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A total of 222 British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001 A British soldier from the Royal Military Police has been killed in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said. The soldier was killed on Thursday morning by an explosion while on foot patrol near to the Gereshk district in Helmand province. The Ministry of Defence said next of kin had been informed. This death takes the number of UK troops killed on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 to 222. Lt Col David Wakefield, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "It is my sad duty to confirm the death of a soldier, a Royal Military Policeman, in an explosion earlier today in Helmand Province. "He died doing his duty and we will remember him." \|\|\|\|\| A British soldier was killed by an explosion in southern Afghanistan this morning, the Ministry of Defence said. The serviceman, from the Royal Military police, died on a foot patrol near Gereshk district centre in Helmand province. The death is the fourth this month and brings to 222 the number of British troops killed in Afghanistan since the October 2001 invasion. The soldier's family have been informed.	A British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, taking the number of British deaths there since 2001 to 222. He was a member of the Royal Military Police, and was killed while on foot patrol in the Helmand province, close to the Gereshk district in Southern Afghanistan. The cause of death has been reported to be an explosion, but the source is unclear. "It is my sad duty to confirm the death of a soldier, a Royal Military Policeman, in an explosion earlier today in Helmand Province," Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield said of the incident. " He died doing his duty and we will remember him." The deceased's family has been informed.
Thumbs up for beating princess 01/09/2005 20:01 - (SA) Mbabane - The royal family says the king's eldest daughter deserved the beating a household official delivered when he caught her holding a drinking party during Swaziland's annual royal bride-choosing festivities. Jim Gama, governor of the queen mother's residence, said: "It was within the traditional overseer's right to discipline anyone - including princesses - who wanted to spoil the important ceremony. "Swazi culture allows any parent to discipline any child for unruly behaviour in public." Princess Sikhanyiso had raised eyebrows before in Africa's last absolute monarchy for flouting tradition with her Western-style short skirts and jeans. Rite of spring Last Friday, the official overseer of traditional affairs, Ntfonjeni Dlamini, stumbled across a party hosted by the 17-year-old and featuring loud music and alcohol. Dlamini said he was so shocked, he beat the princess on her thighs with a stick as she fled. The incident cast a pall over the annual reed dance festivities, a rite of spring at which thousands of girls gather reeds to build a wind break for Queen Mother Ntombi Thwala and to dance before King Mswati III. According to tradition, the king was meant to select a bride at the festivities that culminated on Monday. Prince Jahamnyama, one of Mswati's elder brothers, said: "Princess Sikhanyiso received what she had bargained for by turning such an important event into a social gathering." Princess Sikhanyiso said the party was a private event to celebrate the end of a chastity decree. Sexual relations banned In 2001, Mswati temporarily revived the ancient "umchwasho" rite, which banned sexual relations for girls younger than 18 in a bid to fight Aids, which was at crisis levels in Swaziland. But, the rite - symbolised by the wearing of woollen tassels - was ridiculed as old-fashioned and unfairly focused on girls. Days before the reed dance, the king announced he was ending the ban a year early. Mswati, who already has 12 wives, one bride-to-be and 27 children, is no stranger to controversy himself. He has come under international pressure for resisting reforms to introduce more democracy in his tiny kingdom. And his lavish lifestyle, including indulging a love of top-of-the-range cars, contrasts with the absolute poverty of most of his subjects. \|\|\|\|\| Thumbs up for beating princess 01/09/2005 20:01 - (SA) Mbabane - The royal family says the king's eldest daughter deserved the beating a household official delivered when he caught her holding a drinking party during Swaziland's annual royal bride-choosing festivities. Jim Gama, governor of the queen mother's residence, said: "It was within the traditional overseer's right to discipline anyone - including princesses - who wanted to spoil the important ceremony. "Swazi culture allows any parent to discipline any child for unruly behaviour in public." Princess Sikhanyiso had raised eyebrows before in Africa's last absolute monarchy for flouting tradition with her Western-style short skirts and jeans. Rite of spring Last Friday, the official overseer of traditional affairs, Ntfonjeni Dlamini, stumbled across a party hosted by the 17-year-old and featuring loud music and alcohol. Dlamini said he was so shocked, he beat the princess on her thighs with a stick as she fled. The incident cast a pall over the annual reed dance festivities, a rite of spring at which thousands of girls gather reeds to build a wind break for Queen Mother Ntombi Thwala and to dance before King Mswati III. According to tradition, the king was meant to select a bride at the festivities that culminated on Monday. Prince Jahamnyama, one of Mswati's elder brothers, said: "Princess Sikhanyiso received what she had bargained for by turning such an important event into a social gathering." Princess Sikhanyiso said the party was a private event to celebrate the end of a chastity decree. Sexual relations banned In 2001, Mswati temporarily revived the ancient "umchwasho" rite, which banned sexual relations for girls younger than 18 in a bid to fight Aids, which was at crisis levels in Swaziland. But, the rite - symbolised by the wearing of woollen tassels - was ridiculed as old-fashioned and unfairly focused on girls. Days before the reed dance, the king announced he was ending the ban a year early. Mswati, who already has 12 wives, one bride-to-be and 27 children, is no stranger to controversy himself. He has come under international pressure for resisting reforms to introduce more democracy in his tiny kingdom. And his lavish lifestyle, including indulging a love of top-of-the-range cars, contrasts with the absolute poverty of most of his subjects.	Ntfonjeni Dlamini, the government's official overseer of traditional affairs, beat one of the princesses of Swaziland. A daughter of HM , 17-year-old Princess Sikhanyiso was throwing a party with loud music and alcohol. The party was to celebrate the end of the chastity decree. "It was within the traditional overseer's right to discipline anyone — including princesses — who wanted to spoil the important Reed Dance ceremony," claimed Jim Gama, governor of the queen mother's residence. The Reed Dance ceremony is an annual ritual in the culture. Princess Sikhanyiso had already caused ire around Swaziland, as she broke traditions by wearing Western-style short skirts and jeans.
(See Corrections & Amplifications item below.) Verizon Wireless finally told the world Tuesday that it will start selling the iPhone, but the carrier toiled in secret with Apple Inc. for two years to make it happen. Stacey Delo takes a look at what a Verizon iPhone is likely to cost you when phone and data plans as well as possible fees are factored into the equation and which carrier looks to be the cheaper option, Verizon or AT&T;? The country's largest wireless carrier said it would have the iPhone in stores on Feb. 10 starting at $199, the same price charged by rival AT&T Inc., which has had the phone to itself since its launch in June 2007. The move will give Apple an important new source of sales in its biggest market for the iPhone and help it compete with rival Google Inc., which had made inroads for its Android operating system by teaming up with Verizon to develop high-end smartphones. It also will shake up the U.S. wireless market, ending a deal that has driven much of AT&T's subscriber growth and forcing smaller carriers like Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA to compete against bigger rivals armed with an immensely popular phone. Verizon executives revealed Tuesday that the iPhone was just over a year old when negotiations with Apple became serious in late 2008. Apple started to work with Verizon because it realized it needed to add another carrier to keep its strong U.S. sales momentum, said one person familiar with the matter. The company decided to design for Verizon's CDMA network after realizing the carrier's faster 4G network wasn't available across its subscriber base and was still being refined to work well with phones, another person said. After enduring months of rumors about competition for the iPhone, AT&T; executives are finally about to face their moment of truth as Verizon today announces plans to sell the popular smartphone. Shayndi Raice has the story. AT&T U.S. iPhone sales account for about 30% of iPhone sales, according to Piper Jaffray & Co. Analysts think Verizon could sell 7 million to 13 million this year, owing to pent-up demand among would-be buyers who don't want to use AT&T's network. Apple has sold 75.6 million iPhones so far world-wide on a cumulative basis, according to Kaufman Bros. "The number one question I get is when will Verizon get the iPhone," said Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, who showed up for the launch. He said his own mother wanted to know, but he wouldn't tell her. "My wife and I have both been waiting for the iPhone," said Terence Leung, a San Francisco marketing professional. Mr. Leung said he didn't want to switch to AT&T because of its reputation for dropped calls and bandwidth issues. He has looked at Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.'s Droid phone, but also didn't buy it because of its relative lack of applications and insufficient battery life. He is currently a BlackBerry user. At a press event in New York Tuesday, Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead provided details about when the iPhone 4 will available on his company's network and how much it will cost. Some AT&T customers say they have no plans to switch. Maximilian Sylvia, 16, of Holden, Mass., said he's happy with his service and won't be switching to Verizon. "My iPhone works perfectly," he said. Apple first started seriously working on the iPhone around 2005. It knew it didn't have the ability to support two different wireless technologies so it chose GSM, which was more globally prevalent and could be sold around the world. People familiar with the situation said that while Apple met early on with Verizon, the talks were never serious because its network was based on a different technology. Apple also began serious conversations with Cingular, a predecessor of AT&T's wireless unit. To keep the project secret, it gave codenames, a person familiar with the matter said. The iPhone was P2, Apple was Acme and Cingular was Cypress — named after the hotel down the street from Apple headquarters where they stayed. Change became possible with the expiration of AT&T's exclusive deal to carry the iPhone, which ended "recently," Mr. Cook said. Verizon Communications President Lowell McAdam traveled to Apple headquarters in the first half of 2010 to seal the deal. Verizon's arrangement isn't exclusive, meaning other U.S. carriers could in theory eventually carry the iPhone as well. AT&T has acknowledged it was unprepared for the deluge of data traffic the iPhone brought to its network. The stress led to reports of high numbers of dropped calls and slow service. A Consumer Reports survey last year ranked Verizon first and AT&T last in terms of network quality for major carriers. Verizon worked closely with Apple to avoid a similar embarrassment in creating a phone for its CDMA network. Verizon more than any other major carrier has built its reputation on network quality. View Full Image Reuters Apple's operating chief, Tim Cook, left, and Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead shake hands Tuesday during a news conference. Verizon executives said negotiations to carry the iPhone became serious in late 2008. "If we screw that up, it's a bigger deal for us than for the other guys," said Verizon Wireless Chief Operating Officer John Stratton. The two companies collaborated closely on design and testing. Verizon installed a number of cell towers on the Apple campus in Cupertino, Calif., so the company could test the phone in their own backyard. The two companies also traded teams of employees more than a year ago. Verizon has also been shoring up its ability to handle data traffic, particularly in big cities. In the second half of last year, the carrier began lighting up unused 3G spectrum in selected markets and installing the equipment to make it run. Tony Melone, chief technology officer for Verizon, says it will continue to add more capacity in the first half of this year. "We have built up a very big data cushion," said David Small, chief technology officer of Verizon Wireless. Some questions about the Verizon iPhone weren't answered Tuesday. Verizon wouldn't discuss service plans, promising more details before taking preorders online on Feb. 3. Digits Live Blog Live Blog Recap: CDMA, 4G and more Despite an introduction from Mr. McAdam that included touting the benefits of the carrier's fourth-generation network, the company also didn't have a date for an iPhone that will work on Verizon's new 4G network. At the end of the press event in New York City, Mr. McAdam walked past a few Verizon salesmen and asked. "You guys gonna sell some phones now?" The salesmen smiled and kept walking. "I told John Stratton, 'It's all in your hands now'," recalled Mr. McAdam. As executive vice president and chief operating officer of Verizon Wireless, Mr. Stratton is responsible for the company's national operations. "I've done all I can do." —Spencer Ante contributed to this report. Write to Yukari Iwatani Kane at yukari.iwatani@wsj.com Corrections & Amplifications: A photo accompanying this article shows Apple operating chief Tim Cook on the left and Verizon Wireless's CEO Dan Mead on the right. In an earlier version of this article, the caption incorrectly said that Lowell McAdam, the president of Verizon Communications Inc., was pictured and incorrectly gave his title as CEO. In addition, the caption incorrectly said that he was pictured on the left and that Mr. Cook was on the right. \|\|\|\|\| Verizon iPhone will go on sale Feb. 10 Apple COO Tim Cook (right) shakes hands with Verizon Wireless President Lowell McAdam as the two companies unveil the long-awaited Verizon iPhone. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The wait is over. Verizon Wireless said Tuesday it will begin selling Apple's iPhone early next month, ending AT&T's four-year run as the phone's exclusive carrier. "If the press writes something long enough and hard enough, it eventually comes true," Verizon President Lowell McAdam said at a press conference in New York City. "Today, we're bringing to market the fruit of our labor with another giant of the high-tech industry, and that's Apple." Existing Verizon customers will be able to pre-order the phone beginning Feb. 3. The phone will launch in Apple and Verizon stores and online on Feb. 10, according to Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead. Verizon customers eligible for "new every two" upgrades will be able to use those upgrade credits toward an iPhone. The Verizon (VZ, Fortune 500) iPhone is a modified version of Apple's (AAPL, Fortune 500) iPhone 4, adapted to run on Verizon's CDMA network. With a two-year contract, the Verizon iPhone will be $199 for a 16 GB device and $299 for the 32 GB version, the same prices AT&T offers. Relying on Verizon's older 3G CDMA network, instead of its fledgling 4G LTE network, means Verizon's iPhone will have a few shortcomings. Most glaringly: Customers wouldn't be able to chat on the phone and surf the Web simultaneously, as they can on AT&T's iPhone. Email Print Quick Vote Verizon is about to start selling the iPhone. What's your take? Hooray! I've been waiting for this Don't care, I'm sticking with AT&T; I'll go with whoever is cheapest Don't have an iPhone, don't want one What's an iPhone? or View results The early LTE (Long-Term Evolution) chip sets just weren't ready yet, Apple COO Tim Cook said at Verizon's event. "The first-generation LTE chip sets force some design compromises, some of which we would not make," Cook said. "Secondly -- and most importantly -- Verizon Wireless customers have told us they want the iPhone now." Verizon's iPhone will have one new feature AT&T's version lacks: The built-in ability to use it as a wireless hotspot and connect up to five additional devices. Verizon Wireless' Mead said he's confident customers will be pleased with his company's offering. "We have a tremendous 3G network, the best in the country, and we want customers to be able to take advantage," he said. "This was the best thing to do, at this time, for our customers." Existing AT&T customers who want to switch carriers will need to purchase a new device -- and they'll face early termination fees of up to $325 to break an ongoing contract. Apple CEO Steve Jobs did not appear at the short event, which Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg also skipped. In another glaring omission, Verizon executives declined to discuss pricing on the data plan for its iPhone. Verizon currently sells its smartphone customers unlimited data access for $30 a month. That's an option AT&T no longer offers. In June, AT&T replaced its unlimited data plan with a tiered model offering either 200 MB a month for $15 or 2 GB a month for $25. "We talked about the device pricing, but we're not going to talk about the pricing for the network for that connectivity," Mead said. "We'll have announcements in the future." Asked when an LTE Verizon iPhone will be available, Apple's Cook said he was "not going to comment on any unannounced products." He did let slip one important and intriguing detail of Apple's Verizon deal: It's not exclusive. That means the CDMA iPhone could eventually come to other carriers who also rely on CDMA networks, like Sprint. \|\|\|\|\| NEW YORK (AP) — Verizon Wireless made the long-awaited announcement Tuesday that it will start selling a version of the iPhone 4 on Feb. 10, giving U.S. iPhone buyers a choice of carriers for the first time. Since its 2007 debut, Apple Inc.'s phone has been sold exclusively for AT&T's network in the U.S. Verizon Communications Inc.'s chief operating officer, Lowell McAdam, made the announcement in New York, joined by Apple COO Tim Cook, who called it "the beginning of a great relationship between Verizon and Apple." Pre-orders for existing Verizon customers will start Feb. 3. The price will be $200 or $300 with a two-year contract, depending on the model, about the same as the iPhone through AT&T. It will be sold through Verizon, Apple and other stores nationwide, as well as over the Internet. Verizon issued its press release at 11:11 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2011, or 1/11/11. AT&T activated 11.1 million iPhones in the first nine months of 2010. Analysts now expect Verizon to snag some users from AT&T, but the impact will likely be muted because most iPhone users have two-year contracts, and many are on family and employer plans. Verizon did not reveal its service plan pricing on Tuesday. Verizon's iPhone version will work only on the carrier's current "3G" network even though the carrier has fired up a faster "4G" network in many cities. That super-fast wireless data network is available only to plug-in laptop modems for now, but Verizon will have smart phones for it this summer from other manufacturers, including Motorola Mobility Inc. Mr. Cook said the first generation of "4G" phone chips would have forced some design compromises, which Apple wasn't willing to make. "Secondly and most importantly, Verizon customers have told us they want the iPhone now," Mr. Cook said. "I can't tell you the number of times I've been asked and my colleagues have been asked . When will the iPhonework on the Verizon network?" The lack of 4G means the Verizon iPhone will have much slower data speeds than AT&T's, at least in the areas where AT&T has upgraded its 3G network. AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel was quick to point this out, along with the fact that users won't be able to surf and talk at the same time on the Verizon iPhone. International roaming will also be very limited compared with the AT&T version. Story Continues → Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.	The original iPhone 4 In a Tuesday media event, announced it had reached an agreement with Apple Inc. and would begin selling a version of the beginning early February. The move means the end of rival company 's status as the only official US carrier of the iPhone, a status it held since the first iPhone debuted in 2007. The press conference, held in New York City, was hosted by Verizon's president, , Apple's chief operating officer, , and Verizon Wireless' chief executive officer, . Neither CEO nor Apple CEO Steve Jobs attended the conference. During the event, McAdam said, "If the press writes something long enough and hard enough, it eventually comes true. We're bringing the fruit of our labor with a giant partner, and that's Apple." Such a partnership had been rumored for years, and the amount of speculation grew over the past few months. iPhone 4 pre-orders for current Verizon users begin February 3, and a public release is scheduled for February 10. The "Verizon iPhone," as it has been dubbed for months, has been altered from the original iPhone 4 so it can utilize Verizon's CDMA (code division multiple access) network. This means, however, that Verizon iPhone users will not be able to use the company's (long term evolution) network, and will thus be unable to make calls and access the Internet at the same time. Cook told the audience that the LTE hardware was not ready yet, saying, "The first generation LTE chip sets force some design compromises, some of which we would not make. Secondly—and most importantly—Verizon Wireless customers have told us they want the iPhone now." However, Verizon's iPhone 4 allows the user to create a , which means up to five other wireless devices can connect to the Internet through the phone. Pricing was announced as 199 for a 16 version and US$299 for a 32 GB version, both requiring two-year contracts—the same cost for an AT&T iPhone 4. However, Verizon said it would not mention the cost of data plans at this time, with Mead saying, "We talked about the device pricing, but we're not going to talk about the pricing for the network for that connectivity." == Sources == * * *
Lloyd Carr alternately choked up and chuckled for nearly 40 minutes Monday as he announced that his 13th season as Michigan football coach will be his last. “I wanted to be able to walk out of here knowing that to the very last minute, I did my job to the best of my ability,” Carr said with watery eyes. “And I know I’ll be able to do that.” The best of Carr’s ability brought Michigan a national title and five Big Ten championships. It also included an unsightly loss to Appalachian State to open this season and a fourth consecutive defeat and sixth in seven years to Jim Tressel and Ohio State to close it. Many of those memories were close to the surface at Monday’s news conference in Ann Arbor, Mich., during which the public that rarely saw his true personality also learned what had happened behind closed doors the previous day when Carr, 62, broke the news to his players and staff. Advertisement “I cried more tears than I knew I had,” said Carr, who spent 28 seasons on the Michigan coaching staff. “And I’ve never laughed so hard in my life because there were so many memories.” Carr, who has a 121-40 record, will coach the Wolverines in their bowl game, likely to be either the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio or the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla. Oklahoma’s leading rusher, DeMarco Murray, has a dislocated kneecap and will sit out Saturday’s game against Oklahoma State. Murray, who has 764 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns for the 10th-ranked Sooners, was injured while trying to recover an onside kick in the final minute of a 34-27 loss at Texas Tech. Advertisement Quarterback Sam Bradford suffered a concussion against Texas Tech, and Coach Bob Stoops said his playing status would be determined later in the week. Purdue wide receiver Selwyn Lymon was arrested and charged with drunk driving and resisting arrest. Lymon was being held without bond at Tippecanoe County Jail on Monday following his Sunday morning arrest in West Lafayette, Ind. Police say he had a blood-alcohol content of .15%, nearly double the state’s legal limit. \|\|\|\|\| Before Bo Schembechler died last year, the legendary University of Michigan football coach urged Lloyd Carr to remain as the team's head coach for two or three more years. Carr responded that he'd be retiring in the near future, then entered this season knowing it would be his last. In September, Carr told athletic director Bill Martin that he had made up his mind to step down. He didn't share his decision with his assistant coaches and players until Sunday, a day the coach termed "one of the most emotional" of his life. "I cried more tears than I knew I had, and I've never laughed so hard in my life, because there are so many memories," Carr said. "It was a wonderful day, I'll tell you that." Carr spoke publicly Monday for the first time about his decision to walk away from a Michigan coaching career that spanned 28 seasons, including 13 as head coach. For nearly 40 minutes at the podium in the Junge Family Champions Center, he answered questions, told stories and cracked the occasional joke, making it clear all the while how much he cared about the university and its football program. "For the last 28 years, I spent my life in the greatest of places, the University of Michigan," Carr said. "And for the last 28 years, I've had the greatest of jobs, Michigan football." More than 200 people, among them media, family members, players, his staff and other Michigan coaches, gathered for the event, which marked the end of an era. As head coach, Carr won 121 games, five Big Ten titles and a national championship in 1997. But he insisted that he has gained more from his experiences than he gave. "I've been in a position here to make so many great friends, and I'm thankful for that because it has enriched my life, and really made me one of the most fortunate people in the country," Carr said. "I have a great family, and certainly they are people that I'm proud of, that I love." Carr, 62, did not offer a detailed explanation of why he decided to retire, but he hinted that there were elements of the position that he no longer enjoyed. "I know what this job entails, and I know what it takes and it was time," he said. "It was the right time. It was the right time for Michigan, and it was the right time for me." It seemed that Carr may have lost his appetite for some of the non-stop demands of being the Michigan head coach, which extend to things such as recruiting, fundraising and public speaking appearances, not to mention the nitty-gritty details of managing the organization. "Every day when you walk into that office, something is going to surprise you, and there's going to be disappointments every day," he said. "Dealing with those is part of the great challenge. You get 100 players on your team, you've got a lot of people in your program, and there's always challenges, there's always issues. I think it's time to let somebody else worry about all those issues." What wasn't waning, Carr said, was his fondness for everything related to football itself. "I still have a passion for the game, for the players and for the competition," he said. Carr's wife Laurie, who watched from the front row as her husband spoke, said afterward that the prevailing emotion she felt was joy. "I'm just happy, that's all I can say," she said, smiling. "I'm happy for him, I'm happy ... I'm happy." Laurie Carr said her husband's retirement from coaching will mean more time with family, including the couple's 11 grandchildren. It will also afford them the ability to make dinner reservations with friends less than three months in advance, she added. Carr's son Jason, who played football at Michigan for his father, joked that he's looking forward to next season, because for the first time it will be OK to criticize the play-calling during games. "I think it's good," Carr said of his dad's retirement. "I think he's ready, and he's going out the way he wanted to go out. There's not a lot of guys who are gonna be able to do that." Carr said he decided to retire now, rather than after the bowl game, because it will give the Wolverines a better chance to keep their current recruiting class intact. As it stands, Michigan has received verbal commitments from 16 players and, according to the coach, is pursuing seven or eight more. By getting off the recruiting trail now, Carr said the next coach will have a stockpile of in-home visits that he can use to help convince recruits to sign with the Wolverines in February. "My timing is based on one thing, what's best for Michigan," he said. "What's best for Michigan football. There is no other motive." Wolverines defensive coordinator Ron English acknowledged that the tussle to keep previously committed recruits and land new players for the next recruiting class is far from over. "Is gonna be hard," he said. "When you go through this it's gonna be hard. I think it's too early to say who's going to stay committed and who's not." Like Carr, English and the rest of the Michigan football staff are committed to remaining with the team, at least through the bowl game. Martin added that Carr will continue running the program until the next coach is hired. A second-year coordinator at Michigan, English said after Carr's news conference that he's interested in becoming Michigan's new head coach. "Who wouldn't?," he asked. For running backs coach Fred Jackson, his future involves one of two choices: Remain at Michigan, where he has been since 1992, or move on to the NFL. He said he wouldn't consider coaching at another college, given his strong feelings for the Wolverines. Jackson noted that for him, the news of Carr's retirement was bittersweet. He's pleased for the coach, but will miss the daily contact of their relationship. "He's like a brother," Jackson said. "I hugged him last night. I couldn't cry. I said, 'I love you, man.' He said, 'I love you, Fred.'" Carr said he's unsure what he'll do next, other than something that's "meaningful." But Michigan athletic director Bill Martin said he has already compiled a task list for Carr to tackle as an associate athletic director, a position that's been contractually promised to the coach. Carr added that he won't maintain an office in the Schembechler Hall as the football building's namesake did. When it comes to the role he'd like to fill for whomever is hired next, Carr said simply that he'll do whatever may be asked of him. "I want to be a guy who's there if needed," he said. "That's it. Period." Until he leaves Schembechler Hall, Carr added that he's determined to coach no differently than he ever did before. "I made up my mind several years ago that I was going to work as hard as I could to the very last second that I was in this job," he said. "I know I'll be able to do that." John Heuser can be reached at jheuser@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6816.	2007 Appalachian State vs. Michigan football game on September 1, 2007 may have contributed to the retirement. University of Michigan Wolverines head coach Lloyd Carr, who had coached the college football program for thirteen years, announced his retirement from the coaching profession, effective after the Wolverines' bowl game. "Yesterday was one of the most emotional days of my life," Carr said at his press conference, referring to when he informed his team of his retirement. "I’ve cried more tears than I knew I had. I’ve never laughed so hard in my life. There’s so many memories. It was a wonderful day." During his tenure at Michigan, Carr won five Big Ten Conference championships and a national championship in 1997. He had a disappointing 1-6 record vs. Jim Tressel's Ohio State Buckeyes, though his overall record vs. Ohio State was 6-7. Carr's last victory over Ohio State came in 2003. He amassed a 121-40 overall record while at Michigan and ranks seventh among active coaches with a 75.2 winning percentage. There has been a lot of speculation, even before Carr's retirement, regarding who would become the next Michigan head coach. Current Louisiana State University head coach Les Miles is viewed as the top candidate to replace Carr. Observers see Les Miles as the front-runner despite his recent comments. "I want to stay just where I’m at," Miles said. "I don’t want to think about it. Don’t want to envision it. I want to go forward and prepare."
Temperatures could fall as low as minus four, forecasters say Commuters are braced for travel chaos after forecasters predicted significant snowfall over south-east England. The Met Office has issued an early warning and said travel networks may be affected by snow on Friday. Up to 10cm of snow may fall on low ground and 20cm over hills in Essex, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, London and parts of East Anglia, forecasters say. Heavy snow is also forecast in parts of central and northern England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Snow showers are expected to start on the east coast on Thursday afternoon, with bands of snow then spreading across the south east into Friday morning. BBC weather forecaster Philip Avery said the amount of snow forecast is similar to the amount that fell in 2003, trapping thousands of drivers on the M11 and M25. Road salt row He said: "This is going to affect the M25, M26 and M11 in places. The Highways Agency, given the early warning, should be on the case... but it's the first dump of the season and we seem to struggle on these occasions." Strong north to north-easterly winds would also cause some snow to drift, he added. ADVICE TO ROAD USERS Do not travel in severe weather unless journey is essential Check local and national weather forecasts before setting out and take warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade Drive with care even after roads are salt treated and keep your distance - it can take 10 times longer to stop in icy conditions Source: Highways Agency The Highways Agency said it had 94 winter maintenance compounds across England, with 25 in the South East, and was able to salt treat all roads within three hours of severe forecasts. A spokesman told the BBC: "The snowfall in February was the worst the UK has seen for at least 18 years and was a tough test of our winter preparations. "The Highways Agency was well prepared for the severe weather and working with central government, was able to help a number of local highway authorities experiencing difficulties with shortfalls in their salt levels." But earlier this week, the AA motoring organisation said half of the UK's local authorities only had enough road salt for six days of continuous freezing. It said councils had 250,000 tonnes less salt than a decade ago - a claim dismissed as "scaremongering" by the Local Government Association. The Highways Agency has advised drivers to carry out simple vehicle checks before setting out, to carry a severe weather emergency kit in their vehicles, and to monitor the traffic and weather conditions. Forecasters have already warned of very cold weather this week, with temperatures falling as low as minus four. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| JavaScript must be enabled to view this page correctly. See our FAQ for instructions on how to do this. Alternatively, go to a non-JavaScript (text-only) version of this page \|\|\|\|\| 22:01 Goodnight That’s all from me for the evening. See you again soon. More » 21:57 Weather forecast Lots of warning of extreme weather in the North West - but the heavy snow warning appears to be for further north. This is the Liverpool forecast as of a couple of hours ago Rain overnight low 3c. Friday rain about again. Max 5c. Wind 10mph N. — Liverpool Weather (@liverpoolweath) Thu Mar 03 19:44:01 +0000 2016 More » 21:45 St Helens accident Police are telling us that the accident in St Helens involves a bus and a car, with five people reported injured. The incident is ongoing and they don’t have any further information yet - but we will bring you all the details as we get them. More » 21:36 Road accident Corporation Street in St Helens is closed in both directions due to accident between Shaw Street and A58 Parr Street. More » 21:14 Laser warning Police have issued another warning today about the dangers of lasers after a light was shone directly into the cockpit of a plane coming into land at John Lennon Airport. A spokesman slammed the ‘idiotic behaviour’. Laser pen shone into cockpit of police helicopter over Warrington More » 20:41 World Book Day It’s World Book Day and children all over Merseyside have gone into school dressed up as their favourite characters - the photographs are just brilliant and we have loved seeing them. Here are 150 of them - and that’s not them all! More » 20:15 Happy birthday song for King Kenny It’s Kenny Dalglish’s 65th birthday tomorrow and a song has been recorded to celebrate the occasion - read here to find out why it is so special. Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish released by Scottish band December on the football legend's 65th birthday More » 19:48 Tributes to Mickey Sad to hear the news about the death of Liverpool comedian Mickey Finn. Tributes have been pouring in all day. Mickey Finn More » 19:16 Good Evening And I’ll start the night with a bit of traffic news from out Ellesmere Port Way: More » 19:04 Six men arrested over Lewis Dunne murder released on bail Merseyside Police confirmed the six men arrested yesterday in connection with the investigation into the murder of Lewis Dunne have been bailed pending further enquiries. More » 18:51 All clear on Saughall Massie Road Traffic returned to normal and right turn now allowed, earlier accident on Saughall Massie Road at A5027 Upton By-Pass. More » 18:41 Face of fraudster who scammed her own family to live life of luxury This is the face of a devious fraudster who scammed family members out of their life savings by convincing them to invest in her non-existent businesses. Michelle Louise Dougherty More » 18:34 Traffic.. Traffic still slow near Upton bypass after earlier accident. More » 18:30 Traffic... Earlier traffic problems seem to have cleared. More » 18:21 Viola Beach inquest opened and adjourned An inquest into the deaths of band Viola Beach and their manager was opened and adjourned today. More » 18:16 Man breaks leg after fall on ship at Seaforth Docks A 22-year-old man broke his leg after fall on a ship at Seaforth Docks this afternoon. More » 18:11 6pm weather 18h Liverpool Weather: Temp. 7.2 °C, Hum. 67 %, Bar. 997.2 hPa, Rain 0 mm, Wind 0 mph E #Weathercloud — Liverpool Weather (@liverpoolweath) Thu Mar 03 18:06:18 +0000 2016 More » 18:07 Traffic delays after car crashes into traffic lights near Upton Traffic is at a standstill at the junction of Upton bypass and Saughall Massie Road after a car crashed into a set of traffic lights. The 80-year-old driver crashed into traffic just after 4pm More » 18:01 Laser light shone at cockpit of plane flying into Liverpool John Lennon Airport A laser light was shone at the cockpit of a plane flying into Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Liverpool John Lennon Airport More » 17:53 Buses: Queens Square closed tomorrow Please be aware that the central crossing in Queen Sq Bus Stn will be closed until 16.30pm tomorrow due to roadworks. — Merseytravel (@Merseytravel) Thu Mar 03 17:31:52 +0000 2016 More » 17:47 Man breaks leg after falling down ship hatch Firefighters helped rescue a man from Seaforth Docks after he fell down the hatch of a ship at around 2.40pm. Fire engines from Crosby Community Fire Station and Bootle and Netherton Community Fire Station attended the scene, together with the Search and Rescue Team. More to come More » 17:21 Traffic.. Traffic is at a standstill at the junction of Upton bypass and Saughall Massie after an elderly driver crashed into a set of traffic lights. More » 16:58 Traffic.. Reports a vehicle has crashed into traffic lights at the Upton Bypass. Traffic lights are out and delays are expected. More to come. More » 16:56 Four Merseyside buildings shortlisted for RIBA architecture award Four Merseyside buildings have been shortlisted for an architecture award. More » 16:48 Miracle escape after tree crashes on to van in Allerton A woman and her son had a miracle escape when a large tree uprooted and crashed onto a van in Allerton. A fallen tree on Woolton Road, Allerton. More » 16:41 Traffic: Rush hour Plenty of heavy traffic already... More » 16:35 Guns and drugs seized after police raids in Knowsley Two guns, ammunition and a large quantity of cannabis were seized today after police raids in Knowsley . Police found two guns, ammunition and 48 cannabis plants More » 16:26 Video: Mersey hair extensions entrepreneur who avoided the sharks is now set for expansion So many successful businesses were founded in adversity and against the odds – with the entrepreneurs behind them having to dig deep into their own resources. Ann-Louise Smith, founder of Liverpool-based hair extensions business, Hippy Club. Picture by Tony McDonough More » 16:20 Guns, drugs and ammo seized in police raids Merseyside Police executed warrants at addresses across Knowsley today, Thursday 3 March, in response to community concerns about firearms and drug dealing. More »	Herts today. As of 23:56 GMT, many parts of the United Kingdom are experiencing heavy snowfall, with many other parts bracing themselves for the first widespread cold snap and heavy snow falls of the winter. During the afternoon of the 17th snow had already started to fall across parts of Northern and Eastern England. In London the Met Office issued the warnings, for the following areas. Gale force winds are also predicted areas of heavy snow fall could lead to drifting. North East England Heavy Snow 1600 Thu 17 0800 Fri 18 Yorkshire & Humber Heavy Snow 1600 Thu 17 0800 Fri 18 Heavy Snow 1930 Thu 17 0800 Fri 18 East Midlands Heavy Snow 1930 Thu 17 0800 Fri 18 East of England Heavy Snow 1800 Thu 17 0800 Fri 18 Heavy Snow 1930 Thu 17 0800 Fri 18 *London & South East England Heavy Snow 1800 Thu 17 0800 Fri 18 Other areas where expect to experience over night lows down as far as -4 c in rural areas. On the coast Liverpool was expecting temperatures of -2, whilst further in land -3 was expected, by Midnight on the 17th Liverpool was experiencing light snow showers. The weather for Friday is predicted to remain cold possibly allowing any snow that remains at dawn to last throughout the day. According to National Rail Enquires, some rail services in East Anglia were suspended, noting there was the possibility of disruption to other services. The proximity of Christmas has caused bookmakers to reassess the odds of a White Christmas. Ladbrokes is giving odds on London at 2/1. While Glasgow is at 2/1, Aberdeen 11/8 and Birmingham, Cardiff, Dublin and Manchester are quoted at 11/4.
Man seriously injured after being struck by car in Glasgow Police have appealed for witnesses after a man was hit by a car in Glasgow. A 30-year-old man was knocked down by a vehicle near to Wishart Street at about 03.45 hours. He suffered a serious head injury and was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He was later transferred to the Southern General. His condition was serious but stable. Police said the driver of the vehicle was uninjured but left "very shaken." They have appealed for witnesses. Sgt Jo McPherson said: "Officers from road policing are appealing to anyone who may have been in the area around the time of the incident to come forward. "The area is also overlooked by residential flats and it's possible someone may have witnessed the crash from their flat." \|\|\|\|\| A man is in a serious condition in hospital after he was knocked down by a car in the early hours of the morning. Officers from Police Scotland are appealing for information after the man was struck by a Vauxhall car in Glasgow. At around 3.45am, the 30-year-old man was walking along John Knox Street when he was knocked down near to Wishart Street in the east end of the city. The 48-year-old driver of the Vauxhall contacted emergency services. He was uninjured but has been left very shaken by the incident. The man sustained a serious head injury and was initially taken to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary but later transferred to the Southern General Hospital where medical staff describe his condition as serious but stable. Sergeant Jo McPherson from the Roads Policing Complex said: "Despite it being in the early hours of the morning this route can often be busy with taxis and cars as people make their way out of the city centre. "Officers from Road Policing are appealing to anyone who may have been in the area around the time of the incident to come forward. "The area is also overlooked by residential flats and it's possible someone may have witnessed the crash from their flat. "If you have any information, please contact officers on telephone number 0141 532 6443." People who read this story also read	excerpt showing area where incident took place A man has been admitted to hospital, having been seriously injured when hit by a car in Glasgow, Scotland. The accident took place at approximately 0345 on Sunday morning. The 30-year-old victim was run over by a car in the vicinity of John Knox Street and Wishart Street in the east end of the city. The pedestrian was transferred to the after initially being transported to . The condition of the passenger, who experienced a serious head injury, was described as serious albeit stable by hospital staff. The 48-year-old driver, who alerted emergency services to the incident, was uninjured but apparently shaken. Sergeant Jo McPherson of Police Scotland said of the area in which the accident occurred: "Despite it being in the early hours of the morning this route can often be busy with taxis and cars as people make their way out of the city centre." Appealing to potential witnesses for information, Sergeant McPherson said: "The area is also overlooked by residential flats and it's possible someone may have witnessed the crash from their flat." == Sources == * *
Two dead, 37 hurt in earthquake A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 struck southwestern Greece, killing at least two people and injuring 37 others, authorities said. The quake struck near the port city of Patras, about 120 miles west of Athens in the northwestern Peloponnese, the Athens Geodynamic Institute said. Local authorities said there were widespread reports of collapsed and severely damaged homes from the quake felt as far away as southern Italy. One man was killed by a falling roof in the Kato Ahaia area and fire crews were trying to free a young boy and an elderly man trapped beneath rubble in region, police said. Two families - seven people in total - who had been trapped in collapsed houses were rescued in the village of Fostaina, about 20 miles south of Patras, and in the village of Vartholomio, authorities said. At least seven people were injured: six in the province of Ahaia and one hurt on the island of Lefkada by falling rocks at a beach, emergency officials said. The fire service said a landslide cut off part of the Corinth to Patras highway. The power was out in parts of Patras, reports said. Seismologists warned residents to expect aftershocks. "There have been aftershocks and more will follow because the epicentre was close to the surface," said Gerasimos Papadopoulos, head of the Athens Geodynamic Institute's research centre. Greece is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. In 1999, a 5.9-magnitude quake near Athens killed 143 people and left thousands homeless. \|\|\|\|\| ATHENS, Greece (CNN) -- A strong earthquake jolted western Greece on Sunday, killing at least two people and trapping several people beneath collapsed buildings, according to officials and state-run media. Rescuers remove a victim from a collapsed building after an earthquake struck Greece Sunday. Another 37 were hurt as a result of the quake, many as they tried to flee their homes, Greek Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said at a news conference in Athens. The temblor struck around 3:30 p.m. [8:30 a.m. ET] and measured 6.1 in magnitude, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Athens' Geodynamic Institute registered the quake at 6.5 on the Richter scale -- which is no longer used by the USGS. Its epicenter was located about 20 miles [32 kilometers] southwest of the Greek port city of Patras. Pavlopoulos immediately dispatched a rescue and recovery team, which includes members of five government agencies, to assess the damage and needs in the quake-stricken Peloponnese region. So far, most of those reported trapped have been removed -- including a 43-year-old villager who died after his house collapsed on him, the interior minister said. The other victim died of a heart attack while being rushed to the hospital, he said. "This is a very serious quake, but there will be no evacuations," Pavlopoulos said. iReport.com: Are you there? Send pictures, video Video showed rescuers pulling an injured man from a collapsed building, quickly outfitting him with a respirator mask and loading him onto a stretcher. Watch rescuers pull out a survivor from rubble » It was "no surprise" that a strong quake hit in the area, where earthquakes are common, according to Geodynamic Institute director Gerasimos Papadopoulos. People in Athens -- about 80 miles [129 kilometers] east of the epicenter-- felt the ground shake for as long as 20 seconds. Due to its fault lines, Greece is one of the most quake-prone countries in the European Union. A quake and aftershock both measuring over 6.4 in magnitude struck near Kalamata off the southern coast of the Peloponnese peninsula in mid-February, causing no major damage or injuries. The last major earthquake in Greece was in 1999 and left about 100 people dead. Journalist Anthee Carassava contributed to this report All About Greece • Athens \|\|\|\|\| Sunday, June 08, 2008 at 12:25:29 UTC Sunday, June 08, 2008 at 03:25:29 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones \|\|\|\|\| Powerful earthquake rocks southern Greece ATHENS, Greece: A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 struck southwestern Greece on Sunday, killing at least two people, injuring more than 100 and flattening dozens of homes, authorities said. It was Greece's first fatal earthquake since 1999, when a 5.9 magnitude quake near Athens killed 143 people and left thousands homeless. Sunday's quake struck at 3:25 p.m. (1225GMT) near the port city of Patras, about 120 miles (200 kilometers) west of Athens in the northwestern Peloponnese, and had a shallow epicenter, the Athens Geodynamic Institute said. It was felt as far away as southern Italy. By nightfall, six of the 120 injured remained hospitalized, authorities said. With dozens of houses destroyed or severely damaged, the government said it would give €3,000 (US$4,680) as aid to anyone who had lost their primary home in the quake. "My thoughts in these hours are with our fellow citizens who are suffering," Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said in a statement from Vienna, Austria, where he was on a three-day visit. "Along with sadness for all that has happened and for the loss of lives, I want to stress and underline that the state will be at (their) side." Karamanlis was to cut his visit to Austria short by two days and return to Greece on Monday. Frequent aftershocks rattled already frightened residents, and seismologists urged caution, particularly around buildings that damaged in the initial quake. "We are watching the seismic activity with great attention. We are not yet certain that the danger is completely over," said Athens Geodynamic Institute director Gerasimos Papadopoulos. Although it was unlikely that there would be a stronger quake, "there is still concern. ... For this reason, and because strong aftershocks are expected, great care must be taken." Authorities said they would set up tents for those left homeless and distribute food. Military rescue helicopters and transport planes, and a specialized Air Force rescue crew were placed on standby, the National Defense General Staff said. The quake damaged the air traffic control tower of the Andravida military airport, but a secondary tower was being used and the airport remained open, the general staff said. Two families — seven people in total — were rescued after being trapped in collapsed houses in the village of Fostaina, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) south of Patras, and in the village of Vartholomio, authorities said. Television footage showed rescue crews pulling a 9-year-old girl from beneath the rubble of her house in Fostaina after a two-hour rescue effort and placing her on a stretcher. The girl suffered only slight injuries. "I have seen nothing like that in my lifetime," an 88-year-old woman in Kato Ahaia, told state-run NET television. "When the earthquake began, I was in bed. I tried to leave but fell down. I crawled on my knees to the front door." She said neighbors got her out of the house. Teams of rescuers from 17 Balkan and Mediterranean countries who had just arrived in Greece for a disaster response training exercise joined Greek colleagues in rescue efforts. Hours after the quake, terrified residents stayed away from their homes, gathering in village squares and outdoor coffee shops. Local authorities cordoned off unsafe buildings in villages, and ordered all schools in the area to remain shut Monday. The Tourism Ministry and Greek tourist board said no damage had been reported in any of the area's hotels and that no holiday-makers had been hurt. Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said the damage was relatively light. "An initial assessment shows we don't have widespread damage," Pavlopoulos said. "The consequences of an earthquake of this intensity and at this depth were relatively limited." The fire service said a landslide cut off part of the Corinth to Patras highway. The U.S. Geological Survey gave a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 for the quake, while the Athens Geodynamic Institute gave a preliminary magnitude of 6.5. Magnitudes often vary in the first hours or days after an earthquake. Greece is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, but most quakes cause no injuries. ___ Associated Press writer Dimitris Nellas contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| At least two people have been killed as an earthquake rocked southern Greece, collapsing buildings and causing panic. Some 20 injuries were reported from falling roofs as the tremor - which had an epicentre 200km (124 miles) west of Athens - struck near Patras in the Peloponnese region. The quake had a magnitude of 6.5, the Athens Geodynamic Institute said, and could be felt in the capital. Greece is one of Europe's most earthquake-prone countries. A 60-year-old man died when his home's roof collapsed on him, and an 80-year-old woman died of a heart attack after the quake shook her village, authorities said. One terrifying minute Experts have warned that aftershocks are likely as the quake's epicentre was close to the ground's surface. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement "The earthquake was terrifying," Patras resident Anna Tsokana told the BBC. "The duration was about 60 seconds... Buildings have fallen or been damaged and roads have been destroyed." The earthquake was one of the most powerful to hit Greece in modern times, says the BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens. The US Geological Survey said the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.1.	A map showing the location of the Earthquake According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 has struck Greece. The epicenter was recorded 20 miles away from the city of Patras, and 125 miles away from Athens, the Greek capital. The earthquake occurred soon after 12:00 UTC today, according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute. The USGS originally reported the quake as a magnitude 6.5. There have been reports of at least two people killed and 37 injured. There has also been damage to property and mobile phone networks which are being overloaded. There are also reports of families trapped inside the rubble of homes and businesses. The control tower at Andravida airport is reported to have sustained serious damage and has been abandoned. Many buildings and homes are said to be severely damaged or collapsed. The tremors from the earthquake were noticeable in large parts of Greece, including Athens, but the shaking could be felt as far away as Italy. A nationwide mobilisation of civil defence and fire brigade units commenced after the natural disaster. Finally, schools were also ordered closed on Monday in the affected areas.
Activists protesting against the separation barrier have clashed with soldiers in Nilin since 2007 [AFP] Aqel Srur, 35, died after suffering a gunshot wound to the heart, those at the scene said. A Palestinian man has been shot dead by Israeli soldiers during a protest in the West Bank village of Nilin against Israel's separation barrier, Palestinian medics and witnesses have said. An Israeli military spokesman said that troops in the area has used "riot dispersal means," a term used to include rubber-coated metal bullets although not live ammunition. Srur died after being evacuated to a hospital in the nearby Palestinian city of Ramallah. Witnesses said Israeli troops fired tear gas, rubber bullets and possibly live rounds at rock-throwing demonstrators in the village. Another protester, aged 15, was wounded by the Israeli forces, the medics said. Ruling ignored About 200 people, including Israeli and foreign activists as well as Palestinians, took part in the demonstration. Activists protesting against Israel's construction of the West Bank barrier have clashed with soldiers nearly every Friday outside Nilin and nearby Bilin for more than two years. Israel says the projected 723km of steel and concrete walls, fences and barbed wire is needed for security. The Palestinians view it as a land grab that undermines their right to a state. To date Israel has built 57 per cent of the projected barrier, most of it inside the occupied West Bank. The International Court of Justice issued a non-binding resolution in 2004 calling for parts of the barrier inside the West Bank to be torn down and for further construction in the occupied territory to cease. Israel has ignored the ruling. \|\|\|\|\| RAMALLAH, West Bank, June 5 (Reuters) - Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian man on Friday in a confrontation with stone-throwing protesters in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian hospital officials said.Medics said Aqel Srour, 35, was hit in the chest by a live bullet and another protester was wounded when soldiers fired at protesters in Nilin, a village near the city of Ramallah.Srour died minutes later, Mohammed Shahwan, a doctor on the ambulance called to the scene, told Reuters.An Israeli military spokesman said troops had opened fire when protesters threw stones at them in the village, but would not confirm whether the troops had used live ammunition.Nilin is the scene of weekly protests against the continuing construction of an Israeli barrier that has cut through the village.Israel says the barrier it has built along its boundary with the West Bank, territory it captured in a 1967 war, is needed to keep bombers from infiltrating its towns.Palestinians denounce the network of fencing and concrete walls which cut deeply into the West Bank in spots such as Nilin, as a land grab that denies them territory they want for a future state. In 2004 the World Court ruled the barrier was illegal. \|\|\|\|\| The barrier has generated frequent protests by Palestinians Israeli troops have shot dead a Palestinian man during a protest over the barrier Israel is building through the West Bank, Palestinian sources say. They say the man, named as Aqel Srour, was hit in the chest by what appeared to have been live fire. The Israeli army said troops opened fire when protesters threw stones at them, but declined to say whether live ammunition was used. The protest, the latest in a series, took place near the village of Nilin. Activists say Israel is taking 25 hectares (62 acres) of land from villagers to erect the barrier, which Israel says it is building for security reasons. The Israeli army is also replacing the main access road to the village with a tunnel, to be controlled by the military. Palestinians and their supporters say the plan will, in effect, turn Nilin into a "prison". \|\|\|\|\| Palestinian dies at barrier protest (JTA) -- A Palestinian protesting Israel’s West Bank security fence was killed. Palestinian medical officials said Yousef Srour, 36, died Friday from live fire, Ha'aretz reported. A preliminary Israeli army statement about the protest in the West Bank village of Na’alin said non-lethal means were used to quell the protest. Palestinian, Israeli and international protesters gather each Friday in the West Bank village, which is bisected by the barrier. Srour is the third protester to die or suffer critical wounds since the beginning of the year. The army describes the protests as violent, but video released after a protest two months ago showed an Israeli soldier firing a tear gas canister directly at peaceful protesters; one of the protesters, Ibrahim Abu Rakhma, died after a canister hit him in the chest. Separately, Israel Radio reported that a car traveling near the West Bank settlement of Ariel overturned when it was hit by Palestinians throwing stones. A number of youths in the car suffered light injuries. This article was made possible by the support of readers like you. Donate to JTA now. \|\|\|\|\| Beit Hagai is one of the most volatile Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank [EPA] Beit Hagai is one of the most volatile Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank [EPA] Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian man who allegedly threw petrol bombs towards the settlement of Beit El, close to Ramallah on Friday. Three Palestinians have been killed in separate incidents in the West Bank, Israeli army and Palestinian sources have said. Elsewhere, Israeli troops killed a man who had been protesting against Israel's separation barrier, Palestinians said. Basem Abu Rahmeh, 30, died after being hit at close range with a tear gas cannister. Protests near the village of Bilin are held almost weekly as Palestinians argue that the barrier being constructed is taking their land and jeopardising any future Palestinian state. Protesters threw stones and other objects at Israeli forces during the demonstration, the Israeli military said. Abdallah Abu Rahmeh, a witness who took part in the protest, said Abu Rahmeh, a distant relative, was talking to soldiers when troops fired the cannisters. "Basem was in the front line of the protest and soldiers fired tear gas at us and one hit Basem in the chest," he said. "He was about 40 metres away from the soldiers. There was no stone-throwing when Basem was shot." Hebron killing Earlier, Jewish settlers shot a teenager, alleging that he had tried to attack residents of the West Bank settlement of Hebron. Residents said the community's "emergency squad" was dispatched after learning a Palestinian had "infiltrated" the area. A man in Beit Hagai said: "My friend asked him who he was, and the man drew a knife. My friend took my gun and killed the terrorist." Zviki Bar Hai, a settlement community leader, said the Palestinian was walking around the community, but did not enter any of the houses, YNet News reported. Palestinian sources contest the account, arguing that it would have been impossible for the young man to have entered the heavily guarded illegal settlement. They said the body showed signs of having been beaten after death. There have been no claims of responsibility from Palestinian groups for the incident. Earlier this month, a Palestinian man killed a 13-year-old boy and wounded a seven-year-old with an axe in Beit Ayin, another Israeli settlement in the West Bank. US envoy George Mitchell, the Middle East envoy of Barack Obama, the US president, is visiting the region in an effort to move forward stalled peace talks. Palestinian officials told him on Friday that the US must press Israel's new government, headed by Binyamin Netanyahu, to accept the principle of a two-state solution. Netanyahu's government is dominated by people who favour military action, and have suggested Israeli concessions would allow Palestinians to threaten Israel's security.	A Palestinian was shot and killed by Israeli forces today while protesting the separation wall in the West Bank village of Nilin. Another protester, who is 15, was wounded. Aqel Srur, who was 35, died in an ambulance while en route to a local hospital. He had been fatally shot once in the heart. Palestinians were fired upon by Israeli forces after they began to throw stones at the soldiers. Palestinian officials say Srur was shot once with a single round of live ammunition, something an Israeli Defense Force (IDF) spokesperson could not confirm. According to the spokesperson, the IDF used "riot dispersal means," which included metal bullets coated with rubber and tear gas. Srur was protesting Israel's separation barrier, which spans 723km and surrounds West Bank cities, separating them from one another. Israel says the separation walls are needed for security reasons, but Palestinians say it turns their villages into prisons. Palestinian and international activists have gathered almost every Friday for the last two years to protest the separation barrier in Nilin. In many cases the protests end with violence. In April, Basem Abu Rahmeh, age 30 was shot and killed by Israeli forces, also while protesting the Israeli separation wall in Bilin. Construction of the wall began in 2002 and is set to surround the West Bank which was annexed by Israel in 1967. In 2004 it was deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice.
MONTREAL–Sandro DeAngelis kicked five field goals as the Calgary Stampeders won the Grey Cup with a back-and-forth 22-14 victory over the Montreal Alouettes before a packed Olympic Stadium on Sunday night. Brett Ralph had the only touchdown for the Stampeders, who won the sixth Grey Cup in their history and the first since they beat Winnipeg in the same stadium in 2001. "It's like I'm still dreaming," said an emotional Henry Burris, the game MVP. "To hear that song `We Are the Champions,' when we fought so hard to get here. ... "We've been through big time ups and downs. I know the difference between reality and playing a game, that's why I kept everything in perspective. I knew it would all pay off at some point, and what do you know, here I am." Tailback Avon Cobourne scored Montreal's only touchdown and Damon Duval booted two field goals and a single as the Alouettes lost for the fifth time in six Grey Cup appearances since 2000. They failed in a bid to become the first team to win a Grey Cup on home turf since the B.C. Lions in 1994. The Alouettes fate was sealed when quarterback Anthony Calvillo threw his second interception of the second half into the end zone midway through the fourth quarter, and Henry Burris responded by putting the Stampeders in position for a 50-yard placement by DeAngelis and an eight-point lead with 4:12 left to play. It was the longest field goal of the season for the Calgary kicker, who was the game's top Canadian. "I knew I was going to make it," said DeAngelis. "I blew one against B.C., last week and this time, I knew I'd make it. "This is one of the greatest days of my life. I'm very proud to be a member of this Calgary Stampeders organization. This has been a dream for me since I was a little kid." Calgary is now 6-6 in Grey Cup games while Montreal fell to 5-11. And it was the Stamps' first win in three tries against the Alouettes, after losses in 1948 and 1970. "I'm trying to hold back tears right now," a choked up Burris said on the field after the game. "Just the thought of being a champion – wow. "To win in such a tough circumstance, on the road and in Grey Cup against a team that was playing at home in front of a million people at Olympic Stadium – it's huge. But it shows the character of this team." The 66,308 fans in the domed stadium were deafening as they rooted for the hometown Alouettes. It was the second largest crowd in Grey Cup history after the 68,318 that attended Montreal's win in the 1977 game, also at Olympic Stadium. "We all know this will take a few days for us to get over," said Montreal coach Marc Trestman. "We've spent a lot of time together the last six months, we can't let the last three hours define our team. "We had some drives that we didn't finish. I was disappointed in the first half that we couldn't finish off a couple of drives. And we turned the ball over a couple of times and that hurt us." The Alouettes used some big plays and an interception to take a 13-10 halftime lead. Jamel Richardson, who had five receptions for 101 yards in the first half alone, made a catch over the middle, broke two tackles and romped 55 yards to set up Duval's 14-yard field goal 4:34 into the game. Burris led a 10-play drive to the Montreal 36 and DeAngelis tied the score with a 43-yard effort 1:12 into the second quarter. But Burris, who completed his first 11 passes, mostly for short yardage, followed his first incomplete toss with a throw straight to Alouette middle linebacker Reggie Hunt for a turnover at the Montreal 51. Ben Cahoon made two catches as Montreal got to the 16, where Cobourne flew untouched up the middle for the game's first touchdown at 7:18. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... A 42-yard punt return by Larry Taylor set up a 19-yard Duval field goal, but Calgary struck right back with an eight-play scoring drive, and Burris scrambled out of the pocket and found Ralph alone in the end zone from 20 yards with 44 seconds left in the half. Burris used his feet to move the ball early in the second half and took the ball to the Montreal five, but Demetris Summers dropped a sure TD pass and DeAngelis was forced to kick a 12-yard field goal to tie the game. Duval then put his team up by a point with a punt single. Another Burris drive fell short as Nik Lewis missed a catchable ball in the end zone and DeAngelis hit a 21-yard field goal for a 16-14 Calgary lead on the final play of the third quarter. Calvillo opened the fourth by throwing an interception to Calgary's Dwight Anderson, but despite a wild reception in which a Burris pass went off Ken-Yon Rambo's hands into the arms of Lewis, they settled for another field goal, this one from 30 yards. The Alouettes responded by marching down to the Calgary 20 before Shannon James intercepted Calvillo's pass in the end zone with seven minutes left. DeAngelis then put it away with his 50-yarder. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we just let it slip through our hands," said Calvillo. "This is what you thrive for, to compete, to get a chance to play in this game and of course to win it and the record is not good on our side, and it's never fun losing your chance. It's going to make it a long off-season and its not going to be fun." Calvillo easily got the 14 career Grey Cup completions he needed to pass Doug Flutie's former record of 108. It was a best-on-best matchup. The Stampeders led the West Divison at 13-5 while Montreal was tops in the East at 11-7. Both had losing 2007 seasons, with Calgary at 7-10-1 and Montreal 8-10, and both lost in division semifinals, but the two teams roared back this year under new first-year head coaches – John Hufnagel for the Stamps and Trestman for the Als. Calgary cornerback Brandon Browner, who injured an ankle last in the West Division final against British Columbia, was able to start. Labinjo played despite suffering from a flu this week. The Stamps sat out linebacker Matt Grootegoed, defensive back Keon Raymond, offensive lineman Antonio Hall and defensive lineman Pat MacDonald. Montreal scratched linebacker Dwayne Taylor, safety Keith Williams, tackle Dave Mudge and quarterback Brad Banks. Read more about: \|\|\|\|\| Burris, DeAngelis lead Stampeders to victory at Grey Cup {eot} TSN.ca Staff 11/24/2008 12:49:27 AM Henry Burris may not have a Most Outstanding Player award from the regular season but he now has a Grey Cup ring and MVP award. Burris threw for 328 yards with one touchdown, leading all rushers with 79 yards and Sandro DeAngelis kicked five field goals as the Calgary Stampeders rallied for a 22-14 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in the 96th Grey Cup. For his efforts, Burris was named the game's Most Valuable Player and showed his relief at losing the tag of being unable to win the big game. ''There was so many times I used to hear that song 'We are the Champions,' I never could listen to the whole song because I always wanted to be a champion,'' Burris told TSN after the game. ''This is what we fight for. This is what we go through the ups and downs for. Right now, it's like I'm living a dream.'' In front of 66,305 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, DeAngelis kicked five field goals, connecting from 44, 12, 21, 30 and 50 yards out and took home Most Valuable Canadian honours. "It's one of the best days of my life. All the hard work ever since I was a little kid to get to this point," the Niagara Falls, Ontario native said. "I'll tell you, I'm so happy to be a Calgary Stampeders right now. This is truly the most amazing day of my life." Brett Ralph had the only touchdown for the Stampeders, hauling in a 20-yard pass from Burris late in the first half. Nik Lewis chipped in with 11 catches for 122 yards. For the Alouettes, Avon Cobourne scored their only touchdown, a 16-yard run in the second quarter. Damon Duval was responsible for the rest of the scoring with field goals of 14 and 19 yards as well as a punt single. Anthony Calvillo, who edged out Burris in voting for Most Outstanding Player for the regular season, threw for 352 yards but had no touchdowns and two interceptions. The loss dropped Calvillo's record in the Grey Cup to 1-5. Jamel Richardson led all receivers with 123 yards while Ben Cahoon had 95 yards through the air. "I don't even think I'm thinking right now. I'm just trying to wake myself up from this great dream I'm living right now," Burris added. "It such a surreal feeling. I really don't know how to think right now. But I'll tell you this. Whatever it is, it feels great." The game got off to a slow start with one field goal representing all the scoring in the first quarter. Duval opened the scoring with a chip shot from 14 yards out. The drive was highlighted by a 55-yard completion from Calvillo to Richardson. DeAngelis answered back in the second quarter with a 44-yard field goal to put the Stampeders back on even terms. The Alouettes responded with the first touchdown of the game, a 16-yard scamper by Cobourne. The drive started with an interception by Reggie Hunt, giving the Alouettes the ball near midfield. The Alouettes drove the ball deep into Calgary territory before Cobourne found the end zone from 16 yards out. "Give a lot of credit to Calgary, they came out, they fought hard and they found a way to win the game at the end, and I give them credit, they're a great team and we just couldn't figure out a way to finish the game with a win," Hunt said after the game. Then, special teams standout Larry Taylor gave the Alouettes great field position again with a 42-yard punt return. Duval stepped up and made good on a 19-yard atempt to extend the Alouettes' lead. Late in the first half, Burris found Ralph in the corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown to close the gap and give the Stampeders some momentum heading to the locker-room. It was Ralph's only catch of the game. "There is so much to say about my boys. We came a long way," said Ken-Yon Rambo, who led the league in receiving yards during the regular season. "I have been here with the Stamps for four years. The first three years were kind of bumpy. We took a step-by-step, game-by-game approach. We did it. We all came together as one." In the third quarter, DeAngelis put the Stampeders back on even terms before Duval added a single to regain the lead for the Alouettes. Burris put together a 75-yard drive, including runs of 14 and 29 yards for first downs, leading to the short kick from DeAngelis. "Henry has made plays with his legs against Montreal during the regular season, and it was definitely part of the game plan," said Stampeders' head coach John Hufnagel. "We struggled offensively in the first half, it wasn't as much as not being able to complete passes, we just weren't getting enough yards to get first downs. All along we wanted to get the running game involved and Henry Burris in the QB position was a big part of the running game." On the first play of the fourth quarter, Calvillo was intercecpted by Dwight Anderson as momentum started to swing in favour of the Stampeders. That led to another field goal by DeAngelis to give the Stampeders a five-point advantage. "It isn't going to happen again, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we just let it slip through our hands," Calvillo said. "This is what you thrive for, to compete, to get a chance to play in this game and of course to win it and the record is not good on our side. It's never fun losing your chance, and it's going to make it a long off-season." Midway through the frame, the Alouettes were threatening to regain the lead before an errant Calvillo pass was intercepted by Shannon James, quieting the Olympic Stadium crowd. DeAngelis then connected from 50 yards out to extend the Stampeders lead to eight points and the Stampeders never looked back. \|\|\|\|\| AWAY TEAM PASSING Name CP/AT YDS TD INT H. BURRIS 28/37 328 1 1 RECEIVING Name REC YDS TD LG N. LEWIS 11 122 0 18 J. COPELAND 7 53 0 13 K. RAMBO 5 84 0 35 J. REYNOLDS 4 49 0 22 B. RALPH 1 20 1 20 RUSHING Name ATT YDS TD LG J. REYNOLDS 11 29 0 12 H. BURRIS 9 79 0 29 D. SUMMERS 1 9 0 9 FUMBLES Name NO LST REC YDS FIELD GOALS Name FG LG XP PTS S. DEANGELIS 5/5 50 1/1 16 PUNTING Name NO AVG NET LG B. DALES 5 46.8 148 57 PUNT RETURNS Name NO YDS AVG LG TD M. HOWELL 2 8 4.0 9 0 KICKOFFS Name NO YDS LG SG S. DEANGELIS 3 185 63 0 KICK RETURNS Name NO YDS AVG LG TD D. SUMMERS 4 90 22.5 26 0 DEFENCE Name TKL SK INT FF J. RUFFIN 6 0 0 0 J. ARMOUR 4 1 0 0 D. ANDERSON 4 0 1 0 D. CARPENTER 4 0 0 0 B. SMITH 4 0 0 0 M. LABINJO 3 1 0 0 S. JAMES 3 0 1 0 J. SIMPSON 3 0 0 0 W. LYSACK 3 0 0 0 B. BROWNER 1 0 0 0 J. COPELAND 1 0 0 0 M. COLLINS 1 0 0 0 S. RASHEED 1 0 0 0 C. HUGHES 1 0 0 0 TIME QTR 00:00 4 22 1 2 3 4 OT T MONTREAL Alouettes 3 10 1 0 0 14 CALGARY Stampeders 0 10 6 6 0 22 14 BALL ON DOWN TO GO M52 1 10 Away Team Stats Home Team Stats Passing (comp/att/yds) 28/37/328 Passing (comp/att/yds) 29/38/352 Receiving (rec/yds) 28/328 Receiving (rec/yds) 29/352 Rushing (att/yds) 21/117 Rushing (att/yds) 8/40 Total Yards 443 Total Yards 374 Sacks Allowed 1 Sacks Allowed 2 Turnovers 1 Turnovers 2 CURRENT DRIVE QTR TIME TEAM POS D/Y PLAY 4 00:09 MTL M52 1/10 (00:09) A. CALVILLO Completed Pass to B. BRATTON (17 yds), Tackle: D. ANDERSON FIRST DOWN. END OF GAME. 4 00:14 MTL M31 1/10 (00:14) A. CALVILLO Completed Pass to K. WATKINS (21 yds), Tackle: W. LYSACK FIRST DOWN. SCORING PLAYS PLAY NO QTR SCORING TYPE TEAM DESCRIPTION 125 4 Field Goal CAL (4:34) S. DEANGELIS Field Goal (50 yds) - Field Goal SCORING DRIVE: 6 PLAYS - 43 YARDS - 03:10. TIME: 10:48. 111 4 Field Goal CAL (12:34) S. DEANGELIS Field Goal (30 yds) - Field Goal SCORING DRIVE: 5 PLAYS - 30 YARDS - 02:26. TIME: 02:46. 105 3 Field Goal CAL (00:10) S. DEANGELIS Field Goal (21 yds) - Field Goal SCORING DRIVE: 7 PLAYS - 61 YARDS - 03:38. TIME: 15:00. END OF THIRD QUARTER. 98 3 Single MTL (4:02) D. DUVAL Punt C-9 (63 yds) - Single Damon Duval scores a single point when his punt travels out of bounds 9 yards deep in the Calgary endzone. SCORING DRIVE: 4 PLAYS - 21 YARDS - 02:01. TIME: 11:13. 94 3 Field Goal CAL (5:53) S. DEANGELIS Field Goal (12 yds) - Field Goal SCORING DRIVE: 9 PLAYS - 75 YARDS - 05:06. TIME: 09:22. 69 2 Convert(1) CAL (00:44) S. DEANGELIS Convert - Convert(1) TIME: 14:16. 68 2 Touchdown CAL (1:08) H. BURRIS Completed Pass to B. RALPH (20 yds) - Touchdown PENALTY MONTREAL: C. COX Unnecessary Roughness (15 yds) SCORING DRIVE: 7 PLAYS - 76 YARDS - 01:59. TIME: 14:16. THE PENALTY TO BE APPLIED TO THE KICKOFF. 60 2 Field Goal MTL (3:11) D. DUVAL Field Goal (19 yds) - Field Goal SCORING DRIVE: 5 PLAYS - 31 YARDS - 02:53. TIME: 12:08. 50 2 Convert(1) MTL (7:42) D. DUVAL Convert - Convert(1) TIME: 07:36. 49 2 Touchdown MTL (8:05) A. COBOURNE Run (16 yds) - Touchdown SCORING DRIVE: 5 PLAYS - 58 YARDS - 02:48. TIME: 07:18. 36 2 Field Goal CAL (14:08) S. DEANGELIS Field Goal (44 yds) - Field Goal SCORING DRIVE: 10 PLAYS - 66 YARDS - 04:49. TIME: 01:12. 11 1 Field Goal MTL (10:45) D. DUVAL Field Goal (14 yds) - Field Goal SCORING DRIVE: 7 PLAYS - 77 YARDS - 02:55. TIME: 04:34. PENALTIES PLAY NO QTR TEAM PLAYER PENALTY YDS STATUS 85 3 Alouettes D. DUVAL Illegal Punt 5 Declined 70 2 Alouettes W. SPENCER Illegal Block 10 Accepted 68 2 Alouettes C. COX Unnecessary Roughness 15 Accepted 54 2 Stampeders B. DALES Time Count 5 Accepted 43 2 Stampeders J. COPELAND Offside 5 Accepted 39 2 Alouettes S. EMRY No Yards 5 Accepted 35 2 Stampeders N. LEWIS Unnecessary Roughness 15 Accepted 17 1 Stampeders D. TSOUMPAS Procedure 5 Accepted CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL PLAYS HOME TEAM PASSING Name CP/AT YDS TD INT A. CALVILLO 29/38 352 0 2 RECEIVING Name REC YDS TD LG B. CAHOON 8 95 0 22 J. RICHARDSON 6 123 0 55 B. BRATTON 5 49 0 19 K. WATKINS 4 51 0 21 K. CARTER 3 19 0 8 A. COBOURNE 3 15 0 7 RUSHING Name ATT YDS TD LG A. COBOURNE 8 40 1 16 FUMBLES Name NO LST REC YDS FIELD GOALS Name FG LG XP PTS D. DUVAL 2/2 19 1/1 7 PUNTING Name NO AVG NET LG D. DUVAL 6 42.5 247 63 PUNT RETURNS Name NO YDS AVG LG TD L. TAYLOR 5 86 17.2 44 0 KICKOFFS Name NO YDS LG SG D. DUVAL 4 246 65 0 KICK RETURNS Name NO YDS AVG LG TD L. TAYLOR 3 52 17.3 24 0 DEFENCE Name TK SKS INT FF K. CARTER 8 0 0 0 T. HILL 7 0 0 0 M. ESTELLE 6 0 0 0 M. PROULX 4 0 0 0 R. HUNT 3 0 1 0 J. BOWMAN 3 0 0 0 C. COX 3 0 0 0 A. STEWART 3 0 0 0 D. CLAYBROOKS 3 0 0 0 K. WILLIAMS 2 1 0 0 D. SANCHEZ 2 0 0 0 W. SPENCER 1 0 0 0 B. BRATTON 1 0 0 0 D. FERRI 1 0 0 0 J. MCELVEEN 1 0 0 0 J. RICHARDSON 1 0 0 0 \|\|\|\|\| Burris, DeAngelis lead Stampeders to Grey Cup win Calgary Stampeders quarterback and game MVP Henry Burris holds the Grey Cup after defeating the Montreal Alouettes Sunday in the 96th Grey Cup game. (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press) Calgary Stampeders quarterback and game MVP Henry Burris holds the Grey Cup after defeating the Montreal Alouettes Sunday in the 96th Grey Cup game. (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press) Home advantage proved to be no advantage at all for the Montreal Alouettes. Henry Burris threw for a touchdown and Sandro DeAngelis kicked five field goals to lead the Calgary Stampeders to a 22-14 win over the hometown Montreal Alouettes in Sunday's 96th Grey Cup game. Brett Ralph had the only touchdown for the Stampeders, who won their sixth Grey Cup in franchise history and their first since beating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 2001 final in Montreal. Buoyed by the roar of 66, 308 fans — the second-largest crowd in Grey Cup history — the Alouettes jumped out to a 13-3 lead in the second quarter but let the game slip away from them as the Stampeders slowly chipped away and took the lead for good on the last play of the third quarter. DeAngelis was named the game's most outstanding Canadian, while Burris took home the game MVP honour. Stamps show character "I'm trying to hold back tears right now," a choked up Burris said after the game. "Just the thought of being a champion — wow. "To win in such a tough circumstance, on the road and in Grey Cup against a team that was playing at home in front of a million people at Olympic Stadium — it's huge. But it shows the character of this team." DeAngelis was just as emotional. "It's one of the best days of my life," said the Calgary kicker. "All the hard work ever since I was a little kid to get to this point, I'll tell you, I'm so happy to be a Calgary Stampeder right now. "This is truly the most amazing day of my life." The Alouettes were vying to become the first team to win a Grey Cup in their home city since the B.C. Lions did it in 1994. Montreal's last Grey Cup victory came six years ago in Edmonton, its only win in six Grey Cup appearances since 2000. Sunday's victory capped off a sensational 2008 campaign for the Stampeders, who were the best team in the regular season with a 13-5 record. Burris was also able to exact a little revenge after finishing runner-up to Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo for the CFL's most outstanding player of the year award last week. The Calgary QB completed 28 of 37 passes for 328 yards and one interception. He also rushed for a game-high 79 yards on nine carries. Calvillo, by comparison, completed 29 of 38 passes for 352 yards and two interceptions. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we just let it slip through our hands," said Calvillo. "This is what you thrive for, to compete, to get a chance to play in this game and of course to win it and the record is not good on our side, and it's never fun losing your chance. It's going to make it a long off-season and its not going to be fun." Aside from Burris and DeAngelis, receiver Nik Lewis starred for Calgary, catching 11 passes for 122 yards. "We all know this will take a few days for us to get over," said Montreal coach Marc Trestman. "We've spent a lot of time together the last six months, we can't let the last three hours define our team. "We had some drives that we didn't finish. I was disappointed in the first half that we couldn't finish off a couple of drives. And we turned the ball over a couple of times and that hurt us." Duval opens the scoring with short field goal On Montreal's first possession, Jamel Richardson (six catches, 123 yards on the night) took a short pass, broke a pair of tackles and ran for a 55-yard gain to put Alouettes on the Calgary 24-yard line, setting up a 14-yard field goal by Damon Duval at 11:26. DeAngelis responded with a field goal of his own, splitting the uprights from 44 yards early in the second quarter. The Stampeders' momentum was short-lived, however, as Burris, who completed his first 11 passes of the game, was intercepted by Reggie Hunt on the Stampeders' next possession. Calvillo made good use of the turnover, driving down the field before running back Avon Cobourn scored on a 16-yard touchdown run to give the Alouettes a 10-3 lead midway through the second quarter. Duval connected on a 19-yard field goal with less than three minutes to go in the half to make it a 10-point game. Burris responded by putting together a seven-play, 76-yard drive, capped off by a 20-yard touchdown strike to Ralph with 44 seconds left in the half to pull the Stampeders within three points. DeAngelis comes through for Calgary DeAngelis's second field goal of the game, this one from 12 yards, tied things up at 13-13 with 5:38 left in the third quarter. A 65-yard punt single by Duval made it 14-13 for the Als, but DeAngelis kicked his third field goal on the final play of the third quarter to put Calgary out front 16-14, its first lead of the game. DeAngelis then booted a 30-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter and put the Als away when he connected on a 50-yard with 4:12 left in regulation after Calvillo threw his second interception of the half. "I knew I was going to make it," said DeAngelis. "I blew one against B.C., last week and this time, I knew I'd make it. "This is one of the greatest days of my life. I'm very proud to be a member of this Calgary Stampeders organization. This has been a dream for me since I was a little kid." With files from Canadian Press \|\|\|\|\| A new era will be ushered in the Canadian Football League on Sunday. For the first time in the league's history, TSN will telecast the league's championship game. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation televised the CFL finale for the past 55 years before TSN took over this season. Scooping CBC has the network ecstatic. "It's probably equivalent of ESPN doing the Super Bowl," said Mark Milliere, TSN's vice-president of production. "For us, it's on the stratosphere of the World junior championships. It's one of the highest-rated TV events in this country, period. "It's an honour and it's an exciting capper for a crew that does the bulk of the games and has done the bulk of the games every year. It's pretty sweet." One of the most excited members of the crew is TSN colour commentator Glen Suitor, who will be calling the game with play-by-play man Chris Cuthbert. Suitor has worked with TSN for 14 years. He helped CBC on a few occasions by doing colour commentating during the playoffs, but never called a Grey Cup game. The largest role he previously had in a Grey Cup broadcast was as a sideline reporter. He also appeared as a member of CBC's Grey Cup panel on occasion. "I've been thinking about it all season and trying to get it right," said Suitor of calling the big game. "We'll try to have our best telecast because the league and the viewers deserve it." The pressure of calling the Grey Cup has Suitor getting more nervous as Nov. 23 nears. The former Saskatchewan Roughriders safety wants to make sure he gets the telecast as close to perfect as he can. "I want to find a nice balance between the game on the field and the intensity of the players and going through and what's going through their minds," said Suitor, who played in the 1989 Grey Cup game. "This is the biggest game they'll ever play and a lot of guys may only get one chance at it. I want to get that right and try and get that message and portray that to the audience." Suitor has also been researching the history of the league and Grey Cup and plans to bring some of the information into his broadcast. He may talk about his own personal experience from 1989 as well. Trying to squeeze all these elements together in the short 12-second windows he has to talk puts a lot of stress on the broadcaster. The good news for him is he will be joined in the booth by Cuthbert. While Cuthbert never played in a Grey Cup, he did call some games when he was employed by CBC. "Chris is so good at his job," Suitor said of his co-worker. "He is a professional that is always prepared and he has a great passion for Canadian football and that comes through. It's reassuring that Chris is not only experienced but he's just as good as he is at his job." While Suitor is busy preparing for calling the Grey Cup game, other people employed by TSN were busy this week hyping it. Shows like Off the Record were broadcast from Montreal's Grey Cup Village this week. The Reporters will also broadcast from there in a special show today. Joining the reporters today at the Village will be Jennifer Hedger and Darren Dutchyshen, who will host a day-long Grey Cup preview show. The preview show's line-up will include Brian Williams' interview segments and a Glen's Gladiators show. The panel will be broadcasting from the field during the teams' final warmups. "It's safe to say the Grey Cup has never gotten this amount of coverage from a TV partner, ever," said Milliere. TSN will have 20 main cameras and a Skycam filming the game for its broadcast. The CFL on TSN panel -- comprised of Dave Randorf, Jock Climie, Matt Dunigan and Chris Schultz -- will also be at field level during the game. Although this is TSN's first telecast of the Grey Cup and millions of people will be watching, Milliere isn't feeling any extra pressure. "I believe, and always have believed, that we do football as good as anyone," he said. "We do it the best and I think we have the best people." While Suitor feels the game is a long time coming for him, he knows the rest of the crew deserves this chance and thinks everyone will make the best of it. "This is a great opportunity for the guys in the truck and the guys that have been covering football for so many years," he said. "I hope I can do my best as part of the crew and make it the best telecast we've ever done." © (c) CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc. \|\|\|\|\| Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo will face off against Calgary Stampeders pivot Henry Burris in Sunday's 96th Grey Cup game. ((Troy Fleece/Canadian Press)) Another year, another award for Anthony Calvillo. The veteran Montreal Alouettes quarterback won the CFL's most outstanding player honour at the league's annual awards ceremony Thursday night in Montreal, claiming the award for the second time in his career. Calvillo, a four-time nominee who also won the prize in 2003, beat out Calgary Stampeders quarterback Henry Burris to win the award, which was voted on by the Football Reporters of Canada and the eight CFL head coaches. Burris and Calvillo will face off against one another on the field in Sunday night's 96th Grey Cup game in Montreal. Calvillo, 36, led the CFL in touchdown passes (43), pass attempts (682), completions (472) and passer rating (107.2) this season, leading Montreal (11-7) to first place in the East. That the 15-year veteran had such an amazing season speaks volumes about his character: Calvillo left the Alouettes late last season after his wife Alexia Kontolemos was diagnosed with cancer after having just given birth to their second child. "This week isn't going by too fast for me, I'm soaking it all in," Calvillo said. "[Alexis] has taught me about strength and courage. "I dreamed about this, of living a normal life and getting back to a championship. We thank God for allowing us to share more moments together. If [winning this award] would've happened years ago, I wouldn't have thought about it until a few weeks after the season. But I'm thinking about it now." Calvillo said he will decide in the off-season whether to continue playing or retire. "I'm year-to-year," he said. "I still have the fire and urge to play but there are non-football factors I have to take in mind. "The main thing is my wife's health. I don't feel 36 but it's the young guys who remind me of where I'm at." Burris finished second in touchdowns (39) and passer rating (103.8) for the West champion Stampeders (13-5). Earlier on Thursday, Edmonton Eskimos slotback Kamau Peterson captured his first-ever CFL top Canadian award. Peterson beat Montreal Alouettes slotback Ben Cahoon, a two-time top Canadian recipient, to claim the honour. An eight-year CFL veteran, Peterson had his best CFL season in 2008, leading all Eskimo receivers with 101 receptions for 1,317 yards and four touchdowns. In doing so, he became just the fourth receiver in club history to record more than 100 catches in a season, joining the likes of Terry Vaughn (106 in 2003), Craig Ellis (106 in 1990) and Brian Kelly (104 in 1983). Peterson is the first Eskimo to win an outstanding player award since rush end Elfrid Payton was named the league's top defensive player in 2002. Montreal Alouettes guard Scott Flory was named the outstanding lineman. Gene Makowsky of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, a two-time recipient of the award, was the other finalist. Flory, a 32-year-old native of Regina, had been a finalist for this award three other times during his 13-year career, including in 2005 when he lost to Makowsky. This season, Flory was the star of a Montreal offensive line that gave up a league-low 22 sacks. B.C. Lions defensive end Cameron Wake was named the CFL's outstanding defensive player ahead of Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive tackle Doug Brown. It's the second consecutive year that Wake has won the honour. Wake, who was also named the CFL's top rookie last year, recorded a league-high 23 sacks in 2008. He also had five forced fumbles — another league high — and 65 tackles. The rookie of the year honour went to slotback Weston Dressler of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Hamilton Tiger-Cats receiver Prechae Rodriguez was the finalist Dressler registered 56 catches for 1,178 yards and 10 touchdowns while also serving as an effective kick returner. Dominque Dorsey of the Toronto Argonauts was named the CFL's top special-teams player. Despite missing Toronto's final five regular-season games due to injury, Dorsey posted a CFL-high 2,892 all-purpose yards. He finished second overall in kickoff returns (50 for 1,257 yards, one TD) and missed field goal returns (five for 187 yards) and third in punt returns (63 for 752 yards, one TD). Calgary Stampeders kicker Sandro DeAngelis was the other finalist. CFL commissioner Mark Cohon presented the Commissioner's Award, which recognizes outstanding contribution to the league, to the family of Ron Lancaster, the legendary former CFL player, coach and broadcaster who died in September at the age of 69. "Ron Lancaster did it all in our league," Cohon said. "He is typical of the friends who left us this year, role models and mentors who were often as humble as they were highly accomplished." Saskatchewan centre Jeremy O'Day received the Tom Pate award, given by the CFL Players' Association for outstanding community service.	The Grey Cup. The Calgary Stampeders have won the 96th Grey Cup in Montreal, Canada on Sunday after defeating the Montreal Alouettes by a 22-14 score. Five field goals from placekicker Sandro DeAngelis were instrumental in Calgary's victory as was the game's Most Valuable Player, Henry Burris who scored a second-quarter touchdown. The Stampeders last won the Cup in 2001 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Montreal, the last time Calgary appeared in a Grey Cup championship. The Canadian Football League (CFL) championship game was held at Montreal's Olympic Stadium before a crowd of 66,308. Only the 1977 Grey Cup, also at Montreal Olympic Stadium, had a higher attendance of 68,318. The half-time included performances by musicians Theory of a Deadman, Andrée Watters and Suzie McNeil. On Thursday, Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo was declared this year's CFL Outstanding Player at a player awards ceremony in Montreal. The Cup is named after Earl Grey, who donated the trophy to honour Canada's most successful amateur rugby team. By the time the Canadian Football League was formed in 1958, the Cup became the top prize for professional football in Canada. CBC Television did not broadcast the Grey Cup for the first time since the 40th Grey Cup in 1952, when the championship was first televised. Specialty cable network TSN won the rights to this year's match. Next year's CFL championship game is scheduled at Calgary's McMahon Stadium. Sandro DeAngelis of the Calgary Stampeders '''CFL Grey Cup scoring''' Quarter Play Player Time Calg Mtl '''1st''' field goal Damon Duval 4:34 0 3 '''2nd''' field goal Sandro DeAngelis 1:12 3 3 touchdown Avon Cobourne 7:18 3 9 convert Damon Duval 7:36 3 10 field goal Damon Duval 12:08 3 13 touchdown Henry Burris 14:16 9 13 convert Sandro DeAngelis 14:16 10 13 '''3rd''' field goal Sandro DeAngelis 9:22 13 13 single Damon Duval 11:13 13 14 field goal Sandro DeAngelis 15:00 16 14 '''4th''' field goal Sandro DeAngelis 02:46 19 14 field goal Sandro DeAngelis 10:48 22 14 '''FINAL''' '''22''' 14
Today’s news stirred us like a long, cool drink in the blistering heat. Science has gestured at the presence of water on Mars before, but evidence of liquid water--briny, creeping flows that appear in a crater during Martian summers--has tremendous implications in the search for life beyond our planet. We felt compelled to honor such an exciting discovery with a Doodle, and staring at satellite images of Mars for inspiration made Doodler Nate Swinehart really, really thirsty. \|\|\|\|\| Liquid water runs down canyons and crater walls over the summer months on Mars, according to researchers who say the discovery raises the chances of being home to some form of life. The trickles leave long, dark stains on the Martian terrain that can reach hundreds of metres downhill in the warmer months, before they dry up in the autumn as surface temperatures drop. Images taken from the Mars orbit show cliffs, and the steep walls of valleys and craters, streaked with summertime flows that in the most active spots combine to form intricate fan-like patterns. Scientists are unsure where the water comes from, but it may rise up from underground ice or salty aquifers, or condense out of the thin Martian atmosphere. “There is liquid water today on the surface of Mars,” Michael Meyer, the lead scientist on Nasa’s Mars exploration programme, told the Guardian. “Because of this, we suspect that it is at least possible to have a habitable environment today.” The water flows could point Nasa and other space agencies towards the most promising sites to find life on Mars, and to landing spots for future human missions where water can be collected from a natural supply. Some of the earliest missions to Mars revealed a planet with a watery past. Pictures beamed back to Earth in the 1970s showed a surface crossed by dried-up rivers and plains once submerged beneath vast ancient lakes. Earlier this year, Nasa unveiled evidence of an ocean that might have covered half of the planet’s northern hemisphere in the distant past. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Dark narrow streaks called recurring slope lineae emanate out of the walls of Garni crater on Mars. Photograph: Nasa/AFP/Getty Images But occasionally, Mars probes have found hints that the planet might still be wet. Nearly a decade ago, Nasa’s Mars Global Surveyor took pictures of what appeared to be water bursting through a gully wall and flowing around boulders and other rocky debris. In 2011, the high-resolution camera on Nasa’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured what looked like little streams flowing down crater walls from late spring to early autumn. Not wanting to assume too much, mission scientists named the flows “recurring slope lineae” or RSL. Researchers have now turned to another instrument on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to analyse the chemistry of the mysterious RSL flows. Lujendra Ojha, of Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, and his colleagues used a spectrometer on the MRO to look at infrared light reflected off steep rocky walls when the dark streaks had just begun to appear, and when they had grown to full length at the end of the Martian summer. Writing in the journal Nature Geosciences, the team describes how it found infra-red signatures for hydrated salts when the dark flows were present, but none before they had grown. The hydrated salts – a mix of chlorates and percholorates – are a smoking gun for the presence of water at all four sites inspected: the Hale, Palikir and Horowitz craters, and a large canyon called Coprates Chasma. “These may be the best places to search for extant life near the surface of Mars,” said Alfred McEwen, a planetary geologist at the University of Arizona and senior author on the study. “While it would be very important to find evidence of ancient life, it would be difficult to understand the biology. Current life would be much more informative.” The flows only appear when the surface of Mars rises above -23C. The water can run in such frigid conditions because the salts lower the freezing point of water, keeping it liquid far below 0C. “The mystery has been, what is permitting this flow? Presumably water, but until now, there has been no spectral signature,” Meyer said. “From this, we conclude that the RSL are generated by water interacting with percholorates, forming a brine that flows downhill.” Facebook Twitter Pinterest These channels, which are between 1 metre and 10 metres wide, are on a scarp in the Hellas impact basin. Photograph: Nasa/Reuters John Bridges, a professor of planetary science at the University of Leicester, said the study was fascinating, but might throw up some fresh concerns for space agencies. The flows could be used to find water sources on Mars, making them prime spots to hunt for life, and to land future human missions. But agencies were required to do their utmost to avoid contaminating other planets with microbes from Earth, making wet areas the most difficult to visit. “This will give them lots to think about,” he said. For now, researchers are focused on learning where the water comes from. Porous rocks under the Martian surface might hold frozen water that melts in the summer months and seeps up to the surface. Another possibility is that highly concentrated saline aquifers are dotted around beneath the surface, not as pools of water, but as saturated volumes of gritty rock. These could cause flows in some areas, but cannot easily explain water seeping down from the top of crater walls. A third possibility, and one favoured by McEwen, is that salts on the Martian surface absorb water from the atmosphere until they have enough to run downhill. The process, known as deliquescence, is seen in the Atacama desert, where the resulting damp patches are the only known place for microbes to live. “It’s a fascinating piece of work,” Bridges said. “Our view of Mars is changing, and we’ll be discussing this for a long time to come.” \|\|\|\|\| NASA revealed today liquid water has been found on the surface of Mars -- upending the perception of Mars as a completely arid, desert-like planet. The finding also fuels speculation that life may have at one time thrived on Mars or could possibly even exist today. A study published in the journal Nature Geoscience identified waterlogged molecules taken from readings from orbit. “We now know Mars was once a planet very much like Earth with warm salty seas and fresh water lakes,” Jim Green, planetary science director at NASA, said at a news conference. “But something has happened to Mars, it lost its water.” Dark, 100-meter-long streaks flowing downhill on Mars are believed to have been formed by contemporary flowing water, according to NASA. The findings come from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and raise the possibility there could be life -- or even microbes -- living inside the Red Planet. Researchers said they don’t yet know where the briny water is coming from on Mars. "Something is hydrating these salts, and it appears to be these streaks that come and go with the seasons," Lujendra Ojha, a researcher from Georgia Tech who worked on the paper, said in a statement. "This means the water on Mars is briny, rather than pure. It makes sense because salts lower the freezing point of water.” Water on Mars, not just frozen. Is anything drinking it? Someday we wil find out on our #JourneyToMars http://t.co/ysbP8e2shY — John Grunsfeld (@SciAstro) September 28, 2015 While today’s discovery is huge, it is small compared to the rivers, lakes and vast oceans that are believed to have flowed on Mars billions of years ago. The findings, however, are a boon for a future human mission to Mars since the existence of water could help lighten astronauts' load. “I think all of the scientific discoveries we’re making on the surface of Mars…these observations are giving us a much better view that Mars has resources that are useful to future travels," John Grunsfeld, NASA associate administrator, said at the news conference. "I think all of the scientific discoveries we’re making on the surface of Mars, these observations are giving us a much better view that Mars has resources that are useful to future travels." Get real-time updates as this story unfolds. To start, just "star" this story in ABC News' phone app. Download ABC News for iPhone here or ABC News for Android here. \|\|\|\|\| Scientists suggest liquid water is forming on contemporary Mars, search for signs of life will follow. NASA announced on Monday that liquid saltwater exists on the surface of Mars - a discovery that scientists say indicates the "potential" for life on the planet. The historic findings by scientists from NASA and several US universities are based on research on dark, narrow and elongated streaks that appear on the surface of the Red Planet and which are known as "recurring slope lineae" (RSL). Research shows the streaks "appear and grow incrementally in the downslope direction during warm seasons". NASA scientists suggest the streaks were formed as a result of salty "flows" or "seeps" because they bear a striking resemblance to the shapes and curves that water on Earth makes as it flows along the surface of the ground. The theory that water exists on Mars was first proposed by scientist Lujendra Ojha, who as an undergraduate student at the University of Arizona in 2011, studied dark, finger-shaped images on Mars. Ojha, now a PhD candidate at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the lead author of the study, told Al Jazeera that "water does exist on Mars". Ojha added that chemical signatures of water were found in the crystals of salt samples. "We found evidence of water activity in hydrated salts on Mars," he said. The authors of the research paper - "Spectral Evidence for Hydrated Salts in Recurring Slope Linea on Mars" - published in the scientific journal Nature Geoscience identified four key hydrated salts that indicated the presence of water: magnesium perchlorate, magnesium, chlorate, and sodium perchlorate as present in the dark streaks. "Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that recurring slope lineae form as a result of contemporary water activity on Mars," the paper, which will be the topic of NASA's announcement, said. 'Finding water is step one' Alfred McEwen - planetary geology professor at the University of Arizona, who co-authored the paper - had previously done extensive research on ravines to see if water existed on the dry and frigid planet . "Water [in a liquid state] is essential to life as we know it, so finding water is a big step. On Earth, anywhere there's water in nature, there is life, but that isn't necessarily true on the surface of Mars," McEwen told Al Jazeera when asked what the discovery meant for the possibility of life on Mars. "The water may be such a dense brine that life can't flourish, and the radiation environment of Mars' surface is detrimental. However, finding the water is step one, and we need future investigations to look for life at these locations." Science fiction enthusiasts and Hollywood executives may be disappointed to learn there will be no alien creatures, or even large organisms, as far as science is concerned. Life on Mars, if it exists, will most likely be microbes, McEwen said. The dark streaks were originally seen by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter travelling at low and middle latitudes in the southern hemisphere, but as temperatures spiked during summer months, the streaks appeared to be seeping downslope and faded in cold seasons. They appeared again and in the same spot year after year. Observing this, scientists reasoned that, since Mars is about 80.5 million km further from the sun than Earth and its surface temperature rarely rises above freezing point, it was the rise in temperature during summer months that triggered the shapes to appear again. Scientists say this suggests that trapped ice inside salty particles melted and flowed down the steep slopes of Mars, creating the dark river-shaped streaks on the surface. "These results strongly support the hypothesis that seasonal warm slops are forming liquid water on contemporary Mars," the paper said. "If water on Mars proves to be real, it would not look or feel like water on Earth. Mars water would most likely be 'briny rather than pure' not free flowing." "This is a wet soil, not standing water," McEwen said. Source: Al Jazeera \|\|\|\|\| Add a location to your Tweets When you tweet with a location, Twitter stores that location. You can switch location on/off before each Tweet and always have the option to delete your location history. Learn more	Mars from the , 1980. Warm season flows on slope in On Monday, NASA announced that signs of liquid water have been found on Mars. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft found evidence of the liquid on the Martian surface, in long dark spots on the Red Planet thought to be formed because of water flow. In a news conference, NASA's director, said, "We now know Mars was once a planet very much like Earth with warm salty seas and fresh water lakes ... but something has happened to Mars, it lost its water." Water is thought to flow down slopes in the warm summer months and dry up as the temperature drops seasonally. Scientists have different theories about the water's origin, as perhaps from the Martian atmosphere or from ice below the surface. In 2011, Lujendra Ojha proposed the theory of water on the Martian surface, after studying salt samples from Martian soil. The temperature of Mars is close to the freezing point of water, but the presence of salt lowers the freezing point. Alfred McEwen, professor of at the University of Arizona, described the water as "briny". Moreover, the (RSL) on the surface of Mars are found to slide down the slope in the hotter season indicating the presence of water. NASA's associate administrator John Grunsfeld said those observations gave a better picture about the planet's resources that could be helpful in the future. Grunsfeld tweeted ''Water on Mars, not just frozen. Is anything drinking it? Someday we wil find out on our #JourneyToMars''. To mark this discovery, Google created a in which Mars is sipping water.
Mr Clarke insists he is the right person to sort out the problem. They are among hundreds of foreign prisoners freed at the end of their sentences without being deported. Police and immigration officers are undertaking a series of raids to detain some of the higher risk offenders. Opposition MPs are calling for Mr Clarke to quit. Tory David Davis said there had been a "massive failure". With probably victims out there who would not have been victims had it not been for this massive failure - I'm afraid, you know, he has to go Shadow home secretary David Davis High risk prisoner 'in Scotland' Liberal Democrat president Simon Hughes told BBC News 24: "Somebody has got to put things right...but it does not have to be him (Charles Clarke). "In politics, if things go wrong then somebody has to carry the can and that is the person at the top." The Home Office says more than 200 police and immigration officers are taking part in the raids across Britain, to track down 63 high-risk foreign offenders, following initial raids overnight. They are among the 1,023 prisoners released into the community without being considered for deportation over the past seven years - 79 of whom had been in jail for serious offences. Whoever is responsible for this should be sacked right now Piers Catton, Gosport Send us your comments It comes after the home secretary said on Friday that five of those released had reoffended and had been convicted for offences relating to drugs, violent disorder and inflicting bodily harm. Two have also faced rape claims, with one case dropped because of lack of evidence. The other case, which is still under investigation, is alleged to have taken place in August 2005. This was after a report had been published calling for more speed in dealing with overseas criminals nearing the end of their sentences. Action 'too late' Mr Clarke has so far dismissed fresh calls for his resignation. But shadow home secretary David Davis, speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, said it was time for Mr Clarke to quit. He said the home secretary was told "effectively for the fourth time, but told in terms 10 months ago" about the problem and should then have taken action. Labour voices have been among those calling for Mr Clarke to resign. FOREIGN PRISONERS 1,023 freed without being considered for deportation 79 of them originally jailed for more serious crimes, including 13 of them for murder, manslaughter, rape or child sex offences Five of them known to have committed offences since release - including violent disorder, drug crimes and grievous and actual bodily harm Deportation action now started for 63 of the 79 more serious criminals Officials have decided nine of the offenders should not be deported Full text: Clarke statement Labour MP Lindsay Hoyle told BBC News: "The public out there expect to be protected and what they're saying is, 'Hang on a minute, if these people have had seven months, 10 months to put this right, why didn't they? Why did releases continue?'" Meanwhile another Labour MP, Graham Stringer, echoed Mr Hoyle's sentiment. "As the facts change, then it's likely that Charles's position will become untenable," he told BBC Radio Four's PM programme. He added: "I think the prime minister, in not accepting his resignation, is being cruel and unfair to the home secretary. Charles is a man of integrity: he did the right thing in the first place, and he should have been allowed to go." However fellow Labour MP Ian Gibson told BBC Two's Newsnight the home secretary had the "next week" to sort out the issues. Labour MP Stephen Pound told News 24 that Mr Clarke should be "part of the solution" to the problems. George Howarth was another party colleague of Mr Clarke's who publicly backed the embattled Home Secretary, saying that he was the right man to fix the problems. I think it all boils down to Charles Clarke and what has been going on in the media lately and they are just looking for a scapegoat Andre Bester, father of re-arrested immigrant Mr Clarke said the 79 serious offenders had all been identified on the police national computer. All but seven had now been considered for deportation, with action started in 63 cases. Six have already been detained pending deportation. Among them was Kyle Bester from Zimbabwe, who was convicted of rape but not deported upon release. He is being held at Belmarsh top security prison. His father, Andre, said Mr Bester was appealing against his rape conviction and had been told by the Home Office that he could remain in the UK until it was heard. He thinks his son's arrest has been prompted by political events. "I think it all boils down to Charles Clarke and what has been going on in the media lately and they are just looking for a scapegoat," he said. Prime Minister Tony Blair refused Mr Clarke's offer to resign earlier this week. \|\|\|\|\| The home secretary is under fire over the revelations Clarke faces MPs The home secretary insisted he should sort the problem out, and received backing from Prime Minister Tony Blair. But Tory David Davis and Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said Mr Clarke had failed to protect the public. The prisoners, who were released over the past seven years and include three murderers, are urgently being sought. 'Culpable failure' Mr Clarke's problems in the Commons were just one element of what was one of the most difficult days for the Labour government since it came to power. In Bournemouth, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt was booed and heckled by health workers at the Royal College of Nurses conference. While Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was revealed to have had an affair with one of his secretaries. In the Commons, Mr Davis, the shadow home secretary told MPs he was calling for Mr Clarke's resignation because it had emerged that 288 foreign offenders were released after he knew about the problem in July 2005. Figures revealed by Sir David Normington, permanent secretary at the Home Office, show that an average of 41 prisoners per month were released between September, 2005 and last month. Tony Blair is understood to have been told about the releases before Christmas. Mr Davies told Mr Clarke "that because of the culpable failure to protect the safety of the public, your position is untenable". Mr Clarke said 83 of the 288 released prisoners were now being considered for deportation, a further 53 had completed the process and 14 had been expelled. He said he would give details of efforts to track down the serious offenders who were released in error at a later date. In a statement, he told the Commons the failure of systems within the Home Office was "deeply regrettable" and his priority was now "to set that right". 'No excuse' "It's clear that the increasing numbers of cases being referred for consideration led to the process falling down," he said. Mr Clarke told MPs he had said sorry for the oversight. "I do apologise. I have apologised, I continue to do so." FOREIGN PRISONER RELEASES September - 61 October - 49 November - 34 December - 49 January - 40 February - 30 March - 25 Sir Menzies prisoner apology But Mr Davis said although he had known the home secretary for 30 years and had "a broad degree of respect for him", Mr Clarke's statement revealed "a disturbing neglect for public safety at the heart of this government". "This is yet another example of your department's failure and incompetence. There is no excuse for you not knowing about this," he told Mr Clarke. And Sir Menzies pressed the prime minister at question time to explain why he had not asked for Mr Clarke to step down. Tory ex-Home Secretary Michael Howard also urged Mr Clarke to quit after his admission that "it was shocking failure on his part" that had led to the oversight. "If our traditional principles of ministerial responsibility mean anything at all, he should no longer be in his job," he told the BBC. Lord Ramsbotham, who was chief inspector of prisons between 1995 and 2001, said he had warned the Home Office that the numbers of foreign criminals in jail were increasing five years ago. 'Police probe' He told BBC Radio 4's PM programme that he drew the government's attention to the problem in his last report in 2001 which was sent to ex-home secretary David Blunkett. Meanwhile, police have begun processing hundreds of names from the foreign prisoner scandal and have already returned results to the Home Office. The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said a team at its London HQ was running Police National Computer (PNC) checks on names being provided by the Home Office. The checks will reveal if police have current addresses for the missing 900 criminals, and whether any have committed further crimes since their botched releases. Earlier, Mr Blair said he did not agree with Conservative claims that Mr Clarke was unable to give the Home Office the leadership it needed. 'Systemic failure' The prime minister has twice refused to accept the home secretary's offers to quit over foreign prisoner blunders. Number 10 said Mr Clarke had offered to resign on Tuesday when the scandal was uncovered. In interviews, Mr Clarke said he had offered to quit on an earlier occasion as well. Mr Blair said he regretted the oversights but added that new systems were now in place. He made the comments after Conservative leader David Cameron claimed Mr Clarke had presided over a "systemic failure" in the Home Office and had misled the public over the scale of the problem. "Isn't it clear that he cannot give the Home Office the leadership it so badly needs?" Mr Cameron asked, to Tory cheers. Mr Blair retorted: "It won't surprise you to know I don't agree with that."	British Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, is facing increasing pressure to resign from office over a scandal involving the release of foreign prisoners without subsequent deportation hearings. It was recently revealed that, since 1999, 1,023 prisoners were released after serving their sentences, but were not subjected to deportation hearings to determine whether they should be allowed to stay in the United Kingdom. Five of the criminals have subsequently re-offended, with crimes involving drugs and violence. "It's clear that the increasing numbers of cases being referred for consideration led to the process falling down," said Clarke, "I do apologise. I have apologised, I continue to do so." Despite the admission of error on behalf of his department, the Home Secretary faces the very real threat of further crimes committed by the released offenders and still more pressure to resign. An intense effort is under way by the police and immigration services to track down 63 of the higher-risk released offenders, and more arrests are expected today.
Hours after the Illinois House of Representatives voted 114-1 to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges that include his allegedly trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, the governor reiterated Friday, "I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing." Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich arrives to make a statement Friday, Jan. 9, 2009 in Chicago, after he... Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich arrives to make a statement Friday, Jan. 9, 2009 in Chicago, after he was impeached by the Illinois House on a wide array of offenses including criminal corruption and wasting taxpayers money. The two term Democrat becomes the first governor in the history of Illinois to be impeached. (M. Spencer Green/AP Photo) "I am confident that at the end of the day, I will be properly exonerated," Blagojevich said at a rambling press conference which ended, as had his first news conference following his Dec. 9 arrest, with his quoting a British poet. Watch "World News With Charles Gibson" Tonight at 6:30 p.m. ET for the full report. Blagojevich added that the full House vote was "not a surprise" because, "What the House did today they've been talking about doing for the last couple of years." He was joined onstage at his news conference by a man in a wheelchair and various other individuals he claimed were helped by his policies, and he blamed the Illinois House for repeatedly standing in the way of his bringing advances to the people of Illinois. He referenced various efforts to extend health care only to be blocked, he said, by a House chamber that "consistently stood in the way of those expansions." After quoting Rudyard Kipling at an earlier press conference, the governor this time drew from Alfred Lord Tennyson's "Ulysses," reciting, "Though we are not now the strength which in old days moved Earth and Heaven, that which we are, we are. One equal temper, of heroic hearts, made weak by time and by fate, but strong in will, to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." But in a statement following the impeachment vote, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan once again called upon Blagojevich to yield. "Gov. Blagojevich has harmed the people of this state, and by refusing to recognize his utter inability to govern effectively, he continues this harm," she said. "I call on the governor, once again, to do what is right, what is best for the people and what is clearly long overdue: The governor should resign immediately." Impeachment Process The article of impeachment -- essentially an indictment -- now goes to the state Senate for a trial, which requires a two-thirds vote to convict Blagojevich and remove him from office. The trial will be presided over by the chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court and could begin as early as Jan. 26. In the state Senate trial, impeachment managers and Blagojevich will have the opportunity to present witnesses and evidence. If convicted by the Illinois Senate, Blagojevich would be removed from office and Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn would become acting governor. The vote to impeach the embattled governor is a dramatic development in an unprecedented chain of events triggered by his Dec. 9 arrest. The vote came one day after an Illinois House committee investigating Blagojevich unanimously recommended that the full House impeach him for "abuse of power." The committee cited a litany of corruption allegations, including the attempted sale of Obama's empty Senate seat, extortion of Children's Memorial Hospital, extortion of the Chicago Tribune and various other pay-to-play schemes. In the panel's draft report released Thursday morning, state lawmakers investigating the governor concluded, "The Special Investigative Committee for the Illinois House of Representatives, 95th General Assembly finds that the totality of the evidence warrants the impeachment of the governor for cause. "The committee, therefore, recommends that the House consider an Article of Impeachment against the governor." The governor's office Thursday night called the panel's vote "a foregone conclusion" that was "flawed, biased and did not follow the rules of law." \|\|\|\|\| CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Hours after being impeached by an overwhelming vote in the Illinois House of Representatives, a defiant Gov. Rod Blagojevich proclaimed Friday that he was not guilty of impeachable offenses and would fight "every step of the way." Ilinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says his impeachment was politically driven. The embattled governor said lawmakers' actions were politically driven. "The House action today was not a surprise. It was a foregone conclusion," Blagojevich said at a news conference in Chicago. "From the very moment of my re-election, I've been engaged in a struggle with the House to try to get things done for people. "The House's action today, and the causes of the impeachment, are because I've done things to fight for families who are with me here today," he added. Watch Blagojevich fire back at critics » Blagojevich said one of the reasons the House voted to impeach him because he wanted to expand health care benefits to Illinois residents. "Is that an impeachable offense?" Blagojevich asked. As he stated earlier, Blagojevich said he had not done anything wrong. Watch Blagojevich declare he is not guilty » Blagojevich's comments came after the state House voted almost unanimously Friday to impeach him. The vote was 114-1, with three representatives not voting. Watch the announcement of the impeachment vote » State Rep. Milton Patterson, D-Chicago, said he voted against impeachment because "I did not feel like I had enough information, based on the report, to make an informed decision to remove the governor from office." The matter now moves to the state Senate, which will try the case. A two-thirds vote in the Senate is required to remove the governor from office. Blagojevich's actions "show a public servant who is prepared to turn public service into an avenue for private benefit," the chairwoman of the House impeachment committee, Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, said at the start of Friday's impeachment debate. "They show a public servant who has betrayed his oath of office, who has betrayed the public trust, who is not fit to govern the state of Illinois." Currie added, "The totality of the evidence shows that Gov. Blagojevich has forfeited his right to hold office. Whatever their stations, whether petty thieves or governors, those who break the law must not be immune from the consequences and must be held to account for their actions." Rep. Tom Cross, Republican leader in the Illinois House, said Blagojevich "has violated [his] oath of office, and that trust that he was given by being elected twice has eroded, has evaporated, has completely gone." On Thursday, the Illinois House committee unanimously recommended impeaching Blagojevich amid corruption allegations. Blagojevich was arrested last month after federal prosecutors alleged, among other things, that he tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat that President-elect Barack Obama vacated. "Today is the day that we begin to give back democracy to the people of the state of Illinois," Democratic Rep. Jack Franks, a panel member, said as he cast his aye vote Thursday night. Blagojevich "has been AWOL and derelict of his duties. He has abused his powers, and he has brought shame to this great state," Franks said. "I believe that Rod Blagojevich is a liar, and I believe he is a thief," Franks said. "He has stolen the trust of the people." The committee heard testimony Thursday from Roland Burris, the man Blagojevich appointed to succeed Obama in the Senate. Burris denied any quid pro quo with Blagojevich for his appointment to the Senate. Burris, former attorney general for Illinois, is not accused of engaging in "pay-to-play" politics with Blagojevich. "I would have appreciated it if he had stepped aside, and we would not have been made the laughingstock of the country," said Rep. Mary Flowers, another Democrat. She noted, however, that the governor is "innocent until proven guilty." The 21-member committee looked into Blagojevich's actions on a number of issues beyond the federal allegations, including a claim that he withheld state money from a children's hospital until he received a $50,000 campaign donation. Rep. Chapin Rose, a Republican, called the alleged behavior "repugnant." "The report speaks for itself and contains many, many, many acts that I find, and most of my colleagues find, to be impeachable," Rose said. "The evidence is overwhelmingly damning," he said. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald initiated a criminal complaint against Blagojevich after listening to wiretaps of the governor's phone conversations. Blagojevich was arrested December 9 but has not been indicted. A federal judge in Chicago told Fitzgerald that he has until April 7 to decide whether to charge the Illinois governor. The committee's report said it found the government's allegations against Blagojevich "shocking" and believes the information in the federal complaint "is sufficiently credible to demonstrate an abuse of office" that was "inconsistent with the governor's constitutional oath." The report said Blagojevich did not need to be found guilty of a crime for the House to impeach him. "It would, in fact, be unreasonable to limit impeachable offenses to criminal conduct," the report said. "An impeachment inquiry is not a criminal proceeding, and its purpose is not punitive. Rather, impeachment is a remedial proceeding to protect the public from an officer who has abused his position of trust." The committee pointed out that the criminal complaint against Blagojevich alleges that he was secretly taped saying he would not appoint anyone to Obama's seat without some form of compensation. iReport.com: Do you trust your political leaders? "The governor repeatedly demonstrated that his decision to appoint a senator would not be based on merits of the candidate or on public policy but rather on how that appointment could benefit him personally," the report said. "The governor directed various individuals to conduct inquiries on his behalf to negotiate deals for the Senate appointment, affirmatively setting into action a plot to trade the Senate appointment for something of value to the governor," it said. All About Rod Blagojevich • Illinois \|\|\|\|\| Several hours after the vote, Mr. Blagojevich, a two-term Democrat, called the news conference at his downtown Chicago office. He denounced the state legislature, quoted inspirational poetry and recited a litany of accomplishments. He said that the impeachment was a “foregone conclusion,” and suggested that lawmakers were less concerned with the criminal allegations against him than with his policies — all driven, he said, by the Golden Rule — of helping children get health care, providing cheaper medicines from Canada to those in need, pressing for property tax relief and allowing women to get mammograms. To promote those accomplishments, he brought to stand beside him a dozen Illinois residents who he said had benefited from his policies. They included a man in a wheelchair wearing a neck brace and two young children who played on the floor throughout his remarks. “Is that an impeachable offense?” he asked repeatedly, after describing ways he had helped individuals. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn later said Mr. Blagojevich had sidestepped the real point. “The governor did not address the central issue, which is the abuse of power,” Mr. Quinn said. “That is really the essence of the charges against him and he’ll have to address them in the Illinois Senate.” Before the impeachment vote, legislators — who had been called back to Springfield for a special session — had spent the morning discussing the merits of their case against Mr. Blagojevich. Because he has not been convicted of a crime, the committee that recommended impeachment cut a broad swath, making its case on what members called a pattern of the abuse of power in day-to-day government operations.	Rod Blagojevich. The Illinois voted to impeach state governor Rod Blagojevich in a near-unanimous 114-to-1 vote with three representatives not voting. Blagojevich is facing charges of attempting to sell the state's opening for United States Senator when president-elect Barack Obama takes office on January 20. The vote will now move to the , where a two-thirds majority will be needed to officially remove Blagojevich from the position of . Blagojevich was arrested on December 9 on suspicion of corruption charges, and was recommended for impeachment after an investigation from the United States House of Representatives. Blagojevich is the first United States governor to be impeached since 1988, when of Arizona was impeached after a year and three months on the job. At the beginning of the voting debate, impeachment committee leader , a member of the and representing Chicago, said that Blagojevich's alleged actions: "Show a public servant who is prepared to turn public service into an avenue for private benefit. They show a public servant who has betrayed his oath of office, who has betrayed the public trust, who is not fit to govern the state of Illinois." She later said "The totality of the evidence shows that Gov. Blagojevich has forfeited his right to hold office. Whatever their stations, whether petty thieves or governors, those who break the law must not be immune from the consequences and must be held to account for their actions." Milton Patterson, a Democrat also representing Chicago, was the only member of the House of Representatives to vote against the impeachment of Blagojevich, but did not speak in defense of him. The report that recommended his impeachment heavily criticized Blagojevich's actions. It stated that "''the governor repeatedly demonstrated that his decision to appoint a senator would not be based on merits of the candidate or on public policy, but rather on how that appointment could benefit him personally.'' It added "''The governor directed various individuals to conduct inquiries on his behalf to negotiate deals for the Senate appointment, affirmatively setting into action a plot to trade the Senate appointment for something of value to the governor.''" , a Democratic representative also on the committee, also spoke, saying that "it’s our duty to clean up this mess and stop the freak show that has become government in Illinois. I believe we’re finally doing what we should have done a long time ago." If Blagojevich's impeachment is ratified by the State Senate, he would immediately be removed from the office of governor and the state's Lieutenant Governor, , would become the state's acting governor.
Gangnam Style becomes YouTube's most-viewed video Psy's horse-riding dance has been performed by the head of the UN Continue reading the main story Related Stories Gangnam Style, the dance track by South Korean pop phenomenon Psy, has become YouTube's most-watched video of all time. It has notched up more than 808m views since it was posted in July. The video pokes fun at the consumerism of Gangnam, an affluent suburb of the South Korean capital Seoul. In it, the portly Psy dances as though he is trotting on a horse, holding the reins and spinning a lasso in a manner that has sparked a global dance craze. The video also features the 34-year-old singer reclining on a sun lounger in tight pink shorts, gazing longingly at a girl dancing on an underground train in tight shorts and gesticulating at a woman working out on a beach - in tight shorts. The dance has sparked numerous copycat versions, being performed by a diverse fan-base including Filipino prison inmates, prominent Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and a Chinese robot. Popular parodies include one performed by Eton College schoolboys and another in the Star Trek language Klingon. Gangnam Style, which won best video at this year's MTV Europe Music Awards, has also been number one in 28 countries. It holds the Guinness World Record for the most "liked" song ever - currently with a little under 5.4m likes on YouTube. Previously, Justin Bieber's 2010 teenybopper hit Baby held the record for the most YouTube views. Bieber's manager Scooter Braun was the first person in the US to tweet a link to the Gangnam Style video. \|\|\|\|\| 'Gangnam Style' overtakes Justin Bieber's 'Baby' to become most watched YouTube video of ALL TIME By Daily Mail Reporter \| ‘Gangnam Style’ just keeps breaking records. The insanely popular song from South Korean recording artist PSY has just become the most watched video on YouTube ever, garnering more than 808 million views on the popular media site. The distinction was previously held by another pop heavyweight, Justin Bieber, whose song 'Baby' had a little more than 804 million views at press time. PSY made the announcement on his Twitter page earlier today. Scroll down for video History: 'Gangnam Style' became the most watched video on YouTube with more than 808 million views. Toilet humour: Psy take his music into the bathroom in Gangnam Style Unique: Psy's moves have become so popular, even presidential candidates are copying them Dressing up: Psy tries on a range of brightly coloured tuxedos in the hit video Bigger than Bieber: Pop poster boy Justin Bieber is struggling to keep up with this chubby rival The YouTube honors are just the latest in a long list that shows just how popular the song has become. Since it was released in July, the song has seen a meteoric rise through the music industry. It has found its way to the tops of music charts in more than 30 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain and Canada, while providing material for thousands of parody videos. It became a staple in the 2012 presidential elections with the now famous ‘Mitt Romney Style’ video and was even used by the North Korean government in propaganda films promoting their supreme leader. Meanwhile, such influential figures as President Obama, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt have all made mention of the hit song. But nobody was more surprised by the success of the video than its creator, PSY, a musician with a decade-long career in his homeland who never thought to break overseas. The 34-year-old - whose real name is Park Jae-Sang - explained: 'The YouTube video never targeted foreign countries. It was for local fans. 'My goal in this music video was to look uncool until the end. I achieved it.' But now it seems PSY has managed to take hold of a huge segment of the international audience. He has made appearances on 'The Today Show,' 'The Ellen Degeneres Show' and even gave a special lecture at the University of Oxford. After his songs success he also signed a contract with Island Def Jam Recordings, which represents artists like Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez. PSY recently unveiled plans for a news song on CNN. He told his fans to get excited and that the lyrics will be a mix of English and Korean. \|\|\|\|\| Published on by officialpsy 6TH STUDIO ALBUM [PSY 6甲] ▶ NOW available on iTunes: http://bit.ly/NWJhWD ▶ Pre-order at YG-eShop: http://bit.ly/MlE373 From 2 years of break, PSY is finally coming back with his 6th album 'PSY6甲'! The album's weighty title song 'Gangnam Style' is composed solely by PSY himself from lyrics to choreography. The song is characterized by its strongly addictive beats and lyrics, and is thus certain to penetrate the foundations of modern philosophy. 가수 싸이가 6집 앨범 '싸이6甲(싸이육갑)'으로 2년 만에 전격 컴백한다! 타이틀 곡은 싸이가 직접 작사·작곡한 '강남스타일'로 싸이는 멜로디, 가사, 안무 등 다방면에서 강한 중독성을 보여 줄 예정이다. For More Information @ http://www.facebook.com/officialpsy http://twitter.com/ygent_official http://me2day.net/psyfive http://www.psypark.com App Store: http://goo.gl/l9TU6 Google Play: http://goo.gl/UiEn1	UN Ban Ki-moon performing a "" dance move alongside The music video for "", a song by South Korean artist , has become the most viewed YouTube video of all time. The video, which now has over 816 million views since being uploaded in July, became the most watched after overtaking the music video for "", a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber, which was placed on YouTube in 2010. With approximately 5.4 million likes, "Gangnam Style" is the most liked YouTube video ever, as recognised by . The video has averaged approximately six million daily views since its upload. Guinness World Records previously said about the video: "In years past it was unthinkable that something would be viewed a hundred million times, and now Gangnam Style has achieved more than twice this figure in just three months on YouTube." Should its daily view count average rate continue, "Gangnam Style" could potentially pass one billion views by the start of 2013. "Gangnam Style" satirises consumerist aspects of the of Seoul, the South Korean capital. The music video has influenced numerous parody versions, including one called "Mitt Romney Style", which was created in the run-up to the 2012 United States presidential election. Park Jae-Sang, Psy's actual name, said "Gangnam Style" "never targeted foreign countries. It was for local fans". He said his intention "was to look uncool" in the music video "until the end. I achieved it." The song has reached number one on music charts in about 30 countries. Its popularity has extended as far as US President Barack Obama; and Ban Ki-moon, the of the United Nations, who can be seen performing one of the dance moves to the song in the video above. Psy has now signed with , a record label representing such acts as and Justin Bieber. == Sources == * * *
November 23, 2008 - 7:55PM Two people are feared missing after a water bladder atop a dam wall burst in central Queensland. Floodwaters are rushing downstream after the bladder of water holding 10,000 megalitres ruptured at the Bedford Weir, near Blackwater, about 200km west of Rockhampton. The bladder sits on top of the weir to raise the level of water storage. The water is expected to wash into the McKenzie River, a tributary of the Fitzroy River. Queensland Police spokeswoman Nicki Devereaux said a search was underway. "Police hold concerns for the whereabouts of two people," she told AAP. Police, Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority crews, paramedics, and State Emergency Service volunteers, along with at least one local helicopter had rushed to the scene, Ms Devereaux said. "We are using all possible resources, given the time of the day and the light available, to try and ascertain the significance of (any damage caused by the burst) and anyone that needs rescuing," she said. Further details would emerge as rescue crews descend on the area and residents check for friends and neighbours in the wake of the dam burst, Ms Devereaux said. "We're hoping, given the night-time and everybody getting together and doorknocking properties that we have a bit more solid information." The effect of the rupture on the surrounding country and downstream of the dam is unclear, Ms Devereaux said. "It would seem that the volume of water may be less than first thought and that any roads and road crossings may not be affected over the coming days of it travelling downstream, but I can't 100 per cent confirm that," she said. Earlier, police had warned that a mass of water was travelling downstream towards the Fitzroy River Barrage, near Rockhampton. "The water will travel quickly and in a large volume and may cause flash flooding at river crossings and bridges," police media said. Police advise the public to stay away from the area until further notice, but they don't expect the flood to affect the Fitzroy River. Central Highlands mayor, Peter Maguire, told AAP: "It's a disaster". The mayor, who lives in Emerald, said he was not on the scene so could only go by reports made to him that up to four people are missing following the deluge. The Bedford Weir holds 22,900 megalitres of water. The bladder was on top of the concrete dam wall, Mr McGuire said. Blackwater, a mining township with a population of 5,000, was earlier declared the state's 13th natural disaster area after being bruised and battered on Friday by a ferocious storm packing hailstones and the size of melons. \|\|\|\|\| No Cookies To use this website, cookies must be enabled in your browser. To enable cookies, follow the instructions for your browser below. 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)	A bladder holding 10,000 megalitres of water at the Bedford Weir near Blackwater, Queensland has burst, sending flood waters rushing into the Fitzroy River towards the barrage near Rockhampton. It is believed up to four people who were in the vicinity of the dam before the breach may be missing. An urgent flash flood warning was issued at 5:40 p.m. AEST (0740 UTC) following the breach. A wall of water was seen rushing downstream, leaving several people clinging to trees. The water was expected to travel quickly and cause flash flooding at river crossings and bridges along the river. The mayor of the Central Highlands Regional Council, Peter McGuire, said the break was a "disaster". "There are reports of people missing," he said. "I've heard three and four people are missing but I don't know if that's right." He added that the dam holds 22,900 megalitres of water and that a bladder on top of the dam's concrete wall had burst. Emergency services are at the scene, searching the riverbanks. A Queensland Police spokeswoman said a rescue helicopter was only on the way to the area to "cover all bases", but claimed to know nothing of the missing people, although rescue teams were being organised at the scene.
Look, Ma - no wires! Electricity broadcast through the air may someday run your home. \| Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor More than a century ago, Thomas Edison and Nicola Tesla dreamed of broadcasting electrical energy through the airwaves. Instead, to their surprise, a grid of metallic wires sprang up and encircled the globe, distributing power to homes and businesses nearly everywhere. Now, as more and more people carry portable gadgets, from cellphones to laptops, iPods to PDAs, they want to eliminate any need for wires. The problem: Their devices need to be recharged, eventually, by plugging them into a wall socket. In the Monitor To keep out a neo-Nazi foothold, one German town unites Plan for troop 'surge' in Iraq gathers force Next round begins for No Child Left Behind Communist past fells Polish archbishop Opinion: The Wikipedia way to better intelligence More stories... 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 But an age when wireless gadgets never run down may be dawning. At a physics conference in San Francisco Wednesday, a group of researchers proposed a method that would allow cellphones, laptops, industrial robots, and other gadgets to be recharged simply by being within a few meters of an energy source. A system of "midrange" energy nodes, akin to the wireless "hot spots" that give computers wireless access to the Internet, wouldn't replace power lines. But they could someday result in entire buildings or other large areas in which wireless devices are automatically charged when they come into range. Other applications include sending power to electric buses along a highway, or charging microscopic nanorobots as they work, perhaps inside the human body. The idea was conceived by Marin Soljacic, an assistant professor of physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A metaphorical light bulb lit up over his head in the middle of the night, he says, when a beeping cellphone woke him because it needed recharging. Why, he wondered, couldn't a cellphone - or his four Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners, for that matter - be constantly recharged wirelessly? "In the last few years, our society has witnessed a dramatic transformation," Professor Soljacic explains by phone. "Seven years ago, the only battery-operated thing I used was a flashlight, which I didn't use that often." Today, he says, we're flooded with portable battery-powered devices that need recharging. His idea involves "electromagnetic resonances," in which energy jumps between two locations, as it does for very short distances inside an electric motor or transformer. "It's a very general phenomenon in nature," Soljacic says. "In quantum mechanics, it's called 'tunneling.' In electromagnetics, it's called 'evanescent coupling.' " A paper putting forth the concept, "Wireless Non-Radiative Energy Transfer," written by Soljacic and fellow physicists Aristeidis Karalis and J.D. Joannopoulos, is under review at the scientific journal Nature Physics. In it, the researchers propose two ways to design devices for practical wireless energy transfer. The designs, using either "dielectric disks" or "conducting-wire loops," show 30 to 60 percent efficiency in transferring power, Soljacic says. "Potentially, this could really be useful for certain applications, at least." The paper also contains calculations that simulate what would happen in the real world. "The numbers that we got from these calculations are encouraging," he says. "We fairly strongly believe in our theory, based on previous experience. But, of course, experiments will be the ultimate judge." Soljacic and his team have begun designing experiments to confirm their calculations. "He's a very creative guy," says Erich Ippen, a physics professor at MIT who's talked with Soljacic about his work. "These are not unknown physics phenomena," Professor Ippen says. "But what's innovative here is ... the idea of using [them] for practical purposes." The concept of wireless energy transfer, even over relatively short distances, is an attractive one, says Paul Saffo, a Silicon Valley technology forecaster. "We're all just dying to cut the cord," he says. When he goes on the road, Mr. Saffo says, he's always mindful that his electronic devices may run down. "I'm always looking for opportunities to suck in some more electrons," he says. Wireless energy transfer could help compensate "for the fact that our batteries are still pretty awful," Saffo says. Technologies that try to pack even more energy inside small devices have a drawback: They could become ticking "bombs" if their energy were suddenly released by accident. Recent troubles with some Dell laptop batteries have focused attention on the safety of storing energy inside portable devices. Such concerns would seem to make transferring energy to gadgets wirelessly an attractive alternative. Devices running on wireless energy transfer could have no batteries and simply receive their power from the energy source directly - by staying in range of their power source. Because the energy would jump only to a receiving device that resonates with the originating source, wireless energy transfer would be harmless to people, Soljacic says. "The only energy that would go into free space is magnetic energy of the kind that human beings are around all the time," he says, such as that given off by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines in hospitals or when high-speed magnetic levitation ("maglev") trains are suspended slightly above their tracks to cut friction. "We are fairly optimistic that the safety issues will be OK," Soljacic says. But proving a new technology is safe can be a tall task, Saffo notes. "Even if it's harmless, someone's got to test it and confirm it's harmless," he says. "We have a long history of consumers being very sensitive about things that the experts tell them are very safe, like food irradiation." Soljacic grew up in Croatia and attended high school there before eventually moving to the United States, just as did Nicola Tesla (1856-1943), the eccentric genius and electrical pioneer who was at times both an employee and a rival of Thomas Edison. The recent Hollywood movie "The Prestige" depicts Tesla using a form of wireless energy transfer around 1899 to light hundreds of electric light bulbs planted in the ground in an open field some 25 miles from where the energy was being generated. The scene is based on contemporary accounts of such an incident. Tesla also speculated that ships at sea might someday be powered by onshore electrical plants, with the energy being conducted through the atmosphere. A form of wireless energy transfer called magnetic induction is already in use in products such as electric toothbrush chargers. But such devices require the energy source and device to be in very close proximity in relation to their sizes, meaning that in small devices, the source and device must nearly touch one another. By employing the principle of "resonance," Soljacic's technique allows much greater distances, such as across a room, and thus offers a much wider range of potential applications. Perhaps his idea is coming forth now because a need for it has developed, Soljacic speculates. "If I came up with this seven years ago, or if Tesla came up with it 100 years ago, he'd probably discard it as being completely useless," he says. The principles that his team is applying are widely known, he acknowledges. They have just spotted the possibilities first. "I have no illusions. If we hadn't discovered this, in one or two or three years, somebody else would," he says. But while the need may be apparent, gadget lovers shouldn't expect to see this new technology for some time, Saffo says. For one thing, the first applications are likely to be tested away from large numbers of humans, such as powering mobile robots on a factory floor. "I wouldn't hold my breath," he says. If you're going to build a new house, "plan on putting in wall plugs." \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON There may be hope — however distant — for recharging nearly drained cell phone, laptop and other batteries without plugging them into the wall, a scientist said. Although he hasn't built a device yet, Massachusetts Institute of Technology physics professor Marin Soljacic said he has figured out how to wirelessly recharge batteries, much like the way people can surf the Web untethered. In a presentation Tuesday at an American Institute of Physics forum in San Francisco, Soljacic made the case for using specially tuned waves of electromagnetism that don't radiate like normal waves. • Click here to visit FOXNews.com's Natural Science Center. The idea is that the recharge device and the receiver would be on the same acoustic frequency, similar to how a radio picks up only one channel at a time, so that the energy would mostly go straight to the intended battery, Soljacic said. Some of the electromagnetic energy would go elsewhere, but Sojacic doesn't believe it would harm people, noting that humans can endure strong magnetic fields with magnetic resonance imaging machines. (Story continues below) Advertise Here Advertisements Advertisements Related Stories Incredibly Powerful Magnet Ready for Use at Los Alamos Lab Soljacic envisions a device with wiring loops mounted on the ceiling of a room. He even sees this as a way of recharging electric buses on the go if there's a large "pipe" with recharging energy above a highway. The concept of wirelessly recharging batteries has been dismissed before, deemed as far too inefficient with too much energy put out into the air and little where it's supposed to go. But Soljacic said using special resonating frequencies could theoretically cut energy loss to only half of the energy produced, making the technology usable. Soljacic said he is about to start experiments on his theory, which he believes would take at least a year to prove. "It's too early to tell people 'why don't you take your battery and throw it away,'" Soljacic said. \|\|\|\|\| By Jonathan Fildes Science and technology reporter, BBC News Plugs and wires could soon become a thing of the past US researchers have outlined a relatively simple system that could deliver power to devices such as laptop computers or MP3 players without wires. The concept exploits century-old physics and could work over distances of many metres, the researchers said. Although the team has not built and tested a system, computer models and mathematics suggest it will work. "There are so many autonomous devices such as cell phones and laptops that have emerged in the last few years," said Assistant Professor Marin Soljacic from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and one of the researchers behind the work. "We started thinking, 'it would be really convenient if you didn't have to recharge these things'. "And because we're physicists we asked, 'what kind of physical phenomenon can we use to do this wireless energy transfer?'." The answer the team came up with was "resonance", a phenomenon that causes an object to vibrate when energy of a certain frequency is applied. This would work in a room let's say but you could adapt it to work in a factory Marin Soljacic "When you have two resonant objects of the same frequency they tend to couple very strongly," Professor Soljacic told the BBC News website. Resonance can be seen in musical instruments for example. "When you play a tune on one, then another instrument with the same acoustic resonance will pick up that tune, it will visibly vibrate," he said. Instead of using acoustic vibrations, the team's system exploits the resonance of electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic radiation includes radio waves, infrared and X-rays. Typically, systems that use electromagnetic radiation, such as radio antennas, are not suitable for the efficient transfer of energy because they scatter energy in all directions, wasting large amounts of it into free space. To overcome this problem, the team investigated a special class of "non-radiative" objects with so-called "long-lived resonances". When energy is applied to these objects it remains bound to them, rather than escaping to space. "Tails" of energy, which can be many metres long, flicker over the surface. "If you bring another resonant object with the same frequency close enough to these tails then it turns out that the energy can tunnel from one object to another," said Professor Soljacic. Wireless energy transfer has been thought about for centuries Hence, a simple copper antenna designed to have long-lived resonance could transfer energy to a laptop with its own antenna resonating at the same frequency. The computer would be truly wireless. Any energy not diverted into a gadget or appliance is simply reabsorbed. The systems that the team have described would be able to transfer energy over three to five metres. "This would work in a room let's say but you could adapt it to work in a factory," he said. "You could also scale it down to the microscopic or nanoscopic world." Old technology The team from MIT is not the first group to suggest wireless energy transfer. Nineteenth-century physicist and engineer Nikola Tesla experimented with long-range wireless energy transfer, but his most ambitious attempt - the 29m high aerial known as Wardenclyffe Tower, in New York - failed when he ran out of money. Others have worked on highly directional mechanisms of energy transfer such as lasers. However, these require an uninterrupted line of sight, and are therefore not good for powering objects around the home. A UK company called Splashpower has also designed wireless recharging pads onto which gadget lovers can directly place their phones and MP3 players to recharge them. The pads use electromagnetic induction to charge devices, the same process used to charge electric toothbrushes. One of the co-founders of Splashpower, James Hay, said the MIT work was "clearly at an early stage" but "interesting for the future". "Consumers desire a simple universal solution that frees them from the hassles of plug-in chargers and adaptors," he said. "Wireless power technology has the potential to deliver on all of these needs." However, Mr Hay said that transferring the power was only part of the solution. "There are a number of other aspects that need to be addressed to ensure efficient conversion of power to a form useful to input to devices." Professor Soljacic will present the work at the American Institute of Physics Industrial Physics Forum in San Francisco on 14 November. The work was done in collaboration with his colleagues Aristeidis Karalis and John Joannopoulos.	Wednesday at the American Institute of Physics Industrial Physics Forum meeting in San Francisco, a group of researchers proposed new research into an old way, invented by Nikola Tesla, to transfer power wirelessly. Marin Soljacic and his MIT colleagues revived an idea which involves a source that creates a short range oscillating field. Nearby circuits that resonate at the frequency of the source absorb some of the energy. The system would operate in much the same way as the coils inside a transformer, except that the researchers believe they can develop sources that transfer energy over much longer distances than is typical in transformers. Technology based on this proposal could mean wireless gadgets such as cell phones and iPods never have to be plugged into a wall outlet. The researchers also propose that it could power micro-robots or other machines that are too small to carry their own batteries. Eventually it might enable electric transportation such as buses to recharge wirelessly through power sources near the roadway. One potential problem with the system could be its inefficiency. Soljacic's calculations show that it is at best 60% efficient.
By Jim Christie and Amanda Beck SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The Olympic torch's only stop in North America turned into the mystery of the missing flame on Wednesday, as San Francisco abruptly changed the torch route, angering both China supporters and protesters who had waited hours to see it. Thousands of people converged along the announced scenic waterfront route for the passage of the torch. But shortly after a brief opening ceremony, the first runner, flanked by tall, blue-clad Chinese security officials, disappeared into a large waterfront warehouse. "I think we were cheated, because I think the meaning of the relay was to show the whole world that our country is hosting the Olympics," said Michael Huo, 30, a Chinese engineer working at a Silicon Valley start-up company. The torch was a magnet for chaotic demonstrations in London and Paris in the last week over a range of China issues from China's crackdown on Tibet last month to human rights. Beijing, embarrassed as it prepares to host the Olympics, has strongly condemned the protests. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom told Reuters that the route had to be radically changed at the last minute or the event canceled to ensure public safety. "We assessed the situation and felt that we could not secure the torch and protect the protesters and supporters to the degree that we wished," Newsom said by cell phone. "As a consequence we engaged in subsequent contingency planning that we felt would keep people safe." The bewildering changes united supporters and protesters divided by politics by angering both sides over the sudden change during the only relay leg in North America on its journey to the Beijing Olympic Games in August. "I think it's cowardly. If they can't run the torch through the city, it means that no one is supporting the games," said Matt Helmenstine, 30, a California high school teacher who carried a Tibetan flag. After the torch disappeared from view after the opening ceremony, police boats and jet skis hinted it might be headed up the waterfront by boat. But an hour after the scheduled start, the torch appeared on a major, less scenic north-south street more than two miles away. "Where it will end up, nobody knows," said all-news radio station KCBS. A planned closing ceremony on the waterfront was also scrapped. TENSIONS IN THE CITY San Francisco has a large Chinese-American population and many had waited proudly to see the torch relay. But before the start of the torch run tensions mounted amid confrontations with anti-China protesters. At least one pro-Tibetan demonstrator was detained. In front of the city's ferry building, Christine Lias, 30, was quickly surrounded by more than 30 Chinese-Americans after she yelled: "Free Tibet now!" "Liar, liar, shame on you," many in the group shouted. On a beautiful spring day, San Francisco deployed hundreds of security officers, including FBI agents, backed up by police cars with flashing lights, harbor boats, jet skis and helicopters. Thousands of pro-China spectators gathered along the original planned route, many flying the five-star Communist Chinese flag alongside U.S. and Olympic flags. "In 5,000 years of Olympic history the Chinese can finally have one time hosting the Olympics. It means that China is becoming a world power," said Don Zheng, 41, a Chinese-American computer engineer who emigrated in 1988. Many Chinese Americans are proud that their ancestral home is hosting the global sporting event and resent the protests. "I'm loyal to the U.S. but I love China because it's my motherland," said Alice Liu, 50, who came to the United States after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. DELICATE DIPLOMACY The torch relays have attracted many groups unhappy about a range of China-related issues, including Tibet, its human rights record and policies on Sudan's Darfur region. Critics say China should use more of its clout with Sudan to ease the bloody conflict in Darfur. China blames Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and his associates for orchestrating monk-led protests in Tibet last month as part of a campaign for independence. The Dalai Lama denies this. Hours before the San Francisco torch relay, President George W. Bush urged China to open a dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Bush and other Western leaders are facing a delicate balancing act as calls mount for them to boycott the Olympics opening ceremony. Olympics chief Jacques Rogge told the Wall Street Journal that reports the International Olympic Committee executive board would consider scrapping the torch relay outside China, to avoid more ugly scenes, were "based on a misunderstanding." (Take a look at the Countdown to Beijing blog at http:blogs.reuters.com/china) (Writing by Adam Tanner; additional reporting by Duncan Martell, Robert Galbraith, Erin Siegal and Philipp Gollner in San Francisco, Richard Cowan in Washington, Guo Shipeng and Nick Mulvenney in Beijing, Lucy Hornby in Xiahe, and John Ruwitch in Hong Kong; Editing by Frances Kerry and Eric Walsh) \|\|\|\|\| (04-09) 20:28 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- It was an Olympic-sized fake-out, and by the end of the day, instead of the violent clashes that some had feared, the Beijing Olympic torch run left only thousands of frustrated protesters on one end of San Francisco and mostly relieved runners and officials on the other. The finger-pointing is bound to go on for days about whether changing the route at the last minute was right. But on Wednesday, Mayor Gavin Newsom and other officials said that once they got a good look mid-morning at the chanting, surging, flag-waving crowds along the torch's advertised route, they felt they had no choice. "If we had started down that (original) route, I guarantee you would have seen helmet-clad officers with batons pushing back protesters," San Francisco Police Chief Heather Fong said. Complaints about the bait-and-switch rang long and loud from many among the estimated 10,000 people milling along the original route all morning. Many rallied for a range of causes, such as China's human rights record and even the idea that the Olympics should be free of politics, and they viewed the torch run as an opportunity to vent their positions before an international audience focused on the torch's only stop in North America. All anticipated a noisy, politically charged experience, perhaps even as dramatic as the demonstrations in London and Paris. Instead, the city pulled a fast one, which was evident from the moment the first runner emerged from AT&T; Park and ducked into a cavernous warehouse on Pier 48 instead of heading up the Embarcadero as planned. Before the crowds could fully react, the torch runners soon emerged mysteriously two miles away on Van Ness Avenue and started a low-key trot northward into the Marina. Hundreds of police officers flanked the runners on foot and on motorcycles and bicycles, but they were not needed much. The whole torch run, once the runners began their radically altered route at about 2 p.m., took less than two hours. Rather than furious clashes between protesters, there were mostly screams of support and delight at seeing the torch go by. Mother, son see torch Nancy Chan of San Francisco, with her son Christian, 4, ran over from her house two blocks away when she heard that the route was suddenly moved to Van Ness instead of the waterfront. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for us to see the torch," she said. "There is a lot of politics around it, but that is the great thing about America - the free speech." Likewise, Joan Woodaver, who works near Van Ness, saw on television that the route had altered and headed over. But unlike Chan, she toted a sign reading "Free Tibet and Free Burma." "I really admire the Dalai Lama, and I feel disturbed that the government of China treats people so poorly," Woodaver said. Only three people were arrested Wednesday: one at McCovey Cove and two in the Marina. However, police did at times shove the crowds back and detain some protesters on the sidelines before letting them go. The morning had portended a much different, more contentious affair. The torch was supposed to be carried along the Embarcadero after a 1 p.m. ceremony at AT&T; Park on the waterfront, but by early morning thousands of people had already gathered. Most at first were supporters of China and onlookers who came just to see the torch. Around 11 a.m., protesters started to arrive, and the tone changed. Hundreds of people began screaming and sometimes pushing each other. Many of the pro-torch demonstrators carried red Chinese flags and said they were bused in by the Chinese Consulate and other pro-China groups, though others said they had come of their own accord. Meanwhile, opposing demonstrators carried Tibetan flags and preached independence for the country. Others were on hand to support Burma or rail against China's backing of the Sudanese government in its war in Darfur. At one point early in the morning, Jeremy Darrah, 26, walked into Justin Herman Plaza and began asking pro-China supporters if they knew about Beijing's backing of the Sudanese government. He was immediately surrounded by 30 people who told him to go home. About 10 police officers then stepped in and told Darrah he could not protest in that area because the Chinese supporters had secured permits - an apparent misunderstanding of the city's official policy to allow all protesters at the site. The clashes got more intense from then on as crowds of more than 1,000 surged up and down the Embarcadero chanting, "Free Tibet!" or - less often - "Leave the torch alone!" A tense beginning By the time the torch was lit at McCovey Cove around 1:20 p.m., the mood in the streets up and down the waterfront was tense, some protesters blocking vehicles they thought contained the torch and others yelling at and pushing each other. After a few opening remarks by ceremonial officials, the first runner, surrounded by Chinese and American police, headed away from the crowd and into the Pier 48 building. Unbeknownst to anyone watching, that torch never left the building. A mile away, the torch runners were gathered at a hotel on O'Farrell Street with one of several backup torches - and they drove with that torch in a convoy up Ellis Street to Van Ness Avenue and Pine Street. The 70-plus torchbearers wound up starting their relay there. A new torch was unloaded from one of the cars and lit, and the runners, carrying the flame in pairs, began to make their way north. The torch was handed off every half-block or so to a new pair of torchbearers. As the route progressed, the crowds slowly grew. At one point, a knot of pro-Tibet demonstrators yelled, "Shame on China! How dare you represent China!" In return, a group of torch supporters yelled back: "They represent the U.S.!" By the time the runners got to Broadway, the crowds were five people deep on the sidewalk, mostly screaming support and craning for good views beyond the police lines. Some protesters caught up to the run along its surprise route, but most stayed at Justin Herman Plaza, where a closing ceremony was planned. That ceremony was canceled in lieu of a quieter, shorter one, with just officials and the runners, at San Francisco International Airport. Torch off to Argentina The torch finally headed out of the city around 3:30 p.m. and arrived at the airport at 4:15. The motorcade bearing the torch was immediately whisked to a parking area near the international terminal and placed off limits to the half-dozen protesters and a clutch of news crews. Airport officials said a chartered Air China plane took off at 9:05 p.m., carrying the torch to its next stop in Argentina. Back at Justin Herman Plaza, as word filtered through the crowds that there would be no ending ceremony after all, many reactions ranged from deflated to flat-out angry. "I am very upset," said Rosie Salis, 51, who came in from Foster City to see the relay. "There were lots of people here with their kids. They had to wait for four or five hours, and it's very disappointing." Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, a vocal critic of Newsom's administration, was equally unhappy, as was the local ACLU chapter. "Gavin Newsom runs San Francisco the way the premier of China runs his country - secrecy, lies, misinformation, lack of transparency and manipulating the populace," Peskin said. "He did it so China can report they had a great torch run." Newsom emphatically denied those accusations. "We felt it was in everyone's best interest that we augment the route," Newsom said. "I believe people were afforded the right to protest and support the torch. You saw that in the streets. They were not denied the ability to protest." Peter Ueberroth, head of the U.S. Olympic Committee, agreed. He was with the mayor during the run, and he thought the tactics saved the day. "The city of San Francisco, from a global perspective, will be applauded," he said. Chronicle staff writers Wyatt Buchanan, Jaxon VanDerbeken, Michael Taylor, John Koopman, Michael Cabanatuan, Robert Selna, Steve Rubenstein, Kelly Zito, Cecilia M. Vega, Anastasia Ustinova, Reyhan Harmanci and Meredith May contributed to this report. E-mail the writers at rgordon@sfchronicle.com, tschevitz@sfchronicle.com, kfagan@sfchronicle.com and mlagos@sfchronicle.com. \|\|\|\|\| Protesters block torch relay San Francisco sees thousands of supporters and protesters gather for afternoon Olympic torch relay Miro Cernetig , Vancouver Sun Published: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 SAN FRANCISCO -- The Olympic torch relay, meant as a moment of sporting glory, descended into farce today as security broke down and the relay became a game of hide and seek with protesters. Thousands of people - a minority of them anti-China protesters - had lined the streets, hoping to see the Olympics "eternal flame" on its only stop in North America. But police and Olympic officials changed the route at the last minute when crowds were able to cross barricade and flood into the streets, blocking the original route. "China lies, Tibet dies," protesters chanted. Pro-China spectators, often waving massive Chinese flags and coming within inches of their opponents, hurled back their own slogans: "Tibet is better now than it was before without China." But things didn't get much better during what police called "the decoy plan," designed to avoid violence. Police put the torch in a bus and took it to another street a few kilometers away, in a hide-and-seek game with protesters. The torch runners, who were guarded by baton-wielding police in combat -style fatigues, were then deposited along the near empty street. They runners carried on with what they had learned in rehearsal, trotting along the street and waving to the crowds. There were, however, in most cases only a handful of people on the curb, surprised by what they were seeing. "What the heck is this?" one man told a local radio station. "It's all quiet one moment and now we've got this chaos." Pro-China protesters were delighted with the change, claiming a victory over the protesters. "These people who hate China should not be listened to," said Sammy Ng, who waved a large Chinese flag in the crowd. "I did not see the torch. But I'm happy we helped make this a success." But the protesters were incensed at the official attempts to keep them away. Even with a near empty street, however, there were unexpectedly glaring lapses in security. At one moment, unsuspecting pedestrians crossed in front of the torch motorcade, causing it to stop. Security personnel could be heard yelling, "move this thing faster, faster." People on the street were also taken aback by the sudden appearance of the torch on their street and in some cases came within metres of the prized Olympic symbol, held back by only the thin line of police officers with batons. Often, the 40 torch bearers were forced to stop or slowly walk. Eventually, however, the protesters eventually caught up to the the torch's new run. They began to try and shove the Tibetan flag into the proceedings and the official footage being shot of the torch run. Police blocked them and in some instances tackled a few and dragged them and their flags away. The final embarrassment for the Olympic torch relay was the closing ceremony for the relay, the only one in North America, had to be cancelled. Thousands waiting in a city square were out of luck. The torch was taken up to an empty freeway, where the relay came to a standstill, as police scrambled to pick another site to end the Olympic flame's North American run. While city officials claimed victory because there was no major outbreak of violence, there were some serious downsides for San Francisco. Much of downtown San Francisco was thrown into chaos today. The city known for its history of protest was turned into a place where officials attempted to thwart them in getting international coverage for their causes. The International Olympic Committee is now expected to analyze the San Francisco relay and decide whether the torch's 85,000-mile run should go on. mcernetig@png.canwest.com \|\|\|\|\| San Francisco became a battleground Wednesday as its Chinese-American residents faced off against pro-Tibet protesters who hope to disrupt the progress of the Olympic torch as it makes its way through the city. From the morning hours, demonstrators lined the streets along the torch's path, carrying signs with such slogans as "Tibet is part of China" and "Shame on China." San Francisco police have already arrested one demonstrator. Xiao Tan, aged 32 and of Chinese origin, tried to unfurl a Tibetan flag. "I'm proud to be Chinese, but I don't like what's happening in Tibet," he told AFP. City authorities are bracing for the kind of violence seen in London and Paris, when protesters angry at China’s treatment of Tibet succeeded in disrupting the torch’s progress. San Francisco is the torch's only North American stop on the way to Beijing. The city has been known as a hotbed of political dissent since the 1960s, and is also home to the largest Chinese-American community in the United States. Around one-third of San Francisco’s 800,000 residents are of Chinese origin. Communities mobilise to meet the Flame An ad hoc group of pro-Tibetan organizations, known as Team Tibet, is mobilizing supporters from across the United States in an attempt to interrupt the flame’s progress. “Of course we will try to disrupt the torch run. But we won’t try to harm or put out the flame,” said Tenzin Tsephel, a member of the Tibetan Association of Northern California (TANC), one of the organizing groups. However, leaders of the Chinese-American business community are also mobilizing to show support for China and its hosting of the Olympic Games. “There’s a time for everything: a time for the Olympic Flame and a time for politics,” said Siu Yuen Chung, who represents more than 1000 businesses in Chinatown. Echoing the official line in Beijing, Chung rejoiced in the event, but regrets that certain parties are exploiting the flame for political ends. The Chinese American Association of Commerce is distributing more than 10 000 flags of China, the US, and the Olympic logo to all the Chinese-Americans who came from all over the US to celebrate the passage of the Olympic Flame. The torch’s official route takes it from near the city’s baseball stadium along its famous waterfront. Mayor Gavin Newsom said Tuesday its route would remain flexible during the course of the day. Officials earlier said the torch would not pass through San Francisco’s Chinatown district because of security concerns. Suspicion between local Chinese and out-of-town protesters While the anti-Chinese protesters are united in their criticism of China’s Tibet policies, they are divided over tactics, reports FRANCE 24’s Gallagher Fenwick. At a rally on Tuesday, “half of the protesters told me they’d have a non-violent presence on Wednesday, and half said they would do anything they can to disrupt the torch’s progress – they’d use all means necessary,” Fenwick said. Fenwick also reports that many local Chinese in San Francisco are hostile to the protesters, saying they are proud that the torch is coming to their city and resentful that the protesters are stealing the limelight from China’s Olympic moment. For his part, Tenzin is not confident about getting local support, saying, “The younger generations are more inclined to support the torch, so they won’t get in trouble when they go back to China. We also believe that Chinese people have been paid to support the torch along its way here, but we have no proof”. \|\|\|\|\| By Jim Christie and Amanda Beck SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The Olympic torch's only stop in North America turned into the mystery of the missing flame on Wednesday, as San Francisco abruptly changed the torch route, angering both China supporters and protesters who had waited hours to see it. Thousands of people converged along the announced scenic waterfront route for the passage of the torch. But shortly after a brief opening ceremony, the first runner, flanked by tall, blue-clad Chinese security officials, disappeared into a large waterfront warehouse. "I think we were cheated, because I think the meaning of the relay was to show the whole world that our country is hosting the Olympics," said Michael Huo, 30, a Chinese engineer working at a Silicon Valley start-up company. The torch was a magnet for chaotic demonstrations in London and Paris in the last week over a range of China issues from China's crackdown on Tibet last month to human rights. Beijing, embarrassed as it prepares to host the Olympics, has strongly condemned the protests. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom told Reuters that the route had to be radically changed at the last minute or the event canceled to ensure public safety. "We assessed the situation and felt that we could not secure the torch and protect the protesters and supporters to the degree that we wished," Newsom said by cell phone. "As a consequence we engaged in subsequent contingency planning that we felt would keep people safe." The bewildering changes united supporters and protesters divided by politics by angering both sides over the sudden change during the only relay leg in North America on its journey to the Beijing Olympic Games in August. "I think it's cowardly. If they can't run the torch through the city, it means that no one is supporting the games," said Matt Helmenstine, 30, a California high school teacher who carried a Tibetan flag. After the torch disappeared from view after the opening ceremony, police boats and jet skis hinted it might be headed up the waterfront by boat. But an hour after the scheduled start, the torch appeared on a major, less scenic north-south street more than two miles away. "Where it will end up, nobody knows," said all-news radio station KCBS. A planned closing ceremony on the waterfront was also scrapped. TENSIONS IN THE CITY San Francisco has a large Chinese-American population and many had waited proudly to see the torch relay. But before the start of the torch run tensions mounted amid confrontations with anti-China protesters. At least one pro-Tibetan demonstrator was detained. In front of the city's ferry building, Christine Lias, 30, was quickly surrounded by more than 30 Chinese-Americans after she yelled: "Free Tibet now!" "Liar, liar, shame on you," many in the group shouted. On a beautiful spring day, San Francisco deployed hundreds of security officers, including FBI agents, backed up by police cars with flashing lights, harbor boats, jet skis and helicopters. Thousands of pro-China spectators gathered along the original planned route, many flying the five-star Communist Chinese flag alongside U.S. and Olympic flags. "In 5,000 years of Olympic history the Chinese can finally have one time hosting the Olympics. It means that China is becoming a world power," said Don Zheng, 41, a Chinese-American computer engineer who emigrated in 1988. Many Chinese Americans are proud that their ancestral home is hosting the global sporting event and resent the protests. "I'm loyal to the U.S. but I love China because it's my motherland," said Alice Liu, 50, who came to the United States after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. DELICATE DIPLOMACY The torch relays have attracted many groups unhappy about a range of China-related issues, including Tibet, its human rights record and policies on Sudan's Darfur region. Critics say China should use more of its clout with Sudan to ease the bloody conflict in Darfur. China blames Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and his associates for orchestrating monk-led protests in Tibet last month as part of a campaign for independence. The Dalai Lama denies this. Hours before the San Francisco torch relay, President George W. Bush urged China to open a dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Bush and other Western leaders are facing a delicate balancing act as calls mount for them to boycott the Olympics opening ceremony. Olympics chief Jacques Rogge told the Wall Street Journal that reports the International Olympic Committee executive board would consider scrapping the torch relay outside China, to avoid more ugly scenes, were "based on a misunderstanding." (Take a look at the Countdown to Beijing blog at http:blogs.reuters.com/china) (Writing by Adam Tanner; additional reporting by Duncan Martell, Robert Galbraith, Erin Siegal and Philipp Gollner in San Francisco, Richard Cowan in Washington, Guo Shipeng and Nick Mulvenney in Beijing, Lucy Hornby in Xiahe, and John Ruwitch in Hong Kong; Editing by Frances Kerry and Eric Walsh) \|\|\|\|\| Archbishop Desmond Tutu urged world leaders not to go to the Games Richard Gere at vigil Hundreds of pro-Tibet protesters have marched in San Francisco, as the city prepares to host the next leg of the international Olympic torch relay. Demonstrators carrying Tibetan flags marched to the Chinese consulate to denounce Beijing's policy on Tibet. Officials have promised tight security for Wednesday's torch relay, following chaotic scenes in London and Paris. Officials in Beijing have condemned the disruption to the procession but promised that it would continue. Extra police will line the torch's route as it follows a six-mile (10km) route through San Francisco, starting at 1300 (2000 GMT). Mayor Gavin Newsom said he had been in touch with officials in the UK and France to discuss ways of handling the protesters. "I'm not naive to the challenge associated with this event," he said. At a candle-lit vigil on Tuesday near City Hall, South African Archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu urged world leaders not to go to the Games. "For God's sake, for the sake of our children, for the sake of their children, for the sake of the beautiful people of Tibet - don't go," he said. "Tell your counterparts in Beijing you wanted to come but looked at your schedule and realised you have something else to do." Hollywood actor and long-time Tibet activist Richard Gere attacked China's plans to parade the torch through Tibet. "The game-plan of bringing this torch to Tibet, as if it was a harmonious society, is so patently false and insulting to the Tibetans," Mr Gere told the rally. But in San Francisco's Chinatown, community representatives held a news conference to call for a peaceful relay and voice pride over China's hosting of the Games. "If I support the Olympics, of course I don't support the protests," local resident Ling Li told the Associated Press News agency. "This is the first time China has had the Olympics. We should be proud of this." The flame was lit in Greece on 24 March and is being relayed through 20 countries before being carried into the opening ceremony in Beijing on 8 August. Protests have already caused serious disruption to legs in London and Paris. In Paris, the torch had to be extinguished three times, while in London there were 37 arrests. The demonstrators are protesting over a security crackdown in Tibet after anti-Chinese unrest. Tibetan exile groups say Chinese security forces killed dozens of protesters. Beijing says about 19 people were killed in rioting. OLYMPIC TORCH ROUTE Torch lit in Olympia on 24 March and taken on five-day relay around Greece to Athens After handover ceremony, it is taken to Beijing on 31 March to begin a journey of 136,800 km (85,000 miles) around the world Torch arrives in Macau on 3 May. After three-month relay all around China, it arrives in Beijing for opening ceremony on 8 August See detailed route on Beijing 2008 official site Will you be watching the torch as it travels through San Francisco? Are you in China? What do you think of the protests and the torch relay? You can send your comments using the form below: You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.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: Email address: Town and Country: Phone number (optional): Comments: The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published. \|\|\|\|\| 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. \|\|\|\|\| Scene of the press conference (BEIJING, April 7) -- At 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 7, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) held a press conference at the Beijing Olympic Media Center to give an update on the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay. Under the theme of "Journey of Harmony," the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay started its worldwide journey on April 1, 2008. The sacred flame has so far passed through Almaty in Kazakhstan, Istanbul in Turkey, St. Petersburg in Russia and London in Britain. People along the Torch Relay route have extended the flame a warm welcome and the relay is proceeding successfully as planned. Firstly, the countries on the relay route have attached great importance and given strong support to the Olympic flame. At the first stop of the relay, the president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, attended the commencement ceremony and delivered a speech. He then ran as the first torchbearer. Seeing the Olympic Torch Relay as a way to support the Beijing Olympics and to rehearse for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the city of St. Petersburg attached great importance to the event and used first-rate resources to facilitate a successful relay. During the London leg of the relay, Prime Minister Gordon Brown held a welcoming ceremony at No. 10 Downing Street and met with British torchbearers. Princess Anne and the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London attended and spoke at the celebration ceremony that ended the day's events. Secondly, all Torch Relay cities have given strong support for the event. At each stop of the Olympic Torch Relay, the city's local government has held a grand welcoming ceremony and various celebrations. These cities have designed elaborate relay routes that have demonstrated the unique features of their respective cultures and landscapes. They have all provided first-class organizational, security and logistic support for the success of the relay. Thirdly, the Olympic torch has received a warm welcome worldwide. During the Almaty leg of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay on April 2, 2008, over 200,000 citizens filled the streets to welcome the sacred flame in an atmosphere that was friendly and passionate. In Istanbul, people wore their best outfits as they came out to witness the Torch Relay. Seventy-thousand people celebrated the arrival of the Olympic flame on the streets of St. Petersburg. Although it was cold in London, with the temperature at zero degrees Celsius, more than one thousand Londoners from all walks of life participated in the launching ceremony of the London leg of the Torch Relay. London artists gave brilliant performances amid snow; passionate crowds lined the relay route. Fourthly, athletes from all over the world have joined the Beijing Olympic torch relay with great enthusiasm. "The torch for me is not, therefore, simply about a relay around London, it is a moment where the Olympics comes to the front of everyone's mind and we celebrate the dedication of the young athletes who train day in, day out to get to the games," said five-time Olympic rowing gold medalist Sir Steve Redgrave in the Guardian. "The torch relay gives the opportunity for people from all walks of life to touch the Olympics, to feel the dream. The games are an experience like no other, but only a few people get to go and experience their magic." The first four legs of the Torch Relay have attracted more than 100 athletes; all of them are outstanding representatives who have participated in the Summer or Winter Olympic Games. The first torchbearer of Istanbul was the first Turkish ice skater to participate in the Winter Games. The Olympic flame stands for peace, love and friendship, representing the common dreams and desires of human beings. It deserves the respect of the whole world. Wang Hui, director of BOCOG Media and Communications department Fifthly, the torch has been carried through a variety of means that reflect the history, culture, scenery and passion of the countries it's visited. The Torch Relay in Almaty started from Medeo Mountain and torchbearers carried the flame while skiing and while riding motorcycles, horses and camels. In Istanbul, the Olympic torch was twice carried across the Bosporus Strait, which runs between Asia and Europe. On its journey through London, the torch was carried on foot, on an open-topped double-decker bus and by light railway past some of London's most iconic spots. Furthermore, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay has received great support from each National Olympic Committee, as well as enthusiastic reports worldwide from the media. There have been attempts made to disturb and sabotage the Torch Relay by a small number of "pro-Tibet independence" activists. The Olympic Torch Relay embodies the Olympic spirit and represents the earnestness and excitement with which the world awaits the Olympic Games. A small number of "pro-Tibet independence" activists have attempted to sabotage the event. During the Greece leg of the relay, a few activists attempted to stop the relay by lying on the street. In London, a few protesters planned and carried out several destructive actions. One "pro-Tibet independence" activist tried to grab the torch and another attempted to extinguish the flame when well-known U.K. television presenter Konnie Huq was carrying the torch in northwest London. Their actions were stopped by local police, although Konnie Huq sustained a slight injury. During a lunch break, several "pro-Tibet independence" activists got past security in an attempt to clash with torchbearers and disturb the relay. The British police were successful in preventing these efforts. Local people in London strongly opposed the attempt to sabotage the Torch Relay. And the behavior of "pro-Tibet independence" activists has aroused resentment and received condemnation in London. As the highest symbol of the Olympic spirit, the Olympic flame represents peace, friendship and progress. Under the authorization of the International Olympic Committee, the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay is sharing the passion and glory of the Olympics with the world through its "Journey of Harmony." It has received a warm welcome from people throughout the Relay. We strongly condemn the actions of the few "pro-Tibet independence" activists who have attempted to sabotage the Olympic Torch Relay. The Olympic flame belongs to the world and these actions are a serious violation of the Olympic spirit. They are bound to fail and will surely arouse the resentment of peace-loving people who support the Olympic Games. The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is not only a great event for the Chinese people, but also a great event for the world. It is important in spreading the Olympic spirit, promoting Olympic culture and furthering the development of the Olympic Games. The Beijing Olympic Games not only enhances China's understanding of the world, but it also enhances the world's understanding of China. It deepens the friendship between countries, promoting peace, development and cooperation around the world. All cities of the Olympic Torch Relay, both on and outside the mainland of China, have made full preparations and have laid a solid foundation for the smooth completion of the Torch Relay. BOCOG would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the Torch Relay cities for the efforts they have made and to the people who have participated in the event. We believe that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay will receive the support of peace-loving people around the world and be a great success!	Pro-Tibet protesters gathered ahead of the Olympic torch relay in San Francisco on April 9, 2008. The Olympic torch relay in San Francisco, California, began today at 1:00 p.m. PDT (UTC-7). It was the only stop for the torch in the United States, as it makes its way around the world to Beijing, China, for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The route for the torch was materially altered as protesters filled the streets along the planned route. The route, which was originally 10 kilometres long, was shortened by nearly half, according to the San Francisco Police Department. In hopes that all eighty of the scheduled torch carriers would get a chance to carry the torch, the carriers ran in pairs. The first torch carrier ran as scheduled, but then carried it into a warehouse, from which a motorcycle was observed leaving. The torch was then spotted again on a major street nearly two miles off course. The rerouting was carefully planned, according to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who told ''Associated Press'', that it was because of "a disproportionate concentration of people in and around the start of the relay." The closing ceremonies were held at San Francisco International Airport instead of the planned waterfront location at AT&T Park. Matt Helmenstine, 30, a California high school teacher carrying a Tibetan flag told Reuters: "I think it's cowardly. If they can't run the torch through the city, it means that no one is supporting the games." "This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for us to see the torch," said Nancy Chan, a local resident, to the ''San Francisco Chronicle''. "There is a lot of politics around it, but that is the great thing about America - the free speech." She and her 4-year-old son ran to the new route when it was announced. Protestors filling the street in San Francisco. At least one protester was arrested, Xiao Tan, 32, of Chinese origin, who tried to unfurl a Tibetan flag. "I'm proud to be Chinese, but I don't like what's happening in Tibet," he told AFP. The ''Vancouver Sun'' reported a number of arrests, but says that violence is limited. Peter Ueberroth, the chairman of the United States Olympic Committee, said that the right balance had been reached, between preserving freedom of speech for protesters, while still providing an exhilarating experience for torchbearers, as well as preventing a repeat of the chaotic demonstrations that accompanied the torch in London and Paris. Already Tuesday evening, hundreds paraded with Tibetan flags while chanting "Shame on China". On Monday, protesters hung banners from the Golden Gate Bridge. As the torch went to London and Paris, the torch relay was subject to large scale protests in both cities. Tight security was planned in advance. Airspace restrictions have been put in place and over 700 security personnel are expected to be deployed including FBI agents. Police leave was cancelled. The United States Coast Guard patrolled the part of the route that was to take the torch along the waterfront at Fisherman's Wharf. "We are trying to accomplish two goals here. One is to protect the right to free speech and the other is to ensure public safety, and here in San Francisco we are good at both of those things," said Nathan Ballard about the security. Ballard is a spokesperson for San Francisco Mayor's office. "I am saddened that such a beautiful symbol of the torch, which unites people of different religions, different ethnic origin, different political systems, cultures and languages, has been attacked," said Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, to the ''Wall Street Journal''. The Beijing Organizing Committee said in a statement on Monday: "We strongly condemn the actions of the few 'pro-Tibet independence' activists who have attempted to sabotage the Olympic Torch Relay. The Olympic flame belongs to the world and these actions are a serious violation of the Olympic spirit. They are bound to fail and will surely arouse the resentment of peace-loving people who support the Olympic Games."
Knife found at O.J. Simpson's former L.A. home studied by police LOS ANGELES Police said on Friday they were examining a knife purportedly found at the former home of O.J. Simpson, the onetime football star acquitted of stabbing to death his ex-wife and her friend in the "Trial of the Century" two decades ago. \| Supreme Court temporarily blocks Louisiana abortion law WASHINGTON The Supreme Court, two days after hearing a major abortion case from Texas, on Friday temporarily blocked a Louisiana law imposing regulations on doctors who perform abortions in a move that would allow two recently closed clinics to reopen. Exclusive: U.S. watchdog to probe Fed's lax oversight of Wall Street NEW YORK A U.S. watchdog agency is preparing to investigate whether the Federal Reserve and other regulators are too soft on the banks they are meant to police, after a written request from Democratic lawmakers that marks the latest sign of distrust between Congress and the central bank. Brazil's Lula detained in corruption probe; Rousseff objects SAO PAULO/BRASILIA Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was briefly detained for questioning on Friday in a federal investigation of a vast corruption scheme, fanning a political crisis that threatens to topple his successor, President Dilma Rousseff. \| \|\|\|\|\| The green onions suspected of triggering an E. coli outbreak at Taco Bell restaurants in the United States came from a southern California grower, company officials said Thursday. Steve Dickstein, marketing vice president for Ready Pac Produce, said it was the sole supplier of green onions to the fast-food chain. He said the company has halted processing of scallions at its New Jersey plant. In September, Ready Pac pulled its bagged spinach from the shelves when U.S. investigators traced a nationwide E. coli outbreak to a San Juan Bautista processing plant. The outbreak sickened 200 people, including a person in Canada, and killed three people in the United States. Taco Bell Canada is voluntarily removing green onions from all of its 182 restaurants following an E. coli outbreak in the United States that has made at least 46 people sick. No associated incidents of illness have occurred in Canada. Officials with the Canadian branch of the fast-food chain said Wednesday evening that it was taking the precaution after learning that some of its outlets relied on supply sources similar to those restaurants linked to the outbreak in the United States. "As a precautionary voluntary measure, we have made the decision to take immediate action and remove green onions from all our restaurants in Canada until we know conclusively the root cause of the E. coli outbreak in the U.S.," said Jon Prinsell, the president of Yum! Canada, which operates Taco Bell Canada. "We are working closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency throughout this investigation," he said in a release. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that it is collecting samples of all non-meat items served in the restaurants, including cilantro, cheddar cheese, blended cheese, green onions, yellow onions, tomatoes and lettuce. Confirmed cases reported Confirmed cases of illness linked to Taco Bell have been reported in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The FDA said it was also investigating potential cases in Delaware and Connecticut. Taco Bell has also closed 15 restaurants in Philadelphia on the recommendation of the city's Department of Public Health. Two restaurants on New York's Long Island and an outlet in South Plainfield, N.J., remained closed to be cleaned up. Five people are in hospital, including an 11-year-old boy in stable condition with kidney damage. Attorneys for the boy's family filed suit Wednesday, claiming that the restaurant's negligence led to the E. coli outbreak. State health officials said they believe the danger of infection has passed, given that the most recent case of E. coli was reported on Nov. 29. E. coli stands for Escherichia coli, a bacterium commonly found in the intestines of animals and humans, as well as in undercooked meat, sprouts and leafy vegetables. It can cause abdominal cramps, fever, bloody diarrhea, kidney failure, paralysis and death. With files from the Associated Press \|\|\|\|\| FRESNO, Calif. -- An E. coli outbreak that has sickened 59 people in the Northeast is prompting concern among West Coast farmers after officials announced that scallions suspected as carriers of the bacteria came from a Southern California farm. The green onion link to the infections _ mostly of customers at Taco Bell restaurants in the New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia areas _ hasn't been confirmed. But some experts say the questions already have cast a shadow on an industry still recovering from a similar bacterial outbreak traced to locally grown spinach. "Even if it turns out that the implication to green onions doesn't hold up, a lot of damage is done," said Trevor Suslow, a vegetable specialist at the University of California, Davis. "It certainly heightens concern and undermines confidence among consumers and buyers about the safety of products coming from the state." Taco Bell restaurants in eight Northeastern states received scallions that may be linked to the outbreak, according to McLane Co., which distributes the fast-food chain's vegetables. McLane lawyer Bart McKay said Thursday that two of the company's facilities _ one in New Jersey and one in New York _ distributed the scallions to 450 Taco Bells in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. Ready Pac Produce has said its processing center in Florence, N.J., handled the vegetables that were shipped from McLane's distribution centers. A spokesman for Irwindale-based Ready Pac, one of the nation's leading produce packers, said it had cleared that plant of all raw and processed green onions. The suspect scallions were grown by Boskovich Farms Inc. of Oxnard, said Steve Dickstein, marketing vice president for Ready Pac. Lindsay Martinez, a Boskovich Farms spokeswoman, said the company was cooperating with the fast-food chain as it attempts to track the source of the bacteria. On Friday, a Pennsylvania man who became ill from E. coli after eating food from a Taco Bell sued the fast-food chain's owner, Yum Brands Inc., and Boskovich Farms in federal court in Philadelphia. Stephen Minnis said he had to be hospitalized after eating food from a Taco Bell on Nov. 26. The lawsuit seeks at least $75,000 in damages, claiming the tainted food was not fit for human consumption and that the companies were negligent and violated food-safety regulations. Will Bortz, a Taco Bell spokesman, declined to comment on the lawsuit. \|\|\|\|\| IRVINE, CA, United States (UPI) -- Taco Bell felt the financial effects of an E. coli outbreak at some of its U.S. restaurants, as analysts downgraded its stock and ill diners filed lawsuits. A Pennsylvania man who said he became sick after eating at a Taco Bell sued the owner of the Irvine, Calif.-based restaurant chain, the Los Angeles Times said Saturday. Another suit seeks damages for an 11-year-old boy hospitalized after eating at a Taco Bell in New York. Two Wall Street analysts downgraded the stock of Taco Bell parent company Yum Brand, citing potential effects of consumers` concerns for food safety. Shares were off $1.36 Friday, falling to $59.72. The stock fell 5.6 percent in the last three sessions. Meanwhile, investigators sought the source of the bacteria that sickened more than five dozen people in six states. Taco Bell and the Food and Drug Administration were waiting for conclusive results on green onions that preliminarily tested positive for a strain of E. coli. Taco Bell pulled the onions from all of its stores nationwide as a precaution. The FDA said it was investigating other produce and cheese eaten by ill patients. \|\|\|\|\| Federal health officials warned yesterday that the number of infections from an E. coli outbreak traced to contaminated food at Taco Bell is continuing to climb, with about 220 potential cases in New York. Twenty-one of the New York cases have been confirmed, and health officials were still evaluating people complaining of abdominal cramps, fever, diarrhea and other ailments associated with the potentially deadly bacteria. Taco Bell ordered the removal of green onions from its 5,800 restaurants nationwide earlier this week after testing by an independent lab suggested the bacteria may have come from tainted scallions. Scallions from a California farm are considered the potential source of the outbreak, although health officials have not yet made a formal determination. McLane Co., which distributes the fast-food chain's vegetables, said it distributed the scallions to 450 Taco Bells in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. Earlier this year, three people died and more than 200 fell ill in an E. coli outbreak that was traced to packaged fresh spinach also grown in California. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it expected the number of cases related to the Taco Bell outbreak to grow. "Illnesses are still occurring, and we consider the outbreak to be ongoing," said Dr. Christopher Braden, an epidemiologist with the CDC. The CDC has counted 62 confirmed cases in six states, most of them in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware. South Carolina and Utah reported one case each. About 180 of the suspected cases in New York were reported on Long Island. But authorities were reviewing a cluster of 15 complaints in upstate Oneida County. "Now we have 15 counties - it's not just Nassau and Suffolk," state Health Commissioner Antonia Novello said. Novello said no Taco Bells have been closed in New York, but all have been sanitized, their food thrown away and workers tested for E. coli. Health officials said they have inspected six Taco Bell restaurants in New York City where individuals say they ate before getting sick. Two of the fast-food joints were in Manhattan, three in Queens and one on Staten Island. E. coli is ordinarily a harmless bacteria. The dangerous strain that caused the infections is often found in the intestines of healthy goats, sheep and cattle. It can be passed from person to person if people don't take steps such as thoroughly washing their hands. With The Associated Press	Taco Bell fast food restaurant in Santa Cruz, California. Taco Bell restaurants decided Wednesday to remove green onions from all 5,800 of its continental U.S. stores after a November 29 outbreak of E.coli food poisonings caused the voluntary closing of 9 mid-Atlantic states stores and led health officials to investigate the chain's regional supplier. As many as 66 people reportedly became ill in New York City, Long Island, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The E.coli outbreak also caused Taco Bell Canada to recall green onions from all 182 locations across Canada. Officials with the Canadian branch said Wednesday evening that they would take precaution by removing green onions from all stores in Canada after hearing of the outbreak in the U.S. Jon Prinsell, president of Yum! Canada, which operates Taco Bell Canada commented: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration are currently collecting samples of all non-meat items including cilantro, cheddar cheese, blended cheese, green onions, yellow onions, tomatoes, and lettuce. A man from Pennsylvania became sick after eating at Taco Bell and sued the owner of Taco Bell headquarters in Irvine, California. Another one includes a 11-year-old boy who ate at Taco Bell, was hospitalized in New York, and also sued the owner. Most of the E. coli related sicknesses occurred in the northeast USA. No related sickness have occurred in Canada. Health officials investigating the source of the tainted green onions, also known as scallions, have traced the vegetable's food distribution chain to the Texas-based McLane Co., which in turn got them from Irwindale-based Ready Pac. The scallions were grown by Boskovich Farms Inc. of Oxnard, California said Steve Dickstein, the marketing vice president for Ready Pac. At what point in the food distribution chain the scallions became tainted remains under investigation.
'I belong to this land': Twice-exiled princess who was oldest surviving member of Ottoman dynasty dies in Turkey, aged 91 By Emma Reynolds \| A princess who was the oldest surviving member of the Ottoman dynasty has died at age of 91. Fatma Neslisah Osmanoglu, or Neslisah Sultan, married an Egyptian prince and was twice forced into exile when both royal households were abolished. She died in Istanbul on Monday, according to her nephew, Abdulhamid Kayihan Osmanoglu. Brave woman: Princess Neslisah married an Egyptian prince and was twice forced into exile when both royal households were abolished Her funeral was held yesterday, following her death from what was reported to be a heart attack. Princess Neslisah was born in Istanbul on February 4, 1921, two years before the Turkish Republic replaced the Ottoman Empire, which had ruled Turkey, parts of the Middle East and eastern Europe for 600 years. Nomadic lifestyle: The princess was born in Istanbul two years before the Turkish Republic replaced the Ottoman Empire and later lived in France and Eygpt Her grandfather, the last Ottoman Sultan Vahdettin, and all other members of the dynasty were sent into exile in 1924, and the princess spent her childhood and adolescence in Nice, France, before moving to Egypt. 'When we were in exile we lived longing for the country,' she told historian Murat Bardakci, whose biography of the princess was published last year. 'My mother had friends who would go to Istanbul. I would ask them to bring me back a bit of soil from Istanbul, but none did.' Ottoman princesses were traditionally married to members of Muslim royal families, and in 1940, Neslisah Sultan married Egyptian Prince Muhammed Abdel Monem. Prince Monem headed a regency committee that ruled from July 1952 to June 1953, when the new rulers of Egypt turned the country into a republic. The royal couple were placed under house arrest, accused of being part of an international plot against the Egyptian government of Gamal Abdel Nasser, but acquitted and forced to leave the country. Exiled for a second time, Princess Neslisah returned to live in France with her husband. In 1952, the Turkish government allowed female members of the Ottoman family to return to Turkey, and the prince and princess moved to Istanbul in 1957. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised the late princess. Emotional: Neslisah's funeral took place yesterday and she is survived by a son, daughter and a grandson 'She was the poster-child for nobleness who carried the blood of Osman,' he said in Parliament, referring to Osman I, the Anatolian ruler who established the Ottoman Empire. 'We remember her with high regard and our blessings.' The princess took the surname Osmanoglu, or son of Osman, along with other surviving members of the dynasty. 'When I go out in the streets, I see that all nice things were built by my grandfathers,' she told her biographer. 'I therefore cannot help think that they belong to me. I feel like I am a part of this place and that I belong to this land.' \|\|\|\|\| Neslisah Sultan, Last Ottoman Dynasty Member, Dies at 91 Neslişah Sultan, a twice-exiled Ottoman princess and the eldest member of the Ottoman royal family, died monday of a heart attack. She was 91. The UK’s Daily Mail writes that Sultan’s funeral was held Tuesday, followed by burial in Istanbul, the former Ottoman capital. Sultan, also known as Fatma Neslişah Osmanoğlu, was born in Istanbul on February 4, 1921, two years before the Turkish Republic replaced the Ottoman Empire, which had ruled Turkey, parts of the Middle East and eastern Europe for 600 years. Her grandfather, the last Ottoman Sultan Vahdettin, and all other members of the dynasty were sent into exile in 1924, and the princess spent her childhood and adolescence in Nice, France, before moving to Egypt. “When we were in exile we lived longing for the country,” she told historian Murat Bardakci, in a biography on her life according to the Associated Press. “My mother had friends who would go to Istanbul. I would ask them to bring me back a bit of soil from Istanbul, but none did.” In 1940, Sultan married Egypt’s Prince Muhammad Abdel Monem and thus became an Egyptian princess by marriage. Prince Monem ruled Egypt for 10 months before the country became a republic under popular reformist Gamal Abdel Nasser. After being forced to leave Egypt, Sultan and Monem settled in France and had two children, a son and a daughter. In the 1957, the princess and her daughter returned to Istanbul. Prince Monem died in Istanbul in 1979. After the death in 2009 of Ertugrul Osman Osmanoglu, the last pretender to the Ottoman throne, Neslisah took the title of “oldest member of the Osmanogullari family”, the Ottoman dynasty. Neslisah Sultan is survived by a son, daughter and a grandson. via IBTimes \|\|\|\|\| LOCAL > Most senior heir to Ottomans loses life Fatma Neslişah Osmanoğlu was the most senior member of the dynasty. Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr The granddaughter of the last Ottoman sultan, the most senior member of the dynasty, passed away in Istanbul yesterday morning at the age of 91.“I was deeply saddened by the passing of Neslişah Osmanoğlu, the eldest member of the Ottoman dynasty that made its mark on Turkish and world history, as well as on the period it represents, and which established the Ottoman state and transformed it into a world empire,” President Abdullah Gül said in a public statement.Fatma Neslişah Osmanoğlu was the last member of the Ottoman ruling family born while the empire was still in existence. She became the most senior member of the dynasty after her relative Ertuğrul Osman Osmanoğlu died in 2009.Her funeral was held at Yıldız Mosque in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district today and she was later buried at Aşiyan Cemetery.“Even though our family does not receive the esteem that is its due, [I extend my] condolences to the Turkish nation,” Prince Abdülhamit Kayıhan told the Hürriyet Daily News.Neslişah Osmanoğlu was the grandchild of the last sultan, Vahdettin, and personally witnessed his exile. She was also the granddaughter of the last caliph, Abdülmecit and the wife of Prince Muhammed Abdülmümim, a former regent for the king of Egypt.“Neslişah Sultan was born prior to the abolition of the Sultanate; her birth was announced with a cannon fire salute. She was the last Ottoman to be registered in dynastic records and personally witnessed her family’s exile,” Prof. İlber Ortaylı, the manager of the Topkapı Palace Museum, told the Daily News.Prof. Ortaylı said Neslişah Sultan had given her personal documents to Murat Bardakçı, a journalist and researcher, before passing away. Neslişah Sultan’s memoirs were also published by Bardakçı, he said.“Many members of the Ottoman dynasty were [laid to their final resting places] with their memories; their lives went unrecorded. We can comprehend neither Ottoman history nor the Republic too well for this reason,” he said.	Sultan Vahideddin (Mehmed VI) departing from the backdoor of the in Istanbul in 1922. Map of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 16th century. Osmanoğlu, who was the last royal born during the , died at age 91, reportedly from a heart attack, Monday and was buried in Istanbul, Turkey. Neslişah was both the granddaughter of , who was the last Ottoman Emperor, and , who was the last Ottoman . Neslişah was also the wife of Egyptian , who was the head of Egypt’s regency for a short while before the revolution in which and removed the monarchy from power. This was the second monarchy removed by revolution and sent into exile that Neslişah had personally experienced. When Neslişah was born on February 4, 1921, cannons were fired to spread the news and she was registered in the family records, the last child of the Ottoman line to be registered. She was born just two years before founded modern Turkey. The brought the of the Ottoman dynasty. The Ottomans had ruled for 600 years. At the peak of the Empire, the family's rule stretched across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as to Eastern Europe. As a young girl, Neslişah left Turkey for exile with her relatives after the royal family was banished. In 1940, she married the Prince in Egypt. The Prince was head of the regency for under a year between 1952 and 1953. She was briefly under arrest with her husband, when he was accused of conspiring against Nasser, before they were sent into exile. As an exile in France, she longed to be repatriated to her homeland and the city of Istanbul where she is now buried. She told a biographer, Murat Bardakçı, "My mother had friends who would go to Istanbul. I would ask them to bring me back a bit of soil from Istanbul, but none did." The Turkish government from 1952 allowed female royals to return and she returned there with her husband in 1957. In 2009, she became the senior member of Turkey’s former royal family after the death of a male relative. Professor İlber Ortaylı, who manages the museum at the , said, "Many members of the Ottoman dynasty were laid to their final resting places with their memories; their lives went unrecorded. We can comprehend neither Ottoman history nor the Republic too well for this reason." Neslişah was the last surviving member of her family to be born and registered during the Empire period. She is survived by her two children, one son and one daughter, and a grandson.
Due to copyright restrictions, this story is no longer available at NEWS.com.au. You can search for this story or others on this topic on Newstext, our news archive service. Alternatively, try searching NEWS.com.au for related stories. \|\|\|\|\| By Daniella Miletic January 28, 2006 JOHN Patrick Ford, the Victorian prisoner who testified at the original Bali trial of Schapelle Corby, has been found guilty of stalking and rape. A County Court jury last December found Ford guilty of 11 charges, including one count of rape, three counts of intentionally causing injury and two counts of threatening to inflict serious injury. Details of Ford's trial were suppressed until yesterday. Ford, who has already spent more than 700 days in remand, was found guilty of one count of false imprisonment and one of threat to kill and of stalking. He was also found guilty of one count each of aggravated burglary and burglary. The offences occurred between March 2003 and February 2004. Ford's lawyer, Tom Danos, yesterday told a pre-sentence hearing that as a result of giving evidence in Corby's trial, his client had suffered, and would continue to suffer, onerous prison conditions. Mr Danos said he believed two violent attacks on Ford were a result of testifying in Bali and told the court his client deserved a discounted jail sentence in exchange for his evidence. He also said Ford's trial was delayed due to the media coverage Corby's case had attracted. Ford, 41, told a Bali court that the marijuana found in Corby's bodyboard bag was placed there without her knowledge by criminals involved in a drug-trafficking ring operating at Australian airports. The pre-sentence hearing, before Judge Margaret Rizkalla, was adjourned until a later date. \|\|\|\|\| He signed a statement for her lawyers and later told Australian Federal Police that he overheard a conversation among other prisoners in jail that the 27-year-old Gold Coast beauty student was the victim of a domestic drug smuggling operation gone wrong. That suspicion was later confirmed in a second conversation he took part in, he said. Ford told Corby's lawyers he could not live with himself if he failed to testify in the case. Corby was arrested last October after Indonesian customs and police found 4.1 kilograms of marijuana in her unlocked boogie board bag as she passed through Denpasar airport. She has maintained her innocence and said the pillow case-sized stash must have been placed there during the domestic transit leg of her trip between Brisbane and Sydney. Granting an adjournment last week to give Corby's legal team more time, judges at the Denpasar District Court warned Ford's evidence could backfire on Corby. But her main financial backer, Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir said Ford could be Corby's last chance to beat a possible firing squad. "We've got to take every opportunity and use it and explore every possible door and he's a key witness right now and you know he could be the possible lifeline of Schapelle Corby," he said. Corby's lawyer Lely Sri Rahaya Lubis today failed to secure a meeting with Ford and would try again tomorrow before the trial. She would file an application requesting the court be closed to media personnel because of fears for Ford's life, she said. "The problem is our witness is a prisoner and it's a big risk for him to come here," she said. "We don't want totally closed doors, but we have to be concerned for his safety." The trial comes ahead of a visit to Australia on Wednesday by Indonesia's new president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and amid the heavy press coverage in Australia may cloud a trip billed as a fence-building exercise between Australia and Indonesia. Keen to avoid any legal finger-pointing or blame, both countries have warned against trial by media. Attorney-General Philip Ruddock rebuked Corby's legal team for using the press to build public support for Corby in Australia, saying evidence should be left to the courtroom. Australian Federal Police chief Mick Keelty has described Ford's evidence as hearsay on hearsay and said the Indonesian judicial process should be left to run its own course. Ford is on remand on charges of rape, aggravated burglary, threat to kill, unlawful imprisonment and assault. His lawyer Paul Vale said Ford was pleading not guilty and would contest all the charges in his May trial. Bakir said Ford told lawyers he could never live with himself if he did not give evidence on Corby's behalf. "(Ford) said to us very clearly that he knows, by giving this evidence, he might be killed or he might die," Bakir told ABC radio. "He said that he could never live with himself if he does not come forward. His conscience would not allow it." \|\|\|\|\| Schapelle Corby's defence team fears a prisoner could be killed after testifying in her favour on drug charges and will apply to have a Bali court closed to cameras to protect his identity when he takes the stand tomorrow. A senior member of Corby's legal team, Vasu Rasiah, said the prisoner, John Patrick Ford, could face retribution when he returned to Australia after testifying that the former Gold Coast beauty student had been wrongly accused. "We are worried for his safety and if the cameras are going to flag his face all over Australia, by the time he gets back he will be a dead man," Mr Rasiah said. "We will apply [to close the court]." Mr Rasiah said he expected the Australian consulate to support the defence team's application. But if the application did not succeed, the important thing for Corby was "that he will be heard". Ford, a prisoner on remand in Victoria, arrived in Denpasar late yesterday, escorted by prison staff, a Corrections Victoria spokesman said. Corby's defence team hopes to meet Ford today to discuss his testimony. Ford had signed an affidavit naming three people who allegedly traffic drugs through Australian airports. He claimed the drugs were put in Corby's bag without her knowledge in Brisbane but were not removed in Sydney, as planned. Corby was arrested at Bali airport in early October after more than four kilograms of marijuana was found in her boogie board bag. Corby has denied all knowledge of the drugs. She could face death by firing squad if convicted. Ford's arrival in Bali was preceded by days of confusion over whether he would be sent to testify after it emerged that the Indonesians had to make a formal request for his transfer. That sparked a war of words between Corby's lawyers and the Australian Government after the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, criticised the defence for approaching authorities only last Wednesday. The way was cleared on Friday when Indonesia made its formal request and Australia made arrangements for Ford to be flown to Denpasar. The court has set aside tomorrow or Thursday to hear his evidence. Mr Rasiah said the defence was almost certain Ford would take the stand tomorrow. Ford's ex-wife, Rita, said she also feared for his safety, and that there was no benefit for him in travelling to Bali to testify. "You worry about people who are close to you. Of course I am [worried] and I think everyone in Australia should be." Mrs Ford said her former husband wanted to try to help Corby. "He's hoping that he can help. It's the right thing to do." Mr Ruddock continued his attacks on Corby's lawyers and supporters yesterday, urging them to tone down their media campaign. "One of the things that we feel very strongly about in Australia is that our courts should be able to make their own judgements in relation to these matters, without influence by publicity and people using the media," Mr Ruddock told Channel Nine. "What I've been surprised about is the extent to which, in this case, there has been a lot of campaigning through the media which, at the end of the day, makes it very much more difficult for the court to be able to deal with the range of issues it's going to have before it."	John Patrick Ford, the Australian prisoner who testified at Schapelle Corby’s Bali drug trafficking trial, has been convicted of 11 charges relating to the rape and assault of a woman. Ford’s trial was postponed to allow him to travel to Bali in the custody of Australian Federal Police officers to testify that he had overheard a jailhouse confession. Ford alleged he had heard another prisoner claim ownership of the marijuana found in Corby’s possession. He told the Balinese court that Corby was the victim of an Australian domestic inter-airport drug-smuggling operation. She is currently serving a 20-year prison term after being convicted in that case. In December 2005, a County Court jury convicted Ford of 11 charges, including rape, intentionally causing injury, threatening to inflict serious injury, false imprisonment, aggravated burglary, burglary, making threats to kill and stalking, but a suppression order issued by the court prevented publication of the convictions until the pre-sentencing hearing on Friday, January 27, 2006. Ford’s lawyer, Tom Danos, told the hearing that Corby had written to Ford thanking him for risking his own welfare by agreeing to testify. Danos urged the court to be lenient in sentencing Ford, claiming that his victim had effectively forgiven him for his crimes and that he deserved a lighter sentence for co-operating with authorities investigating the Corby case. Ford has been attacked twice in jail since testifying at Corby’s Bali trial. Since returning from Bali in March, 2005, Ford has remained in protective custody, to prevent further attacks. Danos claimed that this would make any jail sentence particularly difficult for his client. County Court Judge Margaret Rizkalla adjourned the pre-sentencing hearing to a date yet to be set.
A United Nations human rights expert has raised the alarm over the case of a man in northern Nigeria who has been sentenced to death by stoning after admitting to homosexual sex. The UN special rapporteur on arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, has called for an immediate review of the entire process that led the man's death sentence under Islamic Sharia law. Mr Alston says the man, who is about 50-years-old, had been accused of having sex with a much younger man. He was acquitted of that charge. But after the judge asked him if he had previously had homosexual sex, the man said yes. The judge then sentenced him to be stoned to death. Ten Nigerian women have been sentenced to death by stoning for having sex outside of wedlock since Sharia was brought in; all created outcries and were overturned on appeal. -Reuters \|\|\|\|\| 8 July 2005 In a statement to the media in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, at the end of a two-week visit, Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, focussed on four issues, "each of which is symptomatic of broader problems existing within Nigerian society today." Citing first the highly publicized case of the killing of a group of alleged robbers, he declared, without going into the full details: "Let me only add that almost all of the ingredients, from the killings of alleged robbers, to the fraudulent placement of weapons, to the failure to undertake proper post-mortem procedures, to the denial of wrongdoing and to the flight of a senior accused police officer, have been repeated many times over in relation to cases brought to my attention during my visit. "The good news is that for what I understand to be the very first time the Federal Government intervened and established a judicial commission of inquiry. The fact that the police inquiry was open to the public was also a commendable innovation. Such procedures need to become routine in such cases if the police are to get the message that they cannot kill innocent individuals and subsequently label them as armed robbers." The second issue concerned six people, mostly university students, arrested in connection with a bank robbery in Enugu, who were killed in an alleged escape attempt. "This scenario, which unfortunately seems not to be uncommon, is utterly lacking in plausibility," Mr. Alston said. "But even if it were true, it would represent an entirely disproportionate use of force to subdue individuals who were unarmed, were still within police custody and were very far from having escaped. "While I do not for a moment underestimate the scourge of armed robbery which plagues too much of Nigeria, there is no doubt in my mind that the label of armed robbers is very often used to justify the jailing of innocent individuals who have come to the attention of the police for reasons ranging from a refusal to pay a bribe to inconveniencing or insulting the police, or some general offence against public order," he added. Thirdly, on the death penalty, Mr. Alston noted that an official study group last year found the average period spent on death row was 20 years and he strongly endorsed the group's recommendation that the sentences of all inmates presently on death row whose appeals had been concluded should be commuted to life imprisonment. With regard to Islamic Shari'a courts, Mr. Alston cited the case of a man awaiting execution by stoning for homosexual acts. "Sodomy cannot be considered one of the most serious crimes for which, under international law, the death penalty can be prescribed," he said. "The punishment is wholly disproportionate." Finally, he highlighted the response to major incidents involving serious violations of human rights, including large-scale loss of life, citing detailed dossiers on cases of abuse by the security forces. "All too often the response has been to establish commissions of inquiry in order to defuse the situation – but then not to publish the resulting report," he said. He concluded by stressing that while his mission was designed primarily to ascertain the facts in relation to extrajudicial executions, he had seen many encouraging developments. "In particular, the fight against corruption at all levels is closely linked to the issues with which I am concerned," he declared. "Recent prosecutions and actions taken by the Government are to be strongly welcomed." Noting that his visit was the third undertaken in the space of a few months, he said he was gratified by the degree of cooperation demonstrated by the Nigerian Government and various state governments. "At a time when Nigeria is seeking to obtain a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and is involved in continuing negotiations for further debt-forgiveness, such cooperation takes on particular significance," he added. \|\|\|\|\| Sarah Telford United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) In a world awash with data, aid workers contend with gaps With nearly 168 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2020 -- the highest figure in decades -- there is no time, or data, to lose	, an official with the United Nations is decrying a Nigerian court decision to sentence a 50-year-old man to death by after he admitted to having with another man. Reports have not named the individual. The incident in question happened after the 50-year-old man was acquitted of charges that he had sexual relations with a much younger man. During further questioning, the judge asked the accused if he ever had sex with any other men. Upon answering yes, the judge convicted the man of and sentenced him to death by stoning. Nigeria, the most populous African country, is one of many countries that has started to adopt Sharia, or traditional Islamic law as detailed in the . Since 2000, 12 of Nigeria's northernmost states have adopted Sharia codes for their courtrooms. Under Islamic law, homosexual conduct is a crime punishable by death. "Sodomy cannot be considered one of the most serious crimes for which, under international law, the death penalty can be prescribed. The punishment is wholly disproportionate," Alston, on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, said in a written statement Friday. Nigeria's southern states are mostly Christian and do not follow Sharia law.
Plastic heart gives dad Matthew Green new lease of life A 40-year-old father who was dying from heart failure is set to leave hospital after receiving an artificial heart. Matthew Green is ready to go home and await a transplant after surgeons at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire replaced his heart with an implant. His new plastic heart is powered by a portable driver in a backpack, which he said had "revolutionised" his life. It is thought to be the first time a UK patient has been able to go home with an entirely artificial heart. Around 900 similar operations have been carried out around the world. Mr Green said: "It's going to revolutionise my life. Before I couldn't walk anywhere. I could hardly climb a flight of stairs and now I've been up and I've been walking out and getting back to a normal life. "I went out for a pub lunch over the weekend and that just felt fantastic, to be with normal people again." Consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Mr Steven Tsui said without the device Mr Green, from London, might not have survived the wait for a heart transplant operation. "At any point in time there may be as many as 30 people waiting for a heart transplant on our waiting list at Papworth, with one third waiting over a year," he said. 'Excellent recovery' "Matthew's condition was deteriorating rapidly and we discussed with him the possibility of receiving this device, because without it, he may not have survived the wait until a suitable donor heart could be found for him." He said for the first time a patient was walking the streets of Britain without a human heart. Mr Green, who is married and has a son, had been suffering from Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), a heart muscle disease that results in arrhythmia, heart failure and occasionally sudden death. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. His health had declined over recent years, meaning the only option available to him was a heart transplant. Earlier, he thanked the Papworth staff for making "it possible for me to return home to my family". "Two years ago I was cycling nine miles to work and nine miles back every day, but by the time I was admitted to hospital I was struggling to walk even a few yards," he said. "I am really excited about going home and just being able to do the everyday things that I haven't been able to do for such a long time, such as playing in the garden with my son and cooking a meal for my family." The SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart Mr Green received is used as a bridge-to-transplant for patients dying from end-stage biventricular heart failure, where both sides of the heart are failing. The device works in the same way as a heart transplant in that it replaces both failing ventricles and the heart valves they contain, thus relieving the symptoms and effects of severe heart failure. However, it is not suitable for long-term use. Mr Tsui, director of the transplant service at Papworth, said the operation on 9 June "went extremely well". "Matthew has made an excellent recovery," he said. "I expect him to go home very soon, being able to do a lot more than before the operation - with a vastly improved quality of life - until we can find a suitable donor heart for him to have a heart transplant." Mr Green will leave Papworth with a backpack containing a 13.5lb (6kg) portable driver to power his new heart. Papworth Hospital carries out 2,000 major heart operations a year - more than any other hospital in the UK. Its first heart transplant, in 1979, was a UK first and the hospital has been using mechanical devices to support patients with end-stage heart failure since the 1980s. The Total Artificial Heart is a modern version of the Jarvik-7 artificial heart of the 1980s. In November, 1986, a patient received a Jarvik heart and was supported for two days before receiving a transplant. It is understood that other patients with mechanical hearts have been sent home before, but never with both ventricles replaced. Professor Peter Weissberg, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said that for some patients, with severe heart failure, transplantation is their only hope of long-term survival, but donor hearts are not always available. He added: "Patients with mechanical hearts must remain permanently linked to a power supply via tubes that pass through the skin, which is a potential source of infection. "With this artificial heart, the power supply is small enough to fit in a shoulder bag so patients can walk around and go home." \|\|\|\|\| Mr Green, 40, who was dying from severe heart disease, was awaiting a transplant when his condition became so bad doctors decide to take action. Instead of a real heart, the research scientist was given a pounds 100,000 full artificial replacement, the first person ever in this country. There have been mechanical hearts in the past, but they have usually only replaced parts of the organ – and the patient needed to be plugged in permanently to a machine in hospital. With the new portable heart, developed in America, Mr Green will be able to return home, walk the streets, and may even resume his nine mile cycle to work. Yesterday the father-of-one and his wife Gill, 38, said they were looking forward to resuming normal family life in London for the first time in years with their five-year-old son Dylan. Mr Green said: “Two years ago I was cycling nine miles to work and nine miles back every day but by the time I was admitted to hospital I was struggling to walk even a few yards. "I am really excited about going home and just being able to do the everyday things that I haven't been able to do for such a long time such as playing in the garden with my son and cooking a meal for my family. “I went for a pub lunch the other day and my son is just glad to have his dad back. My movement will still be limited but at least I can return home to be with my family. “That means the world to me." Mr Green suffered from a mysterious heart wasting disease called cardiomyopathia which rapidly destroyed the organ’s ability to pump blood around the body. It meant he could hardly leave his bed and only a few steps left him totally breathless. His only hope was a heart transplant but his condition worsened before a suitable donor became available. Therefore doctors at Papworth Hospital, the world renowned heart centre near Cambridge, decided to give him Britain’s first ever full artificial heart. During a six-hour operation in June, surgeons replaced Mr Green's damaged heart with the device which will serve the role of muscles and ventricles. It provides a blood flow of up to 9.5 litres – about twice the rate of a normal heart when the body is at rest. Unlike previous artificial hearts, the new one is powered by a pump which sits outside the body and can be held in a backpack or shoulder bag. All Mr Green has to do is replace the batteries in the pump every few hours and the heart should last up to three years. Steven Tsui, the consultant cardiothoracic surgeon who carried out the operation, said the heart, designed by a company called SynCardia, was only meant to be a “bridge” while a real heart was found. But it was a step closer to a permanent artificial heart being developed. Mr Tui said: “For the first time we are going to have a person walking the streets of Britain without a human heart. “We believe that there are many patients that could benefit from this device. Matthew was very sick and we were worried he was running out of time. “He was barely able to walk a few yards before getting breathless and his kidney and liver were suffering. “Since the operation he has been given a completely new lease of life. He used to be able to cycle to work every day. I expect him to be able to do that again. “This shows that technology can triumph over illness. I expect more and more of these devices to be developed.” Papworth Hospital is the only centre in the UK currently allowed to implant this type of device. In November 1986, a British patient received an artificial heart and was supported for two days before undergoing a heart transplant. Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "With this artificial heart, the power supply is small enough to fit in a shoulder bag so patients can walk around and go home."	File photo of an artificial heart A 40-year-old man from the United Kingdom has survived an operation in which he was given a wholly artificial heart. It is believed that this is the first time in the UK that a patient has been able to return home with such an implant. Matthew Green, a father of one, experienced the operation in , located in , England. His health has declined over the last few years, and he has suffered a substantial heart disorder, identified as . He is waiting to have a human heart implanted. The disease would have claimed his life had the operation to implant a plastic heart not occurred. Approximately nine hundred operations of this nature have already taken place worldwide. Having survived the transplant, Green stated that the plastic heart will "revolutionise" his life. "Before I couldn't walk anywhere," commented Green. He described his ability "to be with normal people again" as "fantastic". Having the opportunity to live a relatively regular life "means the world" to Green. Providing a nine-and-a-half litre blood flow at its peak, the plastic heart can provide roughly twice that of a resting human body. The artificial heart was implanted last June in a six-hour operation. Unlike other mechanical hearts, Green's heart is powered by a pump that can be transported in a handheld bag.
Inside the office of the Al-Jazeera TV network in Doha, Qatar. Is Al-Jazeera ready for prime time? The "Fox News of the Arab world" plans to take on Rupert Murdoch and friends with a new English-language service -- unless the Bush administration succeeds in squashing it. - - - - - - - - - - - - By Corey Pein April 20, 2005 \| It is fitting, somehow, that Al-Jazeera, the satellite channel most Americans believe speaks for the most militant part of the Arab world, and that the Bush administration has been gunning for ever since 9/11, owes its success to a French porn movie. Back in 1997, a year after the channel's launch, would-be viewers in the Middle East required an expensive, 6-foot dish to pick up Al-Jazeera's signal. To reach more viewers, Al-Jazeera needed a change of frequency, but for that, it required a slot on a Saudi-controlled satellite, which happened to be occupied by the French network Canal France International. It would take a miracle, or an enormous sum, for Al-Jazeera to land the necessary space. Then, one summer day, a CFI technician flipped the wrong switch -- or so the story goes -- and pumped 30 minutes of "Club Privé au Portugal" into millions of Arab homes. The House of Saud, apparently more fearful of hardcore porn than news and current affairs, booted CFI from the "Arabsat" and signed a deal with Al-Jazeera, greatly expanding its audience and its fortunes. Want to read the rest of this article and all of Salon for FREE? Just watch a brief advertisement to get a FREE Site Pass for today. There's no registration required. Or you can join Salon Premium today and read Salon without ads. Just choose one of the two options below. If you don't see the images below please check your ad blocking software or use these text links to log in, join Salon Premium or get a Site Pass. Membership help Site Pass help \|\|\|\|\| Al Jazeera English TV channel goes on air in 2006 Dubai, May 12 (PTI): Al Jazeera International, the English language news and current affairs channel set to broadcast globally in early 2006, today announced several top level appointments, including the bureau chief in India. Headquartered in Doha, Qatar, the channel will broadcast from its four news broadcast centres, strategically placed across the world, 24 hours a day. As the world's first English language news channel to be headquartered in the Middle East, Al Jazeera International will broadcast from a unique position, from within the Arab World, looking outwards, said Nigel Parsons, Managing Director of Al Jazeera International. The station has appointed a Bureau Chief for India, Anmol Saxena, in New Delhi who joins Al Jazeera International from APTN India. Speaking on the appointments, he said, "We have handpicked our bureau chiefs, and strategically placed our news broadcast centres across the globe, to ensure that our reporting will bring together a complete picture of world news and address the many perspectives of complex current affairs." The channel appointed Trish Carter, Sue Phillips and Will Stebbins as bureau chiefs for the Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC news broadcast centres respectively. International \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON - The tiny state of Qatar is a crucial American ally in the Persian Gulf, where it provides a military base and warm support for American policies. Yet relations with Qatar are also strained over an awkward issue: Qatar's sponsorship of Al Jazeera, the provocative television station that is a big source of news in the Arab world. Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and other Bush administration officials have complained heatedly to Qatari leaders that Al Jazeera's broadcasts have been inflammatory, misleading and occasionally false, especially on Iraq. The pressure has been so intense, a senior Qatari official said, that the government is accelerating plans to put Al Jazeera on the market, though Bush administration officials counter that a privately owned station in the region may be no better from their point of view. "We have recently added new members to the Al Jazeera editorial board, and one of their tasks is to explore the best way to sell it," said the Qatari official, who said he could be more candid about the situation if he was not identified. "We really have a headache, not just from the United States but from advertisers and from other countries as well." Asked if the sale might dilute Al Jazeera's content, the official said, "I hope not."	Arab news channel Al Jazeera announced Saturday that it plans to open an English-language channel called Al Jazeera International at the beginning of 2006. The project fits in with the robust growth and in-your-face style of the original channel, but faces significant challenges in the new markets. Al Jazeera's confrontational approach to news has earned it enemies in every government in the Middle East. Its independence has caused the Iranian government to close its Tehran bureau for covering ethnic riots near the border with Iraq. Al Jazeera has also earned the enmity of Washington D.C., where the Bush administration regularly complains about their coverage. Al Jazeera offices were also hit by U.S. weapons in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Baghdad, Iraq, although the U.S. military insists they were accidental targets. The biggest issue for Al Jazeera is a lack of distribution. All major news services in North America, a prime market for the English language channel, struggle to gain and maintain distribution. The new channel has named its management team: * Nigel Parsons is to head operations at the company's Doha headquarters * Sue Philips, a former employee of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, is to be in charge of the European coverage from Al Jazeera's London office * Trish Carter, formerly of Television New Zealand is to head the Asian desk in Kuala Lumpur * And Will Stebbins, formerly with Associated Press Television News, is to head the North American operations. Al Jazeera has been expanding in other markets as well. It opened a channel last month which covers news events without a presenter or commentary. It also have a sports channel and plans for a children's channel.
Washington Post Staff Writers Thursday, November 9, 2006; Page A01 President Bush emerged from an election in which his party took what he described as a "thumping" and ousted Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld yesterday, saying that a "fresh perspective" is needed to guide the military through the difficult war in Iraq. Speaking at a White House news conference the day after Democrats took control of the House of Representatives, and possibly the Senate, an apparently chastened and conciliatory Bush said he was nominating former CIA director Robert M. Gates to replace the long-embattled Rumsfeld. After six years of a presidency that has been about drawing lines against the Democrats and taunting them as weak, Bush presented a sharp about-face in an appearance in the White House East Room. "What's changed today is the election is over," he said, "and the Democrats won." Acknowledging that the elections amounted to a rebuke of Republican leadership, Bush said voters had signaled they wanted cooperation and problem-solving in Washington. If anything, he seemed to greet defeat with an air of relief, as though the results had allowed him to abandon an all-is-well pretense that was increasingly at odds with his actual political circumstances. He said that he had begun to contemplate Rumsfeld's exit before the election -- even while he was publicly vowing that he would keep the defense secretary through the end of his term and insisting that polls forecasting Republican defeat were wrong. "I thought we were going to do fine yesterday," Bush insisted. "Shows what I know." But "win or lose, Bob Gates was going to become the nominee." Rumsfeld understood as well as he did, Bush said, that "Iraq is not working well enough, fast enough." The defense secretary's removal was part of a broader White House effort to restructure Bush's presidency in the wake of the Democratic victory. Beyond the switch at the Pentagon, White House aides in recent weeks developed an agenda designed to attract bipartisan support, including an increase in the minimum wage -- a longtime Democratic priority -- as well as comprehensive immigration legislation, energy measures, and the extension of the No Child Left Behind education program. "The message yesterday was clear," Bush said. "The American people want their leaders in Washington to set aside partisan differences, conduct ourselves in an ethical manner, and work together to address the challenges facing our nation." Despite the sharp confrontation that has characterized his tenure, Bush "will make the best of the situation he finds," predicted Ari Fleischer, his former press secretary. "If that means he'll compromise, he'll do so. The question is, will the Republican base let him? And will the Democratic base let Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid compromise?" Some senior voices from the Republican base already are urging Bush to forget cooperation. "I guess you're supposed to say that, regardless of whether you're actually planning on doing it. I hope he doesn't really mean it," said Grover G. Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. Instead, he said, Bush should use the next two years to define differences between the parties heading into the 2008 election. Although the White House had insisted repeatedly that it was not making contingency plans for a Democratic victory, an official said yesterday that Chief of Staff Joshua B. Bolten assigned deputies Karl Rove and Joel D. Kaplan, national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley, counselor Dan Bartlett, and other aides to begin "quietly preparing in case this eventuality came," the official said. \|\|\|\|\| Nov. 8: President Bush denies Wednesday's announcement that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is on his way out is a direct response to the Democrats' big victory in Tuesday's elections. NBC's Brian Mooar reports. Voters head to the polls in elections that could shift control of Congress and the Senate. BREAKING NEWS NBC, MSNBC and news services WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stepped down as defense secretary on Wednesday, one day after midterm elections in which opposition to the war in Iraq contributed to heavy Republican losses. President Bush said he would nominate Robert Gates, a former CIA director, to replace Rumsfeld at the Pentagon. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement Asked whether his announcement signaled a new direction in the war that has claimed the lives of more than 2,800 U.S. troops, Bush said, “Well, there’s certainly going to be new leadership at the Pentagon.” Bush lavished praise on Rumsfeld, who has spent six stormy years at his post. The president disclosed he met with Gates last Sunday, two days before the elections in which Democrats swept control of the House and possibly the Senate. Military officials and politicians dissatisfied with the course of the war had called for Rumsfeld’s resignation in the months leading up to the election. Last week, as Bush campaigned to save the Republican majority, he declared that Rumsfeld would remain at the Pentagon through the end of his term. Source: Cheney stuck by Rumsfeld But sources told NBC News’ military analyst Bill Arkin that prior to the election, Vice President Dick Cheney argued with other politicians over whether Rumsfeld should stay. White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and others said Rumsfeld should be removed, the source said. Both sides agreed the decision would be made after the election, when Bush would make the final call based on how Republicans did. According to the source, Bush agreed Rumsfeld should be removed after seeing election results favoring Democrats. Cheney then lost another argument, protesting Gates’ nomination as Rumsfeld’s replacement. Rumsfeld, 74, was in his second tour of duty as defense chief. He first held the job a generation ago, when he was appointed by President Ford. Whatever confidence Bush retained in Rumsfeld, the Cabinet officer’s support in Congress had eroded significantly. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the House speaker-in-waiting, said at her first postelection news conference that Bush should replace the top civilian leadership at the Pentagon. And Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who had intervened in the past to shore up support for Rumsfeld, issued a statement saying, “Washington must now work together in a bipartisan way — Republicans and Democrats — to outline the path to success in Iraq.” The Pentagon offered no date for Rumsfeld’s departure. Appointee a close Bush family friend Gates, 63, has served as the president of Texas A&M University since August 2002, and as the university’s interim dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service from 1999 to 2001. Texas A & M via Getty Images fil Former CIA Director Robert M. Gates The school is home to the presidential library of Bush’s father. Gates is a close friend of the Bush family, and particularly the first President Bush. He served as deputy national security adviser from 1989 to 1991 and then as CIA director during the first Iraq war, from 1991 until 1993. Gates joined the CIA in 1966 and is the only agency employee to rise from an entry level job to the 7th floor director’s office. He served in the intelligence community for more than a quarter century, under six presidents. Bush has considered Gates for jobs before, including in 2005 when he was searching for a candidate to be the nation’s first national intelligence director. His nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., who is expected to chair the House Armed Services Committee next year, said Rumsfeld’s resignation “presents an important opportunity for our country to begin a new policy direction in Iraq and in the war on terrorism.” He encouraged the Bush administration to take advantage of the fresh start. NBC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Rate this story Low High advertisement \|\|\|\|\| President George W Bush said that he and Mr Rumsfeld had agreed that a "fresh perspective" was needed in Iraq. Former CIA Director Robert Gates has been nominated to replace Mr Rumsfeld. The Democrats won control of the House of Representatives in the polls, and AP news agency says they are also set to take the Senate. "It's been quite a time," said Mr Rumsfeld in a short departing speech, delivered alongside President Bush, two hours after the president had announced that he would be replaced. As a key architect of the war in Iraq, Mr Rumsfeld had faced growing calls to quit as violence has continued to spiral, three years after the US-led invasion. "I have benefited greatly from criticism, and at no time have I suffered a lack thereof, " Mr Rumsfeld said, quoting Winston Churchill. He described the Iraq conflict as a "little understood, unfamiliar war" and said he was confident of ultimate success there. But BBC News website world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds says his resignation is a sign and an admission that the US policy in Iraq has not worked, so far. Mr Bush described Mr Rumsfeld as a "patriot who served this country with honour and distinction", as well as "a trusted adviser and a friend". "America is safer and the world is more secure" as a result of Mr Rumsfeld's leadership, he said. However, Democrats welcomed Mr Rumsfeld's resignation. "Secretary Rumsfeld's war plans in Iraq have failed. The country is on a dangerous course, and the administration has finally recognised the need for drastic, immediate change," said Senator John Rockefeller, senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Meanwhile the editor-in-chief of the Military Times, a newspaper group which includes four papers which at the weekend called for Mr Rumsfeld's resignation, said Mr Gates' appointment was "promising". "I think that the change at the top also is a signal to allies that we are going to be perhaps a little more open-minded than we have been in the past," said Tobias Naegele. Beleaguered After the 9/11 attacks on America, Mr Rumsfeld led the planning and execution of the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and the military operation in Iraq two years after that. As we know, there are known knowns, there are things we know we know - we also know there are known unknowns ... Donald Rumsfeld in quotes Popular frustration over the war in Iraq has been a key factor during the current election campaign, and correspondents say Mr Rumsfeld had been looking increasingly beleaguered because of its apparent failures. Mr Bush announced that Mr Rumsfeld was standing down minutes after the news came that the Democrats had won the Senate race in Montana, one of the two remaining seats needed to wrest control of the upper chamber of Congress from the Republicans. The US president described as "thumping" the Republicans' setback in the elections, in which the Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years. The Democrats celebrated major gains in the House and Senate Mr Gates, 63, will need to be confirmed by the Senate as the new defence secretary. Mr Rumsfeld will continue in his post until then. Mr Gates served as CIA director for just over a year in the early 1990s, during the presidency of Mr Bush's father. He is a member of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which is tasked with recommending ways of tackling the problems the US faces in Iraq. Mr Gates said he believed the outcome of the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq would "shape our world for decades to come" and pledged to serve "with all my heart". 'Common ground' The BBC's John Simpson in Baghdad says there will be few tears shed by Iraqis for Mr Rumsfeld, who is identified as the architect of the brutal and dangerous conditions of daily life in the country. HAVE YOUR SAY The Republicans needed a scapegoat, so Rummy was it John Lemr Send us your comments He was subjected to unprecedented criticism following revelations of abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US troops at Abu Ghraib jail, and he twice offered to resign over the issue. Resentment has grown further against the US presence in Iraq as violence has spiralled. Despite a bitter, fiercely fought election campaign, Mr Bush said he was looking forward to working with Democrats. "If you hold grudges in this line of work, you never get anything done," he said. He said he would seek to find "common ground" with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, who is set to become the first female speaker in the lower chamber. Earlier she pledged that the Democrats would work with "civility" and "partnership, not partisanship" in their newly empowered position. \|\|\|\|\| CNN name, logo and all associated elements ® and © 2020 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All rights reserved. CNN and the CNN logo are registered marks of Cable News Network, LP LLLP, displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of NEWS18.com does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them. © Copyright Network18 Media and Investments Ltd 2020. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| SINGAPORE Oil prices slipped in early Asian trade on Monday on a strong dollar as the odds grow of a June or July rate hike, and signs that global oil supply is holding up even as unplanned outages rise to at least a five-year high. \|\|\|\|\| 1. France President Nicolas Sarkozy has been climbing a seemingly uphill battle for reelection in... 2. Guinea-Bissau A military coup in the West African nation of Guinea-Bissau earlier this month came mere... 3. Mali The inland West African nation of Mali is facing troubled political times. Only a little... 4. Mexico The war against drug cartels has defined U.S.-Mexico relations for almost a decade....	President Bush (center) announces resignation of Rumsfeld (left), to be replaced by Gates (right). The Associated Press is reporting that U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is about to resign. President George W. Bush announced that he will nominate Robert Gates, former head of the CIA, as a replacement for Rumsfeld, speaking at a White House press conference at 1 p.m. today. Rumsfeld is the second longest serving defense secretary, serving in the post from 1975 to 1977 under President Ford and under President Bush from the beginning of 2001. "It'll be a different Congress, a different environment, moving toward a presidential election, and a lot of partisanship and it struck me that this would be a good thing for everybody", Rumsfeld told Pentagon reporters. This is one week after President Bush told the American People that Rumsfeld was doing a fantastic job and that he wanted the secretary to stay in his job to the end of his presidency.
Posted Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:10:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongThe lists for leading nations in annual growth dont often include Central Asia. The slow but steady investment in private enterprise and international partnerships with aid have brought some environmental improvements and greater water security in the dry, extreme climates found in the region. Posted Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:37:01 GMT by Dave ArmstrongSolar or biofuel? Well, we know which plane will get you there quicker at the moment. Posted Mon, 29 Feb 2016 19:59:00 GMT by Paul RobinsonPlants such as Rafflesia spp. are closest to the Euphorbias, but literally stand out as amazing examples of evolution to attract insects for pollination and mammals for dispersal. We take off our hats, and place it round our noses to a plant that parasitizes and almost paralyses us, and perpetually pleases flies!!! Posted Wed, 24 Feb 2016 09:25:34 GMT by Dave ArmstrongWe have a record for being obsessed with camouflage in the sea or on land. The incredible lengths that species will go to (evolve) in order to resemble an object that is either dangerous or inedible. The name is mimicry (Batesian or otherwise) and the game here is masquerade. Posted Mon, 22 Feb 2016 11:20:00 GMT by JW DoweyWhy do we allow the rainforest to die? How can we possibly encourage the regeneration of large stretches of the habitat needed for organisms large and small? Posted Sat, 20 Feb 2016 10:50:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongAn important step for many countries now is relieving the strain on health services from the heavy but invisible pollution, not only from our cars but actually drawn into our vehicles. Posted Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:42:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongThe revealing of the oceans wealth probably postdates the almost-total human exploitation of perhaps our most valuable resource. Here is an important indication that wealth remains deep below our puny explorations. The hope must be that it can be preserved or conserved and not canned. Posted Tue, 16 Feb 2016 10:00:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongThe genome is already possibly the most useful tool in fighting disease, enabling conservation, and improving our scientific efficiency all round. Here the most ancient organisms are investigated and found absolutely amazing, if just a little small and hard-to-get! Posted Mon, 15 Feb 2016 09:20:26 GMT by Paul RobinsonIt is impossible to judge exactly how global warming will affect all of us. This includes remote populations of plants and animals, many of which could be important in predicting how climate is changing. We now know just how complex the rainfall, the temperatures, the sea ice and the desertification can become. Posted Tue, 09 Feb 2016 10:47:50 GMT by JW DoweyHow do we evaluate modern humans in their approach to high fidelity learning. We are barely adequate in evaluating teaching, so maybe it is about time we looked more closely at how children really learn. The so-called professionals, from areas that are barely concerned, have failed to agree for generations, even on defining true teaching, instruction, coaching or mentoring properly. That leaves the field wide open for novel or ingenuous suggestions about early (or even late) learning and the teaching that successfully provides it. Posted Fri, 05 Feb 2016 10:50:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongThe joy of mutualism is in forever finding new connections although in this case, we should have listened to the seers at least as long ago as 1653. Many crows and their relatives hoard food n activity known as scatter-hoarding. Even the giant of the family, the raven, has been recorded as encouraging the limited tree growth in isolated patches of almost-Arctic Shetland. No wonder the Norse regarded the species as among the gods. Posted Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:50:01 GMT by Dave ArmstrongMore important than food, if you are not starving; more important than children, if you are currently without; the sustainability of civilisation from the ancients to the International Space Station, is connected to waste and recycling, whether it is water or solid obstructions. Here is a compendium of current problems caused by yours truly in his or her own home. Posted Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:08:19 GMT by JW DoweyThe world's water problems do not simply include the Aral Sea and this Bolivian lake. Whole states and nations are suffering from droughts that go unnoticed internationally. If we can alleviate the suffering of people and renovate some of the environmental conditions, then these neglected regions could achieve some of their former glory. In this case, ancient civilisations thrived in these high, inhospitable mountains, while we fail to maintain even a potable supply of water. Posted Wed, 27 Jan 2016 21:09:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongThe distribution of animals and plants can be absolutely fascinating. While fossils may not interest everybody, the mammals that occupy our earth currently give us a wealth of information. This concerns climate and geological change, as their ancestors, and those who didnt make it, show us the details of the climate changes that concern us very deeply at this moment in time. Posted Mon, 25 Jan 2016 18:00:00 GMT by JW DoweyAs Parisand April promises yet further promises, how are the pollution and carbon footprints decreasing over some of the major players in world climate change? Posted Fri, 22 Jan 2016 12:11:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongWhether we eat vegetables or meat, tofu or McDonalds, the basis of human and animal ingestion is the producers. These are the plants that are eaten by us all, in all their incredible varieties, providing food and drink to every living thing on the planet. Wouldnt it be a good idea to safeguard all the variety for our future needs. You bet your fat bottom! Now Norway and Germany are leading the way, along with 137 other nations to conserve what we have, in case we havent much left in 2017. Posted Wed, 20 Jan 2016 01:00:00 GMT by JW DoweyMost recent among a mass of work appearing on dolphin and whale society alongside the equivalent in birds and primates, among many others, the language of sperm whales could well be translated soon as a fascinating set of clan chats. Posted Sun, 17 Jan 2016 15:57:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongWhatever you think of deadbeat species or lost causes, the kakapo certainly isnt one of them. This year may see an upturn in their fortunes finally after years of dedicated effort on New Zealands islands in the cold, unfruitful and uninspiring situations we have placed this bird in. Posted Tue, 12 Jan 2016 12:36:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongYou wouldnt want to meet up with the common puff adder. This African species is not only visually camouflaged but your dog (or even a mongoose) would find it more or lesstoo. Posted Mon, 11 Jan 2016 10:50:00 GMT by Paul RobinsonWe rarely see political releases of information about pollution in most countries. Here is Australia becoming more transparent about chemicals and in particular herbicides. Now we need such honesty from dam builders, light polluters and, of course, the major climate changers. The Earth Times site and content have been updated. We do apologise, as this may mean that the article or page you were looking for has changed. The Earth Times now focuses on producing and publishing our own unique content on environmental issues, which is written by our own team of expert authors and journalists. We now publish environmental news articles and information on various environmental problems. You can use the site search at the top of each page, otherwise there are links to some of the main site categories and green blogs we publish included on this page. Some of the environmental topics and categories that we now focus on include climate change and the effects of global warming, including their various impacts on both people and the planet as well as conservation issues and news articles relating to nature and wildlife. The site puts an emphasis on sustainability issues, including the use and technological progress made with various types of alternative or renewable energy. Earth Times runs several eco friendly blogs (environmentally friendly) on various topics such as ecotourism (sustainable travel and tourism), eco fashion, green living, green gadgets and clean technology, plus various other environment based news categories including pollution and science news. If you have any questions or queries please contact us. \|\|\|\|\| The ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) closed its 25th congress Sunday evening after electing a new central committee. At the congress, Sanj Bayar, the MPRP's former secretary general, was elected as the party's chairman after defeating the only other candidate M. Enkhbold, the former chairman of the party and Mongolia's prime minister. The congress passed Bayar's proposal that the posts of chairman and prime minister be held by the same person. The congress opened Monday morning, with amendment of the party constitution and party reform high on the agenda. Source: Xinhua \|\|\|\|\| BEIJING, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Mongolia's prime minister has lost his position as head of the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party to the party's secretary general in an election, local media said on Saturday. Sanj Bayar was elected new MPRP chairman on Friday at the 25th party congress, defeating Prime Minister Miyeegombiin Enkhbold in a close vote. The congress opened on Monday to choose new leaders ahead of parliamentary elections next spring. Mongolia's parliament, the Great Hural, is due to consider investment agreements reached between the government and Ivanhoe Mines , which plans to develop the giant Oyu Tolgoi copper project with its partner, Rio Tinto . Mongolian President Nambariin Enkhbayar is visiting the United States, where he received $285 million in aid through the Millenium Challenge program. Mongolia is one of the few nations to send troops to support the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. The MPRP, established in 1921, is Mongolia's largest party with more than 160,000 members and ruled while the landlocked country was a satellite of the Soviet Union. It holds 39 seats in the 76-seat parliament and formed a coalition government after Enkhbold was elected prime minister in January 2006. \|\|\|\|\| The ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party elected Friday evening Sanj Bayar as its new chairman at its 25th party congress. Sanj Bayar, the party's former secretary general, won the election by defeating the only other candidate M. Enkhbold, the former chairman of the party and Mongolia's prime minister. Bayar said after his victory that he would keep solidarity and boost democracy in the party. The party's congress opened Monday morning, with party constitution amendment and party reform high on the agenda. The congress will elect a new central committee Saturday. The party, established in 1921, has more than 160,000 members throughout the country. As the country's largest party, it holds 39 seats in the 76-seat Mongolian parliament and formed a coalition government after Enkhbold was elected prime minister in January 2006. Source: Xinhua	The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party has elected a new party leader during its 25th Congress over the weekend. Current leader, Prime Minister Miyeegombiin Enkhbold, was defeated by Sanj Bayar in a 377-289 vote. Bayar, the former secretary general of the MPRP, is expected to succeed Enkhbold as Prime Minister following a decision to unify the positions of the party chair and Prime Minister.
Senate passes genetic discrimination bill WASHINGTON (AP) — People learning through genetic testing that they might be susceptible to devastating diseases wouldn't also have to worry about losing their jobs or their health insurance under anti-discrimination legislation the Senate passed Thursday. The 95-0 Senate vote sends the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act back to the House, which could approve it early next week. President Bush supports the legislation. The bill, described by Sen. Edward Kennedy as "the first major new civil rights bill of the new century," would bar health insurance companies from using genetic information to set premiums or determine enrollment eligibility. Similarly, employers could not use genetic information in hiring, firing or promotion decisions. "For the first time we act to prevent discrimination before it has taken firm hold and that's why this legislation is unique and groundbreaking," said Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, who sponsored the Senate bill with Sens. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Mike Enzi, R-Wyo. There are more than 1,100 genetic tests available today, she said, but these are "absolutely useless" if fear of discrimination discourages people from taking tests or participating in clinical trials. Genetic testing could lead to early, lifesaving therapy for a wide range of diseases with hereditary links such as breast and prostate cancer, diabetes, heart disease and Parkinson's disease. "But right now the ability to realize those goals is somewhat limited" because of patients' fears that the information will be used against them, said Dr. David Herrington, a professor of cardiology at Wake Forest University and spokesman on genetic issues for the American Heart Association. The legislation "will help them both be more willing to participate in research and avail themselves of the benefits of genetic testing." Congressional efforts to set federal standards to protect people from genetic discrimination go back more than a decade, to a time when there were only a small number of genetic tests. But now, with the mapping of the human genome in 2003, people have access to far more information about their hereditary disposition to such crippling afflictions as cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease or Lou Gehrig's disease. Bill sponsors said that has increased the likelihood that a prospective health insurance company or employer will reject a person because of concerns that person will suffer a costly disease in the future. The Senate passed genetic nondiscrimination bills on unanimous votes in 2003 and 2005 but couldn't get the House to act. A year ago the House approved a White House-backed bill on a 420-3 vote. Senate action on that legislation has been slowed by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who joined some business groups in warning that the bill could encourage a flood of lawsuits. A compromise worked out earlier this week tightens language to ensure there is a "firewall" between the part dealing with health plans and the section regarding employment, so as to discourage inappropriate claims. It also makes clear that, while individuals are protected from discrimination based on genetic predisposition, insurance companies still have the right to base coverage and pricing on the actual presence of a disease. "We certainly improved the bill from a liability standpoint," said Coburn, an obstetrician. He said he was an adamant supporter of the legislation "if it is not designed to feed the trial lawyers." Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., chief House sponsor of the bill with Rep. Judy Biggert, R-Ill., said the House would "get it out to the White House as quickly as we can." Slaughter, who first introduced a genetic discrimination bill 13 years ago, said personalized medicine advanced by genetic research has "the potential to save billions of dollars in health care costs." Dr. Francis Collins, genetics chief at the National Institutes of Health, said it's difficult to know how often genetic discrimination has occurred because victims are reluctant to come forward. He cited one example of a Texas-based railroad that once conducted genetic tests on workers complaining of carpal tunnel syndrome in an effort to argue the injuries weren't job related if patients had a genetic predisposition. "All of us carry glitches in our DNA and we're learning more and more about those every day," he said. "A system that allows that information to be used to deny people health care or a job is a system that has lost its way. This is a civil rights issue and it's high time we took care of it." The bill is H.R. 493 \|\|\|\|\| April 24 (Bloomberg) -- Companies and health insurers would be forbidden to use the results of genetic tests to deny people jobs or medical coverage under legislation approved 95-0 today by the U.S. Senate. The measure, an amended version of one the House passed a year ago, is intended to protect people from discrimination based on DNA tests showing a genetic predisposition to disease. The House is expected to accept the Senate changes, and President George W. Bush is expected to sign the legislation. Genetic tests can help predict a person's likelihood of getting cancers and other diseases and are used by researchers seeking new treatments. The legislation would bar insurers from using test results to deny coverage or raise premiums. Employers would be blocked from collecting genetic information on workers and using results in hiring or firing. This will enable people to get tested without fear of repercussion, supporters said. ``Up until now, our laws have not kept pace with emerging technology,'' Senator Olympia Snowe, a Maine Republican, said in an e-mailed statement after the vote. ``What good are genetic breakthroughs if their benefits are not realized by those they would benefit?'' Health plans and insurers also would be barred from requiring that patients take particular gene tests. ``This bill recognizes that discrimination based on a person's genetic identity is just as unacceptable as discrimination based on a person's race or religion,'' Senator Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, said. ``The administration cooperated and we are grateful for its support.'' Administration Support Michael Leavitt, secretary of the Health and Human Services Department, said he hoped the House would move quickly to pass the measure. ``No American should have to worry that their genetic information will affect their ability to get health insurance or a job,'' Leavitt said in an e-mailed statement. ``New advances in medical research have been accompanied by an uneasiness about how this information will be used -- and that is a barrier we must remove.'' The legislation would make it easier for scientists working to uncover links between genetics and common diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, Kathy Hudson, director of the Washington-based Genetics and Public Policy Center at Johns Hopkins University, said in a telephone interview. Reprisals Feared More than 90 percent of people in the U.S. surveyed by the center say one of their biggest concerns about taking part in such medical research is the possibility that their genetic information will be used against them, Hudson said. ``Now, researchers will be able to say no, it won't happen,'' Hudson said. The legislation also removes an obstacle that keeps some people from getting tested to find out whether they have a high risk of developing diseases such as breast or colon cancer, said Gregory Critchfield, president of Myriad Genetics Laboratories, a unit of Salt Lake City-based Myriad Genetics Inc. ``If we talk to patients who have decided not to be tested, the No. 1 reason given by those individuals for not being tested is the fear that they might possibly be discriminated against,'' Critchfield said in a telephone interview yesterday. The issue became personal for David Resnick, a Boston attorney who works with local hospitals and researchers. His mother died 10 years ago of ovarian cancer and he wondered whether he might be a carrier of genes that may boost the chances of a man developing prostate cancer. The genes increase a woman's risk of breast cancer. No Guarantee He spoke with genetics counselors at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston about whether to get tested and agonized over what they told him. ``They explained to me that there is no guarantee that there wouldn't be genetic discrimination,'' he said in a telephone interview today. ``I didn't get the test done.'' The legislation should help assure patients that their genetic information can't be ``misused,'' Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans, the Washington trade association, said in an e-mailed statement. Lawmakers will follow the measure's implementation to ensure that people's privacy is respected, Senator Chris Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, said. ``We will not hesitate to revisit the bill,'' he said on the Senate floor. More than a dozen companies sell genetic tests, including Servx, DNA Direct, Roche Holding AG, Genelex and Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings. Years of Effort The bill was first introduced in the House 13 years ago by Representative Louise Slaughter, a Democrat from Rochester, New York. After its passage last year by the House, Senate action was blocked by Senator Tom Coburn, a doctor and Republican from Oklahoma. Coburn was concerned the bill would be a ``trial lawyer boon'' that would encourage lawsuits against employers and insurers, Coburn spokesman Don Tatro said in an e-mail. Coburn allowed a vote after changes were made easing his concerns, Tatro said. To contact the reporters on this story: Rob Waters in San Francisco at rwaters5@bloomberg.net; Aliza Marcus in Washington at amarcus8@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Reg Gale at rgale5@bloomberg.net. \|\|\|\|\| The U.S. Senate has passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), approving by unanimous consent an amended version of H.R. 493, which passed the House April 25, 2007 by a vote of 420-3. The House is expected to take up the measure again quickly before sending it to President Bush to sign the measure into law. "After a very long wait, Americans can now be confident that their genetic information cannot be used by health insurers or employers in harmful or hurtful ways," says Kathy Hudson, director of the Genetics and Public Policy Center, established at Johns Hopkins University by The Pew Charitable Trusts. "Our challenge now is to make sure that doctors and patients are aware of these new protections so that fear of discrimination never again stands in the way of a decision to take a genetic test that could save a life." The legislation, when signed, will fulfill the longstanding agreement among American citizens and politicians that protection from genetic discrimination should be clear and consistent, Hudson explains. Until now, individuals' genetic information has been protected only by a largely untested patchwork of state and federal regulations. Ninety-two percent of Americans are concerned that results of a genetic test could be used in ways that are harmful to the person. Moreover, scientists can now in good conscience tell patients and research participants that their genetic information is protected against misuse by health insurers and employers. Linking gene variants to health outcomes often requires studies involving large numbers of people, but scientists report that potential subjects are deterred by the fear that their information could be used against them by employers or insurers. In a survey of more than 4000 people conducted earlier this year, for example, the Center found that when considering whether or not to participate in genetics research, 93 percent of respondents said it was important that it be “illegal for insurers or employers to get my information.” In addition to impeding research that would help to bring about the much-heralded era of personalized medicine, the threat of discrimination affects individual patients who could benefit from genetic testing have sometimes foregone it out of concern over possible repercussions. When people opt not to be tested, they lose the opportunity to seek monitoring and preventive care to avoid conditions for which they are at higher risk. Passage of GINA means that Americans will no longer have to make the trade-off between genetic privacy and appropriate health care. The Senate unanimously passed versions of GINA in 2003 and 2005, but in both years the bill stalled in committee in the House. Last year, however, the House passed the measure quickly and today, the Senate for a third time expressed its commitment to nondiscrimination. Adapted from materials provided by Genetics and Public Policy Center. \|\|\|\|\| Senate Committee Any Committee Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (70th-116th) Armed Services (79th-116th) Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (70th-116th) Budget (93rd-116th) Commerce, Science, and Transportation (79th-116th) Energy and Natural Resources (70th-116th) Environment and Public Works (79th-116th) Finance (70th-116th) Foreign Relations (70th-116th) Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (70th-116th) Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (70th-116th) Indian Affairs (95th-116th) Intelligence (Select) (94th-116th) Judiciary (70th-116th) Rules and Administration (79th-116th) Small Business and Entrepreneurship (81st-116th) Veterans' Affairs (91st-116th) State or Territory Indicated Any State or Territory Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Panama Canal Zone Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Nomination Actions Any Nomination Action Placed on calendar as privileged nomination Committee requested information was received Referred to committee Hearings held Ordered reported Reported to Senate Committee discharged Placed on calendar Placed on calendar with footnote Considered by Senate Unanimous consent agreement Cloture motion Cloture invoked/not invoked Rereferred to committee Received message of withdrawal Returned to president Confirmed by Senate	Human chromosomes, which contain a person's genes. In a unanimous 95-0 vote Thursday, the United States Senate passed a bill that would forbid employers and health insurance companies from discriminating against someone based on information learned through genetic testing. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, described by Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy as "the first major new civil rights bill of the new century," will now be sent back to the House of Representatives, where it could be approved as early as next week. President George W. Bush, who would have to sign the bill for it to become law, has voiced his support for the legislation. The bill forbids employers from firing, refusing to hire, or otherwise discriminating against employees based on genetic information, such as a family history of a hereditary disease. It also makes it illegal for employers to request genetic information of an employee or the employee's family. Health insurance companies are also addressed in the bill, which forbids them from requesting genetic information or using such information to set premium rates or determine enrollment eligibility. However, insurance companies would still have the right to base one's health coverage on the actual presence of a genetic disease. "For the first time we act to prevent discrimination before it has taken firm hold and that's why this legislation is unique and groundbreaking," said Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, who sponsored the bill along with Sen. Kennedy and Sen. Mike Enzi. Snowe fears the threat of discrimination may discourage people from undergoing genetic testing, which can help to diagnose a wide range of diseases and lead to lifesaving therapy. Kathy Hudson, director of the Genetics and Public Policy Center, reports that 92 percent are worried that information gained in genetic testing may be used against them. "After a very long wait," she says, "Americans can now be confident that their genetic information cannot be used by health insurers or employers in harmful or hurtful ways." One part of the bill addresses this concern. "Federal legislation establishing a national and uniform basic standard is necessary to fully protect the public from discrimination and allay their concerns about the potential for discrimination," the bill reads, "thereby allowing individuals to take advantage of genetic testing, technologies, research, and new therapies." Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn initially blocked Senate action on the bill, warning that it could potentially lead to excessive lawsuits against employers and insurers. But after changes were made to the bill to ease his concerns earlier this week, he supported the legislation and allowed the Senate to vote on it. "We certainly improved the bill from a liability standpoint," said Coburn, an obstetrician. Similar bills were unanimously passed by the Senate in 2003 and 2005, but in both years the bill stalled in the House. The current bill was passed in the House of Representatives a year ago by a 420-3 vote. A genetic nondiscrimination bill was first introduced 13 years ago by New York Representatives Louise Slaughter, who says the House will "get it out to the White House as quickly as we can."
The campaign has emphasized its more than 550,000 donors and note that Obama does not take money from political action committees or Washington lobbyists. But the list underscores the role of high-dollar bundlers who helped Obama raise a combined $86 million through the campaign and the Democratic National Committee from April through June. Obama’s top fundraisers include leading lawyers, business executives and film industry leaders, including former New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour and Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg. The three have already raised at least $500,000 apiece for the campaign. About two dozen others have each raised that much. During the 2008 campaign, 560 bundlers raised at least $76.5 million for Obama, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics, meaning Obama’s team is nearly halfway to that amount in only three months. The wealthy fundraisers have helped organize high-dollar events for Obama in fundraising meccas like New York, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley and South Florida. The fundraisers have staked Obama, who does not face a primary opponent, to a large money advantage over the Republican field. The top GOP fundraiser, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, collected more than $18 million. Obama campaign aides have told donors privately that they hope to meet or go beyond the $750 million the campaign raised in 2008. The Obama campaign has reached out to the Wall Street community even after many executives opposed financial regulatory reform and chafed at Obama calling them “fat cats” whose misdeeds led to the 2008 financial meltdown. Obama’s top Wall Street bundlers include Orin Kramer of Boston Provident, Mark Gallogly of Centerbridge Partners and Charles Myers of Evercore Partners. But absent from the list are top Wall Street executives like Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO Lloyd Blankfein, JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Citigroup Chairman Richard Parsons. While none of the executives were bundlers in 2008, employees at the three firms were among Obama’s most generous supporters during his first campaign. Obama picked up help from some prominent fundraisers for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign, including Corzine, a former top executive with Goldman Sachs, Marc Lasry of New York hedge fund Avenue Capital and Miami lawyer Chris Korge. Presidential campaigns are not required to disclose the donors but Obama’s campaign released its list of bundlers who raised $50,000 or more — as it did in 2007-2008 — to provide more transparency about campaign finance. ___ Ken Thomas can be reached at http://twitter.com/AP_Ken_Thomas Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| « Previous \| Main \| Next » Obama Bundlers Raise Big Cash for 2012 Campaign ABC News' Devin Dwyer (@devindwyer) reports: President Obama’s impressive $87 million haul with the Democratic National Committee, in the first major fundraising period of the 2012 campaign, showed he hasn’t lost his touch with small-dollar donors. But it was 244 bundlers – his most wealthy and well-connected fundraisers, such as Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour and DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg – who really brought home the bacon. Obama’s top-dollar donors gathered at least $35 million for the Obama Victory Fund in the second quarter, personally maxing out on their contributions and convincing others to follow suit. The figures were voluntarily released today by the Obama campaign; no GOP candidate had publicly committed to doing the same. The list of donors, which is dominated by lawyers, financiers, business owners and Hollywood elites, is a mix of new and familiar faces, including former New Jersey Gov. and Goldman Sachs CEO Jon Corzine and Comcast executive David L. Cohen, both who are reported to have raised more than $500,000 each. “They’re the rainmakers,” said Dave Levinthal of the Center for Responsive Politics. “Bundlers are the biggest players supporting a campaign, well beyond just the folks who are maxing out their individual donations,” he said. “They serve as aggregators of cash, a critical function to a successful fundraising operation.” The Obama campaign set a fundraising goal of $350,000 per bundler this year – a target many on the list showed no difficulty reaching. Twenty-seven Obama bundlers collected more than $500,000 each. Forty-one collected between $200,000 and $500,000, while 89 gathered between $100,000 and $200,000. Eighty-seven bundlers netted between $50,000 and $100,000. The campaign did not provide exact amounts. Officials said the funds gathered by bundlers were split between the Obama campaign and the DNC. Under limits set by federal law, individuals are each allowed to give up to $5,000 to Obama for the primary and general elections, and $30,800 to the DNC for the calendar year. “We’ve found that the numbers just keep going up,” Levinthal said of donations gathered by bundlers this year despite the recession. “Even if the economy is bad, people who are rich are still rich, and are able to participate in politics at the high level that they’re participating at.” During the 2007-2008 campaign, 560 bundlers helped to raise more than $76 million for Obama’s campaign coffers, 10 percent of his historic total for the cycle. The list of donors released today is also notable for who’s not there. Many of Obama’s biggest donors from 2008, more than 80 percent of whom received positions inside the administration, according to a recent report, are now limited in how they can participate in the campaign. Other veteran bundlers from the last cycle have yet to commit to fundraising again, suggesting the enthusiasm for Obama that propelled their leadership in 2008 has waned ahead of 2012. “I have made it clear I don’t want to get involved,” said Jon Merksamer, 58, a California small business owner who helped raise close to $500,000 for Obama in 2008. “I don’t think he’s been too liberal, or too conservative. I think he’s been too gutless,” he said. "It is a common reaction to become even angrier with people who you’d had hope for that turned out to be such a major disappointment.” That sense of disappointment will keep him out of the fundraising game for either party this cycle, Merksamer said, but it won’t sideline his vote. “I would have no problem supporting Romney, Pawlenty, Huntsman or any one of the more traditional Republican candidates,” he said.Other former bundlers who’ve expressed disillusionment with Obama aren’t willing to go that far. A 61 year-old physician, who requested anonymity, said the president’s compromises on the Bush tax cuts, a single-payer health care reform, and surge of troops in Afghanistan rankled him, but said, “I’m going to vote for him, but I’m just not going to work for him.” Other former bundlers made clear that while they haven’t yet taken a fundraising leadership role, they’ll be active supporters in other ways. Jennie and Allan Berliant of Cincinnati, members of Obama’s National Finance Committee in 2008 who bundled hundreds of thousands of dollars for the ‘08 race, were among Obama’s biggest financial backers in Cincinnati but haven’t yet “talked specifically” about how they’ll get involved for 2012. “We are grassroots organizers as well as grassroots fundraisers,” Jennie Berliant said. “We will do what we feel we need to do to see that Obama and Sen. Sherrod Brown [of Ohio] are re-elected,” she said. Raye Johnson of Bryn Mawr, Pa., who bundled for Obama in 2008, hasn’t joined the fundraising game for 2012 but said don’t count her out. “We are probably on board. We are on board,” she said of her and her husband, who’s a Philadelphia financial executive. “I’m just a more avid, passionate, outgoing person.” Johnson said she will do whatever she can to get Obama re-elected because “the dreams he has are the dreams we share.” “Right now I’m getting ready to do the physical part of it,” she said, stopping short of committing to help collect the tens of thousands of dollars the couple brought in during 2008. “I not only help financially, but also out in the streets canvassing and registering volunteers.” UPDATE: The Obama campaign notes that while 244 bundlers have played a significant role in the early fundraising effort, more than 552,000 people contributed 680,000 donations during the second quarter. Ninety-eight percent of those donations were $250 or less, according to the campaign. User Comments Posted by: Lydia \| Jul 16, 2011 4:56:11 PM Posted by: GREG \| Jul 16, 2011 3:50:48 PM Posted by: Bill \| Jul 16, 2011 3:08:03 PM Posted by: bert \| Jul 16, 2011 3:03:59 PM Posted by: Freedom \| Jul 16, 2011 9:52:46 AM Posted by: david \| Jul 16, 2011 9:47:45 AM Posted by: andy \| Jul 16, 2011 7:45:36 AM Posted by: succab \| Jul 16, 2011 7:06:38 AM Posted by: LongT \| Jul 16, 2011 7:04:10 AM Posted by: LongT \| Jul 16, 2011 7:02:01 AM Posted by: Proud Native American and Angry Independent Voter \| Jul 16, 2011 6:27:14 AM Posted by: zhangqiang \| Jul 16, 2011 4:24:06 AM Posted by: Wanda \| Jul 16, 2011 4:20:03 AM Posted by: Ben Emos \| Jul 16, 2011 4:14:19 AM Posted by: panola \| Jul 16, 2011 3:59:44 AM Posted by: Paula Higgins \| Jul 16, 2011 3:44:02 AM Posted by: martina \| Jul 16, 2011 3:17:01 AM Posted by: Eddie \| Jul 16, 2011 2:39:56 AM Posted by: Amanda Donos \| Jul 16, 2011 2:11:48 AM Posted by: prm \| Jul 16, 2011 2:07:31 AM Posted by: prm \| Jul 16, 2011 2:06:49 AM Posted by: Hosfac \| Jul 16, 2011 1:57:40 AM Posted by: Jim \| Jul 16, 2011 1:31:12 AM Posted by: Scott \| Jul 16, 2011 1:20:34 AM Posted by: prm \| Jul 16, 2011 1:15:09 AM Posted by: what667 \| Jul 16, 2011 12:54:14 AM Posted by: Hardtalk \| Jul 16, 2011 12:48:33 AM Posted by: what667 \| Jul 16, 2011 12:48:28 AM Posted by: Hardtalk \| Jul 16, 2011 12:46:32 AM Posted by: hereticzero \| Jul 16, 2011 12:45:59 AM Posted by: prm \| Jul 16, 2011 12:44:30 AM Posted by: dave \| Jul 16, 2011 12:41:26 AM Posted by: what667 \| Jul 16, 2011 12:34:45 AM Posted by: prm \| Jul 16, 2011 12:32:18 AM Posted by: TV \| Jul 16, 2011 12:31:36 AM Posted by: US ARMY \| Jul 16, 2011 12:30:45 AM Posted by: TV \| Jul 16, 2011 12:30:27 AM Posted by: prm \| Jul 16, 2011 12:23:12 AM Posted by: Pookie \| Jul 16, 2011 12:21:31 AM Posted by: Atheist 1 \| Jul 15, 2011 11:47:27 PM Posted by: Dan \| Jul 15, 2011 5:23:05 PM Posted by: BCT \| Jul 15, 2011 5:00:51 PM Posted by: Dennis \| Jul 15, 2011 4:56:05 PM Posted by: BCT \| Jul 15, 2011 4:49:54 PM Posted by: Alf \| Jul 15, 2011 4:38:19 PM Posted by: Warrez \| Jul 15, 2011 4:29:06 PM Posted by: catman \| Jul 15, 2011 4:19:48 PM Posted by: deadwrestler \| Jul 15, 2011 4:12:41 PM Posted by: firedup49 \| Jul 15, 2011 3:53:20 PM Posted by: HGT \| Jul 15, 2011 3:47:53 PM Post a comment \|\|\|\|\| « Previous \| Main \| Next » Report: Nearly 80% of Obama’s Top Bundlers Given “Key Administration Posts” President Obama launched his campaign in 2007 promising a change in the way business is done in Washington, DC, but today a report from the Center for Public Integrity says that when it comes to major campaign donors scoring plum administration positions, it’s business as usual. The report says that 184 out of 556, or about one third of 2008 Obama campaign “bundlers” -- donors who agree to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for a campaign – “or their spouses joined the administration in some role. But the percentages are much higher for the big-dollar bundlers. Nearly 80 percent of those who collected more than $500,000 for Obama took ‘key administration posts,’ as defined by the White House. The Center points out that candidate Obama suggested that big moneyed interests would not have as prominent a role in DC during his administration. "The cynics, the lobbyists, the special interests who've turned our government into a game only they can afford to play,” said then-Sen Obama in his February 2007 announcement speech. “They get the access while you get to write a letter…The time for that kind of politics is over." The White House today pushed back on the Center report, saying it’s “hardly a story” and insisting that donations play no role in these plum jobs. "The people who got those positions got them because of their credentials," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. "They also happen to be donors in some cases. ... Being a supporter does not qualify you for a job or guarantee you a job, but it does not disqualify you." It's essentially the same explanation the Bush administration gave. "We make no distinctions about people on the basis of whether they've given or not," said White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer in January 2001. Tom Perrelli raised $500,000 for Obama in 2008 and is now associate attorney general. Charles Rivkin did the same and is now ambassador to France, so did Donald H. Gips, ambassador to South Africa, and John Roos, ambassador to Japan. Carney insisted that all bundlers given these positions were qualified, but earlier this year, the Ambassador to Luxembourg, Cynthia Stroum -- who also was a half-million dollar Obama bundler -- resigned right before a State Department Inspector General report was issued calling her "aggressive, bullying, hostile and intimidating." Schulte, Senior Reporter with the Center, says that there is a difference between the Bush administration and the Obama administration. “We did look at the administration of George Bush which was widely criticized for appointing donors to these kinds of posts, and they had about the same number in four years that the Obama administration has had in two years,” Schulte said. And according to the American Foreign Service Association, President Obama has nominated more “political” appointees for ambassadorships versus foreign service candidates than any president in at least the past 20 years. A full 36.2% of Obama’s ambassadors are political, while just over 30% of Bush’s were political. Former President Clinton, 27.82% were political, for President George H.W. Bush, 30.3% were political. -Jake Tapper and Kirit Radia User Comments Posted by: vod-k-nockers \| Jun 16, 2011 3:52:02 PM Posted by: kate \| Jun 16, 2011 3:17:37 PM Posted by: Freedom \| Jun 16, 2011 2:13:11 PM Posted by: MikeMo1947 \| Jun 16, 2011 12:54:57 PM Posted by: juice \| Jun 16, 2011 12:52:26 PM Posted by: Jim Rod \| Jun 16, 2011 10:25:09 AM Posted by: Chuck \| Jun 16, 2011 10:16:14 AM Posted by: Register \| Jun 16, 2011 10:01:47 AM Posted by: Lydia \| Jun 16, 2011 9:38:44 AM Posted by: DavidFromTexas \| Jun 16, 2011 8:06:57 AM Posted by: Voice_Reason \| Jun 16, 2011 7:03:07 AM Posted by: david \| Jun 16, 2011 7:00:50 AM Posted by: deadwrestler \| Jun 16, 2011 4:48:22 AM Posted by: Dianne93101 \| Jun 16, 2011 1:36:43 AM Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn \| Jun 16, 2011 12:06:20 AM Posted by: EPU \| Jun 15, 2011 11:58:01 PM Posted by: EPU \| Jun 15, 2011 11:21:41 PM Posted by: Fascist Hyena \| Jun 15, 2011 11:10:40 PM Posted by: EPU \| Jun 15, 2011 11:09:42 PM Posted by: Faurtz11 \| Jun 15, 2011 9:12:51 PM Posted by: dave \| Jun 15, 2011 9:10:57 PM Posted by: Judy \| Jun 15, 2011 9:08:12 PM Posted by: Faurtz11 \| Jun 15, 2011 8:59:10 PM Posted by: Chuck \| Jun 15, 2011 8:46:56 PM Posted by: Jen \| Jun 15, 2011 8:12:28 PM Posted by: jock59801 \| Jun 15, 2011 7:55:35 PM Posted by: Football \| Jun 15, 2011 7:41:55 PM Posted by: Rafe \| Jun 15, 2011 7:24:12 PM Posted by: wheresmymoney \| Jun 15, 2011 6:55:29 PM Posted by: HRPufnstuf \| Jun 15, 2011 6:53:13 PM Posted by: Chuck \| Jun 15, 2011 6:27:52 PM Post a comment \|\|\|\|\| Obama’s official campaign raised $46.3 million and spent $11 million from April to June of this year, according to new documents filed with the Federal Election Commission. That left it with a whopping $37 million in the bank, including money left over from the first quarter. Obama also brought in $39.3 million in a joint fundraising effort with the Democratic National Committee, the filings show. The numbers put Obama far ahead of his GOP rivals, who are led by Mitt Romney with nearly $18.4 million raised. The former Massachusetts governor also reported $12 million of cash on hand at the end of June. The rest of the field lags well behind, and some, including former House speaker Newt Gingrich, are already in the red. Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty spent $2 million in the quarter, leaving him only $1.4 million in primary cash to battle Romney and other contenders in the weeks ahead. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), on the other hand, has $3.6 million in the bank only weeks after declaring her candidacy. For Obama, the sheer number of bundlers — and the volume of donations they represent — signals another potential juggernaut like 2008, when he shattered all records by raising $745 million. During his first campaign, he had 47 bundlers who raised $500,000 or more — a total he is already more than halfway to matching. Obama’s biggest bundlers include longtime supporters such as Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, former New Jersey governor and senator Jon Corzine, and fashion editor Anna Wintour. But there are new names on the campaign’s bundlers list as well, such as Marc Benioff, a tech CEO who runs salesforce.com. Several of the key bundlers, including Benioff, held events at their homes in which Obama came. These events usually gave donors special access to Obama, including the chance to ask the president direct questions in a closed-door atmosphere. Hollywood super-agent Ari Emanuel, the brother of former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, helped raise between $50,000 and $100,000. Romney did not release a full list of bundlers, but his campaign was required to disclose bundling by six registered lobbyists, totaling $517,000 in contributions. The lobbyists included Patrick Durkin of Barclays, who raised $168,000, and Wayne Berman, with Ogilvy Government Relations, who raised $102,000. The lobbyist bundler requirement was put in place by an ethics law sponsored by then-senator Obama, who has not accepted contributions from registered lobbyists or corporate PACs in his presidential bids. The Obama campaign attacked the GOP field on Friday for declining to identify their top fundraisers. \|\|\|\|\| Telecom executive Donald H. Gips raised a big bundle of cash to help finance his friend Barack Obama’s run for the presidency. Gips, a vice president of Colorado-based Level 3 Communications LLC, delivered more than $500,000 in contributions for the Obama war chest, while two fellow senior company executives collected at least $150,000 more. After the election, Gips was put in charge of hiring in the Obama White House, helping to place loyalists and fundraisers in many key positions. Then in mid-2009, the new president named him ambassador to South Africa. Level 3 Communications, in which Gips retained stock, meanwhile received millions of dollars of government stimulus contracts for broadband projects in six states—though Gips said he was "completely unaware" of the stimulus money. More than two years after President Obama took office vowing to banish “special interests” from his administration, nearly 200 of his biggest donors have landed plum government jobs and advisory posts, won federal contracts worth millions of dollars for their business interests or attended numerous elite White House meetings and social events, an investigation by iWatch News has found. These “bundlers” raised at least $50,000 and sometimes more than $500,000 in campaign donations for Obama’s campaign. Many of those in the “Class of 2008” are now being asked to bundle contributions for Obama’s re-election, an effort that could cost $1 billion. As a candidate, Obama spoke passionately about diminishing the clout of moneyed interests and making the White House more accessible to everyday Americans. In kicking off his presidential run on Feb. 10, 2007, he blasted “the cynics, the lobbyists, the special interests,” who he said had “turned our government into a game only they can afford to play.” “They write the checks and you get stuck with the bill, they get the access while you get to write a letter, they think they own this government, but we’re here today to take it back,” he said. But just like other presidential aspirants, Obama relied heavily on mega-donors to propel his campaign across the finish line and many fundraisers have shared in the spoils of victory. Some took jobs in pivotal federal agencies such as the Department of Justice, Department of Energy and the Federal Communications Commission, while others have served on influential advisory commissions and boards that meet periodically to help formulate policy. Two dozen have been appointed ambassadors to foreign countries. The White House said its appointees were highly qualified. “In filling these posts, the administration looks for the most qualified candidates who represent Americans from all walks of life,” White House spokesman Eric Schultz said. “Being a donor does not get you a job in this administration, nor does it preclude you from getting one.” The iWatch News investigation found: • Overall, 184 of 556, or about one-third, of Obama bundlers or their spouses joined the administration in some role. But the percentages are much higher for the big-dollar bundlers. Nearly 80 percent of those who collected more than $500,000 for Obama took “key administration posts,” as defined by the White House. More than half the ambassador nominees who were bundlers raised more than half a million. • The big bundlers had broad access to the White House for meetings with top administration officials and glitzy social events. In all, campaign bundlers and their family members account for more than 3,000 White House meetings and visits. Half of them raised $200,000 or more. • Some Obama bundlers have ties to companies that stand to gain financially from the president’s policy agenda, particularly in clean energy and telecommunications, and some already have done so. Level 3 Communications, for instance, snared $13.8 million in stimulus money. At least 18 other bundlers have ties to businesses poised to profit from government spending to promote clean energy, telecommunications and other key administration priorities. Some bundlers trade on their campaign largesse for Obama to further career aspirations or business plans. Others, already successful, simply enjoy the exclusive stature bestowed by ties to the White House. Lena L. Kennedy, for instance, papers her Southern California consulting website with photographs of herself with Obama. She put out a press release announcing a June 13 fundraiser featuring Michelle Obama in Los Angeles; ticket prices ran from $1,000 to $10,000, the latter “allowing a photo opportunity and private time with the First Lady.” She declined to comment for this article. “Some people just crave attention and some people just like getting the notoriety or attention of being a big player,” said Thomas M. McInerney , a San Francisco lawyer who bundled at least $100,000 for Obama. He said he didn’t ask for or get anything in return, though he knew others who did. “There was so much money this time, and there were so many people involved in raising the money, the number of people looking for something was exponentially more.” Rewarding the donors While the Obama administration tightened restrictions on hiring lobbyists, the deference it has shown major donors contradicts its claims to have changed business as usual in Washington, critics said. Others said Obama strains credulity in claiming to bring reform to Washington while carrying on the patronage practices of past administrations. They added that many big donors aren’t shy about asking for specific favors, which gives candidates of both parties little choice but to keep patronage alive. “Any president who says he’s going to change this is either hopelessly naïve or polishing the reality to promise something other than can be delivered,” said Paul Light , a New York University professor and expert on presidential transitions. “At best it’s naïve and a little bit of a shell game.” Many of the Obama bundlers said they did not seek or expect anything for themselves. “I just want to see somebody do a good job,” said Stewart Bainum, a Chevy Chase, Md., hotel chain CEO who with his wife, Sandy, raised $500,000 for Obama in 2008. He is listed in White House logs as a guest at a St. Patrick’s Day	Official portrait of Barack Obama According to figures voluntarily released Friday by the Barack Obama for the 2012 US presidency, Obama's top donors raised at least $35 million since April of this year by giving the maximum for individuals and compiling contributions from associates. This quarter, Obama raised a total of $86 million jointly with the . He received $20 million from about 600 people who gave the maximum annual individual contribution of $35,800, of which $5,000 goes directly to the campaign. The campaign released the names of the top 244 contributors called "bundlers", typically rich donors who give liberally and gather cash from friends and business contacts. The list of donors included two dozen, including chief editor , CEO , executive , and former CEO , who each raised at least $500,000. Although the campaign points out it has more than 550,000 donors, the list shows the hefty role played by these bundlers in Obama's fundraising. The campaign emphasizes that Obama refuses to accept money from s or s in Washington. According to the , Obama raised $76.5 million from 560 bundlers for his 2008 presidential run. "Bundlers are the biggest players supporting a campaign, well beyond just the folks who are maxing out their individual donations," said Dave Levinthal from the Center. "They serve as aggregators of cash, a critical function to a successful fundraising operation." About 80 percent of Obama's biggest donors from , those that raised $500,000 or more, were appointed to what the White House calls "key administration posts," according to a report released Friday by . In that campaign, Obama had 47 bundlers who raised at least $500,000. He is already half way to reaching this number with the two dozen contributing from April through June, according to ''''. The denied that donations had anything to do with these appointments. According to , "The people who got those positions got them because of their credentials. They also happen to be donors in some cases. ... Being a supporter does not qualify you for a job or guarantee you a job, but it does not disqualify you."
We've noticed you're adblocking. We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. Thank you for your support. \|\|\|\|\| A renewed attempt by the Countryside Alliance to overturn Parliaments ban on hunting with dogs failed in the Court of Appeal today. The judges also refused to grant an injunction which would have delayed the Act from being implemented. The Government had indicated, through the Attorney General, that it supported the injunction - which it hoped would spare it the embarrassment of violent pro-hunting protests in the prelude to the general election. But Lord Woolf said of the Attorney General: "We don't think it is right he should seek to hide behind the courts in this matter." It now seems inevitable that the Hunting Act, which outlaws fox-hunting, deer-hunting and hare-coursing with dogs, will come into force on Friday. Clashes with the police look likely, as supporters of hunting say they are organising mass disobedience of the ban on Saturday, with hunts across the country. The appeal judges described the challenge to the Act as "unusual, and in modern times probably unprecedented". "In this respect, this case is no ordinary public law case and the judgment deals with an issue of considerable constitutional importance," they said in their ruling. Sir Sydney Kentridge QC, for three hunt supporters funded by the Alliance, argued at a hearing on February 8 that Parliament had never correctly voted for the 1949 Act which was therefore unlawful. Any legislation introduced by invoking the Act was equally unlawful, Sir Sydney told Lord Woolf, sitting with the Master of the Rolls, Lord Phillips, and Lord Justice May. But the judges dismissed the Alliances appeal against a High Court ruling on January 28 in which Lord Justice Maurice Kay and Mr Justice Collins said it was clear that the 1949 Act was valid and the proposed hunting ban lawful. The appeal judges ruled that MPs did have the power to amend the 1911 Act, the 1949 Act was therefore valid and dismissed the appeal. They also refused the Alliance permission to appeal to the House of Lords. Sir Sydney said an urgent application for permission would be made direct to the Law Lords. In the meantime, the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC, did not object to an injunction "staying" any prosecutions. But the judges refused the injunction application. Lord Woolf said of the Attorney General: "We dont think it is right he should seek to hide behind the courts in this matter."	The British has lost its legal bid to keep hunting with hounds after the High Court rejected their appeal, which had been made on the grounds that the 1949 was invalid. The High Court rejected this, ruling that the 1949 Act was valid. This means hunting with dogs for foxes, hares and badgers will be illegal from Friday 18 February in England and Wales in accordance with the . The Countryside Alliance has said it is challenging the decision in the (the highest court in English Law) and the . The has said the arguments were “wafer thin”. However the CA as said that the police would have difficulty in policing the law. The has said it is setting up a “crimewatch service” to police the ban.
Israel yesterday granted requests from the Palestinian Authority and Egypt to allow entry into Israel to Fatah gunmen involved in the weekend's fighting with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Defense Minister Ehud Barak agreed to let in 188 people, most of whom are to proceed to the West Bank immediately. Several Fatah members wounded in the clashes were taken to Israeli hospitals. Yesterday's clashes in Gaza City's Shijaiyeh neighborhood, between Hamas forces and the Fatah-affiliated Hilles clan, left nine people dead and some 80 wounded, including 12 children. Advertisement The fighting erupted yesterday morning, after Hamas forces raided the clan's homes, claiming its members were hiding those responsible for planting a car bomb on a Gaza beach 10 days ago, which killed five Hamas operatives and a child. Clan members denied the accusation and vowed to defend their homes. By afternoon Hamas had gained control of the neighborhood, and house-to-house searches by hundreds of police officers had resulted in the arrests of some 50 people. Fatah loyalists, mostly members of the Hilles clan, fled toward the Nahal Oz border crossing. Col. Ron Asherov, commander of the Israel Defense Forces brigade stationed along the northern Gaza Strip, said that the IDF opened the crossing after it became clear that it was wounded Fatah men who were seeking entry. He said that a decision was made on the spot to treat them "on a humanitarian basis." Hamas forces targeted the soldiers and fleeing Fatah men with sniper fire and mortar shells. There were no casualties. All of the Fatah loyalists allowed to enter Israel did so after laying down their arms. A total of 188 people entered Israel, mostly men and a few children. Twenty-two were wounded, slightly for the most part. The Israeli Magen David Adom ambulance service took three casualties with moderate to serious injuries to Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva and Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon. Both the Egyptian government as well as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad petitioned Barak's office to let the men enter Israel. The defense minister directed the IDF to perform a security check on those entering and to arrange for their transfer into the West Bank, with the exception of a handful of those requiring medical attention at Israeli hospitals. Although humanitarian reasons were cited as the reason for the decision, in its response Israel evidently wishes to signal its willingness to meet the Palestinians and Egyptians half-way. Cairo is the official mediator between Israel and Hamas in talks to secure the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Defense sources in Israel suggested yesterday that the fighting in Gaza started because of a misconception. Hamas blames Fatah for a series of attacks on the organization, including the fatal explosion on the Gaza beachfront. But Israeli officials believe Islamic forces were behind the attacks. They may have been motivated by internal turmoil in Hamas, or a confrontation with members of the radical offshoot Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam), which is associated with the Dormush clan and has been at odds with Hamas since it took over the Gaza Strip a year ago. By contrast, the Hilles clan, headed by senior Fatah member Ahmed Hilles, was permitted to keep its weapons because it cooperated with Hamas and even went so far as to attack the forces of local Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan, blaming them for Hamas' violent coup. Yesterday's spiraling violence came just days after Egypt called on Hamas and Fatah to end the bloodshed and resume reconciliation talks. Israeli defense officials are still having trouble assessing what impact the weekend's clashes might have on the temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Of late there have been only a few incidents of Qassam rockets being launched at Israel, and it is evident that Hamas has a clear interest in maintaining the truce. However, past understandings with the Palestinians collapsed because of internal strife in the Gaza Strip, when the sides developed an interest in diverting the fire toward Israel. The IDF is preparing for that possibility, too, although at this point it does not appear to be a major risk. Arrests in the West Bank In response to the violence in Gaza, Palestinian Authority police officers in the West Bank yesterday enforced a new ban on mass assembly. Palestinian security forces broke up a protest rally in Ramallah, arresting some 40 loyalists from the pan-Islamist movement Hizb ut-Tahrir (Liberation Party), which is not affiliated with Hamas. In Nablus, Fatah gunmen seized a senior Hamas member, Mohammed Ghazal, and threatened to kill him unless Hamas stopped the raid in Gaza. They released him after several hours. \|\|\|\|\| GAZA CITY (CNN) -- About 150 pro-Fatah Palestinians seeking refuge from a Hamas crackdown in eastern Gaza City were allowed into Israel on Saturday, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman told CNN. Fatah members are led handcuffed and blindfolded through a Gaza City checkpoint into Israel on Saturday. They were let in at the request of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas after Hamas took control of a neighborhood in eastern Gaza City on Saturday. The Palestinians entered through a security checkpoint in Nahal Oz in the Gaza's northern region Saturday afternoon, the spokesman said. "They were asking to enter the state of Israel after being threatened by Hamas gunmen," the spokesman said. The spokesman said the Palestinians, some of whom were wounded, were allowed to cross the border after they disarmed. He also said they would be asked about the events leading them to seek refuge in Israel. Those who suffered injuries were taken to a facility to receive medical treatment. It was a rare act that could be interpreted as a sign of Israel's support of the Fatah party, which is led by Abbas. "It was a sort of humane gesture," the IDF spokesman said. Hamas forces took control of the al-Shojaeya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City late Saturday, ending several hours of deadly fighting. The Hamas forces were battling a family suspected of harboring Fatah members wanted in last week's Gaza beach bombing. Hamas police surrounded the clan, and a battle began with rocket-propelled grenades, rockets and rifles, sources said. The violence in the large neighborhood left four people dead, including two police officers, and wounded at least 60 others. Watch a report on the violence » The IDF confirmed that some of the Palestinians who entered Israel on Saturday were members of the clan. Hamas Interior Minister Said Salam said in a news conference that bomb-making materials were found. He asked why so many people would have fled to Israel if they weren't guilty. Hamas forces began raiding houses in the 15-block neighborhood after the fighting died down, arresting at least 12 men Saturday night. Earlier, the Hilles clan, a family known to support Fatah, refused Hamas police demands to hand over 20 activists suspected in the bomb attack, sources said. Hamas security forces in Gaza had already detained hundreds of people affiliated with Fatah since five Hamas militants and a child died in the July 25 beach bombing. Fatah sources say about 450 were apprehended. Among the dead in the beach attack was Amar Musubah, a Hamas military commander, who has been the target of Israeli military assassination attempts. Fatah denied responsibility for the attack. Hamas sources said Saturday the group will release 10 Fatah members arrested earlier in Gaza. In addition, Hamas released Fatah spokesman Ibrahim Abu-Naja. Hamas also shut down a radio station, accusing it of airing pro-Fatah broadcasts. The two Palestinian factions have been bitterly divided since Hamas drove Abbas' security forces from Gaza last year. Gaza tunnel collapse kills 5, hurts 16 Meanwhile, early Saturday, a tunnel used to smuggle goods into Gaza from Egypt collapsed, killing at least five people and injuring 16, Palestinian sources said. The supply tunnel, which collapsed near Rafah, was one of many dug along the Gaza-Egypt border in the past year, since Israel closed border crossings. The move followed Hamas' takeover of the territory. The tunnel operations have grown into a big business. The tunnels are sometimes built too close to each other for safety. Journalist Talal Abu-Rahmi in Gaza contributed to this report. All About Palestinian Politics • Hamas • Fatah Organization \|\|\|\|\| Defense Minister Ehud Barak Saturday night allowed 150 Fatah terrorists to flee from Gaza into Judea and Samaria and to Israeli hospitals following bloody clashes with Hamas terrorists that left more than four dead and 80 wounded. Most of the terrorists were from the Hilles clan, whose leader Ahmed Hilles told the Associated Press, "You have to decide: Either be trampled under Hamas' shoes, or stand in dignity." He apparently was one of those who fled to Israel. Several of the terrorists were admitted to the Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva after entering Israel through the Erez and Nahal Oz crossings. \|\|\|\|\| Israel lets fleeing Fatah men in after deadly Gaza clashes GAZA CITY (AFP) — Nine Palestinians were killed and dozens hurt in battles in Gaza City between forces of the rival Hamas and Fatah movements on Saturday, prompting Israel to open its border to fleeing Fatah members. The fighting, which lasted most of the day, was sparked when Hamas security forces tried to arrest suspects thought to be behind a July 25 bombing that killed five Hamas militants and a little girl on a Gaza beach. Hamas blames Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas for the attack, but the secular group denies any involvement. Over the past week the two sides have engaged in tit-for-tat spates of arrests. Hamas said two of its men were killed and medical officials reported seven more dead, mainly civilians, in Saturday's firefights that broke out around a house belonging to the influential pro-Fatah Helis clan in the Shujwa neighbourhood of Gaza City. More than 90 people were also wounded, including seven reported to be in a serious condition, the medical sources said. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri charged that members of the Helis family and other unidentified associates had "fired mortar rounds at the Hamas police as well as a rocket at Gaza City" from inside the Shujwa house. Several members of the Helis clan "are responsible" for the deadly July 25 bomb attack and Hamas is determined to round up the suspects, Abu Zuhri told AFP. But Adel Helis, a Fatah leader, denied clan members opened fire on Hamas. "These are lies. We never fired rockets or mortar rounds. Hamas is the one committing crimes. We have asked all the Palestinian factions, Islamists and nationalists, to use their influence so that these crimes cease," he said. Clan leader Ahmad Helis told AFP that Hamas militants "laid siege to our house, firing mortar rounds... targeting our women and our children." The two main Palestinian factions have been deeply divided since Hamas expelled Abbas's security forces from Gaza in a week of bloody street battles in June 2007, cleaving the territories into rival entities. Abbas himself called Ahmed Helis "to express his support and denounce the Hamas attack," according to a statement by Abbas's office. The Palestinian president also told Helis that "Hamas's attacks undermine my call for national dialogue between Palestinian factions." Shortly after the fighting subsided, dozens of Fatah members, including Ahmed and Adel Helis, fled to the Nahal Oz crossing with Israel in a bid to escape to the West Bank city of Ramallah, home to Abbas's headquarters. Israel allowed a total of 150 Palestinians who put down their guns to cross as a "humanitarian measure," an army spokesman said. The wounded were taken to hospital and the rest were transported to Ramallah. Israel's Magen David Adom medical services treated six Palestinians for serious wounds and three more who were lightly injured, spokesman Zaki Heller said. Defence Minister Ehud Barak authorised the rare measure following a personal request from Abbas, Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad and Egypt, a senior defence official told AFP. Israel closed all of its crossings with Gaza following Hamas's violent takeover, but has agreed to allow basic products in under a June ceasefire. Palestinian militants fired several mortar rounds towards the Nahal Oz crossing in violation of the truce, with four falling inside Israel and eight on the Palestinian side, an army spokesman said. Senior Hamas official Said Siam said at a late evening press conference that during the operation Hamas forces arrested four Fatah members involved in the July 25 explosion and that explosives and weapons had been seized. Hamas detained more than 300 people, mostly Fatah members, after the July 25 bombing. Fatah responded by arresting Hamas militants in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Also on Saturday, Hamas ordered the closure of a radio station linked to the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in Gaza City, a spokesman for Voice of the People said. Copyright © 2013 AFP. All rights reserved. More »	On Saturday, 188 supporters of Fatah were allowed to enter Israel from the Gaza Strip, said one IDF spokesman. The Fatah supporters were fleeing after a bloody conflict in Gaza City. Defense minister Ehud Barak was the one who gave the permission for the Palestinians to enter Israel. Flag of Hamas Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas requested that they be allowed in on Saturday, according to the spokesman, as a result of Hamas' capture of a neighborhood in Gaza City. The Palestinians entered Israel at the checkpoints near Nahal Oz and Erez, kibbutzes near the border of the northern section of the Gaza Strip. They were disarmed, prior to being allowed across the border. In addition, they will be asked about the circumstances which lead them to seek refuge in Israel, said the spokesman. Late Saturday evening, Hamas militants took control of a eastern Gaza City neighborhood, al-Shojaeya. The Hamas police surrounded a house belonging to the pro-Fatah Helis clan, a family believed to be harboring the terrorists responsible for the July 25 bombing which claimed the lives of a six year old girl and 5 others. The battle left 4 dead, two of them Hamas militants, and close to 80 wounded. The spokesman said that "they the Palestinians were asking to enter the state of Israel after being threatened by Hamas gunmen." The majority of the Palestinians entering Israel were from the Helis clan that had been involved in the gun battle. 22 of the of 188 were wounded, with the majority of the injuries being minor. Ambulances from Magen David Adom took 3 of the more severely injured to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba as well as Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon. The rest were transported to Ramallah in the West Bank. The act of allowing the Palestinians to cross into Israel could perhaps be a sign of Israel's support, according to ''CNN.'' The IDF spokesman stated that "it was a sort of humane gesture."
Die Nürnberger Prozesse in Zahlen Das Protokoll umfasst vier Millionen Wörter in 22 Bänden mit insgesamt 15.000 Seiten. Innerhalb von elf Monaten wurden 236 Zeugen gehört. Rund 300.000 eidesstattliche Erklärungen und 5330 Dokumente wurden zu den Akten genommen. Zu den Beweismitteln zählen 7300 Meter Film und 2000 Meter Bildnegative. Den Angeklagten standen 27 von ihnen frei gewählte Hauptverteidiger und 54 Assistenten zur Verfügung. Bis zu 350 Journalisten und Autoren berichteten aus der Verhandlung. Zur Vorbereitung des Prozesses wurde eine eigene Behörde mit 1000 Mitarbeitern aufgebaut. Während des Prozesses übersetzten jeweils zwölf Dolmetscher simultan in die Sprachen Englisch, Französisch, Russisch und Deutsch. Ein Heer von Sekretärinnen war mit der Prozessdokumentation befasst und versank - wie historische Fotos zeigen - zeitweise bis zu den Füßen in Papier. \|\|\|\|\| Nuremberg: 60 years since Nazi trials Goering enters a plea of not guilty from the prisoner's dock at Nuremberg on November 21, 1945. YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Adolf Hitler Germany Crime, Law and Justice or or Create Your Own NUREMBERG, Germany (AP) -- Witnesses returned to an oak-paneled courtroom in Nuremberg to reflect on the legacy of the trial of Germany's Nazi leaders which, 60 years ago Sunday, broke new ground in holding government leaders responsible for wartime atrocities and human rights abuses. In Courtroom 600 of the Nuremberg Palace of Justice on November 20, 1945, Hermann Goering, Rudolf Hess, Joachim von Ribbentrop and 18 other high-ranking Nazis pleaded innocent to a panel of judges representing the victorious allies -- the United States, Soviet Union, Britain and France. Participants recalled that they realized even then that the then-new offenses of crimes against peace, waging a war of aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity were a key step in establishing an international system of justice. "It set the precedent for the establishment of the international criminal court, which was needed," said Johann-Georg Hschaetzler, Hess' defense attorney. U.S. Nuremberg prosecutor Whitney R. Harris agreed that because of the Nuremberg proceedings, tribunals have been able to bring cases against leaders such as former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Iraq's Saddam Hussein and those who led the genocide in Rwanda. "The principals of the Nuremberg case have been followed in recent years and the fact that we conducted Nuremberg has given impetus to the establishment of these more recent tribunals," Harris said. "Each of these tribunals is significant in its own right and helps to advance the case of international law," he said. In addition to Hschaetzler and Harris, Arno Hamburger, an interpreter at the trial, and Susanne von Paczensky, a German journalist for the DANA news agency, were present to address the ceremony. On October 1, 1946, after 218 trial days, Goering -- Adolf Hitler's air force chief and a top aide -- was sentenced to death along with 11 others, including Martin Bormann, Hitler's vanished deputy, who was tried in absentia. Seven drew long prison sentences and three were acquitted. Fifteen days later, the condemned men were hanged in the courthouse's adjacent prison. Goering committed suicide by swallowing a poison pill in his cell the night before. \|\|\|\|\| The city of Nuremberg today is practically synonymous with the milestone in international justice that was the Nuremberg war crimes tribunal. Set up by the Allies at the end of World War II, the tribunal headed by American Chief Justice Robert Jackson tried 22 Nazi elites, including Hermann Göring, Rudolf Hess and Joachim von Ribbentrop. The trials lasted for over a year, and resulted in 12 death sentences being handed down. Göring was convicted, but committed suicide. Nuremberg was revolutionary in many respects, not least because of the advances it made in protecting the rights of the accused. "We must never forget that the record on which we judge these defendants today is the record on which history will judge us tomorrow," Jackson said at the opening session. "To pass these defendants a poisoned chalice is to put it to our own lips as well." Nuremberg was the first time that war crimes were tried before an international tribunal. It was clear from Jackson's approach that the Americans, in particular, hoped the tribunal would serve as a model for a future international justice system with a permanent international criminal court to handle cases of genocide and crimes against humanity. From proponent to opponent Ironically, in the years that followed, the United States became the biggest force of resistance to the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, said Uwe Wesel, professor emeritus in civil law and history of law at Berlin's Free University. "At the time of the Nuremberg trials, the United Nations set up an international law commission, but this commission has had to deal with repeated stumbling blocks," Wesel said. "The Cold War came, and the United States started to think twice about participating, because of the fear that Americans could also be tried for war crimes. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, when the US no longer had to fear being drawn into a war with the Soviet Union, they continued to hesitate." Given US obstinacy to the codifying of international law, the fact that the ICC now exists is a "miracle," Wesel said. "The hostility of the US toward international criminal justice has only been strengthened under the Bush administration, resulting in the passing of the American Service-Member's Protection Act, which allows the US to use violence to free American servicemen and women being held in custody by the ICC if necessary," he said. Setting legal precedents Nevertheless, experts see in Nuremberg the roots for all subsequent human rights trials, from the prosecution of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to the trials of those accused of genocide in Rwanda, to the trial of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. However, the decision to try Saddam at a special court in Iraq has been seen by some experts as a failure to learn from the lessons of Nuremberg. In 1945, the Allies were criticized by legal scholars who said it was inappropriate for the victors to mete out justice to those they'd conquered. Wolfgang Schomburg, the only German judge to sit on the UN tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, said the Iraqi court, set up during the US occupation, also had some features of victors' justice, and that a better solution would have been to bring his case before an international court. "The trial would have more legitimacy if the case were being heard before an international tribunal," Schomburg said. "Such crimes are always crimes committed against the civilized world, so the answer should also follow from the civilized world, meaning an international tribunal with a more distanced, neutral view." Germany's lessons Schomburg is living proof that nations whose citizens commit heinous crimes against humanity can, with the help of fair judicial proceedings, come to terms with the past, and move on. Though he sees himself as an international judge, he is aware that his German nationality has presented him with a unique opportunity to show the world that Germany has returned to normalcy. "I'm celebrating the fact that I have concluded my first four years of tenure at the tribunal without one single staff member ever questioning how I, as a German, can act in this tribunal," Schomburg said. "On the other hand, I am personally very often moved when I quote from judgments made at Nuremberg, to see how we are always being confronted with the past and the lessons learned by German society." For his part, Schomburg has not given up hope that the United States will one day return to the path it embarked on during the Nuremberg trials by endorsing the International Criminal Court. "I'm always an optimist," Schomburg said. "I think the US has made an incredible contribution to the rule of law, to fundamental rights. Eventually, the US won't be able to do anything but ratify the ICC, because they will see it is in their own interest. Otherwise, it is difficult to see how they can ask us to fight terrorism with civilized means, but not allow international jurisdiction to fight against crimes committed by terrorists." \|\|\|\|\| Nuremberg sought justice for the millions murdered or persecuted US Nuremberg prosecutor Whitney Harris and other eyewitnesses are returning to the courtroom where 22 high-ranking Nazis were put on trial. A conference on the historical legacy of the trials is also taking place. Twelve defendants were sentenced to death, seven received long prison terms and three were acquitted. Nazi air force chief Hermann Goering, Rudolf Hess and Joachim von Ribbentrop were among those placed on trial. Martin Bormann, Hitler's deputy, was tried in absentia. The Nuremberg trials are seen as setting an important legal precedent, preparing the ground for subsequent international war crimes prosecutions and the International Criminal Court. New offences The court was set up by the victorious allies after World War II and the defendants were tried by a panel of judges from the US, Britain and the Soviet Union. The chief American prosecutor at Nuremberg, Robert Jackson, described the trial as a continuation of the Allied war effort. The defendants were charged with the then-new offences that have since become fixed in international law, including waging a war of aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Nuremberg cases were also the first time government leaders were held personally responsible for their actions during war. They mostly claimed that they had not known, or were not responsible for what happened. The trial was an international sensation, but Germans also took a keen interest in the proceedings. Local newspapers were full of the horrific details of the Holocaust and other Nazi atrocities. However, secret opinion polls carried out by the American state department and made public three years ago showed that it was not until the 1970s that most Germans thought the trial was fair. \|\|\|\|\| The suggestion comes from perhaps the most feted liberal intellectual in the world - the American linguist Noam Chomsky. His latest attack on the way his country behaves in the world is called Hegemony or Survival, America's Quest for Global Dominance. Jeremy Paxman met him at the British Museum, where they talked in the Assyrian Galleries. He asked him whether he was suggesting there was nothing new in the so-called Bush Doctrine. NOAM CHOMSKY: Well, it depends. It is recognised to be revolutionary. Henry Kissinger for example described it as a revolutionary new doctrine which tears to shreds the Westphalian System, the 17th century system of International Order and of course the UN Charter. But nevertheless, and has been very widely criticised within the foreign policy elite. But on narrow ground the doctrine is not really new, it's extreme. JEREMY PAXMAN: What was the United States supposed to do after 9/11? It had been the victim of a grotesque, intentional attack, what was it supposed to do but try...? NOAM CHOMSKY: Why pick 9/11? Why not pick 1993. Actually the fact that the terrorist act succeeded in September 11th did not alter the risk analysis. In 1993, similar groups, US trained Jihadi's came very close to blowing up the World Trade Center, with better planning, they probably would have killed tens of thousands of people. Since then it was known that this is very likely. In fact right through the 90's there was technical literature predicting it, and we know what to do. What you do is police work. Police work is the way to stop terrorist acts and it succeeded. JEREMY PAXMAN: But you are suggesting the United States in that sense is the author of Its own Nemesis. NOAM CHOMSKY: Well, first of all this is not my opinion. It's the opinion of just about every specialist on terrorism. Take a look, say at Jason Burke's recent book on Al-Qaeda which is just the best book there is. What he points out is, he runs through the record of how each act of violence has increased recruitment financing mobilisation, what he says is, I'm quoting him, that each act of violence is a small victory for Bin Laden. JEREMY PAXMAN: But why do you imagine George Bush behaves like this? NOAM CHOMSKY: Because I don't think they care that much about terror, in fact we know that. Take say the invasion of Iraq, it was predicted by just about every specialist by intelligence agencies that the invasion of Iraq would increase the threat of Al-Qaeda style terror which is exactly what happened. The point is that... JEREMY PAXMAN: Then why would he do it? NOAM CHOMSKY: Because invading Iraq has value in Itself, I mean establishing... JEREMY PAXMAN: Well what value? NOAM CHOMSKY: What value? Establishing the first secure military base in a dependant client state at the heart of the energy producing region of the world. JEREMY PAXMAN: Don't you even think that the people of Iraq are better off having got rid of a dictator? NOAM CHOMSKY: That, they got rid of two brutal regimes, one that we are supposed to talk about, the other one we are not suppose to talk about. The two brutal regimes were Saddam Hussein's and the US-British sanctions, which were devastating society, had killed hundreds of thousands of people, were forcing people to be reliant on Saddam Hussein. Now the sanctions could obviously have been turned to weapons rather than destroying society without an invasion. If that had happened it is not at all impossible that the people of Iraq would have sent Saddam Hussein the same way to the same fate as other monsters supported by the US and Britain. Ceausescu, Suharto, Duvalier, Marcos, there's a long list of them. In fact the people, the westerners who know Iraq best were predicting this all along. JEREMY PAXMAN: You seem to be suggesting or implying, perhaps I'm being unfair to you, but you seem to be implying there is some equivalence between democratically elected heads of state like George Bush or Prime Ministers like Tony Blair and regimes in places like Iraq. NOAM CHOMSKY: The term moral equivalence is an interesting one, it was invented I think by Jeane Kirkpatrick as a method of trying to prevent criticism of foreign policy and state decisions. It has a meaning less notion, there is no moral equivalence what so ever. JEREMY PAXMAN: Is it a good thing if it is preferable for an individual to live in a liberal democracy, is there benefit to be gained by spreading the values of that democracy however you can? NOAM CHOMSKY: That reminds me of the question that Ghandi was once asked about western civilisation, what did he think of it. He said yeah, it would be a good idea. In fact it would be a good idea to spread the values of liberal democracy, but that I would be a good idea to spread the values of liberal democracy. But that's not what the US and Britain are trying to do, it's not what they've done in the past, I mean take a look at the regions under their domination. They don't spread liberal democracy. What they spread is dependence and subordination. Furthermore its well- known there is a large part of the reason for the reason the great opposition to the US policy within the Middle East. In fact this was known in the 1950's. JEREMY PAXMAN: But there is a whole slur of countries in eastern Europe right now that would say we are better off now than we were when we were living under the Soviet Empire. As a consequence of how the west behaved. NOAM CHOMSKY: Well, and there is a lot of countries in US domains, like Central America, the Caribbean who wish that they could be free of American domination. We don't pay much attention to what happens there but they do. In the 1980s when the current incumbents were in their Reganite phase. Hundreds of thousands of people were slaughtered in Central America. The US carried out a massive terrorist attack against Nicaragua, mainly as a war on the church. They assassinated an Archbishop and murdered six leading Jesuit intellectuals. This is in El Salvador. It was a monstrous period. What did they impose? Was it liberal democracies? No. JEREMY PAXMAN: You've mentioned on two or three occasions this relationship between the United States and Britain. Do you understand why Tony Blair behaved as he did over Afghanistan and Iraq? NOAM CHOMSKY: Well, if you look at the British diplomatic history, back in the 1940s, Britain had to make a decision. Britain had been the major world power, the United States though by far the richest country in the world was not a major actor in the global scene, except regionally. By the Second World War it was obvious the US was going to be the dominant power, everyone knew that. Britain had to make a choice. Was it going to be part of what would ultimately be a Europe that might move towards independence, or would it be what the Foreign Office called a junior partner to the United States? Well it essentially made that choice to be a junior partner to the United States. US, the leaders have no illusions about this. So during the Cuban missile crisis for example, you look at the declassified record, they treated Britain with total contempt. Harold McMillan wasn't even informed of what was going on and Britain's existence was at stake. It was dangerous. One high official, probably Dean Acheson and he's not identified, described Britain as in his words "Our lieutenant, the fashionable word is partner". Well the British would like to hear the fashionable word, but the masters use the actual word. Those are choices Britain has to make. I mean why Blair decided, I couldn't say. JEREMY PAXMAN: Noam Chomsky, thank you. This transcript was produced from the teletext subtitles that are generated live for Newsnight. It has been checked against the programme as broadcast, however Newsnight can accept no responsibility for any factual inaccuracies. We will be happy to correct serious errors.	Joachim von Ribbentrop and Wilhelm Keitel in the front row. The city of Nuremberg has marked the 60th anniversary of the opening of the trials against Nazi war criminals. At a ceremony in the Palace of Justice, where the tribunal was located, participants of the trials gathered and remembered. Whitney R. Harris, a member of the U.S. prosecution team, emphazised the importance of Nuremberg for contemporary international law claiming that "the principles of the Nuremberg case have been followed in recent years and the fact that we conducted Nuremberg has given impetus to the establishment of these more recent tribunals". But the president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Philippe Kirsch, is frustrated that there is still opposition against modern international tribunals like his court: "The spectre of politically motivated prosecution which is a running theme against the ICC is so unfounded that it is to me intellectually difficult to understand". On November 20, 1945 the trials began in the courtroom 600 of the Palace of Justice. A total of 24 defendants were tried, among them Hermann Göring and Rudolf Heß. With Geoffrey Lawrence being chair of the court, the trial took 218 days and ended with 12 death sentences, 7 jail terms and 3 acquittals. One defendant killed himself during the trial, another one was declared unfit to stand trial. Some controversy does exist as to whether the Nuremberg Principles have been adhered to in the years following the trials. Noted intellectual author, Noam Chomsky, has claimed that all US presidents since the end of the war would be judged to be war criminals according to these principles.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - NASA will try to launch the space shuttle Atlantis as early as Jan. 24 on a delayed mission to deliver Europe's first permanent space laboratory to the International Space Station, mission managers said on Thursday. But the next launch attempt was more likely to happen in early February, managers said in a conference call with reporters. Launch attempts were postponed on Dec. 6 and Dec. 9 due to erratic sensor readings in the spacecraft's hydrogen fuel tank. NASA had hoped to try again on Jan. 10 but decided late last month that it would need more time to fix the problem. Atlantis' crew, five Americans, a German and a Frenchman, are to deliver Europe's Columbus science laboratory module to the space station, ending a quarter of a century in which European space pioneers had to run their experiments on orbital outposts owned by others. The erratic sensors, which operate like dipsticks to determine fuel levels, are part of an emergency system to cut off the shuttle's three hydrogen-burning main engines if the tank runs dry because of a leak or other problem. Running the engines without fuel could cause their pumps to break and possibly trigger a catastrophic explosion. NASA engineers decided the fuel sensor glitch resided in a plug-like connector that relays electrical signals from the sensors in the tank through wiring leading to the shuttle's engine compartment. They removed the suspect part and took it to the Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama for analysis. "Everything has to go exactly right for us to make the 24th," John Shannon, the deputy shuttle program manager, said during the conference call. He added that the shuttle was more likely to fly in early February. The U.S. space agency is on deadline to complete 12 construction and resupply flights to the space station by Sept. 30, 2010, when the shuttle fleet is to be retired. \|\|\|\|\| Workers are seen near the external fuel tank (L) and solid rocket booster (R) of the space shuttle Atlantis NASA sets late Jan, early Feb for shuttle Atlantis launch WASHINGTON (AFP) — The space shuttle Atlantis's mission to the International Space Station, which has seen its launch repeatedly delayed due to technical problems, will likely take place in late January or early February, NASA said Thursday. The US space agency said it was performing tests to determine whether faulty fuel gauges on the spacecraft's liquid hydrogen tank have been repaired to satisfaction ahead of the launch, initially scheduled for December 6. "There's no way that we're going to be earlier than January 24th," said space shuttle program manager Wayne Hale, admitting "it is a stretch to think that we'll make the 24th." "I asked the team to protect that day as the earliest date that we could possibly go," Hale said. "I think it's much more likely that we'll be going to be ready somewhere in the February 2 to 7 time frame, given that we don't have any more findings as we go through our testing." NASA technicians have devised a replacement connector to replace a faulty one "suspected of causing issues in space shuttle Atlantis' fuel sensor system," but it has not yet been installed, NASA said on its website. \|\|\|\|\| Preparations Continue for Next Return to Flight Mission Discovery is towed into the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3. Image credit: NASA/KSC + Click for Larger Image The crew of STS-121 is getting ready for the second Return to Flight mission aboard space shuttle Discovery, participating in proficiency training flights and rendezvous simulations. NASA is currently targeting no earlier than March 2006 for launch, and is evaluating how the impacts of Hurricane Katrina will affect the launch schedule. + Read more about STS-121 + NASA and Katrina The first Return to Flight mission, STS-114, wrapped up its successful flight on Aug 9 with a pre-dawn landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Discovery returned Aug. 21 to Kennedy Space Center atop a modified Boeing 747 called the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The shuttle is now in the Orbiter Processing Facility, where it will be readied for mission STS-121. + Read more about STS-114	Space Shuttle Atlantis at the launch pad on December 6. NASA has announced that the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis, mission STS-122, will once again be postponed, this time until late January or early February. The reason behind the delay is believed to be a faulty connector that caused erratic fuel sensor readings during the previous two launch attempts in December. Space shuttle program manager Wayne Hale gave January 24 as the earliest possible launch date, but stated that February would be a more realistic expectation. "I think it's much more likely that we'll be going to be ready somewhere in the February 2 to 7 time frame, given that we don't have any more findings as we go through our testing," Hale stated. The initial launch date for the shuttle was December 6, but failed fuel gauges in the external tank forced the launch to be moved to December 9. The fuel sensors are part of a system to prevent the shuttle from running on an empty tank, which could cause pumps in the engine of break and possibly trigger a disastrous explosion. When the problem reoccurred, NASA ran a fuel test, which led them to believe the problem lied in the faulty connector. The connector was then removed from the tank and taken to Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where it is currently undergoing extensive analysis and modification. The new connector is scheduled to be installed by January 10. "What we're doing ... is addressing what we think is the most probable cause, and there's a lot of information that points to that connector and that this is the right design fix," deputy space shuttle program manager John Shannon said. "We're fairly confident that if the problem is where we think it is, that this will solve that." The main objective of mission STS-122 is to deliver the European science laboratory Columbus to the International Space Station.
Anthony Wilson, the Manchester music impresario who founded Factory Records and the Hacienda nightclub, died last night, aged 57, after a heart attack on Thursday. A leading light in the "Madchester" popular culture boom of the late 1980s and early 90s, he had been battling kidney cancer since early 2006. The Salford-born journalist brought bands including Joy Division, New Order, the Happy Mondays and James to a wider audience. His record label's pioneering approach to design and architecture also helped kick-start Manchester's transformation into a European cultural centre. Peter Saville, graphic designer and part owner of Factory Records, said: "Tony created a new understanding of Manchester, the resonance of Factory goes way beyond the music. Young people often dream of going to another place to achieve their goals. Tony provided the catalyst and context for Mancunians to do that without having to go anywhere." Comedian Steve Coogan played Wilson in the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People, directed by Michael Winterbottom, a semi-fictional account of Wilson's life. But during the last year Wilson made the news for more personal reasons as the NHS refused to pay for a £3,500-a-month drug which doctors recommended after chemotherapy failed to beat his cancer. Members of the Happy Mondays and other acts he had supported helped pay for the treatment. Last month, while campaigning for the drug to be made freely available to all, he said: "I used to say some people make money and some make history - which is very funny until you find you can't afford to keep yourself alive." Educated at Cambridge, he began to make history in the late 1970s, when he championed punk while hosting Granada TV's regional music show So it Goes. By 1978 he had founded Factory Records and taken on Joy Division, who later became New Order. The label built up a cult following and at the end of the 80s found itself the centre of a youth culture phenomenon. Factory's the Hacienda became a hub of the burgeoning dance music scene. The success of the Happy Mondays and New Order should have safeguarded Factory's future. But acts were not signed up to contracts and lavish packaging meant money was lost on record sales - leading to bankruptcy in 1992. Paul Ryder, guitarist with the Happy Mondays, said: "I would still be working at the post office if it wasn't for Tony. He was the one that gave working kids like me and Shaun [his brother, the band's lead singer] their chance." · Add your tributes here \|\|\|\|\| Wilson loses cancer fight Anthony H Wilson Music mogul Tony Wilson - the man behind New Order and The Happy Mondays - died last night. Wilson, 57, lost his battle with cancer. He had surgery to remove a kidney earlier this year. The Salford-born broadcaster and entrepreneur was rushed to Christie's hospital in Manchester yesterday. He was given the last rites yesterday morning and is understood to have suffered a heart attack and died around 6.30pm last night. Advertisement His role in the "Madchester" music scene of the early 1990s was immortalised in the film 24 Hour Party People which starred comedian Steve Coogan as Wilson. After studying English at Oxford, Wilson returned to Manchester to work as a news reporter. He worked for Granada television from the 70s to the 90s including a lengthy stint as the main anchor for Granada Reports. Presenting the show So It Goes sparked Wilson's passion for music after he saw the Sex Pistols at the Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall in June 1976. He went on to found Factory Records - home of the Happy Mondays and Joy Division who became New Order following the suicide of singer Ian Curtis. Wilson also founded The Hacienda nightclub - which became a central part of the Manchester music scene. Last year, after a routine visit to the doctor, Wilson was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He had a kidney removed in January this year. When chemotherapy treatment failed, Wilson's doctors suggested he take the drug Sutent - but the NHS refused to fund the £3,500-a-month bill. Members of the Happy Mondays and other bands he had backed started a fund to help pay for the treatment. Only last month, Wilson wrote in the Daily Mirror: "I love the NHS. I love the nurses and assistants and doctors and surgeons who looked after me with such care and devotion. "But I have utter contempt for the bureaucrats who try to hold back the advances that are constantly being made in the treatment of the big C." He described Sutent, the drug which was keeping him alive, as the new Herceptin. "I've been paying NHS contributions since my first job at 17. They'll give me a tummy tuck or a facelift but will not pay for the drug which will keep my cancer at bay." \|\|\|\|\| Anthony Wilson was an influential figure in the "Madchester" scene Tony Wilson's life The Salford-born entrepreneur, who founded Factory records, the label behind New Order and the Happy Mondays, was diagnosed last year. The 57-year-old, also famous for setting up the Hacienda nightclub, underwent emergency surgery in January to remove a kidney. He died on Friday evening at the Christie Hospital surrounded by family. A spokesman for the hospital said: "Tony Wilson died peacefully at the Christie Hospital at 6.05pm this evening with his family by his bedside. Part of me, part of Manchester, part of modern British music has died tonight Phil Saxe "Tony was a very great supporter of the Christie and this is extremely sad news. "We would like to extend our sympathy to Tony's family." Doctors had recommended he take the drug Sutent after chemotherapy failed to beat the disease, but the NHS refused to fund the £3,500-a-month treatment. However, members of the Happy Mondays and other acts he supported over the years stepped in and started a fund to help pay for it. His vision and determination played a key role in helping to put Manchester on the map for its music and vibrant nightlife and his entrepreneurial skills inspired people everywhere. Phil Saxe, who used to work at Factory Records with Wilson, said: "Part of me, part of Manchester, part of modern British music has died tonight. "Tony was a genius, basically. "He was a visionary in that he helped bands, who otherwise wouldn't have made it, who were a bit out of the ordinary. "He helped them realise their dreams and through that probably realised himself to be Mr Manchester". 'An inspiration' BBC journalist Kristan Deconinck sought advice from him in the early 1980s on how to launch an independent record label shortly after Wilson had started Factory records. "He couldn't have been more helpful and more patient," Kristan said. "He inspired me - and countless others - to have a go if you believed in something. HAVE YOUR SAY A true music legend. He saw in bands what others missed. A real loss to the music world and all the 24hr party people. Scott, Glasgow Send us your comments "That in itself is a great legacy, apart from the vision he had with his label, his shows, his attitude - his contribution to a new culture. "When I later met him, I found him far more amenable than scurrilous rumours had led me to believe and my esteem for the guy never diminished." 'Soundtrack of my life' Speaking before his death, Wilson reflected on life and death. "I used to joke in my early 50s that I'd had such a fantastic life, I'd be happy to die," he said. "And then suddenly, I find some other reasons for living and just like get excited again about life when it comes along. So that was slightly annoying. I think I was a lord of my own presumption for thinking I'd be happy to die". Rest in peace mate Ross Burton, fan Tributes to Anthony Wilson have been flooding in from across the globe - both from people who had worked with him and those who had enjoyed the entertainment he brought to the world. Speaking on News 24, Radio 2 presenter Stuart Maconie said: "There was no more influential and important figure in music in the last 30 or 40 years. "He was incredibly generous, giving, enthusiastic and supportive of bands around him. "He wasn't a businessman. He just loved the music." The BBC, which employed Wilson, paid its own tribute. "There will never be anyone quite like Tony," a spokesman said. "He was a true free spirit and a passionate advocate of Manchester - the city, its people and, of course, its music." Fan Lewis Hart, from Hyde, Greater Manchester, wrote: "A one off who was an ambassador for Manchester. A huge shock." Another fan, Ross Burton, from Annapolis, Maryland, in the USA, summed up his many achievements with a poignant eulogy: "Thanks Tony for helping to bring me the soundtrack of my life. Rest in peace mate."	Anthony Wilson, journalist and record label owner, died of a heart attack on the 10th August, after receiving treatment for cancer. He died at the Christie Hospital, aged 57 and is survived by his partner, Yvette Livesey. Wilson was receiving private medical treatment due to the recommended drug, Sunitinib, not being available through the publicly funded National Health Service. Wilson's treatment was being funded by former music industry friends.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Tony Mendez was a specialist in disguises and forgeries at the CIA Ex-CIA agent Tony Mendez, who inspired the Oscar-winning film Argo, has died at the age of 78. He had been suffering from Parkinson's Disease. At the CIA, Mendez specialised in disguises, forgery and rescues. He is best known for smuggling six American diplomats out of Iran during the 1979-81 hostage crisis by posing as a film producer. Ben Affleck, who directed Argo and starred as Mendez, called him "a true American hero". "He was a man of extraordinary grace, decency, humility and kindness," Affleck said in a tweet. "He never sought the spotlight for his actions, he merely sought to serve his country." Skip Twitter post by @BenAffleck Tony Mendez was a true American hero. He was a man of extraordinary grace, decency, humility and kindness. He never sought the spotlight for his actions, he merely sought to serve his country. I’m so proud to have worked for him and to have told one of his stories. #RIPTonyMendez — Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) January 20, 2019 Report Former CIA deputy director Michael Morell also tweeted that Mendez "was one of the best officers to ever serve at CIA". "His work was unique, and it help [sic] to protect our nation in significant ways." Mendez's literary agent, Christy Fetcher, said: "He was surrounded with love from his family and will be sorely missed." 'An artist first' Born in 1940, Mendez worked as a draughtsman after graduating from university and joined the CIA after answering a blind advert for a graphic artist. Over a 25-year career he worked with Hollywood make-up artists and magicians to perfect disguises and fake identities. He served in multiple foreign posts, mostly in Asia. In 1980 he orchestrated what would later be called the "Canadian Caper", a daring rescue of six American diplomats from Iran. The diplomats were forced to shelter in Canada's embassy in Tehran after protesters overran the American embassy. Mendez met the six and helped them to pose as a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a non-existent sci-fi movie, Argo. With Canada's help, the group was able to evade Iranian security services and board a flight to Zurich from Tehran. After retiring from the CIA, Mendez ran an art studio and wrote three memoirs about his experiences. "I've always considered myself to be an artist first," he told the Washington Post, "and for 25 years I was a pretty good spy." \|\|\|\|\| Tony Mendez, the CIA disguise expert whose daring rescue of six Americans from Iran was immortalized in Ben Affleck’s Oscar-winning movie “Argo,” has died. He was 78. Mendez passed away Saturday at an assisted-living center in Frederick, Maryland, his wife and fellow CIA veteran, Jonna Mendez, told the Washington Post. The cause was Parkinson’s disease, according to a tweet from his literary agent, Christy Fletcher. Mendez was working as a draftsman when he was recruited by the CIA in 1965 to work as a technical operations officer. He served as a spy in Laos, India and the Soviet Union before masterminding the undercover scheme that liberated six State Department workers from Tehran following the 1979 revolution that led to the infamous seizure of the US Embassy and the ensuing hostage crisis. The elaborate operation involved creating a fictitious Hollywood production company so the diplomats could be passed off as a film crew that had been working on a sci-fi movie in Iran. It was dubbed the “Canadian Caper” because the Americans were hiding out inside the homes of two Canadian diplomats. Mendez’ memoir about the mission inspired the 2012 movie “Argo,” in which he was portrayed by Affleck, who also directed. “Argo” raked in more than $232 million at the box office and won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. “Tony Mendez was a true American hero,” Affleck wrote on Twitter. “He was a man of extraordinary grace, decency, humility and kindness. He never sought the spotlight for his actions, he merely sought to serve his country. I’m so proud to have worked for him and to have told one of his stories. #RIPTonyMendez” Mendez received the Intelligence Star, one of the CIA’s highest honors, following the mission, but his crucial role, and that of the CIA, remained secret until 1997, when he was named one of 50 “trailblazers” from the spy agency’s first 50 years. In addition to his book, “Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History,” Mendez was the author of “The Master of Disguise: My Secret Life in the CIA” and “Spy Dust: Two Masters of Disguise Reveal the Tools and Operations That Helped Win the Cold War,” which he co-wrote with his wife. Their latest book, “The Moscow Rules: The Secret CIA Tactics That Helped America Win the Cold War,” is set to be released in May. “The last thing he and his wife Jonna did was get their new book to the publisher and he died feeling he had completed writing the stores that he wanted to be told,” his family said in a statement. In addition to his wife, Mendez is survived by two children from his first marriage; a son from his second marriage; several sisters; and two grandchildren. Another son died earlier. \|\|\|\|\| Tony Mendez, The 'Argo' Spy Who Rescued Americans In Iran, Dies At 78 Enlarge this image toggle caption Cliff Owen/AP Cliff Owen/AP Tony Mendez became a legend inside the CIA with his daring 1980 rescue of six American diplomats who were given shelter by the Canadian Embassy in Tehran after the U.S. Embassy had been stormed by Iranian revolutionaries. But the "Canadian Caper" remained classified for nearly two decades, and Mendez didn't receive full acclaim until the Oscar-winning movie Argo, came out in 2012, with Ben Affleck portraying him. Mendez, who was 78 and had Parkinson's disease, died Saturday at an assisted living facility in Frederick, Md., outside Washington, according to the International Spy Museum, where Mendez was a founding board member. "He was a legendary intelligence officer," said the museum's Executive Director Chris Costa. Many former CIA colleagues praised his work, including Mike Morell, the former CIA deputy chief, in this tweet: During his quarter-century at the spy agency, Mendez served in multiple foreign posts, spending much of his time in Asia. He was a specialist in "exfiltration," the art quietly slipping people out of a country where they were endangered. For this reason, he was selected to travel secretly to Iran in January 1980. In the previous year, the U.S.-backed shah of Iran fled the country amid mounting turmoil in the streets, and the cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini took power. Iranian revolutionaries then stormed the U.S. Embassy on Nov. 4, 1979, taking all the Americans there hostage. But six additional American diplomats, who were not at the embassy when it was overrun, made their way to the Canadian Embassy, where they were given shelter. Mendez slipped into Iran and met up with the six. Armed with Canadian passports and false identities, the six diplomats posed as a Canadian film crew doing location scouts for a sci-fi movie. They were able to get past Iran security officers at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport and board a Swissair flight to Zurich on Jan. 28, 1980. Jonna Mendez, the former chief of disguise at the CIA, explains how to hide one's identity. YouTube While the escape was filled with tension, Hollywood took liberties with the story. Mendez actually carried out the operation with another CIA officer, who does not exist in the film. In real life, that man has lost touch with all his former colleagues, and his whereabouts are unknown, Mendez's wife, Jonna Mendez, told NPR in an interview last month. The movie also shows Iranian authorities chasing the plane down the runway as it is lifting off. In reality, the plane sat on the tarmac for an hour while a mechanical repairs were made. The Iranians never knew who was on the plane. When the flight cleared Iranian air space, Mendez celebrated by ordering a Bloody Mary and toasting the diplomats: "We're home free." When Mendez returned to the U.S., President Carter gave Mendez the Intelligence Star, one of the CIA's highest honors. But it was all done secretly, and the CIA role in the operation was not revealed until 1997. The 52 American hostages at the U.S. Embassy were held for 444 days and not released until January 1981. Mendez's legacy extends well beyond his exploits in Iran. Mendez was gifted at disguise and worked with Hollywood makeup artists and magicians to bring their techniques to the CIA. He entitled his 1999 memoir The Master of Disguise. "Not a lot of people are aware that our disguise program was informed by some of the special effects people in L.A.," Jonna Mendez told NPR. Like her husband, Jonna Mendez also had a long career with the CIA and both served, at different times, as the agency's chief of disguise. "Tony also wanted to know how the magicians did a lot of the things that they do, because he thought that we might like to emulate them," she said. Tony Mendez had Spanish and British ancestry and could blend in almost anywhere, she said. "He could be Pakistani, he could be Mexican, he could be from a lot of different countries," she said. "It was incredible to work with my husband." The couple has written a book about their work in the Soviet Union, Moscow Rules, which is set to be published in May. Greg Myre is a national security correspondent. Follow him @gregmyre1.	Former United States Central Intelligence Agency agent died Saturday, aged 78, at a , Maryland assisted living facility. Mendez is known for organizing the safe return in 1980 of several U.S. nationals who had during the . Tony Mendez, left, with then-President Jimmy Carter in 1980. Former CIA deputy director praised Mendez on Twitter: "Tony was one of the best officers to ever serve at CIA. His work was unique, and it help to protect our nation in significant ways. He will be missed. May he Rest In Peace." Mendez once told ''The Washington Post'' he considered himself "an artist first." He worked as a draftsman before applying for a graphic artist job in 1965 that turned out to be at the CIA. Mendez spent most of his 25-year career at posts outside the U.S., many in Asia. He specialized in removing people from areas that had become dangerous for them, a process called "exfiltration." He studied makeup and special effects for use in his work, later titling his memoir ''The Master of Disguise''. Mendez's wife Jonna Mendez, also CIA, said, "He could be Pakistani, he could be Mexican, he could be from a lot of different countries... It was incredible to work with my husband." In 1979, and captured the U.S. embassy, taking dozens of people there hostage. They would be held for 444 days. Six other U.S. diplomats fled to the Canadian embassy and hid until Mendez and another agent successfully smuggled them out of the country disguised as a Canadian film crew working on a supposed movie called ''Argo''. The events were nicknamed "the Canadian Caper" and later made into an -winning film of the same name — '''' — in 2012, with directing and playing Mendez. For his work, Mendez was awarded the by then-U.S.-president Jimmy Carter, though the CIA's involvement in the Argo rescue remained a secret until 1997. Affleck tweeted, "Tony Mendez was a true American hero. He was a man of extraordinary grace, decency, humility and kindness. He never sought the spotlight for his actions, he merely sought to serve his country. I'm so proud to have worked for him and to have told one of his stories." According to his publicist, Mendez died of . He is survived by his wife, Jonna, three children from two marriages, two grandchildren, and his sisters. Another son has predeceased him. He has authored three books, one with his wife. A fourth, also co-written with Jonna Mendez, is due out in May. == Sources == * * * CAT:United States CAT:Obituaries CAT:Iran CAT:Maryland CAT:Politics and conflicts CAT:Canada CAT:Film
BRUSSEL - Als er in België geen stemplicht was, zou één Waal op de drie (32,8 procent) zondag thuis blijven. In Henegouwen zou dat aantal zelfs op 41,7 procent liggen. Dat blijkt uit een peiling van Dedicated Research in opdracht van Vers l'Avenir, waarover de krant zaterdag bericht.De peiling werd uitgevoerd tussen 1 en 3 juni bij 2.000 Walen. Slechts 64,6 procent van de respondenten geeft aan dat ze ook zouden gaan stemmen als dat niet verplicht was.Dat is een laag cijfer, stelt Marc Dumoulin, afgevaardigd bestuurder van Dedicated Research. Volgens hem zegt normaal gezien 26 tot 27 procent dat ze niet zouden gaan stemmen als dat niet verplicht was.Het aantal mensen die niet zouden gaan stemmen, ligt het hoogst in Henegouwen (41,7 procent ). Daarna volgen de provincies Luxemburg (31,1 procent ), Namen (31 procent ), Luik (25,9 procent ) en Waals-Brabant (24,5 procent ).Het echte aantal afwezigen zondag zal heel wat lager liggen. 4,3 procent van de respondenten verklaart zondag niet te zullen gaan stemmen of een blanco stem te zullen uitbrengen. \|\|\|\|\| Obama Says U.S. Lacks Leadership on Virus in Virtual Commencement Speeches The virus has “torn back the curtain on the idea that the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” former President Barack Obama said. \|\|\|\|\| Article réservé à nos abonnés #guillotine2020, un hashtag contre la déconnexion des élites et le confinement romantisé des célébrités Apparue sur les réseaux sociaux des Etats-Unis pour se moquer des stars, cette résurgence numérique de l’inconscient sans-culotte est devenue politique en France. \|\|\|\|\| Heute Nacht hab ich geträumt, ich hätte mich einer Schönheitsop unterzogen. Drei Mal dürft ihr raten, was ich hab machen lassen im Traum… Meine Brüste! (Haha Klische). Lustigerweise war ich wirklich schon einmal in einer schönheitschirurgischen Klinik in Leipzig, aber das ist eine andere Geschichte… Eigentlich mag ich meine Brüste voll und ich weiß auch […] \|\|\|\|\| hacun s'accorde en tout cas sur un point. L'équation, après le 10 juin, ne sera pas simple. Si on en croit les sondages, le cartel CD&V/N-VA caracole en tête, l'Open Vld n'arrive pas à redresser la barre et Groen! devrait à nouveau disposer d'une représentation fédérale. sp.a/Spirit se tasse un peu. On n'annonce pas de raz de marée Vlaams Belang. Du côté francophone, on ne remarque aucun changement important. Les rapports de force entre les formations politiques restent globalement pareils même si MR et PS se tassent un peu et que Ecolo et cdH remontent. La grande question est de savoir si Francophones et Flamands seront sur la même longueur d'onde sur la nécessité de réformer l'Etat et donc sur celle de disposer d'une majorité des 2/3. Du côté flamand, la réponse à la question est claire. Tous les partis veulent des avancées institutionnelles. Du côté francophone, les choses sont plus nuancées mais on peut supposer que même ceux qui acceptent l'idée d'une réforme de l'Etat ne voudront pas acheter un chat dans un sac. La négociation pour la formation d'un gouvernement pourrait dès lors être très longue. Leterme Premier ministre Un des scénarios évoqués dans les milieux politiques et parmi les observateurs, consiste à voir le ministre-président flamand Yves Leterme (CD&V) désigné formateur [futur Premier ministre] - son parti a toutes les chances de sortir vainqueur des élections - et tenter d'obtenir un accord institutionnel impliquant une tripartite traditionnelle. Son parti veut en effet à tout prix plus de pouvoir pour les Régions. On va même jusqu'à dire que le poste de premier ministre ne l'intéresse pas mais qu'il l'accepterait uniquement par devoir pour rendre ce service à la Flandre. Les exigences institutionnelles du CD&V, renforcées encore par son cartel avec les nationalistes de la N-VA seront donc plus que probablement très élevées ce qui rendra la négociation difficile. D'autant plus qu'Yves Leterme n'a pas les faveur des leaders francophones qui le qualifient de dangereux et d'arrogant. S'il échoue, la voie serait alors ouverte pour quelqu'un d'autre. Ce pourrait être le président du sp.a Johan Vande Lanotte. Même en cas de victoire électorale du CD&V, la famille sociale chrétienne ne sera pas la première sur l'échiquier politique en raison du score plus modeste du cdH. En revanche, la famille socialiste pourrait conforter sa position étant donné la faiblesse actuelle des libéraux flamands. Retour des Verts flamands sur la scène politique L'arrivée aux commandes de M. Vande Lanotte laisserait la porte ouverte à toutes les possibilités avec peut-être, à ce stade, une préférence pour l'arc-en-ciel qui serait rendu possible grâce au retour sur la scène politique des Verts flamands, effacés de la carte fédérale en 2003. C'est d'autant plus plausible que la présidente de Groen! , Vera Dua, a déjà dit que si son parti est à nouveau présent au parlement fédéral, il sera candidat au pouvoir. Les socialistes pourraient aussi opter pour une coalition avec les sociaux-chrétiens et les Humanistes et renvoyer les libéraux dans l'opposition. Ce scénario est redouté tant au MR qu'au VLD où on ne l'exclut nullement. Quant à une alliance entre sociaux-chrétiens et libéraux elle semble très improbable même si ce cas de figure satisferait pas mal de monde dans les deux camps. L'antagonisme des responsables des formations concernées est actuellement tel qu'il faudrait beaucoup de temps pour les amener à se réconcilier. Devant la situation complexe qui risque donc de sortir des urnes, on peut supposer que personne ne sautera de joie à l'idée de se lancer le premier dans la formation d'un gouvernement. C'est sans doute la raison pour laquelle la discussion sur le poste de premier ministre, qui ne faisait jusqu'à présent débat qu'après les élections, est un des sujets de préoccupation du monde politique et des observateurs depuis des mois. Yves Leterme est présenté comme celui qui se sacrifierait sur l'autel de "16" pour faire avancer les choses en faveur de la Flandre. L'actuel premier ministre Guy Verhofstadt (Open Vld) se verrait bien rempiler après deux mandats et s'est déjà posé en conciliateur pour un dialogue avec les Francophones. Johan Vande Lanotte reste prudent. Il pourrait être candidat, si les socialistes sont la première famille et si le sp.a est plus grand que le PS, a-t-il dit tout en ajoutant qu'un premier ministre francophone ne lui semble pas possible... Un Premier ministre francophone Depuis des mois, on reparle en effet d'avoir un premier ministre francophone. On cite le nom de plusieurs personnalités et plus spécialement celui du président du PS Elio Di Rupo. On peut toutefois se demander quel intérêt un francophone pourrait-il avoir de se lancer à la tête d'un gouvernement pour piloter de nouvelles avancées institutionnelles dont il ne veut fondamentalement pas. A moins d'entrer en piste après le constat qu'un accord sur une réforme de l'Etat est impossible... La formation du gouvernement fédéral aura aussi de l'influence sur les gouvernements des entités fédérées. La constitution d'un gouvernement entraîne presque toujours un jeu de chaise musicale avec les autres niveau de pouvoir. Si Yves Leterme monte au fédéral, il faudra un nouveau ministre-président flamand. On évoque pour ce poste le nom de l'actuel ministre flamand Kris Peeters mais cela poserait un problème politique, dit-on en Flandre, Kris Peeters, qui est extraparlementaire, n'étant pas élu au Parlement flamand. Quelque soit le gouvernement fédéral, la ministre flamande Inge Vervote passera au fédéral. Elle siégera de toute façon à la Chambre. On peut aussi se demander si Elio Di Rupo restera ministre-président wallon. Celui-ci reste très discret sur le sujet mais le ministre de l'Economie, Jean-Claude Marcourt, semble le mieux placer pour lui succéder. Il est en effet celui qui pilote la mise en oeuvre du Plan Marshall. L'arrivée du cdH au fédéral verrait plus que probablement Joëlle Milquet devenir vice-première ministre ce qui pourrait avoir des conséquences pour la présidence du parti. On pourrait également profiter de l'après 10 juin pour effectuer d'autres changements. Certains évoquent le départ de Christianne Vienne, fragilisée après l'affaire Rovillard, ou celui de José Happart, en décalage avec la direction du parti. \|\|\|\|\| Geen kentering voor Open VLD CD&V; op 29,9 procent BRUSSEL - CD&V;/N-VA is op een zucht de verkiezingen onbetwist marktleider. Vlaams Belang profiteert van de harde kanselierscampagne. Het Vlaams kartel blijft inongenaakbaar de grootste van Vlaanderen. De peiling werd in de eindsprint van de campagne afgenomen: 75 procent van de respondenten werd deze week gebeld, 50 procent zelfs nog dinsdag en woensdag.CD&V;/N-VA rijdt met 29,9 procent een dag voor 10 juni standvastig aan kop. Ook begin mei strandde het kartel op een zucht van de 30 procent. Dat betekent forse winst ten opzichte van 2003, toen CD&V; en N-VA samengeteld 26,3 procent haalden. Kopman Yves Leterme (CD&V;) steekt ook met kop en schouders boven zijn uitdagers uit, 41 procent van de Vlamingen verkiest hem als premier boven de andere twee kandidaten.Regeringspartij Open VLD blijft ondertussen trappelen onder de 18 procent, de hevige campagne-inspanningen van premier Guy Verhofstadt leveren in de peiling alvast weinig resultaat op. Met 17,7 procent winnen de liberalen 0,4 procent ten opzichte van begin mei.Slechts 26 procent ziet de huidige eerste minister ook graag zichzelf opvolgen. ‘En toch is het aan het keren voor ons. Het gevoel van de straten en de markten is anders dan dat van de opiniepeilers en opiniemakers’, reageert Verhofstadt.Ook de motor van de derde kandidaat-premier, Johan Vande Lanotte (SP.A), sputtert. Hij weet zijn SP.A/Spirit niet richting het streefdoel van 22 procent te duwen. Het progressief kartel zakt zelfs opnieuw onder de drempel van 20 procent. 19,4 procent is het laagste peilingresultaat sinds 2004.Vlaams Belang krijgt de laatste week wel opnieuw wind in de zeilen, de oppositiepartij plukt mogelijk de vruchten van de bitse campagne tussen de kandidaat-premiers. De extreemrechtse partij haalt 21,4 procent en maakt zich op om zondag ook ruim boven de 20 procent af te klokken.Op de rechterflank komt ook Jean-Marie Dedecker opnieuw met zijn neus aan het venster piepen. LDD klimt na teleurstellende peilingen met 3,7 procent opnieuw zachtjes in de richting van de kiesdrempel.Groen! trappelt ondertussen ter plaatse met 7,7 procent. Ondanks stevige aandacht voor het klimaatthema in de campagne, slagen de groenen er niet in om iets los te maken in Vlaanderen.	The federal elections in Belgium tomorrow will decide the fate of the 8-year-long coalition of liberals and socialists, and will shake the cards for what politicians admit will be long and difficult negotiations. Voting is mandatory in Belgium, and Belgians abroad have already voted, although their votes will only be counted tomorrow. A recent survey in the French-speaking part of Belgium shows that if voters could choose, 1 out 3 would stay at home.
reddit is a source for what's new and popular online. vote on links that you like or dislike and help decide what's popular, or submit your own! \|\|\|\|\| reddit is a source for what's new and popular online. vote on links that you like or dislike and help decide what's popular, or submit your own! \|\|\|\|\| reddit is a source for what's new and popular online. vote on links that you like or dislike and help decide what's popular, or submit your own! \|\|\|\|\| reddit is a source for what's new and popular online. vote on links that you like or dislike and help decide what's popular, or submit your own! \|\|\|\|\| Helen Thomas deserves some flowers. Organized by Micah Fitch deliveries start monday! I have announced this on reddit.com: http://reddit.com/info/6h94g/comments/ A Wiki Page This is really amazing! I have created a wiki page to organize ideas and suggestions! Hi!This is really amazing! I have created a wiki page to organize ideas and suggestions! http://www.wordhop.com Helen Thomas Confronts Perino On Torture; Perino Denies and Lies If you don't know what's going on, check out these links: http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/04/23/helen-thomas-confronts-perino-on-torture-perino-denies-and-lies/ http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/04/23/helen-thomas-confronts-perino-on-torture-perino-denies-and-lies/ http://youtube.com/watch?v=HuWTAgz_NSc http://reddit.com/info/6gymw/comments/c03t7k5 Let's send Helen Thomas some flowers! < Previous entries Next entries > \|\|\|\|\| This actually isn't the first time that a flower drive's been started for Thomas's questioning. Reddit readers are pouring in donations to send flowers to veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas-- over $1,140 raised so far . The reason: Thomas grilling Dana Perino from her front row seat over torture. \|\|\|\|\| On April 9, ABC News reported that in 2002, President Bush’s most senior advisers approved the use of harsh interrogation tactics. Days later, Bush confirmed to ABC he “approved” of the tactics. Sadly, the media have largely ignored the story since it was first reported. Moreover, not one White House press corps reporter has raised the issue with the Bush administration…until today. During this afternoon’s White House press briefing, reporter Helen Thomas noted that Bush “has admitted that he did sign off on torture” saying it damages “the credibility of this country.” But press secretary Dana Perino denied that the United States has ever tortured detainees and referred to testimony from CIA Director Michael Hayden as evidence: THOMAS: The president has said […] we do not torture. Now he has admitted that he did sign off on torture, he did know about it. So how do you reconcile this credibility gap? […] PERINO: The United States has not, is not torturing any detainees in the global war on terror. And General Hayden, amongst others, have spoken on Capitol Hill fully in this regard. […] And you can go back through all the public record. Watch it: In fact, during a February 5 Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Hayden said outright that “waterboarding has been used” on three detainees in U.S. custody. But Hayden has refused to label waterboarding “torture,” calling it a “legal term” which seems to fit nicely with the Bush administration’s self-serving narrowed legal definition. But waterboarding is torture and illegal under both U.S. and international law – with experts, government officials and those who have been subject to the harsh treatment all agreeing. Seeming to acknowledge her colleagues’ absence on this story, an exasperated Thomas said out loud after her exchange with Perino: “Where is everybody? For God’s sakes.” Digg It! \|\|\|\|\| I'm so glad to hear that Helen Thomas got something more than the usual hate mail from the Right after she grilled Bushie last week.Roses are nice, but after all this legendary woman has put up with, the least we can do is get her a Dem in the White House - asap!From The Hill The roses kept coming - and coming - and coming - to the Hearst Newspapers office in downtown Washington on Thursday, until they filled a large conference room to overflowing.By the time the Federal Express delivery was complete, there were 108 dozen roses, nearly 1,300 in every color. They were the result of an e-mail campaign to show support for Hearst columnist Helen Thomas after she grilled President Bush about his Iraq policy at last week's White House news conference.The campaign was the brainchild of Clarity Sanderson, a 31-year-old Democratic activist from Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City, who was motivated by the sharp exchange between Thomas and Bush, and by an op-ed article Thomas wrote about the exchange in the Salt Lake Tribune. "Those two things set me off," Sanderson said in a telephone interview Friday.Sanderson, a work-at-home web designer and mother of two who is co-chairwoman of the Utah Democratic Progressive Caucus, said she saw a note on the website democraticunderground.com suggesting that people e-mail Thomas to thank her for asking Bush "the questions all Americans want answered about Iraq." "I thought, 'Let's take it a step farther," she said, and sent an e-mail asking people to donate to her Pay Pal account to send roses to Thomas.That was last Friday. By Monday she'd received more than $2,200. She ordered the roses and 100 glass vases from an online floral service in San Francisco, Organic Bouquet, and they were delivered Thursday. Thomas, the 85-year-old veteran White House journalist whose outspoken criticism of the Bush administration has drawn much hate mail from Bush supporters in recent years, said Friday that she was overwhelmed by the avalanche of roses."It sure beats the brickbats," she said, referring to hundreds of vitriolic e-mails she's received since last week's encounter with Bush. "Some of them attack you ad hominem and call you a traitor and ask if you've ever been to Iraq," she said. "I think it's the frustration of those who are angry with me and take it out in e-mail. I think there should be a logical debate, but maybe that's not possible during an ongoing war." Thomas shared her roses with Hearst bureau chief Chuck Lewis and other colleagues and sent the bulk of them to wounded military personnel at Walter Reed Army Hospital.Asked about Bush's response to her pointed question about his Iraq policy, she said, "He could not answer my question. He kept referring to Afghanistan. He never articulated the reasons we're in Iraq. I don't think there's any justification for an unprovoked war against somebody who did nothing against us." Thomas had received hundreds of supportive e-mails by Friday afternoon, bearing such messages as, "O-M_G … I LOVE THAT LADY!" "We all owe her so much more than roses," "Her little finger has more class than George Bush does," and "Helen Thomas kick ass!"Hat tip to the Memphis bloggers over at Pesky Fly	President George W. Bush conveys birthday wishes in 2006 to reporter Helen Thomas in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room. On Wednesday, long-time White House correspondent questioned Press Secretary bluntly and repeatedly about United States President George W. Bush's recent confirmation that he had approved interrogation policies that included . "Where is everybody?" asked Thomas, apparently frustrated with lack of attention her colleagues had given the issue. The community at the social news site '''' answered "Here we are"; a message they plan to deliver along with several thousand dollars in flowers and other gifts. Thomas's questions became front-page news on ''reddit'' this morning, via a ''Think Progress'' blog post that includes a 2 video clip of Thomas during yesterday's press briefing. Noting the president's repeated assertion that the U.S. does not torture, Thomas characterized the authorized interrogation techniques as torture. "Now he has admitted that he did sign off on torture, he did know about it," said Thomas, "so how do you reconcile this credibility gap?" Perino reiterated that the "United States has not, is not torturing any detainees in the global war on terror." Whether waterboarding, among other techniques, should be categorized as torture has been a subject of political contention in recent months. Thomas was unequivocal, responding to Perino: "That's not my question. My question is, why did he say publicly 'we do not torture', when he really did know that we do?" In appreciation of the reporter asking "A REAL QUESTION" (as the headline put it), reddit users (known as "redditors") have collected over $3,000 for the purchase of flowers, edible arrangements and other gifts. Several 'redditors' also claimed to have ordered flowers for Thomas independently. The bulk of the money was collected through ''Chipin.com'', on a donation page created Micah Fitch, a musician and graphic designer in , Minnesota. As of publication, the site registered 400 contributors for a total of $3,125. Fitch also created a wiki, ''FlowersWiki'', for organizing the gift purchases and selecting messages to go with them. A large delivery to the offices of Thomas's employer Hearst Newspapers is being scheduled for Friday morning. One redditor claims that a friend who works for '''' is pitching the story to the show's staff. This is not the first time Thomas has received a high-volume flower gift. In 2006, an e-mail campaign that began on the political website collected over $2000 and resulted in delivery of 108 dozen roses.
Dublin ace Tomas Quinn held his nerve in the Parnell Park pressure cooker to gain a modicum of revenge for last summer's Leinster championship defeat, as the Metropolitans recorded a 0-11 to 0-09 defeat of Westmeath in division 1A of the National Football League. It was the reaction of both managers after the whistle that caught the eye, however, with Westmeath chief Páidí Ó Sé and Dublin's Paul Caffrey engaging in a war of words. Ó Sé O said that he received an "unsporting gesture" from the Dublin camp and it resulted in a frank exchange of views between the two as they crossed the pitch. When the dust had settled, Dublin were just delighted with the two-point win which goes a long way to securing their top-flight position for another season. Quinn was their hero up front chipping in 0-7 on the night to tip the scales Dublin's way to the delight of the home fans following their Leinster defeat to Westmeath last June. Quinn delivered when it really mattered, levelling affairs at 0-9 apiece with moments to go and then putting them ahead in the 68th minute. Despite spurning a five-point advantage earlier in the half this was a lead they wouldn't relinquish and Declan Lally tacked on a fine point in injury time to seal it. Life needn't have been so difficult for Dublin because five first-half converted frees from Quinn gave them a half-time lead of 0-6 to 0-3. They deserved it too, with Des Dolan converting all three of Westmeath's points from placed balls. In fact, the visitors didn't score from open play until David O'Shaughnessy's 50th minute score. By that stage Dublin still had their double scores advantage at 0-8 to 0-4 but Westmeath slowly whittled it down. The introduction of Joe Fallon was crucial and two points from him helped Westmeath score an unanswered 0-6 to move 0-9 to 0-8 ahead. But not for the first time this season Quinn was calm in the eye of the storm levelling in the 67th minute with a converted free from 45 metres out. Quinn and Lally ensured victory with those late scores before the managers stole the show in the aftermath. Dublin: S Cluxton; P Griffin, P Christie, S O'Shaughnessy; P Casey, B Cullen P Andrews, C Whelan, S Ryan; C Moran, L Og O hEineachain, D Lally (0-1); M Vaughan, C Keaney (0-1), T Quinn (0-7; 6f). Subs.: D Homan (0-1) for Whelan (y/c) 35+2, S Connell (0-1) for O hEineachain h/t, C Goggins for O'Shaughnessy (inj) 53, J Sherlock for Vaughan 58. Westmeath: G Connaughton; J Davitt, D O'Donoghue, J Keane; M Ennis (0-1), D Healy, D McDermott; R O'Connell, D O'Shaughnessy (0-1); J Brennan, M Flanagan, P Mulvihill; A Mangan, Denis Glennon (0-1), D Dolan (0-4; 4f). Subs.: D Kilmartin for O'Donoghue (y/c) 22, J Fallon (0-2) for Mulvihill 26, D Mitchell for Flanagan h/t, David Glennon for Mangan (inj) 58, D Heavin for McDermott 69, P Tormey for Brennan 72. Referee: P McEneaney (Monaghan) \|\|\|\|\| Dubs overcome Westmeath 12/03/2005 - 22:16:48 Dublin 0-11 Westmeath 0-09 St Vincents' marksman Thomas Quinn thumped over seven points as Dublin moved fourth in the Allianz NFL Division 1A standings, edging Leinster champions Westmeath under the Parnell park floodlights. A dour battle - which saw two yellow cards dished out to Dublin's Ciaran Whelan and the visitors' centre back Donal O'Donoghue - was decided by Quinn's handsome haul, all bar one of which came from frees. Dessie Dolan and Quinn shared the early scoring with the latter hitting four frees to All-Star Dolan's two by the 26th-minute. Conal Keaney's well-struck score four minutes later tallied the game's first point from play and despite losing Whelan for a heavy challenge on Alan Mangan, the Dubs were 0-06 to 0-03 in front at the break. Efforts from substitute Senan Connell and Whelan's replacement Darren Homan stretched the home lead on the restart. Westmeath had to wait until 49 minutes before registering a third score through returning skipper David O'Shaughnessy. The midlanders began to irk more influence with Joe Fallon pointing twice, with Denis Glennon and Dolan (free) levelling it up with nine minutes remaining. Paidi O Se's men went in through Michael Ennis, however it was the Dubs who had the stamina in the final furlong as Quinn squared it up, then notched his first from play and watched gleefully as substitute Jason Sherlock set up Declan Lally for the clinching score - and a narrow, but deserved win. DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P Griffin, P Christie, S O’Shaughnessy; P Casey, B Cullen, P Andrews; C Whelan, S Ryan; D Lally, L Og O hEineachain, C Moran; M Vaughan, C Keaney, T Quinn. WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; J Davitt, D O’Donoghue, J Keane; M Ennis, D Healy, D McDermott; R O’Connell, D O’Shaughnessy; J Brennan, M Flanagan, P Mulvihill; A Mangan, D Glennon, D Dolan. Referee: P McEnaney (Monaghan). RELATED URLS:- Get your FREE Ringtones, Java Games & Colour Logos from IOL 's NEW My Mobile site GAA News \| Messageboards \| Print Version \| Email to friend \| Previous Page © Thomas Crosbie Media, 2005.	A rather unimpressive Dublin side narrowly beat an even less impressive Westmeath side last night in front of a capacity (10,000) crowd at Dublin's Parnell Park to bag two points in the Allianz NFL Division 1A match. The first half included a succession of poor wides by Dublin's forwards, but Westmeath failed to capitalise on the mistakes of their opponents, finishing the half with just three points. The second half was a slightly better contest with a sudden burst of energy by the Westmeath forwards producing several points to bring the game back to level pegging at 0-8 to 0-8. However with several chances squandered and consistently poor passing, Westmeath fell two points behind in the final few minutes of the game.
Somali pirates have seized another ship, this one a cargo vessel with 22 crew members. The Greek-owned MV Filitsa was hijacked Wednesday in the Indian Ocean, 750 kilometers northeast of the Seychelles islands. The vessel was carrying cargo from Kuwait to South Africa. The European Union's anti-piracy force says the crew includes three Greeks and 19 Filipinos. There are reports that Somali pirates have also hijacked a fishing boat. The identity of that vessel was not immediately clear. The pirates have hijacked at least eight boats in the Indian Ocean since the start of October. The pirates are holding at least 12 ships overall, with more than 200 crew members. Naval forces from the U.S., EU, NATO, and other world powers are patrolling the waters around Somalia trying to protect commercial shipping. But the patrols appear to have little impact on the pirates, who have focused their efforts on the vast Indian Ocean. Many hijackings have occurred near the Seychelles, a group of islands southeast of Somalia. On Tuesday, the European Union signed an agreement to deploy troops on the Seychelles to help fight the pirates. Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters. \|\|\|\|\| Pirates seize Greek vessel off Seychelles MOGADISHU — Somali pirates on Wednesday captured a Greek cargo ship with its 24 crew members off the Seychelles, an Indian Ocean nation off which the hijackers have ramped up attacks in recent weeks. The Filitsa was seized while on its way to South Africa from Kuwait ferrying a chemical cargo of urea, said Andrew Mwangura of the Kenya-based Seafarers Assistance Programme. The hijackers used three speed boats to launch the attack, according to Abdi Yare, a pirate who spoke to AFP by phone from Harardhere, a village in northern Somalia and a safe haven for the sea bandits. Filitsa's crew include 19 Filipinos and three Greeks, and was seized 400 kilometres (250 miles) off the Seychelles, the European Union's naval mission said. The Marshall Islands-flagged Filitsa, which was heading for Durban when it was hijacked, has been turned round and is currently moving north, the EU's Atalanta mission said. In a separate incident, Somali pirates also seized a fishing boat in the Indian Ocean nearer to the lawless Horn of Africa country, said Mwangura, but the vessel's identity was not yet clear. Later the EU reported that two inflatable boats from Norwegian warship Fridtjof Nansen returned fire when they were shot at from dhows, some 400 metres (1,300 feet) away, during a routine patrol off the Somali coast. There were no casualties on the EU side as their boats "withdrew to a safe distance, the Atalanta mission said. Since last month, Somali pirates have gone on the rampage in the Indian Ocean with calm waters at the end of the monsoon season enabling them to launch attacks as far as 1,000 nautical miles from the capital Mogadishu. Last year, Western nations deployed a flotilla of warships to secure the Gulf of Aden as a surge in piracy threatened a key maritime route. This has since seen the pirates switch to the Indian Ocean. On Tuesday, the Seychelles and the European Union signed an agreement authorising EU naval forces to hunt and detain suspected Somali pirates in waters off the Seychelles. The deal is also designed to help the tiny Indian Ocean nation develop its own anti-piracy capacities, the foreign affairs ministry said. The Seychelles had already signed similar agreements with France and the United States. The latest spate of hijackings has seen the seizure of several vessels, including an Indian cargo ship, a Spanish trawler, a Singapore container ship and a Chinese bulk carrier. At the weekend, pirates captured a cargo ship from the United Arab Emirates whose cargo has sparked a dispute, with a Somali government official saying it comprised weapons. But the cargo owners have denied the claim, saying the vessel which was seized on November 7 was ferrying building equipment and an assortment of general cargo to Mogadishu. In a statement, Ismail Haji Noor -- the Somalia transitional government's anti-piracy official -- said the ship had a "a wide range of weapons." He added that he had informed the EU's anti-piracy operation Atalanta of the hijacking and "the unfortunate possibility that the captors themselves could now offload the weapons and bring them to shore - to either use or sell them". Noor said that despite his warning no Atalanta vessels in the area had sailed to Garad where the "weapons ship" was brought ashore to investigate or prevent arms from being offloaded. Details of the ship, including its name, were unclear. But the trader who says he owns much of the cargo on the vessel have denied there are arms aboard. "Categorically, it is a lie that the ship was carrying weapons, this kind of nasty propaganda will only help pirates," Juba General Trading Company chairman Abdi Ali Farah told AFP by phone. "Dubai is not a source of weapons but is the hub of essential goods for commerce." Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »	Somali pirates have seized a cargo vessel with 22 crew members. The Greek-owned MV Filitsa was hijacked on Wednesday in the Indian Ocean, several hundred kilometres northeast of the Seychelles islands. The ship was carrying cargo from Kuwait to South Africa. The European Union's anti-piracy force Atalanta said the crew includes three Greeks and 19 Filipinos. The ship has turned around and is now heading north, Atalanta said. There were conflicting reports as to whether the vessel was seized 400 kilometres or 750 kilometres off of the Seychelles coast. There are reports that Somali pirates have also hijacked a fishing boat, but identity of that vessel was not immediately clear. The pirates have hijacked at least eight boats in the Indian Ocean since the start of October. They are holding at least a dozen ships overall, with more than 200 crew members. Naval forces from the United States, EU, NATO, and other world powers are patrolling the waters around Somalia trying to protect commercial shipping; however, the patrols appear to have had little impact on the pirates, who have focused their efforts on the vast Indian Ocean. Many hijackings have occurred near the Seychelles, a group of islands southeast of Somalia.
SAIPAN: An earthquake of 7.2 magnitude struck in the Mariana Islands region on Saturday some 375 kilometres (230 miles) west of the US territory of Guam, US geologists said.However, the Northern Marianas emergency management office said there were no reports of damage in the island nation, which stretches between Hawaii and the Philippines.The quake struck at 7:19 am (2119 GMT Friday), with its epicentre at a depth of just 4.7 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said.The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no indication of any tsunami.No tremor was felt in Saipan, the largest island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain, nor in Hagatna, the capital of neighbouring Guam.An aftershock measured at 6.3 magnitude hit the island chain at a depth of nine kilometres some 10 hours later but did not trigger a tsunami warning. \|\|\|\|\| SAIPAN: An earthquake of 7.2 magnitude struck in the Mariana Islands region on Saturday some 375 kilometres (230 miles) west of the US territory of Guam, US geologists said.However, the Northern Marianas emergency management office said there were no reports of damage in the island nation, which stretches between Hawaii and the Philippines.The quake struck at 7:19 am (2119 GMT Friday), with its epicentre at a depth of just 4.7 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said.The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no indication of any tsunami.No tremor was felt in Saipan, the largest island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain, nor in Hagatna, the capital of neighbouring Guam.An aftershock measured at 6.3 magnitude hit the island chain at a depth of nine kilometres some 10 hours later but did not trigger a tsunami warning. \|\|\|\|\| 7.2 magnitude quake strikes off Mariana An earthquake of 7.2 magnitude has hit the Mariana Islands region, in the north-western Pacific Ocean, some 375 kilometres west of the US territory of Guam, US geologists say. The quake struck at 7.19am local time on Saturday (0719 AEST) with its epicentre at a depth of just 4.7 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said. However the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no immediate indication of any tsunami. No tremor was felt in Saipan, the largest island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain. \|\|\|\|\| Strong Quake Occurs South Of Mariana Islands KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- An earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter Scale occurred south of the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific Ocean at 5.20am today, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department. It said the epicentre of the quake was 1,484km northeast of Davao in the Philippines and 2,703km northeast of Lahad Datu in Sabah. The department said no tsunami warning was issued following the strong quake. -- BERNAMA	Location of Mariana Islands in the . An earthquake of 7.2 magnitude on the struck the Mariana Islands today. The epicenter was located 1,484 kilometers northeast of , Philippines and 2,703 kilometers northeast of , at a depth of 4.7 kilometers. The eathquake struck Mariana at 07:19 a.m. local time (09:19 p.m. Friday). The Northern Marianas emergency management office said that there were no damages reported in the nation. Also the said that there was no Tsunami indication. No tremors were felt in any of the major islands like nor in , the capital of Guam. An aftershock measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale hit the islands ten hours later but it did not trigger a tsunami.
The Kentucky census worker found hanging from a tree with the word “fed” scrawled on his chest staged his death to look like a homicide so that his son could collect his life insurance, the authorities said Tuesday. “We believe this was an intentional act,” said Trooper Don Trosper, a Kentucky State Police spokesman. “We believe the aim was to take his own life.” The naked body of the census worker, Bill Sparkman, was found Sept. 12 hanging from a tree near a cemetery in the Daniel Boone National Forest in southeastern Kentucky. Image Bill Sparkman's death had raised concern that he was killed because of his work. Credit... The Times-Tribune, via Associated Press One of the witnesses who found the body said Mr. Sparkman, 51, was bound with duct tape, gagged and had an identification badge taped to his neck. A rope was tied around his neck, attached to a tree, and the word “fed” was on his chest, the police said. \|\|\|\|\| LEXINGTON, Ky. — A U.S. census worker found dead in a secluded Kentucky cemetery killed himself but tried to make the death look like a homicide, authorities have concluded. Bill Sparkman, 51, of London, Ky., might have tried to cover the manner of his death to preserve payments under life-insurance policies that he had taken out. The policies wouldn’t pay off if Sparkman committed suicide, state police Capt. Lisa Rudzinski said. “We believe it was an intentional act on his part to take his own life,” Rudzinski, who helped lead the investigation, said Tuesday. Sparkman’s nude body was found Sept. 12 by people visiting the cemetery in Clay County, Ky. There was a rope around his neck tied to a tree, and he had what appeared to be the word “fed” written on his chest in black marker. His census identification card was taped to his head. The bizarre details of the death caused a firestorm of media coverage and widespread speculation that someone angry at the federal government attacked Sparkman as he went door to door, gathering census information. . If there had been no writing on his chest and his identification hadn’t been taped to him, police could have concluded more quickly that Sparkman’s death was a suicide, Rudzinski said. Instead, it took considerably more investigation to rule out homicide. Police even analyzed the ink on Sparkman’s chest to see how the letters were applied, in order to determine whether it was more likely that someone else wrote on him or he wrote on himself. Tests indicated that the letters were applied from the bottom to the top — not the way an assailant facing Sparkman would write them. Police concluded that Sparkman wrote on himself, Rudzinski said. Ultimately, there was no evidence to point to murder, she said. More keys suggested suicide Tests results showed that there was no DNA other than Sparkman’s on the rag in his mouth or on another rag found near his body. Those results, which police received only recently, were a pivotal development. Other evidence also pointed to suicide as the manner of Sparkman’s death, police said. For instance, there was no evidence that Sparkman had struggled with anyone. There were no wounds on his body, Rudzinski said. Tests ruled out any theory that he was drugged and unconscious when he was tied to the tree, making the lack of signs of a struggle more significant. Also, Sparkman’s glasses were taped to his head. The question that raises is why a killer would care whether Sparkman, who had poor vision, could see what was going on. On the other hand, if Sparkman was writing on his chest or preparing to kill himself, it would matter that he could see. And although it is true that Sparkman died of asphyxiation from the rope around his neck, he was not dangling from the tree the way people commonly perceive hanging, Rudzinski said. His legs were bent at the knee and his knees were less than six inches off the ground, Rudzinski said. Sparkman could have stood up, taken the pressure off his neck and not died. Sparkman’s hands were bound, but loosely, allowing him to move them shoulder-width apart, Rudzinski said. The significance of that is that Sparkman could have created by himself all the conditions found at the scene, such as tying the rope around his neck and putting a rag in his mouth, Rudzinski said. “We do not believe he was placed in that position” by someone else, Rudzinski said. Authorities don’t think there was any single event that pushed Sparkman to take his own life, but rather a combination of issues. He had significant debt and hadn’t been able to get a full-time job, Rudzinski said.	Kentucky State Police said yesterday that the September 12 death of census worker Bill Sparkman was suicide. His body was found naked in a Clay County, Kentucky cemetery, with "Fed" written on his chest and his census identification taped to his neck. This prompted widespread speculation that anti-government sentiment was responsible. However, police now believe that Sparkman deliberately killed himself, and tried to make it look like murder so his son could receive an insurance payout. Trooper Don Trosper, a Kentucky State Police spokesman, said, "we believe this was an intentional act. We believe the aim was to take his own life." This conclusion is based on the police's analysis of several elements of the crime scene; Sparkman was not hanged in the typical manner; his knees were less than six inches off the ground, and he could have avoided death simply by standing up before he suffocated. Captain Lisa Rudzinski, a leader of the investigation stated, "We do not believe he was placed in that position." The letters of the word "Fed" were written bottom first, which is unlikely if they had been written by an attacker. The rag found in his mouth contained only Sparkman's DNA. Police also believed he left glasses taped to his head so he could see while preparing. Police suspect Sparkman's motives included debt, failure to find a full-time job, and a desire to provide for his son through his life insurance. ==Sources== * *
PHOENIX -- A Delta Air Lines flight from Detroit to San Diego was diverted to Albuquerque, N.M., on Sunday because of a security scare but authorities found "no suspicious devices" on the plane, an FBI spokesman said. Agency spokesman Frank Fisher declined to clarify the nature of the "potential security threat" that caused Flight 1706 to land in New Mexico. He said agents searched the plane and interviewed the crew and 107 passengers before clearing the aircraft to fly again. Albuquerque International Sunport spokesman Daniel Jiron also declined to say what the potential threat was. No one was arrested. The flight was diverted at 10 a.m. MDT, and Jiron said it was cleared to fly again around 12:30 p.m. The plane took off from Albuquerque at 4:23 p.m. and was expected to arrive in San Diego at 5:15 p.m. PDT. Passenger Tim Cole, 55, of Hazleton, Penn., told The Associated Press that the pilot told passengers a note with the word "bomb" on it was found in one of the plane's bathrooms. "The captain came on and said: `You notice we're declining. We're getting ready to divert. It's probably a hoax, but we've got to take this very seriously,"' Cole said from the Albuquerque airport. Fisher did not answer repeated questions by phone and email about the note. Cole said he and the other passengers were brought to a warehouse at the airport, and FBI agents and dogs searched everyone's carry-on luggage. He said an agent asked him only a couple of questions, and that all passengers got water, soda and pizza. "I know some people were afraid but everybody has been pretty good," he said. "I travel all the time, so you know, I'm just one of those people who says `What happens, happens.' I'm really glad they take it so seriously." Also Sunday, a Continental Airlines flight from Houston to Chicago was diverted to St. Louis after a passenger tried to open the plane's door midflight. The passenger was taken into custody. \|\|\|\|\| Plane cleared to fly after 'security threat' in NM PHOENIX (AP) — A Delta Air Lines flight from Detroit to San Diego that was diverted to Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Sunday has been cleared to take off again after authorities found "no suspicious devices" on the plane, an FBI spokesman said. Agency spokesman Frank Fisher declined to clarify the nature of the "potential security threat" that caused the plane to be diverted to New Mexico. He said agents searched the plane and interviewed the crew and 107 passengers before clearing the aircraft to fly again. Albuquerque International Sunport spokesman Daniel Jiron also declined to say what the potential threat was. The flight was diverted at 10 a.m. MDT. Jiron said it was cleared to fly again around 12:30 p.m. but doesn't know what time the plane would take off. Passenger Tim Cole, 55, of a Hazleton, Pennsylvania, told The Associated Press that the pilot told passengers that a note that had the word "bomb" on it was found in one of the plane's bathrooms. "The captain came on and said 'You notice we're declining. We're getting ready to divert. It's probably a hoax, but we've got to take this very seriously,'" Cole said from the Albuquerque airport. Fisher did not answer repeated questions over the phone and by email about the reported note. Cole said he and the other passengers were brought to a warehouse at the airport after FBI agents and dogs searched everyone's carry-on luggage. He said an agent asked him only a couple of questions, and that all passengers got water, soda and pizza. "I know some people were afraid but everybody has been pretty good," he said. "I travel all the time, so you know, I'm just one of those people who says 'What happens, happens.' I'm really glad they take it so seriously." Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Flight Cancelled One or more of our data sources have indicated that this flight has been cancelled. Please contact the airline for more details.	File photograph of a . U.S. security officials have cleared a passenger jet diverted to New Mexico to take off again because "no suspicious items" had been found. The aircraft was reportedly initially diverted after the crew found a note with the word "bomb" written on it in the lavatory, but security officials have declined to comment on the nature of the "potential security threat". Delta Airlines 1706 — a domestic U.S. flight between and San Diego — diverted to in , where the aircraft was taken to a remote area of the airport. Passengers were interviewed by FBI agents, and dogs searched all the luggage on board. No one has yet been arrested, but the note has been determined to be hoax. One passenger said the spoke over the intercom, saying: "We're getting ready to divert. It's probably a hoax, but we've got to take this very seriously." After being cleared of any threat, the aircraft was expected to continue to San Diego. == Sources == * * * *
Sehwag hammers double century AMIR SINGH IN BANGALORE VIRENDER Sehwag hammered 201 as India reached 379 for six in reply to Pakistan’s first innings 570 at stumps on the third day of the final test yesterday. India, lead the three-match series 1-0. Sehwag hit 28 fours and two big sixes over long on in his 262-ball knock. The 26-year-old looked in complete control, putting on 98 for the opening wicket with Gautam Gambhir (24), 74 with Rahul Dravid (16), 85 with Sachin Tendulkar (41) and 80 with Vangipurappu Laxman (51 not out). Sehwag reached 3,000 test runs, becoming the fastest Indian to the milestone, when he got to 160 with a single to square-leg. He then reached his second double-century off 260 deliveries, with two runs to extra-cover. Sehwag, however, fell two balls later when leg spinner Danish Kaneria beat him in the air for a simple caught and bowled. Kaneria then had Saurav Ganguly (1) stumped with a googly while wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik was dismissed by Mohammad Sami for ten, leaving Laxman at the crease as the last recognised batsman and the visitors with the upper hand. In Auckland, New Zealand were 199 for five at the close of the first day’s play of the third test against Australia. Hamish Marshall top scored with 76. \|\|\|\|\| In 262 balls and 201 runs, he confronted the essence of batsmanship. Against a first-innings total of 570, pressure was assured, yet he began as early as the third over of the day, forcing a drive through the covers off tall off-spinner Arshad Khan. Thereafter, he went about his work with furious abandon. He is accused of lacking technique; as numerous drives and glided angled cuts through point showed, he is quite correct, just not conventionally so. His game is unique, built on minimal movement of feet, but flawless hand-eye coordination and quick hands. Soon after lunch, after reaching a tenth Test century in just 35 matches, he erupted. Medium-pacer Abdul Razzaq was hit for three boundaries in one over, including a flicked cut through third man that momentarily didn't register, such was the casualness and lack of preparation involved in its creation. Dismissive of landmarks, Sehwag brought up his 150 with a six over long-on off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria. His 200 was brought up with a miscued, looping slog, imperfect in execution, but audacious in intent. In the process, he became the fastest Indian batsmen to score 3,000 Test runs. But above all, it is his pace that challenges convention. Over his career, he has scored at roughly 4.5 runs an over; here he was faster. 'The only thing in my mind is that I have to hit the loose balls to the boundary,' h e said. 'If I miss out, I always think I can do it off the next ball.' Two balls after he brought up his second double hundred - his first against Pakistan was a triple - he was gone, caught and bowled by Kaneria. Such is Sehwag's significance to the team, once he was dismissed India lost two further quick wickets. Sourav Ganguly, hopelessly out of form, lasted four balls, on one of which he was dropped. His dismissal, stumped off a Kaneria googly one ball later, was symbolic of his recent descent given how dominant he once was against spin. So precocious is he that without his contribution, India might have been contemplating defeat already. On a pitch that had already seen a double hundred by Pakistan vice-captain Younis Khan and a near-double by captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, India's legend-heavy top order failed to take Sehwag's cue against an inexperienced, but persevering attack. Fast bowler Mohammad Sami, for so long hype without substance, had somehow fashioned a fierce, menacing morning spell from a benign pitch. His dismissal of opener Gautam Gambhir was a pyrrhic victory of sorts, bringing to the crease as it did, hometown boy Rahul Dravid. Now the top-ranked batsman in the world and fresh from twin centuries in the Kolkatta, Dravid looked composed from the start, until, in trying to sweep Kaneria, he was adjudged leg-before for 22. The low score was keeping in tradition with a bewilderingly poor record on his home turf. Sachin Tendulkar, still in search of the record-breaking thirty-fifth Test hundred, started scratchily. Soon, he countered the spin of Khan and Kaneria by employing paddle sweeps through fine leg and conventional sweeps through square leg or midwicket. His dismissal, caught at point off Shahid Afridi for 41, was sudden, offering Pakistan some respite during the afternoon session when, together with Sehwag in an 85-run partnership, he had threatened to yank the advantage away from Pakistan. Now 191 runs behind, four wickets in hand and two days to go, another tense, intriguing conclusion awaits.The wicket, as Sehwag said, is 'still very good for batting. It depends on how we play tomorrow, if we bat well till tea then the pressure will be on Pakistan whether they want to play for a draw or go for a win.' Much will depend on VVS Laxman, who came in after Tendulkar. He made 58 by close, the majority the work of an incorrigible stylist. He unveiled a wristy cover drive early off Afridi crouched, almost on one knee, the kind of pose from which you would make a commemorative statue. Like Sehwag's hand earlier, this too was unique, and for Pakistan's chances of levelling the series, threatening.	'''''India v Pakistan - Third Test, Day 3 - Bangalore, India''''' File image of cricket ball. Virender Sehwag's characteristic 201 wasn't enough to help India to safety, as a late spur of wickets in the final session left the hosts at 6-379, in response to Pakistan's first innings score of 570, still trailing by 191 runs, at close of play on Day 3 of the third and final Test of this historic series. Sehwag dominated each and every Pakistani bowler during his dominant batting display, a second score of 200+ against the sub-continental neighbours. His innings, which could have been brought to an end when he was 43 when Asim Kamal missed a sharp chance at short leg, constituted 28 fours and two mammoth sixes. Sehwag shared vital partnerships with fellow opener Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar; however none of those blossomed into a dominating partnership, which could have brought the match in the middle, instead of giving Pakistan the edge. Gambhir was the first wicket to fall on the day, when caught at slip off a wide Sami delivery for 24, ending a 98-run opening partnership. But his wicket had no effect on Sehwag's concentration, as he kept blasting ball after ball, reaching the three-figure mark, when the team scored had reached only 150. Dravid, on the back of two centuries in the last match, looked solid enough to threaten the Pakistani bowling, however a surprising lapse in concentration had him trapped in front of the wickets off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, for 22. Even as Sachin Tendulkar, the new man in, looked shaky to start with, Sehwag continued his onslaught, reaching his 150, as well as 3000 runs in Test cricket, becoming the fastest Indian to achieve that landmark. Tendulkar soon found his feet though; even playing the customary paddle sweep that he has made his trademark. His dismissal was brought about by Shahid Afridi, who deceived him, to edge a straight drive to Younis Khan at backward point. Post-tea, Sehwag galloped to the double hundred, before losing his cool, just two balls later, to Kaneria, giving a simple caught and bowled chance to the leggie. India lost two more wickets, within just 37 runs, to end up on the back foot at the end of the day. Sourav Ganguly, eluded of a century since more than a year, was stumped off a well-disguised googly for one, off Kaneria again, who finished with three wickets. VVS Laxman remained unbeaten on 51, with Irfan Pathan joining him at the fall on the sixth wicket, that of Dinesh Kaarthick for 10.
The US has ruled out any hasty withdrawal Some 60% of people in 35 countries surveyed believe this is the case, against just 12% who think terrorist attacks have become less likely. In most countries, more people think removing Saddam Hussein was a mistake than think it was the right decision. Some 41,856 people were questioned in the poll for the BBC's World Service. In 20 countries, there is overall support for US-led forces to withdraw from Iraq in the next few months. Click below to see the poll's key results in graphs More details Only in nine of the remaining 15 countries do more people believe US-led forces should remain until the situation is stabilised. Six countries are divided. The removal of Saddam Hussein in 2003 is seen as a mistake in 21 countries, compared with 11 countries where more people view it as the right decision. Three countries are divided. "It's official. Citizens worldwide think Western leaders have made a fundamental mistake in their war on terror by invading Iraq," says Doug Miller, president of the international polling firm GlobeScan, which carried out the survey. "Short of the Iraqi government asking them to stay longer, people think the troops should leave," he says. The countries most eager for US coalition withdrawal are Argentina (80%), Egypt (76%), China (67%) and Brazil (67%). Those which favour troops staying for the time being are the US (58%), Afghanistan (58%), Australia (57%) and Great Britain (56%). Iraqis divided However, the picture would be very different should the new Iraqi government ask US-led forces to remain until the situation was stabilised. In that case, there is support in 21 of 34 countries for the coalition to stay. Iraqis themselves are sharply divided over whether US-led forces should leave, with 49% favouring their removal and 49% favouring them to remain. Support for troops staying rises only slightly, to 53%, if the Iraqi government requests it. Iraqis are the most convinced that the removal of Saddam Hussein was right, with 74% agreeing with the move. US President George W Bush has ruled out any hasty withdrawal from Iraq, saying the decision to will be made by military commanders, and not under political pressure. \|\|\|\|\| Terror threat Respondents were asked whether they thought the Iraq war had increased, decreased or had no effect on the likelihood of terror attacks around the world. In 33 of the 35 countries surveyed, those who said the global terror threat had increased outnumbered those who said it had decreased. \|\|\|\|\| By Jonathan Marcus BBC diplomatic correspondent Click below to see the poll's key results in graphs More details That is a question more for military analysts and security experts. But if the findings of a new opinion poll for the BBC are anything to go by, it certainly seems to be losing the battle for global public opinion. The poll was carried out by the international opinion research firm GlobeScan, together with the Programme On International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland (Pipa) in the US. "Though the Bush administration has framed the intervention in Iraq as a means of fighting terrorism, all around the world - including in the US - most people view it as having increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks," Pipa director Steven Kull notes. "The near-unanimity of this assessment among countries is remarkable in global public opinion polling." Staying put? The poll also indicates that there is a strong body of opinion in 20 of the 35 countries surveyed that believes US-led forces should withdraw from Iraq in the next few months. POLL: VIEWS ABOUT IRAQ Poll results in detail (2.6MB) Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download the reader here In Iraq itself, opinion is evenly divided with 49% favouring an early withdrawal and the same number wanting US-led forces to stay. However, in terms of global opinion, the picture changes sharply if the Iraqi government asks the troops to stay. In this case, there are majorities for the troops remaining until the job is done in two-thirds of the countries questioned. That scenario did not change too many people's minds in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey, where there were still clear majorities for the US troops to leave as soon as possible. However in Iran, perhaps surprisingly, support for the US-led forces remaining jumped from 36% to 74% in response to an Iraqi request. Opinion matters Any such survey is a snapshot of opinion at one particular moment. It is evident that the terror threat has shot up Bob Macdonald, London, UK Send us your views With headlines on all sides about Iraq "drifting towards civil war", will people simply be confirmed in their opinions? Or will the drama of what is happening encourage them to think again? Public opinion today matters like never before. In part, this is because domestic politicians in many countries have drafted in the pollsters, analysts and methods of the commercial world to better understand the political market-place. Washington's efforts to spread democracy around the world - especially to the Middle East - represents America's most ambitious foreign policy initiative since the bid to contain Soviet Russia at the outset of the Cold War. In many ways, it is more ambitious, and it depends in large part on shaping attitudes. Unfinished business Given these results - especially those from Middle East, where three of America's major regional allies, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey, were included in the survey - there is still a great deal of work to do. US diplomats are well aware of the problems. The way things in Iraq have turned out has inevitably complicated Washington's task. Critics say that the US represents itself as the country of democracy, freedom and individual opportunity but, instead they argue, its standing has been tarnished in many peoples minds by Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. This points to an interesting problem: we are dealing here with perceptions, and perceptions are often complicated, even contradictory, and difficult to reduce to a simple answer. There is no doubt, for example, that the Iraq war has shifted attitudes in the Middle East against Washington, even among its traditional friends. Equally, the US way of life remains a pole of attraction for many ordinary people, and it's not just a question of jeans and Hollywood. Consider one intriguing set of answers in this poll - those of ordinary Iranians on the question of US troop withdrawal from Iraq. If requested by the Iraqi government, some 74% of Iranians say the US-led troops should stay, a level of support only rivalled by that in Australia, one of America's staunchest allies. High stakes So what does this mean? Well, for one thing, many Iranians may see the Shia element of the Iraqi government as being friendly towards them. They may also fear instability on their borders. But equally we know from other opinion polls that the attitude of many ordinary Iranians - especially the young - to the US is remarkably positive. Opinion polls appear to simplify, but in fact they provide yet another insight on an ever-more complex world. Thus measuring opinion is of vital importance to policy-makers and analysts. In some ways, it is all not so new. At the height of the Cold War, Nato used to conduct regular detailed surveys of opinion within its member countries to try to spot any shifts in public attitudes towards the alliance, defence spending and so on. Today, the stakes are just as high. A whole new discipline has been created, that of "public diplomacy". And it is a field where the traditional diplomat often sits side-by-side with the opinion pollster and the expert on social attitudes. \|\|\|\|\| Despite polls, Bush says he has 'capital' President Bush told ABC's Elizabeth Vargas on Tuesday he wasn't concerned about ratings. RELATED YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS George W. Bush Dick Cheney Elizabeth Vargas or or Create Your Own (CNN) -- President Bush said in a Tuesday interview that he wasn't concerned about his low approval ratings, and he discussed how he told Vice President Dick Cheney, who was shaken by his hunting accident earlier this month, to "share it with the American people." "If I worried about polls, I wouldn't be doing my job," Bush told ABC's Elizabeth Vargas in the interview, which aired on "World News Tonight." The president's approval rating dropped to 34 percent in a CBS News poll released Monday. CNN/USA Today/Gallup polls taken since October have put his approval ratings in the high 30s to mid-40s. (Watch what's contributing to the drop in his support -- 2:33) "I fully understand that when you do hard things, it creates consternation at times," Bush said. "I've been up in the polls, and I've been down in the polls -- it's just part of life in the modern era. I think the American people -- I know the American people want somebody to stand on principle, make decisions and stand by them and lead this world toward a more peaceful tomorrow, and I strongly believe we're doing that. And I enjoy it. It's a fantastic opportunity." He also said he feels he has "ample capital" despite his sagging polls. The president also defended Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who has faced criticism -- and calls for his resignation -- over the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina. "He's doing a fine job," Bush said. "I also know he's willing to accept criticism and respond." Bush added that he didn't think Chertoff would try to resign. Among other topics, Vargas asked Bush how Cheney is doing in the wake of his hunting accident, in which the vice president accidentally shot a friend and hunting partner. "He was shaken," Bush said, adding that he noticed it when Cheney visited him in the Oval Office. "I said, 'Dick, this got you, didn't it?' And he said, 'It sure did.' I said, 'Well, if you feel like it, you ought to share it with the American people.' " He told Vargas he hopes that his presidency, in retrospect, will be viewed as an "agent for peace." Home Page Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more. Home Page Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more. ALL AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY	Sixty percent of respondents in an international survey conducted for the BBC World Service felt that the likelihood of terrorist attacks around the world has been increased by the war in Iraq. The international polling firm ''GlobeScan'' conducted the survey, which polled 41,856 residents of 35 countries between October 2005 and February 2006. Participants were asked, "Has the war in Iraq increased, decreased or had no effect on the likelihood of terrorist attacks around the world?" Fifteen percent felt that the likelihood or terrorism had decreased; 12 percent felt there had been no effect; and 13 percent did not answer. Out of the 35 countries polled, only Mexico and Nigeria thought the invasion lessened the likelihood of terrorist attacks. By contrast, 85 percent of Chinese respondents said they felt the invasion increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks. Other questions asked in the poll found that 45 percent of respondents felt removing Saddam Hussein from power was a mistake, compared to 36 percent who felt the removal was the right decision. The poll also found that results were split on whether the foreign troops should remain in Iraq until the country is stable: 35 percent said they believed the troops should stay, 32 percent felt the troops should pull out within a few months, and 13 percent thought that a pull-out should occur within a few months unless the government of Iraq requested them to stay. "It's official. Citizens worldwide think Western leaders have made a fundamental mistake in their war on terror by invading Iraq," Doug Miller, president of ''GlobeScan'', said. "Short of the Iraqi government asking them to stay longer, people think the troops should leave," he said. In the United States, the ''GlobeScan'' poll found that 55 percent thought chances of terror attacks were increased. In an unrelated poll conducted in the U.S. by ''CBS News'', only 36 percent of U.S. respondents thought "the war is going well," and that 30 percent felt "Bush was doing a good job of handling the conflict." This U.S. poll also found that only 18 percent held a favorable view of Vice-President Dick Cheney. In a televised interview with Elizabeth Vargas of ABC's ''World News Tonight'' which aired last Tuesday, President Bush said, "If I worried about polls, I wouldn't be doing my job," on the topic of his low U.S. approval ratings. "I think the American people — I know the American people want somebody to stand on principle, make decisions and stand by them and lead this world toward a more peaceful tomorrow, and I strongly believe we're doing that," he said. "I've got ample political capital and I'm using it to spread freedom and to protect the American people, plus we've got a strong agenda to keep this economy growing." President Bush also said that Iraqis must choose between "chaos or unity."
A suicide bomber disguised as a police officer set off one of two blasts on Wednesday morning [AFP] A suicide bomber disguised as a police officer set off one of two blasts on Wednesday morning [AFP] The first blast occurred in the town of Kizlyar in the southern province of Dagestan on Wednesday morning, when car bomb near a school was detonated, killing two police officers. At least 12 people have been killed and another 18 injured in two bomb blasts in Russia's volatile North Caucasus region, two days after a deadly attack on Moscow's transport network. Rashid Nurgaliyev, Russia's interior minister, said the bomb went off as police tried to stop the suspicious-looking car. He said as police and residents gathered at the scene of the blast a suicide bomber, wearing a police uniform, approached and detonated a set of explosives. A high proportion of those killed were policemen, authorities said, including the town's police chief. The blasts come just two days after twin suicide bomb attacks in Moscow's metro system killed 39 people and injured scores. Escalation in violence Russian officials have blamed Muslim separatist fighters from the North Caucasus for those attacks. Neave Barker, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Moscow, said there are fears that the bombings in Moscow and Dagestan are pointing to an escalation in violence in Russia. "The parallels are quite striking between the attacks in Dagestan and Moscow," he said. "This morning the federal security service said the two female suicide bombers that blew themselves up in Moscow may have been acting as part of a group of up to 30 more suicide bombers. "The security service believes they could have been recruited and trained by a man called Said Buryatskiy, or Alexander Tikhomirov, who was a well-known Chechen warlord. "He was killed in a special operation by Russian forces at the beginning of March. "Officials have said that both of these attacks may be a revenge for the killing of one of their principal commanders in the field." 'More violations' The North Caucasus has been the site of two wars in Chechnya and hundreds of violent attacks since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Violence has spread from Chechnya to the neighbouring regions of Dagestan and Ingushetia. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Magomed Mutsolgov, a human rights worker in Ingushetia, said: "There will be some tighter security here, more police checks, even rough violent checks, not just because of what happened in Dagestan but also in Moscow. "And across all the north Caucusus there will be more raids, and lots of checks of suspicious people. "There will be various lists – relatives of people who died, relatives of militia, relatives of victims. "I'm sure there will be more violations, persecutions and discomfort for people. To put it mildly. I don't doubt this will happen". 'War is coming' In February, Doku Umarov, the leader of a Chechen opposition group, said in an interview on a separatist-affiliated website that "the zone of military operations will be extended to the territory of Russia". Umarov, who claimed responsibility for the bombing of a passenger train travelling between Moscow and St Petersburg in November, warned that "the war is coming to their cities". Monday's attack - the deadliest in the Russian capital in six years - has fuelled fears of a broader offensive by separatists based in the North Caucasus. Vladimir Putin, Russia's prime minister who led Moscow into a war against Chechen separatists in 1999, said on Tuesday that those behind the bombings must be scraped "from the bottom of the sewers" and exposed. \|\|\|\|\| Backgrounder: Major terrorism attacks in Russia linked to Russia's North Caucasus Special Report: Twin blasts rock Moscow subway Twelve people, including nine police officers, were killed in two blasts on Wednesday in the town of Kizlyar in Russia's volatile North Caucasus region of Dagestan. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) MOSCOW, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Twelve people, including nine police officers, were killed in two blasts on Wednesday in the town of Kizlyar in Russia's volatile North Caucasus region of Dagestan. "In the blasts, 12 people have been killed, nine of them were police officers, including the Kizlyar police chief. Twenty-three others have been hospitalized, suffering with various injuries," Vladimir Markin, spokesman for the Investigative Committee of Russian Prosecutor General's Office, told the Interfax news agency. Dagestani authorities has launched a criminal investigation over the two explosions, he said. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has been informed of the terrorist attacks in Kizlyar. "Medvedev has also spoken to Dagestan's President Magomedsalam Magomedov over the phone. The president ordered (Dagestani authorities) to provide all-round support for the families of the victims, as well as to provide all necessary assistance, including medical and financial, to the people injured," the press service told Russian media. In the first explosion happened at 08:30 a.m. Moscow time (0430 GMT), a roadside car was denoted by a suicide bomber when a police car was passing by, killing three people including two police officer, the regional Interior Ministry spokesman Vyacheslav Gasanov told the Itar-Tass. As investigators and residents gathering at the scene of the blast, a second bomber dressed as a policeman approached and set off explosives, killing the town's police chief among others, said Vyacheslav Gadzhiyev, another spokesman for the ministry.	Two bombings in the northern Caucasus region of Russia have killed at least twelve people and injured another eighteen. The explosions occurred in Kizlyar, a town in the Dagestan province. The first bomb was detonated in a car near a school, killing two police officers, at around 08.30 Moscow time (04.30 UTC). According to Russian interior minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, police tried to stop the car before it blew up, as they had thought it looked suspicious. The second explosion was caused by a suicide bomber disguised as a police officer. He had approached the scene of the first bombing as passerby and security gathered, and set off explosives. According to officials, many of the dead were policemen, among them the Kizlyar police chief. "In the blasts, twelve people have been killed, nine of them were police officers, including the Kizlyar police chief. Twenty-three others have been hospitalized, suffering with various injuries," commented a spokesman for the Investigative Committee of Russian Prosecutor General's Office, Vladimir Markin, to Interfax. He also noted that a criminal investigation into the bombings has been started.
Air accident investigators believe a modification to a bar unit on a passenger jet may have been responsible for a fire in electrical wiring which forced the crew to make an emergency landing. A preliminary report into the serious incident on board a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340 en route from Heathrow to Chicago last month was published today. There were 143 passengers and 13 crew on board when the rescue services responded to a full-scale emergency on January 11th last. The aircraft made an emergency landing at Shannon airport after the crew reported a small fire in the bottom of a waste bin storage compartment of the bar unit in the first class section of the plane. Virgin Atlantic said at the time there had been no fire on board. The fire was located in a hole in the floor of the compartment, the report by the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) said today. Cabin crew noted that a damaged electric cable loom appeared to be sticking out of the hole and there was ‘arcing’ in the hole – a phenomenon that can result from an electrical fault. The cockpit crew turned off power circuits, but the fire and arcing persisted, the report said. “The captain declared an emergency and diverted to Shannon, where the aircraft landed safety some 30 minutes later.” As the plane diverted, five 1kg fire extinguishers were used by the cabin crew in efforts to stop the fire. These subdued the flames but the arcing persisted. After each application, the fire restarted after about five minutes. The flames were not large but were described by witnesses as “licks of flame”. After landing, the airport fire service tackled the fire with a 5kg extinguisher, but a glow continued to be observed at the bottom of the hole, the accident report said. Fire chiefs discussed the situation with the crew and the aircraft was powered down. The glow then disappeared and no further arcing was observed. Investigators found the cable loom in the bottom of the waste bin compartment had been “completely severed” and bore “strong evidence of burning/arcing”. The wiring loom in question consisted of 10 wires in a protective sheath and was used to provide power and dimming circuits for “mood” lighting in the bar unit counter top. It appeared the lower edge of the metal waste bin made contact with the wiring loom. Investigators said there was “no evidence” of a protective metal cover and rails that should have been present to keep the bin above the wiring loom. “Initial inspection indicated the possibility that they were never fitted,” the report said. The bar unit itself was a modification, specific to Virgin aircraft. It was installed three years ago, seven years after the aircraft was manufactured. Investigators said a fleet inspection of Virgin’s A340-300 and A340-600 aircraft found that a number of them also had problems relating to missing covers, rail screws and cable routing in this area. Damage to the same wiring loom was found on one other aircaft. The AAIU report said a similar bar is installed in Virgin’s Boeing 747-400 fleet, but the same potential for cable damage did not arise in that aircraft. “While the cause of the wiring damage to this aircraft has been determined, significant other issues are being examined by the investigation. These include the difficulties faced by the crew in isolating the damaged circuits, the emergency checklist, the design of the modification and the standards relating to such modifications,” the report stated. The investigation is ongoing and a final report will be published by investigators in due course. Virgin Atlantic said it immediately launched an investigation and a thorough inspection of its aircraft in full co-operation with the AAIU after the incident. “A few minor issues were found and were immediately rectified,” said a spokesman. “The installation of the bar was carried out in accordance with all relevant regulations. Virgin Atlantic continues to assist the AAIU in their investigation and looks forward to the full report with interest.” Additional reporting: PA \|\|\|\|\| LONDON, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Wiring problems were found on four Virgin Atlantic aircraft during an inspection after a fire onboard a Virgin Atlantic flight, officials in Britain said. The fire led to an investigation last month into electric wiring in 36 of the airline's planes. The investigation found four aircraft had faulty or defective wiring systems that controlled "mood lighting" in the first class bar areas, The Daily Mail reported Friday. Ireland's Air Accident Investigation Unit ordered the international checks after a Virgin flight from London to Chicago Jan. 11. The flight made an emergency landing in Ireland some 20 minutes after takeoff, and a preliminary report found that a cabin crew using five extinguishers could not put out the small fire at the bottom of a waste bin storage compartment on the Airbus A340-300. The safety defects were fixed after the inspections, the newspaper reported. "While the cause of the wiring damage to this aircraft has been determined, significant other issues are being examined by the investigation," the investigator's report said.	A Virgin Airbus A340 Investigators in Ireland have found wiring problems in several Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340s as part of their investigation into a fire on board one such aircraft that was forced to divert to Shannon Airport. The Virgin jet was headed from London Heathrow Airport to Chicago with 143 passengers and thirteen crew on January 11 this year. A small fire was noticed in a waste bin storage area in the first class section's bar unit. A damaged wiring loom could be seen sticking out of a hole in the compartments floor, and there was visible electrical arcing in the area. An attempt was made to control the situation by switching off electrical circuits, but both the fire and the arcing continued unchecked. The aircraft's captain declared an emergency and diverted to Shannon, which the airliner reached thirty minutes later. During that time, the crew used five 1kg fire extinguishers upon the fire, but each time the arcing continued and after about five minutes the fire reignited. Witnesses described the fire as consisting of “licks of flame”. After performing a safe emergency landing the airport's Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting department tackled the fire with a 5kg extinguisher but met with similar results. After consulting with the crew the jet's power was completely shut down, after which the fire was finally put out. Virgin initially claimed the fire had never occurred. Investigators with Ireland's Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) inspected the loom and found it to be “completely severed” and exhibiting “strong evidence of burning/arcing” according to a preliminary report released on Friday. The loom was identified as providing power and dimming circuits for mood lighting in the bar. The AAIU says that it seems the loom had contacted the metal waste bin in the compartment above. There should have been rails to hold up the bin and a protective metal cover, but “no evidence” of these was found and the report notes that “Initial inspection indicated the possibility that they were never fitted.” The bar unit is a modification exclusive to Virgin. The AAIU ordered all 36 of the airline's A340s worldwide inspected, with both France and the United Kingdom assisting with this. The UK has identified four other aircraft with faulty wiring, it has now been revealed. Virgin says that “A few minor issues were found and were immediately rectified,” and adds that “The installation of the bar was carried out in accordance with all relevant regulations. Virgin Atlantic continues to assist the AAIU in their investigation and looks forward to the full report with interest.” The AAIU says that "significant other issues are being examined by the investigation" in addition to the wiring defects. “These include the difficulties faced by the crew in isolating the damaged circuits, the emergency checklist, the design of the modification and the standards relating to such modifications,” said the report. Virgin's Boeing 747-400 fleet also has a similar bar installed on it, but there was not considered to be a risk to the aircraft's wiring on that model. The fire involved a bar added three years ago, with the aircraft manufactured in 1998.
Attempts to cool down a stricken reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan have suffered a further setback with radiation levels rising rather than falling after attempts to douse it with high-pressure hoses. Six fire engines and a police water cannon were sent in on Thursday evening to spray the plant's No 3 reactor. But afterwards radiation emissions rose from 3,700 microsieverts per hour to 4,000 per hour, the Kyodo news agency quoted Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) as saying. An earlier attempt in which military helicopters dropped thousands of litres of water on the plant also appeared to have failed. As part of the desperate new tactics to avert nuclear meltdown, Chinook helicopters targeted the No 3 reactor's spent fuel rod pool, which is overheating and at risk of releasing dangerous radioactive steam. Two helicopters flying at less than 300 feet dumped four loads of water. Footage suggested much of it missed the target. Emergency crews and the military are trying to cool the reactor and replenish a pool containing spent fuel rods. Tepco has been unable to take precise measurements but the pool at No 3 is feared to be almost empty, raising the risk that the rods will overheat and melt, releasing dangerous levels of radiation. Steam believed to have been caused by water boiling in the pool has been seen rising from it since Wednesday. Officials are also worried that the No 4 reactor's spent fuel pool might be running low. '"The highest priority now is to pour adequate water onto the No 3 and No 4 reactors, especially in their spent fuel pools,'' said Hidehiko Nishiyama, a spokesman for the government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency who was quoted by the Kyodo agency. Gregory Jackzo, the chairman of the US nuclear regulatory commission, has told a congressional hearing in Washington that the storage pool at No 4 was in danger of giving off more radioactive material. Hikaru Kuroda, a Tepco official, said: "We are afraid that the water level at [the No 4 reactor] is the lowest. Because we cannot get near it, the only way to monitor the situation is visually from far away." Tepco said a military helicopter crew had seen some water in the No 4 pool but this could not be confirmed. Hydrogen explosions on Monday and Tuesday blew the roofs off the No 3 and No 4 reactors, removing the last line of defence against radiation leaks. Tepco has said it is attempting to open a temporary power line to the plant so it can pump water directly into the storage pools and reactor cores. Japan's nuclear safety agency has said it hopes the power supply will be partially operational within hours. "Once we establish the temporary power supply we will be able to pump seawater into the reactors," a Tepco spokesman said. "We believe the operation will help cool down the fuel pools," the defence minister, Toshimi Kitazawa, told reporters. Each helicopter can carry 7.5 tonnes of water per load but the pools each hold 2,000 tonnes, an expert has told public broadcaster NHK. "It will be possible as long as the rods are fully submerged. That means the storage pool would need to be about a third full. But the dousing has to be done repeatedly." About 70,000 people have been evacuated from a 12-mile (20km) radius around Fukushima Daiichi. Another 140,000 living outside 12 miles but within 18 miles (30km) have been told to stay indoors. Japan's cabinet spokesman, Yukio Edano, said there was no need to widen the exclusion zone but signs were emerging that other countries were taking a more cautious approach. The worsening situation prompted the US to ask citizens living within 80km to evacuate. ''We are recommending, as a precaution, that American citizens who live within 50 miles of the Fukushima nuclear power plant evacuate the area or to take shelter indoors if safe evacuation is not practical,'' the US embassy said in a statement. The British embassy has since issued similar advice and asked citizens living in Tokyo and northern Japan to consider leaving. Elevated but not hazardous levels of radiation have been detected well outside the Fukushima evacuation zone. In Ibaraki prefecture to the south, officials said radiation levels were about 300 times normal levels by late Wednesday morning. It would take three years of constant exposure to these higher levels to raise a person's risk of cancer. \|\|\|\|\| Japan steps up cooling operation Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Japan says it is stepping up efforts to cool overheating fuel at the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Helicopters dumped tonnes of sea water to try to prevent fuel rods melting, and media reports said water cannon had now joined in the operation on the ground. Following the crisis, China suspended approval for new nuclear plants. The confirmed death toll from Friday's 9.0 magnitude quake, which triggered the tsunami, has risen above 5,000. Police say more than 5,400 people are confirmed dead and about 9,500 more are still missing. 'Deep condolences' Japan's military CH-47 Chinook helicopters began spraying tonnes of sea water on reactors 3 and 4 at Fukushima, 220km (140 miles) from Tokyo, at 0948 local time (0048 GMT), officials said. Continue reading the main story Analysis The attempt to use helicopters and water cannon to dump seawater on to the Fukushima power station is almost certainly unprecedented in more than half a century of nuclear power. The water was not destined for the reactors themselves - they are contained within containment systems that are designed to be sealed tight and which appear to be intact, with the possible exception of a crack in a vessel attached to No 3 reactor. The targets were cooling ponds situated above the reactors, which store fuel rods. The ponds in buildings 3 and 4 - and possibly more - are certainly short of water, possibly completely dry. This means the rods get hot, increasing the chances of radioactive substances being released. It also exposes workers to radiation from the rods. The positive development is that electric power may be restored to the plant in the coming hours, meaning pumps can be restarted - if they are still operational. The aircraft dumped four loads before leaving the site in order to minimise the crews' exposure to radiation. On Wednesday, the helicopters were forced to abort a similar operation amid concerns over high radiation levels. The BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo says the helicopters can carry an enormous amount of water but given the high winds it is difficult to know whether it has been dropped accurately. Video footage suggests the attempts were not very successful, with most of the water falling outside the target buildings. Later military lorries on the ground joined in with water cannon, dousing reactor 3, the NHK TV network said. Initially police crews had tried to spray the reactor but were forced to withdraw because they would have been exposed to high radiation levels. The military vehicles, unlike those of the police, are built to allow personnel to remain inside, NHK reported. The operation was intended to help cool the reactors and also to replenish water in a storage pond with spent fuel rods. Officials also said they were hoping that they would restore "as soon as possible" the power supply to the plant, which is needed for the cooling system and back-up generators. "If the restoration work is completed, we will be able to activate various electric pumps and pour water into reactors and pools for spent nuclear fuel," a spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power Company, which runs the plant, told the AFP news agency. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. The US has also been asked to fly a drone over the site to help assess the situation. The crisis has prompted China to suspend approval of new nuclear power stations and carry out checks on existing reactors. China currently gets about 2% of its electricity from nuclear power, but is building more reactors than any other country in the world. In Tokyo, our correspondent says that despite an air of superficial calm there are signs of unease under the surface. Cash machines at one bank went down for a couple of hours on Thursday afternoon - prompting speculation that some people may be stocking up on reserves of cash in case the situation deteriorates. Britain has advised its nationals currently in Tokyo and to the north of the capital to consider leaving the area, and to keep outside an 80km radius of the Fukushima plant, in line with US state department instructions. Continue reading the main story Fukushima Daiichi: What went wrong Reactor 1: Was first to be rocked by an explosion on Saturday; fuel rods reportedly 70% damaged Was first to be rocked by an explosion on Saturday; fuel rods reportedly 70% damaged Reactor 2: There are fears a blast on Tuesday breached a containment system; fuel rods reportedly 33% damaged There are fears a blast on Tuesday breached a containment system; fuel rods reportedly 33% damaged Reactor 3: Explosion on Monday; smoke or steam seen rising on Wednesday; damage to roof and possibly also to a containment system Explosion on Monday; smoke or steam seen rising on Wednesday; damage to roof and possibly also to a containment system Reactor 4: Hit by a major blaze (possible blast) on Tuesday and another fire on Wednesday France has urged its citizens in Tokyo to leave the country or move south. A French air force jet took 250 French nationals to South Korea, and two Air France planes are due to begin evacuations. In areas of the north-east badly hit by the tsunami, bitter winter weather has added to the misery of survivors, though more supplies are now reported to be reaching them. Also, Japan's Kyodo news agency quoted rescuers as saying that the search for victims had expanded over a wider area as access is improved with the clearance of debris. About 380,000 people are currently still in temporary shelters, many sleeping on the floor of school gymnasiums. The crisis has also continued to affect the markets - the benchmark Nikkei index fell 3.6% in early Thursday trading in Tokyo, shortly after the yen briefly hit the highest level against the US dollar since World War II. Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions	Japanese military helicopters have begun to drop water on the nuclear power plant in an effort to cool reactors. The operation began at 0948 local time (0048 UTC) today, after similar efforts were ended early yesterday due to radiation. helicopters dropped four loads of water on reactors three and four, with officials planning up to twelve more drops before crews are forced to leave the area due to radiation. The water drops are intended to both cool the reactors and add water to pools that hold fuel rods. These pools are believed to be almost empty; if they run out of water the fuel rods can melt and release high levels of radiation. The storage pools have a capacity of about 2,000 tonnes of water, a third of that is needed to keep fuel rods submerged. Each helicopter can carry 7.5 tonnes of water at a time. TV footage showed helicopters dropping water from about 300 feet above the reactors. Some time after the helicopters began to drop water, military trucks started using a water cannon to spray reactor three. The crisis at the power plant has led to the evacuation of around 70,000 people who lived within 20 kilometres of the plant, while another 140,000 are under orders to stay inside. The United States has asked its citizens who are within 80 kilometres of the plant to leave. == Sources == * *
The attack took place in Orgun district near the border with Pakistan. The governor of the province said the intended victims were a district chief and an army officer, both of whom escaped with minor injuries. Militants linked to the Taleban have carried out a wave of attacks in Afghanistan recently. Governor Mohammed Akram Akhpelwak said several provincial officials were hurt in the bombing. He told the Reuters news agency the dead also included members of a militia working alongside US troops in the area. Nato soldier killed Sunday's attack is the deadliest since a suicide bombing in Kabul in September killed 16 people, two of them US soldiers. Separately, Nato forces say they killed at least 50 Taleban fighters in two separate battles in the southern province of Uruzgan on Saturday. One Nato soldier was also killed, a spokesman for the alliance said. Villagers in one of the affected areas told the BBC that 12 civilians had been killed in the air strikes but Nato said it could not confirm these claims. At least another five Taleban rebels have reportedly died in clashes with Nato troops in Kandahar province. \|\|\|\|\| Knife found at O.J. Simpson's former L.A. home studied by police LOS ANGELES Police said on Friday they were examining a knife purportedly found at the former home of O.J. Simpson, the onetime football star acquitted of stabbing to death his ex-wife and her friend in the "Trial of the Century" two decades ago. \| Supreme Court temporarily blocks Louisiana abortion law WASHINGTON The Supreme Court, two days after hearing a major abortion case from Texas, on Friday temporarily blocked a Louisiana law imposing regulations on doctors who perform abortions in a move that would allow two recently closed clinics to reopen. Exclusive: U.S. watchdog to probe Fed's lax oversight of Wall Street NEW YORK A U.S. watchdog agency is preparing to investigate whether the Federal Reserve and other regulators are too soft on the banks they are meant to police, after a written request from Democratic lawmakers that marks the latest sign of distrust between Congress and the central bank. Brazil's Lula detained in corruption probe; Rousseff objects SAO PAULO/BRASILIA Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was briefly detained for questioning on Friday in a federal investigation of a vast corruption scheme, fanning a political crisis that threatens to topple his successor, President Dilma Rousseff. \| \|\|\|\|\| Sun Nov 26, 2:41 AM KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A suicide bomber attacked a restaurant in southeastern Afghanistan on Sunday, leaving seven Afghans dead and 20 injured, the provincial governor said. The restaurant, located in Paktika province, was completely destroyed, said provincial governor Mohammad Akram Akhpelwak. Akhpelwak told The Associated Press that the attacker was believed to be targeting an Afghan special forces commander and a district chief who were at the restaurant Sunday morning and were among the injured. Paktika, which borders Pakistan, has been plagued by Taliban violence. NATO said that as of mid-November, 97 suicide attacks this year in Afghanistan have killed 217 people.	Paktika province in Afganistan A suicide bomber has killed at least seven people in an attack on a restaurant situated in south-eastern Afghanistan. Twenty people are seriously injured in the attack. The attack took place in the Urgun district of Paktika province, which shares its border with that of Pakistan. Governor Mohammed Akram Akhpelwak said that most of those killed are civilians. He added that intention of the attack could have been to target a senior provincial official and an Afghan special forces commander.
Poet Sylvia Plath's son commits suicide in Alaska FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Nicholas Hughes, the son of poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, committed suicide by hanging himself, according to police and his sister. He was 47. Hughes, who was not married and had no children, killed himself at his home March 16, Alaska State Troopers said. He had suffered from depression, his sister, Frieda, told The Times of London. Ted Hughes' publisher in London, Faber and Faber, said the sister went to Alaska after the death. The death adds another chapter to the family's tragic history. Plath committed suicide in 1963, shortly after her turbulent relationship with Ted Hughes ended. Her son had just turned 1 year old. Ted Hughes had left her for another woman, and spent years battling feminists who blamed him for her death. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Sylvia Plath's son Nicholas Hughes committed suicide March 16, his sister Frieda announced in a statement Sunday. Nicholas had been a professor of fisheries and ocean sciences at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, but had left to pursue pottery at home. His mother killed herself on Feb, 11, 1963, when Nicholas was just past his first birthday; he was 47 at his death. He had long suffered from depression. Plath's husband, the poet Ted Hughes, was often the center of controversy over Plath's literary legacy. After her death he made sure "Ariel," containing some of her greatest poems, was published; but he also destroyed her last journal, frustrating both fans and scholars. "I destroyed it because I did not want her children to have to read it," he wrote in 1982, adding, "(in those days I regarded forgetfulness as an essential part of survival)." The effort to nurture forgetfulness would be incomplete. In a 1998 Salon piece, author Kate Moses -- who imagined Sylvia Plath in her novel "Wintering" -- wrote: Plath's suicide note was found pinned to their perambulator. In addition to the sickening ricochet of emotions anyone in his position would have felt, Hughes was left in a seemingly untenable predicament: He would have to serve masters with dramatically opposing needs -- Plath's literary estate, his vulnerable children and, as he put it years later in a letter to Plath biographer Anne Stevenson, "my simple wish to recapture for myself, if I can, the privacy of my own feelings and conclusions about Sylvia, and to remove them from contamination by anybody else's." In a letter quoted in that Salon article, Hughes wrote to A. Alvarez of his frustration of the outlining the details of Plath's death, which he didn't want their children to know: "now you have defined the whole thing, and handed it to the public. In a real way, you have robbed them of her death, of any natural way of dealing with her death. This will add up through every year they live." Did it? Some would say not. A family friend told the Times of London, "Nick wasn’t just the baby son of Plath and Hughes and it would be wrong to think of him as some kind of inevitably tragic figure. He was a man who reached his mid-forties, an adventurous marine biologist with a distinguished academic career behind him and a host of friends and achievements in his own right. That is the man who is mourned by those who knew him." -- Carolyn Kellogg	The son of poets and has committed suicide. hanged himself at his home in , Alaska on March 16, after a long battle with . Hughes was 47 at the time of his death. Media outlets described the death as another in a long line of tragedy for the family. Hughes was only one year old when his mother famously gassed herself to death in 1963, soon after her relationship with Ted Hughes ended. In 1969, Ted Hughes' mistress killed herself and their daughter in a copycat suicide. The grave of poet , the mother of Nicholas Hughes who committed suicide on March 16.Nicholas Hughes, who was not married and had no children, was an who studied stream fish. He had been a professor of fisheries and ocean sciences at the until recently, when he he left the post to set up a at home. “His lifelong fascination with fish and fishing was a strong and shared bond with our father (many of whose poems were about the natural world)," his sister, Frieda Hughes, said in a statement given to the press. "He was a loving brother, a loyal friend to those who knew him and, despite the vagaries that life threw at him, he maintained an almost childlike innocence and enthusiasm for the next project or plan," she said. Near the end of her life, Sylvia Plath wrote poems about Nicholas Hughes, including one entitled "Nick and the Candlestick" from her collection, '''', which reads: “You are the one/ Solid the spaces lean on, envious./ You are the baby in the barn.”
Fandel was threatened after sending off Poulsen Denmark had fought back from 3-0 down to make it 3-3 when Herbert Fandel sent off Denmark defender Christian Poulsen. After a spectator ran towards the referee and was intercepted by Danish players, the official walked off, with a penalty he had awarded left untaken. Uefa has received reports from Fandel and match delegates and will announce any sanctions on Denmark on Friday. "That will allow us more time to receive the submission from the Danish association," said a Uefa spokesman. "It seems fairly likely that they will forfeit the match 3-0. The question is really then what other sanctions may or may not be applied." The match was in Group F, which is currently led by Northern Ireland. The fan was infuriated by Fandel's decision to award Sweden an 89th-minute penalty and send off Poulsen after Denmark had rallied from 3-0 down in Copenhagen. "It was incredibly stupid of me," said the unidentified supporter. "I want to apologize to Denmark, Sweden and the referee for my inhuman behavior. "People in Denmark hate me, but I have no feeling yet what the reaction in Sweden is, other than they of course believe I am an idiot." Poulsen was full of remorse after punching Sweden striker Markus Rosenberg in the stomach in the penalty area. Christian Poulsen wasn't the only one to blame for the episode but that doesn't excuse what he did Denmark coach Morten Olsen "I was involved in a tussle with the Swedish player, who I felt had provoked me twice. I saw red and I hit him," said Poulsen. "I would like to apologise to my team-mates and the general public. It's the most stupid thing I've ever done. "Denmark coach Morten Olsen told me afterwards there's no place on this stage for this sort of thing and I have to agree. 606: DEBATE "It happened at a time when we had pulled back Sweden's lead and were in the driving seat. I can't condone it." Olsen, who watched the match from the stands after being sent off in the defeat by Spain in March, added: "It was a black day for Danish football. "I've spoken with the players who caused the affair. Christian Poulsen wasn't the only one to blame for the episode but that doesn't excuse what Christian did." \|\|\|\|\| Nu siger han undskyld Den 29-årige fodboldfan, der angreb dommeren i lørdagens vanvittige fodboldfest i Parken, fortryder. Danmarks mest forhadte fodboldfan, den 29-årige mand, der lørdag aften spolerede en dramatisk fodboldfest i Parken, ved at løbe på banen og angribe kampens tyske dommer, fordømmer nu sin handling. - Jeg vil gerne undskylde. Det var ekstremt dumt gjort af mig. Jeg vil undskylde overfor hele Danmark, Sverige og dommeren for min umenneskelige handling, siger den 29-årige dansker, der er bosat i Gøteborg, til den svenske avis, Aftonbladet. Han forklarede ved et grundlovsforhør i retten i går, at handlingen skete i ren fuldskab, og at han ikke kan huske det isolerede overgreb mod dommeren. Kun, at han sprang over det lave hegn, for mod dommeren og blev forsøgt bremset af forsvarsklippen Michael Gravgaard, står tilbage i erindrignen. Den 29-årige blev løsladt af dommeren, men sigtelsen mod ham for vold, opretholdes. - Jeg kommer til at have det rigtig dårligt i lang tid fremover. Det, jeg gjorde i Parken, var umenneskeligt. Men det var ikke noget, jeg havde planlagt at gøre, fastholdt i aftes over for den svenske avis. Udover en strafferetssag kan han se frem til at økonomisk søgsmål fra Dansk Boldspil-Union, der vil kræve erstatning for de tab, eventuelle konsekvenser fra UEFA, vil udløse.	Parken Stadium On Saturday, June 2, referee abandoned the UEFA Euro 2008 qualification match between Denmark and Sweden. The match, which was being played at in , was tied 3-3 with one minute to go in regulation time. Christian Poulsen when he played for . Denmark had fought back from a 3 goal deficit to tie the match, when Fandel awarded a penalty kick to Sweden and showed the red card for a flagrant foul. A Danish fan made his way onto the pitch and attempted to assault the referee, although he was at least partially restrained by Danish players. Sweden will likely be awarded a 3-0 victory by the . This and any other sanctions will be announced on Friday. The fan, whose identity was protected by the judge at his arraignment, apologized to his countrymen, many of whom see him as a traitor. "People in Denmark hate me, but I have no feeling yet what the reaction in Sweden is, other than they of course believe I am an idiot," said the 29-year-old Dane who claims to have consumed 15 to 20 beers before the incident.
Leaders National oil companies Really Big Oil Aug 10th 2006 From The Economist print edition Sluggish behemoths control virtually all the world's oil; they should be privatised AP WHEN activists, journalists and others speak of “Big Oil”, you know exactly what they mean: companies such as Exxon Mobil, Chevron, BP and Royal Dutch Shell. These titans have been making lots of money for their shareholders; their bosses enjoy vast pay packets; and their actions affect us all. BP's decision to shut down Prudhoe Bay, America's biggest oilfield, to repair leaking pipes is a case in point, outraging many and pushing petrol prices even higher (see article). Yet Big Oil is pretty small next to the industry's true giants: the national oil companies (NOCs) owned or controlled by the governments of oil-rich countries, which manage over 90% of the world's oil, depending on how you count. Of the 20 biggest oil firms, in terms of reserves of oil and gas, 16 are NOCs. Saudi Aramco, the biggest, has more than ten times the reserves that Exxon does. Those with misgivings about oil—that its price is too high, that reserves are running out, that it damages the environment, that it is more a curse than an asset for countries that produce it—must look to NOCs for reassurance. These companies are certainly sitting on a reassuring amount of oil. Saudi Aramco's proved reserves alone could keep the world supplied for several decades. But it is only exploiting ten of its 80 or so fields, so will be able to pump at the present rate for about 70 years even if it never discovers another drop of oil. In fact, Aramco and other NOCs are likely to find plenty more if they look, since their territory has not been very thoroughly explored. Only 2,000 wildcat wells have ever been dug in the countries around the Gulf, according to Leonardo Maugeri, an Italian oilman, compared with more than 1m wells in the United States. But if the amount of oil at state oil companies' disposal is not much of a worry, the way they manage it certainly is. Few of the princes, politicians and strongmen who wield ultimate authority over these firms can resist the urge to meddle. At best, that leads to the sort of inefficiencies found at most state-owned firms: overstaffing, underinvestment and so on. At worst, the business of pumping and selling oil is entirely subsumed by politics, as in the case of Petróleos de Venezuela, one of the biggest NOCs (see article). In either case, NOCs produce less oil, more expensively, than they should. The people's oil, not the bureaucrats' That is bad for consumers, of course, in so far as it pushes up the price of oil. But it is also bad for oil-producing countries, which could be squeezing more profit from each barrel if their NOCs were more efficient. Moreover, there are several NOCs not bound by OPEC quotas, such as Mexico's Pemex and Russia's Rosneft, which would love to boost production to take advantage of the current high price, but are struggling to do so. The easiest way to improve state oil firms' performance would be to privatise them. The authorities, no longer torn between nurturing their NOCs and milking them for all they are worth, could concentrate on maximising their oil revenue through taxes and royalties. Failing that, governments could instil a little market discipline by subjecting their NOCs to competition, either by encouraging them to expand abroad or by allowing foreign firms some access to their home territory. At least, they should grant NOCs operational autonomy, and allow them to retain and invest some portion of their earnings. The less bureaucrats interfere, after all, the more money their oil companies will generate for them to spend. Back to top » \|\|\|\|\| Blame the speculators. Blame the profiteering oil companies. Blame America's threats towards Iran. The hunt for a culprit for $75-a-barrel oil has begun and, as usual when the price is debated, the single biggest reason for the rise will probably be lost in rhetoric. The truth is that the iron law of supply and demand operates in oil, just as it always has. Too little supply and too much demand may sound too simplistic by half, but worries such as Iran only gain purchase when the fundamentals are out of line. In this case, as Credit Suisse's analysts put it yesterday, the market's focus is on the fact that "there is practically zero spare oil production capacity available to cover large supply outages". It is another way of saying that the seeds of the current crisis were sown in the 1990s. If you want a key event, it was Opec's meeting in Jakarta in 1997, when the cartel raised the output quotas of its members. The Asian currency crisis then struck, undermining demand from the region that was expected to be the greatest source of new demand. Oil soon fell to $10 a barrel and, in 1999, the Economist magazine famously made a terrible call. Under the front-page headline "drowning in oil", it predicted that $5 a barrel was on the way. Plenty of sensible people actually believed that, or something like it. Some were running oil companies. Here is Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, then chairman of Shell, in October 2000, when the oil price had recovered to $30. He stuck to Shell's long-term forecast of $14 and added: "In the longer term, technology will increase production capacity and tend to drive the oil price somewhere below $20 a barrel." Prediction can make a fool of anyone. The point is that Shell, like most of the other oil majors, was making investment decisions on these assumptions. Sir Mark, in that same 2000 webcast, said he would look at increasing Shell's capital expenditure "in a disciplined way" from its annual level of $10bn; three years earlier, the group's investment had been $16bn. Shell turned out to have problems all of its own (like the fact that its reserves were overstated by 20%), but constraints on investment were virtually industry wide. Post-tax profits for the six biggest American producers fell 90% in the last quarter of 1998, the year after that Opec meeting in Jakarta. The oil game was about cost-cutting, mergers and muddling through - just as it was in Opec countries. The likes of Saudi Arabia do not have shareholders to satisfy, but they do need to maintain a welfare system to keep frustrated citizens at bay. The arrival of $10 oil had an effect that the Economist wholly overlooked. Demand boomed as Asia, led by China, recovered. Supply, of course, has not kept up because investment had been slashed. You can't just turn on the taps: it takes about 10 years to get a new oil discovery to production. It is just about true, as the Saudi oil minister said yesterday, that Opec has been pumping as much oil as the refineries can handle. The worry is whether it could maintain that boast if, for example, Iran (5.2% of the world's production) went offline, or if shutdowns in Nigeria (3.2%) escalated. As the chart (below) from Credit Suisse shows, spare capacity, expressed as a percentage of demand, is at its lowest level since the Iran-Iraq war. The good news is that $75 oil is unsustainable, just as $10 oil was. At some point, demand and supply will come back into balance. Indeed, the rate of growth in demand may now be only 1%. A problem is that Opec may have underproduced in the first quarter of this year, says Credit Suisse. If that is so, even higher crude prices are quite possible. A year ago, Goldman Sachs made its well-publicised prediction that a "super spike" of $105 could happen - reasoning that oil prices needed to be high enough for long enough to reduce global energy consumption meaningfully. It is doubtful that even a slowdown to growth of 1% counts as meaningful. More supply is on the way because there are enough oil prospects in the world, but it takes time. The industry is still scrambling to recover from the under-investment of the 1990s. Rigs, platforms, tankers and every other piece of infrastructure are still in short supply. But they are certain to arrive with $75 oil. That is the point about oil - it is a commodity, and commodities have always fluctuated between boom and bust and periods of over-investment and under-investment. The bad news is that, as a rule of thumb, a typical commodity cycle lasts a decade and a half. This story could run. \|\|\|\|\| By Adam Porter In Perpignan, France How long can we go on pumping oil out of the ground? As oil prices remain volatile the markets do their best to forecast future prices. Unfortunately this is not an easy task. While it may appear extraordinary to outsiders one of the main problems in the oil market is the reliability of basic statistics. The oil industry calls the problem 'data transparency'. As an example this week is a 'revision' to oil demand growth in the United States in 2004. Previously the growth in oil demand was thought to be 2.4%, about 484,000 barrels per day. In fact it was 697,000 barrels per day or 3.5%. That is in fact 46% more than was previously stated - a huge revision. "Oil market data is generally a black art like using a set of chicken bones," says Paul Horsnell of Barclays Capital. "If Columbus had thought he'd hit India when in fact he was in the Caribbean, that's about the level of oil market data." "The revisions to US demand growth are small in percentage terms, they are generally 99% accurate. But the change is huge in barrel terms, and this is from the USA who have the best oil data in the world." Suggestions that oil consumption will grow to up to 120m bpd by 2020 and that automobile and airline traffic will increase at extraordinary rates are futile and damaging Dr Michael Smith, Energy Files The barrel difference was in fact 213,000 per day. Added up that is 77.75 million extra barrels per year, about one day of global production. "Oil data is like paint thrown across a canvas, you get the broad outline of the situation. But even then it's not just a Jackson Pollock painting, the paint actually moves of its own accord after it has been applied," says Mr Horsnell. Phantom reserves One of the major problems surrounding oil data is in reserves. CLAIMED OPEC OIL RESERVES Kuwait: 92bn (64bn) UAE: 92bn (34bn) Iran: 93bn (64bn) Iraq: 100bn (48bn) Saudi Arabia: 258bn (170bn) Claimed oil reserves, bn barrels 1990s/1970s Peak oil enters mainstream debate These are the basins of crude oil that lie underground. They are either held by governments or the 'oil majors' like BP, ExxonMobil or Shell, or a combination of both. Many countries simply do not allow outsiders to audit the size of these fields. This is especially true of the major Middle East oil producers of OPEC and the countries of the former Soviet Union. Some believe that reserves stated by OPEC countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are not accurate. "There are a lot of questions to answer over OPEC reserves," says Bruce Evers of Investec Bank. "The quality of overall oil market data is poor, but with OPEC there remains considerable debate over the reliability of their reserve estimates." Sudden revisions One of the main reasons is that in the 1980s OPEC decided to switch to a quota production system based on the size of reserves. The larger the reserves a country said it had the more it could pump. The more it could pump the more money it could make. As a result in 1985 Kuwait revised its reserve estimates by 50% overnight. It was soon followed by United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Iraq. In 1988 Saudi Arabia became the last to join the revised reserve estimates party, adding a whopping 88bn barrels. Unexplained changes "Something needs to be done," says Mr Evers. "OPEC have never fully explained the reasons behind these changes, they have never issued any guidelines. The market needs to know." Although previous estimates may have been conservative, what troubles some analysts is that twenty years later, these reserve estimates are unchanged, in fact some have increased. Whilst it is obviously possible to add reserves by new field discoveries it can seem a perplexing situation to market makers. Kuwait for example still claim exactly the same reserve level as they had in 1985 despite pumping millions of barrels every day since then. Nor are company estimates any better, with Shell forced to make four revisions downwards of its official reserves since 2002, losing around 4.8bn barrels and damaging its share price. Unclear figures Even current figures for OPEC production are unclear. OPEC say they are producing exactly 28 million barrels a day (mbpd). This includes their latest 500,000 barrels per day increase announced at their last quarterly meeting by Kuwaiti oil minister Al-Sabbah. But OPEC have also admitted that their members break their own quotas to take advantage of high prices. So is it really 28mbpd? The International Energy Agency says OPEC pumped 29.3 mbpd in May 2005. The IEA say this is actually a fall from April 2005 of 55,000bpd. Who is correct? "There is no official OPEC output data," says Mr Horsnell. "They just kind of pass on the data they are given by their member countries. It is really not that easy for OPEC, you can't blame them, it is down to their members." Forecasting demand "I don't rate IEA data either," says Mr Evers. "They have horrendously underestimated demand in the past, it is one of the reasons we are where we are now. They are little more than a data collection agency, and the data they are given is already tarnished." It is no easier to forecast the future demand for oil, and analysts are growing increasingly sceptical of oil company attempts to do so. Energy Files director Dr Michael Smith said "it is no longer appropriate to accept glib demand forecasts from oil companies, financial institutions and government suggestions that oil consumption will grow to up to 120 million barrels per day by 2020 and that automobile and airline traffic will increase at extraordinary rates are futile and damaging." But Paul Horsnell says that gaps between data-sets can in fact show up areas of the oil market that need careful study. "Take Russian production as an example," he says. "There are all kinds of rosy forecasts and then there are people like me who think it's all rather bad news. But there are many reasons about why it is impossible to measure oil, it's a liquid for a start. "There are huge margins of error with oil data and it has to be treated as such. It's the nature of the product. Thinking you can measure it to the eighth decimal point, well, it's just a waste of time." As oil prices continue to soar, the lack of accurate data could make it harder for the oil market to predict its future direction. \|\|\|\|\| Unless indicated otherwise: intraday data is at least 15 minutes delayed; mutual fund prices are updated at the close of every market day; all prices are in the local currency; time is EST (New York). \|\|\|\|\| Preface The Annual Energy Outlook 2000 (AEO2000) presents midterm forecasts of energy supply, demand, and prices through 2020 prepared by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The projections are based on results from EIAs National Energy Modeling System (NEMS). The report begins with an Overview summarizing the AEO2000 reference case. The next section, Legislation and Regulations, describes the assumptions made with regard to laws that affect energy markets and discusses evolving legislative and regulatory issues. Issues in Focus discusses current energy issuesappliance standards, gasoline and diesel fuel standards, natural gas industry expansion, competitive electricity pricing, renewable portfolio standards, and carbon emissions. It is followed by the analysis of energy market trends. The analysis in AEO2000 focuses primarily on a reference case and four other cases that assume higher and lower economic growth and higher and lower world oil prices than in the reference case. Forecast tables for these cases are provided in Appendixes A through C. Appendixes D and E present a summary of the reference case forecasts in units of oil equivalence and household energy expenditures. Other cases explore the impacts of varying key assumptions in NEMSgenerally, technology penetration. The major results are shown in Appendix F. Appendix G briefly describes NEMS and the AEO2000 assumptions, with a summary table of the cases. Appendix H provides tables of energy and metric conversion factors. AEO2000, the detailed assumptions, and supplementary tables will be available on the EIA web site at www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/index.html. The AEO2000 projections are based on Federal, State, and local laws and regulations in effect on July 1, 1999. Pending legislation and sections of existing legislation for which funds have not been appropriated are not reflected in the forecasts. Historical data used for the AEO2000 projections were the most current available as of July 31, 1999, when most 1998 data but only partial 1999 data were available. Historical data are presented in this report for comparative purposes; documents referenced in the source notes should be consulted for official values. The AEO2000 projections for 1999 and 2000 incorporate the short-term projections from EIAs September 1999 Short-Term Energy Outlook. The AEO2000 projections are used by Federal, State, and local governments, trade associations, and other planners and decisionmakers in the public and private sectors. They are published in accordance with Section 205c of the Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 (Public Law 9591), which requires the Administrator of EIA to prepare an annual report that contains trends and projections of energy consumption and supply. The projections in AEO2000 are not statements of what will happen but of what might happen, given the assumptions and methodologies used. The projections are business-as-usual trend forecasts, given known technology, technological and demographic trends, and current laws and regulations. Thus, they provide a policy-neutral reference case that can be used to analyze policy initiatives. EIA does not propose, advocate, or speculate on future legislative and regulatory changes. All laws are assumed to remain as currently enacted; however, the impacts of emerging regulatory changes, when defined, are reflected. Because energy markets are complex, models are simplified representations of energy production and consumption, regulations, and producer and consumer behavior. Projections are highly dependent on the data, methodologies, model structures, and assumptions used in their development. Behavioral characteristics are indicative of real-world tendencies rather than representations of specific outcomes. Energy market projections are subject to much uncertainty. Many of the events that shape energy markets are random and cannot be anticipated, including severe weather, political disruptions, strikes, and technological breakthroughs. In addition, future developments in technologies, demographics, and resources cannot be foreseen with any degree of certainty. Many key uncertainties in the AEO2000 projections are addressed through alternative cases. EIA has endeavored to make these projections as objective, reliable, and useful as possible; however, they should serve as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, analytical processes in the examination of policy initiatives. \|\|\|\|\| New study raises doubts about Saudi oil reserves With over 260 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, a quarter of the world's total, Saudi Arabia is not only the top foreign supplier to the United States - the world's largest energy consumer - but also essentially the sole source of liquidity in the oil market. According to the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration (EIA), the world will become more dependent on Arabian oil in the next two decades. To meet global demand for oil, Saudi Arabia will need to produce 13.6 million barrels a day (mbd) by 2010 and 19.5 mbd by 2020. Both the International Energy Agency and EIA assume Saudi oil output will double over the next 15 to 20 years. In a new study soon to be released, Matthew R. Simmons, president of Simmons and Company International, a specialized energy investment banking firm, contends that this is not likely to happen. He argues that Saudi Arabia's oil fields now are in decline, that the country will not be able to satisfy the world's thirst for oil in coming years and that its capacity will not climb much higher than its current capacity of 10mbd. Considering the growth in demand, this could easily spark a global energy crisis. Simmons analyzed 200 technical papers on Saudi reserves by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and his work was peer reviewed by a dozen senior technical experts. What he discovered tells a different story than the conventional wisdom. Saudi Arabia has over 300 recognized reservoirs but 90% of its oil comes from the five super giant fields discovered between 1940 and 1965. Since the 1970s there haven't been new discoveries of giant fields. The most significant of the oil fields is Ghawar. Found in 1948, the 300-mile-long sliver near the Persian Gulf is the world's largest oil field and accounts for 55%-60% of all Saudi oil produced. Ghawar's current proven reserves are 12% of the world's total. The field produces 5 mbd, which is 6.25% of the world's oil production. According to Simmons, Ghawar's northern regions are almost depleted. Two other giant fields, Abqaiq and Berri, also seem to have peaked in the 1970s. Saudi Aramco officials flew especially to Washington to refute Simmons' analysis. In a speech before the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC, Nansen G. Saleri, a manager of reservoir management for Saudi Aramco said Saudi Arabia can maintain production capacity at the current rate of 10 mbd for the rest of this decade and if needed they could increase maximum output by 20-50% within a decade. His colleague Mahmoud Abdul-Baqi, Saudi Aramco's vice president for exploration also expressed optimism about the future of their industry. "We have a lot of area to explore and find a lot of oil and gas. Our track record shows we delivered for the past 70 years and we will continue to deliver in the next 70 years and beyond." Saudi Aramco says that with more investments it can expand its capacity to 12 mbd or more. But according to the New York Times, privately, Saudi oil officials are less self-assured, cautioning that production beyond 12 mbd would damage the oil fields. Even if their prediction is wrong, the road to the 19.5 million barrels a day by 2020 projected by the EIA is very far. Some economists who reviewed Simmons' work rejected it on the basis that if oil prices rise high enough, advanced recovery techniques will be applied, averting supply problems. But Simmons disputes this wisdom. For a decade the technological revolution which includes horizontal drilling accelerated the extraction and created "monstrous decline rate." He is adamant that the Saudi oil miracle is fading. "The next generation of Saudi oil will also be harder to extract and therefore more expensive. In 2-3 years we will have conclusive evidence that Saudi oil is peaking," he told Energy Security. Furthermore, he explained that in Saudi Arabia, seawater is injected into the giant fields to pressure the oil toward the top of the reservoir. The problem is that over time, the volume of water that is pumped along with the oil increases, and the volume of oil declines proportionally until it becomes uneconomical to lift the oil. Analyzing Saudi Arabia's capacity is not an easy task. Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company, has not provided production data for more than two decades. OPEC, the IEA and EIA data systems shed little light on what underlies Saudi sand. "Their predictive track record has been awful. In the land of the blind, reliable OPEC data is either untrusted or non-existent " Simmons said. Simmons calls for a new era of true energy transparency. "The IEA should roll up their sleeves and work to obtain far better demand and cost data and far better decline data for non-OPEC oil. OPEC should provide field by field production and well-by-well data, budget details and third party engineering reports." "The entire world assumes Saudi Arabia can carry everyone's energy needs on its back cheaply. If this turns out not to work there is no 'plan B.' Global spare capacity is now 'all Saudi Arabia.' This is the world's insurance policy and no third party inspector has examined it for years. Conventional wisdom says 'don't worry. trust today,' but if conventional wisdom is wrong, the world faces a giant energy crisis." Calling for large-scale research into new energy sources, he said: "If all these worries are wrong, it is like our preoccupation with nuclear war or future global warming. But even if part of it becomes true and not expected, the results are awful." Coming from someone who has advised the secretary of energy and the 2000 Bush campaign, this is a warning worth heeding. More information: Matthew Simmons' presentation slides Transcript Listen to the audio Top	In its August 10 edition, ''The Economist'' magazine asserts that Saudi Arabia can continue producing oil at its current production levels for 70 years, without having to look for another drop. Further, the magazine claims that the nation could find ''"plenty more if they look"'', calling for privatisation of national oil companies to help increase oil production. The language is provocative - the world has plenty of oil, and only requires sufficient investment and exploration to find it. This is a line that ''The Economist'' has held for some time, certainly since before its now infamous March 1999 issue proclaiming that we were "drowning in oil" and featuring a prediction of US$5 per barrel. That issue was followed by an embarrassing retraction in December of that year, as oil started its steady climb. It now sits above US$70 per barrel. However, petroleum geologists and energy investment specialists maintain a different view of oil reserves. They say that there is a limit to what is in the ground, and further to that, a limit to how much of it we can retrieve even with advancing technology. Just how much is down there can't be said with any certainty, for a variety of reasons. A big one is the suspicious reserves figures given by producers in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia. Since OPEC starting using a quota system based on reserves, the estimated reserves for member nations has magically risen, and even continued rising in the face of increased extraction from those reserves. Amongst those who deal with the physical realities of oil fields, forecasts of a peak in production vary between 30 years, as the USA's Energy Information Administration suggest, and now, as suggested by the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas and other more pessimistic forecasters. A peak in production would then be followed by decline. Certainly, in the petroleum world, there is no serious suggestion of sustaining the current level of oil production for 70 years.
The protesters say they will not leave until the PM resigns Flights from Thailand's international airport have been suspended after hundreds of anti-government protesters stormed the building outside Bangkok. The demonstrators are in full control of Suvarnabhumi airport, leaving at least 3,000 passengers stranded. A BBC correspondent says it is the most dramatic move so far in the protesters' campaign to oust the government. The government is to hold an emergency cabinet meeting, and the head of the army is due to make a statement. There is speculation that the army chief may impose emergency rule. A leader of the protesters has rejected a government offer of talks to end the stand-off. The head of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Sondhi Limthongul, said his group would only agree to talks if Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat resigned. A series of small explosions among the PAD protestors on Wednesday morning injured several people, underlining the risk of more violent clashes with pro-government groups, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. Evacuation Yellow-shirted protestors from the PAD took over strategic areas of the airport, such as the control tower, on Tuesday. The protesters, who have been occupying a government compound in the capital, claim that the government is corrupt and hostile to the monarchy. They also accused it of being a proxy for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, but who critics say is still very influential. Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is Mr Thaksin's brother-in-law. AIRPORT SYMBOL Building the new airport was former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's pet project Plagued by delays, it opened in 2006, days after Mr Thaksin was overthrown in a military coup Shoddy construction work was used by the military as one of the justifications for the coup Designed by German architect Helmut Jahn, thought to have the world's tallest control tower at 132.2m (433.7ft) One of the busiest airports in Asia Chaos at seized airport Q&A;: Bangkok protests The PAD is a loose grouping of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle-class opposed to Mr Thaksin. The protesters had hoped to intercept Mr Somchai as he returned from an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru, but his flight has been diverted elsewhere. Now the PAD says it will keep the airport closed until Mr Somchai resigns. "We will stay until the government steps down. This government is not legitimate," retired university lecturer Sunthorn Kaewlai told the Reuters news agency. The PAD also handed out leaflets to stranded passengers, apologising to tourists for the disruption, adding that "the alliance believes the measure is crucial to bring an end to the traitorous killer government". Reports say the authorities have begun evacuating stranded passengers. However, the evacuation appeared chaotic, with the authorities making no announcement, the Agence France Presse news agency reported. Christopher Persson, from Sweden, spent the night underneath a check-in desk. "I understand the people but the airlines are terrible. They've given us no information," he told the Reuters news agency. Thousands of other passengers spent the night sprawled across suitcases, luggage carts and even security conveyor belts. Provocation? Airport director Serirat Prasutanon said operations had been "totally shut down" since early on Wednesday, and that 78 outbound and incoming flights had been affected. "We are trying to negotiate with them to allow outgoing passengers stranded by the protest to fly," he was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement "The incident has damaged Thailand's reputation and its economy beyond repair." Organisers say the protest is a "final battle" to bring down the government. Our correspondent says that the government appears to have followed a strategy of allowing the PAD to attack government buildings while avoiding clashes, in the hope that it will wear the protesters down. The government has so far resisted calling in the army. Analysts says it is a thinly disguised aim of the PAD to provoke such a move. Are you in Bangkok? Have you been affected by the protests? Has the airport closure disrupted your travel plans? You can send us your experiences using the form below: Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Today's Top Stories >> Wednesday November 26, 2008 10:51 Blow to tourism By Post Reporters The tourism sector, already reeling from the global economic downturn, suffered a fresh blow as People's Alliance for Democracy anti-government protesters forced Suvarnabhumi airport to suspend outbound flights. LATEST: As of Wednesday morning, Suvarnabhumi airport is effectively closed to all passengers. Thai Airways International already has cancelled 24 flights due to leave on Wednesday. Thousands of travellers faced the prospect of missed flights Tuesday night as protesters blocked the main motorway from the capital to the airport and later stormed the terminal to disrupt operations. Olarn Chaipravat, the deputy prime minister overseeing economic policy, acknowledged that the PAD protests would undermine the country's image abroad and hurt investor confidence. "They [PAD] have the right to protest, but they must consider the rights of others. And they should also consider the damage caused to the entire country," he said. Airline and tourism executives warned that the political tensions would deal another heavy blow to the ailing industry and the country's international image. PAD rallies in late-August that forced the shutdowns of Krabi, Phuket and Hat Yai airports had already put the country's "Land of Smiles" image in jeopardy. Arrivals in September plummeted 16.5 per cent from last year, with hotel occupancy rates nosediving to just 46.3 per cent compared with 57.5 per cent in August. The latest tensions could force many operators into bankruptcy, coming just weeks before the peak of the tourist season over the year-end holidays. Apichart Sankary, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), said the PAD protest Tuesday would have a massive impact on the industry. "Don't think that the Thai tourism business will grow next year. It's dying now because of the political problems. In the best case, we might just see flat growth," Mr Apichart said. Another tourism expert said the attempts by the PAD to close Suvarnabhumi airport reflected the "lawless society" in Thailand. "Do you know when the country's image is destroyed, it's very difficult to revive it in a short period? What does Thai hospitality look like now, when there are clashes and violence inside the country?" he said. Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kohsurat said authorities were coordinating with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to update overseas tourism offices about the latest developments. The ministry was also working with the Thai Travel Agents Association and airport operator Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) to assist tourists and advise on alternative travel routes to Suvarnabhumi airport. Business leaders said multinational companies would likely impose travel restrictions to minimise risk. \|\|\|\|\| BANGKOK Nov 26 (TNA) – Small explosions rocked several sites in Bangkok, while reinforcements for the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters marched to more completely occupy Suvarnabhumi Airport overnight Tuesday, forcing the Airports of Thailand (AoT) to halt all inbound and outbound flights. The PAD's latest move was another step to put intensified pressure against the Somchai government to resign after the alliance occupied Government House in late August to protest against a government it claimed was simply a proxy of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The PAD also opposed the government's plan to amend the Constitution. PAD leaders said they would continue to force the airport to remain shut down until talks with the government take place, saying that negotiations would only be held between the PAD and Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat himself. Mr. Somchai is returning from Peru where he attended the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, and was scheduled to arrive in Thailand Wednesday evening. Interior Minister Pol.Gen. Kovit Wattana said the prime minister has been informed of the Suvarnabhumi incident and that he acted to avoid confrontation with PAD protesters by directing Mr. Somchai's flight to land at another airport outside Bangkok instead of Suvarnabhumi. Meanwhile, a bomb exploded at the airport terminal, injuring three people slightly. Another explosion took place near Dusit Bridge about 50 metres from Dusit Police Station on Rama V Road at about 2am, but no casualties were reported. Police initially said the Dusit explosion was that of an M26 military-issue hand grenade and that the bridge received minor damage. Some 50 metres from the bomb site, police found the bomb trigger. Witnesses saw a motorcycle pass by before the explosion, and that it returned to the scene before leaving. Police were monitoring closed circuit television footage to attempt to identify suspects. Another bomb exploded at Don Mueang Airport which the PAD had surrounded to prevent the cabinet from meeting Tuesday. At least five people were wounded, one seriously. The blast occurred some 200 metres from the PAD's mobile stage where its leaders took turns on stage to verbally attack the government. Another bomb, not activated, was found nearby. The PAD did not permit police to investigate the incident but was waiting for its own bomb squad. An initial evaluation by airport officials showed Bt50 million in income lost from fees -- including landing charges -- had occurred from Suvarnabhumi . Several Thai Airways International (THAI) flights were diverted to Don Mueang Airport, but the passenger transfers were difficult. Many passengers waiting for up to three hours to disembark from arriving aircraft because of the lack of facilities. Airport and airline authorities were meeting to find measures to resolve the problems. (TNA) Political News : Last Update : 10:52:33 26 November 2008 (GMT+7:00)	Protests and disruption by Thailand's People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) entered their third day with an invasion and forced shutdown of Bangkok's main international airport. The yellow-shirted demonstrators are reportedly in full control of Suvarnabhumi Airport, leaving between 3,000 and 4,000 travellers stranded and incoming flights diverted. The PAD have vowed to remain in the airport disrupting flights until the Prime Minister, Somchai Wongsawat, stands down. Originally blocking the six-lane motorway approach to the airport, the protesters broke through police lines late on Tuesday night, invaded the terminal buildings, and forced the cancellation of all air traffic. Their aim appears to have been to prevent the Prime Minister returning to the country from the APEC summit in Peru. Deputy Prime Minister Olarn Chaipravat expressed concern that the action would have adverse economic effects on Thailand. Confidence of those investing in the country is likely to be dented, and the damage to the tourism industry could worsen the country's situation in the current global economic crisis. The airport invasion has been accompanied by reports of further bomb blasts aimed at the anti-government PAD protesters. One explosion happened at the airport terminal itself, injuring three. A second explosion was reported at the site of the Don Mueang airport where the PAD are blockading temporary government offices. An additional two attacks, believed to be grenades, have been reported but with no casualties. The PAD have not cooperated with police in investigating these attacks, instead claiming their own bomb squad will deal with the matter. The protesters have refused a government offer to end the stand-off. "We will stay until the government steps down. This government is not legitimate," said Sunthorn Kaewlai, a retired university lecturer. The PAD has given out leaflets to stranded passengers at the airport, apologising for the disruption, but at the same time saying that "the alliance believes the measure is crucial to bring an end to the traitorous killer government." Details of which airport the beleaguered PM Somchai will fly into have not been revealed, however ''The Nation'' reports his flight will be diverted to U-tapao military airport, approximately 150km southeast of the capital, Bangkok.
No, it's not April 1st. No, Mario hasn't suddenly turned into a serial killer. Employee's of UK retailer GAME are reporting an email sent around stores just before closing to remove Mario Party 8 and all applicable advertising due to the game having an "offensive" word, details of which can be seen in the screenshot below. It's not clear if other retailers will take the same stance as GAME, but it is worth mentioning that Mind quiz also suffered the same fate last week for the exact same offensive word. With no official word from Nintendo or GAME, we'll keep you updated on the news. *UPDATE* We've just received word of a Nintendo statement; The above game was launched in the UK today. Unfortunately we have discovered that a small number of games contain the wrong version of the disk due to an assembly error. We have therefore decided to recall all copies of the game from UK retailers so that this mistake can be corrected. We will re-launch Mario Party 8 in the UK as soon as possible and will announce a new launch date shortly. We very much regret any inconvenience caused. \|\|\|\|\| TipsyRabbit said: How can you say spastic is not an offensive term? This game is going to be played by small children.. how can spastic ever be said in a good light? Like I said, "spastic" is a mild derogatory term for mental retardation. It's like saying "loony". Maybe some people who suffer from some form of mental retardation, or some people who knows someone who does, would be sightly offended. But... so what? You can't protect everyone from everything, otherwise there would be nothing. Certainly no humour or comedy which'd be worth watching. It'd all be slap-stick rubbish. If "spastic" is 'crossing the line', simply because it may offend some fragile-hearted people of whatever disposition, then where do we draw this line? For example, by this token, we should ban jokes aimed at bald people, or fat people, because I know a few of those who might take offense. Obviously, that is bollocks. You can't sanitize everything, and that is exactly what political correctness does. I know some bald men who take part in ridiculing baldness, and the same for some fatties. I imagine there are a great many people out there who take the piss out of mental or physical retardation, even though they themselves suffer from it. It's called 'self-deprecation', and many people use it freely, as a way of making fun of themselves, and laughing at life. To censor the word "spastic" in this way is actually really quite patronizing, and assumes that we're all too moronic to see it and take it in a humerous light. TipsyRabbit said: Stop being so weird because you hate the government and political correctness, they were RIGHT to do this. Makes me wonder how it ever got in there in the first place though. Star	Employees of British video game retailer GAME are reporting an email sent around stores to remove the popular Wii board party game ''Mario Party 8'' and all applicable advertising due to the game having a word considered to be offensive in Britain. The word is "spastic," and can be seen on the "Shy Guy's Perplex Express" board. If a player lands on one of several certain green spaces, Magikoopa will appear and, before rearranging the train cars, will say, "Magikoopa magic! Turn the train ''spastic'' Make this ticket tragic!" Nintendo is currently developing an updated version of the game without the offending word. This is not the first time a video game has been banned in the UK for including the word "spastic." Last month, Ubisoft announced a recall of its PSP brain-training game ''Mind Quiz'' after a mother of a child with cerebral palsy complained because the game called her a "spastic" for not doing well.
For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary February 12, 2008 President Bush Meets with Mali President Amadou Touré Oval Office In Focus: Global Diplomacy 10:33 A.M. EST PRESIDENT BUSH: It's been a honor and a pleasure to welcome the President of Mali here to the Oval Office. We discussed a variety of issues. I was touched by the President's concern about the life of the average citizen in Mali. We are partners with the -- with the President and the people of Mali, through the Millennium Challenge Account. And one reason we worked with the government is because they've agreed to fight corruption, and support the education and health of its citizens. This is a country that's committed to the rights of its people, and we're proud to be standing side-by-side with you. Two issues that are very important to this administration, Mr. President, were the issues that my wife, Laura, discussed when she came to your country. One is literacy, and two is the eradication of malaria. And I assured the President that our commitment remains strong to both important issues. And I thank him very much for his hard work in helping his citizens deal with HIV/AIDS. And finally, the President and I spent a fair amount of time talking about the dangers of radicals and extremists associated with groups like al Qaeda. And we talked about the need for close cooperation to protect the innocent people from those who murder the innocent in order to achieve their dark political vision. So it's been my honor to welcome a good man here to the Oval Office. PRESIDENT TOURÉ : (As translated.) First of all, I would like to convey to the President of the United States the sympathies and solidarity of the people of Mali because of the destruction -- PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you. PRESIDENT TOURÉ -- caused by the tornados in some of the southern states of the United States. And then I told Mr. President that we were sensitive and impressed by the impression that we had from the visit of Mrs. Laura Bush to Mali sometime ago. Also, thank the President for the -- our friendship between the people of the United States and the people of Mali, and the cooperation between Mali and the United States that we do entertain on both sides since the independence of Mali in 1960. But I could also come to the United States just to tell Mr. President, thank you, because the President had some initiatives not only for Mali, but also for Africa, which we believe are historical initiatives, and which we do have the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the greater participation against the fight against AIDS through the Global Fund, the initiative on the eradication of malaria, and not to forget the presidential initiative on literacy in Africa, which is very important in our view, because when you want to develop you need to also improve basic education. PRESIDENT BUSH: That's right. PRESIDENT TOURÉ : So I emphasized to the President that -- and I reaffirm -- that Mali signed and Mali averred to all different initiatives on the fight against terrorism. So it is humanly inadmissable, unacceptable to see or to assist or to be indifferent to the suggestion that we are seeing to some practices which really do not deserve to exist. So we had a fruitful exchange of views on our cooperation. So I said to Mr. President that I would like to thank him and also to convey all the gratitude of the people of Mali, but I emphasized also the fact that may God save Mali and the United States. President, thank you very much. PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir. END 10:42 A.M. EST \|\|\|\|\| Bush vows sustained US help for Africa WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President George W. Bush told Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure that his commitment to help Africa battle corruption, HIV/AIDS, and malaria as well as promote literacy remains strong. "We're proud to be standing side-by-side with you," the US president said, highlighting Washington's efforts to help Africa battle deadly diseases as well as poverty, corruption, and extremists. "I assured the president that our commitment remains strong," said Bush, who leaves Friday on a five-country trip to Africa -- likely his last before leaving office in January 2001 -- to promote the kinder, gentler face of US foreign policy. Toure, meeting with Bush at the White House, offered "the sympathy and solidarity of the Malian people" regarding the deadly tornadoes that sliced through several southern US states and postponed their talks from Friday. But I would have come to the United States just to tell President Bush: 'Thank you.' The president has undertaken historic initiatives not only for Mali, but also for Africa." During his trip next week, Bush is expected to highlight his call for doubling aid to fight HIV/AIDS and malaria, and a 698-million-dollar grant to Tanzania as part of his Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) aid program. Bush, whose MCC rewards democratic and free-market reforms, also said he and his guest discussed US helping in battling "the dangers of radicals and extremists associated with groups like Al-Qaeda. "And we talked about the need for close cooperation to protect the innocent people from those who murder the innocent in order to achieve their dark political vision," said Bush. The US Army has been training the Malian military in counter-terrorism strategies for five years under the Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorist Partnership (TSCTP). The desert north of Mali, vast and difficult to monitor, is an important point of passage for traffickers, especially of weapons, and for militant groups active in the Sahara, such as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), now known as Al-Qaeda's branch in northern Africa,	Audio of the Press Conference following the meeting George W. Bush, president of the United States met with the Malian President Amadou Touré yesterday. Mr.Bush said that he "was touched by the Malian President's concern about the life of the average citizen in Mali," and that he is "proud to be standing side-by-side with you Amadou Touré." US President George W. Bush and Mali President Amadou Touré meet in the United States Oval Office Mr.Bush started the press conference after the meeting by saying that one of the reasons he wants to work with Mali is "because they've agreed to fight corruption, and support the education and health of its citizens." He added that he believes Mali is "a country that's committed to the rights of its people," and that the United States is "proud to be standing side-by-side with you. the Malian President." Mr.Bush also thanked Touré "for his hard work in helping his citizens deal with HIV/AIDS." Mr.Bush said that in the meeting they spent "a fair amount of time talking about the dangers of radicals and extremists associated with groups like al Qaeda." He said that they also discussed the "need for close cooperation to protect the innocent people from those who murder the innocent in order to achieve their dark political vision." Mr. Touré said in the press conference after the meeting that he "would like to convey to the President of the United States the sympathies and solidarity of the people of Mali because of the destruction caused by the tornados in some of the southern states of the United States." He continued by saying that "the US President had some initiatives not only for Mali, but also for Africa, which we the Malian government believe are historical initiatives."
FDA Home Page \| Search FDA Site \| FDA A-Z Index \| Contact FDA This is a revised version of this press release, originally issued Jan. 27, 2006. The release was revised to clarify recommendations for baseline tests. FDA News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE P06-13 January 27, 2006 FDA Approves First Ever Inhaled Insulin Combination Product for Treatment of Diabetes There is a new, potential alternative for many of the more than 5 million Americans who take insulin injections, with the Food and Drug Administration's approval today of the first ever inhaled insulin. Exubera, an inhaled powder form of recombinant human insulin (rDNA) for the treatment of adult patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, is the first new insulin delivery option introduced since the discovery of insulin in the 1920s. "Until today, patients with diabetes who need insulin to manage their disease had only one way to treat their condition," said Dr. Steven Galson, Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA. "It is our hope that the availability of inhaled insulin will offer patients more options to better control their blood sugars." Diabetes is a disease that affects the amount of insulin and sugar in your body. Exubera is a human form of insulin and as such, lowers blood sugar concentrations by allowing the blood sugar to be taken up by cells as a source of fuel. Exubera is a powdered form of insulin that is able to be inhaled into the lungs through the patient's mouth using a specially designed inhaler. There are two major types of diabetes -- type 1 and type 2. People with type 1 diabetes produce virtually no insulin. In type 2, the most common form of the disease, the body does not produce enough insulin or effectively use insulin. If people with diabetes do not properly control their blood sugar levels, serious complications including heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, and nerve damage may develop. The safety and efficacy of Exubera have been studied in approximately 2500 adult patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In clinical studies, Exubera reached peak insulin concentration more quickly than some insulins, called regular insulin, administered by an injection. Peak insulin levels were achieved at 49 minutes (range 30 to 90 minutes) with Exubera inhaled insulin compared to 105 minutes (range 60 to 240 minutes) with regular insulin, respectively. In type 1 diabetes, inhaled insulin may be added to longer acting insulins as a replacement for short-acting insulin taken with meals. In type 2 diabetes, inhaled insulin may be used alone, along with oral (non-insulin) pills that control blood sugar, or with longer acting insulins. Exubera prescriptions will be accompanied by a Medication Guide containing FDA-approved information written especially for patients. Pharmacists are required to distribute Medication Guides with products FDA has determined are important to health, and patient adherence to directions for use is crucial to the product's effectiveness. Patients are advised to read the entire Medication Guide and talk to their healthcare provider if they have further questions. Like any insulin product, low blood sugar is a side effect of Exubera and patients should carefully monitor their blood sugars regularly. Other side effects associated with Exubera therapy seen in clinical trials included cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and dry mouth. Exubera is not to be used if you smoke or if you recently quit smoking (within the last 6 months). Exubera is not recommended in patients with asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema. Baseline tests for lung function are recommended after the first 6 months of treatment and every year thereafter, even if there are no pulmonary symptoms. While Exubera has been extensively studied for safety, the sponsor has committed to performing long-term studies to confirm the continued safety of Exubera after it is marketed and to examine more thoroughly the issue of the efficacy and safety of Exubera in patients with underlying lung disease. Exubera is manufactured by Pfizer Inc., NY, NY. #### RSS Feed for FDA News Releases [what's this?] Get free weekly updates about FDA press releases, recalls, speeches, testimony and more. \|\|\|\|\| The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved an inhaled form of insulin, the first new way to get that hormone into the body since it was discovered in 1921 -- and a new treatment option for many of the 21 million Americans with diabetes. The approval fulfills an arduous scientific quest that spanned most of the 20th century and spilled over to the 21st. And it marks the biggest change in diabetes treatment in decades, one that doctors hope will lure a fair slice of the American population into their offices to talk about controlling blood sugar. The product poses long-term safety questions, though, and it's not clear yet whether it will be more expensive than standard insulin. Millions of Americans need treatment with insulin but don't get it because it involves frequent, painful needle sticks and injections. About 5 million take the hormone, but a high proportion inject themselves too few times during the day because it's so inconvenient. Doctors hope inhaled insulin will overcome some of that resistance, helping diabetics ward off a slew of medical problems that afflict those who don't control their disease. Studies show that the new product, to be sold by Pfizer Inc. under the brand name Exubera, works and appears to be safe with short-term use. Patients who have used inhalers told researchers they prefer them to needles by a wide margin, according to studies sponsored by Pfizer. "I'm just flabbergasted at the number of people who really do seem to want this, and want it substantially," said Jay Skyler, a University of Miami doctor and one of the nation's leading diabetes experts. However, inhaled insulin causes minor declines in how much air the lungs can hold. Scientists consider that a signal that long-term use could pose risks, though that could take years to sort out. The FDA recommended yesterday that smokers and people with some types of lung disease, including asthma, avoid using the product. Exubera is approved only for people 18 or older, though studies in children are underway. Pfizer said the product wouldn't be available in most pharmacies until June or July. Exact prices haven't been set, but Vanessa Aristide, a Pfizer spokeswoman, said the product would be "priced competitively" with injected insulin. Pfizer is first to market with such a product, but others are under development. Yesterday's decision confronts millions of Americans -- diabetics make up 7 percent of the population -- with a complicated new strategic problem, requiring them to figure out how much long-range risk they're willing to incur for the convenience, and possibly greater disease control, of using inhaled insulin. "The issue comes down to: How do we all deal with uncertainty?" said Robert A. Rizza, a diabetes specialist at the Mayo Clinic and president of the American Diabetes Association. "We just don't know what the long-run safety record will be. Each person will now need to think very carefully about the potential benefits and the risks for them." Paul Matelis, 56, a comptroller for a real estate title company in Miami, wasn't getting adequate control of his blood sugar seven years ago when he heard about inhaled insulin. "I really didn't think it was going to work," he recalled. "I said, 'How can this stuff come through my lungs?' " But he took the plunge, becoming one of the first people to enroll in human tests. The first morning, he ate a huge breakfast -- "steak, eggs, jelly, waffles" -- and showed up at the doctor's office with sky-high blood sugar. He took a puff of insulin powder into his lungs, then watched in amazement as his blood sugar fell. He has been on the product continuously for seven years without a problem, he said. "The flexibility that I have is incredible," he said. "It's just so easy to pull it out and take a puff. I've done it at the University of Miami games, sitting in a seat at the Orange Bowl." The human body burns a simple sugar, glucose, in much the way a car burns gasoline. But the level of this essential fuel in the blood must be tightly controlled, because too much can wreck tiny blood vessels and cause other problems. The pancreas monitors glucose levels and releases a hormone, insulin, that signals cells to absorb the sugar. Diabetes is a pervasive group of diseases in which this fundamental life process has gone awry. Some people's bodies don't make insulin at all, and they must take it as a medicine or die. But the vast majority of diabetics have a milder form of the disease in which their bodies make too little insulin, resist its effects or both. Diabetes can be controlled in both groups, but it isn't easy. Diet and exercise are important. Pills help some people, but many others need supplemental insulin, which cannot be given as a pill. They have to prick their fingers to test blood-sugar levels and inject themselves repeatedly throughout the day with insulin, or wear pager-size insulin pumps that deliver the hormone through tiny needles. The sheer tedium of the task gets diabetics down, and overall, they do poorly at it. A third of Americans with diabetes don't even know they have the disease, the government estimates, and many others fail to achieve adequate control of their blood sugar. The long-term result is a litany of severe medical problems: blindness, impotence, limb amputation, kidney failure, heart attack. The government pegs costs at more than $100 billion a year. Almost as soon as insulin was discovered in 1921, doctors began hunting better ways to get it into the body, with German researchers testing inhalation in 1924. Decades of failure followed, with the required insulin doses always too high and the resultant blood levels of insulin too low. But in the 1980s, scientists realized they might be able to solve the problems using new technology to turn insulin into a concentrated powder with particles ideally sized for inhalation. Nektar Therapeutics of San Carlos, Calif., developed most of the technology in the Pfizer product, and Alkermes Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., developed an inhaler that it licensed to Eli Lilly and Co. Human tests began in the late 1990s. Mohamed Shakir, head of endocrinology at Howard University Hospital, said the new product could be particularly important in a city like Washington. There's a big racial disparity in diabetes, with blacks, Hispanics and native Americans more likely to contract the disease and less likely to receive adequate care. And Shakir said people lower on the income scale aren't as willing to read up on the disease and take control of their illness. He said he hopes Pfizer will price Exubera fairly, and he looks forward to offering it to newly diagnosed diabetics. "The fear of the needles -- we are going to eliminate it," Shakir said. "That will be a big plus."	The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of an inhalable form of insulin for treating both forms of diabetes in adults. The product, manufactured by Pfizer Inc. is called Exubera and is a inhaled powder form of recombinant short-acting human insulin (rDNA). Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that, when released into the blood, controls the upper limits of glucose presence in the bloodstream. Diabetics cannot produce (enough) insulin on their own, and have to control their blood sugars by appropriate diet, exercise and medication. Untreated Diabetes can have a serious adverse effect on health, it can lead to higher risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, retinal damage and diabetic shock, which can be fatal. Insulin has been used for the treatment of diabetes for many years now, but some patients find it difficult (and costly) to use as it has to be injected into the body, usually several times a day. Currently, about five million Americans take insulin injections. Also, the use of any form of insulin can cause blood sugar to drop below safe levels, a condition called hypoglycemia. As a result, the use of insulin must be accompanied by a careful and regular monitoring of blood sugar levels. The FDA has issued guidelines that the inhalable form should not be used by smokers, patients with asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema as tests have shown that its use can reduce the breathing capacity of the lungs. Other side effects associated with Exubera therapy seen in clinical trials included cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and dry mouth. The FDA has given its approval on the basis of safety studies of short-term use and studies of its effects over long-term use are underway. Pfizer has said the product wouldn't be widely available until June or July and that exact prices haven't been set. A Pfizer spokesperson has said that the price will be "competitive" to injected insulin.
Advertisement Man beaten to death in parking lot 41-year-old killed after car he was in struck a child. AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF David Rivas Morales, a 41-year-old house painter, had hitched a ride home with a co-worker Tuesday night when, investigators say, the driver of the car accidentally struck a 2-year-old boy near an apartment complex parking lot. The driver got out of the Ford Taurus, which police say was surrounded by as many as 20 men, and was attacked by several of them, according to investigators. Morales got out to try to shield the driver. He was instead beaten to death. Austin police investigators said Wednesday that according to the handful of people they have interviewed, no one immediately around the car did anything to stop the attack. By the time an anonymous caller dialed 911 and the first officers arrived at the Booker T. Washington housing development shortly after 9:30 p.m., the crowd had dispersed, Austin police Cmdr. Harold Piatt said. The incident occurred about two blocks from where thousands of people gathered at Rosewood Park for the annual celebration of Juneteenth, marking the day slaves were emancipated in Texas in 1865. Hispanic and African American leaders, fearing that the incident would create racial tension because the victim was Hispanic and the assailants were believed to be black, urged people to keep their emotions in check. Investigators said they have no indication that the attack was racially motivated. "This is an anomaly for Austin," Piatt said. "When you have someone just beaten to death in a parking lot." Piatt said Wednesday that "at this point, we aren't aware that any person did anything to stop the assault or prevent the injuries." The 2-year-old, Michael Hosea Jr., was not seriously injured, authorities said. Austin police initially said in a news release that as many as 3,000 people were in the area when the driver and Morales were attacked, but they continuously reduced that number throughout the day as they got more information. By midafternoon, Piatt said that up to 300 people might have been nearby and that three or four men might have participated in the assault. However, Assistant Police Chief Leo Enriquez said that 10 to 15 people were in the parking lot at the time of the attack and that the crowd grew — possibly to several hundred — after police cars and ambulances showed up. Morales arrived at Brackenridge Hospital 35 minutes after the initial 911 call, said Warren Hassinger, spokesman for Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. He said paramedics were delayed by officers while they secured the area. Police said Morales was not moved due to the possibility of complicating his injuries. Several minority leaders held an afternoon news conference in an attempt to ease the threat of racial tension they feared the incident would create between Hispanics and African Americans in East Austin. Leaders of the two minority groups have banded together in recent years to address social and criminal justice issues, including recent police shootings of minorities and the hiring last week of Austin's new police chief, Art Acevedo. They also encouraged anyone who might have witnessed the beating to come forward with information. Police have asked that possible witnesses call 477-3588. By late Wednesday, police had interviewed several people who had information about the incident. "There is a lot of anger in the community and a lot of emotions going on," said Rita D. Gonzales, district director for the League of United Latin American Citizens. "We want people to look beyond where they're from, and color, and work together as a community." Richard Franklin, president of the Black Austin Democrats, also said the incident wasn't about race and happened separately from Juneteenth celebrations. "We need to remove the animals from our community. Those people who don't treat others humanely have to be removed," he said. Franklin said he thinks a "mob mentality" might have helped spark the attack and stopped others from trying to prevent it. Police have declined to identify the driver of the car Morales was riding in. Piatt said he was unsure whether the driver was aware that he had hit the child when he got out of his car or whether he exited for some other reason. He said the driver was able to get back in the car and drive away. Officers found him a short time later and questioned him throughout the night and into the day Wednesday. Piatt said most of their information about what occurred came from the driver. Police said a man in a car they think was a Buick Roadmaster, but that might have been a Cadillac, assaulted Morales, including after he was on the ground. They think that car was occupied by three men. Morales' sister, Margaret Morales, said that her brother had been living with her for about a week and that a child knocked on her door Tuesday night, saying someone had "knocked out" her brother. She said she rushed to the parking lot and saw blood seeping from her brother's head. She said officers kept her from approaching him. "He was a loving, caring man," said Morales, 30, as she fought back tears. "I don't know why anyone would want to do this; I can't imagine him gone out of our lives forever." David Morales worked at the Barton Springs Road Whataburger until a month ago, when he started painting houses, Margaret Morales said. She said he was an avid sports fan who enjoyed being around his friends and family. She said he treated his nieces and nephews like they were his own by playing with them and giving them advice. "I want justice to be served so my brother can rest in peace," she said. tplohetski@statesman.com; 445-3605 \|\|\|\|\| An auto pedestrian accident led to one man's fatal beating. KVUE News Margaret Morales holds up a photo of the victim, her brother. Tuesday night a vehicle struck a child in the 900 block of Thompson Street in East Austin. Witnesses told police that several people began to assault the driver after the accident. According to a press release, David Rivas Morales, a passenger in the vehicle, tried to stop the crowd from beating the driver. Police say several men attacked Morales, 40, when he tried to protect the driver. Police arrived on the scene at 9:30, and Morales was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. "Right now, all we know for use is that he died from blunt force trauma," said Harold Piatt, commander, APD robbery homicide unit. "There were no firearms or cutting or edged weapons involved, so the presumption would be he was either struck with fists or kicked." Courtesy David Rivas Morales The accident happened near Rosewood and Pleasant Valley. The child involved was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver left the area in his vehicle and is cooperating with police. Family members say they couldn't imagine anyone doing anything like this. "It's feels like a dream, because I can't imagine my brother being gone right now, I really can't," said Margaret Morales, victim's sister. "It's just so painful, because I never thought it would happen to someone in my family. I mean I see this everywhere and just can't believe my brother is gone. He's no longer here with us." Detectives ask anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have information to call Crime Stoppers at 472-8477. This is the 11th homicide in Austin this year. \|\|\|\|\| (06-20) 13:32 PDT Austin, Texas (AP) -- An angry crowd beat a man to death after a vehicle he was riding in struck and injured a young girl, police said Wednesday. Police believe 2,000 to 3,000 people were in the area for a Juneteenth celebration when the attack occurred Tuesday night. The driver had stopped to check on the little girl at the entrance to an apartment complex when a group of men attacked him, authorities said. The passenger, David Rivas Morales, 40, got out to try to help the driver, but the crowd turned on him, said police Commander Harold Piatt. Morales was beaten to death by as many as 20 men and left lying in a parking lot, Piatt said. A preliminary autopsy listed blunt force trauma as the cause of death. The little girl, 3 or 4 years old, was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver, who got away from the crowd, is cooperating with investigators, police said. Piatt did not know how many witnesses had been identified, but thousands of people had been in the area for the daylong festival. He said no guns or knives appeared to have used in the fatal attack. Juneteenth marks the day Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston in 1865 to share news of the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves two years earlier on Jan. 1, 1863.	A man who was trying to protect the driver of a vehicle that had hit a child pedestrian was killed by an angry crowd the evening of Wednesday, June 20, in Austin, Texas. The man was identified today by Austin police as David Rivas Morales, age 40. The driver had just dropped Morales off at his sister's townhouse moments before. Then while still in the parking lot, he allegedly bumped the toddler with the vehicle. The child was not injured and was not taken to the hospital. A group of 3 or 4 men confronted the driver and Morales came back to assist him. The assailants then turned on Morales. Police indicated the driver, who had escaped the scene of the crime, was cooperating with the investigation. Morales died at the hospital from injuries that included a cracked skull and brain hemorrhaging. The neighborhood was crowded at the time with some 2,000 to 3,000 people who were participating in the annual Juneteenth celebration, which commemorates the day the emancipation of slaves was announced in Texas. It was not immediately known whether any of the attackers had been part of the celebration. In a news conference on Wednesday, members of League of United Latin American Citizens called on the community not to assume the killing was racially motivated solely because Juneteenth celebrants are predominately African-American and the victim was Latino. Police officers stated that early reports were incorrect in implying thousands of potential witnesses, as investigations suggested only 10 to 15 people had been in the parking lot when the incident occurred and most of these were residents of apartments nearby.
Meatloaf off the menu... for now Wednesday, November 07, 2007 Top US rocker Meat Loaf has vowed "I'll be back" after cancelling his forthcoming concert in Belfast for medical reasons. The powerhouse singer has been diagnosed with an inter-vocal cord cyst and several remaining European dates on his Three Bats Tour, including a show at the Odyssey Arena later this month, have been dropped. Concerns over his well-being were raised last week after he left a Newcastle stage having reportedly told fans: "This is the last show I may ever do in my life." The star, born Marvin Lee Aday, walked off an hour into his set at Newcastle's Metro Arena after struggling with his voice. According to Newcastle's Evening Chronicle, he said: "I can no longer continue. "I take my coat off and thank you for 30 years." A doctor was called and the 60-year-old was diagnosed as suffering from exhaustion and urged to rest. Hopes that the star would be able to perform in Belfast were still high last week, but Aiken Promotions have since confirmed that Meat Loaf will not be appearing on November 22. Disappointed fans who have paid up to £49 per ticket for his Odyssey show will be able to claim a full refund from the point of purchase. It is understood that voice therapy will necessary to determine whether the star's problem requires surgery. It will be known in around four to six weeks what further course of action may be required. Said Meat Loaf: "It really breaks my heart not to be able to perform these shows. "I was really looking forward to capping off a great year and celebrating the start of the holidays with the fans. "But I have to do what the doctors tell me so I can look forward to healing and coming back strong in 2008. "Let me dispel any rumours before they start - I will be back." \|\|\|\|\| Home \| NEWS \| GALLERY \| Music \| TOUR \| LINKS \| FANCLUB \| TICKETS LOGIN \| FAN GALLERY \| AUDIO \| VIDEO \| MAIL LIST \| BBS \| WEBMAIL News Official Meat Loaf News News GET THE MEAT LOAF E-CARD! Meatloaf.net Check out the brand new Meat Loaf E-card! Click here: http://newmedia.10thst.com/ml/ecard/monster MEAT LOAF SET TO ROCK THE MAIN STAGE AT TOMS RIVER FEST 2006 Meatloaf.net There are two ticket options for patrons to choose from for the concert. Reserved seating tickets range from $40 to $75. The reserved seating ticket will give patrons a reserved numbered seat for the concert and admission into all other festival concerts and activities for the day. General admission tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children. The general admission ticket gives patrons the opportunity to sit in the lawn seating area for the concert and also take part in all other festival concerts and activities for the day. To order tickets, visit TOMS RIVER, NJ -- Toms River Fest will be hosting Meat Loaf live in concert on the Main Stage on Friday, July 28, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.There are two ticket options for patrons to choose from for the concert. Reserved seating tickets range from $40 to $75. The reserved seating ticket will give patrons a reserved numbered seat for the concert and admission into all other festival concerts and activities for the day. General admission tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children. The general admission ticket gives patrons the opportunity to sit in the lawn seating area for the concert and also take part in all other festival concerts and activities for the day.To order tickets, visit ...Full Story BRIAN MAY TO GUEST ON BAT OUT OF HELL III Blabbermouth.net "Bad for Good" was the title song from MEAT LOAF songwriter Jim Steinman's 1993 solo album. Launch Radio Networks reports: QUEEN guitarist Brian May was in a recording studio last week to lay down tracks for the new MEAT LOAF album. May flew to Los Angeles following the "VH1 Rock Honors" show, and he played guitar on a song called "Bad for Good". On his official BrianMay.com web site, the guitarist wrote that the is almost seven-and-a-half minutes long, that it could have nearly 50 tracks of his playing on it, and that it's "truly epic and... unashamedly massive! And everything that might be expected from 'Bat 3'!" The album is officially called "Bat out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose", and it's due October 31. The title song "The Monster Is Loose" has already been released online at the official Meatloaf.net and www.myspace.com/meatloaf web sites."Bad for Good" was the title song from MEAT LOAF songwriter Jim Steinman's 1993 solo album. CATCH MEAT LOAF TONIGHT ON AMERICAN IDOL! Meatloaf.net ...Full Story Be sure to catch Meat Loaf tonight on the season finale of American Idol. He will be performing 'It's All Coming Back to Me Now' with Katharine McPhee. BAT OUT OF HELL III - INFO UPDATE Meatloaf.net BAT OUT OF HELL III TO BE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 31, 2006! Bat Out of Hell III is Meat Loaf’s long-awaited next installement to the most successful rock music series of all time, with the two previous albums selling a total of 45 million around the world! Bat Out of Hell, released in 1977 and produced by Todd Rundgren, is the third best-selling album of all time, with 30 million copies sold worldwide, featuring such Meat Loaf/Jim Steinman standards as “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad,” “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth” and the show-stopping “Paradise by the Dashboard Lights.” The Steinman-produced Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell, which came out in 1993, sold more than 15 million, BAT OUT OF HELL III TO BE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 31, 2006!Bat Out of Hell III is Meat Loaf’s long-awaited next installement to the most successful rock music series of all time, with the two previous albums selling a total of 45 million around the world! Bat Out of Hell, released in 1977 and produced by Todd Rundgren, is the third best-selling album of all time, with 30 million copies sold worldwide, featuring such Meat Loaf/Jim Steinman standards as “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad,” “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth” and the show-stopping “Paradise by the Dashboard Lights.”The Steinman-produced Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell, which came out in 1993, sold more than 15 million, ...Full Story Click for news archives	Meat Loaf in concert in New York, 2004. American musician Meat Loaf has canceled the remaining dates of his 2007 European tour on Tuesday. This decision was announced less than a week after the performer prematurely ended a concert in Newcastle upon Tyne. Earlier reports attributed Meat Loaf's medical problems at Newcastle to a sore throat. This week's announcements indicate that the rocker sustained a vocal cord cyst that requires weeks of treatment and possibly surgery. Despite Meat Loaf's indication at the Newcastle concert that his career might have ended, a most recent statement on his fan site declared that he would be "coming back strong in 2008" with hopes of new concerts following treatment.
Ranulph Fiennes evacuated from Antarctic base Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Continue reading the main story Related Stories Sir Ranulph Fiennes has begun his journey home after having to pull out of an expedition across Antarctica in winter because of frostbite. He has been evacuated from the base camp to the Princess Elisabeth Station, after waiting days for the weather to improve. From there the 68-year-old will fly to Novo before heading for South Africa later. Once there he will be treated for frostbite, before returning to the UK. A team from the Belgian International Polar Foundation reached Sir Ranulph at the Ice Station earlier on Wednesday, despite winds of around 20 knots and temperatures at -18C and moved him to the Princess Elisabeth Station some 70kms away. Continue reading the main story Frostbite Frostbite is damage to the skin and tissue due to exposure to freezing temperatures It can affect any part of the body, but extremities like fingers, ears, the nose and toes, are particularly vulnerable When it is cold the body diverts blood flow from the extremities to vital organs like the heart and lungs As the blood is redirected, the extremities get colder and fluid in these tissues begin to freeze Initially you may feel pins and needles and painful throbbing, but as the tissues freeze the area becomes numb Ice crystals form, damaging cells, and the low blood flow starves the tissue of oxygen If the blood flow is not restored soon enough the tissue will die and may need to be amputated Almost all cases of frostbite can be prevented by wearing appropriate clothing and avoiding unnecessary exposure to cold The team will fly him to the Russian-run Novolazarevskaya Station (Novo), an Antarctic research station, and from there to Cape Town on Wednesday evening. The explorer was injured after a fall while skiing during training. He used his bare hands to fix a ski binding in temperatures around -30C. The rest of the team will continue with their 2,000-mile (3,219km) trek as part of the "Coldest Journey" expedition as they aim to become the first people in history to cross the Antarctic in winter. Traverse manager Brian Newham said: "Although Ran is no longer physically with us we carry his determination and incredible spirit forward and we hope that he will be proud of what we achieve. "It is now only a few hours since we said our difficult farewells but we are already moving south and are poised to gain the polar plateau. Onwards." Sir Ranulph had been due to lead the team from the front on skis, and had been practising his skiing in whiteout conditions when he fell. The expedition - from the Russian base of Novolazarevskaya to the Ross Sea - is expected to take six months. The journey will benefit Seeing is Believing, a charity which tackles avoidable blindness. \|\|\|\|\| Ranulph Fiennes pulls out of Antarctic challenge Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Continue reading the main story Related Stories Sir Ranulph Fiennes has pulled out of an expedition across Antarctica in winter because of severe frostbite. The 68-year-old was injured after a fall while skiing during training at a base camp in Antarctica. He used his bare hands to fix a ski binding in temperatures around -30C. His evacuation to South Africa is being hampered by blizzard conditions. Sir Ranulph is said to be "gutted," but his five team-mates will still embark on the 2,000-mile (3,219km) trek. Tony Medniuk from the 'Coldest Journey' expedition said Sir Ranulph had been due to lead the team from the front on skis, and had been practicing his skiing in white-out conditions when he fell. "In seeking to re-attach his binding he felt that he couldn't get it on and had to take his glove off in very cold conditions and exposed his hand to snow and as a consequence he has contracted frostbite," he told the BBC. Continue reading the main story Frostbite Frostbite is damage to the skin and tissue due to exposure to freezing temperatures It can affect any part of the body, but extremities like fingers, ears, the nose and toes, are particularly vulnerable When it is cold the body diverts blood flow from the extremities to vital organs like the heart and lungs As the blood is redirected, the extremities get colder and fluid in these tissues begin to freeze Initially you may feel pins and needles and painful throbbing, but as the tissues freeze the area becomes numb Ice crystals form, damaging cells, and the low blood flow starves the tissue of oxygen If the blood flow is not restored soon enough the tissue will die and may need to be amputated Almost all cases of frostbite can be prevented by wearing appropriate clothing and avoiding unnecessary exposure to cold "After five years of preparation, a small slip like this and a few moments can undermine the most meticulous preparation," he added. The team is attempting to evacuate Sir Ranulph by transporting him by skidoo to the Princess Elisabeth Station, about 70km away from his current position. From there he will be flown to Novo to get a connecting flight to Cape Town. Blizzard conditions are currently making any evacuation impossible and Sir Ranulph will be unable to move until conditions ease. The trek is known as The Coldest Journey on Earth. No human being has managed to walk across Antarctica in winter. The team will face some of the toughest conditions on earth - near permanent darkness and temperatures dropping close to -90C. The expedition - from the Russian base of Novolazareskaya to the Ross Sea - is due to begin on 21 March, the start of winter, and is expected to take six months. The journey is to benefit Seeing is Believing, a charity which tackles avoidable blindness. Sir Ranulph's past feats include becoming the first person to reach both poles by surface means and the oldest Briton to reach the summit of Mount Everest, aged 65. Guinness World Records describes him as the world's greatest living explorer. This is not the first time the explorer has experienced frostbite. In 2000, he lost the fingers on his left hand during an unaided attempt to reach the North Pole. When he returned to the UK, he was told he would have to wait several months before they could be amputated to allow the partially damaged tissue to heal. But he decided to do the job himself and carried out the amputations using a fretsaw. \|\|\|\|\| Sir Ranulph Fiennes will be evacuated from the Antarctic after suffering severe frostbite, forcing him out of his latest expedition. The British explorer and his fellow adventurers were training to take part in the Coldest Journey, a six-month trek across the continent due to start next month. But the 68-year-old developed frostbite after he had an accident while skiing and had to use his bare hands to repair his ski bindings. Organisers said the decision was made to evacuate Sir Ranulph before the Antarctic winter starts. "The condition is such that he has very reluctantly decided with the support of the team doctor and in the interests of the success of the expedition and its associated aims, to withdraw from Antarctica while the possibility to do so still exists, before the onset of the Antarctic winter," a statement said. But severe weather conditions have halted his evacuation to Cape Town, organisers said. "This plan is currently being hampered due to a blizzard at their present location which is making the first stage of the evacuation impossible," they said. "Until there is a let up in the weather conditions, Fiennes will be unable to leave." The expedition is due to start on March 21 Sir Ranulph's finger tips on his left hand were amputated after he sustained severe frostbite during an expedition to the North Pole in 2000. The Coldest Journey expedition, which will continue without Sir Ranulph, will see the team walk 2,000-miles (3,219km) across Antarctica during the winter - the first time such a feat has been attempted. The team will endure temperatures as low as -90C. Organisers say they are in "an excellent position" to start the crossing on the planned date, March 21. The group will travel on skis, while pulling a crevasse-detection system designed to prevent them plunging into the perilous snow-covered holes that will bedevil the route. They will be accompanied by two modified tractors that will tow living quarters, supplies, equipment and fuel. Organisers are hoping it will raise $10m (£6.2m) for Seeing is Believing, a charity trying to tackle avoidable blindness around the world. One hundred years ago, polar explorer Captain Scott died after getting caught up in the start of the southern winter after reaching the South Pole. Sir Ranulph, described by the Guinness Book Of World Records as "the world's greatest living explorer", was the first person to visit both the North and South Poles by land and the first to completely cross Antarctica on foot. In May 2009, at the age of 65, he climbed to the summit of Mount Everest, becoming the oldest Briton ever to do so. \|\|\|\|\| Add a location to your Tweets When you tweet with a location, Twitter stores that location. You can switch location on/off before each Tweet and always have the option to delete your location history. Learn more	A file photo of . After suffering severe the British explorer Sir has decided to pull out from expedition across Antarctica. The 68-year-old was frostbitten whilst training at a base camp in Antarctica. He fell over and fixed a with his bare hands in roughly -30 temperatures. He is now on his way to after several days of blizzard conditions halted his evacuation. Despite his withdrawal, the expedition is to continue without him and his fellow team members are to trek the 2,000 miles (3,219km) across Antarctica from (Novo) to the starting on March 21, at the and approaching winter, taking six months. A team successfully travelled approximately 70 to transport him by to the . He is now to be flown on to Novo for a flight to Cape Town. Organisers of The Coldest Journey expedition said in a statement, "The condition is such that he has very reluctantly decided with the support of the team doctor and in the interests of the success of the expedition and its associated aims, to withdraw from Antarctica while the possibility to do so still exists, before the onset of the Antarctic winter". Expedition organiser Tony Medniuk told the ''BBC'', "After five years of preparation, a small slip like this and a few moments can undermine the most meticulous preparation". Ian Prickett, a member of the team, said on Twitter "Sir Ran is leaving but we will carry on." The team hopes to raise 10 million (6.2 million) for avoidable- charity . This is to be the first time any human has walked across Antarctica during winter and the expedition team are bracing themselves for cold around -90C and near-permanent darkness. Fiennes also suffered from frostbite whilst on an expedition to the in 2000 and, as a result, lost the tips of the fingers on his left hand. has called Sir Ranulph "the world's greatest living explorer". In the past he became the first person to reach both the North and by surface as well as the oldest Briton, at age 65, to reach the summit of in 2009. Another British explorer, , died a century ago on his Antarctic expedition after being caught out by the beginning of winter.
Kiev's Chernobyl museum shows photos of dead emergency workers Official UN figures predicted up to 9,000 Chernobyl-related cancer deaths. But Greenpeace says in a report released on Tuesday that recent studies estimate that the actual number of such deaths will be 93,000. Stressing that there is a problem with diagnosis, it adds that other illnesses could take the toll to 200,000. "Our problem is that there is no accepted methodology to calculate the numbers of people who might have died from such diseases," Greenpeace campaigner Jan van de Putte told Reuters news agency. READ THE REPORT Greenpeace Chernobyl study [2.1 MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here The explosion and fire at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in April 1986 was the world's worst nuclear accident. It spread a cloud of radioactive particles across a huge swathe of Europe. Several million people still live in contaminated areas. Disputed figures The UN figure - of between 4,000 and 9,000 extra cancer deaths - came from a report released last October by the UN-led Chernobyl Forum. HOW MANY DIED? Acute Radiation Sickness (ARS) deaths in 1986: 28 ARS patients who died later: 19 (some from other causes) Others who died during explosion: 2 Child thyroid cancer deaths (1992-2002): 15 (UN figure) Predicted extra cancer deaths: from 4,000 (UN) to 93,000 (Greenpeace) Estimated deaths from non-cancer causes 1990-2004: 107,000 (Greenpeace) Dozens killed in accidents building sarcophagus (according to an engineer) How the disaster unfolded Many emergency and recovery workers, the report suggested, had died since 1986 from natural causes which could not be attributed to radiation exposure. But in its report, Greenpeace suggests there will be 270,000 cases of cancer alone attributable to Chernobyl fallout, and that 93,000 of these will probably be fatal. Blake Lee-Harwood, campaigns director at Greenpeace, told the BBC that cancer was likely to be the cause of less than half of the final fatalities. "We're also looking at intestinal problems, heart and circulation problems, respiratory problems, endocrine problems, and particularly effects on the immune system," he told the BBC's World Today programme. Child victims Mr Lee-Harwood cited technical reasons for the discrepancy. Doctor Oxana Lozova, who works at a children's hospital in Rivne district, 300km (190 miles) west of Chernobyl, said many generations appeared to be affected. "I think the fallout from Chernobyl has affected the immunity of those who were young children at the time of the disaster," she told the BBC's Moscow correspondent, Damian Grammaticas. "We now have to deal with people who are a lot weaker than their fathers and grandfathers were. "They're falling ill at an age when they really should still be quite fit." 'Apples and oranges' The WHO said comparing the Chernobyl Forum and Greenpeace reports was like "comparing apples and oranges" when it spoke to the BBC News website. A tendency to attribute all health problems to exposure to radiation have led local residents to assume that Chernobyl-related fatalities were much higher Chernobyl Forum report, September 2005 "The WHO felt it had recourse to the best national and international scientific evidence and studies when it came up with its estimates of [up to] 9,000 excess deaths for the most affected areas. We feel they're very sound." Mr Hartl rejected accusations of bias toward the nuclear industry in the report. "We acting as [neither] an apologist nor an attacker of the nuclear industry," he said. The original report found more than 600,000 people received high levels of exposure, including reactor staff, emergency and recovery personnel and residents of the nearby areas. \|\|\|\|\| Kiev, Ukraine — A new Greenpeace report, with input from 52 scientists from around the world, reveals that official estimates of the health impact from the Chernobyl catastrophe have been hugely under estimated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). (1) The report, “Chernobyl Catastrophe Consequences on Human Health”, is published in the run up to the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. Although large uncertainties remain on the full consequences of Chernobyl, results of recent studies (included in the report) featured in the report estimate that over 250,000 cancers and nearly 100,000 fatal cancers will be caused by the accident. The report challenges the IAEA Chernobyl Forum report’s prediction of 4,000 additional deaths attributable to the accident as a “gross simplification of the breadth of human suffering” (2). "It is appalling that the IAEA is whitewashing the impacts of the most serious nuclear accident in human history" said Ivan Blokov of Greenpeace. "Denying the real implications is not only insulting to the thousands of victims, but it also leads to dangerous recommendations and the relocation of people in contaminated areas. The IAEA cannot remain as the world’s nuclear watchdog if it cannot at least admit that nuclear power is responsible for the impact on those whose life it scarred forever”. The data, based on Belarus national cancer statistics, predicts approximately 270,000 cancers and 93,000 fatal cancer cases will be caused by Chernobyl (3). The report also concludes that on the basis of demographic data, during last 15 years, 60,000 people have died additionally in Russia because of the Chernobyl accident, and estimates of the total death toll for Ukraine and Belarus could be another 140,000 (4). These conclusions contrast sharply with the misleading claims of the IAEA. By not specifying that the 4,000 fatal cancers were only referring to the specific and relatively small group of 600,000 people, who included the so-called 'liquidators' (people sent in to ‘clean up’ after the accident) and those relocated after the accident, the IAEA release hid the true scale of human impact of Chernobyl. In fact, at least 2 billion people have been subjected to the radioactive fallout of the accident. The IAEA report also omitted non-cancer impacts and tried to explain many illnesses as 'radiophobia' whereas clear medical evidence exists of the direct psychological impact of radiation exposure (on e.g. the thyroid gland which has a direct relation to psychological well-being). Solid evidence also exists that the accident had an immensely disruptive impact on the health of millions of people across a large area of the world. Apart from the direct impact of the radiation, the health of those in the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia were also seriously impacted by a complex set of socio-economic disruptions following the loss of agricultural land, the forced relocation of some 300,000 people, an economic crisis, lack of adequate information and political factors. The ongoing health impact from Chernobyl is also tackled in the report and concludes that radiation from the disaster has had a devastating effect on survivors; damaging immune and endocrine systems, leading to accelerated ageing, cardiovascular and blood illnesses, psychological illnesses, chromosomal aberrations and an increase of deformities in foetuses and children. The impacts of Chernobyl and other nuclear disasters are featured in a new photography exhibition, which opens in thirty cities worldwide (5). The exhibition features poignant portraits of individuals and families, and the stories of their life’s struggle because of Chernobyl and other nuclear disasters. . “These images are a timely reminder that human life is more than just a number. For each statistic there is a person paying the ultimate price. Anyone who has a doubt about the dangers of nuclear power should visit the exhibition and see for themselves the reasons Greenpeace opposes nuclear power. Twenty years on and the threat of a new Chernobyl lies within every nuclear power plant ” concluded Blokov (6).	A map showing radioactive contamination by Caesium-137 around Chernobyl A report published by Greenpeace questions an estimate made by the (IAEA) that 4000 deaths have resulted from the . Greenpeace claims that this estimate is 'a gross simplification of the breadth of human suffering' and that over the last 15 years, 60,000 have died in because of the accident, and estimates that the total death toll for and could be another 140,000. The figure of 4,000 deaths given by the IAEA report referred to cancer fatalities within a group of 600,000 people, comprising of those who were sent in to clean up after the accident and those relocated after the accident. The Greenpeace report calls this figure 'misleading', saying that the report 'hid the true scale of human impact of Chernobyl'. Ivan Blokov of Greenpeace said "it is appalling that the IAEA is whitewashing the impacts of the most serious nuclear accident in human history". The IAEA have not yet responded to the report. The spokesman Gregory Hartl stated that "The Greenpeace report is looking at all of Europe, whereas our report looks at only the most affected areas of the three most affected countries." Furthermore, "The WHO felt it had recourse to the best national and international scientific evidence and studies when it came up with its estimates of up to 9,000 excess deaths for the most affected areas. We feel they're very sound." The report has been released at a time when the UK government is considering whether new nuclear power stations should be built in the country.
So, it's a win for AirTran customers. "It's good news for AirTran passengers ... in general because Southwest has better service than AirTran and lower fees," said George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com. Consumer advocate Clark Howard sees the acquisition as a positive development for air travelers nationwide. "It's so good for the flying public. This is an opportunity for a discounter to have the kind of heft and national reach of the full-fare airlines," Howard told CNN sister network HLN. Hobica isn't as optimistic about the deal. While it's unlikely the acquisition will lead to higher fares nationwide, he expects other airlines, such as American Airlines and USAirways, to join in the wave of airline mergers that started several years ago. More consolidation is likely to mean modestly higher fares, he said. "But the thing is, fares can only go up so high before passengers say 'no thank you.' They're doing that now, they'll drive, they'll take the bus, they'll take Amtrak or they'll stay home," he said. With the recently approved United-Continental merger and the combination of Delta and Northwest, the number of legacy air carriers has dropped to four. Without AirTran, only two major low-cost airlines, Southwest and JetBlue, will be competing for American travelers. In markets where Southwest and AirTran compete head to head, such as Baltimore, Orlando and Milwaukee, prices are likely to go up if they combine. Consumers may find lower prices in Southwest's new markets. "New markets always mean cheaper prices, for a while, until everybody fights it out," said FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney. "And a competitor leaving a market typically means higher prices." Delta Air Lines, a key AirTran competitor, is likely to see the biggest impact in the near term, Hobica said. Both airlines have hubs in Atlanta, Georgia. "Delta has to decide now whether they're going to eliminate fees on competing routes from and through Atlanta," Hobica said. Delta led American carriers in fees for the second quarter of 2010, collecting $681.6 million, a 67 percent increase over the same quarter in 2009. Overall during the second quarter, airlines collected $2.1 billion in ancillary fees, which include charges for checked bags, ticket changes, pet transportation and other fees, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. That figure represents a 15 percent increase from the same quarter last year. While the proposed deal's effects remain to be seen, some air fare analysts are pleased with the news. "I think America is going to very happy that now they can fly coast-to-coast between 100 U.S. cities and make the legacy airlines be more competitive with the style of Southwest and their low fees," said BestFares.com CEO Tom Parsons. \|\|\|\|\| The $3.4 billion Southwest-AirTran deal would give Southwest access to the Caribbean and more of the eastern US. It could also mean increased competition for Delta and JetBlue. Southwest Airlines, the nation's largest no-frills air carrier, announced plans to purchase rival AirTran Monday, a move that would extend Southwest's reach into the Caribbean and significantly expand its presence in the Eastern US. The roughly $3.4 billion Southwest-AirTran deal, if approved by regulators, will combine two of the nation's largest low-cost airlines. An open question is to what degree consolidation will mean rising fares for passengers. Ticket costs have already risen since last year, due to a strengthening economy and efforts by airlines to return to profitability. "I don't think fares are going to go up very much," says George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com, a website with tools for consumers to track ticket prices. "I don't see any need to panic." Southwest, in its press release, suggested that fares could go down. The airline cited what's been called the "Southwest effect" in past cases, where the company's expansion has led to greater price competition. Specifically, Southwest said that a heightened presence in Atlanta (now an AirTran hub) "has the potential to stimulate over two million new passengers and over $200 million in consumer savings, annually." Mr. Hobica voices skepticism that the AirTran deal will bring average US air fares lower. For one thing, Southwest's own prices aren't as low as they used to be. Also, AirTran itself is already a low-price airline. Still, he sees new competition coming to Atlanta, where fliers who use that hub may have an increasingly attractive alternative to Delta Air Lines. Delta lost about 2 percent of its share value in stock trading Monday, while Southwest rose nearly 10 percent. Shares of AirTran Holdings surged more than 60 percent in value, because Southwest agreed to pay a significant premium to win the deal. Although the two carriers currently overlap their service to about two dozen cities, AirTran's focus includes many Eastern cities where Southwest is not a player. Among them are Atlanta, Memphis, Miami, and Charlotte, N.C. Southwest would also gain access to Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C., and substantially expand its presence in New York, Boston, and Orlando. New destinations such as Jamaica and Aruba, meanwhile, would step up Southwest's competition with JetBlue for warm-weather vacation traffic. The buyout, if approved by federal regualators, will eventually result in AirTran's business being rebranded under Southwest's name. Included in the buyout's overall transaction value of $3.4 billion is a $1.4 billion share purchase plus arrangements regarding AirTran’s debt and aircraft leases. Southwest has nearly 35,000 employees and now flies 461 routes. AirTran has about 8,100 employees and flies 177 routes. In the era since deregulation, many carriers have gone out of business or undergone mergers with larger airlines. The industry's most recent consolidation trend has included linkups of Delta with Northwest, United with Continental, and Midwest with Frontier. Still, the threat of upstart competitors has persistently held rising fares in check. According to federal data, the average fare this year ($328 as of the first quarter) is similar to where it stood 10 years ago. For now, many airlines have a strategy that blends fare wars with add-on fees on everything from meals to extra leg room. Southwest is one of the few carriers that allow fliers to check a bag for free. And when it does charge fees, Hobica says they're usually lower than those of rivals. \|\|\|\|\| Southwest-AirTran deal means more options for some AP posted: 11:32 PM 09/27/10 NEW YORK -Southwest's decision to buy AirTran will mean more routes and fewer delays and cancellations in small cities but higher fares in the Northeast and perhaps the end of the super-low sale fare. Southwest Airlines, which has built a loyal following with its tongue-in-cheek ads and refusal to charge for checked bags, said Monday it planned to buy AirTran for $1.4 billion. The deal will move Southwest into 37 new cities, expand its presence in cities like New York and Boston and move it into Atlanta, the busiest airport in the nation. Combining the AirTran and Southwest routes means more connecting options for people flying through places like Moline, Ill., and Wichita, Kan., which should result in fewer delays and cancellations because there will be more options for rerouting passengers. In bigger cities like the Northeast hubs, however, fares will probably eventually go up. They may not rise right away because many of those cities are still served by a third discounter, JetBlue Airways, said fare expert George Hobica. The acquisition may also spell the end of the deep-discount sales currently offered by AirTran and Southwest because there will be less competition. Right now, for example, AirTran is offering a $54 one-way fare between Baltimore and Boston. "The era of irrational, stupid, destructive fare sales is over," Hobica said. "This is the new normal. JetBlue now has permission to raise prices between Baltimore and Boston. Other airlines now have permission to raise prices between Washington, D.C., and Florida." In welcome news for weary travelers, Southwest said it will drop AirTran's bag fees when the pair combine in 2012. Right now, AirTran charges $20 for the first checked bag, $25 for the second. Some major airlines charge even more. Southwest claims it has lured passengers by refusing to charge for bags, and it has built a marketing campaign around the policy, with baggage handlers shouting declarations of love to suitcases on the tarmac. The combined airline probably won't be large enough to pressure big competitors like United and American to give up the hundreds of millions of dollars a year they make from baggage fees, airline analyst Jay Sorensen said. While Southwest will be about 25 percent larger when the deal is complete, it will remain the fourth-largest by traffic. The upcoming combination of United and Continental will be No. 1, followed by Delta and the parent of American. Southwest will move into Atlanta, the only major business hub it doesn't already serve. Business travelers are key to airlines because they tend to pay higher fares. In an interview with The Associated Press, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said Atlanta was a "gaping hole in our route system." Southwest also gains routes to Mexico and the Caribbean, where JetBlue has a big presence. The buyout is the latest in a wave of consolidation in the airline industry. Continental and United will topple Delta as the largest airline in the world when they combine this week. Delta got the title when it bought Northwest in 2008. In the past 10 years, 10 major airlines have paired off, leaving five fewer. The deal will leave only four major airlines without suitors: American, US Airways, JetBlue and Alaska Airlines. Several experts suggest the unexpected Southwest deal will pressure American to tie up with US Airways, or possibly JetBlue. AirTran was founded in 1992 as ValuJet Airlines. It was renamed after the 1996 crash of ValuJet Flight 592 into the Florida Everglades, which killed all 110 people on board. It would be Southwest's largest acquisition by far. Southwest founder Herb Kelleher, a cigarette-smoking, Wild Turkey-drinking Texas lawyer, revolutionized the airline industry in the 1970s by offering low fares to leisure travelers out of secondary airports. Early on, the airline drew customers by passing out booze and putting flight attendants in hot pants. The company, which began with a handful of planes hopping among three Texas cities, bought Morris Air and Muse Air in the mid-1980s. Two years ago, it bought assets of ATA Airlines out of bankruptcy and began limited service to and from New York's LaGuardia Airport. Last year, Southwest tried unsuccessfully to buy Frontier Airlines out of bankruptcy. Republic Airways Holdings won the auction instead and bought it for $109 million. Southwest's acquisition of AirTran is expected to close in the first half of next year. It requires both regulatory and shareholder approval. Based on Southwest Airlines' closing share price on Friday, the deal is worth $7.69 per AirTran share. That's a 69 percent premium over its closing price of $4.55. AirTran shares jumped 62 percent to $7.36, while Southwest shares rose $1.73 to $14.01. Southwest will pay about $670 million with available cash and assume $2 billion in AirTran debt. Southwest and AirTran said the new airline will operate from more than 100 different airports and serve more than 100 million customers. — AP Airlines Writer David Koenig in Dallas and Business Writer Michelle Chapman in New York contributed to this report. (This version CORRECTS spelling of analyst's name to 'Jay Sorensen') AP Video. This story is part of AP's general news and financial services.) Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 2010-09-27 23:32:54	__NOTOC__ A Southwest Airlines aircraft. Currently, the airline only serves the US market; however, if they successfully purchase AirTran Airways they will gain international routes to Mexico and the Caribbean. An AirTran airplane. The company flew 23,998,000 passengers in 2009. Low-cost US airline announced Monday that it would buy its low-cost rival for US$1.4 billion. The merger announcement comes just days after United Airlines sealed a merger deal with Continental Airlines. "The acquisition of AirTran represents a unique opportunity to grow Southwest Airlines' presence in key markets we don't yet serve and takes a significant step towards positioning us for future growth," Gary Kelly, CEO of Southwest, said after the merger was announced. The Southwest-AirTran deal, which awaits antitrust regulatory approval, will gain Southwest a larger US network. By merging with AirTran, Southwest will also be a strong competitor in Eastern United States cities such as New York City, New York, Charlotte, North Carolina, , Georgia and Washington, D.C., cities that Southwest had previously not touched much. Southwest also will be going international for the first time, inheriting AirTran's Mexican and Caribbean routes. The newly merged company would keep Southwest's name and livery. Southwest will be offering AirTran stockholders US$7.69 per share. That's 69% more than AirTran's Friday, September 24 closing price. However, AirTran stock shot up 62% to $7.36 on Monday, while Southwest's stock rose more modestly to US$14.01. Delta Air Lines stock declined by 2% on Monday, as Southwest will gain an AirTran hub at Atlanta, which is also Delta's primary hub. The new airline would carry over 100 million passengers, creating the world's fourth largest airline. Last year, Southwest carried 101,338,000 passengers, while AirTran carried 23,998,000 fliers. Southwest will be 25% larger after the merger is completed. ===Debate over airfare hikes=== Though some people worry that airfares will go up, as people worried about during the United-Continental merger, others, including Southwest, aren't too worried. "America needs this now. You could go from Rochester, N.Y., to somewhere on AirTran, and from Charlotte to somewhere on AirTran. But with this deal you can now go just about anywhere in the country, and to the Caribbean and Mexico, on Southwest.. . With the more than 100 destinations that Southwest will now have, all the legacy airlines will have to set their prices based on whatever Southwest does," says Tom Parsons of BestFares.com. Parsons also said that "I think America is going to very happy that now they can fly coast-to-coast between 100 U.S. cities and make the legacy airlines be more competitive with the style of Southwest and their low fees." Consumer advocate Clark Howard also weigned in with a positive remark on the deal. "It's so good for the flying public. This is an opportunity for a discounter to have the kind of heft and national reach of the full-fare airlines," he said. Southwest even has said that fares could go down, as the "Southwest effect", which is supposed to stimulate competition, "has the potential to stimulate over two million new passengers and over US$200 million in consumer savings, annually" in Atlanta, according to the company. After the merger, Southwest also plans to drop AirTran's checked baggage fees of US$20-25. Southwest currently does not charge for checked baggage. Others aren't as thrilled with the merger of the low-cost airlines. "This is truly a shocker, and it can only mean further consolidation. I don't think anyone really saw this coming. More than any recent merger, it spells bad news for low fares, since both airlines were leaders in the low fare space and had frequent, almost weekly, sales. I can only imagine that now pressure is on for American to find a partner, and also US Airways, and that will lead to even less fare competition." says George Hobica, of airfarewatchdog.com. Hobica also said that "The era of irrational, stupid, destructive fare sales is over. This is the new normal. JetBlue now has permission to raise prices between Baltimore and Boston. Other airlines now have permission to raise prices between Washington, D.C., and Florida." Though Hobica was generally pessimistic about the deal, he did state that the Southwest takeover would be a win for AirTran customers, "because Southwest has better service than AirTran and lower fees." == Sources == * * * *
UK military operations in Afghanistan began in 2001 UK soldiers on patrol The MoD said the soldiers, from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, were killed at around 1830 local time (1500 BST) on Thursday. It is understood they died when the planes dropped a bomb near their patrol in Helmand province. Two other soldiers were also injured. Next of kin have been informed. The fighter planes had been called in to give air support to ground troops, the Ministry of Defence said. Human error Defence Secretary Des Browne said he was "very saddened" by the death of "three brave men who were tragically killed in what is believed to be a friendly fire incident". He said such incidents were "rare" and it would be thoroughly investigated. The United States expresses its deep condolences to the families and loved ones of the soldiers who died US Embassy statement No easy fix for 'friendly fire' High risks on battleground "We will look at this incident very carefully and make sure the families, who are uppermost in our thoughts, know exactly what happened to their loved ones," he said. He added that US air support was very important and had often helped get British troops out of dangerous situations. "We go to extraordinary lengths to ensure these things don't happen but at the end of the day combat environments are very complex environments. Human error is always a possibility," he said. The US Embassy in London said in a statement: "The United States expresses its deep condolences to the families and loved ones of the soldiers who died, and we wish those who were injured a speedy recovery." The MoD said all the soldiers had been taking part in a fighting patrol to disrupt Taleban activity to the north west of Kajaki, in Helmand province. They came under attack from Taleban insurgents and during the firefight that followed, close air support was called in from two US F15 aircraft, according to the MoD. Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Mayo, a spokesman for British troops in Helmand province told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "During this patrol they came into contact with some Taleban from a number of firing positions. "As they came under fire they then called in some close air support to assist them and an aircraft came in, it dropped a bomb and tragically this bomb killed three of the soldiers and injured two more." The three soldiers were declared dead at the scene. The injured two were evacuated by helicopter to the medical facility at Camp Bastion. Lt Col Mayo said one of the two was very seriously wounded and the other seriously wounded. BBC Kabul correspondent Alastair Leithead said close air support was relied on by ground troops to provide cover, attack the enemy and to get them out of trouble. "In the heat of battle when support is needed very quickly, nine times out of 10 it really does help to get troops out of very difficult positions," he said. Wing Commander Andrew Brookes, a defence analyst, said such air cover must be relied on unless more troops were deployed on the ground. "In this case it was an F15, an awesomely superb ground attack aeroplane but if you don't want that you have to provide enough troops on the ground... such as you don't need to call on the Americans to pull your chestnuts out of the fire," he said. The only other case of British service personnel being killed by in friendly fire involving American military personnel in Afghanistan in still under investigation. Royal Anglian fatalities An inquiry was launched in December 2006 into the death of marine Jonathan Wigley, 21, killed during an intense battle in Helmand province. In February, Mr Browne told MPs that since 1990, 12 UK service personnel had been killed in friendly fire incidents involving American military personnel in Iraq. The three deaths on Thursday mean the total number of UK troops killed while on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 has risen to 73. Fifty have been killed in action. The Royal Anglians, which have been based at Pirbright in Surrey for about five years, have been one of the regiments hardest hit by the fighting in Afghanistan. There has now been a total of nine soldiers killed from the regiment. It is one of the worst casualty rates since Operation Herrick, the campaign in Afghanistan, began in 2001. On 11 August the regiment's Captain David Hicks was killed during an attack by the Taleban on his patrol base northeast of Sangin in Helmand province. The regimental headquarters of the Royal Anglians is in Bury St Edmunds. The regiment recruits mainly from the counties of Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Three British soldiers were killed in a suspected "friendly fire" incident involving a bomb dropped from a U.S. fighter plane during a clash with Taliban militants in Afghanistan, military officials said Friday. British troops pictured in action in Helmand province in March 2007. The three British troops died during an operation against the Taliban near Kajaki in the southwestern province of Helmand, the UK Ministry of Defense said in a statement. It said air support from two U.S. F-15 aircraft was called in during the clash. "One bomb was dropped and it is believed the explosion killed the three soldiers," the ministry said. The deaths of the soldiers, who were serving under NATO command, brings to 73 the number of British troops killed in Afghanistan since the U.S.-led offensive of 2001. Many of those have died in a recent upsurge in Taliban activity in Helmand. Watch how the deaths have reopened old wounds Two other soldiers were wounded and air-lifted to a nearby base for medical treatment. Meanwhile, two coalition soldiers died in a non-combat "vehicle rollover" accident in the western province of Herat early Friday, a coalition press center statement said. Two other soldiers were also wounded in the accident, which the coalition said is under investigation. The soldiers' names and nationalities were not immediately released. In another non-combat related incident, a French NATO soldier was killed in a traffic accident in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Thursday, the French Defense Ministry said. The incident occurred in city's Shakardara district, the ministry said. He was part of a patrol in a light armored vehicle. He was the 11th soldier from France to die in the Afghan conflict. E-mail to a friend	Three soldiers of the United Kingdom, part of NATO's mission in Afghanistan, ISAF, were killed in what is thought to have been a "friendly fire" incident, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. Two other soldiers were injured in the incident on Friday, when the soldiers were bombed by US F-15 jets which had been called to provide support after the patrol came under attack. British Soldiers patrol Helmand Province. The apparent friendly fire incident took place Thursday evening northwest of Kajaki in Helmand province when the British troops were attacked by Taliban insurgents. The ministry said that ''"during the intense engagement that ensued, close air support was called in from two US F-15 aircraft to repel the enemy. One bomb was dropped and it is believed the explosion killed the three soldiers."'' The military said next of kin had been informed and said the incident would be investigated. 73 British soldiers died in Afghanistan since the start of the war in 2001.
Snake shows its colours Enlarge Image Researchers from Germany and the US discovered the water snake's chameleon-like behaviour by accident when they put it into a dark bucket. The environmental group WWF, which supports conservation work in Borneo, says wildlife in the region is threatened by deforestation. It believes the newly described snake may exist only in one river basin. Found in the Kapuas river in the Betung Kerihun National Park in Kalimantan (the Indonesian portion of Borneo), it belongs to the Enhydris genus of rear-fanged water snakes and has been named E. gyii. It is about 50cm (18 inches) long, and venomous. Bucket research The discovery of the 'chameleon" snake exposes one of nature's best kept secrets deep in the heart of Borneo Stuart Chapman, WWF It was Dr Auliya, a consultant for WWF, who discovered serendipitously its colour-changing capacity. "I put the reddish-brown snake in a dark bucket," he said. "When I retrieved it a few minutes later, it was almost entirely white." The reasons why it has evolved this attribute are unclear. The chameleon, possibly the animal kingdom's most famous colour-changer, is believed to alter its hue depending on mood and temperature. In the last 10 years, more than 350 new animal and plant species have been discovered on Borneo. "The discovery of the 'chameleon' snake exposes one of nature's best kept secrets deep in the heart of Borneo," said Stuart Chapman, WWF's international coordinator for the island. The environmental group warns that the home of the new snake is threatened, as Borneo's forest cover has declined from 75% in the mid-1980s to about 50% today. \|\|\|\|\| New chameleon-like snake discovered in the 'Heart of Borneo' Tuesday 27 June 2006 A new species of snake with the ability to spontaneously change colour has been discovered on the island of Borneo. Two half-metre long poisonous snakes were discovered by a German researcher who described the species with two American scientists. The ability to change colour is known from some reptiles, such as the chameleon, but scientists have seen it very rarely with snakes and have not yet understood this phenomenon. "I put the reddish-brown snake in a dark bucket. When I retrieved it a few minutes later, it was almost entirely white," said Dr Mark Auliya, reptile expert at the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig in Germany, and a consultant for WWF. Dr Auliya collected the two specimens in the wetlands and swamped forests around the Kapuas river in the Betung Kerihun National Park, an area in Kalimantan (the Indonesian part of Borneo) where WWF supports conservation work. The scientists named it the 'Kapuas-Mud-Snake'. The genus Enhydris, to which the new snake belongs, is composed of 22 species, only two of which are widespread. All the others have a very restricted range. The scientists believe this newly discovered snake might only occur in the Kapuas river drainage system. In the last ten years 361 new animal and plants species have been discovered on the island of Borneo. This amounts to three new species a month in an area only a little more than twice the size of Germany. "The discovery of the 'chameleon" snake exposes one of nature's best kept secrets deep in the Heart of Borneo. Its ability to change colour has kept it hidden from science until now," said Stuart Chapman, WWF's international coordinator of the Heart of Borneo Programme. "I guess it just picked the wrong colour that day." However, WWF warns that the home of the new snake is threatened. Today, only half of Borneo's forest cover remains, down from 75 per cent in the mid 1980s. But there is also hope that this trend could be halted as the three Bornean governments - Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia - recently launched the Heart of Borneo initiative, which aims to preserve approximately 220,000km2 of equatorial forests and numerous wildlife species. \|\|\|\|\| Ananova: Snake changes colour A snake capable of changing colour like a chameleon has been discovered in Indonesia. Two specimens of the snake were found in the Betung National Park on the island of Borneo. The snakes have been named Kapuas Mud after the river that runs through that part of the island. The half-metre-long venomous snake is normally brown with an iridescent sheen, but can turn white. It is not yet known whether the snake can become other colours too, or what exactly causes the change reports New Scientist. Mark Auliya who discovered the snake said: "I put the reddish-brown snake in a dark bucket. When I retrieved it a few minutes later, it was almost entirely white." \|\|\|\|\| Chameleon From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. For the constellation see Chamaeleon s are small to mid-size reptiles , and one of the best known lizard families. They are famous for their ability to change their colour but also because of their elongated tongue and their eyes which can be moved independently of each other. The name Chameleon means "earth lion" and is derived from the Greek words chamai (on the ground, on the earth) an leon (lion). This is a rather old lizard family since fossil records are known from as early as the early Tertiary The main distribution of Chameleons is Africa and Madagascar , although some species are also found in parts of southern Europe India and Asia Minor . Different members of this family inhabit all kinds of biotopes like tropical and montane rain forests, savannahs and sometimes semideserts and steppes. Chameleons are mostly arboreal and are often found on smaller bushes and shrubs rather than on taller trees. Some species, however, live on the ground under foliage. Chameleons are not active hunters but rather sit motionless for hours and wait for a prey to pass by. They mainly feed on different arthropods and small vertebrates . Chameleons live mostly solitary. Some Chameleon species are able to change their body colour, which made them one of the most famous lizard families. Contrary to popular belief, this change of colour is not an adaptation to the surroundings but rather an expression of the physical and physiological condition of the lizard. The skin colour is changed under influence of mood, light and temperature. The skin colour also plays an important part in communication and rivalry fights. Chameleons have specialized cells that lie in two layers under the chameleon's transparent outer skin. These cells, which are called chromatophores, contain yellow and red pigments. Below these chromatophores are cell layers that have white and blue pigments. A layer of brown melanin is situated even deeper under these blue and white light reflecting cells. All these different pigment cells can change their size (expand or contract), thereby influencing the colour of light which is reflected. Family Chamaeleonidae Subfamily Chamaeleoninae (typical chameleons) Genus Bradypodion Genus Calumma Genus Chamaeleo Genus Furcifer (typical chameleons) Subfamily Brookesiinae (dwarf chameleons) Genus Brookesia Genus Rhampholeon (dwarf chameleons) Chameleon is also the name of a computer workstation design produced at ETH Zurich running the Oberon operating system.	Scientists from the United States and Germany have discovered a new species of snake capable of changing it's colours, in the Betung Kerihun National Park on the island of Borneo. Researchers Mark Auliya from the ''Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig'' in Bonn and a consultant for the ''World Wildlife Federation''(WWF), and John Murphy and Harold Voris from the ''Field Museum of Natural History'' in Chicago were collecting specimens from the wetlands of the Kapuas river when they stumbled upon the snake's colour changing ability. "I put the reddish-brown snake in a dark bucket," Auliya explained. "When I retrieved it a few minutes later, it was almost entirely white." The ability to change colour is known from some reptiles, famously the chameleon, but scientists have seen it very rarely with snakes and are yet to understand the phenomenon. In chameleons, colour change is an expression of it's physiological condition. Skin color is also influenced by light and temperature. The two snakes, initially brown with an iridescent sheen, are about a half metre long and venomous. The scientists named them the 'Kapus-Mud-Snake'. They are believed to belong to the ''Enhydris'' genus, which is composed of 22 species of rear-fanged water snakes, only two of which are widespread. The scientists believe this newly discovered snake might only occur in the Kapuas river drainage system. "The discovery of the "chameleon" snake exposes one of nature's best kept secrets deep in the Heart of Borneo." Said Stuart Chapman, WWF's international coordinator of the Heart of Borneo Programme. "Its ability to change colour has kept it hidden from science until now." In the last ten years 361 new animal and plants species have been discovered on the island of Borneo, however, WWF says wildlife in the region is threatened by deforestation. Today, only half of Borneo's forest cover remains, down from 75 per cent in the mid 1980s. There is hope, however, that this trend can be halted. Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia - the three governments which hold jurisdiction over Borneo - recently launched the Heart of Borneo initiative. This aims to preserve approximately 220,000km2 of equatorial forests and numerous wildlife species.
By Phil Mercer BBC News, Sydney Policing tight-knit traditional communities can be difficult It is believed the victims were tortured by fellow villagers in a remote highland region 400km (250 miles) north of capital Port Moresby. Police believe they were forced to confess to witchcraft after they were stabbed with hot metal rods. Human rights campaigners say it is not uncommon in Papua New Guinea for women suspected of witchcraft to be killed. These four women had been accused by fellow villagers of using sorcery to cause a car crash in which three prison guards died. A senior police officer said it appeared the killings took place last October and that a tip-off from tribal elders had eventually alerted the authorities. The women's bodies were found hidden in an old pit. It is not clear if any charges will be laid. Tight-knit communities Superstition has always been part of life in Papua New Guinea. Death and mysterious illness are sometimes blamed on evil curses and suspected sorcerers are often blamed and then killed. Researchers have found that the victims are usually elderly women with little influence in the village. Prosecuting those who kill these so-called magic makers within tight-knit communities is problematic, with potential witnesses often refusing to speak to the police. Christianity is a powerful force in Papua New Guinea, but many people still believe in sorcery. Those suffering from HIV and Aids are often seen as the victims of witchcraft. Papua New Guinea has the highest HIV rate in the South Pacific - aid agencies warn of an epidemic spiralling out of control - but many people do not understand how it is spread. In the past, some Aids victims have been thrown off bridges or dumped into graves to die. \|\|\|\|\| Police in Papua New Guinea say four women, believed by fellow villagers to have used sorcery to cause a fatal road crash, have been tortured with hot metal rods to confess, then murdered and buried standing up in a pit. The National newspaper says police have only just uncovered the grisly murders, which occured last October near the town of Goroka in the jungle-clad highlands some 400 kilometres north of the capital, Port Moresby. Black magic is widespread in the South Pacific nation where most of the 5.1 million population live subsistence lives. Women suspected of being witches are often hanged or burnt to death. Local police commander Chief Inspector David Seine told the newspaper that people in the village of Kamex accused the four women of sorcery after a road crash killed three prison officers. The women were reportedly tortured into admission by being stabbed with hot metal rods, said Chief Insp Seine. It appeared the women were blindfolded with thick sticky tape strapped across their faces and mouths and their hands had been tied before they were murdered, he said. Chief Insp Seine said the women were buried in an old narrow toilet pit in the standing position. The pit was then covered with soil and two old vehicle tyres placed on the top. "They planted a banana tree on top of the pit with fresh grass making it difficult for anyone to discover the site, but police got to it with the help of some elders from the village," he said. - Reuters	Papua New Guinea Villagers near the town of Goroka in the jungle-covered highlands about 400 kilometres north of the capital Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea killed four women they believed to be witches. They tortured the women by stabbing them with hot rods so they would confess to causing a road crash using sorcery. The accident had resulted in the death of three prison guards. The villagers hid the bodies in an old pit. With the help of some village elders, police have now discovered these murders which occurred in October of last year. BBC News reports human rights campaigners saying that it is not uncommon in Papua New Guinea for women suspected of engaging in black magic to be killed, often by hanging or burning.
Funds sent by overseas workers back to Latin America and the Caribbean are expected to drop steeply in 2009, shrinking a crucial source of cash for many families in the region. Remittances to the region began to slow in 2008 after a decade of growth, according to the Inter-American Development Bank, as countries such as the U.S., Spain and Japan, slid into recession. This year, remittances to the region are likely to decline for the first time since the bank began tracking annual flows in 2000, according to a new study by the Washington-based multilateral institution. Migrant workers -- the lifeline for millions of families in Latin American and the Caribbean -- sent home a record $69.2 billion last year, nearly 1% more than in 2007. For countries that have reported data for January, totals were down significantly. Mexico, which receives the lion's share of U.S. remittances, experienced a 12% drop compared to January 2008. In the same month, Colombia suffered a 16% drop, while Brazil saw a 14% decline. Guatemala and El Salvador each experienced an 8% decline. "While it is too early to project by how much remittances may decline in 2009, this is bad news for millions of people in our region who depend on these flows to make ends meet," said IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno. Economic pain in Europe and Japan is also likely to echo in Latin America. Brazil and Peru boast significant populations in Japan. Europe attracts many migrants from Andean countries. U.S.-based migrant workers who send money home -- many of them undocumented immigrants who entered the country illegally -- have been under pressure for some time. The gradual economic slowdown, negative immigration environment and mortgage meltdown have all taken a toll on workers. Despite the challenging economic climate, remittance flows recently kept growing, even if at steadily declining rates. All told, they rose by 6% in 2007 over the previous year and remained steady throughout the first half of 2008. Remittances began to show the impact of the recession on migrant workers' earnings in late 2008. Following a flat third quarter, in the fourth quarter the money they sent home declined by 2% relative to the same quarter in 2007. A significant proportion of money that workers send home is used for daily necessities, prompting concerns that a decline will put more pressure on social safety networks and result in less investment on items that help lift people out of poverty. When remittances shrivel, "families will spend less on health care and education, because providing food, clothing and shelter come first," says Robert Meins, a remittances specialist at the IDB. Remittances are the top foreign-exchange earner for Guatemala, at $4.3 billion in 2008, ahead of coffee, sugar and other exports. Some 1.35 million Guatemalan citizens -- 10% of the country's population -- live in the U.S. Some 3.5 million people still living in Guatemala depend on these remittances , according to the Central American Institute of Social and Development Studies, an independent think tank in Guatemala. The appreciation of the U.S. dollar in late 2008 provided some respite for families dependent on remittances, particularly in Mexico, Brazil and Colombia. Remittances from the U.S. to those countries increased the purchasing power for recipients, offsetting at least in part the decline in volume. Countries in the Andean region that receive money from Spain benefited from the strong euro during the first half of 2008 but since then have been hurt by declines in the European currency. Ecuador has been hit hardest, according to the IDB, because it boasts both a dollarized economy and a large population in Spain, which has been buffeted by unemployment and the depreciating euro. Remittances to Ecuador, which receives 45% of its flow from Spain, were down 22% in the fourth quarter of 2008. The economic crisis has especially hurt industries that employ low-skilled foreign workers world-wide, particularly construction, manufacturing, hotels and restaurants. Despite the discouraging economic picture, the IDB said it saw "scant evidence" that migrants are prepared to return en masse to their countries of origin. In Spain, where there are some five million foreign workers, a government plan to pay welfare benefits in a lump sum to those who return home has enticed few takers. "Migrants have proven that they adapt to tough conditions," said Mr. Moreno. "They change jobs, work longer hours, cut back on spending, move to another city and even dip into savings in order to continue sending money to their families," Mr. Moreno said. "Going home is usually a last resort." Write to Miriam Jordan at miriam.jordan@wsj.com \|\|\|\|\| – January figures down 13% in some countries The Inter-American Develop-ment Bank (IDB) yesterday announced a projected decline in remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean for 2009, indicating a likely reduction in a key source of revenue for the local economy. The latest estimates for remittances presented by the bank’s Multilateral Invest-ment Fund (MIF) predict a decline, the first since it started tracking remittances to the region in 2000. The IDB said the decline would likely result in a greater demand on social safety networks by families which rely on money from abroad to cover basic expenses. “While it is too early to project by how much remittances may decline in 2009, this is bad news for millions of people in our region who depend on these flows to make ends meet,” IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno said yesterday at a news conference, where the MIF’s estimates were presented. “The issue has become more complex, as more factors have come into play. The world is facing its worst economic crisis in recent memory. Unemploy-ment is rising in industrialized nations. The climate against immigration is becoming harsher. Even exchange rate fluctuations are playing a larger role than before,” he noted. Last year Latin American and Caribbean expatriates transferred some $69.2 billion to their homelands, 0.9% more than in 2007, according to the MIF. It explained that the break in the upward trend took place after the first half of 2008. There was a flat third quarter and in the fourth quarter remittances dropped to $17 billion, 2% less than in the same period of 2007. For the few countries that have reported data for January, the bank said, totals were down by as much as 13%. The projection has significant implications for Guyana, which has led Latin America and the Caribbean in remittances receipts as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with US$424 million constituting 43 per cent of GDP received in the previous year. During his presentation on the 2009 Budget, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said private transfers were projected to decline by 20.9% this year, which he attributed to lower worker remittances and in-kind transfers given the downturn in the global economy. Meanwhile, last year President Bharrat Jagdeo had also indicated that the inflow of remittances could be affected by massive layoffs in the US as unemployment was going up. According to an IDB news release, the bank has been advising borrowing member countries since before the crisis exploded on strengthening their social programmes. After many years of persistent growth, remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean came under pressure in 2008 as major source countries, including the United States, Spain and Japan, fell into recessions, it said, adding that industries that employ foreign workers, such as construction, manufacturing, hotels and restaurants have been especially hard hit. Further, remittance senders and their beneficiaries back home were also hurt by last year’s spike in oil and food prices, which further eroded their incomes. In addition, exchange rates swings started to have greater influence than in the past, especially in countries that experienced sharp devaluations or have large expatriate communities in Europe. The bank noted that the Mexican peso and the Brazilian real have lost ground against the US dollar in recent months. As a result, remittances from the US to those countries have in-creased their purchasing power, offsetting at least in part the decline in volume. Countries in the Andean region that receive significant amounts of money from Spain benefited from the strong euro during the first half of 2008 but since then have been hit by declines in the European currency. Meanwhile, Central Ameri-can countries, which are either dollarized or have currencies pegged to the US dollar, are more protected from exchange rate fluctuations. Despite the bleak outlook, the MIF sees scant evidence that migrants are ready to return en masse to their countries of origin, the release, however said. In Spain, it noted, where there are some five million foreign workers, a government plan to pay welfare benefits in a lump sum to people who return to their homelands has attracted few takers. “Migrants have proven that they adapt to tough conditions,” Moreno said. “They change jobs, work longer hours, cut back on spending, move to another city and even dip into savings in order to continue sending money to their families,” he added. “Going home is usually a last resort.” The MIF is currently conducting surveys with banks and money transfer companies and working with think-tanks involved in polling migrant workers to obtain more detailed and first-hand information on how remittance flows may evolve this year. For the MIF, which emphasizes microenterprises as a development tool to reduce poverty, the crisis provides an opportunity to bring more families who receive remittances into the formal banking system. MIF General Manager Julie T. Katzman said most of the money sent home by migrants pays for food, clothing, medicines and housing, providing families with relief from economic hardship. However, fewer than half of these households have bank accounts where they can keep their savings. “Once basic needs are met, what could be the truly transformative potential of remittances is all too often left under the proverbial mattress,” Katzman said. “Offering the families of migrant workers access to the basic financial services we all take for granted will allow them to maximize the benefit of their remittances. “From simply having a bank account to obtaining microcredit, insurance or a loan for housing or the education of their children, these services can empower families to advance on the road to financial independence,” she added. The MIF will continue to work with central banks, financial regulators, banks, credit unions, microfinance institutions and money transfer companies in Latin America and the Caribbean to find new ways to maximize the economic impact of remittances, the release said. You can follow responses to this article through its RSS feed. Subscribe to our electronic edition or get home delivery! More articles in Local News	Slumping economies in the United States, Spain and Japan are causing reverberations in the countries of Latin America as migrant workers send less money home. The Inter-American Development Bank reported that for the first time since they began tracking remittances in 2000, remittances to Latin America declined in the fourth quarter of 2008, dropping 2% relative to the fourth quarter of 2007. In January, remittances declined further, with Colombia experiencing a 16% drop relative to 2008, Brazil suffering a 14% decline, Mexico 12%, and Guatemala and El Salvador each falling 8%. These numbers come as 2008 saw an average 10% increase in remittances. Nearly US$70 billion was sent back to families in those areas in 2008. Low-skilled jobs such as construction, manufacturing, and restaurant and hotel work have been especially negatively impacted by the global economic crisis, putting the squeeze on migrant workers who depend on these industries. The fall in remittances could have long term effects in the workers' home countries: In times of scarcity, spending on health care and education -- investments that alleviate poverty -- gives way in favor of the bare necessities of survival. Remittances are number one source of foreign income for Guatemala. At $4.3 billion in 2008, they account for more than the combined income from exports of coffee, sugar and other goods. According to the Central American Institute of Social and Development Studies, 3.5 million people in Guatemala depend on remittances from 1.35 million Guatemalan citizens living in the United States. The decline in remittances also has serious consequences for Guyana, which receives 43 percent of its GDP in remittances, the most of any country in Latin America and the Caribbean. Guyanese Finance Minister Ashni Singh has projected a decline of 20.9 per cent in remittances for 2009.
Joe Nocera The case against the company is weak, and it has deep pockets. A successful appeal could set a precedent in thousands of other cases. \|\|\|\|\| PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. In his first public appearance after the November head-on collision of his squeaky clean image and an unsavory secret life, Tiger Woods was somber in expressing remorse, stern in scolding the news media for stalking his family and reporting untruths, and spiritual in saying he had drifted from the Buddhist principles he was taught as a child. In front of about 40 inner-circle people that included his mother, Kultida, but not his wife, Elin, along with a national television audience, Woods made his most direct statement about admitted infidelities in his marriage. “I had affairs,” he said. “I was unfaithful. I cheated.” Woods said he had mistakenly believed that his enormous success and celebrity made him entitled “to enjoy all the temptations around me.” He added: “I was wrong. I was foolish. I don’t get to play by different rules.” While creating the impression that his marriage hung in the balance, Woods vigorously defended his wife and denied reports and speculation that domestic violence had played a role in the episode outside his home in the early-morning hours on Nov. 27 that resulted in Woods’s crashing his sport utility vehicle into a fire hydrant and a neighbor’s tree in the gated community of Isleworth near Orlando. “Elin never hit me that night or any other night,” he said, as his voice rose and his face hardened. “There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage, ever. Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout the ordeal.” Devoid of his ubiquitous Nike cap, Woods wore a dark sport coat and light-blue shirt with the collar open. He spoke for almost 15 minutes at a lectern in front of a blue curtain. Three wire service reporters were permitted to watch but not ask questions at the T.P.C. Sawgrass clubhouse near the Professional Golf Association’s headquarters. The rest of a news media contingent, which was 300 strong and included journalists from Japan, Australia and Norway, jammed into two ballrooms at the Marriott Sawgrass resort to watch the tightly controlled event. Acknowledging reports that he had undergone counseling for 45 days, Woods said he would continue the treatment beginning Saturday. He did not reveal the nature of the counseling. Woods also did not address a return to the PGA Tour until near the end of his statement, saying: “I do plan to return to golf one day, I just don’t know when that day will be. I don’t rule out that it will be this year.” That hedge was interpreted as a positive sign by the PGA Tour commissioner, Tim Finchem. “The good news today is that he does plan to return and could return this year,” Finchem said in a news conference afterward. But in raising the possibility of a return sooner rather than later, Woods also treaded on his Tour colleagues merely with the timing of his reappearance, before the third round of a match play tournament in Arizona, sponsored by Accenture a company that dropped Woods as its spokesman in the wake of his sensational fall from grace. In a letter to the PGA Tour policy board, a copy of which was obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, Finchem struck a mollifying tone in explaining why the event was held Friday. He wrote that “Tiger’s therapy called for a week’s break at this time” and that “accordingly, there was very little flexibility in the date for the announcement.” During Finchem’s news conference Friday, when he called Woods an “American hero,” he also said he understood why Woods had chosen such a tightly controlled format as the first step in a lengthy process to heal himself, possibly his marriage and his relationship with the public. “Candidly, what else do we need to know, at this point?” he said. But the offer by the Woods camp to have three golf writers attend was rejected by the Golf Writers Association of America because the group did not want its members to be “used as props, standing in the back of the room, lending credibility to a staged presentation,” said Vartan Kupelian, the association’s president. The three reporters who were inside the T.P.C. Sawgrass clubhouse were from The Associated Press, Reuters and Bloomberg News. They arrived about 10 minutes before Woods appeared to speak to find the audience seated in three rows. “It was like church, very somber,” Doug Ferguson of The A.P. said. In the back row sat Tour officials. Woods’s mother was in the front, flanked by two Woods employees, Amy Reynolds and Kathy Battaglia. Nearby was his former college roommate at Stanford, Notah Begay III, a golfer on the PGA Tour. Woods spoke in a calm, measured tone, beginning by addressing the unthreatening environment he had insisted on. “Many of you in this room are my friends,” he said. “Many of you in this room know me. Many of you have cheered me or you’ve worked for me or you’ve supported me.” \|\|\|\|\| Tiger Woods blames himself, fame, temptation Tiger Woods, in what was an almost-15 minute speech today (video here) , said only one thing about golf: "I do plan to return to golf one day. I just don't know when that day will be." The rest of his statement was about being sorry and working on repairing the damage to his marriage, foundation and business partners. "I want to say to each one of you simply and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior ... Elin and I have started the process of healing the damage." But he said, "My real apology to her will not come in the form of words. It will come from my behavior over time. However, what we say to each other will remain between the two of us." He wanted to be clear about Thanksgiving night: "Elin never hit me that night or any other night. There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage. Ever. Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal. Elin deserves praise, not blame. The issue involved here was my repeated irresponsible behavior. I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated." Fame and fortune played a role, he said. "I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard throughout my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. Thanks to money and fame I didn't have to go far to find them. I was wrong. I was foolish. I didn't get to play by different rules." He asked the media to "please leave" Elin and the kids alone. He spoke of Buddhism and how he had drifted away from it in recent years. And he said, "I will leave for more treatment and more therapy." His final words: "Today, I want to ask for your help. I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again." \|\|\|\|\| PONTE VEDRA BEACH — Expressing remorse for times when "I didn't think normal rules applied," Tiger Woods apologized Friday to his mother, friends, business associates — and by extension, the world — for the affairs that have put his marriage on the rocks and his illustrious career still on indefinite hold. "I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you," he said in a 13½-minute speech before a private gathering at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse. "I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did. I'm embarrassed that I put you in this position. For all that I have done, I am so sorry." Woods also confirmed that he has spent 45 days undergoing inpatient therapy for sex addiction and that he'll return Saturday for continued treatment. While expressing a desire to return to competitive golf, he left any specifics unanswered. "I do plan to return to golf one day. I just don't know when that day will be," he said. "I don't rule out that it'll be this year. When I do return, I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game." To all but his closest inner circle and those treating him, Friday marked Woods' first sighting since the wee hours of Nov. 27, when he crashed his SUV into a fire hydrant and tree outside his Isleworth driveway. A dazed Woods was rushed to the hospital, then went into seclusion upon his release. The accident came hard on the heels of a National Enquirer report that Woods was carrying on an affair with Rachel Uchitel, a New York City events planner who reportedly had accompanied the golfer to the Australian Open in November. In the days that followed, more than a dozen women came forward or were identified in tabloid reports as having affairs with Woods. Until Friday, Woods' only response came in three brief statements issued on his website. "I was unfaithful," Woods admitted Friday. "I had affairs. I cheated. What I did is not acceptable, and I'm the only person to blame. I stopped living by the core values I was taught to believe in." Woods' mother, Kultida, was seated near the end of the front row to hear her son's remarks. Also among those in attendance were PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and fellow tour pro and Stanford roommate Notah Begay III. Noticeably absent was Elin Woods, the golfer's wife. "Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behavior," Woods said. "As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words. It will come in my behavior over time. "What we say to each other will remain between the two of us. I'm also aware of the pain my behavior has caused those of you in this room. I have let you down, and I have let down my fans." Woods also took time to chastise the tabloid media – not for reporting his foibles but for tailing his wife and young children. The couple has a 2½ year-old daughter, Sam, and 1-year-old son, Charlie. "My behavior doesn't make it right for the media to follow my 2½-year-old daughter to school and report the school's location," Woods said. "They staked out my wife and they pursued my mom. "Whatever my wrongdoings, for the sake of my family, please leave my wife and kids alone." Woods also denied speculation that he has used performance-enhancing drugs – a rumor stemming from the arrest of a Canadian doctor, Tony Galea, who used a radical blood treatment to help Woods recover from knee surgery last year. Though the setting was private, Woods' words quickly spread worldwide. ABC, CBS and NBC all broke into regular programming to carry the speech. ESPN and Golf Channel provided extended coverage. "I don't know the extent to which the American public generally allows him the opportunity to demonstrate where he's headed in a credible way," Finchem said, addressing a phalanx of worldwide media who watched the speech from a hotel ballroom a mile away from the Sawgrass clubhouse. Finchem characterized Woods' words as "heartfelt."	Tiger Woods while playing golf in 2007 American golfer Tiger Woods delivered a speech on Friday where he apologized for his recently publicized marital infidelities. Before an audience of the press, family, and friends, Mr. Woods admitted that he did indeed have a sex addiction. He said that he would one day return to golf, although he did not specify when. In his speech, he said that he had not been assaulted by his wife, Elin Nordegren, on November 27, 2009, as was speculated in the media, and the injuries he sustained were due to a car accident. He said that his wife "deserves praise, not blame." He scolded the media for the attention they were bringing to his family and friends saying "please leave my wife and kids alone." He was very angry at paparazzo who followed his daughter to school, then releasing the school's name and address. After his speech, the stock price of companies which sponsored Woods rose on average 3% compared to the S&P 500 which only rose about 0.35%. These companies include Nike, Electronic Arts, and AT&T among others. Also CBS Sports expects to lose over US$200 million in ad revenue due to the drop in viewers.
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- The leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, was arrested in the northern city of Mosul, the Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman said Thursday. Abu Ayyub al-Masri took over al Qaeda in Iraq after Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in 2006. CNN is working to confirm the information. Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askari said the arrest of al-Masri, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, was confirmed to him by the Iraqi commander of the province. "The commander of Ninevah military operations informed me that Iraqi troops captured Abu Hamza al-Muhajir the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq," al-Askari told The Associated Press by telephone. Al-Masri, an Egyptian militant, took over al Qaeda in Iraq after Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed June 7, 2006 in a U.S. airstrike northeast of Baghdad. The U.S. military in Baghdad said "we are currently checking with Iraqi authorities to confirm the accuracy of this information." Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said that Mosul police "arrested one of al Qaeda's leaders at midnight and during the primary investigations he admitted that he is Abu Hamza Al-Muhajir." Watch a profile of al-Masri from the CNN archives » News of the arrest was also reported by Iraqi state television. The state channel, Iraqiya, said that Minister of Interior Jawad al-Bolani would reward Mosul police for the capture. Interior Ministry spokesman Khalaf told the station by phone that a source close to the al Qaeda leader informed Mosul police that al-Masri would be at a house in the city's Wadi Hajar area at midnight Wednesday. "The police raided this house and arrested him. During the primary investigation, he confessed that he is Abu Hamza Al-Muhajir, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq. Now a broader investigation of him is being conducted," he said to Iraqiya. If confirmed, the arrest would represent a major blow to al Qaeda in Iraq, which has been on the run for the past year following an influx of thousands of U.S. troops and a shift in alliances by Sunni tribesmen in western Anbar province, and elsewhere. The U.S. military considers the organization its number one enemy in Iraq. He did not have any further details nor did he say when the al Qaeda leader was arrested. According to unconfirmed reports he was caught Thursday evening in the Tayran area in central Mosul, 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad. Mosul is currently a major battleground for U.S. forces and al Qaeda. The Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella organization that includes al-Qaeda in Iraq, last year announced an "Islamic Cabinet" for Iraq and named al-Masri as "minister of war." U.S. officials said al-Masri joined an extremist group led by al Qaeda's No.2 official in 1982. He joined al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan in 1999 and trained as a car bombing expert before traveling to Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. According to associates in Afghanistan, al-Masri has been involved in Islamic extremist movements since 1982, when he joined Islamic Jihad, a terror group led by Ayman al-Zawahri, who became bin Laden's chief deputy. Al-Masri fought with Muslim rebels against the Soviets in Afghanistan in the 1980s and later ran al Qaeda training camps there. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All About Al Qaeda in Iraq \|\|\|\|\| Masri is believed to have formed al-Qaeda's first cell in Baghdad The United States military in Iraq says a man detained in the northern city of Mosul is not in fact the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq. An earlier statement from the Iraqi defence ministry said that al-Masri had been captured. But an American military spokeswoman, Peggy Kageleiry, said Abu Ayyub al-Masri had not been arrested. She said confusion had arisen because a man with a similar name to the al-Qaeda in Iraq leader had been detained. Al-Qaeda in Iraq has been blamed for or has claimed responsibility for some of the bloodiest insurgent attacks in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003. Members of al-Qaeda are believed to have regrouped in the northern city since the beginning of the US troops "surge" last year. Al-Masri is believed to have helped Abu Musab al-Zarqawi form the first al-Qaeda cell in Baghdad. Zarqawi was killed in June 2006. In April 2007, he was named "minister of war" in the 10-man cabinet of the Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella organisation of Sunni militant groups.	An Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman said that the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, was arrested Thursday. Al-Masri, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, was reportedly arrested in the northern city of Mosul, 225 miles northwest of Baghdad. There has been no official confirmation or comment from United States forces yet, but news of the arrest was reported on Iraq state television. The Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman, Mohammed al-Askari, told the Associated Press via telephone that, "The commander of Ninevah military operations informed me that Iraqi troops captured Abu Hamza al-Muhajir the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq." Al-Masri, an Egyptian-born militant, took control of Al Qaeda operations in Iraq after former leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed on June 7, 2006 in an airstrike northeast of Baghdad. Major Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf, an Interior Ministry spokesman, said that police in Mosul "arrested one of al Qaeda's leaders at midnight and during the primary investigations he admitted that he is Abu Hamza Al-Muhajir. Now a broader investigation of him is being conducted."
Italy: Prodi claims poll victory Berlusconi contest challenger's claim, says his party won Senate ROME, Italy (CNN) -- Italian opposition leader Romano Prodi claimed victory Tuesday for his center-left coalition in parliamentary elections, but Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was contesting the claim. Appearing before a large crowd of supporters outside his party headquarters in Rome, Prodi said early Tuesday that his party had taken control of the lower house of Parliament by winning 340 of 630 seats. Berlusconi -- who has ruled the country for the past five years with a large majority in Parliament -- disputed that claim, saying that his center-right coalition won control of the 315-seat upper house, the Senate, by one seat. Still, power there could shift because six of the Senate seats are to be allocated to Italians who live abroad, and those ballots have not yet been counted. In the lower house, the margin of victory was around 25,000 votes, a tiny fraction of the 47 million Italians eligible to vote. The tiny margin gives the center-right coalition of Berlusconi the chance to ask for a recount. His spokesman, Paolo Buonaiuti, told Italian television that Berlusconi would do just that. A prime minister needs control of both houses in order to form a government. If the two houses of parliament fall to different coalitions, a stalemate would follow, and there would likely be new elections after months of a caretaker government. If Prodi manages to win both houses, his majority in the upper house could be so slight that it would limit his ability to pass the reforms he has promised. Final results of the elections are expected later Tuesday. Prodi's allies said on Monday the nation had turned its back on Berlusconi, punishing him for failing to deliver on promises to revive Italy's lagging economy. Jeff Israely, TIME magazine's Rome bureau chief, said if final results confirmed that Berlusconi has lost the vote "it may be because he promised too much." Most of the political parties have aligned themselves with either Berlusconi's conservative Casa delle Liberta (House of Freedoms) coalition, or Prodi's center-left Unione (Union). Voters are casting ballots for parties, not individuals. Berlusconi, a fiery politician who has held office for five years, is the longest-serving leader in post-war Italy. Before the election, he said that if Italians voted for the coalition represented by Prodi, they would be voting for communists. Berlusconi had promised voters lower taxes and higher pensions. Prodi, who is serious to the point where he is viewed as almost dull by some, vowed to jump-start Italy's economy, which had zero growth in 2005. He blamed the country's financial woes on the current government's poor economic policies. Prodi has promised to cut labor costs. He once headed the European Union's executive body, the European Commission. Overseas voters The interior ministry said turnout at the election was 83.6 percent against 81.4 percent in 2001. Berlusconi said a turnout above 82 percent would help his coalition. About 47 million Italians were eligible to vote in the first parliamentary elections in which nearly 3 million Italians living abroad were able to cast ballots from the countries where they live. In a March 24 poll, the last one before a two-week blackout on opinion surveys, Prodi's bloc led by about 4 percentage points. Both men tried to sway undecided voters, who made up about 25 percent of the electorate. A major issue separating the two men was the Iraq war. Berlusconi supported the U.S. invasion, despite overwhelming opposition at home. A Prodi premiership would likely place less emphasis on U.S. ties, and would renew tighter relations with traditional partners France and Germany. Berlusconi, a media mogul tycoon, far outspent his rival in the campaign. Analysts estimate he has spent close to €40 million (about $50 million) -- nearly triple Prodi's spending. But Berlusconi has also battled a long string of scandals and negative press. While he has been in power, his media company has posted large revenues, while other companies in the same sector have failed. Since he entered politics 12 years ago, Berlusconi has faced a series of criminal charges, including bribing judges and making illegal donations to political parties. But he has never received a guilty verdict, and accuses judges of political motivations against him. Colorful leader The colorful leader made headlines throughout the election with his remarks, comparing himself to Jesus and Napoleon and branding those who would not vote for him "morons." (Watch the campaign get nasty -- 3:12) He also vowed to give up sex until election day. Berlusconi said observers were needed to prevent election fraud, but Prodi said Berlusconi should not worry because "he already controls everything." Prodi, who lacks Berlusconi's celebrity, may have been helped by coming across as the opposite of the flashy leader. He refused to appear on TV stations owned by Berlusconi, saying they were biased against him. He said one of his top priorities in office would be changing the antitrust laws Berlusconi approved. Prodi, a former professor, has strung together a coalition of left and center-left groups. While Prodi has his followers, the election was also widely seen as a vote for or against Berlusconi. In the final days before the election, Italians appeared split on that question. \|\|\|\|\| Polls: Berlusconi trailing challenger in Italy vote Conservative premier is seeking third term; leftist Prodi is ex-ECU president Alberto Pizzoli / AFP - Getty Images Italy's center-left leader Romano Prodi, right, takes a cappuccino with his wife Flavia in a Rome's central bar on Monday. MSNBC News Services ROME - Center-left leader Romano Prodi looks set to beat Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Italy's general election, winning a majority in both houses of parliament, according to exit polls released on Monday. Two Nexus polls, issued 45 minutes apart, indicated that Prodi's coalition had garnered between 50 and 54 percent of the vote in both the upper and lower chambers of parliament, while Berlusconi's coalition had between 45 and 49 percent. Both exit polls, which had a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points, did not give an immediate breakdown for seats in the lower Chamber of Deputies. Nexus will release projections for the Senate, stemming from the initial vote count, at 4:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m. EDT), and for the lower house at 6:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m. EDT) for the Chamber. The margin of error for the projections ranges from 3 percentage points for the first projection to 1 percentage point for the last. Berlusconi's center-right bloc was shown winning 45 to 49 percent of the vote in both houses according to the poll, broadcast by state television RAI. A separate poll by Piepoli, shown on Sky Italia television, showed former European Commission president Prodi winning 52 percent of the vote in the lower house, to give it 340 seats, and around 167 seats of the 315 seats up for grabs in the Senate. The poll was released on the final day of voting to deliver a verdict on Berlusconi, the billionaire media mogul who failed to jump-start a flat economy as the nation's longest-serving premier since World War II. Exit polls in Italy have called past elections incorrectly, most famously in 1996 when they failed to predict that Prodi had beaten Berlusconi. U.S. ally vs. ex-EU official A staunch U.S. ally, Berlusconi, 69, founded a business empire that expanded to include Italy's main private TV networks, the Milan soccer team, as well as publishing, advertising and insurance interests. He was battling to win his third premiership with a center-right bloc - an often squabbling coalition of his Forza Italia party, the former neo-fascist National Alliance, pro-Vatican forces and the anti-immigrant Northern League. Prodi, 66, was making his comeback bid with a potentially unwieldy coalition of moderate Christian Democrats, Greens, liberals, former Communists and Communists. Economy, not Iraq, at center stage One potential issue - Iraq - was largely deflated before the campaign began, when Berlusconi announced that Italy's troops there would be withdrawn by year's end. Berlusconi, who won the premiership in 1994 and 2001, had strongly supported President Bush despite fierce opposition among Italians against the war. Prodi has said he would bring the troops home as soon as possible, security conditions permitting. The ailing economy was at center stage, although neither candidate offered any bold ideas for its revival. Berlusconi promised to abolish a homeowner's property tax. Prodi said he would revive an inheritance tax abolished by Berlusconi, but only for the richest. He also promised to cut payroll taxes to try to spur hiring. Critics contended that Berlusconi, instead of helping the economy, used his comfortable majority in Parliament to push through laws to protect his business interests and to help him in his years of judicial woes. Berlusconi contends the laws benefit all Italians and that he has been the victim of left-leaning prosecutors. Berlusconi depicted Prodi as a front-man for Communists in a campaign to damage Italian democracy. Italians were voting under a proportional system, thanks to a law pushed through by Berlusconi's government to increase the chances that his smaller allies would win seats in Parliament. Hours before the polls opened Sunday, three gasoline bombs were hurled at a polling station in the northeastern town of Vittorio Veneto, and fliers found at the scene denounced both coalitions, police said. No one was hurt. © 2006 MSNBC Interactive Print this Email this	Italian opposition leader Romano Prodi, leader of the center-left coalition ''L'Unione'' (''Lit.'' "The Union"), was declared the victor today in parliamentary elections held Sunday and Monday, but Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has yet to concede his office. Official but not yet confirmed results indicate that ''L'Unione'' won control of the lower house or Chamber of Deputies with 49.8% of the vote to 49.7% for Berlusconi's center-right Casa delle Libertà (''Lit.'' "The House of Freedoms") coalition. The winning party automatically receives a minimum of 55% of the seats in the lower house, giving Prodi at least 340 seats in the 630-seat Chamber. Berlusconi, however, claims that his party would control the 315-seat Senate by one vote, resulting in a split parliament. The current results, however, show Prodi with a 158-156 lead in the Senate, giving him enough seats of support in both houses. Berlusconi's spokesman also indicated that his party has requested a recount. Italian law requires that the prime minister receive the support of both houses of Parliament. Should the two houses be controlled by different coalitions, the stalemate would result in new elections. A caretaker government would rule in the meantime.
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A lawyer for the movie's distributors has warned that the litigation could wreck the movie's political message by preventing it from impacting viewers in the lead-up to the U.S. presidential campaign. The movie, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, features Ben Stein challenging Darwinian theories and suggesting life could have originated through intelligent design. About 20 to 30 seconds of the song are played in the movie. Ono has accused the movie's producers of infringing the song's copyrights by using it without her permission, giving the impression that the Lennon family had authorized it. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more \|\|\|\|\| Posted by Dan Slater NEW YORK — The decision in the Harry Potter case might well still be a few weeks coming, but in the meantime we’ve got another cool copyright case to keep us busy. The Law Blog just returned from New York State Supreme Court — a/k/a/ New York’s trial court, a/k/a the “Law & Order” court — where we sat in on a preliminary injunction hearing in the case of EMI Records v. Premise Media, the film production company that made “Expelled,” starring Ben Stein. Before we get to the hearing, let’s catch up: In the film, Stein (Columbia, ‘66; Yale law, ‘70), a journalist and actor (Bueller? Bueller?), affects a persona akin to a conservative version of Michael Moore (Sicko). The film tries to make the point that American academia discriminates against people who espouse intelligent design theory an alternative to evolution that would allow for the participation of a supernatural force in critical biological processes. In the course of ridiculing what they see as an academic world increasingly dominated by secular views, the filmmakers use a 15 second clip of John Lennon’s song “Imagine” (”Nothing to kill or die for/And no religion too”). The purpose of using the clip, according to Premise’s lawyer, Stanford’s Anthony Falzone, who’s also representing the defendant in Harry Potter, is to criticize the song’s “overtly anti-religious message” as “dangerously naive” — therefore, fair use applies. (Find past LB coverage of the case here.) Yoko Ono and the Lennon estate disapprove and are suing Premise in federal court. (Here’s the complaint. We hope to get a transcript of that PI hearing, which took place yesterday, soon.) Simultaneously, EMI, which says it owns the song recording — i.e. Lennon’s recorded performance, as distinct from the musical composition — is suing Premise in NY state court. Among other things, EMI claims that by using the song, Premise is harming EMI’s ability to license “Imagine,” which has only been licensed in one film, “The Killing Fields.” Here’s EMI’s preliminary injunction motion, filed by Richard Mandel at Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman; and here’s Premise’s reply brief, which contains substantially the same arguments — fair use, free speech — as its reply in the federal case. Lawyers from both sides have declined to comment, but Columbia copyright guru Tim Wu told us this: “I don’t think this is a hard case; nor a close case. Playing 15 seconds of a song to criticize it is as fair as fair use gets. With respect to Yoko Ono: if this case isn’t fair use, then copyright law has become censorship law.” But in the state court PI hearing this morning, Judge Richard Lowe wasn’t nearly as convinced as Professor Wu. Judge Lowe asked Falzone why it was necessary to use Lennon’s actual performance of the song, rather than, say, having Stein say the lyrics himself or flashing the lyrics on the screen. To this, Falzone gave what we thought was a compelling and novel reply. Lennon’s performance, said Falzone, triggers a specific emotional response in the viewer’s mind — i.e. “Maybe Lennon’s right; maybe the world would be better off without religion” — and it’s that response that the film, and its use of “Imagine,” seeks to criticize. Judge Lowe seemed skeptical, and decided to stay the original TRO pending his ruling, which means that “Expelled,” currently playing in theaters around the country, cannot be reproduced or otherwise distributed. \|\|\|\|\| Yoko Ono, Filmmakers Caught in 'Expelled' Flap Word Count: 681 Having ruffled feathers in the scientific community, the filmmakers behind a documentary questioning evolution theory have now incurred the wrath of one of the most powerful figures in the popular music business, Yoko Ono, and have generated a blogosphere mini-drama in the process. The flap concerns the film's use of the song "Imagine," by the late John Lennon. Bloggers had accused Ms. Ono, Mr. Lennon's wife, of selling out by licensing the song to the filmmakers. In fact, her lawyers say, she never granted permission for its use. The movie is set to open Friday on 1,000 screens, according to ...	''Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed'' A New York Judge ruled to continue an injunction against Premise Media, which effectively prevents Premise, the producers of ''Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed'', from further distribution. ''Expelled'' is a film about intelligent design and creationism starring Ben Stein, and is currently playing at 200 U.S. theaters. Since its April 18 debut it has received criticism from the scientific community, which considers both pseudoscience, and film critics. The case ''Lennon v Premise Media'' was filed by Yoko Ono, Julian Lennon, Sean Lennon, and EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. against Premise Media, C&S Production, and Rocky Mountain Pictures in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on April 23, 2008 alleging copyright infringement concerning John Lennon's song "Imagine". Premise is being represented by Anthony Falzone of the Fair Use Project. EMI filed its own separate lawsuit against Premise in a New York state court alleging that Premise's usage of the song is harming EMI’s ability to license “Imagine,” which has only been licensed in one film (The Killing Fields). In court, Judge Richard Lowe, according to the Wall Street Journal, "seemed skeptical" about Falzone's arguments. Lowe asked Falzone why the film's producers did not read the lyrics to the song or flash the lyrics on the screen. Lawyers also pointed out that Premise Media licensed all other music in the film except for Lennon's song. At the end of the hearing Lowe "decided to stay the original TRO pending his ruling, which means that ''Expelled'', currently playing in theaters around the country, cannot be reproduced or otherwise distributed." The judge promised a quick decision since the film will debut in Canada on June 6 and DVD rights must be finalized by the end of May for October distribution.
Vaal flood alert Johannesburg - Communities living along the Vaal Orange River system were warned to stay clear of the rivers on Wednesday as sluice gates were opened to relieve pressure on bulging dams. "People in the low lying areas should be alerted," said Water Affairs spokesperson Mava Scott. The department was closely monitoring the rising levels of the Vaal dam after six sluice gates were opened and another three flood gates were expected to be opened on Wednesday. With the Vaal dam at 105% full due to heavy rains, both the police and Rand Water warned the public of the potential for flooding as the water gushed into the Vaal Barrage Reservoir which runs through Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging. They urged people to remove pumps and boats and to lay off recreational activities as the water flow will be unpredictable. "It will also be rather dangerous for people to go too near to the river's embankments during this time," said Superintendent Eugene Opperman. Water Affairs added that the heavy rain had also affected the Bloemhof Dam in North West which is currently at 112% full. Flood gates were opened there on Wednesday with heavy water flows expected downstream. They said that more rain was expected in the Vaal catchment area and more water may be released. - SAPA Read more on: weather \| floods \|\|\|\|\| Heavy rains this week caused havoc across parts of the North West and Gauteng, various organisations and government bodies said on Wednesday. The Greater Taung Local Municipality said its areas was declared a disaster zone after one person drowned and about 150 households were left destitute after flooding in its area. Municipal spokeswoman Gontle Metswi said about 150 households had been affected by flooding but exact numbers were still being collated. Roads leading to areas such as Manokwane, Lokaleng, Khibitswane, Mokgareng and Pudimoe had also become flooded. People were warned to stay away from water and bridges and drive carefully in wet weather. Meanwhile, about 800 mine workers were evacuated from East Rand Mines' operations. Continues Below ↓ Aurora Empowerment Systems CEO Zondwa Mandela -who is also the grandson of Nelson Mandela - said the measure had been undertaken in the interests of ensuring the mineworkers' safety at all times. Two shafts at the mine had been flooded. Above average water levels had seen the mine pumping 120 million litres of water per day instead of 80 million. Despite these efforts water seepage had remained at unsafe levels resulting in Aurora ordering the evacuation of the operations. Water Affairs spokesman Mava Scott issued a warning on Wednesday that people living along the Vaal Orange River system should stay away from rivers as sluice gates were opened to relieve pressure on bulging dams. With the Vaal dam 105 percent full due to heavy rains, both the police and Rand Water warned the public of the potential for flooding. Water gushed along the river system into the Vaal Barrage Reservoir which runs through Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging. The heavy rain also affected the Bloemhof Dam in North West which is currently 112 percent full. Flood gates were opened there on Wednesday with heavy water flows expected downstream. The SA National Roads Agency Limited told Gauteng motorists to drive carefully through roads under construction as the temporary stormwater drainage systems were not designed to withstand the heavy rains. Sanral spokeswoman Priya Pillay said the Gillooly's Interchange, west of Johannesburg, was quite dangerous at the moment. - Sapa	Torrential rains and floods in the North West and Gauteng provinces of South Africa have caused disruption, government bodies said earlier today. The Greater Taung Local Municipality said a disaster area was declared, after 150 homes were affected and one person was confirmed dead from flooding. Residents were warned to keep away from bridges and rivers, and to drive carefully in the inclement weather. Water Affairs spokesperson Mava Scott commented that "people in the low lying areas should be alerted." The Vaal Dam, meanwhile, was at 105% full, after six sluice gates were opened. Three more are expected to be opened soon, according to the South African Press Association. The Bloemhof Dam in North West province is 112% full, with flood gates having been opened there earlier today. Officials encouraged people to remove their boats and pumps, as water flow would not be predictable. "It will also be rather dangerous for people to go too near to the river's embankments during this time," Superintendent Eugene Opperman noted. Meanwhile, roads to places such as Manokwane, Lokaleng, Khibitswane, Mokgareng, and Pudimoe, were also inundated with water. 800 mine workers from East Rand Mines were evacuated as well.
A report looking into the safety of patients in New South Wales hospitals has highlighted 452 serious incidents, including many that resulted in injury or death. Of the incidents 157 were clinical management errors, such as misdiagnoses, post-operative complications or sending patients home too early. Nine patients had surgical instruments left inside them, and doctors operated on the wrong body part or performed the wrong procedure on 13 patients. Two patients died after receiving the wrong medication. Health Minister Morris Iemma says the state's hospitals are generally very safe. "This is a report on the most serious of those, 452 in the context of one and a half million patient admissions and 25 million services provided from our public hospitals, so the report shows that mistakes do occur but they're relatively small in number and it's a system that works extremely well," he said. It is the first time the state's hospitals have had to count and report all serious incidents and Mr Iemma says it is part of a new push to get health professionals to report their mistakes to stop them from happening again. "Something that's not being reported, it doesn't mean that it isn't happening," he said. Mr Iemma says he takes the results of the report seriously, but he will not be naming individual hospitals. "A simple league table of statistical information and statistics put against a hospital are not consistent with a culture of having the staff open in where mistakes are occurring so we can use that as a basis for improving," he said. Increase He says he expects reports of serious incidents affecting patients in hospitals to increase over the next year as more health professionals record incidents as they adapt to a new mandatory reporting system. He says the department is looking to implement a new system of safety checks by March. "Having two people review [cases] as opposed to one. "Secondly the actual surgical team, that's the team in the operating theatre, prior to commencing a procedure go through what's called a time out - so before you start, take time out and double check everything," he said. Opposition Leader John Brogden says the report shows the Government needs to change the way it allocates funding for the state's health system. "We need to slash the bureaucracy and direct those funds to frontline medical services," he said. "Until that happens, we'll continue to see plenty of public relations officers and plenty of bureaucrats and managers, but not enough funds to the frontline medical services." An associate professor of ethical practice at the University of Sydney's school of medicine has welcomed the report. Associate Professor Merilyn Walton says unless mistakes are reported, changes can not be made to the system. "We need to know where the problems occur, but then we need to change the system to prevent it happening," she said. "And that's going from everything from education and training of the work force through to redesigning how we deliver health care services." \|\|\|\|\| Unable to find requested news story If you are looking for an article from one of our newspapers, you may find it in our online newspaper archives at Newstext privacy terms © Queensland Newspapers SEARCH Archive Search: Newstext is our online newspaper library with more than 150 papers archived. You need to register to search. BUY A PHOTO Keyword(s): Pick a pic from our extensive archives at Newsphotos CARSGUIDE Buy or sell your car, find spare parts and read the best motoring news in our Carsguide section. CareerOne Keywords City or Suburb State Select... ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA REAL ESTATE Suburb or postcode: Find a home anywhere.Suburb or postcode: State: NSW Vic Qld Tas WA SA NT HOMESITE Search for a tradesperson Airconditioning Contractor Architect/Designer Asbestos Remover Bathroom Designer Bathroom Installer Bobcat Contractor Brickcleaner Bricklayer Builder Building Certifier/Home Building Consultant Cabinetmaker/Joiner Carpenter Carpet Layer Cement Renderer Ceramic Tiler Chimney Sweep Cladding Contractor Climate Control Specialist Communication/Data Cabling Specialist Concreter Cork Tile Specialist Curtain & Blind Specialist Demolisher Door Installer Drainage Ducted Heating Contractor Electrician Excavator/Earthmover Fencing Contractor Fire Place Installer Garage & Carport Builder Garage Door Specialist Gas Fitter Glazier Guttering Contractor Home Automation Specialist Home Security Specialist Infloor Heating Specialist Insulation Contractor Interior Designer Kitchen Builder Kitchen Designer Landscape Architect Landscape Gardener Locksmith Metal Worker Outdoor, Blind, Awning & Shading Specialist Painter Paver Pest/Termite Specialist Plasterer Plumber Pool Contractor Pool Heating Specialist Pool Landscaper Restumper/Reblocker Roofer Rubber Flooring Specialist Rubbish Removalist Sauna Installer/Repairer Skylight Installer/Repairer Spa Installer/Repairer Staircase Builder Stonemason Storage Solutions Structural Engineer Tennis Court Builder Terrazo Specialist Timber Floorer Underpinner Vinyl Flooring Specialist Water Reticulator Waterproofer Window Installer \|\|\|\|\| "This sort of data ... gives us a platform on which to build an early warning system," Professor Hughes told the Herald. "I would expect that in 12 months' time we will see an increased number of reports ... because people will see the data can be handled sensitively and compassionately." The collection of information on patient deaths and injury in hospitals has long been a contentious issue at state and federal levels. Doctors have been accused of being unwilling to report errors regularly because of professional pride or fear of litigation, and governments have chosen to remain ignorant about deaths or injuries occurring in their hospitals. "We have finally got our act together," Professor Hughes said. "We have got the will, from the clinicians and the system, to make it happen - it is a big change in the culture of health that we have applied over the last 12 months." He uses as an example the discovery, via hospital reports, of an instrument used to retract abdominal tissue during surgery that was left inside two patients following surgery. NSW Health put out an alert to all hospitals regarding the instrument, to inform staff of the incidents and to remind them to ensure it was counted at the end of each operation. Next year's data would show whether the policy worked, he said. "What is learnt in one area by one hospital ... can be put out across the whole system quickly so we don't have to learn from our own mistakes, we can learn from the mistakes of others." In 1995 the Quality in Australian Health Care Study found between 10 and 16 per cent of all interactions with the country's health system resulted in harm, and that half were preventable. The NSW data is narrower in its focus - 452 serious incidents out of 1.5 million admissions to 206 NSW hospitals and health facilities staffed by 100,000 health workers - and represents an error rate of 0.03 per cent. Professor Hughes said under-reporting of error was occurring, but hoped health workers would eventually report their mistakes without fear of retribution. The Health Minister, Morris Iemma, said the Government was committed to a policy of "open disclosure".	452 serious incidents that occurred during 2003 and 2004 have been brought to light, by a report released today about the safety of patients in the hospital system in New South Wales, Australia. Many of the incidents highlighted by the report resulted in injury, or even death. The report detailed 13 patients who had operations that they were not meant to have or who had the wrong part of the body operated upon. It also noted that another 22 were seriously injured in falls in wards and bathrooms. Other statistics included four suicides in hospital, with another 128 occurring in community care. Another nine people retained surgical instruments or materials inside them after the operation. The rest of the serious incidents related to labour and delivery problems (26) and clinical management problems (157).
Neste Oil to build world's largest bio-diesel refinery in Singapore EUR 550 million plant to use controversial palm oil as raw material print this "According to information that we have, it will be the world's largest", said Honkamaa says that the plant will require about a million tonnes of raw material - plant and animal fats - each year. "The starting point is that we will begin with palm oil", Honkamaa said. The choice of raw materials is a controversial one. The environmental organisation Greenpeace opposes the use of palm oil as a raw material for fuel, because rain forest is routinely cleared away to make room for new palm oil plantations. Nearly 40 million tonnes of palm oil are produced each year in the world. Malaysia and Indonesia account for 80 per cent of the production, according to a report by ISTA Mielke, independent consultants in the oil seed business. The company predicts unprecedented growth for palm oil production next year - about ten per cent. "The new plantations are to be set up mainly in Indonesia, and increasingly in swamp rain forests", says When a marshy rain forest is felled, the peat layer begins to dry and decay. "In the years that follow, it releases all of the carbon that had been stored in it", Myllyvirta says. Conseqeuntly, he says that palm oil grown in peat land ends up producing ten times more carbon dioxide emissions than fossil fuels do. Palm oil plantations produce an average four tonnes of oil per hectare. When the Neste Oil plant is taken into use, it will bring demand to the market, requiring more than 200,000 hectares of palm oil plantation land to satisfy. Neste Oil has said that it only uses palm oil that has been produced according to principles of sustainability. Honkamaa insists that the greenhouse gas balance of palm oil is good. Neste Oil calculates that bio-diesel produces 40-60 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than traditional diesel fuel. According to Reuters news agency, the Citigroup investment bank has questioned Neste Oil's ability to implement its investment on schedule and within the planned budget. Neste Oil has built a new production line for traditional diesel at its Porvoo refinery. The installation was completed this year about a year behind schedule at a cost of about EUR 750 million, up from the original estimate of about EUR 500 million. "We have learned our lesson", said Neste Oil CEO Rinne said that the Singapore investment has been carefully prepared. The preparations have involved the utilisation of experiences that Neste Oil got when it built its first bio-diesel plant in Porvoo. The installation, which was taken into use in the summer, has an annual output capacity of 170,000 tonnes. The Finnish oil refiner Neste Oil has announced that it will build a refinery for the production of biological diesel oil costing EUR 440 million. The plant is to be taken into use in late 2010."According to information that we have, it will be the world's largest", said Jarmo Honkamaa , director of the company's bio-diesel operations at a press conference on Friday.Honkamaa says that the plant will require about a million tonnes of raw material - plant and animal fats - each year. "The starting point is that we will begin with palm oil", Honkamaa said.is a controversial one. The environmental organisation Greenpeace opposes the use of palm oil as a raw material for fuel, because rain forest is routinely cleared away to make room for new palm oil plantations.Nearly 40 million tonnes of palm oil are produced each year in the world. Malaysia and Indonesia account for 80 per cent of the production, according to a report by ISTA Mielke, independent consultants in the oil seed business.The company predicts unprecedented growth for palm oil production next year - about ten per cent."The new plantations are to be set up mainly in Indonesia, and increasingly in swamp rain forests", says Lauri Myllyvirta of the Greenpeace energy campaign.When a marshy rain forest is felled, the peat layer begins to dry and decay. "In the years that follow, it releases all of the carbon that had been stored in it", Myllyvirta says.Conseqeuntly, he says that palm oil grown in peat land ends up producing ten times more carbon dioxide emissions than fossil fuels do.produce an average four tonnes of oil per hectare. When the Neste Oil plant is taken into use, it will bring demand to the market, requiring more than 200,000 hectares of palm oil plantation land to satisfy.Neste Oil has said that it only uses palm oil that has been produced according to principles of sustainability.Honkamaa insists that the greenhouse gas balance of palm oil is good. Neste Oil calculates that bio-diesel produces 40-60 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than traditional diesel fuel.news agency, the Citigroup investment bank has questioned Neste Oil's ability to implement its investment on schedule and within the planned budget.Neste Oil has built a new production line for traditional diesel at its Porvoo refinery. The installation was completed this year about a year behind schedule at a cost of about EUR 750 million, up from the original estimate of about EUR 500 million."We have learned our lesson", said Neste Oil CEO Risto Rinne on the delays and budget overruns.Rinne said that the Singapore investment has been carefully prepared. The preparations have involved the utilisation of experiences that Neste Oil got when it built its first bio-diesel plant in Porvoo. The installation, which was taken into use in the summer, has an annual output capacity of 170,000 tonnes. Previously in HS International Edition: Greenpeace: Neste palm oil-based biodiesel not so green (31.10.2007) OKQ8 works with Neste Oil to find replacement for palm oil as bio diesel raw material (27.11.2007) Police and border guard stop Greenpeace demonstration near Porvoo refinery (26.11.2007) Helsingin Sanomat \|\|\|\|\| HELSINKI: Finland's Neste Oil yesterday said it would spend 550 million euros ($814m) to build the world's largest biodiesel plant in Singapore to meet the growing but controversial demand for biofuels. Neste, which last year supplied about 14m tonnes of conventional fuel products, said the plant would have a design capacity of 800,000 tonnes a year, and use mostly palm oil as its raw material. "The investment forms part of Neste Oil's strategic goal of becoming the world's leading renewable diesel producer," the firm said. The use of biofuels made from crops such as maize, sugarcane and vegetable oils is expected to rise rapidly in developed economies and is seen by many as a way to cut emissions of greenhouse gases and provide an alternative fuel source to crude oil, which has been pushing $100 a barrel this year. Some environmentalists, however, dispute the greenhouse gas emissions benefits of biofuels and are alarmed by deforestation to increase palm oil output and the effect on food prices of the additional demand. Earlier, Environmental group Greenpeace tried to prevent a tanker bringing palm oil to Neste's first biodiesel plant, which started earlier this year and is running at full capacity of 170,000 tonnes, in Porvoo, Finland. Neste's second biodiesel unit is due to start operations in 2009. Construction of the plant in Singapore, which is close to major palm oil producers Malaysia and Indonesia, will begin in the first half of next year, with completion due by the end of 2010. \|\|\|\|\| Neste Oil Corporation Stock Exchange Release 30 November 2007 at 8.30 am (EET) Neste Oil plans to invest approximately €550 million in building a plant in Singapore to produce NExBTL Renewable Diesel. The plant will have a design capacity of 800,000 t/a, making it the largest facility producing diesel fuel from renewable feedstocks anywhere. The investment forms part of Neste Oil’s strategic goal of becoming the world’s leading renewable diesel producer. The use of biofuels such as NExBTL is predicted to increase rapidly in developed economies over the next few years. The plant will be based on Neste Oil’s proprietary NExBTL technology. The first NExBTL facility was commissioned in Finland at Neste Oil’s Porvoo refinery in summer 2007, and a second is due to come on stream there in 2009. NExBTL technology is the first commercial new-generation renewable diesel production process, and can use any vegetable oil or animal fat as its input. The end-product, NExBTL Renewable Diesel, is a premium-quality fuel that outperforms conventional fossil diesel fuel and can be used as such in existing vehicles and be distributed in existing logistics systems. NExBTL Renewable Diesel is also a good performer in environmental terms. When produced from sustainably sourced raw materials, its total lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions are 40-60% less than those of conventional diesel fuel. In addition, NExBTL has lower tailpipe emissions, contributing to better air quality. The main raw material planned for the Singapore plant will be palm oil. Neste Oil has committed itself to only using palm oil certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil as soon as sufficient quantities are available. Palm oil complying with the RSPO certification system, which was approved in November 2007, will probably be available from the early part of 2008 onwards. Excellent location Singapore is the world’s third-largest center of oil refining, and occupies a central location in terms of product and feedstock flows and logistics. This also gives Singapore excellent potential to develop into a center for Asian biofuel production. Singapore is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol and has committed itself to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The government of Singapore has played an important role in promoting Neste Oil’s investment, and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) has assisted Neste Oil at every stage of the preparations for the project. The EDB will also support the investment through e.g. R&D support and assistance with recruiting and training personnel. Construction of the Singapore plant will begin in the first half of 2008, and the facility is due to be completed by the end of 2010. The plant will be built in the Tuas industrial zone in the southwest of the island, around 30 minutes from the centre of Singapore. The plant will be integrated into the area’s existing industrial infrastructure, and will make use of local site utilities and port and storage services. When operational, the plant will employ around 100 people. Neste Oil Corporation Osmo Kammonen Senior Vice President, Communications Further information: Executive Vice President Jarmo Honkamaa, tel. +358 (0)10 458 4758 Encls: Factsheet on NExBTL Factsheet on biofuel goals in markets around the world Factsheet on Neste Oil’s feedstock sourcing policy Images of the NExBTL plant at Porvoo can be found at www.nesteoil.com / Media / Image Gallery Press conference Neste Oil will organize a press conference on the project at Neste Oil’s Head Office, Keilaranta 8, Espoo, Finland on 30 November 2007, at 10.00 am (EET). Conference call in English A conference call in English for the international media, analysts and investors will be held at 11.00 am (EET) on 30 November 2007. Participants can join the call by dialing +44 (0)20 3023 4426. In the USA the call-in number is 1 866 966 5335. A recording of the call will be available for one week at +44 (0)20 8196 1998 and in the USA at 1 866 583 1035, code 725 434. You will also enter the recording of the conference call by clicking this link . Neste Oil will soon hold a press conference on the project in Singapore. Further details will be provided later. Neste Oil in brief Neste Oil Corporation is a refining and marketing company focused on advanced, clean traffic fuels, with a strategy that prioritizes growing its refining and premium-quality renewable diesel businesses. Neste Oil's refineries are located at Porvoo and Naantali in Finland, and have a total refining capacity of approx. 250,000 bbl/d. The company employs around 4,800 people and its shares are listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. For further information, see www.nesteoil.com.	Finnish company Neste Oil have announced that they intend to construct the world's largest biodiesel plant in Singapore at a cost of €440 million. The NExBTL facility will be Neste's third such project, and is intended to have a maximum capacity of 800,000 tonnes a year. Demand for biofuels is expected to rise greatly over the next few years, as they are often cited as a good way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and are viewed as a renewable alternative to crude oil which has been at record high prices in recent months. The site has been strategically selected to be close to Malaysia and Indonesia, both of whom are leading world suppliers of palm oil, which is intended to be the main fuel for the plant. Between them they account for 80% of global production. However, the use of palm oil is controversial, as some environmental scientists and campaigners believe using it will have a negative effect as increased demand in turn causes higher food prices and greater levels of deforestation. Earlier this year, Greenpeace attempted to stop a palm oil tanker ship destined to Neste's existing biodiesel plant in Porvoo, Finland, but failed to stop the delivery. In addition to the Porvoo plant, which began operations earlier this year and is at its capacity production of 170,000 tonnes, Neste plan a second plant to open in 2009. The new plant will increase demand for palm oil, as it will require 200,000 hectares of palm oil plantations to supply the million tonnes of oil it requires per annum. "The new plantations are to be set up mainly in Indonesia, and increasingly in swamp rain forests," said Greenpeace's Lauri Myllyvirta. When such terrain is cleared of trees, the peaty soil begins to dry out. "In the years that follow, it releases all of the carbon that had been stored in it", Myllyvirta continues. He concludes that he believes palm oil cultivated in such conditions produces ten times the carbon dioxide emissions of fossil fuels. Jarmo Honkamaa, director of Neste's biofuel sector, countered these claims with his belief that the gas balance remains positive and points to Neste statistics which say biodiesel diesel produces 40-60% less greenhouse gas emissions than standard diesel. Another potential problem has been highlighted by Citigroup, who voiced concerns that Neste may not be able to complete the project on time and within the intended budget. Recently, Neste added a standard diesel production line at their Porvoo refinery. This was finished this year, approximately one year late and at an actual cost of €750 million, versus a budget of €500 million. Neste CEO Risto Rinne said in response, "we have learned our lesson," regarding the miscalculations on the new facility, and said that this knowledge, coupled with that obtained during construction of the Porvoo biodiesel plant, had been factored into calculations regarding the Singapore plant. Construction on the third facility will start early next year, and is scheduled to end in 2010. Neste said in a statement that the investment was "part of Neste Oil's strategic goal of becoming the world's leading renewable diesel producer."
type size: + - FORT WORTH, Texas -- Denny Hamlin's victory in Sunday's AAA Texas 500 wasn't a knockout blow to Jimmie Johnson's title hopes, but it did deliver a stinging message to the four-time defending Cup Series champion. Hamlin's win, his series-best eighth of the season, his second in a row at Texas Motor Speedway and the 16th of his career, was perhaps more effective than the haymaker Jeff Gordon -- yes, Jeff Gordon -- tried to lay on Jeff Burton after Burton wrecked the No. 24 Chevrolet under caution on Lap 192. And Hamlin's victory certainly wasn't as surprising as crew chief Chad Knaus' dismissal of Johnson's No. 48 over-the-wall crew after a series of blown pit stops. With Gordon's No. 24 crew available, Knaus knocked his own crewmen out of the box; the last straw was slow work on the right-front tire under caution on Lap 194. Johnson minimized the damage with a ninth-place finish, but repeated loss of track position helped transform his 14-point lead over Hamlin entering the event into a 33-point deficit as the series heads to Phoenix with two races left. In a three-lap sprint to the finish, after Patrick Carpentier spun in Turn 2 to cause the ninth caution of the race, Hamlin swapped the lead with Matt Kenseth and surged ahead for good when Kenseth ran out of room in Turn 2 on Lap 333 of 334 and had to back out of the gas. Kenseth held second, matching his best finish of the season, with Mark Martin running third, Joey Logano fourth and Greg Biffle fifth. Biffle led a race-high 224 laps but lost first and second gears in his No. 16 Ford and couldn't accelerate on restarts. Kevin Harvick came home sixth and remained third in the standings, now 59 points behind Hamlin. Despite holding the points lead, Hamlin promised to race aggressively next Sunday at Phoenix and in the season finale Nov. 21 at Homestead. "I'm going to race Phoenix as if I'm 33 behind, to be honest with you," Hamlin said. "There's no comfortable margin going into Homestead, because anything can happen. So for me -- Phoenix being an up-and-down race track for me -- I've got to really be focused on practice day to get what I need, to give [crew chief]Mike [Ford] the information that I need -- just 100 percent stay focused is all I can do. "But like I say, I'm not going to be conservative having the lead. I'm going to want to stretch that out before we get to Homestead. So that's pretty much my mind-set." Trailing with two races left in the Chase is an uncharacteristic position for Johnson, who has been the frontrunner after eight races in each of the past four years. "The past four years, we've been in a different position," Johnson said. "I've lost plenty of championships in the past, and this is racing, and it doesn't come easy, and you are not going to get what you want every single year and every single weekend. "I can promise you this -- I am trying as hard as I can. I know my team is. We're doing everything we can. Thirty-three points back is not where we want to be, but we're going to work to get back on top." Gordon's pit crew helped salvage a respectable finish for Johnson. After the change, the No. 24 crew performed flawlessly for three stops. Nevertheless, Knaus expected to have his regular crew back next week at Phoenix. Related: Caraviello: Texas crossroads moment for 48 team Gordon unapologetic after altercation with Burton Gesture lands Busch in hot water with NASCAR \|\|\|\|\| FORT WORTH, Texas -- More Texas trouble for Jimmie Johnson, and a new leader in the closest three-way Chase for the Sprint Cup with only two races left. Denny Hamlin completed a Texas two-step Sunday, winning at the track for the second time this year and taking over the points lead from four-time defending season champion Johnson. Johnson's drive for five suddenly got real bumpy. Fourteen points ahead at the start of the race, he finished ninth to fall 33 points behind Hamlin. "We're on the cusp of trying to get our first championship, and as long as we keep doing what we've been doing, we should be OK," Hamlin said. "I'm going to race like we need to win from here on out. I've been saying with three [races] to go I was going to be a little bit more aggressive." Hamlin took the lead with 29 laps to go and then overcame a push from Matt Kenseth on the final restart with three laps left, holding on for his series-best eighth victory this season. Kevin Harvick finished sixth and remained third in points, 59 behind Hamlin. Johnson had troublesome pit stops that led to an unusual midrace crew change when Hendrick teammate Jeff Gordon's crew was conveniently available. Gordon got wrecked out of the race and then shoved Jeff Burton on the track when they got out of their mangled cars. "It was just a long day," Johnson said. "I had speed in the car. We worked our way forward and had issues on pit road. ... We gave away so much track position from the beginning. It's tough to get back where we needed to." Denny Hamlin took over the Chase for the Sprint Cup lead after winning at Texas Motor Speedway for the second time this season. Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images While Hamlin and Johnson rarely were side-by-side on the track, their pit stalls were. Hamlin's crew picked the one right in front of the defending champion, a bit of gamesmanship that might have impacted the outcome. "When it was time to choose pits, that one was an option. I felt like that was our best option. You take the Chase hat off and you say, what's going to be best for our race team, and I felt like we could outrun those guys all day," Hamlin crew chief Mike Ford said. "We went beside them, and those guys faltered, and it made them panic and push to the point where they made changes. I think it worked out very well for us." On two stops early in the race, Johnson lost ground because of problems changing the front right tire. He had climbed to as high as second before those stops, and restarted after the second troubled stop -- during a caution -- in 13th place while Hamlin and Harvick both ran in the top six. When Gordon was knocked out of the race, his crew went to work on the No. 48 car while Johnson's crew went and packed up the No. 24 car's stall. "We needed to do something ... It's sad we had to do that," said Chad Knaus, Johnson's crew chief. "With everything on the line you've got to perform. We have to do our job," Johnson said. "With the 24 out of the race it was a good opportunity for us to try it. It might be different to our sport in some ways. But man, you watch pro sports and if people aren't getting the job done you've got to pull them out and put somebody else in." Greg Biffle led 11 times for 224 of the 334 laps, but finished fifth. The 20th Cup race at the 1½-mile, high-banked Texas track included a record 33 lead changes. Hamlin won at Texas in April less than three weeks after surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. His first race after the surgery was a 30th-place finish at Phoenix, where the Chase goes next weekend. "I'm going to race Phoenix as if I'm 33 behind," Hamlin said. "There's no comfortable margin going into Homestead because anything can happen. ... I'm not going to be conservative having the lead. I'm going to want to stretch that out before we get to Homestead. So that's pretty much my mindset." Last fall, Johnson crashed on the third lap in the fall race at Texas and sat in the garage for more than 100 laps while repairs were made. But he had a huge lead then and it wasn't enough to derail his championship run. This time, he's chasing. "I've lost plenty of championships in the past. This is racing. It doesn't come easy," Johnson said. "You're not going to get what you want every single year and every single weekend." Hamlin and Harvick both also had issues on pit road, though not as significant as Johnson. After starting 30th, the lowest of the top three Chase drivers, Hamlin climbed to 19th in the first 43 laps before coming in during a caution. He got blocked in by someone in front of him and had to back up to leave his box, falling to 26th for that restart. But Hamlin was in the top 10 within 30 laps after that, and stayed there the rest of the day. "I know Jimmie is a clean racer. I know we race clean," Ford said. "I talked to Denny before, we don't need to worry about them. That's our space, and we need to race our race and not play any games. And we did that. ... We weren't trying anything other than that's our space, and we're going to make the most of it. " Harvick was running 11th about 60 laps into the race when another caution came out 15 laps after another one. While most everybody else took two tires, Harvick's crew opted for four and that cost six spots. An angry Gordon hit Burton with a hard two-handed push after Burton sent Gordon's car crashing during a caution when Martin Truex Jr. hit the wall on lap 192. After getting out of his No. 24 car, Gordon walked from the top to the bottom of the track to confront Burton. Burton took full responsibility for the accident -- "100 percent, it was my fault," he said. "I don't blame him for being mad. I would have been mad too," Burton said. "I don't have a bit of a problem with what he did."	File photo of Denny Hamlin Texas Motor Speedway , the race track where the race was held. driver , who qualified thirtieth, won the held on Sunday at in , Texas, United States. This became his eighth win of the , and his second at Texas Motor Speedway. Throughout the course of the race there were nine cautions and thirty-five lead changes among fourteen different drivers. On the final restart, caught Hamlin and passed him. Later the same lap, Hamlin reclaimed the position, after Kenseth collided into the wall, prompting him to finish second during the race. finished third. managed the fourth position in the closing laps of the race, after starting twentieth on the grid. , from the team, clinched the fifth position, after leading 223 laps during the race. followed Biffle in sixth, while could only manage seventh. , , and rounded out the top ten finishers in the race. , another driver in the Chase, finished thirty-seventh. Following the race, Johnson commented, "It was just a long day. I had speed in the car. We worked our way forward and had issues on pit road. ... We gave away so much track position from the beginning. It's tough to get back where we needed to." "The past four years, we've been in a different position," Johnson continued. "I've lost plenty of championships in the past, and this is racing, and it doesn't come easy, and you are not going to get what you want every single year and every single weekend. "I can promise you this — I am trying as hard as I can. I know my team is. We're doing everything we can. Thirty-three points back is not where we want to be, but we're going to work to get back on top." Hamlin became the Drivers' championship leader with 6,325 points, thirty-three points ahead of Johnson. The Manufacturers' сhampionship standings is led by Chevrolet with 249, 40 points ahead of Toyota and 91 ahead of Ford with two races remaining in the season. Looking forward to next , Hamlin said, "I'm going to race as if I'm 33 behind, to be honest with you. There's no comfortable margin going into Homestead, because anything can happen. So for me — Phoenix being an up-and-down race track for me — I've got to really be focused on practice day to get what I need, to give crew chief the information that I need — just 100 percent stay focused is all I can do. But like I say, I'm not going to be conservative having the lead. I'm going to want to stretch that out before we get to Homestead. So that's pretty much my mind-set." == Sources == * * * *
Mandela charity trustee resigns over Campbell diamonds Mr Ractliffe said he had kept the diamonds in order to protect the reputation of Nelson Mandela The former head of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, Jeremy Ractliffe, has resigned from the charity's board after admitting he secretly kept diamonds received from the model Naomi Campbell. Mr Ractliffe admitted he had the gems only when Ms Campbell mentioned him at the war crimes trial of former Liberian leader Charles Taylor two weeks ago. Prosecutors say she received the diamonds from Mr Taylor in 1997. Mr Ractliffe had apologised for his secrecy, the charity's board said. The former chief executive handed the diamonds over to South African police after Campbell testified that she had given three stones to Ractliffe because she wanted them to go to charity. Mr Ractliffe said he had kept the stones, which could link him to illegal "blood diamonds", because he wanted to protect the reputation of Mr Mandela and his charity. Stepping down from his role as trustee, Mr Ractliffe apologised for causing "possible reputational risk" to the charity by not informing his colleagues of his receipt of the diamonds, the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund said in a statement. 'Suggestion' At the trial, Ms Campbell said she was given some "dirty-looking stones" after a 1997 charity dinner hosted by South Africa's former President Nelson Mandela where Mr Taylor was also a guest. She said two unidentified men appeared at her room and gave her the stones. She told the court she did not have proof they came from Mr Taylor and had given them to Mr Ractliffe because she wanted the stones to go to charity. Continue reading the main story Charles Taylor 1997: Elected Liberian president 2003: Arrest warrant issued, steps down, goes into exile in Nigeria 2006: Arrested, sent to Sierra Leone 2007: Trial opens in The Hague "Naomi suggested they could be of some benefit to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund - but I told her I would not involve the NMCF in anything that could possibly be illegal," Mr Ractliffe said in a statement two weeks ago. He said he took the diamonds as he thought it might be illegal for her to take them out of the country. "In the end I decided I should just keep them," he added. Mr Taylor is accused of using illegally mined diamonds to secure weapons for Sierra Leone's RUF rebels during the 1991-2001 civil war - a charge he denies. Prosecutors say that from his seat of power in Liberia, Mr Taylor also trained and commanded the rebels. The rebels were notoriously brutal, frequently hacking off the hands and legs of civilians. \|\|\|\|\| Mandela charity official resigns amid 'blood diamond' outcry JOHANNESBURG — A trustee of a Nelson Mandela charity who received diamonds allegedly given to supermodel Naomi Campbell by former Liberian leader Charles Taylor resigned Wednesday, the charity said. Jeremy Ractliffe, a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, stepped down 12 days after acknowledging he had kept the diamonds for more than a decade, telling officials only when the stones came under the scrutiny of a special Sierra Leone court in The Hague. "Mr Ractliffe regrets his omission to inform the chairperson, chief executive officer and the rest of the board of trustees of the NMCF of his receipt of the uncut diamonds until now," the charity's board said. Ractliffe "acknowledges that had he done so, he and the board would have found a better and lawful way to manage the situation," it said in a statement, adding that Ractliffe had apologised for causing "possible reputational risk" to the charity. Campbell earlier this month told a court in The Hague how she received a pouch of rough diamonds as a late-night gift she assumed had come from Taylor, who is charged with murder, rape and enslavement for his alleged role in the 1991-2001 civil war in Sierra Leone that claimed some 120,000 lives. Taylor, 62, is accused of receiving "blood diamonds" in return for arming rebels who murdered, raped and maimed Sierra Leone civilians during the conflict. Campbell told judges she gave the three uncut diamonds to Ractliffe, then the chief executive of the Children's Fund, to "do something good with". The day after her testimony, Ractliffe confirmed that he had kept the stones and had never given them to the charity, saying he did not want to involve the organisation in any possible illegal activities. He subsequently handed the diamonds over to South African police, who have opened an investigation. It is illegal in South Africa to possess uncut diamonds without a licence. "We are investigating the offence and who might be responsible," Musa Zondi, spokesman for the South African police special investigations unit, told AFP. Copyright © 2013 AFP. All rights reserved. More »	Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (NMCF) trustee Jeremy Ractliffe has resigned from the charity's board, twelve days after admitting to the possession of "blood diamonds". Earlier this month, supermodel Naomi Campbell testified against former Liberian president Charles Taylor when she claimed she received "very small, dirty looking stones" from two men, allegedly associated with Taylor. Campbell said she gave these diamonds to Ractliffe to "do something good with" in 1997. He gave the diamonds to police the day after Campbell's testimony. The police confirmed the stones were diamonds. The board of the Mandela charity said in a statement, "Mr. Ractliffe regrets his omission to inform the chairperson, chief executive officer and the rest of the board of trustees of the NMCF of his receipt of the uncut diamonds until now... Ractliffe acknowledges that had he done so, he and the board would have found a better and lawful way to manage the situation." Ractliffe took the diamonds from Campbell, fearing she might be prosecuted for removing uncut diamonds from South Africa, illegal without a license. Ractcliffe said, "Naomi suggested they could be of some benefit to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund — but I told her I would not involve the NMCF in anything that could possibly be illegal... In the end I decided I should just keep them." Taylor is on trial in The Hague, The Netherlands for allegedly trading diamonds for weapons to supply the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone. Taylor faces eleven counts for international crimes including rape, sexual slavery, enlistment of children under the age of fifteen, and pillaging.
Adjust font size: LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (Reuters) -- Slovenia adopted Europe's single currency, the euro, on Monday, crowning its 15-year transition from a republic in socialist Yugoslavia to the continent's most advanced post-communist economy. Many feared price hikes after wealthy Slovenia, which lies just south of Austria, became the euro zone's 13th member, in its first expansion since the currency was introduced in 2002. None of nine other countries that joined the European Union with Slovenia in 2004 are likely to adopt the euro before 2009. Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk withdrew 100 euros ($131.90) from a cash machine at Slovenia's largest bank, NLB, in downtown Ljubljana shortly after the midnight switch. "I am happy although there is some nostalgia for the tolar. But this is a great opportunity for our country and we can be proud that we belong to this exclusive club," said Bajuk. But Nina Peskar, a 20-year-old student from Ljubljana, summed up the mixed feelings of many Slovenians. "I look forward to the euro because it will make travel abroad easier but at the same time I'm afraid prices might go up," she said while celebrating on the capital's packed main square, lit by a laser sign beaming: "The Euro is Coming". Officials said the first hours of euro adoption passed smoothly. More than 92 percent of cash dispensers, which had stopped working three hours before midnight to allow time for the switchover, were operating again by 4 p.m. (1500 GMT). "I want to congratulate the Slovenian authorities and all the people involved in the changeover operation," European Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said in a statement, urging Slovenians to watch out for price rises. No problems Card payment terminals in shops and restaurants were back in business only one hour after the midnight switch. "The transition process is normal, the use of cash machines is moderate, payments with credit cards are taking place as usual," Central Bank Governor Mitja Gaspari told a news conference on Monday afternoon. "There is absolutely enough euro cash available, we expect that most of the cash in tolars will be out of circulation in the first week of transition," said Gaspari, who will now be a member of the European Central Bank's Governing Council. Slovenians can pay in tolars until Jan. 14 while banks will continue exchanging them free of charge until March 1. More than fifty banks opened on Jan. 1 and 2, both public holidays, to exchange tolars but no queues were reported. "We have to see how things go on Wednesday, the first working day when the system will be operating fully, but we expect no major problems," Bajuk told reporters and urged citizens to remain vigilant about price hikes. "We have to remain attentive and be careful on how we spend euros in the following days, weeks and months. Shopping has to be done carefully so that we can control prices," Bajuk said. A recent opinion poll showed about 40 percent of Slovenians fear prices will rise on account of the euro. Slovenia, whose declaration of independence from the crumbling Yugoslav federation prompted a 10-day war in 1991, is now the wealthiest of the EU's ex-communist newcomers. Gaspari, who had steered Slovenia's efforts to meet the euro entry criteria in the past six years, was the first official to exchange tolars into euros at the central bank shortly after midnight, flanked by his deputies who toasted with champagne. "This is the first year with the euro in Slovenia and I wish the euro good luck for many years to come," he said then. Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| Andrej Bajuk was one of the first to get his hands on Slovene euros The euro symbol was displayed on flags, balloons and t-shirts at New Year's Eve celebrations in the capital Ljubljana as Slovenes prepared for the switch. The existing currency, the tolar, will be phased out over the next 14 days. Slovenia is the first of the 10 new EU members that joined in 2004 to have met the economic requirements needed to adopt the single currency. It becomes the 13th country in the euro zone. The Slovene minister of finance, Andrej Bajuk, was one of the first people to withdraw the Slovene euros from an electronic cash machine. Misho seemed more interested in his bottle of beer and kebab than macroeconomic responsibility. Slovenes unruffled by euro "We are extremely happy and proud . We took this as a national project and we have indeed achieved and fulfilled all the criteria to make this a reality," he said. "It's extremely important for us. I am sure that the net benefits that we are going to reap are positive and substantial, that we are going to increase our exports and that things will move faster and better than before." Inflation concerns Slovenes seem to be relaxed about the change, says the BBC's Nicholas Walton in Ljubljana. The euro becomes the fourth currency they have used in less than two decades. The tolar was introduced after Slovenia split from Yugoslavia in 1991. Even critics of the government are broadly in favour of the change, saying it will encourage the government to reform the economy more quickly. But some fear it will lead to inflation. Celebrating New Year in Ljubljana, Nina Peskar, a 20-year-old student, said: "I look forward to the euro because it will make travel abroad easier but at the same time I'm afraid prices might go up." \|\|\|\|\| The Associated Press Slovenia adopts euro as new currency Slovenia adopted the euro on Monday, becoming the 13th EU nation to use the single European currency. Minister of Finance Andrej Bajuk was the first to use a cash machine to withdraw Slovenian euros. "We are extremely happy and proud. We took this as a national project and we have indeed achieved and fulfilled all the criteria to make this a reality. It's extremely important for us", said Bajuk. Slovenes adopted the currency at a rate of 239.640 tolars to one euro as of Jan 1. The Slovene tolar and the euro will be in dual use until Jan. 15, when the euro will officially take over as the country's sole legal tender. Prime Minister Janez Jansa called the switch the "biggest national achievement" since the tiny Alpine country of 2 million joined the European Union in 2004. Slovenia, a former Yugoslav republic, is alone among the 10 nations that joined at that time to have fulfilled the rigorous economic criteria needed to join the euro zone. More than two-thirds of the country's cash machines were fully operating in euros by late morning, while gas stations and highway toll booths switched immediately as the New Year kicked off. There were no reports of any glitches. A recent EU survey showed more than 70 percent of Slovenes happy to embrace the euro, with many saying they see it as further proof they are part of mainstream Europe. But some remained sentimental about the tolars, introduced when the country declared independence in 1991. "Saying farewell is usually not very nice. But this time it is about good memories and the hope that we are adopting a currency that is as good or even better," said central bank governor Mitja Gaspari. "It makes life a lot simpler," said Renata Kovac, who works in a kiosk at Ljubljana's central rail station. "I have lots of foreign customers and I always had to send them to the exchange office for small change as they didn't have any tolars." The introduction of the euro coincided with New Year's festivities across Slovenia. Thousands of revelers in the capital, Ljubljana, witnessed the release of some 3,000 yellow-and-blue helium balloons bearing euro signs at the stroke of midnight. Only 20 years ago, Slovenia was a drab communist republic with annual inflation running up to 1,500 percent; now inflation is 1.9 percent, lower than Germany's. Its economic growth was 4 percent last year, well above the EU's average of 1.4 percent. To preserve its national identity in the uniform euro zone, Slovenia used its right to display its national symbols on the euro coins it mints in the country. The addition of Slovenia expands the euro zone to a population of 316.6 million. Although some analysts feared price hikes or complications in accounting, invoicing or payroll systems, few expect any real problems during the conversion in Slovenia. About 97 percent of businesses said they were ready for the euro in a poll conducted by Eurobarometer in September. The government and consumer watchdogs urged the public to protest notable price increases in the private sector.	Location of Slovenia in Europe. On January 1 2007, Slovenia officially joined the and adopted the as its new official currency. At the same time, , which were available as a "starter kit" from December 15, became legal tender everywhere in the Eurozone. A period of dual circulation, when both the former currency, the and the euro will be accepted, will only last until January 14. All banks are going to exchange tolars into euros at the official rate of 239.64 SIT per 1 EUR at no commission until March 1, 2007. After that date it will be possible to exchange tolar banknotes (unlimited) and coins (until 2016) only at the Bank of Slovenia. Most already dispense euro banknotes with the rest to follow in the following days. Commercial banks automatically converted all tolar accounts into euros and online banking systems will be accessible to their users again on January 3. Even though January 1 and 2 are non-working days in Slovenia, many banks will be opened from 10:00 to 14:00 on both days, available only for one service: exchanging tolars to euros and larger euro banknotes into smaller units.
PPP = Pakistan peoples party (led until recently by the late Benazir Bhutto) PML-N = Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz Group (the original party that still follows Nawaz sharif.) PML-Q = Pakistan Muslim League - Qaid Group (the splinterd shard that still follows Musharraf.) ANP = Awami National Party (Led by Asfandyar Wali) MQM = Muttahida Qomi Party (Led by Altaf Hussain) now the top parts are the seat location. NA : National Assembly (the party with majority here will pick the next Prime Minister) PP : Province of Punjab (provincial assembly) PS : Province of Sindh (provincial assembly) PF : Province of NWFP (aka Sarhad) (provincial assembly) PB : Province of Balochistan (provincial assembly) Thanks to the commentor ‘Some Guy’. Please stay in touch. For Extensive Coverage of Election, please click Here. Last 5 posts by The Pakistani Spectator \|\|\|\|\| The gunfire in Karachi on Monday night was celebratory Voting explained They are confident supporters of President Pervez Musharraf are heading for a heavy defeat. Early unofficial returns suggest some of the president's allies have lost their seats, but it is expected to be some time before a clear trend emerges. Polling was delayed after the killing of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. On the streets of Karachi, young supporters of Ms Bhutto's PPP party celebrated late into the night, dancing and firing guns into the air, says the BBC's Jill McGivering. But across the city, their main political rivals, allies of President Musharraf, were also claiming victory, our correspondent adds. Most official counts will not be declared until later on Tuesday. Street protest threats A number of people were killed in clashes between rival party supporters during Monday's election, and there were reports of missing ballot boxes. But there was also widespread relief that there were none of the major bomb attacks which had marred the run-up to the election. Fears of violence had dissuaded many of the country's 80 million eligible voters from leaving their homes, and voter turnout was estimated to be less than 40%. Close to half a million security personnel, including about 80,000 soldiers, had been deployed to quell any outbreak of fighting. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accused the PML-Q party that backs Mr Musharraf of fixing votes and attacking supporters of his PML-N party in some areas. Asif Ali Zardari, Ms Bhutto's widower and the leader of her PPP party, had threatened to launch street protests if the election was rigged. One international election observer, US Senator Joseph Biden, said he feared instability if electoral malpractice was suspected. "If the majority of Pakistani people do not think the election was fair then I think we have a real problem," he said. No clear majority For his part, Mr Musharraf, who voted in Rawalpindi, vowed to work in "harmony" with whoever won Monday's election. HAVE YOUR SAY The difficulty is in foreseeing what changes will come. Briscott, Pakistan Polls suggest a fair vote is likely to result in a hung parliament, with none of the three biggest parties winning a majority, analysts suggest. Attention will then turn on the PPP, and whether it chooses to join forces with pro-Musharraf parties, or with Mr Sharif's party. Mr Sharif is staunchly opposed to the president, and if the two opposition parties jointly gain two-thirds of the seats, they may try to impeach Mr Musharraf, correspondents say. Mr Musharraf stepped down as army chief late last year. He has ruled the country since seizing power in a coup in 1999.	Early poll results have shown that the anti-Musharraf parties, and , are emerging as victorious. The early results also show that , the party supporting Pervez Musharraf, has been defeated. Furthermore, the results for Pakistan's indicate that the Pakistan Peoples Party currently have a small lead with 78 seats, with 's party just behind with 72 seats. The party which wins the elections for the National Assembly will choose the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The elections had a slow start at 8 a.m. (0300 GMT), as fears of violence kept many voters away. To enforce security, the Pakistani police is backed up by some 80,000 troops. The BBC reported that 80 million people are eligible to vote, but many are expected to stay at home, largely because of fears about security. Authorities reported at least five explosions that had taken place on election day, all but one of which occurred near a polling area.
Organisers said there were 40,000 people Demonstrators called for troops to be withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan and for Gaza's borders to be re-opened. Organisers said 40,000 people took part in London but police said 10,000. A Stop the War spokesman said Iraq had made the world a more dangerous place. But a Foreign Office spokesman said Iraq was making "steady progress". In London there were speeches from the leaders of a range of groups including CND and the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign. As well as anger over Iraq and Afghanistan, there were also calls for no action to be taken against Iran. Speaking at the rally in Trafalgar Square, the Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Tongue told the BBC that the war in Iraq had been an illegal act, supported by false documentary evidence. "We feel that there are people who have literally got away with murder. We have people who have made an illegal war happen, and no-one has brought them to book, and it's about time we did." Former Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn said: "The troops in Iraq have caused devastation. It's the same in Afghanistan." 'Hidden war' Green MEP Caroline Lucas called for Tony Blair and Gordon Brown to be prosecuted for war crimes. And a spokesman for the Stop the War Coalition said: "Estimates suggest as many as one million have died violent deaths as a result of the occupation of Iraq. Glasgow hosted another demo "Despite talk of a change of attitude to Bush's wars, Brown is sending more troops to Afghanistan. This hidden war is fast becoming a disaster mirroring Iraq." Peace campaigner Bianca Jagger said it was "astonishing" that former prime minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush had not been called to account for the Iraq war, which she called an "unmitigated disaster". Meanwhile in Glasgow hundreds of protestors also marched through the city, waving placards saying "Troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan" and "Don't attack Iran" and "Freedom for Palestine". A Foreign Office spokesman said Stop The War's description of the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran was "simply not accurate". No arrests were made "In Iraq, there is clear evidence we are making steady progress, particularly in terms of security. We have also acknowledged that mistakes were made, and drawn the appropriate lessons." In Afghanistan Nato forces are winning the struggle against the Taleban, he said, with 5.4 million children in school compared to an estimated one million children in 2001. "Iran still has many questions to answer over its nuclear ambitions - we are pursuing UN-approved sanctions to encourage Iran to provide greater transparency," he said. "And in Pakistan we are encouraged by initial moves to form a new, democratic government which reflects the will of Pakistan's people." \|\|\|\|\| LONDON (Reuters) - Thousands of anti-war protesters joined marches in Britain on Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq. They took to the streets in London and the Scottish city of Glasgow demanding that British troops pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan. A spokesman for the Stop The War coalition, which organised the marches, said that five years after the invasion of Iraq, the world had become "a much more dangerous place." "Estimates suggest as many as one million people have died violent deaths as a result of the occupation of Iraq," spokesman Paul Collins said. He said Prime Minister Gordon Brown was sending more troops to Afghanistan and claimed "this hidden war is fast becoming a disaster mirroring Iraq." But the Foreign Office disputed Stop the War's conclusions. "In Iraq, there is clear evidence we are making steady progress, particularly in terms of security," a spokesman told Reuters. "In Afghanistan NATO forces are winning the struggle against the Taliban," he added. Organisers estimated that the London march had attracted up to 40,000 protesters. Police put the figure at 10,000. In Glasgow the demonstration attracted several hundred protesters. (Reporting by Paul Majendie, Editing by Sami Aboudi)	Protesters leading the march Yesterday, thousands of people attended anti-war protests in London and Glasgow organised by the Stop the War Coalition. The event marks nearly five years since the 2003 invasion of Iraq which begun the Iraq War. The main themes were "Troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan", "Don’t attack Iran", and "End the siege of Gaza". In London, protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square before marching down Whitehall to Parliament Square, across Westminster Bridge, along Lambeth Palace Road before crossing the River Thames again at Lambeth Bridge, returning to Parliament Square via Millbank. A spokesman for the Foreign Office labelled the Stop the War Coalition's description of the current situation in Iraq as "simply not accurate", saying, "In Iraq, there is clear evidence we are making steady progress, particularly in terms of security. We have also acknowledged that mistakes were made, and drawn the appropriate lessons". Estimates as to the number of protesters in London range from 10,000 according to the Police, up to 40,000 according to the organisers.
Dec. 10 (Bloomberg) -- With tear gas and smoke lingering in the air, Spiros Politis stood in front of his Athens drugstore, ready to open after rioters firebombed the building next door. In the small hours yesterday, the 46-year-old defiantly put out the blaze as youths pelted police with stones and threw Molotov cocktails in some of the worst violence since student rebellions helped topple a military junta in the 1970s. “Traditions that bound society have deteriorated,” said Politis, owner of Pharmacy Philellinon adjacent to Syntagma Square, a focal point of clashes in the Greek capital following the Dec. 6 police shooting of a 15-year-old boy. “There is no political will to resolve the issues, and I mean political in a greater sense of the whole community.” The chaos in Athens and Thessaloniki -- along with a slowing economy and deepening dissatisfaction with a dynastic political order -- is shaking Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis’s government, which holds a one-vote parliamentary majority. Opposition leader George Papandreou’s Panhellenic Socialist Movement, or Pasok, is leading opinion polls for the first time in eight years. Papandreou, the son and grandson of former prime ministers, yesterday called for early elections, saying that the government of Karamanlis, nephew of yet another former prime minister, “has lost the confidence of the Greek people.” State workers are planning a national strike today, aiming to bring to a halt cities across the country that are waking up to the prospect of clearing up the debris from more destruction overnight. The workers are protesting Karamanlis-introduced taxes on the self-employed and small businesses aimed at helping meet budget-deficit targets. ‘Boiled Over’ “A switch has been flicked and the pressure cooker’s boiled over,” said David Lea, an analyst at Control Risks in London, who compares the riots with those in Parisian suburbs in 2005. “There are certain places where anarchists are more likely to inspire violence, and that’s Greece.” Behind the riots is anger at an embedded culture of corruption. Greece, which joined the European Union in 1981, is the most corrupt in western Europe and ranks 24th of the 27 EU countries, according to Berlin-based Transparency International’s annual corruption perception index. “It’s a plague on both houses,” said Professor Kevin Featherstone, director of the Hellenic Observatory at the London School of Economics. “It’s a sense of frustration. How do you change a system that has corruption so deeply embedded?” This month, an all-party parliamentary committee will say whether any lawmakers have been involved in a corruption scandal involving a land swap with a monastery that left taxpayers 100 million euros ($130 million) poorer. Youth Unemployment Both New Democracy and Pasok are struggling to keep a lid on the increasingly angry youth population. The unemployment rate for the 15 to 24 age group was 19 percent in August, according to the latest figures from the National Statistics Service in Athens. That’s the highest percentage among all age groups, the statistics show. The overall jobless rate was 7.2 percent in June, while the economy is growing at an annual rate of about 3 percent, according to national statistics. Rioters fire-bombed stores in Athens and Thessaloniki, the country’s second-largest city, and threw rubble at police for a fourth day following the death of Alexis Grigoropoulos in an Athens suburb. Arrests, Injuries Police said 87 people were arrested in Athens for attacking officers, vandalism and looting. A total of 176 people were detained while 12 police were injured, police said. Mega TV reported that total arrests in Greece reached 157. Violence erupted again after the boy’s funeral yesterday in the capital. Pavlos, who asked for his last name not be used because of fear of arrest, was among the crowd of black-clad hooded youths cheering when flames licked the three-meter high Christmas tree in Athens’s central Syntagma Square on Dec. 8. “This isn’t violence, this is destruction,” said Pavlos, 20, who studied hotel management in the Greek capital. “The trigger was the death of the kid, but the reasons are much deeper. Consumerism, the police, the government, the way the state functions. There are no opportunities.” Grigoropoulos was killed after a group of about 30 teenagers attacked a patrol car with projectiles in the Exarhia district of Athens, according to the Interior Ministry. The area is adjacent to the National Technical University of Athens, the site of the 1973 student uprising against the military junta. Now the rioters, many in their teens, are hooked up via the Internet and mobile-phone text messages. The government is promising a quick investigation into the circumstances of the shooting but Politis, the pharmacy owner, said politicians need to go beyond just finding out what happened that night in Athens. “How do you fix it? How does the government pay for it like they say they will?” he said. “Christmas is over.” To contact the reporter on this story: Maria Petrakis in Athens at mpetrakis@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Peter Torday at ptorday@bloomberg.net \|\|\|\|\| Running battles between Greek police and thousands of protesters furious at the shooting of a 15-year-old student intensified yesterday as antagonism boiled over outside the cemetery where the youth was being buried. On the eve of a general strike that threatens to plunge the country into further chaos, security forces fought pitched battles with stone-throwing youths outside Athens's parliament and in Salonika, the northern capital. As thousands descended on the coastal suburb of Faliro for the funeral of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, who was killed by a bullet to the chest on Saturday, hooded youths chanting "pigs, murderers" began baiting police. Before the funeral had ended they began hurling stones, iron bars and marble slabs at officers, sending residents running for cover. As the boy's flower-covered casket was lowered into the ground the air was thick with acrid smoke from successive rounds of teargas fired in retaliation by the police. The worst civil disturbances to hit Greece in decades, the riots have not only dealt another blow to the already badly dented popularity of the ruling conservatives but also left a trail of devastation. In Athens alone, officials estimate that more than 200 stores, 50 banks and countless cars have been damaged. Shops are shut and streets devoid of shoppers. Hospitals have also reported an increase in the number of wounded, already believed to have exceeded 70 police and others. Last night as looters went on the rampage, police in a change of tactics, began making arrests. With the prime minister, Costas Karamanlis, facing growing criticism for his handling of the crisis - and his single-seat majority in the 300-member parliament looking increasingly vulnerable - the opposition leader, George Papandreou, of the Socialists, stepped up calls for early elections. Coming out of emergency talks - requested by Karamanlis in an attempt to contain the crisis - Papandreou said it had become clear the government was incapable of defending the public from rioters. "It cannot handle this crisis and has lost the trust of the Greek people," said the leader, whose Pasok party has surged in the polls in recent months. "The best thing it can do is resign and let the people find a solution." That was a view widely shared by many of the leftist and self-styled anarchists fuelling the riots. At the Athens Polytechnic, now the centre of the groups' operations, young men and women broke up marble slabs and quietly stocked up on the firebombs they have been throwing at police. Standing behind makeshift barriers of burning rubbish bins, they promised to turn the unrest into "an uprising the likes of which Greece has never seen". As the site of the revolt against the colonels' regime in 1974, the polytechnic's colonnaded buildings are off-limits to security forces under a constitutional clause that gives students asylum on its grounds. "This is not just about the kid, it's about our dreadful education and economic situation. That's what pushed us on to the streets," insisted one youth who called himself Andreas. "It's our belief and hope that this is the beginning of a rebellion against the system." The chaos, he said, had exposed the deep-seated anger of Greeks who after the introduction of the euro have not only struggled to make ends meet but have increasingly felt deceived by a system that thrived on corruption, party political affiliations and patronage. "All of us have poor parents who are really struggling," said Andreas as he sat cross-legged before a makeshift fire blazing in the polytechnic's courtyard. For young Greeks like Andreas, who belong to a lost generation without work or hope, it is a rage that has been fuelled by allegations of corruption and the seemingly relentless scandals involving sex, money and the church which have swirled around the conservatives - and for which, despite public outrage, no one has been punished. "We all thought it would take one incident for things to go up, and with the police killing of the teenage boy that is exactly what happened," said a veteran political analyst, Konstantinos Angelopoulos. Yesterday, the rioting spread to Crete and Corfu, where hundreds took to the streets, and intensified in at least a dozen cities across the country. Greek demonstrators occupied the country's consulate in Paris, following protests in London, Berlin and Nicosia on Monday. Yesterday, Karamanlis appealed to Greece's two largest trade unions to call off strikes that are expected to ground flights and cut ferry links. The market-oriented government faces growing anger over its tough fiscal policies from workers demanding more state social spending as well as salary and pension increases. Rejecting the prime minister's plea, unions called on workers to participate in the walk-out "and demonstrate our opposition to state repression and the consequences of the [economic] crisis". Voices from the street Andreas, 19, student protester "The police are pigs and they deserve what they get. They don't have the balls to go after the anarchists. Instead they pick on us kids, stop us in the streets all the time. It's wrong to smash up shops, but personally I see it as a symbolic act to throw stones and rocks at the police, because they're bastards." Nikos, 36, fireman "Am I surprised? Of course. Everything has happened so quickly. It's not just that the riots spread so fast, it's their intensity. In Athens we've had 200 cars and 40 buildings go up in flames, most of them in one night. We're all sick with worry." Sophia, 44, shopkeeper "Twenty years of work down the drain. I turned up at my shop today and they had taken everything, even the lining in the drawers. They managed to get past the steel blinds. Why have they targeted the little man? We're not to blame for the death of a child. Tell me who is going to pay?" Nikos Yiannos, 18, student "I agree with the protests against the police because, after all, they killed the kid, but I don't agree with the destruction. Our police aren't like police elsewhere in Europe. They aren't educated and it's because they're not properly trained that things have got so out of control." Zoe Papanidou, 19, student "There were many reasons why these riots happened. The situation was explosive, socially and economically. The state undermines people. You feel it is violating your rights. At some point the lid was going to burst from the pot." \|\|\|\|\| A demonstrator throws a stone at riot police in central Athens Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008. Athens and other Greek cities were ravaged by three successive nights of rioting after police shot teenager Alexandros Grigoropoulos dead. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Clashes, looting rock Greek cities for 4th night ATHEN, Greece (AP) — Masked youths and looters marauded through Greek cities for a fourth night Tuesday, in an explosion of rage triggered by the police shooting of a teenager that has unleashed the most violent riots in a quarter century. The nightly scenes of burning street barricades, looted stores and overturned cars have threatened to topple the country's increasingly unpopular conservative government, which faces mounting calls for Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to resign. Police fired tear gas at protesters following the funeral of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos, who was laid to rest in an Athens burial attended by about 6,000 people. Violence calmed before dawn Wednesday, but police were braced for more trouble later in the day when labor unions planned rallies during a nationwide strike called to protest the government's economic policies. The rioting — which has engulfed cities from Thessaloniki in the north to the holiday island of Corfu and Crete in the south — threatens the 52-year-old Karamanlis, who already faced growing dissatisfaction over financial and social reforms at a time of deep anxiety over growing economic gloom. Opposition Socialist leader George Papandreou called for early elections, charging the conservatives were incapable of defending the public from rioters. "The government cannot handle this crisis and has lost the trust of the Greek people," Papandreou said. "The best thing it can do is resign and let the people find a solution ... We will protect the public." The call was echoed by protesters, who, though they have not voiced any particular policy goals, say they want Karamanlis out. "It's very simple — we want the government to fall. This boy's death was the last straw for us," Petros Constantinou, an organizer with the Socialist Workers Party, said in Athens. "This government wants the poor to pay for all the country's problems — never the rich — and they keep those who protest in line using police oppression." Karamanlis, whose New Democracy party narrowly won re-election a year ago, has ignored the calls. Greece was torn by years of civil war between communists and right-wing nationalists in the wake of World War II, and was ruled by a military dictatorship from 1967 to 1974. Though a student uprising succeeded in ending military rule in 1974, it also left a legacy of activism and simmering tensions between the security establishment and a phalanx of deeply entrenched leftist groups that often protest against globalization and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and elsewhere. The groups have now evolved into various mainly youth factions that claim to fight trends ranging from globalization to police surveillance cameras. Their impact is usually limited to graffiti and late-night firebomb attacks on targets such as stores and cash machines. But the latest riots have moved far beyond the small antiestablishment groups to become a siege of Karamanlis' government. Teenagers and university students have joined self-styled anarchists in much of the rioting and destruction. The fallout from the riots, which has seen police stations nationwide come under attack by rock- and Molotov cocktail-throwing youths, could be far-reaching. "This reaction will register as major discontent in the next public opinion polls, which will hobble the government's effectiveness," political analyst Anthony Livanios told The Associated Press. Whenever the government tries to pass reforms, "Greek society will react — while the level of parliamentary opposition will increase." The government is already facing public discontent over the state of the economy, the poor job prospects of students and a series of financial scandals that have badly rattled public confidence. Greece is heavily dependent on tourism, which could decline as a result of the global economic crisis. Karamanlis trails the Socialists in recent opinion polls and would struggle to win a general ballot now. His government clings to a single seat majority in the 300-member Parliament and could be brought down by a single defection, though it is unlikely any deputy would risk his political career to topple a government at a time of civil unrest. A poll released Tuesday gave the Socialists a 4.8 percent lead over Karamanlis' conservatives. The poll gave no margin of error. A senior Socialist party official, Christos Protopappas, blamed underlying social inequalities for the violence, saying the government's policies exacerbated the gap between rich and poor. "If there is no change in policies, I fear that what will happen in six months or one year will be much worse," he said. Analyst Livanios agreed. "This was an emotional reaction after public opinion was outraged by the unfortunate event of the teenager's killing," he said. "Clearly, during very negative economic conditions people with very low incomes and jobless people who can see no future for themselves became part of this social reaction." On Tuesday, police fired tear gas to disperse dozens of youths throwing stones and sticks and setting trash cans on fire near the funeral for Grigoropoulos, whose death Saturday sparked the rioting. Dozens of local residents gathered on the streets, shouting at police to stop firing gas in the residential area. Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis said "the winds of destruction are blowing through our city." Schools and universities across Greece were closed for the funeral and hundreds of teachers, university lecturers and students rallied in central Athens, where hundreds of teenagers threw rocks and scuffled with officers. Still, the clashes were less severe than the rioting the previous three nights. Amnesty International accused Greek police of heavy-handed tactics against protesters, saying police "engaged in punitive violence against peaceful demonstrators" instead of focusing on rioters. Associated Press writers Derek Gatopoulos and Menelaos Hadjicostis contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| Europe Rioting Rocks Greece Protestors in 10 Greek cities have destroyed hundreds of shops and buildings, threatening the government as economic downturn bites Greece plunged into chaos as rioting entered its fourth day on Tuesday with hundreds of protestors hurling stones and bottles at police in front of the Greek parliament. The conservative government was looking increasingly fragile as socialist opposition leader George Papandreou called for new elections to stop the crisis. Tuesday's protests came hours before the funeral of a 15-year-old youth whose killing by a policeman on Saturday triggered Greece's worst riots in a quarter of a century. Hundreds of buildings have been wrecked or burned and more than 50 people injured. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, speaking after a meeting with political leaders including Papandreou on Tuesday, said the protestors could expect no leniency. Police Prepare for Worst "No one has the right to use this tragic incident as an excuse for acts of violence," said Karamanlis, whose government is clinging to a slender majority. Police are bracing for more trouble in Athens later on Tuesday when Alexandros Grigoropoulos—the youth who was shot dead—is buried. His shooting acted as a trigger for protestors to vent their resentment over the government's economic policies, corruption scandals, and growing inequality. Two police officers have been charged in the shooting—one with manslaughter and the other as an accomplice. A police statement said one officer fired warning shots after his car was attacked by 30 youths in Athens' volatile Exarchia district. But witnesses speaking to Greek TV accused him of taking aim at the teenager. One of the police officer's defense lawyers resigned on Monday, saying his conscience forbade him from defending "such a client." Greek radio reported that the officer who fired the shot was known as "Rambo" because he was prone to take tough action. Since Saturday, protests have been reported in more than 10 cities across the nation of 11 million people, including the northern city of Thessaloniki and the tourist islands of Crete and Corfu. Youths appeared to be in control of central Athens for several hours on Monday night, looting and setting fire to shops, destroying banks and attacking ministries. Even the city's huge Christmas tree was set ablaze. More than 130 shops have already been destroyed in the capital, dashing hopes of brisk Christmas trading in the face of a worsening economic outlook. Police have detained more than 35 people and more than 50 have been injured in the rioting since Saturday. "We are experiencing moments of a great social revolution," leftist activist Panagiotis Sotiris, 38, among those occupying a university building, told the Reuters news agency. "The protests will last as long as necessary." Around 100 stores were plundered in the northern city of Thessaloniki on Monday night. The rioters smashed shop windows and stole watches, jewellery and clothing, AFP reported. A police station was attacked by around 20 youths hurling firebombs. A total of 5,000 people took part in two separate demonstrations in Thessaloniki. Protestors occupied the Greek consulate in Paris on Tuesday following a similar action in Berlin on Monday. There have also been demonstrations at the Greek embassies in London and Nicosia, Cyprus. Provided by Spiegel Online—Read the latest from Europe's largest newsmagazine	The riots in Greece that started on December 6 have entered their fourth night. These are the worst riots the Hellenic Republic has witnessed in decades. A building in Athens after it was burned by rioters. The riots were triggered when Alexandros Grigoropoulos, a 15-year-old student, was shot and killed by police. The police claim that Grigoropoulos was throwing a bomb at them when they fired. Cities throughout Greece have been hit by the unrest, not just Athens. Hundreds of shops and businesses have been destroyed. "No one has the right to use this tragic incident as an excuse for acts of violence," said Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, New Democracy party. "The government cannot handle this crisis and has lost the trust of the Greek people," George Papandreou of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement said. "The best thing it can do is resign and let the people find a solution ... We will protect the public." The rioters are organizing on the campus of National Technical University of Athens (Athens Polytechnic). A constitutional clause enacted after the overthrow of the Greek military junta of 1967–1974 prevents security forces from entering the campus. One of the banks that were set ablaze. ''The Guardian'' is reporting that the University is being used by young men and women to stock up on firebombs and break up marble slabs to throw at police. From behind their makeshift barriers, they vowed the unrest would become "an uprising the likes of which Greece has never seen." "We are experiencing moments of a great social revolution," leftist activist Panagiotis Sotiris told Reuters. Sotiris is among those occupying a university building. "The protests will last as long as necessary," he added. "A switch has been flicked and the pressure cooker's boiled over," said David Lea, an analyst at Control Risks Group in London, to Bloomberg News. "There are certain places where anarchists are more likely to inspire violence, and that's Greece." Two police officers have been charged in the shooting death of Grigoropoulos, who was buried on Tuesday.
CNN-IBN Dhamra (Orissa): India's longest-range, nuclear capable missile Agni-III failed to meet its test standard on Sunday. The Government had cleared the testfiring after two years. A successful test-launch would have meant a projection of India's nuclear weapons power beyond its immediate neighbourhood. The missile was meant to be India's first step in building an Inter Continental Ballistic Missile, a capability only shared by the permanent members of the UN Security Council that allows for a strike anywhere at will. Undaunted by the partial failure of test-firing of the country's most powerful and longer reach 3,500-km range Agni-III missile, Defence Research and Development Organisation scientists on Sunday said more trials of the IRBM missile would be conducted in months ahead to make it fool-proof. "It was our first experiment with such a long-range missile and in the next few days, we will analyse faults in order to rectify them," the scientists said. They said the entire data of the testing of the missile from its launch to a snag developing in the second stage was being analysed and 'we are hopeful of rectifying it'. When the missile veered off-course, the scientists had been closely monitoring the trajectory of the missile, they said. Prior to the launch of the missile, DRDO scientists had carried out cold seabed trials of critical components and subsistence of missile and this would enable pinpointing of the snag. "We will have to carry out more tests of the missile in the coming months," the scientists said. Earlier in the day, the sophisticated intermediate range ballistic misslie (IRBM) Agni-III was test-fired from a range off the Orissa coast on Sunday. The Agni Story So Far May 22, 1989: Agni test-fired from Chandipur-on-sea May 29, 1992: Agni test-fired from Chandipur-on-sea The indigenously built surface-to-surface nuclear capable missile, with a range of 3,500 km, was test-fired from a fixed platform at the launch complex of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at the Wheeler's Island at about 1105 hours IST, defence sources said. \|\|\|\|\| It was planned as a new year's gift to India this year, but technical glitches and political clearance delayed the launch of the much vaunted Agni III. Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and top defence officials visited Wheeler Island, near Balasore, in Orissa on Sunday morning and witnessed the launch of Agni III ballistic missile. The Agni I and Agni II missiles are already a part of the Indian arsenal, the nuclear capable Agni III was ready and all that was necessary was political clearance. With the official approval, the missile was formally test-fired on Sunday morning (July 9). “We're ready with all technical inputs for a programme of that kind. At an appropriate time whatever is the decision, the follow up action will be taken,” said M Natarajan, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister in an interview with TIMES NOW in February this year. Agni’s range of 4,000 km plus is crucial. The Agni III can hit targets virtually everywhere in the neighbourhood from central China to deep into the Indian Ocean and a long way into South-east Asia. “Certainly it's going to be better than Agni II but the exact range will depend upon the telemetry we carry because telemetry dust adds to the weight of the missile area,” informed Natarajan. “These are not the products we need to show off our strength but the ones to have certain capability that India needs for a variety of reasons,” Natarajan clarified. Wheeler Island has a definite mark in Indian defence history after this launch. Apart from the Defence Minister, the three chiefs and the Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy Anil Kakodkar were also present.	India's most sophisticated (IRBM) to date, the was test-fired off the Orissa coast earlier today. The missile took off from a fixed platform at the Integrated Test Range at at 11:05 IST (05:35 GMT) in the presence of Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his scientific advisor M. Natarajan. The Agni-II missile being displayed on a mobile launcher during the 2004 Republic Day parade. The missile took off vertically into space before re-entering the atmosphere and splashing down near in the Bay of Bengal. Three sophisticated radars, six electro-optical tracking systems and three telemetric data stations on the mainland at Dhamra, Chandipur and the Andamans, together with a ship anchored near the splash-down point monitored the missile's trajectory. According to eyewitnesses, the missile blasted off into the sky leaving behind a trail of thick yellow smoke and disappeared out of sight into the clouds within seconds. The Agni-III, which has a range of 3,500 km and can carry up to 1000 kg of payload, has been described as the most powerful missile developed by India's . The missile, which is 16 metres long and has a diametre of 1.8 metres, has solid fuel boosters and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads. The Agni-I and Agni-II, which were the earlier versions of the Agni series developed under the (IGMDP), have already been inducted into the Indian Army. Boosters for the earlier two missiles had been provided by the , however, the Agni-III uses an entirely new booster vehicle. ==Sources== * *
Police officers at the scene of the shooting in Manchester Policeman shot dead while training Family and friends have been left "devastated" after a police officer was shot dead on a training exercise. Ian James Terry, 32, was killed after suffering a gun shot wound to the chest while on the exercise. The Independent Police Complaints Commission confirmed that Mr Terry, of Burnley, Lancashire, died after being struck by a single shot discharged from a shotgun carried by a colleague. Police cars and an ambulance rushed to the scene and the officer was taken to North Manchester General Hospital but doctors could not save him and he was pronounced dead shortly after. The "highly regarded" officer, who has not yet been named, was taking part in a pre-planned exercise involving firearms officers from Greater Manchester Police. They were using a huge disused warehouse, known locally as the Sharp building, in Newton Heath, in the north of the city, to conduct the exercise. It was the former distribution centre for Sharp, the electronics giant, which used to sponsor Manchester United. The site is heavily shielded by trees and a railway track and away from local housing. The focus of the forensic investigation at the site appeared to be four cars parked two behind two and taped off from the rest of the goods yard at the warehouse. One of the cars, a grey Citroen Xsara, appeared to have its front passenger window smashed, with glass on the ground below it. The driver's door was open as was the driver's door of the Suzuki Vitara car parked in front. A Vauxhall Corsa was parked alongside the Suzuki and each of the two Citroen Xsara's parked directly behind them. A bulletproof jacket, oxygen mask, police helmets and a yellow jacket were on the ground close to the cars in the yard. \|\|\|\|\| LONDON (Reuters) - A policeman was shot dead on Monday during a firearms training exercise at a disused warehouse in Manchester, police said. A police officer blocks the entrance to an area of Gloucester, western England, in this November 27, 2003 file photo. REUTERS/Martin Bennett The police constable suffered serious chest injuries and later died in hospital. Greater Manchester Police’s Acting Chief Constable Dave Whatton said an investigation had begun into the events surrounding the shooting. “I can’t go into the circumstances of how the officer was killed. But what I can say is that there was no risk at any stage to any members of the public,” he told a news conference. “Nobody else was hurt when the accident happened. There is now a full investigation taking place.” The officer was married and served with the Manchester force as a constable. His family asked for no more personal details to be released, Whatton added. The incident happened in Newton Heath, an area in the north of the city, at 11:35 a.m. The victim was taken to North Manchester General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The police chief would not say if the officer had been accidentally shot by a colleague or killed by his own weapon. He also refused to give details of the training exercise. He added: “Everybody is devastated by...the loss of a highly regarded colleague and friend to many officers in Greater Manchester.” Police sealed off entrances to the site and forensics officers searched the scene of the shooting. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told parliament that “the whole House will be saddened to learn of the tragic death”. The Association of Chief Police Officers said: “Firearms training for UK police officers is among the best in the world and includes common minimum standards for all forces in firearms training. “Whilst any unintentional discharge is a cause for concern, training and debriefing and a review of procedures take place to ensure such unfortunate incidents are kept to an absolute minimum.”	The location of the shooting A policeman from the United Kingdom was killed today while taking part in a training exercise with his police force, in the city of Manchester. The policeman died as a result of a shot to the chest. The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 UTC (11:30 local time) this morning. Greater Manchester Police released a statement regarding the incident, saying that the officer was shot at Thorpe Road, which is found in the Newton Heath area of the city.
To find what you're looking for, try one of these options: MarketWatch Front Page A starting place for alll your financial news and information needs. A starting place for alll your financial news and information needs. Search Search MarketWatch news, past and present. Search MarketWatch news, past and present. Quotes Get quotes for stocks, mutual funds, options and major market indexes. If you reached this page by clicking a link on the MarketWatch site, please report it to MarketWatch Feedback. \|\|\|\|\| Washington: The landmark India-US nuclear agreement appeared on track for a September conclusion with President George W Bush asking Congress to approve it and top Congressional leaders backing the deal. "The president has notified Congress as required under the Hyde Act of 2006 that India has harmonised and has adhered to in accordance with the procedures of those regimes for unilateral adherence," a State Department spokesperson said on Thursday. US Congress vows to examine nuclear deal with India Responding to a question about India's adherence to the (Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) guidelines, the spokesperson noted that India's Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee had in a statement issued Sep 5 reinforced India's commitments made in the July 2005 joint statement of Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Special: Indo-US nuclear deal \| Full coverage Under the July 18, 2005 joint statement, which launched the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative, India committed to harmonise its export controls with and unilaterally adhere to the NSG and MTCR guidelines. Mukherjee's statement underscored that "India has taken the necessary steps to secure nuclear materials and technology through comprehensive export control legislation and through harmonisation and committing to adhere to MTCR and NSG guidelines". "We also understand that India has sent letters to the International Atomic Energy Agency director general and to the MTCR point of contact in Paris stating that it has adhered to the NSG and MTCR. We welcome these steps," the State Department spokesperson said. US can stop N-cooperation if India conducts test: Mulford Meanwhile, top US Congressional leaders have backed the India-US civil nuclear deal to brighten the prospects for the landmark agreement to be approved before Manmohan Singh visits Washington Sep 25. News home \| All latest news about Indian politics US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined the Senate majority leader Harry Reid on Thursday in indicating early approval of the agreement saying it "does have support in the House." Expression of her support came shortly after the White House announced that President George Bush had invited Singh to meet him in Washington "to strengthen the Strategic Partnership and build upon our progress in other areas of cooperation". White House sends India nuclear deal to Congress "The President is pleased to approve the US-India Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation (also known as the 123 Agreement)," the White House said hours after Bush sent the implementing 123 agreement to the legislature. "The President looks forward to working with Congress to ensure passage on the agreement this year," it said in a statement as officials led by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice kept up the push to hasten the approval process. Antony meets Condoleezza Rice \| India has sovereign right to conduct N-tests: US "The conclusion of this agreement, which completes the US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative, has been a priority for both President Bush and Prime Minister Singh, and strengthens the US-India Strategic Partnership," it said. Meanwhile, Pelosi told reporters here: "I hope that that work can be done so that we can take it up". However, "We don't want it to be a precedent for saying many more countries will join" the nuclear club," she added. More India news \| World news While the agreement "does have support in the House," it must "honour the principles of" legislation Congress passed in December 2006 to lay the groundwork for negotiating the terms, she said referring to the US enabling law, the Hyde Act. Mentioning that a "waiver" may be needed to strike the required 30-day waiting period for the approval legislation, Pelosi made clear that the India agreement shouldn't set a precedent, saying stopping the spread of nuclear weapons is a "pillar" of US national security. Nuke deal will bring in restricted technologies: Scientist "What we do in India has to be seen, I think, in the context of a managed situation that does not send a message that it's okay to proceed to a more nuclear state," Pelosi said. Reid has already indicated that he will press for early passage of the deal. He "will try to find a way to move it forward" this year, the Senate leader' s spokesman Jim Manley said. Joe Biden, the Democrats' vice presidential candidate and a supporter of nuclear cooperation with India, too said on Thursday the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which he chairs, could review the agreement in a hearing as soon as next week. Rice meets Pelosi to discuss Indo-US nuclear deal The support of lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled Senate and House is crucial because only about three weeks remain before Congress is scheduled to recess September 26 for the year to campaign for November 4 elections. However, there was still no word one way or the other from House Foreign Affairs committee chairman Howard Berman, who supports the deal, but had some reservations about the waiver given by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to India for nuclear trade. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who has been leading the Bush administration's efforts to beat the clock has met Pelosi, Reid and Berman besides calling up a number of key lawmakers to put the approval process on fast track. A spokesman for Pelosi, who was earlier reluctant to hold a lame-duck session after the election, said after her meeting with Rice Tuesday that she looked forward to reviewing the formal agreement in detail and to consulting on the matter with her colleagues, including Berman. US working to ready Hyde package within 48 hours State Department spokesman Sean McCormack has said that American companies having a "level playing field in the civilian nuclear industry in India has been very much a part of our discussion with India and with the Congress." "We believe American industry, wherever they are allowed to compete around the world, will do very well, regardless of the industry," he told reporters. If the lawmakers don't agree to waive the rule requiring a resting period of 30 days for the legislation, the Congress could come back for a lame-duck session after the election to approve the "Hyde Amendment package" as the paperwork sent to the Capitol Hill is called. The Bush administration pulled out all stops to push the deal after it helped win India a waiver for nuclear trade from NSG removing the last hurdle in presenting the deal to the US Congress. India had crossed the first hurdle by reaching an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for an additional safeguards protocol for its civilian nuclear facilities. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a rare, unscheduled visit on Tuesday to Capitol Hill, seat of the US Congress, to win a final legislative yes vote for the U.S-India Nuclear Agreement that got an international approval last week. Rice called on Congressman Howard Berman, a key lawmaker and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who has said he supports the nuclear deal but needs to be convinced by the administration that the green signal given by the US administration and the international community is consistent with the Hyde Act passed by Congress. "The burden of proof is on the Bush Administration so that Congress can be assured that what we're being asked to approve conforms with US law," Berman said Sunday, prompting Rice to make a personal visit to brief him about the Vienna waiver after a phone conversation with him on Monday. Democrats control both chambers in Congress and it is generally thought that they would be loath to hand Bush any foreign policy success in his final weeks in office. But the administration -- and the Indian government -- is banking on the massive bipartisan support the agreement got when it was first introduced in Congress, with more than 85 per cent of law-makers supporting it. More Democrats opposed the deal than Republicans, but the key principals in the Democratic leadership, including Senators Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama, voted for the agreement. Ahead of her Hill visit, Rice worked the phone throughout Monday, speaking with Berman's Republican opposite number Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, House Minority Leader Boehner, Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman and vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden among others. She was also scheduled to speak to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid. It will take the cooperation and effort of the leadership and lawmaker son both sides to pull this through, and administration officials remain optimistic that they can pull it off, while deferring to the wishes of the Congress. "From her perspective, this is a full court press working with the Congress...We think that there is a possibility of getting this passed this year and we are going to do everything we possibly can," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. "Whether it does or not, it's not going to be for lack of effort." McCormack said Rice had instructed her staff to try and send the paperwork to Congress within the next 24 to 48 hours. \|\|\|\|\| India would get access to US civilian nuclear technology The group of nations which regulates the global nuclear trade has approved a US proposal to lift restrictions on selling nuclear technology to India. The controversial deal now needs to be ratified by the US Congress before it can be implemented. India says the deal is vital for it to meet its civil energy demands. The approval came after India pledged to keep its nuclear non-proliferation commitments and to uphold a voluntary moratorium on testing atomic weapons. 'End of isolation' It took the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) nearly three days of protracted negotiations in Vienna to reach agreement. Critics of the deal say it creates a dangerous precedent - effectively allowing India to expand its nuclear power industry without requiring it to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as other nations must. They say the deal would undermine the arguments for isolating Iran over its nuclear programme and be a disaster for international non-proliferation efforts. Indian PM Manmohan Singh described the deal as "momentous" But US and Indian officials hailed the agreement as one that would help limit the unregulated spread of nuclear technology and material while allowing India to meet its energy demands with a "clean and reliable" supply. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the NSG decision "marks the end of India's decades-long isolation from the nuclear mainstream and of the technology denial regime". Austria, New Zealand and Ireland lifted their objection to the US proposal after India made a formal pledge to not share sensitive nuclear technology or material and to uphold its moratorium on testing nuclear weapons. The breakthrough reportedly came after US President George W Bush lobbied members of the NSG. "This is a critically important moment for meeting the energy needs in India, and indeed dealing with the global need for clean and reliable energy supplies," said John Rood, acting US undersecretary of state for arms control. 'Huge difference' The US restricted nuclear co-operation with India after it tested a nuclear weapon in 1974. The current deal is the centrepiece of US efforts to bolster ties with India. However, the Bush administration must attempt to rush it through Congress before legislators break to prepare for November's elections - held at the same time as the presidential vote. India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the communists - former allies of the governing Congress party who withdrew support for the government over the nuclear deal - have accused the government of "deceiving" the country. "There is a huge difference between what the US government is telling its Congress and what our government is telling us," BJP leader Yashwant Sinha told reporters. Under the terms of the deal, India would open 14 civilian nuclear facilities to inspection - but its nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits. Critics fear assistance to India's civil programme could free-up additional radioactive material for bomb-making purposes. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| News: Advts: Front Page India will not be a source of proliferation, says Pranab “It will abide by a unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing” We do not subscribe to any arms race We affirm our policy of no-first use of nuclear weapons NEW DELHI: India on Friday reiterated its commitment to strengthen the non-proliferation regime and assured the world community that it would abide by a “voluntary unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing.” “India will not be the source of proliferation of sensitive technologies, including enrichment and reprocessing transfers. We stand for the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime. We support international efforts to limit the spread of ENR [enrichment and reprocessing] equipment or technologies to states that do not have them,” External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a statement on the civil nuclear initiative. Crucial meet The suo motu statement came in the backdrop of the Nuclear Suppliers Group meeting, which entered the crucial second day in Vienna with some members expressing concern over giving India a waiver from the guidelines of the 45-nation grouping to conduct nuclear trade. In an attempt at allaying apprehensions of some of the “sceptic” NSG members, Mr. Mukherjee said India would work together with the international community to advance “our common objective of non-proliferation.” “Fuel banks” “In this regard, India is interested in participating as a supplier nation, particularly for thorium-based fuel and in establishment of international fuel banks, which also benefit India.” India’s civil nuclear initiative would strengthen the international non-proliferation regime. “India believes that the opening of full civil nuclear cooperation will be good for India and for the world. It will have a profound positive impact on global energy security and international efforts to combat climate change.” Emphasising that India approached the dialogue with NSG and all its members in a spirit of cooperation that allowed a frank exchange of views on subjects of mutual interest and concern, the Minister expressed the hope that such a dialogue would strengthen India’s relationship in the years to come. “We remain committed to a voluntary, unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing. We do not subscribe to any arms race, including a nuclear arms race. We have always tempered the exercise of our strategic autonomy with a sense of global responsibility. We affirm our policy of no-first use of nuclear weapons.” Mr. Mukherjee stressed that India was committed to working with others towards the conclusion of a multilateral Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty in the Conference on Disarmament that was universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable. Effective control system Dwelling on India’s “impeccable non-proliferation record,” he said: “We have in place an effective and comprehensive system of national export controls, which has been constantly updated to meet the highest international standards. This is manifested in the enactment of the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems Act in 2005.” The Minister assured the world community that India had taken steps to secure nuclear materials and technology through comprehensive export control legislation and through harmonisation, and committed itself to adhering to the Missile Technology Control Regime and NSG guidelines. Steadfast commitment India’s vision of a world free of nuclear weapons, put before the United Nations in 1988 by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, still had universal resonance. “India has a long-standing and steadfast commitment to universal, non-discriminatory and total elimination of nuclear weapons.” Asserting that India placed great value on the role played by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s nuclear safeguards system, the Minister said: “We look forward to working with the IAEA in implementing the India-specific Safeguards Agreement concluded with the IAEA. In keeping with our commitment to sign and adhere to an Additional Protocol with respect to India’s civil nuclear facilities, we are working closely with the IAEA to ensure early conclusion of an Additional Protocol to the Safeguards Agreement.” Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail Front Page	The , which gained waiver from the 45-member (NSG) in Vienna on September 6, 2008, will be ratified by the US Congress to remove 34 years of sanctions against India, following a nuclear device testing in 1974. US George W. Bush and India's Manmohan Singh exchange handshakes in on March 2, 2006. NSG's India specific waiver allows India to join a select club of nations free to have nuclear weapons, without the international watchdog (IAEA) breathing down its neck. The waiver comes after strong opposition from China, New Zealand and Austria amongst a few others. However consensus for the waiver prevailed after India reiterated its commitment to non-proliferation and voluntary unilateral moratorium on further nuclear tests. With a USD 100 billion nuclear trade possible over the next 10 years, a number of countries including , and are all vying for a piece of action. Meanwhile India has agreed to the US request to hold back discussions with others till US Congressional ratification so as not to prejudice the US firms. Latest reports indicate that US administration is working overtime to ensure a smooth passage for the deal in Congress session that began on Monday and trying to persuade the lawmakers not to insist on the mandatory 30 day rest period required to present the agreement for approval. It is also confirmed that U.S. President George W. Bush will welcome Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on September 25, 2008 for joint signing of the agreement.
Capitals coach Carrie Graf frustrated on the sidelines. Photo: Jeffrey Chan The Canberra Capitals' WNBL season is in turmoil after the proud franchise crashed to arguably the most embarrassing loss in its history in Sydney on Friday night. Canberra's demoralising 96-50 defeat to its fierce rival Sydney University is its all-time second biggest loss, behind only a 67-point thrashing against Perth in 1999. But back then when the WNBL was in its formative years, Canberra was the competition's whipping girls. Friday night's loss is more humiliating because the Capitals have a roster that shouldn't lose by such a margin, especially against a team which had won just two of 11 previous games this season. Advertisement Jess Bibby, Carly Wilson and Nicole Hunt have all played for the Australian Opals in the past, and Canberra possesses some quality youngsters. The Capitals have now lost four-straight games, and have serious concerns on both ends of the court. Their struggling offence committed 22 turnovers to Sydney's 11, the Flames winning the points off turnovers count 34-9. And their defence is a shambles worryingly devoid of Canberra's usually trademark intensity, the backbone of its record seven championships. The past month they've consistently been second to the loose ball and lacking in one-percenters, outenthused as well as outplayed. In their defence the Flames were superb, shooting 53 per cent from the field to Canberra's paltry 30 per cent, with WNBA star April Sykes outstanding with a game-high 29 points. Young centre Alex Bunton was absent through illness and guard Michelle Cosier carried a virus into the clash, but shattered Capitals skipper Bibby said there were no excuses. ''When you lose by that much there's not one thing you can pinpoint, there's obviously a lot of areas we need to address,'' Bibby said. ''There's a lot of things we have to fix as a group collectively, and we have to fix them quickly. The group's pretty stung by what happened tonight, you can't walk away from tonight and think everything's OK. ''But with the personnel we've got, it's certainly fixable.'' Forward Brigitte Ardossi (21 points, nine rebounds, two assists), clearly Canberra's best all year, was one of the few Capitals to leave the Harbour City with her reputation intact. On their current form, not even the possible injection of Opals superstar Lauren Jackson into their line-up may be enough to salvage the Capitals' campaign. Jackson is yet to take to the court this season and won't before Christmas at a minimum as she continues rehabilitation on a chronic hamstring injury. Watching Friday night's debacle would have only added to her frustration, but the reality is the Capitals need to find a way to save their season without her. Canberra (5-7) is now two games behind fourth-placed Bulleen after the Boomers (7-6) humbled cellar-dwellars West Coast 73-52 on Friday night. Before last season, when they finished eighth, the Capitals hadn't missed the play-offs since 2004-05. Next week the dreaded 'Doomsday Double' road trip awaits, West Coast on Friday night and third-placed Adelaide on Sunday. Hopefully the soul-searching which unfolds in Capitals camp this week does the trick, because two losses would end any realistic hope of making the finals. ■ CAPS' BIGGEST LOSING MARGINS 67 - at Perth, Feb 12, 1999 46 - at Sydney last night 45 - vs Melbourne East, Sep 15, 1990 44 - at Melbourne East, June 22, 1990 \|\|\|\|\| Sign up to receive our Breaking News Alerts and Daily Headlines featuring the best local news and stories. \|\|\|\|\| The Capitals are keen to hang on to coach Carrie Graf. Photo: Colleen Petch The Canberra Capitals want Basketball Australia to fast-track its post-Olympic Games review so the WNBL powerhouse can secure its future with coach Carrie Graf. The Canberra Times can reveal Graf officially started contract negotiations with the Capitals on Wednesday, with her Australian Opals and WNBL deals finishing at the end of the season. However, the biggest stumbling block will occur if Basketball Australia opts to make the Opals coaching position a full-time job. Graf has worked with the Opals and Canberra for the past four years since winning the job at the end of 2008. Advertisement In that time she has led Canberra to two WNBL titles and the Opals to a bronze medal at the London Olympics. And until Basketball Australia decides on the coaching structure for the national team, it's unlikely the Capitals and Graf will be able to progress in negotiations. Graf has been the Capitals coach for almost a decade, building the club into one of the strongest in the WNBL, with six championships under her watch. Graf and Basketball ACT chief executive Tony Jackson have discussed her future. The Capitals are keen to keep Graf but they want Basketball Australia to speed up its review process to give the supercoach a clearer picture of the future. ''I was hoping the Opals review would be finished now so that Graffy would know where she is at in regards to that position,'' Jackson said. ''First of all we just need some time frames we can work off to give us some direction with where the discussion will go. ''I'm hoping BA finish their stuff by the end of the year - we don't want it to drag into January. We don't want it weighing on Graffy's mind during the season, so we'll probably reconvene before the Christmas break.'' Graf's focus is on leading the Capitals back up the WNBL ladder and ending a three-match losing streak when they take on the Sydney Uni Flames on Friday night. If they fail to topple the Flames, it will be just the second time in five seasons the Capitals have lost four games in a row. But while her team has struggled to hit top form in recent weeks, Graf insisted it was not time to panic. The Capitals are sixth on the ladder and are just one win outside the top four. It is still hoped star recruit Lauren Jackson will be fit to play after Christmas, but Graf said the four games before the mid-season break were crucial. ''We don't look at it like losing or winning streaks, for us it's about going to Sydney and getting a win,'' she said. ''We'd like to think we can go into Christmas with four wins and we have to start that with a win in Sydney. It's not desperation stakes, but we can't perform how we did against Logan last weekend. Finishing 4-0 would be perfect going to Christmas; 2-2 is a minimum and 3-1 is a bloody good result to keep ourselves in that pack going into the lead-up to finals.'' The Capitals have been struck down by injury and illness this week, but Graf is confident Michelle Cosier, Alex Bunton and Nicole Hunt will all be fit to play the Flames. ■ MEANWHILE, the Canberra Gunners have landed an off-season South East Australian Basketball recruit after signing former NBL player Jeff Dowdell. Dowdell, 25, from Shoalhaven, played six years in the NBL with Perth, Townsville, Adelaide and Cairns. He will add experience under new coach Cameron Barnes.	Ardossi in a game last season for the Canberra Capitals Tonight (Friday night) in Australia, the 's decisively beat the by a score of 96–50 at a game played in Sydney. The Capitals shot poorly, with a team average of 30% from field goal range, ultimately going 21/70. In contrast, Sydney shot 54%, 36/67 from field goal range. Canberra was worse from three point range, going 3/11 compared to the Flames who shot 8/15. The Flames had several players in double digits, including April Sykes with 29, with 15, and with 14. Only was in double digits for the Capitals with 21 points. Canberra's next leading scorers were with 9 and with 6. Sydney also dominated in other key statistics, including total rebounds with 36 to the Capitals' 28, steals with 12 to Canberra's 2, and blocks with 7 to the Capitals' 5. The Capitals turned the ball over more than Sydney, with 22 to the Flames' 11. The win was only the third of the season for Sydney, who are now on a two game winning streak. Canberra's loss continues their loosing streak, now sitting at four in a row. They sit sixth on the ladder, two games behind the in the playoff chase. Canberra had off court problems in the game against Sydney with Michelle Cosier and both dealing with illness. The Capitals will not be able to count on coming back any time soon, as she is out until at least after Christmas with a hamstring injury. Canberra's poor performance comes at a time when the team's head coach, , is under scrutiny. The previous coach, Jan Stirling, has suggested perhaps Graf should take leave from the team during Olympic and World Championship years, as part of analysis following the national team's performance at the London Olympics. Graf's coaching contracts with the national team and the Capitals both finish at the end of the year, and she is currently negotiating for a new deal with that may create a situation where she is ineligible to coach for the Capitals because the national team position may become a full time one. == Sources == * * * * *
Joop den Uyl in de Tweede Kamer tijdens een interruptie op 24 november 1982. Rechts Gerrit Braks. (ARCHIEFFOTO GPD/ ROLAND DE BRUIN) Joop den Uyl als minister van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid op 4 november 1981 in Den Haag. (ARCHIEFFOTO GPD/ROLAND DE BRUIN). Joop den Uyl als plaatsvervangend voorzitter in de Tweede Kamer op 28 juni 1986. (ARCHIEFFOTO GPD/ROLAND DE BRUIN) 1/3 20 feb 2008, 18:21 - DEN HAAG - Premier Joop den Uyl heeft in de zomer van 1976 een tweede smeergeldaffaire rond prins Bernhard verdonkermaand teneinde een zekere koningscrisis te vermijden. Hij voorkwam hiermee strafvervolging voor prins Bernhard, het aftreden van koningin Juliana en het weigeren van de troon door kroonprinses Beatrix. De videoreportage van Volkskrant TV: Dat schrijft journaliste Anet Bleich in een biografie van de PvdA'er. Hierin is ook te lezen dat Den Uyl op jonge leeftijd sympathie koesterde voor 'extreemrechtse, aan het fascisme verwante, denkbeelden'. De latere PvdA-leider had in de jaren dertig waardering voor Hitler-Duitsland, met zijn 'herboren, zelfbewust volk in eensgezindheid om den Führer geschaard'. Anet Bleich promoveert donderdag aan de Universiteit van Amsterdam op de biografie over Den Uyl. Bleich noemt de flirt met het rechtsnationalisme een zoektocht van een puber. Den Uyl had volgens haar ook oog voor de schaduwzijden van Hitler-Duitsland, zoals de jodenvervolging en de rassenleer. Bovendien heeft hij zich niet aangesloten bij de NSB of een andere fascistische partij. Toch bleef Den Uyl als student aanvankelijk pro-Duits. Vlak voor het uitbreken van de oorlog ging hij in de zomer van 1939 nog twee maanden studeren in de Duitse stad Kiel. Op dat moment was Oostenrijk al ingelijfd, Praag al bezet, had de Kristallnacht plaatsgevonden en waren in Duitsland de rassenwetten van kracht. In Den Uyls Duitse collegekaart en getuigschrift staan het hakenkruis gestempeld. Ook in het studentenblad waar de gereformeerde Den Uyl voor schreef, nam hij in 1939 een pro-Duitse stellingname in, omdat in dat land ook christenen - 'gewone mensen' - woonden. Dit alles veranderde op slag toen Duitsland op 10 mei 1940 Nederland binnenviel. Volgens Bleich was Den Uyl tot dan naïef, politiek onvolwassen en wereldvreemd. In de oorlogsjaren wendde Den Uyl zich niet alleen tot de sociaaldemocratie, maar stapte hij ook van zijn geloof af. Marcel van Dam, staatssecretaris onder Den Uyl, zegt dat hij nooit enig gerucht hierover heeft gehoord. "Het verbaast me." Hij neemt het op voor Den Uyl: "Het is heel moeilijk je te verplaatsen naar voor de oorlog. Met de kennis van achteraf zouden mensen destijds heel anders gedacht hebben." Ed van Thijn, fractievoorzitter tijdens het kabinet-Den Uyl, wil niet reageren. Hij zit in de promotiecommissie van Bleich. In de biografie bevestigt Bleich verder het al lang rondzingende verhaal dat Den Uyl in 1976 als premier bewust heeft gezwegen over een tweede smeergeldaffaire waarbij prins Bernhard betrokken was. Al eerder gingen sterke geruchten dat Bernhard begin jaren zeventig niet alleen 1,1 miljoen dollar aan steekpenningen had ontvangen van vliegtuigbouwer Lockheed, maar tot 1973 ook 750.000 dollar kreeg van concurrent Northrop. Bleich heeft inzage gehad in een geheim rapport hierover dat door Den Uyl in een kluis was gelegd en daar nog steeds ligt. Volgens Bleich wilde Den Uyl ten koste van alles voorkomen dat Nederland in een constitutionele crisis zou belanden. De premier wist dat prinses Beatrix haar moeder Juliana niet wilde opvolgen als haar vader strafrechtelijk zou worden vervolgd. De Lockheed-zaak kon het kabinet wel zonder rechter afdoen, maar wanneer de tweede smeergeldaffaire openbaar zou zijn geworden, was de positie van Bernhard naar 'alle waarschijnlijkheid onhoudbaar geworden'. In 1976 boog de commissie-Donner zich over de smeergeldaffaire. Het rapport over Lockheed bracht het kabinet geheel naar buiten, dat van Northrop niet. Den Uyl bevestigde een jaar later wel het bestaan van het geheime document, maar hield de Tweede Kamer onwetend van de inhoud. Het kabinet ontnam in 1976 de prins zijn militaire functie van inspecteur-generaal. Hij moest zijn uniform in de kast laten hangen. In zijn laatste interview, dat na zijn dood in de Volkskrant werd gepubliceerd, erkende de prins dat hij smeergeld had aangenomen van Lockheed. Over Northrop repte hij met geen woord. \|\|\|\|\| Den Uyl verdonkeremaande smeergeldaffaire Bernhard (Novum) - Premier Joop den Uyl heeft in 1976 een tweede smeergeldaffaire waarbij prins Bernhard was betrokken in de doofpot gestopt. Dat blijkt uit stukken van biograaf Anet Bleich die ze woensdag op de website van de Volkskrant heeft gepubliceerd. Den Uyl verdonkeremaande de affaire om een koningscrisis te vermijden, schrijft Bleich. Terwijl een commissie de Lockheed-affaire onderzocht, schreef de PvdA-politicus twaalf kantjes waarin een vergelijkbare kwestie uit de doeken werd gedaan, maar dan rond de Amerikaanse vliegtuigbouwer Northop. Uiteindelijk hield Den Uyl dit stuk voor zichzelf en heeft hij over het bestaan van de stukken nooit gesproken. De biografie over Den Uyl verschijnt donderdag. Bleich beschrijft hierin ook de flirt die de ex-premier in de jaren dertig had met rechts-extremisme in Duitsland. In die tijd schreef Den Uyl als 16-jarige jongen een reeks opstellen waarin hij rept over een 'herboren, zelfbewust volk dat zich in eensgezindheid om de Führer schaarde'. Den Uyl studeerde in 1939 een aantal maanden in het Noord-Duitse Kiel. Hij typeerde die periode bij terugkomst als 'interessant en gelukkig.' Over zijn periode in Duitsland heeft Den Uyl zich na de oorlog immer stil gehouden. Wel heeft hij zich altijd gekeerd tegen de jodenvervolging. © Trouw 2009, op dit artikel berust copyright. \|\|\|\|\| Van onze verslaggever Jan Tromp gepubliceerd op 20 februari 2008 16:49, bijgewerkt op 21 februari 2008 10:33 AMSTERDAM - Premier Joop den Uyl heeft in de zomer van 1976 een tweede smeergeldaffaire rond prins Bernhard verdonkeremaand teneinde een zekere koningscrisis te vermijden. De commissie die het Lockheedschandaal onderzocht, leverde de toenmalige minister-president in een bijlage van twaalf kantjes de contouren van een vergelijkbare kwestie rond de Amerikaanse vliegtuigbouwer Northrop. Den Uyl behield dit stuk voor zichzelf en heeft aan het bestaan ervan geen enkele ruchtbaarheid gegeven. Hij voorkwam hiermee dat strafvervolging van prins Bernhard onafwendbaar werd, dat koningin Juliana zou aftreden en kroonprinses Beatrix niet beschikbaar zou zijn voor de opvolging. Deze gang van zaken blijkt uit de biografie Joop den Uyl 1919-1987, waarop Volkskrant-journaliste Anet Bleich donderdag hoopt te promoveren aan de Universiteit van Amsterdam. Algemeen is de wijze waarop de PvdA-premier in augustus 1976 openheid betrachtte over de handel en wandel van prins Bernhard en tegelijkertijd een constitutionele crisis afwendde, als een huzarenstuk beschouwd. Formule Bleich, die de persoonlijke archieven van Den Uyl heeft kunnen raadplegen, schrijft in lovende zin over ‘een omzichtig manoeuvrerende, behoedzaam, maar tegelijk doelbewust opererende premier die alle klippen wist te omzeilen, en voor een zwaar op de maag liggende zaak een formule vond waarmee iedereen kon leven’. Maar ‘op de veelgeprezen openheid’, noteert ze vervolgens, valt af te dingen. Toen de onafhankelijke onderzoekscommissie van drie wijze mannen op 12 augustus 1976 haar eindrapport aan de premier overhandigde, noteerde deze in zijn multoband: ‘12-8 Cie van 3, wij zijn er niet meer’. Dat sloeg op de commissie die ophield te bestaan. Er stond nog een zinnetje achter: ‘Stuk Northrop persoonlijk’. Tweede affaire Uit een bijlage bij het Lockheedrapport bleek dat er, eind jaren zestig, een tweede affaire was geweest ‘van niet minder betekenis’, opnieuw over de aanschaf van gevechtsvliegtuigen, met betrokkenheid van dezelfde vrienden van de prins ‘en met bijna honderd procent zekerheid wederom prins Bernhard in de hoofdrol’. Nu ging het om de Amerikaanse vliegtuigbouwer Northrop en het gevechtsvliegtuig Cobra. Tekst gaat verder onder de video Bleich schrijft: ‘Kort samengevat: de commissie-Donner (de onderzoekscommissie, red.) was ervan overtuigd dat prins Bernhard vanaf 1968 zijn best deed voor de aanschaf van Northrop-gevechtsvliegtuigen en als dank hiervoor via Hubert Weisbrod (Zwitsers advocaat, red.) in verschillende termijnen tot 1973 een bedrag van 750.000 dollar ontving.’ Dan vervolgt ze met de vraag: ‘Wat deed Den Uyl met deze figuurlijke tijdbom die de commissie-Donner hem bij het scheiden van de markt had toegespeeld? Helemaal niets. Hij borg het document op in een kluis waar het zich tot op heden bevindt en nam over de Northrop-affaire een oorverdovend zwijgen in acht.’ Voor Bleich staat vast dat publicatie van de Northrop-bijlage in 1976, bovenop het verhaal over smeergeld in de Lockheedzaak, de positie van prins Bernhard onhoudbaar zou hebben gemaakt en daarmee een koningscrisis onafwendbaar. Strafrechter Een strafrechtelijke vervolging van prins Bernhard was al overwogen, verschillende bewindslieden drongen erop aan. Zelfs toenmalig minister van Justitie Dries van Agt kon zich voorstellen, zo blijkt nu, dat prins Bernhard voor de strafrechter werd gebracht. In een uitzending van het televisieprogramma Andere Tijden zegt hij vanavond een pleidooi voor strafvervolging ‘niet geheel onbegrijpelijk’ te hebben gevonden. Staatssecretaris Marcel van Dam schreef een ontslagbrief, maar liet zich bepraten door zijn premier. Volgens de promovenda besefte Den Uyl vanaf het begin dat strafvervolging koningin Juliana in een onmogelijke positie zou brengen. ‘De echtgenoot van het staatshoofd naar de gevangenis? Moeilijk voor te stellen dat Juliana dan opgewekt verder zou regeren.’ Er kwam nog iets bovenop: prinses Beatrix zou in zo’n geval niet willen opvolgen. Geruchten over zo’n opstelling van de kroonprinses deden in 1976 al de ronde, maar Anet Bleich kreeg de bevestiging van de in 2005 overleden oud-minister van Financiën Wim Duisenberg. Die bezocht Beatrix ten tijde van het Lockheedonderzoek in het geheim een paar keer op haar kasteeltje Drakesteyn – ‘zonder chauffeur, in een afgereden Ford Taunus’. Duisenberg: ‘Ik vond dat Beatrix in die tijd vrij wanhopig was. Ze had het gevoel dat hier een beerput werd opengetrokken, waarvan de stank ondraaglijk was. Zij was de aanstaande koningin, maar zij kreeg haar twijfels of ze dat wel zou moeten doen en dat zou een crisis in Nederland hebben veroorzaakt die niet te overzien was.’ Constitutionele crisis Was naast een Lockheedschandaal ook een Northropaffaire aan het licht gebracht, dan was strafrechtelijke vervolging van prins Bernhard ook door Den Uyl vermoedelijk niet af te wenden geweest. Het koningshuis en ook het kabinet zouden openbaarmaking van een tweede affaire niet overleven. Bleich: ‘Door dit explosieve gegeven ‘onder de pet te houden’ heeft Joop den Uyl véél meer dan reeds bekend was verhinderd dat Nederland in een langdurige constitutionele crisis terechtkwam.’ Den Uyl was buitengewoon gesteld op koningin Juliana – omgekeerd gold hetzelfde; zij noemde zichzelf ‘uw oude praatpaal’. Het kan een motief geweest zijn voor Den Uyl om prins Bernhard en daarmee de koninklijke familie te ontzien. Waarschijnlijker is dat hij vreesde voor een reactie van verbittering onder het Oranjegezinde deel van de bevolking dat zich zou keren tegen de ‘rooie’ Partij van de Arbeid. Anet Bleich in een toelichting op haar proefschrift: ‘Onder PvdA-bewindslieden leefden de angstbeelden van het Malieveld in 1918, toen Troelstra per ongeluk de revolutie had uitgeroepen en het Malieveld in Den Haag volstroomde met Oranjevolk. Den Uyl was zich er goed van bewust dat wie aan het koningshuis kwam op fel protest kon rekenen.’	Prince Bernhard in 1999. The late Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands was in the 1970s not only bribed by U.S. aircraft company Lockheed, but also by Northrop. This is revealed in ''Volkskrant''-journalist Anet Bleich's biography of former Dutch Prime Minister Joop den Uyl. Den Uyl decided to keep the Northrop bribe quiet to save the Dutch Monarchy another scandal similar to the Lockheed scandal, Bleich states. Den Uyl covered up the Northrop bribe in 1976 to prevent a law suit against the prince, which could have led to an abdication of Queen Juliana, and a denial of Princess Beatrix to succeed her mother on the throne. During the investigations on the bribe cases Minister of Finance Wim Duisenberg (who would later be the first president of the European Central Bank) visited Beatrix, and "found her quite desperate. Se had the idea that this opened a sewer of which the stench was unbearable. She was the future queen, but started to doubt whether she should do that, and that would have caused a major crisis in the Netherlands". The Lockheed scandal was never brought to court, although it had consequences for the Prince: he was forced to resign all his military functions. A second scandal would have resulted in official law suit, with all the consequences thereafter. Rumours that Prince Bernhard not only received US$1.1 million from Lockheed, but also a considerable amount from another competitor for securing the purchase contract for fighter jets, are now confirmed. Northrop paid a total amount of US$750,000 to the Prince in the period until 1973. Bleich bases her conclusions on a secret document that was kept in Den Uyl's personal archives until this day. Northrop merged with Grumman in 1994 to form Northrop Grumman. Similarly, Lockheed merged with Martin Marietta in 1995, creating Lockheed Martin. On 30 April 1980 Beatrix succeeded her mother to the Dutch throne. Joop den Uyl died on December 24; 1987, Prince Bernhard on December 1, 2004.
The UK gives up 10.5bn euros (£7bn) of its rebate, some 20%, while the budget grows to 862.4bn euros, helping to fund the development of new member states. In return, France has agreed to a budget review in 2008-2009, which could lead to cuts in farm subsidies. UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said the deal allowed Europe to move forward, avoiding a serious crisis. Once again, the crisis has been resolved... Europe is now marching forward again French President Jacques Chirac Referring to budget commitments to new, mainly east European member states, he told reporters: "If we believe in enlargement, we had to do this deal now." Mr Blair later told the BBC that had Britain walked away from the compromise deal it "would have wrecked" London's relations with the new EU members and the new German government. German role The 2007-13 budget figure agreed represents 1.045% percent of EU output, up from 1.03% in an earlier proposal but still well below the 1.24% sought by the European Commission. EU BUDGET 2007-13 (EUROS) Overall spending: 862.36bn UK rebate down 10.5bn from a total of 50-55bn Aid to EU newcomers: 157bn (7bn more than the UK at first proposed) Farm and rural development aid: 292bn Justice and interior affairs: 10.2 bn Foreign and humanitarian aid: 50bn Administrative costs: 50.3bn In quotes: EU leaders on deal Key points of the deal Polish Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, whose country will get 4bn euros more aid than the UK had at first proposed, punched the air and shouted "Yes! Yes!" when the deal was done. French President Jacques Chirac, long at odds with the British leader over budget, praised Mr Blair's movement on the UK budget rebate. By accepting the need to "deeply transform" the rebate, he said, Tony Blair had made a "legitimate but politically difficult" gesture. Though France has agreed to a "full and wide-ranging" mid-term review of the budget, it has the option of vetoing any proposed changes. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said to have played an important part in securing the final compromise, greeted the deal as "a good accord for the future of Europe". Germany, the UK and France, along with all the other wealthier EU countries, are having to increase their contributions to help pay for the 2004 round of enlargement. The EU leaders also made a qualified commitment to further enlargement, by granting Macedonia the status of EU candidate country. However, they said further steps, such as the opening of membership talks, would depend on the outcome of a "debate on the enlargement strategy". Globalisation BBC Europe Editor Mark Mardell says the deal allows the EU to end the year if not exactly on a high then on at least a success, when yet another crisis was seriously on the cards. The EU was left in disarray last June when the rejection of the EU constitution in France and the Netherlands was followed by an acrimonious collapse of talks on the budget. If there had not been a deal at this summit, new member states would not have had time to plan how to use the development aid they become eligible for in 2007, and some of it would have remained beyond their reach. Tony Blair's grand project was to give Europe a modern budget, refocusing the spending of the European Union so it can face up to the challenges of globalisation rather than subsidising farmers, says Mark Mardell. He has achieved nothing like that, our correspondent says, not even the certainty that a review will apply to this budget round. But he has ensured that the EU will return to the subject. \|\|\|\|\| Early morning deal ends year of horsetrading By George Parker in Brussels Published: December 18 2005 19:45 \| Last updated: December 18 2005 19:45 The European Union finally agreed a €862bn, seven-year budget deal at 3am on Saturday, at the end of a protracted, painful and at times humiliating set of negotiations which portrayed the EU in a dismal light. If the year-long horsetrading that led up to the final deal was unedifying, there was one point upon which all EU leaders agreed: getting no agreement would have been even worse. In its simplest terms, failure to agree the 2007-13 financial package would have delayed the transfer of promised billions of euros to the new EU members of the former communist bloc. But the political damage of a failed budget negotiation at the end of the EU’s grim 2005 – which included voters’ rejection of its draft constitution – could have set off further paroxysms in the 25-member club. Many predicted that Tony Blair, the British prime minister, could not broker a budget deal because of his commitment to the UK’s budget rebate. After he compromised on that, he ended his six-month EU presidency with plaudits ringing in his ears in Brussels and howls of protest at home. Apart from the budget deal, the Brussels summit also raised hopes that Europe’s leaders might even have found a way to work together and reach other agreements in a cordial atmosphere. French President Jacques Chirac said Mr Blair had behaved with “courage, initiative and responsibility”; Angela Merkel, German chancellor, said he had shown “a great deal of readiness to compromise”. It had not looked so promising at a dinner on Thursday night, described as “poisonous” by one British official, as all sides set out tough negotiating positions. The atmosphere inside Brussels’ Justus Lipsius conference centre changed on Friday morning once news seeped out that Ms Merkel was bringing Mr Blair and Mr Chirac together on the question of the British rebate, and the terms of a review on future EU spending in 2008-9. A deal finally became likely over lunch on Friday when Ms Merkel proposed a budget equivalent to 1.045 per cent of the EU’s gross national income, up from the UK’s proposal of 1.03 per cent. “That then became the bottom line of the negotiation,” said one British official. “If she hadn’t said that, we would have probably gone for 1.04 per cent.” With an extra €4bn ($4.8bn, £2.7bn) now up for grabs, Mr Blair had to make sure it was fairly distributed. Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Ireland were bought off, but Hungary and Poland were still holding out for more. Eventually Mr Blair presented the final plan, still unsure whether Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, Poland’s prime minister, would accept. It took an offer of a further €100m from Ms Merkel, a switch of EU aid from east Germany to Poland, to close the deal. “It was the most beautiful and wonderful gesture of solidarity,” said Mr Marcinkiewicz. British officials said it was slightly less romantic: the offer was “pre-cooked” with Ms Merkel, in case the Polish prime minister “kicked up rough”. Most EU leaders did not have the appetite to pursue the budget haggling into 2006, a dispute which had highlighted tensions between Europe’s rich and poor countries and provided yet another arena for the long-running Anglo-French dispute. The negotiations were at times humiliating for some member states, notably when Mr Blair decided to cushion payments by British taxpayers by cutting €16bn earmarked for eastern Europe. Britain’s ambassador to Warsaw aggravated the offence when he “joked” that his host country was “rude and ungrateful”. The budget dispute also illustrated Europe’s ability to lose sight of the big issues, devoting political energy instead to fighting over relatively small sums of money. At issue in the final stage of the talks was a €20bn difference between the British proposal and an earlier draft from Luxembourg rejected in June, spread among 25 countries over seven years. The US federal budget for this year alone was €2,068bn. But the budget dispute is not yet over. The European Parliament still has to give approval and could flex its own muscles to demand a more “ambitious” settlement. And the talks will start all over again in 2009 when the EU begins its fundamental review of the budget, with Mr Blair hoping cuts to farm subsidies could be implemented before the end of the next budget period in 2013. Time may judge that yesterday’s agreement was just a holding settlement, until the budget is properly modernised by the next political generation: by 2009 Mr Blair and Mr Chirac will have left the political stage. Will the successor to Mr Chirac, a defender of French farming interests for 40 years, be any less willing to reduce rural subsidies, which consume 43 per cent of the EU budget? Perhaps then Britain’s rebate could finally be dismantled alongside the EU’s common agricultural policy.	The leaders of the European Union have struck a deal on the 2007-2013 budget. Negotiations were characterized by host country's Prime Minister Tony Blair as "extraordinarily complicated". The biggest issues were different views between France, the UK and rest of the EU. UK wanted to keep it's high membership discount, negotiated before economic growth made it one of the richest members, while other members wanted it to participate with relatively equal net payment. France's primary issue was maintaining farming subsidies. Rest of the Europe was mostly interested in modernizing European economy by decreasing both UK's discounts and France's subsidies. Germany appeared as a pulling force between France and UK to secure the deal. France continues to receive it's highly criticized subsidies. The UK gave up 10.5 billion euros in exchange for a review of farm subsidies in 2008-2009, but the net membership discount will actually increase. Small member states such as Sweden increased their role as largest net payers in relative to output. Key features in the reached deal: * Total budget will be 862.36 billion euros, equaling to 1.045% of the EU's total GDP * Development aid will be 157 billion euros * Farm budget will be 293 billion euros Most see the resulted budget as a poor comproromise, but necessarily for the state of union and financial planning in the new member states.
Gen Shooshtari was deputy commander of the ground force Several top commanders in Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have been killed in a suicide bombing in the volatile south-east of the country. Iranian state media say at least 20 people have died in the attack, in the province of Sistan-Baluchistan, and dozens more injured. The commanders were in Pishin region for a meeting with tribal leaders. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which was condemned by Iran's Parliamentary Speaker. Iran has previously accused a Sunni resistance group, Jundallah, of terrorist activities in the province. Sistan-Baluchistan is mainly made up of the Baluchi ethnic group, who belong to the Sunni Muslim minority of Shia-ruled Iran. One report said there were two bombs - one inside the meeting, which killed some tribal leaders, and one aimed at a convoy of guards just arriving. Iranian TV quoted what it called "informed sources" as saying that Britain was directly involved. 'Terrorist' attack The deputy commander of the Guards' ground force, General Noor Ali Shooshtari, and the Guards' chief provincial commander, Rajab Ali Mohammadzadeh, were among at least six officers killed, state news agency reported. Parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani, speaking at an open session of parliament which was broadcast live of state radio, said: "We express our condolences for their martyrdom. SISTAN-BALUCHISTAN ATTACKS May 2009 A bomb explodes at a mosque in the provincial capital Zahedan, killing 19 and injuring 60. February 2007 Suspected militants killed 11, including Iranian Revolutionary Guards, in a bomb attack in the provincial capital Zahedan. March 2006 Gunmen posing as police kill 22 people, many government employees, after closing the Zabol-Zahedan road. "The intention of the terrorists was definitely to disrupt security in Sistan-Baluchistan Province." Within hours of the attack, the Guards accused "foreign elements" - usually used to refer to the US - for the attack. "Surely foreign elements, particularly those linked to the global arrogance, were involved in this attack," a Guards statement quoted by state television said. Sistan-Baluchistan province, which borders both Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long been affected by smuggling, drug trafficking, banditry and kidnapping. Jundallah, also known as the Popular Resistance Movement of Iran, says it is fighting against the political and religious oppression of the country's Sunni minority. In May, three men were executed for their role in a bombing of a mosque during evening prayers which killed at least 19 people in the south-east city of Zahedan in Sistan-Baluchistan. The hangings came two days after the attack and the men were in custody on other charges at the time of the bombing. Revolutionary Guards were among 11 people killed in an attack in 2007 in Zahedan. 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E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| AFP - A suicide bomber blew himself up at a meeting of the elite Revolutionary Guards in southeastern Iran on Sunday, killing 35 people including top commanders and tribal leaders, the interior ministry said. The attack took place in the city of Pisheen near the border with Pakistan in restive Sistan-Baluchestan province, which hosts a substantial Sunni population, local news agencies said. Iran's parliament speaker said the United States was behind the attack, while the Guards accused Western powers of carrying out the assault, the deadliest against them since a bombing in February 2007 in the same province killed 13 people. Iran's state broadcaster said Sunday's blast occurred at around 8:00 am (0430 GMT) in front of a local gymnasium in Pisheen. General Nur-Ali Shushtari, deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards' ground forces, was among those killed in the attack. Fars news agency said the bomber struck when Guard officers were preparing for a meeting with local leaders of Shiite and Sunni communities. Some local tribal heads were among the dead, media reports said.The official IRNA news agency said the suicide bomber "wearing an explosives vest blew himself up inside the meeting."Fars said: "In this terrorist act, General Nur-Ali Shushtari, deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards ground forces, General Mohammad-Zadeh, commander of the Revolutionary Guards in Sistan-Baluchestan province, the Guards' commander for the town of Iranshahr and the commander of the Amir al-Momenin unit died."Three other commanders from the adjacent province of Kerman were also killed, according to Fars.Parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani confirmed the officers' deaths in an announcement to parliament which was broadcast on television."The goal of the terrorists is to disturb the security of the Sistan-Baluchestan province," he told parliament."It shows they do not want to have economic progress in this region. But certainly the Guards will act with more force to establish security in the region."In a separate statement later he said the United States was implicated in the deadly attack."We consider the recent terrorist attack to be the result of US action. This is the sign of America's animosity against our country," Larijani said."Mr. Obama has said he will extend his hand towards Iran, but with this terrorist action he has burned his hand," he said referring to US President Barack Obama's repeated diplomatic overtures to Tehran.The Guards said foreign powers were behind the attack."The world arrogance, by provoking its lackeys and mercenaries in the region, carried out a terrorist attack on a popular meeting between the Guards and tribesmen," the Guards said in a statement carried by local media.Iranian officials and several government bodies term Western powers, including the United States, as "world arrogance."Aladdin Borujerdi, senior MP and head of parliament's commission on national security and foreign policy, also pointed the finger at Washington."The enemies of the Islamic revolution, especially the United States is the main supporter of terrorist networks" such as the Sunni group Jundallah (Soldiers of God) led by Abdolmalek Rigi and operating in Iran, he was quoted as saying by Mehr news agency.Iranian officials have previously accused Britain and the United States of supporting ethnic minority rebels of Jundallah operating in the sensitive border areas, especially in Sistan-Baluchestan province.Jundallah is strongly opposed to the government of predominantly Shiite Iran.Zahedan, a dusty and restive border city, has been subjected to low-level unrest for several years.On May 28, at least 25 people were killed when a Shiite mosque in the city was attacked by a suicide bomber. \|\|\|\|\| The attack occurred as officers were preparing to meet locals from Shia and Sunni communities [AFP] The attack occurred as officers were preparing to meet locals from Shia and Sunni communities [AFP] The attack occurred as officers were preparing to meet locals from Shia and Sunni communities [AFP] The suicide bombing, which occurred early on Sunday morning in the city of Pisheen, in Sistan-Baluchestan province, wounded another 40 people, according to the state news agency. At least five senior commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' are among about 20 people who have been killed in an attack in southeastern Iran. General Nourali Shoushtari, the head of the Revolutionary Guards' armed forces, and General Mohammadzadeh, the Guard's commander in Sistan-Baluchestan, were killed. The attack, the deadliest attack in Iran in recent years, occurred as officers were preparing to stage a meeting between locals from Shia and Sunni communities. Some local tribal leaders, civilians and senior Revolutionary Guards' officers were reportedly among those killed. Ali Larijani, Iran's parliamentary speaker, confirmed the deaths in an address to parliament. "We express our condolences for their martyrdom ... The intention of the terrorists was definitely to disrupt security in Sistan-Baluchestan province,'' Larijani told an open session of the parliament. Past attacks Sistan-Baluchestan borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, and has been the scene of past clashes between security forces, Sunni fighters and drug traffickers. One Sunni group called Jundallah (Soldiers of God) has been accused by Tehran of launching regular attacks in the province and is strongly opposed to the predominantly Shia government. The Revolutionary Guards is an elite force fiercely loyal to the tenants of the Islamic revolution of 1979. Al Jazeera's Nazinene Moshiri, in Tehran, the capital, said: "Just three weeks before [June's] presidential elections there was a big explosion in that area, where 25 people were killed and more than 100 injured. "The head of Jundullah said that his group carried out the attack. "The Iranian's say that they are carrying out a duel war against drug traffickers and Jundullah, which they claim is linked to al-Qaeda." Moshiri said that there was no suggestion that the blast was linked to the recent disputed presidential elections. "What is common in this area is kidnappings, explosions and clashes between Jundullah and Iranian authorities. "But what is very interesting is that this meeting that was about to take place was with senior commanders of the Revolutionary Guard. So this was potentially an extremely important meeting."	Iran's state-sponsored Fars news agency report at least twenty killed, including senior members of the Revolutionary Guard, and another forty wounded, by a suicide bombing in Pishin, a city in the country's south-eastern Sistan-Baluchistan province. Revolutionary Guards According to the agency, terrorists killed both local tribal heads and senior army officers. "In this terrorist act, General Nur-Ali Shushtari, deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards land army, General Mohammad-Zadeh, commander of the Revolutionary Guards in Sistan-Baluchestan province, the Guards' commander for the town of Iranshahr and the commander of the Amir al-Momenin unit died." According to IRNA, the state news agency, Rajab Ali Mohammadzadeh, the Guard's chief provincial commander, is among those killed. The commanders were meeting with tribal leaders of Sunni and Shiite communities in the region. This is the biggest attack against the Revolutionary Guards in recent years. Parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani condemned it live on state radio, and the announcement to parliament was broadcast on television; "we express our condolences for their martyrdom. The intention of the terrorists was definitely to disrupt security in Sistan-Baluchistan Province." A Revolutionary Guard statement on TV claimed "foreign involvement"; "surely foreign elements, particularly those linked to the global arrogance, were involved in this attack." The region is predominantly made up of the Sunni Baluchi ethnic group. Some are strongly opposed to the mainly Shiite Iranian government and Shia rule. In the past, Iran has accused the Jundallah (Soldiers of God) of carrying out terrorist activities in the province, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. Although, no clearly identified group claims responsibility for such.
The ordeal came to an end after nearly 10 hours Footage of the siege The 32 children and two teachers were taken hostage by their day care centre owner, Jun Ducat, who said he wanted better conditions for the children. He and at least one other reported hostage-taker gave themselves up. As some of the children were carried off the bus, a ripple of applause broke out among the crowd around the bus. The siege unfolded outside Manila City Hall. As the day progressed hundreds of onlookers joined worried parents at the police cordon. The children had been heading out on a field trip in the morning when the hostage-takers took over the bus and drove it to the city hall. Police were warned, via cardboard messages in the bus window, that an Uzi assault rifle, a revolver and two grenades, as well as food and water for two days, were on board. 'Political reality' During the siege, Mr Ducat justified his actions in interviews with the local media. Using a mobile phone from the bus, he said he had no intention of harming the children. He insisted his aim was to demand better housing and education for the 145 children at his centre in Manila's poor Tondo district. "I am so sorry I took these children in a violent action to call the attention of the Filipino people to open their minds to the political reality," he said. At one point, a local senator, Ramon Revilla, who was reported to have known Mr Ducat, boarded the bus to try to persuade him to surrender. One boy suffering from a fever was allowed to go free. Although the bus was parked in the open on a hot day, the children - all aged around five years old - did not appear to be suffering any discomfort. They waved when the bus curtains were pulled back, and ice cream was seen being delivered to the bus by a policeman. 'Passionate individual' Mr Ducat agreed to release the children at 1900 (1100GMT), and in return the police agreed to his request that candles be lit and the press be allowed to cover the event. Although some parents were described as being nearly hysterical with concern as the siege went on, there were a number who were reluctant to damn Mr Ducat. The children waved to onlookers during the siege "I know him as a very good man. I know he will not harm my six-year-old daughter," one father, Jojo Abuyan, told Reuters news agency. "In our own eyes, he's a real hero. He has been helping a lot of people in our community without expecting anything in return," Tondo resident Susan Ferol said. Manila's Mayor Lito Atienza described Mr Ducat as a "very, very passionate individual who has his own kind of thinking on the solutions to our problems." But former Manila police chief Senator Alfredo Lim said he had a history of seeking attention. Mr Ducat is reported to have taken two priests hostage using fake grenades in 1989, in a row over a building contract. No charges were filed. Were you caught up in events? Were you in the area? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Name: Email address: Town and Country: Phone number (optional): Comments: The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published. \|\|\|\|\| By Manny Mogato MANILA (Reuters) - Gunmen freed dozens of children and three teachers held hostage for over nine hours in a bus in the Philippine capital on Wednesday and then surrendered without violence. Scores of onlookers lit candles outside the bus, parked in front of Manila City Hall, just before 7 p.m. (noon British time), the time the hostage-takers had said they would surrender. A minute after the deadline, the door of the bus opened and children, many carrying school bags and toys, were lifted and handed over to waiting policemen, live television showed. Onlookers cheered and many said they sympathised with the hostage-takers, one of whom said he wanted to highlight corruption in the Philippines and the lack of educational opportunities for poor children. One man from within the bus handed over what appeared to be two grenades to a negotiator. He and another man also believed to be a hostage-taker were whisked away in police vehicles. "Everybody helped in resolving this crisis," said Luis Singson, governor of the province of Ilocos Sur who was drafted in to help negotiate an end to the crisis. "I was a former police chief so I am used to this situation." Reports during the day said 32 children and two teachers were on the bus when it was seized, but these turned out to be incorrect. Only 26 children and three teachers were on board at the end. One child who had a fever was freed earlier in the day. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| By JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press Writer Wed Mar 28, 4:41 PM ET ADVERTISEMENT MANILA, Philippines - A young girl waved a Barbie doll in the air while a boy licked an ice cream cone. Another girl casually finished a bottle of water while chatting with a classmate. Dozens of children were taken hostage on a bus Wednesday by a day-care center owner armed with grenades and guns, but the youngsters took the ordeal in stride, eating pizza, smiling and waving from the windows throughout the day. The crisis ended after 10 hours when 56-year-old civil engineer Jun Ducat, who staged the incident to denounce corruption and demand better lives for impoverished children, released the children, put the pin back in a grenade and surrendered to police. Jubilant parents were quickly reunited with their children as they filed off the bus clutching dolls, toys and backpacks. Ducat was led to a waiting police car and driven away. "I was afraid all day that the grenade may explode," said Gerome Agabon, father of 5-year-old hostage Joanne. Manila police district chief Danilo Abarzosa said Ducat would be charged with 32 counts of illegal detention and abduction each count is punishable by up to 12 years in prison along with illegal possession of explosives and firearms. "I accept that I should be jailed because what I did was against the law," Ducat said in an interview with The Associated Press shortly before the standoff ended. The excited students thought they were going on a field trip when they boarded the bus early Wednesday. Instead, Ducat had the driver take them to City Hall, where a handwritten sheet of paper was taped to the windshield that said he was holding 32 children and two teachers and was armed with two grenades, an assault rifle and a .45-caliber pistol. Bus driver Deogracias Bugarin said they had loaded up with bottled water and eaten breakfast at a fast-food restaurant. Ducat said he brought along three chamber pots for use as toilets. Housewife Shiela Malabo was relieved when her 6-year-old son Fred appeared at a bus window and waved to her. She waved back frantically and gestured with her hands to ask if he had eaten. Fred responded by raising an empty box from a popular hamburger chain. "When I was walking him into the bus, I told him to behave and not be unruly," Malabo said as she sat waiting with other worried parents. "This excursion was postponed twice and he was really very excited to go." Jasmine Agabon said her 5-year-old daughter Joanne thought they were going swimming, so she had worn her bathing suit underneath her school uniform that morning. "I cried in our house when I found out about the hostage-taking," Agabon said. "I don't know how to feel. Mr. Ducat was good. He helped people in our slum get jobs. He helped our children get good education. Ducat, who has staged attention-grabbing stunts in the past, made a long statement through a wireless microphone while the youngsters chanted his name. He railed against the failure of politicians in the Philippines to make good on promises to provide free education and housing for the poor, and called corruption in the country the worst in Asia. "I love these kids; that's why I am here," Ducat told DZMM radio by mobile phone shortly after the incident began. "You can be assured that I cannot hurt the children." White candles had been lit at Ducat's request and placed in yellow cups under the police tape used to cordon off the area. Police and other officials also held candles outside the bus, as did people in the crowd that went to watch the situation unfold. "Let the candles be a warning," Ducat said. "If the promises remain unfulfilled, you will see those candles again." Parents at the scene, although afraid for their children, expressed sympathy for Ducat's demands and had kind words for his work in their slum, particularly the free day-care center he founded where he pays the teachers' salaries. As he was led away, dozens of slum-dwellers yelled his name like a hero. Ducat was involved in a previous hostage-taking in 1989 involving two priests, but no charges were filed, police said. He was disqualified as a congressional candidate in 2001 for unspecified reasons. He once protested high rice prices by personally pulling a wagon loaded with sacks of rice about 60 miles to Manila. In 1998, he climbed a tower to protest against the candidacy of a politician who he said was not a real Filipino citizen. "I know him as a very, very passionate individual who has his own kind of thinking on the solutions to our problems," Manila Mayor Lito Atienza said. "But we cannot agree with his ways." ___ Associated Press writers Teresa Cerojano, Hrvoje Hranjski, Oliver Teves and Paul Alexander contributed to this report.	The head of a day care centre in Manila, Philippines, has boarded a bus containing 32 children and 2 teachers from the centre and is holding them hostage, demanding better education rights and better housing for them. Jun Ducat and one other armed individual took the party hostage while they were going out on a trip with the day care centre. The bus has been surrounded by armed Filipino police, and through negotiation, the hostage takers agreed to release all the remaining children on the bus at 11:00am BST (10:00am GMT), but the deadline for this has now passed with no sign of the remaining children being released as per the agreement. One child has been released from the bus and taken away by police and emergency medical services suffering from a high fever. Mr Ducat said that he had no intention of harming the people aboard the bus in any way, and indeed, the siege has ended with his surrender. "I accept that I should be jailed because what I did was against the law," Ducat said in an interview with ''Associated Press''. No child was reported physically injured, but they are undergoing medical checkups and psychological debriefings.
Hurricane BILL ZCZC MIATCDAT3 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM HURRICANE BILL DISCUSSION NUMBER 17 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL032009 1100 AM AST WED AUG 19 2009 A NOAA P-3 PLANE ON A RESEARCH MISSION HAS BEEN PROVIDING EXCELLENT DATA FROM BILL DURING THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS. THERE WAS A PEAK FLIGHT-LEVEL WIND OF 132 KNOTS TWO HOURS AGO AND THE SFMR REPORTED PEAK WINDS AROUND 105 KNOTS. DATA FROM THE PLANE ALSO SHOW THAT BILL HAS A LARGE WIND FIELD AND A 30 NMI WIDE EYE. THE LATEST EXTRAPOLATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE WAS 950 MB. ALTHOUGH THE RING OF DEEP CONVECTION SURROUNDING THE EYE OBSERVED ON SATELLITE HAS WEAKENED DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF HOURS...THE T-NUMBERS REMAIN AROUND 6.0 ON THE DVORAK SCALE. INITIAL INTENSITY IS KEPT AT 115 KT IN THIS ADVISORY. THE LARGE SCALE ENVIRONMENT IS FAVORABLE FOR ADDITIONAL INTENSIFICATION SINCE BILL IS HEADING FOR A WARMER OCEAN AND THE SHEAR IS EXPECTED TO BE LOW FOR THE NEXT TWO TO THREE DAYS. HOWEVER...MOST LIKELY THERE WILL BE FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY IN THIS PERIOD CONTROLLED BY EYEWALL REPLACEMENT CYCLES. BEYOND 72 HOURS...THE OCEAN IS COOLER AND A GRADUAL WEAKENING SHOULD BEGIN... BUT BILL IS FORECAST TO REMAIN A HURRICANE THROUGH FIVE DAYS. THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE STEERING CURRENTS AND BILL CONTINUES TO MOVE TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST OR 300 DEGREES AT 16 KNOTS AROUND THE AZORES-BERMUDA HIGH. THIS GENERAL MOTION SHOULD CONTINUE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THEREAFTER...A LARGE MID-LATITUDE TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO SWING EASTWARD OVER THE EASTERN UNITED STATES...FORCING BILL TO TURN NORTHWARD A GOOD DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE U.S. EAST COAST. THIS IS IN AGREEMENT WITH THE SOLUTION PROVIDED BY MOST OF THE DYNAMICAL MODELS...WHICH IN FACT HAVE BEEN QUITE CONSISTENT IN TURNING BILL NORTHWARD FOR THE PAST SEVERAL RUNS. THE OFFICIAL FORECAST IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS ONE AND IS VERY CLOSE TO THE MODEL CONSENSUS. BECAUSE BILL IS A LARGE AND STRONG HURRICANE...SWELLS TRIGGERED BY THE HURRICANE SHOULD AFFECT THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS...BERMUDA AND PORTIONS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 19/1500Z 18.7N 56.3W 115 KT 12HR VT 20/0000Z 19.9N 58.3W 120 KT 24HR VT 20/1200Z 21.7N 61.0W 125 KT 36HR VT 21/0000Z 23.5N 63.5W 125 KT 48HR VT 21/1200Z 26.0N 65.5W 120 KT 72HR VT 22/1200Z 32.0N 68.5W 115 KT 96HR VT 23/1200Z 38.5N 67.0W 100 KT 120HR VT 24/1200Z 47.0N 58.0W 75 KT $$ FORECASTER AVILA NNNN \|\|\|\|\| Breaking News: People urged to prepare for Hurricane Bill today Storm predicted to pack 110 knot winds People are being urged to start preparing for Hurricane Bill today — and have everything in place by Friday morning. The Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) this afternoon convened a formal meeting to get an update on the storm’s progress. Resulting from the information provided in the briefing, the EMO is advising the public to begin to prepare for the impending storm today, because Hurricane Bill is considered a potential threat to Bermuda. Today’s meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Derrick Binns, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing and Police Commissioner George Jackson. Dr. Binns said: “Based on our briefing today, the EMO is taking this storm very seriously. Residents should as well. We have learned from experience that hurricanes can cause tremendous destruction. “We have a level of certainty that Bill will come quite close to the Island, therefore, by Friday morning, we are urging members of the public to have their preparations complete.” Meanwhile Bermuda Weather Service Director, Dr. Mark Guishard advised the group that as of 4 p.m. today the storm’s closest point of approach is expected to be on Saturday, roughly between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., when the storm will pass some 150 nautuical miles west of Bermuda. Currently, Hurricane Bill is a strong category two hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 90 knots, gusting up to 110 knots. Dr. Binns said: “We have been following the storm closely since its inception, and today we reviewed our planning and procedures to ensure all are in sync. “While we have not as yet issued hurricane warnings, I think it is important to advise residents to check their emergency kits to be sure supplies are adequate. A typical emergency kit would include items such as flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, non-perishable foods, an ample water supply and disposable utensils. “Additionally, those residents with boats should make certain that their vessels are properly secured to prevent damage. It is also recommended that residents tie down any loose outdoor furniture or potted plants to prevent undue damage.” The EMO is scheduled to meet again on Thursday morning to get an update on Hurricane Bill’s progress. Over the next few days, the public are being encouraged to tune in to regular news reports and updates regarding Hurricane Bill particularly as it relates to possible changes in ferry and bus schedules. For more information on Hurricane Bill, residents can tune in to or log on to the following: * Hurricane preparedness: www.emo.gov.bm * Online weather updates: www.weather.bm * Televised weather updates: CableVision Ch. 4 and WOW Ch. 100 * For The Public Forecast: Dial 977 * For The Current Observation: Dial 9771 * For The Marine Forecast Dial: 9772 * For Latest Warnings and Tropical Information: Dial 9773 \|\|\|\|\| LIPA preps for potential hurricane hit by Claude Solnik Published: August 18, 2009 Tags: emergencies, hurricanes, Long Island Power Authority, National Grid As the first major hurricane of the season to makes its way across the Atlantic Ocean, the Long Island Power Authority and National Grid on Tuesday touted preparations they have taken in case it hits Long Island. LIPA said Hurricane Bill has “the potential to strengthen” to a major hurricane off the coast of Bermuda by Saturday morning and possibly hit Long Island by Sunday. Bill’s winds whipped up to more than 100 miles an hour on a path toward Bermuda. The Atlantic’s hurricane season stretches from June through November. “It could significantly impact Long Island,” said Mark Gross, a LIPA spokesman. “Right now the model suggests it won’t, but we’ll have a better picture by Friday. We just don’t know yet. We have to let the storm run its track.” LIPA and National Grid in July conducted their Joint Annual Hurricane Preparedness Drill, monitored by the New York State Office of Emergency Management and the emergency management offices of Nassau and Suffolk counties. The exercise ran through various drills and scenarios designed to help the energy companies better handle hurricanes by quickly communicating to the public and restoring its system as quickly as possible. LIPA President and chief Kevin S. Law said the authority’s investment in the electric grid, strengthening the transmission and distribution system, should help “restore our system quickly and as safely as possible in the event of a hurricane.” LIPA and National Grid begin tracking major storms days before they near Long Island. And LIPA said it can deploy an automated reporting system that is able to process more than 100,000 customer calls per hour. Outages also are automatically reported to system operators, who can start restoring power by assigning job tickets to the reported outage. LIPA also trims trees year-round in order to reduce the likelihood of outages, since fallen tree limbs that come in contact with electric lines account for over 90 percent of all service disruptions, according to LIPA. \|\|\|\|\| Peter Boyer of the Canadian Hurricane Centre said Nova Scotians should “get ready” and start preparing now for Hurricane Bill. “You want to prepare for the eventuality of being without power and water for 72 hours,” he told Metro. The latest potential tracking information from the National Hurricane Centre shows Hurricane Bill heading towards Atlantic Canada by either late Sunday or Monday. But Boyer couldn’t say yet whether the second named storm of the hurricane season would actually make landfall here. “I haven’t got the foggiest idea what’s going to happen on Day 6 right now,” he said, adding the severity of the storm is unpredictable at the moment, but models indicate that the storm will curve north. “That seems to make it almost inevitable that the storm will find some part of Eastern Canada. Whether that’s the marine areas or the land district, it’s still too far to say.” Hurricane Bill is currently a Category 2 storm located east of Bermuda and is packing wind gusts of up to 110 m/ph. It is forecast to eventually become a Category 3 storm, although Boyer said they’ll have a better projection on things today.	Hurricane Bill on August 18 Following a period of steady intensification, Hurricane Bill is now a Category 4 major hurricane, as defined by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Bill formed on August 12 and became the 2009 season's first hurricane on August 17. For the past few days, the storm has been moving toward the west-northwest, but that is expected to change later this week as it turns more toward the north. After that, its track is uncertain, though National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasters believe the hurricane will pass between Bermuda and the United States. As of 11 a.m. AST August 19 (0900 UTC August 19), Hurricane Bill was located within 15 nautical miles of 18.0°N 54.9°W, about 460 mi (740 km) east of the Leeward Islands. Maximum sustained winds were near 115 knots (135 mph, 215 km/h), with stronger gusts. Forecasters estimate the storm's minimum barometric pressure at 950 millibars. Bermuda could be under the most significant threat from Bill, and officials there have been monitoring the storm's progress. Derrick Binns, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing, reported that "We have been following the storm closely since its inception, and today we reviewed our planning and procedures to ensure all are in sync. While we have not as yet issued hurricane warnings, I think it is important to advise residents to check their emergency kits to be sure supplies are adequate." Bill is expected to spare the United States from any significant impact, but forecasters advise that since the storm is still several days away, nothing is certain. Indeed, residents of Long Island, New York are keeping a close eye on the cyclone's progress. Forecasters also warn that Bill could target parts of eastern Canada. Residents of Nova Scotia, mindful of the extensive damage from Hurricane Juan several years prior, are beginning to take precautionary measures. Regardless of its exact track, Bill will likely generate rough surf and dangerous rip tides along the coast of the U.S. and Canada. Tropical cyclones are known to be unpredictable, so interests in the regions potentially in Bill's path are urged to track the storm's progress over coming days and review emergency plans.
Earthquake Summary Earthquake Summary Poster Tectonic Summary This earthquake occurred at the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates. The two plates are converging at a rate of 80 mm per year. The earthquake occurred as thrust-faulting on the interface between the two plates, with the Nazca plate moving down and landward below the South American plate. Coastal Chile has a history of very large earthquakes. Since 1973, there have been 13 events of magnitude 7.0 or greater. The February 27 shock originated about 230 km north of the source region of the magnitude 9.5 earthquake of May, 1960 the largest earthquake worldwide in the last 200 years or more. This giant earthquake spawned a tsunami that engulfed the Pacific Ocean. An estimated 1600 lives were lost to the 1960 earthquake and tsunami in Chile, and the 1960 tsunami took another 200 lives among Japan, Hawaii, and the Philippines. Approximately 870 km to the north of the February 27 earthquake is the source region of the magnitude 8.5 earthquake of November, 1922. This great quake significantly impacted central Chile, killing several hundred people and causing severe property damage. The 1922 quake generated a 9-meter local tsunami that inundated the Chile coast near the town of Coquimbo; the tsunami also crossed the Pacific, washing away boats in Hilo harbor, Hawaii. The magnitude 8.8 earthquake of February 27, 2010 ruptured the portion of the South American subduction zone separating these two massive historical earthquakes. A large vigorous aftershock sequence can be expected from this earthquake. Earthquake Information for Chile Earthquake Information for South America Predecessors of the giant 1960 Chile earthquake - Brian Atwater, Nature 437, 404-407 (15 September 2005) \|\|\|\|\| CONCEPCION, Chile (Reuters) - One of the world’s most powerful earthquakes in a century battered Chile on Saturday, killing at least 214 people, knocking down buildings and triggering a tsunami that threatened Pacific coastlines as far away as Hawaii and Russia. Buildings caught fire, bridges collapsed and debris blocked streets across swathes of central Chile, but the initial death toll was relatively low from a quake packing many times more power than the one that devastated Haiti last month. A 15-storey building collapsed in Concepcion, the closest major city to the epicenter, and overturned cars lay scattered below a fallen overpass in the capital Santiago. Telephone and power lines went down, making it difficult to assess the full extent of the damage and loss of life. The government said at least 214 people were killed in the 8.8-magnitude quake, which struck at 3:34 a.m. (1:34 a.m. EST), sending people rushing from their beds and onto the streets in fear, hugging each other and crying. “It came in waves and lasted so long. Three minutes is an eternity. We kept worrying that it was getting stronger, like a terrifying Hollywood movie,” said Santiago housewife Dolores Cuevas. One emergency official said the number of deaths was unlikely to increase dramatically, and a U.S. Geological Survey researcher attributed the low toll to Chile’s solid building standards. But it was the fifth-largest earthquake since 1900 and dealt a blow to the economy and infrastructure of the world’s No. 1 copper producer and one of Latin America’s most developed and stable countries. “This will be a major blow to the country’s infrastructure; there has been major damage to roads, airports, which are now suspended, ports and also in housing,” Chilean President-elect Sebastian Pinera said. The quake halted operations at two oil refineries and two major copper mines and the government said an estimated half a million homes were severely damaged. President Michelle Bachelet said a huge wave hit the Juan Fernandez islands, an archipelago where Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk was marooned in the 18th century, inspiring the novel Robinson Crusoe. “There was a series of waves that got bigger and bigger, which gave people time to save themselves,” pilot Fernando Avaria told TVN television by telephone from the main island. Three people were killed and four missing there, he said. Tsunami warnings were posted around the Pacific, including the U.S. state of Hawaii, Japan and Russia. The U.S. Navy said it was pulling six ships out of Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor ahead of the tsunami, which was expected to hit the island at heights of up to 8 feet. Unusually big waves battered Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, where residents were moved to higher ground as a precaution. Bachelet said residents were evacuated from coastal areas of Chile’s remote Easter Island, a popular tourist destination in the Pacific famous for its towering Moai stone statues. The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake struck 70 miles northeast of Concepcion at a depth of 22 miles. An earthquake of magnitude 8 or over can cause “tremendous damage,” the USGS says. The January 12 quake that devastated Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince and killed well over 200,000 people was measured as magnitude 7.0. Slideshow ( 26 images ) DAMAGE TO CAPITAL, MAJOR MINES Chile’s capital of Santiago, about 200 miles north of the epicenter, was also badly hit. The international airport was closed for at least 24 hours as the quake destroyed passenger walkways and shook glass out of doors and windows. “I thought I’d blown a tire ... but then I saw the highway moving like it was a piece of paper and I realized it was something much worse,” said one man who was forced to abandon his car on a wrecked highway overpass. Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer, suspended operations at its El Teniente and Andina mines, but reported no major damage and said it expected the mines to be up and running in the “coming hours.” Production was halted at the Los Bronces and El Soldado copper mines, owned by Anglo American Plc, but Chile’s biggest copper mine, Escondida, was operating normally. Slideshow ( 26 images ) Chile produces about 34 percent of world supply of copper, which is used in electronics, cars and refrigerators. Local television showed a building in flames in Concepcion, one of Chile’s largest cities with around 670,000 inhabitants. Some residents looted pharmacies and a collapsed grains silo, hauling off bags of wheat, television images showed. At least 269 prisoners took advantage of the quake to escape from a prison about 250 miles south of Santiago, police said. Twenty-eight of the inmates were captured and three shot. Broken glass and chunks of concrete and brick were strewn across roads and several strong aftershocks rattled jittery residents in the hours after the initial quake. “It was like we were being shaken around in a box,” said Claudia Rosario, a 27-year-old receptionist in Temuco, about 175 miles south of Concepcion. She said residents there were without water and electricity. “But thank God it was just small things (broken). It could have been worse.” There were blackouts in parts of Santiago. Emergency officials said buildings in the historic quarters of two southern cities, mainly made of adobe, had been badly damaged and local radio said three hospitals had partially collapsed. The magnitude 9.5 earthquake of 1960, the largest earthquake worldwide in the last 200 years, spawned a tsunami that engulfed the Pacific Ocean. About 1,600 lives were lost in Chile and the tsunami took another 200 lives in Japan, Hawaii and the Philippines In 1960, Chile was hit by a 9.5-magnitude earthquake, one of the biggest ever recorded. It devastated the city of Valdivia, killed 1,655 people, and sent a tsunami that continued as far as Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines. Saturday’s quake shook buildings as far away as Argentina’s Andean provinces of Mendoza and San Juan. A series of strong aftershocks rocked Chile’s coastal region from Valdivia in the south to Valparaiso, about 500 miles to the north. President Barack Obama called Bachelet and said the United States stood ready to help Chile. He also urged Americans to heed warnings about a possible tsunami that could affect the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due to visit Chile on Tuesday on a Latin American tour. \|\|\|\|\| Photo: AP Photo: REUTERS The quake, registered at magnitude 8.8 on the Richter scale, caused buildings and bridges to collapse and led to power-black outs in parts of the Chilean capital, Santiago, 200 miles from the epicentre. Chile's President Michele Bachelet declares "state of catastrophe" following earthquake. Eyewitnesses spoke of panicking crowds pouring onto the streets of the city, hugging each other and crying. Telephone and power lines were down, making a quick assessment of the damage difficult in the early morning darkness. The death toll figure was broadcast by Chilean radio, citing reporters on the ground. Meanwhile the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued an official tsunami warning notice to Chile and Peru, and a less severe tsunami "watch" notice to Ecuador. "Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated," the centre said on its website. "It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicentre and could also be a threat to more distant coasts." It was not yet clear how big the tsunami was. Chilean radio stations later reported that the tsunami warning had been lifted. The earthquake struck at around 3.34am local time (6.43GMT). Its epicentre was just 75 miles from the coastal city of Concepcion, south of Santiago, where more than 200,000 people live along the Bio Bio river, and 60 miles from the ski town of Chillan, a gateway to Andean ski resorts that was destroyed in a 1939 earthquake. Concepcion is likely to be the most severely affected city and there were radio reports of collapsed churches and other damage. The impact of the quake was felt as far as 1,000 miles away in Argentina. Early reports in Santiago, which is around 200 miles north-east of Concepcion, suggested that damage in the capital was not as great as feared. "Things were certainly moving a bit, but no structural damage visible," said one resident in Santiago in a posting on the BBC news website. "Some fires could be seen in the distance. No electricity at the moment or phone lines, but apart from that, so far not so bad." In 1960, Chile was hit by the world's biggest earthquake since records dating back to 1900. The 9.5 magnitude quake devastated the south-central city of Valdivia, killing 1,655 people and sending a tsunami which battered Easter Island 2,300 miles off Chile's Pacific seaboard and continued as far as Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines. An earthquake of magnitude 8 or over is classified as a "great" earthquake that can cause "tremendous damage," according to the US Geological Survey website. The earthquake that devastated Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince on January 12 was rated at magnitude 7.0, while the one that struck Indonesia on Boxing Day 2004 measured magnitude 9.2. The Richter scale is logarithmic, which means that each whole number step on the magnitude scale corresponds to the release of about 31 times more energy. Numerous powerful aftershocks also hit the region, including one of 6.9 located 130 miles south-west of Concepcion \|\|\|\|\| HONOLULU (Reuters) - Hawaii sounded warning sirens and began evacuating residents near the coastline on Saturday ahead of a tsunami generated by a massive earthquake in Chile. U.S. \| Natural Disasters Civil defense sirens sounded across the island state at 6 a.m. local time (11 a.m. EST) after the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami was generated that could cause waves of up to 8 feet and damage along the coasts of all the Hawaiian islands. "We're not expecting this to be a worst-case scenario, but we are expecting dangerous waves to appear on shore," said Charles McCreery, director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii. Civil defense officials sent firefighters and firetrucks into neighborhoods bordering the coast, and used loud speakers urging residents to evacuate. Gas stations in Honolulu were jammed with lines of cars stretching a quarter of a mile in some places as residents waited to fill gas tanks before evacuating. Buses were to patrol beaches and take people to parks in a voluntary process expected to last five hours. "Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property," the Warning Center said in a bulletin. "All shores are at risk no matter which direction they face." The center has issued a Pacific-wide tsunami warning that included Hawaii and stretched across the ocean from South America to the Pacific Rim. Geophysicist Victor Sardina said the Hawaii-based center was urging all countries included in the warning to take the threat very seriously. "Everybody is under a warning because the wave, we know, is on its way. Everybody is at risk now," he said in a telephone interview. The warning follows a huge earthquake in Chile that killed at least 122 people and triggered tsunamis up and down the coast of the earthquake-prone country. Updated estimates from the center forecast the first tsunami, which is a series of several waves in succession, would hit Hawaii at 11:05 a.m. Hawaii time (2105 GMT) in the town of Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, with waves around 8-feet high. POPULAR BEACHES Smaller waves were then expected to hit Honolulu, and its popular beaches like Waikiki, roughly 20 minutes later. Sardina said the center was looking at Hilo Bay on Hawaii Island as a worst-case scenario right now. "The shape of the bay favors the waves gaining in height," he said in a telephone interview. The last time a destructive tsunami struck Hawaii was on May 23, 1960, when much of downtown Hilo was destroyed and 61 people killed in the aftermath of a 9.5 magnitude earthquake off the west coast of South America, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Wave heights in Hilo Bay reached 31 feet. But since then, tsunamis have largely been a no-show. The last time civil defense officials ordered evacuations was in 1994, prompting concern that some Hawaii residents may not take this event seriously. The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center also said a tsunami advisory is in effect for the coastal areas of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska from the California-Mexico border to Attu, Alaska. A tsunami advisory means that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is imminent or expected. But significant, widespread inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory. (Reporting by Mike Gordon, Suzanne Gordon and Ikaika Hussey in Hawaii and Doina Chiacu in Washington; writing by Peter Henderson and Nicole Maestri, editing by Vicki Allen and Mary Milliken) \|\|\|\|\| One of the world's most powerful earthquakes in a century battered Chile, killing at least 214 people, knocking down buildings and triggering a tsunami that threatened Pacific coastlines as far away as Hawaii and Russia. Buildings caught fire, bridges collapsed and debris blocked streets across swathes of central Chile, but the initial death toll was relatively low from a quake packing many times more power than the one that devastated Haiti last month. A 15-storey building collapsed in Concepcion, the closest major city to the epicentre, and overturned cars lay scattered below a fallen overpass in the capital Santiago. Advertisement Telephone and power lines went down, making it difficult to assess the full extent of the damage and loss of life. The government said at least 214 people were killed in the 8.8-magnitude quake. One emergency official said the number of deaths was unlikely to increase dramatically, and a US Geological Survey researcher attributed the low toll to Chile's solid building standards. But it was the fifth-largest earthquake since 1900 and dealt a blow to the economy and infrastructure of the world's No. 1 copper producer and one of Latin America's most developed and stable countries. The quake halted operations at two oil refineries and two major copper mines and the government said an estimated half a million homes were severly damaged. President Michelle Bachelet said a huge wave hit the Juan Fernandez islands, an archipelago where Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk was marooned in the 18th century, inspiring the novel Robinson Crusoe. Tsunami warnings were posted around the Pacific, including Hawaii, Japan and Russia. Unusually big waves battered Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, where residents were moved to higher ground as a precaution. Ms Bachelet said residents were evacuated from coastal areas of Chile's remote Easter Island, a popular tourist destination in the Pacific famous for its towering Moai stone statues. The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck 115km northeast of Concepcion at a depth of 35km. \|\|\|\|\| Tsunami travel times: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Nations around the Pacific Ocean have been pounded by tsunami waves triggered by a 8.8 magnitude earthquake in central Chile. Japan is the latest country to issue a warning, with waves of up to 3m (9ft) predicted, and authorities have ordered the evacuation of 10,000 people. But in most areas the danger is thought to have passed. There were few reports of major damage, but there were at least five deaths in Chile's Juan Fernandez island group. The southern Chilean port of Talcahuano is also thought to have been badly hit. Fishing boats there were thrown out of the water and port facilities damaged. Warning systems have improved since the 2004 Indonesia quake sparked a tsunami that killed nearly 250,000 people. Nations and regions affected by the Pacific "Ring of Fire" all sounded alerts, trying to estimate the anticipated time of arrival of any tsunami following the earthquake, which struck at 0634 GMT. Ordinary stormy day The first tsunami waves have reached Japan but are reported to be just 10cm high. Officials have warned that higher waves could follow and the alert remains in place. The BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says Japan has experienced many earthquakes of its own and is well prepared for disasters. In 1960 about 140 people were killed by a tsunami in Japan after a major earthquake in Chile. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had warned of "widespread damage" following Saturday's quake, but later said waves were not as high as predicted. A warning was issued in Hawaii for a possible tsunami A geophysicist at the centre, Gerard Fryer, told the BBC that the tsunami's impact was small because the earthquake occurred in shallow water. The earthquake was "big enough to do significant damage, but not big enough to do anything large in the far field", he said. However, large waves struck Chile's Juan Fernandez island group, reaching halfway into one inhabited area and killing five people. Several more are missing. Two aid ships are reported to be on their way. Part of the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia were hit by a 4m (13ft) wave, but no casualties were reported, AFP news agency said. In Tahiti, traffic was banned on roads less than 500m from sea, and residents on low-lying land were told to get to higher ground, but the first tsunami waves were smaller there, measuring only 36cm. New Zealand warned waves up to 3m could hit the main North and South Islands plus outlying islands, but there were no reports of casualties or major damage. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii was monitoring the waves Sirens were sounded in Hawaii to alert residents to the tsunami threat several hours before waves were expected. The first waves hit about 2200 GMT, after water began moving away from the shore at Hilo Bay on the Big Island before returning. But correspondents say that, although 8ft (2.5m) waves had been predicted, the islands experienced nothing noticeably different from an ordinary stormy day. Hawaiian officials later lifted the tsunami warning. Australian officials warned of "possible dangerous waves, strong ocean currents and foreshore flooding" from Sydney to Brisbane. Are you in one of the areas at risk from a tsunami? What are your experiences? Send us your comments, pictures and videos. Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Read the terms and conditions 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 \|\|\|\|\| Source: ONE News Caroline Bay in Timaru WATCH the video (4:55) SEE the gallery (26 images) More waves from the tsunami that sent warnings throughout the Pacific have hit the New Zealand coast. The Chatham Islands was the first place in New Zealand to experience a surge, with a 0.2 metre wave arriving just before 7.35am. Since then it has been measured at one metre with reports of a wave height of 1.5 metres at Pitt Island. Waves have been recorded at 0.3 metres at East Cape, Napier, Castlepoint, Tauranga and North Cape and 0.4 metres in Gisborne. Larger waves may follow over a period of several hours. Parts of Northland have experienced fluctuations in sea level and tidal surges have been reported in some areas. In Tutukaka the first of the surges to hit the coast was about a metre high and turned the normally placid harbour into a "washing machine". "The wave was approximately one metre. It sucks out and comes in. It takes a couple of minutes. They are very long waves," Jeroen Jongejans, who runs Dive Tutukaka, told NZPA from his boat near the harbour entrance. He said the water was discoloured indicating the energy level of the wave was very deep and had picked up debris from the harbour floor. The Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group says it appears events in Northland have unfolded as predicted. Transport services across the country were affected by the warnings . Tsunami sightseeing Coastlines around the country were closed to the public but that did not stop people ignoring warnings to stay away on Sunday morning. There were reports in Canterbury, Northland, Auckland and Hastings of people going to beaches for recreational purposes, or to try and watch the tsunami waves. City Council rangers in Canterbury were clearing people away from the beaches and say it is frustrating that warnings are being ignored. Tsunami wave will grow The death toll in the 8.8 magnitude quake that rocked Chile on Saturday has risen to at least 300 people . After the quake, a tsunami warning was issued and a wave measuring 2.34 metres was measured in Talcahuano, Chile. Later in the morning a wave of 0.35 metres was measured at Easter Island. GNS scientist Ken Gledhill says it is difficult to predict how big tsunami waves could grow as there are very few recorders between New Zealand and South America. "The path it takes to us is independent so we don't really have a good handle on that ... because we are not in the main beam of the tsunami, that's heading towards to Japan, the side beam we're in will probably grow in the next few hours." Sea level changes at the Chatham Islands Chatham Islands residents have seen changes in water level, but no big wave. One resident says sea levels have changed dramatically. "The water is starting to disappear from round the bay, all the rocks are uncovered, the water is definitely moving out. Now the rocks are covered up again. There's no big wall of water yet. It looks very unusual, very unusual," Chris told NZPA. She did not want to give her surname. "It's kind of high tide here at the moment but sort of in no time the rocks became uncovered but they're covered up again. It's (happening) very slowly." She says people were well prepared. \|\|\|\|\| By Edward Gay and Derek Cheng A wave measuring half a metre has reached the Chatham Islands this morning and New Zealand's entire east coast has been put on tsunami alert. Official tsunami warnings are in place for the entire east coast after a massive earthquake hit Chile overnight. The first wave that reached the Chatham Islands, measured 20cm, according to GNS Science, but authorities warn that succeeding waves could be higher. It was followed by a second wave measuring half-a-metre. GNS Science staff said the waves had reached monitoring equipment off the coast of the Chathams and could slow have slowed down by 20 to 30 minutes. The wave could be further slowed by the continental shelf. The Civil Defence Emergency Management office has put a warning in place for the entire east coast of New Zealand and warn that a tsunami between one and three metres could be on its way after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile over night. The wave was scheduled to reach the Chatham Islands by 7.05am. GNS Geonet project director Ken Gledhill said the wave began to arrive at 720am. "Its built now to around 30cms high and it's likely to carry on building for the next few hours," Mr Gledhill said earlier this morning. "There's always big uncertainties and that's the biggest issue for Civil Defence. When you tell them it might be between 1m and 3m at the beach, that's quite a wide range but it's the kind of uncertainty we have to deal with. Add to that uncertainties in timing where the first wave probably won't be the biggest one unless you're quite near the source. "The message is - you probably don't have to go to the beach today. It's probably better if you don't," he said. He said people wanting to see the wave would have to be "significantly above sea level" to be safe. "The problem with these events are ... if you have two parts of the wave train that add together you can suddenly get a bigger wave. that's why it's probably easier to get a better idea when you are in the main beam of the event rather than on the side like we are," Mr Gledhill said. He said for most of the country, the tsunami is a marine threat. "That means if you go to the beach or on a small boat you could have an issue. We are still talking about less than a metre for most of New Zealand, but there's potential for the Chatham Islands and Banks Peninsula for something more than that (1m to 3m)," he said. "One metre is not considered to be a destructive tsunami except if you're in the wrong place and it washes you out to sea. There'll be extra currents too. The currents will be crazy, probably for days. "Apart from if you're unlucky and happen to be in one of these places where the wave gets amplified for some reason, it won't probably be too serious. That's our prediction at the moment. Hopefully it stays like that," Mr Gledhill said. Meanwhile, many New Zealanders were going about their usual Sunday morning activities, blissfully unaware of the danger. On Auckland's North Shore, people said they were unaware of the warning, which was sparked by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile last night. Several boaties who were about to head out were alarmed at the prospect of a metre-high wave hitting the east coast and were reconsidering their day on the water. At Milford Beach two women who were about to set off on a walk along the coast to Takapuna were apparently unperturbed about the warning and did not change their plans. "I've got my flippers," said one of the women. The tide in Auckland was very high shortly after daybreak and many houses on beaches and in the east coast bays were likely to feel the impact of a metre-high wave if it hits Auckland. However it appears the warning had not reached many people and there were still boats being launched. On a bay north of Milford a man was fishing off a rocky outcrop. At Whitianga a resident told NZPA that a warning siren had gone off, but residents didn't know what it was, so stayed put. In Gisborne a voluntary evacuation was underway of residents at Midway and Waikanae beaches, but in Napier stall-holders were setting up their Sunday market on the foreshore. They said they preferred to wait until they had heard what had happened in the Chathams before packing up and moving inland. On the Chatham Islands, Catherine McKenzie is working at the Chatham Lodge, situated inland near the Henga Scenic Reserve. About 40 locals have left their homes on the coast and gathered at the lodge to watch the news and listen to the news on the radio. "This is a safe place, a high place," Ms McKenzie said. She said she was called by her boss at 3am and people began turning up two hours later. The quake which has sparked the tsunami warnings hit 325 kilometres southwest of Santiago, at a depth of 35 kilometres at 3.34am local time (6.34pm NZT), the US Geological Survey reported. A wave measuring 2.34 metres was recorded near Chile and Tsunami warnings were issued over a wide area in the Pacific. The New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) said areas of land could be threatened on the Chatham Islands and Banks Peninsula, while waves of less than 1 metre were likely for the entire east coast of New Zealand. The township of Waitangi in the Chathams at 7.05am and was the first New Zealand landmark scheduled to be hit, according to the CDEM warning. "The first wave may arrive later and may not be the largest. Strong currents and unusual tidal effects may continue for several hours," the warning said. Canterbury CDEM group said residents in low lying areas of Banks Peninsula bays, where the tsunami was expected to arrive about 8.30am, should be prepared for an evacuation. "People need to be ready to move to safety by 8am and may not be able to return for at least 24 hours." People on coastal areas were asked to stay off beaches, avoid the water (including rivers and estuaries) and refer to media or their local Civil Defence authorities for updates. The ministry asked that people avoid calling 111 for information, reserving that number for emergencies. Estimates show the first wave reaching the east coast of the North Island by 8am ahead of the main centres of Wellington (8.25am), Christchurch (9.05am) and Auckland (10.22am). However, those times have now been put back by between 20 and 30 minutes. In Auckland, a half marathon has been cancelled at Okahu Bay. Signs have been put up alerting competitors to the cancellation and speakers have been set up to broadcast National Radio. - With NZPA By Edward Gay and Derek Cheng \|\|\|\|\| Tsunami waves cross the Hawaiian Islands Posted: Saturday, February 27, 2010 4:47 PM EST Updated: Saturday, February 27, 2010 8:30 PM EST HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – At 1:50 PM Saturday, scientists at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center canceled the tsunami warning after all of Hawaii had braced for the worst for a tense 13 hours. Governor Linda Lingle, speaking from the state Civil Defense headquarters at Diamond Head crater, announced that there were no reports of significant property damage or loss of life. The tsunami waves began hitting the Hawaiian Islands exactly at the time that scientists predicted, though without the ferocity that may island residents feared. The first indications of the tsunami appeared at around 11:30 AM Saturday as the ocean began dramatically receding from Hilo Bay. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported that the sea level rose almost three feet at Hilo, surging and receding numerous times at intervals of about 20 minutes. No injuries or property damage were reported at Hilo, on the eastern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. Much of the areas in Hilo's inundation zone are now parklands, the city having been devastated by deadly tsunamis in 1946 and 1960. At Kawaihae Harbor, on the Kona side of Hawaii, the tsunami was measured at almost two feet high. On Maui, at the main harbor of Kahului, the ocean rose over three feet, the highest surge recorded in the islands. On the island of Oahu, police shut down dozens of major thoroughfares. Many businesses and institutions closed down and most scheduled events were canceled. Thousands of people gathered on hilltops and mountainsides to watch for the waves to come in. Thousands of tourists were ‘vertically evacuated' to higher floors of high-rise hotels at Waikiki Beach. Waipio Valley Photo Source: PROCTOLS Copyright 2010 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Thousands rattle the Earth daily — but only a few cause utter devastation. Map shows some of the quake and tsunami destruction across a long stretch of Chile. Map shows some of the quake and tsunami destruction across a long stretch of Chile. As the Caribbean nation struggles to recover, it’s bracing for a rainy season that could make its recuperation much more difficult. NBC’s Ian Williams reports. March 1: Amaro Gomez-Pablos of Chile’s TVN television network tells NBC’s Lester Holt what the conditions are like in Concepcion, just 56 miles southwest of the quake’s epicenter. NBC, msnbc.com and news services CONCEPCION, Chile - Chile's government scrambled on Monday to provide aid to thousands of homeless in coastal towns devastated by a massive earthquake and tsunamis as 10,000 troops moved into stricken areas to quell looting. The government sharply raised the death toll to 711 from Saturday's 8.8-magnitude quake as harrowing scenes of destruction emerged in isolated towns swamped by the giant waves that were triggered by one of the strongest earthquakes in a century. With many people missing and some communities in the worst-hit central region of the South American country still largely cut off by mangled roads, President Michelle Bachelet said the death toll was certain to rise. Surging waves ruined houses and smashed cars in fishing villages on the country's long Pacific coast. In the town of Constitucion alone, about 350 people died, state television quoted emergency officials as saying. Curfew A night-time curfew went into effect in the Maule region and the heavily damaged town of Concepcion, where hundreds of looters ransacked stores for food and other goods. Looting also broke out in parts of the capital, Santiago. "We don't have water or anything. No one has appeared with help and we need more police to keep order. There are many people here who are robbing," said a 78-year-old woman who identified herself as Ana in the badly hit city of Talca, 155 miles south of Santiago. In Concepcion, firefighters looking for survivors in a toppled apartment block were forced to pause because of tear gas fired to stop looters, who were wheeling off everything from microwave ovens to canned milk at a damaged supermarket across the street. Survivors camping along roads took out their frustration on firefighters who were distributing drinking water in thermoses and tea kettles, damaging their vehicles. Police arrested scores of people for looting and violating the curfew. Concepcion Mayor Jacqueline van Rysselberghe had earlier said the situation there was getting "out of control" due to shortages of basic supplies and called for the national government to help. Slideshow Earthquake rocks Chile A devastating magnitude-8.8 earthquake strikes Chile. more photos "We need the army. We can't have people defending their own possessions because it will be the law of the strongest," she said. The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake struck 56 miles northeast of the city of Concepcion at 3:34 a.m. (1:34 a.m. ET) on Saturday. The quake shook buildings in Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires, and was felt as far away as Sao Paulo in Brazil — 1,800 miles to the east. Bachelet said Chile needs field hospitals and temporary bridges, water purification plants and damage assessment experts, as well as rescuers to help relieve workers who have been laboring frantically for more than a day. To combat looting, Bachelet announced Sunday that essentials on the shelves of major supermarkets would be given away for free, under the supervision of authorities. The university in Concepcion was among the buildings that caught fire as gas and power lines snapped when the quake hit Saturday. Many streets were littered with rubble, inmates escaped from a nearby prison and police warned that criminals had been robbing banks. Firefighters in Concepcion were about to lower a rescuer deep into the rubble of a 15-story apartment complex on Sunday when the scent of tear gas fired at looters across the street forced them to interrupt their efforts. Police officer Jorge Guerra took names of the missing from a stream of tearful relatives and friends. He urged them to be optimistic because about two dozen people had been rescued. "There are people alive. There are several people who are going to be rescued," he said — though the next people pulled from the wreckage were dead. Dozens more are feared trapped. "It's sad, but because of the situation you have to confront the robberies and at the same time continue the search," Guerra said. One woman ran off with a shopping cart piled high with slabs of unwrapped meat and cheese. A shirtless man carried a mattress on his head. Some of the looters pitched rocks at police armored vehicles. Across the Bio Bio River in the city of San Pedro, looters cleared out a shopping mall. A video store was set ablaze, two automatic teller machines were broken open, a bank was robbed and a supermarket emptied, its floor littered with mashed plums, scattered dog food and smashed liquor bottles. "It was a mob. They looted everything," said police Sgt. Rene Gutierrez, who had his men guarding the now-empty mall. "Now we're only here to protect the building — what's left of the building." He said police had been slow to reach the looted mall because one bridge over the river was collapsed and the other so damaged they had to move cautiously.	An 8.8 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Chile on Saturday, killing at least 214 people and causing significant structural damage. The earthquake was felt in Chillan, Talca, Concepcion, and the capital Santiago. Sea level recording triggered tsunami warnings for Chile, Peru, and Ecuador. The earthquake, which started at 06.34.14 UTC, was felt as far as Argentina. This earthquake occurred at the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates. The two plates are converging at a rate of 80 millimeters per year. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has announced that a tsunami warning is in effect for much of the Pacific Rim, including parts of Oceania and Central America. According to the BBC, "large waves" have struck Chile's Juan Fernández Islands, reaching halfway into one inhabited area. Three people are missing local media says. Reuters reported the Tsunami hit Tahiti at 16.50 UTC, where the BBC reports that the first waves were "smaller," measuring only 36 centimeters. According to the AFP, part of the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia was hit by a 13 foot wave. No casualties have been reported. The New Zealand Herald reported New Zealand evacuated coastal areas at 8:00 AM local time (18.00 UTC). Waves of 20 centimeters or less were reported at the Chatham Islands (400 miles from the New Zealand mainland) at 19.05 UTC. The Ministry of Civil Defense told the BBC that "the greatest wave heights will occur between six and 12 hours after the initial arrivals." Coastal waters in Hilo, Hawaii were reported as "visibly receding" at 11:30 AM local time (21.30 UTC) by Hawaii News Now. According to MSNBC, a 5 1/2 foot wave reportedly made land fall on Hilo Bay, Hawaii a short while after 12:00 P.M. local time (22.00 UTC).
A short circuit was probably to blame for the fire No one is believed to have been inside but firefighters say the entire structure is now at risk of collapsing. The fire was put out on Sunday evening, but officials say the building's skeleton could have been weakened by the high temperatures. Businesses and offices are to remain closed and transport has been diverted. Large pieces of the Windsor Building plunged to the ground as the blaze destroyed its top floors, sending columns of black smoke into the night. Nearby bars, nightclubs and blocks of flats were evacuated as flames ripped through the building, one of the capital's most emblematic structures. A spokesman for the fire services said the building in the business heart of Madrid was empty when the fire started. He said no civilians had been injured, but three firemen were being treated for smoke inhalation. Short-circuit theory Several top floors have slumped onto lower ones, and Madrid fire chief Javier Sanz told local radio the 106m (350ft) tall building was still unstable. "It is clear the structure has been damaged and has suffered high temperatures, and we cannot be certain that a pillar, girder or some other structural element will not collapse," he said. The fire was put out shortly after 2000 (1900 GMT). Officials said the next 48 hours would be crucial in determining whether the structure would fall. An investigation has been opened. Spanish media said the fire appeared to have been an accident. Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardon said the fire is believed to have been caused by a short-circuit on the 21st floor. "This is the biggest fire ... this city has ever had," he told the Associated Press news agency on Sunday afternoon. For safety reasons, he said businesses and offices would remain closed until at least Wednesday. Traffic around the area will be diverted and underground train services passing by the tower will be curtailed. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero visited the scene on Sunday. He said: "I wanted to thank all those people who have been working since early in the morning - firefighters, police and all those who have thrown themselves in to help in this catastrophe." \|\|\|\|\| We've noticed you're adblocking. We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. Thank you for your support.	The ruins of the Windsor tower. The 32-story Windsor Tower, located in the business district of Madrid, Spain, was devastated by the largest fire in the city's history. The fire destroyed large parts of the building, completely gutting the top 14 floors. Parts of the structure collapsed during the blaze, which was extinguished on Sunday evening. The 106m high tower is now extremely unstable, and experts believe there is a chance it could collapse in the next 24 hours. Surrounding areas have been evacuated, traffic diverted, and trains stopped on the three subway lines beneath the building. The fire is believed to have been started by an electrical short-circuit on the 21st floor. No-one was in the building (which was undergoing refurbishment) at the time of the blaze; the only casualties being three firefighters treated for smoke inhalation. The top twenty floors of the building housed the Deloitte & Touche auditing firm. The remains will be demolished at a future date.
Dangers of wearing headphones raised after helicopter death of B.C. student TORONTO — The death of a 23-year-old student killed when a helicopter crash-landed on him in the middle of the street is raising questions about how aware people are of their surroundings when outside listening to portable audio devices - such as iPods and MP3 players. Isaiah Otieno, from Kenya, was crossing a street in a quiet Cranbrook, B.C. neighbourhood last week when a helicopter struggling to stay airborne suddenly dropped on top of him. At the time, there were reports that Otiena was wearing ear or headphones and may not have heard the downward spiralling chopper. While there is no evidence to back up that theory, the speculation is hard to avoid considering the millions of people each day who walk, run, cycle and in-line skate with the ubiquitous ear buds. When Kevin Guest, a staff sergeant with the Toronto Police, gives streetproofing tips to students, he reminds them to stay alert while wearing earphones. "If you are going to wear an iPod or headphones or something like that, you keep the level low enough so you can still hear ambient noise," Guest said. It's a warning Stephen FitzGerald heeds. The 38-year-old works in the music industry and, two years ago, traded in his daily newspaper to listen to tunes on his iPod during his half-hour commute to work in Toronto. But he says his surroundings are always on his radar. "If I am walking outside, I don't have it that loud - you know traffic," he said. "I'm not that comfortable not hearing any outside noises." The helicopter accident in British Columbia is the latest tragedy to illustrate how people wearing ear or headphones outdoors can put themselves at increased risk. In 2007, a student in Grimsby, Ont. was killed while walking along train tracks. He failed to respond to the train's repeated whistles and was wearing his MP3 player earphones. Also last year, a student in-line skating while wearing headphones in Windsor, Ont. slid under a tractor-trailer he failed to notice until the last minute. In Australia, police have placed ads that show a teen lying on the ground - MP3 player splayed beside him - with a chalk outline around his body. The ads followed a campaign by a woman whose 16-year-old daughter was struck by a tram in 2004. The teen was wearing headphones. Last year, New York Senator Carl Kruger's bill to ban the use of iPods, cellphones or other electronic devices while crossing the street was defeated. It was motivated by the death of a 21-year-old Brooklyn man who was listening to an iPod when he stepped in front of a bus. While there are no laws in Canada dealing with the use of headphones while walking, it's illegal to wear them while riding a bicycle in both British Columbia and Quebec. Kathy Pichora-Fuller, a psychology professor at the University of Toronto, co-authored a study published in the Journal of Canadian Acoustics in 2006 that examined the use of portable audio devices by young people of high-school and university age. Her students wanted to pursue the study after a series of news reports in the Canadian media outlined the dangers of hearing loss as a result of iPod use. The study showed the youths were most likely to use the devices when they were bored. Often, that's also when they were jogging, biking or sitting on the bus. The study also showed listeners were more likely to turn up the volume to drown out the noise of their surrounding environment, such as traffic. "You kind of put yourself into the worst possible situation," said Pichora-Fuller. "People...focus on the music and become oblivious to their surroundings". Rick Broadhead, a Toronto based technology and Internet expert, said most people who use cellphones or listen to music through earphones use common sense. He does not attribute an accidents, such as the one involving the helicopter, to the use of headphones. "He did not do anything wrong ... it was just a freak accident," said Broadhead, about Otieno's death. "This is not a case of this gentleman not exercising common sense," he said. \|\|\|\|\| iPod student killed by crashed 'copter Loud iPod headphones have been partly blamed after an oblivious student was hit and killed by a helicopter. Isaiah Otieno was listening to music while walking down the street - only to be struck by the aircraft that had crashed to the ground. The 23-year-old Canadian was dragged along the pavement in Vancouver and died of his injuries. The pilot and two passengers were also killed. Now the tragedy has prompted a debate on whether there ought to be more restrictions on the volume of headphones attached to personal music players. Witnesses said Mr Otieno seemed oblivious to any danger, while listening to his iPod using in-ear headphones passed through the hood of his shirt. The student had arrived in Canada to study two years ago, after growing up in Kenya. Isaiah's father Dalmas Otieno, Kenya's minister of state for public service, said: "Everybody is just shattered here. "They're just praying that they have enough strength to go through all this. "He was a brilliant student, very considerate, very aggressive at times. He had strong leadership qualities." In the US, New York Democratic Senator Carl Kruger tried to pass a bill banning pedestrians from listening iPods and other music players as they cross the road. The British charity Deafness Research UK last year promoted a campaign with a similar aim. After the latest tragedy, British Columbia University audiologist Lorienne Jenstad said: "There are a lot of beliefs and assumptions right now on how dangerous this headphone use is, but currently no data to back them up. "In our own informal tests, we've found that the range of volume used is very wide - from moderate to levels that are potentially able to cut out all background noise." Vancouver-based digital music consultant Geordon Hoag said: "The average downtown street registers at around 60 decibels. "A jet plane flying overhead is generally quoted at 120 to 130 decibels. "If you are playing your music loud enough to cut out that level of noise, then you have it cranked to a degree that is damaging your hearing." Your views Add your comment \|\|\|\|\| VANCOUVER -- The death of a pedestrian in Cranbrook, B.C., on Tuesday has raised the question of how loud is too loud when it comes to listening to iPods and other personal music players. Isaiah Otieno, a 23-year-old student, was killed when he was struck and dragged by a helicopter that crashed to the ground as he was walking to the mailbox. Eyewitnesses reported that Mr. Otieno seemed completely unaware that he was in danger and a friend told reporters that he often listened to music through earbuds (in-ear headphones) with the hood of his sweatshirt pulled up over his head. Concern over safe use of headphones is growing. Last year, Carl Kruger, a Democratic state senator from New York proposed a bill to ban the use of iPods and other electronic devices while crossing the street. Though Mr. Kruger's bill was defeated, his position was echoed last fall by the charity Deafness Research UK, which launched a similar campaign to persuade young people to switch off their personal MP3 players while crossing the road. But Lorienne Jenstad, assistant professor in the school of audiology and speech sciences at the University of British Columbia says that it's too early to draw any conclusions about the degree of risk. "There are a lot of beliefs and assumptions right now on how dangerous this headphone use is, but currently no data to back them up," Prof. Jenstad said. "In our own informal tests, we've found that the range of volume used is very wide - from moderate to levels that are potentially able to cut out all background noise," she said. And if you've got the volume cranked too high, you may be able to tell by the ringing in your ears, said Geordon Hoag, digital music product consultant at Tom Lee Music in Vancouver. "The average downtown street registers at around 60 decibels. A jet plane flying overhead is generally quoted at 120 to 130 decibels. If you are playing your music loud enough to cut out that level of noise, then you have it cranked to a degree that is damaging your hearing." It may also depend on the type of headphones you are wearing, he added. Though the perception is that in-ear headphones are more isolating than over-the-head headphones, the reverse is actually the case. "The seal that surrounds the ears on a good set of traditional phones shuts out more external noise," Mr. Hoag said. Still, research on headphone use has focused on hearing loss, for a reason: Other safety issues are "pretty obvious," said Linda Polka, associate professor in the school of communication science and disorders at McGill University. "I see people riding bikes while listening to iPods, and it's horrific. You shouldn't need to educate people about that." \|\|\|\|\| Cranbrook helicopter crash kills four Vancouver Province, with files from Dean Bassett, Cranbrook Daily Townsman and Canwest News Service Published: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Four people are dead following a horrific helicopter crash in Cranbrook Tuesday afternoon. The helicopter, contracted by B.C. Hydro, crashed in the middle of a busy residential street. The chopper, with a pilot and two B.C. Hydro employees inside, was flying north along 14th Avenue checking power lines when, according to witnesses, its engine sputtered and lost power. Witnessess said the Bell 206 helicopter, operated by Big Horn helicopter, a local flight school and charter company, was flying low, about 30 to 45 metres above the ground. It landed about 30 metres from the intersection of 14th Avenue and 10th Street, at the entrance to an alley. A pedestrian walking down the street was crushed by the helicopter, which burst into flames, killing the resident and the three people inside the chopper. The crash site is in a busy residential area, within blocks of two schools: St. Mary's and Amy Woodland elementaries. "It could have been a lot worse," said Cranbrook Daily Townsman reporter Dean Bassett. Police and other emergency services are on scene. Weather conditions are said to be fair - calm and overcast. Joe Pierre was driving through the intersection when he saw the helicopter. "I saw that helicopter hovering really low over the houses just over in that direction over there," he told Global News. "And I just thought to myself that is unusual. I came across the intersection and the next thing I know my car is being slammed and there's an explosion. And it's that helicopter." Pierre said his car has been damaged. "I have a dent right there. It exploded right beside me," he said. "I'm pretty freaked out right now." Monique Delves said she saw the explosion from her apartment. "I just noticed it flying low this way and it kind of went around, I'm assuming it went around my house then it flew really low," she said. "I saw it go down, straight down. It was going straight down from where I could see it from my place." Ambulance officials said there were no survivors. "There were three people on board the helicopter and at this time we're not looking at transferring any patients to the hospital," said Sarah Taylor, spokeswoman for B.C. Ambulance Service. "This is obviously a tragic accident." The Province is following this story and will provide updates. If you witnessed the crash, please contact reporter Jennifer Saltman at jensaltman@png.canwest.com or 604-605-2750. If you have photos or video from the scene, you may submit it using our Tab Tips form. © Vancouver Province 2008	Map highlighting location of Cranbrook. A 23-year-old Kenyan man was crushed and killed and three others died after a helicopter crashed in Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada on May 13. All on board the helicopter, two passengers and the pilot of the helicopter, were also killed. Considered a freak accident, the attention was not centered around the crash or those killed in it, but whether or not the volume on the iPod the 23-year-old pedestrian was allegedly listening to was too loud. Isaiah Otieno, a student at the College of the Rockies arrived in Canada two years ago and was the son of Dalmas Otieno, Kenya's Minister of State for Public Service. He was walking down the street to retrieve his mail when the Bell 206 helicopter crashed on top of him, crushed him, then dragged his body along the pavement, with the helicopter bursting into flames. The helicopter pilot was unable to maintain altitude when it crashed, killing Otieno and those inside the helicopter, instantly. The cause of the crash is not known and is still being investigated, but media outlets such as ''The Globe and Mail'' criticized the boy for wearing headphones and having the volume turned up too high, which allegedly caused him not to hear the aircraft falling from the sky. "He was a brilliant student, very considerate, very aggressive at times. He had strong leadership qualities. Everybody here is just shattered," stated Dalmas. A Canadian Bell 206 helicopter, similar to the one that crashed. Despite the reports that Otieno was listening to his iPod, there has been no independent confirmation of those reports. ''Wikinews'' e-mailed the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to confirm or deny the iPod reports, but has not yet received a response. Other deaths have been blamed on media players like the iPod. In 2007, a boy was killed after a train struck him in Grimsby, Ontario. The boy, who had headphones on at the time, was unable to hear the sounds of the train's horn as it approached, which subsequently struck and killed him. The helicopter was owned by Bighorn Helicopters and was rented to BC Hydro, the Province's power and water authority. The Pilot has been identified as Edward William Kyle Heeb, 57. The other two individuals killed were employees for BC Hydro and have been identified as Dirk Bentley Rozenboom, 45 and Robert William Lehmann, 37. They were checking power lines along 14th street in Cranbrook, when according to witnesses, the engine stopped and the helicopter crashed in the intersection of 14th and 10th. Despite the reports, a Canadian music consultant states that the accident involving the helicopter cannot be blamed on the use of Otieno's iPod. "The average downtown street registers at around 60 decibels. A jet plane flying overhead is generally quoted at 120 to 130 decibels. If you are playing your music loud enough to cut out that level of noise, then you have it cranked to a degree that is damaging your hearing," said Geordon Hoag.
Radio 2 listeners will soon be waking up to a different voice for the first time in 16 years - with Sir Terry Wogan set to step down from the station's breakfast show. Sir Terry returned for his second stint on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show in 1993 He confirmed his decision during his 'Wake Up To Wogan' show this morning, and says he will present his last breakfast show at the end of the year. Chris Evans is set to take over the morning slot. He made the announcement live on air, saying: "I wanted to be first to tell you. "It's the least I owe you, for endless years, countless hours of morning companionship, friendship, good humour and laughter. "This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my broadcasting career, to say goodbye to you in the mornings." The veteran broadcaster will not be off the airwaves altogether and already has a new show in the pipeline. It will start next year, where he will be presenting live from Broadcasting House. Chris Evans will replace Sir Terry He said: "I'll be starting a really exciting new show...in front of you, as my live audience, presenting the very pinnacle of live music, artists, guests, and of course, you, your mail, your warmth, your wit." With Wogan's two stints presenting the show totalling 27 years, Tim Davie, director of audio and music at the BBC, paid tribute to the 71-year-old. "Terry is a legendary talent...I'd like to thank him for entertaining his army of fans for many years." Some fans of Wogan, or T.O.G's (Terry's Old Geezers), have expressed disappointment at his replacement. One listener wrote: "I'd rather have silence than have to endure the torture of being shouted at over breakfast. "It will be disaster for the listeners and the station." \|\|\|\|\| End of an era for radio presenter Comments (1) \| Print \| Email A VETERAN broadcaster has announced plans to leave his role as presenter on BBC Radio 2's breakfast show. Sir Terry Wogan told listeners to Wake Up to Wogan on Monday that he was stepping down at the end of the year. The 71-year-old presenter, who lives in Taplow, said to his listeners: "Your loyalty and support has been a beacon of love in my life. There hasn't been a morning, no matter how dark and dreary, that I haven't had a smile on my face and a song in my heart at the prospect of your company, your marvellous mail, your wit and wisdom. "This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my broadcasting career, to say goodbye to you in the mornings. I'd rather leave while we're in love, as the song says, while the programme is the most popular on British radio, while we still delight in each others company." Sir Terry will host a new live radio show in the New Year and will continue to present Children in Need. Chris Evans will take over the breakfast show at the end of the year. \|\|\|\|\| The announcement that Chris Evans is to take over Sir Terry Wogan's Radio 2 breakfast show marks another stage in his remarkable career. Evans will take over from Sir Terry Wogan next year It also returns the mercurial DJ, TV presenter and media company owner to the forefront of British broadcasting after a significant period out of the limelight. The 43-year-old - who has presented Radio 2's early evening drivetime show since 2006 - takes over from Sir Terry Wogan in January 2010. A greater contrast between Sir Terry's genial avuncularity and Evans's brash exuberance would be hard to imagine. The latter built his reputation as a witty prankster on the BBC's now-defunct London radio station GLR, where he started as a producer and ended up as a star DJ. But it was in 1992, when he became host of Channel 4's early morning programme The Big Breakfast, that he became a household name. The anarchic, primary-coloured magazine show was a huge hit in the early days, even beating ITV's new breakfast station, GMTV, when it launched in 1993. National celebrity The Warrington-born star's hyperactive personality defined the show, and he was catapulted from London cult personality to national celebrity. Evans was Radio 1's breakfast DJ from 1995 to 1997 He launched his own production outfit, Ginger Productions, and moved into prime-time with Channel 4 game show Don't Forget Your Toothbrush. The format was sold around the world, bringing in funds to help him build up his media empire. Evans left The Big Breakfast in 1994, and the following year was recruited by BBC Radio 1 to revamp the station's breakfast show. However, he took the job only on the proviso that the show would be in the hands of Ginger Productions - and not the BBC. The deal ruffled feathers at Broadcasting House but worked wonders for the station, which saw its ratings rocket along with its profile. In 1996, he returned again to Channel 4 screens with TFI Friday - a classic Evans cocktail of leading bands, celebrity chat, bizarre stunts and in-jokes. Broadcasting mogul But as TFI took off, his tempestuous love affair with the BBC began to suffer. His effortless, off-the-cuff banter slowly transformed into ego-centric rants, and the tone of the show became ever more dark. On one occasion, he said he hated Anthea Turner's new TV show so much he wanted to "kick her in the mouth". And an obsession with money began to over-ride his interviews. The following exchange with TV chef Delia Smith was fairly typical: Evans: "How are you?" Smith: "Very well." Evans: "That's not the answer." Smith: "Brilliant?" Evans: "That's not the answer." Smith: "What is the answer?" Evans: "Rich." Finally, after Radio 1 refused to meet his demands to work a four-day week, he quit. The exuberant host went on to join Sir Richard Branson's Virgin station Later that year he returned to breakfast radio on Sir Richard Branson's Virgin station, competing against Radio 1's new breakfast line-up of Zoe Ball and Kevin Greening. Evans liked the job so much he bought Virgin Radio from Sir Richard at the end of 1997. The City was stunned at his £85m purchase - snatching the station from under the nose of London-based Capital Radio, whose bid had been held up by a government inquiry. With City backers behind him, his new Ginger Media Group made him a broadcasting mogul. But the Evans magic started to fade soon afterwards. He was photographed out on the town with Paul Gascoigne, damaging the footballer's chances of getting into the England squad for the 1998 World Cup. Ginger's TV arm also showed signs of losing its flair. TFI Friday started to go off the boil, and two BBC projects - the National Lottery Red Alert and student quiz Carry on Campus - flopped. Low profile In early 2000 Evans sold the Ginger Media Group to SMG, the owner of ITV1 stations Scottish and Grampian, for £225m. Many doubted the DJ's relationship with former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell But while Evans took a large chunk of that cash, his on-air performances faltered. A much-hyped "romance" with singer Geri Halliwell failed to lift TFI's ratings, and he stepped down as host before the show ended in 2000. At Virgin, meanwhile, Evans failed to turn up for a week of breakfast shows. The DJ claimed he had been ill. But when photographs and footage emerged of him out drinking with his new teenage girlfriend Billie Piper, Virgin said it had no option but to dismiss him. After marrying Piper in Las Vegas in May 2001, Evans kept an uncharacteristically low profile at his marital home in Hascombe, Surrey. The marriage did not last, though, and the couple eventually divorced in 2007. In 2003, Evans made a faltering return to primetime Saturday night TV as producer of the poorly received Boys and Girls. 'Hottest hot seat' The Channel 4 game show, billed as the ultimate battle of the sexes, was mauled by the critics and did not repeat the success of his earlier TV hits. The broadcaster remains good friends with his ex-wife, actress Billie Piper But the bespectacled star enjoyed better success as host of the Brit Awards in 2005 and 2006, a role he had previously filled in 1996. When he took over Johnnie Walker's Radio 2 drivetime show in 2006, it prompted a flurry of complaints. One listener wrote that Evans was "just a gob, a loud one at that, he can't entertain and he can't just deliver to the listener". The turbulent tabloid years had seemingly erased people's memory of his abilities as a broadcaster - but once the show found its feet, Evans re-established himself as a warm, engaging presenter. The comeback continued this year, when he scooped two Sony awards - the Music Radio Personality of the Year Award and the Entertainment Award. In 2008, the DJ married again, to professional golfer and model Natasha Shishmanian. Earlier this year the couple had a son, named Noah. Writing on his blog on Monday, Evans expressed his trepidation about taking over the "hottest Breakfast show hot seat" from Sir Terry Wogan. "I promise I will do my utmost not to let you and your listeners down," he told the veteran broadcaster. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Sir Terry Wogan has announced that he will be no longer presenting the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, after a 16 year run on the station. Wogan had been presenting the show since April 1972 to December 1984. At the time he had left BBC Radio 2 to pursue a career in television. He came back onto the breakfast show in January 1993 with his show, Wake Up to Wogan. Now Terry has decided to retire from BBC Radio 2 in December. While live on air on Monday morning, Wogan said to his listeners, "I wanted to be first to tell you. It's the least I owe you, for endless years, countless hours of morning companionship, friendship, good humour and laughter. Your loyalty and support has been a beacon of love in my life. There hasn't been a morning, no matter how dark and dreary, that I haven't had a smile on my face and a song in my heart at the prospect of your company, your marvellous mail, your wit and wisdom. This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my broadcasting career, to say goodbye to you in the mornings." Wogan also announced that his career was not finished altogether adding that, "I'll be starting a really exciting new show...in front of you, as my live audience, presenting the very pinnacle of live music, artists, guests, and of course, you, your mail, your warmth, your wit." The new show will take place in the Broadcasting House and will be presented live by Wogan himself. Chris Evans, who will be replacing Terry Wogan as the breakfast show DJ, will start in January 2010. He previously presented the breakfast show for BBC Radio 1 in 1995 but after the British station refused to meet his demands for a four-day week, he left in 1997. Fans of Wogan — or T.O.G.s (Terry's Old Geezers) as they're commonly referred to — expressed their disappointment about his departure. One fan wrote: "I'd rather have silence than have to endure the torture of being shouted at over breakfast. It will be disaster for the listeners and the station."
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) sold 185,000 PlayStation Portable handheld consoles in the UK this past weekend, smashing the previous three-day record, set by Nintendo's DS in March. Sony's sales, said market watcher Chart-Track, which provided the statistic, makes the PSP's UK debut the most successful console introduction in the territory yet. The PSP went on sale in the UK on Thursday, 1 September, and Chart-Track's total combines sales on that day plus those of Friday and Saturday. Nintendo sold 87,000 DS handhelds in the first three days' of the device's availability. Many of the sales had already been made, thanks to pre-order campaigns run by retailers and online suppliers once Sony formally announced the handheld console would ship on 1 September. The PSP had originally been planned to arrive in the UK at the end of March, just after the DS debut. But the demands of the US launch, scheduled to take place in the same timeframe, forced SCEE to delay the European ship-date. Chart-Track said 24 games were available at launch, more than any console has shipped alongside here. Twenty of them went straight into the company's Top 40, and nine entered the Top Ten. Sony's Ridge Racer took the number one slot, pushing the previous sales leader, Brian Lara International Cricket 2005 into second position. ® \|\|\|\|\| The PSP is billed as a multimedia entertainment device More than 185,000 were sold in its first four days in UK shops, say official Chart-Track figures. Rival handheld, the Nintendo DS, sold 87,000 in its launch week in March. The PSP sales account for about £33m. Sony wants the PSP to appeal to more than just gamers. It also plays films, music, and browses the web wirelessly. The gadget went on sale in Europe on 1 September, nine months after hit Japanese stores and six months after the US. Sony expects a million PSPs to be sold in the UK before Christmas. Shops across the country opened their doors at midnight last week to deal with the demand from gamers, with many reporting that they had sold out. Chart-Track also reported that nine of the 24 PSP games which were available at launch entered the Top 10 official UK games chart this week. Topping the chart was Ridge Racer, with one in five people buying the game along with the PSP device. Thumb competition In the important run-up period to Christmas, the PSP is up against the giant of the handheld gaming arena, Nintendo, which dominates the portable gaming market. But the PSP is widely touted as a device to appeal to a wider range of people, because it can do more than play games. Thirty films were available for the device at its European launch, and more titles are on the way. Sony has developed its own discs for films, called UMD. But Sony has warned PSP owners about a known issue which came to light in the days following the PSP's March launch in the US. Many gamers returned their devices after the LCD screens appeared to be missing pixels. Sony said in accompanying literature to the device that the "stuck pixel" problem is characteristic of LCD technology. The PSP went on sale in the UK for £179 (249 euros). In the US, it sells for $249 (£138) plus tax. Five million PSPs have been shipped by Sony since its launch in Japan late 2004 and in the US in March this year. Sony says it expects to ship 13m by March 2006. \|\|\|\|\| Sony's (NYSE: SNE) PlayStation Portable (PSP), which the electronics and entertainment company hopes can rescue it from financial doldrums, staged a record-breaking launch in the United Kingdom, shattering existing sales records as gamers scooped up the console and compatible games as soon as they became available. According to Chart-Track, which uses electronic data from point of sale systems to track sales, 185,000 PSP units were sold between Friday and Monday in the UK, netting some US$60 million in hardware sales alone for Sony. Gamers also sought out software to run on the handheld device, pushing 20 of 24 titles launched along with the console into the top 40. Nine of the top 10 slots on the sales charts were taken up by PSP game titles. PSP sales far exceeded the previous high-water mark for game launches. The Nintendo DS had sold some 87,000 units on its launch weekend. Sony is positioning the PSP, which debuted in the U.S. in March, as far more than a game player, having opened the technical format to allow publishers to create DVDs of movies and compatible music files. The console can also be used as a wireless Web connection. Its main competitors include the Nintento DS and the nGage from Nokia (NYSE: NOK) , which like the PSP is being billed as a handful of devices in one. High Hopes The European sales launch is a contrast to the U.S. debut of PSP. While units sold out quickly in Sony's home country of Japan -- some 200,000 units were sold in a single day there -- sales in the U.S. were more modest out of the gate. Some analysts say that is a function of the marketing approach. Sony has positioned the PSP as a grown-up version of other gaming devices and has even begun to work on ways to make it a more versatile tool, possibly adding a mobile phone feature to future versions. Jupiter Research analyst Ian Fogg said the numbers are especially impressive given that the launch came with little advertising or marketing efforts behind it in the UK. But he said it's too early to declare Sony this year's big game console winner. "These are very early days," he added. "Sony's success must be judged on PSP sales over the entire Christmas run up, as well as how the vital games sold per console ratios develop." Sony has said that it hopes to sell 1 million PSP units in Europe before Christmas. Indeed, the games and other software for the players are where many companies expect to reap the profitable rewards of their gaming dominance. Though the PSP sells for around $250 in the UK, Sony and others are willing to sell the machines for tiny profits in order to help ensure recurring revenue as new game titles are released over time. Convergence Ahead Analysts say the success of PSP likely heralds a future in which handheld devices abound that offer both entertainment and productivity functions in one unit. While smartphone makers are believed to have an upper hand in that market, some say game makers may be able to lock in younger customers. Parks Associate analyst Michael Cai said one of the attractions of the PSP is its relatively low sticker price. While fully loaded smartphones can run $500 or more, the PSP may be inexpensive enough to attract new users to give it a test run. "As a gaming device, it will likely be successful for Sony, " Cai said. "The bigger question, of what the future holds for it as a multi-purpose device -- that will take longer to answer." \|\|\|\|\| NEWS Nissan concept car to include Xbox360 Nissan and Microsoft have teamed up to create a concept car that will allow you to play the Xbox360 from behind the wheel when you are not driving Violent video games get reprieve in the US Californian law that made it illegal to sell or rent violent or sexually explicit games to children has been blocked by a US federal judge World of Warcraft tops 5 million users Blizzard, the makers World of Warcraft has said it has surpassed 5 million customers worldwide	Sony PlayStation Portable The Sony PlayStation Portable went on sale in the UK on Thursday, September 1. In the three days following the release, more than 185,000 PlayStation Portables were sold. This sets a new sales record on game consoles. The record was previously held by Nintendo, who sold 87,000 Nintendo DS handhelds the first three days after its release. The PlayStation Portable is being sold for £179 in the UK. Twenty of the 24 games launched with PlayStation Portable are in the top 40. PlayStation Portable games also occupy nine of the top 10 slots on the sales charts. The game Ridge Racer was the most popular, with one in every five people buying both the PlayStation Portable and Ridge Racer at the same time. Sony's main competitors in the handheld gaming console market are Nintendo with the Nintendo DS and Nokia with the nGage. Like Nintendo and Nokia, Sony is marketing the device as being able to do more then just play games. The PlayStation Portable can play specially created versions of poular movies and surf the Internet wirelessly. Sony expects to sell a million PlayStation Portables in the UK before Christmas.
Jeb Bush endorses Mitt Romney's presidential campaign Jeb Bush's endorsement adds momentum to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign Mitt Romney has secured a key endorsement for his presidential bid from former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Mr Bush, whose support comes the day after Mr Romney secured a clear victory in Illinois, called on Republicans to "unite" behind the Romney campaign. Correspondents say the backing of the respected Republican suggests the party establishment could be coalescing around Mr Romney. The eventual nominee will challenge Barack Obama in November's election. The next primary will be held in Louisiana on Saturday, with more votes due in Wisoncsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia on 3 April. "Primary elections have been held in 34 states, and now is the time for Republicans to unite behind Governor Romney and take our message of fiscal conservatism and job creation to all voters this fall," Mr Bush said in a statement. "I am endorsing Mitt Romney for our party's nomination. Delegate totals 0 500 1000 Mitt Romney Rick Santorum Newt Gingrich Ron Paul 563 263 135 50 See detail of all states won A candidate needs 1,144 delegates to win "We face huge challenges, and we need a leader who understands the economy, recognises more government regulation is not the answer, believes in entrepreneurial capitalism and works to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed." Mr Bush had been courted as a possible presidential candidate himself, and his father, former President George H W Bush, has also effectively endorsed Mr Romney's candidacy. On Tuesday, FreedomWorks, an organisation that supports the Tea Party movement, dropped its opposition to Mr Romney's candidacy. "It is a statistical fact that the numbers favour Mitt Romney," Russ Walker, vice-president of FreedomWorks told the Washington Times. "We are dedicated to defeating Obama and electing a conservative Senate that will help Romney repeal Obamacare [healthcare reform] and address the nation's economic and spending challenges." Mr Romney has consistently had difficulty winning over the Republican base, who have questioned his conservative credentials. 'Competing every state' On Tuesday, Mr Romney secured 47% of the Illinois vote, with a comfortable lead of 12 points over Rick Santorum, his closest rival. Ron Paul polled 9% in Illinois and Newt Gingrich was on 8%; neither candidate campaigned extensively in the state. "I'm running for president because I have the experience and the vision to get us out of this mess," said Mr Romney, as his victory became evident. However, addressing supporters on Tuesday evening, Mr Santorum said he had polled well in Illinois in areas "that conservatives and Republicans populate". Illinois primary results Source: AP Romney 47% Santorum 35% Paul 9% Gingrich 8% 99% of precincts reporting "We're very happy about that and we're happy about the delegates we're going to get, too," he said. A candidate needs to accumulate 1,144 delegates to the August convention in order to secure the nomination. Currently, Mr Romney has won 563 delegates versus Mr Santorum's 263, according to an estimate by the Associated Press. Analysts say the current figures make it an almost impossible task for Mr Santorum, who has spoken openly in recent weeks about winning enough delegates to stop Mr Romney taking the crown. Such an outcome would lead to a competitive vote at the Tampa convention, in which Mr Santorum feels he could overcome Mr Romney. Mr Santorum has vowed to continue, "competing in every state", citing tepid support for Mr Romney even in states the former Massachusetts governor has won. US media analysis Reporting for the Washington Post, David Fahrenthold and Philip Rucker say that while a win in Illinois was essential in order for Mr Romney to extend his lead in the delegate count, "for Romney, however, this was about more than just numbers. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. "After squeaker victories over Santorum in Michigan and Ohio, he needed to show that he could kindle enough voter enthusiasm for a big win outside his north-eastern power base. "On Tuesday, he got it. For the first time since long-ago Florida, the former Massachusetts governor demonstrated that he could win as big as he spends." Maggie Haberman, writing for Politico, agrees winning the Prairie State was a significant step for Mr Romney, enabling the former governor to look and sound more presidential. "His win was not a knockout, and Santorum — as well as Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul — will keep going. "Even so, this was an important pivot point for Romney, who seemed noticeably more at ease in an election night speech that made no mention of his rivals and that sounded much more like a general-election message than the ones he's delivered on past primary nights." The New Yorker's John Cassidy wrote that Mr Romney appeared to have found his stride while delivering his victory speech on Tuesday night. "What nearly four months of trench warfare has really left Romney with is frighteningly high negative ratings from the independent voters he will need to win the White House; a depleted campaign bank account (doubtless he can refill it); and a number of hostages to fortune that the Obama campaign will be eagerly waiting to exploit. "But last night, perhaps for the first time, the argument that Romney will be a better candidate for what he's been through didn't sound completely outlandish." \|\|\|\|\| Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney tightened his hold on the party nomination Wednesday when he secured one of the most sought-after endorsements, former Florida governor Jeb Bush. It comes on top of a commanding victory over Rick Santorum in the Illinois primary on Tuesday night, a potential turning-point in a race that has acquired an air of inevitability. Bush, in his statement throwing his support behind Romney, applied pressure to Santorum to quit the race and for the Republicans finally to unite behind one candidate: Romney. Bush said: "Primary elections have been held in 34 states, and now is the time for Republicans to unite behind governor Romney and take our message of fiscal conservatism and job creation to all voters this fall." Romney described the endorsement as a key point in the campaign. But in a mis-step that took some of the shine off the Illinois win and the backing of Bush, one of his Romney's advisers, Eric Fehrnstrom, made light of the candidate's tack to the right during the nomination process, saying the positions could be reset "like an Etch-a-sketch". It was a rare gaffe: usually it falls to Fehrnstrom and his team to clean up after the badly chosen words of their boss. His rivals tried to capitalise on the mistake, but the fact remains that Romney is now in a strong position. Although he is still well short of the 1,144 delegates to the party convention in August required to secure the nomination, the remaining races between now and June are favourable to Romney. Santorum needed an upset in Illinois and failed to achieve it. Most endorsements do not matter, with those posted daily by the Romney press office from serving and former members of Congress and state legislatures normally ignored. But that of Bush is more important, a popular figure in the Republican party and one who would have been a candidate this year, held back only by the lingering unpopularity of his brother, George W Bush. He is frequently named as a potential runner in 2016. The decision of Jeb Bush to come off the fence after Illinois is a recognition that senior figures have come round to the view that Romney is going to the eventual winner. Romney, welcoming the endorsement, said: "Jeb Bush is synonymous with good government and with conservative policies that yield results. He has long demonstrated an outstanding ability to bring people together. I therefore take tremendous pride in having earned his endorsement. This is a key moment in the presidential contest." He added that he would be relying on Bush for advice during the campaign against Barack Obama in November. Romney's rivals played down the significance. Alice Stewart, Santorum's spokeswoman, told MSNBC: "We're doing this without the big-named endorsements, without the establishment endorsements. Rick is out there to get the endorsement of the American people and he is doing very well doing that." Although there are 23 contests still to go, the overwhelming majority of these suit Romney better than his main rival Rick Santorum. Illinois was effectively Santorum's last chance to alter the course of the race and he not only lost but lost by a double-digit margin. One of his senior campaign staff described as insurmountable the gap between himself and Santorum in terms of delegates to the party convention in Florida in August where the Republican nominee will be formally chosen. The sense of weariness was picked up in exit polls in Illinois, with about 30% of voters saying they would prefer to see the race over, even if it meant their candidate did not win. Romney, after beating Santorum by only narrow margins in states such as Ohio and Michigan, finally won the unqualified victory he had been looking for, beating Santorum by 47% to 35% in Illinois. His other remaining rivals have faded from the race and this was reflected in their votes, with Ron Paul on 9% and Newt Gingrich on 8%. In his victory speech on the outskirts of Chicago, Romney said: "It's time to say these words. This word: enough. We've had enough." His words were directed at Obama but may also have easily been directed at – or even meant for – Santorum. Romney has resisted calling openly for Santorum to quit the race, allowing his wife Ann and his campaign staff to do so instead, arguing that a long race helps the Democratic party. In spite of outspending Santorum in advertising in Illinois and other states by ratios of at least seven to one, with some estimates much higher, Romney's campaign chest shows no sign of diminishing. Newly-released campaign figures, required by law, showed he raised $12.5m in February, his best month for fundraising yet, the bulk of it from big donors. Only one in 11 dollars came from people donating $200 or less. Romney spent $12.3m in February, most of it on advertising. Santorum, who has been fighting on a relatively small budget, took in $2.5m in February. He has been campaigning in an old-fashioned way, getting out and about talking with voters, surrounded by, until recently, a small team. Santorum is out to keep the campaign going as long as possible to establish himself as the Republican candidate not for 2012 but 2016. Although he blames his failure to beat Romnney on the disparity in cash and the presence of Gingrich splitting the conservative vote, one of his biggest problems has been to expand support beyond the core of Christian evangelicals and social conservatives he attracted at the start of the campaign in Iowa. Santorum opted to hold his election night party Tuesday in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, rather than in Illinois, saying it was a tribute to Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address. But it was also the scene of the decisive battle of the Civil War, the turning-point. Santorum, though, shows no sign of being anywhere close to pulling out. He is almost certain to win Louisiana at the weekend – Romney has failed to win a state in the deep south – but after that the calendar looks bleak for him, with a slew of contests on April 3 and then a three-week pause in the middle of the month that will drain even more energy from the campaign. At his Gettysburg party, he was defiant: "We're heading to Louisiana for the rest of the week, then we're back here in Pennsylvania and we're going to pick up a whole boatload of delegates and close this gap and then on to victory." Santorum, Gingrich and Paul cling to the idea that Romney will be unable to reach the magic number of 1,144 delegates, a majority of the convention. In that case, they argue it would have to be a brokered convention, with all the uncertainty and drama that would entail. Romney's Illinois victory makes that less likely. Former Mississippi governor Haley Barbour, a senior Republican who commands wide respect within the party, said even if Romney was to fall short of the 1,144, he would still win the nomination. "I think it's very unlikely we'll go to the convention with an open nomination," Barbour told Politico. "The most likely outcome is that somebody will have a hot streak in the next few weeks and will get to 1,144 by June. Even if they come close to 1,144, there will be such a coalescence around them that the party will pull around." \|\|\|\|\| Still, the front-runner's campaign ran into some trouble Wednesday after a senior adviser compared Romney's policy positions to an "Etch A Sketch" toy, suggesting they could easily change to appeal to more moderate general election voters. "I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes," said the adviser, Eric Fehrnstrom, during an interview on CNN. "It's almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again." Asked to clarify the remark, Fehrnstrom didn't back way from the comment. He said only that the general election is "a different race, with different candidates, and the main issue now becomes" exclusively President Barack Obama. The comment played into the caricature of the former Massachusetts governor as someone who readily changes his positions to accommodate political realities. Romney supported abortion rights, for example, when he ran for governor of Massachusetts. Now he says he opposes abortion. Romney and his allies spent hundreds of thousands of dollars more than Rick Santorum and his backers in Illinois, and it showed in Tuesday's results: Romney trounced Santorum by 47 percent to 35 percent. Campaign finance reports released Tuesday showed that big donors to a GOP political organization founded by political strategist Karl Rove have boosted their financial support for Romney in recent weeks. For all that money, though, Romney's Illinois win was a victory without an electrified electorate: Turnout seemed likely to be among the lowest in decades: Officials in several election districts said turnout hovered around 20 percent. "You could draw a bigger crowd at a Green Bay Packers rally in downtown Chicago than what Mr. Romney delivered to the polls," Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said on CBS' "This Morning." Romney was the clear favorite among Illinois Republicans who were most concerned about picking someone who is capable of taking on Obama in the fall. Romney's wife, Ann, suggested this week that it was time for the party to coalesce behind him. And in an appeal to the centrist independents who will decide the general election, Romney pledged Tuesday to work with Democrats or "die trying." "Tonight was a primary, but November is a general election. And we're going to face a defining decision as a people," Romney said during a victory speech. "We know what Barack Obama's vision is. We've been living it these last three years. My vision is very, very different." Romney picked up at least 41 delegates in Illinois, according to initial results, adding to his delegate lead and making it that much harder for any of his rivals to deny him an opportunity to take on Obama in November. For his part, Obama on Wednesday headed to Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma on a trip aimed at answering critics of his energy policies, sure to be a key issue in the fall campaign. His first stop was a plant in Nevada that uses solar panels to power homes, part of an effort to highlight his programs to expand renewable energy sources. The president's GOP critics poked back at Obama before Air Force One even took off. Newt Gingrich issued a statement saying Obama was answering a real-world problem with a "solution that is totally disconnected from the practical realities of the world and has little chance of success." Crossroads GPS, the nonprofit arm of a Republican super PAC, launched an ad on TV stations in the areas on Obama's itinerary and on national cable channels faulting the president for "bad energy policies" that are driving up gasoline prices. Romney was moving on to Maryland, but he opened Wednesday by tweeting a "Happy Anniversary" message to his wife, complete with a wedding photo from 1969. His campaign also released a web video in which Ann Romney recounts the details of their dating-to-marriage story. Polls show Romney has the advantage heading toward Maryland's April 3 primary. But the South, where Louisiana votes Saturday, has proven less hospitable to Romney. Santorum, who hopes to rebound in Louisiana, sounded like anything but a defeated contender Tuesday night as he spoke to supporters in Gettysburg, Pa. He said he had outpolled Romney in downstate Illinois and the areas "that conservatives and Republicans populate." "We're very happy about that and we're happy about the delegates we're going to get, too," he said before invoking Illinois-born Republican icon Ronald Reagan, the actor turned president. "Saddle up, like Reagan did in the cowboy movies." Gingrich issued only a written statement Tuesday. Texas Rep. Ron Paul has yet to win a state. Romney triumphed in Illinois after benefiting from a crushing 7-1 advantage in the television advertising wars, and as his chief rival struggled to overcome self-imposed political wounds in the marathon race to pick an opponent to Obama. Most recently, Santorum backpedaled after saying Monday that the economy wasn't the main issue of the campaign. "Occasionally you say some things where you wish you had a do-over," he said later. Romney has 563 delegates in the overall count maintained by The Associated Press, out of 1,144 needed to win the nomination. Santorum has 263 delegates, Gingrich 135 and Paul 50. After the Louisiana primary, a 10-day break follows before Washington, D.C., Maryland and Wisconsin hold primaries on April 3. Santorum is not on the ballot in the nation's capital. Private polling shows Romney with the edge in Maryland, and the pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future is spending more than $450,000 on ads in the state. Wisconsin shapes up as the next big test between Romney and Santorum. Republican politics there have been roiled recently by a controversy involving a recall battle against the governor and some GOP state senators who supported legislation that was bitterly opposed by labor unions. Already, Restore Our Future has put down more than $2 million in television advertising across Wisconsin. Santorum has spent about $50,000 to answer.	Jeb Bush , the former governor of Florida, announced his endorsement of Republican presidential candidate hopeful Mitt Romney yesterday. This follows Romney's win in the Illinois primary on Tuesday, where he beat Rick Santorum by 12 percentage points. In a statement, Bush argued that "now is the time for Republicans to unite behind Governor Romney and take our message of fiscal conservatism and job creation to all voters this fall". He also stated that he believed Romney to be "a leader who understands the economy, recognises more government regulation is not the answer, believes in entrepreneurial capitalism and works to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed". Romney welcomed the endorsement and stated that it was a "key moment" in his campaign for the presidential candidacy: "Jeb Bush is synonymous with good government and with conservative policies that yield results. He has long demonstrated an outstanding ability to bring people together. I therefore take tremendous pride in having earned his endorsement." Fundraising figures have been released for February: Romney raised 12.5 million during the month, and spent $12.3 million on advertising. In comparison, Santorum raised $2.5 million in February. The next primary will take place in Louisiana on Saturday, followed by primaries on April 3 in Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia. In Wisconsin, Romney is reported to be spending $2 million on television adverts compared to Santorum's $50,000.
In Pictures: South Downs landscape Ministers have announced the creation of a South Downs national park - almost 60 years to the day since it was recommended. The South Downs, covering parts of Sussex and Hampshire, was among 12 areas identified for national parks in the 1940s. Environment Minister Hilary Benn has said the area will become England's 10th national park. Further consultation will be carried out on six additions to the boundary. Defra said the national park designation order could not be confirmed until the consultation had finished and a proper decision had been made on additional areas. A statement said: "In practice, that probably means the park will not be formally created until at least the early part of 2011." The South Downs National Park is the first to be created in England since the New Forest in 2005. The move gives the area the highest level of protection under the planning system. Some people have been waiting for this for over 60 years Chris Todd Before the announcement, Chris Todd, manager of the South Downs Campaign which has fought for national park status for the Downs since 1990, said he was confident it would be good news. "It's going to be a historic day," he said. "Some people have been waiting for this for over 60 years. We feel quite young having only campaigned for 20 years." Sandstone forests On Monday, the 60th anniversary of the introduction of laws to protect rural areas, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) urged the government to go ahead with the planned park. The exact boundary for the national park has been the subject of debate for a number of years. The planned national park was the subject of a public inquiry after changes to the boundaries were proposed. The inclusion of one part in particular, the Western Weald, lying between Petersfield and Pulborough, has divided people. The area, which is made up of grassland and sandstone forests, was not included in the original 60-year-old report because it was geographically different to the rest of the South Downs. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| New South Downs National Park announced Environment Secretary Hilary Benn today gave the go-ahead for the South Downs to become England’s ninth National Park. The new 627 square mile protected area will be home to an estimated 120,000 people, stretching from Beachy Head to the edge of Winchester, in line with an independent inspector’s recommendations following a 19-month public inquiry. A new South Downs National Park Authority is expected to be established by April 2010 and become fully operational a year later. Hilary Benn said: “Having considered the inspector's report and recommendations carefully, and agreed that the statutory criteria are met, I have decided that the South Downs including the so-called Western Weald should be confirmed as a National Park. “It is fitting that in this year, the 60th anniversary of the radical legislation that gave birth to National Parks, we are celebrating an addition to the family. "National Park status can be a real boost for the local economy, attracting new visitors, businesses and investment, but above all, the South Downs’ wonderful countryside will be protected forever for the enjoyment of everyone.” Further information Page last modified: 31 March 2009 Page published: 31 March 2009	The South Downs, an area of chalk downland in southern England is to gain National Park status under measures announced earlier today. A view of the Downs as they stretch away along Southern England. In the announcement, Environment Secretary Hillary Benn was quoted as saying "It is fitting that in this year, the 60th anniversary of the radical legislation that gave birth to National Parks, we are celebrating an addition to the family." The designation has not been met with approval by some. Nigel Waterson, an MP for nearby Eastbournce, alleges to Channel 4 News that "ministers have ignored the views of almost all local authorities in the area, as well as local people." The new park and associated management is expected to be in place in two years' time.
Recounts are being conducted of 23 constituencies The results of the first recounts in Zimbabwe's parliamentary elections are in, with the ruling and opposition parties retaining one seat each. The ruling Zanu-PF party held its seat in Goromonzi West, while the opposition MDC held on to Zaka West, the Zimbabwe Election Commission said. The MDC says the recounts are an attempt to rig the election and overturn its parliamentary majority. Meanwhile, the UK says it will press for an arms embargo on Zimbabwe. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would propose the international embargo to prevent a shipment of weapons from reaching the country. Seats retained The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said the recounts in two of 23 disputed constituencies had confirmed the initial results. There is no clear winner. No-one has got 51%. Therefore we should gear ourselves for a re-run Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga Is it war across Zimbabwe? Zuma refuses to criticise Mugabe UK 'would back Zimbabwe embargo' The ZEC says it cannot publish the official presidential result until it completes the recount of presidential and parliamentary votes. Zanu-PF needs to overturn nine seats to reclaim its parliamentary majority. Goromonzi West was one of only two constituencies where the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) requested a recount and, according to the commission, Zanu-PF actually picked up just one extra vote following the recount to be confirmed as the winning party. In Zaka West, where the recount was initiated by Zanu-PF, the results of the election did not change, with all the contesting political parties saying they were satisfied with the recounting process. "We are happy to retain the seat and we believe the same will happen in all the constituencies where recounting is taking place," Wilstaff Stemele, MDC Masvingo provincial chairman, said on Tuesday when the results were announced. Denial? Meanwhile, Zanu-PF has distanced itself from an article in a Zimbabwean state-owned newspaper calling for a power-sharing government. The BBC's Peter Greste in South Africa says the paper is regarded as a mouthpiece for Zanu-PF, so articles like this can be important indicators of the way the party is thinking. But Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga denied the article was sanctioned by the government of Zimbabwe. "The politburo said there is not going to be a government of national unity as proposed by Morgan Tsvangirai. That was thrown out," he told the BBC. "We are waiting for the official announcement of results to say, we're waiting for a re-run, that's a fact. MDC knows that, Zanu-PF knows that, that there is no clear winner. No-one has got 51%. The MDC says its candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, won March's presidential vote outright and has also rejected the idea of a unity government. ZIMBABWE'S NEIGHBOURS Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has been under fire over March's disputed elections. His neighbours have been supportive but regional differences are now emerging. South Africa's President Mbeki is the key Zimbabwe mediator. He has refused to criticise Robert Mugabe but the ruling ANC, and trade unions have urged him to take a stronger line. Zambian President Mwanawasa has taken the region's strongest line on Zimbabwe. His call for Africa not to let a ship carrying weapons to Zimbabwe dock will outrage President Mugabe. Angola's government has close ties to Zimbabwe's ruling party - both came to power after fighting colonial rule in the 1970s. Botswana is not seen as an ally of Robert Mugabe. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai fled here after polls. Namibia is a close ally of Zimbabwe - it too is planning to redistribute white-owned farms to black villagers. Mozambique has hosted some white farmers forced from Zimbabwe and is seen as relatively sympathetic to Zimbabwe's opposition. Tanzania's ruling party has a long history of close ties to Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and is unlikely to criticise him. DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila is an ally of Robert Mugabe, who sent troops to help his father, Laurent Kabila, fight rebels. Malawi is seen as neutral. But some 3m people of Malawian origin are in Zimbabwe, mostly farmworkers who have lost their jobs and were sometimes assaulted during farm invasions. BACK NEXT 1 of 9 Mr Tsvangirai's MDC says a violent campaign of intimidation by Zanu-PF supporters have left 10 dead and thousands displaced - but Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa denies anyone has been killed. Meanwhile, the leader of the governing ANC in South Africa, Jacob Zuma, is refusing to blame Mr Mugabe for the violence. Speaking to the BBC during a visit to London, Mr Zuma said the violence in Zimbabwe was unacceptable, but he was not prepared to judge individuals. He also refused to criticise President Thabo Mbeki's "softly softly" approach as mediator. "We are doing something more than anybody else in reality... other people are doing absolutely nothing." In Mozambique, former president Joaquim Chissano says he has declined a request from Mr Tsvangirai to mediate in Zimbabwe's political crisis. Mr Chissano was speaking in Maputo after meeting Mr Tsvangirai, who has called for Mr Mbeki to step aside as mediator. Mystery ship Prime Minister Brown's call for an international arms embargo on Zimbabwe comes after a Chinese ship tried to dock at several African ports to unload a cargo of arms destined for Zimbabwe. The ship, the An Yue Jiang, has disappeared once again, but is thought to be heading up the west coast of Africa from the Cape of Good Hope. Recounts are being conducted in 23 constituencies It has been refused permission to dock in South Africa and Mozambique, and Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has urged other African leaders not to allow it to enter their territorial waters. The Lloyds Marine Intelligence Unit (MIU) in London, which plots the location of ships around the world, says it is no longer possible to accurately establish exactly where the vessel is because readings are no longer being taken from its AIS (Automatic Identification System). The AIS is a location beacon which every ship carries, with a range of 40-50 nautical miles. It is possible that the An Yue Jiang is more than 50 nautical miles from the coast and is therefore not being picked up, or that the AIS has been switched off. The Lloyds MIU says that plotting points taken of the Chinese ship on Tuesday show that it was steaming north-west up the African coast at a speed of about 250 nautical miles a day. The US is reported to be pressuring port authorities in Angola and Namibia - staunch allies of Zimbabwe's leader - not to allow the ship to dock. China has said the ship may have to return home without delivering its load. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| The recount may lead to a run-off between presidential candidates Election officials in Zimbabwe have started recounting some of the votes cast in disputed polls held last month. The recount in 23 of 210 constituencies could overturn the parliamentary result which saw Zanu-PF lose its majority. Results of the presidential poll, which the opposition MDC says it also won, have not been released. It is thought the recount may lead to a run-off vote. Meanwhile, a Chinese ship carrying arms to Zimbabwe has left a South African port after workers would not unload it. The leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, is adamant he won the presidential election outright. His party has said Mr Tsvangirai will not contest a run-off unless certain conditions are met - such as a secure environment, with thorough international monitoring. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission says it cannot release the results until it investigates anomalies. The MDC's secretary general, Tendai Biti, said the party would not accept any recount in respect of parliamentary seats "because ballot boxes have been stuffed". "Those ballot boxes have become pregnant and reproduced," he said. Suspicion of bias On Friday, the high court rejected an application by the MDC to stop a partial recount taking place this weekend. "I find no merit in the application," said Justice Antonia Guvava. "Accordingly, the application is dismissed with costs." Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Arms ship 'on the move' Why Mugabe is deaf to the West Spreading fear in Zimbabwe The ruling paved the way for all presidential, parliamentary, senate and council votes cast in 23 out of 210 constituencies to be recounted. A change in the parliamentary result by nine seats could see President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party regain its lost majority in the assembly. The BBC's Will Ross said the independent electoral commission's decision to withhold the results and then recount the ballot papers has led to widespread suspicion of bias, especially as Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF complained about the initial count. On Friday, Mr Mugabe gave his first speech since the disputed elections. Thousands of people gathered at the Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield, a suburb of Harare, to hear Mr Mugabe speak at a rally celebrating the anniversary of Zimbabwe's independence from Britain and the end of white minority rule. The 84-year-old played a key role in the 1970s war of independence and took power as Zimbabwe's first prime minister in 1980 on a wave of popular support. Dockers intervene Mr Mugabe took to the stage to rapturous applause to celebrate what he described as the day on which the "nation finally shook off the chains of British racist settler colonialism". HAVE YOUR SAY I predict that the situation will end up like Kenya. Mugabe will be encouraged by the African Union to form a national unity government Frank Hartry, South Africa In his speech Mr Mugabe denounced both the opposition MDC and Britain and called on Zimbabweans "to maintain utmost vigilance in the face of vicious British machinations and the machinations of our other detractors, who are allies of Britain". Meanwhile, Chinese cargo ship the An Yue Jiang was forced to move after a South African court refused to allow the weapons destined for Zimbabwe which are on board to be transported across the country. Dock workers had refused to unload the weapons shipment from the vessel, which had been anchored off the port of Durban for four days. The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union had said it did "not agree with the position of the government not to intervene". Reports say the An Yue Jiang is carrying three million rounds of ammunition, 1,500 rocket-propelled grenades and 2,500 mortar rounds. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Zimbabwe officials on Saturday began recounting ballots from the country's disputed election in a move that could overturn a claimed victory by opponents to President Robert Mugabe. Robert Mugabe delivers his speech at the 28th Independence Celebrations in Harare. The electoral commission began recounting parliamentary and presidential ballots in 23 of Zimbabwe's 210 voting districts Saturday morning, officials said. The country's High Court cleared the way for the partial recount Friday when it rejected a petition by the opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The MDC argued the recount would be illegal since the initial presidential results were never announced. The delayed presidential election results have raised fears that Mugabe, who has been in office for 28 years, is trying to cling to power. MDC presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai has declared himself the winner over Mugabe, based on vote tallies posted outside precincts. The electoral commission had already announced the MDC won the majority of the parliamentary seats in the March 29 election. However, Mugabe's party, ZANU-PF, has vowed to contest 16 seats in that race, and it says there was cheating. It isn't clear whether those seats are among the constituencies to be recounted. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said the recount would take five days. Meanwhole, a Chinese ship loaded with arms and ammunition bound for Zimbabwe has turned away from a South African port after dockworkers refused to handle the cargo, their representative said. The An Yue Jiang sat anchored outside Durban's harbor in South Africa on Thursday. The ship was "probably going to the nearest port, which is Maputo, Mozambique, from where it could also be transshipped to Zimbabwe," David Cockroft, general secretary of the International Transport Workers Federation, told CNN International on Friday. E-mail to a friend Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. All About Zimbabwe • Robert Mugabe • Morgan Tsvangirai	Some results from the recount of the Zimbabwe election have been released. Both the Movement for Democratic Change and the ruling Zanu-PF party have retained one seat. A representative Zanu-PF commented on the seat they retained. "We are happy to retain the seat and we believe the same will happen in all the constituencies where recounting is taking place," they said. Zimbabwe election officials begun to recount 23 out of 210 constituencies' ballots after president Mugabe's Zanu-PF party accused the opposition party, the MDC, of bribing election officials. Several arrests have since been made in relation to the recount. The ballots are from the parliamentary elections held on March 29. The opposing MDC previouly made an appeal to Harare's High Court for the recount to be stopped. However it was rejected, Justice Antonia Guvava said "I find no merit in the application... Accordingly, the application is dismissed with costs." Despite this MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who is currently staying in South Africa for his own safety, claims to have won both parliamentary and presidential elections outright.
1611: Khodor, in Abidjan, has just told the BBC that he "can hear gunfire and there are looters on the streets". He adds: "The situation is really really dangerous. There are no police and no army on the streets. We are stuck in our building. There are all nationalities here, I'm from Lebanon. We have had to pay looters to stay away from our building, they were going to come and burn it down, so we paid them to leave us alone. We have no food or water. I'm quite calm now, but there are people in tears, we have no idea what will happen or even what is going on, we are getting updates from the internet but there is no news elsewhere. The UN should be protecting civilians but where are they, we feel that we have been abandoned. We have tried calling the embassy but no one answers." \|\|\|\|\| The relations between First Quantum and the Democratic Republic of Congo have gone from bad to worse in recent months, after the country expropriated the miner’s $765 million Kolwezi copper tailings project in September. When some of the most influential figures in emerging markets finance spoke to a group of Reuters editors, they were asked about top picks for growth beyond the so-called BRIC countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China. The giggles started when the seventh journalist in a row said that his question was for Egypt’s water and irrigation minister, Mohamed Nasreddin Allam. It has debt levels to die for and huge amounts of oil, but economically it’s lagging and political concerns remain. Speakers at a Libyan trade and investment forum this week saw the North African country as a mixed bag. If Guinea can pull off free and fair elections this weekend, it will lay the foundations for what could be one of Africa’s most unexpected and significant good news stories. Africa is providing a lot of fine material for the London theatre these days. \|\|\|\|\| ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast -- Forces stormed the bunker where Ivory Coast's strongman Laurent Gbagbo hung on to power Monday, arresting the man whose refusal to hand over the presidency to the election winner left hundreds dead and threatened to re-ignite a civil war in the world's largest cocoa producer. Gbagbo's dramatic arrest came after days of heavy fighting during which French and U.N. helicopters fired rockets at his presidential residence. Forces backing the internationally recognized winner Alassane Ouattara had begun a rapid offensive to oust Gbagbo late last month. Issard Soumahro, a pro-Ouattara fighter at the scene, told The Associated Press that the ground offensive to seize Gbagbo came after the French launched airstrikes until at least 3 a.m. Monday. "We attacked and forced in a part of the bunker. He was there with his wife and his son. He wasn't hurt, but he was tired and his cheek was swollen from where a soldier had slapped him," Soumahro said. TV footage showed Gbagbo emerging from his bunker in a white sleeveless undershirt, and then donning a colorful print shirt. He was interrogated and brought to the Golf Hotel, where Ouattara has been trying to run his presidency since the Nov. 28 vote. Officials are now waiting for him to sign a document that formally hands power over to Ouattara, Soumahro said. "The nightmare is over for the people of Ivory Coast," Ivory Coast's U.N. ambassador said. Youssoufou Bamba, who was appointed U.N. ambassador by Ouattara, said Gbagbo will face justice. He predicted that fighting that has wracked this former French colony will stop as soon as pro-Gbagbo forces learn of his capture. It will be very difficult for Ivory Coast to mount a domestic court to try Gbagbo, said Richard Downie, an Africa expert at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, adding that it would "probably be a lightning rod for more unrest." "(Ouattara) didn't want to come to power this way, though the barrel of a gun," Downie said. "He was elected fairly and freely. But this is the situation he was dealt. It's going to be incredibly difficult for him to bring the country together." Ouattara's private television station broadcast images of a serene Gbagbo sitting on his bed. It was not immediately clear if the images were taken immediately after his capture. Ouattara's ambassador to France, Ali Coulibaly, told France-Info radio: "It's a victory ... considering all the evil that Laurent Gbagbo inflicted on Ivory Coast." He emphasized that the man in power for a decade would be "treated with humanity." "We must not in any way make a royal gift to Laurent Gbagbo in making him a martyr," Coulibaly said. "He must be alive and he must answer for the crimes against humanity that he committed." Some critics had accused Gbagbo of clinging to power in part to avoid prosecution by the International Criminal Court. ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has begun preliminary examination of possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ivory Coast, including accusations leveled against forces seeking to install Ouattara. Ivory Coast was divided into a rebel-controlled north and a loyalist south by a 2002-2003 civil war. The country was officially reunited in a 2007 peace deal. The long-delayed presidential election was intended to help reunify the nation but instead unleashed months of violence. Gbagbo, who won 46 percent of the vote, held power for a decade and already had overstayed his mandate by five years when the November election took place. When the country's election commission and international observers declared he lost the election after it was finally held, he refused to step down. The former history professor defied near-universal pressure to cede power to Ouattara. The two set up parallel administrations that vied for control of the West African economic powerhouse. Ouattara drew his support from the U.N. and world powers. Gbagbo maintained his hold over the country's military and security forces who terrorized his opponents. He wrapped himself in the country's flag as he took the oath of office. "No one has the right to call on foreign armies to invade his country," Gbagbo, still taking a nationalistic stance, declared in a televised address on New Year's Eve. "Our greatest duty to our country is to defend it from foreign attack." Ivory Coast gained independence from France in 1960, and some 20,000 French citizens still lived there when the civil war broke out. French troops were then tasked by the U.N. with monitoring a cease-fire and protecting foreign nationals in Ivory Coast, which was once an economic star and is still one of the only countries in the region with four-lane highways, skyscrapers, escalators and wine bars. Gbagbo had described efforts to oust him from power as tantamount to a foreign coup d'etat. On Monday, the French government sought to distance itself from Gbagbo's arrest. Cmdr. Frederic Daguillon, the French forces spokesman in Abidjan, said French forces were not involved in Gbagbo's arrest. Other West African nations had considered military intervention to remove Gbagbo, but those efforts never materialized and sanctions imposed on Gbagbo and his inner circle by the U.S. and European Union failed to dislodge him. Human rights groups accused his security forces of abducting and killing hundreds of political opponents as the deadlock dragged on. While the United Nations passed resolutions allowing its peacekeepers to intervene to protect civilians, anti-Gbagbo neighborhoods in Abidjan continued to be pummeled with mortars. So many people were killed that the local morgue began stacking corpses on the floor because they had run out of space in the refrigerated vaults. Ouattara attempted to assert his authority from the Golf Hotel, protected by U.N. peacekeepers, while the would-be president tried to financially strangle Gbagbo by imposing an embargo on cocoa exports. In a desperate move, Gbagbo seized control of foreign banks in Abidjan -- prompting their flight and a liquidity crunch. After months of political deadlock, forces backing Ouattara began a dramatic offensive in late March, taking the administrative capital and reaching the largest city and commercial capital, Abidjan, in just days. They met resistance in Abidjan, where Gbagbo and his family sought refuge in an underground bunker at the presidential residence. Last week, U.N. and French forces intervened to destroy Gbagbo's arsenal of weapons used on civilians, firing rockets from helicopters and ultimately sending French tanks to the strongman's home. \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Besieged Ivorian leader Laurent Gbagbo has been detained in the main city Abidjan and delivered to the headquarters of his elected successor. He reportedly surrendered to Alassane Ouattara's forces after French tanks advanced on his residence. France said pro-Ouattara troops had detained him, but an aide to Mr Gbagbo said it was French special forces. Newly released pictures show Mr Gbagbo at Abidjan's Golf Hotel, where Mr Ouattara has his offices, as the BBC's Mark Doyle explains.	Laurent Gbagbo has reportedly been detained by French elite forces. Laurent Gbagbo, the incumbent president of Ivory Coast, is being taken to a hotel in the capital Abidjan to meet with internationally recognised leader Alassane Ouattara after the beseiged ruler was detained by forces loyal to the opposition. The permanent representative of Ivory Coast to the United Nations in New York, , said Gbagbo, who he described as "alive and well", had been captured by opposition forces in a raid on his presidential palace in Abidjan and will stand trial. The prime minister in Ouattara's prospective government has called on Gbagbo loyalists to join the opposition this afternoon, reports indicate. Bamba confirmed forces loyal to Ouattara had captured Gbagbo, rather than French or U.N. forces as had initially been reported. "The nightmare is over for the people of Ivory Coast, there is much celebration," Bamba said. "He is now being held in a safe place for the next steps to put him on trial." New video footage of Gbagbo has emerged, purportedly showing him detained in a hotel in Abidjan where Ouattara is staying. Fighting in the African state since a disputed election in November last year. Supporters of Ouattara claim he won the poll and is the rightful president, but Gbagbo has refused to stand down.
Lille appeared to consider walking off in protest Ryan Giggs scored from a free-kick as Lille were still lining up a wall. The French side appeared to contemplate leaving the pitch in protest after referee Eric Braamhaar allowed the goal to stand. Uefa will discuss Lille's protest and the behaviour of their players during the match on Friday. On an incident-filled evening, United fans were involved in a crush scare in the Stade Felix-Bollaert and Uefa's control and disciplinary body will discuss the safety and security issues on 22 March. Giggs' goal came seven minutes from the end of the match, giving United a 1-0 advantage ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford. Lille president Michel Seydoux insisted his players would not have walked off the pitch. "It was not an attempt to get the game abandoned - it was an emotional moment," said Seydoux. However, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson branded Lille a "disgrace". He added: "I have never seen that before in all my years in football. "The Lille staff encouraged their players to come off and that made it a hostile atmosphere inside the ground. It's a disgrace." \|\|\|\|\| Champions League Links More News FEATURES PREMIERSHIP PRO-LIFE Ben Foster brings us his latest instalment. ON THIS DAY Our enhanced On this Day feature is the perfect way to start your day! QUIRK EXPRESS Opta look at the quirks and trends that emerged from the weekend action. YOUR VIEW Is it time for West Ham to sack Alan Pardew? YOUR VIEW \|\|\|\|\| By Chris Bevan Craig Bellamy celebrated his goal by imitating a golf swing Deco nodded Barca in front from Gianluca Zambrotta's precise cross. But Liverpool dug in and they levelled when Barca keeper Victor Valdes let Bellamy's header creep over the line. Barca poured men forward but the Reds took the lead when Bellamy teed up Riise to fire home and they held on to win despite seeing Deco hit the post. The pre-match headlines had been all about an alleged training camp fracas between Bellamy and Riise - but both were in Liverpool's starting line-up and did not take long to link up as the Reds made a confident start to the game. Inside the first four minutes Steven Gerrard released Riise and his driven cross from the left was only just too strong for the Welshman. But an attacking Barca line-up - with Javier Saviola flanked up front by Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi - did not take long to get into their stride. Saviola had already been harshly called offside after breaking clear when Deco had a dangerous shot blocked by Jamie Carragher. So it was no real surprise when the home side took the lead on 14 minutes. Zambrotta escaped Gerrard on the left and, with Risse napping, his cross found Deco on his own at the far post to score with a bullet header. It almost got worse for Rafa Benitez's side as Barcelona looked to press home their advantage. The Reds had no answer to the home side's quick incisive passing that gave them two more chances in quick succession. First Saviola shot wide after getting past Carragher, then Jose Reina had to make a good low save to deny Deco after he had ghosted on to Messi's through ball. But Liverpool rode the storm and two minutes before half-time they were handed an unlikely route back into the game. Much has been made of Barca's recent defensive vulnerability and it reared its head again here, thanks to a disastrous mistake by goalkeeper Victor Valdes. John Arne Riise celebrates Liverpool's winner Bellamy had already escaped the Barcelona defence once to nod Gerrard's free-kick against the side-netting and he was soon at it again. The Wales striker was all on his own to meet Xabi Alonso's cross and, although Valdes caught the ball, he carried it over the line before pushing it back out. Dirk Kuyt followed up to make absolutely sure of the equaliser but it was not a surprise to see Bellamy claim the goal after his turbulent week - and he celebrated it with a golf swing. Frank Rijkaard's side seemed to run out of ideas and, in the absence of any clear gameplan, settled for sending more men forward. That played into Liverpool's hands and another Valdes error gave them their first chance of the second half when he picked up a back-pass with 20 minutes left. The keeper saved Alonso's shot with his feet and was glad to see Kuyt head over when the midfielder swiftly sent over an inviting cross. But Benitez did not have to wait long to see his side go ahead. Reina saved well from Saviola and, when Liverpool came forward again, Valdes denied Kuyt - but the ball fell for Bellamy who fed Riiise to sweep the ball home. There was still time for Deco to send a free-kick curling against the post with Reina beaten but Liverpool held on for a famous victory. Barcelona: Valdes, Belletti, Marquez, Puyol, Zambrotta, Xavi (Giuly 65), Motta (Iniesta 54), Deco, Messi, Saviola (Gudjohnsen 82), Ronaldinho. Subs Not Used: Jorquera, Van Bronckhorst, Thuram, Oleguer. Booked: Belletti, Zambrotta. Goals: Deco 14. Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Finnan, Sissoko (Zenden 84), Alonso, Gerrard, Bellamy (Pennant 80),Kuyt (Crouch 90). Subs Not Used: Dudek, Hyypia, Gonzalez, Mascherano. Booked: Agger, Kuyt, Sissoko, Bellamy. Goals: Bellamy 43, Riise 74. Att: 88,000 Ref: Kyros Vassaras (Greece). \|\|\|\|\| Chelsea include midfielder Michael Ballack after he recovered from a thigh suffered earlier this month. Chelsea are still without Ashley Cole (knee), Joe Cole (foot) and Khalid Boulahrouz (shoulder) but have no other fresh injuries to contend with. Porto welcome back winger Ricardo Quaresma after suspension. Coach Jesualdo Ferreira is set to revert to a 4-3-3 formation with Argentine strikers Lucho Gonzalez and Lisandro Lopez iin the line-up. Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Cudicini, Ferreira, Geremi, Diarra, Carvalho, Terry, Bridge, Morais, Obi, Lampard, Makelele, Ballack, Essien, Shevchenko, Drogba, Robben, Kalou, Wright-Phillips. SCOUTING REPORT ON THE OPPOSITION Who are they? Champions of Portugal and cup winners for good measure, this is the 10th time in 12 seasons Porto have been in the competition, and the third time in succession. Recent form: They are still top of the Liga but have only just started firing on all cylinders after the winter break. Going into Christmas they were unbeaten in 13, but in the four matches since they have 50:50 win:loss ratio. After single-goal defeats to Leiria and Amadora they bounced back with a bang and sunk Naval 4-0 at the weekend. European record: They won the title by beating Monaco in 2004 under the self-styled 'Special One', Jose Mourinho. He refused to celebrate, moved on to Chelsea and Porto's fortunes have since dwindled as the squad broke up. How did they get here? By winning the bwin Liga. Ones to watch: Much has changed since Jose Mourinho left Porto, but he will need no second introduction to striker Helder Postiga whom he helped to develop while he was in charge at the Dragao. If the name rings a bell it is because he had a poor spell at Spurs, but now back in his homeland he has twice helped dump England out of major competitions, is banging in the goals and is the club's leading scorer this term. He has been ably supported by Lucho Gonzalez, Lisandro Lopez and the quicksilver Ricardo Quaresma. Did you know? That quartet have scored 68% of Porto's goals this season, Postiga weighing in with 10, Gonzalez nine, Lopez eight and Quaresma seven. And if Chelsea are to prioritise who to keep quiet they should keep tabs on Argentine duo Gonzalez and Lopez. When they have scored this term, Porto have won. BIG MATCH STATS Definitions of terms used:- Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93. Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches. European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League). Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded. Head-to-heads FC Porto and Chelsea have met each other twice in European history. Both matches were played in the group phase of the 2004-05 Champions League. On 29 September, Chelsea won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge with goals from Smertin, Drogba and Terry for the home side and Benni McCarthy for Porto. In the reverse match on 7 December, Porto won 2-1. Duff gave the English side the lead, but Diego and Benni McCarthy secured victory for the Portuguese. Porto have a very good record in home matches against clubs from England; unbeaten in all nine meetings (four wins, five draws). Chelsea have never played a club from Portugal in a European match, apart from Porto. European history FC Porto won the Champions League in the 2003-04 season, defeating AS Monaco 3-0 in the final. They have also won the Champions Cup (1987), the Uefa Cup (2003), the European Super Cup (1987) and the Intercontinental Cup (1987, 2004) twice. This is their 12th Champions League season, a record jointly held with Manchester United. Chelsea's biggest success in European competition is winning the Cup Winners' Cup twice (1971 and 1998). They also won the European Super Cup in 1998. This is their fifth CL participation. They have now reached at least the last 16 in each of their four CL campaigns, and were semi-finalists in 2003-04 and 2004-05. Current European form Porto are unbeaten in their last five home matches in the Champions League. Their last home defeat came on 28 September 2005 when succumbing 2-3 to Artmedia Bratislava. Overall, FC Porto have not lost in their last four CL matches. Their last defeat dates back to 26 September 2006 when Arsenal beat them 2-0. Player and disciplinary info Joe Cole (Chelsea) will suffer a ban if booked. John Terry (Chelsea) returns after suspension. Lisandro Lopez and Luis Gonzalez are Porto's top scorers in this competition with four goals. Gonzalez, Bruno Alves, Helton and Pepe are all yet to miss a minute this season. Andriy Shevchenko is the most experienced Chelsea player with 84 CL appearances. He's also the most prolific goalscorer in Chelsea's squad with 44 career CL goals. Michael Essien is the only player to have been on the field for every minute of the Londoners' CL campaign this season. Other miscellaneous facts This is the 150th match in Europe's elite club competition, the Champions Cup/Champions League combined, for the Oporto-based club. Their next defeat will be the club's 50th in the history of the Champions Cup/Champions League. Porto lead the Portuguese League with 43 points from 18 matches, holding a four-point advantage over Benfica. Chelsea are going strong in all four competitions. The Carling Cup finalists and FA Cup quarter-finalists trail Manchester United by six points at the top of the Premiership. Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports \|\|\|\|\| David Silva celebrates scoring Valencia's second equaliser Esteban Cambiaso headed Inter in front as he followed up Zlatan Ibrahimovic's blocked shot from Luis Figo's cross. Hernan Crespo wasted two good chances to stretch the lead before David Villa's stunning second-half free-kick round the wall drew Valencia level. Maicon linked up with Julio Cruz to put Inter ahead but David Silva's shot after a poor clearance secured a draw. Inter Milan: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Burdisso, Stankovic, Cambiasso (Dacourt 31), Figo (Solari 89), Zanetti, Crespo (Cruz 68), Ibrahimovic. Subs Not Used: Toldo, Maxwell, Adriano, Samuel. Booked: Burdisso, Zanetti. Goals: Cambiasso 29, Maicon 76. Valencia: Canizares, Miguel, Ayala, Albiol, Moretti, Angulo (Joaquin 83), Marchena, Albelda, Silva (Jorge Lopez 90), Morientes (Hugo Viana 77), Villa. Subs Not Used: Butelle, Navarro, Curro Torres, Pallardo. Booked: Albelda, Marchena. Goals: Villa 64, Silva 87. Att: 65,000 Ref: Martin Hansson (Sweden). \|\|\|\|\| Lyon's Juninho [right] is challenged by Simone Perrota The Englishman equalled the Champions League record, set by Dick Jol in 2000, in a fractious, ill-tempered affair. Juninho created Lyon's best chance when his free-kick ricocheted off Roma's Rodrigo Taddei and on to the post, while home keeper Doni denied Fred. Francesco Totti had Roma's best effort, but Gregory Coupet saved comfortably. Roma: Doni, Panucci, Mexes, Ferrari, Tonetto, Taddei (Vucinic 86), De Rossi, Pizarro, Mancini (Wilhelmsson 76), Perrotta, Totti. Subs Not Used: Curci, Faty, Defendi, Rosi, Cassetti. Booked: Mexes, Panucci, Pizarro, Mancini, Taddei, Totti, Tonetto, De Rossi. Lyon: Coupet, Clerc, Cris, Squillaci, Abidal, Tiago, Toulalan, Juninho, Govou, Fred (Baros 74), Malouda. Subs Not Used: Vercoutre, Cacapa, Kallstrom, Reveillere, Ben Arfa, Fabio Santos. Booked: Juninho, Govou, Toulalan. Att: 55,000 Ref: Mike Riley (England). \|\|\|\|\| By Phil McNulty Angry Lille players confront referee Eric Braamhaar Giggs curled in a quick free-kick after 83 minutes while Lille were still assembling their defensive wall. Lille players, furious that an earlier header by Peter Odemwingie had been ruled out, walked off the pitch as the last 16 first leg clash boiled over. They eventually returned, and United held on for a crucial victory. 606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on the match United were strengthened by the return of goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar following a broken nose and Wayne Rooney after a domestic suspension. But the main talking point of a drab first 45 minutes were the worrying scenes involving United's supporters, with too many appearing to be packed in lower tier of the away section. Dozens of United supporters were concerned, and French police appeared to respond to a genuine security problem by firing off tear gas. The situation was eventually resolved and the game continued. United carved out openings near half-time, with Rooney shooting over the top and then seeing another attempt blocked from close range. The England star burst into life again after 50 minutes, surging past three players - but Giggs was unable to turn in his cross at the far post. He then set up Ronaldo three minutes later, but Lille keeper Tony Sylva made a crucial block. Lille were sparked into action, and only Van der Sar's outstretched leg stopped Bodmer from close range. And there was a highly-debatable incident after 61 minutes when Odemwingie wheeled away in celebration after heading home - but referee Eric Braamhaar ruled the goal out, presumably for a push on Nemanja Vidic. United boss Ferguson made a subsitution almost immediately, sending on Louis Saha for Ronaldo. Saha could have made an instant impact, but shot straight at Sylva from only 10 yards. Henrik Larsson had been quiet, but he almost conjured up a moment of invention to break the deadlock, chipping inches over the bar after Sylva failed to gather Rooney's driven cross. Lille substitute Johan Audel then turned a good chance over the top as both sides pushed for the winner. United took the lead with seven minutes left - in an incident that brought the atmosphere inside the ground to boiling point. Giggs whipped in a 20-yard set-piece as Lille were still organising their defensive wall - and with keeper Sylva scrambling hopelessly out of position. Lille were furious, and it appeared they were on the point of walking off in protests as several players walked towards the dug-out. They eventually returned, but even then there were ugly scenes as United's players, including Gary Neville, were pelted with missiles. But they remained calm and held out comfortably to set the platform for progress in the second leg at Old Trafford. Lille: Sylva, Chalme, Plestan, Tavlaridis, Tafforeau, Debuchy, Bodmer, Makoun, Obraniak (Michel Bastos 89), Fauvergue (Cabaye 57), Odemwingie (Audel 75). Subs Not Used: Malicki, Schmitz, Lichtsteiner, Mirallas. Booked: Fauvergue, Debuchy, Sylva. Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo (Saha 67), Carrick, Scholes (O'Shea 90), Giggs, Rooney, Larsson. Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Brown, Park, Fletcher, Silvestre. Booked: Evra, Vidic. Goals: Giggs 83. Att: 41,000. Ref: Eric Braamhaar (Holland). \|\|\|\|\| By Caroline Cheese Mendez beat Lehmann with a fierce shot The Gunners had the better of the first half, with Tomas Rosicky forcing PSV keeper Gomes into a fine save. But PSV improved after the break and Mendez beat Jens Lehmann with a fierce low effort from 25 yards on the hour. Despite plenty of possession, Arsenal could not fashion an equaliser and must come from behind in the second leg. 606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on the match It had started promisingly enough for Arsene Wenger's side, who kept PSV on the back foot in the first-half with their one-touch passing game. Gomes pulled off a magnificent save from Rosicky after the Czech midfielder had exchanged a one-two with Thierry Henry and both Rosicky and Henry went close with 20-yard efforts. As Arsenal pressed, PSV were relying heavily on the pace of Arouna Kone to ease the pressure but the striker was too often ploughing a lone furrow. But after a half-time talking-to from Koeman,and no doubt encouraged by some sloppy Arsenal play, PSV began to commit more numbers to attack. Kone had already made a mess of a volley when Mendez put the hosts ahead with a deadly low strike into the corner. The PSV fans could barely believe their luck and after a quiet first-half, the Philips Stadion came to life. Arsenal looked panic-stricken, with pass after pass going astray. The sense of bewilderment was summed up when Philippe Senderos was booked for a pointless handball. With his side in control, Koeman took the opportunity to create Champions League history by sending on Xiang Sun - the first Chinese player to appear in the competition. And with Sun bolstering PSV's defence, Arsenal found chances hard to come by despite enjoying plenty of possession. Henry sensed an opportunity when he was fouled 30 yards out but he was left shaking his head when substitute Julio Baptista stole in take the free-kick and put it straight at the keeper. PSV: Gomes, Kromkamp, Alex, Da Costa (Sun 65), Salcido, Culina, Simons, Cocu, Mendez, Kone, Tardelli (Vayrynen 75). Subs Not Used: Moens, Addo, Feher. Goals: Mendez 61. Arsenal: Lehmann, Gallas, Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Hleb (Julio Baptista 75), Silva, Fabregas, Rosicky, Henry, Adebayor. Subs Not Used: Almunia, Ljungberg, Denilson, Flamini, Djourou, Aliadiere. Booked: Senderos. Att: 35,000. Ref: Tom Ovrebo (Norway). \|\|\|\|\| By Clive Lindsay Lee Naylor went close to scoring for Celtic Yoann Gourcuff squandered an opening and goalkeeper Artur Boruc's outstretched foot prevented Alberto Gilardino giving Milan an early lead. Kenny Miller passed up a couple of half-chances for Celtic. But Milan were the more dangerous and Rino Gattuso and Gilardino fired wide as Celtic avoided an away goal. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink had come through a late fitness test to lead Celtic's attack in the first leg in Glasgow. He was partnered by Miller, with Craig Beattie and Maciej Zurawski having failed to recover from injury. Darren O'Dea and Evander Sno came in for cup-tied pair Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley, while Aiden McGeady replaced Jiri Jarosik in midfield. MY SPORT DEBATE: Give your thoughts on the match Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf failed his fitness test and joined Ronaldo and Filippo Inzaghi on the sidelines. But Gilardino was passed fit to take a lone striker role. He was supported by Kaka and the Brazilian playmaker was first to threaten, running at the Celtic defence but driving straight at Boruc from 20 yards. Milan legend Paolo Maldini marked his 100th Champions League appearance by picking up the first booking after a strong challenge on Vennegoor of Hesselink. Miller had Celtic's first opportunity but fired straight at Zeljko Kalac from a difficult angle. But 2005 finalists Milan created the first clear-cut chance, but Gourcuff sent a weak 14-yard header straight at Boruc after being found unmarked by Kaka's flighted cross. Ex-Rangers midfielder Gattuso (left) was back in Glasgow Kaka was again the creator, putting Gilardino clear behind the Celtic defence, but a touch off Boruc's outstretched foot was enough to turn the striker's effort just wide of the far post. A Mark Wilson cross fell to Miller at the back post, but the Scotland striker miscontrolled and the chance was lost. McGeady had the first effort of the second half but fired straight at Kalac from 22 yards. But Milan were again the more incisive and Kaka picked out Gattuso, who fired wide of the post from just inside the box. Celtic responded with their best move of the match, but a 25-yard drive from Lee Naylor curled wide. Gilardino appeared to be clipped by Wilson inside the box, but the Italian's acrobatic dive earned a booking. The striker fired wide then forced Boruc into a save as he began to find more space in the penalty box. Celtic substitute Thomas Gravesen sliced wide from just inside the box as Gordon Strachan's side had to be content with a creditable draw that keeps the tie alive for the second leg in Milan. Celtic: Boruc, Wilson, McManus, O'Dea, Naylor, Nakamura, Sno, Lennon (Gravesen 81), McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Miller (Jarosik 62). Subs Not Used: Brown, Telfer, Riordan, Perrier Doumbe, Kennedy. Booked: Nakamura. AC Milan: Kalac, Oddo, Kaladze (Bonera 62), Maldini, Jankulovski, Gourcuff, Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Kaka, Gilardino (Oliveira 77). Subs Not Used: Storari, Cafu, Costacurta, Simic, Brocchi. Booked: Maldini, Gilardino. Att: 58,785 Ref: Terje Hauge (Norway) \|\|\|\|\| By John Sinnott Raul scored twice in the first half Raul got the better of Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn in a one-on-one encounter, before Lucio's header made it 1-1. By half-time Real were 3-1 up as Raul scored with header, while Van Nistelrooy volleyed in, with David Beckham setting up both those goals. Bayern were more cohesive in the second-half and with two minutes left Mark van Bommel fired in a half-volley. Beckham's delivery at set pieces proved key to the nine-times European Champions' win, with the Bayern defence proving uncertain whenever the ball came into the box. Given this display Beckham must be wondering why he has spent most of the season on the Real bench and is no longer deemed worthy of a place in the England squad. Not that Beckham's performance was entirely blemish free. Sent off on Saturday in a Spanish league match at times against Bayern in the first-half Beckham showed flashes of his temper, notably when he was riled by Van Bommel. Early in the second half he set Gonzalo Higuain free with a raking diagonal pass before forcing Kahn into a fine save with a dipping free-kick. Not that the Real defence were altogether comfortable at set-pieces as Fabio Cannavaro failed to pick up Lucio for Bayern's equaliser. Real might also have done better for Bayern's second goal with Van Bommel punishing their inability to clear their lines. Real's first goal was created by Van Nistelrooy, the Dutchman passing with the outside of his right foot to bisect the Bayern defence and release Raul. Kahn got a touch as he came out to challenge Raul, but the rebound fell kindly to the Real striker, who sidefooted into the empty net. At times Real's defence was equally uncomfortable at set-pieces as Cannavaro failed to pick up Lucio for Bayern's equaliser. Lucio slipped free of Fifa World Player of Year to guide a header past Iker Casillas from Willy Sagnol's free-kick. But Real were soon to regain their lead, Raul heading home on the line after Ivan Helguera had nodded Beckham's corner goalward. Beckham and Helguera played a part in Real's third goal, with the Real defender flicking on the Englishman's free-kick. And Van Nistelrooy provided the perfect finish, volleying past Kahn from close range. Bayern tightened up defensively after the break and also improved offensively after Claudio Pizarro came on. In the closing stages Pizarro's low left-footed shot was superbly saved one-handed by Casillas. But Casillas could do nothing to stop Van Bommel's powerful shot as the Dutchman arrowed in a half-volley from the edge of the penalty area. Real Madrid: Casillas, Miguel Torres, Cannavaro, Helguera, Roberto Carlos (Raul Bravo 59), Beckham, Gago, Guti, Raul, Higuain (Robinho 53), Van Nistelrooy. Subs Not Used: Diego Lopez, Salgado, Emerson, Reyes, Mejia. Goals: Raul 10, 28, Van Nistelrooy 34. Bayern Munich: Kahn, Sagnol, Lucio, Van Buyten, Lahm, Van Bommel, Hargreaves, Demichelis (Salihamidzic 46), Schweinsteiger (Scholl 79), Makaay, Podolski (Pizarro 61). Subs Not Used: Rensing, Gorlitz, Santa Cruz, Ottl. Booked: Demichelis, Schweinsteiger, Hargreaves. Goals: Lucio 23, Van Bommel 88. Att: 80,300. Ref: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).	The first leg of the round of sixteen in the was completed on Wednesday, with at least one controversial result, and a bag full of ties. The leg began on Tuesday with four games, and the other four were played the next day, including reigning champions FC Barcelona of Spain. Champions League logo.
Provided by NZX By Jonathan Marshall Telecom has apologised to a woman after the company's email filter deemed her first name Gay to be "inappropriate for business-like communication". The cyberspace saga began when web designer Gay Hamilton emailed Telecom's helpdesk, enquiring if Xtra broadband services were available in her Nelson suburb. The automated reply was not what she was expecting. "[Your email] was identified by our content filtering processes as containing language that may be considered inappropriate for business-like communication," the email said. The offensive word was the woman's name: "The content which caused this to happen was ... 'gay' eight times, at two points each, for an expression score of 16 points." Herald on Sunday inquiries have revealed that the response was triggered by Telecom's internal email monitoring system, which exists to "prevent misuse of email technologies in the workplace and act as a deterrent to harassment," according to Lenska Papich, public relations manager for Telecom's broadband and online division. "Our systems internally detect a number of words, including both the words gay and heterosexual, that could be deemed as inappropriate for use at work." Telecom claimed the telling-off was never intended for Hamilton, as the warning system that threatens "disciplinary action" is intended to reprimand employees, not clients. But for Hamilton, who happens to be gay, the shock was not isolated to the reply she received but also to the fact that Telecom had spent time and resources deciding that the word "gay" should be audited from staff communications. "If they do have to put content filters on ... then maybe they should ensure that it only gets genuinely abusive words." Papich apologised to Hamilton last week and said Hamilton had been "really good" about it. Telecom refused to supply a list of words its machine searched for. \|\|\|\|\| A woman's email to Telecom New Zealand's help desk was rejected because the company's filter system found her name, Gay, "inappropriate for business-like communication", a newspaper has reported. Gay Hamilton, of Nelson, admitted that she did happen to be gay but was concerned that the country's biggest public company had spent time and resources deciding the word was offensive, the Herald on Sunday reported. "If they do have to put content filters on, then maybe they should ensure that it only gets genuinely abusive words," she told the paper. Telecom's automated reply to her email said the message "was identified by our content filtering processes as containing language that may be considered inappropriate for business-like communication". It confirmed that the offending word was "gay". Telecom spokesman Lenska Papich said the response was triggered by the company's internal email monitoring system, which exists to "prevent misuse of email technologies in the workplace and act as a deterrent to harassment". "Our systems internally detect a number of words, including both the words gay and heterosexual, that could be deemed as inappropriate for use at work," she said. DPA	Telecom New Zealand has apologised to Gay Hamilton after her e-mail was bounced because it contained the word gay eight times. The automatic reply Ms Hamilton received stated that the e-mail was not suited for "business-like communication". Website designer and lesbian, Gay Hamilton had sent the largest public company in New Zealand a message to their help desk via e-mail, asking if she was able to receive their broadband services in her Nelson suburb. Lenska Papich, spokesperson for Telecom, has said that e-mails are usually only monitored internally, and the words are blocked to help reduce harassment cases by threatening disciplinary action. "Our systems internally detect a number of words, including both the words gay and heterosexual, that could be deemed as inappropriate for use at work." Telecom refused to list the other words that are blocked. Ms Hamilton has said that she is worried about the amount of time and effort Telecom must have put into deciding that gay was an inappropriate word in e-mail communication. "If they do have to put content filters on, then maybe they should ensure that it only gets genuinely abusive words." Ms Hamilton has been apologised to by Lenska Papich, who said that she was very good about it all.
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Juran, “Father of Quality,” has Passed Away SOUTHBURY, CT – Dr. Joseph M. Juran, noted author and “father” of modern day quality management, passed away on February 28, 2008, from natural causes. He was 103 years old, and was physically and mentally active until his death. Born in Braila, Romania, in 1904, Dr. Juran’s family immigrated to the United States, settling in Minneapolis, MN, in 1912. Joseph De Feo, Juran Institute’s CEO, and 20 year employee, states that, “Dr. Juran recently told me that he wanted everyone to know he had a wonderful life and hoped that his contributions to improving the quality of our society will be remembered. Although Dr. Juran has been retired from the Institute since 1995 he remained Chairman Emeritus and ensured that we could carry on his mission to improve the quality of our society. He was even still working hard at completing another text book, caring for himself and his wife of 81 years, Sadie, when he passed away.” Dr. Juran had many notable accomplishments in his life. His major contribution to society was in the field of quality management. Perhaps most importantly, he is recognized as the person who added the managerial dimension to quality—broadening it from its statistical origins. In 1937, Dr. Juran coined the Pareto Principle, which millions of managers rely on to help separate the "vital few" from the "useful many" in their activities. He also wrote the first standard reference work on quality management, the Quality Control Handbook, first published in 1951 and now moving into its sixth edition. His classic book, Managerial Breakthrough, first published in 1964, presented a more general theory of quality management. It was the first book to describe a step-by-step sequence for breakthrough improvement. This process has evolved into Lean and Six Sigma today and is the basis for quality initiatives worldwide. The Juran Trilogy, published in 1986, identified and was accepted worldwide as the basis for quality management. After almost 50 years of research, his trilogy defined three management processes required by all organizations to improve. Quality control, quality improvement, and quality planning have become synonymous with Juran and Juran Institute Inc. Dr. Juran traveled the world to teach others how to improve quality, and in 1979, at the age of 85, he founded Juran Institute, Inc. (JII). JII initially focused on providing training and techniques to improve enterprise quality. It grew over the years to provide clients and society with a full compliment of tools and techniques to improve business results. Many of Dr. Juran’s techniques to improve business performance are still in use today, such as the Lean and Six Sigma tools and principles used worldwide. As a result of the power and clarity of Joseph Juran's thinking and the scope of his influence, business leaders, legions of managers and his fellow theorists worldwide recognize Dr. Juran as one of "the vital few" - a seminal figure in the development of management theory. Juran contributed more to the field and over a longer period of time than any other person, and yet, felt he had barely scratched the surface of his subject. "My job of contributing to the welfare of my fellow man," wrote Juran, "is the great unfinished business." Juran Institute was founded in 1979 by Dr. Joseph M. Juran, the internationally recognized pioneer and visionary of the quality management field. Juran is a global leader of research, consulting, and education in managing operational excellence. With offices spanning the United States, China, Germany, Korea, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, and the United Kingdom, Juran is able to provide support worldwide. Through training and consulting, our professionals exemplify the standard for quality leadership, enabling clients to achieve Six Sigma levels of quality and optimal business performance. To learn more about Juran and our mission statement, visit SOUTHBURY, CT – Dr. Joseph M. Juran, noted author and “father” of modern day quality management, passed away on February 28, 2008, from natural causes. He was 103 years old, and was physically and mentally active until his death. Born in Braila, Romania, in 1904, Dr. Juran’s family immigrated to the United States, settling in Minneapolis, MN, in 1912.Joseph De Feo, Juran Institute’s CEO, and 20 year employee, states that, “Dr. Juran recently told me that he wanted everyone to know he had a wonderful life and hoped that his contributions to improving the quality of our society will be remembered. Although Dr. Juran has been retired from the Institute since 1995 he remained Chairman Emeritus and ensured that we could carry on his mission to improve the quality of our society. He was even still working hard at completing another text book, caring for himself and his wife of 81 years, Sadie, when he passed away.”Dr. Juran had many notable accomplishments in his life. His major contribution to society was in the field of quality management. Perhaps most importantly, he is recognized as the person who added the managerial dimension to quality—broadening it from its statistical origins.In 1937, Dr. Juran coined the Pareto Principle, which millions of managers rely on to help separate the "vital few" from the "useful many" in their activities. He also wrote the first standard reference work on quality management, the Quality Control Handbook, first published in 1951 and now moving into its sixth edition.His classic book, Managerial Breakthrough, first published in 1964, presented a more general theory of quality management. It was the first book to describe a step-by-step sequence for breakthrough improvement. This process has evolved into Lean and Six Sigma today and is the basis for quality initiatives worldwide.The Juran Trilogy, published in 1986, identified and was accepted worldwide as the basis for quality management. After almost 50 years of research, his trilogy defined three management processes required by all organizations to improve. Quality control, quality improvement, and quality planning have become synonymous with Juran and Juran Institute Inc.Dr. Juran traveled the world to teach others how to improve quality, and in 1979, at the age of 85, he founded Juran Institute, Inc. (JII). JII initially focused on providing training and techniques to improve enterprise quality. It grew over the years to provide clients and society with a full compliment of tools and techniques to improve business results. Many of Dr. Juran’s techniques to improve business performance are still in use today, such as the Lean and Six Sigma tools and principles used worldwide.As a result of the power and clarity of Joseph Juran's thinking and the scope of his influence, business leaders, legions of managers and his fellow theorists worldwide recognize Dr. Juran as one of "the vital few" - a seminal figure in the development of management theory. Juran contributed more to the field and over a longer period of time than any other person, and yet, felt he had barely scratched the surface of his subject. "My job of contributing to the welfare of my fellow man," wrote Juran, "is the great unfinished business."Juran Institute was founded in 1979 by Dr. Joseph M. Juran, the internationally recognized pioneer and visionary of the quality management field. Juran is a global leader of research, consulting, and education in managing operational excellence. With offices spanning the United States, China, Germany, Korea, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, and the United Kingdom, Juran is able to provide support worldwide. Through training and consulting, our professionals exemplify the standard for quality leadership, enabling clients to achieve Six Sigma levels of quality and optimal business performance. To learn more about Juran and our mission statement, visit www.juran.com Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to the magazine. \|\|\|\|\| Joseph Juran, pioneer of quality control, dies at age 103 RYE, New York: Joseph M. Juran, a pioneer of quality management whose "Quality Control Handbook" revolutionized how companies around the world made and sold products, has died. He was 103. Juran died Thursday after suffering an apparent stroke, his family said. The "Quality Control Handbook" was first published in 1951, and at least five more editions followed. The book describes the mathematical basis for quality improvements. Juran believed that quality improvements were key to businesses' survival and profits — not only for manufacturers, but for enterprises as diverse as scientific organizations, hospitals, supermarkets and Internet companies. He worked as a quality control consultant, lecturer and author until he was in his 90s, son Donald Juran said. "He always told me, 'Never be without a project,' and he never was," he said. Juran attended the University of Minnesota and started his career in Chicago at Western Electric Co., the former manufacturing arm of AT&T, trying to resolve product defects, his son said. During World War II, Juran worked in Washington, eliminating bottlenecks that hindered timely equipment shipments to U.S. allies overseas, and worked to minimize defective exports. After teaching industrial engineering briefly at New York University, he became a hired expert, helping companies come up with quality control standards, his family said. In 1979, he founded Juran Institute, an organization aimed at providing companies with research and advice on managing quality.	Dr. Joseph M. Juran, an American industrial engineer and philanthropist, has died from a stroke on February 28 at the age of 103. He was born on December 24, 1904 in Brăila, Romania. In 1924, with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota (he would later earn a law degree), Juran joined Western Electric at the Hawthorne Works. His first job was in the inspection branch. Juran was promoted to a managerial position in 1928, and the following year became a division chief. He would publish his first quality related article in Mechanical Engineering in 1935. In 1937 he moved to Western Electric/AT&T's headquarters in New York City. After World War II, Japan was experiencing a crisis in mass manufactured product quality. Japanese goods were thought to be inexpensive, however, easily broken and in general poor quality. The Japanese Union of Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) recognized these issues and invited Juran to Japan in 1954. Juran is survived by his wife Sadie Shapiro, 3 sons and 1 daughter.
The California Supreme Court, striking down two state laws that had limited marriages to unions between a man and a woman, ruled Thursday that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. The court’s 4-to-3 decision, drawing on a ruling six decades ago that struck down the state’s ban on interracial marriage, would make California only the second state, after Massachusetts, to allow same-sex marriages. The decision, which becomes effective in 30 days unless the court grants a stay, was greeted with celebrations at San Francisco City Hall, where thousands of same-sex marriages were thrown out by the courts four years ago. It was denounced by religious and conservative groups, who pledged to support an initiative proposed for the November ballot that would amend California’s constitution to ban same-sex marriages and overturn the decision. Same-sex marriage has been a highly contentious issue in past presidential and Congressional elections, but it was not immediately clear what role the ruling would play in this year’s elections. The Democratic and Republican candidates for president have all said that they believe marriage should be between a man and a woman, but Republicans could use a surge in same-sex marriages in the country’s most populous state to invigorate their conservative voters. \|\|\|\|\| Reactions to California Supreme Court gay marriage ruling SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Some reactions to Thursday's California Supreme Court ruling that overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage. The ruling would allow same-sex couples in the biggest U.S. state to wed. ___ "At the end of the day, this is about real people and their lives. This is about their families. It doesn't get much more personal than this. ... This is an extraordinary day. This is an extraordinary moment." _San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom ___ "President Bush has always believed marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman. Today's decision by the California Supreme Court illustrates that a federal constitutional amendment is the best way for the people to decide what marriage means." _White House Press Secretary Dana Perino ___ "I respect the court's decision and as governor, I will uphold its ruling." _California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ___ "What an outrage. It will be up to the people of California to preserve traditional marriage by passing a constitutional amendment. ... Only then can they protect themselves from this latest example of judicial tyranny." _James Dobson, chairman of the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family ___ "Essentially, this boils down to love. We love each other. We now have equal rights under the law... We're going to get married. No Tupperware, please." _Robin Tyler, a plaintiff in the case along with her partner, Diane Olson ___ "This is what the California Supreme Court has said: Children have a new role model — homosexual marriage, aspire to it. This is a disaster." _Randy Thomasson of VoteYesMarriage.com, a campaign to amend the California Constitution to ban gay marriage ___ "Because the California Supreme Court is looked to by other states as a leader in family law, we hope and expect that this decision will be persuasive and influential in other states throughout this nation." _Gloria Allred, lawyer for two Southern California plaintiffs in the case ___ "Today's decision of California's high court opens the door for policymakers to deconstruct traditional marriage and create another institution under the guise of equal protection." _Ned Dolejsi, executive director of the California Catholic Conference ___ "I welcome the California Supreme Court's historic decision. I have long fought against discrimination and believe that the state constitution provides for equal treatment for all of California's citizens and families, which today's decision recognizes." _House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco ___ "This ruling is a conservative one. The justices have ensured that the law treats all Californians fairly and equally. This decision is a good one for all families, gay and non-gay." _James Vaughn, director of the California Log Cabin Republicans ___ "Today the California Supreme Court took a giant leap to ensure that everybody — not just in the state of California, but throughout the country — will have equal treatment under the law." _ San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who helped argue the case before the Supreme Court ___ "We won. Today is the day we've been working for — a watershed for basic fairness and human dignity. Profound social change starts in California, and does not end here. It influences the rest of the nation." _Maya Harris, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California ___ "We all know that love knows no boundary. Today, in the great state of California, neither does fairness and opportunity." _Lorri Jean, chief executive of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In a much-anticipated ruling issued Thursday, the California Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional. California's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Several gay and lesbian couples, along with the city of San Francisco and gay rights groups, sued to overturn state laws allowing only marriages between a man and a woman. "There can be no doubt that extending the designation of marriage to same-sex couples, rather than denying it to all couples, is the equal protection remedy that is most consistent with our state's general legislative policy and preference," said the 120-page ruling. It said that the state law's language "limiting the designation of marriage to a 'union between a man and a woman' is unconstitutional, and that the remaining statutory language must be understood as making the designation of marriage available to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples." With the ruling, California becomes the second state to allow same-sex couples to legally wed. Massachusetts adopted the practice in 2004, and couples don't need to be state residents to wed there. Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Connecticut permit civil unions, while California has a domestic-partner registration law. More than a dozen other states give gay couples some legal rights. Seven other jurisdictions around the world have legalized same-sex marriage: Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. San Francisco officials in 2004 allowed same-sex couples in the city to wed, prompting a flood of applicants crowding the city hall clerk's office. The first couple to wed then was 80-year-old Phyllis Lyon and 83-year-old Dorothy Martin, lovers for 50 years. "We have a right just like anyone else to get married to the person we want to get married to," Lyon said at the time. One issue before the justices was whether San Francisco's laws carried legal weight when the rest of the state banned same-sex marriages. Gay rights advocates argued the state was violating their civil rights by limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. The state law in question is the Defense of Marriage Act, Proposition 22. Oral arguments in the case in March lasted more than three hours, a sign of the political and legal issues at stake. Six cases were consolidated. Groups saying they were promoting a pro-family agenda had vowed to fight a statewide law allowing same-sex marriage. "The government should promote and encourage strong families," said Glen Lavy of the Alliance Defense Fund. "The voters realize that defining marriage as one man and one woman is important because the government should not, by design, deny a child both a mother and father." An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is likely. The federal high court has never addressed the question of same-sex marriage. All About Same-Sex Marriage • San Francisco \|\|\|\|\| High Profile Case In certain high profile cases, the Supreme Court provides online access to some case documents to increase public access to court information. Marriage Cases In re Marriage Cases, (S147999) Oral Arguments - March 4, 2008 The court will allocate three hours to oral argument in this proceeding. For purposes of oral argument, the City and County of San Francisco and the other parties challenging the constitutionality of California's current marriage statutes will be deemed petitioners, and the State of California and the other parties supporting the constitutionality of the marriage statutes will be deemed respondents. Listen to Oral Arguments On March 4, California Channel , a public affairs cable network, will offer a live broadcast of the oral arguments. An audio archive of the broadcast will be available on the Supreme Court Broadcasts page shortly after March 4. News Releases Media Advisory: State Supreme Court Provides Online Briefs in Marriage Cases (PDF) (Posted: February 11, 2008) Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments in Marriage Cases on March 4, 2008 (PDF) (Posted: February 6, 2008) Case Documents Briefs filed in the case, organized by lead party. Case Events Case Information Docket, disposition, parties and attorneys, and lower court information. E-mail Notification Request automatic e-mail notification about In re Marriage Cases developments. About the Supreme Court of California Overview of the Supreme Court Background on the high court and its justices, case information, opinions, and forthcoming filings. A Visitor's Guide to the Supreme Court of California (PDF, 1,074 KB) Pamphlet detailing a brief overview of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of California Overview of the court's work, procedures, membership, and history. << back	The Supreme Court of California in a 4–3 decision has struck down California's ban on gay marriage. The decision struck down two laws, one from 1977 and another more recent one due to a referendum in 2000. Prior to this case, California allowed extensive benefits to gay couples that were in practice close to those given to heterosexual couples. The Court's headquarters in San Francisco, California, which it shares with the Court of Appeal for the First District. The case in question consisted of a consolidation of six cases being appealed. Parties included a variety of gay couples and the city of San Francisco which wanted to recognize gay couples. The opinion, written by Chief Justice Ronald M. George, stated that that there was no legitimate basis to discriminate based on sexual preference. Moreover, the court found that the laws were unconstitutional given the protections of the California Constitution. The opinion was also signed by Justices, Kathryn Werdegar, and Carlos Moreno and Justice Joyce Kennard who also wrote an additional concurrence. Justice Marvin Baxter wrote dissent also signed by Justice Ming Chin. Finally, Justice Carol Corrigan wrote a dissent saying that although she personally favored gay marriage the people of California clearly had not and the popular will should not be overruled by the court. Supporters of gay marriage said the ruling was a milestone. "This decision will give Americans the lived experience that ending exclusion from marriage helps families and harms no one," said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, who noted that same-sex marriages are now legal in South Africa, Canada, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. James Dobson, head of the conservative Christian organization Focus on the Family called the ruling an outrage and called on the people of California to pass a constitutional amendment barring gay marriage saying that "Only then can they protect themselves from this latest example of judicial tyranny." Edward Zelinsky of Yeshiva University, whose work was cited in the brief of California's attorney general supporting the law, characterized the court's opinion as "problematic in important respects." He criticized the court for failing to explain adequately why its logic does not apply to other non-traditional forms of marriage such as polygamy. Since the decision is based upon the California Constitution, it cannot be appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States. Currently in the United States different states have taken different positions. Although a variety of states allow civil unions, at present only Massachusetts has legalized gay marriage. State courts have disagreed as to whether gay couples should be treated like heterosexual couples.
Afghan MP Escapes Assassination Attempt in Kabul Five bodyguards were killed. Earlier in the day, a suicide bomber killed at least 16 people in southwestern Afghanistan, while two roadside bombs killed 4 others in eastern Afghanistan. Photo: AFP Afghan police say a member of parliament escaped an assassination attempt Friday night near Kabul. Five bodyguards were killed. Earlier in the day, a suicide bomber killed at least 16 people in southwestern Afghanistan, while two roadside bombs killed 4 others in eastern Afghanistan. An Afghan district police chief tells VOA that a remote-controlled bomb targeted the convoy of Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf as it moved along roads outside the capital. Sayyaf is an influential member of parliament from Kabul province and a former warlord. This was not the first attempt on his life. Sayyat has survived at least one other similar attack. Sayyaf was one of the ex-mujahideen leaders who fought against the Taliban in the mid-1990s. He became a strong supporter of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government and the international forces after the U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban government in 2001. Meanwhile, Afghan officials say the suicide bomber in southwestern Afghanistan was on a motorcycle and targeted a busy area of Farah city, the capital of Farah province. The provincial governor, Rohullah Amin, tells VOA that the blast occurred near his compound and shattered his office's windows. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Amin says these incidents are the hallmark of the Taliban insurgency that has strengthened in recent months. Friday's violence comes a day after Hamid Karzai was sworn in for a second term as president. During his inaugural address, Mr. Karzai encouraged militants who do not have ties with international terrorism to work with his government in reconstructing Afghanistan. Amin says that while he agrees with President Karzai's offer of peace, it will never work if the attacks do not stop. "The Taliban who kill the same as like today, I think it will be difficult for the Afghan nation to accept those who are killing Afghan people," he said. President Karzai also said he will work to transfer the leading role for security from international forces to the Afghan army by the end of his five-year term. Amin says he believes that could be possible but not without more Afghan security force members. This year has been the deadliest for international troops in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban-led government in 2001. \|\|\|\|\| The earlier attack in Farah province killed at least 16 and injured 20 A controversial former Afghan warlord has narrowly escaped an assassination attempt which killed at least five of his bodyguards, police say. Abdul Rasul Sayyaf, now an MP, was travelling north of Kabul when a remote-controlled bomb hit his convoy. It is not clear who attacked Mr Sayaf, an ally of President Hamid Karzai, who was sworn in on Tuesday for a second term after controversial elections. Earlier at least 16 people were killed in a suicide bomb in the south-west. Mr Sayyaf was attacked in Paghman district, north of Kabul. Mr Sayyaf, an ethnic Pashtun former warlord allied to the president, supported the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance between 1996 and 2001, when the Taliban were ousted, and became an MP in 2005. Human Rights Watch have accused him of war crimes. Western leaders are putting pressure on Mr Karzai to deal with corruption and remove former warlords from his government. Motorcycle bomber The earlier attack, in a crowded market in Farah city, capital of Farah province, killed at least 16 people and wounded more than 20, police said. A policeman was among the dead. Farah, a mainly desert province on the Iran border, has seen a rise in insurgent attacks this year as the Taliban have become active in new areas. The suicide bomber on a motorcycle struck in an area where heavy trucks were being loaded with goods to be taken to the province of Herat, police said. Several dozen people, mostly civilians, were wounded in the attack, officials said. More than a dozen were critically injured so "the death toll may rise", provincial governor Rohul Amin told Agence France-Presse news agency. "The bomber riding on a motorcycle detonated himself at a main square near my working office, in my home," the governor said. The blast damaged some nearby buildings, he added. The two attacks come a day after President Karzai took over for a second term, promising to work towards building a secure and stable Afghanistan.	Kabul, AfghanistanAfghan police have said that a member of parliament (MP) escaped an assassination attempt on Friday night near the capital of Kabul. Five bodyguards, however, died. An Afghan district police chief told the Voice of America news agency that a remote-controlled bomb targeted the convoy of Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf as it moved along roads outside the capital. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack. Sayyaf is an MP from the Kabul province, and a former warlord. This was not the first attempt on his life; he has survived at least one other similar attack. Sayyaf was one of the ex-mujahideen leaders who fought against the Taliban in the mid-1990s. He became a strong supporter of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government and the international forces after the United States-led invasion in 2001. The Human Rights Watch, however, has accused him of war crimes.
(BEIJING, August 6) -- With two days to go before the start of the Beijing Olympics, the organizers of the Games released the plan for the Opening Ceremony, which takes place on August 8. The ceremony will start at 8:00 p.m. and will last about three and half hours, with China's Liu Huan and Sarah Brightman from Britain chosen to sing the theme song, said Zhang Heping, director of the BOCOG Opening and Closing Ceremonies Department at a press conference. A 75-minute "pre-ceremony" performance that will end at 7:00 p.m. will feature folk and ethnic art from 28 teams across the country, Zhang said. The core part of the ceremony -- the artistic performance -- will last one hour. It will be divided into two parts -- one to highlight China's age-old civilization and the other to highlight China's splendid modern era. The theme song will come at the end of the performance. The post-performance part of the ceremony will last two and a half hours and comprises various Olympic rituals and traditions, including a declaration from Chinese President Hu Jintao opening the Games and a two-hour long parade of athletes. Delegations from 205 national and regional Olympic committees will enter the stadium according to the order of the simplified Chinese characters. "The passion will be lighted on the night of August 8, offering the hundreds of thousands of spectators in the National Stadium, as well as hundreds of millions of people outside a spectacular performance," Zhang told the press. \|\|\|\|\| Actor-singer Edison Chen and pop singer Gillian Chung. Both are victims of an internet sex scandal that has rocked Hong Kong. Photo: AFP February 26, 2008 - 3:00PM A female Hong Kong pop star at the centre of a sex photos scandal has been banned from singing at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, a news report said today. Singer Gillian Chung was one of a number of starlets pictured romping naked with singer-actor Edison Chen in photos downloaded from his laptop when he took it in for repairs and widely circulated on the internet. The popular 27-year-old singer had been due to perform at the Olympics opening ceremony in August but has now been dumped because of the scandal, the South China Morning Post reported. The ceremony's artistic director Zhang Yimou decided to take Chung off the bill after the scandal broke and had replaced her and another Hong Kong star not involved in the photos incident with Chinese pop act A-One, the newspaper said. Millions of people in China and Hong Kong have downloaded the pictures of Edison Chen and his starlet lovers in the weeks since the pictures from his laptop were uploaded onto the internet. Chen, 27, flew back to Hong Kong last week to issue a public apology to the women involved in the scandal and to announce he was abandoning his show business career after completing existing commitments. More than 2000 people complained when Chung appeared on a charity TV show at the height of the scandal a fortnight ago and she was forced to scrap a public appearance last Saturday when protesters threatened to disrupt her performance. A 23-year-old computer technician has been charged with using a computer for dishonest intent and has been released on police bail after a series of brief court appearances and a stretch in custody. The scandal over the pictures has tainted the saccharine-sweet image of Hong Kong's so-called Canto-pop industry whose cheesy romantic melodies sung in Cantonese sell by their millions in Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan. DPA \|\|\|\|\| Special report: 2008 Olympic Games TAIPEI, July 28 (Xinhua) -- A troupe of more than 100 ethnic Taiwanese left Taipei by a cross-Strait weekend charter flight on Monday for a performance during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games. The troupe members were not professional singers and dancers but they were willing to display the Taiwan's indigenous minority culture, said troupe leader Kao Chin Su-Mei. The troupe will give a 3-minute-plus performance during the warm-up part of the opening ceremony to be held at the Bird's Nest. It will perform the Bunun Tribe's unique eight-note harmonies, the hair dance of Tau Tribe and other ritual dances of indigenous tribes in the show, according to the leader. In an earlier interview, she has said her team were proud and honored to present their culture and tradition to the Olympic audience. She said all the members arrived in Taipei one day ahead of schedule on Sunday as they were worried Typhoon Fung Wong would have hindered traffic. During a rehearsal several days ago, many troupe members told Xinhua they were anxious to give the performance in Beijing and take the opportunity to have a look at the mainland.	The Olympic Rings Witnessed by at least 90,000 spectators, the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games was held at the National Stadium — nicknamed "Bird's Nest" — in Beijing China this evening. The ceremony began at 8:00 p.m. local time (12:00 noon UTC) with two thousand and eight ancient Chinese percussion instruments called "Fou", each controlled by a young man. The first greeting message was a Confucius' saying, "How Happy We Are, To Meet Friends From Afar", which the percussionists chanted. 204 teams from over the world marched into the stadium. In Olympic tradition, Greece entered first and China appeared last — the originating country and the host country, respectively. The other 202 teams were welcomed, ordered by the count of strokes to write the team name in Chinese characters. There were several performances, including a 100+ member troupe of Taiwanese dancers and Chinese pop group A-One. There were also solo performances by Lang Lang, Sarah Brightman, and Liu Huan.
POSTED: 8:20 pm PDT October 30, 2007 An aftershock was felt in the NBC11 newsroom at 3:54 p.m. Wednesday. The USGS says it was the largest of dozens of aftershocks with a preliminary magnitude of at least 3.7. The earthquake was located in the same general area of Tuesday night's moderate quake, which is the Alum Rock area of San Jose. It was by far the strongest of the aftershocks. There were no reports of damage, but several people called into the station to say it rattled their nerves. Tens Of Thousands Of Books Fall Employees at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library on the San Jose State University campus are cleaning up hundreds of thousands of books that were knocked from shelves during Tuesday night's 5.6-magnitude earthquake.The library opened today at 9:30 a.m. but with access limited to the first four floors, according to the San Jose Public Library. Off-duty employees were called to assist with the reshelving project, which is expected to take several days. With employees working on the mess, the upper floors will reopen as they are made operational. Most of the fallen books were on the sixth, seventh and eighth floors where the research collections are kept. After the earthquake, the library was evacuated and the building, which suffered a fallen fixture and a small water leak, was inspected. Future Earthquake Warning The California Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council has a scary warning for people who live on the Calaveras and/or Hayward faults.They said the, "CEPEC believes that (Tuesday's) earthquake has significantly increased the probability above the normal level for a damaging earthquake along the Calaveras and/or Hayward faults within the next several days."They went on to say the overall likelihood of such an event is still "low", but did not give a percentage figure. The U.S. Geological Survey reports 5.6 earthquake based in the Alum Rock area of San Jose hit at approximately 8:04 p.m. Tuesday.Residents as far away as Sacramento, Sonoma and Los Banos reported feeling the tremor, which is the largest to hit the region since the Loma Prieta quake in 1989. Worried residents filled the streets in downtown San Jose and found cell phone lines jammed. "I was scared, I thought I was going to die," Bea Richards said, who lives in downtown San Jose. A water pipe broke in her North Second Street building and things were knocked from walls, including a 2-foot ceramic bust. Susan Bean with AT&T said that a "traffic jam" is typical after such events and that the system was not damaged during the quake. Because of the CEPECC's evaluation of the increased risk, the OES recommended that residents of the San Francisco Bay region review their family emergency plans, check their emergency supplies, identify the safe and potential danger spots in each room, remove breakables from locations from which they can fall and cause injury, and stay tuned to the radio or television for further information. OES also recommended that government agencies and businesses review their plans. The advisory applied to the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma, NBC11 reported. Tuesday night's earthquake shattered glass at the control tower at the Reid Hillview Airport in San Jose. Chopper11 flew over the tower and showed most of the glass missing. Workers were already hanging plastic sheets over the open tower by 9:30 p.m.USGS seismologist Steve Walter said the quake hit the Calaveras fault.Seismologists said it was the largest quake to hit the Calaveras fault since the 1984 Morgan Hill earthquake. That quake was a 6.2. James Lick High School in San Jose also lost several windows to the earthquake. Workers at the school sent in a series of photos to NBC11.com showing damage there. There were also reports of items falling off store shelves at several grocery stores in San Jose. The quake was reported to be 5.5 miles deep, which is shallow in earthquake terms, NBC11 reported. Many people said the quake lasted around 20 seconds. The California Highway Patrol has received no reports of damage or injuries, spokesman Tom Marshall said. The quake was centered in the foothills east of San Jose, not far from the home of the city's mayor, Chuck Reed. He said the city hadn't received any reports of damage. Pictures fell off the walls of Reed's house, but the mayor said there was no major damage there. "It was a pretty strong ride here, a lot of shaking but nothing broken," Reed told The Associated Press in a phone interview from his home. "I've talked to a few people and we have no reports of injuries or damage. There was a lot of shaking, but it wasn't the big one." Rod Foo, a resident of south San Jose, about 10 miles from the epicenter, said everything in his house shook for several seconds, but the electricity never went out and his telephone was still working. "I could hear it coming up the street before it hit the house," said Foo, a former reporter with the San Jose Mercury News. "I thought it was the kids messing around at first, then I felt the house shaking and I knew it was an earthquake. ... It was rattling for a long time and really loud." Allison Guimard, 25, a technology executive who lives in Mountain View, about 18 miles west of the epicenter, said her fine China dishes started shaking and she grabbed her dog. It was the first significant earthquake for her and her husband, Pierre, who moved here from New York six months ago. "It felt like the apartment was rolling -- shaking and rolling," said Pierre Guimard, 25, a home entertainment installer. "Almost like a boat on the water." A woman who lives in the Santa Teresa area, near Oakridge Mall said it shook her house. She said it felt like a sledgehammer slammed into the house at least four times. That house had many frames on the wall that swayed and were left askew, but no damage. The woman also said the water in her swimming pool was moving so much that it had a wake. There were also reported of burst water pipes and some cracks in the walls in south San Jose. Pacific Gas and Electric told NBC11 there were no power outages associated to the earthquake. An NBC11 viewer from Manteca said they felt like someone kicked the back of their couch and their fireplace tools started swaying. Their daughter in Stockton said her furniture actually moved with her in it by the shaking. The last major earthquake in Northern California -- a magnitude-7.1 -- struck in October 1989 just before the third game of the World Series at Candlestick Park. The quake, centered in the Santa Cruz Mountains on the San Andreas fault, killed 62 people and caused nearly $3 billion in damage. Aaron McLear, a spokesman for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said the state would "will review and inspect all important infrastructure," including levees in the coming days. Earthquakes powerful enough to be felt through the Central Valley have been of increasing concern since Hurricane Katrina because of their potential to weaken the earthen levees that channel rivers throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. A San Jose State volleyball game against Pacific was postponed due to the earthquake. The school put out a news release that said just as Niki Clement put away her team-high 11th kill, the ground started to shake in Spartan Gym. After the earthquake rattled the two teams, spectators and officials, a decision was made to postpone the San Jose State-Pacific volleyball match with the Spartans leading 26-25 in game two. San Jose State won game one 30-26. Bay Area Rapid Transit trains were stopped for five minutes after the quake occurred, said BART spokesman Linton Johnson. Standard protocol for BART trains is to have the operators start running the trains again but only at half speed. The operators will drive slowly while looking out the window for damage on the tracks, said Johnson. Fire stations in San Francisco manually rolled up their garage doors as a precaution, NBC11 reported. \|\|\|\|\| Version #3: This report supersedes any earlier reports of this event. This event has been reviewed by a seismologist. A moderate earthquake occurred at 8:04:54 PM (PDT) on Tuesday, October 30, 2007. The magnitude 5.6 event occurred 8 km (5 miles) NNE of Alum Rock, CA. The hypocentral depth is 9 km ( 6 miles). Did you feel it? \|\| Shake Map North For more information, see http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/ \|\| Contacts Back to map \|\|\|\|\| Aftershocks are most common immediately after the mainshock; their average number per day decreases rapidly as time passes. Aftershocks are most likely to be felt in the first few days after the mainshock, but may be felt weeks, months, or even years afterwards. In general, the larger the mainshock, the longer its aftershocks will be felt. Aftershocks tend to occur near the mainshock, but the exact geographic pattern of the aftershocks varies from earthquake to earthquake and is not predictable. The larger the mainshock, the larger the area of aftershocks. While there is no "hard" cutoff distance beyond which an earthquake is totally incapable of triggering an aftershock, the vast majority of aftershocks are located close to the mainshock. As a rule of thumb, a magnitude 6 mainshock may have aftershocks up to 10 to 20 miles away, while a magnitude 7 mainshock may have aftershocks as far as 30 to 50 miles away. \|\|\|\|\| A moderate, but powerful earthquake struck San Jose just after 8 p.m. tonight, shaking buildings and prompting rattled residents to pour out of their homes. The temblor on the Calaveras Fault lasted about 30 seconds. The U.S. Geological Survey preliminary magnitude estimate was 5.6, making it the most powerful quake to hit the Bay Area since Loma Prieta, Oct. 17, 1989. That was a magnitude 6.9. The epicenter was five miles miles from Alum Rock, seven miles from Milpitas and nine miles from San Jose City Hall with the earthquake originating 5.7 miles below ground. Shaking was felt throughout the Bay Area. Eleven aftershocks with magnitudes of 1.3 to 2.1 were reported by 8:45 p.m. There were no immediate reports of major damage, though cellular and landline telephone service failed for a time in some areas. The latest updates: 10:28 p.m.: USGS: Calaveras Fault is one of just a few here capable of major quake There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of faults, that slice and dice through the Bay Area, but only about 7 or 8 of them are capable of a magnitude 6.7 earthquake or greater, according to Tom Brocher, coordinator of Northern California earthquake hazards investigations for the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park. The Calaveras Fault is one of them. But tonight’s earthquake is not necessarily a harbinger of more big or bad quakes to come. “The earth is constantly groaning,” Brocher said. And the southern portion of the Calaveras Fault, where this quake originated, is known for ‘creeping’ that is slowly and constantly moving. If anything, Brocher said, the quake serves as a reminder that we live in Earthquake Country. And the Hayward Fault, which most seismologists suspect of being the site of the Bay Area’s next ‘Big One,’ is primed and ready. Two weeks ago, earthquake experts gathered in a Hayward museum and pointed out that the Hayward Fault has a major earthquake every 140 years. This October marks year 139. 10:01 p.m.: Quake brings back bad memories in Santa Cruz In Santa Cruz, where one in three buildings was destroyed along Pacific Avenue downtown in the 1989 quake, tonight’s shaking brought back bad memories. “It gave me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. It’s more like physical memory than anything else,” said Mardi Wormhoudt, who was Santa Cruz mayor in 1989, and was eating dinner on the Santa Cruz Wharf. “It’s amazing how it comes back. Unfortunately, it brings back so much of what was so horrible.” Neal Coonerty, owner of Bookshop Santa Cruz, which was destroyed in the 1989 quake and became a symbol of rebirth later, was upstairs in his home when Tuesday’s quake hit. There was no damage, but the shaking was something he hadn’t felt in 18 years and he rushed to call his daughter to find out if she and his new granddaughter were OK. “It was forceful. It is nerve-wracking. It takes your breath away,” Coonerty said. “You are always hoping the 1989 equarthquake was once in a lifetime. But this is California and we all know it probably won’t be. It is unnerving.” 9:41 p.m.: Scientists not surprised by quake’s magnitude Earthquake scientists said they were not surprised that a 5.6 quake originated on the Calaveras Fault. “We think the Calaveras is capable of a quake of maybe even a magnitude 6.4,” said Tom Brocher of the U.S. Geological Survey. Brocher said that a quake with a magnitude 5.6 typically wouldn’t be associated with a lot of damage: “Maybe things tipping over in grocery stores. Maybe here or there a pane of glass broken,” he said. Although there have already been aftershocks recorded, they have been minor. Seismologists don’t anticipate another large quake on the fault soon. “Probably this is the largest we’re going to have,” Brocher said. But there is, he conceded, a 5 to 10 percent chance of an earthquake this size or larger occurring on the Calaveras Fault within the next seven days. It took some time for seismologists to pinpoint on which fault the earthquake originated. Both the Hayward Fault – which is considered due for the ‘Big One’ – and the Calaveras Fault slice through that area east of downtown San Jose. When asked if an earthquake so close to the Hayward Fault could ultimately end up setting off a quake on that fault as well, Brocher said he didn’t want to speculate. “But,” he said, “we’ll be looking at that.” 9:33 p.m.: VTA workers inspecting for damage Valley Transportation Authority workers are checking the light rail lines for damage and trains have been slowed. Power went out in sections of San Jose’s Japantown one man said, but at Teske’s German restaurant, not a glass was out place. Owner Hans Baumann said the place swayed one way and then the other, the chandelier in the main dinning room went up and down and side to side. A diner yelped. And single display bottle of German liquor fell to the floor but didn’t break. “I knew it was a big one when it started to move in different directions,” he said. He had been standing near the kitchen watching the basketball game on the TV when the quake struck. “But nothing here broke. It was like that during the last big one too. This is an old building.” 9:16 p.m.: South Bay hospitals report phone trouble, but no major damage At local hospitals, the lights stayed on, no major damage was reported and patients appeared to be unharmed during preliminary checks – although everyone felt the rolling tremors. At Regional Medical Center of San Jose, the closest hospital to the quake’s epicenter, spokeswoman Victoria Emmons said the hospital could not make phone calls but could still receive them. The earthquake was not severe enough to trigger an internal disaster alert at Good Samaritan Hospital, and it appeared only to disrupt some Nextel cellular phones, said Good Samaritan spokeswoman Leslie Kelsay. At county-run Valley Medical Center, however, five elevators shut down in a building that once housed the main hospital but is now used for outpatient procedures and offices. No patients were in the building at the time of the quake, said spokeswoman Joy Alexiou. The building was converted into offices because it was deemed seismically unsafe according to a state law that requires hospitals to retrofit buildings to meet higher earthquake safety standards. “It really does prove the point (about hospital safety),” Alexiou said. “‘We’re feeling very fortunate nothing else happened to us.” 8:31 p.m. Residents in downtown San Jose pour into the streets to check damage On the north end of San Jose’s downtown, shaken residents left apartments, condos and homes to survey the damage. Luckily it was minor. The quake shook a metal garbage can into a car parked on the street and at 350 North 2nd a water pipe broke, streaming water into the parking garage of a condo building. “At first I thought it was a train,” said David Eaton, who lives in the building. “But it went on way too long. And then I heard things starting to fall and I knew it wasn’t the train.” Although it was Eaton’s first big earthquake, he was prepared. He stood outside of his building with his two dogs, carrying a flashlight and other emergency equipment. “This building is only two years old but it really shook,” he said. Down the street near a VTA bus stop driver Christopher Archuleta stood outside of his line 23 bus with a big smile. “That was fun,” he said shaking his head. He had been driving when the wheel started to shake and then bus started to sway. Two of his passengers told him it was their first earthquake. He said the girls seemed nervous and were unable to get their AT&T cellular phone to work, but were able to borrow another passenger’s cell phone to let their friends know they were OK. 8:22 p.m.: Cupertino resident reports ‘entire house shook’ Vishram Dalvi said that his “entire house shook, pictures swayed, a few things fell off. We ran downstairs with the children but everything stopped. I am worried with what they say about the big one being long overdue now- was it every 140 years?” In Palo Alto, one resident described the earthquake as feeling as if a “big rolling freight train just went through my backyard.” Within minutes, fire stations in Palo Alto reported in to the dispatch center that there was no damage to their stations. Mercury News reporters Barbara Feder Ostrov, Paul Rogers, \|\|\|\|\| From MAX Wiki The earthquake's epicenter was three miles outside of Alum Rock, California On October 30th, 2007 at 8:04:50 PM Pacific Time, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck three miles outside the city of Alum Rock, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. The shaking lasted anywhere from 30 seconds to just over a minute. The nearest major city was San Jose, California where several retail stores reported light damage and toppled food items. The quake was along the Calaveras Fault, a "sister fault" to the more popular San Andreas Fault. The quake was the largest in the San Francisco area since the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake; however, this quake did not cause nearly as much damage as shown through preliminary reports. Structural damage was light, with slight cracks and damaged furniture topping the list of household damages. Eyewitnesses reported a hard jolting near the epicenter, with a light rolling farther away. Eyewitness reports flooded in to San Francisco news stations from as far east as Stockton and Modesto, as far west as Oakland, and as far north as Santa Rosa. Television stations KPIX and KGO-TV interrupted primetime network shows to broadcast at least twenty minutes of earthquake coverage. They later resumed network shows and ran newscrawls informing viewers of the earthquake and any damage or injury reports. KGO-TV would later recover the story during its 9PM newscast on KBWB, while KPIX would not report again until its 11PM newscast. KRON opted to cover the story from 8PM to the end of its 11PM newscast, pre-empting MyNetwork TV shows until 2AM. Sacramento television stations KOVR-TV and KCRA-TV interrupted network programming during commercial breaks to update viewers on the earthquake. CNN delivered information about the earthquake during its Anderson Cooper 360 program. Damage & Injury Reports Damage from the Alum Rock Earthquake Preliminary reports suggest that damage from the Alum Rock Earthquake was minimal at most. The majority of damage occured to furniture and small items inside homes, and consumer items at discount retail stores. A man called KRON during their 10PM hour, claiming computer equipment fell on his wife during the earthquake. This was the first noted report of any injury associated directly with the earthquake. Local law enforcement officials near the epicenter reported that most 9-1-1 emergency calls were placed by senior citizens near the epicenter who had fallen while seeking shelter; however, these were not consider "injury reports" by the media. For the most parts, cell phones proved useless following the earthquake. In the minutes following the quake, thousands of people flooded cell networks, causing them to cap and overload. Networks on AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Sprint and MetroPCS were down for at least two hours and continued to be spotty throughout the early morning. Most people found e-mail and landline phone to be the most effective way of reaching loved ones and friends following the earthquake. Slight power outages were reported immediately following the quake and was restored within the first hour. Only one report of a disconnected landline phone was reported. Predictions The United States Geological Survey classified the Alum Rock Earthquake with a 5.6 magnitude effect. The USGS predicts that there will be several more aftershocks within the next few days, with an effect of 1.2 to 2.1 magnitude. Anywhere from 15 to 30 small aftershocks are likely within the next week, with a ten percent chance that the following aftershocks will be larger than the main quake.	Intensity map. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) a magnitude 5.6 earthquake, lasting about 30 seconds, struck at 20:04:54 (PDT) on October 30, 2007, with the epicenter being five miles north, northeast of Alum Rock California and nine miles northeast of the center of San Jose. The actual coordinates given by USGS put it along the border of San Jose and Milpitas in the hills near neighborhoods in both cities. The quake was felt as far away as the California communities of Sacramento, Sonoma, and Los Banos. It was the most powerful quake in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley since 1989. At least ten aftershocks had been reported by 8:35 p.m with magnitudes ranging from 1.3 to 1.8. Phone service, including cellular phone service, was reported to be down in some areas around the epicenter. Residents and business owners also reported their homes shaking. According to the USGS, damage could be "moderate to heavy" and Rafael Abreu of the USGS said that the earthquake is considered "moderate," but so far there are "no injuries." The quake was reported at a depth of 9.2 km (5.7 miles). USGS predicts a 30% chance of strong (magnitude >5) aftershocks in the next seven days, with a 5-10% probability of aftershocks stronger than the main quake. Additionally, USGS predicts approximately 15-40 small (magnitude 3-5) aftershocks. The USGS reports that the quake was centered on the Calaveras Fault, and was the most powerful earthquake on that fault since the 1984 Morgan Hill earthquake.
N E W S Go elsewhere ----------------------- News Business Market Watch Sports Lifestyle Entertainment Technology Education Mind Our English Columnists Photos Video Clips Last 7 Days 30-Day Archive RSS Mobile Edition What's Hot Write to Us ----------------------- MyStar AllMalaysia.info Global Malaysians Kuali.com ----------------------- Classifieds Motoring Property Jobs ----------------------- AudioFile Clove Maritime Youth2 Horoscope Comics Directory Site Map The Web News Classifieds Stock \|\|\|\|\| Prime Minister Paul Martin during his address to the Canadian people. Conservative Leader Stephen Harper speaks Thursday evening from the halls on Parliament Hill. Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe responds to Martin's address. NDP Leader Jack Layton responds to the prime minister Thursday evening. Martin: Election 30 days after Gomery report CTV.ca News Staff Raising the stakes in the political battle of his life, Prime Minister Paul Martin promised to call an election within 30 days of receiving the sponsorship inquiry report. The report from Justice John Gomery is now due in December, meaning Canadians would go to the polls in January 2006. His message was aimed at the two-thirds of Canadians who tell pollsters they don't want an election now, despite their impressions of the sponsorship scandal. "If the Opposition forces an election before then, that is their choice," Martin said. "But I believe we can do better. I believe we can -- and we should -- use the coming months to pursue the public's business. Down in the public opinion polls and almost out -- due to threats from the opposition to topple his government next month -- Martin tailored his message in an attempt to restore his authority to govern. While it remains to be seen how the public accepts Martin's offer, Opposition Leader Stephen Harper wasn't impressed. "What we've all just witnessed a sad sight," Harper said. "A leader so burdened by political corruption within his own party, he is unable to do his job and lead the country, a party leader playing for time, begging for another chance." Harper had no sympathy for Martin's plea to wait for the Gomery report, saying that waiting for the inquiry's report hadn't stopped Martin from calling a general election in the spring of 2004. "I have some problem with the prime minister under a cloud picking his own election date," Harper told reporters. NDP Leader Jack Layton also expressed dismay over the sponsorship scandal, but suggested his party would be willing to co-operate with the Liberals in a vote on the budget, if some changes are made. "Take out the surprise corporate tax cuts and invest that money into the things people want and need. The NDP is in no rush to judge the scandal, but we are in a rush to get something done, to getting a better budget passed." Finance Minister Ralph Goodale had earlier rejected Layton's proposal. Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe said the revelations at the Gomery inquiry had tarnished Quebecers. "The Liberal Party said it wanted to promote federalism. But in reality the Liberals tried to buy the soul of Quebecers." Martin called the inquiry to look into allegations of the misspending on the sponsorship program during the time his predecessor, Jean Chretien, was in office. However, the revelations from the past few weeks of hearings have been more politically explosive than previously expected, and the opposition has been trying to link Martin to some of the sponsorship deals. Martin was finance minister during the time of the sponsorship program. In his Thursday night address, Martin accepted his share of responsibility for the sponsorship mess. "I was the Minister of Finance. Knowing what I've learned this past year, I am sorry that we weren't more vigilant -- that I wasn't more vigilant," he said. "Public money was misdirected and misused. That's unacceptable. And that is why I apologized to the Canadian people a year ago." Martin has been asking the Opposition to wait until Gomery's report this fall before passing judgment on the scandal. He offered little new in Thursday night's address, and analysts say he provided even more airtime for opposition leaders to respond. "Martin looked contrite and resolute at the same time," says pollster Allan Gregg. "And other three (opposition leaders) ... were marshalling the case why government was tired and why this goverment must go." The opposition seems unwilling to wait until after the Gomery report, with public opinion polls showing Conservative support on the rise in many parts of Canada, and Bloc Quebecois support even higher in Quebec. \|\|\|\|\| THE odds of Canada's corruption scandal ending with an early election shortened further when Opposition Leader Stephen Harper declared he could no longer trust the minority Liberal Government. Backing the Conservative Party leader's sentiment was the smaller, Left-leaning New Democratic Party, which has generally supported the Liberals in parliament. It said for the first time that Canada might need to go back to the ballot box. The Conservatives lead the Liberals in opinion polls, in large part due to public anger over a government spending scandal involving alleged kickbacks to the Liberal Party in Quebec. The scandal dates back to the 1990s and the Liberal leadership of former prime minister Jean Chretien. It erupted two weeks ago when a judge, heading an inquiry into the alleged misuse of public funds, lifted a publication ban on testimony by Montreal advertising executive Jean Brault. Mr Brault, who faces fraud charges stemming from the scandal, told the federal inquiry that senior Liberals forced him to secretly divert more than $US818,000 ($1.1million) to the party's Quebec wing in exchange for sponsorship contracts. Mr Chretien and Prime Minister Paul Martin have denied any knowledge of wrongdoing. Opposition parties are widely expected to try to bring down the Government and force an election in June. The Liberals said they would make it harder for the Conservatives under Mr Harper to introduce a no-confidence motion in parliament this week. Mr Harper said the move had broken "any remaining bonds of trust" with the only opposition party, the Conservative Party, that had not so far voted no confidence in the Liberals. And the New Democrats said the Government's move made it less likely the party would back the Liberals. "After the Prime Minister has shut down the democratic process here ... my guess is there will be more people that are calling for some accountability, perhaps in the form of an election," party leader Jack Layton said. A series of opinion polls show that if an election were held now, the most likely result would be a minority Conservative government. The Liberals have been in power since November 1993. Political instability has the potential to unsettle financial markets and put the Canadian dollar under pressure, especially if Quebec separatists try to take advantage of the turmoil and push for an early referendum on breaking away from Canada. Separatists lost the last referendum on Quebec sovereignty in 1995 by the slimmest of margins. They are well ahead of the Liberals in Quebec opinion polls, but that may reflect the French-speaking province's disillusionment with the federal and provincial Liberal governments, rather than a widespread desire for an independent Quebec.	__NOTOC__ "Those who are in power are to be held responsible, and that includes me," Canada's Prime Minister, Paul Martin, told his nation in the first live address by a PM in ten years. "If so much as a dollar is found to have made its way into the Liberal Party for ill-gotten gains, it will be repaid to the people of Canada." Conservative Leader Stephen Harper described Mr Martin's broadcast as "a party leader playing for time, begging for another chance". "After the Prime Minister has shut down the democratic process here ... my guess is there will be more people that are calling for some accountability, perhaps in the form of an election," New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jack Layton said. A series of opinion polls show that in an election held today, a minority Conservative government would probably result, reports ''The Australian''.

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