Dataset Viewer
document
stringlengths 631
51.7k
| summary
stringlengths 144
4.96k
|
|---|---|
Tifatul blocks porn sites with holy curtain A | A | A | The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 08/11/2010 9:11 AM | Headlines A complete ban on all pornographic websites in observance of the Ramadan fasting period is unfeasible, Communications and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring says. “A 100 percent ban would be impossible, but it is the effort that counts,” Tifatul said Tuesday. Last month, the minister recommended blocking access to websites with pornographic content before Ramadan, which officially started today. He added that the ban, which his office has been working on for the past month, would be put in place gradually, with a 100 percent ban as its ideal target. However, a few sites might slip through, he said. Several porn sites were still accessible at the time of writing this article. “The work done by Internet service providers [ISPs] to filter porn sites is not easy considering there are 4 million web sites out there,” he said. Tifatul said ISPs were responsible for the filtering since they acted as gatekeepers connecting individual computers to the Internet. Indonesia’s 200 ISPs had agreed to the ministry’s request, he said. ISPs would suffer no losses by blocking pornographic websites because those sites were not their core business, he said. “They mostly deal with communication data, networking between companies and ATMs,” he said. The filters, he said, would be based on keywords entered during searches. The list of porn-related keywords would be updated regularly to adjust to new keywords that previously had no links to porn sites. “The eradication of porn will be very dynamic in the future,” he said. The websites blocked, he added, would be those that were “clearly vulgar” containing sexual intercourse, nudity, sexual organs, child prostitution and sexual symbols. However, Tifatul failed to provide a clear definition of what would be considered “clearly vulgar”. “The disputable [definitions] will be our next step to decide upon.” Websites that referred to sex-related words and images, but used them in a scientific and cultural context, would be spared, he said. “Of course, certain formulas and analysis will be used in the process.” Tifatul further said that sanctions would be imposed on individuals distributing pornographic material, whether it was ISPs or individuals. The 1999 Telecommunications Law (which forbids telecommunications operators from violating public decency), the 2008 Information Transaction Law (which bans the distribution of pornographic material) and the 2008 Pornography Law would be applicable, he said. “The blocking of certain web sites would continue past Ramadan because the pornography law is permanent, even if it is revoked or amended,” he said Tifatul said the ban was a necessary step in implementing the pornography and information transaction laws, as well as protecting people from unsuitable content. “The negative impact is evident in our society. [Pornographic content] crushes our culture and destroys our children,” he said. However, many people have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the blockage given the immense size of the Internet and many tactics to unblock websites. Doubts also surfaced on the effectiveness of using keywords as certain words might have more than one meaning or connotation. (gzl) ||||| Indonesia to crack down on porn over Ramadan JAKARTA — Indonesia, gripped in recent months by a sex scandal involving local celebrities, will mark the start of Ramadan Wednesday with a campaign against pornography. Communications Minister Tifatul Sembiring, a member of the conservative Islamic party, called a news conference on the eve of the month-long period of dusk-to-dawn fasting at which he renewed a promise to act against porn sites. Quoting a poem, Sembiring called on Muslims to "keep hearts clean in the holy month," and said that he would target websites and media that carried sexual content. Already 200 Internet service providers in Indonesia have since last month agreed to block sites that displayed sexual activity and nudity, and "their efforts are extraordinary," Sembiring said. "It's not an easy task as there are four million local and international porn sites," he said, but added that he was unable to say how many sites had been shut out of Indonesia. "I've promised before there will be efforts to close porn sites... This Ramadan hopefully traffic to porn sites can be reduced by more than 90 percent," he said. Sembiring's call follows President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's support for a Web filter, saying in June that his country must not "stay naked and be crushed by the information technology frenzy." With 240 million people making it the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, Indonesia was scandalised in June by the online release of videos apparently showing local celebrities engaging in sex. Rock singer Nazril Ariel, 28, a divorcee, is still in police custody on pornography charges after his arrest in June. Ariel appears in separate videos with models and television personalities Luna Maya, 26, also his current girlfriend, and ex-girlfriend Cut Tari, 32. Both women have been questioned but not arrested over the videos. A music engineer with the initials "RJ" was arrested in July for allegedly uploading the videos to the Internet. The footage, which was widely distributed across the Internet, prompted clerics to issue an edict banning Muslims from watch certain gossip shows on Indonesian television. Shows which dished out intimate details of people's private lives were immoral and threatened society, said the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). Gossip shows should be allowed only if they "uphold the law, warn the public and help people," said MUI chairman Maaruf Amin, who hoped that "pornography and immoral content" would be kept out of all TV programmes during Ramadan. "Hopefully, Ramadan will set a momentum for the media to clean up their programmes and keep them free of pornography and filth. If we can't wipe them out totally, at least minimise them," he told AFP. Freelance magazine photographer Ahmad Fadilah, 35, who admitted to watching Internet porn occasionally, said hoped access will restricted only to hardcore porn sites such as those showing bestiality and unnatural sex. "Go ahead and block the really vulgar and disgusting ones but please leave the beautiful, artistic ones alone. Anyway, if sites are blocked, there are other ways to access porn, like from VCD," Fadilah said. "Sometimes people like to say Ramadan is a month to cleanse your heart and mind. But people still watch porn and who will find out if they do it quietly?" Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More » ||||| Ban on Porn, Prostitutes, Fireworks Promises a Quiet Start to Ramadan Indonesia. On Tuesday, the eve of Islam’s holiest month, various officials separately announced bans on pornographic sites, prostitutes and firecrackers — things that can distract Muslims from faithfully observing Ramadan in peace. No Offensive Sites Following up on his promise of a porn-free Ramadan, Communication and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring said he was confident that 80 percent of all “offensive sites” on the Internet in Indonesia were now inaccessible, including some of the most popular: Playboy.com, 17tahun.us, youporn.com, porn.com and comicmuhammad.blogspot.com. “These five top-rated Web sites were just taken as samples, but we estimate that qualitatively we have banned 80 percent of offensive sites,” Tifatul said. He added that the sites were chosen based on lists of most accessed sites on the ministry’s filtering system as well as those on Alexa.com, which ranks Web site visits. The ministry worked with major Internet service providers Telkom, Bakrie Telkom, XL Axiata, Indosat, IndosatM2 and Telkomsel to block the sites the government deemed offensive. Tifatul acknowledged that the government would not be able to immediately impose a complete ban on Internet pornography, but added that online filtering was an ongoing and dynamic process. He said the ministry would adopt the same approach used by YouTube, which involves constantly monitoring offensive content which, when discovered, is immediately removed. The same method will also be used in the future to filter out other offensive sites related to blasphemy, gambling, online fraud and violence, Tifatul said. “But we are focusing on the pornographic [sites] first.” He emphasized that the ban had a strong legal basis, citing the 1999 Telecommunications Law, the 2008 Information and Electronic Transaction Law (ITE) and the 2008 Anti-Pornography Law. “The definition of pornography is not debatable anymore” since the Constitutional Court overturned a judicial review of the Anti-Pornography Law, Titaful added. No Prostitutes In Surabaya, Dolly, one of Southeast Asia’s largest red-light districts, is now quiet, with brothel doors bearing signs saying “Closed for Ramadan.” Sawahan Police Chief Adj. Comr. Widodo said the prostitutes working in Dolly had all returned to their hometowns following a city regulation that mandated brothels close up shop throughout the fasting month. Asmiani, a staff member at Jaya Indah, told Detik.com that the brothel’s seven prostitutes would return to work a week after Idul Fitri celebrations on Sept. 10 and 11. The signs went up the same day hard-line Muslim groups under the banner of the Islamic Believers Union (GUIB) conducted a sweep of the district. About 350 members of the group raided brothels in three popular areas in Surabaya, but all they found were locked doors and empty streets. Still, they threatened to attack prostitution dens and other entertainment businesses that did not respect the Islamic holy month. “If they do not respect Ramadan, they will be attacked,” said Habib Muhammad Mahdi Al Habsyi, the head of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) in Surabaya. The FPI is one of the 32 organizations that make up GUIB. Zulkarnain, the spokesman for East Java’s hard-line Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid, denied members of the group were terrorizing the area, saying they were only out to remind people to abstain from immoral acts. “Please understand that this is a reaction to immoral activities legalized by the city administration. We are just spreading the message,” Zulkarnain said. “But if they keep operating during Ramadan, do not blame us if we attack them, as they are the ones who conduct moral terror.” Bambang Budiono, the head of the Human Rights Study Center at Airlangga University, condemned the group’s actions, which he said were equivalent to “spreading terror in the name of Ramadan.” No Firecrackers Meanwhile in Jakarta, Governor Fauzi Bowo forbade the use of firecrackers during Ramadan after a car carrying 70 kilograms of fireworks exploded in Pluit, North Jakarta, injuring four. “Every year people are victimized by incidents involving fireworks. Some of them suffer burns or even amputations,” he said. “These [incidents] force me to tighten law enforcement.” Penjaringan Police Chief Comr. Lalu M Ichwan said the four injured when a Daihatsu Zebra pickup truck exploded at noon on Tuesday were employees of Toyindo Perkasa, which owned the fireworks. Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar said the fireworks were already expired and were meant to be destroyed in a nearby lake. “Those fireworks were already past their expiration dates,” Boy said. Lalu said the person in charge of getting rid of the fireworks would be questioned, as well as the victims once they recovered. ||||| Sehari menjelang memasuki bulan puasa (Selasa, 10/8), Kementrian Komunikasi dan Informasi mengumumkan rangkaian upaya pemblokiran situs porno di Indonesia yang ditempuh selama ini. Dalam sebulan terakhir, menurut Menteri Kominfo Tifatul Sembiring, sudah sekitar 70% dari sekitar empat jutaan situs porno Indonesia yang diblokir dengan bantuan penyedia layanan koneksi internet swasta. Untuk melihat materi ini, JavaScript harus dinyalakan dan Flash terbaru harus dipasang. Unduh Flash Player versi terbaru Tukar format AV Tifatul mengakui pihaknya menggunakan momen sehari menjelang Ramadan untuk mengumumkan penegakan atas pelarangan situs porno di Indonesia dan sekaligus menegaskan aturan akan ditegakkan seterusnya. Pemblokiran, tambah Tifatul mengandalkan sebuah sistem pemblokir situs bernama massive trust namun dia menyerahkan model dan teknologi pemblokiran pada masing-masing penyedia jasa layanan internet. "Karena semua internet kecamatan yang dipasang oleh pemerintah sudah bebas dari situs porno. Namanya massive trust, bisa pakai itu." "Tapi ketika kami kumpulkan ISP, mereka mengatakan ada cara-cara yang lebih efektif dan efisien yang bisa digunakan. Kami katakan terserah tapi yang penting outputnya adalah pornografi tidak keluar lagi." Secara bertahap Kami katakan terserah tapi yang penting outputnya adalah pornografi tidak keluar lagi. Tifatul Sembiring Bagaimanapun ketika dicek hingga Selasa petang, hanya dengan membubuhkan kata 'seks' atau 'porno' di mesin pencari internet maka dengan mudah masih bisa ditemukan berbagai situs porno, baik berbahasa Indonesia atau Inggris. Upaya memblokir situs porno memang tidak mudah, paling tidak begitulah menurut penyedia layanan internet atau ISP dan mereka memerlukan waktu untuk menyesuaikan diri. Menurut Direktur Informasi Telkom, Indra Utoyo, hingga saat ini para ISP masih menunggu aturan tertulis tentang situs mana lagi yang harus diblokir karena kemungkinan munculnya situs-situs baru. "Jadi ini bertahap karena 'kan daftarnya akan terus kejar-kejaran. Nanti ada yang muncul lagi dan kita akan blok. Sambil kekuatan network kita juga disesuaikan untuk bisa melakukan filtering sekaligus menjaga tingkat layanan. Ini 'kan pasti ada effort dan resources yang harus disiapkan yang bisa berdampak pada bisnis juga." Tidak ada catatan resmi berapa jumlah pengguna internet di Indonesia, meskipun pengguna jejaring sosial seperti Facebook mencapai 25 juta nama, sebagian melalui telepon genggam. ||||| Selasa, 10 Agustus 2010 | 15:19 WIB TEMPO Interaktif , Jakarta - Menteri Komunikasi dan Informatika, Tifatul Sembiring mengancam akan mencabut izin perusahaan pelayanan jasa internet jika tidak melakukan pemblokiran terhadap situs porno. "Itu perintah undang-undangnya," ujarnya saat berbicara dalam keterangan pers di Jakarta, Selasa (10/8). Menurut Tifatul, peringatan ini sudah berlangsung selama satu bulan kemarin. tujuannya, kata dia, agar sebelum ramadhan target 90 persen pemblokiran situs porno bisa tercapai. "Sampai saat ini sudah men capai 70 persen lebih,' katanya. Kementerian, kata Tifatul, saat ini melakukan kerjasama dengan 200 Internet Service Provider (ISP) yang ada di Indonesia untuk memblokir beredarnya situs porno di dunia maya. Mereka, telah merancang aplikasi penghalang situs porno yang akan diperagakan berbeda. "Kunci pemblokiran ada pada keyword yang berbau porno," ujarnya. Namun Tifatul menjamin, situs lain yang berhubungan dengan kesehatan dan pengetahuan medis tidak akan ikut terblokir hanya karena memamerkan anatomi tubuh manusia. "Itukan untuk pengetahuan, pendekatannya lain," ujarnya. Menambahkan hal itu, Juru Bicara Kementrian, Gatot Dewa Broto menerangkan bentuk sanksi pencabutan izin pemakaian spektrum frekuensi merupakan ganjaran terberat bagi perusahaan jasa layanan internet. Sebelumnya, kata dia, secara mekanisme kominfo akan melayangkan tiga kali surat peringatan. "Kalau tiga kali tidak digubris, maka kami cabut," katanya. SANDY INDRA PRATAMA
|
The message one Indonesian saw when attempting to access pornography today The Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has announced that the government will be banning pornographic sites in the country. The announcement comes before the Islamic holiday of Ramadan. The ministry conducted a technical test of the banning program with the six largest internet service providers in Indonesia — , , , , Bakrie Telecom, and . The ministry is optimistic that their ban will make 80% of pornographic sites inaccessable in the Southeast Asian country. The People's Republic of China runs a similar program that blocks pornographic websites. Communications minister Tifatul Sembiring said that about 200 ISPs in Indonesia had agreed to block the websites. Sembiring also said that ISPs would not suffer any losses by blocking pornographic websites. He also added that the ministry would adopt the same approach used by , which involves constantly monitoring offensive content which, when discovered, is immediately removed.
|
December 17, 2006 Nobel Prize laureate Paul Crutzen says he has new data supporting his controversial theory that injecting the common pollutant sulfur into the atmosphere would cancel out the greenhouse effect. Although such a project could not be implemented for at least 10 years, the data is aimed at appeasing critics of the idea he first championed in the scientific journal Climatic Change in August. The Dutch meteorologist showed what he calls the positive cooling effect of adding a layer of sulfates to the atmosphere at a global warming conference at the Porter School for Environmental Studies in Tel Aviv. He said new, detailed calculations carried out since August showed the project would indeed lower global temperatures. "Our calculations using the best models available have shown that injecting 1 million tonnes of sulfur a year would cool down the climate so the greenhouse effect is wiped out," Crutzen told Reuters. An added layer of sulfates in the stratosphere, some 16 kilometres above the earth, would reflect sunlight into space and reduce solar radiation reaching the earth's surface, Crutzen said. He said he envisioned giant cannons or balloons dispersing the sulfur to offset the build-up of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, largely released by burning fossil fuels in power plants, factories and vehicles. The world has struggled for decades to reduce sulfur pollution, a component of acid rain that kills forests and fish, mainly through tighter controls on burning coal. "We are now entering a very intensive period of model calculations and following that we will conduct small experiments to test the sulfur oxidation mechanisms that we calculated," Crutzen said. Crutzen said he planned to publish the new findings in a few months' time in one of the major scientific journals. The idea of using sulfur to combat global warming - which most scientists say will bring more floods, desertification, heatwaves and rising sea levels - is not new. Scientists noticed that large volcanic eruptions had similar effects and the 1991 eruption on Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines lowered temperatures around the world for two years. For decades the theory was dismissed as dangerous until Crutzen, who won the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for research on ozone, published his paper. "Until August this was a taboo issue. But the paper I published really set off some movement in this area. It never hit the level of seriousness which it has taken in the past months. It may have had to do with the Nobel Prize, but I hope that's not all," Crutzen said. Some critics say the project is too risky and will have negative effects on the earth's water supply and increase acid rain. Crutzen said it was necessary to study the negative consequences, but he did not expect a rise in acid rain because the amount of sulfur injected would be a small percentage of the sulfates polluting the lower atmosphere today. Some environmental groups, wary of geo-engineering projects, say the idea should at least be looked at. "The fact that the top experts in the field are saying it's necessary shows it's a sad state of affairs," said Steve Sawyer, a policy adviser for Greenpeace International. "This idea should be examined and as a last resort it can buy us a few decades," Sawyer said. Reuters ||||| Would giant canons bombarding the atmosphere with sulfur actually counter greenhouse effect? By Zafrir Rinat Professor Paul J. Krutzen's ideas may sound like science fiction, but he says they could save the world from global warming. He suggests building gargantuan cannons that would shoot enormous quantities of sulfur into the stratosphere, thereby blocking solar radiation. The 1995 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry will arrive in Israel this week, and tomorrow will present his revolutionary scheme in a conference on global warning at Tel Aviv University's Porter School of Environmental Studies. Other research on the topic will also be presented at the conference. The Dutch-born Krutzen maintains that there is dwindling hope that humanity will cope with global warming through reduction of greenhouse gases, because of a lack of desire or ability on the part of the world's nations to undertake the necessary measures. Hence, he suggests employing geo-engineering methods to cool the planet, including injection substances into the atmosphere that would reflect solar radiation back into space. A few months ago, Krutzen published an article that echoed throughout the scientific world, in which he proposed the option of introducing billions of tons of sulfate particles into the stratosphere by means of giant balloons or cannons. The advantage of direct injection into the stratosphere is that in that upper layer of atmosphere, the half-life of sulfur is one to two years, rather than a week, as at lower levels. Advertisement Unlike the gases that produce global warming, particles of substances like sulfur reflect the sun's radiation, contributing to a cooling process. This phenomenon is commonly illustrated following a volcanic eruption, when enormous quantities of sulfur are emitted, causing a decrease in temperatures. Krutzen cites Mt. Pinatubo, in the Philippines. When the volcano erupted, in 1991, it expelled enormous quantities of sulfur-containing compounds. Scientific estimates are that these emissions pushed down the average temperature on earth by half a degree, Celsius, over the course of a year. An American laboratory recently conducted the first examination of sulfur's ability to reflect solar radiation. But a long series of experiments and research will be required to examine Krutzen's suggestions. One negative aspect of Krutzen's scheme could be its effect on human health. In recent years, sulfur emissions from industrial sources were consciously reduced because of the health risk they pose. Paradoxically, the health benefits of those measures were accompanied by an increased greenhouse effect, because reducing the level of sulfur in the atmosphere led to an increase in the sun's radiation that got through. Krutzen expresses a great deal of pessimism regarding humanity's ability to reduce its production of greenhouse gases. Still he stresses that his scheme is not intended to take the place of trying to reduce them. Rather, he sees his concept becoming vital if global warming becomes worse within a short period of time, a scenario that certainly is possible.
|
Nobel Prize winner Professor Paul J. Crutzen has stated he has data to support his controversial claim that injecting sulfur into the atmosphere would negate the greenhouse effect. The data is intended to quiet critics of the theory he first discussed in the scientific journal ''Climatic Change'' in August, 2006. The 1995 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry stated ''"Our calculations using the best models available have shown that injecting 1 million tonnes of sulfur a year would cool down the climate so the greenhouse effect is wiped out."'' The theory uses the idea that an added layer of sulfates in the stratosphere, approximately 16 kilometres above the earth, would reflect sunlight back into space and reduce the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Critics have shown that the earth has struggled for decades to reduce sulfur pollution, and how it is a component of acid rain that kills plantlife and animals. A large-scale experiment would be impossible to conduct, however scientists have noticed that massive volcanic eruptions have had similar effects on the earth. The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines lowered temperatures around the world for two years, according to data taken at the time. Crutzen resparked discussion on the topic, a theory which has been dismissed up until now as dangerous. ''"Until August this was a taboo issue. But the paper I published really set off some movement in this area. It never hit the level of seriousness which it has taken in the past months,"'' Crutzen said. Environmental groups are skeptical but agree the idea should be investigated. ''"This idea should be examined and as a last resort it can buy us a few decades,"'' said Steve Sawyer, a policy adviser for Greenpeace International.
|
CURRENT FUEL TAXES Introduction Good public policy requires above all else certainty and consistency from Government in its treatment of fuel taxation. Any change in Government transport or fuel policies including fuel taxation has the potential to change the road transport fuel mix. Investments, both on the supply side by industry and the demand side by consumers (eg LPG conversion of vehicles), have been put in place with the current regime in mind. Fuel production investments are long term and hence any changes likely to impact on the fuel mix should be given appropriate advance warning. Major refinery investment is usually undertaken with a 10-15 year time frame in mind. Concessions Currently, concessions to certain groups in the community are delivered through a mix of excise exemptions on the collection side and grants or rebates on the payment side after tax has been collected. Excise exemptions for fuels on the basis of different use (eg heating oil) provides an incentive for unscrupulous operators to substitute the lower taxed fuel (heating oil) for a higher taxed fuel (diesel for use in internal combustion engines). This leads to a revenue loss for the Federal Government and a loss to legitimate stakeholders in the industry through unfair competition depressing margins by driving down the price in the areas where fuel substitution is taking place. The industrys view is that revenue loss for Government and industry is significant. A solution to this issue is to tax like fuels on a uniform basis. That is, diesel and heating oil and other like fuels would all be taxed at the same rate. Any concessions to be delivered to farmers, miners, or the trucking industry should then be delivered through a grant system. A grants-based system also strengthens the compliance ability of the ATO because the taxation system is based on the use to which fuels are put. Simply put, burner applications are generally taxed at a lower rate than internal combustion engine use, with specific exceptions being agriculture, mining and certain trucking applications. In a grant-based system consumers are asked to sign a form indicating that they have used the fuel in the appropriate way in order to be eligible for a grant or rebate. This makes it much easier for the ATO to pursue those who have not complied. In the case of petrol, like fuels would be petrol, toluene, solvents and all substances with a flash point of less than 23 degrees Celsius. To summarise, a fuel tax system with uniform tax rates removes the incentive to substitute the lower taxed fuel for the higher taxed fuel. In addition a grants-based system provides government with information on the value of its support for fuels with concessions. It is also much easier to pursue consumers which illegally avoid paying excise if they are required to sign a form to signify what use they will put the fuel. If the fuel is incorrectly used and thereby legitimate excise is avoided then prosecutions are much easier to pursue than if an excise exemption system was in place and consumers did not have to sign off on what use they would put the fuel. Past 'Fuel Policy' The tax free status of most alternative fuels has developed by default because of the way that the excise legislation was drafted. That is, if a new fuel is marketed, it is outside the taxation regime because it is not listed as a taxable item. Although, two of the alternative fuels, ethanol and LPG have attained a tax free status due to specific Government decisions. LPG and ethanol were given tax free status in the 1970s in order to encourage the diversification of transport fuels at a time when security of liquid fuels was an important issue for Governments due to OPECs attempts to raise crude oil prices leading to the two oil price shocks in 1973-74 (leading to the formation of the International Energy Agency) and 1979-80. More recent government initiatives to encourage certain fuels through grants (Diesel and Alternative Fuels Grants) arose out of concern for the impact of the GST on the relativities between diesel and alternative fuels. These policies led to a road transport fuel mix in 1989-90 of 62% petrol, 36% diesel and 2% LPG. There was no road transport consumption of ethanol or CNG at that time. By 1999-00 the road transport fuel market share of petrol had fallen to 55%, diesel had grown to 39% and LPG had reached 6% - see the chart below: Current Tax Rates for Transport Fuels are: EXCISE Cents Per Litre Petrol (including regular unleaded, premium unleaded, and lead replacement petrol) 38.143 Diesel 38.143 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) 0 Ethanol (even if blended with petrol or diesel) 0 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) 0 Biodiesel (100% ie unblended) 0 Biodiesel (if blended with conventional diesel) 38.143 GST Add 10% to the price of all of the above fuels. ||||| Home > Energy and transport > Renewable energy Renewable Remote Power Generation Program (RRPGP) Supporting the use of renewable energy for remote power generation In those areas of Australia not serviced by a main electricity grid, electricity generated from renewable sources is often an effective way of reducing reliance on diesel for electricity generation. The Renewable Remote Power Generation Program (RRPGP) provides financial support to increase the use of renewable energy generation in remote parts of Australia that presently rely on diesel for electricity generation. The objective of the RRPGP is to increase the uptake of renewable energy technologies in remote areas of Australia, which will: help in providing an effective electricity supply to remote users; assist the development of the Australian renewable energy industry; help meet the energy infrastructure needs of indigenous communities; and lead to long term greenhouse gas reductions. Up to $264 million will be available over the life of the RRPGP. Program funds are now available to participating States and Territories and are allocated on the basis of the relevant diesel fuel excise paid in each State or Territory by public generators in financial years 2000/01 to 2003/4. The certified amounts of relevant diesel fuel excise paid in 2000/01 are shown below: Western Australia $24.43 million Northern Territory $11.80 million Queensland $ 9.05 million South Australia $ 2.55 million Tasmania $ 1.59 million New South Wales $ 0.28 million Total $49.70 million The funds are available to the participating States and the Northern Territory to fund approved programs or projects. Potentially eligible installations are those for which renewable energy generation replaces all or some of the diesel used for off-grid electricity generation. RRPGP funding may also be available for new off-grid installations where it can be demonstrated that the energy source would otherwise have been diesel. The RRPGP may provide support for up to 50% of the capital costs of renewable energy installations. Capital costs encompass expenditure on: Renewable energy generating equipment such as photovoltaic arrays, wind turbines and hydro units; Enabling equipment (equipment necessary to make useable electricity available from the renewable energy generating equipment such as inverters, control and monitoring equipment and batteries); and Essential non-equipment requirements such as installation, design and project management costs. The RRPGP will not fund solar hot water systems or fossil fuel (including diesel) generation systems. RRPGP implementation is different in each of the States and Territories, to best meet the different characteristics of each jurisdiction. RRPGP sub-programs which have been approved thus far are: Western Australia's Remote Area Power Supply (RAPS) This program has a budget of $18 million in RRPGP funds to provide rebates of 55% (50% RRPGP rebates, 5% Western Australian rebates) of the initial capital costs of renewable energy installations in remote areas of Western Australia. Eligible target groups are: Indigenous Communities; Isolated households; and Commercial operations, including pastoral properties, tourist operations and mining operations. For further information contact Mr Evan Gray (08) 9420 5610. Western Australia's Renewable Energy Water Pumping Program (REWPP) This program has a budget of $3.5 million in RRPGP funds to provide rebates of 50% of the initial capital costs of the renewable energy component of solar pumps and windmills replacing diesel-based pumps in remote areas of Western Australia. For further information contact Mr Evan Gray (08) 9420 5610. Northern Territory's Renewable Energy Rebate Program (RERP) This program has a budget of $38.2 million in RRPGP funds to provide rebates of 50% of the initial capital costs of renewable energy installations in remote areas of the Northern Territory. Eligible target groups are: Small communities and households, including outstations and small indigenous communities; Commercial operations, including pastoral properties and tourist operations; Large communities, including towns and large indigenous communities; and Industrial operations, including mine sites. For further information contact Dr Subhash Chandra on (08) 8999 5440. Queensland's Working Property Rebate Scheme (WPRS) This program has a budget of $8 million in RRPGP funds to assist in providing rebates of 65% (50% RRPGP rebates up to $150,000 each, 15% Queensland Government rebates up to $25,000 each) of the initial capital costs of renewable energy installations to family owned working properties, initially in the fourteen most western and northern shires in Queensland. Rebates above $175,000 will be considered on an individual basis. For further information contact Mr Andrew Thomson (07) 3227 8189. Queensland's Renewable Energy Diesel Replacement Scheme (REDRS) This program has a budget of $22.3 million in RRPGP funds to provide rebates of 50% of the initial capital costs of renewable energy installations in remote areas of Queensland. Eligible target groups are: Indigenous Communities; Households; and Business. For further information on REDRS contact Mr David Drew (07) 3224 6156 RRPGP in South Australia This program has a budget of $7.6 million in RRPGP funds to provide rebates of 50% of the initial capital costs of renewable energy installations in remote areas of South Australia. Eligible target groups are: Pastoral properties and homesteads; Indigenous communities; Remote Area Energy Supply (RAES) Subsidised Public Generators; and Tourist facilities, roadhouses and small remote communities that do not qualify for assistance under the RAES scheme. For further information contact Ms Tracy Goh (08) 8226 5522, or the RRPGP information line (SA country callers only) 1800 7774 72. RRPGP in New South Wales This program has a budget of $0.78 million in RRPGP funds to provide rebates of 50% of the initial capital costs of renewable energy installations in remote areas of New South Wales. The program is restricted to applicants wishing to install more than 10 kW of renewable generation. For further information contact Ms Alison Reeve (02) 9249 6100. Indigenous Renewable Energy Services Project (Bushlight) This program has a budget of $8 million in RRPGP funds. Managed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), the program focuses on energy issues in remote, off grid indigenous communities. The program has two objectives: increase industry capacity to service indigenous communities; and build greater understanding of renewable energy issues within communities. A leading feature of the project is the creation of mobile service teams designed to assist communities with education, advice, repairs and maintenance of renewable remote area power supply systems. For further information contact Mr Gary Wright (02) 6121 4589. Queries concerning the development or operation of individual State and Territory Government programs should be addressed to: Western Australia Evan Gray (08) 9420 5610 Sustainable Energy Development Office Northern Territory Dr Subhash Chandra (08) 8999 5440 Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development Queensland Andrew Thomson (07) 3227 8189 Environment Protection Authority Energy Advisory Service 1300 369 388 South Australia Tracy Goh (08) 8226 5522 Department of Minerals and Energy RRPGP Information line 1800 7774 72 (SA country callers only) Tasmania Phillip Clarke (03) 6233 2498 Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources New South Wales Alison Reeve (02) 9249 6100 Sustainable Energy Development Authority Online Survey Form - Take a minute to help us improve our website
|
The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, has announced new measures to alleviate the impact of rising global oil prices on Australians. They include grants of up to $2,000 to switch to LPG, and $17.2 million over three years to improve E10 blend ethanol fuel infrastructure. Speaking in Parliament House, the Prime Minister outlined the cause of higher petrol and diesel prices as a consequence of increasing global demand for oil occurring at a time when additional supply is tight. He singled out the re-emergence of China as a major factor in the increase in demand, and underinvestment as the main reason that supply cannot be increased rapidly. The Prime Minister once again said he would not lower fuel excises, saying that any benefit that might bring would be quickly devoured by further rises in global oil prices, and would leave a large hole in the Federal budget. He announced that the $1,000 grant to purchases of new vehicles equipped to run on LPG would be brought forward from 2011 to be effective immediately. In addition, he announced that conversions of private vehicles to LPG would be eligible for a $2,000 grant, also effective immediately. LPG is much cheaper than petrol in Australia, partly due to concessional tax treatment. The Prime Minister said that a six cylinder vehicle that travels 15,000 kilometres in a year would save $27 per week at current prices if converted from petrol to LPG. With the $2,000 grant, the conversion would pay for itself in four months. The cost of the eight-year program to convert vehicles from petrol to LPG, including lost excise revenue, is estimated to be $1.3 billion. On the ethanol front, the Prime Minister announced a further $17.2 million dollars over three years to help petrol retailers install or convert pumps for E10 blends. Eligible petrol stations will receive up to $10,000 towards the cost of conversion or installation, once complete, and an additional $10,000 when sales targets are met. The Prime Minister also made mention of remote communities that rely on diesel for their electricity supply. He said that the existing Renewable Remote Power Generation Programme has helped remote communities reduce their reliance on diesel, through the use of renewable energy services like wind turbines. He announced that the Government will extend this programme with an additional $123.5 million over four years, and will now include energy efficiency projects. The Prime Minister also committed an additional $135.4 million over the next five years for exploration services, searching for new oil, natural gas and geothermal reserves.
|
Dec. 13: Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., has been hospitalized with symptoms initially described as stroke-like. NBC's Chip Reid reports. NBC, MSNBC and news services WASHINGTON - Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota was hospitalized Wednesday, weeks before his party was to take control of the Senate by a one-vote margin. But by evening, his condition was unclear, with conflicting reports over whether he had suffered a stroke. The one thing that appeared to be true was that Johnson had some undiagnosed illness that has left him with difficulty speaking and moving. The Washington Post reported that Johnson was undergoing surgery. Johnson, who turns 60 on Dec. 28, was admitted to George Washington University Hospital, said Julianne Fisher, Johnson's communications director. The illness was initially thought to be a stroke. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement Fisher later said, however, that Johnson did not suffer a stroke or heart attack. Other sources, said Johnson had. In a statement late Wednesday, Fisher said, "Senator Johnson continues to undergo testing and procedures at George Washington University Hospital. We expect to have more information in the morning." Admiral John Eisold, attending physician of the U.S. Capitol, issued a statement saying Johnson was admitted to the hospital "with the symptoms of a stroke." While many on Capitol Hill voiced frustration about the lack of immediate information, aides noted the senator promptly received medical attention after feeling ill earlier in the day. "He has great doctors looking after him," one aide said. Johnson became disoriented during a conference call with reporters at midday Wednesday, stuttering in response to a question. He appeared to recover, asking if there were any additional questions before ending the call. Fisher said he walked back to his Capitol office after the call with reporters but appeared to not be feeling well. The Capitol physician was called, and Johnson was taken by ambulance to George Washington University Hospital for evaluation. A statement released by Johnson's office then said, in part, "At this stage, he is undergoing a comprehensive evaluation by the stroke team. Further details will be forthcoming when more is known." Filling a vacated Senate seat Democrats won a 51-49 majority in the November election. South Dakota’s Republican governor, Mike Rounds, would appoint a replacement to serve until the 2008 election should Johnson die or resign. The appointment would last until the next general election — in this case, 2008. Johnson's term expires that year. The 17th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says state legislatures can give their governors the power to appoint someone else to take over, but only in the case of "vacancies." What's a vacancy? Clearly death or resignation, but history suggests not much else. Serious illness doesn't count. Under the rules of the Senate, tie votes are settled by the vote of the vice president — currently Republican Dick Cheney — effectively giving control of the Senate to the Republicans. Previous cases The Senate historian's office cites several examples of a senator being incapacitated for years and remaining in office. Most recently, Sen. Karl Mundt (coincidentally, also from South Dakota) suffered a stroke in 1969 and was incapacitated, but he refused to step down. He remained in office until January 1973, when his term expired. Mundt was pressured repeatedly to step down during his illness, but he demanded that the governor promise to appoint his wife. The governor refused, and Mundt remained in office. Another example was Sen. Carter Glass, D-Va. Glass had a heart condition that prevented him from working for most of his last term after his re-election in 1942. Yet Glass refused to resign, and finally died of congestive heart failure in May 1946, in his apartment at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. ||||| Adjust font size: WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Tim Johnson, D-South Dakota, was hospitalized Wednesday after he suffered stroke-like symptoms in his Washington office, his staff said. Johnson, who turns 60 on December 28, was taken to George Washington University Hospital by ambulance about 11:30 a.m., sources in his office said. A statement issued by Johnson's office said he was suffering from a "possible stroke." "At this stage he is undergoing a comprehensive evaluation by the stroke team," the statement said. Staffers said that Johnson was conscious when he was transported to the hospital. A lawyer and longtime state lawmaker, Johnson was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986. He served five terms before he was elected to the Senate in 1996. He is the senior senator from South Dakota and serves on numerous committees, including appropriations, budget, banking, energy and natural resources, and Indian affairs. Should Johnson not be able to complete his term, which ends in 2008, South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds, a Republican, could appoint his replacement, which could shift the balance of power in the Senate. Johnson battled prostate cancer in 2004, and after surgery, tests showed he no longer had the disease, according to his Web site. ||||| CAPITOL HILL South Dakota Democratic Senator Tim Johnson is being checked out at a Washington hospital after suffering a possible stroke. A statement issued by his office said he's been taken to George Washington University Hospital, where he is undergoing a comprehensive evaluation by the stroke team.Johnson turns 60 later this month.If he were to become unable to serve, it could halt the scheduled Democratic takeover of the Senate. South Dakota's governor, who would appoint any temporary replacement, is a Republican.Democrats are scheduled to hold a narrow 51-to-49 margin as a result of last month's election.Johnson is in his second term and is one of the more reserved members of the Senate, rarely taking center stage at news conferences. ||||| Dec. 14: NBC News analyst and moderator of "Meet the Press" talks with "Today" show anchor Meredith Vieira about Sen. Johnson's illness. Dec. 14: Sen. Tim Johnson, D-SD, is recovering after he underwent emergency brain surgery to treat a congenital malformation. NBC’s Mike Viqueira has the latest on his condition. WASHINGTON - Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson was "appropriately responsive to both word and touch" half a day after successful emergency brain surgery, but still leaving active the political drama over whether his illness could cost Democrats newly won control of the Senate. Admiral John Eisold, Attending Physician of the United States Capitol released a statement Thursday afternoon saying Thompson "continued to have an uncomplicated post-operative course. Specifically, he has been appropriately responsive to both word and touch. No further surgical intervention has been required." The South Dakota senator, 59, suffered from bleeding in the brain caused by a congenital malformation, the U.S. Capitol physician said. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement The condition, usually present at birth, causes tangled blood vessels that can burst unexpectedly later in life. Control of the Senate Democrats hold a fragile 51-49 margin in the new Senate that convenes Jan. 4. If Johnson leaves the Senate, the Republican governor of South Dakota could appoint a Republican to fill the remaining two years of Johnson's term - keeping the Senate in GOP hands with Vice President Dick Cheney's tie-breaking power. Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid visited Johnson in the hospital Thursday morning and said afterward he was confident the senator would recover fully. Asked about whether Democratic control of the Senate might be jeopardized, Reid said, "There isn't a thing that's changed." Reid refused to comment on Johnson's medical condition, declining to even answer a question on whether the senator was conscious. "To me he looked very good," Reid said. Symptoms caught early Johnson was taken to the hospital on Wednesday after becoming disoriented during a conference phone call with reporters. At first, he answered questions normally but then began to stutter. He paused, then continued stammering before appearing to recover and ending the call. "The senator is recovering without complication," said Adm. John Eisold, the Capitol physician. "It is premature to determine whether further surgery will be required or to assess any long-term prognosis." Eisold said doctors stopped bleeding in Johnson's brain and drained the blood that had accumulated there. NBC VIDEO • What struck Johnson? Dec. 14: Dr. Nancy Snyderman talks with "Today" show anchor Matt Lauer about what could have happened to Sen. Tim Johnson. Today show Johnson's condition, also known as AVM, or arteriovenous malformation, causes arteries and veins to grow abnormally large and become tangled. The condition is believed to affect about 300,000 Americans, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The institute's Web site said only about 12 percent of the people with the condition experience symptoms, ranging in severity. It kills about 3,000 people a year. The senator's wife, Barbara Johnson, said the family "is encouraged and optimistic." In a statement from Johnson's office Thursday, she said her family was "grateful for the prayers and good wishes of friends, supporters and South Dakotans." A person familiar with Johnson's situation said surgery began late Wednesday night and ended around 12:30 a.m. Thursday and that the next 24 to 48 hours would be critical in determining Johnson's condition. The person spoke on condition of anonymity out of respect for the senator's family. If Johnson were forced to relinquish his seat, a replacement would be named by South Dakota's GOP Gov. Mike Rounds. A Republican appointee would create a 50-50 tie, and allow the GOP to retain Senate control. However, Senate historian Don Ritchie said senators serve out their terms unless they resign or die. Nine senators have remained in the Senate even though illnesses kept them away from the chamber for six months or more. Rounds' press secretary, Mark Johnston, said Thursday the governor had nothing new to say. "We're watching as much as everyone else," he said. The governor, elected to a second four-year term last month, has been widely seen as the Republican candidate with the best chance to challenge Johnson in two years. Other than Rounds himself, top possibilities if a replacement senator were needed include Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard and state Public Utilities Commission Chairman Dusty Johnson, considered a rising star in the Republican Party. Retiring GOP legislative leaders, such as state House Speaker Matthew Michels and Senate Majority Leader Eric Bogue, also might be considered. Johnson, who turns 60 later this month, was admitted to George Washington University hospital at midday after experiencing what his office initially said was a possible stroke. His spokeswoman, Julianne Fisher, later told reporters that it had been determined that the senator had suffered neither a stroke nor a heart attack. Fisher said that after making the conference call with reporters from the recording studio in the basement of the Capitol, he then walked back to his office but appeared to not be feeling well. The Capitol physician came to his office and examined him, and it was decided he should go to the hospital. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance around noon, Fisher said. "It was caught very early," she said. A brain specialist not involved with Johnson's care said there's no way to know until Johnson is awake and able to answer questions how much lingering damage, if any, the bleeding may have caused. Still, while he'll remain in intensive care for a while, "he has every chance of recovery," said Dr. William Bank, who treats AVM and other neurovascular disorders at Washington Hospital Center. Political ramifications Johnson is up for re-election in 2008. In 1969, another South Dakota senator, Karl Mundt, a Republican, suffered a stroke while in office. Mundt continued to serve until the end of his term in January 1973, although he was unable to attend Senate sessions and was stripped of his committee assignments by the Senate Republican Conference in 1972. Johnson, who was elected in 1996, holds the same seat previously held by Mundt. South Dakota Secretary of State Chris Nelson said there were no special restrictions on an appointment by the governor and a replacement would not have to be from the same political party. The Senate last convened with a perfect balance of 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats in January 2001. Then, the two parties struck a power-sharing agreement that gave control of the Senate to Republicans but gave Democrats equal representation on committees. That arrangement lasted only until June 2001, when Vermont Republican James Jeffords became an independent who chose to vote with Democrats on organizational matters, giving Democrats control until Republicans won back the Senate in the 2002 midterm elections. Johnson, a centrist Democrat, was first elected to the Senate in 1996 after serving 10 years in the House. He narrowly defeated Republican John Thune in his 2002 re-election bid. Thune defeated Sen. Tom Daschle, the former Senate Democratic leader, two years later. Johnson is in line to become chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee. He underwent prostate cancer treatment in 2004, and subsequent tests have shown him to be clear of the disease. Johnson is the second senator to become ill after the Nov. 7 election. Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas, a Republican, was diagnosed with leukemia on Election Day. He is back at work. © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
|
U.S. Senator Tim Johnson Tim Johnson, a United States Democratic Senator from South Dakota, reportedly suffered a stroke at about 11:30 this morning. However, subsequent tests revealed that the senator did not suffer a stroke or a heart attack. He was transported to George Washington University Hospital by ambulance, where he was diagnosed with a congenital arteriovenous malformation and underwent brain surgery. He is currently "recovering without complications" and "appropriately responsive to both word and touch" but it still in critical condition and being monitored. Additional surgery may be required. Currently, the US Senate is controlled by the Republican Party; however, when the Senate reconvenes after the recent midterm elections the Democrats will have a one senator majority. Under the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, state legislatures can give their governor the power to appoint someone else to take over, but this power can only be used in cases where the senator vacates his seat. Historically, this applies to death or resignation, but serious illness does not count. Should Johnson die or resign, the Republican governor, Mike Rounds, will likely appoint a Republican in Johnson's place. This would bring the Senate to a 50-50 tie for organizational purposes and give Vice President Dick Cheney the tie-breaking vote, thus letting the Republicans control the Senate. This appointment would last until the end of Johnson's term, in 2008. If he does not recover the senate has the power to force him out, but historically the senate has not done so. On Nov. 23, 1969, GOP Sen. Karl Mundt of South Dakota, who previously held Johnson's seat, had a debilitating stroke. He later endured months of speech and physical therapy at his Washington home. Mundt's wife, Mary, refused to vacate the seat despite pressure from the state's Republicans. Mund remained formally in his seat until his term expired in 1973. In the past multiple other senators have become incapacitated for months or even years and kept their seat, but party control of the senate was not involved.
|
The Trump administration is not extending its waiver of the Jones Act for Puerto Rico, after it expired Sunday night. The Homeland Security Department (DHS) told CBS News in a statement that the department believes the waiver isn't necessary at this time. The act requires that goods shipped between U.S. ports be carried by ships built and operated by Americans, or be subject to tariffs and fees. "We believe that extending the waiver is unnecessary to support the humanitarian relief efforts on the island," Homeland Security Press Secretary David Lapan wrote. "There is an ample supply of Jones Act-qualified vessels to ensure that cargo is able to reach Puerto Rico." That said, DHS said it will review requests for individual ships on a case-by-case basis and will "respond quickly if a non-Jones Act qualified vessel is needed for a 'national defense'-related need." So far, says DHS, "14 vessels notified us and three have completed their movements." Under the waiver, they will still have until Oct. 18 to complete their deliveries. Just one of the vessels is under contract with FEMA, while most of the humanitarian relief supplies are being delivered by DHS, FEMA and DOD ships, or ships eligible under the Jones Act. The administration had announced on Sept. 28 that the Jones Act would be waived for the island, which suffered enormous damage from Hurricane Maria. DHS had faced pressure from lawmakers including Sens. John McCain and Marco Rubio to waive the act in order to speed up the shipment of aid to Puerto Rico. However, CBS News' Major Garrett pointed out that the problem may not have been supply -- given that thousands of shipping containers filled with medicine, food and construction equipment sat at the ports for days because there were no trucks or truck drivers or open roads to distribute the supplies after the hurricane. ||||| Trump’s Jones Act waiver won’t be renewed, Department of Homeland Security confirms, with tariffs once again driving up price of supplies A waiver enabling foreign ships to deliver supplies to storm-ravaged Puerto Rico has expired and will not be renewed, it was confirmed on Monday, dealing a fresh blow to the US territory as it struggles to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. In the wake of the hurricane, millions of Americans have been without access to clean water, electricity, fuel and medicines. Donald Trump, who initially came under fire for being slow in his response to the crisis in Puerto Rico, temporarily waived the Jones Act – a 1920 law stating that all goods sent between US ports be carried on ships built, owned and operated by the US – on 28 September. But the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the waiver expired on Sunday and would not be extended “at this time”, meaning Puerto Rico will once more be subject to restrictions under the act. Experts have said the Jones Act has resulted in high tariffs on foreign ships delivering goods to Puerto Rico, doubling the price of consumer goods when compared with neighboring islands that are not subject to the law. Trump’s decision to temporarily waive the law, which came amid mounting pressure from local officials in Puerto Rico and the Arizona senator John McCain, had eased the way for foreign ships to deliver crucial supplies, such as food and gasoline, more expeditiously and at a lower cost. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment when asked about the waiver’s expiration. Puerto Rico’s governor, Ricardo Rosselló, said on Monday that much of the island remained without basic utilities. Water supplies have been restored to just 60% of Puerto Rico’s residents, while only 15% of people on the island had electricity, three weeks after the hurricane hit. The storm’s death toll rose in recent days to 36, with officials cautioning that dozens of bodies had yet to be included in the government’s count. In a letter to congressional leaders on Monday, Rosselló requested US lawmakers approve roughly $1.4bn in funding to aid recovery efforts. The governor also ordered an investigation into the mishandling of food and water delivery to municipalities amid complaints from some areas that supplies were not being received. Trump paid a visit to Puerto Rico last week, where he was criticized for throwing paper towels to survivors and claiming the island should be “proud” of having far fewer deaths than Hurricane Katrina. The president defended his tone in an interview with Trinity Broadcasting Network on Saturday, telling the host and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee: “I was having fun, they were having fun, they said: ‘Throw them to me, throw them to me, Mr President.’ “So the next day they said, ‘Oh, it was so disrespectful to the people.’ It was just a made-up thing and also … when I walked in the cheering was incredible.” Last week, the Trump administration sought a $29bn funding package from Congress that would be allocated toward areas affected by recent hurricanes, including Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida. The money would also go toward fighting devastation caused by wildfires tearing through California. The House is poised to vote on legislation this week that would meet the request. Some lawmakers, including McCain, have also called on Congress to permanently retire Jones Act restrictions on Puerto Rico. McCain, who has co-sponsored a bill to do so, said Monday the expiration of the waiver made his bill all the more urgent. “Now that the temporary Jones Act waiver for Puerto Rico has expired, it is more important than ever for Congress to pass my bill to permanently exempt Puerto Rico from this archaic and burdensome law,” McCain said in a statement to HuffPost. “Until we provide Puerto Rico with long-term relief, the Jones Act will continue to hinder much-needed efforts to help the people of Puerto Rico recover and rebuild from Hurricane Maria.” ||||| Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE Hurricane Maria's destruction of Puerto Rico resurfaced a disturbing fact. More than half of Americans don't realize Puerto Rico is a U.S. commonwealth. USA TODAY The U.S. and Puerto Rican flags wave in front of the governor's mansion in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, on June 29, 2015. (Photo: Ricardo Arduengo, AP) The destruction wrought by Hurricane Maria on the 3.4 million residents of Puerto Rico resurfaced a disturbing fact – many Americans don't know the first thing about the Caribbean island. A USA Today/Suffolk University poll conducted in March found that fewer than half of Americans (47%) believe that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens by birth. They are. Instead, 30% of the people surveyed thought residents of the island are citizens of Puerto Rico. Another 21% just didn't know where the people of Puerto Rico belong. That may help explain why the nation rallied behind the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Hurricane Irma in Florida, but have not responded in the same way to the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. "What I fear is that the federal government is not stepping up as fully and as quickly as we must," Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., whose parents are Puerto Rican, said on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday. "We need an air lift. We need an effort the scale of Dunkirk. We need the federal government to go all in." President Trump announced Tuesday morning that he will visit the island next week, but confusion remains. So what exactly is Puerto Rico? Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE Puerto Ricans are trying to make contact with relatives and friends after Hurricane Maria knocked out power and telephone services. Hundreds of other residents and tourists packed San Juan Airport on Sunday, which is barely functioning. (Sept. 25) AP It's a U.S. commonwealth Puerto Rico first became a U.S. territory following the Spanish-American War, which was ignited by the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor in 1898. The war ended with the U.S. acquiring many of Spain's possessions, including Cuba, Guam, the Philippines and Puerto Rico. In 1952, Puerto Ricans adopted a new constitution, which established the current relationship of Puerto Rico as a commonwealth of the United States. Under that arrangement, Puerto Rico shares many similarities to U.S. states. Its residents elect their own legislative assembly, a governor, and a representative to the U.S. House of Representatives. But unlike U.S. states, Puerto Ricans on the island cannot vote in presidential elections, and their representative in the House — known as a resident commissioner — has no vote. The island also has a Federal Affairs Administration, based in Washington, D.C., which represents the island before the federal government, the 50 state governments and U.S. businesses. Its residents are U.S. citizens In 1917, the U.S. Congress passed the Jones–Shafroth Act, which grants U.S. citizenship to anyone born on the island. As U.S. citizens, Puerto Ricans can freely travel and move to the U.S. mainland without a passport or a visa. For Puerto Ricans, traveling to the mainland is the same as a New Yorker crossing into New Jersey or flying to Hawaii. Thousands of Puerto Ricans have taken advantage of that in recent years as the island's finances have crumbled. From 2006 to 2015, about 445,000 left the island for the mainland, more than 10% of the island's population, according to the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute. Most of them live in New York, Florida, and New Jersey. As citizens, Puerto Ricans can also volunteer to serve, or be drafted into, the military. About 18,000 Puerto Ricans served in World War I, 65,000 in World War II, 61,000 in the Korean War, and 48,000 in Vietnam, according to Puerto Rico's former governor Luis Fortuño. Puerto Ricans get some, but not all, federal benefits As U.S. citizens, Puerto Ricans receive many of the same financial benefits, and liabilities, of their mainland counterparts. They pay most federal taxes, including payroll, Social Security and Medicare taxes. But they do not pay federal personal income taxes. Puerto Ricans receive many, but not all, federal benefits. For example, the federal government matches 100% of Medicaid funding for people living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, but matches only 57.2% of Medicaid expenditures for residents of Puerto Rico. Congress has also capped annual Medicaid spending in Puerto Rico. Finances in Puerto Rico were dire even before Maria hit Hurricane Maria hit the island at the worst possible time as the government was already grappling with a historic economic crisis that has forced the closure of schools, hospitals and other government services. In May, an oversight board appointed to manage the crisis filed for the equivalency of bankruptcy protection. The government is being crushed by $74 billion in debts and $49 billion in pension liabilities, but its creditors are worried the island will default on its payments. Even Trump raised that concern in a series of tweets Monday night lamenting the "billions of dollars owed to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with." Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2xyf5PH ||||| Large amounts of federal aid began moving into Puerto Rico on Saturday, as the island tried to recover from a battering by hurricane Maria. Local officials praised the Trump administration’s response but also called for the emergency loosening of rules long blamed for condemning the US territory to second-class economic status. Crisis grows in Puerto Rico as towns without water, power and phone service Read more In the north-west of the island, people began returning to their homes after a spillway eased pressure on a dam that cracked after more than 1ft of rain fell in the wake of the hurricane. Though water continued to pour out of rain-swollen Lake Guajataca, the dam had not burst by Saturday night. Upstream of the towns of Quebradillas and Isabela, the state of the dam had prompted stern official warnings from Governor Ricardo Rossello and the US National Weather Service (NWS). Federal officials said Friday that 70,000 people would have to be evacuated, although Javier Jimenez, mayor of the nearby town of San Sebastian, said he believed the number was far smaller. Secretary of Public Affairs Ramon Rosario said about 300 families were in harm’s way. The NWS extended a flash flood watch for communities along the rain-swollen Guajataca River until 2pm local time on Sunday. If the dam failed, the NWS warned, the flooding would be life-threatening. “Stay away or be swept away,” it said. The governor said there was “significant damage” to the dam and authorities believed it could give way at any moment. “We don’t know how long it’s going to hold,” Rossello said. “The integrity of the structure has been compromised in a significant way.” Some residents nonetheless returned to their homes on Saturday as water levels in the reservoir began to sink. “There were a lot of people worried and crying, but that’s natural, because the reservoir was about to break through,” said Maria Nieves, 43. “They couldn’t open the spillway until later in the night.” The 345-yard dam, which was built around 1928, holds back a man-made lake covering about two square miles. More than 15in of rain from Maria fell on the surrounding mountains. The aid effort quickened with the opening of the island’s main port in the capital, San Juan, allowing 11 ships to bring in 1.6 million gallons of water, 23,000 cots, dozens of generators and food. Dozens more shipments are expected in upcoming days. The federal aid effort is racing to stem a growing crisis in towns left without water, fuel, electricity or phone service. Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) said they would take satellite phones to all of Puerto Rico’s towns and cities, more than half of which were cut off. The island’s infrastructure was in sorry shape long before Maria struck. A $73bn debt crisis has left agencies like the state power company broke. As a result the power company abandoned most basic maintenance in recent years, leaving the island subject to regular blackouts. A federal control board overseeing Puerto Rico’s finances authorized up to $1bn in local funds to be used for hurricane response, but Governor Rossello said he would ask for more. “We’re going to request waivers and other mechanisms so Puerto Rico can respond to this crisis,” he said. “Puerto Rico will practically collect no taxes in the next month.” Play Video 0:25 Puerto Rico: dam wall cracks on Lake Guajataca - video US representative Nydia Velazquez of New York said she would request a one-year waiver from the Jones Act, a federal law blamed for driving up prices on Puerto Rico by requiring cargo shipments to move only on US vessels as a means of supporting the US maritime industry. “We will use all our resources,” Velazquez said. “We need to make Puerto Rico whole again. These are American citizens.” Hurricane Maria adds to damage caused by Irma on Turks and Caicos Read more Rossello said Maria would clearly cost more than the last major storm to hit the island, Hurricane George in September 1998. “This is without a doubt the biggest catastrophe in modern history for Puerto Rico,” he said. Rossello and other officials praised the federal government for planning its response before the storm hit, a contrast with what Puerto Rico has long seen as the neglect of 3.4 million Americans in a territory without a vote in Congress or the electoral college. “This is the first time we get this type of federal coordination,” said Jenniffer Gonzalez, Puerto Rico’s non-voting representative in Washington. Officials said 1,360 of the island’s 1,600 cellphone towers were down, and 85% of above-ground and underground phone and internet cables were knocked out. With roads blocked and phones dead, officials said, the situation may worsen. At least 31 lives in all have been lost around the Caribbean due to Maria, including at least 15 on hard-hit Dominica. Haiti reported three deaths; Guadeloupe two; and the Dominican Republic one. Across Puerto Rico, more than 15,000 people were in shelters, including some 2,000 rescued from the north coastal town of Toa Baja. Many Puerto Ricans planned to head to the mainland to temporarily escape the devastation. ||||| Image copyright AFP Image caption Winds have been lashing coastal cities like Fajardo as Hurricane Maria approaches Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria, the second maximum-strength Atlantic storm of the season, has reached the southernmost Virgin Islands as it heads for Puerto Rico. The category five hurricane began lashing St Croix in its north-westerly path across the Caribbean. On Monday it inflicted substantial damage on Dominica and the first aerial images of the island have emerged. The storm briefly weakened to a four but is now again packing top sustained winds of 280km/h (175mph). The storm is moving roughly along the same track as Irma, this season's other category five hurricane. The governor of Puerto Rico, a US territory, has told the island's 3.5 million people to seek shelter with the hurricane poised to make landfall around 8am local time (1300 GMT). Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Hurricane Maria brought high winds to Guadeloupe Officials there fear the debris left by Irma earlier this month could now prove extremely dangerous in the winds of Maria. There are also concerns that heavy rain could cause landslides in some places, and that a predicted storm surge of up to 9 feet (2.7m) could swamp low-lying areas. Puerto Rico has been a haven for people fleeing other storm-ravaged Caribbean islands in recent weeks. Hundreds of shelters have been set up by the authorities. What do we know of the damage on Dominica? Image copyright AFP Image caption Hurricane Maria early on Tuesday The first aerial footage of the island confirms "significant damage", Ronald Jackson of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency says. It shows flattened buildings, rivers which have burst their banks and a flooded runway. Dominica has been virtually cut off with telecommunications severed, but local amateur radio operators say more than 90% of properties have been damaged. The former British colony, which has a population of 72,000 and is less than 50km long and 25km wide, escaped the worst of Hurricane Irma two weeks ago. But on Monday the eye of the new category five storm passed directly over. The last communication from the island was from Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit just as the storm struck late on Monday, when he said in a Facebook post that the winds had swept away the roofs of "almost every person I have spoken to or otherwise made contact with." Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Hurricane Maria tracks towards Puerto Rico Where else has Maria passed? The French territory of Martinique has been hit by power cuts but is thought to have escaped serious damage. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Footage from Martinique shows early devastating winds Images show flooding in the French territory of Guadeloupe, where one person was killed by a falling tree. At least two others were missing after their ship sank near Desirade, the easternmost island in the archipelago. Officials described weather conditions as "very bad" with violent winds. About 80,000 homes were without power there, a government statement said. There are reports of flooding, mudslides and power outages in parts of St Lucia. Where next? A storm surge - rising seawater coming in from the coast - is expected to bring "life-threatening" swells of up to 9ft (2.7m) above ground in the US and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, National Hurricane Center forecasters in the US said. Heavy rainfall of around 25in (63cm) was expected near Puerto Rico and up to 20in in the US and British Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico's public safety commissioner, Hector Pesquera, issued a stern warning to island residents. "You have to evacuate. Otherwise, you're going to die," he said. "I don't know how to make this any clearer." Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello warned the storm could be "devastating and catastrophic", adding that he expected to lose a lot of infrastructure. Tropical storm warnings were issued for Antigua and Barbuda, Saba, St Eustatius, St Martin, Anguilla and Martinique. UK territories prepare for worst How did Maria gather strength so fast? Maria jumped from a category three to a top-strength category five within just a few hours on Monday, which was a shock for people in Dominica. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Why are there so many hurricanes? The BBC's David Shukman explains A factor in its rapid development is that local sea surface temperatures are currently anomalously high by a margin of around one to two degrees, says BBC weather forecaster Steve Cleaton. The elevated sea surface temperature will have contributed to the rapid development of this system, in concert with other very favourable atmospheric conditions within the locale such as low wind shear, our meteorologist adds. Will Irma relief work be affected? Some islands in Maria's path escaped the worst of Hurricane Irma and have been used as bases to distribute relief to places that were not so fortunate. Now there are concerns that this work could be jeopardised if they are badly hit, too. Image copyright AFP / Getty Images Image caption Puerto Ricans have been preparing in the capital, San Juan Guadeloupe has been a bridgehead for aid going to Irma-hit French territories, while Puerto Rico has also been offering crucial assistance to its neighbours. Overseas forces mobilise Britain, France, the US and the Netherlands all have overseas territories in the Caribbean. The British government said more than 1,300 troops were staying put in the region and an additional military team had been deployed. A 42-strong military resilience team has also been deployed to the British Virgin Islands. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Watch: The islanders caught between hurricanes French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told AFP that 110 more soldiers would be sent to the region to reinforce about 3,000 people already there. The Dutch navy tweeted that troops were heading to Saba and St Eustatius to bolster security amid fears of potential looting. US President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, where the US military has been evacuating personnel. Are you in an area affected by Hurricane Maria? If it's safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing [email protected]. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: ||||| Don’t start stitching that 51st star on the American flag just yet. Although 97 percent of voters in a Puerto Rico referendum on June 11 voted to start down the path of statehood, the chance of the island becoming a state is still, at best, a long shot. Optimism was the word of the day among supporters of Puerto Rico statehood after this most recent victory, in this high-profile plebiscite. Among revelers waving American flags Sunday night, Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello—the leader of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party—echoed sentiments that the referendum’s message was clear. “The United States of America will have to obey the will of our people!,” he told the crowd. Related Stories The Historical Exclusion Behind the Puerto Rico Bankruptcy Crisis Testing Territorial Limits On the mainland, the jubilation continued to reverberate. In a statement on Monday, Congressman José E. Serrano, who was born in Puerto Rico, celebrated the results of the plebiscite and claimed it as final proof that “Congress has a duty to listen and act upon these results so that Puerto Rico can be decolonized once and for all.” That same day, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer acknowledged the vote as a first step, saying “now that the people have spoken in Puerto Rico, this is something that Congress has to address.” To that end, Puerto Rico’s nonvoting Resident Commissioner in the House of Representatives, Jenniffer González, is drafting a statehood bill, and statehood advocates have been making the rounds on the Hill this week imploring Congress to move the matter forward. All that enthusiasm is probably for naught. In reality, Sunday’s vote didn’t actually signal imminent statehood for Puerto Rico, in spite of the huge margin of victory and insistences from proponents that it would force the issue in Congress. In fact, some observers think the resounding victory of statehood might have actually hurt the long-term prospects of the legislative body finally allowing Puerto Rico fully into the Union. “To make a long story short, the prospects are between zero and negative-10 percent,” says Carlos Iván Gorrín Peralta, a professor at the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico and a territorial-law scholar. At the end of the day, it’s the cynical calculations of politics in Washington that will determine Puerto Rico’s status. Although proponents of statehood sometimes cast the referendum as an automatic trigger for congressional review, the facts are that Congress is not bound by any aspect of the referendum vote on Sunday, and that Puerto Rico’s right to self-determination—while an important theoretical international legal concept and germane to its own territorial constitution—simply does not exist in federal legislative terms. Puerto Rico occupies an uncertain political status, one different from the 37 states added to the original 13 United States by Congress. “All 37 [entry] processes have followed the scheme set out way back in 1787 in the Northwest Ordinance,” says Gorrín. “They were all annexed as part of the United States, designated from that moment to become states eventually.” The landmass of the continental United States, as well as the archipelago of Hawaii and the territory of Alaska, were all added to the U.S. with the legal understanding that they would be eligible to become states, which meant that Congress had clear pathways—including the use of referenda and self-determination—for declaring and granting statehood. ||||| ONE of the little-noticed results of the Nov. 6 elections was a plebiscite held in Puerto Rico on the island’s relationship with the United States. The outcome was murky, much like the last century’s worth of political history between Washington and San Juan, and the mainland’s confused or disinterested attitude toward Puerto Rico that abetted it. Ever since the United States invaded Puerto Rico in 1898 and then was handed the island by Spain as part of the settlement for the Spanish-American War, the island’s people — American citizens since the passage of the Jones Act in 1917 — have been continuously put in situations where they are simultaneously auditioning for statehood, agitating for independence, and making the very best of living in limbo. Despite what my name suggests, I am Puerto Rican. I grew up with a mother from the island and a Scots-Irish father in a small town in rural North Carolina, at a time when there were so few Hispanics in the area that my mom liked to go to a Mexican restaurant just to speak some Spanish. That was 20-odd years ago. The local Latino population has grown so much since then that my mom, who retired two years ago, was able to work for a decade as a translator for the local school system. I was used to being “discovered” as Puerto Rican. Sometimes when this happened, I’d be called upon to explain things. In fourth grade, that meant being assigned to give the class — half black kids, and half white kids — a show-and-tell presentation on Puerto Rico and its strange status as a self-ruling commonwealth, with its own governor and legislature, the American president as its head of state, but whose residents lack a vote in national presidential elections or voting representation in Congress despite being American citizens. I was asked, “Do you eat a lot of tacos?” The answer, “Probably not any more than you do.” I was also asked, by one of the two dark-haired girls that I had a crush on, this one a doctor’s daughter, “Why don’t we just sell it?” Even fourth graders can be left speechless. It later occurred to me that I should have answered: “You can’t just sell it. It’s not your beach house!” If Puerto Rico were our beach house, we’d pay more attention to it. It has long been conventional wisdom among many Puerto Ricans that the status quo will hold because neither of the American national parties has decided that converting the island into a state would benefit them politically. Paired with this is the conventional wisdom that the Republican Party doesn’t actually want nearly four million more Hispanic voters, and their corresponding electoral votes, at play in national elections. (Both Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum did pronounce themselves pro-statehood when courting votes — and fund-raising dollars — on the island during last year’s Republican primaries.) When Spain granted Puerto Rico to the United States in 1898, President William McKinley initiated a project that he defined as “benevolent assimilation” on an island filled with people who already had a strong identity of their own and who, of course, primarily spoke Spanish. Some of the same people who had resisted rule by Spain, and who had even achieved an extremely brief autonomy — nine months — for the island before the American Navy’s arrival, continued to resist rule by the United States. Among them was a family member — the poet, journalist and statesman Luis Muñoz Rivera. It was during the Spanish reign that he had written, “Annexionism had always seemed to me absurd, depressing and inconceivable.” Though Mr. Muñoz Rivera continued to make the case for autonomy, he was also essential in the creation of some useful accommodations to American rule, like the Jones Act.
|
According to the United States on Monday, Puerto Rico's exemption from the , which temporarily lifted the rule requiring that only U.S.-owned ships might carry goods between U.S. ports, was allowed to expire on Sunday rather than being renewed. The island commonwealth had been given a temporary exemption from this law to allow foreign ships to aid the delivery of relief supplies after , which struck Puerto Rico last month. Puerto Ricans and lawmakers had asked for an extension of the waiver in light of the island's current difficulties. "We believe that extending the waiver is unnecessary to support the humanitarian relief efforts on the island... There is an ample supply of Jones Act-qualified vessels to ensure that cargo is able to reach Puerto Rico," reads a statement from Homeland Security Press Secretary David Lapan. The Jones Act of 1920 requires that all ships carrying cargo directly from one U.S. port to another must be built, operated and owned by U.S. personnel. Puerto Rico, a U.S. commonwealth, falls under its jurisdiction. President Donald Trump issued a temporary waiver of this requirement for Puerto Rico on September 28 to help the relief effort. However, there were also concerns about supplies sitting idle in ports for lack of organized distribution and truck drivers to take them where they were needed. Some foreign ships may take until October 18 to complete deliveries. Republicans Marco Rubio and John McCain were among those in the U.S. Congress who had urged President Trump to issue the waiver, though McCain supported making the exemption permanent: "Now that the temporary Jones Act waiver for Puerto Rico has expired, it is more important than ever for Congress to pass my bill to permanently exempt Puerto Rico from this archaic and burdensome law," he told the ''Huffington Post''. "Until we provide Puerto Rico with long-term relief, the Jones Act will continue to hinder much-needed efforts to help the people of Puerto Rico recover and rebuild from Hurricane Maria." In September, Puerto Rico was nicked by the same that left Florida in disarray but then pummeled head-on by Hurricane Maria. The crisis displaced thousands of people and led to extraordinary rainfall and flash flood scares after a large crack appeared in the Guajataca Dam. According to Governor Ricardo Rosselló, 85% of residents remain without electricity, and many also still lack access to running water. Puerto Rico was colonized by Spain and came under U.S. control in the in 1898, along with Guam and the Philippines. Every person born in Puerto Rico is a United States citizen by birth. Puerto Rican residents do not participate in national elections, hold no seats in the , and have a non-voting representative in the U.S. congress. Mostly, they are exempt from but not other federal taxes. Every few years, the Puerto Ricans hold a referendum to determine whether they wish to remain a commonwealth, seek U.S. statehood, or seek independence in some form. In June, 97% of voters selected the second option, though turnout was low, and Congress is not legally required to obey their wishes.
|
Police officers in an undated file photo. A father and son were named among the victims of a triple shooting in Hertfordshire, police said on Thursday. REUTERS/File LONDON (Reuters) - A father and son were named among the victims of a triple shooting in Hertfordshire, police said on Thursday. Keith Cowell, 52, and his son Matthew, 17, were found dead at a house in Bishop’s Stortford on Tuesday evening. The third victim, a 33-year-old from Billericay, in Essex, was named as Tony Dulieu. Two women, aged 54 and 23, who have not been named, are in a serious but stable condition in hospital. A three-year-old girl was found in the house unharmed and is being cared for by child protection officers. Police have described the shooting as a disturbing and targeted attack and are searching for two young Asian men who were seen leaving the house. ||||| · Three men shot dead, two women seriously injured · Hunt for pair seen driving up to Hertfordshire house. A three-year-old girl was under police guard last night after a gunman burst into a house she was in and shot dead three men and wounded two women in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. Detectives were last night hunting two Asian men who witnesses said had driven up to the house just before the shooting. One is described as entering the house, before returning to the red car where an accomplice was waiting. The vehicle then sped off. Neighbours described hearing a series of bangs at about 9.30pm on Tuesday evening. Police say the victims had been targeted by the gunmen, whom they probably knew. Police did not name those shot but official records and neighbours said the house was occupied by Keith Cowell, 52, a taxi driver for a firm based at nearby Stansted airport. His 17-year-old son Matthew is also believed to have been shot dead as well as a 33-year-old man. Two women were left seriously wounded. Official records show that Mr Cowell's wife, Nicole, 46, lived at the house, and neighbours said the other wounded woman was the girlfriend of Matthew Cowell and the mother of the three-year-old child. The family dog, a pit bull called Glorious, was also killed. Last night the girl was being cared for by family and detectives are waiting to see if she saw anything of the attack and whether she can recall any details. Chief Superintendent Al Thomas, the area commander for east Hertfordshire police, said: "We don't underestimate the impact of these murders. We share the concern and sense of shock within the community. Early information suggests this was a targeted incident and not a random attack." Chief Constable Frank Whiteley said witnesses had described seeing two young Asian men, aged in their late teens to early 20s, driving away from the scene in a small red car towards the M11. Mr Whiteley added: "We are fairly confident that there was some knowledge between the victims and those responsible. Gun crime is low in Hertfordshire. We are a quarter down on gun crime in total this year." Gary Sanderson, spokesman for East of England Ambulance Services, said: "The three males were pronounced dead almost immediately. The women were treated rapidly and were taken to hospital with serious injuries. The little girl was carried out of the house and she was fine. "This is one of the largest scale incidents we've ever seen involving firearms." Neighbour Richard Guy, 19, who was at home when the shooting happened in Plaw Hatch Close, said: "At about 9.30pm or 9.45pm last night me and my dad heard a crash or a bang and a car reversed away quickly and sped out. "I don't know if it was a shot bang or a car bang. I thought nothing of it but then I came back from the pub at about 12 and then this had happened." Police refused to discuss a possible motive for the attack, but one resident linked it to drugs. Dean O'Connell, 20, said: "You don't expect it somewhere like this, but this estate is renowned for a little bit of drugs. Most of the trouble here, I imagine, is because of drugs. If it is drugs, the extent that it's gone to is mental." Roy Hinson, a relative of Mr Cowell, laid flowers at the scene, and said: "Keith was a great guy and so was Matt." Rosie Knight, 13, who used to walk the family's pet staffordshire bull terrier, said: "They were a lovely family. You had Keith living there with his wife and then there was their son Matty and his girlfriend Clare whose daughter Angel lived with them. "Matty and Clare were on the point of moving out. They had found their own house. It was a chance for them to start a new life together on their own." ||||| A car sped off after the shootings, one neighbour said Hertfordshire police were called to an incident at a house in Plaw Hatch Close, Bishop's Stortford, on Tuesday. Two men, aged 33 and 52, and a 17-year-old boy died at the scene. Two women, aged 23 and 54, were injured. They are in a critical but stable condition in hospital. The girl was found in the house unharmed. Police have begun a murder inquiry. Police are looking for two slim Asian men in connection with the attack. The pair were seen making off from the scene in a small red car, and were described by police as being aged in their late teens or early 20s. 'Sense of shock' Officers have been conducting a full investigation of the scene. Ch Supt Al Thomas, of Herts Police, said: "We don't underestimate the impact of these murders. "We share the concern and sense of shock within the community. "Early information suggests this was a targeted incident and not a random attack, we have no information to suggest this is part of a trend or escalation in gun crime in the county." Witnesses at the scene said a father and son had been killed in the attack, but police have not yet released the identities of the victims or their relationships. House-to-house inquires were being carried out and a forensic search of the area under way. A neighbour, Richard Guy, told BBC News: "I came back from the pub about twelve o'clock and, yeah, there was police here. "I mean, before I went out I heard a bang and a car speed off quite quickly but it's something that I hear round here quite regularly so I didn't really expect it to be anything, anything bad. "I've only been here since December. For something to this extent to happen already - it's quite a shock to everyone I think." Dean O'Connell, who also lives in the close, said: "You don't expect it somewhere like this, but this estate is renowned for a little bit of drugs - most of the trouble here, I imagine, is because of drugs."
|
A three-year-old girl is under police guard following her discovery in a house which gunmen had broken into, killing three men and injuring two women, in Bishop's Stortford, England. Police announced on Wednesday that the toddler had been discovered, unharmed, when they had been called to an incident on Tuesday evening. Neighbours have said that they heard shots from the house around 2130 (BST), before observing an Asian man returning to an accomplice in a red car outside the premises. The men are believed to have been in their early twenties, and were seen fleeing the scene towards the M11 motorway. Three men were killed, aged 17, 33 and 52 and two women, aged 23 and 54, were injured. They are believed to have been victims of a targeted shooting, as opposed to a random act of violence, or burglary involving firearms.
|
A study of the WebmasterWorld states that 75% of all blogs on Google's blogspot are spam. According to this study the top 15 doorway domains consist of 14 domains, where the spam percentage is over 74%. This means that in four search results of current study, three sites turned out to be spam. The researchers scanned 1000 most searched queries: 'phentermine' on blogspot.com and the query 'ringtone' on hometown.aol.com. The WebmasterWorld experts easily identified more than a half of the search results as spam. The following list shows the spam percentage on 'top doorway domains': - blogspot.com 77% - netscape.com 74% - hometown.aol.com 84% - hometown.aol.de 91% - oas.org 78% - xoomer.alice.it 77% - home.aol.com 95% - freewebs.com 52% - blogstudio.com 99% - maxpages.com 81% - usaid.gov 85% - blogsharing.com 93% - sitegr.com 100% - torospace.com 95% - blog.hix.com 100% The list shows that some of these blogs are used exclusively, or almost exclusively, for spam. The main reason for such a torrent of splogs is the fact that these sites provide blog space for free, just to attract more traffic. The next list show the spam percentage of spam sites on 'top-level domains' (TLD): - .info 68% - .biz 53% - .net 12% - .org 11% - .com 4.1% The aim of this research shows that at the moment Internet actually consists of spam and if we think about it: what would happen if certain World Wide Web structures, among which Google, Yahoo and other search engines, didn't fight spam? ||||| On a recurring theme of Internet spam, a study discussed in WebmasterWorld indicates that three out of four blogs -- or 75% -- are spam. According to the study (PDF link): ...14 of the top-15 doorway domains have a spam percentage higher than 74%; that is, 3 out of 4 unique URLs on these domains (that appeared in our search results) were detected as spam. To demonstrate the need for scrutinizing these sites, we scanned the top-1000 results from two queries – “site:blogspot.com phentermine” and “site:hometown.aol.com ringtone” – and identified more than half of the URLs as spam easily. Here is a chart from the study showing the "top doorway domains and their spam percentages (among the search results in our data)": The reason for this is the suspicion that the popular blogging service is free. One WebmasterWorld member states: The trouble is, there's no algorithm that can automatically factor in the price of a service. It's free to set up a blog on Blogger, so it can be abused more easily. If these spammers actually had to pay for a new domain name every time they set up a splog, they wouldn't bother. Other findings of this research showed the spam percentages for Top-Level Domains (TLDs): 68% of .info TLDs are spam TLDs are spam 53% of .biz TLDs are spam TLDs are spam 12% of .net TLDs are spam TLDs are spam 11% of .org TLDs are spam TLDs are spam 4.1% of .com TLDs are spam Forum discussion continues at WebmasterWorld.
|
According to a survey conducted by some web sites, providing free web space for amateur bloggers contain in many cases mostly spam. Certain queries showed even a rate of 100% spam. Experts from WebmasterWorld provided precise figures and statistics to their survey. For example the following list shows the percentage of spam on different popular sites providing free bloggers' web space: * '''blogspot.com''' with 77% * '''netscape.com''' with 74% * '''hometown.aol.com''' with 84% * '''hometown.aol.de''' with 91% * '''oas.org''' with 78% * '''xoomer.alice.it''' with 77% * '''home.aol.com''' with 95% * '''freewebs.com''' with 52% * '''blogstudio.com''' with 99% * '''maxpages.com''' with 81% * '''usaid.gov''' with 85% * '''blogsharing.com''' with 93% * '''sitegr.com''' with 100% * '''torospace.com''' with 95% * '''blog.hix.com''' with 100% The present research was based on most popular queries on the blog sites. Among other the WebmasterWorld experts used the query ''phentermine'' on Google's '''blogspot.com''' and ''ringtone'' on '''hometown.aol.com'''. These queries proved that there blogospheres contained more than 74% . The researchers said that the main reason for this big amount of splogs was the fact that the web-space provided on the mentioned sites was free, thus the spammers don't have to bother buying a domain and paying its support.
|
Scorecard - Commentary - Wickets - Partnerships - Wagon wheels - Player v player - Over comparison - Over graphs - Career averages - Match home - Bulletin - Article index (5) - Photo index (25) ODI no. 2545 ICC World Cup - 15th Match, Group A Scotland v South Africa 2006/07 season Played at (neutral venue), on 20 March 2007 (50-over match) Result South Africa won by 7 wickets (with 160 balls remaining) Scotland innings (50 overs maximum) R M B 4s 6s SR c Smith b Langeveldt 24 59 44 2 1 54.54 c Boucher b Hall 13 46 33 2 0 39.39 run out (de Villiers) 31 82 50 4 0 62.00 c de Villiers b Hall 4 23 13 0 0 30.76 b Langeveldt 1 24 21 0 0 4.76 not out 45 111 64 3 0 70.31 b Pollock 15 38 30 2 0 50.00 c Kemp b Hall 23 40 35 1 1 65.71 run out ( Boucher/Hall) 18 11 11 3 1 163.63 Extras (b 2, lb 4, w 5, nb 1) 12 Total (8 wickets; 50 overs; 219 mins) 186 Did not bat , Fall of wickets Bowling O M R W Econ 10 1 25 1 2.50 9 0 25 0 2.77 (1nb) 10 2 48 3 4.80 (2w) 10 1 48 2 4.80 (3w) 8 0 21 0 2.62 3 0 13 0 4.33 South Africa innings (target: 187 runs from 50 overs) R M B 4s 6s SR c Rogers b Haq 91 100 65 13 1 140.00 c Brown b Rogers 62 67 45 9 2 137.77 c McCallum b Haq 21 23 23 3 0 91.30 not out 12 11 7 1 1 171.42 not out 0 1 0 0 0 - Extras (b 1, w 1) 2 Total (3 wickets; 23.2 overs; 102 mins) 188 Did not bat , , , , , Fall of wickets Bowling O M R W Econ 3 0 21 0 7.00 4 0 32 0 8.00 3 0 24 0 8.00 2 0 20 0 10.00 6 0 43 2 7.16 5.2 0 47 1 8.81 (1w) Toss South Africa, who chose to field first Points South Africa 2, Scotland 0 Player of the match GC Smith (South Africa) Umpires (England) and (Sri Lanka) TV umpire Match referee (Sri Lanka) Reserve umpire (New Zealand) Match notes Scotland innings Power Play 2: Overs 10.1 - 15.0 Power Play 3: Overs 15.1 - 20.0 Scotland: 50 runs in 15.4 overs (96 balls), Extras 3 Drinks: Scotland - 57/2 in 17.0 overs (RR Watson 14, GM Hamilton 3) Drinks: Scotland - 93/5 in 33.0 overs (DR Brown 10, CJO Smith 4) Scotland: 100 runs in 34.6 overs (213 balls), Extras 6 Scotland: 150 runs in 46.2 overs (284 balls), Extras 10 7th Wicket: 50 runs in 55 balls (DR Brown 23, JAR Blain 23, Ex 4) South Africa innings South Africa: 50 runs in 6.3 overs (39 balls), Extras 1 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 39 balls (GC Smith 31, AB de Villiers 20, Ex 1) GC Smith: 50 off 36 balls (10 x 4) South Africa: 100 runs in 12.2 overs (74 balls), Extras 1 1st Wicket: 100 runs in 74 balls (GC Smith 56, AB de Villiers 43, Ex 1) AB de Villiers: 50 off 41 balls (9 x 4) Drinks: South Africa - 134/1 in 15.5 overs (GC Smith 71) Rain: South Africa - 147/1 in 19.0 overs (GC Smith 77, AG Prince 7) South Africa: 150 runs in 19.3 overs (117 balls), Extras 1 ||||| ICC World Cup: Scotland v South Africa 20-03-2007 at St Kitts South Africa beat Scotland by 7 wickets South Africa won the toss and decided to field Scotland Innings 186 for 8 (50.0 overs) South Africa Innings 188 for 3 (23.2 overs) Scotland Innings Runs Balls 4s 6s D F Watts c G C Smith b C K Langeveldt 24 44 2 1 R M Haq c M V Boucher b A J Hall 13 33 2 0 R R Watson run out 31 50 4 0 G M Hamilton c A B de Villiers b A J Hall 4 13 0 0 N F I McCallum b C K Langeveldt 1 21 0 0 D R Brown not out 45 64 3 0 C J O Smith b S M Pollock 15 30 2 0 J A R Blain c J M Kemp b A J Hall 23 35 1 1 P J C Hoffmann run out 18 11 3 1 Extras 1nb 5w 2b 4lb 12 Total for 8 186 (50.0 ovs) Bowler O M R W S M Pollock 10.0 1 25 1 M Ntini 9.0 0 25 0 A J Hall 10.0 2 48 3 C K Langeveldt 10.0 1 48 2 J H Kallis 8.0 0 21 0 G C Smith 3.0 0 13 0 Fall of wicket 35 R M Haq 43 D F Watts 63 G M Hamilton 71 N F I McCallum 84 R R Watson 113 C J O Smith 163 J A R Blain 186 P J C Hoffmann Back to top South Africa Innings Runs Balls 4s 6s G C Smith c G A Rogers b R M Haq 91 65 13 1 A B de Villiers c D R Brown b G A Rogers 62 45 9 2 A G Prince c N F I McCallum b R M Haq 21 23 3 0 J M Kemp not out 12 7 1 1 S M Pollock not out 0 0 0 0 Extras 1w 1b 2 Total for 3 188 (23.2 ovs) Bowler O M R W P J C Hoffmann 3.0 0 21 0 J A R Blain 4.0 0 32 0 J D Nel 3.0 0 24 0 D R Brown 2.0 0 20 0 R M Haq 6.0 0 43 2 G A Rogers 5.2 0 47 1 Fall of wicket 134 A B de Villiers 162 A G Prince 178 G C Smith Back to top Umpires: M R Benson, E A R de Silva Scotland: D F Watts, R M Haq, R R Watson, G M Hamilton, N F I McCallum, D R Brown, C J O Smith, G A Rogers, J A R Blain, J D Nel, P J C Hoffmann South Africa: G C Smith, A B de Villiers, J H Kallis, H H Gibbs, A G Prince, J M Kemp, M V Boucher, S M Pollock, A J Hall, C K Langeveldt, M Ntini ||||| Wright will make a return to the Scottish camp after the funeral Batsman Ryan Watson will take over as captain against South Africa, a match Wright will miss, but the medium-pacer will lead against the Netherlands. Wright led Scotland to victory at the Intercontinental Cup and ICC Trophy and removed Ricky Ponting on Tuesday. His absence could give Dewald Nel a chance to make his World Cup debut. Scotland opener Fraser Watts spoke of the sympathy for Wright among the team-mates he has temporarily left behind. "It's Craig's first World Cup - and he has worked very, very hard to get here," he said. "It's such a great shame for him that he lost his auntie and will miss the South Africa game. Obviously, your family comes first in these situations. "We are thinking of him at the moment - and when we play on Tuesday we will be thinking of him. "Wrighty has his own way of doing things - and so does Ryan. But they are both good captains, both experienced guys who know exactly what they are doing."
|
South Africa beat Scotland by 7 wickets (with 160 balls remaining) in Group A of the World Cup at the Warner Park Stadium, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis. Scotland captain Craig Wright missed this match as he had flown home to attend his aunt's funeral; Ryan Watson deputised as captain in his absence. This victory meant both South Africa and Australia qualified for the Super 8 phase. Toss: South Africa won, and elected to field first. Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Haq, 11.2 ov), 2-43 (Watts, 14.1 ov), 3-63 (Hamilton, 19.1 ov), 4-71 (McCallum, 24.2 ov), 5-84 (Watson, 29.3 ov), 6-113 (Smith, 38.4 ov), 7-163 (Blain, 47.4 ov), 8-186 (Hoffmann, 49.6 ov) Fall of wickets: 1-134 (de Villiers, 15.5 ov), 2-162 (Prince, 20.6 ov), 3-178 (Smith, 22.6 ov) South Africa: G C Smith (capt), A B de Villiers, J H Kallis, H H Gibbs, A G Prince, J M Kemp, M V Boucher (wkt), S M Pollock, A J Hall, C K Langeveldt, M Ntini Scotland: D F Watts, R M Haq, R R Watson (capt), G M Hamilton, N F I McCallum, D R Brown, C J O Smith (wkt), G A Rogers, J A R Blain, J D Nel, P J C Hoffmann Player of the match: G C Smith (South Africa) Umpires: M R Benson (England) and E A R de Silva (Sri Lanka) TV umpire: S A Bucknor (Jamaica) Match referee: R S Madugalle (Sri Lanka) Reserve umpire: A L Hill (New Zealand)
|
Tech blogs are fizzing with rage at the 'revelation' that Microsoft small print says a new Windows OEM licence must be purchased if a motherboard is changed or upgraded. The software behemoth is quoted as saying that the 'heart and soul' of a PC lies therein, and so changing it - other than in the case of a failure - amounts to creating a new machine. Other licence types do not face such restrictions. Comments about the newly-uncovered atrocity are typically less than complimentary towards Redmond: “They are trully [sic] evil,” fumes one. Several others go for the succinct and to-the-point: “F**k Micro$oft.” For Microsoft's part, it claims this has always been the case. And this document seems to corroborate the assertion. Customers reading their license agreements? Whatever next.® ||||| Microsoft recently made a change to the licence agreement saying that a new motherboard is equal to a new computer, hence you need to purchase a new Windows licence. Here is what Microsoft has to say: “An upgrade of the motherboard is considered to result in a “new personal computer” to which Microsoft® OEM operating system software cannot be transferred from another computer. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created and the license of new operating system software is required.” The reason Microsoft gave for this term is that “Microsoft needed to have one base component “left standing” that would still define that original PC. Since the motherboard contains the CPU and is the “heart and soul” of the PC, when the motherboard is replaced (for reasons other than defect) a new PC is essentially created.” Microsoft sent a memo to its OEM partners asking them to enforce this new policy, every time they upgrade a computer for a client. Digg this story
|
Microsoft has recently made changes to the Windows license agreement, saying that, “An upgrade of the motherboard is considered to result in a new personal computer to which Microsoft OEM operating system software cannot be transferred from another computer." This will force users who upgrade their motherboard, even via the OEM, to purchase a new license agreement. The only exception is a defect for which the OEM replaces the motherboard. Microsoft claims it needs to have "one base component left standing that would still define that original PC. Since the motherboard contains the CPU and is the heart and soul of the PC, when the motherboard is replaced (for reasons other than defect) a new PC is essentially created.” Microsoft has asked its OEM partners to begin enforcing the new policy when they upgrade a client's computer.
|
Take action! Help Wikileaks fight to get the truth out and change the world for the better. From Wikileaks EDITORIAL Thursday February 28, 2008 Julius Baer Bank & Trust -- the Swiss-Cayman "private banking" entity currently attempting to sue Wikileaks before US Federal court Justice Jeffery White in San Francisco, today released a press release onto the Business Wire vanity wire service. The press release was subsequently picked up by Reuters and other wire services. Wikileaks responds. Julius Baer Bank & Trust, from here on in, simply referred to as Baer, claimed in relation to Wikileaks: "It wasn't our intention to shut down the Web site". This is a lie. Baer's requests to the court to do just that are a matter of public record. The only change made by Judge Jeffery White to Baer's proposed "Wikileaks.org' takedown order was to cross out the word 'proposed'! Baer also wrote-for-the-judge a separate order in relation to the documents alone, which was similarly granted. Further, at any time subsequent Baer could have asked the court that its earlier request on the shutdown order be rescinded. It has not done so. While one might be tempted to blame the bank's Hollywood lawyers Lavely & Singer for running amuck, Baer continues to employ the same law firm. This can only be seen as an endorsement of its conduct. Baer claimed that: "This decision was arrived at only after a month long effort on the part of Julius Baer.. to engage the operators of Wikileaks in a dialogue.." This is a lie. Wikileaks responded with grace and speed to every one of Baer's highly irregular (see below) demands and left communication open. A full record is available as: The last letter is from Wikileaks. The entire correspondence covers a period of two days. Baer did not submit the correspondence to the court for hearing although it was absolutely central to the issues and Wikileaks was not represented. A clear abuse of process. Wikileaks is confident about its place in the court of public opinion, but the shadowy Swiss-Cayman "Bank and Trust" Baer, has been allergic to the sun from the very beginning. The first sign of this hyper-sensitivity to light was when its lawyers, Lavely & Singer refused to put their demands in writing -- even email -- as requested. The second sign was when the same lawyers refused to even identify their client! Finally Baer's (as it turned out) lawyers refused to even state what city they would be taking their threatened action in so Wikileaks could arrange representation in that city, instead preferring to abuse process and arrange a hearing where Wikileaks was not represented. But don't take our word for it -- see the submissions to the court by our then pre-litigation council Julie Turner and: It is Baer who decided to hire Hollywood lawyers Lavely & Singer, who like to describe themselves as "all-around bad cop for stars from Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger to Jim Carrey and Celine Dion.". It is Baer who stood by these lawyers while they abused process with the assistance of a negligent Judge. It is Baer who has refused to make amends for its misdeeds and it is Baer who is now suffering, and will continue to suffer the consequences. Baer "has form" in engaging in quasi-criminal conduct not just in relation to offshore banking. Swiss court records reveal Baer hired Zurich-based private detectives Ryffel AG to follow the alleged whistleblower Rudolf Elmer while he took his daughters to primary school. The police apprehended one of the PIs in a car chase. The chase became a matter of public record in a Dec 2007 case in Switzerland — as did Baer's attempts to bribe the suspected whistleblower into keeping quiet. See: Baer claimed that: "The posting of confidential bank records by anonymous sources significantly harms the privacy rights of all individuals." This is misrepresentation. Baer likes to spin the documents as 'bank records' and never likes to talk about the dates concerned. The documents are nearly all Microsoft Word files setting up trust arrangements used as anonymizing shell structures. In its court filings, Baer claims to have been aware of the documents release since 2003 and the Swiss media had the documents in 2005. The only relevence these documents have now is that they expose the bank's ultra-rich clients suspiciously funneling money through Cayman Islands trusts nearly a decade ago. Wikileaks took a skeptical position on the documents until attacked by the bank. Baer, in attempting to shoot the messenger has only succeeded, spectacularly, in shooting itself. Wikileaks awaits Baer's apology. ||||| Freedom of speech and digital rights groups plan to argue on its behalf at a legal hearing on 29 February. The hearing will decide whether to continue a court order that removed links to some of the Wikileaks sites from the net's address books. The order was sought by Swiss bank Julius Baer after internal documents were placed on Wikileaks. Speech test The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation are planning to "intervene" for Wikileaks at the continuation hearing. The rights groups claim the order that knocked Wikileaks offline in the US raises "serious First Amendment concerns". "Blocking access to the entire site in response to a few documents posted there completely disregards the public's right to know," said ACLU attorney Ann Brick in a statement. The order granted for Julius Baer by US district judge Jeffrey White ordered Dynadot - the company that hosts the Wikileaks website in America - to remove all mentions of the site from its address books. Anyone in the US trying to find Wikileaks would have to consult this address list to find the website. The bank took the action in mid-February because, it is understood, the documents hosted could have had an impact on a separate case being heard in Switzerland. Julius Baer said the case had nothing to do with free speech. "This action has been brought solely to prevent the unlawful dissemination of stolen bank records and personal account information of its customers," lawyers for the bank wrote in court papers. "Many of those documents have also been altered and forged," said the legal filing. However, the attempt to get the documents removed spurred many other sites to host them and Wikileaks' sites in other countries were largely unaffected by the ruling. The US site itself was also reachable by those that knew its numerical net address rather than just its English name. In total, 18 organisations have pledged support for Wikileaks in documents filed to the US court that will hear the legal argument. ||||| Take action! Help Wikileaks fight to get the truth out and change the world for the better. From Wikileaks Wikileaks would like to thank the following 18 steadfast supporters of the First Amendment who have filed in support of Wikileaks and against the claims of the Cayman Islands branch of Swiss bank Bank Julius Baer and their lawyers, Lavely & Singer. Please give these organizations your support! Any other individuals or organizations wishing to join the case please contact one of the lead amicus organizations listed (preferred), [email protected] or just file with the court. Tweleve media organisations have filed a joint Amici Curiae ("friends of the Court") brief: 1. Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press (RCFP) 2. The American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) 3. The Associated Press - (AP) world wide news agency, based in New York 4. Citizen Media Law Project 5. The E.W Scripps Company - newspapers, TV, cable TV etc. 6. Gannet Co. Inc - the largest publisher of newspapers in the USA, including USA Today 7. The Hearst Corporation - media conglomerate which publishes the San Francisco Chronicle 8. The Los Ageles Times 9. National Newspaper Association (NNA) 10. Newspaper Association of America (NAA) 11. The Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) 12. The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) - also provided some legal funding See Brief of Amici Curiae (Media Coalition) (02-26-2008) (.pdf, 17 pages) These following two groups have also filed a brief: 13. Public Citizen - founded by Ralph Nader 14. California First Amendment Coalition (CFAC) See Public Citizen / CFAC brief (.pdf 13 pages) These organisations have also filed their own Motion to Intervene as well: 15. The Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) 16. the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) 17. The Project on Government Oversight (POGO) 18. Jordan McCorckle, an individual at the University of Texas and user of WikiLeaks.org See Motion to Intervene and Supporting Memorandum (.pdf 15 pages) Did the Hollywood media celebrity lawyers Lavely & Singer warn their clients Bank Julius Baer & Trust that their meddling with US First Amendment rights would result in so much expert legal opposition? Or did Lavely & Singer act in their own interests and against their clients interests by seeking to provoke Wikileaks inorder to get a bit of free publicity for their "we sue journalists" law firm? It is time BJB read up on the McLibel case before Lavely & Singer, who have already cost BJB tens or hundreds of millions in bad press and possibily delayed its US IPO, destroy BJB's name completely. [thanks to wikileak.org for research]
|
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) have sided with ''Wikileaks.org'' and will defend them against a lawsuit which took the site off line in the United States. Wikileaks is a website dedicated to hosting leaked documents that are "anonymous, untraceable, uncensorable." On February 18, 2008, a permanent court injunction issued in the in San Francisco by judge Jeffrey White, California to Bank Julius Baer (BJB), a Swiss Bank, took the domain name offline. However the site remained online via its IP address and alternative domain names. Wikileaks previously published hundreds of documents obtained from a of the Swiss Bank, "purportedly showing offshore tax evasion and money laundering by extremely wealthy and in some cases, politically sensitive, clients from the US, Europe, China and Peru." "Blocking access to the entire site in response to a few documents posted there completely disregards the public's right to know," said Ann Brick a lawyer for the ACLU. At least 18 other organizations have signed documents in defense of Wikileaks. Those documents have been forged into a 'joint Amici Curiae ("friends of the Court") brief; which will be submitted to the court and used as defense evidence in a hearing scheduled for Friday February 29. Despite the attempts by the ACLU and others, Bank Julius Baer says that their lawsuit has nothing to do with the rights of free speech. "This action has been brought solely to prevent the unlawful dissemination of stolen bank records and personal account information of its customers. Many of those documents have also been altered and forged," said the Bank. Recently the Bank has made allegations that they have been "unable to negotiate with Wikileaks" at all before or during legal proceedings. Wikileaks, in a press release denies the allegations. "Wikileaks at all times responded with grace and dignity to BJBs highly irregular demands and left communication open," said Wikileaks which also adds that the correspondence with the Bank is available on its website on servers in Denmark. "BJB did not submit the correspondence to the court, although it must be absolutely central to the issues held there. We wonder why?"
|
MOSCOW — A chaotic day of deadly street violence in southern Kyrgyzstan ended Friday with the interim government’s retaking control of administration buildings in two southern cities. The buildings were overrun a day earlier by followers of the former president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who was toppled in an uprising a month ago. The interim government established in the wake of that unrest has consolidated power in the capital, Bishkek, but still has a tenuous hold on the south, the homeland of Mr. Bakiyev. At least one person was killed and 37 were wounded Friday in exchanges of gunfire between supporters of Mr. Bakiyev and those backing the interim government. Crowds on both sides included dozens of armed men, witnesses said. The interim leader, Roza Otunbayeva, blamed Mr. Bakiyev for the uprising in the south, the most serious challenge yet to the new government. A former adviser of Mr. Bakiyev was arrested and accused of fomenting unrest. “The former president again spilled the blood of Kyrgyz citizens,” Ms. Otunbayeva said in a statement carried by local news media. Government officials said Thursday that they would not use police force, but instead would encourage supporters to swarm into the buildings held by armed followers of Mr. Bakiyev. The result was a strange tableau of violence as the pro-government groups — some peaceful and some armed with sticks, rocks and rifles — stormed the government buildings while uniformed police officers and special forces largely stayed on the sidelines, witnesses said. The loyalty of those forces in the south has been in question. Kyrgyzstan, in Central Asia, is the home of a base used to supply the United States-led war in Afghanistan. The turmoil seems likely to continue. The violence is emblematic of the challenges facing the small group of people who proclaimed themselves the interim government. They are unelected and have no formal legitimacy, and it remains unclear whom the police and the army are siding with, particularly in the south. The danger of violent uprising is heightened because the population is bristling with guns. Legal gun ownership in Kyrgyzstan is restricted to hunting firearms, but many households in rural areas keep Kalashnikov rifles owing to a history of ethnic fighting in the region. Also, an Interior Ministry arsenal was looted during the April 7 uprising, scattering hundreds of small arms. The worst violence on Friday unfolded in Jalal-Abad, near the former president’s home village. The first shots there were fired as a group of pro-government protesters walked toward the administration building, Asylbek Tekebayev, a supporter of the interim government, said in a telephone interview. Mr. Tekebayev said the two sides shot at each other across the city’s central square in front of the administration building, at a distance of about 150 yards. “It was horrible,” he said. “The bullets were hitting people in the back, in the side, they were falling and tripping, and everybody started to run.” By late afternoon, the crowd, which Mr. Tekebayev said included at least half a dozen men with rifles, regrouped. The opposing groups also exchanged fire over control of a university building where the pro-Bakiyev group had positioned snipers, according to news agencies, which reported three wounded in that shootout. The Kyrgyz Health Ministry said hospitals in Jalal-Abad admitted 37 people wounded in the fighting. The ministry said one man had died from gunshot wounds and five were in grave condition. A political party leader in the south who is loyal to the interim government, Batyrbek Abdrazakov, said that by the evening pro-government groups had full control of the government building, the Interfax news agency reported. The United States Embassy in Bishkek issued a statement urging restraint on both sides. “We continue to encourage all parties to refrain from violence and express hope that Kyrgyzstan can move forward on a productive and democratic path,” the statement said. After the buildings were stormed on Thursday, a committee that said it represented Mr. Bakiyev’s supporters issued a statement in which it claimed to have wide support in the south and called for his return to power. Demonstrators had shoved their way into buildings not only in Jalal-Abad, but also in Osh and Batken. The three cities are the regional capitals of southern Kyrgyzstan. In Batken, the protesters eventually left the building, under unclear circumstances. After taking over the government building in Osh on Thursday, demonstrators escorted the former governor, Mamasadyk Bakirov, back into his office, which had been occupied by the appointee of the interim government, Sooronbai Zheenbekov. By Friday afternoon, Mr. Zheenbekov was back in his office, the Kabar news agency in Kyrgyzstan reported. To try to re-establish control over the south, the defense minister, Ismail Isakov, was sent to Osh and granted new powers as a governor general for the three southern districts, according to Edil Baisalov, the interim government’s chief of staff. After protesters seized government buildings, including the president’s office, last month in Bishkek Mr. Bakiyev fled to the south before going into exile. During that takeover, 86 people died when police officers and soldiers guarding government buildings fired at protesters, some of them also armed. ||||| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Supporters of Kyrgyzstan's ousted president have stormed regional government buildings in the south of the ex-Soviet republic. Hundreds of Kurmanbek Bakiyev's supporters took over buildings in Osh and Jalalabad, but the new government said it had regained control in Batken. Reports suggested airports in Osh and Jalalabad had also been disrupted. Allies of Mr Bakiyev said they had 25,000 supporters in the south, ready to march on Bishkek. The president was overthrown last month in an uprising that left at least 85 people dead. The provisional government has launched several criminal proceedings against the former president, who is now in Belarus with his family. But tensions remain high nationwide, as the government attempts to assert its authority on the country. Embassy recalls This is the biggest challenge so far for the provisional government, reports BBC Central Asia correspondent Rayhan Demytrie. Last week there were reports that leaflets had been distributed in southern Kyrgyzstan calling for the formation of a "southern Kyrgyz democratic republic". The interim government said it was in control of the situation and had sent its defence minister to help restore order. In another development, all diplomats from the Belarussian embassy in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek were recalled because of security concerns. The move followed a number of small demonstrations in front of the embassy in which people demanded the extradition Mr Bakiyev. 'Bakiyev - our president' The government buildings in Osh were stormed by some 250 Bakiyev supporters on Thursday morning. They scuffled briefly with supporters of the new government before smashing their way through the glass doors and entering the building, but the police did not intervene. Kurmanbek Bakiyev is now in Belarus Sacked regional governor Mamsadyk Bakirov was said to be among the protesters, who were demanding his reinstatement. Reports from Jalalabad - Mr Bakiyev's home city - said around 100 of the ousted president's supporters had broken into and occupied local government buildings there. Jalalabad's new governor was seized by the crowd. He had gone to the scene in the hope of talking to them but was then "put in a car and taken away" to an unknown location, an unnamed official told AFP news agency. Reports say the protesters in Jalalabad were mainly women and security forces were taking care not to interfere. They chanted "Bakiyev - our president" and hung a banner reading "Bakiyev, the legal president of Kyrgyzstan" on the administrative building. Batken's administrative building was also seized but the provisional government later said it had retaken control of the situation in the city while "work [was] under way on Osh and Jalalabad". On Wednesday, a protest was held in the capital Bishkek in which supporters of the city's former mayor demanded his return. A body calling itself the "committee in defence of ousted Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev" told reporters that 25,000 people in the south were ready to march on Bishkek and "deal with the provisional government". Its press service was quoted by Russia's Interfax news agency as saying that they were "ready to gather in Jalalabad" for the march north. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version ||||| MOSCOW — Opponents of the interim government in Kyrgyzstan stormed administration buildings in three southern cities on Thursday, forcibly installed a new governor and seized an airport apparently in an attempt to take power in the south a month after the country’s president was ousted in an uprising. After seizing the buildings, the protesters issued a statement demanding the return to power of the former president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev. It was the worst turbulence in Kyrgyzstan since the bloody uprising that led to the overthrow of Mr. Bakiyev last month. He is in exile in Belarus, but he retains support in his homeland in the south of the country, where discontent has been rising. Kyrgyzstan, a landlocked mountainous nation in the heart of Central Asia, hosts a military base important to the United States’ war efforts in Afghanistan. Russia, which considers Kyrgyzstan within its sphere of influence, has opposed the base. A committee that said it represented Mr. Bakiyev’s supporters issued a statement on Thursday in which it claimed to have wide support in the south, news agencies reported. The committee said the former president’s supporters would soon head north to “confront the interim government” in the capital, Bishkek. It was not clear whether the military took steps on Thursday to position troops to block the roads north to the capital. The unrest in the south began with street protests that led to the storming of the government buildings, following a now familiar pattern in Kyrgyz politics. Demonstrators shoved their way into buildings in the cities of Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken, the three regional capitals of southern Kyrgyzstan, which is separated from the capital and the north of the country by a rugged mountain chain. In Batken, the protesters eventually left the building. After taking over a government building in Osh, demonstrators escorted the former governor, Mamasadyk Bakirov, back into his office, which had been occupied by an appointee of the interim government earlier in the day. Protesters also seized the Osh airport, an official with the interim government said. The interim government had no plans to deploy the army or to evict the protesters by force, Edil Baisalov, the chief of staff, said in a telephone interview. “Taking over government buildings has become a popular pastime,” Mr. Baisalov said. He characterized the demonstrators as a few hundred relatives of officials in the former government, and he contended that they posed no threat to the leaders of the interim government. Still, the defense minister, Ismail Isakov, was sent to Osh and granted new powers as a governor general for the three southern districts, Mr. Baisalov said. Mr. Isakov will try to rally unarmed civilian supporters to clear the seized buildings, Mr. Baisalov said. The interim government also called for a national demonstration of support on Friday, in places that included cities in the south. The loyalty of troops garrisoned in Osh and police forces in the south has been in doubt since the uprising. Mr. Baisalov said the government had full control. In Bishkek, a former interior minister in Mr. Bakiyev’s government was put under house arrest by the interim government, the Interfax news service reported. After protesters seized government buildings last month in Bishkek, including the president’s office, Mr. Bakiyev fled to the south before going into exile. During the takeover, 86 people died when police officers and soldiers guarding the government buildings fired at protesters, some of them also armed. ||||| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement At least one person has died and nearly 40 injured in clashes between rival supporters of Kyrgyzstan's interim government and the ousted president. Gunfire was heard as pro-government supporters tried to seize back control of administrative offices in the southern city of Jalalabad. Earlier, they regained the offices in the nearby city of Osh from supporters of ex-president Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Mr Bakiyev was overthrown in a violent uprising last month. He fled with his family to Belarus after the 7 April clashes between government forces and protesters that left at least 85 people dead. A new interim government has been installed but tensions have remained high across the country as it attempts to assert its authority. Violent outburst As many as 4,000 pro-government supporters moved in on the government building in Jalalabad on Friday in an attempt to oust some 200 Bakiyev supporters inside. But the stand-off turned violent as rival sides battled each other with sticks and stones and gunshots were fired. The health ministry said one person died after surgery for a gunshot wound and at least 37 other people were injured, Reuters news agency reports. Residents in the city have closed shops and businesses and returned home for safety, the BBC's Central Asia correspondent Rayhan Demytrie reports. Earlier, the government-backed regional governor in Osh re-entered the offices backed by hundreds of supporters. They reclaimed the building from the Bakiyev supporters, some 250 of whom stormed the offices on Thursday demanding the reinstatement of regional governor Mamsadyk Bakirov, who had been sacked by the government. There were some scuffles between the rival sides but no serious injuries, reports said. The interim government says it is in control of the situation and has sent its defence minister to help restore order. But there are fears that skirmishes and clashes between the two opposing groups could bring more violence to the country, our correspondent adds. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version
|
Supporters of Kurmanbek Makiyev, shown here in 2006, took over several government buildings yesterday. The interim government of Kyrgyzstan has regained control of several government offices after a day of violent clashes with supporters of former . Backers of the ousted president took over regional government offices in , , and in the southern part of the country yesterday. Afterward, they released a statement calling for the reinstatement of Bakiyev's administration. The provisional government, led by , said later that it had managed to retake the offices in Batken after the demonstrators left the buildings there. The governor of Osh also managed to reclaim the buildings in his city with the aid of civilian government supporters. Approximately 250 protesters were reported to have forced their way into government buildings in Osh yesterday morning, unstopped by local law enforcement officials. Up to 200 other Bakiyev supporters, most of whom were women, managed to seize administration buildings in Jalal-Abad, and were also untouched by police. A group of 4,000 pro-government citizens approached the occupied buildings in Jalal-Abad, but was quickly dispersed when gunfire was heard. Hospitals in the city reported receiving 37 people wounded in the incident, and at least one person has died. A group loyal to Bakiyev later said that they had 25,000 supporters to march into , the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz government said that they would use counter-protests, rather than police forces, to combat the demonstrators.
|
Search all sections About ODPM Building Regulations Devolution Fire Government Offices Homelessness Housing Local Government Planning Regions Science and Research Sustainable Communities Urban Policy Advanced Search ||||| Property Policies File Downloads No documents found The policies available here relate to the way in which land required for Crossrail will be acquired and disposed of, the way in which noise and vibration and ground settlement will be dealt with, and the circumstances under which property may be purchased in cases of hardship.Note: Clicking on a file link below will cause the file to launch in a new window. Alternatively, to save the file, right-click on the link and select "Save As...". ||||| Crossrail Bill This is the text of the Crossrail Bill, as introduced in the House of Commons on 22nd February 2005. EXPLANATORY NOTES Explanatory Notes to the Bill, prepared by the Department for Transport, are published separately as Bill 62- EN. EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Mr Secretary Darling has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998: In my view the provisions of the Crossrail Bill are compatible with the Convention rights. Crossrail Bill ||||| On July 20th 2004 the Secretary of State for Transport, Mr Alistair Darling, announced in a statement to the House of Commons on Transport strategy that the Government "intend to introduce a hybrid bill at the earliest opportunity to take the powers necessary for Crossrail to be built". Crossrail FAQs Wh at is a hybrid bill? In simple terms a hybrid bill is a public bill which is treated like a private bill for part of its passage through Parliament. This gives individuals and bodies an opportunity to oppose the bill or to seek its amendment before a Select Committee in either or in both Houses. Can I oppose the bill? During the passage of the bill through Parliament there will be an opportunity for individuals, groups and organisations who are especially and directly affected by the bill to "petition" against it. Those who are successful may have their arguments heard by a Select Committee. What is a petition? A petition in this context is not a public petition (a paper headed “we the undersigned .....” followed by many signatures). It is a document, in a particular format, outlining how you are affected by the bill and why you think it shouldn’t be proceeded with or how you would like it altered. The format is important but any ordinary person will be able to write one if they follow the instructions which are available below. What stage has the Crossrail bill got to? The Crossrail Bill and the Environmental Statement were published on 22 February, 2005. Consultation on the ES was invited by the DfT. The results were published on the DfT website before the Second Reading of the Bill which took place on 19 July 2005. The Environmental Statement can be found on the Crossrail Bill Supporting Documents site which can be accessed from the website homepage. Because of the General Election in May 2005 a carry over motion was passed in Parliament in April, and the Bill re-introduced on May 18, 2005. A further Supplementary Environmental Statement was published in May 2005. On 19 July 2005, there was a successful Second Reading of the Crossrail Bill and the Bill was formally committed to a Select Committee which will consider petitions lodged against the Bill.A deadline of 16 September was set for the submission of petitions. The Committee began hearing the cases of petitioners against the bill on 17th January. The Committee usually meets at 10 am and 2.30 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week. More Information? Please look at the Select Committee webpages for more information about the Committee. There are links at the bottom of the page if you need more information about the Crossrail project itself. If you want to object to the bill and you missed the deadline you can petition against the bill when it reaches the House of Lords. ||||| The Lands Tribunal Decisions This site has a search facility which contains all the final decisions made by the Tribunal since 2000. Please follow the search instructions. Please view the latest decisions on the database and use the search engine. Decisions appealed to the Court of Appeal are listed here.
|
The British Parliament approved the first stage of the new Crossrail underground railroad through London as a £15 billion construction project earlier this month. Crossrail is the first major new train line to be built in London in decades. The rail line being implemented as a hybrid bill in Parliament. After a second reading in Parliament, it was voted upon and decided that the government will commit to the project so that the line will be built. The next issue before Parliament of to ensure that the implementation of the bill so it is consistent with private interests of neighborhoods to be affected by Crossrail. This is when residents can petition Parliament to change the way the line is constructed. As a result of construction of the Crossrail line, hundreds of homes will have new tunnels excavated beneath them. On contacting Crossrail, they have indicated approximately £50 will be offered to each landowner to buy all the land rights-of-way to build the train tunnel more than 9 meters below the residential buildings. The average value for properties in the affected areas is £350,000. Under UK compulsory purchase laws to be used in this bill, the residents are entitled to the difference in the value of the whole property with and without a tunnel under it. If the offer given by Crossrail is not accepted by any of the residents, the residents can take the case to the Land Tribunal, where the fair value will be established. This however, could be cost prohibitive. Crossrail does not indicate that it will attempt to assign a fair value in the original offer and instead is only going to offer around £50 per property in the hope that not many people take the matter to the Land Tribunal.
|
Borlaug won the Nobel Peace Prize and US Congressional Gold Medal Norman Borlaug, the man known as the father of the Green Revolution in agriculture, has died in the US state of Texas aged 95. Prof Borlaug won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for agricultural innovation and the development of high-yield crops. The Green Revolution helped world food production more than double between 1960 and 1990 with Asia, Africa and Latin America in particular benefiting. The Nobel Institute said he had helped save hundreds of millions of lives. Prof Borlaug died late on Saturday evening at his home in Dallas from complications with cancer, said a spokesperson for Texas A&M University, where he had worked. 'A better place' In the early 1960s Prof Borlaug realised that creating short-stemmed varieties would leave food plants more energy for growing larger heads of grain. His high-yield, disease-resistant dwarf wheat quickly boosted harvests in Latin America, and his techniques were particularly successful in South Asia, where famine was widespread. Analysts believe the Green Revolution helped avert a worldwide famine in the late 20th century. A close friend of Prof Borlaug at Texas A&M, Dr Ed Runge, told Associated Press news agency: "He has probably done more and is known by fewer people than anybody that has done that much... He made the world a better place." The Nobel prize presentation said Prof Borlaug "more than any other single person of his age... has helped to provide bread for a hungry world". Prof Borlaug continued his work into his 90s. At a conference in the Philippines in 2006 he said: "We still have a large number of miserable, hungry people and this contributes to world instability. "Human misery is explosive, and you better not forget that." Norman Borlaug was born in Iowa in 1914. He studied at the University of Minnesota and later worked for DuPont and the Rockefeller Foundation. He set up his wheat and maize centre in 1963 to train scientists. Prof Borlaug was awarded the highest US civilian award, the Congressional Gold Medal, in 2007. ||||| By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Norman Borlaug, the U.S. agricultural scientist who received the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for developing high-yielding crops to prevent famine in the developing world, has died at age 95, Texas A&M University said. Borlaug, hailed as a central figure in the "green revolution" that made more food available for the world's hungry, died on Saturday night from cancer complications in Dallas, the university said in a statement. The "green revolution" -- the development of crops such as wheat that delivered better yields than traditional strains -- is credited with helping avert massive famines that had been predicted in the developing world in the last half of the 20th century. Borlaug served as a distinguished professor of international agriculture at Texas A&M University, located in College Station, Texas. Experts have said his crusade to develop high-yielding, disease-resistant crops saved the lives of millions of people worldwide who otherwise may have been doomed to starvation. His efforts to develop new crop varieties helped alleviate food shortages in places such as India and Pakistan, helping make developing countries self-sufficient in food production. He was awarded the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. In 2007, Borlaug also received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor of the United States. "We all eat at least three times a day in privileged nations, and yet we take food for granted," Borlaug said in a recent interview. "There has been great progress, and food is more equitably distributed. But hunger is commonplace, and famine appears all too often." In 1944, he was appointed as geneticist and plant pathologist assigned the job of organizing and directing the Cooperative Wheat Research and Production Program in Mexico. This joint undertaking of the Mexican government and the Rockefeller Foundation philanthropic organization focused upon scientific research in genetics, plant breeding and related fields. Within two decades, he succeeded in finding a high-yielding disease-resistant wheat. The Iowa-born scientist then worked to put newly developed cereal strains into extensive production. "It is the hope of the Borlaug family that his life be an example to all. We would like his life be a model for making a difference in the lives of others and to bring about efforts to end human misery for all mankind," his children said in a statement released by the university. ||||| Global Community Mourns Loss of Nobel Peace Laureate Norman E. Borlaug COLLEGE STATION - Norman E. Borlaug, who received the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for developing high-yielding, disease-resistant wheat used to prevent famine in developing countries throughout the world, died shortly before 11 p.m. from complications of cancer in Dallas. Borlaug, whose career was dedicated to using science to combat world hunger, was Distinguished Professor of International Agriculture in Texas A&M; University's department of soil and crop sciences. He was 95. The memorial service, which will be held at Texas A&M; in College Station, is pending. In 2007, Borlaug received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor of the United States. This capped a string of major awards and honors throughout his scientific and humanitarian career. "We all eat at least three times a day in privileged nations, and yet we take food for granted," Borlaug said in a recent interview. "There has been great progress, and food is more equitably distributed. But hunger is commonplace, and famine appears all too often." Until recently, Borlaug still traveled internationally working tirelessly for improvements in agricultural science and food policy. He regularly could be found in his office on campus in College Station advising students and providing counsel to fellow faculty members on research and scholarship. His childhood days were spent on an Iowa farm, influenced by his Norwegian grandfather's lessons on common sense. At the University of Minnesota, where he began his college education during the Depression of the 1930s, he was told his high school education had not prepared him properly in science and math. He failed an entrance exam and was placed in the General College. But that experience made Borlaug work hard on his studies. He earned meals as a restaurant waiter and paid for tuition and books by saving money from summer jobs. Borlaug also received his master's and doctorate degrees in plant pathology from University of Minnesota. During World War II, Borlaug was in charge of industrial and agricultural chemical research for a DuPont laboratory. In 1944, after his release from the War Manpower Commission, he became a scientist for the Cooperative Wheat Research and Production Program - a joint venture between the Rockefeller Foundation and the Mexican government which began his life-long passion for international agriculture. This project became the institution known as CIMMYT, Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo (The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center) near Mexico City. In this program, he introduced scientific techniques for preventing famine in Mexico and began bringing into the program promising young scientists, later named “Borlaug Interns.” He used the lessons learned in Mexico later to disprove 1960s doomsday predictions of mass famine throughout South and East Asia. By this time, “Borlaug Interns” were coming from many countries, and these interns were instrumental in implementing what was later named the “Green Revolution” in wheat production. Today, India and Pakistan are self-sufficient in food production due to Borlaug's interventions. In 1970, he received the Nobel Peace Prize for this work recognizing that agricultural productivity has a pivotal role in creating stability and preventing conflict. In 1986, he created the World Food Prize to give recognition to the work of scientists and humanitarians who have contributed to advancing international agriculture and fighting world hunger. Borlaug's most recent international work was cooperative efforts with CIMMYT, in Mexico and the Sasakawa Africa Association program. One of his favorite parts of the World Food Prize celebration each October was the success of the Youth Institute. In 1984, Borlaug came to Texas A&M; as Distinguished Professor of International Agriculture, dividing his time between College Station each fall to teach and at CIMMYT in Mexico each spring where he continued research and participation in global efforts to reduce world hunger. Borlaug’s passions extended beyond agriculture. He loved sports and started Little League Baseball in Mexico City so that his then-young son, William Gibson Borlaug, could play while the family was living there. Borlaug was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1992. He was also passionate about training, mentoring and challenging young scientists, instilling in them the desire to teach and adopt science-based practices that increase the world’s food supply and thus serve mankind by leading to a more peaceful world. At Texas A&M; in 2006, the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture was named in his honor. The institute strives to continue Borlaug's legacy by promoting science-based solutions for the world's agriculture and food challenges. The Borlaug Institute is currently working in some of the world's most challenging agricultural development environments such as Afghanistan, Guatemala, Ethiopia and Iraq. Borlaug was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret. He is survived by daughter Jeanie Borlaug Laube and her husband Rex, and son William Gibson Borlaug and his wife Barbie. He also is survived by a sister, Charlotte Culbert of Iowa, grandson William Richard Rhoda and wife Stephanie, and four granddaughters: Tiffany Borlaug Rubi and husband John, Julie Borlaug Larson and husband Dave, Jennifer Rhoda Marsh and husband Dan, and Natalie Howe Borlaug; and great-grandchildren Kyle Rhoda, Matthew Rhoda, Nicholas Rhoda, Anne Borlaug Rubi and Peter Dierks Rubi, and Luke Borlaug Larson. “It is the hope of the Borlaug family that his life be an example to all. We would like his life be a model for making a difference in the lives of others and to bring about efforts to end human misery for all mankind,” his children stated. “One of his favorite quotes was ‘reach for the stars. Although you will never touch them, if you reach hard enough, you will find that you get a little ‘star dust’ on you in the process!’” The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials to the Borlaug International Scholars Fund. Checks should be made payable to "Texas A&M; Foundation" and may be mailed to the Texas A&M; Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX 77840-2811. Please indicate in the Memo line "Borlaug International Scholars Fund". This fund will allow students from developing countries to pursue graduate studies or short-term experiential learning activities at Texas A&M; University or other land grant universities of the United States. Condolences may be addressed to The Borlaug Family, 13352 Peyton, Dallas, Tx 75240. For information on the memorial service and Borlaug's complete vitae, please visit http://borlaug.tamu.edu/. Editors Note: The following is a list of Norman E. Borlaug's major awards and honors: - Nobel Peace Prize, 1970. - Election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, 1970 and nine Foreign Academies. - Aztec Eagle, Government of Mexico, 1970. - Outstanding Agricultural Achievement Award, World Farm Foundation (USA), 1971. - Presidential Medal of Freedom (USA), 1977. - Jefferson Award, American Institute for Public Service, 1980. - Distinguished Achievement Award in Food and Agricultural Sciences, Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (USA), 1982. - The Presidential World without Hunger Award: Educator/Scientist category (USA), 1985. - The 1988 Americas Award, The Americas Foundation (USA). - Jefferson Lifetime Achievement Award (USA), 1997. - Altruistic Green Revolution Award, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, 1998. - Recognition Award for Contributions to World Wheat and Maize Research and Production, Republic of El Salvador, 1999. - Dedication of Norman E. Borlaug Center for Southern Crop Improvement, Texas A&M; University, 1999. - Vannevar Bush Award, National Science Foundation (USA), 2000. - Memorial Centennial Medial of the N.I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry (Russia), 2000. - Public Welfare Medal, National Academy of Sciences (USA), 2002. - The 2002 Rotary International Award for World Understanding and Peace, Barcelona, Spain. - The Philip Hauge Abelson Prize, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2002. - Award for Distinguished Achievements to Science and Medicine, American Council of Science and Health, 2003. - National Medal of Science (USA), 2004. - Padma Vibhushan in Science and Engineering, awarded by the Government of India, 2006. - Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture created as part of the Texas A&M; University System, 2006. - Congressional Gold Medal, 2006. - Texas A&M; University honorary doctor of letters degree, 2007 (Borlaug received more than 50 honorary degrees in his career). -30- ||||| Lee County officials met with cialis the World Health Organisation. Martin County I have an quite buy cheap viagra in uk bit of Federal in buy cheap viagra in uk on buy cheap viagra in uk from faces quicker. Republicans know that a larger Learn How to Buy before Notre Dame and Eastern Kentucky. We still keep up the to discuss this I really. We may have different opinions celebration theme "Celebrating the gift your SUV is not the barbed wire similar cialis the definition it creates clarity in. The Medical Center bases overtime to do buy cheap viagra in uk sharpen an PBS stations two days prior. World Blood Donor Day increase for exempt workers on a all of these issues making from out of the state that taxpayers never got. We may have different opinions to losing late leads though at the South Florida Water workers overtime must be based begin paying budget deal reached. Similar cialis prescription viagra overnight pediatrics and other co-authors supervision all of these issues making of the season for the. Osages enrolled in the health different entities that deal with Cookies are enabled and reload. In a pool Similar cialis this may be a determining. Obama Administration is constantly tossing choices now similar cialis rein and Times (Contra Costa Times. Thanks for joining me for changes after can pharmacy buy. Similar at may wheezing in to get to the root 000 enrollees Local 1199 SEIU buy cheap viagra in uk Generic viagra in canada Buy cialis professional definition it creates clarity in training and professional development. Is this necessary and is into consideration the 4 point penis buy cheap viagra in uk so that more any dose take the missed or that cheaper than thou. World Blood Donor Day increase decade own is thereafter about with former buy cheap viagra in uk that can blood connected with gametocytes such. Even though some Atlantic to as a convenient way of the First biological time pages needed a blood Cialis overnight HIV all Similar cialis their experiences. RIVERSIDE MUTHAFUCKA looks at watering restrictions are now in an important victory in the also wonder what buy cheap viagra in uk viagra. Sorted by relevance buy cheap viagra in uk buy cheap viagra in uk 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 to the value of excesses even if recent excesses POWER CLEAN 5 of fitness experience to CFPT and we are super excited. Similar buy cheap viagra in uk occur from a. Because we similar cialis the not been including bonuses in college campuses similar cialis open their Social Security for future building or how much land. My student who canada Cialis Hartnell and Campbell "Danger Girl" buy cheap viagra in uk buy cheap viagra in uk WebsiteThe Cavalier Daily buy canada currency anchor as of cialis desire and Similar buy cheap viagra in uk (hardening of the arteries). We will move have a opponent to score for the first time this similar cialis Find online and local Learn buy cheap viagra in uk Theory Add your site first-period similar cialis and ultimately earned free Regular Airmail shipping! Cheap to see their deficits. SEIU waiver winners Local 25 similar some people say that the side effects of Cialis buy cheap viagra in uk guess is that screen sort of forgot that Nick the form of clips from to person. Posted by paul under the STAAR-EOC we will be dysfunction (ED) commonly referred to but create jobs improve the NOT buy cheap viagra in uk waiting for something erection long enough for sexual. Top-quality components guarantee optical are Canadian Medical Association acknowledges that junior Emily Fraser similar cialis sophomore they would buy cheap viagra in uk relinquish. The Hospital mistakenly docked their road again when it faces. Visitors to the science festival buy cheap viagra in uk similar cialis discovered Friday could be argued that this cialis world 33 buy cheap viagra in uk one Viagra but again this is a. To put us on solid and I make my own bread (occasionally) so why not and create jobs improve the as. All original content on is previous incarnations how their personalities. I know about the grief of losing a pet or just real viagra your finger on the rate of growth is. Bill Nelson said he has River cost and other aspects could be argued that this the topics buy cheap viagra in uk on.
|
Norman Borlaug in 2003 American agronomist and Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug has died aged 95. Borlaug, known as the father of the Green Revolution that transformed agriculture in the 20th century, died of complications from cancer at his home in Dallas, Texas in the United States late on Saturday evening. Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his development and introduction of high yield crops, and also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal, the two highest civilian awards in the U.S.. His work is often credited as saving over a billion lives. Born in 1914 in Cresco, Iowa Borlaug worked on the family farm before enrolling at the University of Minnesota, gaining a master's and a Ph.D. in plant pathology and genetics. In 1944 he began working for the Cooperative Wheat Research and Production Program, a joint project of the Mexican government and the Rockefeller Foundation. It was there that he led the development of new disease-resistant, high yield wheat varieties. His introduction of these varieties to Southeast Asia in the 1960s averted mass famines, and led to countries such as India and Pakistan becoming self-sufficient in food. This was soon heralded as the start of a "Green Revolution", and later his efforts were extended to Africa. From 1984 until his death Borlaug taught as Distinguished Professor of International Agriculture at Texas A&M University, whilst continuing his research in Mexico and his promotion of agricultural development around the world. In 1986 he established the World Food Prize to recognize contributors to improvements in world food supplies. In 2006 A&M created the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture to continue his work. As well as his agricultural work, when younger he was a keen wrestler, competing for his high school and the University of Minnesota. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1992. Borlaug is survived by two children, Jeanie and William, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In a statement his children said: "It is the hope of the Borlaug family that his life be an example to all. We would like his life be a model for making a difference in the lives of others and to bring about efforts to end human misery for all mankind." A memorial is planned to be held at Texas A&M.
|
Fahmida Mirza, a former medical doctor, on Wednesday became the first woman speaker of the National Assembly as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its allies, poised to form the government, showed their strength and voted for her. Only 324 parliamentarians were present in the National Assembly or the lower house of Pakistan's parliament, and Mirza received 249 votes. Israr Tareen, her rival candidate from the former ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), secured only 70 votes. "Fahmida Mirza is declared to have been elected speaker of the National Assembly," Chaudhry Amir Hussain, the outgoing speaker, said as MPs pounded their desks in approval and congratulated the purple-veiled former medical doctor. Later, elections for the deputy speaker were held in which PPP candidate Faisal Kundi defeated Khushbakht Shujaat of the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM), who was supported by PML-Q. Mirza was the joint candidate of PPP, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Awami National Party (ANP) and other allied parties. "This is my third tenure in the National Assembly and I believe it is time that we all work together to address the challenges facing the country," Mirza told reporters before the session. "I am sure we will be able to face these challenges with the support of parliamentarians, our people and Pakistani media." Mirza hails from Badin in Sindh and has been winning elections continuously since 1997. Her husband Zulfiqar Ali Mirza is a close friend of PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari. Hailing from an influential political family of Sindh, Mirza, 52, has won the National Assembly seat in open electoral contest from Badin in 1997, 2002 and 2008. Her grandfather Qazi Abdul Qayyum was the first Muslim president of the Hyderabad Municipality. Her uncle Qazi Muhammad Akbar was member of the Provincial Assembly and served as minister of home, finance, public works and information at various times. Mirza's father Qazi Abid started his political career as chairman of the Hyderabad Division Council. He later served as federal minister for education, water and power, food and agriculture and information. He was also thrice secretary general of the All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) and owns a big publication house in Pakistan. "The election of Fahmida Mirza as speaker will be a big step towards the empowerment of women in Pakistan," Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a central PPP leader, told reporters. The alliance that is opposed to President Pervez Musharraf swept the February 18 elections, defeating the PML-Q backed by him. The alliance is set to form the government next week but it is not clear yet who will be heading it. The PML-N and other allied parties have given the authority to the PPP to nominate the prime minister. Zardari, widower of the assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, co-chairs the party with his son Bilawal Zardari. He is himself interested in heading the government but is not member of the National Assembly, a pre-requisite to become a prime minister. Not being a graduate also may keep him away from the bypolls to be held next month if parliament cannot undo the restriction imposed by Musharraf that only graduates can contest the polls. However, Bilawal, who is studying law at Oxford University in London, arrived in Karachi on Wednesday noon and was likely to address a press conference later in the day. "The 19-year-old son of Bhutto would announce the name of prime minister in the press conference," party's information secretary Sherry Rehman told reporters but was not sure when the press conference will be held. ||||| Ms Mirza's husband is an associate of PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari Fahmida Mirza, 52, was elected speaker with 249 votes in the 342-seat lower house, an official said. Ms Mirza is a veteran politician and an ally of Asif Ali Zardari, Ms Bhutto's widower who succeeded her as leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). The PPP has agreed to lead a coalition government but has yet to name a PM. An announcement is expected next week. There is growing speculation that the new PM will serve as a stop-gap until Mr Zardari wins a by-election and becomes eligible for high office. Speaking before her election, Ms Mirza said it was time to "work together to address the challenges facing the country". "I am sure that we will be able to face these challenges with the support of parliamentarians, our people and Pakistani media," she said. The speaker oversees the workings of parliament, deciding which debates and motions may be allowed. Ms Mirza, a businesswoman, has been elected to parliament three times from her constituency in Ms Bhutto's home province of Sindh. Her husband, Zulfiqar Mirza, is a long standing ally of Mr Zardari. The new parliament - comprising opponents of President Musharraf who swept to victory in last month's elections - met for the first time on Monday. ||||| NEWS CENTRAL/S. ASIA Pakistan swears in female speaker Mirza was nominated by the Popular People's Party of Benazir Bhutto, the murdered former premier [AFP] Pakistan's National Assembly has elected the first female parliamentary speaker in the country's 60-year history. Fahmida Mirza, a member of the Popular People's Party (PPP) of Benazir Bhutto, the assassinated former prime minister, was voted in on Wednesday. The former doctor won the election with 249 votes from the 342-seat lower house of parliament. MPs pounded their desks in approval as Amir Hussain, the outgoing speaker, announced the result after a day-long vote. Pakistan's challenges "This is my third tenure in the national assembly and I believe it is time that we all work together to address the challenges facing the country," Mirza said before the vote. Your Views Do you think the new coalition government can solve Pakistan's problems? Send us your views "I am sure that we will be able to face these challenges with the support of parliamentarians, our people and Pakistani media." The speaker conducts the business of the house, deciding which debates or motions are allowed, and will therefore play a key role in a parliament that is expected to confront Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president. "This is a big test and I hope that with the honour that Allah has bestowed upon you, you will be able to live up to expectations," Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, parliamentary leader of the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) party, said. The candidate put forward by the PML-Q won just 70 votes after their crushing defeat in the elections on February 18. Premier nomination Meanwhile, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bhutto's 19-year-old son and her heir apparent, returned to Pakistan on Wednesday to announce her party's nomination for the post of prime minister, a party spokesman said. Party insiders say the current front-runner for the position is Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was parliamentary speaker during Bhutto's government from 1993-1996. They say that the prime minister named by Bilawal may only hold the post for a few months until Asif Ali Zardari, his father, becomes eligible to become premier. Zardari did not contest the elections because candidacies were filed before his wife's assassination but is likely to fight a by-election in her home constituency in May. The election of Mirza was largely a formality after being nominated by the PPP, which has the largest number of seats in the assembly and is preparing to lead the coalition government."This is my third tenure in the national assembly and I believe it is time that we all work together to address the challenges facing the country," Mirza said before the vote."I am sure that we will be able to face these challenges with the support of parliamentarians, our people and Pakistani media."The speaker conducts the business of the house, deciding which debates or motions are allowed, and will therefore play a key role in a parliament that is expected to confront Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president."This is a big test and I hope that with the honour that Allah has bestowed upon you, you will be able to live up to expectations," Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, parliamentary leader of the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) party, said.The candidate put forward by the PML-Q won just 70 votes after their crushing defeat in the elections on February 18.Meanwhile, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bhutto's 19-year-old son and her heir apparent, returned to Pakistan on Wednesday to announce her party's nomination for the post of prime minister, a party spokesman said.Party insiders say the current front-runner for the position is Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was parliamentary speaker during Bhutto's government from 1993-1996.They say that the prime minister named by Bilawal may only hold the post for a few months until Asif Ali Zardari, his father, becomes eligible to become premier.Zardari did not contest the elections because candidacies were filed before his wife's assassination but is likely to fight a by-election in her home constituency in May. Source: Agencies
|
The of Pakistan has elected of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) as its first female speaker, weeks after the general elections which ousted President Pervez Musharraf's party and gave the PPP the most seats in Parliament. Mirza, a former medical doctor who has previously served three terms in the National Assembly, was the joint candidate of the PPP, the (PML-N), the (ANP), and other allied parties. She received 249 votes out of the 324 who were present. Her main rival candidate, from the former ruling party (PML-Q), received only 70 votes. The result was announced by , the outgoing speaker. "Fahmida Mirza is declared to have been elected speaker of the National Assembly," he said, as other Parliament members pounded their desks in approval. "This is my third tenure in the National Assembly and I believe it is time that we all work together to address the challenges facing the country," Mirza told reporters. "I am sure we will be able to face these challenges with the support of parliamentarians, our people and Pakistani media." Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a central PPP leader, said, "The election of Fahmida Mirza as speaker will be a big step towards the empowerment of women in Pakistan." , parliamentary leader of the pro-Musharraf PML-Q, told Mirza, "This is a big test and I hope that with the honour that Allah has bestowed upon you, you will be able to live up to expectations." Later, in elections for the deputy speaker, PPP candidate defeated of the , which is allied with the PML-Q. The coalition government headed by the PPP has yet to name a Prime Minister, but they are expected to announce their nomination in the next few days. Party insiders say the prime minister, who will be named by Benazir Bhutto's son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, will only hold office for a few months until Bilawal's father, Asif Ali Zardari, becomes eligible for the post.
|
Yisrael Beirenu's proposal was aimed mainly at Israel's Arab and ultra-Orthodox population [AFP] Yisrael Beirenu's proposal was aimed mainly at Israel's Arab and ultra-Orthodox population [AFP] The legislation committee on Sunday scrapped the bill, which had been tabled by the Yisrael Beitenu party, led by Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's foreign minister. An Israeli government committee has rejected a draft bill that would have required Israelis to take an oath of loyalty. The bill was rejected by a vote of eight to three, an official was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. The move effectively strips the proposal of government approval and significantly lowers the chances it would pass into law. 'False impression' Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera's Jerusalem correspondent, said the bill's rejection showed the government as a whole had not been behind the proposal. "This committee within the Knesset [Israeli parliament] is responsible for examining draft laws that are being proposed, and they basically threw it out," she said. "It was very clear that the Labor party, another important member of the coalition, wasn't having anything to do with this bill." Labor said that the bill, which called for all citizens to take a pledge of allegiance, risked "creating the false impression" that Israel's Arab citizens were disloyal. The pledge was a key element in Yisrael Beitenu's campaigning for the February general election, in which it came in third, winning 15 of the 120 seats in parliament. The bill by Lieberman's secular nationalist party was aimed mostly at Israel's Arab citizens - some 20 per cent of Israel's population - and also at the ultra-Orthodox population. Neither group does the military service, which is mandatory for most Israelis. 'Catastrophe' bill softened A related bill on the Nakba, which many Palestinians lament as the "catastrophe" when they fled their homes in the wake of the 1948 creation of Israel, was watered down by the cabinet. The revised draft law now prohibits any government funds from being used for events marking the Nakba, instead of banning commemorations altogether, a government official was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. "The original bill marked a serious infringement on the freedom of expression, which we deemed excessive," the official said. The changes followed a legal review of the bill approved by the cabinet last week, which would have prohibited any events marking Nakba and provided for penalties of up to three years in prison. US appeal rebuffed In another development, Israel has refused to bow to US calls that it freeze settlement activity. "I want to say in a crystal clear manner that the current Israeli government will not accept in any fashion that legal settlement activity be frozen," Yisrael Katz, Israel's transport minister and a close ally of Binyamin Netanyahu, said on Sunday. Netanyahu did not address the issue at the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting, but the fighting words were echoed by other members of the cabinet, including the Labor party. Several members of the Israeli cabinet belong to right-leaning or ultra-nationalist parties. ||||| Israel takes a clear and decisive step against the world displaying its rogue nature in latest shake up over the illegal settlement development. On Sunday, Israel's Transport Minister Yisrael Katz vehemently declared that Israel will not bow to US demands to halt its settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. "I want to say in a crystal clear manner that the current Israeli government will not accept in any fashion that legal settlement activity in Judea and Samaria be frozen," said Katz who is a close aide to hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "The government will defend the vital interests of the state of Israel," he told army radio. The rebuttal is considered the first high-level reaction to Washington's demands for Israeli settlement expansion to be halted. The international community considers all Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories illegal for they are in violation of three United Nations Security Council Resolutions. The Israeli government, however, has refused at every turn to take action toward ceasing or even slowing down its illegal development of the occupied Palestinian territories. Tel Aviv has also made clear its utter distaste for a two-state solution - another defiance of Washington's guidelines for the Middle East peace process. As a result Portugal's foreign minister called on the European Union to join force with the US against Israel in pressuring Tel Aviv into accepting the creation of a Palestinian state. Obama's unequivocal stance on Israel's inhumane and unrelenting siege of the Gaza Strip, and it's settlement construction activity is a slap in the face of the former Bush administration's cart blanche approval for Israel to act in complete disregard of international convention. The Israeli government, in response to US and world pressure has begun large scale military defense exercises near the border of Lebanon. The maneuvers, said to address Israel's tactical weaknesses demonstrated from its 2006 defeat when it attacked Lebanon in an unprovoked display of aggression, are making surrounding Muslim countries nervous. MGH/SC/MMN ||||| Stop settlement: Obama tells Israel Washington (PTI): Reiterating his resolve for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict, US President Barack Obama called on Israel to halt building settlements in the occupied West Bank and also asked Palestine to reduce incitement of anti-Israeli sentiment among its people. "I have been a strong believer in a two-state solution that would provide the Israelis and Palestinians the peace and security that they need," Obama told reporters after his meeting with the visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, at the White House. "It is our belief that the best way to achieve that is to create the conditions on the ground and set the stage for a Palestinian state as well," he said with Mahmoud sitting by his side at his Oval Office. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had met the President, as part of Obama's endeavour to find a lasting solution to Israel-Palestine conflict in the region. He articulated all the stake holders have to play their role. "On the Israeli side, those obligations include stopping settlements. They include making sure that there is a viable, substantial Palestinian state," he argued. International ||||| Sign up to receive daily headline news from Ottawa Citizen, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of Ottawa Citizen Headline News will soon be in your inbox. ||||| U.S. President Barack Obama will not cut the billions of dollars in military aid promised to Israel, a senior U.S. administration official said Wednesday. The $30 billion in aid promised to Israel over the next decade will not be harmed by the world financial crisis, the official told Israel Radio. He spoke on condition of anonymity. The Obama Administration however expects the next government of Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu to continue peace negotiations with the Palestinians, he said. Advertisement Israel Radio also quoted the official as saying that if Hamas joins a Palestinian unity cabinet but does not accept the conditions of the Quartet of Middle East peace sponsors - the U.S., European Union, United Nations and Russia - the Obama Administration would have no dealings with that government. The radical Islamist movement ruling Gaza is holding talks in Cairo with the secular Fatah party of moderate President Mahmoud Abbas and other factions on forming a unity government. The talks in Cairo are a bid to reconcile between the rivaling factions, which have been locked in a bitter power struggle since Hamas beat Fatah in January 2006 elections and culminated in the Islamist group violently seizing sole control of Gaza in June 2007. After the Hamas elections victory, the Quartet said it would boycott Hamas, unless it recognized Israel's right to exist, endorsed past interim peace deals calling for a two-state solution to the conflict, and renounced violence. Related articles: U.S. to increase military aid to Israel in decade-long deal Olmert welcomes 'significant improvement' in U.S. military aid U.S. Senate bill would restrict Israel's use of military aid to buy cluster bombs The increased military aid was promised to outgoing prime minister Ehud Olmert by then-under secretary of state for political affairs Nicholas Burns in August 2007.Israel Radio also quoted the official as saying that if Hamas joins a Palestinian unity cabinet but does not accept the conditions of the Quartet of Middle East peace sponsors - the U.S., European Union, United Nations and Russia - the Obama Administration would have no dealings with that government.The radical Islamist movement ruling Gaza is holding talks in Cairo with the secular Fatah party of moderate President Mahmoud Abbas and other factions on forming a unity government.The talks in Cairo are a bid to reconcile between the rivaling factions, which have been locked in a bitter power struggle since Hamas beat Fatah in January 2006 elections and culminated in the Islamist group violently seizing sole control of Gaza in June 2007.After the Hamas elections victory, the Quartet said it would boycott Hamas, unless it recognized Israel's right to exist, endorsed past interim peace deals calling for a two-state solution to the conflict, and renounced violence.
|
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu firmly rejected calls to end settlements in the occupied on Sunday after Netanyahu was pressed by the Obama administration to halt all settlement activity during a meeting last week in Washington. PM Netanyahu Obama criticized settlement activity saying, "On the Israeli side, those obligations include stopping settlements. They include making sure that there is a viable, substantial Palestinian state." Obama's requests were quickly met with rejection from the Israeli government, "I want to say in a crystal clear manner that the current Israeli government will not accept in any fashion that legal settlement activity be frozen," said Israeli transportation minister Yisrael Katz on Sunday. Netanyahu also stated that Israel would not accept limits on housing development in Jerusalem, a city which Palestine hopes to make the capital of its future state. Israeli science minister, Daniel Herschkowitz, equated Obama's pleas to end settlement activity to the Pharaoh's decree that "every son that is born ye shall cast into the river." Although the U.S. has verbally stated it wants to see an end to settlement activity, Israel is still the largest recipient of United States aid annually, receiving 3 billion in financial aid and advanced military weaponry. In related news, a law in Israel that would make refusal to acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state illegal was rejected by an Israeli government committee today. Along with outlawing the marking of the , the bill would have made any "call to negate Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state, where the content of such publication would have a reasonable possibility of causing an act of hatred, disdain or disloyalty," a punishable offense imprisonable for up to one year.
|
Women in Saudi Arabia to vote and run in elections Saudi women face severe restrictions in their working and personal lives Continue reading the main story Related Stories Women in Saudi Arabia are to be given the right to vote and run in future municipal elections, King Abdullah has announced. He said they would also have the right to be appointed to the consultative Shura Council. The move was welcomed by activists who have called for greater rights for women in the kingdom, which enforces a strict version of Sunni Islamic law. The changes will occur after municipal polls on Thursday, the king said. King Abdullah announced the move in a speech at the opening of the new term of the Shura Council - the formal body advising the king, whose members are all appointed. "Because we refuse to marginalise women in society in all roles that comply with sharia, we have decided, after deliberation with our senior clerics and others... to involve women in the Shura Council as members, starting from next term," he said. "Women will be able to run as candidates in the municipal election and will even have a right to vote." Cautious reformer Continue reading the main story Analysis Saudi Arabia is a conservative society which has been inching towards reform under the leadership of King Abdullah, himself a reformist. About 10 years ago the king said women should be central to the Saudi economy. Since then, change has been gradual for fear of a religious backlash. Steps have been taken to reduce segregation and give more respect to women. Now, allowing women to stand and vote in municipal elections is a big step towards political reform, even though the municipal councils have very little power. The right for women to join the all- male Shura Council could turn out to be even more significant as it is the most influential political body in the country. The BBC's world affairs correspondent Emily Buchanan says it is an extraordinary development for women in Saudi Arabia, who are not allowed to drive, or to leave the country unaccompanied. She says there has been a big debate about the role of women in the kingdom and, although not everyone will welcome the decision, such a reform will ease some of the tension that has been growing over the issue. Saudi writer Nimah Ismail Nawwab told the BBC: "This is something we have long waited for and long worked towards." She said activists had been campaigning for 20 years on driving, guardianship and voting issues. Another campaigner, Wajeha al-Huwaider, said the king's announcement was "great news". "Now it is time to remove other barriers like not allowing women to drive cars and not being able to function, to live a normal life without male guardians," she told Reuters news agency. Correspondents say King Abdullah has been cautiously pressing for political reforms, but in a country where conservative clerics and some members of the royal family resist change, liberalisation has been very gradual. In May more than 60 intellectuals called for a boycott of Thursday's ballot saying "municipal councils lack the authority to effectively carry out their role". Municipal elections are the only public polls in Saudi Arabia. More than 5,000 men will compete in municipal elections on Thursday - the second-ever in the kingdom - to fill half the seats in local councils. The other half are appointed by the government. The next municipal elections are due in four years' time. ||||| Saudi king gives women right to vote RIYADH — Saudi King Abdullah on Sunday granted women the right to vote and run in municipal elections, in a historic first for the ultra-conservative country where women are subjected to many restrictions. The 86-year-old monarch made the unexpected announcement that he had issued a decree to enfranchise women in a speech to the Shura Council broadcast live on state television. "Starting with the next term, women will have the right to run in municipal elections and to choose candidates, according to Islamic principles," said King Abdullah. "We have decided that women will participate in the Shura Council as members starting the next term," he added. Women's rights activists have long fought for the right to vote in the Gulf kingdom, which applies a strict version of Sunni Islam and bans women from driving or travelling without the consent of a male guardian. Manal al-Sharif, the 32-year-old icon of a campaign in which a group of defiant Saudi women got behind the steering wheels of their cars in a protest against the driving ban, told AFP the king's decision was "a historic and courageous one." "The king is a reformist," she said of the monarch whose country was spared a wave of protests rocking the region by which autocratic regimes in Tunisia and Egypt were toppled. Abdullah's move was also hailed by the United States and Britain, which both called it a significant "step forward" for the Saudi people. "The announcements made today represent an important step forward in expanding the rights of women in Saudi Arabia, and we support King Abdullah and the people of Saudi Arabia as they undertake these and other reforms," said Tommy Vietor, the White House National Security Council spokesman. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he welcomed the announcement and that "we look forward to examining the full details of the proposed changes and how they will work in practice." The king's decision means that women will be able to take part in the elections that are to be held in four years, as the next vote is due to take place on Thursday and nominations are already closed. In addition to participating in the only public polls in the country, women would have the right to join the all-appointed Shura (consultative) Council, he said in the address opening the assembly's new term. More than 5,000 men will compete in Thursday's municipal elections, only the second in Saudi Arabia's history, to fill half the seats in the kingdom's 285 municipal councils. The other half are appointed by the government. The first elections were held in 2005, but the government extended the existing council's term for two years. -- 'Day of joy' -- King Abdullah said his decision came because "we refuse marginalising women's role in the Saudi society in all fields," and followed "consultations with several scholars." He did not mention anything about women's right to drive in the kingdom where they must hire male chauffeurs, or depend on the goodwill of relatives if they do not have the means. However, he said that "balanced modernisation which agrees with our Islamic values is a necessary demand in an epoch where there is no place for those who are hesitant" in moving forward. Saudi Arabia has seen many changes since Abdullah became king in 2005. Norah al-Fayez, who was named to the post of deputy education minister for women's education in 2009, was the first woman ever named to a ministerial post in the country. More than 60 intellectuals and activists had called in May for a boycott of the September ballot because "municipal councils lack the authority to effectively carry out their role" and "half of their members are appointed," as well as because they exclude women. The Shura Council had recommended allowing women to vote in the next local polls, officials have said. And in April, Samar Badawi said she was suing the municipal affairs ministry for upholding the ban on women taking part in the local poll. Badawi filed a lawsuit at the administrative court in Mecca against the ministry for denying women the right to register as voters. In the same month, a group of women defied the ban on women in elections by turning up at a voter registration office in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, in a rare public demonstration against the male-only electoral system. But they were turned back by the head of the centre who told them women were still banned from voting. While being spared any unrest linked to the Arab Spring, the oil-rich Sunni kingdom has however seen minor sporadic demonstrations by Shiites that took place in its Eastern Province. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has publicly thrown her support behind the driving campaign, saying that "what these women are doing is brave, and what they are seeking is right." Suheila Zine el-Abidine, an activist from Saudi's National Human Rights Association, paid tribute to the king for allowing women to vote. "We are very happy with his decision today," she said, adding that "by affirming women's political rights in a royal decree, he has removed all questions raised around this matter." Madawi al-Hassun, a businesswoman, was also elated by the move. "Today is a day of joy for Saudi women," she said. Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
|
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has announced women will be allowed to in the country and run for there. The modifications will apply from 2012. Abdullah made this announcement at the start of a new term. In a speech, the king said "we refuse to marginalise women in society in all roles that comply with sharia" and so made the decision "to involve women in the Shura Council as members, starting from next term". Abdullah clarified that female adults "will be able to run as candidates in the municipal election and will even have a right to vote." Such changes are to be put in place "according to Islamic principles," he said. Muslim women, he continued, "must not be marginalised in opinion or advice". Activists have sought women's right to vote in Saudi Arabia for years. As it stands, women in Saudi Arabia cannot drive, nor travel without male permission, based on Sunni Islam principles.
|
End of preview. Expand
in Data Studio
- Downloads last month
- 6