, Anderson said. Animal chew marks were found on the driver's license and the shoes, Anderson said. He said the marks indicate that "animals possibly [moved] the body." Previous DNA tests on what were believed to be bone fragments at and near the crash site showed that the fragments weren't human remains, Anderson said. The National Transportation Safety Board has been investigating the wreck. Fossett made his money in the financial services industry but became renowned for his daredevil exploits. Read about Fossett's milestones » Fossett was the first person to circle the globe solo in a balloon, in 2002, and the first to fly a plane around the world solo without refueling three years later. He also set world records in round-the-world sailing and cross-country skiing. All About Steve Fossett • U.S. National Transportation Safety Board	According to California's Madera County Sheriff's office, DNA tests performed on bones found at the site of a plane crash in October, are confirmed to be those of adventurer Steve Fossett. Steve Fossett in 2006 Image: NASA/Kim Shiflett The last known whereabouts of Fossett was on September 3, 2007. He had taken a small plane from a ranch in Minden, Nevada to search for a site to try and break the land-speed record. He had not been seen since and authorities feared his plane had crashed and he had died. "A California Department of Justice Forensics lab has determined that items containing DNA - discovered last week - match James Stephen Fossett's DNA," said the Sheriff's department in a statement. Items were found last week at his crash site in the Sierra Nevada Mountains along with his identification card, a one-hundred dollar bill, and a pair of shoes. A few bones believed to be his were found a short distance from the crash. Teeth marks were found in his ID card, leaving authorities to believe his body was moved by animals. Forensic investigators say Fossett would have died immediately on impact. In September, a hiker found other identification cards and money just under a mile from where authorities later found the wreckage of his plane on October 1.
A still from the famous 1967 Bigfoot film, which may or may not show a man in a gorilla suit. The much-anticipated Bigfoot press conference Friday afternoon in Palo Alto, Calif., revealed little more than two men — introduced by a self-styled Sasquatch seeker — claiming to possess the 7-foot "body" of a "bipedal creature" on ice in a secret location, awaiting an autopsy. The men, Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer, were joined in the press conference by Tom Biscardi, host of an Bigfoot Internet radio show, who said the men approached him with their "find," saying, "We want to talk to Tom Biscardi... They didn't want to meet anyone else." Biscardi showed reporters two blurry photos, claiming one was the mouth of the "creature" while the other was another creature running through the Georgia woods. The men claimed they "stumbled on the creature," but would not reveal more because they were concerned about it being an "endangered species." Biscardi reiterated his invitation to FOX News Channel anchor Megyn Kelly to come to Georgia and view the body, and plugged his Internet radio show. He said there wouldn't be anything more revealed Friday, but promised that he would "assemble" a group of scientists to examine the alleged corpse. Whitton recounted how he and Dyer found the "body," and said that more Bigfoots "paralleled" them as they were loading it onto a flatbed truck. Biscardi said Whitton and Dyer had gotten death threats from Sasquatch fanatics, whom Whitton deemed "psychos." None of this was likely to dissuade skeptics, even among Bigfoot experts, who questioned Biscardi's past ventures and noticed that the body in the freezer looked a lot like a Sasquatch Halloween costume available on the Internet . "It definitely looks like our costume," Jerry Parrino, owner of TheHorrorDome.com, told FOXNews.com. "This 'body' has little to do with Bigfoot and everything to do with a Sasquatch costume that someone developed after watching too many gorilla movies," warned Loren Coleman , who runs the influential Cryptomundo blog devoted to strange and unknown animals. "The teeth that seem to have been placed in the mouth could be my late mother's false teeth." "I've had interactions with Tom Biscardi in the past, and based on that history, I would say that anything he is involved in is suspect," Idaho State anthropologist and Bigfoot investigator Jeffrey Meldrum told Scientific American . U.S. Fish and Wildlife Reserve spokesman Tom Mackenzie told the Associated Press his agency isn't taking the claim seriously and won't investigate. "It's not on endangered species on any list that we've got," he said. • Click here to read Coleman's reasons for skepticism on Cryptomundo.com. • Click here to read Scientific American's interview with Meldrum. • Click here to buy the full-sized Sasquatch Halloween costume. The Associated Press contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| 13 hours 3 min 47 sec ago Bigfind: Trekkers claim to have body of Bigfoot Play video (NECN) - The two men who claim to have found a "Bigfoot" creature, held a press conference to explain there findings and dispell some rumors. Matt Whitton and Rick Dyer say "we're not Bigfoot hunters originally, but we are now the best Bigfoot trackers in the world." Matt says he and his business partner Rick, wanted to get away for awhile so they went to the woods of North Georgia. He says the pair went deep into the woods, far off the main road, where they stumbled upon the creature. From there Matt waited with it, while Rick went and got a truck where they moved it out. While they were moving the body away from its location, they say three other Bigfoots were "paralleling" them as they moved out. Whitton, an officer on medical leave from the Clayton County Police Department, and Dyer, a former corrections officer, announced the discovery in early July. The pair hope to win over skeptics when they present DNA, additional pictures and results from an autopsy to be performed next week. \|\|\|\|\| Bigfoot found in Georgia? California spots where Sasquatch was reportedly sighted Two Bigfoot hunters claim to have bagged the body of a creature they say is the great hairy one and plan to present their evidence today at noon a hotel in Palo Alto, according to news reports. Rick Dyer, who also offers Bigfoot tours, and Matthew Whitton say they made the find in northern Georgia. And yes, there’s a photo. Which got us wondering where a traveler might go to find his or her own Bigfoot. Bigfootencounters.com has compiled a handy database of sightings nationwide where you can access dated reports on each “encounter” submitted by contributors. Update: LAT’s intrepid Web Scout David Sarno has a roundup of what he calls “all this Bigfoot ridiculousness happening right now.” Sightings in California include: A 1995 sighting two miles from the Chilao Campground in the Angeles National Forest north of La Cañada Flintridge. A 1987 sighting near the Hermit Gulch Campground on Catalina Island (”The color of its body was either a brown or a reddish brown all over. Its strides were smooth and efficient. The palms were open and facing down in a slight curled position with the thumbs folded beneath…”) A 1977 report about Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale [California], where apparently many locals have reported Bigfoot-like sightings over the years. (”Witnesses told very similar tales of large hair-covered man-like apes observed crossing the highway, or looking in their windows at their homes usually after midnight.”) A 2007 sighting on the Merced River in Yosemite that includes photographs of Bigfoot prints. – Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times staff writer [Photo of a carved wooden sasquatch courtesy of the Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau] Permalink \| E-mail \| Print \| Add to My Trips \|\|\|\|\| Georgia men claim hairy, frozen corpse is Bigfoot ATLANTA (AP) — Two men claim they've bagged Bigfoot, and they say the have the hairy corpse of the legendary creature stored away in a freezer. Matt Whitton and Rick Dyer say they stumbled across the corpse in the woods of northern Georgia, across the country from the remote regions of the Northwest where people usually claim to see the man-ape. Still, the Georgia men say DNA will prove once and for all that the frozen creature is Sasquatch. They plan to present DNA test results and photographs during a news conference Friday in Palo Alto, Calif. They're not winning over any skeptics, though. "What I've seen so far is not compelling in the least, and I think the pictures cast grave doubts on their claim," Jeffrey Meldrum, a Bigfoot researcher and Idaho State University professor, told the Scientific American. "It just looks like a costume with some fake guts thrown on top for effect." Meldrum said the DNA test likely won't prove anything and, at best, might yield a gene sequence that doesn't match any other known primates. Whitton, an officer on medical leave from the Clayton County Police Department, and Dyer, a former corrections officer, announced the discovery in early July. The picture they sent out in a news release and on their Web site — http://www.bigfoottracker.com — shows what appears to be a hairy corpse crammed into a chest freezer. The accompanying announcement describes the creature as a 7-foot-7 male, weighing 550 pounds with 16-inch human-like feet and reddish hair. Messages left for Whitton and Dyer early Friday on their Bigfoot Tipline were not returned. They have so far offered three different tales so far about how they came to find the creature: In one, the animal was shot by a former felon, and the men followed it into the woods. In a second version, they found a "family of Bigfoot" in North Georgia mountains. In the third, the two were hiking and stumbled upon the corpse with open wounds. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Reserve spokesman Tom Mackenzie said officers also are not taking the claim seriously and will not investigate Bigfoot because it not a federal priority. "It's not on endangered species on any list that we've got," Mackenzie said. \|\|\|\|\| This is a 1977 still photo made from a 16mm film made by Ivan Marx reportedly showing the legendary Big Foot cavorting in the hills of northern California. (AP Photo/File) This image provided Monday, Oct. 29, 2007 by hunter Rick Jacobs shows an image taken by a camera with an automatic trigger set up in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest on Sept. 16, 2007. The only thing certain about the critter photographed by a hunter's camera is that some people have gotten the notion it could be a Sasquatch, or bigfoot. Others say it's just a bear with a bad skin infection. AP Photo/Rick Jacobs Daryl Colyer, lead field researcher for the Texas Bigfoot Research Center, delivers the kickoff presentation Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005, at the Texas Bigfoot Conference in Jefferson, Texas. Hundreds gathered Saturday at the fifth annual Texas Bigfoot Conference to look at casts of footprints and hear about the latest sightings and other evidence they say proves Bigfoot exists. AP Photo/D.J. Peters Update Friday, 8/15, 8:05 p.m. ET: Bigfoot Turns Out to Be an Opossum (the story below remains as originally written). Two Georgia men claim to have found in the northern woods of that state something that has been often reported but never proven to exist: a Bigfoot. They say they have a body, photos of the body, and DNA evidence — some or all of which will be revealed this Friday, Aug. 15, at a press conference in Palo Alto, Calif. If the group does have a Bigfoot carcass (and if they actually show the body, instead merely displaying photographs of a supposed body), then perhaps scientists will take note. Still, it's not clear how, exactly, the group will prove that what they have is a Bigfoot. Because there is no comparison specimen, there is no DNA analysis that can definitively identify Bigfoot tissue. Readers may recall the much-hyped press conference held on May 30, where a man claimed he would provide "definitive proof" of alien visitation. His "proof" turned out to be a short fuzzy video clip of what he said was an alien head outside his window trying to ogle his teen daughters. Needless to say, top scientists were not awestruck by his evidence. History repeats? This is not the first time a Bigfoot body has been claimed to have been found. A man named Tom Biscardi, founder of something called the Great American Bigfoot Research Organization, once claimed he had captured a Bigfoot. On Aug. 19, 2005, Biscardi appeared on the radio show "Coast to Coast with George Noory." Biscardi claimed his group had captured a Bigfoot a week earlier, a male beast that weighed over 400 pounds and stood 8-feet tall. He said he would be presenting photos of it several days later. It turned out to be a hoax. Interestingly, Biscardi is also involved in the new Bigfoot body discovery. Speaking on behalf of the Georgia men this week, Biscardi said, "Extensive scientific studies will be done on the body by a team of scientists including a molecular biologist, an anthropologist, a paleontologist and other scientists over the next few months at an undisclosed location" under armed guard. If it all sounds very cloak-and-dagger, it is. Unnamed experts? Undisclosed location? Sounds more like "The X-Files" than real science. Marketing scheme? In 2005, Biscardi promoted a pay-per-view cable TV show in which he offered viewers the chance to see a Bigfoot captured on live television for only $59.95. That never happened, but Biscardi did recently direct and produce a film called "Bigfoot Lives." Surely the publicity from this press conference might boost his film's sales... Bigfoot researcher Loren Coleman, while stopping short of authenticating the claims, wrote on the Web site Cryptomundo.com, "I feel, in all honesty, this, indeed, may be the real deal, and I say this carefully after reviewing information that has been shared privately with me." So has a Bigfoot finally been found, after all these years? Or is this just the latest hoax to embarrass Bigfoot believers and bring further ridicule to a field sorely in need of science? Apparently we will see. Benjamin Radford is managing editor of the Skeptical Inquirer science magazine. He has investigated Bigfoot, lake monsters, and other mysterious creatures for over a decade. His latest book is "Lake Monster Mysteries: Investigating the World's Most Elusive Creatures." This and other books can be found on his website.	During a press conference in Palo Alto, California, hunters of the mythical creature ''Bigfoot'' claimed to have found a corpse of the creature. Matt Whitton and Rick Dyer say that they were hunting for the creature in the forests of Northeastern Georgia in the United States when they came across the corpse of one of the alleged animals. After finding the body, Whitton and Dyer allegedly took it home, where it is currently being stored in a freezer. Despite the possibility of the historic find, they will not say where they found the body. "We have no intentions of revealing the location. We want to protect this creature," stated Whitton during the press conference. He also mentioned that an autopsy is going to be conducted on the body. The two men had earlier claimed that DNA evidence, photos and video would be presented during the conference, but only one photo was shown. Whitton states that all evidence will be provided once the autopsy, scheduled for next week, is completed. The single photo shown at the conference portrays a blurred black figure in the distance. Whitton claims the creature was walking "parallel" to them as they hauled out the corpse. Another photo on Whitton's website ''www.searchingforbigfoot.com'' shows what is allegedly the corpse, decapitated and stuffed into a freezer. Tom Biscardi, founder of the ''Great American Bigfoot Research Organization'', joined Whitton and Dyer at the press conference. Biscardi has previously been caught in a hoax. In 2005, his organization claimed to have caught a live male Bigfoot. Science website ''LiveScience'', run by Imaginova, openly speculates that this is a hoax because of the involvement of Biscardi. It theorizes that this may be a marketing scheme to promote an upcoming film by Biscardi, entitled ''Bigfoot Lives''. At least one other person states that the group's pronouncement is a hoax. Jerry Parrino, owner of ''TheHorrorDome.com'', a website that sells Halloween costumes, was quoted as saying to ''Fox News'' that the photo appeared to resemble a costume that is being sold on his site. "It definitely looks like our costume. This body has little to do with Bigfoot and everything to do with a Sasquatch costume that someone developed," stated Parrino. Despite the claim, the Fish and Wildlife Reserve refuses to investigate the alleged discovery because it does not appear on an endangered species list in either the state of Georgia or the U.S..
Mark Weiss/Getty Images Great White is hoping to make peace with the past—and put their legal problems behind them. The "Once Bitten, Twice Shy"-dispensing '80s hard-rock band will pay $1 million to settle lawsuits resulting from the deadly 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire that took the lives of 100 people, including the group's own guitarist, Ty Longley. Federal court documents released Tuesday revealed Great White made the offer to survivors and family members of victims to settle its role in the inferno at the Station. The blaze was touched off when stage pyrotechnics ignited flammable soundproofing foam. There was no immediate comment from Great White lead singer Jack Russell or a band lawyer. On Aug. 18, the town of West Warwick and the state of Rhode Island agreed to pay $10 million each to victims of the blaze to settle all claims of negligence for allegedly failing to take appropriate safety measures. Those settlements must be approved by the victims and the court and with the condition that insurers fork over the maximum coverage stipulated on the town's insurance policy. All told, nearly $175 million could change hands to settle all the claims filed in the wake of the fire, according to the Providence Journal. \|\|\|\|\| Ty Longley Guitar, 2000 BIRTHDAY - September 4, 1971 BIRTHPLACE - Sharon, PA ETHNIC HERITAGE - Mutt MARRIAGE - Single, no children FAVORITE BANDS/MUSICIANS - Jimi Hendrix, SRV, Bask, Badlands, Slipknot, Zeppelin, Francis Dunnery, Badi Assad, Great White!!! FAVORITE ACTOR/ACTRESS - Al Pacino & Meg Ryan (just cuz she's so cute!) FAVORITE ALBUM - Billy Joel-The Stranger, Francis Dunnery-Fearless, Badlands, Great White-Latest & Greatest FAVORITE ESCAPE - Good friends, family, journaling, and senselessly noodling on my guitar! HOBBIES - Boogie Boarding, biking and being a freak! CAR - Buick Century (my blue beauty!) SPORTS - Steelers rule!	Location of Rhode Island within the United States United States hard rock band Great White has filed a settlement offer of US$1 million to families of victims of the Station nightclub fire. 100 people died including band guitarist Ty Longley and over 200 were injured in the February 2003 disaster in Rhode Island. The fire started when band manager Daniel Bichele ignited pyrotechnics towards the beginning of a concert by Great White at the club. Cheap packing foam had been used as soundproofing material to surround the stage, and this ignited. Great White were never charged, but Bichele was given a 15-year sentence with 11 of those suspended in 2006 for 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter, to which he pleaded guilty. He was paroled in March this year. The settlement offer would need to be approved by each of the over 300 plaintiffs, as well as the federal judge. It would add to $175 million already offered by dozens of defendants in the case. No money has been handed out to any of the claimants as yet, and a law professor from Duke University has been hired to develop a formula that will determine how much each party is entitled to. The fire was the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in US history.
TB rate down in U.S., but drug-resistant cases rise elsewhere The CDC says tuberculosis prevalence dropped 11.8% last year, as the World Health Organization reports about 440,000 multi-drug-resistant cases worldwide in 2008, a third of them fatal. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week that TB prevalence in this country dropped 11.8% last year, the largest yearly decline since the government began monitoring the disease in 1953. But on the same day, the World Health Organization reported that an estimated 440,000 people worldwide had multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in 2008, and a third of them died. Even with tuberculosis cases falling sharply in the United States to historic lows, strains of drug-resistant disease are gaining ground elsewhere in the world. Nearly half of the cases were in China and India, which have been hit hardest by the outbreak. But in some areas of the world, especially three provinces in Russia, more than 1 in every 4 cases of tuberculosis result from the hard-to-treat strain. Overall, there were 9.4 million new TB cases in 2008 and 1.8 million deaths, so the drug-resistant strains are a relatively small problem. But experts fear they will displace conventional strains of the TB mycobacterium, complicating treatment. Conventional TB treatment costs about $20 and takes six months. Drug-resistant strains can cost as much as $500 and take as long as two years to treat. The CDC said there were 11,540 U.S. TB cases reported in 2009, 40% of them in people born in this country. The rate of disease was 11 times as high in foreign-born people as in native-born Americans. The rates in blacks and Latinos were eight times as high as the rate in whites, and the rate in Asians was 26 times as high. A total of 108 U.S. cases of multi-drug-resistant TB were reported in 2008, the most recent year for which data are available. Experts suspect that the sharp decline in TB cases is related to improved screening for the disease among potential immigrants and the weak economy, which has slowed immigration and caused many immigrants to return to their homes soon after arrival. The California Department of Public Health said the state had seen the largest decline in TB cases since 2000: an 8.6% drop to 2,472 cases. thomas.maugh@ latimes.com \|\|\|\|\| WHO: Not sure if drug-resistant TB is worsening LONDON — The World Health Organization says it doesn't have enough information to know if it is winning the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis. In a new report on the global status of drug-resistant TB based on data from 2008, the agency says almost half of all people with the disease are in China and India, with both countries reporting about 100,000 new cases each. High rates of drug-resistant TB strains were also seen in eastern Europe and central Asia, with up to 60 percent of people who already had TB in some parts of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan developing drug-resistant versions. About 4 percent of all TB cases worldwide are thought to be non-responsive to the usual TB drugs. The agency estimated there were between 390,000 and 510,000 cases of drug-resistant TB in 2008, including about 150,000 people who were killed by the disease. But those numbers are based on modeling and come with a big margin of error. The report is based on information from 35 countries worldwide, leaving a huge gap in the global TB picture. "The country data reported to WHO make it impossible at this time to conclude whether the (drug-resistant TB) epidemic worldwide is growing or shrinking," the agency wrote in its report. In the United States, the proportion of TB cases that are resistant to at least two first-line antibiotics remained stable in 2008, at less than 1 percent. And there were no cases that year of extensively drug-resistant TB, which is resistant to most available treatments, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC does not yet have data on drug-resistant TB for last year. But other, preliminary data indicate a historic drop in new tuberculosis cases of all kinds in 2009 — the largest single-year decrease in more than 50 years of federal record keeping. TB rates fell more than 11 percent in 2009, to 3.8 cases per 100,000 people. Generally, the annual decline is about 4 percent. CDC officials are investigating, but say it could be related to fewer cases coming in to the country through immigration. Drug-resistant tuberculosis usually arises when people are poorly treated or take substandard medicines. It takes longer to treat than regular TB and requires more expensive drugs, which also cause bad side effects like liver damage. In recent years, WHO and other health authorities have warned the collision of TB with the AIDS virus could fuel simultaneous epidemics — and asked for more money to fight both. In its latest report, however, the agency acknowledged there is little proof of that. Again citing missing data, the agency says "it has not been possible to conclude whether an overall association between (drug-resistant) TB and HIV epidemics exists." In Estonia, Latvia and Moldova, WHO said people infected with both HIV and TB were more likely to develop drug-resistant TB. But there is no information from many countries across Africa where the most people with HIV live. Some health experts wondered why WHO's report failed to mention in detail one of the main drivers of drug resistance: bad medicines. "Many substandard drugs are fakes, but we are also concerned about legitimately manufactured copies — mainly from India and China — which are not made to exacting high standards," said Philip Stevens, a health policy expert at the London think-tank International Policy Network. Stevens said the lack of global TB data was troubling. "WHO doesn't really have a clue as to the true extent of the problem," he said. "It's difficult then, to start promoting targets and goals when you don't know what baseline you are starting from." WHO reported rates of drug-resistant TB were dropping in some parts of Russia with previously large outbreaks. "It's good news that it can be controlled even in those difficult regions," said Ruth McNerney, a TB expert at London's School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who was not connected to the report. McNerney said that though progress was being made, authorities need more money to fight it, and more information about where the disease is striking. "We've got to find out where there are very serious problems, otherwise we won't know about it until it's too late." AP Medical Writer Mike Stobbe in Atlanta contributed to this report. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis killed 150,000 people in 2008 and infects between 400,000 and 500,000 people globally, according to World Health Organization estimates released on Thursday. Health WHO said the numbers suggest the hard-to-treat infection is spreading and said there is an urgent need for countries to set up labs to fight it. So-called MDR-TB is especially common in Russia, Tajikistan, China and India, WHO said in a report. It said an especially hard-to-treat form called extensively drug resistant TB or XDR-TB is also growing. "Almost 50 percent of MDR-TB cases worldwide are estimated to occur in China and India. In 2008, MDR-TB caused an estimated 150,000 deaths," the WHO report said. The report uses new methods and new surveillance data from countries around the world, so the figures cannot be compared to older surveys of MDR-TB. But WHO said the findings are startling and show a need to find infected patients and treat them promptly. Tuberculosis is caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. More than 2 billion people are infected but nearly all TB infections are latent, with carriers showing no symptoms and they are not infectious. However, one in 10 will become sick with active TB due mainly to a weakened immune system -- often because of AIDS. Antibiotics can eradicate the infection, but it takes months. And with MDR or XDR-TB, the standard cocktail of antibiotics does not work and stronger drugs must be used, often for a longer time. Surgery may also be required to remove pockets of infection. HARD-HIT REGIONS "In 2008, an estimated 390,000 to 510,000 cases of MDR-TB emerged globally (best estimate, 440,000 cases)," the latest WHO report reads. "Among all incident TB cases globally, 3.6 percent are estimated to have MDR-TB." New data show regions of Russia have especially high rates of MDR-TB, the report found. Between 24 percent and 28 percent of new cases there are MDR-TB. "Tajikistan, in its first ever survey, found proportions of 16.5 percent MDR-TB among new TB cases and 61.6 percent MDR-TB among previously treated TB patients in Dushanbe city and Rudaki district, or the highest proportion ever reported among previously treated TB patients in a subnational area," it said. China's first survey of drug-resistant TB shows 5.7 percent of newly infected people have the MDR version and more than a quarter of those who had been undergoing treatment had MDR-TB. WHO defines MDR-TB as infections that cannot be eradicated by the antibiotics isoniazid and rifampicin. Extensively drug-resistant TB resist the main two drugs as well as fluoroquinolone antibiotics and the second-line anti-TB injectable drugs amikacin, kanamycin or capreomycin. It is expensive to treat these infections but the WHO report says it is worth doing so. "Although the cost of drugs alone for treating the average MDR-TB patient is 50 to 200 times higher than for treating a drug-susceptible TB patient and the overall costs for care have been found to be 10 times higher or more, treatment of MDR-TB has been shown to be a cost-effective intervention," the report reads. Previous WHO reports show that aggressive treatment has cured 36 million TB patients over the past 15 years. \|\|\|\|\| printable version News release Drug-resistant tuberculosis now at record levels 18 MARCH 2010 \| GENEVA \| WASHINGTON DC -- In some areas of the world, one in four people with tuberculosis (TB) becomes ill with a form of the disease that can no longer be treated with standard drugs regimens, a World Health Organization (WHO) report says. For example, 28% of all people newly diagnosed with TB in one region of north western Russia had the multidrug-resistant form of the disease (MDR-TB) in 2008. This is the highest level ever reported to WHO. Previously, the highest recorded level was 22% in Baku City, Azerbaijan, in 2007. In the new WHO's Multidrug and Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: 2010 Global Report on Surveillance and Response, it is estimated that 440 000 people had MDR-TB worldwide in 2008 and that a third of them died. In sheer numbers, Asia bears the brunt of the epidemic. Almost 50% of MDR-TB cases worldwide are estimated to occur in China and India. In Africa, estimates show 69 000 cases emerged, the vast majority of which went undiagnosed. Related links Multidrug and extensively drug-resistant TB [pdf 3.19Mb] 2010 Global Report More on tuberculosis Encouraging signs Tuberculosis programmes face tremendous challenges in reducing MDR-TB rates. But there are encouraging signs that even in the presence of severe epidemics, governments and partners can turn around MDR-TB by strengthening efforts to control the disease and implementing WHO recommendations. Two regions in the Russian Federation, Orel and Tomsk, have achieved a remarkable decline in MDR-TB in about five years. These regions join two countries, Estonia and Latvia, which have reversed rising high rates of MDR-TB, ultimately achieving a decline. The United States of America and China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), have achieved sustained successes in controlling MDR-TB. Slow progress Progress remains slow in most other countries. Worldwide, of those patients receiving treatment, 60% were reported as cured. However, only an estimated 7% of all MDR-TB patients are diagnosed. This points to the urgent need for improvements in laboratory facilities, access to rapid diagnosis and treatment with more effective drugs and regimens shorter than the current two years. WHO is engaged in a five year project to strengthen TB laboratories with rapid tests in nearly 30 countries. This will ensure more people benefit early from life-saving treatments. It is also working closely with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the international community on increasing access to treatment. Additional information Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is caused by bacteria that are resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, the most effective anti-TB drugs. MDR-TB results from either primary infection with resistant bacteria or may develop in the course of a patientâ€™s treatment. Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is a form of TB caused by bacteria that are resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin (i.e. MDR-TB) as well as any fluoroquinolone and any of the second-line anti-TB injectable drugs (amikacin, kanamycin or capreomycin). These forms of TB do not respond to the standard six-month treatment with first-line anti-TB drugs and can take up to two years or more to treat with drugs that are less potent, more toxic and much more expensive, from 50 to 200 times higher. While a course of standard TB drugs cost approximately US$ 20, MDR-TB drugs can cost up to US$ 5 000, and XDR-TB treatment is far more expensive. In 2008, there were an estimated 9.4 million new TB cases, and 1.8 million TB deaths. 440 000 MDR-TB cases are estimated to have emerged in the same year with 150 000 MDR-TB deaths. No official estimates have been made on the number of XDR-TB cases, but there may be around 25 000 a year with most cases fatal. Since XDR-TB was first defined in 2006, a total of 58 countries have reported at least one case of XDR-TB. Funding MDR-TB control In 27 high burden countries (i.e. countries estimated to have had at least 4000 MDR-TB cases arising annually and/or at least 10% of newly registered TB cases with MDR-TB), 1.3 million M/XDR-TB cases will need to be treated between 2010 and 2015 at a cost of US$ 16 billion over six years, rising from US$ 1.3 billion in 2010 to US$ 4.4 billion in 2015. Planned budget for 2010 are far below these figures, amounting to less than US$ 0.5 billion for all 27 countries. Actual funding available for 2010 was US$ 280 million. Funding needed for MDR-TB control in 2015 will be 16 times higher than what is currently available in 2010. Strengthening laboratories There is an urgent need to expand and accelerate in countries access to new, rapid technologies that can diagnose MDR-TB in two days rather than traditional methods which can take up to four months. EXPAND TB is a five year project targeting 27 countries, launched in 2008 and implemented by WHO, the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), the Stop TB Partnership's Global Drug Facility (GDF) and the Global Laboratory Initiative (GLI) with financial support from UNITAID. So far it has carried out a wide range of activities in 12 countries, including upgrading of infrastructure and training of staff. Technology transfer has started in countries, paving the way for more patients to be diagnosed accurately and rapidly enrolled on treatment. These upgrades should lead to eventual routine surveillance of drug resistance in affected countries. Countries and case studies Six countries are featured throughout the report in special focus sections. Bangladesh (one of the very few developing countries in which continuous surveillance among previously treated TB cases is being carried out in selected areas); China (first nationwide drug resistance survey conducted); Ethiopia (one of the first countries to introduce rapid molecular laboratory tests); Nepal and Romania (successful treatments of MDR-TB through Green Light Committee Initiative programmes); South Africa (policy changes for improving the management and care of M/XDR-TB). MDR-TB in Africa In Africa, there is a low percentage of MDR-TB reported among new TB cases compared with that in regions such as Eastern Europe and Central Asia, due in part to the limited laboratory capacity to conduct drug resistance surveys. Latest estimates of WHO put the number of MDR-TB cases emerging in 2008 in Africa at 69 000. Previous reports found high levels of mortality among people living with HIV and infected with MDR-TB and XDR-TB. In KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, an outbreak of XDR-TB killed 52 out of 53 people within three weeks, most of whom were HIV positive. Risk factors: HIV and MDR-TB Studies show that TB patients co-infected with HIV in three Eastern European countries (Estonia, Latvia, and the Republic of Moldova) were at a higher risk of having MDR-TB compared to TB patients without HIV infection. Similar findings have been made in studies from Lithuania, Ukraine and Mozambique. The report highlights several reasons why drug-resistant TB may be associated with HIV, particularly in some Eastern European countries. However, more research is needed to determine whether there is an overlap between the MDR-TB and HIV epidemics worldwide. Reporting on MDR-TB globally This report presents drug resistance data from 114 countries and updated information from 35 of them. Despite the growing understanding of the magnitude and trends in drug-resistant TB, major gaps remain in geographical areas covered. Since 1994, only 59% of all countries globally have been able to collect high quality representative data on drug resistance. There is an urgent need to obtain information, particularly from Africa and those high MDR-TB burden countries where data have never been reported: Bangladesh, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and Nigeria. Moreover, countries need to expand the scope of their surveys to cover entire populations, repeat surveys are needed to better understand trends in drug resistance and countries need to move towards adopting systematic continuous surveillance. For more information contact: Glenn Thomas - Communication Officer Stop TB, WHO Mobile phone: +41 79 509 0677 E-mail: thomasg@who.int	Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' is the most common cause of tuberculosis The World Health Organization released their annual report on the world prevalence of tuberculosis in 2008. The report said that there were 9.8 million cases of tuberculosis, with 1.8 million resulting in death. The report also said that there were 440,000 cases of multi drug resistant tuberculosis, with about one-third of them being fatal. The average cost to treat a case of tuberculosis was US$20 (€14.78, £13.32), over a six month period. The cost to treat a case of drug resistant tuberculosis was US$500 (€365.55, £333.00), and up-to two years of treatment. Some of the hardest hit regions include nations of the former Soviet Union, and specifically Tajikistan which according to the report "had proportions of 16.5 percent MDR-TB ''sic'':Multi-Drug Resistant tuberculosis among new TB cases and 61.6 percent MDR-TB among previously treated TB patients in Dushanbe city and Rudaki district, or the highest proportion ever reported among previously treated TB patients in a subnational area,". The prevalence of tuberculosis in the United States dropped 11.5% with only 11,540 new cases, with 108 of them being drug resistant.
Suspicious blaze breaks out at Bronx church St. Nicholas of Tolentine Harbus for News The two-alarm blaze broke out just before the noon Mass at St. Nicholas of Tolentine as the University Heights church started to fill up with parishioners, the pastor said. A suspicious fire ignited in a Bronx church Friday, filling the sanctuary with flames and smoke and forcing its pastor to hustle several worshippers to safety. The two-alarm blaze broke out just before the noon Mass at St. Nicholas of Tolentine as the University Heights church started to fill up with parishioners, the pastor said. "I rushed over and smoke was billowing out," Father Joseph Girone said. "People were inside the church praying at the time and they had no idea there was a fire." The fire started in a former confessional-turned-storage room in the vestibule of the church, blocking the main entrance. "I got them out through the rectory door," a shaken Girone said. "Lots of people have issues with God but I don't know who could have done this," the priest said. "I'm very sad." Investigators immediately suspected arson. It was not immediately clear what was used to ignite the fire, which took an hour to extinguish, FDNY officials said. Several firefighters suffered minor injuries when part of a plaster ceiling collapsed on them as they battled the blaze, FDNY officials said. "It is very suspicious," FDNY Deputy Chief Kevin Scanlon said. "The fire accelerated rapidly [and] it was a heavy fire that didn't have the normal flow of a fire." FDNY investigators are trying to figure out whether the blaze is connected to other recent church fires in the borough, including one that engulfed the Glory of Christ Church in Parkchester in December. Parishioners at St. Nicholas - deemed "The Cathedral of the Bronx" - were disheartened by the blaze. "Why would someone do something so evil?," wailed Marina Pietri, 46, as she picked up her son from the parish elementary school, which was evacuated during the fire. "This church has been a pillar of the community for years," Pietri said. "I'm so upset. It's devastating." The parish was established in 1906 and the current building has been there since the 1950s. A church official said it was too early to estimate how long it would take to fix the church or how much the repairs would cost. Some determined parishioners vowed to hold a "Stations of the Cross" ceremony Friday night as planned, even though they would have to do it outside. Others were distraught. "I feel sorry and I want to cry because this has been my home away from home for a long time," said Isabel Gonzales, 52, who has been a parishioner for 28 years. "I just want to know why." \|\|\|\|\| A mysterious fire tore through a Bronx church yesterday, sending the pastor and parishioners scrambling for their lives. The blaze broke out in a storage room at St. Nicholas of Tolentine in University Heights. More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze for an hour before getting it under control. Some firefighters reported minor injuries when part of the ceiling fell. “The whole vestibule is damaged. The ceiling, the walls and the doors,” said Father Joseph Tran, a priest at the church.	Second-alarm flames engulfed a Bronx, New York church, St Nicholas of Tolentine, just before noon on Friday, forcing its pastor and seven worshippers into the streets. The blaze began in a confessional-converted-storage room near the vestibule of the church. "I rushed over and smoke was billowing out," said Father Joseph Girone. Girone rushed parishioners through the church rectory door as the entrance had been blocked. Over 100 firefighters fought the blaze, and several reported minor injuries due to ceiling collapse. Fire Department (FDNY) officials immediately suspected arson. "The fire accelerated rapidly and it was a heavy fire that didn't have the normal flow of a fire", said FDNY Deputy Chief Kevin Scanlon. Investigators are determining whether the fire is related to a series of church burnings that have been occurring across the borough. Parishioners are distraught by the destruction of their beloved church. Father Joseph Tran said, "The whole vestibule is damaged. The ceiling, the walls and the doors". Isabel Gonzales, a regular attendant for 28 years, said, "I feel sorry and I want to cry because this has been my home away from home for a long time". A church official reported that it was too early to determine construction lengths or repair costs. Devoted worshippers promised that they would hold a "Stations of the Cross" gathering outside on Friday night.
BAGHDAD The United States urged Iran on Monday to stop supporting militias in Iraq in the most high-profile meeting between the two countries in almost 30 years that both sides later described as positive. The rare talks in Baghdad were narrowly focused on Iraq's spiralling sectarian violence and did not touch on Iran's controversial nuclear program, which has ratcheted up tensions between the two arch foes in recent months. "Positive" was how both sides characterized the four-hour meeting that began with a handshake between U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Kazemi-Qomi at Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's office in Baghdad. In new violence in Iraq, a truck bomb exploded near an important Sunni Muslim mosque in central Baghdad, killing 24 people and wounding 68 others shortly after the talks broke up. The Iranians appeared keen for further talks, with Kazemi-Qomi calling the meeting "a first step in negotiations between these two sides" and saying Tehran would seriously consider an Iraqi invitation for further discussions. For his part, Crocker said he had been less interested in arranging further meetings than laying out Washington's case that Shi'ite Iran is arming, funding and training Shi'ite militias in Iraq, a charge Iran denies. He said he did not produce any evidence, although the U.S. military has previously displayed what it says are Iranian-made rockets, mortars and roadside bombs seized in Iraq. The military says the bombs have killed scores of American soldiers. "The purpose of this effort was not to build a legal case. Presumably the Iranians know what they are doing. Our point was simply to say we know as well. We wanted to say it is dangerous for Iraq and dangerous for the region," Crocker said. "The talks proceeded positively. What we need to see is Iranian action on the ground. Right now their actions are running at cross purposes to their stated policy." Kazemi-Qomi, speaking at a separate media conference several hours later, said Iran also saw positive steps in the talks. "Some problems have been raised and studied and I think this was a positive step ... In the political field, the two sides agreed to support and strengthen the Iraqi government, which was another positive item achieved in these talks," he said. He said Iran had offered to help train and arm Iraq's security forces, presently the job of the U.S. military. The meeting marked a shift in the U.S. policy of shunning almost all contact with Iranian officials since Washington severed formal diplomatic ties with Tehran in 1980, 14 months after Iran's Islamic Revolution and five months after Americans were seized in a hostage crisis at the U.S. embassy in Tehran. Crocker said he would refer to Washington a proposal by the Iranians for a mechanism with Iranian, U.S. and Iraqi participation to coordinate Iraqi security matters. DANGEROUS He said he had told the Iranians they must end their support for the militias, stop supplying them with explosives and ammunition and rein in the activities of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Qods Force in Iraq. The Iranians had rejected the allegations but did not respond in detail. In turn, they had criticized the "occupying" U.S. military's training and equipping of the new Iraqi army, saying it was "inadequate to the challenges faced". "In terms of what happens next we are going to want to wait and see not what is said next but what happens on the ground, whether we start to see some indications of change of Iranian behavior," Crocker said. In a brief address to the delegations before the start of the talks, Maliki said Iraq would not be a launchpad for any attacks on neighboring states, an apparent reference to Iranian fears of a U.S. attack. It would also not brook any regional interference in its affairs, he added. U.S. and Iranian officials had said they did not expect any breakthroughs from the talks, which come as U.S. warships hold war games in the Gulf and after Tehran said it had uncovered spy networks on its territory run by Washington and its allies. While mid-ranking officials from Iran and the United States have met occasionally in the past, Monday's talks are the most high profile since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. (With additional reporting by Mariam Karouny, Mussab Al-Khairalla and Paul Tait in Baghdad and Edmund Blair in Tehran) \|\|\|\|\| NEWS MIDDLE EAST Iran and US hold 'positive' talks Kazemi-Qomi sat directly opposite Crocker in the meeting at al-Maliki's home in Baghdad [AFP] Talks between Iran and the US on Iraq's security situation have concluded "positively", the US ambassador to Iraq says. Ryan Crocker met his Iranian counterpart Hassan Kazemi-Qomi in Baghdad's Green Zone, the first public high level talks since ties were broken in 1980 and a reversal of Washington's policy not to negotiate with Iran. Monday's talks were confined to the limited agenda of Iraq's security. "Discussions focused on how we might support as effectively as possible Iraq, its people and its government in restoring peace and stability to the country and furthering a political reconciliation process," Crocker said. 'Positive' steps Although he said Iran and the US agreed in principle on Iraq security issues, "what we need to see is Iranian action on the ground". Your Views "Let the people of Iraq vote if they want the US to stay or leave" Bob Kaye, Bohemia, US Send us your views Kazemi-Qomi said Iran also saw "positive" steps in the talks. "Some problems have been raised and studied and I think this was a positive step ... In the political field, the two sides agreed to support and strengthen the Iraqi government, which was another positive item achieved in these talks," he told state television. Crocker said the Iranians had proposed setting up a mechanism with Iranian, US and Iraqi participation to co-ordinate on Iraq's security. He said he would refer the proposal to Washington. Kazemi-Qomi told reporters that Iran had offered to help train and arm Iraq's military. From Tehran, Manouchehr Mottaki , Iraq 's foreign minister, left open the possibility of future meetings with the US but only if Washington admitted its war in Iraq and other regional issues have not been successful. "We are hopeful that Washington's realistic outlook toward the current issues in Iraq, a confession about its failed policy there and the region as well as an indication of determination to change the policy would guarantee the success of the current talks and possible further negotiations." Crocker said that "the Iranians did not go into any great detail" during the meeting at the home of Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone. 'Opening of a door' "They made the assertion that the coalition presence was an occupation and the effort to train the Iraqi security forces had been inadequate to the challenges." It was the first high-level meeting between the two countries for 27 years. Iraqi officials also attended the meeting. Al-Maliki told both sides that Iraqis want a stable country free of foreign forces and regional interference. He also said that the US-led forces in Iraq were only here to help build up the army and police and the country would not be used as a launching ground for a US attack on its neighbours - a clear reference to Iran . Hoda Abdel-Hamid, Al Jazeera's Iraq correspondent, said that the meeting should be viewed as the "opening of a door". "Both parties are deeply suspicious of one another. The issues are complicated and intertwined, so you can't look at the I raq situation without looking at broader regional issues. "Publicly, the US wants Iran to stop training and providing the Shia militias with weapons, and logistical and financial support [and] Iran wants a US timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq. " Iran has some of the strongest political and economic ties in Iraq . "[But] Iraq also needs the US at this stage because of its security situation. It cannot take care of security issues by itself," she said. Talks hailed Hoshiyar Zebari, the Iraqi foreign minister, said: "I think it is a positive development. We should encourage it and build on it. This is just the beginning of the process." Iran 's nuclear programme, which Washington believes to be a bid for developing atomic weapons, was not discussed at the meeting. Crocker said that the US expected Iran to propose a second meeting on Iraq . As the meeting ended, a truck bomb exploded outside one of Baghdad 's most revered shrines in the business district of Sinak, killing at least 19 people and damaging the Abdel Qadir Gilani mosque. Source: Al Jazeera and agencies	Ryan C. Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq.In talks mediated by Iraqi officials on Monday, the United States Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker met for approximately four hours with Iranian officials in Baghdad's Green Zone, in what Ambassador Crocker described as a "businesslike" meeting. It was the first formal meeting between the United States and Iran in 27 years. The meeting focused solely on the security situation in Iraq and the common interests of all three parties in improving stability in the country. The U.S. and Iran broke off diplomatic contact following the 1980 hostage crisis and relations between the two continue to be strained over several issues, including Iran's nuclear program. U.S. ambassador Crocker made a point of indicating that the meetings were not to be characterized as bilateral between the U.S. and Iran. "The Iraqis were not only present and participating; in a very real sense, they took the lead in organizing discussion," said Crocker. The first session was hosted by the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, while the final session was hosted by Iraq's National Security Advisor Dr. Mowaffak al-Rubaie. In a teleconference Monday following the meeting, Crocker suggested that the U.S. was able to find some common ground with Iran. "At the level of policy and principle, the Iranian position, as articulated by the Iranian Ambassador, was very close to our own," said Crocker. He indicated that the common principles are "support for a stable, secure, democratic, federal Iraq that is able to control its borders, is at peace with its neighbors and is bringing prosperity to its citizens." However, Crocker did point out some areas of concern for the U.S. with regard Iran in what the U.S. sees as "Iranian behavior inconsistent with stated Iranian policy." U.S. concerns on alleged Iranian support for insurgent militias in Iraq was brought up at the meeting. "We told the Iranians today that their support for armed militia groups that are challenging the authority of the Iraqi Government and attacking coalition soldiers needs to stop." Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, suggested some common ground was found with the United States and described the talks as "positive". "Some problems have been raised and studied and I think this was a positive step," said Kazemi-Qomi. "In the political field, the two sides agreed to support and strengthen the Iraqi government, which was another positive item achieved in these talks," Kazemi-Qomi told Iranian television. Iraq's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, stressed that the U.S. needed to admit its current policies in Iraq were not working. "We are hopeful that Washington's realistic outlook toward the current issues in Iraq, a confession about its failed policy there and the region as well as an indication of determination to change the policy would guarantee the success of the current talks and possible further negotiations." Iran signaled it would be willing to participate in further talks with the United States. Kazemi-Qomi declared the meeting "a first step in negotiations between these two sides." On the question of whether or not further meetings between Iraq, Iran and the United States might be held, Crocker stated that "the Iraqi side indicated that they would want to issue an invitation for another meeting sometime in the near future." Once the U.S. received an invitation, Crocker said they would "give it close consideration, but nothing was fixed in this meeting with respect to a follow-on meeting."
Sri Lanka is returning to a state of war It said escalating violence had made the Norwegian-brokered truce redundant. The accord came into effect in February 2002 ahead of inconclusive peace talks. Since mid-2006 troops and rebels have fought regular clashes, despite the deal still technically being in place. There was no immediate response from the Tigers, who want independence for Tamils in Sri Lanka's north and east. 'Moribund' "The Cease Fire Agreement [CFA] had been violated nearly 10,000 times by the Tamil Tigers, so we should annul this agreement," the cabinet's spokesman on security matters, Keheliya Rambukwella, told the BBC. "National security is threatened at every corner," he said. There was great optimism when the CFA was signed Mr Rambukwella said that the "foremost thing in the country is to uphold national security" which was why the government had taken the decision. He said that withdrawal from the CFA was not a declaration of war against the Tamil Tigers, and would be done in a way that does not breach the conditions of the agreement. Under the February 2002 ceasefire brokered by Norway, both the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers have the option to withdraw from the CFA after giving two weeks' written notice to the Norwegian foreign minister. Last week, Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said in public that the truce between the two sides was "moribund" and that the CFA was a "joke". Correspondents say that even though both sides acknowledged this to be true, neither wanted to be seen as the first formally to withdraw from the ceasefire. Mr Rambukwella argued that the government had already taken steps to address the grievances of the minority Tamil community and was holding talks with moderate Tamil parties. So far there has been no word from the Tamil Tigers on the government's announcement, but some analysts have warned that the development will only serve to polarise the two sides. About 5,000 people have been killed since early 2006, taking the total number of dead since the war erupted in 1983 to around 70,000. Bus bombing Earlier on Wednesday, a bomb targeting a bus in the capital, Colombo, killed at least four people and injured another 20, police and military officials said. The blast took place as the military bus was passing a busy junction in a district that houses key military installations, reports said. A hospital official told Reuters that two of those killed were soldiers. Military officials said they suspected the Tamil Tigers. The rebels denied involvement, Reuters reported. \|\|\|\|\| The government of Sri Lanka says it is withdrawing from a cease-fire agreement with Tamil rebels because the pact has become meaningless. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi the withdrawal is largely symbolic because the Norwegian-brokered truce collapsed two years ago. The government's decision to end a 2002 truce agreement with Tamil rebels came as virtually everyone acknowledged that the pact existed only in name. The announcement came late Wednesday after a meeting among senior Cabinet ministers. Sri Lanka's foreign secretary, Palitha Kohona, says the government is "reluctantly" ending the truce because it did not achieve what it was supposed to - a peace settlement with the rebels, known as the LTTE. "From the beginning it was observed only in the breach by the LTTE. In the first couple of years, it used the cease-fire agreement to regroup, rearm, and then in 2005 it launched massive attacks on government forces," said Kohona. "In a real practical sense, this agreement served very little purpose." Sri Lanka's Labor Minister Mervin Silva tries to close the door of his vehicle, while a policeman puts his arm around him protectively, outside state-run Rupavahini television network, 27 Dec 2007 Both the rebels and the government routinely blame each other for the resumption of hostilities. The fighting began soon after a hard-line government took over in Colombo, and the rebels accused the government of a lack of seriousness in pursuing peace talks. The Tamil rebels want an autonomous homeland for Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community. In the past two years, near-daily clashes on the battlefield, assassinations and bombings have killed about 5,000 people. Political analysts say ending the truce will polarize the two sides even further. They say the government, which has scored some military successes against the rebels, wants to defeat them on the battlefield. Foreign Secretary Kohona says ending the country's ethnic conflict should not be linked to negotiations with the rebels. "A political settlement is not necessarily going to be with the Tamil Tigers," added Kohona. It will take into account the concerns of the Tamil people of Sri Lanka and the other minorities of Sri Lanka." Norwegian mediators have expressed concern about the government's decision to end the truce, calling it a "serious step." Norway's foreign ministry Web site says there have been increasingly frequent and brutal attacks by both parties, and there is concern that violence and hostilities will escalate further. The truce had received wide international support, and raised hopes of ending the country's quarter-century long ethnic conflict. But the formal ending of the cease-fire means the civil war could drag on for years.	The government of Sri Lanka says it is withdrawing from a cease-fire agreement with Tamil rebels because, in the opinion of the government, the pact has become meaningless. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi the withdrawal is largely symbolic because the Norwegian-brokered truce collapsed two years ago. There have be many clashes between the government and the rebels since mid-2006. This happened despite the fact that they were still in a cease-fire. The government's decision to end a 2002 truce agreement with Tamil rebels came as a vast majority of people believed that the pact existed only in name. The announcement came late Wednesday after a meeting among senior Cabinet ministers. Sri Lanka's foreign secretary, Palitha Kohona, says the government is "reluctantly" ending the truce because it did not achieve what it was supposed to - a peace settlement with the rebels, known as the LTTE. "From the beginning it was observed only in the breach by the LTTE. In the first couple of years, it used the cease-fire agreement to regroup, rearm, and then in 2005 it launched massive attacks on government forces," said Kohona. "In a real practical sense, this agreement served very little purpose." Both the rebels and the government routinely blame each other for the resumption of hostilities. The fighting began soon after a hard-line government took over in Colombo, and the rebels accused the government of a lack of seriousness in pursuing peace talks. The Tamil rebels want an autonomous homeland for Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community. In the past two years, near-daily clashes on the battlefield, assassinations and bombings have killed about 5,000 people. Political analysts say ending the truce will polarize the two sides even further. They say the government , which has scored some military successes against the rebels, wants to defeat them on the battlefield. Sri Lankan foreign Secretary Kohona says ending the country's ethnic conflict should not be linked to negotiations with the rebels. "A political settlement is not necessarily going to be with the Tamil Tigers," added Kohona. It will take into account the concerns of the Tamil people of Sri Lanka and the other minorities of Sri Lanka." Norwegian mediators have expressed concern about the government's decision to end the truce, calling it a "serious step." Norway's foreign ministry Web site says there have been increasingly frequent and brutal attacks by both parties, and there is concern that violence and hostilities will escalate further. The truce had received wide international support, and raised hopes of ending the country's quarter-century long ethnic conflict. But many think that the formal ending of the cease-fire means the civil war could drag on for years.
Type in your email address to register upon upload (then check your email for your registration link). In order to be able to leave a comment you must be registered ImageShack user with username chosen. Please log in or register in order to continue.. Text comment Voice comment \|\|\|\|\| The actor Tom Cruise has been in damage control this week after a video showing him extolling the virtues of Scientology spread across the internet. The appearance of the nine-minute clip coincided with the publication of Andrew Morton's book Tom Cruise: An Unauthorised Biography, which alleges that Cruise ranks second in command in the Church of Scientology. On the video, Cruise is shown speaking about the religion while the soundtrack to his Mission: Impossible films plays in the background. "It's rough and tumble, and it's wild and woolly and it's a blast," he says. "It's a blast. It really is fun, because ... there is nothing better than ... going out there and fighting the fight and, suddenly you see, things are better." Scientology lawyers fired off letters to Morton's publisher and have demanded that Gawker.com - a website running the Cruise video - remove the clip, alleging breach of copyright. Nick Denton, on Gawker.com, replied: "It's newsworthy, and we will not be removing it." Scientologists did force YouTube to remove footage of Cruise's rant. YouTube posted a message above a still of the clip, saying: "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim." But by then millions of people had seen it and it had spread to other websites. On the video, dressed in a black turtleneck sweater with a look of intensity in his eyes, the 45-year-old Cruise makes a series of impassioned claims about his religion, including its ability to help get people off drugs, rehabilitate criminals and "bring peace and unite cultures". Here is a transcript of Cruise's remarks: I think it's a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist, and it's something that you have to earn because a Scientologist does - he or she - have the ability to create new and better realities and improve conditions. Ah, being a Scientologist you look at someone and you know absolutely that you can help them, so for me it really is KSW [keeping Scientology working] and it's just like it's something that, ah, I don't mince words with that, with anything, but that policy has really gone, boy, the first time I went through and went, you know what, when I read it I went, you know, this is it, this is exactly it. Being a Scientologist when you drive past an accident it's not like anyone else, it's you drive past and you know you have to do something about it because you know you're the only one that can really help. But that's what drives me. I know that we have an opportunity to really help for the first time effectively change people's lives and I am dedicated. I am absolutely uncompromisingly dedicated to that. Orgs are there to help but we as the public, we have a responsibility, it's not just orgs, it's not just David Miscavige, not just me - it's you, it's everyone out there that's re-reading KSW and looking at what needs to be done and saying, 'Okay am I gonna do it or am I not gonna do it', period. And am I gonna look at that guy or am I too afraid 'cause I have my own ethics to put in someone else's ethics, and that's all it comes down to, and I won't hesitate to put ethic in on someone else because I put it ruthlessly in on myself. Man, I think that I respect that in others and I'm there to help. We are here to help. Look, either you're onboard or you're not onboard. Okay. But if you're onboard, you're onboard just like the rest of us. We are the authorities on getting people off drugs, we are the authorities on the mind, the authority on improving conditions ... we can rehabilitate criminals, we are the way to happiness, we bring peace and unite cultures. Once you know these tools and you know that they work then it's not good enough. And I'm just doing okay, travelling the world and meeting the people that I have met, talking with these leaders in various fields, they want help and they are depending on people who know and who can be effective and do it and that's us. That is our responsibility to do that. It is the time now, now is the time, okay - it is being a Scientologist, people are turning to you so you better know it and if you don't, then, you know, go and learn it [laughs]. But don't pretend you know it and whatever - it's like we're here to help and if you're a Scientologist you see, like, you see things the way they are, in all its worth, you know, in all of its complexities, and the more you know as a Scientologist the more you become overwhelmed by it, and so when they said, you know, have you met an SP [laughs] ... I thought, what a beautiful thing - maybe one day it will be like that - you know what I'm saying, maybe one day it will be like that - wow SPs - they'll read about that in history books. I just go through that tech and it's just literally - it's not how to run from an SP, it's PTS - it's how to confront, shatter suppression, you apply it and it's like, boom. Because they don't come up to me and do that - they won't do it to me - not to my face you know or anywhere near my vicinity where they feel they can be confronted. I wish the world was a different place. I'd like to go on vacation and go and romp and play and just do that. You know what I mean. I mean that's what I want it to be. That's how most times I'd like to do that but I can't. You know, you can sit here and wish it was different and then you look at it and then you go, this is it alright. You know, I have to do something, I have to do it because I can't live with myself if I don't and that really is it. I don't care if someone thinks it's hard or easy. You are helping, you are contributing all you can or you're not, because I'm carrying my love alright. And not only that, as much as I'm carrying I still feel I've got to give more - there's still a thing of let's go - you can see the look in her eyes, you know, the ones that are doing something and, you know, the spectators - the ones that are going, 'Well, it's easy for you.' What am I doing? It's just that thing. I've cancelled that in my area [laughs]. Man, it's like you're in or you're out. As spectators it's something like we have no time for, so it's our responsibility to educate ... We have a responsibility to say 'Hey, this the way it should be done' - do it this way and people are actually getting better and let's get it done. Let's really get it done and have enough love and compassion and toughness that you're going to do it. And do it right ... It's rough and tumble, and it's wild and woolly and it's a blast. It's a blast. It really is fun, because ... there is nothing better than ... going out there and fighting the fight and, suddenly you see things are better. I want to know that I have done everything I could every day. When I think about those people out there who are depending on us, you know, we have more work. I need more help. You gotta get those spectators in the playing field or out of the arena. Really, that's how I feel about it. DECIPHERING (POSSIBLY) CRUISE * KSW Keep Scientology Working. * PTS Potential trouble source. * SP Suppressive person. * Sea-orgs High-ranking Scientologists. On the web Gawker.com \|\|\|\|\| Attention random asshats emailing me and asking me how to cosplay: go here For visual Stimuli, here. Someone emailed me earlier today talking about a tool a group’s been using to attack the scientology website. It’s an interesting tool, created to overload/create malformed strings and crash a website’s database. I don’t think it’s particularly legal unlike vamping/raep/gigaloading.The url looks something like this when you execute the program http://www.iheartfurries.org/html/en_US/feature/search/index.html?query=#rand#+&index=cos%2Ccos_rtc&go.x=16&go.y=13 And #rand# is the part where you pick whether you want it to try numbers or characters, how many of the selected to try, you can alter the number of threads (higher the better, but be prepared for larger fail rates) and the timeout time. Kinda cool, in a violent way. I tried it and crashed my own server for a few minutes, quite cool Lets you know how much your server REALLY can take. Make sure you get your site’s search url correct or you’re going to end up not being able to do much with the tool. You can find it over here.	Administrators for ''711chan.org'', one of the websites responsible for starting Project Chanology, a "raid" or attack against the Church of Scientology and their website, slowed down their "attack". In an exclusive interview with ''Wikinews'', an administrator of ''711chan'' states that they will "probably stay away from the CoS Church of Scientology." "We're probably just going to stay away from the CoS raid. It was poorly managed. We could've brought down a lot more if we weren't just a bunch of unorganized brats," said 'Plasma', an administrator on ''711chan.org''. "Many people from 711chan still want to raid, but the administration is sick of it," added Plasma who also stated that "Partyvan IRC actually has decided to remove the raid." Much of the reason stems from the fact that the attack on the Church was meant to stay within ''711chan'' and that users were to stay "anonymous." An e-mail was leaked on the internet when the attack began exposing the script used to attack the Church's website. "This is not what the raid originally started as. Partyvan declares this as a threat to the network, and Anonymous alike. We have been under constant botnet attacks, 711chan hacked, and tons of drama over this. You guys did a very poor job of staying Anonymous. It's obvious that a lot of you broke rules 1, and 2," said a statement on ''711chan's'' website. The rules they refer to, according to Plasma, mean the "Rules of the Internet" and are: Both key rules were broken by users, according to Plasma. The attack on Scientology was launched on Wednesday January 16 by a group labelled "Anonymous", on the website "Insurgency Wiki", a spinoff of 4chan which is also affiliated with ''711chan''. The "History" section of the site explains, in a satirical fashion, that the incident was prompted by the Church of Scientology's attempts to remove a promotional video featuring Scientologist Tom Cruise from YouTube. Though YouTube complied with the Church of Scientology's requests to take down the video, other sites such as Gawker.com stated that they will keep hosting the video. One poster admitted to being a part of the effort, writing in a blog post "I have myself, as per instructions, loaded up Gigaloader and started bombarding the Scientology homepage. Theres ''sic'' something in the hilarious anarchy of the net that produces these 'events' every now and again." The poster wrote that "Prompted I think by the Tom Cruise video, a new obsession is taking hold on the internet. An insurgency against The Church of Scientology." Not long after their attack, a previously unknown group called ''The Regime'' used keylogging to gain an administrator password to 711chan.org. "I was actually away from home when I noticed my personal dedi was compromised (my bash_history file had lots of strange entries), so I informed Partyvan IRC staff (the CoS raid room as well as 711chan's IRC room are there) and minutes later, 711chan's machine was also compromised. I arrived home around an hour later, and immediately restored the contents of the 711 machine back to a previous state. I also got the passwords reset on my dedi and that was back in order. I went to bed shortly after that," said Plasma in regards to ''The Regime's'' attack on ''711chan''. "The next morning I wake up to hundreds of MSN windows and emails telling me both servers have been compromised again, and our backups for 711 have been removed. The software we use to run 711chan's machine got bugged up somehow and make it difficult for me to fix things, which is why the site didn't respond at all for most of the day. At the time of writing this I still haven't got the backups reloaded onto the machine," added Plasma. Plasma states that ''711chan.org'' will be off line at least until the end of January, possibly longer, but the site is not expected to change. "I shut down our server to prevent any more damage. Right now, our plan is to lay low and get stuff started up on a more secure machine. We'll be back up by the end of the month, hopefully. 711chan will probably be staying the same it is, however," said Plasma. But they didn't go down without a fight adds Plasma. "As who the "Regime" is? I took a look at one of the things they planted on my machine, which lead me to # regime on GameSurge IRC. `immortal' and about 30 drones were in that channel. Members of the g00ns community (allies of 711, also linked to Partyvan IRC) found out they had dox (documents such as phone numbers, addresses, SSN numbers, names, that sort of thing) on `immortal' and his wife. I actually have these details and attempted to call him, but it went unanswered," said Plasma. The information that ''711chan.org'' obtained was later posted on the website operated by ''The Regime''. ''Wikinews'' has attempted to contact ''The Regime'' a second time regarding the incident, and they have only replied with "your articles are bullshit."
Canadian terror suspect Khadr was shot by U.S. forces before capture: witness GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - A young Canadian terror suspect was shot twice in the back by U.S. forces during a 2002 firefight in Afghanistan after he allegedly killed an American commando, according to a U.S. fighter's eyewitness account revealed Monday. Omar Khadr, who was 15 at the time, already had been injured by shrapnel in his chest and was facing away from the fight when he was shot inside an al-Qaida compound, according to the unidentified U.S. fighter. Defence lawyers said the new details would help them make a case that Khadr should not be tried before a military tribunal because his alleged offences occurred in a combat setting, and therefore should not be considered war crimes committed by an irregular "enemy combatant." The Toronto-born Khadr, now 21, is charged with hurling a grenade that killed army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Speer. The eyewitness also says a second enemy fighter was alive inside the compound when he entered, casting doubt, defence lawyers say, on the government's conclusion that Khadr hurled the grenade. "It does raise questions as to basic facts of the government's case," said the defence lawyer, navy Lt. Cmdr. William Kuebler. The witness account was included in motions handed out to reporters at a pretrial hearing for Khadr, whose case is on track to become the first to go to trial at Guantanamo. At the hearing, defence lawyers urged the judge to drop the charges against Khadr, arguing that prosecuting somebody so young at the time of the alleged offence would violate international treaties protecting child soldiers. The judge, army Col. Peter Brownback, did not immediately issue a ruling. The Pentagon's case against Khadr, twice derailed by legal challenges, is scheduled for trial in May before the first U.S. war-crime tribunals since the Second World War era. As a child, Khadr travelled through Afghanistan and Pakistan and met terrorist leaders including Osama bin Laden through his father, Ahmad Said al-Khadr, a suspected al-Qaida financier who was killed in Pakistan in 2003. He later attended terrorist training camps and planted landmines targeting American convoys, according to court documents. Lawyers said he was not old enough to think differently from his family. "He is a victim of al-Qaida, not a member of al-Qaida," Kuebler told the judge. Military prosecutors rejected arguments that Congress did not intend for the tribunals authorized by a 2006 law to apply to minors. Protections afforded child soldiers under international law do not apply to Khadr, they said. "Any immunities under international law have been abrogated by U.S. prosecution of him," Andy Oldham, a Justice Department prosecutor, told the judge. Khadr was captured in Afghanistan after the firefight and has been held at Guantanamo for more than five years. During the hearing, he did not speak and appeared bored, drawing and fidgeting during the arguments. Khadr faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He has been charged with war crimes including murder, conspiracy, and providing material support to terrorism. Defence lawyers also argued the law authorizing U.S. military tribunals should not apply to Khadr because the alleged offences occurred before the court was created by the U.S. Congress in 2006, after the U.S. Supreme Court threw out the rules for a previous court system. Prosecutors, however, said Congress clearly meant for the tribunals to prosecute terrorism suspects who were involved in or supported the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Human rights observers said the continuing emergence of the new details about the firefight reflected a closed process at Guantanamo. At Khadr's last pretrial hearing in November, his lawyers said they learned only a few days earlier about the existence of an eyewitness whose account of the firefight could help them make a case that he was not an "unlawful enemy combatant" and disqualify him for trial. Kuebler said it was not the same witness. "It emphasizes that we need a truly independent, transparent process," said Jumana Musa, advocacy director of London-based Amnesty International. A Pentagon spokesman, navy Cmdr. Jeffrey Gordon, disputed the contention that the Guantanamo trials are not open, noting the attendance of journalists and independent observers. The military has charged four of about 275 detainees now held at Guantanamo on suspicion of terrorism or links to al-Qaida or the Taliban. Authorities have said they plan to prosecute about 80 prisoners, including the alleged architect of the Sept. 11 attacks and 14 other so-called "high-value" detainees. \|\|\|\|\| (New York, February 1, 2008) – The United States should try Omar Khadr, a Guantanamo detainee arrested when he was 15 years old, in a court that meets juvenile justice and fair trial standards or repatriate him to Canada for rehabilitation, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, and Human Rights First said today in a joint letter to the US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. On February 4, a military commission at Guantanamo Bay will consider whether the United States may proceed in prosecuting Khadr, a Canadian citizen, for war crimes and other offenses in Afghanistan in 2002. If the proceedings go forward, Khadr, now 21, will become the first person in recent years to be tried by a western nation for alleged war crimes committed as a child.“For the past five years, the United States has ignored Khadr’s rights as a child,” said Jennifer Daskal, senior counterterrorism counsel at Human Rights Watch. “The US should not make matters worse by prosecuting him before an unfair military tribunal that fails to recognize his juvenile status at the time of the alleged crime.”US forces captured Khadr after a firefight in Afghanistan in July 2002. He has been charged with murder for allegedly throwing a grenade that killed US Army Sergeant First Class Christopher Speer, as well as attempted murder, conspiracy, providing material support for terrorism, and spying. Khadr has been detained at Guantanamo Bay since November 2002, and has alleged that he was subjected to abusive interrogations and prolonged solitary confinement. He said he was shackled in painful positions, threatened with rape, and used as a “human mop” after he urinated on the floor during one interrogation session.International juvenile justice standards allow for detention of juveniles only as a last resort and require prompt determination of juvenile cases. In addition, treaties binding on the United States oblige governments to provide for the rehabilitation of former child soldiers within their jurisdiction.Khadr, however, was detained for more than two years before he was provided access to an attorney, and for more than three years before he was charged before the initial military commissions at Guantanamo established in 2001. While other children detained at Guantanamo were given special housing and education, and were eventually released to rehabilitation programs in Afghanistan, Khadr has been housed with adult detainees and has had no access to education or other rehabilitation assistance.“Khadr has now spent a quarter of his life behind bars at Guantanamo,” said Daskal. “Yet he is still waiting for the United States to respect his basic rights.”At the hearing that begins on Monday, Khadr’s legal counsel will argue that the US military commissions do not have jurisdiction to proceed against children, and that the case should be dropped. They will also argue that even if the commission decides it can go forward, it lacks jurisdiction to consider the specific offenses with which Khadr has been charged.Salim Hamdan, a 37-year-old Yemeni charged with conspiracy and providing material support for terrorism based on allegations that he served as a driver and bodyguard to al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, will also appear before a military commission next week. Like Khadr, Hamdan will argue that the charges against him should be dismissed.Hamdan’s lawyers will also argue that they should be allowed to interview eight Guantanamo detainees – including high-value detainees such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammad – who may possess exculpatory or other relevant information regarding the facts in his case.The government contends that other Guantanamo Bay detainees are presumptively off limits as witnesses, and cited fears that at least some of them might reveal classified evidence regarding the CIA.“It’s hard to see how Hamdan could ever get a fair trial if his lawyers can’t talk to key witnesses simply because they have been subject to an illegal CIA detention program and possibly mistreated,” Daskal said.Other than Khadr and Hamdan, only one person is currently facing charges before the commissions. Mohammad Jawad, a 23-year-old Afghan who has been in US custody since he was 17, is being charged with attempted murder for allegedly throwing a hand grenade into a vehicle carrying two American soldiers in Afghanistan in 2002. The charges against Jawad were approved by the Bush administration on January 30 and he will likely make his first appearance before the commissions in early March.David Hicks, the only person to be convicted by the military commissions, pled guilty in April 2006 to one count of providing material support to terrorism and has since then completed his nine-month sentence in his native Australia.Approximately 270 other detainees continue to be held at Guantanamo without charge. Under the terms of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 , they are prohibited from bringing habeas corpus petitions to challenge the basis for their detention. The US Supreme Court is actively considering the legality of those habeas corpus-stripping provisions, and a decision is expected by June. \|\|\|\|\| Lawyers for Omar Khadr will ask the U.S. military to drop charges faced by the young Canadian as they attend a pretrial hearing at the Guantanamo Naval Base on Monday. They have maintained that Khadr, the only Canadian being held at the military detention facility in Cuba, should go free because trying him for crimes he allegedly committed as a minor contravenes international law. Khadr, 23, has been in custody at Guantanamo Bay since 2002. He was arrested at age 15, following a shootout in Afghanistan. Omar Khadr in a 2002 file photo, at age 15, around the time he was captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Khadr's lawyers say he should be freed because he was a minor when he was arrested six years ago. (Canadian Press) He is accused of murder in the death of American medic Sgt. First Class Christopher J. Speer. Khadr is also charged with spying, conspiracy and supporting terrorism. Dennis Edney, Khadr's Canadian lawyer, told CBC Newsworld on Sunday that one of the pretrial motions will ask that Khadr be treated as a child soldier. "Here he is, as alleged by the Americans, to be picked up in a battlefield, and therefore, why is he not being treated as a child soldier?: Edney said. "The Bush administration has refused to do so. We'll be asking the judge to consider the law that applies and make a ruling in that regard." Kadhr's military defence team has 15 different motions prepared. Some essentially assert that the military commission process itself is illegitimate because it was set up by Congress at the urging of the Bush White House in 2006, four years after the alleged crimes were committed. "Khadr's [U.S. military] lawyer, Lt.-Cmdr. Bill Kuebler, says that's a violation of a very entrenched legal principle: you can't pass a law, define crimes, and then retroactively go back and convict people," CBC journalist Bill Gillespie explained. The defence team will also seek rulings, either Monday or on another day, on motions saying Khadr was 15 at the time of his arrest, and that under international law should be regarded as a child soldier. Kuebler and other defence lawyers were expected to argue that the military commission doesn't have the jurisdiction to try a child, that they only have the jurisdiction to try adults, and therefore on those grounds, as well, the charges should be dismissed. Groups want PM's intervention Human rights groups say Prime Minister Stephen Harper should intervene in the case. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, and Human Rights First are urging Harper to formally request that the United States either try Khadr under juvenile justice rules, or send him back to Canada. Foreign policy analyst Christopher Sands, who is with the Hudson Institute in Washington — a public policy research group — said U.S. prosecutors are keen on reaching a resolution. "After several hearings over whether his status was correct or not under U.S. law, whether he could be tried as a military combatant or had other conditions which should be applied, we've gone through a lot of this now over the last couple of years, and finally we're getting to the point where we may actually see a trial," Sands said.	Khadr, at the age of fourteen.A military tribunal at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp is hearing arguments today over the legality of trying Canadian Omar Khadr for alleged war crimes, given his status as a minor at the time of the incident. Khadr is charged with the murder of Sgt. Christopher Speer, in addition to attempted murder, conspiracy, providing material support for terrorism, and spying. The charges stem from a 2002 incident in which the 15-year old allegedly threw a grenade at U.S. troops after they directed an air-strike at the Afghan compound he was sharing with Mujahideen insurgents. A number of groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have sent a letter to Secretary of Defence Robert Gates alleging that the military tribunal is "not equipped to meet juvenile justice standards" and that Khadr should either be tried before a civilian court or repatriated to Canada. Edney (L) and Kuebler (R) Jennifer Daskal, senior counter-terrorism counsel at Human Rights Watch explained that the United States "should not make matters worse by prosecuting him before an unfair military tribunal." Khadr's lawyer Dennis Edney challenged the attempts to label the 21-year old as a war criminal asking "...Why is he not being treated as a child soldier?" Lt Cdr Bill Kuebler, the American military commissions counsel in the case, agreed that the charges should be dismissed since the tribunal lacked the jurisdiction to prosecute minors. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper however, has said that his country will not intervene in the case to seek extradition of Khadr, re-affirming Canada's status as the only Western country who has not demanded the release or extradition of their citizens held in Guantanamo. Claiming to have been abused, threatened with rape and forced into painful positions since his arrival in Guantanamo in 2002 , Omar Khadr has been the subject of two psychiatric assessments that claimed he suffered from mental disorder as a result of his imprisonment, and was at risk of suicide. Khadr was previously charged by the Guantanamo military commission in November 2005, before the judicial body was ruled "unlawful" by the Supreme Court. Last June, a military judge dismissed a second series of charges against Khadr because his 2004 Combatant Status Review Tribunal had classified as an "enemy combatant" rather than an "illegal enemy combatant", meaning that he did not qualify under the Military Commissions Act. Three months later, however, the Court of Military Commission Review ruled that the Commission would be allowed to make its own determination of the legality of a combatant.
BBC Television Centre up for sale The BBC has been making programmes at Television Centre for more than 50 years Continue reading the main story Related Stories Television Centre, the landmark west London home of BBC television and news, has gone on the market. The corporation said it was inviting bid proposals from people looking for a conventional, freehold property or those interested in a joint venture. The latter could see listed parts of the building preserved in a "hub for creative businesses and a visitor destination". The doughnut-shaped building first opened in Shepherd's Bush in 1960. Among the shows recorded in its studios were Fawlty Towers, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Blue Peter and Strictly Come Dancing, as well as earlier series of Doctor Who. The site is also home to the Blue Peter garden, which will be relocated to a studio roof at the Salford site. The BBC said the main aim of the sale, first announced in 2007, was to maximise the site's value to the BBC and licence fee payers. The 14-acre site, where 5,000 staff are based, is expected to be empty by 2015. Chris Kane, head of BBC Workplace, said: "With high investor demand for commercial property in London and a shortage of landmark sites as distinctive as Television Centre, we anticipate strong competition for both conventional and innovative proposals." Richard Deverell, W12 programme director, said: "Television Centre has played an extraordinary and central role in the history of the BBC, which will not be forgotten." BBC News is set to move to central London next year while BBC Sport, children's programmes and TV's Breakfast are moving to Salford, Greater Manchester. \|\|\|\|\| LONDON—British Broadcasting Corp. on Monday took the first steps toward selling Television Centre, home to BBC Vision and BBC News, a move that could fetch as much as £300 million ($490 million) at a time when the media organization is under pressure to cut costs. The corporation initially decided to sell Television Centre in 2007, just before the economic downturn, but only in November appointed commercial property consultants...	The BBC Television Centre in 2007 The has been placed up for sale by the corporation. Plans to sell the centre originally came forward in 2007 but the BBC only appointed Lambert Smith Hampton, a commercial property consultant, in November of last year. The building which is based in , London was opened in 1960 and is the home of and . The BBC stated they were interested in preserving parts of the building while setting up a "hub for creative businesses and a visitor destination." According to the head of BBC Workplace, , "With high investor demand for commercial property in London and a shortage of landmark sites as distinctive as Television Centre, we anticipate strong competition for both conventional and innovative proposals." The property has been valued between £150 million to £300 million but is expected to fetch around £200 million. 5000 staff are currently based at the centre which BBC bosses hope to be empty by 2015. The BBC is creating a new development in Salford, Greater Manchester. Several departments including , , and children's shows are moving to Salford while BBC News is being relocated within central London.
Rooney ends Roma resistance Match report by Simon Hart from Old Trafford AS Roma avoided another embarrassment but they still left Old Trafford a beaten side after Wayne Rooney's second-half goal proved enough to earn Manchester United FC a 1-0 victory and a three-point advantage at the top of UEFA Champions League Group F. One goal enough For United, it seems one goal, rather than the seven they scored against Roma in April, is more than enough right now. This was their sixth 1-0 success in eight matches and it came via a player who appears to enjoy facing the Giallorossi – Rooney driving in his third goal in as many games against the Serie A team after latching on to a Nani through pass 20 minutes from time. Goalkeeping debutants Given Roma's desire to make amends for last term's 7-1 humbling here and United's own early-season goal shortage, it was no real surprise that neither of the UEFA Champions League debutants between the posts, United's Tomasz Kuszczak and Roma's Gianluca Curci, was seriously tested in the early stages. Curci was playing after first-choice keeper Doni fell ill earlier in the day yet, despite that setback, it was Roma who looked the more assured side in possession with captain Francesco Totti prominent in most of their best work. Totti threat After finding his range with a couple of long-range strikes straight at Kuszczak, Totti had the Polish custodian struggling to gather one low free-kick shortly after the half-hour. There was also one delicious diagonal ball from the Roma No10 which, dissecting the United back line, seemed to have sent Mancini clear before the assistant's flag halted his run. At the other end Cristiano Ronaldo headed over from Nani's cross on 22 minutes before Nani then showed some lovely footwork to get past two black shirts down the left and deliver a far-post cross which the unmarked Rooney volleyed over. Game comes to life After that tentative opening period, the game came to life after the restart. Totti missed a golden opportunity when Nemanja Vidić's slip left him with a clear sight on goal and he blazed his shot over. It was the story of Roma's night, with Totti then laying the ball back to Alberto Aquilani who flashed it wide. For all the visitors' probing, United began to impose themselves in enemy territory, however, and after Nani's cross had struck the crossbar, Rooney's drive warmed Curci's fingertips. Rooney then lifted the ball over the Roma back line for Ronaldo to backheel into the net but he was offside. The reprieve was temporary as Rooney fired a low shot across Curci and in off the far post for his first goal of the season. No luck Roma sought a reply but Luciano Spalletti's men could be justified in feeling Old Trafford really is not their lucky ground: David Pizarro – a replacement for the injured Aquilani – shot low at Kuszczak, Mauro Esposito spurned another late opportunity and, in between, the United goal survived an almighty scramble. Roma can take heart but it is United who took the points. ©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| By Howard Nurse Rooney gave Curci no chance with a sweetly-struck winner There was to be no repeat of the 7-1 drubbing handed out to Roma in April by United in last season's quarter-final. Chances were at a premium with Cristiano Ronaldo and Francesco Totti restricted to long-range efforts. Rooney broke the deadlock with a sharp 15-yard finish after he was set up by Nani to leave United three points clear at the top of Group F. United seem to have a habit of winning 1-0 and once again they failed to hit anything like top form against a resolute Roma outfit. The entire match was a tactical affair in which United demonstrated plenty of intent but very little of the attacking verve which served them so well last season. Roma, who were knocked off the top of Serie A on Saturday when they slumped to a 4-1 home defeat to Inter Milan, were content to soak up what United threw at them. 606: DEBATE The result may stay the same but the performances are getting better Reddevil1288 Both sides went into the game with stand-in goalkeepers - but neither was seriously tested with long-distance shots from Francesco Totti and Cristiano Ronaldo causing few alarms. United - with Louis Saha starting a game for the first time since February - began passing the ball around crisply but Roma quickly smothered the Red Devils with Daniele de Rossi brilliantly screening the visiting defence. Totti's 30-yard free-kick evaded the wall and Tomasz Kuszczak, in for the injured Edwin van der Sar, needed two attempts to cushion the ball to his chest. United should have gone ahead on 33 minutes when Nani got round the back of the Roma defence only for a carefree Rooney to volley over from a good position. That apart, Sir Alex Ferguson will have been disappointed to see his side lacking momentum in wide positions with Ronaldo and Nani dropping deep far too often. If United were too relaxed in the first period, they immediately threatened at the start of the second when a Ronaldo raid down the right was cleared by a relieved Phillipe Mexes in front of his own goal. Roma spurned their best chance when Giuly set up Totti, who blazed over the advancing Kuszczak from close range five minutes after the restart. Alberto Aquilani fired another warning to United moments later when he fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box as the Italians sensed a goal was possible. United were still struggling to get sufficient men forward with Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick content to sit deep in the crowded midfield and unable to make their mark on proceedings. Nani enjoyed one of his best displays for Man Utd so far Rooney produced a bright moment when he cut inside the left side of the Roma defence before unleashing a powerful low shot which Curci pushed away for a corner. Carlos Tevez replaced the tiring Saha and United soon had the ball in the net when the Argentine found Ronaldo, who audaciously back-heeled home from an offside position. Rooney clinched victory 20 minutes from time with an exquisite finish to raise the roof off Old Trafford. Carrick found Nani and he cleverly played the ball through to Rooney who turned outside and found the net off the inside of the far post with a crisp 15-yard shot. Tevez almost made it 2-0 with a sizzling 22-yard effort while Kuszczak did well at the other end to collect a well-struck Simone Perrotta effort. And United finished the game with 10 men after Cristiano Ronaldo left the field with a head wound which required four stitches. Roma should have levelled three minutes from time when Totti played the ball back for Mauro Esposito, who carelessly blazed wide from 10 yards with United stretched at the back. Ferguson said beforehand that he would settle for a 1-0 win. It was not always pretty but it went to script and United are well on their way towards qualifying for the knockout stages. "The second half we improved and the goal was a fabulous goal. "Luck happens in football, no question about that. I think we got a break in the last 15 minutes of the match when they started to risk a bit." "Even when you are playing against opponents of Manchester United's stature, with the players they have." Man Utd: Kuszczak, O'Shea, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Nani (Giggs 79), Saha (Tevez 66), Rooney (Anderson 84). Subs Not Used: Heaton, Pique, Simpson, Eagles. Goal: Rooney 70. Roma: Curci, Cicinho, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto, De Rossi, Aquilani (Pizarro 61), Giuly (Esposito 79), Perrotta, Mancini (Vucinic 74), Totti. Subs Not Used: Bertagnoli, Antunes, Barusso, Brighi. Booked: Mexes. Att: 73,652. Ref: Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).	Manchester United defeated AS Roma 1-0 in Group F of the UEFA Champions League 2007-08 at Old Trafford, Manchester, England. Wayne Rooney scored the only goal of the match, his first goal of the season for Manchester United, in the 70th minute. Manchester United currently lead Group F with two wins from two matches. AS Roma are second on goal difference ahead of Sporting CP, who defeated FC Dynamo Kyiv 2-1.
Keep up with local news and get breaking news alerts with our e-mail newsletter Tim Horton's and Cold Stone Creamery will soon be combining their menus at some locations. The Ontario, Canada-based coffee and doughnut chain announced a co-branding deal with Scottsdale, Ariz.-based ice cream chain Cold Stone, owned by Kahala Corp. A three-month test of two stores in Rhode Island led to a double-digit percentage gain in sales, said Kevin Blackwell, chief executive officer of Cold Stone parent Kahala Corp. The companies are developing menu items that incorporate products from both restaurants. The companies are working with franchisees to build Cold Stone stores within 50 Tim Hortons locations, while another 50 of the coffee shops will go into the ice cream parlors. The restaurants should begin opening in the next 90 days. The renovations are expected to cost about $100,000 per location, Blackwell said. Cold Stone has locations in stores in Hamilton and Oxford. Tim Horton's has a location in Monroe. The companies will be co-branding stores in Ohio as well as Michigan, New York, Maine and Connecticut, according to a news release. Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com. \|\|\|\|\| Web Exclusive Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Will Team Up in 100 Stores Execs hope the partnership will extend popular dayparts and fuel menu innovations. Tim Hortons Inc., the No. 1 quick-serve chain in Canada, and Kahala Corp., parent company of Cold Stone Creamery and 11 other brands, announced February 6 that 100 existing Cold Stone and Tim Hortons stores will enter into a co-branding initiative. Fifty stores from each brand will add the other chain's menu to its own by spring 2009. To kick off the initiative, an Ohio Cold Stone store opened this past Saturday with the addition of Tim Hortons' complete menu. As opposed to some co-branding efforts that end up taking away from one brand's business, Cold Stone and Tim Hortons executives say their partnership is complementary because the two chains serve different dayparts: Cold Stone does most of its business in the evening, while Tim Hortons' offerings of coffee, doughnuts, sandwiches, and soups make it a more natural choice for breakfast and lunch crowds. “We're very excited about the complementary daypart piece,” says David Clanachan, chief operations officer of Tim Hortons. “It's something unique in what we see from a co-branding perspective: It's not cannibalistic, and it leverages existing assets and people and resources.” The co-branded stores will be located in Michigan, Western New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Maine, and Connecticut, all of which are states where both companies already have a strong brand presence. The decision follows a successful test run, launched in November, of Cold Stone sections in two Rhode Island Tim Hortons stores. Lee Knowlton, chief operating officer of Kahala Corp., says both stores experienced incremental sales increases and that the initiative didn't suffer from any of the trade off effect that can occur when customers opt for new menu items at the expense of existing ones. “You could really see the synergy between the two brands,” Knowlton says. “It's exceeded both of our expectations.” The co-branded stores will offer both restaurants' full menus and digital menuboards with video graphics to familiarize customers with each brand. To accommodate the new traffic patterns, co-branded Cold Stone stores will extend their hours to open at either 6 or 7 a.m. (from 10 or 11 a.m.), and some Tim Hortons locations will stay open until midnight on weekends (instead of their previous close time of 10 or 11 p.m.). It's something unique in what we see from a co-branding perspective: It's not cannibalistic, and it leverages existing assets and people and resources.” Participating stores will feature new co-branded menu items, as well, something Clanachan says came at the request of customers. “You see a customer come in [who is] a Tim Horton's customer and say, 'Can I get a scoop of that ice cream in my coffee?'” Clanachan says. “There's product creation that's happening.” New menu offerings will include muffins a la mode and coffee floats. Other than that, the stores will operate the same as the two Rhode Island test locations. When customers enter the store, they can order from Cold Stone's menu on the left or from Tim Hortons' on the right. All customers then move to a register in the center of the restaurant. Knowlton says even small details such as the two brands' coordinating color schemes made the collaboration seamless. “They fit together really naturally,” Knowlton says. “If you were to walk into one of these stores, you would say, 'Wow, that's always been there.'” Robin Hilmantel is an editorial intern at QSR. \|\|\|\|\| Feb. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Tim Hortons Inc., Canada’s largest restaurant company, and ice-cream chain Cold Stone Creamery will create 100 co-branded stores in the U.S. to expand sales throughout the day. A three-month test of two stores in Rhode Island led to a double-digit percentage gain in sales, said Kevin Blackwell, chief executive officer of Cold Stone parent Kahala Corp. The companies are also developing menu items that incorporate products from both restaurants. Tim Hortons is looking to broaden its American presence after a third-quarter loss in the U.S. prompted them to shut 15 locations in New England. The coffee-shop chain competes with McDonald’s Corp., Starbucks Corp. and Dunkin’ Donuts Inc. at its 500 U.S. locations. Cold Stone, which allows customers to choose from a variety of toppings to mix with their ice cream, wants to expand customer traffic during mornings and midday. “This truly hits that morning and lunch day-part that will help drive sales,” Blackwell said in a telephone interview yesterday. “The results have been fantastic.” The companies are testing product combinations, including Tim Hortons coffee with a scoop of Cold Stone’s French vanilla ice cream and a muffin a la mode, said Lee Knowlton, chief operating officer of Kahala. The co-branded stores may feature the new items within four to six weeks, he said. Doughnuts, Ice Cream The restaurants are expected to open in the next 90 days in the northern U.S., stretching from Maine to Michigan. The companies will work with franchisees to build Cold Stone stores within 50 Tim Hortons locations, while another 50 of the coffee shops will go into the ice cream parlors. The renovations are expected to cost about $100,000 per location, Blackwell said. During mornings, the menus will primarily focus on Tim Hortons coffees, doughnuts and pastries, with some information on Cold Stone’s ice-cream cakes and pies, before shifting the emphasis by evening, Blackwell said. He hopes to duplicate or top the double-digit sales gains from the first two stores as the warmer weather approaches. The companies may expand the venture based on how the initial 100 stores perform, he said. “The brands are very complementary,” said David Clanachan, chief operating officer of Tim Hortons. “It’s not cannibalistic. We’re not fighting for the same food-service dollar.” Tim Hortons, based in Oakville, Ontario, rose 10 cents to C$29.90 at 4 p.m. in Toronto Stock Exchange trading. Kahala, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, bought Cold Stone Creamery in 2007. The closely held company owns 13 brands including Ranch 1 Grilled Chicken and Blimpie sandwich shops. To contact the reporter on this story: Courtney Dentch in New York at cdentch1@bloomberg.net. To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jennifer Sondag at jsondag@bloomberg.net. \|\|\|\|\| LOS ANGELES, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Coffee and doughnut shop Tim Hortons Inc THI.TO and ice cream shop Cold Stone Creamery announced plans on Friday to test a combination of their brands in a total of 100 stores in the United States in a bid to boost traffic. Fifty stores from each brand will be involved in the test, which will focus on existing restaurants in Michigan, western New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Maine and Connecticut. Tim Hortons test shops will add a section that sells Cold Stone ice cream and Cold Stone stores will add Tim Hortons menu items. Cold Stone gets most of its traffic and sales in the evening while Tim Hortons’ main business is breakfast and lunch, said Lee Knowlton, chief operating officer of Kahala Corp, Cold Stone’s parent. “We have it covered from breakfast to after-dinner treats,” Knowlton said. Tim Hortons has roughly 3,300 restaurants in Canada and the Northeast United States. Cold Stone Creamery has more than 1,450 shops in 11 countries. (Reporting by Lisa Baertlein, editing by Matthew Lewis)	Tim Hortons, a popular Canadian express coffee and doughnut chain, has announced that they will be co-branding with another popular chain, Cold Stone Creamery, an American ice cream parlor chain. The deal includes a total of 100 new stores, at CA$121,690 (US$100,000) each. Each company will have 50 stores that they will build as, or convert into, dual-operation franchises. Each of the 50 stores will offer menus from each company and be located in 7 states, mostly in the Northeastern U.S.. Executives at Tim Hortons believe that mixing the two together is perfect because Tim Hortons makes most of their profit in the morning, while the Creameries are more popular in the evening. The idea proved successful when tested for three months in Rhode Island, in two different stores. "We're very excited about the complementary daypart piece. It's something unique in what we see from a co-branding perspective," said Tim Hortons chief of operations, David Clanachan. Construction has already started and stores are expected to open in May. Tim Hortons was founded by Canadian ice hockey player Tim Horton. The first store opened in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964. In July of 2007, there were over 2,700 locations in Canada and 500 in the U.S.. Cold Stone Creamery was founded in 1988 in Scottsdale, Arizona. There are over 1,400 operation, in locations such as Japan, South Korea and the U.S..
At least 38 people have been killed after a fire engulfed a drugs-treatment facility in a city outside Kazakhstan's largest city Almaty, emergency officials say. The fire, whose cause has not been established, started at roughly 5:30am (2330 GMT) on Saturday in Taldykorgan. Officials said the blaze spread rapidly because firefighters were not informed quickly enough. The Kazakh emergency situations ministry said in a statement: "As a result of the catastrophic situation ... According to tentative data, 38 people were killed, of which 36 were patients and two were medical personel." The ministry said rescuers were able to save 40 patients and medical staff, while firefighters took hours to put out the blaze, which spread out over an area of almost 650 square metres. Karim Masimov, the Kazakh prime minister, has called for the creation of a commission to investigate the cause of the fire, according to a statement on the government's main web portal. "The country's prime minister has entrusted the commission with carefully investigating the cause of this tragedy, and taking exhaustive measures to render assistance to the victims," it said. High-level panel The high-level commission will be led by Serik Akhmedov, the vice-prime minister, the statement said. Deadly fires are common in the former Soviet Union, with retirement homes and other state-run facilities particularly prone to such accidents. In 2006, 45 women were killed when a fire erupted at a drugs treatment clinic in Moscow. The women had been trapped behind locked doors and barred windows during the inferno. \|\|\|\|\| Firefighters took hours to tackle the blaze A fire at a hospital facility for drug addicts in the city of Taldykorgan in south-eastern Kazakhstan has killed 38 people, according to officials. The country's emergency ministry said 40 staff and patients were rescued. The fire was large, it said, covering 650 sq m (7,000 sq ft). Prime Minister Karim Masimov is reported to have ordered an inquiry. Safety regulations are often violated in Kazakhstan, with frequent workplace accidents and fires as a result. There were almost 10,000 fires in Kazakhstan in the first eight months of 2009, AP news agency quoted the emergency ministry as saying. Commission According to one report, firefighters were still tackling the blaze hours after it started. There are as yet no details on the cause of the fire, which broke out early on Sunday, or why it was so deadly. Prime Minister Masimov immediately ordered a commission to be set up to investigate the cause of the fire, a government spokeswoman said, according to Russian news agency Ria-Novosti. "Today the head of the government signed such a decree; the commission will be led by Deputy Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov who, in the nearest future, will be flying from Astana to Taldykorgan," a spokeswoman was quoted as saying.	A fire at a drug treatment hospital near Almaty, Kazakhstan, killed it least 38 people on Saturday, authorities have said. Ten more people have been hospitalised, two of them in critical condition. The blaze started at approximately 05.30 local time (23.30 UTC) in Taldykorgan. The fire spread quickly, consuming almost 650 square metres of land. "According to tentative data, 38 people were killed, of which 36 were patients and two were medical personnel," the national emergency situation ministry stated. The ministry says that emergency crews managed to rescue up to forty people and medical personnel from the burning building. Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Bozhko said that the inhabitants of the building may have been hampered in their escape by locked doors and barred windows. There was apparently no fire alarm on the premises, and firefighters had not been alerted to the fire quickly enough to contain it. In a statement on the Internet, Kazakh prime minister Karim Masimov called for a commission to investigate the cause of the fire: "The country's prime minister has entrusted the commission with carefully investigating the cause of this tragedy, and taking exhaustive measures to render assistance to the victims."
In its long-lasting battle against YouTube, Turkey officials banned a new set of Google-owned IPs in an attempt to stop Turkish Internet users from accessing the dreaded video platform. According to the online edition of the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet, Turkey’s Telecommunications Communication Presidency (TIB) came out Friday June 4th and announced that it blocked access to some Google IP addresses due to legal reasons. The news came after users started experiencing problems since the middle of the week with services like Google Translate, Google Analytics, Google Docs, Google Tools and Google Books. To set things straight, nothing new happened between Google and Turkey to trigger such a harsh reaction from Ankara government. The situation between the Turkish officials and Mountain-View management hasn't changed since March 2007, when because of a defamatory YouTube video against the country's founding father, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the presidency decided through a court order to ban access to YouTube in their country. As Hürriyet shows, aided by Turkish lawyer Mehmet Ali Köksal, the court order and the government's recent actions don't show an escalation or a conflictual position against Google, but more a technical mishap from the Ankara officials. Due to the fact that Google owns its personal DNS from which it can change the IPs of its own services according to their own needs and various technical reasons, it's serving Google Search, YouTube, and its huge portfolio of services practically from a fixed range of Internet addresses. When Turkey technicians tried to ban a new set of YouTube IPs, they again narrowed down the small area of Google IPs. But this time around, they managed to restrict access of other Google services which now may use former YouTube IPs, already banned across Turkey in the last two years. So what did we learn from this? If you live in country A and hate country B, and would want to see citizens of country B have a miserable life, just shoot a video in which you are making fun of country B's government / history, put it on YouTube and voila. Country B's government will just go crazy and ban the entire Google network (or Facebook, or Wikipedia, or Flickr, or Twitter, etc, see example 1 or example 2). \|\|\|\|\| BAR: The Telecommunications Communication Presidency says it blocked access to some Google IP addresses 'due to legal reasons.' Translation and document-sharing tools are among the Google sites recently barred in Turkey, which has maintained a widely unpopular two-year ban on YouTube for perceived insults against the country’s founder. Turkey’s Telecommunications Communication Presidency, or TİB, released an official statement Friday saying it had blocked access to some Google IP addresses “because of legal reasons.” Internet users in the country have recently complained about difficulties in accessing docs.google.com, translate.google.com, books.google.com, google-analytics.com and tools.google.com. According to the TİB statement, some Google applications may be completely inaccessible or, at the very least, take a long time to load, a move that may affect websites, portals and even the performance of individual computers. “Leaving the legal status aside, first of all, they have victimized us,” lawyer Mehmet Ali Köksal said when asked to explain the vague statement from the TİB, adding that an Information Technology Law Congress, in which TİB representatives are expected to participate, will be held in İzmir between Wednesday and Friday. “We have created a Google document [page] and were running our operations from there; now we cannot communicate either,” he said. Köksal said the TİB’s act does not punish Google but only individuals, adding that the directorate’s bans are akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater. “They have the court decision to ban Google sites, which is very wrong but the court has decided [so],” he said. “There are also some controversial decisions on banning YouTube; absurd things like banning it while it is already banned.” Access to YouTube has been banned by Turkish authorities since May 5, 2008, because of videos deemed offensive to Turkish Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Because Google owns YouTube, the sites’ Domain Name Systems are the same. When a user types a domain name into the address bar of a browser, the DNS directs the browser to the site’s actual address, or IP number. Internet service providers in Turkey, however, redirect browsers when users attempt to access a banned site such as YouTube; instead of the site they wanted, they get a message saying “Access to this site is banned by court order.” To avoid such controls, many users change their DNS settings, allowing them to bypass Turkish Internet service providers. “I guess they are trying to bar the access to those DNS providers,” said Köksal. “The explanation they made contradicts itself somewhat. They say, ‘There is a court order, so we are turning the functioning of the Internet in Turkey upside down a little.’” Many people have criticized the YouTube ban, arguing that it is illogical to ban the whole site for a single video, Köksal said, adding that authorities are now attempting to ban Google services that are not even the target of court orders. “The content providers sometimes change their DNSs. It is a wrong act to bar other services of Google because of the changed DNS,” he said. “This is like shutting down a printing district when the aim is shutting down one newspaper.” \|\|\|\|\| Turkish ISPs Block Several Google Services? According to numerous Twitter sources, as well as Turkish blogs, ISPs in Turkey have started blocking several Google services. Google’s translation of one such report reveals that ISPs have sent emails to customers, informing them that the services have been blocked for legal reasons. It’s currently unclear exactly which services have been blocked; one report claims that the unavailable services include Google Analytics, Mail and Docs. The same source claims that the Turkish government actually tried to block YouTube’s new IPs and (perhaps inadvertently) blocked a number of other Google services in the process. *Update: according to commenter Emrah Gunduz, the unavailable services are “Google Translate, Sites, Code, AppEngine, Docs, Groups, Feedburner. Other Google services are reachable, but Analytics and Adsense are working slower.” The news comes hot on the heels of Bangladesh and Pakistan’s blockade of Facebook. In Turkey, many popular sites such as YouTube and Last.FM have been blocked from time to time. Now, other Google services join the list; if the reports are true, this could cause numerous problems to individuals and companies who rely on using Google’s services in their work and daily life. Thanks to Oğuz Serdar for the tip. For more social media coverage, follow Mashable Social Media on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook Tags: ban, blockade, Google, turkey \|\|\|\|\| Desde primera hora de este sábado, ELMUNDO.es no se puede consultar desde Turquía. El acceso a esta página web ha sido bloqueado por el gobierno turco, que ya había amenazado con llevar a cabo esta censura el pasado miércoles si no se retiraba una noticia relativa a un vídeo sexual del líder de la oposición. Cuando se teclea 'www.elmundo.es' aparece una pantalla con el siguiente mensaje: "After techncal analysis and legal evaluation based on the catalog crimes of the Law no 5651, Administrative mesaure has been taken for this website (elmundo.es) according to decision no 421.02.00.2010-165899 dated 14/05/2010 of "Telekomünikasyon İletişim Başkanlığı". El pasado miércoles, el gobierno turco ya amenazó con bloquear ELMUNDO.es por la publicación de una información, firmada por el colaborador del periódico Fran Martínez desde Estambul, que relataba la dimisión del líder de la oposición Deniz Baykal, después de que apareciera un vídeo en el que se le ve desnudo con su antigua secretaria (ahora diputada) Nesrin Baytok. Las imágenes fueron publicadas por el site www.habervaktim.com, y recogidas después por otras tantas páginas de vídeos. La primera advertencia llegó a la redacción de ELMUNDO.es la tarde del miércoles. Una carta firmada por la Autoridad de Información y Tecnología de la Comunicación, entidad dependiente de la Presidencia de Comunicación del Gobierno turco, amenazó con el bloqueo inminente del sitio web. "Dado que estamos recibiendo muchas quejas con respecto a la dirección [la de la noticia en cuestión] y puesto que dicho contenido de Internet está prohibido en Turquía, le rogamos que eliminarlo en un plazo de una hora, o su sitio será bloqueado inmediatamente en Turquía", dice la carta. Finalmente ha sido a primera hora de este sábado cuando las autoridades han bloqueado el acceso a la página. Una maniobra que ha tenido gran repercusión en la prensa turca y de la que se han hecho eco diarios como 'Gazeteciler', 'Aktif Haber' o 'Beyaz Gazete'. La 'libertad de prensa' en Turquía Reporteros Sin Fronteras sitúa a Turquía en la posición 122 de 175 países en cuanto a libertad de prensa. En la clasificación del año pasado estaba en la posición 102, por lo que ha bajado 20 posiciones. 40 periodistas están encarcelados actualmente en Turquía según el Sindicato de Periodistas de Turquía. 2.601 páginas web han sido cerrados en los últimos dos años, entre ellos Myspace y Youtube. Según informa Fran Martínez, el vídeo ha sido prohibido en Turquía "porque hay una investigación en curso y viola el derecho a la privacidad del Sr. Baykal". \|\|\|\|\| by Handan T. Satiroglu - Turkey - Surfing YouTube.com, a favorite global pastime, is anything but a predictable experience within the confines of the Turkish Republic. Before browsing, one has to wonder, “Is it blocked?” “Unblocked?” or “Is the entire site blocked or just a few select videos?” Turkey first denied access to Youtube in March of 2007 because Greek nationalists had posted derogatory videos of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the much-revered founder of modern day Turkey. After a brief lifting of the ban, in September 2007, a series of anti-nationalist videos incurred the wrath of Turkish authorities once again, and led to Youtube’s subsequent banning. Although the site was intermittently available soon after, once videos defaming Ataturk and the Republic in general resurfaced, the block was promptly reinstituted in January 2008. On this autumn-tinged October morning, the site remains inaccessible from my temporary home in Turkey. In a rising tide of intimidation and restriction of freedom of speech in Turkey, Youtube is hardly an isolated case. Although Youtube’s blockage has become emblematic of the wider issue of censorship, it is estimated that 853 different sites are currently blocked in Turkey – positioning Turkey in the league of countries such as Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. The wide gamut of sites that read in bold red letters in Turkish Bu siteye erisim mahkeme karariyla engellenmistir (access to this site has been blocked by a court decision) include but are certainly not limited to: GeoCities, WordPress, Careerbuilder, Paris-based Dailymotion, CNN Political Ticker, independent news portals such as Bianet, sites purporting evolution rather than creationism (like that of eminent evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins), as well as numerous Turkish blogging sites. Paris-based Reporters Without Borders condemns the denying of sites as a “serious violation of free speech and freedom of information,” and urges authorities to restore access. November 1, 2007 is infamously noted in Turkish communications history for marking the date of increased freedom of speech violations when Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) adopted the Internet Publication Law No. 5621, which includes stringent guidelines for what is deemed appropriate online content. In addition, under this new law, all commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are obliged to save and store details of all the websites visited by their subscribers for the length of at least one year – a violation which the Turkish ISP community described as a “gross violation of privacy.” The new regulations have outraged human rights experts and Internet service provider businesses in the country, so much so that this past June, academics, lawyers and ISP professionals gathered in Abant, a small, mountainous Northwestern town, to discuss at length the past, present and future of censorship in Turkey. Sponsored by the Ankara Bar Association and turkinternet.com , the two-day meeting “convened in an attempt to find solutions for the disturbing frequency by which the Turkish government has been blocking websites, especially in the last year,” wrote Today’s Zaman, Turkey’s third largest English language newspaper. Turkey has long had a contentious relationship with freedom of speech. The question of “thought freedom” burst into the international limelight last year with the assassination of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink who was charged on three separate occasions with the crime of “insulting Turkishness” under Article 301. Since the draconian Turkish Penal Code Article 301 was introduced in 2005 and made it a crime to insult “Turkishness”, – replacing an even more stringent law – 96 writers and intellectuals have been prosecuted, including high profile cases such as novelist Elif Safak, slain leftist journalist Ahmet Taner, and Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk. Oktay Eksi, a critical Turkish columnist put the issue of censorship into more perspective in his daily column in the mainstream Turkish newspaper Hurriyet: “Since shortly before the inception of the Republic in 1923, a journalist has been murdered on average every 1.5 years in Turkey,” he lamented. According to Reporters Without Borders, Turkey ranks 101st in the world in the area of freedom of press, only trailing behind Uganda, Lebanon, and Indonesia. – not a record that bodes well with the country’s European ambitions. Thus, given its extensive human rights violations, it is hardly surprising that the Turkish Republic has stamped another restrictive law on its citizens. In an interview with me, Dr. Howard Eissenstat, of Seton Hall and the Crown Center, explains that the new Internet law is “part and parcel of a worrying network of laws – of which Article 301 is the most prominent – that fundamentally limits freedom of expression in Turkey.” Most worrisome is the new law’s ability to incriminate even those in chat rooms. Fikret Ilkiz, lawyer of Turkey’s left leaning newspaper Cumhuriyet (read widely by Turkey’s educated elite), believes Turkey is on a slippery slope with a law whose wording is too general, “leaving the door wide open for authorities to prosecute” even comments left on chat rooms or blogs. Case in point: Mathew Mullenweg, developer of the widely used blogging platform Wordpress was issued a letter in late 2007 by the Turkish Civil Court acting on behalf of one of Turkey’s Islamist creationist heavyweights Adnan Okur, on the grounds that the platform allegedly published “defamatory and unlawful statements about their client.” The Court’s decision resulted in the restriction of more than one million weblogs hosted by WordPress. Under the same law, Okur also pressed charges on similar grounds against eksisozluk.com (sour dictionary), a free, semi-mock, user generated dictionary. Bea Vanni, a long time American resident of Istanbul, summed up the prevailing attitude among Turkey’s expatriates in her popular blog: “This court saw fit to police the blogosphere to claim damage over someone's opinion,” she wrote. “Obviously, the plaintiff didn't like some words said about him and filed suit in one of the most conservatively religious and Islamist areas of Istanbul. It would probably be laughed at in any other court here.” In the same city, Aydin (who requested anonymity for security purposes), a gregarious, 29 year-old artist in show business echoed similar sentiments. Expressing disappointment at the arbitrary manner in which individuals and websites come under fire, he stated in a tone barely tinged with resentment: “Some of the sites have been shut down with the decision of a court in a small Anatolian town, where people do not even know how to reset a computer.” In a nearby internet café, where clusters of teens nestle into their seats to play racy video games, their swearing and screaming filling the room, another regular user tells me: “All it takes is one individual to decide what is fit for public consumption.” Indeed, more than 20,000 individual complaints have been made to the Internet Department in collaboration with the Telecommunications Authority of Turkey. Proceedings have begun for half of these complaints. But save a few voices of protest mainly from artists, intellectuals and the ISP community, a general sense of apathy permeates the country upon the issue of media censorship – a fact in my three months of stay here that I’ve found hard to reconcile with the public’s nationalist zeal. Turks become animated when talking about the glorious days of the Ottoman Empire. The white crescent and star on a crimson red background – the Turkish flag - is a common sight in every office, café, street and building. So, how can stifling freedom of speech not be a source of embarrassment or resentment for Turks? This is a question that runs deep, Dr. Howard reminds me. “While many Turks are clearly embarrassed by particular cases or particular laws, there is a basic popular acceptance of limits on freedom of expression in Turkey. Turkish popular culture is marked by a particularly militant, populist nationalism that extends across virtually the entire political spectrum.” He continues: “In this context, many types of criticism are simply seen as unacceptable. This has created a context in which many Turkish citizens see limits on freedom of expression as not only acceptable but necessary.” I’ll draw this line of thought into a harsh conclusion and propose that censorship perhaps reflects an underlying insecurity and lack of confidence within the nation and is an agreement among Turks to maintain the status quo. About the Author Handan Tülay Satiroglu is a Turkish-American independent journalist who divides her time between the U.S. and Europe. She has an MA in Sociology from New Mexico State University, and a B.A. from Colorado State University. In addition to her writing career, she has also taught at Northern Virginia College in the United States. Her articles have been featured in various online and print venues including, World Politics Review, The World & I Online, The Smart Set, Vision and Positive Health Magazine, among others. She was born in Colorado and has lived in Turkey, Spain, and Belgium. Visit her website at www.handansatiroglu.com.	Access to search engine Google has been limited and most of Google's online services cannot be accessed in Turkey. The access limitation happened due to the blocking of an IP set that belongs to Google. These IP addresses were shared between YouTube and other Google services. The Turkish news site reports that Turkey's Telecommunications Communication Presidency (TCP) (a government agency that manages Turkish ISPs) indefinitely shut off access to several Google services. The shut-off came after the banning of YouTube for alleged insults against Turkish Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. TCP released an official statement Friday, saying it had blocked access to some Google IP addresses "because of legal reasons". Under Turkish law, it is an offence to "insult Turkishness." states that the limited access to Google could be a result of the government trying to block specific DNS addresses that relate to Google, as part of its ongoing attempts to block YouTube. Since Google services share common software and IP addresses, the search engine itself suffers from access restrictions. Turkish citizens are concerned that this move of the governmental agency was another step towards a complete ban on Google, as exists in China. Several Internet sites have been banned in Turkey in recent years, and although some of them were subsequently unbanned, most of them remain inaccessible. ''Engelli Web'', a website listing banned sites reports that currently YouTube (since May 2008), (since June 26, 2009), and Spanish newspaper (since May 14, 2010) are among the banned sites in Turkey. MySpace and were also among banned sites for a period of time. Websites will be blocked following a court decision or if TCP decides to block on its behalf. ''RetweetToday'' reports that Turkish citizens on Twitter have also reported access problems. Comments about the blockage are being shared using hashtags such as ''TurkeyCensorGoogle'' and ''TurkeyGoogleBan'', as well as ''NoGoogleNoWeb''.
Cindy Sheehan Urges Canada to Welcome US Deserters -- 05/04/2006 Cindy Sheehan Urges Canada to Welcome US Deserters By Howard Williams CNSNews.com Correspondent May 04, 2006 Ottawa (CNSNews.com) - America's so-called "Peace Mom" arrived Thursday in Canada's capital to urge politicians to give safe haven to U.S. military deserters escaping service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sheehan also called on Canada to pull its own troops out of Afghanistan. Referring to her past protests outside the White House and outside President George W. Bush's Texas ranch, Cindy Sheehan called on ordinary Canadians to pitch tents outside the residence of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The Ottawa visit is part of a cross-Canada tour being undertaken by Sheehan to urge the country to repeat its controversial policies of the 1960s when hundreds of American deserters wanting to avoid military service in Vietnam were given safe haven. Most of Sheehan's audiences are students on university campuses. The Toronto Star newspaper described her as "now the most visible face in the U.S. anti-war movement." Talking to reporters before addressing a university audience in Ottawa Thursday, Sheehan suggested the only reason Canadian troops are in Afghanistan is to free up more American troops to fight in Iraq. Sheehan claimed that while most Canadians opposed the Iraq war, they did not realize that Canadian troops were directly helping the U.S.-led efforts in Iraq by serving in Afghanistan. Canadians, she said, "should take their tents and put them on the prime minister's lawn and say, 'I want to know why you're making our soldiers fight and die, and kill innocent people in Afghanistan, and I'm not moving until you let me know.'" Sheehan's biggest audience in Canada thus far, was about 300 students at the University of Toronto on Wednesday night, but she has been getting a fair amount of television coverage as well. Most newspapers have tucked their coverage of her tour on the inside pages, without much fanfare. There have been no mass rallies in support of her campaign, which comes during the week that memorial services were being held for four Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan. In an oblique reference to those memorial services, Sheehan told reporters: "My heart goes out to all the (Canadian) families who have had loved ones killed in Afghanistan." She said that "until recently," Canada had been a "peace beacon" for the United States, welcoming and giving asylum to American slaves and more recently to deserters not wanting to serve in foreign wars. Sheehan's son Casey, 24, was killed in the Baghdad suburb of Sadr City just over two years ago. He had been in Iraq for just five days when his unit was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire. Sheehan said: "I begged him (Casey) not to go to Iraq. I said 'I'll take you to Canada,' but he said, 'Mom, I have to go. It's my duty. My buddies are going.'" Subscribe to the free CNSNews.com daily E-Brief. Send a Letter to the Editor about this article. \|\|\|\|\| “ It is the nature of babies to be in bliss. ” Deepak Chopra Back to top © 2005 The Halifax Herald Limited \|\|\|\|\| American anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan wants the Canadian government to grant sanctuary to U.S. army deserters. "I told him, 'I'll do anything. I'll take you to Canada. Let's go to Canada, or if you don't want to go to Canada, then I'll run you over with my car and break your legs,'" she said. Sheehan said the U.S. government lied to her son and other soldiers by telling them they wouldn't be forced to participate in war if they signed up. Two American military deserters who arrived in Canada separately in 2004 — Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey — have been denied refugee status in Canada. They argued that the Iraq occupation violates international human rights and was illegal. Hinzman has appealed and the Federal Court is now reviewing the decision. Many others are anxiously watching the case. There are currently 20 active refugee claims by American military deserters. About 150 deserters are known to be living in Canada, according to the War Resisters Support Campaign, though the organization believes the number could be as high as 1,500. It's estimated 40,000 to 60,000 U.S. draft dodgers fled to Canada during the Vietnam War. Sheehan, who is in Ottawa as part of a cross-Canada tour, will be speaking at Carleton University Thursday night.	Cindy Sheehan, a prominent U.S. anti-war activist, appeared at a news conference at the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario on Thursday to speak being in Afghanistan, and in favour of Canada giving U.S. deserters refugee status. "I believe our war resisters are legitimate refugees," Ms. Sheehan said while also alleging that the soldiers are within their rights to desert because many are "lied to" by U.S. military recruiters who tell them they won't have to fight in Iraq. Sheehan, the mother of a fallen American soldier who served in Iraq, called on the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to "open the border" to U.S. military deserters. "My son was an honourable, honest person lied to by his recruiter," she said. Sheehan said that Canadian soldiers being in Afghanistan enables the United States to carry on its "illegal and immoral" war in Iraq. "I believe my country shouldn't be in Afghanistan anyway," Ms. Sheehan told reporters on Parliament Hill. "It's never about spreading freedom or democracy or making the world safe, it's about lining the war profiteers' pockets. My country supported Osama bin Laden in the fight against Russia," she said. "And now they go in and tear down that country. It's back in the hands of the drug lords, it's producing more opium than ever, and it's not safe. There's not any rebuilding going on, because it's being occupied by occupying forces." She made an address to approximately 300 students on Wednesday night at the University of Toronto. Her appearances are part of a cross-county campaign targeted at university campuses.
The captured sailors have been shown on Iranian television Iranian TV footage It also calls on Tehran to allow the UK consular access to the personnel, but stops short of "deploring" Iran's action, as requested by the UK. Iran, which the UK later confirmed had sent it a note, said it was not helpful to try to engage third parties. Meanwhile, an Iranian TV channel says it is to broadcast a "confession" by one of the detained navy personnel. Official TV channel Al-Alam did not say what the confession would contain or the identity of the sailor involved. The Foreign Office said of the note, sent to the British embassy: "We can confirm that, as reported in the Iranian media, the Iranian government has sent a formal note to the British embassy. Confidential "Such exchanges are always confidential, so we cannot divulge any details, but we are giving the message serious consideration and will soon respond formally to the Iranian government." Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the note may contain "matters of substance" which may be the beginning of a "proper exchange" and could "offer the possibility of a solution". This case can and should be settled through bilateral channels. Iran's UN mission Letter urges Iraq withdrawal On a visit to British troops in Afghanistan on Friday, Chancellor Gordon Brown welcomed the UN statement. He said it was calling definitively for the navy crew's release. "That's the unanimous view of the international community." Mr Brown described the treatment of captured Leading Seaman Faye Turney, 26, an interview with whom has been shown on Iranian TV, as "cruel, callous, inhuman and unacceptable". Responding to the UN statement, David Cameron, the Conservative leader, said: "Really there's only one right outcome to this which is for Iran to release those people that they took captive, that they should be released without any further ado. It's as clear and as simple as that." The British ambassador to the UN, Sir Emyr Jones Parry, said the UN's statement was a "good outcome" for the UK. Sir Emyr added that it sent the "right message" to Iran to allow access to the sailors and marines, and secure their prompt release. UK VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Crew boards merchant ship 1.7NM inside Iraqi waters 2 HMS Cornwall was south-east of this, and inside Iraqi waters 3 Iran tells UK that merchant ship was at a different point, still within Iraqi waters 4 After UK points this out, Iran provides alternative position, now within Iranian waters UK version in more detail The UK failed to win support for a stronger statement deploring Iran's actions, following opposition led by Russia. Iran's UN mission said in a statement: "This case can and should be settled through bilateral channels. "The British government's attempt to engage third parties, including the Security Council, with this case is not helpful." Satellite data The UN Security Council statement was agreed following more than four hours of negotiations. In full, it said: "Members of the Security Council expressed grave concern at the capture by the Revolutionary Guard and the continuing detention by the government of Iran of 15 United Kingdom naval personnel and appealed to the government of Iran to allow consular access in terms of the relevant international laws. "Members of the Security Council support calls, including by the secretary general in his March 29 meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, for an early resolution of this problem, including the release of the 15 UK personnel." The Britons, based on HMS Cornwall, were seized a week ago by Iranian Revolutionary Guards as they returned from searching a vessel in the northern Gulf. Iran says they had strayed into Iranian territorial waters, a claim which the UK has denied. Earlier this week, the Royal Navy produced satellite data it said proved its case. Second 'letter' Meanwhile, Iran has released a second letter, apparently written by Leading Seamen Turney, which urges the UK to withdraw from Iraq. The letter, which was released by the Iranian embassy in London and addressed to British MPs, states: "Isn't it time for us to start withdrawing our forces from Iraq and let them determine their own future?" It also says that "even through our wrongdoing" the Iranians have "treated us well and humanely". On Thursday, Ali Larijani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, said the release of Leading Seamen Turney had been delayed, and spoke about the UK's "incorrect attitude". \|\|\|\|\| Top headlines in your inbox Sign up for Morning Rush and get all the news you need to start your day. Recaptcha SIGN UP This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.	The United Nations Security Council has issued a statement calling for a "early resolution" to the rising tensions between United Kingdom and Iran by releasing all 15 British sailors and marines who were detained by Iranian forces on March 23. "Members of the Security Council expressed grave concern at the capture by the Revolutionary Guard and the continuing detention by the government of Iran of 15 United Kingdom naval personnel and appealed to the government of Iran to allow consular access in terms of the relevant international laws," said the U.N. Security Council in a statement. "Members of the Security Council support calls, including by the secretary general in his March 29 meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, for an early resolution of this problem including the release of the 15 UK personnel," added the statement. United Nations Security Council. All 15 members of the Council agreed to the wording of the statement and released it after nearly four hours of debate, but Russia and South Africa opposed to having the statement or the Council's recommendations be "too harsh" or to put the blame fully on the Iranian government. Iran released a statement shortly after the Security Council met saying that getting the U.N. involved, "will not be helpful." "This case can and should be settled through bilateral channels. The British government's attempt to engage third parties, including the Security Council, with this case is not helpful," said a statement released by Iran's U.N Mission. The sailors and marines from the frigate had been inspecting, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1723, a ship that was believed to be smuggling cars into Iraq, though it was subsequently cleared after inspection when Iranian gunboats surrounded the sailors and arrested them at gunpoint. On Thursday, Iran stated that they are "suspending" the release of the 15 soldiers, including a female soldier, 26, who was supposed to be released "very soon."
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Enabling Cookies in Internet Explorer 7, 8 & 9 Open the Internet Browser Click Tools > Internet Options > Privacy > Advanced Check Override automatic cookie handling For First-party Cookies and Third-party Cookies click Accept Click OK and OK Enabling Cookies in Firefox Open the Firefox browser Click Tools > Options > Privacy > Use custom settings for history Check Accept cookies from sites Check Accept third party cookies Select Keep until: they expire Click OK Enabling Cookies in Google Chrome Open the Google Chrome browser Click Tools > Options > Privacy Options > Under the Hood > Content Settings Check Allow local data to be set Uncheck Block third-party cookies from being set Uncheck Clear cookies Close all Enabling Cookies in Mobile Safari (iPhone, iPad) \|\|\|\|\| Immigration detention centre closures set to save Government $88.8m Updated Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed the closure of four detention centres on the Australian mainland, in a move he says will save the budget $88.8 million a year. Several sources have told the ABC the Immigration Department was formally notified of the move a week ago. The Scherger detention centre in far-north Queensland as well as the empty Pontville facility in Tasmania are among the sites to shut down. The other two facilities to close are at Leonora in Western Australia and Port Augusta in South Australia. Meanwhile, PM has been told that a fifth centre, the Inverbrackie facility in the Adelaide Hills, will also be closed. Contractors working for the department have been anticipating the announcement for several days. In a statement, Mr Morrison says the four closures will save the Government $88.8 million a year. The Scherger detention centre, Port Augusta residential housing and Leonora alternative place of detention are all set to close by the end of February. The Pontville facility will be handed back to the Department of Defence at an unspecified date, the statement says. "These sites are remote, relatively small and expensive," Mr Morrison said. "While I acknowledge there will be an impact on some local business and service provider staff, these closures bring significant financial savings for the Government and the Australian taxpayer. "The savings, which amount to at least $7.4 million a month, comprise the costs payable to the detention services provider, infrastructure and leasing arrangements and detention contractual arrangements." Mr Morrison says the four facilities were never meant to be permanent. He has indicated there may be more closures in the future, saying the centres are no longer needed because the Government's border protection policies are slowing the flow of asylum seeker boats to Australia. "This is the first down payment on closures of detention centres," he said. "And as time goes on and we're able to further draw down that detention population - because we've been able to address the border protection challenge - then I expect there'll be further savings down the track." In April last year the Coalition also promised if it was elected it would shut the Inverbrackie centre "as soon as practicable". Today, a spokesman for Jamie Briggs, the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, told PM this promise will be kept, and there will be more said on the matter soon. Serco, which operates nine detention centres and four alternative places of detention, has contracts with the Immigration Department which are due to expire later this year, according to the company's website. The Government has been reviewing the future of Australia's various detention centres as it aims to divert all new boat arrivals offshore. Labor claims credit for closure Federal Labor MP Nick Champion says it is because of the actions of the previous Government that a number of immigration detention centres are now able to be closed. "That's a result of the actions of the previous government - the Rudd government - in adopting the New Guinea solution which saw a massive decline in the numbers seeking asylum through irregular means in Australia," he said. The Greens' Immigration spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young says she is concerned about where the asylum seekers will be moved to. "Christmas Island is already crowded; Manus Island and Nauru are not fit to hold anybody, let alone more people," she said. "Mr Morrison needs to be upfront with the Australian people about exactly where people in those camps are going to go." Closure to have economic impact on communities The Mayor of Brighton, in Tasmania, says the closure of the Pontville detention centre will be an economic blow to the community. Mayor Tony Foster says he is also angry that the Federal Government did not inform him of the decision before announcing it. "Somewhere between 45 and 48 [staff] were able to service the centre while it was open, so that business is no longer there," he said. "Very disappointing, disheartening ... there's been no consultation. "I think it is absolutely just the way that this Government is treating the whole of Australia at the moment." Tanya Browning, the acting chief executive of the Western Australia's shire of Leonora, says the decision to close the detention centre in her town is disappointing. But she says it has not come as a complete surprise. "We certainly will miss some of the staff that are here, especially those that have chosen to make Leonora their home," she said. "That's a loss that certainly will be felt. "Fortunately our community is very resilient. "We are prepared for those types of events, [like] when mines close, and we might have a loss of a number of people within the community." Topics: refugees, immigration, federal-government, government-and-politics, australia, weipa-4874, qld, pontville-7030, tas, leonora-6438, sa, port-augusta-5700, wa, darwin-0800, nt First posted \|\|\|\|\| Sarah Dingle reported this story on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 18:10:00 DAVID MARK: The Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says the Government will close four detention centres in Australia, saving almost $90 million a year. He says the detainees at the four centres at Scherger in Queensland, Leonora in Western Australia, and Port Augusta in South Australia will be moved to other centres, though it's not clear where. The other detention centre at Pontville in Tasmania is now empty, and PM has been told that a fifth centre, the Inverbrackie facility in the Adelaide Hills, will also be closed. Scott Morrison says the centres were never designed to be permanent. Sarah Dingle reports. SARAH DINGLE: By the end of next month, four immigration detention centres will be shut down in an apparent attempt to save money. Queensland's Scherger centre, Western Australia's Leonora facility, immigration housing at Port Augusta and Tasmania's Pontville centre will close. Detainees will be transferred to other facilities. In April last year the Coalition also promised if it was elected it would shut the Inverbrackie centre in the Adelaide Hills "as soon as practicable". Today a spokesman for the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development told PM this promise will be kept, and there will be more said on this soon. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says the centres are no longer needed because the arrival of asylum seeker boats has slowed under the new Government's policies. SCOTT MORRISON: This Government is taking control of our borders, which enables us to shut mainland detention centres down in Australia. This will save taxpayers around $89 million a year and it's the first down-payment on the dividend of stronger border protection. SARAH DINGLE: But the United Voice union, which represents workers at detention facilities, says dozens of staff have just found out their workplace is shutting down via the media. Assistant National Secretary Sharon Caddie. SHARON CADDIE: There are about 100 workers who are affected, and there are many more casuals and contractors who are involved. We are currently in negotiations with Serco to make a new enterprise agreement which talks about the wages and conditions that will apply to workers in detention centres. In fact, we've got a meeting scheduled with the company tomorrow, so we're quite surprised to be hearing this announcement from the Government today when really what should happen is the employers should be talking to their workers first. SARAH DINGLE: Sharon Caddie says some detainees may be distressed at being moved and she's worried about detention centre staff who'll have to deal with that. SHARON CADDIE: I think we're dealing with people that are already in an extremely stressful situation. The prospect of now being shifted to unknown alternate sites will clearly worsen that situation, and ultimately it's the workers in the receiving detention centres that are going to have to deal with the fallout of a Government who clearly doesn't understand how to deal with people. SARAH DINGLE: The Immigration Minister says closing the four centres will save around $88 million a year. But the local mayor near the Pontville centre, Tony Foster, says it's a huge waste because the centre was only opened three years ago at a cost of about $15 million. TONY FOSTER: The lack of communication from the current Government with myself has been nothing short of pathetic. We haven't had any dialogue since they took office, whereby the previous government certainly would've advised us beforehand of any pending closure. So very disappointing from that aspect. SARAH DINGLE: Pontville has been empty for some months after the previous federal government decided to move its younger detainees, including almost 200 children, into the community. Mayor Tony Foster says while Pontville was operating, it revived the local economy. TONY FOSTER: This one is close to the city centre, next to a capital. It afforded all sorts of opportunities for people to be able to work here that they didn't get when they had to fly in and fly out. People saw the benefits. The people there, even the detainees, they got involved in the community wherever it was possible, and the community engaged with them as well on a volunteer basis. SARAH DINGLE: The Pontville and Scherger facilities will be handed back to the Defence Department. Tony Foster says he'd rather see Pontville become a prison for 18 to 24 year old males where they could learn a trade before being released. DAVID MARK: Sarah Dingle.	A spokesperson for the Australian , , announced plans this week to close four mainland immigration detention facilities — Scherger, at , Queensland; Leonora, in , Western Australia; Port Augusta, in , South Australia; and Inverbrackie facilities in , the , South Australia — by the end of February. The detainees would be relocated to other detention centres. Pontville detention facility, in , Tasmania, was empty and would also be closed. The detention centres staff learned about planned closure of their workplaces from the media rather than the employer directly, , an Australian , commented. It estimated the number of affected people as 100 workers and "many more" casuals and contractors. Pontville, Brighton location in Tasmania. In a statement, Australian referred to recent border protection practices to justify the decision. On Tuesday, he told radio, "This Government is taking control of our borders, which enables us to shut mainland detention centres down in Australia. This will save taxpayers around $89 million a year and it's the first down-payment on the dividend of stronger border protection. ... These sites are remote, relatively small and expensive. The savings ... amount to at least $7.4 million a month". He also noted that the Pontville and Scherger detention facilities would be returned to the . The local mayor near the Pontville detention centre, Tony Foster, said the centre was opened only three years ago and revived the local economy. Foster also complained about the short notice from the new federal government . He cited recent centre upgrade costs of $15 million, estimated the number of local small businesses serving the centre between 45 and 48, and said he would explore the option of converting it to a "corrections facility for 18 to 24 year olds" with the relevant state and Commonwealth officials. Pontville and Brighton, 3km apart. Scott Donaghy, who runs the ''Brighton's Best Bakehouse'' business in Brighton, said "Staff members come in for breakfast, coffee, lunch, having a meeting. Not only were they coming in but there was more money coming into the general area from wages and people living here. I'm disappointed at the fact that another employer is gone from the area." A pharmacist-in-charge at ''Brighton Discount Drug Store'' also commented, saying that staff members from the detention centre came to Brighton for lunch and shopping. The announcement follows controversial reports of wrecked refugee boats found near Indonesian shores by the local police. The refugees had reported being towed back from Australia by the Australian Navy, which had originally deceptively claimed Christmas Island as the refugees' destination.
UK loses top AAA credit rating for first time since 1978 It is thought the downgrade will not have an adverse impact on the government's ability to borrow The UK has lost its top AAA credit rating for the first time since 1978 on expectations that growth will "remain sluggish over the next few years". The ratings agency Moody's became the first to cut the UK from its highest rating, to Aa1. Moody's said that the government's debt reduction programme faced significant "challenges" ahead. Chancellor George Osborne said the decision was "a stark reminder of the debt problems facing our country". "Far from weakening our resolve to deliver our economic recovery plan, this decision redoubles it," he added. "We will go on delivering the plan that has cut the deficit by a quarter, and given us record low interest rates and record numbers of jobs." In announcing the ratings cut, Moody's cited the "challenges that subdued medium-term growth prospects pose to the government's fiscal consolidation programme, which will now extend well into the next parliament". It added that the UK's huge debts were unlikely to reverse until 2016. The UK's net sovereign debt was the equivalent of 68% of the country's annual economic output, or GDP, at the end of last year. All three major credit agencies last year put the UK on "negative outlook", meaning they could downgrade its rating if performance deteriorates. Difficult road ahead The UK has had a top AAA credit rating since 1978 from both Moody's and S&P. In his Autumn Statement in December, Mr Osborne acknowledged public finances were taking longer to rectify than planned, and admitted he would be forced to extend austerity measures by at least another year. Germany and Canada are the only major economies to currently have a top AAA rating - as much of the world has been shaken by the financial crisis of 2008 and its subsequent debt crises. A downgrade of a credit rating does not necessarily substantially damage the ability to borrow. The US - the world's biggest economy - was downgraded from its AAA rating last year, a move that has not materially changed its borrowing costs. The UK has experienced a double-dip recession since 2008. It grew in the third quarter of last year - boosted by the impact of the Olympics, but shrunk again by 0.3% in the last three months of 2012. Earlier this month, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said the Bank of England should be ready to inject more money into the economy to boost growth. The Bank has so far pumped £375bn into the financial system, creating money to buy-back government bonds. \|\|\|\|\| George Osborne has come under attack over what Labour calls his "catastrophic economic policy failure" after the UK lost its top-grade AAA credit rating. International agency Moody's downgraded it by one notch to AA1, citing slow growth and a rising debt burden. The Chancellor said the coalition would not "run away" from its economic problems and it was determined to stick by its plan for recovery. The downgrade is a major blow for Mr Osborne, who has been coming under increasing pressure to take action to stimulate the economy. In the last election, Mr Osborne made safeguarding Britain's credit rating one of his key pledges. He has used maintaining the rating for government bonds as one of the main arguments for the Government's austerity programme. The Chancellor insisted the Government was delivering on its commitment to tackle the UK's debt. He said: "We have a stark reminder of the debt problems facing our country - and the clearest possible warning to anyone who thinks we can run away from dealing with those problems. "We are not going to run away from our problems, we are going to overcome them." He added: "In the end, the test of our credibility as a country is there every day in the markets when we borrow money on behalf of this country from investors all around the world. Moody's said it did not expect Britain's slow recovery to change "At the moment we can do that very cheaply with very low interest rates precisely because people have confidence that we have got a plan, we've got to stick to that plan and we are going to deliver that plan." Labour's shadow chancellor Ed Balls told Sky News: "They (the Government) are paying the price for an absolute catastrophic failure of economic policy and everybody can see that now pretty much other than the chancellor and the prime minister. "Until they face up to reality, we're just going to have more of the same." Moody's said Britain's recovery was proving to be significantly slower than previous rebounds from recession and it did not expect the situation to change. "(There's) increasing clarity that, despite considerable structural economic strengths, the UK's economic growth will remain sluggish over the next few years," it said. Moody's is the first of the major credit rating agencies to knock the UK off of its top rating. The ratings agency also cut the Bank of England's AAA rating by one notch, also to AA1. The US' top credit rating was downgraded by one notch in 2011. Sky's Economics Editor Ed Conway said: "The fact that Britain has lost its AAA crown for the first time since credit ratings were given to the UK back in the 1970s, is a really big blow to Britain's reputation. "It's something of an economic blow, but in a way it's more of a political problem for George Osborne. He made a key part of the Conservative election pledge to safeguard Britain's credit rating." Moody's said that the British economy is constrained both by the troubled global economy and the drag from businesses and the Government slashing its debt burdens. "Moreover, while the Government's recent Funding for Lending Scheme has the potential to support a surge in growth, Moody's believes the risks to the growth outlook remain skewed to the downside," it said. Labour has insisted that withdrawing demand from the economy has put it more at risk by stunting growth. Mr Balls said: "This credit rating downgrade is a humiliating blow to a prime minister and chancellor who said keeping our AAA rating was the test of their economic and political credibility. "In the Budget the government must urgently take action to kick-start our flatlining economy and realise that we need growth to get the deficit down. If David Cameron and George Osborne fail to do so and put political pride above the national economic interest we face more long-term damage and pain for businesses and families." \|\|\|\|\| The Chancellor said the coalition was determined to stick by its plan for economic recovery after the rating was lowered by a notch to AA1. The credit rating agency warned late on Friday that "subdued" growth prospects and a "high and rising debt burden" were weighing on the economy. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls called the downgrade "a humiliating blow" to the Prime Minister and Chancellor, who he said "must urgently take action to kick-start our flatlining economy". But Mr Osborne said the loss of the gold-plated status did not mean the Government should change course. "We have a stark reminder of the debt problems facing our country - and the clearest possible warning to anyone who thinks we can run away from dealing with those problems," he said. "Far from weakening our resolve to deliver our economic recovery plan, this decision redoubles it. "We will go on delivering the plan that has cut the deficit by a quarter, and given us record low interest rates and record numbers of jobs." Mr Osborne went on: "As the rating agency says, Britain faces huge challenges at home from the debts built up over many, many years, and it is made no easier by the very weak economic situation in Europe. "Crucially for families and businesses, they say that 'the UK's creditworthiness remains extremely high' thanks in part to a 'strong track record of fiscal consolidation' and our 'political will'. "They also make it absolutely clear that they could downgrade the UK's credit rating further in the event of 'reduced political commitment to fiscal consolidation'. "We are not going to run away from our problems, we are going to overcome them." The downgrade is a major blow for Mr Osborne, who has been coming under increasing pressure to take action to stimulate the economy. The Chancellor has used maintaining the top credit rating for Government bonds as one of the key arguments for the Government's austerity programme. However, Labour has insisted that withdrawing demand from the economy has put it more at risk by stunting growth. The statement from Moody's highlights the problems the weak medium-term economic outlook poses for deficit reduction plans. It now expects the "period of sluggish growth" to "extend into the second half of the decade". "The main driver underpinning Moody's decision to downgrade the UK's Government bond rating to AA1 is the increasing clarity that, despite considerable structural economic strengths, the UK's economic growth will remain sluggish over the next few years due to the anticipated slow growth of the global economy and the drag on the UK economy from the ongoing domestic public- and private-sector deleveraging process," the agency said. "Moody's says that the country's current economic recovery has already proven to be significantly slower - and believes that it will likely remain so - compared with the recovery observed after previous recessions, such as those of the 1970s, early 1980s and early 1990s." Mr Balls said: "This credit rating downgrade is a humiliating blow to a Prime Minister and Chancellor who said keeping our AAA rating was the test of their economic and political credibility. "It would be a big mistake to get carried away with what Moody's or any other credit rating agency says. "Tonight's verdict does not change the fact that the credit rating agencies have made major misjudgements over recent years, not least in giving top ratings to US sub-prime mortgages before the global financial crash. "But what matters is the economic reality that the credit rating agencies are responding to. Moody's themselves say the main driver of their decision is the weak growth in Britain's economy. "Their judgment is in response to nearly three years of stagnation, a double-dip recession, billions more borrowing as confirmed this week and broken fiscal rules. This is why the Chancellor is fast running out of credibility." Mr Balls went on: "The issue is no longer whether this Chancellor can admit his mistakes but whether the Prime Minister can now see that, with UK economic policy so badly downgraded in every sense, things have got to change. "In the Budget the Government must urgently take action to kick-start our flatlining economy and realise that we need growth to get the deficit down. "If David Cameron and George Osborne fail to do so and put political pride above the national economic interest we face more long-term damage and pain for businesses and families." \|\|\|\|\| George Osborne was dealt a severe political blow tonight as the UK was stripped of its top notch rating by the credit agency Moody’s. Britain was downgraded by one notch from AAA to Aa1 by the agency, which first put the UK’s sovereign rating on negative watch one year ago. Moody’s said that the move was prompted by “continued weakness in the UK’s medium-term growth outlook” and the country’s “high and rising debt burden”. The UK economy contracted by 0.3 per cent in the final three months of 2012 after suffering a post-Olympics comedown. The economy has grown by just 1 per cent since the Chancellor took office in June 2010. Last December the Chancellor was forced to abandon his plan to reduce the national debt as a share of GDP by the end of the Parliament thanks to weak tax revenues which slowed his deficit reduction timetable. This week the Government’s official watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility warned that without an unlikely surge of revenues in the final two months of the financial year the deficit for 2012/13 would be higher than the previous year. The downgrade came after the UK financial markets had closed, but is unlikely to come as a shock to investors as such a move had been widely expected for months. The economic impact is also likely to be limited. The US and France have seen their borrowing costs decline since they lost their own AAA ratings. The downgrade, however, is a serious political embarrassment for Mr Osborne who said upon taking office that retaining the UK’s AAA rating was an economic “benchmark” against which he wished to be judged by the British public. The Chancellor insisted tonight that the downgrade would not prompt him to adopt an economic Plan B as many critics have been urging. “Tonight we have a stark reminder of the debt problems facing our country - and the clearest possible warning to anyone who thinks we can run away from dealing with those problems” he said in a statement. “Far from weakening our resolve to deliver our economic recovery plan, this decision redoubles it”. The chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, Olivier Blanchard, has urged Mr Osborne to slow the pace of his planned spending cuts this year in order to support growth – a plan also urged by the Labour opposition and a growing number of independent economists. Two of the other major global credit agencies – Standard & Poor’s and Fitch – also have Britain on “negative outlook” and could follow Moody’s in downgrading the country’s sovereign debt after next month’s Budget. \|\|\|\|\| The west's leading economic thinktank warned George Osborne he might need to accept a slower pace of deficit reduction as it toned down the staunch backing it has provided for the government's austerity programme since the 2010 election. Admitting it had over-estimated the strength of Britain's recovery from its longest and deepest post-war recession, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said a "flexible approach" to budget cuts would be called for if fears of a triple-dip recession materialised. Nonetheless, the Paris-based thinktank again gave Osborne its support as it released its annual healthcheck on the UK economy at a press conference at the Treasury. But it cautioned that measures would be needed to boost Britain's long-term growth potential and to tackle inequality once recovery was assured. And it joined the Washington-based International Monetary Fund in advising the chancellor that he needed a fall-back position should growth again disappoint in 2013. "The fiscal stance [the strategy to cut Britain's record peacetime budget deficit] remains appropriate", the OECD said. "However, if growth significantly underperforms expectations over the coming months, the flexibility of the fiscal framework should be utilised." The UK is one quarter of negative growth away from entering a triple-dip recession after official figures for the last three months of 2012 showed that the economy shrank by 0.3%. The OECD added that the Bank of England should take the lead in stimulating the economy, but that Osborne had won himself enough credibility to slow up the pace of deficit reduction if that was warranted by slower-than-expected growth. Angel Gurría, the OECD's secretary general, also said the government needed to do more to protect the poor from the impact of budget cuts and to encourage people back into work. "Fiscal consolidation needs to be embedded in a comprehensive package that also promotes growth. Further structural reforms are key to a stronger, more inclusive and prosperous Britain", he said. The OECD said a prolonged period of weak growth risked worsening social inequalities. "Labour market conditions are widening the income gap between full-time employees and an increasing share of the workforce on part-time, insecure and often low-paid jobs. This comes in a context where income inequality in the UK was already high and rising before the recession," the report said. It added: "Fairness is important to ensure public support for the necessary fiscal consolidation effort, which will need to be sustained over a protracted period. Restraint on spending on public services, imposed by the budget situation, will hit the poor hardest, as their consumption of public services is higher relative to their income than for the more affluent and they have less access to alternative services." The OECD called for efforts to be made to boost skills, to improve work incentives for lone parents and second earners under the Universal Credit welfare reform, improve the Work Capability Assessment and support for return to work for those who are fit, and take steps to tackle fuel and water poverty through better targeted financial support. It said: "Measures to lower childcare costs and increase public support to make work pay for these individuals should be considered, although this comes with a fiscal cost. Other growth-enhancing reforms should also be pursued. Investment in productive assets is low in an international context, hampering innovation and growth. R&D support policies and corporate taxation should be reformed, with more focus on rewarding social returns in excess of private returns. Increased investment in productive infrastructure could boost long-term growth, and would justify further prioritisation in spending." The OECD said the global economic slowdown and uncertainty about the euro area outlook, coupled with austerity measures and attempts by companies and individuals to pay down their debts were "generating strong headwinds for the UK economy". It added: "The timing of the recovery is, however, difficult to predict. Official and private growth projections have proved too optimistic over the past two years. "Risks facing the economic outlook are primarily on the downside, and are particularly linked to international developments, including the euro area sovereign debt crisis, policy uncertainty in the US and the outlook for emerging economies." The OECD said Osborne was right not to raise taxes or cut spending further in the 2012 autumn statement in an attempt to meet his original 2015 target of reducing public debt as a share of national output. "Nevertheless, global developments have shown that the consequences of losing market confidence can be sudden and severe and a sharp rise in interest rates would be particularly damaging to an economy with the UK's level of indebtedness." \|\|\|\|\| UK GDP: Economy shrank at end of 2012 The UK economy shrank by 0.3% in the last three months of 2012, further fuelling fears that the economy could re-enter recession. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the fall in output was largely due to a drop in mining and quarrying, after maintenance delays at the UK's largest North Sea oil field. The economy had grown by 0.9% in the previous quarter, boosted by the London 2012 Olympic Games. For the whole year, growth was flat. The ONS said that the "bumpy economy" was on a "sluggish trend". Manufacturing fell by 1.5% in the fourth quarter, the services sector was flat, but construction output rose by 0.3%. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Within the manufacturing sector, mining and quarrying output fell by 10.2%, the biggest decline since records began in 1997, driven by disruption to North Sea oil and gas fields. If oil and gas extraction were excluded from the overall gross domestic product (GDP) calculations, then the data would have shown that the economy shrank by only 0.1% in the fourth quarter, the ONS said. GDP is the sum of all goods and services made in the economy. 'Difficult road' This is the first estimate of how the economy performed in the fourth quarter, and is subject to at least two further revisions as further data is collected. "It confirms what we already knew - that Britain, like many European countries, still faces a very difficult economic situation," the Treasury said in a statement. Continue reading the main story Analysis One thing is clear - yesterday's market rumours of a leak of the GDP data with a positive figure were misguided. The fall of 0.3% in the fourth quarter was more or less in line with expectations, although many analysts thought it might be closer to zero. The ONS pointed out that North Sea maintenance had hit oil and gas extraction, and that excluding that the slide in output was 0.1%. Construction, previously a section of the economy on the slide, was back in positive territory with a rise of 0.3%. But the dominant services sector was flat with a post Olympic hangover. In the words of the ONS, the underlying picture was flat over 2012, with the economy working well below its potential. "While the economy is healing, it is a difficult road." But Jonathan Portes, an economist from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, said there was a "co-ordinated policy failure across Europe". "Underlying it, ignoring all the special factors, what we see is the economy is not delivering the sustainable growth that we would normally see at this point in the cycle," he told the BBC. "This is due to the [UK] government's policies and the failure of governments in the eurozone. "They should not have cut the deficit so quickly and before the recovery was sustained." 'No positives' The CBI business group said it expected growth "to continue to be fairly flat through the winter but momentum will gradually build later in the year, as the global economy picks up a little and confidence lifts". Lee Hopley, chief economist at EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, said there were "no positive takeaways" from the figures. "Even assuming some unwinding of activity from the Olympics boost in the previous quarter, this still leaves no real signs of underlying growth in the economy. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. "The news from industry was particularly weak, with November's sharp drop on output contributing to a rather grim fourth quarter and leaving the overall picture for manufacturing in 2012 the weakest since 2009." Economists at IHS Global Insight noted that GDP in the fourth quarter of 2012 was 3.3% below the peak level seen in the first quarter of 2008. They estimate that it will not return to that level until the first half of 2015 - a gap of seven years. Fallback The after-effects of the Olympics and Paralympics was evident in the services sector. Services make up about three-quarters of the UK's economic activity. In the third quarter, the sector grew by 1.2%. The ONS said there was some evidence of "fallback" in the fourth quarter, seen in the hotel and restaurant industries and in land transport. The biggest impact, though, was in sports activities, amusement and recreation, which dropped 22.5%, and contributed 0.2 percentage points to the fall in overall GDP.	George Osborne: "Far from weakening our resolve to deliver our economic recovery plan, this decision redoubles it". The US-based agency announced on Saturday their decision to downgrade their rating of the United Kingdom economy from AAA to AA1 - stating that lack of economic growth and austerity continuing into 2016 are to blame. Moody's Investors Service said in a statement: "The main driver underpinning Moody's decision to downgrade the UK's Government bond rating to AA1 is the increasing clarity that, despite considerable structural economic strengths, the UK's economic growth will remain sluggish over the next few years due to the anticipated slow growth of the global economy and the drag on the UK economy from the ongoing domestic public- and private-sector deleveraging process". , the , said that the move to lower the credit rating was a "stark reminder" of the debt problems that the country is facing and that the government is planning to stick to it's original deficit reduction plan. He went on to say "Far from weakening our resolve to deliver our economic recovery plan, this decision redoubles it". The British economy shrank by 0.3% in the final quarter of 2012 and output remained flat throughout last year - the economy would have to grow in the first quarter of 2013 in order to avoid a recession. The warned George Osborne last month that he should slow down the rate of his deficit reduction and austerity programme if Britain entered a triple-dip recession. The has said that the government must reduce the number of spending cuts and focus on growth. , the , said: "This credit rating downgrade is a humiliating blow to a Prime Minister and Chancellor who said keeping our AAA rating was the test of their economic and political credibility."
Australian government forces refugee boats back to Indonesia By Mark Church 10 January 2014 Over the past month, the Australian navy has forced or towed at least two asylum seeker vessels back to Indonesia under the Abbott government’s so-called “turn back the boats” program. These highly dangerous operations, which could have led to the loss of lives, have also heightened tensions with the Indonesian government, which has publicly opposed the practice. The policy was introduced last September by Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s government after an election in which his Liberal-National Coalition sought to outdo the Labor Party in a bipartisan bidding war to adopt the most draconian anti-refugee policy. Both parties declared their determination to “stop the boats,” effectively tearing up the international Refugee Convention, which recognises a basic right to flee persecution. Intent on keeping its operations totally secret from the Australian people, the government has refused to even confirm that the two boats were forced back, let alone provide any details of the methods used. But according to Indonesian police, a refugee boat ran aground on Indonesia’s Rote Island, about 500 kilometres northwest of Australia, on December 19 after being turned back. The vessel was carrying 47 people fleeing war-torn areas of Africa and the Middle East. Interviewed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, passengers said they were intercepted on December 10. After three days of waiting, they were towed back toward Indonesia. Falsely told they were headed for Australia’s Christmas Island, they were later dumped and left to fend for themselves. The boat ran out of fuel shortly afterward and drifted before beaching on Rote. A second boat carrying 45 refugees was discovered on Rote’s shore this week after being turned back on New Year’s Day. A disaster was only narrowly averted. Rote police chief Hidayat told the Fairfax Media: “They were rescued by the locals, because the boat engines were dead. The boat now is wreckage, near some reefs.” One of the refugees on board, Yusuf, told the media that the navy towed their vessel back toward Indonesia, after threatening the crew and passengers and also claiming they were being taken to Christmas Island. Asylum seekers who resisted were handcuffed and assaulted. “Some of our people, they jump in the water as a protest,” he said. The boat was later cut adrift in rough seas in the middle of the night near Rote. These incidents raise the obvious question: have other boats have been lost at sea as a result of the government’s policy? The fate of these two vessels only became known because they were reported by the local police on Rote. In response to the revelations, Abbott yesterday vowed to continue to do “whatever is necessary” to “stop the boats.” The Fairfax Media reported that the government had purchased oceangoing lifeboats in which to send back refugees whose boats were unseaworthy. Such a practice will only compound the likelihood of greater refugee disasters, with both Canberra and Jakarta washing their hands of the perils confronting asylum seekers, including women and children, set adrift on the high seas in lifeboats. Already, over the past 12 years—beginning with the October 2001 SIEV X tragedy, in which 353 refugees drowned—many hundreds have perished in the waters between Indonesia and Australia. Successive governments in Canberra have refused to take any responsibility for the rescue of people seeking asylum in Australia, instead regarding deaths as useful deterrents to discourage refugees. Abbott described the turn-back policy as “absolutely non-negotiable,” dismissing criticism from Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who restated Jakarta’s longstanding public opposition to it. “I shall repeat this once again: Indonesia rejects and is against the policy of boat turnbacks because it’s not a solution,” Natalegawa told the media. Abbott claimed that his government had no intention to “in any way trespass on Indonesia’s sovereignty,” but Indonesia’s Antara news service quoted a refugee who said one Australian ship travelled seven miles into Indonesian territory on December 13 before releasing his boat, which it was towing. Last November, the Indonesian government refused to allow a refugee vessel to be pushed back, forcing the Abbott government to accept the boat after a two-day standoff that left asylum seekers dangerously stranded at sea. The conflict over refugees has exacerbated the tensions that erupted two months ago after documents leaked by former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden revealed details of extensive US-Australian spying operations in Indonesia, including the bugging of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s phone calls. Amid public outrage in Indonesia, Yudhoyono suspended cooperation with Australia on intercepting refugee boats, as well as intelligence exchanges and military exercises. In reiterating Indonesia’s rejection of the turning back of boats, Natalegawa said restoring relations would take some time, despite him holding intensive discussions with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in a bid to resolve the diplomatic crisis. Nevertheless, Abbott yesterday declared that relations between the two countries were “very strong.” He pointed to comments by Indonesia’s military commander, General Moeldoko, who told the Jakarta Post that Australian Defence Force chief, General David Hurley, had phoned him to say that “Indonesia should understand if Australia drove back undocumented migrants.” Moeldoko was reported as saying: “I have agreed. Therefore, we don’t need to feel offended.” Last night, however, Yudhoyono’s office backed his foreign minister’s rejection of Australia policy, saying turning boats back to Indonesia was “unhelpful.” General Moeldoko said he had been misreported in the media. Mahfudz Siddiq, head of the Indonesian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, warned that relations could worsen if Australia’s “provocative” action in sending back two boats was followed by the use of lifeboats. “This of course would not be accepted by Indonesian military, because it has been a defence issue and breaching water territory sovereignty,” he said. “The situation is not helpful. It will get worse for our bilateral relations,” he told the Fairfax Media. “Unless the situation is handled soon, I fear it will deteriorate further after the spying affair and the end of our military co-operation.” \|\|\|\|\| Indonesian military chief says he discussed boat turnbacks with ADF commander Updated Indonesian government officials appear at odds over Indonesia's stance on Australia's policy of turning back asylum seeker boats, with the country's military chief saying he agrees while the foreign and security affairs ministers reject the hard-line measure. The chief of Indonesia's National Armed Forces, General Moeldoko, has told the Jakarta Post that he spoke with Australian Defence Force chief David Hurley about asylum seeker boats allegedly forced back into Indonesian waters by the Navy, and that he understands Australia's policy. "Following [our] halted military cooperation with Australia, the country's Defence Force chief called me to discuss several issues, including how to deal with the boat people," General Moeldoko told the paper. "I have agreed. Therefore, we don't need to feel offended." However a spokesman for the office of Indonesia's Coordinating Legal and Security Affairs Minister, which has been assigned to deal with the asylum-seeker issue, says there is no agreement on Australia's policy, echoing recent comments by the foreign minister Marty Natalegawa. "As far as I know, we have no such agreement," spokesman Agus Barnas told the Post. "Also, our office hasn’t been notified about any deals our military made [with Australia's]." And Mr Natalegawa this week said: "On the push-back policy itself, let me put on record our rejection of the policy. Pushing back the boats is not a solution." Neither Prime Minister Tony Abbott nor Immigration Minister Scott Morrison have been willing to describe what a tow-back operation involves. In a statement, Mr Morrison repeated that the Government would not comment on "operational" matters. "For operational security reasons, the Government does not disclose, confirm or otherwise comment on reports of on-water activities in relation to Operation Sovereign Borders," he said. "Australian personnel serving within Border Protection Command conduct themselves professionally and responsibly, in accordance with their operational protocols." Asylum seekers claim they were mistreated by Australian Navy The apparent discord comes amid claims from two men who say they were mistreated by the Australian Navy when their asylum seeker boats were towed back towards Indonesia and abandoned at sea. Though difficult to verify, both men's stories are strikingly similar. One man named Yusuf identified himself as a Sudanese asylum seeker, and says he and his wife paid $6,000 to travel from Indonesia to Australia. They boarded a boat with more than 40 others, and reached a small island off the coast of Darwin before the engine broke down on New Year's Day. Yusuf says after the group called the United Nations for help, two Australian naval ships arrived. The ship numbers he gave correlate to those for HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Glenelg. Yusuf says the Navy used force on some people, including women, while transferring them to one of the Navy boats. Yusuf says a number of people were restrained and that some of the people onboard jumped into the water. "Some of our people, they jump on the water as a protest. Nine people, and then they take them aboard," he said. It was the start of a tow-back that was to last five days. Yusuf says those onboard were told they were being taken to Christmas Island, denied their satellite and navigation tools and given one meal a day. He claims the Navy fixed one of the boat's engines before the asylum seekers were forced back onto their boat. He says the Navy then abandoned the group in the middle of the night, in rough seas off Indonesia's Rote Island. They made it ashore on the island, and are now in an immigration centre in Kupang. Yusuf's account is similar to a story told by Marke, who identified himself as Somali. He was onboard the first boat reportedly towed back to Indonesian territory on December 10. Marke also claims there was some rough handling of asylum seekers by personnel from HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Maitland. Marke says his experience was a simple roping manoeuvre, followed by a tactical deception about their destination. "They put a rope. Then they said, 'We are going to Australia, to Christmas Island'. They told us a lie," he said. A few days later Marke and his fellow asylum seekers were put back onto their boat. Boat arrivals sent to back of queue for family reunion visas Meanwhile, the Federal Government has moved to make it harder for refugees who arrived by boat and are now living in Australia to be reunited with their families. Mr Morrison says anyone who arrives by boat will go to the back of the queue when applying for family reunion visas. The move applies retrospectively to people as far back as 2001. In a statement, Mr Morrison says those who arrive by boat should not be prioritised over applicants who arrive in Australia through legitimate means. Topics: immigration, community-and-society, federal-government, defence-and-national-security, indonesia, australia First posted \|\|\|\|\| Indonesia says second asylum seeker boat forced back by Australian Navy Updated Indonesian police have told the ABC that a second boat carrying asylum seekers has been forced back to Indonesian waters by the Australian Navy. The first boat was found shortly before Christmas on an island called Rote in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara region. It allegedly had been "pushed" or forced back into Indonesian waters by the Australian Navy. The 47 asylum seekers on board have told authorities they were adrift after running out of fuel, before running aground on the island about six days later. A second boat carrying 45 asylum seekers has now been found on the same island. Local police Chief Hidayat says group also claims their boat was pushed back by the Australian Navy. Indonesia's foreign minister, Marty Natalegawa, has again reiterated his country's opposition to any move by Australia to turn asylum seeker boats around. "Let me just once again put on record our rejection of [policies] that resemble the pushing back the boat," he said. "Such policy is not actually conducive to a comprehensive solution to the issue." Dr Natalegawa has previously raised his concerns with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who told him Australia would press ahead with the policy. The recent news is likely to further strain relations between Australia and Indonesia, which have been tense since revelations of a spying scandal came to light late last year. Dr Natalegawa says he is in almost daily contact with Ms Bishop, as Australia and Indonesia work to restore relations. "It's not something that can be simply restored willy-nilly by the adoption of certain declaration or agreement. What's needed is gradual process of restoration of confidence or trust and this is where we are just now," he said. News of the first alleged turn back was only recently reported in local Indonesian news, after refugee rights activists noticed reports and posted them on Twitter. Local police chief Hidayat says the asylum seekers had been on a boat trying to get to the Ashmore Islands. He says the group left South Sulawesi bound for Australia on December 8. They were then intercepted on December 13 by the Australian Navy and "pushed" back to Indonesian waters. On December 19, they were found on Rote Island, where Indonesian authorities picked them up. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has released a statement in relation to reports surrounding the first boat. The statement says the Government will not comment on the reports. "For operational security reasons, the Government does not disclose, confirm or otherwise comment on reports of on-water activities in relation to Operation Sovereign Borders," the statement said. "Australia respects Indonesia's territorial sovereignty and will continue to do so, just as Indonesia has stated it respects Australia's territorial sovereignty. "It is not the policy or practice of the Australian Government to violate Indonesian territorial sovereignty. Any suggestion to the contrary is false." Labor, Greens call for answers on boat turn-backs Labor and the Greens say the Government must reveal the details of the alleged incident. "We've got a situation where a boat has been towed back by Australian officers, the boat has run aground. These people could have drowned," Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said. "How many other boats has this occurred to that we've never heard about? The Federal Government has previously outlined its intention to "turn back" boats "where it is safe to do so" as part of its asylum seeker policy. Under Operation Sovereign Borders, Mr Morrison had been providing information about what it calls "on-water operations" during a weekly briefing given each Friday. Mr Morrison has in the past refused to release more information about asylum seeker operations because of "national security" and "the protection of public safety". He gave his last weekly briefing in December and it is unclear whether they will continue this year, with reports a weekly email may be distributed instead. Topics: navy, defence-forces, defence-and-national-security, federal-government, foreign-affairs, government-and-politics, refugees, immigration, indonesia, australia, asia First posted \|\|\|\|\| United Indonesia Cabinet 2009-2014 Thu, 10/22/2009 12:06 PM \| Headlines Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto Madiun, East Java/Dec. 2, 1950 Education : Indonesian Military Academy Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Java Background : Professional (Navy) His appointment comes as no surprise due to his strategic role in the campaign team for Yudhoyono and Boediono following his retirement as the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief. President Yudhoyono has long had confidence in his fellow 1973 Military Academy graduate Djoko, whom he named TNI commander in 2006. Djoko emulates his predecessor Widodo Adi Sucipto as a former military chief promoted to chief security minister. Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro Semarang/June 16, 1951 Education : PhD in economics/mineral resources from the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado (1988) Religion : Catholic Ethnicity: Java Background : Professional The appointment of Purnomo as a defense minister shocked the public, considering his background serves him best in the economic sector. Before serving as the energy and mineral resources minister for the past five years, Purnomo served in the same post under president Megawati Soekarnoputri. He served as president of OPEC before Indonesia decided to quit from the organization. Agriculture Minister Suswono Tegal, Central Java/April 20, 1959 Education : Master's in Agribusiness from Agribusiness Management Magister, Bogor Institute of Agriculture Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Java Background : Politician (PKS) Suswono emerged as an expert in agriculture and plantation following his function as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Commission for Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry between 2004 and 2009. As PKS representative, Suswono is likely to continue the policies already installed by his predecessor Anton Apriyantono, the party's senior activist. Health Minister Endang R. Sedyaningsih Banyumas, Central Java/Feb. 1, 1955 Education : Doctor of Public Health, Harvard School of Public HealthBackground : Professional Until her appointment, Endang was mostly unknown, despite her academic credentials as director of the Center for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research and Programme Development. She has also participated in research on avian influenza since 2006. In 2001, Endang was stationed at the WHO headquarters in Geneva at the department of communicable disease surveillance and response as temporary technical advisor. Her name was a last-minute replacement for previous candidate Nila Anfasa Moeloek. State Minister for Research and Technology Suharna Surapranata Bandung/Dec. 13, 1955 Education : Master's in Physics Engineering from the Bandung Institute of Technology Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Sunda Background : Politician (PKS) His appointment as the new research minister will see him give up his post as a legislator for his West Java constituency. The chairman of the PKS advisory board previously worked at the Technology Research and Application Agency (BPPT). Suharna said that among his jobs would be to adopt research and technology to help boost Indonesia's economic competitiveness. State Minister for National Development Planning Armida Alisjahbana Bandung/Aug. 16, 1960 Education : PhD in Economics, University of Washington, Seattle Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Sunda Background : Professional (Academician from the Padjajaran University). Armida, the daughter of former Foreign Minister Mochtar Kusuma Atmadja, is not well known as one the country's economic thinkers despite her involvement in numerous research projects both at home and overseas. Coordinating Minister for the Economy M. Hatta Radjasa Palembang, South Sumatra/Dec. 18, 1953 Education : Bandung Institute of Technology Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Palembang Background : Politician (National Mandate Party/PAN) While still retaining the role of secretary-general of the PAN, Hatta emerged as a trusted man in Yudhoyono's inner circle. His appointment to such a key post, despite a lack of experience in this portfolio, signifies Yudhoyono's trust in him personally rather than the influence of the PAN. This is Hatta's fourth Cabinet posting after previously serving as state secretary, transportation minister and research and technology minister. Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar Padang, West Sumatra/Oct. 31, 1958 Education : Muhammadiyah University (1984) Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Minang Background : Politician (PAN) He consistently supported Yudhoyono's re-election bid while other fellow National Mandate Party (PAN) executives preferred rival presidential candidate Wiranto. Patrialis, who was a lawmaker between 1999 and 2009, once worked as a public transportation and taxi driver to fund his study at Muhammadiyah University's School of Law in Jakarta. He turned to politics after years as a lawyer. Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan Lampung/May 17, 1962 Education : Master's of Management from PPM Management Institute Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Lampung Background : Politician (PAN) Zulkifli served as a lawmaker from the PAN, representing his hometown of Lampung. He was a member of the House's Commission VI on mining and a member of the House's budgetary committee. Zulkifli was president director of PT Panamas Mitra Inti Lestari. He is also deputy chairman of the empowerment committee at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Jakarta branch. Zulkifli said among his tasks was to control forest fires. Education Minister Mohammad Nuh Surabaya/June 17, 1959 Education : PhD in science from Universite Sciences et Techniques de Montpellier, France Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Java Background : Professional (academician) Known as an information technology expert, Muhammad Nuh's exposure in education came when he served as the rector of the November 10 Institute of Technology in Surabaya just before his first appointment as minister in 2005 to replace Sofyan Djalil following the first Cabinet reshuffle under Yudhoyono. Nuh is among a few ministers who are maintained by President Yudhoyono. State Minister for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Syarifuddin Hasan (Syarief Hasan) Palopo, South Sulawesi/June 17, 1949 Education : PhD from Krisnadwipayana University (Unkris), Jakarta Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Makassar Background : Democratic Party politician. Spending most of his time with the House of Representatives's defense and foreign affair commission, Syarief Hasan is widely known as Yudhoyono's lobbyist and bumper against attacks from politicians in the House. Syarief, a successful businessman, is among Yudhoyono's confidants. State Minister for State Enterprises Mustafa Abubakar Pidie, Aceh/Oct. 15, 1949 Education : PhD from IPB Religion : Islam Ethnicity : Aceh Background : Professional, and former Golkar member. Despite his past as a party activist, Mustafa has demonstrated both his high integrity and his success in cleansing the once corrupt-infested state logistic company PT Bulog. As former acting governor of Aceh between 2005 and 2007, Mustafa emerges as a Acehnese success story at the national stage.	Christmas Island (left), Rote Island (right). The back arriving asylum seekers to , Indonesia, after claiming destination, reported Monday of last week. Last Thursday, Australian Prime Minister supported lack of transparency on the issue. Indonesian police found the two ships reportedly forcibly towed back from Australia on December 19, and on January 6 after being towed on . A self-identified Sudanese asylum seeker from one of the boats reported the Navy ship numbers, identifying them as and , and said the refugees were denied access to navigation tools during the duration of the route and abandoned in sea in the middle of the night. Commenters called such practice "", "tow-backs", "turn-backs". Police chief Hidayat Rote Island, speaking to Fairfax Media, said the second boat was adrift: "They were rescued by the locals, because the boat engines were dead. The boat now is wreckage, near some reefs." The Australian government had also planned to purchase additional lifeboats for refugee expulsion from Australian waters, Fairfax Media reported. Australian government originally had no response, but after protests by and the , Tony Abbott commented. Last Thursday, he supported lack of transparency on the issue by saying "I'd rather be criticised a bit for being a bit of a closed book on the issue, and actually stop the boats. I'm pleased to say that it's now several weeks since we've had a boat, and the less we talk about operational details on the water, the better when it comes to stopping the boats." Defence Force chief David Hurley also claimed professional behaviour of board officers and the Navy when handling arriving refugees boats. chief General Moeldoko said according to the , and an spokesperson confirmed, that they agreed on the push-backs approach mid-December with no further comment; with Mr Abbot calling the relationship "very strong", while Indonesia's legal and security affairs minister and foreign affairs minister both disapproved of the approach. General Moeldoko reportedly later said the media had misreported him. The United Nations (UNRA) was seeking explanation from the Australian government, it reported in a press briefing this Saturday. The UNRA spokesperson, Babar Baloch, raised legal concerns by saying that "Any such approach would raise significant issues and potentially could place Australia in breach of its obligations under the and international law. If people who are in need for international protection seek a country's safety, then they must be allowed to go through a process which helps to determine if these people are in need." Marke, another self-identified Somali asylum seeker, claimed earlier similar treatment, on December 10: that the Australian Navy — HMAS ''Parramatta'' and — had claimed Christmas Island destination, towed his boat for several days, and subsequently dropped at an undisclosed location. == Sources == * * * * *
Mr Morrison used the 1950s' space-age craze to market the Pluto Platter The man who invented the Frisbee, one of the world's most popular toys, has died at his home in Utah aged 90. Walter Frederick Morrison conceived and developed his aerodynamic plastic disc in the 1950s, and hundreds of millions have been sold worldwide since. Frisbee historian Phil Kennedy said Mr Morrison and his future wife, Lu, got the idea from playing with a metal cake pan on the beach in California. He originally called his toy the Pluto Platter and sold it at local fairs. The platter's novel aerodynamic shape allowed it to hover briefly or travel surprisingly long distances, kept aloft by its rotation. In pictures: Decades of Frisbee fun In 1957 Mr Morrison sold the rights to the California firm Wham-O, which discovered that youngsters were calling the toy a "Frisbie" after the name of a well-known pie. The company changed the spelling to avoid trademark infringement and the Frisbee was born. On the official Frisbee website, Wham-O paid tribute to Mr Morrison, who was known as Fred. "As Frisbee discs keep flying though the air, bringing smiles to faces, Fred's spirit lives on. Smooth flights, Fred," it read. Mr Morrison's son, Walt, told the Associated Press that his father had suffered from cancer, and that "old age had caught up" with him. How would you get through your youth without learning to throw a Frisbee? Kay McIff, lawyer for Walter Frederick Morrison "He was a nice guy. He helped a lot of people. He was an entrepreneur. He was always looking for something to do," he added. Lawyer Kay McIff, who represented Mr Morrison in a royalties case, said: "That simple little toy has permeated every continent in every country. As many homes have Frisbees as any other device ever invented. "How would you get through your youth without learning to throw a Frisbee?" Mr Morrison, who died at his home in Monroe, on Tuesday, is survived by three children. Walt Morrison said the family planned to hold a memorial service on Saturday at the Cowboy Corral in Elsinore, Utah. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| coronavirus Patients whose vaccine appointment cards were lost in the post have been told they will have to wait another three weeks for the jab. Everyone over the age of 65 was due to receive a vaccine by early March but one GP practice in Fife disclosed that they had been “inundated” with calls from patients who had still not received their letter.Patients whose vaccine appointment cards were lost in the post have been told they will have to wait another three weeks for the jab. Everyone over the age of 65 was due to receive a vaccine by early March but one GP practice in Fife disclosed that they had been “inundated” with calls from patients who had still not received their letter.Patients whose vaccine appointment cards were lost in the post have been told they will have to wait another three weeks for...	Walter Frederick Morrison in the 1950s, with his invention that he originally identified as the "Pluto Platter". Inventor Walter Frederick Morrison has died of the age of 90. He was famous for being the inventor of the flying disc, more commonly identified as the frisbee. Kay McIff, a Utah House Representative and Morrison's son announced that he had died in the city of Monroe in Utah, United States. Morrison, whose son Walt said that "old age caught up" with him, had been suffering from cancer. In the year 1957, he sold the rights to the product, which he called the "Pluto Platter", to California company Wham-O, who sold the product with this name. Then, the company noticed that consumers were colloquially calling the flying disc a "Frisbie", which is the name of a well known pie. Wham-O changed the name of the product to Frisbee to prevent copyright infringement. Over 200 million frisbees have now been sold around the world. On the official Wham-O website, a statement was released which said: "As Frisbee discs keep flying though the air, bringing smiles to faces, Fred's spirit lives on. Smooth flights, Fred." The company continued to pay tribute to Fred, as he was called. "He was a nice guy. He helped a lot of people. He was an entrepreneur. He was always looking for something to do," Wham-O commented. Kay McIff, a lawyer who represented Morrison in a court case involving royalties, said about the Frisbee: "That simple little toy has permeated every continent in every country, as many homes have Frisbees as any other device ever invented. How would you get through your youth without learning to throw a Frisbee?"
Federal police intervene in Mexico unrest President Fox dispatched forces this weekend in bid to quell violent protests in southern town of Oaxaca. \| Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor – Five months after leftist protesters occupied the center of Oaxaca in southern Mexico, President Vicente Fox sent federal security forces this weekend to resolve a deadly conflict that has stained the image of a town famed for its colonial facades and gourmet food. The move came after three men, including an American journalist, were killed Friday by gun-fire. But for many it comes five months too late, and at too high a price. Subscribe for free. Get all the Monitor's headlines by e-mail. E-mail this story Write a letter to the Editor Printer-friendly version Permission to reprint/republish del.icio.us What's this? ] digg What's this? ] Like their counterparts in the US, Mexico's federal police are only ordered to resolve local or state conflicts in extreme circumstances. But this protest, which began in May as a teachers' strike for higher pay and morphed into an unwavering demand for the governor's resignation, has long since turned acute. Protesters have barricaded the center of town and chased local police from the streets. At least six people have been killed. Children have missed 100 days of class, and the tourist sector has lost millions of dollars. Many say the violence has been left to simmer in large part because of a power vacuum after the July 2 presidential election, the closest in the country's history. Although the crisis is motivated by local factors, intervention has national consequences. "The [Fox administration] has not stepped in because of how complicated the situation is politically," says Alberto Aziz, an analyst at the Center for Research and Higher Learning in Social Anthropology who has studied civil resistance movements in Mexico. "The federal government has not resolved it for the sake of a political alliance." Political considerations Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the leftist candidate who lost the race, has declared the presidential elections fraudulent and illegitimate. The ensuing political divisions have left many to believe that the only way to push through legislation is an alliance between the National Action Party (PAN), to which President Fox and incoming president Felipe Calderón belong, and the long-ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the party of Oaxaca governor Ulises Ruiz. "This is an extreme expression of a power vacuum in Mexico politics," says John Ackerman, a law professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. "It shows the desperate need of the PAN to maintain PRI support. If not [López Obrador's party] gets more powerful, and the opposition becomes more threatening." Situation brewing since May The teachers' strike, which began five months ago, drew protesters from across the state under an umbrella group, called the Oaxaca People's Popular Assembly. They have maintained that they will stop at nothing short of the resignation of Governor Ruiz. Violence ensued Friday when gunmen attempted to remove a street blockade. Bradley Roland Will of New York, an independent journalist, was shot in the stomach and died later at a hospital. The next day, Fox, who had been resisting pressure to use force in Oaxaca, ordered federal police to intervene. The forces, clad in riot gear and backed by trucks and helicopters took positions on the edges of the city Sunday. Some in Oaxaca are suspicious that the Fox administration is only taking action now because a foreigner was killed, fueling even more distrust. "That would pain me if it were true," says Fredy Alcantara, the president of the hotel and motel association of Oaxaca. "A Mexican life counts as much as a foreigner's." Thousands of striking teachers are scheduled to return to classes Monday, while other protesters prepared for resistance. Some fear that federal force will not resolve the conflict, and that it might just provoke more violence. "What the government should have done was find a way for the governor to step down," says Mr. Aziz. Still, the government intervention came as a relief to many. Mr. Alcantara says that the tourist sector has lost $440 million in five months, and that the school's 1.3 million children have lost some 100 days of classes. "In Oaxaca, we have been waiting for this for five months," Alcantara says. "We have lost our liberties, free transit, the education of our children, cultural celebrations, the ability to walk outside at night," he says. "We have been kidnapped by radical groups, and the government should have intervened after the first day." • Ms. Llana is Latin America correspondent for the Monitor and USA Today. Wire services were used in this report. \|\|\|\|\| 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. \|\|\|\|\| Jen Gerson: Alberta needs to suck it up and adopt a sales tax if it doesn’t want to be dependent on oil royalties	After five months of tense protests in the Oaxacan state capital, Oaxaca City, in Southern Mexico, Mexican president, Vicente Fox, ordered Federal forces to remove protesters and striking teachers from the city centre. On Sunday, Mexican police forces clothed in riot gear, armed with tear gas and assault rifles, and backed up by armoured vehicles took up positions on the edge of the city to begin their march into the city centre. A male protester manning one barricade was killed as federal police stormed the city, Police did not immediately confirm that. But it is still uncertain whether more than one million schoolchildren would return to classes Monday in the embattled city where riot police and burned-out vehicles still line the streets. Oaxaca suffers from a stand-off between the state government of Oaxaca and the People's Popular Assembly of Oaxaca (APPO), a consortium of groups including teachers, farmers, and other workers. The impetus for federal involvement in Oaxaca appears to stem from the murder of four protesters and wounding of at least one other by state-sanctioned paramilitaries on Friday the 28th. Also potentially contributing to federal interdiction could be a desire, formed following the protests in Mexico City after the country's recent elections, to forge stronger ties between Vicente Fox's National Action Party (PAN) and the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). The protests began in May as a teacher's strike. Police and state forces - often in plain-clothes - have shot at protesters, setting off clashes in which at least eight people have died. It is still too early to tell when federal police will withdraw from Oaxaca City. Protesters have decided to abandon the centre and regroup at a local university. The protesters accuse Ruiz of corruption and rigging elections. Daniel Reyes a teacher, told reporters "We are going to leave this area . . . while we regroup and look at strategies to recover this area," leaving open the possibility of continued protests, extended federal occupation, and ongoing violence.
US Unemployment Rate Edges Higher Unemployed Sergio Fuentes,(R)gets some help from state worker at State of California Employment Development Department in San Jose, 1 Sep 2009 Companies in the United States are shedding more jobs, pushing the country's unemployment rate to a 26-year high of 9.8 percent. The U.S. Labor Department said Friday that employers cut 263,000 jobs in September, with companies in the service industries, including banks, restaurants and retailers, hit especially hard. The United States has now lost 7.2 million jobs since the recession began in December 2007. The new data is sparking fears that unemployment could threaten an economic recovery. Top U.S. officials have warned that any economic recovery would be slow and uneven, and some have predicted the U.S. unemployment rate will top 10 percent before the situation improves. Also Thursday, the U.S. Commerce Department said factory orders fell for the first time in five months, dropping eight-tenths of a percent in August. Orders for durable goods - items intended to last several years, including everything from appliances to airliners - fell 2.6 percent, the steepest drop since January. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Friday the latest jobs data was tough news but promised "we are going to recover." He also noted that the pace of jobs losses, while bad, is better than it was when President Barack Obama first took office. However, he added "less bad is not our measure of success." The U.S. government has been spending billions of dollars - part of a massive $787 billion stimulus package - to help spark economic growth. There have been some signs the economy is improving. The Commerce Department said Thursday that spending on home construction jumped in August for its biggest increase in 16 years. The National Association of Realtors said pending sales of previously owned homes rose more than 12 percent in August, compared to August of last year. A separate Commerce Department report said consumer spending - which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity - rose at its fastest pace in nearly eight years, jumping 1.3 percent in August. Still, during testimony before a U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee Friday, a top economic official warned about the problem of underemployment. Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Keith Hall said the number of Americans who have settled for part-time jobs, or who have given up looking for work has doubled since the recession began. Companies in the United States are shedding more jobs, pushing the country's unemployment rate to a 26-year high of 9.8 percent.The U.S. Labor Department said Friday that employers cut 263,000 jobs in September, with companies in the service industries, including banks, restaurants and retailers, hit especially hard.The United States has now lost 7.2 million jobs since the recession began in December 2007. The new data is sparking fears that unemployment could threaten an economic recovery.Top U.S. officials have warned that any economic recovery would be slow and uneven, and some have predicted the U.S. unemployment rate will top 10 percent before the situation improves.Also Thursday, the U.S. Commerce Department said factory orders fell for the first time in five months, dropping eight-tenths of a percent in August.Orders for durable goods - items intended to last several years, including everything from appliances to airliners - fell 2.6 percent, the steepest drop since January.U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Friday the latest jobs data was tough news but promised "we are going to recover."He also noted that the pace of jobs losses, while bad, is better than it was when President Barack Obama first took office. However, he added "less bad is not our measure of success."The U.S. government has been spending billions of dollars - part of a massive $787 billion stimulus package - to help spark economic growth. There have been some signs the economy is improving.The Commerce Department said Thursday that spending on home construction jumped in August for its biggest increase in 16 years. The National Association of Realtors said pending sales of previously owned homes rose more than 12 percent in August, compared to August of last year.A separate Commerce Department report said consumer spending - which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity - rose at its fastest pace in nearly eight years, jumping 1.3 percent in August.Still, during testimony before a U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee Friday, a top economic official warned about the problem of underemployment.Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Keith Hall said the number of Americans who have settled for part-time jobs, or who have given up looking for work has doubled since the recession began. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. E-mail Print Digg Yahoo Buzz Facebook del.icio.us StumbleUpon \|\|\|\|\| Employers cut another 263,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate rose to a 26-year high of 9.8%, raising worries that the persistently weak labor market could undermine a nascent economic recovery from the worst U.S. recession since the Great Depression. The economy, by most accounts, has begun to grow again. But Friday's Labor Department report underscored the risk that without jobs, consumers won't have income to spend and that will restrain growth and give employers little reason to resume hiring after 21 consecutive months of job losses. The bleak report comes amid continuing talks between the White House and Congress on extending of some parts of the stimulus package enacted in February, such as unemployment benefits and health-insurance subsidies. "The pace of the recovery is likely to slow," said Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist for research firm IHS Global Insight. "Ultimately, if we don't get job growth, we're not going to get sustained growth in consumer spending. How could we get a really strong recovery without consumers?" Podcast Economist John Canally of LPL Financial discusses the report showing the unemployment rate climbed to 9.8%. With the economy propped up by government spending on programs such as "cash for clunkers," economists worry the fragile recovery will fizzle if employers don't soon begin hiring. Programs such as extensions of unemployment benefits to the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers have helped stabilize the housing market and construction spending. Manufacturing output has begun to rebound as companies look to rebuild inventories, while companies have used productivity gains to regain profits. But hiring hasn't followed. The number of unemployed -- officially at 15.1 million -- is greater than the population of all but four states. The proportion of people who have been searching for work for longer than half a year rose to 35.6% of the unemployed, from a third of the work force in August. The dismal state of the job market led to a decline of 571,000 in the labor force, a sign that discouraged workers have given up looking for work entirely. Investors signaled concern that the economy isn't recovering as steadily as many had hoped. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 21 points, or 0.2%, to 9487.67. A separate report Friday showed more disappointing news: Factory orders fell 0.8% in August from a month earlier, after four months of increases. Write to Conor Dougherty at conor.dougherty@wsj.com Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A1 \|\|\|\|\| After several months in which the American economy flashed tentative signs of improvement, a sobering report on the national job market released on Friday amplified worries that a lengthy period of lean times lay ahead. The economy shed 263,000 jobs in September, and the unemployment rate edged up to 9.8 percent from 9.7 percent in August, according to the Labor Department’s monthly snapshot of the employment picture. Though the job market worsened, the pace of deterioration remained markedly slower than during the early months of the year, when roughly 700,000 jobs a month were disappearing. That improvement seems consistent with the widespread belief that the recession has given way to economic growth. Yet the report also buttressed fears that economic expansion would be weak and hesitant, with scarce paychecks and economic anxiety remaining prominent features of American life well into next year. “This is a weak report,” said Stuart G. Hoffman, chief economist at the PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh. “The rate of job loss has tapered off, but we still haven’t reached the point where businesses are willing to hire.” \|\|\|\|\| American employers cut 263,000 jobs last month, pushing the unemployment rate up to a 26-year high of 9.8%, in a sign of ongoing gloom in the labour market that stoked fears of a slow recovery from the worst financial downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The official figures from the US department of labour were far worse than economists had forecast. Together with a drop in factory orders and a slump in sales for Detroit's car manufacturers, they sent stockmarkets lower and sparked renewed talk of the possibility of a "double dip" recession. September was the 21st consecutive month of shrinkage for the US workforce. The number of job losses accelerated sharply from a revised tally of 201,000 during August, and the rate of unemployment ticked up from 9.7% to 9.8%. Speaking at a meeting of the White House's taskforce on middle-class families, Joe Biden, the US vice-president, acknowledged that the jobs report was "bad news" and said the recovery was likely to come in fits and starts. "One job lost is one job too many," Biden said. "There's still too many hard-working Americans without a pay cheque, too many families struggling to get by." Concern about the US economy contributed to a drop in London share prices, with the FTSE 100 index falling 48 points to 4999. Wall Street stocks opened sharply lower but, after its biggest fall for two months yesterday, the Dow Jones industrial average was down only 20 points to 9488 by late morning. Most US experts believe that the world's largest economy is no longer in recession, with GDP likely to show a rise for the third quarter. But the US economy has lost 7.2m jobs since the downturn began at the end of 2007, and 15.1 million people are looking for work. Companies are continuing to cut costs. Among the weakest sectors was construction, hit by plunging property prices, where 64,000 jobs disappeared. Employers cut 51,000 manufacturing jobs and 39,000 retail positions. Even the government's payroll declined, falling by 53,000, in spite of public works funded by the Obama administration's $787bn (£500bn) stimulus package. Nigel Gault, chief US economist at IHS Global Insight, said there was "no silver lining" to the figures, with leading indicators such as temporary jobs and the length of the working week still declining. Adding to the misery, the commerce department said that new orders to US factories for manufactured goods fell by 0.8% in August, the largest decline in five months. Yesterday, Detroit's struggling carmakers said that the end of the government's "cash for clunkers" subsidy programme had sent their business plunging, with General Motors and Chrysler both recording year-on-year sales drops of more than 40% for September. The weak picture ought to mean that there will be no increase in US interest rates until 2012 at the earliest, according to Ian Morris, HSBC's head of US economics. "[Federal Reserve chairman Ben] Bernanke should tell his colleagues to hold fire on all the hawkish talk until we get at least one month of positive payrolls," Morris said.	Companies in the United States are shedding more jobs, pushing the country's unemployment rate to a 26-year high of 9.8%. The US Labor Department said on Friday that employers cut 263,000 jobs in September, with companies in the service industries — including banks, restaurants and retailers — hit especially hard. This is the 21st consecutive month of job losses in the country. The United States has now lost 7.2 million jobs since the recession officially began in December 2007. The new data has sparked fears that unemployment could threaten an economic recovery. Top US officials have warned that any recovery would be slow and uneven, and some have predicted the unemployment rate will top 10% before the situation improves. "Continued household deleveraging and rising unemployment may weigh more on consumption than forecast, and accelerating corporate and commercial property defaults could slow the improvement in financial conditions," read a report by the International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook, predicting that unemployment will average 10.1% by next year and not go back down to five percent until 2014. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com, said that “it’s a very fragile and tentative recovery. Policy makers need to do more.” "The number came in weaker than expected. We saw a lot of artificial involvement by the government to prop up the markets, and now that that is starting to end, the private sector isn't yet showing signs of life," said Kevin Caron, a market strategist for Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. Also on Thursday, the US Commerce Department said factory orders fell for the first time in five months, dropping eight-tenths of a percent in August. Orders for durable goods — items intended to last several years (including everything from appliances to airliners) — fell 2.6%, the largest drop since January of this year. The US government has been spending billions of dollars — part of a $787 billion stimulus package — to help spark economic growth. There have been some signs the economy is improving. The Commerce Department said on Thursday that spending on home construction jumped in August for its biggest increase in 16 years. A real estate trade group, the National Association of Realtors, said pending sales of previously owned homes rose more than 12 percent in August, compared to August 2008. A separate Commerce Department report said that consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, rose at its fastest pace in nearly eight years, jumping 1.3 percent in August. Other reports have provided cause for concern. A banking industry trade group said Thursday the number of US consumers making late payments, or failing to make payments, on loans and credit cards is on the rise. A survey by a business group, the Institute for Supply Management, Thursday showed US manufacturing grew in September, but at a slower pace than in August when manufacturing increased for the first time in a year and a half. Stock markets reacted negatively to the reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 41 points in early trading, reaching a level of 9467. This follows a drop of 203 points on Thursday, its largest loss in a single day since July. The London FTSE index fell 55 points, or 1.1%, to reach 4993 points by 15.00 local time.