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THE FINAL text of an EU statement on the Middle East is unlikely to be signed off until foreign ministers meet next week because of “sensitivities” over a Swedish proposal to divide Jerusalem in any peace deal, diplomatic sources said. The statement – expected on Tuesday – is being billed as the most significant expression of EU policy on the stalled peace process since foreign ministers discussed the matter last June. In an effort to leave space for US initiatives, EU foreign ministers largely held back from commenting on the stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians in the intervening months. The proposal to establish East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital in a two-state solution was set out in a negotiating paper prepared by Sweden’s six-month presidency of the EU. While diplomats say radical policy change at EU level is not on the agenda, the explicit reference in the Swedish document to East Jerusalem marks a subtle change from the EU’s often-stated position that the city should become the “shared capital” of the two states. The Israeli response was seen to reflect fear that all member states would adopt the reference as a means of stepping up pressure on the government of prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu. However, ambassadors to the EU’s political and security committee failed to agree on the text on Wednesday and are scheduled to discuss it again today. Meanwhile in Tel Aviv, Jewish settlers vowed to continue their campaign of civil disobedience aimed at thwarting a 10-month construction freeze imposed by the government, after a meeting yesterday with Mr Netanyahu. The prime minister called the meeting in an effort to defuse tension after four consecutive days of confrontations, with residents attempting to block government inspectors entering West Bank settlements. Six people have been arrested, including a local mayor. The prime minister promised the settlers the restrictions were temporary, and would be lifted at the end of the 10-month moratorium. He urged them to obey the law and explained that he had been forced to order the construction freeze due to strong international pressure to make a gesture in order to coax the Palestinians back to the negotiating table. \|\|\|\|\| A classified report drafted by European consuls in East Jerusalem and Ramallah slams Israeli policy in East Jerusalem and recommends that the European Union take steps to strengthen the Palestinian Authority's status in the city. It also advises taking various measures to protest Israeli policy in the city, as well as sanctions against people and groups involved in "settlement activity" in and around it. The report, a copy of which was obtained by Haaretz, is updated annually by EU representatives to the PA. This year's report was completed on November 23 and presented to EU institutions in Brussels a few days ago. Advertisement Due to the sensitivity of the document, the EU has never before published it, and in previous years Israel pressed the EU hard not to do so, for fear the publication would further undermine the European public's already negative view of Israel. Senior Foreign Ministry officials said this year's report "left a harsh impression" in Brussels and helped Sweden promote its plan to have the EU formally recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state. The report accused both the Israeli government and the Jerusalem municipality of working deliberately to alter the city's demographic balance and sever East Jerusalem from the West Bank. It said that both bodies assist right-wing organizations, such as Ateret Cohanim and Elad, in their efforts to implement this "strategic vision," especially around the Holy Basin area. These organizations buy houses in Arab neighborhoods, and make "attempts to implant further Jewish settlements into the heart of the Muslim Quarter." The municipality, the report continued, discriminates against the city's Arab residents with regard to building permits, health services, education, sanitation and more. "During the past years, Palestinians have received fewer than 200 building permits per year," it said. "Based on the population growth, permits for another 1,500 housing units annually would be necessary to cover the housing needs." For instance, the EU report noted, the village of Silwan has received only 20 building permits since 1967. Though 35 percent of Jerusalem residents are Arab, only 5 to 10 percent of the city's budget goes to Arab neighborhoods, it continued. As a result, these areas present "a sharp contrast" to "West Jerusalem neighborhoods and East Jerusalem settlements where Israelis live." A significant portion of the report deals with archaeological excavations in Jerusalem, especially near the Temple Mount. These digs, it charged, focus mainly on Jewish history. "Archaeology in this case has become an ideologically motivated tool of national and religious struggle carried out in a manner that modifies the identity and character of the city and threatens to undermine its stability," the report said. On another issue, it stated: "The expansion of Israeli settlements has sparked a trend of settler violence against the Palestinian population in East Jerusalem. Such criminal actions have been witnessed by Israeli police but are not met with adequate intervention." Israel's closure of Palestine Liberation Organization and PA institutions in the city was also blasted in the report: "The general sense of neglect felt by many East Jerusalemites and the absence of Palestinian state-sponsored institutions and secular organizations are paving the way for Islamic religious organizations to expand their influence." The European consuls proposed several measures to strengthen the PA presence in the eastern part of the city and pressure Israel to stop harming the Arab population. They include the following: "Ensure EU presence at Israeli court cases on house demolitions or evictions of Palestinian families" and "when there is a risk of demolition or eviction of Palestinian families." EU "celebrations, commemorations and national or Europe day events to be held in East Jerusalem." "EU missions with offices or residences in East Jerusalem to regularly host Palestinian officials for dinners with senior EU visitors." "Avoid having Israeli security accompany high-ranking officials from member states when visiting the Old City or East Jerusalem." "Refraining from meeting Israeli officials in their East Jerusalem offices." "Information sharing on violent settlers in East Jerusalem to assess whether to grant entry to the EU." \|\|\|\|\| EU report says Israel illegally annexing east Jerusalem JERUSALEM — In a confidential report obtained by AFP on Thursday, the European Union accused Israel of actively pursuing the annexation of Arab east Jerusalem and undermining hopes for peace with Palestinians. The annual report drafted by the EU heads of missions in Jerusalem accused Israel of implementing in 2009 an intricate policy which includes expanding Jewish settlements and demolishing Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem. "Developments in east Jerusalem in 2009 were marked by the continued expansion of Israeli settlements and a considerable number of Palestinian house demolitions and eviction orders," said the report, published first by Israel's liberal Haaretz daily. Israel occupied and annexed east Jerusalem in 1967 and considers it its "eternal indivisible capital" in a move never recognised by the international community. "Israel is, by practical means, actively pursuing its illegal annexation of east Jerusalem by weakening the Palestinian community in the city, impeding Palestinian urban developments and ultimately separating east Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank." The future of east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want to make the capital of their promised state, is one of the most sensitive issue in Middle East peace talks, which have been suspended for almost a year. The EU report said that the Jewish state's policies in east Jerusalem "are undermining prospects for a Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem and incrementally render a sustainable two-state solution unfeasible." The 14-page report dated November 23 said that Israel's policy in east Jerusalem is "an integral part of a broader Israeli strategy." It goes on to accuse the Israeli government and Jerusalem municipality of supporting and assisting private right-wing Jewish organisations of strengthening the Jewish hold in and around the Old City. "The continued settlement expansion plans around the Old City effectively encircles and contains the historic basin and separates the Muslim holy places from the rest of east Jerusalem," the report said. It said the municipality places severe restrictions on issuing building permits for Palestinian houses in east Jerusalem, forcing them to construct without permits. As a result, over 600 Palestinian-owned structures have been demolished since the year 2000, it said. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a freeze on new permits for house construction in Jewish settlements in the rest of the West Bank, but the decision does not affect east Jerusalem, where some 200,000 Jews live in 12 settlements. Foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor branded the report as "dishonest." "This report is based exclusively on Palestinian versions and figures. It reflects the Palestinian propaganda," he told AFP. Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »	Dome of Rock, East Jerusalem, 2001. A classified European Union report for 2009 says Israel is actively pursuing the annexation of east Jerusalem. The report accuses Israel of implementing an intricate policy including expanding Jewish settlements and demolishing Palestinian homes. It says policies "are undermining prospects for a Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem and incrementally render a sustainable two-state solution unfeasible"; this is described as, "an integral part of a broader Israeli strategy." Israeli Foreign ministry spokesperson, Yigal Palmor, told AFP that the report was "dishonest", "reflects the Palestinian propaganda" and "is based exclusively on Palestinian versions and figures." This comes as EU foreign ministers prepare a statement on the Middle East. To allow for US initiatives, EU foreign ministers have not commented on the stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians over past months; but, diplomatic sources say there are “sensitivities” over a Swedish proposal to divide Jerusalem in any peace deal. Citing official Israeli statistics from the Ministry of Interior executive director of Israel’s HaMoked (Center for the Defence of the Individual) said Wednesday that, "Israel has stripped Palestinians of Jerusalem residency status last year at a faster rate than at any time in the history of the state". 4,577 residents of East Jerusalem have had their residence revoked in 2008, this is more than half the total revoked in the past 40 years. The Jerusalem municipality places severe restrictions on issuing building permits for Palestinian houses in east Jerusalem, since 2000 over 600 Palestinian-owned structures have been demolished and Palestinians receive fewer than 200 of the 1,500 building permits needed per year. The 14-page annual report dated November 23 was drafted by European envoys and consuls in Jerusalem and Ramallah and presented to Brussels EU institutions a few days ago. This is the first time the annual report has been made public. Haaretz says, in the past, Israel has pressed the EU not to publish fearing it would undermine the European public's view of Israel. The report was leaked to Israel's Haaretz daily newspaper and obtained by AFP yesterday. The EU report claims the Israeli government and Jerusalem municipality discriminate against Arab residents with regard to building permits, health services, education, sanitation and more. Allegations of assisting private right-wing Jewish organisations, such as Ateret Cohanim and Elad, to alter the city's demographics are included. The report advises sanctions against people and groups involved in "settlement activity", and taking other measures to protest Israeli policy and to stop the harming of the Arab population, including an "EU presence at Israeli court cases on house demolitions or evictions of Palestinian families when there is a risk of demolition or eviction of Palestinian families", and "information sharing on violent settlers in East Jerusalem to assess whether to grant entry to the EU." The report also recommends implementing measures to strengthen the Palestinian National Authority's presence in the city. Archaeological excavations in Jerusalem near the Temple Mount are mentioned, suggesting "archaeology in this case has become an ideologically motivated tool of national and religious struggle carried out in a manner that modifies the identity and character of the city and threatens to undermine its stability."
OTTAWA (Reuters) - A pizza shop owner who forced former Canadian immigration minister Judy Sgro to resign by claiming she had offered to help him avoid deportation has admitted he lied and has apologized, Sgro said on Tuesday. Sgro quit her job in January after Harjit Singh filed an affidavit accusing her of offering to help him stay in Canada in return for pizza deliveries and assistance with her election campaign. Singh was deported to India in February. "I now admit I did not have a meeting with Judy Sgro and at no time did she request any campaign assistance from me. Nor did she help me with my immigration problems," Singh wrote in a letter to Sgro which she read out in Parliament. At the time of her resignation, Sgro was also under investigation by Parliament's ethics commissioner for giving a temporary residency permit to a Romanian stripper who had worked on her election campaign. She also extended the woman's expired work permit. The commissioner told Sgro this week that she had done nothing wrong but had been put in a conflict of interest by staff who did not give her all the details about the stripper. \|\|\|\|\| Sgro says she's off the hook Former Immigration Minister Judy Sgro said Tuesday a man who alleged she promised to swap asylum for free pizza and campaign support has retracted the charges and apologized. “Reputations should not be tarnished by unsubstantiated allegations and innuendo solely for partisan politics,” Ms. Sgro said, after reading the man's letter in the House of Commons. Harjit Singh, a failed refugee claimant from India who operated a Brampton, Ont. pizza parlour, had alleged that Ms. Sgro promised help him stay in Canada in exchange for free pizza and help on her campaign. She denied the assertion and later sued him, only to be hit with a countersuit. Ms. Sgro resigned her posting in the wake of the allegations, saying she intended to clear her name. Advertisements In the letter made public on Tuesday, Mr. Singh — who was deported to India in February after a 17-year fight to remain in Canada — said: “I now admit that I did not have a meeting with Judy Sgro. Further, at no time, did Judy Sgro request any campaign assistance from me nor did she help me with my immigration problems. I am providing this apology and retraction voluntarily and of my own free will.” Ms. Sgro said the case should serve as a reminder against a rush to judgment in such cases. “All of us as honourable members in this House should use caution to ensure that we do not abuse the immunity that this House provides,” Ms. Sgro said, thanking Canadians, especially Prime Minister Paul Martin for their support while she dealt with the matter. Ms. Sgro was forced to resign in January, the day after Mr. Singh went public with his claims. By that time, however, she had already faced several punishing months in the wake of a previous charge that her department had issued a temporary-residence permit to 25-year-old Alina Balaican, a stripper who worked on Ms. Sgro's election campaign. Ms. Sgro also said Tuesday federal Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro concluded in that case that she had never met the woman and wasn't aware she had volunteered on her campaign. “He [Mr. Shapiro] stated that my decision to grant the minister's permit was based on reasons entirely consistent with the criteria that I had been using as a minister in determining all other requests seeking my intervention,” Ms. Sgro said. However, a letter written by Mr. Shapiro also suggested that Ms. Sgro was put in a conflict of interest by staff who did not fully inform her about the young woman's volunteer status on her campaign. “It appears that you have acted appropriately but that your staff did not,” Mr. Shapiro wrote.	'''May 11, 2005''' Judy Sgro The Canadian parliament's Ethics Commission said former immigration minister, Judy Sgro, did nothing wrong and her staff had put her into a conflict of interest. Harjit Singh, the pizza shop owner who signed an affidavit accusing her of offering help for him to stay in Canada in exchange for pizza deliveries and help on her election campaign, admitted he lied. The controversies forced Ms. Sgro to resign from her post in January. Ms. Sgro read a letter from Mr. Singh in the House of Commons Tuesday. "Reputations should not be tarnished by unsubstantiated allegations and innuendo solely for partisan politics,” she added. After a 17-year fight to stay in Canada, Mr. Singh was deported to India in February. In his letter he said: "I now admit that I did not have a meeting with Judy Sgro. Further, at no time, did Judy Sgro request any campaign assistance from me nor did she help me with my immigration problems. I am providing this apology and retraction voluntarily and of my own free will." In a press conference, Ms. Sgro also discussed the confidential letter she'd received from ethics commissioner Bernard Shapiro. In his letter informing her of the commission's decision Mr. Shapiro wrote "It appears that you have acted appropriately but that your staff did not.” The report on the incident from the commission is not actually finished, according to the commissioner, but he said Ms. Sgro was free to release the letter.
Police to stop rail yobs in their tracks A mini-police station has opened at Bath railway station in a drive to combat intimidation and vandalism. The British Transport Police station will be staffed by a sergeant, two police officers and seven police community support officers (PCSOs). It has been set up to tackle problems with anti-social behaviour which have been labelled worse than that seen in inner city Liverpool by transport campaigners. The officers will patrol the area every Friday and Saturday night after a string of incidents including the vandalism of the railway station's Christmas tree, which has now been repaired. David Redgewell of the Campaign for Better Transport said: "The anti-social behaviour in Bath is worse than inner city Liverpool. "There are yobs from army bases in towns such as Warminster converging on Bath to join local yobs in causing trouble." He said the group's fear was that the problems would get worse when the new bus-rail station interchange at SouthGate was completed. He added: "It's horrendous for the staff down there. The police are doing a good job but we should not have to put up with this." Bath Spa railway station manager Andy Gallagher confirmed that there had been ongoing problems with anti-social behaviour there and that there had been some damage. He added that First Great Western staff were working with the new policing team to come up with solutions. The station's Christmas tree was attacked earlier this month. Although members of staff managed to recover some of the tree's trimmings, it ended up in three pieces. Customer sales supervisor, Janet Rogers, said: "We found inspiration from Blue Peter and managed to stick the tree back together. "We had to improvise quite a lot and it's still quite bare in places. "It doesn't look as good as it did before but it's still quite good. "I think it all started when a fight broke out and eventually some people decided to take it out on the tree." Staff at the station have passed on CCTV footage to the transport police. \|\|\|\|\| Damage to Bath stonework will cost thousands of pounds to put right Graffiti has been daubed over the tourist information centre at Bath Spa railway station and toilets for disabled people have been damaged. Dan Panes of First Great Western, which owns Bath Spa, said damage to the Bath stonework would cost thousands of pounds to put right. British Transport Police were called to the station and are looking at CCTV images to identify the culprits. The vandalism happened overnight between Saturday and Sunday. Assessing damage Following extensive graffiti-spraying at Bath Spa station First Great Western issued a statement asking anyone who may have seen anything in the early hours of Sunday morning to contact the police. "Last year we invested a considerable amount of money improving the station environment at Bath Spa for our customers, and it's a great shame that a couple of minutes of vandalism could cause so much damage," said spokesman Dan Panes. "The station is well covered by CCTV and we have passed these to the police. "The British Transport Police regularly patrol our stations, and we'll be looking at what we can do to increase their presence following this incident. "Scene of crime officers have been at the station this afternoon. Once they have finished we'll be fully assessing the damage caused and beginning the clear-up operation as soon as possible."	Bath Spa Railway Station Vandals have caused thousands of British pounds worth of damage at a city railway station. The Bath Spa railway station in Bath was targeted by vandals over the weekend. Graffiti was sprayed over the new tourist centre as well as the stone work which is over 100 years old. The disabled toilets were also vandalised. First Great Western who owns Bath Spa station released a statement through spokesman Dan Panes saying, "last year we invested a considerable amount of money improving the station environment at Bath Spa for our customers, and it's a great shame that a couple of minutes of vandalism could cause so much damage." The vandalism comes just months after a mini police station was opened up in the station to combat anti-social behaviour. The behaviour in Bath was said to be worse than that of the centre of Liverpool. CCTV has been passed on to the British Transport Police and are currently assessing the damage caused.
Photo: PA Petros Williams, 37, murdered his son, Theo, two, and daughter, Yolanda, four, shortly after recording a “haunting” video of them laughing and waving goodbye to their mother. He chose to strangle each of them with an internet cable in a “symbolic act of punishment” against his wife, Morengoe Molemohi, who had decided to end their nine-year marriage. Afterwards he left her a sarcastic note attached to a computer in his one-bedroom flat in Whalley Range, Manchester. It read: “Mo, use the internet as much as you like. Luv Petros.” In a second note he wrote: “Sorry my lovely Yolly and Theo. I love you. Sorry mummy decided to leave us for new boyfriend". Williams, a finance officer, denied two charges of murder but was convicted by a jury at Manchester Crown Court. As he began his sentence, Mrs Molemohi, 31, said she would forever be haunted by the image of her children lying dead. “How I discovered them brings me the most fearful and distressing memories, I will never be able to wipe the image from my mind, nor forget the terrifying, desperate moments when I scrambled to help them.” She had been consumed by panic, isolation and a sense of uselessness that would never go away. “I am their mother,” she said. “I brought them into the world with the unspoken promise that I would always protect them, and at the time they needed that the most I could not be there. Andrew Thomas, QC, prosecuting, said: ''The defendant killed his two children in a spiteful and selfish reaction to the breakdown of his marriage.'' Vinny Chadwick, who investigated the murders for Greater Manchester Police, described Williams as “a cruel man who took the lives of two beautiful children”. He added: “He sought to control his wife and when she would not submit he took away those she loved most. “He has continued his cruelty throughout the trial, making false allegations about her and refusing to accept responsibility for his actions. “He will now have a long time to reflect on what he has done and hopefully feel some of the hurt he has caused to others." \|\|\|\|\| Petros Williams will spend at least 28 years in prison for the murders A father who made a farewell video of his two children before strangling them has been jailed for life after being convicted of their murders. Petros Williams killed Yolanda Molemohi, four, and two-year-old Theo Molemohi at his flat in Whalley Range, Manchester, last October. In the video shown to Manchester Crown Crown, Williams, 37, urged the children to say goodbye to their mother. He has been told he will serve a minimum of 28 years in prison. Mr Justice Parker, sentencing, said it was hard to conceive any more shocking crime. The court was told that Zimbabwe-born Williams deliberately chose internet connection cords to choke the children to punish his wife for using dating websites after the breakdown of their marriage. 'Terrifying moments' His wife, Morongoe Molemohi, 30, had started using the websites to see other men, the jury was told. Andrew Thomas QC, prosecuting, said he killed the children as a symbolic act of punishment to his wife. Mother speaks of 'broken promise' Ms Molehomi discovered the bodies of her children in Williams' one-bedroom flat. Her estranged husband was lying beside them dazed, but uninjured, next to a noose. Ms Molehomi said in a statement after the hearing: "I will never be able to wipe the image from my mind, nor forget the terrifying desperate moments when I scrambled to help them, to call for help from others and to do what I could for them while I waited for the emergency services to arrive. "Try to imagine the panic, the isolation and the sense of uselessness in those moments, as I realised that my most precious children needed me the most and I was unable to save them." 'Bye Mummy' The video tape found in the flat shows the children sitting in the living room with Williams initially behind the camera before he joined them on the sofa and told them: "Say, 'bye Mummy'." The tape was labelled, "Daddy, Yolly, Theo. Byee The End". Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. There was a note attached which said, "Play the video, made for your memories, thank you, Petros". Williams, who had denied two counts of murder, was found guilty by the jury after 90 minutes of deliberation. He had tried to blame his wife for the killings, but the judge said there was "no doubt" he had intended to kill them. "It is hard to conceive any more shocking crime than a parent deliberately taking the life of his or her child," said Mr Justice Parker. "We saw from the video that Yolanda and Theo were happy children, full of love and laughter, with a whole lifetime ahead of them and, above all, absolute trust in their father who, for entirely selfish purposes, would end their brief lives." The couple moved to the UK in 2002 and had lived in Whalley Road since 2004. Their marriage suffered difficulties and both had affairs, the jury was told. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Petros Williams, 37, was convicted of the murder of Yolanda Molemohi and her brother Theo, aged four and two respectively, in Manchester, England. Before the murder was committed, the marriage between Williams and his wife, Morengoe Molemohi, had broken down after nine years, with the mother subsequently visiting dating websites on the Internet to attempt to find other men. In October 2009, Williams recorded a video of his two children, entitled: "Daddy, Yolly, Theo. Byee The End"; in it he instructed them to look at the camera and declare: "We will miss you, Mummy." After recording the video, he strangled them both. He then left two notes in his apartment for his wife to see. The first note said: "Mo, use the internet as much as you like. Luv Petros." The other note read: "Sorry my lovely Yolly and Theo. I love you. Sorry mummy decided to leave us for new boyfriend." Having made her way into the accommodation, Morengoe, the mother of the two kids, found Theo and Yolanda unconscious with Petros, who was dizzy but unharmed, in his apartment on October 14, 2009. The two young children were then transported to hospital but were declared deceased shortly afterwards. In Manchester Crown Court, where the five-day trial was held, Williams pleaded not guilty to two charges of murder; he made a claim that it was Morongoe, his wife, who had committed the murders. After the hearing, the jury inside the court took 1 hour and 30 minutes to deliver the verdict of guilty on both charges. Petros Williams was then sentenced to prison for a minimum of 28 years. Judge Justice Kenneth Parker spoke to Petros as he was sentencing Williams, stating to him: "It is hard to conceive any more shocking crime than a parent deliberately taking the life of his or her child. "We saw from the video that Yolanda and Theo were happy children, full of love and laughter, with a whole lifetime ahead of them and, above all, absolute trust in their father who, for entirely selfish purposes, would end their brief lives. You remain in denial. You have simply refused to come to terms with the enormity of your deeds. You have shown not an ounce of remorse in this court. Your pity has been exclusively reserved for yourself." In a statement released, Morengoe Molemohi commented after the court trial: "I will never be able to wipe the image from my mind, nor forget the terrifying desperate moments when I scrambled to help them, to call for help from others and to do what I could for them while I waited for the emergency services to arrive. Try to imagine the panic, the isolation and the sense of uselessness in those moments, as I realised that my most precious children needed me the most and I was unable to save them."
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain ordered the expulsion of four Russian diplomats on Monday over Moscow’s refusal to hand over the main suspect in the murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, escalating tension between Russia and the West. Former Kremlin bodyguard Andrei Lugovoy listens to a question during an interview at Moscow's Ekho Moskvy (Moscow Echo) radio station, in this February 23, 2007 file photo. Britain ordered the expulsion of four Russian diplomats on Monday over Moscow's refusal to hand over, Lugovoy, the main suspect in the murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, escalating tension between Russia and the West. REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov Russia said the decision was “immoral”, would prompt retaliation and could only entail “the most serious consequences for Russian-British relations”, according to a foreign ministry spokesman. Aside from the expulsions -- the first since 1996 -- Britain said it would make it harder for Russian officials to come to the country and review cooperation on other issues. It said the case could harm Russian ties with the European Union as a whole. “This is a situation the government has not sought and does not welcome. But we have no choice but to address it,” British Foreign Secretary David Miliband told parliament. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, speaking after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, said he wanted good relations with Russia, but also wanted justice to be served. He said he made no apologies for the diplomatic expulsions. “We want to work together with Russia constructively on all the major international issues that we face,” said Brown, mentioning Iran and the Middle East. But, he added: “A murder did take place. It has been investigated by the independent prosecuting authorities. They have laid a charge and they have made it clear who they want to try for this crime. “We’re sad that the cooperation has not been forthcoming. We have therefore had to take the action that we have taken.” British prosecutors want to charge former Russian state security agent Andrei Lugovoy with the murder of Litvinenko, a British citizen who died in a London hospital after ingesting a lethal dose of the rare radioactive isotope polonium-210. Russia has rejected Britain’s request to hand over Lugovoy, saying its constitution does not allow extraditions of Russian citizens. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the demand is politically motivated. Lugovoy asserted his innocence on Monday. “We have chosen to expel four diplomats, four particular diplomats, in order to send a clear and proportionate signal to the Russian government about the seriousness of this case,” said Miliband, adding he was grateful for strong EU support. “We will discuss with partners the need for future EU-Russia engagement to take our concerns on this case into account.” TIT-FOR-TAT? Both Washington and the European Union are at loggerheads with Moscow over issues ranging from missile defense and energy policies to the future of Serbia’s Kosovo province. Putin’s decision at the weekend to suspend participation in a treaty limiting armed forces in Europe has further raised concerns about a new “Cold War”. Interfax news agency quoted an “informed source in Moscow” -- a traditional reference to high-level leaks -- as saying the Russian response would not necessarily be tit-for-tat. “This is not our principle,” said the source. “It would bring us back to the days of the Cold War. It’s a shame that some have this principle entrenched deep in their minds.” Analysts echoed the sentiment, saying while the expulsions would provoke a robust response from Russia, they did not expect the row to escalate too far as it might harm commercial ties. “I don’t think they’ll do anything that will jeopardize that,” said Derek Averre, Russia specialist at Birmingham University. “There won’t be a massive kind of escalation because it’s simply not in Moscow’s interests.” Moscow has dismissed as ridiculous Litvinenko’s deathbed accusation that Putin ordered his killing. Britain has rejected a Russian offer to put Lugovoy on trial at home, saying it doubts Moscow’s promises of a fair trial. In London, Alexander Goldfarb, a Russian emigre and close friend of Litvinenko’s, expressed pleasure and surprise at Britain’s decision to expel diplomats. “It’s a great, and appropriate, response ... I personally did not expect such a strong reaction.” \|\|\|\|\| Mr Litvinenko died in a London hospital in November 2006 Foreign Secretary David Miliband also said co-operation with Russia on a range of issues was under review. Prosecutors want Andrei Lugovoi, an ex-KGB officer, to face trial in the UK. He denies involvement. Moscow condemned the UK's position as "immoral" and said the expulsions would have "serious consequences". But Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had "no apologies for the action we have taken" in expelling the diplomats. Speaking on a visit to Berlin, he said he wanted good relations with Russia but also said people would understand that when a prosecuting authority made it clear what was in the interests of justice and there was no co-operation, "then action has to be taken." Former KGB agent Mr Litvinenko died of exposure to radioactive polonium-210 in London in November 2006. The Foreign Office has not named the four Russian diplomats, but the BBC understands they are intelligence officers. Mr Miliband told MPs Russia was an important ally and the situation was one that Britain had "not sought and does not welcome". But he said it was necessary to send a "clear and proportionate signal" to Russia, about the seriousness with which Britain regarded the matter. A UK citizen has suffered a horrifying and lingering death David Miliband Speech in full Analysis: Will the spat widen? Russia's Foreign Ministry chief spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said: "London's position is immoral. "Moreover, in London they should clearly realise that such provocative actions masterminded by the British authorities will not be left without an answer and cannot but entail the most serious consequences for Russian-British relations". Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina said she was "very grateful" for the actions being taken by the British government and "proud to be a UK citizen". Under the European Convention on Extradition 1957, the Russians have the right to refuse the extradition of a citizen. The UK has the right to request that Mr Lugovoi be tried in Russia, but the UK's director of public prosecutions Sir Ken Macdonald, has already turned down the offer. Mr Miliband said Moscow's refusal to extradite Mr Lugovoi had been "extremely disappointing" and said both the UN and EU had reported concerns that the law in Russia was applied selectively. Co-operation reviewed He told MPs the four diplomats would be expelled and said international agreements had been reached that would allow Mr Lugovoi to be extradited to the UK if he travelled abroad. Mr Miliband added: "We shall review the extent of our cooperation with Russia on a range of issues, and as an initial step we have suspended visa facilitation negotiations with Russia and made other changes to visa practice." KEY EVENTS IN CASE 1 November 2006: Alexander Litvinenko meets Andrei Lugovoi and another Russian at a London hotel 23 November 2006: Litvinenko dies in a London hospital 24 November 2006: A Litvinenko statement accuses Russian President Vladimir Putin of involvement in his death. Experts say Litvinenko was poisoned 6 December 2006: UK police say they are treating the death as murder 22 May 2007: Lugovoi should be charged with Litvinenko's murder, British prosecutors say 28 May 2007: UK makes formal request for Lugovoi's extradition from Russia Full timeline of events Send us your reaction The British embassy in Moscow later said that the visa process would only change for applications submitted by the Russian government, not those from ordinary Russians. The foreign secretary denied it was a "rush to judgment", but said: "A UK citizen has suffered a horrifying and lingering death. "His murder put hundreds of others, residents and visitors, at risk of radiation contamination, and the UK government has a wider duty to ensure the safety of the large Russian community living in the UK." Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said his party supported the tone and substance of the government's response. 'Appalling crime' He said the Conservatives hoped Russia would remain a key ally on issues like nuclear proliferation, the Middle East peace process, Kosovo and Iran, but that would require a "more positive and co-operative approach" from Moscow. "An appalling crime of this nature and gravity cannot simply be overlooked," he added. Andrei Lugovoi has denied involvement in the murder And for the Lib Dems, Michael Moore said the government had been forced to act, because of the lack of co-operation from Moscow. Later he added: "Today's announcement is an indication of the serious deterioration in Britain's relationship with Russia. "The Russian authorities should be in no doubt that we expect nothing less than full co-operation over the investigation into the murder of Mr Litvinenko." The radioactive isotope used to poison Mr Litvinenko was found in a string of places that Mr Lugovoi visited in London, but he said he was a witness, not a suspect in the case. Scapegoat claim He has said he was made a scapegoat and the poisoning could not have happened without some involvement from the British intelligence services. He has also claimed that MI6 had tried to recruit him, to collect information on Russian president Vladimir Putin. The UK's director of public prosecutions has recommended that Mr Lugovoi be tried for murder by "deliberate poisoning". Mr Lugovoi has told the BBC's Moscow bureau he has no comment about Mr Miliband's speech. But former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev reportedly told Russian news agencies: "In the past in similar situations Russia has always taken decisive and adequate measures. "In the end, both the UK and the US always understood that this approach doesn't work. This matter shouldn't be politicised." \|\|\|\|\| ORAL MINISTERIAL STATEMENT: LITVINENKO (16/07/07) With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement on developments in the Litvinenko case. This is a situation the Government has not sought, and does not welcome. However we have no choice but to address it. The Government believes that Russia is a key international partner for the UK. We want to work with the Government of Russia and its people in tackling priority international issues such as Climate Change, Kosovo, Iran, the Middle East Peace Process and Sudan. Russia plays a global role in the battles against terrorism, the proliferation of WMD, illegal migration, drugs and international crime. The cultural exchange between our two countries is extensive. Our bilateral trade relationship is large and growing, including considerable benefits for the City of London. British companies are making a major contribution to the Russian economy. For all these reasons we need a relationship based on trust and mutual respect. On 28 May the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) presented the Russian authorities with a formal request for the extradition to the UK of Andrey Lugovoy, so that he might stand trial for the murder of Alexander Litvinenko in a British court. Let me remind the House of the relevant procedures. The Crown Prosecution Service is an independent prosecuting authority. Once the Metropolitan Police has referred a case to the Crown Prosecution Service, it is then for the CPS to consider whether there is sufficient evidence to bring charges, and that it is in the public interest to do so. The CPS concluded that Mr Lugovoy did indeed have a case to answer, and sought the assistance of the Home Office in requesting his extradition from Russia. On 6 July the Russian Deputy Prosecutor General sent an official letter to the Home Secretary refusing to extradite Mr Lugovoy. The Director of Public Prosecutions announced on 10 July that, despite the Russian response, he continues to press for a trial of Mr Lugovoy in England. Mr Speaker, given the seriousness of the crime and our ambitions for our bilateral relationship with Russia, Russia’s reply to the CPS’ extradition is extremely disappointing. It suggests that the Russian government has failed to register either how seriously we treat this case or the seriousness of the issues involved, despite lobbying at the highest level and clear explanations of our need for a satisfactory response. I think, Mr Speaker, that it is worth reiterating why this matters. The Metropolitan Police has assembled a significant body of evidence against Andrey Lugovoy. I can confirm the following. It is alleged that this grave crime took place in London in November 2006 when Mr Lugovoy poisoned Mr Litvinenko by administering a lethal dose of Polonium-210, a highly radioactive substance. It is part of the prosecution case that on the afternoon of 1 November 2006, Mr Litvinenko drank tea which he had poured, after an invitation from Mr Lugovoy, from a teapot which was later found to be heavily contaminated with Polonium-210. There is also evidence that shows a trail of Polonium-210 on aircraft in which Mr Lugovoy travelled to and from London. On 23 November, Mr Litvinenko died in a London hospital of acute radiation injury. The facts Mr Speaker are therefore that a UK citizen has suffered a horrifying and lingering death. His murder put hundreds of others, residents and visitors, at risk of radiation contamination. And the UK Government has a wider duty to ensure the safety of the large Russian community living in the UK. The Deputy Prosecutor General’s letter says that the Russian constitution currently bars extradition. The Russian authorities have given no indication of any willingness to work with us to address this. This situation is not unique, and other countries have amended their constitutions, for example to give effect to the European Arrest Warrant. Indeed, Russia wants the EU and UK to open their borders to free movement of people, goods and services, as part of an intensification of relations. This needs to be matched by an equal Russian commitment to cross-border judicial co-operation. Since Mr Litvinenko’s death, the Government’s key priority has been to ensure the integrity of the legal process in order to secure justice for Mr Litvinenko. The Director of Public Prosecutions made clear that the allegations against Mr Lugovoy refer to a crime against a British citizen in London. The appropriate venue for the trial is therefore London. Moreover, both the UN and the EU have reported their concern that the law in Russia is applied selectively. There would, therefore, be grounds for a legal challenge over any attempt to accept a trial in Russia. Given the importance of this issue, and Russia’s failure to co-operate to find a solution, we need an appropriate response. Our aims are clear: first to advance our judicial process, second to bring home to the Russian government the consequences of their failure to co-operate and third to emphasise our commitment to promoting the safety of British citizens and visitors. I have therefore agreed with colleagues across Government the following steps. First, we will expel four diplomats from the Russian Embassy in London. Second, we shall review the extent of our co-operation with Russia on a range of issues and as an initial step we have suspended visa facilitation negotiations with Russia and made other changes to visa practice. Third, international agreements mean Mr Lugovoy could be extradited to the UK if he travelled abroad. Fourth, we are grateful for the strong support we have received from EU partners and close allies, including through the EU Presidency statement on 1 June. We will discuss with partners the need for future EU-Russia engagement to take our concerns on this case into account. Mr Speaker, the foundation of an effective international partnership is a set of shared values. The measures I am announcing are intended to uphold key individual rights and vital principles of independent judicial process. On that basis we will continue to work with the Government of Russia for mutual benefit. I will keep Parliament informed of developments as appropriate.	The United Kingdom is expelling four Russian diplomats in an extradition row related to the Alexander Litvinenko case. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not named the four Russian diplomats, but according to the BBC, they are intelligence officers. Russia has refused to extradite the main suspect, Andrei Lugovoi, in the Litvinenko murder case, who is a Russian citizen. Under the "European Convention on Extradition 1957", Russia has the right to refuse the extradition of their citizens, and according to the Article 61 of the Constitution of Russia "The citizen of the Russian Federation may not be deported out of Russia or extradited to another state". Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had "no apologies for the action we have taken" in expelling the diplomats. It is necessary to send a "clear and proportionate signal" to Russia, about how seriously the UK regards the matter. Russia is suggesting that Britain’s request for Lugovoi is hypocritical given that British courts granted political asylum to Boris Berezovsky and Akhmed Zakayev, both of whom are wanted in Russia. “It seems to us that London’s position is immoral, given this background,” said Mikhail Kamynin, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, and said it would prompt Russian retaliation. "Moreover, in London they should clearly realise that such provocative actions masterminded by the British authorities will not be left without an answer and cannot but entail the most serious consequences for Russian-British relations," he continued. In the British House of Commons on Monday, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband said, "This is a situation the Government has not sought, and does not welcome. However we have no choice but to address it." In his statement to the Commons, Miliband highlighted the seriousness of the crime against Litvinenko and the subsequent danger to the community. "The facts...are therefore that a UK citizen has suffered a horrifying and lingering death. His murder put hundreds of others, residents and visitors, at risk of radiation contamination. And the UK Government has a wider duty to ensure the safety of the large Russian community living in the UK." Miliband indicated that Russia is an important ally, but co-operation with Russia on a range of issues is under review. "The heinous crime of murder does require justice," said Miliband. "This response is proportional and it is clear at whom it is aimed."
Myanmar detains comedian-critic active in private cyclone relief effort YANGON, Myanmar: Demonstrating that its tolerance for dissent has not eased even as it copes with natural disaster, Myanmar's military government detained a popular comedian known both for his barbs against the government and his work to assist the country's cyclone victims. The family of Maung Thura — better known by his stage name, Zarganar — said Thursday he had been taken into custody the night before by police after they searched his house. He had just returned from the cyclone-shattered Irrawaddy delta where he had been donating relief items to survivors. Zarganar earlier this week had given interviews to several overseas media outlets, including the British Broadcasting Corporation, which were critical of the government's relief efforts. The government is sensitive to being embarrassed abroad, and has a record of persecuting people who give interviews to foreign media. It made no announcement of the action. The U.N. says 2.4 million people were affected by the Cyclone Nargis, and more than 1 million still remain in desperate need of food, shelter or medical care. The government says the May 2-3 storm killed 78,000 people and left another 56,000 missing. In an interview this week with the Thailand-based magazine Irrawaddy, Zarganar said he and more than 400 entertainers in Myanmar had volunteered to aid cyclone victims, making numerous trips to the delta. Some areas, he said, had neither been reached by the government nor international relief agencies. He and his group distributed food, blankets, mosquito nets and other emergency aid. Zarganar said his group sometimes had "confrontations with authorities" during the trips. Earlier, other Myanmar entertainers had complained that authorities want all aid to be distributed through official channels rather than by private individuals and groups. The military regime continues to impose constraints on international rescue efforts as well, aid agencies say. U.S. Navy ships laden with relief supplies steamed away from Myanmar's coast Thursday, their helicopters barred by the ruling junta from ferrying clean water and other supplies to the victims. The USS Essex group, which includes four ships, 22 helicopters and 5,000 U.S. military personnel, had been off the coast for more than three weeks hoping for a green light to deliver aid to the survivors. "The ruling military junta in Burma have done nothing to convince us that they intend to reverse their deliberate decision to deny much-needed aid to the people of Burma," Lt. Denver Applehans said in an e-mail from the flotilla. Myanmar is often called by its old name, Burma. Restrictions on visa and travel permission for foreign workers, as well as on entry of some equipment, continue to hamper the aid effort — despite a pledge made almost two weeks ago by junta leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe to U.N. Secretary Ban Ki-moon to allow foreign aid workers free access to devastated areas. "The small number of visas and the short duration of travel permits for access" into the delta area "continue to impose serious constraints on the effectiveness of overall operations," the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said. Zarganar's detention was reported as an international human rights group charged that the military regime has forced cyclone survivors to do menial labor in exchange for food and has stepped up a campaign to evict the homeless from aid shelters. London-based Amnesty International also said authorities in several cyclone-hit areas continue to divert aid despite the junta's pledge to crack down on the problem weeks ago. "Unless human rights safeguards are observed, tens of thousands of people remain at risk," Amnesty said in a report released Thursday. "Respect for human rights must be at the center of the relief effort." An Amnesty representative said Zarganar's detention was indicative of the kinds of human rights concerns that the group was trying to highlight in a midst of a crisis that some consider strictly humanitarian. "There's simply no doubt this was done for political reasons ... but has an extra element because it can presumed to be linked to the humanitarian assistance effort," said Benjamin Zawacki, a researcher for London-base Amnesty International. The 46-year-old Zarganar is also a successful producer, director, writer and actor, and works as a dentist to pay the bills. He was first arrested in 1988 for his political activities and again for helping his mother — a member of the opposition National League for Democracy — during her campaign for the May 1990 general elections. The NLD, the party of detained Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, swept those elections, but the military regime refused to give up power. Zarganar was last arrested and held for three weeks for providing food and other necessities to Buddhist monks who spearheaded anti-government protests in Myanmar's largest city, Yangon, last September. \|\|\|\|\| BANGKOK, June 4 -- The U.S. Navy on Wednesday aborted its three-week effort to use helicopters aboard a warship off Burma to deliver much-needed aid directly to cyclone survivors, after the country's ruling military junta ignored repeated offers to assist. The USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship, and three accompanying vessels were to leave the Burmese coast Thursday, after 15 attempts to persuade the junta to allow use of U.S. military helicopters and landing craft, said Adm. Timothy J. Keating, head of U.S. Pacific Command. The decision came as the United Nations predicted that Burma will need food aid for a year, and civilian aid agencies continue to struggle to increase their food delivery capacity in the devastated Irrawaddy Delta. Doctors Without Borders, the international aid agency, said the flow of supplies into the region is still inadequate, and survivors in many remote villages have yet to receive outside assistance. The Burmese government has permitted U.S. military planes to fly supplies into Rangoon, the country's largest city, for forwarding to the zone the cyclone struck May 2-3. The U.S. Agency for International Development and the Pentagon have conducted 106 airlifts into the country, Pacific Command said. But the junta has refused to permit foreign military helicopters to carry supplies into the remote areas. The junta contends that it has adequate resources for the job; outside analysts suggest that it mistrusts foreign intentions and is unwilling to demonstrate to its people that it needs foreign help. "I am both saddened and frustrated to know that we have been in a position to help ease the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people . . . but have been unable to do so because of the unrelenting positions of the Burma military junta," Keating said in a statement issued by his headquarters. He said that should Burmese officials change their minds, the U.S. military remains willing to help. Keating flew into Rangoon on May 12 to press the case. He said in the statement Wednesday that he proposed that Burmese officials visit his ships in international waters and fly along on military aid missions to ease any concerns they might have. Paul Risley, a spokesman for the U.N. World Food Program, lamented the government's rejection of military aid, telling journalists in Bangkok that "these helicopters represented immediate heavy-lift capacity in the delta." The World Food Program is trying to get 10 civilian helicopters operating in Burma. Risley said Burma would probably have to import rice for a year, because of widespread harm done to fertile farmland just weeks before the planting period for the monsoon crop. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said about 495,000 acres of the delta's 2.5 million acres of rice land was seriously damaged and will not be available for planting this season, because of contamination by seawater or because the land remains under too much water. "This year's crop will not meet requirements," Risley said. "The losses to the production of rice are very deep. It would be typical for the WFP to provide food rations through the next harvest, which could be a year away." Burmese authorities and aid agencies are trying to help some survivors plant rice in the next few weeks, by securing and distributing seeds, fertilizer and power tillers, said Hiroyuki Konuma, the FAO's deputy regional representative. Otherwise, he said, "poor farmers, who have already lost their assets, will suffer from hunger and poverty for a long time, while national food security will be seriously jeopardized." \|\|\|\|\| More than a month on, many people still need much more help US Navy ships are due to leave Burma's coastline because of the continued refusal of the government to allow them to help victims of Cyclone Nargis. The navy said it would withdraw the four ships, carrying helicopters and landing craft, after 15 failed attempts to convince the regime to let them in. French and British navy ships have also been withdrawn after being refused permission to operate. Cyclone Nargis left more than 133,000 people dead or missing. More than a month after the disaster, the UN estimates that 2.4 million people are in need of food, shelter or medical care, and more than a million have yet to receive foreign aid. 'Saddened and frustrated' Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of US Pacific Command, said the Burmese government had refused the navy's offer of help "each and every time". "I am both saddened and frustrated to know that we have been in a position to help ease the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people and help mitigate further loss of life, but have been unable to do so because of the unrelenting position of the Burma military junta," he said. Aid agencies say a huge operation is needed to help cyclone survivors With aid agencies reporting continued difficulties in operating inside the affected delta region, correspondents say the 22 heavy-lift helicopters on board the US ships could have made a real difference. "Important heavy-lifting capability in the delta would have been a standard operating procedure for relief agencies in the response," said Paul Risley, a spokesman for the UN World Food Programme. Despite the promise of full co-operation given by the ruling generals to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during a recent visit, international relief agencies still say there is an urgent need for better access. They say they are still chronically short of transport, and are being given only intermittent access to the delta. Correspondents say it is proving hard to get a clear overall picture - but in its most recent report the UN said there was a "serious lack of sustained humanitarian assistance for the affected populations". Ten commercial helicopters have now been chartered by the UN, but these are expensive and still insufficient for the task. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	The seal of the US Navy The United States was forced to withdraw from its relief efforts in Burma/Myanmar today due to the continued refusal of the ruling government to allow the delivery of aid. Four U.S. naval ships were ordered to depart from the area on Thursday. After 15 failed attempts to convince the ruling military junta to allow U.S. helicopters to deliver much needed supplies to areas such as the , Admiral , the head of the , indicated that they were left with no choice but to leave. "I am both saddened and frustrated to know that we have been in a position to help ease the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people ... but have been unable to do so because of the unrelenting positions of the Burma military junta," Keating said via his headquarters. He said that the U.S. would still be willing to offer help if the junta simply allowed them in. The and navies have also been forced to withdraw due to the junta's unwillingness to allow them to provide assistance to cyclone victims. (UN) Secretary-General had been previously assured by the ruling Burmese generals that relief workers would be allowed to help, but reports indicate this has still not happened on the ground. The UN, in its latest report on the situation, noted that Burma was faced with a "serious lack of sustained humanitarian assistance for the affected populations." Foreign aid agencies already in place and trying to help victims have reported that they continue to face problems in delivering large volumes of relief supplies in the affected regions. The U.S. naval ships had 22 heavy-lift helicopters that would have been ideally suited to the task. "Important heavy-lifting capability in the delta would have been a standard operating procedure for relief agencies in the response," said Paul Risley of the . The UN group has been trying to get ten civilian helicopters to fill the role in the interim, but the Burmese authorities have still not allowed nine of the civilian aircraft to be used in the relief efforts. To date, the Burmese military has allowed 106 airlifts of foreign supplies to occur, but only into , the largest city in the nation. Those delivered supplies are slated to be forwarded to the areas devastated by the cyclone. However, the ruling junta has refused to allow inland flights of foreign military helicopters to deliver relief aid. The junta believes they have sufficient abilities to deliver the resources but foreign analysts believe that the group does not wish to demonstrate to the Burmese people that it needs outside help. Doctors Without Borders has said that the relief efforts to date are not enough, and that many remote areas have received no assistance. The UN determined that Burma may need relief efforts for a year. The has found that 495,000 acres of rice production areas have been damaged out of a total of 2.5 million acres. The areas are either still under too much water to sustain crops, or have been contaminated by seawater during Cyclone Nargis. According to Risley, the year-long importing of rice would be required as the damage was done just before the normal planting season. "This year's crop will not meet requirements," Risley said. "The losses to the production of rice are very deep. It would be typical for the WFP to provide food rations through the next harvest, which could be a year away." Access by foreigners to Burma has been generally restricted since the cyclone. Visas and travel permission to affected areas have been limited by the government. The reported that "the small number of visas and the short duration of travel permits for access" into the areas in need of aid "continue to impose serious constraints on the effectiveness of overall operations." The has said that, as of yet, there appears to be no "second wave" of deaths in the wake of the blocked relief efforts, which may be a sign of hope. 78,000 people were killed by the cyclone. To date, another 56,000 remain unaccounted for, according to Burma's government.
Homes, mosques and government buildings have been hit in the Israeli bombardment [AFP] Homes, mosques and government buildings have been hit in the Israeli bombardment [AFP] "Unrwa decided to suspend all its operations in the Gaza Strip because of the increasing hostile actions against its premises and personnel," Adnan Abu Hasna, a Gaza-based spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, said on Thursday. The United Nations has suspended its aid operations in the Gaza Strip in the wake of a series of Israeli attacks on its personnel and buildings. The move came after Israeli tanks shelled a UN convoy earlier in the day, killing a Palestinian UN worker and injuring two others, as lorries were travelling to the Erez crossing to pick up humanitarian supplies meant to have been allowed in during a three-hour suspension of fire. At least three UN-run schools have also been hit by Israeli fire, killing scores of civilians, during the 13 days of Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip. 'Tragic deaths' John Ging, the head of Unrwa in Gaza, said the casualties in Thursday's convoy attack were Palestinian civilian contractors hired to bring supplies from the crossing points. "They were co-ordinating their movements with the Israelis, as they always do, only to find themselves being fired at from the ground troops," he told Al Jazeera. "We've lost confidence. We have been reassured continuously over the last number of days that these incidents will not reoccur, and I have taken that in good faith because of the humanitarian imperative. "We want to believe we are safe here ... but the bottom line is that I've lost confidence in the Israeli side and that needs to be restored urgently, and it is their duty to restore this confidence," Ging said. All convoys to Erez and the Kerem Shalom, which has been the main crossing point used for bringing humanitarian supplies into Gaza, were suspended after the incident. The Israeli military said it was looking into reports of Thursday's incident. Also on Thursday, Israel said it halted its military operations for three hours to allow humanitarian aid into the strip. The lull also allowed 50 bodies to be recovered, raising the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza to at least 763, including more than 200 children, since the Israeli offensive began on December 27. More than 3,121 people have also been wounded. Eight Israeli soldiers and three civilians have died in the same period. Explosions were heard in northern Gaza shortly after the three-hour lull, but even during the three hours, Israeli bulldozers crossed into Gaza and destroyed a number of houses, Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher, reporting from southern Israel near the border, said. Rafah bombing Thousands of Palestinians fled their homes in the southern Gaza Strip as Israeli forces bombarded Rafah earlier on Thursday. The Red Cross says Israel has failed to meet its humanitarian law obligations [Reuters] Homes, a mosque and tunnels were hit in the area along the Egyptian border, witnesses said. The Israeli military had dropped leaflets beforehand, warning it would "bomb the area due to its use by terrorists to [dig] tunnels and to stock up [on weapons]". Hundreds of tunnels are believed to cross under the Egyptian border around Rafah allowing Palestinians to smuggle in daily necessities - in short supply due to the Israeli blockade – as well as weapons. An Israeli army spokeswoman said the military had dropped the flyers "as in the past, to avoid civilian casualties". Besieged Gazans But Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin, reporting from Gaza City, said the Israel had in effect cut the Gaza Strip in two and those in the southern part would not be able to go to the north seeking refuge and vice versa. It was unclear if the latest offensive was the "third stage" of the offensive approved by the Israeli security cabinet on Wednesday. A senior Israeli defence official said a meeting chaired by Ehud Olmert, the prime minister, had "approved continuing the ground offensive, including a third stage that would broaden it by pushing deeper into populated areas". The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday accused the Israeli military of not helping wounded Palestinians in an incident in Gaza City that it described as "shocking". ICRC and Palestinian Red Crescent workers said in a statement that several wounded Palestinians and four weakened children were found alongside 12 dead bodies in houses hit by shelling in Zaytun, less than 100 metres from Israeli positions. "The ICRC believes that in this instance the Israeli military failed to meet its obligation under international humanitarian law to care for and evacuate the wounded," it said. The Red Cross team, including four ambulances, had only gained safe passage from Israeli army to access the neighbourhood on January 7 after trying for four days, the ICRC said. \|\|\|\|\| The United Nations on Thursday suspended all its aid operations in Gaza because of Israeli attacks on its staff and installations. The move came after a Palestinian driver of a UN truck was killed by Israeli tank fire as he drove towards an Israeli border crossing to pick up humanitarian aid. In a second incident on Thursday a three-vehicle UN convoy, which included two international staff members, came under “direct fire” from Israel forces as it drove into Gaza to collect the body of a colleague killed earlier in the week, said Christopher Gunness, spokesman for the UN Relief and Works Agency. \|\|\|\|\| Palestinian shot dead after trying to blow up settlement gas station By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: , A Palestinian gas station attendant was lightly wounded in the incident. Israeli security forces on Thursday shot and killed a man trying to blow up a gas station in the West Bank settlement of Mishur Adumim, near Jerusalem.A Palestinian gas station attendant was lightly wounded in the incident. Advertisement When they arrived on the scene, they called out to the man to halt his activities at once and stand still. According to an initial investigation, the assailant then began running toward the security forces, holding an unrecognizable object in his hand. Police investigators are still trying to determine the identity of the assailant. They believe that he was a Palestinian carrying out a terrorist attack in response to the Israel Defense Forces' offensive in the Gaza Strip. Related articles: Israel bombs south Gaza tunnels, tells local residents to flee At least two Lebanon rockets hit North; IDF responds with shells ANALYSIS / Israel's three alternatives for the future of the Gaza war Security forces were alerted mid-morning that a man was trying to torch the gas station.When they arrived on the scene, they called out to the man to halt his activities at once and stand still. According to an initial investigation, the assailant then began running toward the security forces, holding an unrecognizable object in his hand.Police investigators are still trying to determine the identity of the assailant. They believe that he was a Palestinian carrying out a terrorist attack in response to the Israel Defense Forces' offensive in the Gaza Strip. \|\|\|\|\| Israel's assault on Gaza has exacted the bloodiest toll of civilian lives yet, when the bombing of UN schools being used as refugee centres and of housing killed more than 50 people, including an entire family of seven young children. The UN protested at a "complete absence of accountability" for the escalating number of civilian deaths in Gaza, saying "the rule of the gun" had taken over. Doctors in Gaza said more than 40 people died, including children, in what appears to be the biggest single loss of life of the campaign when Israeli bombs hit al-Fakhora school, in Jabaliya refugee camp, while it was packed with hundreds of people who had fled the fighting. Most of those killed were in the school playground and in the street, and the dead and injured lay in pools of blood. Pictures on Palestinian TV showed walls heavily marked by shrapnel and bloodstains, and shoes and shredded clothes scattered on the ground. Windows were blown out. Hours before, three young men who were cousins died when the Israelis bombed Asma elementary school in Gaza City. They were among 400 people who had sought shelter there after fleeing their homes in Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza. Abed Sultan, 20, a student, and his cousins, Rawhi and Hussein Sultan, labourers aged 22, died. Abed Sultan's father, Samir, said the bodies were so mangled that he could not tell his son from the cousins. "We came to the school when the Israelis warned us to leave," he said. "We hoped it would be safe. We were 20 in one room. We had no electricity, no blankets, no food. "Suddenly we heard a bomb that shook the school. Windows smashed. Children started to scream. A relative came and told me one of my sons was killed. I found my son's body with his two cousins. They were cut into pieces by the shell." The UN was particularly incensed over targeting of the schools, because Israeli forces knew they were packed with families as they had ordered them to get out of their homes with leaflet drops and loudspeakers. It said it had identified the schools as refugee centres to the Israeli military and provided GPS coordinates. Israel accused Hamas of using civilians as cover, and said the Islamist group could stop the assault on Gaza by ending its rocket attacks on Israel. The Palestinian authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, last night delivered an impassioned plea to the UN security council to act immediately to stop the Israeli operation, which he described as a "catastrophe" for his people. Israel has agreed a "humanitarian corridor" to allow Palestinians to get essential goods. The rising casualty toll, more than 640 Palestinians killed since the assault began 12 days ago, gave fresh impetus to diplomatic efforts. The White House offered its first hint of concern at Israel's actions by calling on it to avoid civilian deaths. The president-elect, Barack Obama, broke his silence by saying he was "deeply concerned" about civilian casualties on both sides. He said he would have "plenty to say" about the crisis after his swearing in. Gordon Brown said the Middle East was facing its "darkest moment yet" but hoped a ceasefire could be arranged soon. Explaining its attack on al-Fahora school, the Israeli military claimed that a mortar was fired from the playground, and it responded with a single shell whichkilled known Hamas fighters; the resulting explosion was compounded because Hamas "booby-trapped the school". Two Hamas militants were among the dead, both part of a rocket-launching cell. The head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency, John Ging, said three shells landed at the perimeter of the school. "It was entirely inevitable if artillery shells landed in that area there would be a high number of casualties," he said. He said UN staff vetted those Palestinians who sought shelter at the school. "So far we've not had violations by militants of our facilities," he said, though responding to questions he accepted there had been clashes between Hamas and the Israeli army in the area. Earlier in the day, Ging visited Gaza's hospital and was shocked at the scale of civilian casualties. "What you have in this hospital is the consequences of political failure and the complete absence of any accountability for actions that are being taken. It's the rule of the gun now, and it has to stop," he said. At least 12 of one family, seven children aged from one to 12, three women and two men, were killed in an air strike on their house in Gaza City. Nine others were believed trapped. Israel continues to insist most of those killed by its forces are Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters - although its assertion it is going to extraordinary lengths to target only "terrorists" has been undermined by a tank firing on a building used by Israeli troops, killing four of them, on Monday. Another soldier was killed yesterday as Israeli forces continued their push into Gaza City. Tanks and troops also moved on the southern town of Khan Yunis. The invasion has yet to achieve what Israel says is its goal of stopping rocket attacks. Hamas fired more than 30 into Israel yesterday, one to within 20 miles of Tel Aviv at Gadera, wounding a baby. The de facto Hamas prime minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, issued a statement from hiding, saying that the Gazans would defeat Israel. "[Israel] has failed to force the population to surrender," he said. \|\|\|\|\| UN: No Hamas Fighters in Bombed Gaza School United Nations investigators say they have uncovered no evidence to support a claim by the Israeli military that Hamas fighters were holed up in a Gaza school, prompting a deadly attack by Israeli forces that killed 40 civilians, many of them children. The Israel Defense Forces Spokesman's Office asserted that militants fired mortars from inside the school at troops involved in Israel's controversial incursion into the Gaza Strip in pursuit of Hamas fighters a military operation that is drawing fierce international condemnation as civilian casualties mount. "The IDF returned fire," according to the spokesman's office. (See pictures of Israeli soldiers sweeping into Gaza.) But after a preliminary investigation of the Jan. 6 attack at the Fakhura girl's elementary school, "we're 99.9% sure that no militants were at the school," says Chris Gunness, a spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The agency questioned survivors, including UNRWA staff that run the school under U.N. auspices. Before the school was hit by Israeli bombs, some 400 Palestinians fleeing shelling of the Jabalya refugee camp had taken shelter inside Fakhura, hoping that the U.N. flag would shield them from harm, according to survivors. Earlier, the U.N., which oversees relief efforts for more than 800,000 Palestinians in Gaza, had passed along the coordinates of all its schools and buildings to the Israeli military so that its humanitarian missions would be spared attack. Some reports say that Israel struck the school with artillery shells, while others say with mortars. Thirty Palestinians were killed outright from the incoming fire, and 10 others died last night in Gaza's overburdened and badly provisioned hospitals, according to the U.N. More than 55 were injured. Israeli bombs also hit a second school on Tuesday, say Gaza residents, killing three civilians. Some Jabalya refugees at the school said they saw a small group of militants firing mortars near the school and running away, the Associated Press reported. A Gaza resident contacted by TIME said there is a citrus grove not far from the school. "Most likely, the militants fired from there," said the resident, who requested anonymity. But Israeli military officials insist that the mortars were fired from within the crowded schoolyard and that Hamas is using civilians as human shields. The IDF gave the names of two Hamas combatants it says were killed inside the school Imad and Hassan Abu Askar who allegedly fired the mortars. But the IDF did not explain how it was able to identify them among the many casualties. Troops did not visit the school after the attack, nor did the IDF have access to a casualty list from Gaza's hospitals. (See pictures of Israel's deadly assault on Gaza.) The school deaths intensified urgent international calls for a cease-fire. Israeli diplomats said Israel was taking "very, very seriously" a cease-fire proposal from Egypt and France that is backed by the U.S. Several senior Hamas officials in Cairo were briefed on the proposal and said they were debating it. The Egyptians are suggesting that both sides agree to an immediate truce, then work out long-term details on lifting the Israeli blockade of Gaza. However, one member of the Hamas politburo in Damascus complained to TIME that the proposal does not call for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. "Without that, it's a joke," he said. On Tuesday, as the Israeli military tightened its hold on Gaza's towns and refugee camps, civilian casualties mounted sharply, with 77 killed, taking the total death toll to 631 since the operation began 12 days ago. Israel says it will not halt its ground offensive until Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel. Hamas launched 30 rockets on Tuesday, striking towns near Gaza but causing no casualties. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he would allow the opening of a "humanitarian corridor" to bring supplies to the besieged 1.5 million Gazans trapped by the conflict and called for all fighting to be suspended for three hours on a daily basis to allow residents to stock up on necessities. "While we welcome the humanitarian corridor," says Gunness, the UNRWA spokesman, "this cannot compromise the need for an immediate cease-fire." With reporting by Jamil Hamad / Bethlehem See pictures of heartbreak in the Middle East. Read about the battle in Gaza.	The United Nations (UN) suspended all of its operations in Gaza from yesterday, after the bombing of a convoy of UN aid trucks which killed one Palestinian driver, and wounded three others. Thursday was the second day of attacks on UN targets after three UN schools housing refugees were bombed on Tuesday, killing over 50 civilians. "UNRWA decided to suspend all its operations in the Gaza Strip because of the increasing hostile actions against its premises and personnel," Adnan Abu Hasna, a Gaza-based spokesman for the (UNRWA), said yesterday. Richard Miron, spokesman for the UN said that the Israeli military had been notified in advance of the coordinates of the relief trucks saying, "This underlines the fundamental insecurity inside Gaza at a time when we are trying to address the dire humanitarian needs of the population there." The bombing of the UN trucks was the last straw for the UN, already angered after Israeli tanks fired on a UN school housing refugees killing 50 including an entire family of seven young children. The UN said that they had given Israel the coordinates of their schools, and demanded accountability for the attacks. Israel's government says it is investigating the incidents. More schools were attacked including the al-Fakhora School killing 40 people, many of them women and children. Hours before the attack on the al-Fakhora School was an attack on Asma Elementary School which killed three Palestinian cousins. The cousin's father said the bodies were so mangled he couldn't tell the bodies apart, "We came to the school when the Israelis warned us to leave," he said. "We hoped it would be safe. We were 20 in one room. We had no electricity, no blankets, no food. "Suddenly we heard a bomb that shook the school. Windows smashed. Children started to scream. A relative came and told me one of my sons was killed. I found my son's body with his two cousins. They were cut into pieces by the shell." Like al-Fakhora, Asma Elementary is an UNRWA school. The (ICRC) said on yesterday that they were trying for four days to get their ambulances to a Gaza neighborhood before being allowed to by Israeli military forces. After getting there, they said, they found four starving children sitting next to the bodies of their dead mothers. "This is a shocking incident," said Pierre Wettach, ICRC chief for Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. "The Israeli military must have been aware of the situation but did not assist the wounded. Neither did they make it possible for us or the to assist the wounded." Israel granted a three-hour ceasefire yesterday that they gave for aid workers to enter areas that they had closed off. 50 bodies were recovered during the ceasefire, raising the death toll to 763, including more than 200 children, since air raids first began on December 27. 3,121 people have also been wounded. Eight Israeli soldiers and three civilians have died in the same period. Israeli forces also shot a Palestinian man in the during a protest against Israel's actions in Gaza. Yesterday, a Palestinian man was killed by Israeli forces after a confrontation in the West Bank Jewish settlement of near Jerusalem.
Obama endorses Muslim mosque near Ground Zero President Obama tonight endorsed building an Islamic community center and mosque a few blocks from the site of the 9/11 attacks in New York City, saying that "Muslims have the right to practice their religion" just like anyone else. "That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances," Obama said at an Iftar dinner at the White House honoring the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. "This is America." Obama said he understands the emotions aroused by the issue, including the objections of 9/11 victims' families who want the Islamic center to be built elsewhere in the city. But he said that the terrorists who attacked the World Trade Center do not represent Islam, but are killers distorting a great religion. "That's who we are fighting against," he said. "And the reason that we will win this fight is not simply the strength of our arms, it is the strength of our values." Obama's statements echoed those of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and others who have described the proposed Islamic center as a test of religious tolerance. Others, such as conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer, said that Ground Zero is hallowed ground, and that mosque organizers should also practice tolerance and move further away. "The governor of New York offered to help find land to build the mosque elsewhere," Krauthammer wrote. "A mosque really seeking to build bridges ... would accept the offer." (Posted by David Jackson) \|\|\|\|\| (Aug. 13) -- President Barack Obama gave a thumbs up today to a proposed Islamic community center and mosque that is slated to be built two blocks from the site of the 9/11 attacks in lower Manhattan."Let me be clear," Obama said at a White House dinner celebrating the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, "as a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country."That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances," Obama said, according to CNN Obama's remarks drew a prompt response from Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. "President Obama is wrong," said King, The Associated Press reported. "It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of ground zero. While the Muslim community has the right to build the mosque, they are abusing that right by needlessly offending so many people who have suffered so much."The proposed construction of the Cordoba House Islamic Center has divided U.S. politicians and the public. Obama's remarks follow a line of argument put forth by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg , who made an impassioned defense of the construction of the Islamic center in a speech delivered on Governor's Island.Politicians such as Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich have opposed the mosque, citing their view that the former site of the World Trade center is "hallowed ground" and that building Cordoba House in such close proximity is an affront to the memory of those who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001."This is America," Obama declared today, "and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are. The writ of our founders must endure."New York's Landmarks Preservation Commission has cleared the way for construction of the Islamic center, which will occupy the site that once housed a Burlington Coat Factory outlet store, but the state's governor, David Paterson, has suggested that other land might be made available to the developers of the project.	Aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. US president Barack Obama has endorsed buiding a mosque and Islamic community center near the site of the attacks. US Barack Obama has endorsed permitting a mosque to be built a few blocks away from the site where terrorists intentionally crashed two planes into the World Trade Center towers in 2001, otherwise known as 'Ground Zero'. The site is located in New York City. Obama, who stated his endorsement at an annual dinner celebrating the Islamic holiday of , said, "As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable." Reaction to the presidential endorsement was mixed. New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, a staunch supporter of building the Cordoba House Islamic Center, has said that Obama's comments were a "clarion defense of the freedom of religion." However, many Republicans were angry, including US Representative Peter King, Republican-New York, who said that "President Obama is wrong." Conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer stated that "the governor of New York offered to help find land to build the mosque elsewhere. A mosque really seeking to build bridges ... would accept the offer." Other right-wing politicians, including Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich, have opposed the mosque, calling the World Trade Center site "hallowed ground."
Kyrgyz politicians strike deal that could undo 'tulip' revolt Postrevolutionary leaders agree to recognize the parliament that protesters say was fraudulently elected. By Fred Weir BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN The fractious political forces here patched together a compromise Monday ending - at least for now - the uncertainty and legal limbo following the overthrow of President Askar Akayev last Thursday. But the deal, which will legitimize a new parliament allegedly elected by fraudulent means, appears to undo the main achievement of the "tulip revolution" - infuriating many of the same protesters who helped topple the government - and could even create a fresh role for the deposed and self-exiled Mr. Akayev. "It is clear that Kyrgyzstan has stepped out of the framework of law, and the most crucial task is to get constitutionality back on track," says Muratbek Imanaliyev, a former foreign minister and professor of international law at the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek. "We may have to pay a price for that, but in order to move forward we must have legitimate authorities." Monday Kyrgyzstan's former parliament decided to suspend its sessions in favor of the new legislature, elected in February and March. This concludes several days of standoffs during which both parliaments claimed legitimacy and each were backed by different leaders of the country's fragmented opposition. The speaker of the old parliament, Ishenbai Kadyrbekov, told journalists the decision to suspend its sessions was "a political, not a legislative decision, made for the sake of stabilizing the situation." The new legislature quickly confirmed Kurmanbek Bakiyev as prime minister, but not as acting president. He had been acting president and prime minister of the postrevolutionary government. Just a day earlier, another rapidly rising leader, Felix Kulov, had complained that it was "unconstitutional" for Mr. Bakiyev to hold both posts. Mr. Kulov, former vice president and police chief, now controls all of Kyrgyzstan's security forces and was sprung from jail only last week. Although it appears that the political tension is easing, a raw power struggle may be shaping up between Kulov and Bakiyev, who are separated more by personality than ideology. "The main danger now is that extremely ambitious politicians with a low level of political literacy are fighting for power," says Mr. Imanaliyev. Kulov's strength lies in his native north Kyrgyzstan while Bakiyev hails from the south, and a battle between the two threatens to widen that fragile faultline. It was allegations of vote-rigging and coercion in elections for the new parliament that triggered the revolt that culminated in the seizure of the Akayev's presidential palace and his departure. Omurbek Tekebayev, speaker of the new parliament, told Kyrgyz television that Akayev is still the legal president of Kyrgyzstan, and should return to the country if only to complete the paperwork of a formal resignation. "New presidential elections can only be called after talks with Akayev, otherwise it will be another anticonstitutional move," he said. Mr. Tekebayev warned that Kyrgyzstan, which is deeply divided between its more developed, Kyrgyz-populated, north and the impoverished and ethnically diverse south, could split up if the political crisis is not resolved. "We need to halt the disintegration of authority which is threatening the integrity of the state," he said. The new legislature, heavily stacked with Akayev supporters - including the president's son and daughter - is widely despised by opposition activists, several hundred of whom gathered outside the parliament Monday to protest. "They have stolen the peoples' victory," says Alla Shabayeva, a protest organizer. "This new government is turning out just like the old one. If they don't do what the people want, we will stage a second revolution." The protesters were demanding a rerun of the elections - the same solution that ended Ukraine's similar crisis last December - as well as tough measures to take back the "peoples' wealth" allegedly stolen by the Akayev family during its kleptocratic 15-year rule. "We want a parliament chosen honestly, without bribes and manipulation, to represent the peoples' will. Isn't that what we fought for?," said Saginbek Mambekov, a musician who says he was in the thick of the revolution. Mr. Kulov was jailed five years ago on fraud charges that his supporters claim were trumped-up to remove him as a potential rival to the president. He was sprung from prison in last week's uprising, given temporary charge of law enforcement, and moved quickly to quell rioting and looting in the capital. "Kulov has done a brilliant job for himself," says Stuart Kahn, Kyrgyzstan program director for Freedom House, a nonpartisan group partly funded by the US. "He looks like the hero, he saved Bishkek from the looters," says Mr. Kahn. \|\|\|\|\| The new prime minister wants presidential polls in June In the four days since protests toppled President Askar Akayev, two rival parliaments - the outgoing assembly and the new - have vied for legitimacy. The new assembly, elected after disputed voting, had already named Mr Bakiev as interim prime minister, but Monday's vote boosts his authority. The outgoing body has suspended work. Announcing the decision, it said its principal concern was stability. However, the old parliament's upper house has still to agree to the suspension and so far has not commented. In response to his confirmation as prime minister, Mr Bakiev declared that the incoming parliament was the legitimate one. He also said Askar Akayev would enjoy all appropriate legal and constitutional guarantees if he returned to Kyrgyzstan. Controversy over the polls which saw the new house elected fuelled last week's popular uprising. In the immediate aftermath of the protests, the Supreme Court annulled the poll results and said the previous parliament had authority. But on Sunday, Kyrgyzstan's electoral body backed the new assembly. Parliaments and polls Europe's top security body has been meeting Kyrgyz leaders to help resolve the stalemate, amid warnings of potential unrest if matters are not clarified. The secretary general of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe has already met Mr Bakiev and the new head of security, Felix Kulov, who also believes the new parliament is legitimate. New presidential elections can only be called after talks with Akayev Omurbek Tekebayev New parliament speaker Kyrgyz protests: Your views Uncertainty grips press The OSCE is also uncomfortable about a timetable put forward by the old assembly to hold elections to find a successor to Mr Akayev in three months time. "We can only have elections when we have a certain level of stability," said Markus Mueller, the OSCE ambassador. For his part, the speaker of the new parliament said that such a vote could only be held after talks had been held with Mr Akayev, because he had not formally resigned. "Otherwise it will be another anti-constitutional move," Omurbek Tekebayev said. Some reports suggest these talks are already taking place in neighbouring Kazakhstan. Calm after the storm European officials say the situation is very sensitive. Kyrgyzstan, next to China and just north of Afghanistan, lies in a strategic and unstable region, on a key drug-smuggling route for Afghan heroin. Life is returning to normal in the capital There were a few nights of looting in the capital, Bishkek, immediately after ex-President Akayev was driven from office. However, life there is now returning to normal, with people returning to work on Monday for the first time. It remains unclear where the former president is, but many observers say he is probably in Russia. Russia says it has offered to host Mr Akayev, at his own request. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday he was ready to provide Kyrgyzstan with emergency aid. But he refused to comment on what he called the stormy situation there.	Bishkek, capital of KyrgyzstanThe newly elected and protested Kyrgyz parliament today voted to back opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev as prime minister, as the reconvening former parliament had done days before. The lower house of the former parliament also formally stepped down, although the upper house has not done so yet. Deposed president Askar Akayev issued a statement from Russia in response, accusing the new leaders of disgracing the country and ruining the economy. In response to the endorsement, Bakiyev issued a statement acknowledging the newly elected parliament as the legitimate one. "I can be reproached for saying earlier that the February and March polls were not legitimate. I said so. But in this parliament we have questions to only 15 to 20 constituencies, no one is saying that all deputies have to go," Bakiyev explained. Speaker of the outgoing lower chamber of the former parliament, Ishenbai Kadyrbekov, said that the decision was "a political, not a legislative decision, made for the sake of stabilizing the situation. ...If needed, the Legislative Assembly may convene again." Despite the situation, Omurbek Tekebayev, newly elected speaker of the new parliament, told Kyrgyz television that Akayev was still legally the president of the country and should return, if only to complete a formal resignation. "New presidential elections can only be called after talks with Akayev, otherwise it will be another anticonstitutional move," he said. Opposition leaders have offered Akayev immunity and said that he would not be impeached or otherwise prosecuted if he returned to the country.
Two men who sued more than a half-dozen strip clubs because of extra fees charged for lap dances got some good news from a Houston appeals court. But that could be bad news for other lap-dance fans, who may want their appreciation for that art form kept confidential. A three-judge panel of the 14th Texas Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that Paul Brian Meekey and Michael Fulmer should be allowed to sue over surcharges for credit card use. A lawyer for Meekey and Fulmer said the lawsuit may be made a class-action. That could mean notifying a lot of other men who used credit cards to pay for lap dances in recent years. And that might not go over very well in some households. "They are going to want the (strip) clubs' credit card companies to give them the names of all the different people who have charged dances there," said Albert Van Huff, attorney for several of the clubs. Meekey and Fulmer sued a number of local "gentlemen's clubs" in September 2003, claiming they had been illegally charged $25 for $20 lap dances simply because they used credit cards. The businesses named in the suit include Rick's Cabaret and the Men's Club. Lawyers for the clubs argued that their clients are not responsible for the higher fee. "Since the dancers are independent contractors and not employees of the club, the clubs are not the ones selling the dances," Van Huff said. The clubs' lawyers also argued that the case should go before the state Finance Commission, not a court. The trial judge agreed and dismissed the lawsuit. The panel from the 14th Court of Appeals reversed that ruling and sent the case back to state court. "Texas law is pretty clear that you cannot charge someone extra for using a credit card," said Sandra Krider, one of the lawyers for Meekey and Fulmer. "The fact that they are strip clubs shouldn't mean they get away with it." [email protected] \|\|\|\|\| Advertisement Former Home Minister of Maharashtra Kripa Shankar Singh is of the view that putting a ban on bar dancers can force the girls into becoming prostitutes. He was in Lucknow to attend several functions including a function of Bhojpuri Samaj. Kripa Shankar Singh also said he was committed to the welfare of about 40 lakh people of UP living in Mumbai. President of Uttar Bhartiya Sangh, Mumbai RN Singh also accompanied him. Why are you supporting the cause of bar dancers in Mumbai, in particular, and Maharashtra, in general? I think those who are condemning bar dancers are mere hypocrites. Cultural tsars wrongly think that bar dancers are prostitutes or call girls. They are performers and entertainers. But many organizations think that they are spreading vulgarity in bars. There is a world of difference between vulgar and sensuous dance. Bar dancers don't dance nude or semi-nude. As I have said they are mere entertainers. There is nothing vulgar about dances. Dance is part of our culture and tradition. But bar dancing is not part our culture? In ancient times, beautiful girls used to offer drinks to nobility. The tradition started in temple of Diwas in Madhya Pradesh. From temples dancing reached palaces of princes. Don't you fear opposition? I care two hoots for those who disagree with me. I am with Mazdoor (labour) and Majboor (helpless). I think bar dancers come in these two categories. It is easy to criticise but difficult to provide livelihood. Should 72,000 girls be made to die of hunger or worse forces to sell their body for food? But don't you think they should be encouraged to take up alternative employment? Till they are rehabilitated in other jobs they should not be stopped from carrying on the profession of bar dancing. I totally disagree with Shiv Sena. But it is your party's government that has imposed the ban? The government should not have imposed the ban without providing alternative employment to bar dancers. Have you decided to revolt against your government? My viewpoint should not be construed as revolt against my party's government. Is it right to carry on operation against slum dwellers in Mumbai for the sake of beautifying the city? Sometimes, when you are in coalition it is difficult to take quick decision. But the government has taken a decision that those North Indians who are living since 2002 would not be displaced. Why were you not accommodated in the present ministry headed by Vilas Rao Deshmukh? It is for Deshmukhji to answer this question. I am dedicated soldier of the Congress Party and loyal to Soniaji. Did you approach Union Human Resource Minister Arjun Singh to grant Bhojpuri the status of second language in Maharashtra? Yes I did approach him. I demanded that Bhojpuri should be a regional language. I did this because millions of people from eastern UP are living in Maharashtra. I am also wholeheartedly committed to the welfare of over 40 lakh people of UP living in Mumbai. This is the largest population in metropolis from any state. It is for this reason that Uttar Bhartiya Sangh, Mumbai is a potent force in Maharashtra.	A three-judge Texas Court of Appeals ruling will allow men who were overcharged at nudie clubs to sue for refunds and damages. The two plaintiffs, Paul Brian Meekey and Michael Fulmer, had their cases heard because they were charged more than a regular lap dance fee when they used a credit card, typically $25 for a $20 dance. "Texas law is pretty clear that you cannot charge someone extra for using a credit card," said Sandra Krider, an attorney for the patrons. "The fact that they are strip clubs shouldn't mean they get away with it." A lawyer for the businesses, Rick's Cabaret and the Men's Club, argued a case based on the type of employment the ladies agreed to perform. “Since the dancers are independent contractors and not employees of the club, the clubs are not the ones selling the dances," said attorney Albert Van Huff. But the men’s attorneys said the win could potentially become a class-action suit with many hundreds of men claiming their day in court. That could present a problem for other patrons who may not want their name and their use of a credit card at a nudie bar released in court transcripts. "They are going to want the (strip) clubs' credit card companies to give them the names of all the different people who have charged dances there," said Van Huff. The 14th Court of Appeals, a Texas court with headquarters in Houston, had reversed a ruling of a lower trial judge that this case should be heard before the state Finance Commission instead of in a judicial proceeding. The case was sent back to be tried again.
White Plains, New York (CNN) -- Ex-New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik was sentenced to 48 months in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to charges of lying to Bush administration officials who vetted his unsuccessful 2004 nomination for homeland security secretary. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Stephen Robinson, exceeded the 27- to 33-month prison term recommended by federal prosecutors. "With great power comes great responsibility and comes great consequences," Robinson said in court. Kerik, accompanied by his wife and son, addressed the court before his sentencing. "I make no excuses," the former police commissioner said. "I take full responsibility for my actions. I have learned from this. I know I will be punished, but I only wish you would allow me return to my wife and two little girls as soon as possible." Kerik, 54, pleaded guilty in November to tax fraud and six other felonies and has been under house arrest in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, since then. He must surrender to authorities to begin his sentence by May 17. After the sentencing, Kerik told reporters he wanted to "apologize to the American people for the mistakes I've made and for which I have just accepted responsibility." "As history is written, I can only hope that I will be judged for the 30 years of service that I've given to this country and the city of New York," he said. In court papers, prosecutors said Kerik denied to a White House official that there was "any possible concern" about his relationships with contractors involved in renovating an apartment of his or that he had any financial dealings with prospective city contractors. Kerik had been scheduled to go to trial on a variety of corruption charges, including allegations that he received and concealed benefits of about $255,000 in renovations to his Riverdale, New York, apartment from a company seeking to do business with the city of New York. He pleaded guilty to that charge and several tax-related counts in November. Kerik was New York police commissioner from 1998 to 2002, a tenure that included the September 11, 2001, attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center and killed more than 2,700 people. He spent a brief stint in Iraq training the country's police force after the U.S. invasion in 2003, and President Bush nominated him to be homeland security secretary in 2004. However, Kerik withdrew from consideration after allegations surfaced that he had employed a nanny with a murky immigration status. In 2006, he pleaded guilty to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in gifts while he working as city corrections commissioner. Under his plea agreement, he paid $221,000 in fines and avoided jail time. His admission dogged the 2008 presidential campaign of his longtime patron, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who said his endorsement of Kerik had been "a mistake." Kerik made an unsuccessful appeal for clemency to Bush in 2008, according to court papers released in October. \|\|\|\|\| WHITE PLAINS — Bernard B. Kerik , a former New York police commissioner who rose to national prominence, was sentenced to four years in prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to eight felony charges, including tax fraud and lying to White House officials. Under the terms of a plea agreement, the prosecution and the defense recommended that Judge Stephen C. Robinson sentence Mr. Kerik to 27 to 33 months in prison. But the judge departed from the sentencing recommendations, giving Mr. Kerik a longer sentence because he said he had betrayed the public’s trust. “I think it’s fair to say that with great power comes great responsibility and great consequences,” Judge Robinson said. “I think the damage caused by Mr. Kerik is in some ways immeasurable.” Federal prosecutors had denounced Mr. Kerik, a former police detective who rose to the upper echelons of power, as a corrupt official who sought to trade his authority for lavish benefits. He pleaded guilty on the eve of his trial in November. Wearing a pinstriped navy-blue suit, Mr. Kerik was thinner and clean-shaven — without the mustache he was long identified with — as he entered the courtroom in United States District Court here. He surveyed the gallery, packed with friends and supporters, embracing some, nodding to others. When Judge Robinson offered him a chance to speak before sentencing, Mr. Kerik rose from the defense table and spoke in a low and gravelly voice. “I make no excuses,” he said. “I take full responsibility for the grave mistakes I’ve made. Believe me when I say I have learned from this and I have become and will continue to become a better person. I know I must be punished. I only ask that you allow me to return to my wife and two little girls as soon as possible.” As the judge delivered the sentence, Mr. Kerik sat impassively at the defense table, flanked by his lawyers. Behind him, his supporters — including Geraldo Rivera and Steven McDonald, a former New York City police officer who was paralyzed from the neck down in 1986 — sat silently. Mr. Kerik will begin serving his sentence on May 17. Prosecutors had requested that Mr. Kerik be sent to prison immediately, but Judge Robinson allowed him to surrender later to get his affairs in order in light of the length of the sentence. Mr. Kerik has awaited sentencing under strict house arrest at his home in Franklin Lakes, N.J. The sentence follows a fall from a rarefied perch where he wielded power with a signature mix of brash confidence and tough-guy charm. He was a close ally of former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, whom he served as a bodyguard and driver. Mr. Giuliani then tapped him for a senior position in the Correction Department, and he went on to become the agency’s commissioner. As testament to his clout, Mr. Kerik had a jail named after him in downtown Manhattan. (The name has since been changed.) Mr. Kerik later served as police commissioner, and his performance after the 9/11 attacks turned him into a national figure, earning him the respect of President George W. Bush, who nominated him to lead the Department of Homeland Security. That bid quickly collapsed in scandal, marking the beginning of the end of Mr. Kerik’s career. The case against Mr. Kerik centered on charges that a New Jersey construction company, the Interstate Industrial Corporation, which was suspected of ties to organized crime, had paid for renovations at his home in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. Prosecutors said company officials had hoped Mr. Kerik would help them obtain a city license. In June 2006, Mr. Kerik pleaded guilty in State Supreme Court in the Bronx to two misdemeanors tied to the renovation of his apartment. He paid $221,000 in fines and penalties but avoided any jail time. In the more recent federal case, Mr. Kerik pleaded guilty to two counts of tax fraud, one count of making a false statement on a loan application and five counts of making false statements to the federal government while being vetted for senior posts. Judge Robinson ordered him to pay restitution of $187,931 to the Internal Revenue Service. Prosecutors had called for Judge Robinson to make an example out of Mr. Kerik, and to punish him for his “egotism and hubris.” During the hearing, Judge Robinson said he admired much about Mr. Kerik, particularly his leadership in the 9/11 aftermath. But, he said, “the fact that Mr. Kerik would use that event for personal gain and aggrandizement is a dark place in the soul for me.” Mr. Kerik’s lawyer, Michael F. Bachner, asked the judge for leniency, citing his years of public service, and the dozens of letters of support written by family members, former colleagues in the Police Department and even strangers who said they admired Mr. Kerik’s bravery. When asked if Mr. Kerik intended to appeal the sentence, Mr. Bachner said, “No comment.” After the sentencing, Mr. Kerik paused outside the courthouse, where he read a statement before being driven off in a black sport utility vehicle. “I’d like to apologize to the American people for the mistakes I’ve made and for which I have just accepted responsibility,” he said. “As history is written, I can only hope that I will be judged for the 30 years of service I have given to this country and the city of New York.”	Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik was sentenced to four years in prison and three years of supervised release on Thursday after pleading guilty to eight felony charges. Among these were tax fraud and lying to Bush administration officials during his unsuccessful nomination for US Secretary of Homeland Security in 2004. This sentence is contrary to a plea agreement made in November between Kerik's legal counsel and the prosecution. Per this accord, federal attorneys recommended a sentence of no longer than 33 months in prison, opposed to the 48 months that US District Judge Stephen Robinson (who was not bound to this agreement) chose to hand down instead. "I think it's fair to say that with great power comes great responsibility and great consequences," Judge Robinson said upon sentencing. "I think the damage caused by Mr. Kerik is in some ways immeasurable." "Today's sentencing of Bernard Kerik is one of the most powerful recent reminders that no one in this country is above the law," added US Attorney Preet Bharara. Kerik, who was accompanied by his wife and three children, briefly addressed the court: "I make no excuses. I take full responsibility for the grave mistakes I've made. Believe me when I say I have learned from this and I have become and will continue to become a better person." "I know I must be punished," he went on to say. "I only ask that you allow me to return to my wife and two little girls as soon as possible." According to the New York City Department of Corrections, Kerik is slated to begin serving his sentence on May 17. Although the prosecution made clear their desire for Kerik to be imprisoned immediately, Judge Robinson allowed him to surrender himself later in the day so that he would have sufficient time to "get his affairs in order." Kerik has been awaiting sentencing under house arrest at his home in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey since November when said plea agreement was reached. Kerik, a military veteran and undercover detective, was a trusted advisor to former US Attorney and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, for whom he worked for as a bodyguard and a driver. Kerik later served as both corrections and police commissioner. His distinguished actions following the 2001 September 11th Attacks transformed him into a respected national figure. This earned him the praise of then-president George W. Bush, who in turn nominated him for the lead Homeland Security post. It was during the vetting process that Kerik's suspected ties to organized crime came out. This marked the beginning of his long fall from grace. Outside the courthouse, Kerik gave a statement to the media and general public before being driven home: "I'd like to apologize to the American people for the mistakes I have made and for which I have just accepted responsibility. As history is written, I can only hope that I will be judged for the 30 years of service I have given to this country and the City of New York. It has not and will not diminish my love for this country." Kerik's lawyer, when asked by The New York Times if they planned to appeal this sentence, simply replied, "No comment."
A former airport shuttle driver accused of buying beauty products to make bombs for an attack on the New York City subway has admitted he agreed to conduct an al-Qaida-led "martyrdom operation" because of US involvement in his native Afghanistan. Najibullah Zazi told a judge the network recruited him to be a suicide bomber in New York, where he went to secondary school and once operated a coffee cart near the World Trade Centre. "I would sacrifice myself to bring attention to what the US military was doing to civilians in Afghanistan," Zazi said in court. Earlier this month, it emerged that the jailed Zazi recently volunteered information about the bomb plot on the underground rail system in the first step toward a plea deal. His co-operation suggests prosecutors hope to expand the case and bring charges against other suspects in one of the most serious terrorism threats in the US since September 11 2001. Zazi, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiring to commit murder in a foreign country and providing material support for a terrorist organisation. He faces life in prison without parole when sentenced in June. The bombings "could have been devastating", the US attorney general, Eric Holder, said in Washington: "This attempted attack on our homeland was real, it was in motion, and it would have been deadly." Zazi told the court he had travelled to Pakistan in 2008 to join the Taliban and fight against the US military but was recruited by al-Qaida in Peshawar and went into a training camp in Waziristan, a tribal region of Pakistan where the network is known to operate. Zazi said he had received weapons training at the camp and learned about explosives. He also said he had been in contact with al-Qaida operatives while in Pakistan, but he did not identify them. "During the training, al-Qaida leaders asked us to return to the United States and conduct martyrdom operation," he said. "We agreed to this plan." The Pakistani embassy in Washington declined to comment on the case. Zazi admitted using notes taken at the training camp to build homemade explosives using beauty supplies purchased in the Denver suburbs and cooked up in a Colorado hotel room. He then drove the materials to New York just before the eighth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. His plan was to assemble the bombs over the weekend and detonate them in the following days. While entering the city, he was stopped by police for a routine traffic violation. Suspicious officers allowed him to go free but kept a close watch on his movements. "The plan was to conduct a martydom operation on the subway lines in Manhattan as soon as the material was ready," he said, adding that the attack involved a number of bombs. Days later, the authorities raided several apartments in Queens, including a friend's home where Zazi had stayed. Asked by federal judge Raymond Dearie if he had been willing to be a suicide bomber, Zazi said, "Yes, your honour". Some time after the routine traffic stop, Zazi realised the New York authorities were investigating him. "At that point, we threw away the detonator explosives and other materials," he said. One of the people familiar with the investigation said Zazi told prosecutors he had made roughly 900gm (2lb) of a powerful and highly unstable explosive called triacetone triperoxide, or TATP. The same explosive was used by the would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid in 2001 and the London bombers who killed 52 people in attacks on the city's transport system on 7 July 2005. One of the people familiar with the New York case said Zazi decided to co-operate after being warned that his mother could face criminal immigration charges. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is in progress. After yesterday's hearing, Zazi's lawyer, William Stampur, would say only: "The plea speaks for itself." Zazi's father, Mohammed Wali Zazi, has also been charged in the case, accused of trying to get rid of chemicals and other evidence. \|\|\|\|\| nation and world An airport shuttle bus driver from Aurora who plotted to detonate potent explosives in New York's subway system pleaded guilty Monday for his role in a "martyrdom operation" that authorities called one of the most serious terrorism plots on American soil since Sept. 11, 2001. Najibullah Zazi said he had decided "I would sacrifice myself to bring attention to what the U.S. military was doing to civilians in Afghanistan." The 25-year-old pleaded guilty to conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiring to commit murder in a foreign country and providing material support for a terrorist organization. He also agreed to share information about confederates overseas. He faces a life prison sentence without parole at a sentencing in June. Zazi's plea in a Brooklyn courtroom gave the Obama administration a new argument in its battle with Republican critics and predecessors over its handling of national-security threats. Attorney General Eric Holder said the deal demonstrated anew the ability of the U.S. court system to dispense justice to terrorists. "In this case, as it has in so many other cases, the criminal justice system has proved to be an invaluable weapon for disrupting plots and incapacitating terrorists, one that works in concert with the intelligence community and our military," Holder said at a news conference. Getting Zazi to talk Law enforcement sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the investigation continues, said Zazi began to accelerate his cooperation after authorities charged his Afghan-born father, also of Aurora, with crimes and threatened to charge his mother with immigration offenses — options that are not available in the military justice system. Federal prosecutors kept their plea agreement with Zazi under seal, but new details about the path that led the Aurora man into terrorism emerged in court. Zazi, an Afghan immigrant residing legally in the U.S., traveled to an al-Qaeda stronghold in Pakistan in August 2008 to receive weapons training so he could fight alongside the Taliban, according to Justice Department and FBI officials. But jihadists redirected him and two confederates to focus their energies on a suicide attack on the U.S. mainland. Zazi returned to Colorado in January 2009 with notes on how to mix explosive chemicals. He procured large volumes of beauty supplies from stores in the Denver area, supplies that contained hydrogen peroxide to make TATP, the explosive involved in the 2005 bombings of London's transit system, authorities said. The final stages of the plot came into focus in September, Holder said, when Zazi drove a rented car to New York, days before the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Asked by federal Judge Raymond J. Dearie whether he had been willing to be a suicide bomber, Zazi said, "Yes, your honor." Zazi aroused the interest of law enforcement, and he was tracked by teams of FBI agents and police, who stopped his vehicle on a bridge into Manhattan. Justice Department officials said for the first time Monday that Zazi and others had timed their plot to occur in the subway on Sept. 14, 15 or 16 but backed away after realizing that they were under surveillance and disposed of the explosives. FBI Deputy Director John Pistole told reporters that the Zazi case and intelligence provided by the defendant have "given us all greater insight into the evolving nature of terrorist activities." Others charged in the terror case include Zazi's father, Mohammed Wali Zazi, who was accused this month of trying to get rid of chemicals and other evidence. He has been released on $50,000 bond and allowed to return to Colorado. By contrast, bond for a Queens imam charged with lying to the FBI about phone contact with Zazi when Zazi was in New York was set at $1.5 million. A friend of Zazi's, New York cabdriver Zarein Ahmed zay, was jailed without bail on a similar lying charge. Officials earlier confirmed reports that Zazi's uncle had been arraigned on a felony count in secret — a sign that he also could be cooperating. "Plea speaks for itself" After Monday's hearing, Najibullah Zazi's attorney, William Stampur, would say only: "The plea speaks for itself." The written plea agreement is sealed. Arthur Folsom, Zazi's Colorado attorney, said he was not surprised his former client pleaded guilty. "That's kind of where it was heading from the first minute I started working on it," Folsom said. "My former client from the very beginning was willing to talk to them and tell them what he had done and what his involvement was." Zazi, however, had told his attorney he had gotten rid of all of the explosives by the time he had traveled to New York. In court Monday, Zazi said he had brought the bomb-making materials with him. Folsom said he had been under the assumption Zazi had given up his plans and was being prosecuted for something he was never intending to do. But upon hearing Zazi's plea, Folsom has a different view. "If that's true, then it certainly changes my opinion of things," he said. "There is a big difference in my mind about someone who thinks about doing something wrong and doesn't do it, and someone who thinks about doing something and doesn't do it because they get caught. That is a world of difference." Denver Post staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer and The Associated Press contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| The Afghan immigrant at the center of what the authorities described as one of the most serious threats to the United States since 9/11 pleaded guilty Monday to terrorism charges in what he said was a Qaeda plot to detonate a bomb in the New York subway. The man, Najibullah Zazi, admitted that he came to New York last year near the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks to kill himself and others on the subway using a homemade bomb. He characterized the plot as a “martyrdom operation” that he was just days away from executing when he said he realized he was under government surveillance. Mr. Zazi, 25, pleaded guilty in United States District Court in Brooklyn to charges that included conspiracies to use weapons of mass destruction and to commit murder in a foreign country, and to provide material support for a terrorist organization. He faces a possible life term when he is sentenced on June 25. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said at a news conference in Washington that the Zazi case represented one of the most serious threats to the United States since the 9/11 attacks. “Were it not for the combined efforts of the law enforcement and intelligence communities it could have been devastating,” he said. “This attempted attack on our homeland was real, it was in motion, and it would have been deadly.” Mr. Holder, who has faced criticism by some who favor prosecuting more terror suspects before military tribunals, also repeated his defense of the civilian court system as “an invaluable weapon for disrupting plots and incapacitating terrorists.” He said it “contains powerful incentives to induce pleas that yield long sentences and gain intelligence.” Throughout the 45-minute proceeding on Monday, Mr. Zazi seemed unaffected by his circumstances, even smiling on several occasions. When he spoke, he did so in an unapologetic, matter-of-fact manner, explaining that he was driven to terrorism by his concerns about the United States’ actions in Afghanistan. In recent weeks, Mr. Zazi — who was born in Afghanistan, raised in Pakistan and later attended high school in Queens — had begun providing information to prosecutors as part of the initial stages of an agreement that led to his guilty plea on Monday, according to two people with knowledge of the case. There have been a number of additional arrests in the case, including his father, his uncle and two of his classmates at Flushing High School. Mr. Zazi agreed to cooperate in part out of concern that a widening inquiry would result in more charges against his family members, including his mother, said one person involved in the case. The 10-page plea agreement was sealed by Judge Raymond J. Dearie, but the arrangement suggested that prosecutors believe Mr. Zazi can be a valuable source of information. On its own, though, the guilty plea marks the successful prosecution of a terrorist in an advanced plot in which explosive materials similar to those used in the 2005 London subway and bus attacks were actually brought into New York. In some other terror cases, plotters appeared to lack the materials or knowledge to make good on their threats. Mr. Holder said the Zazi case is an “ongoing investigation” despite the disruption of the subway plot. He declined to say whether other suspects were being sought in the investigation in the United States or abroad. Mr. Zazi told the court that he decided to go with friends to Pakistan in August 2008 to join the Taliban in fighting the United States invasion of Afghanistan. While in Pakistan, he received training in making bombs, and was persuaded by Qaeda operatives to return to America to be a suicide bomber. They discussed possible targets, including the New York subway system. “I would sacrifice myself to bring attention to what the United States military was doing to civilians in Afghanistan by sacrificing my soul for the sake of saving other souls,” he said. After his return from Pakistan, he soon moved to Colorado, where he worked as an airport shuttle bus driver and began putting together the raw materials — including beauty products — for a bomb, working off notes he had e-mailed to himself while he was overseas. Mr. Zazi said he drove to New York on Sept. 10 with some explosives. He planned to set off the bombs in Manhattan subway lines as soon as they were ready, he said. When he suspected he was under surveillance — his vehicle had been stopped while he drove across the George Washington Bridge — he decided to abort the operation, dumping out some of his homemade explosives and flying back to Colorado, where he was arrested on Sept. 19. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg praised the law enforcement effort, saying, “This is not an amateur operation. It was a very serious plot against New York City.” In Washington, Mr. Holder said that the Zazi case “is a demonstration of the facts. This is not some kind of partisan political attempt to shape something for the purposes of an election.” Asked about plans for a trial for Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four other men accused of plotting 9/11, he declined to say whether a new site has been chosen after New York officials objected to the cost and disruption the trial would cause in Lower Manhattan. He said the Justice Department would consider the views of local leaders and residents at any prospective trial site, he said. “But in making that determination, people should keep in mind that we’re talking about doing things that we have done safely over the years — that is, trying people accused of terrorist crimes, ” Mr. Holder said.	Najibullah Zazi, an Afghan immigrant, pleaded guilty to conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiring to commit murder in a foreign country and providing material support for a terrorist organisation, on Monday in United States District Court in Brooklyn, New York. He was a part of the plot to detonate explosives in New York's subway system in late 2009. He admitted participation in a suicide attack conspiracy led by the Al-Qaeda. According to him, this was in protest of US presence in Afghanistan. He will be sentenced on June 25 and faces a possible life term without parole. Zazi said in court he was recruited by Al-Qaida in Peshawar, while on a visit to join anti-American insurgency in 2008 and went into a training camp in Waziristan. He refused to identify his trainers and recruiters. Zazi had decided "I would sacrifice myself to bring attention to what the U.S. military was doing to civilians in Afghanistan." He admitted receiving weapons training at the camp and knowledge about explosives. He tried to build homemade explosives using cosmetic products. Zazi then went to New York just before the eighth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. He planned to assemble the bombs there and detonate them in the following days. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said at a news conference that the Zazi case represented one of the most serious threats to the United States since the 9/11 attacks. "Were it not for the combined efforts of the law enforcement and intelligence communities, it could have been devastating," he said. "This attempted attack on our homeland was real, it was in motion and it would have been deadly." Zazi, who was born in Afghanistan, raised in Pakistan and later attended high school in Queens, New York and lived in Colorado, had cooperated with the authorities in recent weeks and had worked out an agreement with them regarding his plea bargain.
Madrizeleño \| 23/05/2010, 14:03 \| Carpetania \| Iberia Con una salud tan frágil, Chopin fue el paradigma del músico romántico, que quiso que solo su corazón se enterrase en su tierra, el del artista apasionado capaza de consumirse en su propio ímpetu creativo. No era lo diabólico sino la tuberculosis lo que le hizo palmar. No era un tipo de música pesada con notas agudas distorsionadas y alargadas con batería inclusive que quizás tenga algo de ello. En Polonia empezaron a pegar los primeros tiros. Notificar comentario inapropiado jesus alegre estaran \| 23/05/2010, 11:41 \| belver de los horrores \| Catalunya Pues suerte,si llega a estar enterrado en mi pueblo Belver de los Horrores,estaria en el Vertedero,eso si antes expoliado. Es algo muy propio de aragón cuando se trata del patrimonio de Catalunya. Notificar comentario inapropiado Madrizeleño \| 23/05/2010, 10:51 \| Carpetania \| Iberia Esto ayudará a que los hombres negros de Malbork de la "Guerra de las Galaxias" no hagan de las suyas. Notificar comentario inapropiado Llimac \| 22/05/2010, 21:02 \| \| Eso. ¿Cómo saben que eran suyos? ¿Llevaban una etiqueta o algo? Notificar comentario inapropiado Palindrome \| 22/05/2010, 20:16 \| Barcelona \| Catalunya ¿Y si los pelos no eran suyos? jeje By the way, ¿quién escribió la noticia? ¿Celestiales? ¿Lo qué? Será Celestes... Notificar comentario inapropiado \|\|\|\|\| Los restos del astrónomo de origen polaco Nicolás Copérnico (1473-1543) fueron enterrados de nuevo este sábado en la catedral de Frombork (Polonia), donde se encontraban sepultados hasta hace cuatro años, cuando fueron exhumados para someterlos a un análisis de ADN. El entierro estuvo encabezado por el líder de la Iglesia Católica polaca, Jozef Kowalczyk. De esta manera se despidió con solemnidad a un científico que en su tiempo fue considerado un hereje por su teoría revolucionaria de que la Tierra es la que gira alrededor del Sol y no al revés, como se creía hasta entonces. En 2005 arqueólogos polacos hallaron sus restos en una tumba sin nombre en la catedral de Frombork, en la costa polaca del mar Báltico. Análisis Según explicó el periodista de la BBC Adam Easton, los huesos fueron sometidos a análisis de ADN, que finalmente confirmaron que se trataba del célebre astrónomo polaco. La reconstrucción facial realizada a partir del cráneo encontrado mostró a un hombre muy similar al que aparece en los retratos del considerado padre de la astronomía moderna, indicó Easton. En su obra "De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium" (Sobre las revoluciones de los cuerpos celestes) Copérnico, basándose en cálculos matemáticos y astronómicos, dotó de base científica una antigua teoría heliocéntrica, según la cual es la Tierra la que gira alrededor del Sol. El famoso astrónomo y matemático pasó la mayor parte de su vida en Frombork, tras estudiar en Cracovia (sur de Polonia) e Italia.	Copernicus was one of the most important people of the . Polish astronomer was buried for the second time yesterday, in the Catholic church of , Poland. Copernicus is considered the founder of modern astronomy, and known for declaring that the Earth revolved around the Sun, contrary to popular belief at the time. His body was discovered and exhumed in 2005 by Polish archaeologists in a nameless tomb in the same church. After the extraction, the body was sent for testing, which confirmed it was Copernicus, who died in 1543. His funeral was presided over by Archbishop . In his time, Copernicus was considered a heretic due to his theory, which was published shortly before his death. He studied in the Kraków University and in the University. In his work he demonstrated, through mathematical and astronomical calculations, that the planets –including Earth– rotated around the Sun.
HOME \| Argentina Argentina Confirms 2nd Death from Swine Flu BUENOS AIRES – A 28-year-old man died in Argentina from swine flu, bringing to two the number of deaths from the AH1N1 virus in the South American country, officials said Tuesday. The patient had received a bone marrow transplant and was receiving care at Rossi Hospital in the city of La Plata, some 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the Argentine capital, the health minister for Buenos Aires province, Claudio Zin, announced. “He was a very severely immune-depressed patient. When a person gets a transplant, you have to depress his defense system, and so he is more vulnerable to agents that can cause illnesses,” the official told Argentine television. On Monday, the Argentine government had reported the death of a 3-month-old baby as a result of swine flu, which originated in Mexico and so far has spread to 76 countries. The little girl had been admitted to a hospital on June 2 in suburban Buenos Aires and died Sunday night, Argentine Health Minister Graciela Ocaña told a press conference. Dr. Daniel Farias said that the victim had been born prematurely, a situation whereby she had had to remain in the hospital for several weeks after birth. The government is also performing tests to determine if a 36-year-old woman died from the AH1N1 virus, given that she was showing symptoms of the disease when she died. Meanwhile, health authorities announced 89 new cases of the disease, in addition to the 733 people already infected in Argentina in the pandemic. EFE BUENOS AIRES – A 28-year-old man died in Argentina from swine flu, bringing to two the number of deaths from the AH1N1 virus in the South American country, officials said Tuesday.The patient had received a bone marrow transplant and was receiving care at Rossi Hospital in the city of La Plata, some 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the Argentine capital, the health minister for Buenos Aires province, Claudio Zin, announced.“He was a very severely immune-depressed patient. When a person gets a transplant, you have to depress his defense system, and so he is more vulnerable to agents that can cause illnesses,” the official told Argentine television.On Monday, the Argentine government had reported the death of a 3-month-old baby as a result of swine flu, which originated in Mexico and so far has spread to 76 countries.The little girl had been admitted to a hospital on June 2 in suburban Buenos Aires and died Sunday night, Argentine Health Minister Graciela Ocaña told a press conference.Dr. Daniel Farias said that the victim had been born prematurely, a situation whereby she had had to remain in the hospital for several weeks after birth.The government is also performing tests to determine if a 36-year-old woman died from the AH1N1 virus, given that she was showing symptoms of the disease when she died.Meanwhile, health authorities announced 89 new cases of the disease, in addition to the 733 people already infected in Argentina in the pandemic. EFE Enter your email address to subscribe to free headlines (and great cartoons so every email has a happy ending!) from the Latin American Herald Tribune: \|\|\|\|\| Send Article Print Article Argentina reports its first swine flu death Argentina has reported its first death from swine flu, with the health ministry saying the victim was a three-month-old female baby. The infant died in a Buenos Aires hospital, where she has been since early June, officials said. In its daily report, the ministry said that the number of people in Argentina infected with the swine flu has reached 733, after 89 new cases were confirmed on Monday. Four of those infected are in intensive care, and three of them are on assisted breathing, the ministry said. Health experts believe the virus will spread in the southern hemisphere as the region enters the winter season. Send Article Print Article	The first deaths from swine flu in Argentina have been reported. To-date there have been a total of four deaths tied to the disease. The first was a baby girl aged three months. According to a report from the government's health ministry, she died in a Buenos Aires hospital, having been there since earlier in June. influenza A virus subtype H1N1 The Argentinian health ministry announced an additional 89 cases confirmed on Monday, bringing the total in the country to 733. As winter begins in the southern hemisphere, health officials believe that the virus will spread in the area. The second person to die from the virus in Argentina was a 28-year-old man who had been receiving care after a bone marrow transplant. "He was a very severely immune-depressed patient. When a person gets a transplant, you have to depress his defense system, and so he is more vulnerable to agents that can cause illnesses," said health official Claudio Zin. There have been a total of four deaths to date tied to the virus in Argentina, however no information has yet been released on the other two deceased patients. According to Carlos Soratti, Vice Minister of Health, 138 newly confirmed cases has brought the total as of Tuesday to 871 in the country. Chile has a recorded 2,335 cases, and Argentina has the second-highest amount of recorded cases in South America. Last week the World Health Organization announced a declaration that Swine flu has reached the level of a pandemic. According to the WHO, excluding the deaths in Argentina there have been 163 deaths globally attributed to the virus as of Monday. There are approximately 36,000 cases of the virus in 76 countries.
Niemi shuts the door as Hawks take 2-0 series lead For the last two months, the Chicago Blackhawks have been talking about how calm and composed Antti Niemi remains when the pressure is pounding on him.The Finnish goalie proved it again Monday with a series-changing rebound effort that might have put him in the lead for the Conn Smythe Trophy after his sub-par -- yet still victorious -- outing two nights earlier dropped him down a peg or two.Niemi made 32 saves as the Blackhawks rode him and a pair of lightning-quick goals from Marian Hossa and Ben Eager late in the second period to a 2-1 victory and a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final over the homeward bound Philadelphia Flyers "He doesn't get rattled easily," Hawks center Patrick Sharp said of Niemi. "He seems to play his best in big games and we have a few more big ones coming up."Wachovia Center will no doubt be rocking for Game 3 on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, Versus, CBC, RDS), and the Flyers should feel good going home considering they are 7-1 in their building during the playoffs. But the Blackhawks have won seven straight road games, too.Two more and they'll have their first Stanley Cup championship since 1961."You're in the Stanley Cup Finals and I don't think you should get comfortable at all," Hawks center John Madden warned. "These guys came back from 3-0 against Boston, so we're not taking anything lightly. We're not leaving any stone unturned."Flyers goalie Michael Leighton , who started despite getting pulled in the second period of Game 1, wrapped a strong game around goals by the previous snake-bit Hossa and Eager, the fourth-liner who was getting a rare first-line shift.Leighton made 24 saves but couldn't stop Hossa at the right post on a rebound goal with 2:51 to play in the second and said he never saw Eager's wrist shot from the top of the right circle 28 seconds later. The puck went through defenseman Matt Carle , over Leighton's catching glove and into the near corner."Obviously I saw it when it went through my D-man," Leighton said. "I'm not saying he's an Alex Ovechkin, but that is how he scores a lot of his goals; he drags it and then uses the 'D' as a screen."The goal was Eager's first of the playoffs and only his second in 33 career postseason games. Ironically, his only other goal, vs. Vancouver on May 2, 2009, also was a game-winner."(I've) been working pretty hard this postseason. It was definitely a nice feeling to see that one go in," Eager said. "It was a big shift before us. 'Hoss' scored a big goal and really got the bench going. We got out there next and got a nice bounce." Simon Gagne cut into Chicago's lead with a power-play goal 5:20 into the third period. His one-timer deflected off Brent Seabrook and fluttered past Niemi. The Flyers put the pressure on for the rest of the period, but Niemi was simply too good.After giving up five goals on 32 shots in Game 1 -- the second time he allowed five goals in a game in the playoffs -- Niemi came back with several sparkling glove and pad saves in Game 2 to preserve the win and get a huge ovation when it was done.The opening of Niemi's walk-off interview with Comcast SportsNet was drowned out by the roaring crowd that was chanting his name. Niemi looked like he was in a state of shock."It's an unbelievable feeling how the people react to our game," he said.It's just as unbelievable how he reacts to the situation.Before the Hawks grabbed their 2-0 lead, Niemi flashed some serious leather with dazzling glove saves on Daniel Carcillo Mike Richards and Arron Asham all within five minutes in the second. He also stoned Richards on a breakaway earlier in the period."That one on Asham in the second period I thought was incredible," Madden said. "I was coming onto the ice and I saw Ash teeing it up. He got everything into that one and Niemi didn't flinch. It was a pretty serious save."Niemi made 15 saves in the second and 14 more in the third after facing only three shots in the first period.Gagne had a chance to make it 2-2 with 7:40 to play, but Niemi got his left pad across the crease in time to stop him at the right post. It was his 26th save of the night."I know he wasn't happy letting in five goals, but he played a great third period in Game 1 (six saves on six shots) and stood on his head today," Sharp said. "Philly had a lot of chances in the third and he was making great saves. He's a confident goalie back there."Hossa had been playing with confidence and determination up front despite his eight-game goalless drought. When he scored you could almost see the tension fall off him.Hossa pumped his fists low and then raised them up, looked to the rafters and let out a primal scream."It bugged me, definitely," Hossa said of his drought. "I tried not to get frustrated, but it's in your head, you know. I was waiting for some just garbage goal."He got it, but the Flyers are partially to blame -- and, depending on how you look at it, perhaps coach Peter Laviolette deserves a hit, too.Laviolette gambled by having his third defensive pair of Lukas Krajicek and Oskars Bartulis on the ice against Hossa, Sharp and Troy Brouwer . While Brouwer was battling in front with Bartulis, Hossa beat Krajicek to the puck in order to score the goal. Sharp had the initial shot from the high slot."We have trust in all of our defensemen out there," Laviolette said. "We look to keep them away from certain people if we can, but our coverage was there. We had man-on-man."On the very next shift, the Flyers turned the puck over in the neutral zone. Dustin Byfuglien found Eager and he cashed in. Niemi did the rest."His disposition is very laid back, very quiet, very unassuming," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said of the goalie. "You've got to commend his attitude and his preparation. At the same time, that's just the way he is." Brent Sopel and Niklas Hjalmarsson were hemmed in the defensive zone for roughly 90 seconds after the Flyers pulled goalie Michael Leighton for an extra skater late in the third period. Even though they were exhausted, the five Hawks were able to keep the shots mostly to the outside -- and Antti Niemi did the rest to preserve Chicago’s 2-1 lead during the 6-on-5 situation. \|\|\|\|\| NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. 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The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2010. All Rights Reserved. \|\|\|\|\| CHICAGO(AP) Antti Niemi's days of driving a Zamboni are long gone. Instead of cleaning the ice as he once did in his native Finland to make a few extra bucks, he's clearing away pucks and hoping to help the Chicago Blackhawks hoist the Stanley Cup. Niemi made 14 of his 32 saves in the third period and Chicago beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 Monday night to take a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 is Wednesday night and Game 4 is Friday, both in Philadelphia. This was a different game from the opener when Niemi let in five goals in the Blackhawks' 6-5 win. ``I think our 'D' played maybe a little bit better in front of the net in blocking shots and letting me see the puck,'' Niemi said. ``But it's always a little bit about the luck, too, how you see the puck, and how it bounces.'' Game 2 took on a different tone from the outset. Defenses were tightened. Bodies were flying and tempers flaring. There was one striking similarity - Chicago's young stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane again failed to account for a point, but the Blackhawks still won. It was Niemi's last-period performance that really brought the raucous crowd to its feet when the puck finally slid down the ice and the Flyers wouldn't score in the final 1:44 after pulling goalie Michael Leighton for an extra attacker. They chanted Niemi's name and nearly drowned out an on-ice interview. ``It's unbelievable feeling how the people react,'' Niemi said. ``Defense was the key.'' Chicago broke the scoreless tie when Marian Hossa and Ben Eager scored 28 seconds apart late in the second period against Michael Leighton. And after the Flyers got a power-play goal from Simon Gagne early in the third, Niemi withstood a furious late flurry from the Flyers to preserve Chicago's seventh straight win. ``I thought their goaltender played extremely well in the third period. We had more than enough looks to tie up that game,'' Philadelphia coach Peter Laviolette said. Niemi is 14-4 in the playoffs. Monday night's win was one of his toughest, especially with the Flyers peppering him late. He has had the ability to follow a bad game during the playoffs with a good one. ``It's a great thing that it's been that way. I want to keep it that way later, too,'' he said. ``But maybe it comes out of how I feel after the bad game or game allowing five or four goals. I don't know how it happens.'' His teammates have a nickname for the 6-foot-2 Niemi, who at age 26 is playing in his first NHL season. ``We call him the octopus because he's got arms and legs going everywhere,'' Chicago forward Adam Burish said. ``He was special tonight. Niemi was unbelievable in that third period. Some of the pucks, I don't know how he saw them.'' Patrick Sharp fired a shot from the left circle, and after Leighton stopped it and with Chicago's Troy Brouwer battling for the puck, Hossa poked it in from the left side with 2:51 left in the second. Hossa, in his third straight Stanley Cup finals with a different team, got his third goal of the playoffs and first since May 5 against Vancouver in the conference semifinals. ``It bugged me definitely,'' Hossa said of his goal drought. ``I tried not to get frustrated but I was waiting for something. Like I said, a garbage goal.'' Just 28 seconds later with the crowd still abuzz, Dustin Byfuglien made a steal and passed the puck to fourth-line forward Eager. Eager skated to the right circle and unleashed a shot that beat Leighton high on the glove side to make it 2-0. It was the first goal of the playoffs for Eager, a former Flyers forward, who did some yapping with defenseman Chris Pronger after the game. ``I don't speak that language, whatever he was speaking,'' Pronger said. ``Nothing, really, Just a postgame chat, it was nothing,'' Eager said. ``He's just been picking the pucks up after the game. Told him he could keep it.'' Philadelphia broke through with 1 second left on a power play when Gagne scored from the left circle. Gagne nearly chipped in a tying rebound about 7 minutes later, but was denied by Niemi's pad in close. Leighton, who was drafted by the Blackhawks and played parts of two seasons for them, got the nod despite being pulled in Game 1 after yielding five goals on 20 shots. He made 24 saves Monday. ``We had a little turnover at the blue line. I talked to Matt Carle about it. He said his gap wasn't as good as he wanted it to be, so it allowed him to walk in,'' Leighton said of Eager's goal. ``I just didn't see him release the puck. He made a good shot.'' Hossa's shot went off his pad, and Hossa flipped it in. ``Just a tough bouncer,'' Leighton said. Trying to get more punch, the Flyers inserted forward Daniel Carcillo into the lineup. A scratch the last three games and known for his agitating style, Carcillo was the team leader in playoff penalty minutes (30) entering the game and joined Philadelphia captain Mike Richards and Jeff Carter on a first line that had been pointless in the opener. Carcillo replaced Gagne to start the game - Gagne later returned to the top line - and immediately began to mix things up. He took a run at Chicago's Tomas Kopecky and inadvertently flattened teammate Carter. The Flyers were called for their first penalty of the series with 5:12 left in the opening period, bringing out a loud roar from the crowd as the Blackhawks went on a power play for the first time in nearly 75 minutes. They couldn't score. About three minutes later, Chicago went on another power play when there were three penalties called simultaneously - two on the Flyers with Carcillo being sent to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct. But the Blackhawks couldn't convert, and the first period ended scoreless, quite a contrast from Game 1 when there were five goals in the opening 20 minutes. Outshot 17-9 in the first period of the opener, the Blackhawks had a 9-3 advantage in the rematch. One of Chicago's best scoring chances came in front of the net as Toews tried to punch the puck in before he was wedged out by Pronger, who then shoved his Olympic teammate into the boards, prompting an angry exchange. Niemi used his right pad to stop Richards on a breakaway at 7:35 of the second, preserving the scoreless tie. And moments later, Leighton responded with a nice save on Duncan Keith in the slot after a good pass from Sharp. Niemi then twice made stops on hard shots from Carcillo and another from Richards, but Leighton did the same against Hossa and Dave Bolland. One of Niemi's best stops came with a stretched-out glove save against Arron Asham, prompting chants of ``Ant-ti Ant-ti'' from the crowd of 22,275. The Flyers had three leads in the opener, weren't called for a penalty, held Chicago's top line scoreless and still lost. NOTES: The Stanley Cup finals record for home teams that sweep the first two games is 31-2. In 1971, Chicago won the first two games at home but lost to Montreal in seven. In 2009, Detroit won the first two games at home but lost to Pittsburgh in seven. ... Flyers LW James van Riemsdyk was scratched along with D Ryan Parent, who played only 41 seconds in the opener. © 2010 STATS LLC	In ice hockey, the scored two goals just 28 seconds apart late in the second period to take a 2–0 series lead over the in Game 2 of the Monday night in Chicago, United States. scored the game-winning goal at the 17:39 mark of second period to give the a 2–0 series lead over the in Game 2 of the . scored Chicago's first goal at the 17:09 mark of the second period on slap shot deep in the Blackhawk's defensive zone. Left-wingers and provided assists on the goal. scored the game-winner at the 17:37 mark of the second period on a feed from . Eager scored his goal on a wrist shot from 38 feet. Philadelphia's lone goal came in the third period, when scored at the 5:20 mark. Centers and provides assists on the goal. Unlike the first game, this one was marked by impressive defensive efforts from both sides. Chicago goalkeeper made 32 saves, earning the Player-of-the-Game honor from the National Hockey League. His counterpart, who was pulled in Game 1 after giving up five goals, collected 24 saves. "It's unbelievable feeling how the people react," Niemi said after the game, according to the Associated Press. "Defense was the key." Flyers coach also acknowledged Niemi, who collected 14 of his 32 saves in the third period. "I thought their goaltender played extremely well in the third period. We had more than enough looks to tie up that game," Laviolette said, according to the Associated Press. After a fairly clean game on Saturday, Game 2 had a decided edge, which resulted in ten penalties. Neither team capitalized on their power play opportunities. At the 17:27 mark of the first period, three players were sent off: Chicago's Game 1 hero for roughing, with Philadelphia's Richards and going to the box of elbowing and unsportsmanlike conduct, respectively. Chicago and Philadelphia continue the best-of-seven series on Wednesday night at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center. The Stanley Cup will determine the 2009–10 National Hockey League champion after the top 16 teams earned the right to compete in the postseason. The NHL has 30 teams in the United States and Canada and attracts many international players.
Norway police drop attacks death toll to 76 Oslo - Norwegian police on Monday lowered the overall death toll from twin bombing and shooting attacks to 76, hours after a self-confessed suspect was remanded in custody for eight weeks. Senior Oslo police official Oeystein Maeland said the number of people killed by a downtown bomb went up one to eight, and that the count from a subsequent mass shooting on a nearby island fell from 86 to 68. The overall toll was previously given by police as 93. All the bodies have been removed from the island shooting, allowing for a more exact death toll, Maeland said. "This figure could still go up," he added of the shooting toll, and "the search [for bodies] is ongoing." "On Friday afternoon the situation was very chaotic," he explained. "The police had to put the accent on helping the wounded and providing emergency care, it's possible that victims were counted several times." Because of ongoing uncertainties, police declined to give a figure for those still missing. Prosecutor Christian Hatlo said that Anders Behring Breivik had mentioned "two other cells", confirming what Judge Kim Heger had quoted the suspect as saying during his first court appearance earlier on Monday. \|\|\|\|\| OSLO, Norway — The self-described perpetrator of Norway’s deadly bombing and shooting rampage was ordered held in solitary confinement Monday after calmly telling a court that two other cells of collaborators stood ready to join his murderous campaign. Anders Behring Breivik, who has admitted bombing the capital and opening fire on a youth group retreat on an island resort, told authorities he expects to spend the rest of his life in prison. Declaring he wanted to save Europe from “Muslim domination,” he entered a plea of not guilty that will guarantee him future court hearings and opportunities to address the public, even indirectly. Norway has been stunned by the attacks and riveted by Breivik’s paranoid and disturbing writings. Hundreds thronged the courthouse, hoping to get their first glimpse of the man blamed for the deaths of 76 people — lowered Monday from 93. At one point, a car drove through the crowd and onlookers beat it with their fists, thinking Breivik might be inside. Still tens of thousands of Norwegians also defied his rhetoric of hate to gather in central Oslo to mourn the victims and lay thousands of flowers around the city. Police believe Breivik, 32, acted alone, despite his grand claims in a 1,500-page manifesto that he belonged to a modern group of crusaders. But they have not completely ruled out that he had accomplices. Judge Kim Heger ordered Breivik held for eight weeks, including four in isolation, noting his reference to “two more cells within our organization.” In an interview published Monday, Breivik’s estranged father said he wished his son had killed himself instead of unleashing his rage on innocent people. The outpouring of emotion stood in stark contrast to what prosecutor Christian Hatlo described as Breivik’s calm demeanor at the hearing, which was closed to the public over security concerns and to prevent a public airing of his extremist views. Hatlo said he “seemed unaffected by what has happened.” Meanwhile, police revealed they had dramatically overcounted the number of people slain in the shooting spree on Utoya island, lowering the death toll there from 86 to 68. Police spokesman Oystein Maeland said police and rescuers were focused on helping survivors and securing the area, and may have counted some bodies twice, though he did not immediately explain how the errors occurred. Police also raised the toll from a bombing outside the government’s headquarters in Oslo from seven to eight. The sharp reduction in the death toll adds to a list of police missteps: They took 90 minutes to arrive at the island retreat after the first shot and survivors who called emergency services reported being told to stay off the lines unless they were calling about the Oslo bombings. On Monday, the force revealed its entire Oslo helicopter crew had been sent on vacation and thus couldn’t be mobilized to the scene. By contrast, Breivik, who donned a police uniform as part of a ruse to draw campers to him, appeared in total control during the island rampage, police official Odd Reidar Humlegaard said. “He’s been merciless,” Humlegaard said. Authorities say Breivik used two weapons during the island attack — both bought legally, according to his manifesto. A doctor treating victims told The Associated Press the gunman used illegal “dum-dum”-style bullets designed to disintegrate inside the body and cause maximum internal damage. Breivik faces 21 years in prison for the terrorism charges, but he has told authorities he never expects to be released. While 21 years is the stiffest sentence a Norwegian judge can hand down, a special sentence can be given to prisoners deemed a danger to society who are locked up for 20-year sentences that can be renewed indefinitely. Oslo began to get back to normal Monday, with shops opening and the tram running. The entire country paused for a minute of silence in honor of the victims, then later in the day, 150,000 people filled the city’s streets to mourn the dead with a rose vigil that ended in the heart of the city. Afterward, entire streets were awash in flowers; roses also decorated the fences that blocked off Friday’s bomb site. Crown Prince Haakon spoke “of a street being filled with love,” bringing his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, to tears. “We have the power to meet hate with togetherness. We have chosen what we stand for,” he said. Breivik has pilloried Norway’s openness and embrace of immigrants, saying his attacks were intended to start a revolution to inspire Norwegians to retake their country from Muslims. He blames liberals for championing multiculturalism over Norway’s “indigenous” culture. “The operation was not to kill as many people as possible but to give a strong signal that could not be misunderstood that as long as the Labor Party keeps driving its ideological lie and keeps deconstructing Norwegian culture and mass importing Muslims, then they must assume responsibility for this treason,” according to the English translation of Judge Heger’s ruling. Breivik has claimed the killings were meant to wake people up to these problems and to serve as “marketing” for his manifesto. Heger, however, denied Breivik the public stage he wanted to air his extremist views by closing Monday’s court hearing and ordering him cut off from the world for eight weeks, without access to visitors, mail or media. For four of those, he will be in complete isolation. Typically, the accused is brought to court every four weeks while prosecutors prepare their case, so a judge can approve his continued detention. Longer periods are not unusual in serious cases. In the court appearance, Breivik alluded to two other “cells” of his network — which he refers to in his manifesto as a new “Knights Templar,” the medieval cabal of crusaders who protected Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land. In the treatise, he describes being invited to join the group, which he says is dedicated to “anti-jihad,” and claims members held meetings in London and the Baltics. Afterward, he says, they vowed not to contact one another and to instead plan their “resistance” on their own. But they were also to space out their attacks, he wrote. “We should avoid any immediate follow-up attacks as it would negate the shock effect of the subsequent attacks. A large successful attack every 5-12 years was optimal,” he wrote. At one point, his manifesto briefly referred to an intention to contact two other cells, but no details were given. European security officials said they were aware of increased Internet chatter from individuals claiming they belonged to the Knights Templar and were investigating claims that Breivik, and other far-right individuals, attended a London meeting of the group in 2002. In his manifesto, Breivik describes how he bought armor, guns, tons of fertilizer and other bomb components, stashed caches of weapons and wiped clean his computer hard drive — all while evading police suspicion. One of those purchases apparently was flagged by Norway’s police security service. The service said it was alerted in March to a suspicious purchase by Breivik from a Polish chemical firm. Agency chief Janne Kristiansen told national broadcaster NRK the 120 kroner ($22) purchase of an undisclosed product set off an alert as part of a broader look at the company. But the transaction was legal and the security service would have needed additional information to investigate further. In his manifesto, Breivik describes a purchase of sodium nitrite from Poland, saying he “was concerned about customs seizing the package.” It was not clear if that was the purchase flagged. Meanwhile, in an interview with Swedish tabloid Expressen, the suspect’s father said he was ashamed and disgusted by his son’s acts and wished he had committed suicide. “I don’t feel like his father,” said Jens David Breivik, a former Norwegian diplomat, from his secluded home in southern France. “How could he just stand there and kill so many innocent people and just seem to think that what he did was OK? He should have taken his own life too. That’s what he should have done.” The elder Breivik said he first learned the news of his son’s attacks from media websites. “I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was totally paralyzing and I couldn’t really understand it.” “I will have to live with this shame for the rest of my life. People will always link me with him,” he said. The elder Breivik said he severed all contact with his son in 1995, when the latter was 16. Police surrounded the suspect’s father’s house in the south of France on Monday, initially saying they were searching the premises. Later, they said they were there to ensure public order. —— DiLorenzo reported from Stockholm. Associated Press writers Angela Charlton in Paris, Louise Nordstrom and Karl Ritter in Stockholm and Ian MacDougall, Shawn Pogatchnik and Derl McCrudden in Oslo, Norway, contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| Police told a news conference on Monday the confirmed death toll at Otoeya now stands at 68. At the same time people killed in the bomb attack was raised to eight. "This figure of 68 is a decrease compared to earlier numbers of deaths given," National Police Commissioner, Oeystein Maeland said. "What I would like to say in this connection is that the police and other rescue personnel had a very demanding job on the island just after they arrived and it was necessary to give priority to those who were injured and to secure the whole area. In this complex situation the number of deaths first reported were too high," Maeland added. He said some of the dead bodies might have been counted twice in the chaos. "The dead people were lying partly in heaps and it might have been that some victims were counted twice. It's hard to tell exactly what the reason for this wrong number. But I think the situation was chaotic as I said and that the priority was given to help those who were injured made the number uncertain," Maeland said. Norwegian police are not ruling out that gunman Anders Behring Breivik had help from others in his gun and bomb attacks. Earlier on Monday, Breivik told a court in Oslo that "there are two more cells in our organisation", according to the judge who ordered him to solitary confinement. Norwegian police said Breivik had said during interrogation that he was prepared to spend the rest of his life in prison.	Flowers in front of the the day after the attacks. Norwegian police have revised their estimate of total deaths in Friday's attacks on and , now reporting that an estimated total of 76 people were killed, rather than the 93 previously reported. Of these, 68 were in Utøya and eight were from the bombing in Oslo. The police have not yet been willing to give a final figure for the death toll. "This figure could still go up," said National Police Commissioner Oeystein Maeland. "The search for bodies is ongoing." Previously significantly higher death tolls had been reported from the shootings on the island of Utøya, but were revised downwards. Maeland explained that the situation on Friday was "chaotic" and that some bodies may have been counted twice as police focused on helping the injured. Meanwhile the toll from the bombing in the centre of Oslo that took place hours earlier was revised upwards from seven to eight.
Abu Qatada was arrested in 2005 on suspicion of links to Al-Qaeda Anger in Britain as radical cleric wins payout STRASBOURG (AFP) — The European Court of Human Rights awarded compensation Thursday to radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada for his "unlawful detention" in Britain, triggering anger despite the modest size of the payout. Qatada, once labelled Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe by a Spanish judge, was awarded 2,800 euros by the Strasbourg court, which will also rule on a final appeal against his deportation from Britain. Qatada is battling against being kicked out of Britain and sent back to his home country Jordan, where he says he faces torture after being sentenced in his absence to life imprisonment for terrorism offences. But he suffered a blow Wednesday when Britain's top court ruled against him. In Thursday's ruling, the European court noted that the level of compensation was "substantially lower than those which it had made in past cases of unlawful detention." The judgement said this reflected the fact that his detention "was devised in the face of a public emergency" and weighed protecting the public against a duty not to return people to countries where they faced possible ill-treatment. It was welcomed by Qatada's solicitor Gareth Peirce, who described the law under which he was detained, introduced in 2001, as like "the nightmare Kafka described -- a knock on the door in the middle of the night, and thereafter never knowing the reason for your detention". "This important decision reminds us that international treaties guaranteeing human rights do have teeth and intend governments, however reluctant, to comply with them," Peirce added. But Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she was "very disappointed" with the compensation, even though it was not as much as Qatada had sought. "This judgement is based on historic legislation that we repealed nearly four years ago," she said. "Whilst I am very disappointed with any award, I recognise the court has made substantially lower awards than these men sought in view of the fact these measures were devised in the face of a public emergency." Matthew Elliott of the TaxPayers' Alliance lobby group voiced anger at the ruling. "This man hates everything Britain stands for, so it is disgusting that ordinary taxpayers are now forced to pay him thousands of pounds," he said. "We should have slung him out years ago as soon as his outrageous views became clear." The European court also awarded damages of up to 3,900 euros to 10 others who like Qatada were suspected of being part of the Al-Qaeda network and were taken into custody in the aftermath of the 2001 attacks on the United States. The government said it would move immediately to deport Qatada following the ruling Wednesday that he could be expelled as a result of the Home Office winning its appeal against an earlier court decision. But Qatada's lawyers announced they will lodge an appeal with the Strasbourg-based European human rights court, a process which will further delay his deportation. Born Omar Mahmud Mohammed Otman in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Qatada arrived in Britain in 1993 on a forged United Arab Emirates passport and claimed asylum, gaining refugee status in 1994. He has been in and out of prison since, being put behind bars most recently in December for having breached his bail conditions. An imposing-looking figure standing more than six feet (more than 1.80 metres) tall and weighing over 280 pounds, Qatada reportedly has links to British shoe bomber Richard Reid and Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person charged and convicted in connection with the "9/11" attacks. Police in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and the United States have also reportedly probed his alleged role as a key figure in Al-Qaeda. \|\|\|\|\| The radical preacher Abu Qatada was today awarded £2,500 compensation by the European court of human rights after judges ruled that his detention without trial in the UK breached his human rights. The verdict from the Strasbourg court was a fraction of the £170,000 in non-pecuniary damages he had called for and comes a day after Qatada, once dubbed Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, lost the latest round of his legal battle to stay in the UK. Five law lords ruled that he could be deported to Jordan in spite of fears he may be tortured. Today, the European judges ruled that his detention and that of 10 others, who were held in Belmarsh prison under anti-terror laws introduced after 9/11, had violated the human rights convention. The government had claimed the new terror threat after the US attacks warranted special legislation, including detaining and expelling non-nationals believed to have been involved in terrorism. In their ruling, the judges said the detainees' cash compensation was "substantially lower" than in previous cases of "unlawful detention". This was because they recognised that the government's detention scheme was "devised in the face of a public emergency, and as an attempt to reconcile the need to protect the UK public against terrorism with the obligation not to send the applicants back to countries where they faced a real risk of ill-treatment". Qatada claimed compensation for: his loss of liberty between 23 October 2002 and 11 March 2005, when he was freed on bail under a control order; the mental suffering he endured; and the distress caused to his wife and children. He had asked for £170,000 in damages, plus £4,570 to cover money sent to him in prison by his wife, and her costs of moving house to avoid unwanted media attention. In total, the government was ordered to pay around £26,000 to the detainees, plus £53,000 in legal costs. The money must be paid within three months. The highest award of £3,450 went to the longest imprisoned detainee – who was incarcerated for three years and 83 days. Two claimants, a Frenchman and a Moroccan, received no compensation. The court said the men's detention violated three provisions of the human rights convention: the right to liberty and security; the right to have the lawfulness of detention decided by a court; and the right to compensation for unlawful detention. The judges rejected a fourth complaint, that the men's detention amounted to "torture and inhuman or degrading treatment". The judges said that when someone was detained on the basis of "an allegedly reasonable suspicion of unlawful behaviour", that person must be given an opportunity to challenge the allegations. They said the suspects' conditions of detention had not reached the "high threshold" of inhuman and degrading treatment for which a human rights violation could be found. However, the rules had "discriminated unjustifiably" between British nationals and non-nationals, targeting only non-British citizens. The men were detained under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, which enabled the home secretary to detain foreign nationals suspected of terrorism. In 2004, the House of Lords said that part of the act discriminated against people on the grounds of nationality or immigration status. The government then used that as justification for extending its powers of detention through the introduction of control orders, to the whole of the British people, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005. The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, said today's judgment was based on "historic" legislation repealed four years ago and had been replaced with "a twin-track approach of deportation with assurances for foreign nationals and control orders for those whom we cannot prosecute or deport". The new policy had been upheld by the highest court in Britain as being compatible with our international obligations, said Smith. She added: "These [11] men have all been found by our courts to present a threat to our national security. We argued strongly to the European court that compensation should not be awarded to such individuals. While I am very disappointed with any award, I recognise the court has made substantially lower awards than these men sought in view of the fact these measures were devised in the face of a public emergency." The shadow home secretary, Chris Grayling, said: "This decision will horrify most reasonable people in the UK. It shows just how incompetent the government has been at managing the problem of preachers of hate and, frankly, it makes a mockery of the concept of human rights if we can't protect ourselves against people who are out to destroy our society." Qatada, 48, a father of five who came to Britain in 1993 on a forged passport, is being held in Belmarsh. He was first held in 2002 when an immigration court described him as a "truly dangerous individual". The Special Immigration Appeals Commission said he had given religious authority to numerous high-profile terrorists across the world, including those behind the September 11 attacks. He was later bailed but placed under a control order. In 2005, Qatada was arrested in preparation for his deportation to Jordan but again released on appeal. He was returned to prison in November for fear he may abscond. The court of appeal backed his case against deportation but the law lords yesterday authorised his deportation to Jordan to face terror charges. However the cleric's legal team has lodged an appeal at the European court of human rights. The appeal process could take as long as two years. Qatada has issued a series of influential fatwas, or religious rulings, in support of the killing of non-believers, and a number of his videos were found in the Hamburg flat of Mohammed Atta, one of the ringleaders of the September 11 hijackers. In 1999, Qatada was convicted in his absence by the Jordanian courts of conspiracy to carry out bomb attacks on two hotels in Amman and for providing finance and advice for another planned series of bombings. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.	The European Court of Human Rights has awarded €2500 to Abu Qatada, an Islamic militant and cleric, in a lawsuit he filed against the United Kingdom which detained him without trial in 2002. Qatada, who is facing extradition to Jordan to serve a life sentence for terrorism charges, and 10 others were detained under Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. This act allowed foreign nationals suspected of terrorism to be detained, before being repealed in 2004 due to its discriminatory nature. The ECHR's ruling determined the decision to detain Qatada under this law breached the 'right to liberty and security' secured in the European Convention of Human Rights. The British government claimed they believed the people detained were "a threat to our national security." Some British politicians also objected to paying compensation to people believed to be terrorists. Matthew Elliot, a lobbyist for the Taxpayers' Alliance, argued: "This man hates everything Britain stands for, so it is disgusting that ordinary taxpayers are now forced to pay him thousands of pounds." Chris Grayling, the shadow home secretary commented: "This decision will horrify most reasonable people in the UK … it makes a mockery of the concept of human rights if we can't protect ourselves against people who are out to destroy our society."
(CNN) -- A woman jumped a barrier at the start of Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's Basilica and knocked down the pope, briefly disrupting ceremonies. Screams erupted from onlooking worshippers when the woman ran toward Pope Benedict XVI and grabbed onto his vestments as he walked down the main aisle of the church, video footage showed. He was quickly helped to his feet by his aides -- prompting cheers from the crowd -- and the service was resumed, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told CNN. The woman was removed by Vatican guards, Lombardi said. John Allen, senior Vatican analyst for CNN, said such security breaches aren't uncommon. "As compared to say, the president of the United States, the security membrane around the pope is pretty thin and fairly permeable," he said, citing similar past incidents, including one that happened last Christmas Eve. Allen said that generally, these disruptions are caused by people who aren't seeking real harm, but who want to be close to the pope. Benedict began what has traditionally been a midnight Mass at the Vatican at 10 p.m. as officials sought to keep the 82-year-old pontiff from a late night. Celebrants in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus in the West Bank, however, joined the Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal for a midnight Mass attended by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian officials. Outside the Church of the Nativity, erected over the site Christian tradition says was the place of Jesus' birth, the faithful gathered under the watchful eyes of heavily armed Palestinian police. But Palestinian shopkeeper Nadia Hazboun said the security situation in the West Bank has improved in the time since the militant Hamas group took over Gaza and Abbas' Fatah movement abandoned the narrow strip of land between Israel and the Mediterranean for the West Bank. "It was bad, now it is good," he told Voice of America radio. "I told you, before anybody take the law in his [own] hands. But now the law [is] with the police. We have security, we have calm, we have now the best situation in Bethlehem."Were you there? Share pictures, video Christmas Eve in Bethlehem is a popular destination for American Christians, including Iowan Paul Edelman. "Just the festivities, the idea that this is the birthplace of Christ, and you get to see all the historic places and share it with people from around the world; it's a very nice experience," he told Voice of America radio. \|\|\|\|\| Photo: AP Vatican spokesman, Rev Federico Lombardi, said Miss Maiolo, 25, had psychiatric problems and was taken to a clinic for treatment. Maiolo is believed to be from the Italian speaking Swiss canton of Ticino but Father Lombardi would not confirm this. She was also involved in a similar incident at last year's midnight mass in which she rushed at the Pope but was stopped by a security guard before she reached him. In that case she had worn the same red sweat shirt. Asked how Miss Maiolo had evaded security a second time, Father Lombardi said there were 7,000 people at the mass and she “could have got her ticket from anywhere.” He added: “She is known to the Vatican but she was never thought to have been of any serious danger to the Holy Father. “As I have already said she was not armed and if anything the poor woman needs treatment which is what she is getting.” Prosecutors in Rome said that as the incident had taken place on Vatican territory it was a matter for Vatican authorities and they had not been asked to intervene. \|\|\|\|\| The following article has been retrieved from the archive and no longer contains the original video. The attack on Pope Benedict has shocked the Catholic world but the 82-year-old pontiff is unhurt. He was entering Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome to give Christmas Eve Mass, when a young woman leapt a barrier and threw herself at him. Although she was unarmed, the incident called the Vatican’s security arrangements seriously into question. The pontiff was knocked to the ground but he got up and went on with the service. Susanna Maiolo was taken away for psychiatric assessment. The Church said the 25-year-old Italian-Swiss woman also tried to reach the pope last Christmas. In both cases she wore a red sweatshirt. The Pope is protected by a combination of Swiss Guards, Vatican police and Italian police, but a spokesman said his security cannot realistically be ensured 100 per cent. Public reactions in and around the Basilica varied. “It’s always difficult to protect against crazy people. I am glad that nothing serious has happened, and let’s leave it at that.” “It was very ugly. After what happened just a few days ago to Berlusconi all we needed was for this to happen to the Pope! I think the Pope was not well-protected. They need to be much more careful, especially these days.” “I think this Pope is a very rigorous person and a very sweet man, ready to forgive everything. Security is fine as it is, I think.” Eighty-seven-year-old French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray also fell in the papal scrum, and broke a leg. This was the first time a potential attacker came into direct contact with Benedict in his five-year papacy. A gunman nearly killed Benedict’s predecessor in Saint Peter’s Square in 1981. Copyright © 2009 euronews tags: Benedict XVI, Christmas, Religion	Pope Benedict XVI circa 2006 A woman attacked Pope Benedict XVI during Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, causing a disruption to the ceremonies. The pope was unharmed and got to his feet and completed the Mass, although afterwards he was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray also fell down and broke a leg. The accused assailant, Susanna Maiolo, is a 25-year-old Swiss national from the Ticino region, is reported to have psychiatric problems. Susanna Maiolo also attempted to attack the pope during last years Midnight Mass, although she was stopped by security. During both assaults it appears that she was wearing the same red sweater. Vatican spokesman, Rev Federico Lombardi said that "She is known to the Vatican but she was never thought to have been of any serious danger to the Holy Father." Despite the attack the pontiff decided to continue the midnight mass services. Although noticeably shaken, he still delivered the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" speech. In this years speech he mentioned the current financial crisis, conflicts in Africa and Israel, and the state of the Christian minority in Iraq.
There's a problem with your browser or settings. Your browser or your browser's settings are not supported. To get the best experience possible, please download a compatible browser. If you know your browser is up to date, you should check to ensure that javascript is enabled. › Learn How \|\|\|\|\| Endeavour launch postponed due to hydrogen leak CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AFP) — The US space agency has postponed Saturday's launch of the space shuttle Endeavour due to a hydrogen leak -- in a setback for a mission aimed at completing the 100-billion-dollar International Space Station. The launch had been scheduled for 7:17 am (1117 GMT) from Cape Canaveral in Florida. But "the launch is scrubbed, it's official," spokesman Kyle Herring told reporters, saying it would not be rescheduled for at least 24 hours. Meanwhile, the National Aeronautics and Space Agency said in a statement posted on its website that the leak was detected near the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate, which is attached to the external tank at its intertank area. The leak was similar to one that occurred during the first launch attempt of the space shuttle Discovery in March. After the leak is assessed, shuttle managers planned to meet Saturday to discuss what steps to take next, including targeting a new launch date for Endeavour's mission to the International Space Station, NASA said. In the future, the ISS is set to be a temporary home to 13 astronauts -- the first time so many people have stayed on the orbiting station at once. The six US astronauts and a Canadian female astronaut that Endeavour is expected to eventually bring to the ISS will join another US astronaut and one more from Canada, as well as two Russians, a Belgian and Japan's Koichi Wakata who are currently living on the ISS. Construction began on the ISS a decade ago, and the push is on to complete the building before NASA ends its shuttle missions in September 2010. Endeavour's crew are tasked with installing the final elements of the Japanese laboratory Kibo during their 16-day mission. The station has become a sophisticated platform for scientific experiments after the installation of a European laboratory last year and the arrival of the hi-tech Japanese lab that is currently being completed. When Endeavour finally lifts off, it will be the 32nd mission to the ISS, which orbits 350 kilometers (220 miles) above Earth, and the last of three missions to assemble the Kibo laboratory. Over the five planned spacewalks lasting some 32.5 hours, the astronauts will install a permanent 1.9 tonnes platform to Kibo, which will serve as one of the station's porches for conducting experiments in the vacuum of space. Endeavour will also deliver a large number of spare equipment, and bring up an unpressurized storage area for keeping the experiments that have been exposed to the extremes of space. It will also bring with it another platform that can be detached from the space station and then flown back to Earth in the Endeavour's cargo hold. NASA is seeking to make maximum use of its flights to the space station with only another seven planned after the Endeavour's trip before the shuttles are retired. Senior NASA official Bill Gerstenmaier has offered assurances that the space station has the capacity to play host to 13 astronauts at once, after a fourth solar panel was erected along with other equipment including toilets, a kitchen and a machine to recycle urine into drinking water. But he acknowledged: "It's a very complex and challenging mission for the team." Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More » \|\|\|\|\| This story was updated at 10:00 a.m. EDT. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The space shuttle Endeavour and its seven-astronaut crew will have to wait through at least four days of delay before launching toward the International Space Station after a gas leak thwarted their planned Saturday morning liftoff. The gaseous hydrogen leak was discovered before midnight while the shuttle's fuel tank was loading in preparation for Endeavour's planned launch today from Pad 39A here at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 7:17 a.m. EDT (1117 GMT). The shuttle's astronaut crew had not yet donned their NASA-issue pressure suits or boarded the spacecraft for their marathon 16-day station construction flight. NASA officially cancelled today's launch plans at 12:26 a.m. EDT (0426 GMT). It will take at least four days to ready Endeavour for a second launch attempt. At that point, the schedule conflicts with the planned launch of two unmanned lunar spacecraft due to lift off toward the moon on June 17 from the nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Managers for the two missions will have to meet to discuss which flight should go first. "We haven't even begun to work that out," said Mike Moses, mission management team chair, today at a briefing here. "We'll start those negotiations tomorrow and see where we get." If Endeavour is unable to launch before June 20, it must stand down until July 11, when the space station is again in the right alignment. Mystery leak returns A similar leak thwarted the space shuttle Discovery's STS-119 launch in March, though that issue was eventually fixed and the shuttle launched successfully. "The situation was almost identical to what we had two flows ago," shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach said. "It was discovered at almost identically the same time. It was eerily the same." NASA does not launch space shuttles with any known gas leaks at the pad because the extremely flammable gas can cause an explosion during liftoff if it ignites. "Hydrogen is a very volatile commodity," Leinbach said. "It's a commodity you just don't mess with." Discovery's STS-119 flight was ultimately able to launch four days later than planned after ground crews swapped out the seal to a vent line that was carrying the gaseous hydrogen away from the shuttle. The switch fixed the issue, though no root cause was ultimately determined for the fault in the seal. "They never found a smoking gun for it," NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said. Weather forecasts predicted a pristine 90 percent chance of good flight conditions for today's launch attempt. Commanded by veteran shuttle flyer Mark Polansky, Endeavour's seven-astronaut crew will launch toward the International Space Station carrying a Japanese-built porch for the outpost's massive Kibo laboratory. The mission will also ferry rookie NASA astronaut Tom Kopra to the station to replace Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who has lived aboard the orbiting lab since late March. Wakata is Japan's first long-duration astronaut and has watched over his country's $1 billion Kibo laboratory at the station. Set to launch spaceward aboard Endeavour with Polansky and Kopra are STS-127 pilot Doug Hurley and mission specialists Chris Cassidy, Julie Payette, Tom Marshburn and Dave Wolf. Payette represents the Canadian Space Agency, while the rest are NASA astronauts. Five challenging spacewalks and challenging robotic arm work that will require three space cranes, two on the station and one on Endeavour, are planned. Kopra is beginning a three-month mission to the space station as a flight engineer on the outpost's six-man Expedition 20 crew. He will join two Russians, another American and astronauts from Belgium and Canada on what is the station's first full six-person crew. Endeavour's mission will mark NASA's third shuttle flight of the year and the second space station construction flight of 2009. A May space shuttle mission aboard Atlantis flew astronauts to the Hubble Space Telescope to perform a successful final overhaul. SPACE.com is providing continuous coverage of STS-127 with reporter Clara Moskowitz at Cape Canaveral and senior editor Tariq Malik in New York. Click here for mission updates and SPACE.com's live NASA TV video feed. \|\|\|\|\| BY JUSTIN RAY Follow space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 mission to finish assembly of the international space station's Japanese segment. Reload this page for the latest updates. SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2009 In the center aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, an overhead crane hoisted Endeavour off its motorized transporter on Friday. Technicians spent several hours hooking up the large yellow sling to the orbiter. Endeavour then went vertical and headed into the assembly bay where the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters are stacked aboard the mobile launch platform. By mid-day Saturday, Endeavour was successfully bolted to the tank's aft and forward attachment points. FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009 1355 GMT (9:55 a.m. EDT) A gallery of pictures showing Endeavour's move this morning can be seen here. 1150 GMT (7:50 a.m. EDT) IN THE VAB! In preparation for its role as a standby rescue craft during next month's Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission and its scheduled June construction flight to the international space station, shuttle Endeavour rolled from the hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building this morning. The cavernous VAB is where the ship will be mated to its external fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters atop a mobile launching platform. A metal "sling" will be bolted to Endeavour later today, lifting the shuttle from the transport hauler that carried it from the hangar during the past hour. A heavy-duty crane will rotate the spacecraft vertically, then begin the methodical process of hoisting the ship high into the rafters, over to the assembly bay and carefully lowering Endeavour into position next to the awaiting fuel tank for attachment. Once the completed shuttle stack is fully mated, the interface verification test will be conducted to ensure good electrical and mechanical connections between the vehicle elements. Rollout to launch pad 39B is targeted to begin at midnight next Friday morning. It will mark only the 19th time that both shuttle pads have been occupied at the same time. Shuttle Atlantis was moved to pad 39A last week. The two missions have an unusual coupling because Endeavour will stand ready for launch as a rescue vehicle should Atlantis suffer a major problem during its May flight to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Since Hubble flies in an equatorial orbit, the Atlantis crew cannot reach the space station for safe haven. That means NASA must take unique steps to have Endeavour ready to go within a matter of days if Atlantis sustains damage and engineers deem the ship unsafe for re-entry. Assuming Atlantis is declared to be in good shape for its landing May 23, Endeavour will be unhooked from pad 39B and transferred to pad 39A around May 28. Pad 39A is now the primary shuttle launch site. Endeavour must be relocated there to undergo final preps for its space station flight that will haul up the third and final part of Japan's section of the outpost, a porch-like science exposure facility that will attach to the country's main laboratory module. Liftoff is slated for June 13 at 7:25 a.m. EDT. Endeavour's flight will feature five spacewalks. Among the work planned during the EVAs is installation of the Japanese payload, delivering spare parts to the outpost and replacing aging battery packs on the station's initial power module, the Port 6 truss, that was launched in 2000. Led by veteran commander Mark Polansky, the Endeavour crew includes pilot Doug Hurley, mission specialists Chris Cassidy, Tom Marshburn, Dave Wolf, Julie Payette of Canada and station-bound astronaut Tim Kopra who will remain in orbit to replace Expedition flight engineer Koichi Wakata. The station's first Japanese long-duration crew member will return to Earth on Endeavour after three-and-a-half months living in space. 1120 GMT (7:20 a.m. EDT) Endeavour is completely outside the hangar now on this chilly morning. The Orbiter Transporter System is doing the heavy-duty work during this morning's move. Originally designed and built for use at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the transporter was brought to Kennedy Space Center in 1989 after the West Coast space shuttle launch site was mothballed. The transporter is 106 feet in length, weighs 167,000 pounds unloaded and about 327,000 pounds with an orbiter on top and sports 76 wheels. It has a turning radius of 66 feet. You can envision the OTS as a yellow motorized trailer. At Vandenberg, shuttles were supposed to be prepared for flight in a hangar on the military installation's north side, then ferried aboard the OTS transporter about 17 miles across the hilly terrain to the Space Launch Complex-6 pad on South Base. In contrast, shuttles in the program's early years at KSC were towed between the hangars and Vehicle Assembly Building with the orbiters' landing gear down. But with Vandenberg's shuttle plans cancelled after Challenger, the transporter was brought to Florida and pressed into service. It allows NASA to retract a shuttle's landing gear and seal the critical heat-protection tiles around the doors while still in the hangar before rolling out. The top speed of the transporter while hauling Endeavour to the Vehicle Assembly Building is five miles per hour. The V12 engine generates about 335 horsepower. 1058 GMT (6:58 a.m. EDT) ROLL BEGINS. Endeavour is slowly backing out of the hangar, bound for a week-long stopover at the Vehicle Assembly Building in preparation for its 23rd voyage into space. This initial part of the move occurs at a snail's pace given the close quarters between Endeavour and the cocoon-like scaffolding inside the hangar that enclosed the ship. Once outside, the motorized transporter will throttle up to a casual walking pace and head for the VAB. 1035 GMT (6:35 a.m. EDT) Good morning from just outside the Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 2 where it's moving day for Endeavour. The hangar doors are open, workers and photographers have gathered to watch and soon the space shuttle will emerge. Mounted atop a 76-wheel transporter, the Endeavour will be backed out of the space-age garage for the short drive into the Vehicle Assembly Building. The trip should take about 45 minutes. Technicians inside the VAB will hoist the spaceplane upright and attach it to the external fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters over the next few days. THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2009 Space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to leave its hangar at 7 a.m. EDT Friday for the quarter-mile transfer into the Vehicle Assembly Building where the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters await the orbiter's attachment. The fully assembled shuttle stack will be rolled out to launch pad 39B next Friday to serve as a rapid-response vehicle during Atlantis' flight to repair and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope. Atlantis was positioned at pad 39A last week to be readied for launch May 12. Since Atlantis won't have the capability of reaching a safe haven at the international space station from Hubble's orbit if something goes wrong, Endeavour will be poised for launch within days from nearby pad 39B to save the astronauts. Assuming an emergency rescue isn't needed, Endeavour will switch to pad 39A on May 28 to be prepped for a mission to deliver Japan's external science platform to the space station. That launch is targeted for June 13 around 7:25 a.m. EDT. Watch this page for live updates during Endeavour's trip to the VAB! \|\|\|\|\| Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 [email protected] Jeanne Ryba Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 [email protected] John YembrickHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1100Jeanne RybaKennedy Space Center, Fla.321-867-2468 MEDIA ADVISORY : M09-104 NASA Announces STS-127 Prelaunch and Mission Web Coverage CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A prelaunch webcast, live blogs, podcast, pictures and videos will highlight NASA's Web coverage of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 mission to the International Space Station. Endeavour is scheduled to lift off Saturday, June 13, at 7:17 a.m. EDT from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA will provide online updates at: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle A webcast June 12 at 10 a.m. will start the in-depth online coverage of the mission. Host Damon Talley of NASA's Digital Learning Network will preview the flight, and payload mission manager Scott Higginbotham will describe the Japanese Kibo laboratory complex and the elements to be installed during Endeavour's mission.A blog will provide launch countdown updates beginning at 2 a.m. on June 13. Originating from the Launch Control Center at Kennedy, the blog is the definitive Internet source for information leading up to launch.During the STS-127 mission, visitors to NASA's shuttle Web site can read about the astronauts' progress and watch their five spacewalks live. Also, updates will be provided to the NASA News Twitter feed. To access the feed, visit: http://www.twitter.com/nasa As Endeavour's flight wraps up, NASA will update the blog detailing the spacecraft's return to Earth. - end - text-only version of this release NASA press releases and other information are available automatically by sending a blank e-mail message to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a blank e-mail message to [email protected]. Back to NASA Newsroom \| Back to NASA Homepage \|\|\|\|\| There's a problem with your browser or settings. Your browser or your browser's settings are not supported. To get the best experience possible, please download a compatible browser. If you know your browser is up to date, you should check to ensure that javascript is enabled. › Learn How \|\|\|\|\| June 5th, 2009 by Chris Gebhardt With final launch processing underway on Shuttle Endeavour at Launch Pad-A, NASA managers have outlined several changes to Endeavour’s Main Propulsion System (MPS), Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP), and Flight Operations & Integration procedures that will debut on STS-127 next week. STS-127 MPS Inventory Update: Taking center stage in the Space Shuttle Program’s (SSP) Flight Readiness Review (FRR) presentation on the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) and MPS was the low Over Board Mixture Ratio (OBMR) that has been seen on numerous flights since STS-114 in July 2005. The lowest of these OBMRs occurred last year on Endeavour’s STS-123 flight. That mission experienced an OBMR of “-2.7 sigma, -0.4 percent” notes the FRR document available for download on L2. This OBMR on STS-123 resulted in all fuel bias being consumed by the SSMEs during Endeavour’s climb to orbit. While this did not put the vehicle at risk of a Low Level Cutoff - due in large part to the positive Ascent Performance Margin (APM) of the flight - a subsequent review of previous post-Return to Flight missions revealed a decreasing trend in the OBMR. This decreasing OBMR could result in the loss of performance or payload capacity. This issue, which was discussed at a Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) in summer 2008, noted that the lower than predicted OBMR was likely due to “facility fuel flowmeter temperature bias at the Subsystem Sequence Controller.” A temporary mitigation plan was developed in which STS-126 and subsequent flights would launch with an increased Controller Mixture Ratio (CMR) of 6.049. This CMR debuted on STS-126 and was maintained on STS-119 and STS-125. These flights experienced no “out of family” anomalies with the OBMR. However, a new update has been developed for STS-127 and subsequent flights. As the SSP FRR presentation notes, “STS-127 will be the first flight of SSME controller constant updates, an updated MPS propellant inventory, and an updated CMR.” For the SSMEs, an SSME element calculated bias for each engine was developed, thereby allowing each engine to be “corrected” for flight. This correction “reduces variability in active engines to the point where a single inventory can reasonably account for the performance variations” of each engine. Furthermore, the Flight-derived Dispersion Database (FDD) was updated with all flights through STS-124 and the MPS inventory was updated accordingly. For STS-127, Endeavour will fly with a CMR of 6.043. This calculation was determined through the new MPS inventory. The new Flight Performance Reserve curve results in a -175 lbm impact to the APM for the flight - an impact that is easily absorbed by Endeavour’s launch capabilities. Finally, for STS-127, Endeavour will use SSMEs 2045, 2060, and 2054 in positions one, two, and three respectively. Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate Issues: Also noted during the SSP FRR process was an installation issue of the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) on Endeavour’s External Tank (ET-131). “Interference between GUCA (Ground Umbilical Carrier Assembly) and ET-131 right hand hinge support observed during mate GUCP (Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate) installation in VAB,” notes the backup SSP FRR document. The installation sequence is used to verify contact with hinge supports and also to verify that no interference exists between the pivot assembly and hinge bracket of the GUCA. Interference was noted on the Right Hand side of the Right Hand pivot assembly to the Right Hand inside of the bracket. The main concern revolving around this issue is the fact that interference is not permitted at the hinge location due mainly to the fact that there is a potential to induce un-intended loading on the pyro-bolt assembly - which could affect that separation mechanism at T-0. To correct this interference, the GUCP was removed and a different unit was installed. However, after this was accomplished, the interference remained. Both GUCP assemblies were then measured/inspected at KSC; both GUCP assemblies were found to be within engineering specifications and tolerances. Visual inspections then revealed a slight misalignment between the centerline of the plate and the hinge bracket. Laser measurements at KSC later confirmed the misalignment and the pivot assembly was modified - and successfully installed - by “locally machining outboard surface (0.1” removed) to create the required gap (0.035” gap provided),” notes the backup SSP FRR document. A stress analysis revealed an adequate factor of safety for the modified configuration. Furthermore, the repaired configuration does not impact the GUCP release mechanism or sealing interface between flight and ground equipment. A root-cause analysis is underway; however, similar conditions have not been observed at MAF (Michoud Assembly Facility) to date - which includes visual inspections of ET-139 and ET-132. In the future, a spare GUCP will be used at MAF to support fit checks prior to shipment of ETs to Kennedy. Flight Operations and Integration Office: In addition to the above changes/modifications, the Flight Operations and Integration Office has identified three items that will see modification for STS-127. The first change relates to the Cargo Integration Hardware (CIH). STS-127 will be the first flight of parallel latching on Major Cargo Elements. The capacity of the payload latching switch panel on the aft Flight Deck console of Endeavour is 15 switches corresponding to 15 payload latches in the payload bay. However, STS-127’s payload requires 18 latches - three more than the aft Flight Deck console can support. To accommodate this requirement, a parallel latching system was implemented on the sill PRLAs (Payload Retention Latch Actuators/Assembly) for the Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility and the Japanese Logistics Module Exposed Section. Thus, all 18 payload latches can be controlled from the 15 switches on Endeavour aft Flight Deck console. Additionally, all engineering products and integration analyses have been completed (as of May 28) except for one: Verification Loads Analysis (VLA) for the ELM-ES (Japanese Experiment Logistics Module - Exposed Section). The VLA for this cargo element is being re-performed to include “the unique damping matrix,” notes the FO&I FRR presentation, available for download on L2. This analysis is being re-performed because five of the VLA cases pertaining to Endeavour’s various abort modes did not include the damping matrix. No issues are expected as a result of the late performance of this VLA. Currently, on-going analyses indicate that no structural margins will be affected by the implementation of an abort during ascent. Lastly, the Middeck Engineering Status (MES) reports that the return manifest requirements are still being defined. Similarly, late stow plans are in place for the “EVA Detent Release Tools (2) required for the Unpressurized Cargo Carrier Attachment System (UCCAS) deploy.” Delivery of these tools is expected on June 8. Furthermore, no STS-125 FO&I In-flight Anomalies (IFAs) were identified and all open IFAs have been dispositioned by the Space Shuttle Program since STS-119. LON Support: In the unlikely event that Endeavour suffers critical damage to her TPS (Thermal Protection System), orbiter Discovery could be readied for launch on STS-128 as early as August 6. This translates to a 54-day LON (Launch on Need) capability with Discovery - a timespan which greatly overlaps the International Space Station’s capability to support Endeavour’s seven member crew and its own six member crew for up to 74 days. The CSCS (Contingency Shuttle Crew Support) time on the ISS is limited to 74-days by the CO2 removal system’s capacity on the ISS. These CSCS calculations are based on a 13 person crew on ISS with no Shuttle crew members returning to Earth on Soyuz and Endeavour remaining docked to the ISS for 28-days. The calculations also assume that the Waste & Hygiene Compartment, Urine Processing Assembly, and Water Processing Assembly all maintain normal operating levels. Additionally, all 13 crew members would maintain a regular exercise program for the duration of their stay on ISS. If the LON flight is required, Discovery would fly in her STS-128/17A configuration with her full payload installed for flight. Also, all STS-128 flight software and products would be flown on Discovery in the event of a LON call-up. This includes the first flight the OI-34 software and the first flight of a new MEDS (Multifunction Electronic Display System) load. A formal flight Software Readiness Review would be held after call-up of the LON flight. L2 members: Documentation - from which the above article has quoted snippets - is available in full in the related L2 sections, now over 4000 gbs in size. Tags: FRR, SSME, STS-127 \|\|\|\|\| We're sorry, this page is no longer available. Please use your browser's "Back" button to return to the previous page. \|\|\|\|\| Mission Summary Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette returns to the International Space Station aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in June. Mission STS-127 will attach a platform to the outside of the space station's Japanese Laboratory Kibo. Science experiments will take place on this platform, allowing them to remain exposed to the harsh environment of space. The astronaut crew will also deliver critical supplies to the Station, as well as experiments that will be subsequently berthed to the laboratory platform. Julie Payette is the flight engineer. Sitting in the flight deck with the Shuttle's commander and pilot, she will be part of the cockpit crew that flies the Shuttle and docks it to the space station. Payette will also operate three robotic arms during this robotics-intense mission, the Shuttle's Canadarm, the Station's Canadarm2 and a Japanese arm on Kibo. Canadian robotic technology will be used almost every day of this assembly mission. For the first time in history two Canadians will be in space together during this mission, Payette and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk, who is part of the Station crew. A record 13 astronauts, made up of Station and Shuttle crew, will be in the Station during STS-127. This 16-day mission will include five spacewalks. After installing the laboratory platform, astronauts will replace six large batteries on a Station truss. It's the 127th mission of Space Shuttle Endeavour and the 29th to the International Space Station. STS-127 at a glance	Endeavour on launchpad 39A NASA has canceled today's early morning launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour because of a hydrogen fuel leak. The leak was discovered after NASA personnel began to fill Endeavour's external fuel tank. "The official scrub time was 12:26 a.m. EDT. Launch teams began draining Endeavour's external fuel tank of its liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen at 12:06 a.m.. Fueling was halted after the leak was detected near the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate, or GUCP, which attached to the external tank at its intertank area," said NASA in a statement on their website. Launch for mission STS-127 was scheduled for 7:17 a.m. (EDT) on Saturday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. If NASA fixes the problem in a reasonable period, the next window of opportunity for launch would be at 6:51 a.m Sunday morning. If the problem cannot be solved by then, NASA says the earliest they would be able to re-schedule Endeavor's lift off would be June 17. This would conflict with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)/Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) launch. Space Shuttle Discovery will be on standby in case of emergencies and STS-128 could be readied to launch by August 6. A similar problem in March forced NASA to push back the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery for mission STS-119. The problem was fixed and Discovery was able to take off. Mission STS-127 is the 32nd flight dedicated to the International Space Station construction, and the final of a series of three flights dedicated to the assembly of the Japanese Kibo laboratory complex. The STS-127 payload is the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section. The mission is scheduled to last sixteen days. This trip marks the first time that thirteen people will be on the ISS at the same time. Canada will see two astronauts in space simultaneously, also a first for the nation. Crew members listed to be part of the mission are Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Doug Hurley, astronauts Wolf, Christopher Cassidy, Canadian Space Agency's mission specialist Julie Payette, and mission specialists Tom Marshburn and Tim Kopra.
The existence of the draconian injunction - so strict it prevents Sir Fred being identified as a banker - was disclosed by John Hemming, a back-bench Liberal Democrat MP, in a question during a business debate at the House on Thursday morning. His comments are protected by parliamentary privilege. He said: "In a secret hearing Fred Goodwin has obtained a super-injunction preventing him being identified as a banker. "Will the government have a debate or a statement on freedom of speech and whether there's one rule for the rich like Fred Goodwin and one rule for the poor?" Leader of the House Sir George Young said a forthcoming Westminster Hall debate would explore freedom of speech, adding: "I will raise with the appropriate minister the issue he has just raised." The terms of the injunction are so strict that the Daily Telegraph cannot reveal the nature of the information that Sir Fred Goodwin is attempting to protect. Sir Fred, nicknamed Fred "the shred" for his management style, presided over the near collapse of the Royal Bank of Scotland, which had to be bailed out by the taxpayer. He left with a pension of £700,000 a year and a lump sum of nearly nearly £3 million. Following a public outcry he later agreed to reduce his payout by £200,000 a year. Super-injunctions - under which even reporting the existence of the injunction is banned - are increasingly being used by powerful corporations and wealthy individuals to stop the media from publishing information. Last month a sportsman known to have cheated on his partner with two women won an appeal to remain anonymous. The judge said his identity had to be protected because the fact he had conducted a previous affair would make it easier for people to work out the nature of the allegations. Three days later Mr Justice Eady granted anonymity to a married TV personality identified only by the random initials OPQ. The judge asked the media to leave the court, saying that "to proceed in public would defeat the object of the application". \|\|\|\|\| By Jerome Taylor Sir Fred Goodwin, the former chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland who became a focal point for anger over the financial crisis, has obtained a super-injunction banning the media from identifying him as a banker. The existence of the super-injunction was revealed today by John Hemming, a back-bench Liberal Democrat MP who tabled a question in Parliament about the gagging order. Normally the media is forbidden from even reporting that a super-injunction exists but Parliamentary privilege allows MPs to speak on the floor of the House of Commons without risk of prosecution. During a business debate at the House yesterday morning, Mr Hemming stood up and stated: “In a secret hearing this week Fred Goodwin has obtained a super-injunction preventing him being identified as a banker. Will the government have a debate or a statement on freedom of speech and whether there's one rule for the rich like Fred Goodwin and one rule for the poor?” The Leader of the House Sir George Young replied that a forthcoming debate would explore freedom of speech in the UK adding: "I will raise with the appropriate minister the issue he has just raised." Injunctions are commonly used by courts to stop the media from publishing certain details. Super-injunctions are a particularly draconian type that forbids the press from even reporting that an injunction exists. Once a rarity they are now becoming an increasingly common method of gagging the press from reporting on people who are often wealthy, public figures. The terms of the super-injunction covering Mr Goodwin are likely to be so strict that The Independent would be unable to report why a gagging order was taken out by the former RBS chief executive and what information he is trying to protect. Reference to Sir Fred's occupation will have been excluded from the court documents in the public domain to prevent the public and media guessing the identity of Mr Goodwin and undermining the Court's decision, rather than because any specific complaint was made of the term banker. Speaking to The Independent, Mr Hemming called on the government to look into whether super-injunctions were enabling the rich to create new privacy laws without proper parliamentary oversight. “The first question we need to ask is whether we are creating privacy laws by the back door without statutory underpinning or public support,” he said. “I think that’s arguably the case. We also need to ask whether we have any accountability on super injunctions – after all, currently there is no super injunction register, we don’t know how many there are and we don’t know who is asking for them.” The former RBS chief, who earned the moniker “Fred the Shred” for his management style, became a major source of anger over the financial crisis because he presided over a bank that had to be rescued by a major bailout from the tax payer. There was further outcry when it was revealed that he had left the bank with a £700,000 pension and a personal pot of £3million. He eventually agreed to reduce his pension by £200,000 a year. A judicial committee, which was set up last year to investigate the use of super-injunctions and other methods of gagging the press, is due to report back soon. Legal sources say the committee, which is led by Master of the Rolls, Lord Neuberger, is sue to report back within the next four weeks. Yesterday’s question by Mr Hemming is not the first time an MP has used parliamentary privilege to disclose the existence of a super-injunction. A similar tactic was used two years ago by a Labour MP to reveal that the media had been banned from disclosing the details of a report into the dumping of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast by the oil trading firm Trafigura. A spokesperson for Index on Censorship, the free speech campaing group, said: “The emergence of the super-injunction has had serious implications for free speech in Britain. While everyone has a right to privacy, it’s vitally important that rulings on press issues should not be kept secret. It is an unfortunate state of affairs that a free society needs to rely upon parliamentary privilege to ask questions.” \|\|\|\|\| MP raises Goodwin media ban order Sir Fred Goodwin was widely criticised following the crisis at RBS An MP has said the former boss of Royal Bank of Scotland, Sir Fred Goodwin, has obtained an injunction which bans the media from even calling him a banker. Sir Fred was widely criticised for his role in the near collapse of RBS. Lib Dem MP John Hemming raised the matter of the ban on information about Sir Fred in the Commons, using parliamentary privilege. Leader of the House Sir George Young said a debate in Westminster Hall soon would cover freedom of speech. However he cautioned MPs about discussing legal proceedings and court responsibilities. \|\|\|\|\| Concerns about the increasing use of super-injunctions by the wealthy to bar reporting of their activities have been raised by an MP as it emerged that Sir Fred Goodwin, the former chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, has obtained one. The existence of the court order was disclosed by John Hemming, a Liberal Democrat MP, who on Thursday used parliamentary privilege to name Sir Fred as an individual who had gone to court to stop media outlets referring to his former role.	John Hemmings, the MP who raised the Goodwin superinjunction in Parliament. British MP revealed in Parliament yesterday that , former chief executive of the (RBS) Group, applied for and was granted a superinjunction to prevent the media revealing he was a banker. After the bank bailouts in 2008, Goodwin became a hate figure after it was revealed that he was going to receive a £700,000 a year pension while the RBS Group announced a £24.1bn loss. John Hemming's revealing of the superinjunction in Parliament is protected by . The revelation of the superinjunction came as a question during 'Business of the House' hearings: In a secret hearing, Fred Goodwin has obtained a super-injunction preventing him from being identified as a banker. Will the Government hold a debate, or make a statement, on freedom of speech, and whether there is one law for the rich, such as Fred Goodwin, and another for the poor, such as Lee Gilliland who has had his mental capacity removed on the basis of a report from his GP that he is not allowed to see? Superinjunctions have become a more frequently applied and often controversial practice in British law: they allow for parties to block publication of some controversial matter and also block publication of the fact that such an injunction has been granted. They came to light dramatically when a superinjunction was granted preventing '''' newspaper from revealing that statements regarding an allegation against the commodities trading company had been made in Parliament. The superinjunction was broken when a variety of bloggers and Twitter users started pointing to foreign news outlets that had published the allegations and the order against ''The Guardian''. Superinjunctions have also been used by the Premiership football player following allegations of an affair.
Karl Rove, the White House senior adviser, spoke with columnist Robert Novak as Novak was preparing an article in July 2003 that identified an undercover CIA officer, someone who has been officially briefed on the matter said Thursday. Rove has told investigators that he learned from Novak the name of the CIA officer, who was referred to by her maiden name, Valerie Plame, and the circumstances in which her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson IV, traveled to Africa to investigate possible uranium sales to Iraq, the person said. The person said that after hearing Novak's account, Rove told the columnist, "I heard that, too." The previously undisclosed telephone conversation, which occurred July 8, 2003, was initiated by Novak, the person who has been briefed on the matter said. Six days later, Novak's syndicated column reported that two senior administration officials had told him that Wilson's "wife had suggested sending him" to Africa. That column was the first instance in which Plame was publicly identified as a CIA operative. The column provoked angry demands for an investigation into who disclosed her name to Novak. The Justice Department appointed Patrick Fitzgerald, a top federal prosecutor in Chicago, to lead the inquiry. Rove said in an interview last year that he did not know the CIA officer's name and did not leak it. The person who provided the information about Rove's conversation with Novak declined to be identified, citing requests by Fitzgerald that no one discuss the case. The person discussed the matter in the belief that Rove was truthful in saying he did not disclose Plame's identity. In a column on Oct. 1, 2003, Novak described calling two officials. Novak described the first source, who is unknown, as "no partisan gunslinger" who provided the outlines of the story. The second, confirming source, Novak wrote, responded, "Oh, you know about it." That second source was Rove, the person briefed on the matter said, although Rove's account to investigators about what he told Novak was slightly different. Rove recalled telling Novak, "I heard that, too." Asked by investigators how he knew enough to leave Novak with the impression that his information was accurate, Rove said he heard portions of the story from other journalists but had not heard Plame's name. Robert Luskin, Rove's lawyer, said Thursday, "Any pertinent information has been provided to the prosecutor." Luskin has previously said that prosecutors have advised Rove that he is not a target in the case, which means he is unlikely to be charged with a crime. In a brief conversation Thursday, Novak declined to discuss the matter. The conversation between Novak and Rove seemed almost certain to intensify the question about whether one of President Bush's closest political advisers played a role in what appeared to be an effort to undermine Wilson's credibility after he challenged the veracity of Bush's assertion in his 2003 State of the Union speech that Saddam Hussein, then leader of Iraq, had sought nuclear fuel in Africa. The conversation with Novak took place three days before Rove spoke with Matthew Cooper, a Time magazine reporter, whose e-mail message about their conversation reignited the issue. In the message, whose contents were reported by Newsweek this week, Cooper told his editors that Rove had talked about Plame, although not by name. After saying in 2003 that it was "ridiculous" to suggest that Rove had any role in the disclosure of Plame's name, White House spokesman Scott McClellan has declined in recent days to discuss specifics of the case. But he has suggested that Bush continues to support Rove. On Thursday, Rove was at Bush's side on a trip to Indianapolis. As the political debate about Rove grows more heated, Fitzgerald is in what he has said are the final stages of his investigation into whether anyone at the White House violated a criminal statute that, under certain circumstances, makes it a crime for a government official to disclose the names of covert operatives like Plame. The law applies to officials who knowingly identify an officer serving in a covert position. The person who has been briefed on the matter said Rove knew neither Plame's name nor that she was a covert officer. The revelation of Rove's conversation with Novak raises a question the White House has never addressed: whether Rove ever described that conversation, or his conversation with Cooper, to the president. Bush has said several times that he wants all members of the White House staff to cooperate with Fitzgerald's investigation. In June 2004 at Sea Island, Ga., soon after Vice President Dick Cheney met with investigators in the case, Bush was asked at a news conference whether he stood by his pledge to fire anyone found to have leaked the agent's name. "Yes," Bush said. "And that's up to the U.S. attorney to find the facts." White House officials may argue that Rove's conversation with Novak did not amount to leaking the agent's name. But to Bush's critics, including Democrats who have called for Rove's resignation, that is splitting hairs, and Rove in effect confirmed her identity, even if he did not name her. Senate debate over leak turns bitter. 8A \|\|\|\|\| July 15: A source familiar with the CIA officer’s leak case tells NBC that it was columnist Robert Novak who told presidential adviser Karl Rove the operative’s name. NBC’s David Gregory reports. MSNBC News Services WASHINGTON - Chief presidential adviser Karl Rove testified to a grand jury that he talked with two journalists before they divulged the identity of an undercover CIA officer but that he originally learned about the operative from the news media and not government sources, according to a person briefed on the testimony. The person, who works in the legal profession and spoke only on condition of anonymity because of grand jury secrecy, told The Associated Press that Rove testified last year that he remembers specifically being told by columnist Robert Novak that Valerie Plame, the wife of a harsh Iraq war critic, worked for the CIA. Rove testified that Novak originally called him the Tuesday before Plame’s identity was revealed in July 2003 to discuss another story. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement The conversation eventually turned to Plame’s husband, Joseph Wilson, a former ambassador who was strongly criticizing the Bush administration’s use of faulty intelligence to justify the war in Iraq, the person said. Rove testified that Novak told him he planned to report in a weekend column that Plame had worked for the CIA, and the circumstances on how her husband traveled to Africa to check bogus claims that Iraq was trying to buy nuclear materials in Niger, according to the source. Column triggers probe Novak’s column, citing two Bush administration officials, appeared six days later, touching off a political firestorm and leading to a federal criminal investigation into who leaked Plame’s undercover identity. That probe has ensnared presidential aides and reporters in a two-year legal battle. Rove told the grand jury that by the time Novak had called him, he believes he had similar information about Wilson’s wife from another member of the news media but he could not recall which reporter had told him about it first, the person said. When Novak inquired about Wilson’s wife working for the CIA, Rove indicated he had heard something like that, according to the source’s recounting of the grand jury testimony. Rove told the grand jury that three days later, he had a phone conversation with Time magazine reporter Matt Cooper and — in an effort to discredit some of Wilson’s allegations — informally told Cooper that he believed Wilson’s wife worked for the CIA, though he never used her name, the source said. An e-mail Cooper recently provided the grand jury shows Cooper reported to his magazine bosses that Rove had described Wilson’s wife in a confidential conversation as someone who “apparently works” at the CIA. Robert Luskin, Rove’s attorney, said Thursday his client truthfully testified to the grand jury and expected to be exonerated. “Karl provided all pertinent information to prosecutors a long time ago,” Luskin said. “And prosecutors confirmed when he testified most recently in October 2004 that he is not a target of the investigation.” Wilson clarifies comments about wife In an interview on CNN earlier Thursday before the latest revelation, Wilson kept up his criticism of the White House, saying Rove’s conduct was an “outrageous abuse of power ... certainly worthy of frog-marching out of the White House.” Wilson also said “my wife was not a clandestine officer the day that Bob Novak blew her identity.” In an interview Friday, Wilson said his comment was meant to reflect that his wife lost her ability to be a covert agent because of the leak, not that she had stopped working for the CIA beforehand. His wife’s “ability to do the job she’s been doing for close to 20 years ceased from the minute Novak’s article appeared; she ceased being a clandestine officer,” he said. Rate this story Low High • advertisement \|\|\|\|\| Wilson To Bush: Fire Rove WASHINGTON, July 14, 2005 Dems Want Rove Canned Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson (CBS) "If he's a man of his word he ought to do what he said he'd do and fire Mr. Rove." Joseph Wilson President Bush, with Karl Rove in background, says he won't comment on the Rove controversy until an investigation is completed. (AP) (CBS/AP) Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson called on President Bush on Thursday to fire top aide Karl Rove for discussing Wilson's wife's role as a CIA officer with reporters. "Now we know who was involved in the leak. I think its now a question of character for the president. If he is in fact a man of his word he needs to do what he said he'd do and fire Mr. Rove," said Wilson in an interview with CBS Radio News Correspondent Peter Maer. For more of CBS News correspondent Peter Maer's interview with Joseph Wilson, Meanwhile, Senate Democrats moved forcefully into the controversy surrounding Rove on Thursday, calling for legislation to deny security clearances to officials who disclose the identity of an undercover agent. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., sought to attach the proposal to a spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security, and aides said he hoped for a vote by day's end. Reid, the Democratic leader, made his move as Republicans watched nervously to see whether the controversy over Rove's involvement in a news leak that exposed a CIA officer's identity would pose a credibility problem at the White House. said Wednesday that he would not discuss the matter further until a criminal investigation is finished. Last year, he said he would fire anyone found to have leaked Plame's name. "This is a serious investigation," the president told reporters after a Cabinet meeting, where Rove sat just behind him. "And it is very important for people not to prejudge the investigation based on media reports." Wilson dismissed arguments by Rove's defenders that Rove did nothing wrong since he never mentioned Valerie Plame by name during conversations with reporters. "I find it a bit flimsy on the face of it," Wilson said, "since when he says Wilson's wife, Valerie is in fact Mrs. Wilson. ... She is known and has been since we got married as Valerie Wilson. When you say Wilson's wife you're saying Mrs. Wilson." Wilson says the leak of his wife's name was an attempt by the administration to discredit him after he challenged its assertion that Iraq's Saddam Hussein was seeking to obtain from Niger material to make nuclear weapons. "I think this is an attempt on the part of the White House to cover up the web of lies that underpin the justification for going to war in Iraq in the first place," he told Maer. Asked what he'd like to say to Rove, Wilson said, "Nothing you could say on the air without getting in trouble with the FCC." Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson called on President Bush on Thursday to fire top aide Karl Rove for discussing Wilson's wife's role as a CIA officer with reporters."Now we know who was involved in the leak. I think its now a question of character for the president. If he is in fact a man of his word he needs to do what he said he'd do and fire Mr. Rove," said Wilson in an interview withFor more ofinterview with Joseph Wilson, click here Meanwhile, Senate Democrats moved forcefully into the controversy surrounding Rove on Thursday, calling for legislation to deny security clearances to officials who disclose the identity of an undercover agent.Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., sought to attach the proposal to a spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security, and aides said he hoped for a vote by day's end.Reid, the Democratic leader, made his move as Republicans watched nervously to see whether the controversy over Rove's involvement in a news leak that exposed a CIA officer's identity would pose a credibility problem at the White House. Mr. Bush (video) said Wednesday that he would not discuss the matter further until a criminal investigation is finished. Last year, he said he would fire anyone found to have leaked Plame's name."This is a serious investigation," the president told reporters after a Cabinet meeting, where Rove sat just behind him. "And it is very important for people not to prejudge the investigation based on media reports."Wilson dismissed arguments by Rove's defenders that Rove did nothing wrong since he never mentioned Valerie Plame by name during conversations with reporters."I find it a bit flimsy on the face of it," Wilson said, "since when he says Wilson's wife, Valerie is in fact Mrs. Wilson. ... She is known and has been since we got married as Valerie Wilson. When you say Wilson's wife you're saying Mrs. Wilson."Wilson says the leak of his wife's name was an attempt by the administration to discredit him after he challenged its assertion that Iraq's Saddam Hussein was seeking to obtain from Niger material to make nuclear weapons."I think this is an attempt on the part of the White House to cover up the web of lies that underpin the justification for going to war in Iraq in the first place," he toldAsked what he'd like to say to Rove, Wilson said, "Nothing you could say on the air without getting in trouble with the FCC." ©MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Al Qaeda Link Eyed In Brit Attacks Egyptian Authorities Arrest Chemist In Cairo As Probe Widens Arnold Severs Ties With Magazines Lawmakers Accused Gov. Schwarzenegger Of Conflict Of Interest ©MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \|\|\|\|\| Battling for batteries: Two Korean companies court Washington When U.S. President Joe Biden flies to Georgia Friday, he will land in the middle of an increasingly politicized battle between two South Korean electric vehicle battery makers and the state and federal politicians who want to prevent their feud from costing American jobs. \|\|\|\|\| July 14: In an exclusive interview, ex-ambassador Joseph Wilson talks with NBC News' Jamie Gangel. Wilson is husband of Valerie Plame, the former CIA staffer exposed after a leak to the press. WASHINGTON - Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson called on President Bush on Thursday to fire deputy chief of staff Karl Rove, saying Bush’s top-level aide engaged in an “abuse of power” by discussing Wilson’s wife’s job with a reporter. Wilson decried what he called a White House “stonewall” in the wake of revelations that Rove, a longtime Bush confidant, was involved in the leak to the news media that Wilson’s wife, Valerie Plame, was a CIA officer. Bush said Wednesday that he would not comment on discussions that blew her cover because it is the subject of an ongoing investigation by special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald. White House press secretary Scott McClellan said, however, the president still has confidence in Rove. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement Meanwhile Thursday, Senate Democrats appeared to be suggesting that Rove can’t be trusted with the nation’s secrets. They called for legislation to deny security clearances to officials who disclose the identity of an undercover agent. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid wanted to attach the proposal to a spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security -- and aides said he hoped for a vote Thursday. Wilson, in an interview broadcast Thursday on NBC’s “Today” show, said he thinks the White House’s posture in this controversy represents a continuing “cover-up of the web of lies that underpin the justification for going to war in Iraq.” Wilson was asked about statements by Rove’s defenders noting that an e-mail describing Rove’s conversation with Time reporter Matthew Cooper indicated that Rove did not specifically mention Valerie Plame by name. Abuse of power? “My wife’s name is Mrs. Joseph Wilson,” he replied. “It is Mrs. Valerie Wilson. He named her. He identified her,” Wilson said. “So that argument doesn’t stand the smell test.... What I do know is that Mr. Rove is talking to the press and he is saying things like my wife is fair game. That’s an outrage. That’s an abuse of power.” Asked how he and his wife were coping with the continuing controversy, Wilson said, “We have two 5-year-old twins and they occupy most of our free time. She’s obviously nonplussed at this unwanted attention brought to our family. But she’s tough.” Wilson said that he and his wife “have great confidence in the institutions that have made our country great ... Yes, we do have confidence that justice will be done.” “I think the president should call in his senior advisers and say, ‘Enough is enough, I want you to step forward and cooperate,’ “ he said. “The president has said repeatedly, “I am a man of my word,’ “ Wilson added. “He should stand up and prove that his word is his bond and fire Karl Rove.” Wilson has said the leak of his wife’s name was an attempt by the administration to discredit him after he challenged its assertion that Iraq’s Saddam Hussein was seeking to obtain from Niger material to make nuclear weapons. © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Rate this story Low High • advertisement \|\|\|\|\| (07-14) 14:53 PDT , (AP) -- Prosecutors are investigating who in the Bush administration leaked the identity of undercover CIA officer Valerie Plame. Some questions and answers on the case: Q: What are the origins of the probe? A: In early 2002, Vice President Dick Cheney read intelligence that the African nation of Niger had agreed to deliver 500 tons of yellowcake uranium to Iraq. In response to questions from the vice president's office and the State and Defense departments, the CIA's Counterproliferation Division discussed ways to obtain additional information on the alleged Iraq-Niger uranium deal, according to a Senate Intelligence Committee report. Plame, a CPD employee, offered up the name of her husband, former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson, as someone who had good relations with the prime minister and the former minister of mines in Niger. The CIA sent Wilson to Africa, where he was unable to confirm the intelligence. More than a year later, with the U.S. government unable to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Wilson wrote an op-ed piece for The New York Times headlined "What I Didn't Find In Africa" and asking the question: "Did the Bush administration manipulate intelligence about Saddam Hussein's weapons programs to justify an invasion?" Eight days later, Robert Novak wrote a column in which he identified Plame by name, saying he'd been told by two administration officials that she had suggested sending her husband to Niger. Q: Why would someone in the administration leak Plame's name? A: That's among the things special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald is trying to determine. Wilson claims it was retribution for his article. Q: A number of journalists have been questioned in the probe. Has Novak? A: It's unclear, though many believe he has. Novak has not said anything publicly about his role in the investigation or his sources. One reporter, Judith Miller of The New York Times, refused to cooperate with Fitzgerald and was jailed for contempt of court. Q: What is Bush political adviser Karl Rove's connection to the investigation? A: Rove spoke to Time reporter Matthew Cooper, who wrote a story naming Plame after Novak's column appeared. According to a recently disclosed e-mail that Cooper sent to his boss on July 11, 2003, Rove told him Wilson's wife apparently worked at the CIA on the issue of weapons of mass destruction and had authorized Wilson's trip to Africa. Rove never identified Plame by name. Cooper had refused to divulge Rove's name to Fitzgerald but did after Rove waived confidentiality. Q: Is President Bush standing by Rove? A: So far, yes. But he and his administration have faced intense criticism because, before Cooper's e-mail became public, the word coming from the White House had been that Rove had nothing to do with the leak. Q: Was it a crime for people in the Bush administration to leak Plame's identity? A: Fitzgerald has not charged anyone and it's unclear whether he will. Under the Intelligence Identities and Protection Act it must be shown that a leaker intentionally disclosed the identity of someone who the leaker knew had undercover status. Lawyers are divided over whether someone who does not actually disclose someone's name could be prosecuted. Q. Is Fitzgerald looking solely at whether the identities act was violated? A. It's unclear because grand jury proceedings are secret and Fitzgerald has not commented publicly about what possible crimes he is investigating. Other avenues of investigation could include whether anyone intentionally obstructed the investigation or did not provide truthful testimony to the grand jury. ___ On the Net: The Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982: foi.missouri.edu/bushinfopolicies/protection.html \|\|\|\|\| In CIA leak case, eyes on Rove Bush's top political adviser faces rising pressure in the probe over an 'outed' agent. \| Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor But here in the capital, where Karl Rove arrived in 2001 already either revered or loathed, the sudden notion that Mr. Bush's right-hand man could be in legal trouble - and that the White House may have been caught misleading the public - has energized Democrats and the media. Outside the Beltway, and outside activist circles, President Bush's political mastermind would probably be greeted with blank stares and a reaction of "Karl Who?" At issue is the two-year-old case of the CIA operative whose identity was revealed in the press, potentially in violation of the law, and the possible political motives behind that exposure. So far, Mr. Rove is not a target of a federal investigation looking into who "outed" the agent, Valerie Plame. Legally, Rove may well wind up in the clear. But politically, his involvement in the matter, plus that of the White House, adds a jolt of electricity to a summer already charged over the Supreme Court. It is now known, from the subpoenaed notes of Time magazine reporter Matt Cooper, that Rove did refer to Ms. Plame (though not by name) and her CIA affiliation when Rove sought to discredit Plame's husband, an administration critic on the Iraq war. For two years, the White House has insisted Rove was not involved in the leaking of Plame's name. A year ago, Bush pledged to fire any leakers in the matter. Tuesday morning, during a photo opportunity, Bush stayed silent when a reporter asked if he would fire Rove. The day before, the press grilled Scott McClellan with dozens of questions on the case; he replied with variations of "we will not comment on an ongoing investigation." "This excites the Washington community, because Rove is the political nerve center not only of this administration but also the Republican Party," says Marshall Wittmann, a former Republican activist and now a senior fellow at the Democratic Leadership Council. "At this point it's a disturbing distraction, for the administration, for the president. However, if Rove was actually indicted, it would become a calamitous disaster." The 1982 law at issue, which forbids identifying intelligence agents, is hard to break, with only one known successful prosecution to date. To be in violation, one must knowingly disclose the identity of a covert agent, and that agent must be someone whose covert status is being actively concealed by the US government. The now-publicized e-mail from Mr. Cooper to his bureau chief says that Rove had referred in their conversation to the wife of former US ambassador Joe Wilson as someone who "apparently works" at the CIA. Rove's lawyer, Robert Luskin, says that does not constitute a violation of the law. Rove has been interviewed by prosecutors in the case and testified before the grand jury hearing it, and if it turns out that he replied dishonestly, he could be indicted for perjury. But for now, it is the political repercussions of his involvement that are center stage. Democrats are piling on, some calling on Rove to resign, be fired, or at least lose his security clearance. On Monday, Senate minority leader Harry Reid of Nevada called on the White House to follow through on its pledge to remove from the administration anyone involved in the affair. Working in the administration's favor is that most Americans have never heard of Karl Rove. At this highly partisan time, much of the public will likely glaze over at the appearance of yet another bout of wrangling in Washington on an issue that does not directly affect them. "If anything, the attacks by Democrats could enhance [Rove's] stature with the people he deals with," says Jack Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont-McKenna College in Claremont, Calif. Also hindering public attention is the complicated web of events that has led up to the focus on Rove: the column by Robert Novak of the Chicago Sun-Times in July 2003 that first named Plame as a CIA operative; the recent jailing of Judith Miller, a New York Times reporter who refused to divulge her own sources in connection with the case; Cooper's own risk of jail, before he received a waiver from his source releasing him from his confidentially agreement with that person. For the mainstream Washington media, which have faced criticism for appearing to go easy on the Bush White House, the new link to Rove provided a hook on which to hang tough questions. "Since it involves the media themselves, it's natural that the media would have a strong interest," says Professor Pitney. "For the time being," he adds, "there's an absence of competing political stories. We don't have a Supreme Court nominee, and the middle of summer is generally not a time for major legislation." So in the interest of filling media time and space, Democrats are more than happy to oblige. And because of the Plame case's ultimate link to the run-up to the Iraq war - and her husband's role in raising questions about Iraq's efforts to acquire materials for use in nuclear weapons - Democrats now have a reason to revisit their core allegation about a White House they view as less than forthcoming on Iraq. Related Stories Links of interest Most-viewed stories \|\|\|\|\| July 12: After two days of questions about Karl Rove's possible role in the leaking of a CIA operative's identity, the White House said President Bush continues to have confidence in his adviser. NBC's David Gregory reports. WASHINGTON - After two days of questions, the White House said Tuesday that President Bush continues to have confidence in Karl Rove, the presidential adviser at the center of the investigation into the leak identifying a female CIA officer. Bush did not respond to a reporter’s question Tuesday about whether he would fire Rove, as Democrats demanded, in keeping with a June 2004 pledge to dismiss any leakers of Valerie Plame’s identity. At a White House briefing later, spokesman Scott McClellan was pressed about Rove’s future. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement “Any individual who works here at the White House has the confidence of the president. They wouldn’t be working here at the White House if they didn’t have the president’s confidence,” McClellan said. The White House said two years ago that Rove wasn’t involved in the leak. According to a July 2003 e-mail that surfaced over the weekend, Rove told Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper that the woman “apparently works” for the CIA. It added that the woman had authorized a trip to Africa by her husband, U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson, to check out allegations that Iraq had tried to buy uranium from Niger for nuclear weapons. At the time of Rove’s conversation with Cooper, Wilson had accused the Bush administration of manipulating intelligence to justify the invasion of Iraq. Cooper’s e-mail is now in the hands of federal prosecutors who are hunting down the leakers inside the Bush administration who revealed Plame’s name to the news media. Democrats want Rove axed The revelation about Rove prompted Democratic calls for Bush to follow through on his promise to fire leakers of Plame’s identity. Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts said Tuesday that “Karl Rove ought to be fired.” With Kerry on Capitol Hill was Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., a possible 2008 presidential contender, who indicated her agreement with Kerry’s view. “I’m nodding,” she told reporters. The issue triggered 61 questions during two press briefings Monday by McClellan. It was McClellan who had provided the previous assurances about no role for Rove, but he refused to repeat those assurances Monday. “Did Karl Rove commit a crime?” a reporter asked McClellan. “This is a question relating to an ongoing investigation,” McClellan replied. Choosing words carefully McClellan gave the same answer when asked whether President Bush has confidence in Rove, the architect of the president’s successful political campaigns. The investigation was ongoing in 2003 when McClellan assured the public Rove wasn’t involved, a reporter pointed out, but the spokesman refused to elaborate. In September and October 2003, McClellan said he had spoken directly with Rove about the matter and that “he was not involved” in leaking Plame’s identity to the news media. McClellan said at the time: “The president knows that Karl Rove wasn’t involved,” “It was a ridiculous suggestion” and “It’s not true.” Rove’s own public denials at the time and since have been more narrowly worded: “I didn’t know her name and didn’t leak her name,” Rove said last year. Democrats pressed Bush to act. “The White House promised if anyone was involved in the Valerie Plame affair, they would no longer be in this administration,” said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. “I trust they will follow through on this pledge. If these allegations are true, this rises above politics and is about our national security.” Democratic consultant Paul Begala, appearing on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Tuesday, said Rove has both a legal problem and a political problem. Rate this story Low High • advertisement	U.S. Federal grand jury testimony by Karl Rove was reported in the press Friday detailing testimony by Karl Rove on the Plame "leak". The information was obtained by ''Associated Press'' on the condition of anonymity because of grand jury hearing secrecy. The reported source was in the legal profession. The press reports followed Thursday's televised call by former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson, the husband of one-time CIA operative Valerie Plame, for President Bush to honor his word to remove any official involved in the Plame leak. On Thursday's ''NBC's "Today"'' show, Wilson said it was time for the President to "stand up and prove to the American people that his word is his bond and fire Karl Rove." and "this cover-up is becoming unraveled. That's why you see the White House stonewalling." Amid refusals by President Bush or his White House press secretary Scott McClellan to comment on the on-going investigation into the Plame leak, the Bush overall approval rating, now at 45%, has slipped one point from May. The ''Wall Street Journal/NBC News'' poll found for the first time that 45% chose poor, versus 41% good, for rating the president as "honest and straightforward". His disapproval rating, now 49%, is up 2 points. American support for the war effort in Iraq remains strong, at 57 to 42% in favor. And the majority believe the war in Iraq is part of the broader goal of battling global terrorism by a margin of 61 to 34 %. Given the favorable opinion ratings on the war, the current furor in the press and by partisan Democrats are questions about personal accountability, and not about U.S. war policy. Bush has so far demonstrated by his silence that he is willing to let the matter of Rove be settled by the court. Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is in charge of the federal probe seeking what is believed to involve two officials at the White House. At issue concerning Rove is whether he broke the Intelligence Identities Protection Act. The act makes it a felony crime for Rove to intentionally and knowingly leak the identity of Plame. At the time, Plame was a CIA Counter-proliferation Division employee. Fitzgerald is not obliged to publicly reveal any information on testimony received during grand jury hearings on the matter, and has not commented. What is known is that Matt Cooper's reporting notes sent by e-mail to his employer ''TIME'' magazine show that Rove identified Judith Plame as "Wilson's wife", and from the context of their conversation, Cooper's notes report that she "apparently works" at the CIA. Whether he revealed that Plame was a covert agent remains to be found. Mr. Wilson has from the start shown his willingness to comment on the actions of the Bush administration. From his July 2003 Op-Ed piece, which started this whole affair, he was critical of statements made by Bush during his State of the Union Address. Then in August 2003 after his wife's covert cover was blown, came his angry statement to try and get Karl Rove "frog-marched out of the White House in handcuffs". On Tuesday this week, during the heightened controversy from the Supreme Court ordered release by ''TIME'' of Cooper's notes, Wilson said "that Rove was intimately involved in the smear campaign launched after the Novak article appeared," according ''NBC News'' report. "Now to find out he talked to Matt Cooper before then only compounds the outrage at the abuse of power." Wilson's statements were made off camera.
Murdered pair Dilsher Gill (L) and Joseph Randay, students of WJ Mouat secondary in Abbotsford. Photograph by: Facebook, .. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has confirmed the news broken by Kim Bolan Friday night that the two people murdered on the Abbotsford-Chilliwack border on Sumas Mountain Friday morning were local teenagers. Police say 17-year-old WJ Mouat student and basketball player Dilsher Singh Gill of Abbotsford and grade-12 classmate 18-year-old Joseph Randay of Abbotsford were the victims. Police also confirmed an incident in Abbotsford's Bateman Park the previous night, where Gill and Randay were said to be kidnapped at gunpoint, led up to the double-killing. No cause of death has been released. Police say neither teenager was known to police, though The Sun has established Randay was a Facebook friend with Mike Ahuja. Ahuja’s older brother Sunny is a close associate of Abbotsford’s Bacon brothers. The Ahuja home was targeted in a drive-by shooting in March. © Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun \|\|\|\|\| Search in News : Two Indian-origin teenagers kidnapped, killed in Canada Category » World Posted On Sunday, May 03, 2009 Agencies Vancouver, May 3 : Two Indo-Canadian teenage boys were killed in gang-style violence at Abbotsford near here Friday. Abbotsford is home to one of the largest Punjabi communities in Canada. Joseph Randay and Dilsher Gill, both 18, were reportedly kidnapped at gun-point from a city park at dinner time Thursday by a car-borne assailant, Amarjit Randay, father of the one of the slain teenagers, told the media. Their bodies were discovered inside the abandoned car on a rural road Friday. Randay said his son Joseph and Gill were hanging out with their school mates in the park when the assailant pulled up to them. He said his son confronted the assailant when he tried to kidnap two other teenagers by pointing his gun at them. "All we know is that they were kidnapped at gunpoint (last night) and now they have found their bodies. The police said they are both dead...police have no leads,'' the grieving father was quoted as saying by the local media. Both the teenagers were grade 12 students at the local W.J. Mouat Secondary School. Known for its oldest Sikh shrine of North America which has been put on the heritage list by the Canadian government, Abbotsford lies almost on the US border. It is also known as the theft capital of Canada because of its high property crime rate. Because of the free availability of marijuana which is traded with cocaine in the US, many Indo-Canadian teenagers in the Vancouver have been sucked into drug gangs over the years. Shootings betweens these gangs have claimed the lives of more than 110 lives of Indo-Canadian young people since the mid-1990s. Most cases remained unsolved. Though the provincial British Columbia government has set up a task force to stem the violence, it shows no signs of abating. Print \| Mail it \|\|\|\|\| Police identify teens found dead in Abbotsford Joseph Randay, 18, and Dilsher Singh Gill, 17, were only a month away from graduating from high school. (CBC) Joseph Randay, 18, and Dilsher Singh Gill, 17, were only a month away from graduating from high school. (CBC) The names of two high school students found dead in a car in Abbotsford, B.C., have been released by police. They are Joseph Randay, 18, and Dilsher Singh Gill, 17, both of Abbotsford. Police believe their deaths may be linked to an incident at Bateman Park in Abbotsford on Thursday evening. There are reports the two got into an argument with a group of young men and were abducted at gunpoint. Investigators said Saturday they are still talking to witnesses and trying to figure out exactly what happened at the park. They said neither teen was known to police or had any ties to drugs or gangs. The bodies of Randay and Gill were found in a car in Abbotsford on Friday. The bodies of Randay and Gill were found in a car in Abbotsford on Friday. "I can tell you it is certainly perplexing how two young men — just weeks away from graduation — ended up in this fate. It's a very tragic case," said Cpl. Dale Carr of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Unit. "We're going through all our steps to try and get to the bottom of it." Autopsies to determine the cause of death are expected be conducted on Monday at the earliest. People close to the teens posted their condolences and regrets on the social networking website Facebook. One of the posts said a candlelight vigil had been planned for Saturday night at Chief Dan George Middle School in Abbotsford. "You will both be missed greatly," said one commenter on the Facebook wall. "Words cannot express the sadness that I feel," said another. \|\|\|\|\| 2 men found dead inside vehicle in Abbotsford The bodies of two young men were found in this vehicle in a rural Abbotford, B.C., area. (CBC) The bodies of two young men were found in this vehicle in a rural Abbotford, B.C., area. (CBC) Two young men were found dead inside a vehicle Friday in a rural area of Abbotsford, B.C., police said. The bodies — which had visible "signs of trauma" — were discovered at about 9 a.m. PT by city maintenance workers who were doing regular checks in the area of Lower Sumas Mountain Road, RCMP Cpl. Dale Carr said. "They came across what they thought was an abandoned stolen car, but when they checked closer, they determined that there were two males slumped inside the vehicle," said Carr of the Integrated Homicide Investigative Team. Investigators believe the vehicle, described only as a "dark-coloured import," had only been there for the last 24 hours, Carr said. They used tracking dogs to conduct a ground search at the scene, about half a kilometre from any residence, as well as an aerial search with an RCMP helicopter, Carr said. The victims, who have not yet been identified, appeared to be in their late teens and early 20s, Carr said. Autopsies will be conducted on Monday at the earliest and Carr did not speculate on a cause of death. "It's difficult for us to say at this time … because we don't know the nature of what went on and what has caused these two individuals to be deceased," he said. A Vancouver radio station reported Friday night that an Abbotsford man called in and said his son and his friend were apparently kidnapped Thursday night during an incident near Bateman Park. The RCMP said they were still trying to determine if the two bodies found were that of the missing young men, the report said. \|\|\|\|\| 156 arrested in Hells Angels sweep CRIME: More than 1,200 officers take part in operation Posted By QMI AGENCY, WITH FILES FROM THE CANADIAN PRESS Posted 24 days ago A three-year police investigation came to a head Wednesday with the arrests of 156 people connected to the Hells Angels biker gang. It was the most arrests made in a single raid in the history of the Angels and comes on the heels of Operation Springtime, a 2001 raid that resulted in the arrests of 122 of the gang's members and associates. More than 1,200 officers from several police agencies, including the Surete du Quebec and the RCMP, joined forces for the sweeping raids -- dubbed operation SharQC -- throughout Quebec, seemingly resulting in the arrests of all active members in the province. Arrests were also made in New Brunswick, France and the Dominican Republic. Police served 177 warrants during the sweep, primarily targeting the club's bunkers in Longueuil, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivieres and Charny. Police also raided the site of a former Hells Angels bunker in Sorel-Tracy, which burned down last year. Though the majority of the arrests took place in Quebec, one of the men arrested in New Brunswick, described by RCMP Sgt. Claude Tremblay as a full-patch member, is considered a major player with the Angels. "New Brunswick is the corridor to the Maritimes and everything comes through our highways and we have a lot of small airports through the region," said Tremblay. Police also seized drugs and guns from suspects believed to have played a role in the transport of drugs between Quebec, the United States and the Maritimes. Of the 156 arrested, 111 are full members of the gang, four are prospects, 29 are close associates and 11 are retired bikers. Those arrested will face a variety of charges, including drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit murder and gangsterism. Several are also expected to be charged in connection with 22 murders that have taken place since 1992, with many of them having occurred during the biker war between 1994 and 2001. "The total number of full-patch members, if not the entire membership of the Hells Angels, was arrested today," said Daniel Guerin, a spokesman for the Montrealarea Laval police department. Police are expected to release more details about the raids today. \|\|\|\|\| B.C. to hire 168 more police to combat gangs, gun crime RCMP say old-fashioned pistols are no longer acceptable for gangs and having a serious weapon is important to them to send a message to their rivals. (CBC) RCMP say old-fashioned pistols are no longer acceptable for gangs and having a serious weapon is important to them to send a message to their rivals. (CBC) The B.C. government says it will deploy 168 new police officers and 10 new prosecutors over the next two years in an attempt to crack down on gangs and gun violence linked to the illegal drug trade. "Recent gang violence has been both shocking and appalling, and British Columbians have had enough," said Premier Gordon Campbell on Friday at RCMP headquarters in Vancouver. "We're adding more police officers to investigate, arrest and get violent criminals off the street, and we're dedicating more prosecutors to put criminals behind bars." The seven-point plan rolled out by the premier on Friday also included promises to build more jails and secure courtrooms for prosecuting dangerous criminals, lobbying the federal government for tougher laws, cracking down on illegal guns with a special police unit, outlawing armoured vehicles and body armour, and creating a new anti-gang phone line for tipsters. Prince George and Kelowna to get special units The new police officers will also be used to create two 16-member satellite gang units in Prince George and Kelowna in the province's Interior, and a 10-member unit dedicated to seizing illegal firearms, said Minister for Public Safety and Solicitor General John van Dongen. B.C. Solicitor General John van Dongen says putting more resources in courtrooms is an important part of curbing gang activity. (CBC) B.C. Solicitor General John van Dongen says putting more resources in courtrooms is an important part of curbing gang activity. (CBC) "Putting these additional police resources onto the street and backing them up with additional resources in the courtroom means we can dramatically increase our efforts to get these gangs off our streets," said van Dongen. RCMP spokesman Sgt. Tim Shields said gang members have replaced old fashioned pistols with serious weapons as a new way to send messages to rivals. "Now we're finding that criminals want to be associated with a gun like this. This is an AR15. And criminals are using guns like this or expensive handguns like Glocks as status symbols," Shields said Friday. The 10 new Crown prosecutors will be dedicated to work with police and prosecute gangs, bringing the total number of prosecutors working on gangs, guns and organized crime cases to 75 in B.C., said Attorney General Wally Oppal. In addition, those prosecutors will be directed to oppose bail when guns are used in the commission of a crime, and to take those cases straight to trial and seek maximum sentences, said Oppal. Changes sought in Ottawa "I'm going to Ottawa with the solicitor general to lobby for the changes we need to tackle gangs in British Columbia," said Oppal. "If you use a gun while committing a crime, you shouldn't get bail. We want an end to two-for-one credit for time served. And we need a modern wiretap regulation that recognizes new technologies like cellphones and other devices," said Oppal. The province will also invest $185 million to build 304 additional jail cells, including 180 cells at a new maximum security Lower Mainland pretrial centre in Burnaby. NDP leader calls for action Meanwhile the leader of the NDP is also calling for a broad range of initiatives to deal with gang violence. Just before the premier's announcement Carole James spoke in Vancouver, calling for tougher sentencing and more money devoted to policing and criminal prosecutions. "The kind of gang violence we're seeing right now in our communities has got to end," she said. James said the province needs to devote more resources to the problem, including more money to hire additional police officers and for community policing. She also called for dedicated units of experienced Crown lawyers to prosecute cases and stronger sentences for violent criminals.	Eighteen-year-old Joseph Randay and Dilsher Singh Gill, seventeen, were kidnapped Thursday evening and found dead Friday morning on Lower Sumas Mountain Road near Abbotsford, British Columbia. "All we know is that they were kidnapped at gunpoint and now they have found their bodies. The police said they are both dead...police have no leads," said Amarjit Randay, father of the one of the slain teenagers. "We're going through all our steps to try and get to the bottom of it," Cpl. Dale Carr of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Unit said, "I can tell you it is certainly perplexing how two young men — just weeks away from graduation — ended up in this fate. It's a very tragic case. Abbotsford, Fraser Valley District, BC Police believe the teens were kidnapped at gun point from the Bateman Park in Abbotsford following an altercation. The Vancouver Sun reported that Randay had communicated via Facebook networking with Mike Ahuja. Sunny Ahuja is associated with the Bacon brothers, alleged gang members. In March, there had been a drive-by shooting associated with the Ahuja home. The two teens were grade twelve students who attended W. J. Mouat Secondary School in Abbotsford, B.C. "We're adding more police officers to investigate, arrest and get violent criminals off the street, and we're dedicating more prosecutors to put criminals behind bars," said Premier Gordon Campbell. Over the next ten years, BC will deploy 168 more officers and ten prosecutors to combat gun crime, gangs and related violence. In April of 2009, over 150 arrests were conducted of alleged Hells Angels members and associates. Abbotsford, population 123,864, is reported as being the "theft capital of Canada." Its close proximity to the Canada – United States border facilitates the trading of marijuana with cocaine according to the Central Chronicle. Gang shootings have cost the lives of 110 Canadian youth of Indian origin over the past fourteen years, many of whom have been involved in drug gangs.
KILAUEA, Hawaii An 1890s-era plantation dam failed in the rugged hills above northern Kauai, sending water and mud surging through two homes and wiping out the only highway. Searchers found one person dead and were looking for at least seven others, some of them children who hadn't been seen since the deluge. The continuing rain was hampering the search and road-clearing efforts, and officials were worried that other old earthen dams in the area may have been catastrophically weakened by days of heavy rain, state Sen. Gary L. Hooser said. One dam in particular was in imminent danger of collapsing, Hooser told ABC's "Good Morning America." He said workers were trying to drain off the water behind it. "The entire island is kind of flooding in different parts," Hooser said Wednesday. "We're just hoping and praying for the rain to pass and the skies to clear and get on with the work of rebuilding the community." The water from the broken dam cut off access to thousands of rural houses and luxury condominiums along Kauai's north shore. "Sounded like a 747 jet crashing here in the valley, all the trees popping and snapping and everything," John Hawthorne said. "It was just a horrendous sound, and it never quit." (Story continues below) Advertise Here Advertisements Advertisements Related Video Wall of Water Search crews recovered the body of one man, and area residents said one family whose home was swept away was missing several children. "To my knowledge, there was no warning whatsoever," Hooser said. "We're still hopeful that we'll find some of the missing." Gov. Linda Lingle, who planned to tour the area Wednesday, extended state disaster programs and services Tuesday to the residents affected by recent rains and flooding. She also made loans available to people whose homes or businesses were damaged and authorized the use of National Guard troops to help with disaster relief. State officials were assessing the safety of other dams in the island's steep hills. Ed Teixeira, state vice director of civil defense, said officials were worried about erosion. "I would characterize this as a growing crisis on Kauai," he said. Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste said Wednesday that while there was a strong concern about the dams, "we believe most are in good shape." Nearly all of Hawaii's dams were built early in the past century before federal standards existed or the advent of the state's program for assessing dam and levee safety, according to Edwin Matsuda, an engineer who heads the state's safety programs. The 40-foot-high Kaloko Reservoir dam, which captured runoff from small streams, gave way about an hour before dawn Tuesday. Authorities estimated that about 1,400 acre-feet of water poured out of the reservoir, enough water to cover 1,400 acres a foot deep, or more than 60 million cubic feet. "You could hear a roar and trees breaking. It was nuts. It was totally loud," said Brendan O'Connor, who was awakened by the thunderous sound of rushing water. Officials feared Morita Reservoir's dam, located downstream from Kaloko, might also fail. "Everybody's on edge," resident Victoria Stamper said. Late Tuesday, road crews began clearing mud, trees and other debris from the highway by the truckload until work was stopped so water could be released from Morita Reservoir, state transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa said. One lifelong north shore resident, Be Chandler, waited patiently in her pickup truck in hopes her mother, who was stranded on the other side of the Kuhio Highway, would be allowed through. Her 74-year-old mother is in a wheelchair and requires dialysis three times a week. "Somehow, we have to get her over," said Chandler. "I'm just praying to see my mom." Roy Matsuda, lead forecaster at the Honolulu office of the National Weather Service, said Tuesday that a storm had dumped 5 to 6 inches of rain on Kauai in 24 hours. An exhausted Katie Carlin, of San Mateo, Calif., arrived Monday night with her husband and two young children only to find they were unable to reach their hotel room in Hanalei because of a flooded bridge. "We're trapped," she said. "It's small potatoes to what's going on here, but I just don't want to spend another night in the car." \|\|\|\|\| Updated at 5:17 p.m., Tuesday, March 14, 2006 One dead, 7 missing after Kaua'i dam burst Advertiser Staff Emergency crews work to clear trees from Kuhio Highway at Wailapa, where flood water overwhelmed drainage systems and blew across the road. After the Kaloko Reservoir dam on Kaua'i burst this morning, flood waters jumped the once-vegetated ridge of Wailapa Stream and ripped off its vegetation. Officials this afternoon were urging residents in the area of Morita Reservoir to evacuate due to concerns that Morita might breach. Morita sits downstream of Kaloko Reservoir, which breached this morning. The Kaloko Reservoir on Kauai'i's North Shore breached at 7:30 this morning, spilling 300 million gallons of water. Earlier, Kaloko Reservoir on Kauai'i's North Shore breached, spilling 300 million gallons of water. One person was found dead, seven people were reported missing and at least two houses were swept away, state and county civil defense officials said. The Coast Guard reported that one body was found about a mile from shore. The body was transported to the Kaua'i Medical Examiner's Office. The Coast Guard continued searching the waters off the flood area. The breach of the 400-million-gallon Kaloko Reservoir caused water to cover a 100-yard swath of Kuhio Highway between mile marker 21 and 22, near the vicinity of Wailapa Road. Vehicles are unable to pass in either direction, county civil defense officials said. Officials with Coast Guard base Sand Island, which sent a C-130 Hercules and H-65 Dolphin helicopter to Kaua'i, said it received a report from the Kaua'i Fire Department of seven people unaccounted for. Kaua'i fire officials did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment. The Coast Guard continued to search a two-mile area around Kilauea Stream and Kilauea Bay for people who may have been swept downstream after the dam broke, the Coast Guard said. Hawai'i Air and Army National Guardsmen on Kaua'i have been activated. Emergency workers on Kaua'i are also working to divert water from the Waita Reservoir on the Garden Island's South shore. The Waita Reservoir is the largest man-made reservoir in the state and near is near the town of Koloa. A spokeswoman in the Kaua'i Mayor's office said three emergency shelters were opened at Kilauea Neighborhood Center and Kula School on the north end and at Kalaheo Neighborhood Center on the south end. Civil Defense officials are urging Koloa residents who live near the Waikomo Stream to evacuate to the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. A water main along Wailapa Road also has broken so residents in the area are urged to conserve water. Those affected by the waterline break are being served with portable water by Department of Water personnel Residents of the Wailapa area said they heard the noise of the flood about 5:30 a.m., and that the water came fast and stayed high for at least an hour. "It sounded like 10 jet engines come at us from that direction," said Wailapa Road resident Olivia Gulish. "It was pitch black. But you could see this huge crest coming toward us." A nearby resident, Ken Koeller, said the water and debris came within 10 feet of the house where he lived. "They say when you hear a freight train, run. I did," he said. A few hours later, Koeller was among searchers climbing through the flood debris, looking for victims. He found construction debris, refrigerators, family photographs and bedding. \|\|\|\|\| Posted at 4:58 p.m., Tuesday, March 14, 2006 Emergency declaration issued on Kaua'i Advertiser Staff Emergency officials are reminding residents that the makai side of Kuhio Highway in Kilauea between mile markers 21 and 22 near Morita Reservoir is an evacuation area and they should stay away from the area for safety reasons. Traffic is being diverted from Kapaia Hill. Westbound drivers are advised to take Kapule Highway, not Kuhio Highway, into Hanama'ulu. Motorists heading east are advised to take Ahukini Road to Kapule Highway. Kuhio Highway at Kapaia Hill is temporarily closed while utility crews are working and traffic is being diverted from the area. Morita Reservoir in Kilauea is being monitored for signs of potential breaching. Residents who live in the area are urged to evacuate. The Kilauea Neighborhood Center and Kula School are open as shelters for those who need to evacuate on the North Shore. Previously, Koloa residents who live near the Waikomo Stream were urged to evacuate to the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. Emergency officials have since deemed it safe for these residents to return to their homes. There are seven people reported missing in the Kilauea area. Rescue specialists from various state and county agencies are conducting a search for these individuals. A water main along Wailapa Road has broken so residents in the area are urged to conserve water. Those affected by the waterline break are being served with potable water by Department of Water personnel. As of this writing, officials with the National Weather Service have downgraded conditions over Kaua'i to a flash flood watch. However, they caution that this could change at anytime. \|\|\|\|\| In this photo made Tuesday, March 14, 2006, by the Kauai county government, Morita Reservoir is seen. An earthen dam burst on Kauai on Tuesday, sending a 50-foot wave into the Pacific Ocean, sweeping away at least two houses and washing out the only road along the island's north shore. One person was killed and as many as seven others were reported missing. Authorities tried to drain the Morita reservoir to relieve the pressure on that dam. (AP Photo/Kauai county government) By JAYMES SONG KILAUEA, Hawaii Mar 14, 2006 (AP) An earthen dam burst on the Hawaiian island of Kauai on Tuesday, sweeping away at least two houses and washing out the only road along the island's north shore. One person was killed and as many as seven others were reported missing. The Kaloko Reservoir dam gave way without warning after days of heavy rain, cutting off access to thousands of rural houses and luxury condominiums. Search crews recovered an unidentified body, Coast Guard spokesman Michael De Nyse said. Though a search plane and a helicopter had returned to base late Tuesday, the Coast Guard was still searching for victims in the floodwaters. The Kaloko dam, about 40 feet high and 800 feet long, captured runoff from small streams. Authorities estimated that about 1,400 acre-feet of water poured out of the reservoir, which is enough water to cover 1,400 acres a foot deep, or more than 60 million cubic feet. Debris from the wall of water could be seen clinging to electrical wires. The surge uprooted 200-foot trees, taking out garages, sheds and massive dirt embankments. "Sounded like a 747 jet crashing here in the valley, all the trees popping and snapping and everything," Kilauea resident John Hawthorne said. "It was just a horrendous sound, and it never quit." State officials were assessing the safety of other dams in the Kauai hills, which are dotted with private earthen dams such as the one that broke open. Ed Teixeira, state vice director of civil defense, said in Honolulu that officials were worried about erosion caused by floodwaters. "I would characterize this as a growing crisis on Kauai," Teixeira said. Parts of golf courses and shopping center parking lots were flooded, and major runoff into the normally blue ocean turned the waves muddy all around the popular resort island. State Rep. Hermina Morita, whose district includes the area where the dam failed, said a constituent who had spent the night away from home returned and was searching for four family members. There was no warning about the dam's strength or the amount of water in the reservoir behind it, Morita said. \|\|\|\|\| In this photo made Tuesday, March 14, 2006, by the Kauai county government, Morita Reservoir is seen. An earthen dam burst on Kauai on Tuesday, sending a 50-foot wave into the Pacific Ocean, sweeping away at least two houses and washing out the only road along the island's north shore. One person was killed and as many as seven others were reported missing. Authorities tried to drain the Morita reservoir to relieve the pressure on that dam. (AP Photo/Kauai county government) By JAYMES SONG KILAUEA, Hawaii Mar 14, 2006 (AP) An earthen dam burst on the Hawaiian island of Kauai on Tuesday, sweeping away at least two houses and washing out the only road along the island's north shore. One person was killed and as many as seven others were reported missing. The Kaloko Reservoir dam gave way without warning after days of heavy rain, cutting off access to thousands of rural houses and luxury condominiums. Search crews recovered an unidentified body, Coast Guard spokesman Michael De Nyse said. Though a search plane and a helicopter had returned to base late Tuesday, the Coast Guard was still searching for victims in the floodwaters. The Kaloko dam, about 40 feet high and 800 feet long, captured runoff from small streams. Authorities estimated that about 1,400 acre-feet of water poured out of the reservoir, which is enough water to cover 1,400 acres a foot deep, or more than 60 million cubic feet. Debris from the wall of water could be seen clinging to electrical wires. The surge uprooted 200-foot trees, taking out garages, sheds and massive dirt embankments. "Sounded like a 747 jet crashing here in the valley, all the trees popping and snapping and everything," Kilauea resident John Hawthorne said. "It was just a horrendous sound, and it never quit." State officials were assessing the safety of other dams in the Kauai hills, which are dotted with private earthen dams such as the one that broke open. Ed Teixeira, state vice director of civil defense, said in Honolulu that officials were worried about erosion caused by floodwaters. "I would characterize this as a growing crisis on Kauai," Teixeira said. Parts of golf courses and shopping center parking lots were flooded, and major runoff into the normally blue ocean turned the waves muddy all around the popular resort island. State Rep. Hermina Morita, whose district includes the area where the dam failed, said a constituent who had spent the night away from home returned and was searching for four family members. There was no warning about the dam's strength or the amount of water in the reservoir behind it, Morita said. \|\|\|\|\| Search efforts continue after Hawaii dam bursts One body found, six missing as mud, debris released on Kauai Bruce Asato / AP The earthen dam holding back water in the Kaloko Reservoir burst on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, on Tuesday, sweeping away at least two houses and washing out the only road along the island's north shore. KILAUEA, Hawaii - Searchers with dogs looked for bodies in the mud and debris Wednesday after a dam break released a roaring, tree-snapping torrent of water and raised fears about the safety of dozens of similar dams across Hawaii. Search crews found one body and looked for many as six other people, all from one family. The century-old earthen dam collapsed before dawn Tuesday after days of heavy rain swelled the Kaloko Reservoir behind it. The water swept away houses on two multimillion-dollar properties in the rugged hills of the island of Kauai, cutting a three-mile path of destruction to the sea. "From the air, the ground and even the photographs, the devastation is drastic," Gov. Linda Lingle said during a helicopter tour. Officials feared another dam downstream might also fail, and crews worked to pump water out of its reservoir. Structural experts arrived to inspect the reservoir, as heavy rains continued across the island and were expected to continue through Friday. "Everybody's on edge," resident Victoria Stamper said. Other dams examined State officials were assessing the safety of other dams in the island's steep hills. Ed Teixeira, state vice director of civil defense, said, "I would characterize this as a growing crisis on Kauai." Nearly all of Hawaii's dams were built early in the past century before federal or state standards existed, according to Edwin Matsuda, an engineer who heads the state's dam safety programs. Many date to the 1890s, when sugar plantations dotted the islands. Like the dam on the Kaloko Reservoir, many are privately owned earthen structures. The governor placed responsibility for repairing and maintaining reservoirs on the private owners but acknowledged that the state was failing in its responsibility to monitor the condition of Hawaii's dams, including 60 on Kauai. "Are the 60 monitored on a regular basis? They are not," she said, noting that the state office responsible has only one full-time employee and a part-time clerk. Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste, who joined Lingle on the flight over the island, said there were concerns about some other dams, but officials "believe most are in good shape." Safety concerns in October In October, the American Society of Civil Engineers said at least 22 dams in the Hawaiian Islands had deficiencies that raised safety concerns. The society has been monitoring 130 dams in Hawaii. The dam on the Kaloko Reservoir was not on the list of dams rated "high-hazard" structures that could cause deaths and significant damage if they failed. When the 40-foot-high dam broke, "you could hear a roar and trees breaking. It was nuts. It was totally loud," said Brendan O'Connor, who was awakened by the thunderous sound. Concrete slabs were all that remained where large houses and other buildings once stood in a forested area of high-priced properties. © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Print this Email this	On March 14, 2006, the Ka Loko Reservoir on the Hawaiian island of Kauai gave way around 5 a.m. after several days of torrential rains and thunder. The resulting wave destroyed coastal highways, killed one person, and left seven others missing. The missing and dead count is expected to increase as searchers investigate the waters that flowed into the Pacific. Even though Kauai had received 5-6 inches of rain in the past day, most residents admitted that the island was not prepared for this situation. Although oil was spilled into the water, there has been no sighting of significant damage. This dam break has many concerned about the possibility of another reservoir break, especially since most of Hawaii's reservoirs are at least a century old and privately owned. Engineers have begun to drain both the Morita and Waita Reservoirs, also on Kauai, to prevent any possible breaks. Although the governor stated that most of the responsibility for privately owned reservoirs belongs to the owners, she did admit that the state was also failing in its monitoring responsibilities, noting that the department in charge of monitoring reservoirs only has two employees. Although the primary owner, the Mary N. Lucas Trust, has made no comment, a partial owner, Mr. Jimmy Pflueger, has admitted he was devastated by the damage done by the reservoir. The dam, 40 feet high and 80 feet long, released 300-400 million gallons of water, about 1400 acre-ft. Many tourists, as well as native residents, have been stranded without transportation, as the destruction of the main Lihue highway, the Kuhio Highway, has closed down the airport. The Coast Guard has taken over the main part of the search, although Hawaii National Guards has also been activated. Kauai County's mayor has declared Kauai to be in a state of emergency.
With Move to Remote Voting, House Alters What It Means for Congress to Meet For 231 years, to cast a vote or fully participate in a hearing, lawmakers were required to be present. That could change today. \|\|\|\|\| TOKYO The U.S. and North Korea may hold talks in New York as early as next week aimed at working toward the resumption of six-country discussions on Pyongyang's nuclear program, a newspaper reported Saturday. Citing unnamed sources familiar with U.S.-North Korea affairs, Japan's Mainichi newspaper reported that officials from the two countries will discuss, among other issues, financial sanctions imposed on North Korea. Tony Fratto, a White House spokesman, said he was not aware of any plans for a meeting. A State Department spokesman, Kurtis Cooper, said he could not comment on the report. Last year, Washington claimed that Banco Delta Asia SARL — a bank in the Chinese territory of Macau — was being used by North Korea for money-laundering. The U.S. banned transactions between the bank and American financial institutions. Earlier this month, the State Department said North Korea will get a chance to seek access to its frozen overseas bank accounts when six-nation negotiations are resumed. North Korea agreed to return to the talks — involving the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia — following its test of a nuclear weapon on Oct. 9, a move that triggered international outrage and economic sanctions. No date has yet been set for their resumption. (Story continues below) Advertise Here Advertisements Advertisements North Korea, which claims its nuclear ambitions are aimed at deterring U.S. attacks, has boycotted the nuclear talks since November 2005 since the U.S. imposed economic sanctions on the country. U.S. and North Korean officials had a direct meeting in Beijing on Oct. 31, which the North said at the time led to their decision to return to the six-party talks. Meanwhile, top South Korean security and ruling party officials on Saturday decided against fully participating in a U.S.-led program to stop and search ships in international waters to prevent the movement of weapons of mass destruction, a news report stated. The U.S. has said it wants South Korea to expand its participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative following the North's nuclear test and a U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution banning weapons trade with the North. North Korea is a primary target of the initiative. South Korea has only been an observer to the program out of concern its direct participation in stopping and searching North Korean ships could lead to armed clashes with its volatile neighbor. Saturday's decision will become official after a formal government review process and a report to President Roh Moo-hyun, Yonhap news agency reported, citing unidentified participants in the session involving Prime Minister Han Myung-sook, key security officials and ruling party leaders.	Reports have surfaced that officials from North Korea may meet with officials from the United States in New York City to talk about the sanctions against North Korea and other problems between the two countries. The meeting may take place sometime next week and is aimed at getting 6-party talks, regarding North Korea's nuclear program, back on track. Despite the reports by media sources, in has denied that any plans of the sort exist. "We are not aware of any plans for a meeting," said a spokesman for the White House, Tony Fratto. Officials at the refused to comment on the reports. "I cannot comment on the reports," said a spokesman for the State Department, Kurtis Cooper. On October 31, 2006, officials from the U.S. met with North Korean officials in , which led the North Koreans to agree to return to 6-party talks regarding North Korea's nuclear program.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. A panel probing fraud claims in the Afghan election has found Hamid Karzai did not gain enough valid votes for an outright win, the BBC understands. Preliminary results from August's first round had placed Mr Karzai comfortably over the 50% plus one vote threshold needed to avoid a run-off. But one poll monitoring group estimates that almost one million of Mr Karzai's votes have now been deemed invalid. Poll rules say Mr Karzai must now face a run-off against his nearest rival. In Washington, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she expected Mr Karzai to announce on Tuesday how he would "set the stage" to resolve the country's political crisis. "I am very hopeful that we will see a resolution in line with the constitutional order in the next several days," Mrs Clinton said. ANALYSIS Lyse Doucet, BBC News, Kabul When this tangled process began, the ECC, the only electoral body composed of Afghan and foreign representation, was regarded as the "final arbiter". The IEC's role was to ratify and announce the results. The IEC is accused by many of being too close to a president who appointed all its commissioners. It now says it needs "a day or two" to examine the details of the ECC report. One source warned of a possible "train crash". Others are still hoping a compromise can emerge at this critical 11th hour. President Karzai has repeatedly warned foreign countries not to interfere in the election process. Sources say he firmly believes Western countries, in particular the United States and Britain, are conspiring to rob him of victory. Endgame for Afghan elections? She added that she was "encouraged at the direction the situation is moving". In its much-anticipated report on Monday, the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) ordered that ballots from 210 polling stations be discounted. The panel said it had found "clear and convincing evidence of fraud" at the polling stations, which were across the country. Initial results released last month had given him nearly 55% of votes, with former foreign minister Mr Abdullah on 28%. The Afghan president has insisted he won the election outright, but EU observers have said as many as one in four votes cast were suspicious. According to Democracy International, a US group involved in monitoring the Afghan election, Mr Karzai's share of the vote has now fallen to just over 48%. The group says its own calculations - based on their understanding of the workings of the ECC - now give Mr Karzai 48.29% of the overall vote and Abdullah Abdullah 31.5%. The US and the UK both really want Hamid Karzai to establish a more broadly based government, by including his rival Abdullah Abdullah Mark Mardell, BBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in full Although there has been no official reaction from Mr Karzai to the vote probe, he told the UN secretary general he would "fully respect the constitutional order", according to a UN spokeswoman quoted by AFP. The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says the Afghan leader believes an election victory has been stolen from him and he is threatening to block attempts to hold any second round. But Washington - which has been debating a request for 40,000 more US troops to be sent to Afghanistan - warned at the weekend no more soldiers would be deployed until a political resolution was reached. A spokesman for the UN in Afghanistan, Aleem Siddique, said on Monday they now expected the IEC to "swiftly" announce either final results or a runoff. AFGHAN ELECTION BODIES Election Commission Constitutional body appointed by Afghan president to oversee polls Registers voters, runs polling stations, issues results Accountable to Afghan parliament and people Electoral Complaints Commission Independent panel, two of its five members are Afghans Investigates allegations of fraud and passes findings to IEC Reports to IEC but law states IEC must accept ECC findings Q&A: Afghan election Afghan poll: Possible outcomes In the last few days Western leaders and diplomats have engaged in a rapid round of diplomacy to get Mr Karzai to accept the election results. But our correspondent says that for now that pressure does not seem to have worked. The ECC launched its investigation in the wake of the 20 August vote as allegations of mass fraud began to emerge. The panel reports to the Independent Election Commission (IEC), which will make the final announcement on the election outcome. The IEC is widely regarded as pro-Karzai, but it is legally bound to accept the ECC's findings. Ex-foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah is Hamid Karzai's nearest rival However, the Canadian head of the ECC, Grant Kippen, told the BBC on Monday his panel's investigation "met international standards and was open, thorough and transparent". Diplomats have accused the IEC of stalling to give the president more time to reach a deal with Mr Abdullah, possibly on power-sharing to avoid a run-off. Even if a second round is required, many analysts have said Mr Karzai, a Pashtun from the country's largest ethnic group, would probably still win. With violence at its worst levels across Afghanistan since the Taliban were ousted in 2001, there are warnings the ongoing political paralysis will only embolden the militants. Are you in Afghanistan? What is your reaction to the ECC report? Send us your views using the form below. Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Afghanistan's Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) is set to announce the results of its investigation into allegations of fraud during August's presidential election. It has been recounting a sample of suspect ballots and its findings could force a second round of voting. BBC News examines possible scenarios. KARZAI IS DECLARED THE WINNER As results stand presidential incumbent Hamid Karzai leads preliminary results with about 55% of the vote, considerably ahead of former foreign minister Dr Adbdullah Abdullah, who has 28%. Karzai questions vote fraud panel High stakes in Afghan vote recount A candidate needs to secure more than 50% of the vote to avoid a second round run-off. The votes that are confirmed by the ECC to be suspect are likely to be invalidated by Afghanistan's election commission. If Mr Karzai retains more than 50% of the vote even after votes are invalidated then he will be confirmed as the victor and there will be no second round of voting. Hamid Karzai would then embark on another five-year term as president. This result may anger supporters of his nearest challenger Dr Abdullah - primarily Tajiks and Uzbeks based in the north of the country - where Dr Abdullah won the majority of the vote. There is the possibility of demonstrations by people in these areas angered by the outcome of the recount. But this would also depend on the margin of victory for Hamid Karzai. It is still not clear if Dr Abdullah will accept the results should Mr Karzai be declared the winner even after the recount. AFGHANISTAN PREPARES FOR A RUN-OFF If votes for Hamid Karzai fall below 50% after ballots are invalidated then the constitution states that there has to be a second round run-off between the two candidates with the most votes. AFGHAN FRAUD ALLEGATIONS 30 Sep: UN recalls envoy Peter Galbraith following row over the vote recount process 15 Sep: ECC chief says 10% of votes need to be recounted 8 Sep: Poll complaints body orders some recounts nationwide 8 Sep: IEC says votes from 600 polling stations "quarantined" 3 Sep: Claims 30,000 fraudulent votes cast for Karzai in Kandahar 30 Aug: 2,000 fraud allegations are probed; 600 deemed serious 20 Aug: Election day and claims 80,000 ballots were filled out fraudulently for Karzai in Ghazni 18 Aug: Ballot cards sold openly and voter bribes offered Election: Main fraud allegations This has to be held within two weeks of the announcement. But the rapid onset of winter from early November will make matters difficult. Severe winter weather is likely to make parts of the country almost inaccessible. There is fear that the journey to a local polling station in the depths of winter will simply be too gruelling for many Afghans. In addition, the authorities will have to once again mobilise election officials, polling stations, polling cards, security and organise the collection of ballot boxes and counting. Decisions about the location of polling stations and the staff they hire to man them will also have to be made to prevent repeating mistakes made in the first round. The election itself took months to plan. The run-off would have a matter of weeks. But authorities are reported to have already printed ballot papers. Correspondents say there is no guarantee that the authorities could prevent the security breaches and corruption that marred the first round. But delaying a vote until the spring could leave Afghanistan in political limbo at a time when major Western powers are pondering whether to send more troops or not - leaving the way open for militants to make their mark. Many analysts suggest a substantial delay is highly unlikely. A UNITY GOVERNMENT BRINGS OPPONENTS TOGETHER Another option which has been mooted is that the main challengers form a power-sharing government. Many ballot boxes were quarantined after the elections Even if Mr Karzai's vote drops below 50% there is the possibility that a deal is brokered whereby members of Dr Abdullah's team are somehow included in a Karzai cabinet. Dr Abdullah himself may even be included even though he has previously ruled himself out of such an arrangement. However, in recent days he has appeared to have softened his stance. In comments to the press on Wednesday, Dr Abdullah said: "Once results are announced, I would be open to dialogue." And in an interview on US television earlier this week, Mr Karzai said that for the past seven years, he had been known as "a man who brings inclusiveness". "The unity of [the] Afghan people is paramount here and we will continue to strive for that," he said. TRADITIONAL LOYA JIRGA TO RESTORE LEGITIMACY Some analysts have suggested that one possible course of action is that a loya jirga - a traditional tribal gathering of senior politicians and tribal leaders - meets to broker a solution to the impasse at some point in the political process. This could happen at any time whether or not Hamid Karzai retains 50% of the vote after fraudulent ballots are discarded. One possible scenario is that a run-off is called, Mr Karzai wins a second round, but he still convenes a loya jirga at the end of it all to suggest solutions which could restore legitimacy and credibility to a bedevilled process. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| What do you think? Help us improve The Times. We welcome your feedback, suggestions and ideas. Click here to send us your feedback. Need help from our Customer Services team? You can contact the team via the following channels: Live Chat Twitter Email Telephone: +0044 20 7711 1523 \|\|\|\|\| Login Enter your details below to login Email address Password Keep me logged in information Keeps you logged in for a rolling 15 days or until you logout Forgot your password?	President Hamid Karzai Initial results gave Afghan President Hamid Karzai more than the 50% of votes necessary to re-elect him in the country's recent presidential elections. However, after a month of speculation about vote-rigging, officials from the United Nations-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) have discounted ballots from 210 polling stations. European Union observers have claimed that as many as one in four votes may be in doubt. The Afghanistan ECC has published a report about their investigation into allegations which emerged after the polls two months ago. The EEC has stated that there was "clear and convincing evidence of fraud" at polling stations throughout the country. As the ECC reports to the Independent Election Commission (IEC) no official announcement has been made yet, although by law the IEC is obliged to accept the EEC findings; however foreign diplomats have suggested that the IEC may not accept the findings. President Karzai has refused to accept the investigation's findings, which reduce his share of the vote from around 55% to under 50%, leading to what Mohammad Moin Marastyal, one of the campaign team members, describes as "deadlock". Marastyal claims that the EEC deliberately altered the facts to force a runoff. "Effort has been made to lower Karzai's vote to below 50 per cent," he stated. "Now we are in a deadlock." The EEC announcement was expected at the weekend, but was delayed whilst foreign diplomats attempted to persuade President Karzai to accept a runoff vote with his main rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah. The UN sent its top envoy, Kai Eide, who has been meeting daily with both contenders. The United States is still considering its position on troop numbers in Afghanistan. White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel said yesterday: "I think it would be irresponsible and ... it would be reckless to make a decision on US troop level if, in fact, you haven't done a thorough analysis of whether in fact there's an Afghan partner ready to fill that space."
The number of Americans who had been infected with the coronavirus before the holiday surge may have been twice as high as official tallies indicated. \|\|\|\|\| About 300 firefighters are involved in the rescue effort A Metrolink commuter train struck a car, derailed and collided with another commuter train. One of the trains then ploughed into a parked freight train. The accident happened at the height of the morning rush hour in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale. Police have arrested a man and are expected to bring charges. Hundreds of firefighters searched the scene for survivors. "For me this is the worst train accident I have ever seen," said LA Fire Department chief Captain Rex Vilaubi. The two double-decker Metrolink commuter trains were travelling near Union Station in downtown LA - one heading to Burbank and another from Moorpark - when the crash happened at 0600 local time (1400 GMT). The train tilted, everyone was screaming and I held onto a pole for dear life Passenger Diane Brady In pictures: LA crash 'It was like a bomb blast' Police Chief Randy Adams announced the arrest of a "deranged" man who had been driving the car, and said he would be charged with homicide. He identified the driver as Juan Manuel Alvarez, 26, of Compton. "I think his intent... was to take his own life but changed his mind prior to the train actually striking this vehicle," he told reporters. Following the collision, one of the train carriages caught fire and another ended up on its side. One of the trains also hit a stationary Union Pacific freight train, said to be carrying gravel, pushing it off the tracks. Investigation "I heard a noise. It got louder and louder," passenger Diane Brady, 56, of Simi Valley, was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying. "And next thing I knew the train tilted, everyone was screaming and I held onto a pole for dear life. I held on for what seemed like a week and a half, it seemed. It was a complete nightmare." Television pictures showed some of the 300 firefighters, in light rain, searching for survivors in smoking and overturned carriages. Helicopters and sniffer dogs were brought in to help to help find people trapped in the wreckage. Around 200 people were treated on colour-coded plastic mats set up close to the crash site to act as temporary triage areas. Officials said 100 people were taken to hospital and described it as a "very difficult morning". Did you witness the crash? Send us your comments and experiences using the form on the right. Very early this morning, when I was waking up I could hear sirens. The emergency vehicles were on the way to the crash. I heard sirens, all different kinds of them, for what seemed like an hour. A massive response had been launched. It is typical to hear sirens in LA but never have I heard so many of them, for so long, and so loud. It was quite chilling, and I hope to never hear that again. Jim Bornzin, Los Angeles I cross these tracks every morning to get to work in Glendale. Like most rail crossings, the tracks have barriers that come down when a train is nearing. The crash took place about a 1/2 mile from my work. It is in an area near some homes, but mostly is in a business area. I'm sorry for the loss of life. Michelle, Glendale, USA It's really not a very good sign that accidents like this happen still today. But thank God that there are only few people killed by this crash which is a little wonder although it were three trains. Korbinian Ober, Munich, Germany I commute to work in Los Angeles on the Metrolink trains every day of the week. To think that someone would deliberately put a car on the tracks - knowing that it will cost lives - is unbelievable. My heart goes out to all the lives and families affected by such a careless act. Lynn, Ontario, California, USA \|\|\|\|\| Ten people were killed and up to 200 injured when a commuter train smashed into a car left on a crossing by a suicidal man, derailed and crashed into another train, authorities said. The driver changed his mind about suicide and left the sports utility vehicle before it was hit, Police Chief Randy Adams said. The man was to be charged with murder, he said.	Ten people are dead and up to 200 injured after three trains crashed in Glendale, a suburb of Los Angeles. Two passenger trains and a freight train carrying gravel collided at 6:05 a.m. local time during the morning rush hour. Both passenger trains were double-decker Metrolink trains, one northbound from Union Station, the other southbound. One train overturned, and the other caught fire. The northbound train normally carries 30 to 50 passengers. The southbound train normally has 200 to 250 people on board. Over 300 firefighters are attending the scene. The chief of police of Glendale reported at a press conference that a man trying to commit suicide drove his car onto the train tracks, but apparently changed his mind and left the vehicle before the impact, leaving the vehicle on the tracks. The suspect was taken into custody by police officers who arrived at the scene of the accident and has, according to the police, already admitted driving the vehicle onto the tracks.
Danny Dichio's two goals in the first half failed to lead Toronto to victory against hosts D.C. United. (P.Giamou/Getty) WASHINGTON -- Toronto FC has defended exceptionally well all season except at RFK Stadium. Despite a late surge, D.C. United came from behind to defeat Toronto FC at RFK Stadium, snapping their four-game losing streak. Conversely, the loss ended Toronto's six-game unbeaten streak. TFC has given up just 12 goals all season but seven have been to D.C. United in Washington. Danny Dichio scored on TFC's only two shots on the first half but they could not hold onto the lead as United converted on a penalty kick and a rebound after spending the better part of the match in the Toronto's end of the field. Dichio converted his third goal of the season on Toronto's first opportunity, in just the 13th minute. Dichio slipped behind United center back Gonzalo Peralta, nodding home a Jim Brennan cross. Laurent Robert sprung Brennan with a smart ball behind Bryan Namoff down the left flank. Toronto continued the pressure in the 20th minute but were not able to capitalize on a 4-on-2 counterattack that was started by Guevara and culminated with a shot from the diminutive Honduran that was deflected away by Namoff. United nearly equalized but Sutton was equal to Jaime Moreno's low, left footed blast from 19 yards out in the 28th minute. The rebound went directly Luciano Emilio but Wynne quickly closed him down to knock the shot away from inside of 10 yards. Sutton needed to be sharp again in the 35th minute on a shot from Marcelo Gallardo from 19 yards out on the right side. Gallardo picked up a bouncing ball after a poor clearing attempt by two TFC players and waltzed unopposed to the top of the penalty area but Sutton flashed the knuckling shot over bar with two hands. United scored a well-deserved equalizer on a corner kick just four minutes before halftime. Devon McTavish flicked a Jaime Moreno corner kick to the back post that Peralta finally pushed over the line with a diving header to make the score 1-1. The goal ended a 272-minute shutout streak for Sutton and TFC, spanning over three games including Wednesday's win against United. Equality did not last long however as Dichio quieted the suddenly hopeful United crowd with a clinical finish just seconds before the whistle for the break. Dichio won the ball some 30 yards from goal with a header directly to Amado Guevara and headed straight for the top of the penalty area. Guevara cut inside and easily slotted the ball to the unmarked Dichio whose shot from outside the box slipped just inside the left post. Of the seven shots that Dichio has taken all season, the four that have been on goal have scored and three of his four goals on the year have come against United, all this week. United continued to push the attack early in the second half. McTavish finished a run that started with him receiving a rolling ball from Wells at the other end of the field and after a few passes in between, ended with him being taken down after a late challenge by Brennan just inches outside of the penalty area. Toronto escaped however as Gallardo's bending free kick skimmed just off the crossbar in the 53rd minute. TFC dodged another bullet when Santino Quaranta's volley sailed wide in the 59th minute. Gallardo sent a perfectly weighted ball from midfield through to Namoff on the right flank, who floated an equally perfect ball to Quaranto on the back post. Emilio appeared to equalize in the 67th minute but Moreno was ruled offside on the initial ball from the right channel by Gallardo. Moreno's shot was not handled cleanly by Sutton with Emilio pouncing on the rebound. Moreno did equalize three minutes later, however, on a penalty kick in the 70th minute after Wynne pushed down Quaranta from behind with both hands well into the left side of the penalty area. On an eerily similar play to the disallowed goal, Emilio ran through and pounced on a rebound from a Quaranta shot from 25 yards out to give United a 3-2 lead just two minutes later. Quaranta ran full gallop through the TFC midfield before unleashing a blast that knuckled all the way through to Sutton, who again could not handle it cleanly. TFC's first significant second half attack did not come until the final quarter hour. Guevara collected a loose ball in midfield and sent it back into the United area, which Jarrod Smith knocked over the bar. A mad scramble in the penalty area in the final moments ended with appeals for a handball against United's Bryan Namoff denied and a red card issued to Laurent Robert immediately following the play. It was as close as TFC came for the equalizer before their club record streak came to an end. Chris Snear is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs. \|\|\|\|\| TFC can't hold onto lead, fall to D.C. United {eot} The Canadian Press 5/24/2008 10:21:38 PM WASHINGTON - Jaime Moreno scored on a penalty kick and Luciano Emilio had a goal off a rebound as D.C. United rallied in the second half to beat Toronto FC 3-2 on Saturday night. Danny Dichio scored two goals in the first half for Toronto, the second one in the closing seconds to give his team a 2-1 lead. But United tied the game at 1-1 on a diving header by Gonzalo Peralta, who beat Toronto (4-3-2) goalie Greg Sutton following a corner kick in the 41st minute. United (3-7-0) trailed 2-1 at halftime before Moreno tied the game in the 70th minute after Marvell Wynne was called for a foul on United's Santino Quaranta. The game-winner came two minutes later as Emilio scored unassisted off a rebound in front of the net to beat Sutton, who had allowed seven goals in his past seven games. United is 3-0 at home all-time against Toronto FC. It was the first loss for Toronto in its past seven games. Dichio, who has a team-high four goals, scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over United on Wednesday in Toronto. Toronto's Laurent Robert was given a red card and ejected in the closing seconds of the match. \|\|\|\|\| What is your favorite TFC team chant? 2008 Schedule Printable Schedule All-Time Results - single-game tickets - ticket packages - single-game tickets- ticket packages date opponent time (ET) / result tickets / highlights TV, Radio / attendance March 03/29 - Saturday @ Columbus Crew 4:00 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv April 04/05 - Saturday @ D.C. United 7:30 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv 04/13 - Sunday @ Los Angeles Galaxy 3:00 p.m. TeleFutura 04/19 - Saturday Real Salt Lake 12:30 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv 04/26 - Saturday Kansas City Wizards 3:30 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv May 05/01 - Thursday New York Red Bulls 7:00 p.m. ESPN2, Deportes 05/17 - Saturday Columbus Crew 3:30 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv 05/21 - Wednesday D.C. United 7:30 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv 05/24 - Saturday @ D.C. United 7:30 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv 05/31 - Saturday Los Angeles Galaxy 3:30 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv June 06/07 - Saturday @ Houston Dynamo 8:30 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv 06/14 - Saturday Colorado Rapids 7:00 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv 06/21 - Saturday Kansas City Wizards 3:30 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv 06/28 - Saturday @ New England Revolution 7:30 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv July 07/12 - Saturday @ Chicago Fire 8:30 p.m. FSC, FSE 07/19 - Saturday San Jose Earthquakes 3:00 p.m. HDNet Thursday, July 24 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game at BMO Field - Toronto, Canada MLS All-Stars To Be Determined 7:00 p.m. .... ESPN2, TeleFutura 07/28 - Monday @ Real Salt Lake 9:00 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv August 08/03 - Sunday FC Dallas 4:00 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv 08/09 - Saturday @ Colorado Rapids 4:00 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv 08/17 - Sunday @ New York Red Bulls 5:00 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv 08/23 - Saturday New England Revolution 7:30 p.m. FSC, FSE 08/30 - Saturday @ Chivas USA 10:30 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv September 09/06 - Saturday Chivas USA 4:00 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv 09/13 - Saturday Columbus Crew 3:30 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv 09/20 - Saturday @ Kansas City Wizards 8:00 p.m. HDNet 09/27 - Saturday Houston Dynamo 3:30 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv October 10/04 - Saturday @ New York Red Bulls 7:30 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv 10/11 - Saturday @ FC Dallas 8:30 p.m. FSC, FSE 10/18 - Saturday Chicago Fire 3:30 p.m. HDNet 10/25 - Saturday @ San Jose Earthquakes 10:00 p.m. DK, MLSLIVE.tv Sunday, November 23 MLS Cup 2008 - Home Depot Center - Carson, CA 3:30 p.m. .... ABC, TeleFutura TV Key Station DK = Direct Kick Deportes = ESPN Deportes FSC = Fox Soccer Channel FSE = Fox Sports en Español Dates and times are subject to change. All times Eastern (ET).	Toronto FC ended their 6 game undefeated streak after conceding 2 late goals in the 2nd Half. D.C. United also ended their 4 game losing streak. Danny Dichio scored on the only two shots in an excellent 1st half for Toronto FC. However, Toronto FC gave up 2 goals in 2 minutes in the 2nd Half. Toronto FC continued the pressure in the 20th minute but were not able to capitalize on a 4-on-2 counterattack that was started by Guevara and culminated with a shot from Guevara himself that was deflected away by Namoff. D.C. United scored an equalizer on a corner kick with 4 minutes left before halftime. Devon McTavish flicked a the ball to the back post that Peralta pushed over the line with a diving header to make the score 1-1. The goal ended a 272-minute shutout streak for Sutton and Toronto FC. The streak spaned over three games. Dichio scored with just seconds before Half-Time to regain Toronto FC's lead. D.C. United put a lot of pressure on Toronto FC in the 2nd Half. D.C. United pressure finally paid divedend when Moreno and Emilio score 2 goals in 2 minutes to take a 3-2 lead. The 2nd Half got worse for Toronto FC when French Winger Laurent Robert received a red card. Toronto FC's next game is the first ever Canadian Champions League game against Montreal Impact in Montreal.
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker and Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Donald F. Smith announced today that scientists at the New York State Food Lab oratory identified Aminopterin as a toxin present in cat food samples from Menu Foods, the manufacturer of the many brands of dog and cat food that are currently the subject of a nationwide recall. The Food Lab oratory received the pet food samples from a toxicologist at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University , where testing has been underway to try to identify the cause of kidney failure in dogs and cats that consumed the recalled brands of pet food. At Cornell’s request, the Food Lab oratory tested the samples for poisons and toxins, and identified Aminopterin in the pet food samples at a level of at least 40 parts per million. “We are pleased that the expertise of our New York State Food Lab oratory was able to contribute to identifying the agent that caused numerous illnesses and deaths in dogs and cats across the nation,” the Commissioner said. “New Yorkers can be assured that we have two of the nation’s leading laboratory programs in food safety and animal health working on this problem.” The Dean of the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine Donald F. Smith concurred by saying, “The close partnership between the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University and the Department of Agriculture and Markets was key to this finding.” Aminopterin, a derivative of folic acid, can cause cancer and birth defects in humans and can cause kidney damage in dogs and cats. Aminopterin is not permitted for use in the United States . On March 16, 2007 , Menu Foods initiated a recall of numerous varieties of dog and cat food that were manufactured at two of its plants in the United States between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007 . The products are both manufactured and sold under private-label and are contract-manufactured for several national brands. Information on the specific brands of pet food subject to the recall can be found at http://www.menufoods.com/recall. Since the recall, Department food inspectors have contacted all of the organizations that represent retail food and pet food stores to ensure that the stores were aware of the recall and that the recalled products had been removed from store shelves in New York State . New York State is home to two laboratories that are part of federal emergency lab networks, created through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after 9-11 to keep the nation’s animals and food supply safe. The New York State Food Lab oratory is part of the Federal Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) and as such, is capable of running a number of unique poison/toxin tests on food, including the test that identified Aminopterin. The New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University is a member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network and thus, is uniquely qualified to investigate the causes of animal health emergencies, like the sudden deaths of dogs and cats from the recently recalled pet food. Links to Federal Recalls: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fsis_Recalls/index.asp 2007 Press Releases \|\|\|\|\| The president of Menu Foods said Friday that company will take financial responsibility for pet owners who trace their animal's illness or death to contaminated pet food. (ABC News) By DAVID KERLEY and DAN CHILDS March 23, 2007 The president of pet food maker Menu Foods, which last week issued a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food after a rash of animal sickness and death, said today that the company would reimburse pet owners who can trace their pets' illnesses to the company's products. Earlier today, New York State veterinary health investigators announced that the pet food responsible for pet deaths around the country was contaminated with the rodent poison aminopterin. "A pet is an important part of any family," Paul Henderson, the president and CEO of Menu Foods, said at a Toronto press conference. "We understand what pet ownership is." While Henderson described himself as "angry" over the massive recall and the impact it has had on hundreds of pets, he also said the company has not stopped manufacturing at the two plants believed to have produced the contaminated pet food. Instead, he said the company, which manufactures nearly 100 brands of dog and cat food, will immediately begin testing any "suspect raw materials" to identify any additional contaminated products. "We have the support of our customers, we have the support of our employees," Henderson said. "We're confident in the future and we remain confident we can put this behind us." Investigators, meanwhile, are looking into whether the rat poison came into the United States on an ingredient used in the recalled food. ABC News has learned that Menu Foods bought wheat gluten, the only ingredient changed in its plants, from China. That possibility raises questions about the safety of pet and other food products in the United States. The chemical can cause kidney failure in dogs and cats, said Donald Smith, dean of Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, during the conference. Scientists at the state's food laboratory in Albany, N.Y., made the discovery a week after Menu Foods issued its recall. "This is one step in a long process that will lead us to know what has happened and how it has happened," Smith said. Aminopterin is not registered for use as a pesticide in the United States, and it has been known as a potential source of birth defects in humans. Interestingly, trials are under way to test the chemical's effectiveness in the treatment of certain types of cancer. ABC News first reported that the rodenticide may have been present in the wheat that was imported from China and used by Menu Foods, according to a source close to the investigation. Some Vets Remain Skeptical Some veterinary experts say they are still skeptical as to whether the chemical is responsible for the kidney damage the pets endured. "With the information that we have, none of us feel that this product fits the lesions we are seeing, but there may be information we don't know yet," said Lawrence McGill, a veterinary pathologist in Salt Lake City. "The feeling is that there are more questions than answers with this product." "Renal failure is not the expected response to these drugs," said Susan Weinstein, executive director of the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association. She added that most rodent poisons work as severe anticoagulants — meaning they cause the rats that ingest them to bleed to death. "Whether this particular toxin in this case can create renal failure depends on how this drug works in the body, which may be an entirely different pathway than the anticoagulants," Weinstein said. "Because we aren't yet familiar with this toxin, we can't be confident of the causation link." \|\|\|\|\| Story Highlights • Rat poison identified as aminopterin found in pet food • Substance also used to treat cancer • Class-action lawsuit filed against manufacturer • Recall announced March 16 after cats and dogs suffer renal failure Adjust font size: ALBANY, New York (AP) -- Rat poison was found in pet food blamed for the deaths of at least 16 cats and dogs, but scientists said Friday they still don't know how it got there and predicted more animal deaths would be linked to it. Also Friday, the company that produced the food expanded its recall to include all 95 brands of the "cuts and gravy" style food, regardless of when they were produced. The substance in the food was identified as aminopterin, a cancer drug that once was used to induce abortions in the United States and is still used to kill rats in some other countries, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said. The federal government prohibits using aminopterin for killing rodents in the United States. State officials would not speculate on how the poison got into the pet food, but said no criminal investigations had been launched. The pet deaths led to a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of dog and cat food produced by Menu Foods and sold throughout North America under 95 brand names. Some pets that ate the recalled brands suffered kidney failure, and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog. The company expanded the recall -- which initially covered only cans and pouches of food packaged from December 3 through March 6 -- after the FDA alerted it that some products remained on store shelves. There is no risk to pet owners from handling the food, officials said. The Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation into the pet deaths was focused on wheat gluten in the food. The gluten itself would not cause kidney failure, but it could have been contaminated, the FDA said. Bob Rosenberg, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Pest Management Association, said it would be unusual for the wheat to be tainted. "It would make no sense to spray a crop itself with rodenticide," Rosenberg said, adding that grain shippers typically put bait stations around the perimeter of their storage facilities. Scientists at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University and at the New York State Food Laboratory tested three cat food samples provided by the manufacturer and found aminopterin in two of them. The two labs are part of a network created after the September 11 terrorist attacks to keep the nation's animals and food supply safe. "Any amount of this product is too much in food," Hooker said. Aminopterin is highly toxic in high doses. It inhibits the growth of malignant cells and suppresses the immune system. In dogs and cats, the amount of aminopterin found -- 40 parts per million -- can cause kidney failure, according to Bruce Akey, director of Cornell's diagnostic center. "It's there in substantial amounts," Akey said. Donald Smith, dean of Cornell's veterinary school, said he expected the number of pet deaths to increase. "Based on what we've heard the last couple days, 16 is a low number," Smith said. Aminopterin is no longer marketed as a cancer drug, but is still used in research, said Andre Rosowsky, a chemist with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Rosowsky speculated that the substance would not show up in pet food "unless somebody put it there." Paul Henderson, chief executive of Ontario, Canada-based Menu Foods, said the company does not believe the food was tampered with because the recalled food came from two different plants, one in Kansas, one in New Jersey. Menu continues to produce food at the two plants. The company, already facing lawsuits, said Friday it is testing all the ingredients that go into the food. "We have a lot of work to do, and we are eager to get back to it," Henderson said. "This is a highly unusual substance." A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates was posted online by Menu Foods . The company also designated two phone numbers that pet owners could call for information: (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| Owners brought their pets to a New York animal health center, with many worried they might have been sickened by recalled dog or cat food. (ABC News) March 20, 2007 The death toll of pets that have reportedly died from eating contaminated food produced by Menu Foods of Canada has risen into the hundreds, a prominent veterinarian said. Idaho veterinarian Marty Becker, who has been tracking the number of reported deaths through his Pet Connection Web site, said he has received 241 reports of pet death from the food so far. He also said reports from almost 600 concerned pet owners suggest the official mortality numbers will end up even higher. "I think it's going to be scary," Becker said. The food, which was recalled late last week, is sold under nearly 100 brands, including some of the biggest names — Iams, Purina, Eukanuba, Science Diet and others. Thus far, the deadly contaminant in the food has not yet been identified. However, the pets who have been sickened and died show signs of kidney failure. The toxic food also appears to have more of an effect on cats than dogs. Owners Suffer Tragic Losses Jeff Burnton's two dogs suddenly stopped eating a week ago. Only one survived. "Last Sunday, she was a perfectly healthy normal 3-year-old Bernese mountain dog," Burnton said. "And as of Friday, she was on her last breath." His dog died of kidney failure after eating some of the pet food. Other pet owners experienced something similar with their cats and dogs. Beth and Mike Calhoun's dog Angus died in January, and Zoe, their cat, passed away a few weeks ago from kidney failure. Both ate the recalled pet food. "It was pretty brutal. He just looked awful. He was crying and his eyes were glazed over and I thought this just isn't right," Mike Calhoun said about Angus. "And the same thing with Zoe, the cat. I looked at her when I came home one day and I said, 'she's just not right.'" Becker said that since a voluntary recall was issued Friday for numerous popular brands of pet food, he and the veterinary experts in his office have been inundated with calls from concerned owners. "Locally, at our vets' practices, there are so many people calling and coming in," he said. "At one time pets were animals. When the animal was sick, it was disposed of. Now, it's a kid. "For these owners, anything that puts their kid at risk, they're going to panic." Becker advised owners to watch their pets closely for symptoms that would suggest poisoning. "You'll see lethargy, increased urination, increased consumption of water, loss of appetite," he said. Monday, the Food and Drug Administration said it believes that the wheat gluten used in the pet foods may have somehow become contaminated with mold or another toxin. The ingredient was used in plants in Kansas City and New Jersey. When the manufacturer tested the food from these plants on between 40 and 50 animals, 10 died. Are Top Brands Unhealthy? Since all the foods involved are "top-shelf" brands, the episode may leave many owners wondering whether the expensive designer foods they are buying for their pets are actually the best choice. The brands that have been recalled are "wet" foods — those that include soft food and gravy. Most pet owners who buy these foods do so with the intention of providing their pets with the very best in nutrition and safety. However, veterinarian Gary Thompson said that the extra investment in wet food may be largely a gimmick. "Canned food has no real advantage for pets over dry food," he said. "It's a purely cosmetic choice. People like it because it looks more like human food." He adds that he normally recommends dry food for pets because of dental health benefits — the crunching and chewing strengthen and cleans pets' teeth. Becker said that the advertising of certain brands of pet food also create a difficult choice for owners who want to give their pets the best but do not have all the information at hand to make an educated choice. "With food being so critically important, and with so many tantalizing ads, it is impossible for a pet owner to be able to make an intelligent choice," he said.	In a press release earlier today, New York State Agriculture Commissioner , along with Dean of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine Donald F. Smith, confirmed that scientists at the New York State Food Laboratory identified as a toxin present in cat food samples from Menu Foods. Menu Foods is the manufacturer of several brands of cat and dog food subject to a March 16, 2007 recall. Aminopterin is a drug used in chemotherapy for its properties and, in some areas outside the US, as a rat poison. Earlier reports stated that was a factor being investigated, and officials now state that the toxin would have come from Chinese wheat used in the pet food, where it is used for pest control. Investigators will not say that this is the only contaminant found in the recalled food, but knowing the identity of the toxin should assist veterinarians treating affected animals. The Food Laboratory tested samples of cat food received from a toxicologist at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University. The samples were found to contain the at levels of at least 40 parts per million. Commissioner Hooker stated, "We are pleased that the expertise of our New York State Food Laboratory was able to contribute to identifying the agent that caused numerous illnesses and deaths in dogs and cats across the nation." The press release suggests Aminopterin, a derivative of folic acid, can cause cancer and birth defects in humans and can cause kidney damage in dogs and cats. Aminopterin is not permitted for use in the United States. The New York State Food Laboratory is part of the Federal Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) and as such, is capable of running a number of unique poison/toxin tests on food, including the test that identified Aminopterin.
Register for NYTimes.com. Complete New York Times articles Up-to-the-minute breaking news In-depth multimedia presentations It's free and it only takes a minute! Member ID: Password: Forgot Your ID or Password? Remember my Member ID and password on this computer. \|\|\|\|\| Printer-friendly format E-mail this story March 16, 2005, 12:10PM Family handout Wanda Hudson holds her son, Sun, whose illness was characterized by short arms, short legs and lungs that were too small, doctors say. Baby dies after hospital removes breathing tube Case is the first in which a judge allowed a hospital to discontinue care By LEIGH HOPPER Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle The baby wore a cute blue outfit with a teddy bear covering his bottom. The 17-pound, nearly 6-month-old boy wiggled with eyes open, his mother said, and smacked his lips. • • • • • "I talked to him, I told him that I loved him. Inside of me, my son is still alive." Wanda Hudson , mother of Sun Hudson • • • • • Then at 2 p.m. Tuesday, a medical staffer at Texas Children's Hospital gently removed the breathing tube that had kept Sun Hudson alive since his birth Sept. 25. Cradled by his mother, he took a few breaths, and died. "I talked to him, I told him that I loved him. Inside of me, my son is still alive," Wanda Hudson told reporters afterward. "This hospital was considered a miracle hospital. When it came to my son, they gave up in six months. ... They made a terrible mistake." Sun's death marks the first time a U.S. judge has allowed a hospital to discontinue an infant's life-sustaining care against a parent's wishes, according to bioethical experts. A similar case involving a 68-year-old man in a vegetative state at another Houston hospital is before a court now. "It's sad this thing dragged on for so long. We all feel it's unfair, that a child doesn't have a chance to develop and thrive," said William Winslade, a bioethicist and lawyer who is a professor at the Institute for the Medical Humanities at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Paraphrasing the late Catholic theologian and ethicist Richard McCormick, Winslade added, "This isn't murder. It's mercy, and it's appropriate to be merciful in that way. It's not killing, it's stopping pointless treatment." The hospital's description of Sun — that he was motionless and sedated for comfort — has differed sharply from the mother's. Since February, the hospital has blocked the media from Hudson's invitation to see the baby, citing privacy concerns. "I wanted y'all to see my son for yourself," Hudson told reporters. "So you could see he was actually moving around. He was conscious." On Feb. 16, Harris County Probate Court Judge William C. McCulloch made the landmark decision to lift restrictions preventing Texas Children's from discontinuing care. However, an appeal by Hudson's attorney, Mario Caballero, and a procedural error on McCulloch's part prevented the hospital from acting for four weeks. Texas law allows hospitals to discontinue life-sustaining care, even if a patient's family members disagree. A doctor's recommendation must be approved by a hospital's ethics committee, and the family must be given 10 days from written notice of the decision to try and locate another facility for the patient. Texas Children's said it contacted 40 facilities with newborn intensive care units, but none would accept Sun. Without legal delays, Sun's care would have ended Nov. 28. Sun was born with a fatal form of dwarfism characterized by short arms, short legs and lungs too tiny, doctors said. Nearly all babies born with the incurable condition, often diagnosed in utero, die shortly after birth, genetic counselors say. Sun was delivered full term at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, but Hudson, 33, said she had no prenatal care during which his condition might have been discovered. He was put on a ventilator while doctors figured out what was wrong with him, and Hudson refused when doctors recommended withdrawing treatment. Texas Children's contended that continuing care for Sun was medically inappropriate, prolonged suffering and violated physician ethics. Hudson argued her son just needed more time to grow and be weaned from the ventilator. Another case involving a patient on life support — a 68-year-old man in a chronic vegetative state whose family wants to stop St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital from turning off his ventilator — was scheduled to be heard Tuesday by the Houston-based 1st Court of Appeals. But the case was transferred to the 14th Court of Appeals, which promptly issued a temporary injunction ordering St. Luke's not to remove the man's life support. No hearing date has been set. Chronicle reporter Todd Ackerman contributed to this report. [email protected] ADVERTISEMENT Return to top The newly designed Chronicle is now half-price for new subscribers! Houston Chronicle e-Edition Free 3-day sample	Sun Hudson, a six-month old Texas baby died last week when health care providers at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas removed his life support system over the objections of his mother. The action was authorized under the 1999 Futile Care Law which was signed into law by then-Gov. George W. Bush. Under the Texas Futile Care Law, health care workers are allowed to remove expensive life support for terminally ill patients if the patient or family is unable to pay the medical bills. Sun Hudson's mother is dealing with the aftermath of that law. "This hospital was considered a miracle hospital. When it came to my son, they gave up in six months," Wanda Hudson told reporters how she was forced to give up medical control of her son. "I talked to him, I told him that I loved him. Inside of me, my son is still alive." The hospital had blocked the media from the child, despite mother's invitation to see the baby. "I wanted y'all to see my son for yourself. So you could see he was actually moving around. He was conscious," she said. The event stirred national attention as it sparked comparisons to the Terri Schiavo case in Florida. A victim of severe, and otherwise terminal brain damage, Terri Schiavo's future is locked in a legal battle between her husband who wants to remove life support and her parents, who cite religious reasons for keeping their daughter alive. Michael Schiavo, husband of Terri Schiavo, was asked about the Hudson situation on the March 21 edition of CNN's ''Larry King Live.'' When King asked how Mr. Schiavo felt when he learned that President Bush had signed such a law in Texas while he was governor, Schiavo was at a loss of words. But Schiavo's lawyer did respond, saying, "Obviously, there's a tremendous amount of hypocrisy there ... it would lead one to believe that a lot of this was politically motivated, and I think that's what the American people have concluded." Schiavo's lawyer echoed the sentiments of Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, a Democrat, who raised the "hypocrisy" question when she first mentioned the 1999 Texas law issue on the House floor last week. Over the weekend, President Bush signed a special federal law that moved jurisdiction of the Schiavo case out of the state of Florida and into the U.S. federal court system after Florida courts ruled that Michael Schiavo had the right to remove Terri's life support, which includes a feeding tube and intravenous liquids. After signing the Schiavo Law Sunday, President Bush said, "It is wisest to always err on the side of life."
CMAJ January 2, 2007; 176 (1). doi:10.1503/cmaj.061370. © 2007 CMA Media Inc. or its licensors Public Health Community-associated MRSA: Superbug at our doorstep Michael Hawkes , Michelle Barton , John Conly , Lindsay Nicolle , Clare Barry and Elizabeth L. Ford-Jones Michael Hawkes, Michelle Barton and Elizabeth Ford-Jones are with the Department of Infectious Diseases, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont.; John Conly is with the Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Lindsay Nicolle is with the Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Clare Barry is with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Toronto, Ont. Correspondence to: Dr. John Conly, Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Room 930 North Tower, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403 29th St. NW, Calgary AB T2N 2T9; fax 403 944-1095; john.conly{at}calgaryhealthregion.ca While the potential for a devastating influenza pandemic has captured the imagination of the medical community and the population at large, another epidemic is currently raging in the United States and has already made inroads in Canada.1 Clones of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) are spreading with alarming rapidity and are replacing methicillin-sensitive strains of S. aureus as the most common cause of skin and soft-tissue infection. Methicillin resistance among community isolates of S. aureus has already exceeded a staggering 70% in Houston2 and Atlanta3 and threatens to emerge in force north of the border. CA-MRSA is an "old foe with new fangs"4: a pathogen combining virulence, resistance and an ability to disseminate at large.5 Most CA-MRSA infections involve the skin and soft tissue; however, severe and sometimes fatal infections have been observed, including sepsis, necrotizing pneumonia, purpura fulminans, pyomyositis and necrotizing fasciitis, even in healthy patients. To address this urgent problem, new guidelines for the management and prevention of CA-MRSA have been developed.6 Why develop new Canadian guidelines? Who are the guidelines for? Key recommendations Transmission of CA-MRSA, as is the case for methicillin-sensitive S. aureus, occurs through direct contact. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention summarize the modes of CA-MRSA transmission as the "5 Cs" (Box 1).19 Certain groups are disproportionately affected by CA-MRSA (Box 2), perhaps because of the prevalence of factors permissive for its transmission within these groups. Screening and decolonization Screening patients for colonization with MRSA has been used to direct infection control measures in hospital settings, but screening is less relevant in the community at large. In a recent US population-based survey, colonization with MRSA was detected in only 0.84% of the noninstitutionalized population.20 At present, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of eradication regimens,21 and therefore little reason to screen asymptomatic individuals. In exceptional situations, such as recurrent infections in a patient or within a family, or during an outbreak, screening for carriage of CA-MRSA and decolonization of carriers may be attempted. For eradication or reduction of CA-MRSA from carriers, some experts favour a combined approach (including intranasal mupirocin, topical antiseptics and 2 systemic agents), although other experts recommend the use of intranasal mupirocin alone. Surveillance Surveillance for methicillin resistance among community associated strains of S. aureus should be considered in order to direct empiric therapy of skin and soft-tissue infections, which may need to be modified if CA-MRSA rates increase. Groups recognized to be at high risk (Box 2) should be a particular focus of surveillance programs. Monitoring CA-MRSA in the community will require collaboration among clinicians, microbiology laboratories and public health departments. Prevention The goal of community control is to prevent the spread of CA-MRSA from an infected or colonized individual to others in the family or community. Individuals will need to take a proactive role: practising good hygiene, including consistent hand washing, covering any draining skin lesions and not sharing potentially contaminated personal articles. Physicians have a role to play in preventing the spread of CA-MRSA, by educating their patients (e.g., encouraging good personal hygiene practices), notifying public health authorities in the case of a suspected outbreak and by restricting the unnecessary use of antibiotics because this drives the selection of antibiotic-resistant organisms. Health authorities may also contribute by instituting education programs targeting physicians and individuals within the community, particularly those in high-risk groups, and by creating local programs to review antibiotic use and resistance. Of note, these control measures are not specific to CA-MRSA, and may also limit the spread of other organisms transmitted by direct contact. The Canadian guidelines address prevention and control measures in several specific situations that are summarized below: Households affected by CA-MRSA Within homes where CA-MRSA infection is detected, standard household cleaning products are adequate for cleaning the environment and washing the laundry, utensils and dishes. Day-care centres and schools Isolation of children with CA-MRSA in day-care centres or schools is not a practical solution and has a negative affect on the child's well-being. Instead, hygienic measures within the day care or school should be emphasized in order to reduce the risk of transmission (e.g., hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, staying home if ill). Hand washing can be promoted by ensuring the availability of products such as alcohol gel, and structuring activities to include opportunities for hand hygiene to be practised (e.g., before eating, after outdoor play). In addition, washing hands with soap and water after toilet use is to be encouraged. If a child has a draining wound that cannot be consistently covered, the child may be excluded from day care or school until wound healing occurs. Sports settings CA-MRSA transmission has been documented in several reports among athletes and those who participate in contact sports.6 Hygiene measures should be reinforced in this high-risk group, including using alcohol gel for hand hygiene when sinks are not available, showering after every practice or tournament, avoiding the sharing of towels and other personal-care items, regular cleaning of communal bathing areas, and cleaning or laundering of equipment (ideally after every use). Athletes with draining lesions that cannot be adequately covered should not share athletic equipment that is in contact with the skin, should not participate in contact sports and should be excluded from common whirlpools or saunas until the wound has healed or drainage can be contained. Pets and other animals Recurrent MRSA infections in household contacts of colonized pets have been described.6 Veterinarians and physicians should be aware of pets as a possible reservoir for infection. Indeed, physicians should inquire about pet ownership and document MRSA carrier status if known. Routine screening and decolonization of pets is not indicated. Correctional facilities and shelters Outbreaks of CA-MRSA have been documented in incarcerated populations in the United States and in Canada.6 Staff and inmates should be educated about the transmission, prevention, treatment and containment of CA-MRSA infections. In cases where an inmate has an uncovered draining skin lesion or poor hygiene, restricting their contact with others should be considered to prevent the exposure of other inmates. Can this superbug be stopped at the border? Front-line physicians need to be aware of the increasing prevalence and the potential severity of CA-MRSA infection. They are referred to the new Canadian guidelines for further information, and for management strategies for CA-MRSA.6 Physicians have a key role to play in attenuating CA-MRSA transmission by educating patients, promoting good hygiene practises and limiting antibiotic use. Although the CA-MRSA superbug is advancing northward and is knocking at our door, it is prudent to take every preventive effort not to welcome it inside our borders. Footnotes This article has been peer reviewed. Acknowledgement: We thank Jane McIvor for her help in preparing this manuscript. Competing interests: None declared. \|\|\|\|\| Pathogen 'is an old foe with new fangs' Jan 03, 2007 04:30 AM EDMONTON–A superbug that causes infections resulting in lesions, bleeding pneumonia and, in rare cases, flesh-eating disease is poised to "emerge in force" across Canada, infectious disease experts warn. An epidemic of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or CA-MRSA, is established in the U.S. and beginning to entrench itself here, says a report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. In Canada, outbreaks have occurred in hospitals in Ontario, including Toronto, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the report says. The organism is an "old foe with new fangs," a pathogen that is virulent, drug-resistant and has an uncanny ability to spread. So far, its prevalence is thought to be low but rising in most parts of the country. The infection begins with what looks like a spider bite. It's a red, tender area that rises up and comes to a head just like a small boil. If not treated promptly, the lesions can develop into large, spreading abscesses. The infection is spread through physical contact, open cuts and scrapes, poor hygiene and sharing personal items. Athletes appear to be particularly prone. Last summer, Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios suffered from a staph infection in his leg. Shortly after, pitcher Ty Taubenheim came down with a similar infection on his foot. The Jays called health authorities, who tested, bleached and disinfected the clubhouse. The results came back negative. Canadian Press \|\|\|\|\| Superbug to 'emerge in force' across Canada CTV.ca News Staff Doctors warn that a superbug causing infections in pro baseball and football players, as well as toddlers in day care centres in the U.S., is making inroads in Canada and is about to "emerge in force" across the country. Clones of community-associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, or MRSA, are "spreading with alarming rapidity," according to infectious disease experts in a commentary published Tuesday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Commonly referred to as "staph," or "staph A," the bacterium frequently lives on the skin or in the nose of a healthy person. If it gets into the body, it can cause minor infections such as boils or pimples or something more serious such as pneumonia, blood infections or in extreme cases, flesh-eating disease. One antibiotic used to treat staph infections is methicillin. While it's been effective in treating most staph infections, the researchers write, "some staph bacteria have developed a resistance to methicillin and can no longer be killed by this antibiotic." The resistant bacteria is an "old foe with new fangs: a pathogen combining virulence, resistance and an ability to disseminate at large," wrote Dr. John Conly, a medical professor and an infectious disease specialist at the University of Calgary. MRSA usually infects elderly or very ill hospital patients, or intravenous drug users. But clusters of the organism have also been reported in locker rooms of professional athletes and day care centres across the U.S. In Canada, outbreaks have occurred so far in hospitals in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. In 2005, the bacterium killed a 30-year-old Calgary man who was otherwise healthy, as well as a three-month old toddler in Toronto. Both died of lung abscesses associated with the infection. Doctors are currently investigating the possible transmission of the staph A strain among a group of Calgarians, which could be one of the first Canadian reports outside of a hospital setting. "Front-line physicians need to be aware of the increasing prevalence and the potential severity of CA-MRSA infection," the researchers write. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that more than 2 million hospital patients in the United States contract an infection every year. While experts stress they don't want to sensationalize cases of CA-MRSA, they are urging the public to take simple, preventative steps to ward off the superbug. These include:	Two ''Staphylococcus aureus'' bacteria, magnified 50,000 times. An infectious superbug spreading in the United States is to "emerge in force" in Canada, doctors fear. The bacteria have been reported popping up in day care centers and locker rooms across the U.S. Usually elderly or very ill hospital patients get the disease. More than 2 million U.S. residents are infected every year, the Centers for Disease Control estimates. An article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) on Tuesday said that Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are "spreading with alarming rapidity." The bacteria can cause boils, pimples, or in extreme cases, flesh-eating disease, and more. "The resistant bacteria is an old foe with new fangs: a pathogen combining virulence, resistance and an ability to disseminate at large," wrote Dr. John Conly, medical professor and an infectious disease specialist at the University of Calgary. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario are the provinces which already have had MRSA in hospitals. A 30-year-old Calgary, Alberta man died last year of lung abscesses associated with the infection, as well as a three-month old toddler in Toronto, Ontario. Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios, last summer, suffered from an infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus in his leg. Pitcher Ty Taubenheim had a similar infection on his foot. Doctors are currently investigating some Calgary residents, who could be one of the first Canadian reports of MRSA outside of a hospital setting.
Newstrack: The murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955 must be prosecuted in Mississippi state court as there is no more time to file federal charges in the case. With both leaders sporting green ties, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern presented U.S. President George Bush a bowl of shamrocks Friday. A militia group leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo will be tried at The Hague in the alleged killings of nine Bangladeshi U.N. peacekeepers. No compromise was reached with the march organizers to allow gay activists to participate in Friday's St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York. The Government Accountability Office says poor planning by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in 13 major contracts resulted in widespread waste. The United Nation's refugee agency says Greece has one of the lowest rates among members of the European Union for granting asylum to seekers. Former South African President Nelson Mandela admitted youthful sins during a visit with the makers of the Oscar-winning film "Tsotsi." Newly released papers from Saddam Hussein's Iraqi government show there were discussions on Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida, reports ABC News. NATO Secretary-General Japp de Hoop Scheffer has scheduled a meeting with U.S. President Bush for next week, the White House said Friday. A 40-year-old Arizona man has pleaded guilty to a series of charges related to a prescription forgery ring that netted more than 27,000 pills. \|\|\|\|\| Survey: Telework increases among government employees By Grant Gross, IDG News Service, 03/06/06 Forty-three percent of U.S. government employees sometimes telecommute instead of driving into the office, up from 19% a year ago, according to a survey released Monday. The survey, released by government-focused IT vendor CDW Government (CDW-G), found that 28% of federal IT workers surveyed said they believe that their agency provides IT support to all eligible teleworkers, up from just 5% of respondents in 2005. The survey, of 542 U.S. government workers and another 235 federal IT professionals, found that federal employees with the option to telecommute are happier with their jobs. Ninety-one person of those with the option to telecommute were either very satisfied or satisfied with their jobs, compared to 80% of those employees who did not have the option. Eighty-four percent of federal government employees would telecommute if given the option, the survey said. Telecommuting provides several benefits, including employee satisfaction and retention, said Max Peterson, vice president of CDW-G's federal division. Having telecommuting plans in place can allow federal agencies to function in times of natural disaster or terrorism attacks, and it can help relieve congested roadways and combat air pollution in the Washington, D.C., area, he said. Telecommuting can save employees' gas money and give them some flexibility in dealing with personal issues, he added. "As the federal government tries to hire and maintain a quality workforce, telework can be a significant benefit," Peterson said. Eighty percent of federal employees who prefer to telecommute said the elimination of their commute was a major reason; another 68% said great work flexibility was also a major reason. Despite the benefits, telecommuting raises some concerns among federal IT workers, the survey said. Fifty-three percent said information security is the biggest challenge associated with telecommuting. The second and third largest concerns were service and support (26%) and collaboration (16%). A change in organizational attitude remains a hurdle at some agencies, Peterson said, even though Congress passed a law in 2000 requiring federal agencies to create plans where eligible employees "may participate in telecommuting to the maximum extent possible without diminished employee performance." "Technology is only part of the answer," Peterson said. "To be successful, we've got to work from telework capability to telework in action." Other results from the survey: In 2006, 46% of federal IT professionals said their agencies have written IT policies for telework, compared to 34% in 2005. Fifty-four percent of federal employees said their managers view telework favorably, compared to 45% in 2005. For federal workers who would not telecommute if given the option, 47% said isolation is the primary deterrent, followed by 42% who simply do not want to be at home. The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.	A survey by SonicWALL, a Sunnyvale, California-based company, reports that 10% of worldwide telecommuters are nude while working, finding 12% for men and 7% for women, respectively. A gender gap also exists for showering on work-at-home days, with 44% of women showering, while only 30% of men did. The survey also found that 39% of both sexes wear sweats while working from home. The survey also covered less racy topics, including opinions on productivity. 76% felt that working at home increased productivity. The number of telecommuters has increased sharply in recent years. For example, 43% of U.S. government employees telecommute at least part of the time, up from only 19% one year ago.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Rescue efforts are being stepped up in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, where floods killed 84 people and forced 54,000 from their homes. The federal government and other states are sending aid, including helicopters to reach stranded residents. The heavy rainfall of recent days also caused landslides that have destroyed homes and blocked roads in the region. Eight towns have been cut off by the flood waters while more than 160,000 people are without electricity. Heavy rains have affected large parts of southern Brazil but Santa Catarina has borne the brunt of the bad weather. Detailed map of the region A Civil Defense official, Robert Guimaraes, told AFP that "nearly 80% of the region is under water," though levels were dropping. Eight towns have been completely cut off, while transport throughout the state has been paralysed with roads blocked by mud and water. Emergency workers have been using helicopters and boats to try to reach those left stranded. Civil defence officials said that, of the people known to have died, 13 were in the town of Blumenau, while another 15 deaths were reported in Ilhota. The death toll is expected to rise, officials said. One rescued Ilhota resident told Globo TV that it was a "tsunami of clay, mud and trees". Josiane Malmann, who was rescued by helicopter with about 200 people from Ihota, said: "Many people and children died ... The hills all fell in an avalanche." Joinville is one of the towns affected by the flooding A state of emergency has been declared in Santa Catarina and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has offered federal help. "Almost all the deaths were caused by landslides that left people buried in their own homes," said Santa Catarina Governor Luiz Henrique da Silveira. In total more than a million people are said to have been affected by the flooding. The floods have also caused part of a pipeline carrying natural gas from Bolivia to Brazil to be shut, cutting supplies to Santa Catarina and the neighbouring state of Rio Grande do Sul. Return to story Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the flooding? Send us your experiences using the form below. Send your pictures or video to [email protected] or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Isolated towns in southern Brazil appealed for medicine and other supplies as the death toll from landslides and floods rose to 65 and many areas remained cut off from clean water and power. Days of heavy rain have devastated areas of Santa Catarina state, the heartland of German and Italian immigrants in Brazil, burying houses and their residents in rivers of mud, collapsing roads and leaving 52,000 people without shelter. Eight areas remained completely cut off, the civil defence agency said, as medicine, food, and other basic supplies began to arrive from the federal government and neighboring states. "Mattresses, food, blankets - these are the main necessities we need to look after our displaced people," Joao Paulo Kleinubing, the mayor of badly affected Blumenau town, told Globo News television channel. "There is still a risk of landslides if it rains again so we are telling people in risky areas to leave their houses and seek shelter." Thirteen people died after being buried by mudslides in Blumenau, famous for its annual Oktoberfest beer festival, and Kleinubing said drinking water was expected to be cut off until Friday. Fifteen people were killed by mudslides in the nearby town of Ilhota. The civil defence agency said that 55,000 litres (14,500 gallons) of drinking water had been distributed but appealed for more donations of water as the most urgent priority. The state government said the floods and mudslides had affected 1.5 million people, leaving about 150,000 without electricity. Rescue workers and army troops were using helicopters and motor boats to reach stranded residents, with transport in the state paralyzed as many main roads were cut off. Television footage showed hillsides breaking away and sliding into rivers of mud. A lane of one main road collapsed after its earth foundations crumbled. Almost all the deaths were caused by landslides and about 30 people were missing, the civil defence agency said. "My son is lost, we don't know whether he's alive or dead," one man, identified as Mario, told Globo News before breaking down in sobs. The floods also shut down a branch of a pipeline carrying natural gas from Bolivia to Brazil on Monday, cutting off supplies to Santa Catarina and neighboring Rio Grande do Sul state, the company that operates the line said. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has offered all available federal help to the state, one of Brazil's wealthiest, and sent several ministers to the affected areas to assess their needs. The first deaths were reported on Saturday after two days of heavy downpours and weeks of steady rain. The Latin American country is in spring season when rains in the southern part of the country are at their heaviest. - Reuters \|\|\|\|\| At least 84 people have been killed and more than 54,000 forced to flee by flooding from heavy rain that has pounded southern Brazil for nearly two months, regional Civil Defense officials said Tuesday. With the latest figures released Tuesday the death toll climbed from 67 to 84, and the number of evacuees from 52,000 to more than 54,000. The region faces "the worst weather tragedy in history," Santa Catarina Governor Luiz Henrique da Silveira told reporters on Monday. Making matters worse, torrential rain hitting the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina actually has intensified in recent days, officials said. Civil Defense workers, firefighters, soldiers and police across the area have been busy for weeks rescuing people trapped by the flooding.	In the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, floods have left 84 people dead and another 54,000 homeless. Heavy rainfall in recent days caused landslides that have blocked roads and destroyed homes in the region. Eight towns have been cut off by flood waters, and some 160,000 people were left without electricity. Map showing location of Santa Catarina within Brazil. Emergency workers have been using boats and helicopters to try and reach those that have been stranded. Heavy rains have affected a large portion of southern Brazil, but Santa Catarina has seen the worst of the bad weather. "Almost all the deaths were caused by landslides that left people buried in their own homes," said Luiz Henrique da Silveira, Santa Catarina's governor. The death toll was the highest in the town of Ilhota, located along the banks of the Itajai River. 15 people died there when waters rose 9 meters (30 feet) above normal levels. The nearby city of Blumenau also took a hard blow, where 13 people died after being buried by mudslides. Rain is still falling in Blumenau as of today, and meteorologists say that it is unlikely to stop until Wednesday. Seventeen highways were blocked by mudslides. According to officials, it could take several days to reopen several that were heaped high with earth and trees from hillsides as a result of them. Shortages of cooking gas and fuel for cars were caused as the result of a pipeline rupture, which cut off natural gas from the state's sole source located in Bolivia. Gas was also cut off to the neighbouring state of Rio Grande do Sul, which borders both Argentina and Uruguay. In total, about one and a half million people are said to have been affected by the flooding.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats seem poised to claim victory in the House’s first votes this year on immigration, but moving legislation on the divisive issue all the way through Congress to President Joe Biden is an uphill fight. The House was set to vote Thursday on one bill giving over 2 million young Dreamer immigrants and others full legal status and a chance for citizenship. A second measure would do the same for around 1 million immigrant farm workers. Both seemed certain to pass. But party divisions and solid Republican opposition mean pushing legislation through the Senate on immigration remains difficult, especially for Biden’s goal of a sweeping measure helping all 11 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally become citizens. The partisan battle shows little promise of easing before next year’s elections, when Republicans could use it in their effort to regain House and Senate control. Work on the legislation comes as the number of migrants attempting to cross the border has been growing since April and has hit its highest level since March 2019. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Tuesday that figure is on track to reach a 20-year high. Scores of groups supporting the bills include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Among those arrayed in opposition is the conservative Heritage Action for America. GOP lawmakers have been singularly focused on the growing wave of migrants, including children, trying to enter the U.S. from Mexico and blaming Biden administration policies for it. Though neither House bill would affect those trying to cross the boundary, top Republicans were urging rank-and-file lawmakers to oppose both measures. “By failing to include enforcement provisions to deal with the tide of illegal immigration or provisions to address the humanitarian crisis at the border, the bill would only worsen the flow of illegal immigrants to the U.S.,” an email No. 2 House GOP leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana sent his colleagues said of the Dreamers measure. Democrats were showing no signs of wavering from either bill, similar versions of which the House approved in 2019. Seven Republicans voted for the Dreamers bill and 34 backed the farm workers measure that year, but GOP support was expected to plummet this time as the party rallies behind demands for stiffer border restrictions. “It looks like they're trying to weaponize the border situation against Democrats in 2022 to say that we're weak on border security," said Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, whose south Texas district abuts the border. Both 2019 measures died in what was a Republican-run Senate and never would have received the signature of Donald Trump, who spent his four years as president constricting legal and illegal immigration. To counter GOP messaging, Cuellar said, Biden must send “a clear message about the border, ‘Hey, you can’t come here illegally.'" Republicans say the administration's policies and rhetoric have encouraged the migrants to come. In an ABC News interview that aired Wednesday, Biden said, “I can say quite clearly: Don’t come over.” He has ended Trump's separation of young children from their migrant families and allowed apprehended minors to stay in the U.S. as officials decide if they can legally remain, but has turned away most single adults and families. No. 2 Senate Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois said this week that he saw no pathway for an immigration overhaul this year, citing GOP demands for tough border enforcement provisions. Democrats would likely need at least 10 GOP votes in the 50-50 chamber to pass immigration legislation. The Dreamer bill would grant conditional legal status for 10 years to many immigrants up to age 18 who were brought into the U.S. illegally before this year. They'd have to graduate from high school or have equivalent educational credentials, not have serious criminal records and meet other conditions. To attain legal permanent residence, often called a green card, they'd have to obtain a higher education degree, serve in the military or be employed for at least three years. Like all others with green cards, they could then apply for citizenship after five years. The measure would also grant green cards to an estimated 400,000 immigrants with temporary protected status, which allows temporary residence to people who have fled violence or natural disasters in a dozen countries. The other bill would let undocumented immigrant farm workers who've worked over the past two years — along their spouses and children — get certified agriculture worker status. That would let them remain in the U.S. for renewable 5 1/2-year periods. To earn green cards, they would have to pay a $1,000 fine and work for up to an additional eight years, depending on how long they've already held farm jobs. The legislation would also cap wage increases, streamline the process for employers to get H-2A visas that let immigrants work legally on farm jobs and phase in a mandatory system for electronically verifying that agriculture workers are in the U.S. legally. Nearly half the nation's 2.4 million farm workers were in the U.S. illegally, according to Labor Department data from 2016. \|\|\|\|\| President Obama drives Chevy Volt and touts job gains President Obama went on a short Chevy Volt test drive while visiting General Motors' Hamtramck, Mich., plant where the Volt will be manufactured. It wasn't a very long test drive. "Some of you saw me drive the Volt about 12 inches; they don't let me drive much these days," he says. Obama is in Detroit defending his decision to invest more than $50 billion to save GM and Chrysler last year, when both automakers were on the brink of failure. He visited a Chrysler plant and a GM plant in the Detroit area. The decision to let the automakers go into bankruptcy and then support them when they emerged was controversial, and still up for debate in many corners. "It's estimated we would have lost another million jobs had we not stepped in," Obama said. When Obama took office, the industry was already on the verge of collapse. President Bush had already loaned billions to the industry to keep them from failing. The industry has hired 50,000 workers this year, Obama said, the most job growth since 1999. "Let's be clear, we are not out of the woods yet," he said. "There are still too many folks unemployed ... we're still going to have to do a lot of work to get folks back to work. But we are moving in the right direction. It took Obama's Secret Service detail some consulting before allowing the President to drive the black Chevy Volt. And White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs wondered aloud if the car had airbags. He drove about 10 feet at a crawling speed. "Pretty smooth," he said after getting out. Gibbs said the last time Obama drove was about three to four months ago, when he drove a Dodge Charger at a Secret Service training facility. Before that, Obama hadn't driven since 2007, when he first got Secret Service protection. -- Sharon Silke Carty/Drive On \|\|\|\|\| Obama drives a car, haltingly By Michael D. Shear DETROIT -- President Obama got behind the wheel of a car Friday for the second time since he started receiving Secret Service protection in the spring of 2007 -- driving a black Chevy Volt for about 10 feet, haltingly and at a crawl. Watch the video. "Pretty smooth," he announced after emerging from the new electric car, which his administration helped make possible by bailing out struggling General Motors. White House official said the only other time the president has been behind the wheel of a moving car recently was when he drove a Dodge Charger at a Secret Service training facility a few months ago. There were no cameras for that presidential moment. Obama happily hopped into the Volt after brief consultations with the Secret Service and a concern voiced by press secretary Robert Gibbs that the novel new car had an airbag. (Read more on the Volt) The president's last personal car was a Ford Escape hybrid that was returned when the lease was up, an official said. He now is often driven in a car dubbed "the beast" for its armor plating and bulletproof glass.	President Barack Obama, with Assembly Manager Teri Quigley, gets behind the wheel of a new Chevy Volt during his tour of the General Motors Auto Plant in Hamtramck, Mich., July 30, 2010. United States President Barack Obama test drove a Friday during a visit to a General Motors plant in Michigan. The visit was part of a larger trip to the area to discuss the progress of Obama's bailout of the auto industry earlier in his administration. As the president toured the factory, managers invited him to test drive the Volt, which will soon be manufactured there. After consulting reluctant top aides and Secret Service personnel, Obama accepted. "I hope it has an air bag," said press secretary Robert Gibbs. Obama hopped into the car with assembly manager Teri Quigley, buckled his seat belt, and crept forward about ten feet (three meters). As he got out he remarked that the ride was "pretty smooth". Obama visited the Detroit area to defend his controversial decision to invest 50 billion in the failing auto industry last year. "It's estimated we would have lost another million jobs had we not stepped in," said Obama. Instead, job growth totaled 50,000 workers this year, the largest since 1999. Obama warns, though, that recovery is not yet complete. This was the second time Obama drove a car since early 2007, when as a presidential candidate he requested Secret Service protection. The first was a , which he drove a few months ago at a Secret Service training facility.
By Krittivas Mukherjee MUMBAI (Reuters) - An Indian prince has been disowned by his family after he publicly announced he was gay in a country where homosexuality is outlawed by a 145-year-old law. Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, who belongs to one of the country's richest royal families that ruled the former Rajpipla principality in the western state of Gujarat, has been disowned for "activities unacceptable to the society", one disinheritance notice placed by his parents in a newspaper said. Last month, his parents issued notices in a Gujarati language daily withdrawing his right to the family property. "Henceforth, no one must refer to my name as mother of Manvendra," one notice signed by his mother said. "If any individual or organisation dares to do so, it will invite contempt proceedings". But Gohil, 40, who announced he was gay this year, says he has found happiness among Gujarat's gay community and is not interested in his inheritance. "I could not have lived a lie forever," he told Reuters on Friday. "I will not stake my claim to the property. I have found a family in the (gay) community and am happy working for the community," said Gohil, who runs an NGO working on HIV/AIDS among homosexuals. "As an activist, I thought it right to come out of the closet first. Otherwise, it would have been living a lie." © Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved. \| Learn more about Reuters \|\|\|\|\| The scion of one of India's wealthiest former royal families has been disinherited after bringing "dishonour" on it by admitting that he is homosexual. Prince Manvendrasinh Gohil, the only son and heir to the fortunes of the former Rajpipla principality, in Gujarat state, western India, learned that he been dispossessed after his parents placed advertisements in a newspaper. "Manvendra ceases to have rights as a son over the family property and the power of attorney issued to him also stands cancelled," his mother, Rukminidevi, said in her notice. "Henceforth, no one must refer to my name as mother of Manvendra. "If any individual or organisation dares to do so, it will invite contempt proceedings against him." The furore surrounding Manvendra's coming out has highlighted Indian society's continued intolerance towards homosexuality and turned the 40-year-old prince into one of the country's better known gay rights activists. Under laws that date from the British era, homosexual relations remain illegal. A petition to change the law was firmly rejected by the home ministry last year. Gay rights campaigners say that the law is anachronistic, hampers HIV-Aids prevention work and is used by the police to arrest and blackmail homosexuals. In interviews with local newspapers, Prince Manvendra told how he had struggled for more than 30 years to reconcile his sexual orientation with the socially conservative and formal attitudes of the royal household. At 10, he had his first inkling that he was "different" but it was not until he was 15 that he first discovered the word "homosexuality" while leafing through a dictionary, he said. He kept the knowledge to himself, even agreeing in 1991 to an arranged marriage. The marriage ended in divorce only a year later when he confessed to his wife that he was gay. It was not until 2002, after suffering a nervous breakdown, that Manvendra finally told his parents about his sexuality. "I knew that they would never accept me for who I truly am," he said. "But I also knew that I could no longer live a lie." His decision to announce his sexuality publicly appears to have been the last straw for his family, particularly when he hinted that homosexuality had been an unspoken part of life at the Indian court for centuries. "Homosexuality in royal families is not rare," he said. "As our women are always kept behind the purdah, there is hardly any contact of a male teenager with the opposite sex, which may develop a homosexual tilt." When the reports of the prince's sexuality first circulated in March, they were assumed by members of Manvendra's clan to be slanderous rumours, intended to besmirch the name of the Rajpipla dynasty. When Manvendra confirmed that the reports were his own testimony, enraged members of the clan burned him in effigy. The prince, who secretly gave financial help to a homosexual rights helpline in Gujarat for years before he came out, has now set up a trust to work for greater Aids awareness. He said he was resigned to being cut off from his parents and their fortune, which is based on extensive properties in Gujarat and Maharashtra state. "I have no regrets, since I have found family in the community," he said. \|\|\|\|\| Maharajah disinherits gay son Big News Network (UPI) Friday 7th July, 2006 An Indian maharajah and his wife have disowned their son because of his homosexuality, using newspaper ads to say he is involved in unacceptable conduct. Manvendra Sinh Gohil, the only son of the Maharajah of Rajpipla, discovered he was disinherited by reading about it in the newspaper. He told The Independent that he plans no legal fight to claim his inheritance. I knew they would never accept me for who I truly am, but I also knew I could no longer live a lie, Gohil said. I wanted to come out because I had gotten involved with activism and I felt it was no longer right to live in the closet. While the princely states were merged into India when the country became independent in 1947, the hereditary rulers still have a lot of prestige. Gohil also stood to inherit a fortune. Gohil said that he recognized his sexual orientation when he was still a child. He had an arranged marriage in 1991 which ended in divorce. When he first told his parents he was gay, he said they tried to convert him to heterosexuality. Email this story to a friend Have your say on this story Your nickname (optional) Message Image verification (enter the verification code from the image above) \|\|\|\|\| India: Repeal Colonial-Era Sodomy Law Entrapment, Arrests Harm AIDS Prevention Efforts (Delhi, January 11, 2006) – New arrests of gay men in Lucknow, India—the scene of a case in 2001 that drew worldwide protests—show that India’s colonial-era sodomy law continues to threaten human rights and encourage the spread of HIV, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Lucknow police have a shameful record of harassing gay men as well as non-governmental organizations that work with them. They are able to do so because India’s government clings to the criminalization of homosexual conduct, which only prevents people from coming forward for HIV/AIDS testing, information, and services. Lucknow police have a shameful record of harassing gay men as well as non-governmental organizations that work with them. They are able to do so because India’s government clings to the criminalization of homosexual conduct, which only prevents people from coming forward for HIV/AIDS testing, information, and services. Scott Long, director of Human Rights Watch’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program. Printer Friendly Version Related Material Epidemic of Abuse: Police Harassment of HIV/AIDS Outreach Workers in India Report, June 1, 2002 India Country Page LGBT Thematic Page Letter to Indian Prime Minister Singh Letter, January 11, 2006 Free Email Newsletter Contribute to Human Rights Watch On January 4, Lucknow police arrested four men on charges of operating a “gay racket” on the Internet, as well as of engaging in “unnatural” sex. Police claim they seized the men while having a picnic in a public place, and accused them of belonging to an “international gay club” centered around the Internet website guys4men.com, on which gay men can place personals and engage in Internet chat. Reports received by Human Rights Watch indicate that undercover police, posing as gay on the website, entrapped one man, then forced him to call others and arrange a meeting where they were arrested. “Lucknow police have a shameful record of harassing gay men as well as non-governmental organizations that work with them,” said Scott Long, director of Human Rights Watch’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program. “They are able to do so because India’s government clings to the criminalization of homosexual conduct, which only prevents people from coming forward for HIV/AIDS testing, information, and services.” In July 2001, Lucknow police, apparently spurred by an informer, raided the local offices of two nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working on HIV/AIDS prevention, the Naz Foundation International (NFI) and Bharosa Trust. Four staff members were jailed for 47 days in deplorable conditions, accused of running a gay “sex racket.” Police declared the HIV/AIDS-related information materials seized in the raided offices “obscene.” They charged the men under India’s sodomy law, criminal conspiracy, aiding and abetting a crime and the sale of obscene materials. After international condemnation of the detention of the “Lucknow Four,” the case was eventually dropped. In a 2002 report, A challenge to section 377’s constitutionality was brought was brought before the Delhi High Court in 2001 by the Naz Foundation India, asking the court to declare the law should no longer apply to consenting adults. In response, the then government stated that “The purpose of section 377 of IPC is to provide a healthy environment in the society by criminalising unnatural sexual activities.” The case ended indecisively, and litigation is still pending. “Section 377 strikes at the basic right to privacy,” said Long. “This case shows how it is used against rights to free expression and to meeting in a public place. It casts a pall over public health efforts.” Human Rights Watch said that India’s constitution protects the right to equality, freedoms of speech and assembly and right to personal liberty. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which India acceded in 1979, guarantees freedom from discrimination. In the case of Toonen v. Australia in 1994, the United Nations Human Rights Committee held these protections against discrimination in all areas of rights should be understood to include sexual orientation. On January 4, Lucknow police arrested four men on charges of operating a “gay racket” on the Internet, as well as of engaging in “unnatural” sex. Police claim they seized the men while having a picnic in a public place, and accused them of belonging to an “international gay club” centered around the Internet website guys4men.com, on which gay men can place personals and engage in Internet chat. Reports received by Human Rights Watch indicate that undercover police, posing as gay on the website, entrapped one man, then forced him to call others and arrange a meeting where they were arrested.“Lucknow police have a shameful record of harassing gay men as well as non-governmental organizations that work with them,” said Scott Long, director of Human Rights Watch’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program. “They are able to do so because India’s government clings to the criminalization of homosexual conduct, which only prevents people from coming forward for HIV/AIDS testing, information, and services.”In July 2001, Lucknow police, apparently spurred by an informer, raided the local offices of two nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working on HIV/AIDS prevention, the Naz Foundation International (NFI) and Bharosa Trust. Four staff members were jailed for 47 days in deplorable conditions, accused of running a gay “sex racket.” Police declared the HIV/AIDS-related information materials seized in the raided offices “obscene.” They charged the men under India’s sodomy law, criminal conspiracy, aiding and abetting a crime and the sale of obscene materials. After international condemnation of the detention of the “Lucknow Four,” the case was eventually dropped.In a 2002 report, Epidemic of Abuse , Human Rights Watch documented how India’s sodomy law has been used to harass HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, as well as sex workers, men who have sex with men, and other groups at risk of the disease. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, titled “Of Unnatural Offences,” punishes “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” with up to ten years’ imprisonment. It was introduced by British rulers in the nineteenth century.A challenge to section 377’s constitutionality was brought was brought before the Delhi High Court in 2001 by the Naz Foundation India, asking the court to declare the law should no longer apply to consenting adults. In response, the then government stated that “The purpose of section 377 of IPC is to provide a healthy environment in the society by criminalising unnatural sexual activities.” The case ended indecisively, and litigation is still pending.“Section 377 strikes at the basic right to privacy,” said Long. “This case shows how it is used against rights to free expression and to meeting in a public place. It casts a pall over public health efforts.”Human Rights Watch said that India’s constitution protects the right to equality, freedoms of speech and assembly and right to personal liberty. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which India acceded in 1979, guarantees freedom from discrimination. In the case of Toonen v. Australia in 1994, the United Nations Human Rights Committee held these protections against discrimination in all areas of rights should be understood to include sexual orientation.	, the 40-year-old son of the erstwhile Maharajah of Rajpipla (), was disowned by his formerly royal family for as a gay man. was effectively criminalized in India in 1861 under British colonial rule. The sodomy laws, which remain in force today, mandate penalties of up to 10 years in prison. The Gohil family once ruled India's principality. Although India abolished royalty when it gained independence from in 1947, the Gohil clan is considered to be one of the wealthiest families in the south Asian nation. Gohil's mother put public notices in language newspapers disavowing being his mother. "If any individual or organisation dares to (name me as his mother), it will invite contempt proceedings," the statement said. He said as an AIDS activist, he felt it was his duty to come out. Gohil claimed that India anti-gay laws hinder AIDS prevention among gay men since many are afraid to admit they are homosexual for fear of being jailed or blackmailed. Gohil, who runs a non-profit foundation, told reporters he wasn't interested in his family's money. "I will not stake my claim to the property. I have found a family in the (gay) community and am happy working for the community," he said in a Reuters interview. estimated that 5.7 million Indians have been infected by the virus. Gay organisations in India are currently trying to have the section of the Indian Penal Code that makes homosexuality a punishable offence nullified. Gay relationships are considered taboo in India's mostly conservative society. A number of Indian organisations, including two HIV/AIDS prevention groups, have complained of being subjected to police raids and arrests in recent years.
ARMENIA warned Azerbaijan it was ready for war as tensions soared today between the ex-Soviet foes after Baku pardoned and promoted an Azerbaijani officer who axed an Armenian soldier to death. Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev last week immediately pardoned Ramil Safarov after he was extradited from Hungary, where he had been serving a life sentence for the 2004 killing. Safarov was also promoted to the rank of major, given a house and eight years' worth of back-pay after returning home to a hero's welcome, in defiance of assurances from Baku to Budapest that he would serve out his term in Azerbaijan. "We don't want a war, but if we have to, we will fight and win. We are not afraid of killers, even if they enjoy the protection of the head of state," Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian fumed in a statement. "They (Azerbaijanis) have been warned," he said, calling Azerbaijan a country where "illicit orders set free and publicly glorify every bastard who kills people only because they are Armenians". Safarov hacked Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian to death at a military academy in Budapest where the servicemen were attending English-language courses organised by NATO. His lawyers claimed in court that he was traumatised because some of his relatives had been killed during Azerbaijan's war with Armenia, and alleged that Margarian had insulted his country. Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a long-running conflict over the disputed region of Nagorny Karabakh, where they fought a war in the 1990s. Armenia-backed separatists seized Nagorny Karabakh from Azerbaijan in the war that left some 30,000 people dead. The two sides have not signed a final peace deal since the 1994 ceasefire and there are still regular firefights along the front line. Analysts warn the frozen conflict risks slipping again into full-scale war. Russia, which is part of the OSCE Minsk Group that is mediating in negotiations to find a peaceful solution to the Karabakh conflict, expressed "deep concern" over the extradition and pardon. "We believe that these actions of the Azerbaijanis, as well as the Hungarian authorities, go against the efforts agreed at an international level primarily through the OSCE Minsk Group aimed at reducing tension in the region," Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement. The OSCE Minsk Group said its co-chairs had expressed "deep concern and regret for the damage the pardon and any attempts to glorify the crime had done to the peace process" at meetings with both countries' foreign ministers. It stressed there was "no alternative to a peaceful settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict". The EU said Baku and Yerevan should refrain from exacerbating the dispute. In a statement, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said they "are concerned by the news" of the pardon, adding that EU officials were "in contact with the relevant authorities". EU officials will "continue to follow the situation closely," the statement said. "In the interest of regional stability and on-going efforts towards reconciliation," Ashton and Fuele said they "reiterate their call on Azerbaijan and Armenia to exercise restraint, on the ground as well as in public statements, in order to prevent an escalation of the situation." Baku accused Yerevan of launching a wave of attacks on eight Azerbaijani websites including those of the president and various news portals, sometimes posting photographs of the murdered Armenian soldier. "The very fact of this action speaks of the powerlessness of Yerevan, resorting to the tactics of the weak," Azerbaijani presidential administration official Elnur Aslanov said in a statement. The administration also published a series of letters from citizens praising Aliyev for pardoning the convicted killer. "I am grateful to you for the nationwide joy you have given us by releasing Ramil Safarov, returning him to his homeland and, most importantly, doing justice," wrote one of them, Zamina Aliyeva. Yerevan on Friday cut diplomatic ties with Hungary over the pardon, while US President Barack Obama said he was "deeply concerned" about the incident. Hungary summoned Azerbaijan's ambassador yesterday to protest at Baku's decision after earlier saying it had been assured Safarov would serve out his term. AFP \|\|\|\|\| Armenia cuts ties with Hungary over Azerbaijan killer pardon Ramil Safarov was greeted as a national hero in Baku, reports say Continue reading the main story Related Stories Armenia says it is severing diplomatic ties with Hungary after the release of an Azeri army officer convicted of murdering an Armenian soldier. The Azeri serviceman, Ramil Safarov, was given a life sentence for hacking Armenian Gurgen Markarian to death with an axe in 2004 in Budapest. On Friday, Safarov was flown to Baku and pardoned, despite Baku's assurances that his sentence would be enforced. Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a bitter war over an enclave in the early 1990s. Armenia said on Friday that Hungary had made a "grave mistake" in sending Safarov back to Azerbaijan. "With their joint actions, Azerbaijan and Hungary opened the door to the recurrence of such crimes," President Serzh Sarkisian said in comments release by his press office. "I cannot put up with this. The republic of Armenia cannot put up with this," the president added. The Hungarian authorities said they had returned Safarov to his homeland only after receiving assurances from the Baku government that his sentence would be enforced. Safarov killed Gurgen Markarian at a military academy in Budapest, where both servicemen attended English-language courses organised by Nato. During his trial in Hungary, Safarov said that the Azeri-Armenian war over Nagorno-Karabakh and insults from the Armenian officer were at the root of his actions. Hungary and Azerbaijan have so far made no public comment on the case. Azerbaijan and Armenia, both former Soviet republics, fought a war over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in the early 1990s, which left some 30,000 people dead, and displaced hundreds of thousands. Armenia-backed authorities are currently controlling Nagorno-Karabakh, which lies within Azerbaijan. Despite a 1994 ceasefire, skirmishes continue on the borders of the disputed territory. \|\|\|\|\| Meanwhile, on the 12th of February, 1918, the Turks began recapturing all the territories they had previously lost to the Russians and their Armenian collaborators, simultaneously massacring any remnants of the Armenian population in Eastern Turkey . In the vacuum that remained as a result of the Bolshevik coup, the leading political parties of south Caucasus started seeking independence of the disintegrating Russian empire in a desperate attempt to prevent anarchy and protect the area from the menace of Turkey . On November 7, 1917, the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia . The following day they declared the withdrawal of their country from the war and announced total demobilization of the old army. Demoralized by these events, Russian troops started leaving both the Turkish front and South Caucasus . On May 26, 1918, an independent Armenian Republic was proclaimed in Yerevan . The birth of the first republic was facing economic disaster, Turkish invasion and political isolation. During the next week the advancing Turkish armies were defeated by Georgian volunteers on the river of Cholock to the North of Batumi and by the Armenian army and militia at Sardapat. These military victories of the new-born democracies prevented total annexation of the Caucasus by the Turks and saved remaining Armenians from total annihilation.	Photo-collage from the '88—'94 Following 's release and of convicted axe-murderer , who subsequently pardoned, announced it is "ready for war". The declaration is in-response to Safarov's pardon and promotion, despite the Azeri officer having been given a life sentence — with a minimum jail term of 30 years, by authorities in 2006. Safarov was found guilty of the 2004 murder of Armenian officer in , when both Safarov and Margaryan were attending a Partnership for Peace programme. Safarov killed Margaryan in his sleep with an axe; the attack allegedly stemming from a desire to avenge Azeris killed during the and being mocked by Margaryan and another Armenian. On his return home, Safarov was met with a hero's welcome, given a pardon by president , promoted to the rank of major, awarded eight-years of back-pay and given a house. Armenia sees these acts, when it was expected that Safarov would serve out his prison term in Azerbaijan, as highly provocative. Armenian President declared: "We don't want a war, but if we have to, we will fight and win. We are not afraid of killers, even if they enjoy the protection of the head of state" . Historically both Armenia and Azerbaijan lay claim to some of the same territories, an issue complicated by the intermingling of ethnic populations so some areas have no clearly demarcated Azeri and Armenian border; these potential sources of conflict remained quiescent whilst both nations were subsumed by greater powers. However, the collapse of the Ottoman and Russian Empires in the wake of the First World War led to the . With the demise of the short-lived Armenian-Azerbaijan-Georgia , fighting broke out which only ended when the two nations were annexed by the expanding . With the USSR's collapse, Armenia and Azerbaijan re-emerged as independent states — as-did old rivalries over territory. Between 1988 and 1994 over thirty thousand people died, and a million were in bitter ethnic fighting between Armenians and Azeris over the enclave of ; despite an brokered ceasefire, no final armistice has been signed and intermittent violence between them the two states continues. Nagorno-Karabakh remains legally part of Azerbaijan, but under effective Armenian control. On multiple occasions president Ilham Aliyev has stated his willingness to resort to force in order to assert Azeri rule, with oil wealth tipping any local arms race in favour of Azerbaijan. On Friday, The National Security Council of Armenia decided to break ties with Hungary during an emergency summit, describing the Hungarian actions as a "grave mistake". In turn, the Azeri ambassador was summoned by Hungary on Monday regarding the breach of Azeri assurances that Safarov would serve out the remainder of his sentence in Azerbaijan. == Sources == * * *
Press Release 151st (Extraordinary) Meeting of the OPEC Conference Press Conference (video) Latest press releases OPEC's 151st (Extraordinary) Meeting ends in Oran, Algeria (17 December 2008)Opening address to the 151st (Extraordinary) Meeting of the OPEC Conference (Oran, Algeria, 17 December 2008)OPEC's 150th (Extraordinary) Meeting ends in Vienna, Austria (24 October 2008) Archives Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 No 17/2008 Oran, Algeria 17 December 2008 The 151st (Extraordinary) Meeting of the Conference of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) convened in Oran, Algeria, on 17 December 2008, under the Chairmanship of its President, HE Dr Chakib Khelil, Minister of Energy and Mines of Algeria and Head of its Delegation, and its Alternate President, HE Eng José Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos, Minister of Petroleum of Angola and Head of its Delegation. The Conference welcomed the Minister of Industry and Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Minister of Oil and Gas of the Sultanate of Oman, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, and the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of the Syrian Arab Republic, attending the Meeting as Observers. The Conference considered the report of the Ministerial Monitoring Sub-Committee, whose Members the Conference once again thanked for their continuing and much-appreciated efforts on behalf of the Organization, as well as a submission from the Secretary General on oil market developments. Having reviewed the oil market outlook, including overall demand/supply projections for the year 2009, in particular the first and second quarters, the Conference observed that crude volumes entering the market remain well in excess of actual demand: this is clearly demonstrated by the fact that crude stocks in OECD countries are well above their five-year average and are expected to continue to rise. Moreover, the impact of the grave global economic downturn has led to a destruction of demand, resulting in unprecedented downward pressure being exerted on prices, which have fallen by more than US $90 a barrel since early July 2008. Indeed, the Conference noted that, if unchecked, prices could fall to levels which would place at jeopardy the investments required to guarantee adequate energy supplies in the medium-to-long term. In light of the above, the Conference agreed to cut 4.2 million barrels a day from the actual September 2008 OPEC-11 production of 29.045 mb/d, with effect from 1 January 2009, with Member Countries strongly emphasizing their firm commitment to ensuring that their production is reduced by the individually agreed amounts. In taking the above decision, Heads of Delegation reiterated the Organization’s firm commitment to providing an economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations, as well as to stabilizing the market and realizing OPEC’s objective of maintaining crude oil prices at fair and equitable levels, for the future well-being of the market and the good of producers and consumers alike. With this in mind, the Conference renewed its call on non-OPEC producers/exporters to cooperate with the Organization to support oil market stabilization. The Conference confirmed that its next Ordinary Meeting will be held on Sunday, 15 March 2009, in Vienna, Austria, shortly before the OPEC International Seminar, which is to take place at the Hofburg Palace, Vienna, on 18 and 19 March 2009. The Conference approved the Budget of the Organization for the year 2009. The Conference expressed its sincere gratitude to His Excellency Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the President of the Republic, the Government and the People of Algeria for the warm hospitality extended to the Conference participants and for the excellent arrangements made for the Meeting. In addition, the Conference recorded its special thanks to HE Dr Khelil, Minister of Energy and Mines, and his Staff for their warm hospitality and the excellent arrangements made for the Meeting. The Conference also expressed its thanks to the 2008 President of the Conference, HE Dr Khelil, for his excellent leadership, and welcomed the 2009 President, HE Eng Botelho de Vasconcelos. Finally, the Conference passed Resolutions that will be published on 17 January 2009, after ratification by Member Countries. \|\|\|\|\| Saudi oil minister wants non-members of Opec to cut output as well Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, has said Opec will reduce production by a record 2m barrels a day at its meeting on Wednesday. Saudi oil minister Ali al-Nuaimi also said he expected non-members of the oil cartel to cut output by 600,000 barrels per day. A combined cut of 2.6m barrels per day represents 3% of the global output. Oil prices have slumped $100 from a peak of $147 a barrel in July, as demand weakened amid the downturn. Russia, the second-largest oil producer, will be presented by a high-level delegation at the meeting, fuelling expectations that oil producers are ready for co-ordinated actions to boost crude prices. "Everybody is suffering. That is why we want two million. But we're worried about compliance," said an Opec delegate. On Tuesday, US light, sweet crude eased 18 cents to trade at $44.33. Brent oil added 55 cents to $45.15 a barrel. \|\|\|\|\| The depth of the world’s economic downturn was highlighted on Wednesday when the Opec oil cartel appeared powerless in its quest to drive up prices even after agreeing a record cut in its production. Opec, which controls about 40 per cent of the world’s oil supplies, announced a further 2.2m barrel a day cut on top of the 2m b/d it has already pledged since September. \|\|\|\|\| OPEC's secretary general says the cartel has decided to cut petroleum production another 2.2 million barrels beginning January 1. OPEC members have been calling for a production cut to help stabilize prices that have fallen more than $100 a barrel since July. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, center first row, pose with delegates at the OPEC meeting in Oran, Algeria, 17 Dec 2008 OPEC Secretary General Abdallah Badri said the new quota will cut a total of 4.2 million barrels per day from September production levels. OPEC Secretary General Abdallah Badri said the new quota will cut a total of 4.2 million barrels per day from September production levels. The steep cut of more than over two million barrels a day, beginning with the new year, had been expected. OPEC ministers had been predicting some dramatic initiative to try to stem the steep slide in oil prices since July. Earlier, Saudi Arabia and Russia announced oil production cuts. Saudi Oil Minister Ali Naimi proclaimed that there was a consensus within OPEC over the cut. Russia also intends cutbacks Russian Deputy Premier Igor Sechin and Azeri Energy Minister Natik Aliev announced cutbacks of a total of more than 600,000 barrels a day. OPEC President Algerian Oil Minister Chakib Khalil says his group wants to implement cuts alongside non-OPEC oil producers to successfully reduce the excess supplies. He says that OPEC is talking to non-OPEC members Mexico, Russia and Norway in order to get them to cut production, and that any help on their part in cutting will add to the total effect of an OPEC cut. Top producer Saudi Arabia noted recently that many oil-producing countries may halt production entirely if prices go under $40 because it will no longer be profitable. The price of a barrel of crude oil has fallen by around 70 percent since reaching a record high of more than $147 on July 11. Analyst says production cuts may be more that expected Oil analyst Walid Khadduri of the Middle East Economic Survey (MEES) says the oil production cut may be more than many people were expecting. "First of all, it is two million by OPEC, and they are estimating 600,000 barrels cut by non-OPEC countries, not just Russia, but maybe other countries, also. And, second, I think it could put a floor for the down trend in OPEC, in the big slide in prices," said Khadduri. "It is a very big step to cut 2.6 million. That is almost like three percent of production. It is more than the market expects." Despite the large projected cut in production, Khadduri thinks it is possible the global economic crisis could overwhelm OPEC and make the production cut ineffective. "So, I think the world economic crisis could really make useless this decision. But, they are also trying to deal with another thing, not only the slide in demand because of the crisis. They are trying to deal with the fact that there is counter-seasonal stocking," added Khadduri. "During the winter, consumption increases because of the cold weather. But now what they are seeing is there is a very high storage going on worldwide. So, they are trying to deal with two things, the slide in demand and the rise of storage." OPEC has a history of reacting too little, too late in past economic crises. In 1999 and 2001, the oil cartel slashed production, but not soon enough to stem the steep fall in prices. This time around, it remains to be seen if OPEC will have more clout in moving oil prices to the $75 level, which many OPEC countries say is the "fair price" for a barrel of oil.	The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has agreed to drastically cut the daily production of oil by 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd). In a decision reached in Oran, Algeria, energy ministers from all 12 OPEC members agreed to make the largest cut in OPEC's history. Oil prices have fallen from a high of $140 in July to just around $40; a decrease of $100. OPEC has cut 4.2 million bpd since September, when the price of oil decreased suddenly over fears of a global recession and lower usage of oil. With this new decrease, production by OPEC members will be 24.845 million bpd. Saudi Arabia is taking the majority of the cut by decreasing their production by 1.2 million bpd. In the statement released by the organization, they wrote "...that crude volumes entering the market remain well in excess of actual demand: this is clearly demonstrated by the fact that crude stocks in OECD countries are well above their five-year average and are expected to continue to rise. Moreover, the impact of the grave global economic downturn has led to a destruction of demand, resulting in unprecedented downward pressure being exerted on prices..." OPEC faces a tough task in trying to level the price of oil to a reasonable amount. Most experts and oil officials believe that $75 is the 'fair price' for a barrel of oil. Chakib Khelil, the OPEC president, said during the meeting that "OPEC has a long-established record in meeting the challenges it faces, however tough they may be. The challenge facing the oil market today is clearly a formidable one." Russia, which is not a member of OPEC, also agreed that a cut was needed and would cut its production by 600,000 barrels. OPEC will also urge other non-OPEC members who are oil exports, to cut their production. Mexico and Norway are two of the largest oil producers that not members of OPEC. Russia's action is not official, and the country has had a history of failing their pledge to cut their output.
Rebels 'probably hiding in Dili houses' East Timor's army chief has called on the rebels who attacked the country's two key leaders to stop their fight and instead help work for a stable nation. General Taur Matan Ruak said some of the rebels - around 30 heavily armed men - are probably hiding in houses in the capital Dili. East Timor's army is conducting joint operations with the bolstered Australian-led International Stabilisation Force (ISF) around Dili to catch the men. "Our main (objective) is to bring them (in), not to kill them," Taur said. "To bring them in means to ask them to help us find a good solution. "I don't ask them to surrender. I ask them to find a good solution, the best solution. "A good solution is a peaceful solution. "Democracy won't work without stability." President Jose Ramos-Horta was seriously wounded when rebel leader Alfredo Reinado and a band of armed men attacked his residence on Monday, plunging the world's newest democracy into a fresh crisis. Ramos-Horta is currently in a serious but stable condition in Royal Darwin Hospital after undergoing further surgery for his injuries on Friday. Reinado was killed in the gunfight in which Ramos-Horta was shot up to three times. An arrest warrant has been issued for the rebels' new leader, former Lieutenant Gastao Salsinha for heading an attack on Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, who was injured in the ambush a short time after the attack of Ramos-Horta. Taur says he wants the violence problem resolved quickly, because the country has already "lost two years". He said Salsinha had only one option - to cooperate with his troops. "The only way is to cooperate with us to put the end of the problems and find a good solution, for him and for all the people in our country," he said. He said the task authorities faced was "not easy", and he could not promise the men would be caught. "One thing is what you want, another thing is how we are going to do it, and we are ready to help," Taur said. "What we are going to do is execute the orders from (the authorities) with effort and with intelligence to avoid risks." He said the rebels had split into smaller groups because of the ISF operations and were probably hiding in people's houses. "We appeal to the population to help us because we know that some of them are hiding them," he said. "Hiding them is not a good way to contribute to a solution and maybe they are putting at risk their own lives. "I encourage them to work with us." He said many people had supported Reinado for the past two years. "In the last two years, many people hid Alfredo, in the end what happened is Alfredo died," he said. Salsinha says he will not surrender, unless his supporters ask him to, and has vowed to fight back if attacked by Timorese troops. Many of the men believed to be behind this week's assassination attempts were involved in the crisis which jolted East Timor in 2006 when anger over the government's sacking of 600 soldiers complaining of discrimination degenerated into violence. That violence left 37 dead and forced 150,000 to flee their homes. Reinado, a former army major who was wanted on murder charges over the 2006 crisis, escaped from prison 18 months ago. Ramos-Horta had taken a moderate approach to the fugitive leader, insisting on talks to resolve their dispute and waiving an arrest warrant for Reinado on the 2006-crisis-related charges. Dili has been calm since the attacks earlier this week, after the government declared and later extended a "State of Siege", banning large gatherings and demonstrations, and imposing a strict 8pm curfew. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd visited the tiny country on Friday, pledging Australia's support and military commitment as long as it is needed. \|\|\|\|\| EAST Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao will offer renegade army major Alfredo Reinado one more chance to surrender or face arrest, an option diplomats warn could carry considerable risk for Australia. Diplomatic sources in Dili told The Australian a final peace offer by Mr Gusmao would be conveyed to the former military police commander within weeks. But Major Reinado, wanted on charges of fomenting civil unrest and possession of firearms, has a new ally in former soldiers who have formed a protest group known as "petitioners". Sources close to Mr Gusmao say his patience has run out with Major Reinado after he spurned two other peace offers in November and last month. "Don't play with me, because sooner or later I will get angry," Mr Gusmao warned Major Reinado just before Christmas. A 1000-strong Australian and New Zealand International Stabilisation Force has responsibility for the military in East Timor. However, any request by the East Timor Government for their help would have to be carefully considered after last year's failed effort, which cost five Timorese lives and resulted in a community backlash against the Australian peacekeepers. The East Timor Defence Force (F-FDTL) is understood to be reluctant to take on an enforcement role against Major Reinado. "Politically, he's a much tougher egg to crack now he's got the petitioners," said one senor Western intelligence analyst based in Dili. "He now has several hundred (570) petitioners thinking he's the man, and those petitioners have very strong support in the western districts." The petitioners, almost all western-born Loromonu people, comprise soldiers who mutinied in 2006 over claims they were unfairly treated by ethnic eastern-born commanders. Share this article NEWS.com.au is not responsible for the content of external sites.	Mari Alkatiri in 2001 Xanana Gusmão in 2002 Former East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri called for the resignation of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão following the allegation last week by former police chief Alfredo Reinado that Gusmao orchestrated the civil unrest in 2006. "I think that it is time for Xanana to resign from his post because he has established a precedent in 2006 based on allegations without fact," said Alkatiri, who lost power during the 2006 rioting. Alkatiri also called on the East Timorese President, Dr José Ramos-Horta, to pressure the Prime Minister to resign. “Ramos-Horta, as foreign minister, was very supportive of Xanana to force me to resign. Now he is president of the republic and he has to do the same," he added, referring to the resignation of Ramos-Horta and several other members of cabinet during the peak of the 2006 crisis. The conflict, which left over 30 people dead and thousands homeless, followed an Alkatiri government's decision in March that year to lay-off 600 soldiers when they refused to work, approximately one third of the country’s official defence force. The soldiers alleged that Alkatiri gave special treatment to former Fretilin commanders. Alfredo Reinado has been in hiding with supporters since escaping from prison in August 2006, after being arrested on charges of illegal weapons distribution, desertion and attempted murder following the 2006 unrest. Dr Ramos-Horta rejected calls for the Prime Minister's resignation, saying "I cannot do it because these are allegations by one individual in a very vague manner." He also added, "Never before has Mr Alfredo Reinado told me anything about Mr Xanana Gusmao's involvement, with him, or with anyone, in inciting the crisis in 2006."
Will Oprah Winfrey End Show in 2011? email this add to Yahoo! buzz add to facebook Oprah Winfrey Is Oprah Winfrey close to ending her talk show? Winfrey is developing a new cable channel, the Oprah Winfrey Network, with Discovery Communications, and the company's CEO said in a conference call Friday that Winfrey will not renew her syndicated talk show contract when it expires in September 2011. "The expectation is that after that, her show will go off of ABC in syndication and she will come to OWN," Discovery CEO David Zaslav said, according to the Chicago Tribune. "We're talking now about what the presence will be and what kind of programming she would be involved in directly. But this is her Chapter 2, and building the OWN brand online and on-air is . . . a core mission for her." But Winfrey's production company says nothing is settled. "She has not made a final decision as to whether she will continue her show in syndication after her contract expires in 2011," Harpo representative Lisa Halliday said. What do you think? Are you ready for The Oprah Winfrey Show to come to an end? \|\|\|\|\| Oprah to pull the plug on syndicated show in 2011 Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009 6:25 PM EST Updated: Friday, January 29, 2010 1:53 PM EST Help Pack-a-Backpack for area school children in need Cause of fire leads to questions about fireworks ban CHICAGO, IL (WMBF) - The president of Harpo, Inc., has announced Oprah Winfrey will be calling it quits on her syndicated show in 2011. Tim Bennett made Oprah's decision public in a press release to television partners on Thursday evening. Bennett says Oprah will make the announcement live on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Friday. "If you think the last quarter century has been something, then don't touch that dial, as together ,we plan to make history in the next 20 months," Bennett said. Oprah's show will close as its 25th season comes to an end on Sept. 9, 2011. ©2009 WMBF News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| Oprah Winfrey didn't mention her new gig on her talk show today when she told viewers that she is indeed ending her unprecedented run as talk show queen on Sept. 9, 2011. But her new basic cable network, OWN, (Oprah Winfrey Network) released a statement this morning announcing that her legacy will live on in her 24-hour Discovery Communications venture, which premieres in Jan. 2011 and is based in Burbank. OWN will debut on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel. "Oprah has been nourishing people through her television show for nearly 25 years, a legacy that has touched millions the world over,” said Christina Norman, CEO of OWN, in a statement. “She is the life force behind OWN and will be guiding the effort for this completely new 24-hour television experience premiering in January 2011." Discovery Communications President and CEO David Zaslav also piped in today with a statement: "There is no bigger brand in media than Oprah Winfrey. She has changed the broadcast landscape and how people consume television. Along the way, she impacted our culture and touched us all. We congratulate her and our friends at Harpo for their many achievements, and their years of creating truly ground-breaking television." But enough about the future. Today, Winfrey focused on the last 20-plus years in remarks she made at the end of today's shows, according to the Chicago Tribune. After much prayer, and months of careful thought, I've decided that next season -- Season 25 -- will be the last season of "The Oprah Winfrey Show. And over the next couple of days, you may hear a lot of speculation in the press about why I am making this decision now, and that will mostly be conjecture. So I wanted you to hear this directly from me. Twenty-four years ago, on Sept. 8, 1986, I went live from Chicago to launch the first national "Oprah Winfrey Show." I was beyond excited and as you all might expect, a little nervous. I knew then what a miraculous opportunity I had been given, but I certainly never could have imagined the yellow brick road of blessings that have led me to this moment with you. [Her voice grows thick with emotion] These years with you, our viewers, have enriched my life beyond all measure, and you all have graciously invited me into your living rooms, into your kitchens and into your lives. And for some of you longtime Oprah viewers, you have literally grown up with me. We've grown together. You've had your families and you've raised your children and you left a spot for me in your morning or your afternoon, depending on when the Oprah show airs in your town. So I just wanted to say that whether you've been here with me from the beginning or you came on board last week, I want you all to know that my relationship with you is one that I hold very dear, and your trust in me -- the sharing of your precious time with me every day -- has brought me the greatest joy I have ever known. So here we are, halfway through Season 24 and it still means as much to me to spend an hour with you as it did back in 1986. So why walk away and make next season the last? Here is the real reason. I love this show. This show has been my life. And I love it enough to know when it's time to say goodbye. Twenty-five years feels right in my bones and feels right in my spirit. It's the perfect number. The exact right time.... So I hope that you will take this 18-month ride with me, right through to the final show. In Los Angeles, you can watch Winfrey tell the audience at 3 p.m. on KABC. --Maria Elena Fernandez Photo: Winfrey announces she's leaving her talk show after 25 years Friday. Credit: Harpo Productions Related: Oprah to end her show \|\|\|\|\| Oprah Winfrey delivered an oh-no moment on Friday, choking up as she told her audience that after a quarter-century on “the yellow brick road of blessings that led me to you,” she would shut down “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in September 2011. It’s a measure of her outsize stature that the news buckled the media world: Ms. Winfrey isn’t leaving soon or going very far by 2011 her new cable venture, OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, should be up and running. But there was a sense of mourning as soon as the news came on Thursday. And it takes so long to list everything that Oprah Winfrey has done (the talk show, the book club, the Oscar nomination, the magazine, the philanthropy, the Obama campaign, those road trips with Gayle) that it is sometimes difficult to keep track of what she hasn’t done. This isn’t the first time Ms. Winfrey has closed a venture while it was still thriving. She became a star and a billionaire media tycoon by saying yes to opportunity, but part of her talent lies in her willingness to say no. \|\|\|\|\| Losing Winfrey would be big blow for Second City CHICAGO — Step outside Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios and into the near west side neighborhood that's been home to her television talk show for two decades, and it's easy to get a sense of what she's meant to Chicago. "I used to live across the street from Harpo and when I moved there it was me and cross-dressing crack addicts and Harpo. And now it's strollers and little white dogs all over," said Paul O'Connor, whose job has been to sell the city to businesses looking to relocate and those wondering why they should stay. Along with the upscale condominiums and pricey restaurants that replaced the rundown apartments, abandoned warehouses and vacant storefronts, it's a sentiment that helps explain just how nervous people in Chicago are about Winfrey's announcement that next season, the 25th, will be the last for "The Oprah Winfrey Show." "Chicago's going to find out that she's a real engine to hotel rooms, flowers, limo drivers, you name it," said Joel Nickson, who owns Wishbone restaurant just down the street. "Even when she's not doing the show, we see people all the time taking cabs out here, taking pictures in front of the place." Media analysts will discuss the millions of viewers worldwide who have eagerly watched Winfrey's show, tuned in others she told them to watch and read books she told them to read. The story in Chicago will be what she's meant to Chicago. It's a story that starts in the neighborhood that people visited just to see her show — then they'd go off to explore the rest of the city. It's from the neighborhood that Winfrey bragged about Chicago, reminding all those who knew she could take her show just about anywhere that she wanted to be right here. "Isn't this the most fabulous city in the world?" Winfrey yelled to more than 20,000 fans who crowded Chicago's Magnificent Mile in September for the taping of this season's premiere. Without Winfrey, some wonder. "What's this town going to come to?" asked Ann Coddington, 41, of Richmond, Ind., who was at Harpo Studios to see the show Friday morning. "You think of Chicago, you think of Oprah." Winfrey hasn't said she's leaving Chicago, but there are indications it's possible. She is widely expected to start up a new talk show on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, which is set to debut in January 2011. OWN hired "Oprah" co-executive producer Lisa Erspamer this month as its chief creative officer. She is expected to move from Chicago to Los Angeles in January. Nobody suggests Harpo Studios' neighborhood will revert to the pre-Winfrey years, when it was all but impossible to catch a cab and there was no place to order a latte much less a nice meal. But the studio stands as a reminder of what has been, and what could be lost. It was here that celebrities came from all over the world when they had something to say — from Tom Cruise's declaration of love for Katie Holmes, memorably accompanied by a jump on her couch, to Sarah Palin's appearance on the show to kick off her book tour. "It's our little piece of Hollywood, our big piece of it," said Bob O'Neill, the president of the Grant Park Conservancy. Winfrey did more than set up shop in Chicago: She gave other companies reason to do so. "She is part of the cultural infrastructure which provides a rich intellectual and cultural life to the city and that is absolutely critical for corporate decision making," said O'Connor, who now works for the Chicago Metropolis 2020 civic group after leaving World Business Chicago, a not-for-profit economic development corporation that worked to attract and keep businesses in Chicago. Once the businesses are here, Winfrey has even been part of the effort to persuade employees who might be reluctant to pack up and move their families. "Oprah and the sports and the 5,000 boats on the lake and the museums are all part of the rich mix to help (companies) bring talent here and make that transition." O'Connor said. "You cannot underestimate that." Now, though Winfrey will tape in Chicago for at least another 18 months, the studio will stand as a reminder of all that is plaguing the city, from the staggering economy to the lost bid to host the 2016 Olympic games to losing two major trade shows in recent weeks. "A lot of bad things are happening," said O'Neill, who was troubled enough even before Winfrey's announcement about the spate of bad news that he helped organize a "Chicago in a funk?" symposium. "Her leaving brings a lot of negative publicity." Associated Press Writer Caryn Rousseau contributed to this report. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.	Hotel Bel-Air. Oprah Winfrey has announced that she will retire from her talk show on September 9, 2011, during season 25. Winfrey made the announcement on Friday's broadcast of ''The Oprah Winfrey Show''. Suppressing tears, she explained that careful thought and prayer had gone into her decision. "Twenty-five years feels right in my bones and feels right in my spirit", she told her audience. ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' was first televised on September 8, 1986. For the first ten years she competed with other talk shows by discussing relationships and parallel subjects. In the late 1990s her show changed focus to incorporate stories relating to spirituality and human interest. Winfrey has had lasting effects on the city of Chicago, Illinois. The surrounding neighborhood of Harpo Productions was rundown prior to the company's success. Chicago residents have expressed concern over what would occur if Winfrey were to leave. According to the Associated Press, citizens view ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' as, "a reminder of what has been, and what could be lost." News sources speculate that Winfrey will air a replacement on the ''Oprah Winfrey Network'' in 2011.
Press Releases 20/04/2009 Statement by Kent Woodside, Vice President and General Manager, CanJet Airlines. (07:30 AM ADT) April 20th, 2009, Halifax, NS -- At approximately 23:30 ADT an armed man boarded CanJet Flight 918 which had landed at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. Flight 918 had departed from Halifax at 7:15 last night. The flight was due to travel from Montego Bay to Santa Clara, in Cuba. The flight was being operated for Transat Tours Canada. There were 174 passengers and eight crew scheduled to leave Montego Bay on Flight 918. All of those passengers and two of the crew have safely left the aircraft. Six crew are still on board the aircraft. The gunman also remains on board. The security and safety of passengers and crew on all CanJet airlines is paramount. We are relieved that all of the passengers involved in this incident are safe, as well as the two crew members, and our top priority is the safe release of the remaining crew members. We are providing our full cooperation to security officials and the local authorities who are doing everything possible to bring this matter to a peaceful end. As you will appreciate this is an ongoing incident and so we don’t have all the details at this stage. What we can tell you is this: The Jamaican authorities have secured the area and the aircraft. Efforts are continuing to secure the release of the remaining crew. None of the passengers or crew has been injured. And there has been no damage to the aircraft. All of the passengers are under the direction and control of the Jamaican authorities at the airport. Once security and investigators have been able to passengers will be moved to local hotel accommodation. Another CanJet aircraft will be available to return any passengers who want to get back to Canada. All of the passengers involved in the incident are Canadian. The aircraft itself is a Boeing 737-800 which can carry 189 passengers. We are working with security authorities in Jamaica and Canada. RCMP officers in Canada and Jamaica are involved. The Department of Foreign Affairs is also providing valuable support and the Prime Minister’s office has offered assistance. Once again, the sole focus of all of our efforts is the safe release of everyone involved and a peaceful end to the situation. We have an information line available for anyone with questions about family or relatives who may have been on board CanJet Flight 918. The number is 1-888-777-6429. That’s 1-888-777-6429. This information is also available on our website www.canjet.com. We will provide new information as it becomes available and we plan to provide you with another briefing later in the day. \|\|\|\|\| A gunman holding six crew members hostage on a passenger jet at an airport in Jamaica has surrendered. Police said the man had been disarmed and arrested. The hostages - the crew of a CanJet plane on the runway in Montego Bay - have been released unharmed, government officials said. The flight's passengers were released earlier and taken to nearby Cornwall Regional Hospital, some suffering from shock. The suspect, believed to be armed with a handgun, is a Jamaican national aged about 20, according to information minister Daryl Vaz. He was also described as "mentally challenged". The man demanded to be flown to Cuba after he forced his way on to the charter flight on the tarmac at Sangster International airport. He gained access through a security entrance at around 10.30pm local time (3.30am GMT) using several fake identification cards. At least one shot was reportedly fired inside the Canada-bound plane but police said no one was wounded. "Flight 918 was carrying 182 passengers and crew," Canadian charter airline Canjet said in a statement. It added: "Our understanding is that no harm has come to anyone remaining on board." Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding and his national security minister, Dwight Nelson, had travelled to Montego Bay to take charge of the situation. \|\|\|\|\| Security forces surrounded the hijacked plane A gunman who hijacked a passenger plane in Montego Bay, Jamaica, has surrendered after police and soldiers boarded the jet, say officials. Six crew members held hostage by the man were released unharmed. More than 150 passengers were on board when the man forced his way onto the Canada-bound plane demanding passage to Cuba, but were released within hours. The hijacker, believed to be a 20-year-old local man, was described by the authorities as "troubled". Jamaican Information Minister Daryl Vaz told the BBC the incident had ended "without any injuries or harm". He said the authorities had been "getting nowhere with the negotiations" with the hijacker. "Police and military went on the plane and captured him," he said. Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding flew in to Montego Bay and offered support to the passengers. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, currently in Jamaica on a one-day visit following the recent Summit of the Americas in Trinidad, telephoned Mr Golding to congratulate him "for the successful resolution", his spokesman said. 'No-one hurt' The aircraft was bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, but was due to stop in Santa Clara in Cuba on the way. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. The gunman reportedly checked in for the flight then forced his way past checkpoints and went on board around 2230 local time (0330 GMT), brandishing a firearm. He is said to have robbed passengers, most of whom were released after half an hour. Police and security services closed and cordoned off the airport and surrounded the plane as the situation developed. The charter airline that owns the Boeing 737 plane, CanJet, said 182 people, including 174 passengers, were due to travel on the flight. But reports said only 159 passengers had been on board when the incident began. CanJet's Vice-President and General Manager, Ken Woodside, told an earlier news conference that a shot may have been fired outside the aircraft, but no-one was hit. Two of the passengers were held for several hours before being released, according to reports. Most passengers, all of whom are Canadian, were taken to a local hospital, some of them suffering from shock. The parents of Christian Gosselin, a passenger on the flight, said he had telephoned them and appeared "very shaken up and calm at the same time". "Passengers were asked to give out all their money," Mr Gosselin's father, Alphonse, told Canada's CBC news channel. "[Christian] told his girlfriend to hide their passports in her back pocket, and also their credit cards," he said. Mr Vaz told the BBC the authorities had not yet been able to establish how the armed man managed to pass security. He said an investigation had been started and would be "pursued vigorously" so the authorities could identity security breaches. Mr Vaz has described the hijacker as a "mentally challenged youngster" who was demanding to be flown to Cuba. Correspondents say security at Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport is normally very good. The airport, one of the most modern in the Caribbean, handles about four million passengers a year. Were you on board the plane or in the area at the time of the incident? Send us your comments or photos using the form below: Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Jamaican troops storm hijacked Canadian jet; free 6 crew members A Boeing 737 belonging to CanJet sits on the tarmac near the Jamaican resort of Montego Bay on Monday while a gunman was holding six crew members hostage. (Patricia Roxborough/Jamaica Observer/Associated Press)Jamaican troops stormed a hijacked Canadian plane Monday after negotiations with a gunman broke down, taking a man into custody and rescuing six crew members. Jamaican Information Minister Daryl Vaz said all six Canadian crew members are safe and were taken to a local hospital for a medical checkup. People with family members aboard CanJet Flight 918 can call the airline toll free, 1-888-777-6429. The 20-year-old man in police custody has been identified as Stephen Fray. Vaz called him a "troubled young man" who was upset about a failed relationship. Vaz said members of the Jamaica Defence Force Counter Terrorism Operations Group stormed CanJet Flight 918 after close to eight hours of negotiations between the gunman and family members broke down. The hijacked flight left Halifax on Sunday bound for Montego Bay. It was to leave Jamaica later Sunday night and stop in Santa Clara, Cuba, before returning to Halifax with a load of returning vacationers. (CBC)“It has ended the best way it could, no fatalities, no injuries,” Vaz said. The incident started around 10 p.m. Sunday local time when a gunman reportedly forced his way through security and boarded the plane carrying 159 passengers about 40 minutes before it was due to depart from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. Passenger Suzanne Ferguson said the gunman was talking and shouting at passengers. She said the gunman said: "I mean business, this is a hijacking, sit down, nobody move." She said the passengers complied. "We were praying and crying a little bit, but everybody was quiet." Ferguson said she thought about Sept. 11, 2001. "I thought he wanted to crash the plane, like in New York," she said. "That's what we were all thinking." Flight attendant held at gunpoint Jacques Poulin said he and his parents were among the final people about to board the flight when the gunman rushed past them. Two other men who appeared to be undercover officers then pulled out their weapons, he said. Poulin said the gunman brandished his own weapon and yelled: "You can't stop me, I'm going to America." "Nobody knew it was real. People thought it was fake. We literally just stood there," Poulin said. The two other men with guns ran downstairs to alert police and airport officials, Poulin said. Heavily armed soldiers later arrived on the scene, he said. The gunman held the passengers on board the plane for roughly 30 minutes until he agreed to let them and two crew members leave in exchange for their money. Poulin said passengers told him the gunman held a flight attendant at gunpoint and ordered them to drop their money and valuables into a bag as they left the plane. Poulin said it appeared the gunman fired a shot at the co-pilot, who was on the loading ramp trying to talk to the agitated man. He said the shot might have grazed the co-pilot's face because a man came running out holding his face. CanJet denied the report, saying none of the flight crew was injured. Kent Woodside, vice-president and general manager of CanJet, said there were unconfirmed reports a shot was fired on the walkway connecting the plane to the terminal, but that no one was injured. New plane on way to Jamaica The hijacked flight left Halifax on Sunday at 7:15 p.m. local time for Montego Bay. It was to leave Jamaica later Sunday night and stop in Santa Clara, Cuba, where passengers Christian Gosselin, girlfriend Nancy Beattie and about two dozen other New Brunswickers were to attend a wedding, his father Alphonse Gosselin told CBC News. Woodside said another CanJet plane will arrive in Jamaica by Monday afternoon to pick up the passengers and crew members, who are receiving medical checkups at a local hospital. A new crew and multiple sets of pilots will be on board, he said. That flight will also stop in Santa Clara to pick up passengers waiting to return to Canada. Woodside didn't say how many passengers are stranded in Cuba, but he said they are waiting at their resorts. It's unclear when the passengers will return to Canada. Woodside praised the crew's professionalism. "Their composure led to a successful outcome of this," he said. "They executed all of the steps as part of their security training to keep their passengers safe as well as themselves safe and secure." Dawn Way, a Halifax-based flight attendant for WestJet Airlines, said she knows the captain and one of the flight attendants on the flight. "I knew they would act in a very professional manner. The captain is very competent and the flight attendant, she's very level-headed, so I knew that they would be able to handle the situation," said Way. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who is in Jamaica for a one-day visit, offered his plane to help transport some passengers back to Canada, but his spokesman, Kory Teneycke, said the airline has said it is able to handle the transport itself. Gunman angrily waved weapon Lisa Boudreau said her friend, who was on the plane, told her that some people had tried to escape when the gunman boarded. "The gunman got aggravated, when people tried to escape, so he got up and he went up and down the aisle, seat to seat, putting the gun in everyone’s face," she said. A St. George, N.B., woman whose son was on the flight says a flight attendant helped negotiate the release of the passengers. Cheryl Spear said her son Jamie called her early Monday morning when he was freed, telling her the gunman angrily threatened passengers and waved his weapon around. "The stewardess from the back seemed to be able to calm him and tried to … reason with him into letting them off if they left their money and wallets there," she said. "And that seemed to have worked for him and that seemed to be the way they were able to get off of the plane." Vaz said Jamaican government officials will help sort out any necessary paperwork for passengers who had to leave their passports on the plane, as well as supply passengers with any necessary medication. "I must tell you, all the passengers … really took it in good stead. And they were very anxious to just get to a place where they could rest because it was obviously very traumatic," said Vaz. Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding expressed relief that the standoff was over, apologized to Canadian passengers for their ordeal and promised a complete and thorough investigation into what he called an obvious security breakdown. "I'm very relieved, extremely relieved, that it's over and nobody has been hurt," Golding said. Arrangements to provide accommodations for the passengers have been made and they've also been offered funds to compensate for the money they surrendered to their captor. "There was quite clearly a breach of security at the airport, and I've asked for an investigation to be done immediately and a report to be made." CanJet is owned by Halifax-based IMP Group Ltd., according to CanJet's website. The plane involved in the hostage-taking is a Boeing 737-800 capable of carrying 189 people. With files from The Canadian Press	CanJet Flight 918 was hijacked on 19 April 2009, at approximately 22:30 local time at Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, Jamaica. The hijacking was executed by a single armed gunman, who later released all of the passengers and two of the crew, keeping six crew members hostage, according to a press statement by CanJet. The man broke through security and boarded before the plane was scheduled to leave. There are contradictory statements on the number of passengers on board when the man forced his way onto the plane. According to the BBC, there were more than 150, while CBC states that "Most of the (...) passengers had not yet boarded the flight". The hijacker apparently demanded passage to Cuba. The plane was stormed by Jamaican police in the morning of the 20th of April, who succeeded in taking the hijacker into custody and freeing the captives. The flight had started from Halifax International Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada, at 7:15pm local time. It was stopping in Montego Bay and was scheduled to continue to Santa Clara in Cuba. The airplane in use is a Boeing 737-800.
BERLIN (AP) German police have arrested a man for stealing more than 1 million screws from his employers and selling his booty on the Internet, authorities said Friday. The man — a 33-year-old assembly worker at an unidentified firm — squirreled away screws in a specially designed hiding place and spirited up to 7,000 of them home every day when he left work, police said. Over a two-year period, he stole some 1.1 million screws with an estimated value of $155,000, police in the Bavarian city of Wuerzburg said in a statement. The man allegedly sold the screws over the Internet at discount prices — ultimately alerting police, who wondered where he was getting the vast quantities of components, to his activities. The man was arrested Wednesday at his Wuerzburg apartment. Police said he acknowledged stealing the screws, and is now in custody awaiting formal charges. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| BERLIN A German factory worker stole over a million screws from his employer and skewed the market with his cheap stolen goods, police said on Friday. "In the end, it became obvious that screws were being sold for much less than they usually cost," said a spokesman for police in the southern city of Wuerzburg. Over two years, the 33-year-old assembly plant worker smuggled between 2,000 and 7,000 screws out of work each night, and auctioned them on an Internet site, police said. The scheme cost his firm around 110,000 euros ($156,000). The man confessed after officers raided his home.	Assorted screws. An assembly man in Berlin, Germany stole one million screws from his co-workers and auctioned them over the internet. He was arrested at his apartment on Wednesday. For two years, the 33-year-old stole up to 7,000 screws per day and hid them in a hiding place. Today he has 1.1 million screws that are valued at 110,000 euros (US$155,000). "In the end, it became obvious that screws were being sold for much less than they usually cost," said police spokesperson for the Würzburg police. The man's name has not been released and he is in custody awaiting charges.
Tropical Depression ADRIAN Public Advisory Home Fcst/Adv Discussion Maps/Chrts Archive 000 WTPZ31 KNHC 201437 TCPEP1 BULLETIN TROPICAL DEPRESSION ADRIAN ADVISORY NUMBER 13 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 8 AM PDT FRI MAY 20 2005 ...ADRIAN DISSIPATING OVER HONDURAS...STILL PRODUCING HEAVY RAINS... AT 8 AM PDT...1500Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION ADRIAN WAS DISSIPATING NEAR LATITUDE 15.0 NORTH... LONGITUDE 87.5 WEST...OR INLAND OVER WESTERN HONDURAS. THE DISSIPATING DEPRESSION IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 17 MPH...28 KM/HR...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 30 MPH... 45 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1007 MB...29.74 INCHES. ADRIAN IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE ADDITIONAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES OVER HONDURAS DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM-TOTAL AMOUNTS OF 20 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS IN ASSOCIATION WITH ADRIAN. REPEATING THE 8 AM PDT POSITION...15.0 N... 87.5 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHEAST NEAR 17 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 30 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1007 MB. THIS IS THE LAST PUBLIC ADVISORY ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ON THIS SYSTEM UNLESS REGENERATION OCCURS. FORECASTER KNABB/AVILA $$ \|\|\|\|\| Southeast News Experts Predict 70 Percent Above Normal Hurricane Activity As the season's first tropical storm now brews in the Pacific and is about to cross-over into the southern Gulf of Mexico toward Cuba, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted there will be 12 to 15 tropical storms this season, with seven to nine becoming hurricanes. NOAA predicts hurricane activity will be 70 percent above normal. According to National Hurricane spokesman Frank Lepore, early projections show the atmosphere is now more conducive for hurricanes. "A hurricane is a collection of vertical thunderstorms," Lepore said. "The reduced vertical wind sheer in the deep tropics makes the Atlantic more conducive for hurricanes. The Gulf (of Mexico) is equally conducive." Dr. William Gray, a leading meteorologist with Colorado State University's Tropical Meteorology Project predicted to attendees at the recent Governor's Hurricane Preparedness Conference in Tampa a 73 percent likelihood for a hurricane to hit the Florida's Gulf coast. In comparison, Florida's eastern coast has a higher probability of hurricane landfalls with an 82 percent probability. Gray also summarizes the possibility for the more dangerous storms in the Gulf and in Florida's eastern coast. In the report, he said there's a greater chance for more dangerous hurricanes to occur on the east coast rather than in the Gulf. Gray believes that the Category 3 to 5 storms will most likely occur on the east coast. "It doesn't matter how many hurricanes are projected," Lepore said. "I would say that it doesn't matter what the numbers are. We could have many (hurricanes) that won't create much damage or we could have one that could ruin your year. The objective is to be prepared."	Image of Tropical Storm Adrian On May 18, 17:45 UTC; animation. Tropical Storm Adrian, the first named storm of the 2005 Pacific hurricane season, formed 440 miles (710 km) southwest of Guatemala and El Salvador on Tuesday. The storm is expected to track northeast towards Central America. The government of El Salvador has upgraded the tropical storm watch to a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch for all of El Salvador. A tropical storm watch remains in effect for the entire Pacific coast of Guatemala. The government of Honduras has issued a tropical storm watch for the Pacific coast of Honduras, including the Gulf of Fonseca. As of 11 am Pacific Time on Thursday, it was moving northeast at 9 mph (15 km/h) with maximum sustained wind speeds of 75 mph (120 km/h), with gusts at higher speeds. It is expected to strengthen slightly, possibly becoming a minimal hurricane at landfall. The current location of the center of the storm is 12.6° N, 90.6° W; about 120 miles (195 km) southwest of San Salvador, El Salvador. Additional strengthening is expected over the next 24 hours. Outer rain-bands containing gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall are already affecting the coastal areas of Guatemala, and should begin affecting El Salvador tonight. Rainfall accumulation of 6 to 10 inches, with isolated higher amounts of up to 20 inches in the mountains, can be expected in association with Adrian. This system also has the potential to produce torrential rainfall over other portions of Central America during the next few days, triggering flash flooding and mudslides. Storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide level is possible near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Meteorologists expect the storm to be in the Caribbean by Friday.
Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, co-sponsor of the Senate legislation, said he believed that the president’s actions would give a boost to the Copenhagen talks and help move the Senate bill. He called the decision to declare an American target a “game changer,” domestically and internationally. “By announcing a provisional target, contingent on the support of Congress, the president has defined a path to an international agreement that challenges the developed and developing nations to fulfill their obligations,” he said. “It lays the groundwork for a broad political consensus at Copenhagen that will strip climate obstructionists here at home of their most persistent charge, that the United States shouldn’t act if other countries won’t join with us.” But Senator James M. Inhofe, the Senate’s most outspoken skeptic on climate change, said that Mr. Obama’s public pledge would do little to speed an international agreement and foolishly prejudged the outcome of a Senate debate that had barely started. Mr. Inhofe, Republican of Oklahoma, said that Senate climate legislation was “dying on the vine” and that the Senate would never ratify a treaty that did not require strong emissions reductions from major developing countries. “The U.S. Senate has made clear on numerous occasions that unilateral action by the United States is unacceptable, because it will harm our economy and have virtually no effect on climate change,” Mr. Inhofe said. Mr. Obama takes little risk in appearing briefly at the Copenhagen conference because he and other world leaders punctured expectations for the session 10 days ago in a side meeting of leaders of Pacific nations. The leaders agreed that they would work at Copenhagen toward an interim political declaration on climate change that stopped short of a binding international treaty. Delegates are expected to pledge to complete work on a treaty next year. Mr. Obama came to office promising to end eight years of relative inaction on climate change under the Bush administration, but the inaction of Congress has limited the administration’s ability to negotiate with other nations. At the Kyoto climate conference in 1997, the Clinton administration joined other industrialized nations in pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 percent by 2012, but Congress refused to ratify the agreement because it made no demands of developing nations. Many foreign leaders, particularly those in European nations that have been more aggressive in dealing with climate change, have become critical of Mr. Obama’s seeming passivity on the issue. The White House appears to hope that the announcement of the targets and the trip to Copenhagen will quiet some of the dissension and help Mr. Obama re-establish American leadership on what he calls one of the signature issues of the time. \|\|\|\|\| Barack Obama: cuts not quite what they seem (Image: White House) President Barack Obama has given a major boost to next month’s UN climate change negotiations in Copenhagen by offering firm targets for cuts in US greenhouse gas emissions. The move, announced today, has been widely welcomed by climate change campaigners. But although they may seem generous, the proposed targets are in fact far from what developing nations and climate scientists have called for. Obama said the US was prepared to cut its emissions of greenhouse gases by 17 per cent by 2020 and by 83 per cent by 2050 “in the context of an overall deal in Copenhagen that includes robust mitigation contributions from China and the other emerging economies”. At first glance, that sounds similar to commitments made by other wealthy nations. The European Union, for instance, is aiming to cut its emissions by 20 per cent cut by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050. But the US president is measuring his cuts against 2005 emissions; most other nations use 1990 as a baseline. Advertisement The difference is subtle but significant: US emissions grew by almost 15 per cent between those dates. Using 1990 as a baseline, Obama’s pledge translates into a cut of around 4 per cent. That is well short of the 25 to 40 per cent cuts that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says are required from developed nations to avoid the most dangerous consequences of climate change. More cuts may come The US may, however, achieve bigger cuts than Obama’s statement makes apparent. It is likely that the pledge relates to a scheme to limit emissions from specific industries, such as the energy sector. Alexia Kelly, a climate policy expert at the World Resources Institute in Washington DC, points out that other domestic policies, such improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency, will bring further reductions. The White House announcement does not say how the cuts will be achieved. The House of Representatives has, however, passed a bill containing similar reductions, and the Senate is considering legislation with a slightly more ambitious target. The presence of those bills will at least allow Obama to point to domestic action when negotiating at Copenhagen. He also has the option of bypassing Congress and imposing cuts through existing legislation, such as the Clean Air Act. “I suspect that it will be a combination of the two,” says Kelly. Obama’s pledge also contains interim targets for the US: a 30 per cent cut below 2005 levels by 2025 and a 42 per cent cut by 2030. This addresses one major complaint from developing nations, which have been calling for a more detailed reductions timetable for the next few decades. Will all this add up to enough incentives to bring China and India – two major polluters that have so far resisted calls to regulate their emissions – on board a global deal? “That we don’t know,” says Kelly. With the UN climate negotiations less than a fortnight away, we may not have to wait long to find out. \|\|\|\|\| US pledges carbon emissions cuts President Barack Obama is to pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the US in several stages, beginning with a 17% cut by 2020, the White House has said. The offer will be made at December's UN climate talks in Copenhagen, which Mr Obama will attend. But he does not plan to be there for the crucial last days, when delegates including other world leaders are hoping to pull together a deal. The talks aim to draw up a new treaty to supplant the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said his attendance could be vital for a deal. "The president may regard climate change as a pressing problem, but many Americans don't" "It's critical that President Obama attends the climate change summit in Copenhagen," he told journalists. The cuts Mr Obama has proposed are similar to those included in a bill passed by the US House of Representatives in June. But with legislation currently stuck in the Senate, correspondents say the president will be unable to commit to any of the figures he is proposing at the summit. So far more than 60 world leaders have said they will attend. Observers say the presence of such figures as Mr Obama will raise hopes for action on climate change, although the talks are not expected to result in a new treaty. 'Momentum for talks' Officials said the US would pledge a 17% cut in emissions from 2005 levels by 2020, 30% by 2025, 42% by 2030 and 83% by 2050. EU - 20% cut from 1990 levels, rising to 30% in the event of a global agreement Australia - 25% from 2000 levels Japan - 25% from 1990 levels Mr Obama will outline a "pathway" towards the US goals at the summit, a White House statement said. It described the cuts as "a significant contribution to a problem that the US has neglected for too long". But most other countries' targets are given in comparison with 1990 figures. BBC environment correspondent Richard Black says that on that basis the US figure amounts to just a few percentage points, as its emissions have risen by about 15% since 1990. This is much less than the EU's pledge of a 20% cut over the same period, or a 30% cut if there is a global deal; and much less than the 25-40% figure that developing countries are demanding. The US president will be in the Danish capital on 9 December, a day before receiving his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. But he does not plan to return for the key last stages of the 7-18 December summit. Major priority Responding to the announcement, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said: "I welcome that President Obama has committed to come to Copenhagen. " I'm sure the event in Copenhagen will be beneficial for Planet Earth " "I have made clear that we need as many world leaders present as possible. I hope that others will follow suit." Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, the host of the talks, said he hoped Mr Obama could "contribute to an ambitious global deal in Copenhagen". The announcement was also welcome by environmental group Friends of the Earth. "Obama's pledge to go to Copenhagen is a welcome and significant development - but he must adopt a 'Yes we can' attitude in the UN climate talks if he is to earn his Nobel prize," spokesman Tom Picken said. Leaders of United States, Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Australia, Japan, Indonesia and Brazil Leaders of China and India "The US is the world's biggest per capita polluter. It has a moral responsibility to take the lead in securing a strong and fair agreement." The decision follows intense speculation about whether the US president would go at all. Delegations from 192 countries will be attending the summit. Leaders saying they will attend include UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. Hu Jintao, president of the world's largest polluter, China, is yet to commit to attending. The US is the second largest polluter after China. Mr Obama has made climate change a major priority for his administration, after previous incumbents had failed to ratify the Kyoto treaty. A bill to cap US emissions and establish a national carbon trading scheme is currently stuck in the Senate and is not expected to pass before the end of the year. But Senator John Kerry, co-sponsor of the Senate bill, said Mr Obama's move could have an impact on domestic politics. "This could be one hell of a global game changer with big reverberations here at home," he said. Correspondents say most nations have given up hope of a legally binding treaty because of uncertainty about the US position. RELATED INTERNET LINKS The Lancet UK government - Act on Copenhagen BMJ The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites \|\|\|\|\| The White House Office of the Press Secretary President to Attend Copenhagen Climate Talks Administration Announces U.S. Emission Target for Copenhagen The White House announced today that President Obama will travel to Copenhagen on Dec. 9 to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where he is eager to work with the international community to drive progress toward a comprehensive and operational Copenhagen accord. The President has worked steadily on behalf of a positive outcome in Copenhagen throughout the year. Based on the President’s work on climate change over the past 10 months – in the Major Economies Forum, the G20, bilateral discussions and multilateral consultations – and based on progress made in recent, constructive discussions with China and India’s Leaders, the President believes it is possible to reach a meaningful agreement in Copenhagen. The President’s decision to go is a sign of his continuing commitment and leadership to find a global solution to the global threat of climate change, and to lay the foundation for a new, sustainable and prosperous clean energy future. The White House also announced that, in the context of an overall deal in Copenhagen that includes robust mitigation contributions from China and the other emerging economies, the President is prepared to put on the table a U.S. emissions reduction target in the range of 17% below 2005 levels in 2020 and ultimately in line with final U.S. energy and climate legislation. In light of the President’s goal to reduce emissions 83% by 2050, the expected pathway set forth in this pending legislation would entail a 30% reduction below 2005 levels in 2025 and a 42% reduction below 2005 in 2030. This provisional target is in line with current legislation in both chambers of Congress and demonstrates a significant contribution to a problem that the U.S. has neglected for too long. With less than two weeks to go until the beginning of the Copenhagen conference, it is essential that the countries of the world, led by the major economies, do what it takes to produce a strong, operational agreement that will both launch us on a concerted effort to combat climate change and serve as a stepping stone to a legally binding treaty. The President is working closely with Congress to pass energy and climate legislation as soon as possible. Underscoring President Obama’s commitment to American leadership on clean energy and combating climate change, the White House also announced today that a host of Cabinet secretaries and other top officials from across the Administration will travel to Copenhagen for the conference. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson are all scheduled to attend, along with Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Holdren, and Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner. For the first time, the U.S. delegation will have a U.S. Center at the conference, providing a unique and interactive forum to share our story with the world. In addition to working with other countries to advance American interests, U.S. delegates will keynote a series of events highlighting actions by the Obama Administration to provide domestic and global leadership in the transition to a clean energy economy. Topics will range from energy efficiency investments and global commitments to renewables policy and clean energy jobs. The following keynote events and speakers are currently scheduled: Wednesday, December 9th: Taking Action at Home, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson Taking Action at Home, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson Thursday, December 10th: New Energy Future: the role of public lands in clean energy production and carbon capture, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar New Energy Future: the role of public lands in clean energy production and carbon capture, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar Friday, December 11th: Clean Energy Jobs in a Global Marketplace, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Clean Energy Jobs in a Global Marketplace, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Monday, December 14th: Leading in Energy Efficiency and Renewables, Energy Secretary Steven Chu Leading in Energy Efficiency and Renewables, Energy Secretary Steven Chu Tuesday, December 15th: Clean Energy Investments: creating opportunities for rural economies, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Clean Energy Investments: creating opportunities for rural economies, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Thursday, December 17th: Backing Up International Agreement with Domestic Action, CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley and Assistant to the President Carol Browner These events will underline the historic progress the Obama Administration has made to address climate change and create a new energy future. In addition to passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act in the House of Representatives this summer, Administration officials will highlight an impressive resume of American action and accomplishments over the last 10 months, including: DOMESTIC LEADERSHIP Recovery Act: The U.S. is investing more than $80 billion in clean energy through its Recovery Act – including the largest-ever investment in renewable energy, which will double our generation of clean renewable energy like wind and solar in three years. Efficiency Standard for Automobiles: President Obama announced the first ever joint fuel economy/greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks in May. The new standards are projected to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the life of the program with a fuel economy gain averaging more than 5 percent per year and a reduction of approximately 900 million metric tons in greenhouse gas emissions. Advancing Comprehensive Energy Legislation: Passing comprehensive energy and climate legislation is a top priority for the Administration and significant progress has been made. In June, The U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act that will promote clean energy investments and lower U.S. greenhouse gas emissions more than 80 percent by 2050. The Senate continues to advance their efforts to pass comprehensive legislation and move the U.S. closer to a system of clean energy incentives that create new energy jobs, reduce our dependence on oil, and cut pollution. Appliance Efficiency Standards: The Obama Administration has forged more stringent energy efficiency standards for commercial and residential appliances, including microwaves, kitchen ranges, dishwashers, lightbulbs and other common appliances. This common sense approach makes improved efficiency a manufacturing requirement for the everyday appliances used in practically every home and business, resulting in a significant reduction in energy use. Altogether, about two dozen new energy efficiency standards will be completed in the next few years. Offshore Energy Development: Within the Administration’s first 100 days, a new regulatory framework was established to facilitate the development of alternative energy projects in an economic and environmentally sound manner that allows us to tap into the vast energy potential of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The National Renewable Energy Lab estimates that development of wind energy alone on the OCS may provide an additional 1,900 gigawatts of clean energy to the U.S. Emissions Inventory Rule: For the first time, the U.S. will catalogue greenhouse gas emissions from large emission sources – an important initial step toward measurable and transparent reductions. INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP	Official presidential portrait of Barack Obama, taken shortly before he assumed office. Barack Obama has set tougher emission targets in a White House speech. He said, the USA intends to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions "in the range of" 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050. Obama will attend the Copenhagen international climate meeting next month, and is going to offer these figures as an official climate change policy. Obama has also set interim targets for better intermediate control. These are a 30% cut by 2025 and a 42% cut by 2030. But Obama's climate change speeches aren't going very far: Mr Obama is not planning to be present at the summit during the last days, when the world leaders might most possibly finally make a treaty to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. To compare, the European Union speaks about cutting its emissions by 20% cut by 2020 and 80% by 2050. But the starting point of the EU and of most of other nations is 1990, while Obama's numbers are in terms of 2005 emissions. The plans proposed by Obama are with a steeper end compared with EU, thus making a slower start. '''Emissions cuts targets''' Year USA in terms of 2005 USA in terms of 1990 European Union in terms of 1990 2020 17% 4% 20% 2050 83% 80% 80% Observers say some accumulation effect can be caused by domestic policies, which take long to implement on a proper scale, but then give a faster emissions cut. Such policies can include improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency, industries-specific limitations, etc. The White House announcement also contains the list of US representatives at the Copenhagen conference: President Barack Obama Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Energy Secretary Steven Chu Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Holdren *Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner A schedule of US Center presence was made up for certain dates in December, so that the exact ways to achieve the cuts will be discussed.
THERE was confusion last night over whether Zambia’s President Levy Mwanawasa (59) had died in a French hospital. The reports of his death, it would seem, were premature. South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki yesterday asked for a minute’s silence for Mwanawasa at a ceremony for those killed in a recent wave of attacks on foreigners in South Africa. In a Reuters report, Mbeki said: "The executive secretary of Sadc called me to say the president of Zambia, Levy Mwanawasa, had passed away this morning." But the foreign affairs department later issued a "clarification": "The South African Government has been informed that President Mwanawasa has not passed on. "President Mbeki regrets the misunderstanding; and on behalf of the government and on his own behalf, wishes President Mwanawasa a speedy recovery." South African radio earlier quoted a spokesman who said he was from Zambia’s High Commission as saying Mwanawasa had died. Zambia’s Vice-President Rupiah Banda said Mwanawasa had had a "satisfactory night (on Wednesday)" in Paris. He was flown there from Egypt, where he had suffered a stroke on Sunday ahead of an African Union summit. Mwanawasa has come to international prominence recently for being critical of the violence in Zimbabwe. — BBC News. \|\|\|\|\| COTONOU (Reuters) - Benin will vote for a new president on Sunday in a crowded race focused on boosting the flagging economy, though logistical problems may keep hundreds of thousands from casting their ballots.	South African president Thabo Mbeki has been asked for an explanation from Zambia after announcing wrongly that the nation's leader Levy Mwanawasa had died. Mbeki asked for a minute's silence for Mwanawasa during a ceremony in honour of those killed during recent violence against foreigners in South Africa. Mwanawasa was flown into Paris, France on Sunday for emergency treatment after he suffered a stroke in Egypt before an African Union summit. On Wednesday, the night he was supposed to have died, he in fact had a "satisfactory night" according to Rupiah Banda, Zambia's vice president. Mbeki said he had been informed of the death by the Southern African Development Community's executive secretary. He has since telephoned Zambia's high commissioner to South Africa, Leslie Mbula, to apologise personally. Zambian Minister for Foreign Affairs Kabinga Pande has sent a letter to the South African government requesting a full explanation for the misunderstanding.
Nine dead in Egypt tourist coach inferno ABU ZINEMA, Egypt (AFP) — At least nine people were killed and 29 injured when a coach carrying Europeans and North Americans overturned and caught fire in Egypt's Sinai peninsula on Thursday, a security official said. The coach, carrying 40 people, was travelling from the Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to Cairo when it left the road, hit a concrete barrier, rolled over and burst into flames about 70 kilometres (45 miles) south of Suez. Three of the dead were burnt beyond recognition. An AFP photographer at the scene in Abu Zinema said the mangled wreck was lying right side up in the rocky landscape after being completely gutted by a raging fire. One of the coach's wheels lay a dozen metres (yards) from the wreck, and skid marks were visible where the coach left the road on a tight bend. The Egyptian security official said eight Russians and one of two Egyptian drivers had died. But state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted reports that only two Russians were among the dead. For its part, Russia's foreign ministry made no mention of fatalities, but said 16 Russians had been hurt. The Egyptian source spoke of only 14 injuries. In Kiev, the Ukrainian foreign ministry said one Ukrainian woman had died while in Bucharest reports said that a 41-year-old Romanian woman had been killed. Some of the casualties were taken to Suez hospital, where an official told AFP by telephone that two Britons were "in a serious condition." In Cairo, a British embassy spokeswoman confirmed that two Britons had been hurt, but added that their injuries were not life threatening. The Canadian embassy in Cairo said it knew of two injured Canadians. All tour buses in Egypt have at least one armed policeman on board. The coach was owned by Azure Travel, Egypt's official MENA news agency said, adding that the accident occurred at about 6:00 am (0300 GMT) as the vehicle was negotiating a sharp bend. Security and traffic officials, civil defence troops and ambulances all rushed to the scene, MENA added. Other casualties were taken to hospitals near Sharm, where police prevented journalists and photographers from entering. Three were in a serious condition and one later died in the hospital, the official said, adding that a Canadian woman also had to have a hand amputated. Each year about 6,000 people die and 30,000 are hurt in road accidents in Egypt. In March, 23 people were killed when two trucks collided head on. In February, 29 people were killed in a pile-up on a road south of Cairo in an accident blamed on fog. Traffic regulations in Egypt are often badly enforced and vehicles poorly maintained. Many coastal and desert roads allow for high speeds, and accidents caused by reckless overtaking are frequent. Millions of tourists visit the country every year, with their spending accounting for almost 20 percent of foreign currency receipts. Egypt launched a plan last month aimed at welcoming 14 million tourists by 2011, compared with 11 million in 2007. The tourism industry has recovered strongly after being hit hard by Islamic militant attacks during the 1990s. However, bomb attacks on Sinai resorts, including Sharm, between 2004 and 2006 left dozens dead and many more wounded. Copyright © 2013 AFP. All rights reserved. More » \|\|\|\|\| · Passengers jump for their lives after crash in desert · Envoy says two Britons were slightly injured A tourist bus in Egypt burst into flames after rolling off a desert highway embankment yesterday, killing nine people and injuring about 30, including two British travellers. The bus, which was carrying about 40 people, overturned on the Sinai peninsula when it was travelling from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to Cairo at about 6am local time. Passengers described how they were forced to jump from the vehicle after it flipped over about 40 miles south-east of the Suez canal. Among the injured were Russians, Romanians, Canadians, Italians, Egyptians and Ukrainians, many of whom suffered burns. They were taken to hospitals near Sharm. One Romanian and one Russian were believed to be among the dead. The Foreign Office confirmed that two Britons had been on the bus, but neither was seriously hurt. Sandra Palmer, 49, suffered a broken finger, suspected broken ribs, and extensive bruises, while her husband, Philip, 43 suffered cuts and bruises. A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "They are receiving consular assistance and both have been visited in hospital." The driver of the bus described how he lost control of the vehicle on a sharp curve at Abu Zenima. Reports have suggested the incident was caused by a tyre bursting. Dr Said Issa, head of emergency services in the Sinai, said many of the victims suffered severe burns. Diana Argentieri, an Italian, said the bus exploded moments after she got away from the wreckage. "The bus was going very fast and the road was in bad condition. We were immediately scared by the speed," she said. Most of the passengers had been sleeping. "When we woke up the bus was turning upside-down. After that, it was hell," she told the Associated Press from hospital. "It all seems like a nightmare." The bus rolled off the road, down an incline and on to a rocky spur. As she tried to get out, "there was a person on the floor, lying still, and other people bleeding. We wanted to go back in to see if there was still somebody alive, but the bus was on fire." She had to jump more than three metres to avoid the flames. "We had no choice, so we plucked up our courage and jumped. Immediately after that the bus exploded." Egypt's official news agency, Mena, said the bus was owned by a company called Azure Travel. Frances Tuke, a spokeswoman for the UK travel trade organisation Abta, said: "We understand this was a privately sold coach trip and was not part of any UK tour operator programme." The Foreign Office warns British tourists in travel advice that road accidents are common because of poor vehicle maintenance and speeding drivers. Last month 23 people were killed when two trucks collided head-on. There have been five serious bus crashes in Egypt since the beginning of 2006, in which 95 people have been killed.	Nine people have died in a fiery tourist bus crash in Egypt on Thursday. The bus was carrying 40 North American and European passengers when it crashed in the Sinai peninsula. The bus left the road when it skidded off a tight bend and struck a concrete barrier, rolling over and catching fire. The bus ended the roll back the right way up and was completely destroyed by the fire. One wheel lay twelve metres from the main wreckage and skid marks were left on the road. The coach had been travelling from a resort at nearby Sharm el-Sheikh to the capital Cairo when it crashed at Abu Zenima, with some reports suggesting the cause was a blowout on a tyre. According to the Egyptian security official eight Russian nationals were killed, as was one of two drivers on board, both of whom were Egyptian. This was contradicted by Russian state owned service ''RIA Novosti'', which stated just two Russians were among the dead. The Russian foreign ministry only said 16 Russians were injured and none killed, also contradicting the Egyptian security official who said only 14 people were injured in total. The Ukrainian foreign ministry said a Ukrainian woman had been killed and the Romanian foreign ministry said a 41-year-old Romanian woman was amongst the dead. The driver behind the wheel at the time survived the accident. The crash occurred at 6:00 am (0300 GMT) about 70km (45 miles) from Suez, and many of the injured were rushed to hospital there. Traffic officials, security personnel, civil defence soldiers and ambulances all responded to the crash. In addition, the Azure Travel coach, like all Egyptian tour buses, had at least one armed police officer travelling on board. Other injured passengers were taken to Sharm. Two Canadians and two British citizens are reported to be amongst the injured. The Brits are in a serious condition and one Canadian woman had her hand amputated. At least one person died in hospital. It is also reported that Italians were injured in the crash. Road accidents claim around 6,000 lives and injure 30,000 every year in Egypt. This high accident rate is fed by poor maintenance and regulatory enforcement and reckless driving, with many roads allowing high rates of speed to be achieved. A fog-triggered pile-up killed 29 in February, and 23 died in March in a head-on collision between two lorries.
There were conflicting reports about the circumstances: the Americans said they were returning fire from a nearby building and found the two dead men there afterward. However, the Nineveh provincial operations center said that the policemen were at a checkpoint when the Americans suddenly opened fire. Over all, there seemed much eagerness to vote, but also confusion. Some voters showed up at the polling place closest to their home instead of the one they were assigned to because of the ban on driving. Others were turned away because their names were not on voter rolls. Voter registration is organized around a national system for delivering food rations, a holdover from the Saddam Hussein era. Voters have to consult two lists to find out if they are registered at a given polling station. First, each person has to find the name of his or her food ration distributor. Then the voter must consult a much larger list of all of the families served by that distributor. If the voter’s name is missing, he or she cannot vote at that station. Some frustrated Iraqis gave up, while others reported going from center to center before finding the one associated with their distributor. Nasreen Yousif, a 54-year-old Christian, visited three polling places in the New Baghdad district of the capital but could not find her name at any of them. “Now I am going home,” she said. “Maybe there is a fourth school, but it is too far and I can’t walk any more.” She added: “It is obviously a mess. If it is not a mess, where is my name?” The Iraqi government and election officials blamed voters for the confusion. \|\|\|\|\| Iraqis vote in key test of nation's progress BAGHDAD (AFP) — Millions of Iraqis voted in provincial elections on Saturday in a largely violence-free test for a nation struggling to emerge from years of sectarian strife and to boost its fledgling democracy. US President Barack Obama hailed the polling as an "important step forward" which "should continue the process of Iraqis taking responsibility for their future." Security for the country's first ballot since 2005 was extremely tight with Iraqi police and military deployed in force as part of ramped-up measures aimed at preventing militant attacks, and turnout was forecast to be high. Only a few incidents of violence marred what was an otherwise peaceful vote which ended at 1500 GMT, an hour later than planned. About 15 million people were eligible to vote to elect councils in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces. Initial results are expected to start rolling in next week, but the complete tally will take several weeks, Iraq's electoral commission chief Faraj al-Haydari told reporters. The UN special envoy to Iraq, Staffan de Mistura, described voter turnout as "heavy" but declined to provide exact figures until Sunday. Haydari said the turnout would be announced on Sunday at 1000 GMT. The turnout is being watched carefully, particularly among minority Sunni Arabs who massively boycotted the last parliamentary elections in 2005, then still angry about the US-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein. "This is a victory for all the Iraqis," Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said after casting his ballot in the highly fortified Green Zone in Baghdad. He said an expected high turnout will be an indicator of "the Iraqi people's trust in their government and in the elections" and "proof that the Iraqi people are now living in real security." Security has much improved in recent months, but insurgents still mount attacks on civilians and security forces, especially in the mainly Sunni Arab areas of Diyala province and the northern city of Mosul. "The people are afraid to come to vote because of the terrorists, but I came to vote to show to the people that they don't have to be afraid," said Mushtar Jabar, a 32-year-old taxi driver in Baquba, the capital of Diyala. Sargun Hanna, 53, a Christian in Hamdaniyah, a town near Mosul, said she had not intended to vote but changed her mind. "I did not intend to go to give my vote, but I came today to send a message to the terrorists who attacked Christians -- we want to tell them that we are citizens of Iraq." Saturday's election is seen as a key test of Iraq's steadily improving security and political system as Obama looks to redeploy American troops to Afghanistan, with a target withdrawal date of end-2011. The president "believes that the provincial elections this weekend mark another significant milestone in Iraq's democratic development," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Friday. The authorities sealed Iraq's borders, closed airports and imposed transport bans and night-time curfews as part of a massive security lockdown for the election. In the worst incident on Saturday, US soldiers killed two out-of-uniform Iraqi policemen in a shootout shortly before polls opened near Mosul, the American military said. Six policemen and a civilian were wounded in a bombing in the mainly Shiite Turkmen town of Tuz Khurmatu north of Baghdad, while in Khanaqin in Diyala hundreds of Kurds stormed an election office demanding to vote. And in the Sunni Arab town of Tikrit, the hometown of executed dictator Saddam, four flash bombs exploded near several polling centres, but police said there were no casualties. About 800 international observers oversaw the ballot. More than 14,400 candidates stood for 440 seats in councils, which appoint the provincial governor and oversee finance and reconstruction, with a combined budget of 2.5 billion dollars. The vote is also seen as a quasi-referendum on Maliki, who has emerged as a stronger leader promoting a secular agenda in response to sectarian strife that tore Iraq apart after the invasion. Voting did not however take place in the three autonomous Kurdish provinces -- Arbil, Dohuk and Sulaimaniyah -- and polling has been postponed in oil-rich Kirkuk, which the Kurds want to incorporate into their own region. \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has hailed a largely peaceful vote for new provincial councils across the country as a victory for all Iraqis. Voting was extended by one hour due to a strong turnout, including among Sunni Muslims who boycotted the last polls. The first nationwide vote in four years is seen as a test of stability before a general election due later this year. US President Barack Obama hailed the poll as an "important step forward" for Iraqi self-determination. "I congratulate the people of Iraq on holding significant provincial elections today," he said in a statement. Quasi-referendum Thousands of soldiers and police were deployed around polling stations. The election is also being seen as a quasi-referendum on the leadership of Mr Maliki. "This is a victory for all the Iraqis," he said, after casting his vote in Baghdad's highly-protected Green Zone. He said a high turnout would be an indicator of "the Iraqi people's trust in their government and in the elections" and "proof that the Iraqi people are now living in real security". This time we won't let those people who have let us down in the past reach power again Lubna Naji Medical student In pictures: Iraq's landmark poll A peaceful vote could also set the stage for further coalition troop withdrawals, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad. Up to 15 million Iraqis are eligible to cast votes. The elections are being held in 14 of the country's 18 provinces, with more than 14,000 candidates competing for just 440 seats. There is no voting in the three provinces of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of the north and the ballot has been postponed in oil-rich Kirkuk province. Iraq's provincial councils are responsible for nominating the governors who lead the administration and oversee finance and reconstruction projects. Security tight While the recent level of violence around Iraq is significantly lower than in past years, a major security operation took place across the country. Iraq's international borders were shut, traffic bans were put in place across Baghdad and major cities, and curfews introduced. Hundreds of women, including teachers and civic workers, were also recruited to help search women voters after a rise in female suicide bombers last year, according to the Associated Press. Voters had to pass through stringent security checks to reach the polling stations, which were mostly set up in schools, our correspondent says. IRAQI ELECTIONS 2003: US appoints Governing Council 2004: Governing Council elects interim government Aug 2004: National conference elects interim national assembly Jan 2005: First general elections for transitional national assembly and provincial councils - Sunnis boycott vote Dec 2005: General elections for first full-term government and parliament Jan 2009: Elections for provincial councils - key test of security gains Late 2009: General elections due Vote could mark Iraq turning point Iraq voices: provincial elections Iraq: Key facts and figures Despite warnings from Iraqi and US military commanders that al-Qaeda posed a threat to the elections, there were relatively few incidents reported. As voting got under way, several mortar rounds landed near polling stations in Tikrit, hometown of late ruler Saddam Hussein, but no casualties were reported. Associated Press news agency reported a shooting incident at a polling station in Baghdad, but it was unclear if one man had been killed or two injured. There were also reports that a number of people were not listed on voter rolls, preventing them from casting ballots. Hundreds of international observers are monitoring the vote, as well as thousands of local observers from the various political parties. After a slow start to voting, the pace picked up and there was a holiday atmosphere among voters walking to the polling stations, our correspondent says. "People here are so excited by the feeling that their vote can make a difference," Lubna Naji, a Baghdad medical student, told the BBC News website. She added that people knew better who to vote for than in 2005: "This time we know who cares for Iraq and its people and who only cares for their own interests and benefit. "This time we won't let those people who have let us down in the past reach power again." Sunni participation The turnout was reported to be brisk even in Sunni areas. The head of the Iraqi electoral commission in Anbar province - a centre of the Sunni resistance to the US occupation - said he was expecting a 60% turnout. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Fewer than 2% voted in the 2005 election, with the result that Shia and Kurdish parties took control of parliament. Some Sunnis, like Khaled al-Azemi, said the boycott last time had been a mistake. "We lost a lot because we didn't vote and we saw the result - sectarian violence" he told the BBC. "That's why we want to vote now to avoid the mistakes of the past." The drawing of alienated Sunnis back into the political arena is one of the big changes these elections will crystallise, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Baghdad. On the Shia side, the results will also be closely watched amid signs that many voters intend to turn away from the big religious factions and towards nationalist or secular ones. Did you cast your vote in Iraq today? What are your hopes for your ballot? If you are in Iraq, tell us about your voting experience by filling in the form below. Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Nouri al-Maliki with then-President George W Bush of America in 2006 Voters in Iraq have gone to the polls today, the first time in four years, to elect provincial councils. There have been few reports of the violence or intimidation that have marred previous polls, although there has been violence in the run up to the election. A curfew is in place and airports and borders are closed. Security is tight, with the army guarding polling stations. Three mortar shells (or four flash bombs) are reported to have fallen near a polling station in Tikrit, but without causing injuries. A civilian and six policemen were injured by a bomb in Tuz Khurmatu, north of the capital Baghdad. There are more than 14,000 people standing in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces, with 440 seats up for election. The three Kurdish-controlled provinces are not voting and the election in Kirkuk province has been postponed. Provincial councils in the country have a large workforce, meaning that changes of control lead to changes in workforce. This gives winning candidates a lot of power in their local area. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency estimated that unemployment rates in the country were between 18% and 30% in 2006. Analysts have said that voters are likely to turn away from religious parties and focus instead on nationalist and secular issues. In previous elections, the Sunni minority in the country had boycotted the polls. Reports say that they are turning out this time, with high turnouts in Sunni-dominated provinces like Anbar, and voting has been extended by an hour to allow more time. Iraq was a one-party state following a revolution in 1968. Former dictator Saddam Hussein came to power in an internal coup in 1979. He was removed from power in 2003 following the controversial American-led invasion of the country. After the invasion, the economy and civil structure of the country collapsed but now appears to be stabilising, with more areas being returned to local control and plans by new U.S. President Barack Obama for American troops to withdraw.
Waves crash over the Cobb at Lyme Regis, in Dorset BBC Weather forecast Winds of up to 82mph (130km/h) have brought down trees in Wales and south-west England and left 10,000 homes without electricity. There are 36 flood warnings in place in England and Wales and it is feared water could spill over sea walls when high tides peak. Roads were also disrupted and a 50mph limit was in place on some rail lines. Environment Agency chief executive Baroness Young told BBC News: "Along the coast from the South West, almost as far as Kent, we could see the sea coming over the sea walls and that's when we really could have difficulties. HAVE YOUR SAY We have had very heavy rain and wind overnight Gal, Sunningdale "We are saying to people, stay away. It's very impressive to watch but these waves could come over at any time." She said the first wave of the storm had resulted in only localised flooding but there was "more to come" as "two big bands" of severe weather were to sweep the country. However, she said areas at risk were "as well prepared as is possible" to deal with potential problems, with evacuation plans in place. Small-scale flooding has affected parts of the South West, with residents putting out sandbags to protect homes in parts of Devon and Cornwall. The Environment Agency in Devon said the morning high tide had not been as bad as predicted and had passed without major incident, though there had been minor flooding around the coast. However, it said high winds and large waves were still a threat. High winds have also caused considerable damage and disruption, blowing off garage roofs in Devon and west Wales, uprooting trees and bringing down power lines. Fallen trees are a danger on the roads (Pic:Terry Simon Aldous) 7,000 homes in south-west England and 3,000 in Wales are without power. The Tamar Bridge between Devon and Cornwall has been closed to high-sided vehicles. Wind speed of 82mph recorded in Berry Head in Brixham, south Devon. The Old Severn Bridge between England and Wales is partly closed because of high winds. The Sheppey Crossing and the QE2 Bridge across the Thames between Essex and Kent are both closed. Tugs had to tow an 11,000-tonne tanker into port after she got into difficulties in the Solent. In London a woman was knocked unconscious after a hoarding was blown down at West Hampstead railway station. Elsewhere in the UK, high winds are expected to cause disruption, with wind speeds of 42mph recorded at Heathrow, 63mph on the east coast of Northern Ireland, 49mph in Crosby, Merseyside, and 46mph in Birmingham. The RAC is advising drivers to be prepared for hazardous driving conditions over the next few days. Several roads are blocked in Wales and south-west England and flooding on the Surrey stretch of the M25 is causing severe delays. The Met Office warns rail delays are likely, with the worst weather expected to strike on Monday afternoon. A 50mph speed limit is in force on some lines and there are severe delays to some London trains because of weather disruption in Surrey. FLOODLINE Call 0845 988 11 88 British Airways cancelled several short-haul and domestic flights from Heathrow Airport on Sunday night, and both Heathrow and Gatwick advised travellers to check with airlines before leaving home. P&O; Ferries cancelled a Sunday sailing from Portsmouth to Bilbao, and another from Bilbao to Portsmouth on 11 March. Channel crossings to France and crossings between Wales and Ireland have been cancelled and the Port of Dover is closed due to hurricane-force 80mph winds. Parts of north-east England and Scotland have been hit by snowfall as well as high winds with snow ploughs needed to keep some roads open. It was expected to turn to heavy rain later on Monday but early flurries, coupled with driving winds, caused treacherous conditions on the A66 between County Durham and Cumbria. Do you live in the regions which could be affected by the storms? How are you preparing? Send us your experiences using the form below. Name: Email address: Town and Country: Phone number (optional): Comments: The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published. Send your pictures to [email protected] or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. \|\|\|\|\| Home Weather UK Forecast UK: severe weather warnings Updated: 1801 on Sat 2 Dec 2006 REGION Select a region Orkney & Shetland Highlands & Eilean Siar Grampian Strathclyde Central, Tayside & Fife SW Scotland, Lothian Borders Northern Ireland Wales North West England North East England Yorkshire & Humber West Midlands East Midlands East of England South West England London & South East England Make sure you know what to do Severe weather advice Weather warnings Click on a map to see all warnings issued for the UK for that day. Select region Day Warning type Valid from Valid to	A map showing the weather warnings as of 13:45 UTC __NOTOC__ Severe weather warnings have been issued for much of the UK, with England, Wales and Northern Ireland subject to weather warnings. Much of Scotland was also subject to a weather warning earlier today, although they have now been removed. It has been forecasted that winds of up to 130 km/h will hit the southern and western areas of the United Kingdom in what has been predicted by some to be the worst storm this winter. The Met Office has said that there is a 60% risk of disruption for much of southern England and Wales, although the figure for Scotland is less then 20%. David Rooke from the UK's Environment Agency (EA) said that "We're giving a very strong message to stay away from coastal areas," and that "There will be huge waves, a lot of spray and it will be a very dangerous place to be." On its website the Met Office said that "the Met Office continues to expect an intense low pressure system to move east across the UK during Monday, bringing severe gales and potentially damaging gusts across some areas, more particularly the west and south of England and Wales. Southerly winds are expected to strengthen during the early hours of Monday to give severe gales for a time, coinciding with the morning rush hour in some areas."
The bombs in Ahwaz exploded over a two-hour period Four blasts targeted public buildings in the south-western city of Ahwaz, killing at least eight people and wounding more than 70 others. Hours later, a bomb exploded in the capital Tehran, killing two people. Three other bombs were defused. Bombings have been rare in Iran since the war with Iraq ended in 1988. No group has claimed responsibility. Ahwaz, which is close to the Iraq border, was the focus of unrest between Arabs and Persians in April, when several people were reportedly killed. 'Failure' The bombings in Ahwaz took place over a two-hour period. One of the bombs exploded outside the governor-general's headquarters. Two went off near government offices and a fourth exploded near the home of a local state television executive. The interior ministry also confirmed that a bottle filled with explosives blew up in Vali Asr square in central Tehran, but there were no reports of casualties. A spokesman for the Supreme National Security Council, Iran's top security decision-making body, blamed the attacks on separatist Arabs aided by members of the armed Iraq-based opposition group, the People's Mujahideen, and remnants of the Baath Party. The spokesman, Agha Mohammadi, told the BBC he was sure the Americans were behind the attacks and also suggested that Britain might be involved - but he gave no evidence to support his claims. The People's Mujahideen denied any involvement in the attacks. "Whoever is responsible for this, the target of the blasts is to undermine Friday's presidential elections," said interior ministry spokesman Jahanbaksh Khanjani. Rumour Iranians go to the polls on Friday to elect a successor to President Mohammad Khatami. Opinion polls put former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in the lead. April's trouble in Ahwaz - the capital of oil-rich Khuzestan province - started after a letter circulated on the internet suggested that non-Arabs were being-relocated to the city to dilute its ethnic Arab population. Crowds attacked government offices and banks, setting them on fire, and hundreds of people were arrested. The official who was supposed to have written the letter said it was a forgery. \|\|\|\|\| Recent Top News Washington state 'grossly' unprepared for major quake: report Washington state is grossly unprepared for a large earthquake and tsunami that may strike in the coming decades, putting it at risk for a humanitarian disaster, the Seattle Times reported on Sunday, citing a draft government report. U.S., Environment, Natural Disasters Iraqi Kurds claim capture of town in advance on Mosul ERBIL Kurdish fighters said they had taken the town of Bashiqa near Mosul from Islamic State on Sunday as coalition forces pressed their offensive against the jihadists' last stronghold in Iraq. \| World, Iraq Venezuela congress presses for Maduro trial in rowdy session CARACAS Venezuela's opposition-led National Assembly in a rowdy session on Sunday pressed to put Nicolas Maduro on trial for violating democracy, days after authorities nixed a recall referendum against the unpopular leftist president. Modi sees election danger in India's 'Dalit Queen' LUCKNOW, India When Amit Shah, president of Narendra Modi's ruling party, meets with the Indian prime minister, he is sometimes asked a question he struggles to answer: "What is behenji thinking?" \|\|\|\|\| Today's Top News Stories • States facing new welfare regulations - • Court upholds most of Texas redistricting plan - • Storms sweep into Northeast; 9 dead - • Tenn. and Texas execute two killers, third receives stay - • Israelis bomb camp, cut power and water - • Add USATODAY.com RSS feeds E-Mail Newsletters Sign up to receive our free Daily Briefing e-newsletter and get the top news of the day in your inbox. E-mail: Select one: HTML Text Breaking News E-Mail Alerts Get breaking news in your inbox as it happens Death toll in Iran explosions rises to 10 TEHRAN, Iran (AP) The death toll from weekend explosions days before Iran's presidential election rose to 10 when one of the injured died, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported Monday. A car damaged by an explosion in Ahvaz, Iran, Sunday where at least eight people were killed. AP At least 98 people in provincial capital of Ahvaz were wounded — 26 in serious condition, state-run radio quoted Gov. Mohammad Jafar Sarrami as saying. Ahvaz is the capital of oil-rich Khuzestan province, bordering Iraq. Related video: Four bomb attacks rock Iran The overnight death in the hospital brought the number killed in Sunday's bombings to 10 — nine in Ahvaz and one in Tehran. Another four were wounded in the Tehran blast The bombings, which came ahead of Friday's election, were the deadliest in more than a decade in Iran. Police said one suspect had been arrested, but did not give further details. A spokesman for the Supreme National Security Council blamed groups affiliated with Saddam Hussein's former Baathist regime in Iraq. State TV quoted spokesman Ali Agha Mohammadi as saying those behind the Ahvaz bombings had infiltrated Iran from Basra in southern Iraq. Some Sunni leaders in Iraq have accused Shiite Iran of meddling in Iraqi affairs by backing Shiite Muslim clergy and politicians in a bid to sway Iraq's politics toward an Islamic establishment. Iran denies the allegations, but some speculate that Saddam loyalists could be trying to create insecurity in Iran ahead of the election. Others pointed to a more local cause. Ahvaz was the site of recent violent protests over alleged plans to alter the proportion of Arabs and non-Arabs in the region. Amir Hossein Motahar, director of security at the Interior Ministry, said one car bomb went off in front of the Ahvaz governor's office. He said two separate bombs blew up in the city's housing department and planning department. The fourth bomb, planted in a handbag on the street, exploded as experts tried to defuse it. The fourth site was near the home of the head of the provincial radio and television station. The two days of violent protests in Ahvaz took place after reports circulated of an alleged plan to decrease the proportion of Arabs in the area. Officials at the time confirmed one death but opposition groups said more than 20 demonstrators had been killed. Some 250 were arrested. The protests were sparked after copies of a letter allegedly signed by Vice President Mohammad Ali Abtahi circulated in the area. The letter ordered the relocation of non-Arabs to the Ahvaz to make them the majority population. Abtahi denied writing the letter. Arabs make up about 3% of Iran's population; Persians account for 51% of the population of 69 million. Bombings have been rare in Iran since the end of the 1980-88 war with Iraq. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| Saturday. October 15. 2005 HOME CONTACT ABOUT US Iran Focus News Iran Focus Special Wire News Iran (General) Human Rights Women Iraq Nuclear Terrorism Iran in the World Press Who is Ahmadinejad? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Murky motives seen behind Iran blasts Iran Focus Tehran, Jun. 12 – An hour after a state-run news agency reported a second explosion in Tehran, eye-witnesses reported that the blast near the capital’s Vali-Asr Square seemed to have been an accidental fire in the basement of a computer shop. A local police chief’s account seemed to confirm suspicions that mysterious hands within Iran’s clerical regime wanted to present the incident as the latest in a series of bombings that took place in Tehran and the provincial city of Ahwaz, claiming eight lives in a single day and wounding 75 others, according to official statements. “The fire in the computer shop was not the result of an explosion,” Col. Khancherli of Tehran police told the state-run ISNA news agency. Four bombs went off in Ahwaz, capital of Khuzistan Province, where most of Iran's oil reserves lie. Hours later, a bomb in Tehran’s Imam Hussein Square killed one person and wounded five others. The Tehran bomb was hidden in a rubbish bin. Responsibility for the Ahwaz blasts was claimed by a shadowy group calling itself the Ahwazi Revolutionary Martyrs' Brigades. After the blasts, 150 persons gathered outside the governor's office in a government-organized demonstration, waving Iranian flags and chanting "Death to the hypocrites" -- a term used for the opposition Mojahedin-e Khalq (MeK) Organisation. Asked if the Mojahedin were to blame for the blasts in Ahwaz, Ali Aghamohammadi, the government’s chief security spokesman, said earlier today, “We are not blaming this on them at this juncture.” But the government’s version of the events seems to have changed by the evening, when Aghamohammadi told journalists that some of the bombings “may have been the work of people who belong to the [Mojahedin]”. In statements sent to international news agencies, the MeK strongly denied any involvement in the blasts in Ahwaz and Tehran. “It’s just a measure of the mullahs’ despair over what looks set to be a solid boycott of their sham elections on June 17 that they are falsely blaming these bombings on the Mojahedin,” Shahin Gobadi, a spokesman for the coalition National Council of Resistance that includes the MeK among its members, said in a telephone interview. The government’s precipitous steps to blame the blasts on the MeK and opposition groups calling for a boycott of the elections seemed to lend credence to the exiles’ claims. Later in the day, Aghamohammadi tied the bombings to the growing calls for a national boycott of the elections and blamed opposition groups who had called for a boycott for the bombings. He also suggested infiltrators had come from parts of neighbouring Iraq under U.S.-British control. "Based on intelligence we received, a network was trying to create problems before the election," he said. Aghamohammadi said it appeared that some of the infiltrators belonged to the MeK, a claim strongly denied by the opposition group. Iran experts reacted with strong scepticism to Aghamohammadi’s allegations. “These don’t have the MeK’s fingerprints on them,” Mustafa Akmal, a Middle East terrorism expert based in Cologne said in a telephone interview. “The MeK has not engaged in any violent action for the past four years,” he said. “Even before ceasing its armed activities in Iran, it had a policy of claiming responsibility for all its operations.” Walter Murray of the London-based risk assessment group Gulf Intelligence Monitor concurred with Akmal’s view. “These guys have been committed to a strategy of political and propaganda pressure against Tehran, while trying to garner support in the West,” he said. “It would be foolish for them to undo all that with a few pointless bombings. This looks much more like an Iranian intelligence operation, or the work of some loose cannons in Iran’s huge military-security complex.” \|\|\|\|\| LONDON, June 13 (IranMania) - Iran was struck by a wave of deadly bombings in this restive southwestern city and the capital Sunday, with the Islamic regime accusing US-backed "terrorists" of seeking to destabilise the country just days ahead of presidential elections, according to AFP. At least eight people were killed and 75 wounded by a series of four blasts outside several public buildings in Ahvaz, an ethnic Arab majority city close to the Iraqi border that is capital of oil-rich Khuzestan province. Later Sunday, another blast hit a busy square in Tehran, killing two people and seriously wounding at least two others, official media said. Two smaller home-made bombs were reported to have exploded in other parts of the capital, without causing any casualties. "The terrorists of Ahvaz infiltrated Iran from the region of Basra" in southern Iraq, top national security official Ali Agha Mohammadi told AFP. "These terrorists have been trained under the umbrella of the Americans in Iraq," he charged, adding that Iran suspected British troops across the border might also have links to the separatist group -- the London-based Ahvaz Arab People's Democratic-Popular Front. "We call on the Americans and the British to condemn these attacks and hand over the terrorists in Iraq. Sadly, they have so far not said anything," Mohammadi said. He said "several terrorists have been arrested", but gave no further details. Ahvaz was hit by several days of ethnic unrest in April, with the 26-year-old Islamic regime then blaming "counter-revolutionaries". Iran's main armed opposition group, the People's Mujahedeen, is based across the border in Iraq, and Mohammadi said he believed they were involved in some of Sunday's attacks in Tehran. "The calls for a boycott of the vote had failed, so the terrorist groups based in Iraq are trying to use attacks to disrupt the election and prevent a strong voter participation," he said. Iran is due to go to the polls to elect a new president on Friday. "The attacks are a failure, because in the past the regime has been confronted by far worse," said Khuzestan's deputy governor, Gholam Reza Shariati. An AFP reporter in Ahvaz said the area around the local governor's office, one of three public buildings targeted, was strewn with shards of glass and rubble. Scores of police had sealed off the area, and by early evening municipal workers were already clearing the scene and mopping up pools of blood. "It was inhuman, a horrible thing. There was a small child walking around looking for his dead mother," said Abdol Hossein Kord-Zanghaneh, a male nurse at an Ahvaz hospital where many of the casualties were taken. "This is an American plot," he said, adding that many of the wounded had suffered concussion and blown ear drums. The huge blasts occurred between 9:00 am and 11:00 am (0430 to 0630 GMT), hitting the governor's office, two other public buildings and a residential area which is home to the director of state television operations in Ahvaz. The explosion in Tehran occurred at Imam Hossein square, interior ministry spokesman Jahanbaksh Khanjani told AFP. Witnesses said the blast was heard after 8:00 pm (1530 GMT), adding the bomb was hidden in a rubbish bin. Ahvaz, situated 500 kilometres (320 miles) southeast of Tehran and 50 kilometres (32 miles) from the Iraqi border, was rocked by ethnic violence from April 15-18. According to official figures, five people were killed in those clashes, which appeared to have been sparked by a forged letter, dating back seven years and attributed to then vice president Mohammad Ali Abtahi, calling for changes to Khuzestan's ethnic make-up. On Friday, Iran is due to go the polls to elect a successor to reformist President Mohammad Khatami. Informal opinion polls in the Iranian press suggest that none of the eight candidates will be able to secure the more than 50 percent of the vote needed to win. That means the top two would have to go into a run-off -- unprecedented in the 26-year history of the Islamic republic. Tipped as the frontrunner is powerful ex-president and pragmatic conservative Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Trailing him are the main reformist candidate Mostafa Moin and the hardline former national police chief, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. The close-run campaign has been heating up, with regular reports of politicians suffering violent attacks. But Iran vowed it would "shame" the United States by drawing a huge turnout in the polls and disprove predictions of a voter boycott. The United States has dismissed the election as rigged.	Four separate bombs have exploded in the south-western Iranian city of Ahwaz, killing more than five people and wounding up to 87 others. The presidential election is due in five days time. Later, an additional bomb was detonated in Teheran, killing three and wounding several others. Earlier news reports reported a lower number, but reports from two major international agencies are now reporting much higher injury numbers. Bombings in Iran have been extremely rare, since the war with Iraq ended in 1988. One bomb exploded outside the governor general's office. Three more bombs exploded near government buildings in a period of two hours. Some reports put the official death toll at eight, and official reports confirm that up to 30 were injured; but final numbers are not yet known. "We cannot say for now who committed these attacks, but the intelligence ministry is investigating," The deputy governor of Khuzestan said in a statement to state television. He went on to say that "The attacks are a failure, because in the past the regime has been confronted by far worse." The Ahwaz attacks have been claimed by a previously unknown group known as the "Ahwazi Revolutionary Martyrs' Brigades," while a group protesting the bombings outside the Khuzestan governor's residence chanted "Death to the hypocrites" - a slogan applied to the Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MeK) organization. Ali Agha Mohammadi, head press secretary for the security services at first refused to implicate the MeK in the attacks, but later asserted that the bombs “may have been the work of people who belong to the ." The MeK, which has admitted responsibility for previous attacks, have disclaimed any part in the latest string of bombings. The MeK is currently listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the U.S. State Department and has received similar designations from other governments and the European Union. However, according to two prominent security analysts, the bombings seen this weekend are not their style. “These don’t have the MeK’s fingerprints on them,” according to Mustafa Akmal. “The MeK has not engaged in any violent action for the past four years,” he said, adding “Even before ceasing its armed activities in Iran, it had a policy of claiming responsibility for all its operations.” Akmal's colleague, Walter Murray of the Gulf Intelligence Monitor agreed, saying it would be foolish for the group to alienate potential supporters in the West and endanger the fruits of years of lobbying western governments with such attacks. Murray felt the bombers were more likely "...loose cannons..." in Iran's military or intelligence services. According to Iranian top national security official Ali Agha Mohammadi, "the terrorists of Ahvaz infiltrated Iran from the region of Basra" in southern Iraq." He added that "these terrorists have been trained under the umbrella of the Americans in Iraq." These attacks seem to represent a new capability of anti-Tehran forces to strike inside of Iran that did not exist before the US invasion and occupation of Iraq. There has been no official US denunciation of the attacks.
The White House Office of the Press Secretary President Obama Calls for New Restrictions on Size and Scope of Financial Institutions to Rein in Excesses and Protect Taxpayers WASHINGTON, DC- President Obama joined Paul Volcker, former chairman of the Federal Reserve; Bill Donaldson, former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission; Congressman Barney Frank, House Financial Services Chairman; Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman of the Banking Committee and the President's economic team to call for new restrictions on the size and scope of banks and other financial institutions to rein in excessive risk taking and to protect taxpayers. The President’s proposal would strengthen the comprehensive financial reform package that is already moving through Congress. “While the financial system is far stronger today than it was a year one year ago, it is still operating under the exact same rules that led to its near collapse,” said President Barack Obama. “My resolve to reform the system is only strengthened when I see a return to old practices at some of the very firms fighting reform; and when I see record profits at some of the very firms claiming that they cannot lend more to small business, cannot keep credit card rates low, and cannot refund taxpayers for the bailout. It is exactly this kind of irresponsibility that makes clear reform is necessary.” The proposal would: 1. Limit the Scope - The President and his economic team will work with Congress to ensure that no bank or financial institution that contains a bank will own, invest in or sponsor a hedge fund or a private equity fund, or proprietary trading operations unrelated to serving customers for its own profit. 2. Limit the Size - The President also announced a new proposal to limit the consolidation of our financial sector. The President’s proposal will place broader limits on the excessive growth of the market share of liabilities at the largest financial firms, to supplement existing caps on the market share of deposits. In the coming weeks, the President will continue to work closely with Chairman Dodd and others to craft a strong, comprehensive financial reform bill that puts in place common sense rules of the road and robust safeguards for the benefit of consumers, closes loopholes, and ends the mentality of “Too Big to Fail.” Chairman Barney Frank’s financial reform legislation, which passed the House in December, laid the groundwork for this policy by authorizing regulators to restrict or prohibit large firms from engaging in excessively risky activities. As part of the previously announced reform program, the proposals announced today will help put an end to the risky practices that contributed significantly to the financial crisis. \|\|\|\|\| The White House Office of the Press Secretary Remarks by the President on Financial Reform Diplomatic Reception Room 11:34 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. I just had a very productive meeting with two members of my Economic Recovery Advisory Board: Paul Volcker, who's the former chair of the Federal Reserve Board; and Bill Donaldson, previously the head of the SEC. And I deeply appreciate the counsel of these two leaders and the board that they've offered as we have dealt with a broad array of very difficult economic challenges. Over the past two years, more than seven million Americans have lost their jobs in the deepest recession our country has known in generations. Rarely does a day go by that I don't hear from folks who are hurting. And every day, we are working to put our economy back on track and put America back to work. But even as we dig our way out of this deep hole, it's important that we not lose sight of what led us into this mess in the first place. This economic crisis began as a financial crisis, when banks and financial institutions took huge, reckless risks in pursuit of quick profits and massive bonuses. When the dust settled, and this binge of irresponsibility was over, several of the world's oldest and largest financial institutions had collapsed, or were on the verge of doing so. Markets plummeted, credit dried up, and jobs were vanishing by the hundreds of thousands each month. We were on the precipice of a second Great Depression. To avoid this calamity, the American people -- who were already struggling in their own right -- were forced to rescue financial firms facing crises largely of their own creation. And that rescue, undertaken by the previous administration, was deeply offensive but it was a necessary thing to do, and it succeeded in stabilizing the financial system and helping to avert that depression. Since that time, over the past year, my administration has recovered most of what the federal government provided to banks. And last week, I proposed a fee to be paid by the largest financial firms in order to recover every last dime. But that's not all we have to do. We have to enact common-sense reforms that will protect American taxpayers -– and the American economy -– from future crises as well. For while the financial system is far stronger today than it was one year ago, it's still operating under the same rules that led to its near collapse. These are rules that allowed firms to act contrary to the interests of customers; to conceal their exposure to debt through complex financial dealings; to benefit from taxpayer-insured deposits while making speculative investments; and to take on risks so vast that they posed threats to the entire system. That's why we are seeking reforms to protect consumers; we intend to close loopholes that allowed big financial firms to trade risky financial products like credit defaults swaps and other derivatives without oversight; to identify system-wide risks that could cause a meltdown; to strengthen capital and liquidity requirements to make the system more stable; and to ensure that the failure of any large firm does not take the entire economy down with it. Never again will the American taxpayer be held hostage by a bank that is "too big to fail." Now, limits on the risks major financial firms can take are central to the reforms that I've proposed. They are central to the legislation that has passed the House under the leadership of Chairman Barney Frank, and that we're working to pass in the Senate under the leadership of Chairman Chris Dodd. As part of these efforts, today I'm proposing two additional reforms that I believe will strengthen the financial system while preventing future crises. First, we should no longer allow banks to stray too far from their central mission of serving their customers. In recent years, too many financial firms have put taxpayer money at risk by operating hedge funds and private equity funds and making riskier investments to reap a quick reward. And these firms have taken these risks while benefiting from special financial privileges that are reserved only for banks. Our government provides deposit insurance and other safeguards and guarantees to firms that operate banks. We do so because a stable and reliable banking system promotes sustained growth, and because we learned how dangerous the failure of that system can be during the Great Depression. But these privileges were not created to bestow banks operating hedge funds or private equity funds with an unfair advantage. When banks benefit from the safety net that taxpayers provide –- which includes lower-cost capital –- it is not appropriate for them to turn around and use that cheap money to trade for profit. And that is especially true when this kind of trading often puts banks in direct conflict with their customers' interests. The fact is, these kinds of trading operations can create enormous and costly risks, endangering the entire bank if things go wrong. We simply cannot accept a system in which hedge funds or private equity firms inside banks can place huge, risky bets that are subsidized by taxpayers and that could pose a conflict of interest. And we cannot accept a system in which shareholders make money on these operations if the bank wins but taxpayers foot the bill if the bank loses. It's for these reasons that I'm proposing a simple and common-sense reform, which we're calling the "Volcker Rule" -- after this tall guy behind me. Banks will no longer be allowed to own, invest, or sponsor hedge funds, private equity funds, or proprietary trading operations for their own profit, unrelated to serving their customers. If financial firms want to trade for profit, that's something they're free to do. Indeed, doing so –- responsibly –- is a good thing for the markets and the economy. But these firms should not be allowed to run these hedge funds and private equities funds while running a bank backed by the American people. In addition, as part of our efforts to protect against future crises, I'm also proposing that we prevent the further consolidation of our financial system. There has long been a deposit cap in place to guard against too much risk being concentrated in a single bank. The same principle should apply to wider forms of funding employed by large financial institutions in today's economy. The American people will not be served by a financial system that comprises just a few massive firms. That's not good for consumers; it's not good for the economy. And through this policy, that is an outcome we will avoid. My message to members of Congress of both parties is that we have to get this done. And my message to leaders of the financial industry is to work with us, and not against us, on needed reforms. I welcome constructive input from folks in the financial sector. But what we've seen so far, in recent weeks, is an army of industry lobbyists from Wall Street descending on Capitol Hill to try and block basic and common-sense rules of the road that would protect our economy and the American people. So if these folks want a fight, it's a fight I'm ready to have. And my resolve is only strengthened when I see a return to old practices at some of the very firms fighting reform; and when I see soaring profits and obscene bonuses at some of the very firms claiming that they can't lend more to small business, they can't keep credit card rates low, they can't pay a fee to refund taxpayers for the bailout without passing on the cost to shareholders or customers -- that's the claims they're making. It's exactly this kind of irresponsibility that makes clear reform is necessary. We've come through a terrible crisis. The American people have paid a very high price. We simply cannot return to business as usual. That's why we're going to ensure that Wall Street pays back the American people for the bailout. That's why we're going to rein in the excess and abuse that nearly brought down our financial system. That's why we're going to pass these reforms into law. Thank you very much, everybody. END 11:42 A.M. EST	Speaking Thursday in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, United States President Barack Obama presented new proposals for financial reform. President Obama delivers his remarks with Vice President Joe Biden at his side on January 21, 2010. (View larger version) "While the financial system is far stronger today than it was a year one year ago, it is still operating under the exact same rules that led to its near collapse," said President Barack Obama. "My resolve to reform the system is only strengthened when I see a return to old practices at some of the very firms fighting reform; and when I see record profits at some of the very firms claiming that they cannot lend more to small business, cannot keep credit card rates low, and cannot refund taxpayers for the bailout. It is exactly this kind of irresponsibility that makes clear reform is necessary." Obama's two key proposals were to limit the types of operations that a bank may undertake and to limit the size of the largest financial firms. Under the proposals banks would be prevented from owning or investing in hedge fund or a private equity fund. Nor would they be allowed to sponsor such funds. To limit size of financial institutions, further consolidation of the financial sector by restricting growth in the market share of their liabilities. Obama called the restrictions on banking operations the "Volcker Rule" in reference to Paul Volcker, the chair of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. These activities are "unrelated to serving their customers," Obama said. According to Obama, the current "economic crisis began as a financial crisis, when banks and financial institutions took huge, reckless risks in pursuit of quick profits and massive bonuses. When the dust settled, and this binge of irresponsibility was over, several of the world's oldest and largest financial institutions had collapsed, or were on the verge of doing so. Markets plummeted, credit dried up, and jobs were vanishing by the hundreds of thousands each month. We were on the precipice of a second Great Depression." The President said his administration is seeking to protect consumers and close loopholes that allowed financial products such as credit default swaps without oversight. The goal would be to strengthen capital and liquidity requirements to make the financial system more stable. Another goal of Obama's reforms would be to ensure that the failure of one firm could not take the entire economy. "We've come through a terrible crisis. The American people have paid a very high price. We simply cannot return to business as usual. That's why we're going to ensure that Wall Street pays back the American people for the bailout. That's why we're going to rein in the excess and abuse that nearly brought down our financial system," Obama said in closing. Before any of the proposals can go into effect, they will have to be passed into law by both houses of the United States Congress.
Barely two weeks after opting against a political slugfest in Texas, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison now finds herself embroiled in a gun fight in the nation's capital. Hutchison's campaign to repeal Washington's 29-year-old ban on handguns has provoked an angry uproar from the city's mayor, the police chief and much of the local leadership. "Don't tread on D.C." states a terse message to Hutchison on an anti-gun group's Web site. The proposal, while narrowly focused on Washington, has plunged Congress into a renewed debate over gun control, citizen safety and the Second Amendment right to bear arms. At the center is Hutchison, the Texas senior senator who recently dropped a potential challenge to Gov. Rick Perry in the 2006 Republican primary and instead decided to seek a presumed easy re-election to a third term. But by taking on the local power structure in Washington and a nationwide gun-control coalition, the Republican lawmaker has assured that the weeks ahead will be anything but dull. Last week Hutchison said she believes that the Constitutional provision of a right to keep and bear arms trumps a law prohibiting District of Columbia residents from having handguns. Moreover, she said, it is a matter of personal safety in a city with a high crime rate. When she came to Washington in 1993, she brought along a .357 Magnum revolver -- the weapon brandished by movie cop "Dirty Harry" -- knowing that she would often be alone several nights a week away from her husband, Ray, a Dallas lawyer. After arriving, she learned of Washington's handgun ban and took her revolver back to Texas. "Every person ought to be able to protect themselves in their home, and they cannot do that," said Hutchison, who now has two 4-year-old adopted children. "I spend a lot of nights here. I think that should be a right of myself or anyone living here." Hutchison has drawn on harrowing personal experience in pushing for citizen protection. In the late 1990s, she persuaded Congress to enact federal anti-stalking legislation after disclosing that she had been pursued by a stalker since she began her political career 25 years earlier. At one point, the stalker, who had worked as a volunteer in her 1972 campaign for the Texas House, broke into her office and rammed an ice pick through the face of her campaign poster. The man was eventually confined to a mental institution. In her more recent endeavor, Hutchison wants to abolish a 1976 law that gives the District one of the nation's most rigid gun-control standards. The law requires the registration of all firearms and prohibits the sale or possession of handguns. It allowed those who already had handguns to keep them as long as they registered them under the new ordinance. Residents can own shotguns and rifles but must keep them unloaded and disassembled, or secured with a trigger lock. One seeming anomaly, however, permits loaded firearms at businesses. In an early test of Hutchison's initiative, the House voted last week to strip the provision requiring long guns to be disassembled. Hutchison sought to repeal the 1976 law during the last session of Congress, winning approval in the House but not in the Senate. Now a third of the Senate is signed on as co-sponsors, including fellow Texas Republican John Cornyn. The effort is also embraced by the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights advocates who believe the D.C. law is unconstitutional and has done little to curtail crime. But District Mayor Anthony Williams, testifying at a congressional hearing last week, called Hutchison's legislation a "slap in the face to me and to the people who live in my city." Police Chief Charles Ramsey also weighed in at the hearing, saying that repealing the law would make guns easily available to criminals and reverse a recent downturn in the city's crime rate. Those supporting Hutchison's view insist that the District's gun law prevents people from protecting themselves. Homicides in the District fell last year to 198, from 248 in 2003, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. Over the past three decades, the murder rate has bounced up and down, reaching a peak of 482 in 1991 at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic. Many District residents are incensed by what they perceive as outside interference. Since the so-called federal city gained home rule authority in the late 1960s, the City Council has been empowered to enact laws, but Congress can oversee and reverse those ordinances. "The issue is not so much about guns but what right the people of D.C. have regarding their public safety," said Mike Beard, president of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, who helped design the 1976 law as an aide to the District's delegate in Congress. But Hutchison argues that she, too, has a personal stake in the issue. She kept a gun for protection in Dallas and Austin, and "when I got here I found I couldn't have one," she said. "I do think it's the right of everyone." \|\|\|\|\| Monday, July 4, 2005; Page A16 PARLIAMENTARIANS gathered in Washington this holiday weekend from Europe and North America arrived just in time to witness the U.S. House of Representatives -- on the eve of the anniversary commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence -- trample upon the right of self-determination. Morphing themselves into city council members, a House majority overturned a city law and voted to allow D.C. residents to keep in their homes loaded shotguns and rifles, as well as handguns bought before 1976, unbounded by trigger locks or disassembled. The deed itself makes a mockery of Congress as a federal body. If the action is allowed to stand, however, the consequences could be even worse: The nation's capital will become a deadlier place in which to live. The gun safety law that the House voted to repeal makes all the sense in the world. It enjoys the full backing of the city's mayor, council, police chief and, most important of all, the city's residents. Perhaps residents and their leaders want the law on the books because they know, even if the House does not, that properly locked or secured guns help prevent gun violence and accidental shootings. Perhaps District residents support their gun safety laws because they now see crime in their city at a 20-year low. Perhaps they also resent this imposition of House judgment because District residents, through their elected leaders, are authorized under the Home Rule Act to make their own laws. But perhaps they are outraged most of all because they have no vote in Congress. At the very time that the House was telling Americans living in the District what their local laws should be, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), the District's representative on Capitol Hill, had to stand by and watch -- unable to express her views with a vote.	D.C. handgun possession exemptions are granted to police, guards, retired police and to residents who owned them prior to 1976 when the ban took effect. A 30-year ban on loaded shotguns, rifles and handguns in homes and businesses is set for repeal in Washington DC, where one of the strictest gun possession laws in the nation is in existence. The House of Representatives voted 259-161 on June 30 to allow an amendment by Mark Souder, R-Ind. to become attached to the federal district’s appropriations bill that later passed 405-18. “My amendment gives D.C. citizens the same rights at work as they have at home.” said Souder, a congressman from Indiana. The next step for a repeal is in the Senate where a bill titled “District of Columbia Personal Protection Act” was introduced in May by George Allen, R-Va. and Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Tx. Senator Allen, who according to the ''Richmond Times-Dispatch'' has presidential aspirations in the 2008 election, said of the bill’s introduction that it would, “give the law abiding citizens of the capital their constitutional right to protect themselves again.” It currently has 32 Senate co-sponsors, and sponsorship of the bill is expected to climb to 50 in the 100-member chamber before debate on the bill's passage begins. Passage of the Senate bill would overturn the city law that has support from the mayor, city council, police chief and many of its citizens. The law requires trigger locks on all firearms or they must be kept disassembled. Handguns are banned outright. District residents are witness to a federal legislation process that many see as trampling upon their permanent residency status. Locally elected leaders are able under the Home Rule Act to make their own laws, but local District of Columbia representatives have no vote in either the House or Senate, rendering them helpless in that political arena. D.C.'s mayor Anthony Williams said, "It's discouraging when members of Congress who don't represent our city try to shove their laws down our throats." A similar act to repeal the gun ban passed the House in 2004, but it was not taken up by the Senate.
Penguins clip Red Wings to win Stanley Cup Captain Sidney Crosby raises the Stanley Cup after the Penguins secured the franchise's third title against Detroit Friday night at Joe Louis Arena. (Paul Sancya/Associated Press) Captain Sidney Crosby raises the Stanley Cup after the Penguins secured the franchise's third title against Detroit Friday night at Joe Louis Arena. (Paul Sancya/Associated Press) Even without the services of captain Sidney Crosby for more than half the contest, the Pittsburgh Penguins stood tall in winning the Stanley Cup for the third time in franchise history Friday night. Centre Max Talbot scored both goals, sending the Penguins to a 2-1 win over the defending champion Detroit Red Wings in Game 7 at Joe Louis Arena. Pittsburgh secures the franchise's first championship since the Mario Lemieux-led Penguins of 1991 and 1992. The Penguins also become the first road team since the 1971 Montreal Canadiens to begin a Stanley Cup final 0-2 yet still win it all in the seventh and deciding game away from home. "It's a dream come true," said Crosby, who took a congratulatory call from Prime Minister Stephen Harper following the win. "It's everything you imagined and more. I would have loved to do it in four, it would have been a lot easier on the nerves. It was so hard watching the clock tick down for that whole third period. "But everything it took to win, we did it. Blocking shots, great goaltending, different guys stepping up. I mean, we did exactly everything it takes to win." While Talbot provided all the offence the Penguins would need, goaltender Marc-André Fleury preserved the win with some heroics in the final seconds of the game. Fleury made 23 saves on the night — none bigger than the one he made in the dying seconds of the game with Pittsburgh clinging to a one-goal lead. With 6.5 seconds left, the Wings won the draw and crashed to net. Fleury saves the day He may not have skated away with the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, but goaltender Marc-André Fleury is a major reason the Pittsburgh Penguins are Stanley Cup champions. Fleury made 23 saves in helping lead the Penguins to 2-1 victory Friday night against the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7 at Joe Louis Arena. "Just to win that thing [the Stanley Cup] is a dream and that's all that matters," an elated Fleury told Hockey Night In Canada. An NHL championship didn't seem possible for Fleury and the Penguins after they were shut out 5-0 in Game 5. Fleury was pulled in that game after a shaky performance, appearing to be shell-shocked in watching the Wings take a 3-2 series lead. But the former 2003 No. 1 overall pick responded in a big way. First, he robbed Dan Cleary in Game 6 on the breakaway with less that two minutes remaining Tuesday night at Mellon Arena to secure a 2-1 victory. Fleury saved his best performance for Friday night, making several key stops. The most lasting image came in the final frantic seconds of the third period. With the Penguins on the cusp of clinching the Cup, Fleury made a diving stop to the right of Pittsburgh's net off the stick of Detroit defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom. "We've been friends forever and it's just a great relationship," said Penguins centre Max Talbot, who scored both Pittsburgh goals. "I told him when I got the first goal, I told him, 'I got the game winner, you gotta keep it for me.' And he did it." Fleury even had a sense of humour regarding the shot Detroit defenceman Niklas Kronwall took with more than two minutes remaining that rang off the crossbar. "It [the crossbar] made a big save for me and I just said 'Thank you,'" said Fleury, who rubbed the iron after dodging a key bullet. Fleury made the initial save, but the rebound went right to Detroit defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom. Criticized for his play during the three previous games at Joe Louis Arena, Fleury dove to his right to block the Lidstrom shot with his arm. "Flower [Fleury] made some great saves," said Talbot. "Everybody sacrificed their body. That's how you win championships." Malkin earns playoff MVP Centre Evgeni Malkin earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after notching 36 points. Malkin, registering an assist on the first Talbot goal, is the first Russian-born player to win the award. "Big day in my life," Malkin told Hockey Night In Canada while his teammates carried the Cup around the ice. "My friends are happy, I'm happy." Malkin is also the first player to win both the regular season and playoff scoring race in the same year since Hall of Famer and Penguins owner Mario Lemieux completed the feat in 1992. Crosby, who finished with 31 points in the post-season, hurt his left knee after taking a hard check from Wings centre Johan Franzen along the boards in the second period. He returned for only one 32-second shift of the final period. "[He got] the side of my knee," admitted Crosby. "It's hard to watch. I don't recommend anyone trying watch the Stanley Cup final, Game 7 from the bench. It's a tough situation." Remarkably, the Penguins won anyway. Crosby, 21, was healthy enough to receive the Stanley Cup from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and raised it above his head — becoming the youngest captain to win an NHL championship. "[The Cup's] actually a lot heavier than I thought," said Crosby. "It's so worth it. Our team battled so hard throughout the whole year and, being on the losing side last year, this is an amazing feeling." Pittsburgh, which lost to the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup final last season, could challenge for Lord Stanley a few more times with this young group. Fleury was selected with the first overall pick in 2003, while Malkin was taken the following season with the No. 2 selection. The Penguins found good fortune once again in 2005, winning the lottery and picking Crosby No. 1. The team concluded its draft bonanza by plucking Jordan Staal at the No. 2 spot in 2006. "It wasn't an easy series but we felt if we won Game 6 that we had a chance here [Friday] night," said Lemieux, who savoured the moment by continually kissing the Cup. "Any time you have Sidney Crosby on your team and [Evgeni] Malkin, [Marc-Andre] Fleury and [Jordan] Staal, it's a great balance." Knee injury knocks Crosby out in 2nd Detroit, meanwhile, played in its seventh Game 7 final but is now 3-4 during that time. The Wings failed in their attempt to win a fifth championship in 12 years. Crosby, left, grimaces in pain after getting drilled into the boards by Detroit centre Johan Franzen. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)Defenceman Jonathan Ericsson snapped Fleury's bid for the shutout with a goal in the third period. Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood stopped 16 shots. The Penguins drew first blood just 1:13 into the second period following a great effort by Talbot. Racing behind the Detroit net, he forced Wings defenceman Brad Stuart to turn the puck over, off Malkin's skate. Talbot picked up the loose puck in front before slipping a shot between Osgood's legs. The goaltenders remained on top of their game around the five-minute mark of the period. After Fleury stopped Darren Helm from the slot, Penguins winger Matt Cooke blocked defenceman Brian Rafalski's shot to create a partial breakaway, only to be stopped by Osgood. The Penguins then lost Crosby at 5:30 into second after Franzen drove his left knee into the boards, forcing Pittsburgh's star to hobble to the dressing room. Unfazed, Talbot struck again at 10:07 as the Pittsburgh centre broke in on a two-on-one break and fired a perfect wrist shot over Osgood, giving the Penguins a 2-0 advantage. "Hey, I still have bad hands," said a smiling Talbot. "These two goals don't improve my stick-handling skills. "But I don't care about the two goals. We won the game." Forward Chris Kunitz made the play possible by winning a battle with Stuart near the boards. "Those were two nice goals," Osgood said of Talbot's performance. "I complimented him when we shook hands." The Wings finally broke Fleury's shutout bid with 6:07 remaining in the third. Ericsson blasted a one-timer off the feed from Lidstrom that Fleury misjudged. Detroit couldn't complete the comeback, thanks in large part to Fleury's brilliance down the stretch. Perhaps Wings winger Marian Hossa, held without a goal in the series, may have taken the loss harder than any other member of his club. Hossa played for the Penguins last season, but opted to sign a one-year with Detroit during the off-season because he felt the team from the Motor City had a better chance to win the Stanley Cup. "Regret? I don't have any regrets," said Hossa. "Whether you like it or not, there's going to be pressure. It squeezes you. It's very difficult to play like that." \|\|\|\|\| Scoring both of the Penguins' goals, Maxime Talbot was the unquestionable hero of Game 7 at Joe Louis Arena. David E. Klutho/SI DETROIT -- On the night of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, the hands of Max Talbot are just fine. Nine days after his linemate Evgeni Malkin jokingly remarked about him, "Yeah, little bit bad hands," Talbot scored twice in the second period, as the Penguins won the deciding game, 2-1 (RECAP \| BOX), at Joe Louis Arena Friday night. "[But] he's still right about that," Talbot said, chuckling. Winning the championship for the first time since 1992 against the team that defeated them just a year ago, the Penguins defied history, becoming the first team to win Game 7 on the road since the 1971 Montreal Canadiens. Malkin, who assisted Talbot's first goal, finished the playoffs with a league-high 36 points and earned the Conn Smythe Trophy for most valuable player in the postseason. The Pittsburgh center, who won the Art Ross Trophy with 103 points during the regular season, became the first player since Wayne Gretzky to capture both scoring titles in the same season in 1993. After a scoreless first period, the Penguins jumped out early in the third, and about a minute into the second period, Talbot intercepted a tipped pass by Detroit defenseman Brad Stuart right in front of Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood. Catching him by surprise, Talbot shot the puck five-hole to give the Penguins the 1-0 lead. Talbot struck again midway through the period, cashing in on a 2-on-1 and lanching a wrister high glove side on Osgood to give the Penguins the 2-0 lead. Did he ever in his wildest dreams think he'd score twice to win the Stanley Cup? "No, definitely not," he said on the ice, basking in the chaotic moments after the win. "You know, I never thought that I would score two goals in the NHL." It doesn't get any better than this, for this grinder whose clutch play earned him the nickname, The Gamer, by his teammates. "He just has a knack for playing so well in big games," defenseman Brooks Orpik says. "He does so many little things, and obviously his heart is huge. That's the biggest thing. He's willing to do anything to win.... And he likes the attention too. [And] he's definitely not short on confidence." The goal, Talbot's fourth of the series, was a welcome answer to a potentially devastating hit Pittsburgh took about four minutes earlier. Red Wings forward Johan Franzen homed in on Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, playing the puck along the boards in the neutral zone. The Swedish forward laid a heavy hip-check on the Penguins captain, catching his left leg and putting it into the boards. Crosby skated off into the dressing room in apparent pain. "[He] jammed the outside of my knee," he said after the game. "I couldn't walk, really.... I tried numbing it as much as I could, and I still couldn't really skate that much." The absence of the superstar center didn't seem to deter Pittsburgh, though. Jordan Staal, whose line had generated the most chances for the Penguins in the first, stepped up in his place, and kept Detroit's top scorers in check. Though Crosby returned to the game in the third period, he was limited to only one shift. "You get to a point where you've got to ask yourself whether you're going to be, you know, hurting your team by being out there," Crosby said. "One misstep and I could cost the guys a lot of hard work. I didn't want to be the guy who did that." As the Penguins lined up after the game to shake hands with their opponents, Red Wing Marian Hossa had to feel the pain of being on the losing side for the second straight year. Hossa, who chose the Red Wings over the Penguins in free agency last summer because he thought Detroit gave him a better chance to win the Cup, watched as his old teammates celebrated without him, irony lost on no one. The former Penguin had no goals and three assists in the final series. The Red Wings had plenty of chances on Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, but couldn't find much luck until the 13th minute of the third period, when Detroit defenseman Jonathan Ericsson beat Fleury underneath his glove to make it a one-goal game. And as the last minutes of the game passed, Detroit's chances continued to come. With a little over two minutes left, Niklas Kronwall threw a hard shot at Fleury but rang off the crossbar. At the next stoppage, Fleury turned to the net and gave the metal pipe a few loving taps -- a simple thank you. No surprise that after six games, and as exciting and close a final as there's been in recent history, this one would be good to the last drop. With Chris Osgood out of the net and an extra attacker on for Detroit with just a minute left, Fleury stood tall, making key saves on Detroit's biggest two names in the last six seconds of the game. First, he denied Detroit's leading playoff scorer Henrik Zetterberg with his right pad, but left a rebound in the right circle, a favorite spot for Nicklas Lidstrom. The Detroit captain pinched in and elevated a shot into what looked like an open net, but there Fleury was. He hurled his body over to make a spectacular shoulder save. Though he's struggled here in the past, Fleury wasn't haunted by any demons in here Friday, putting on his finest performance of this postseason. "I'm just so happy that he proved to everyone tonight that he's a winning goalie, and he can do it under pressure," Talbot said of Fleury, who faced criticism all series long for his spotty play. But after it all, after the 82 games, the three series to get back to this point, the six games and 60 minutes on the ice, the Pittsburgh Penguins -- all of their hands, knees, heads and hearts -- are just fine tonight. \|\|\|\|\| Here's Stanley, pass it on -- One season removed from watching the Detroit Red Wings celebrate a Stanley Cup title on their home ice, the Pittsburgh Penguins turned the tables this spring.The Penguins celebrated their third Stanley Cup and first since 1992 after scoring a 2-1 victory over the Wings in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final before 20,066 at Joe Louis Arena Friday night.When NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman handed Lord Stanley over to Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby , you got a sense this was just the beginning of a Pittsburgh-style party that would last long into the night.After taking the Cup, Crosby let loose with a loud yell before smacking three kisses on the coveted trophy. Crosby skated for approximately 15 seconds with the Cup high above his head before handing it over to the oldest player on the roster, Bill Guerin Guerin, 38, was celebrating his first Cup since 1995 when he played with the New Jersey Devils . His wait between championships (14 years) is the third-longest in history behind Chris Chelios (16 years) and Mark Recchi (15 years).Pittsburgh General Manager Ray Shero acquired Guerin from the Islanders at the March 4 trading deadline, and he went on to become one of the lynchpins for Sidney Crosby on the team's top line. Guerin finished with 7 goals and 15 points in 24 playoff games.Guerin eventually passed the Cup to defenseman Sergei Gonchar "It means so much (to see Gonchar raise the Cup)," Crosby said. "There are so many of those stories or there are so many guys who work so hard. I think that was Gonch's third time in the Final."He's played in the League a long, long time and he's been a great player, but he hadn't been able to win it to this point," Crosby continued. "That's something we all realize we can't take for granted."Gonchar would eventually hand the Cup over to Miroslav Satan . The procession would continue as Petr Sykora Chris Kunitz and Brooks Orpik all received a twirl with the Cup. Marc-Andre Fleury , who made 23 saves for the game, and Maxime Talbot , who connected for both goals in the victory, would eventually get their hands on the big prize, too. Talbot would eventually pass the Cup over to Conn Smythe Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin And coach Dan Bylsma would also have a chance to raise the Cup."Life's a bugger," Bylsma said at his postgame press conference. "I had plans about this and had dreams about it. I hoped this would happen someday, but good coaches have coached a long time and never gotten an opportunity like this. A lot of times, your first opportunity doesn't come with a team that's this talented or this group of players. I'm very fortunate in that regard." \|\|\|\|\| DETROIT One year ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins painfully watched the Detroit Red Wings wildly celebrate a Stanley Cup championship on their home ice. Friday night they made the Red Wings appreciate their misery. The Penguins officially ushered in the Sidney Crosby- Evgeni Malkin championship era by defeating the Red Wings 2-1 in a dramatic Game 7 to win their first Stanley Cup since 1992. ICE UPDATES: Follow Kevin Allen on twitter PLAYOFF SCHEDULE: How the Penguins reached the top "We have a great core for the next couple of years and I see great things for this team going forward," said Penguins winger Maxime Talbot, who scored Pittsburgh's goals. The Penguins are the first road team in any sport to win a championship in Game 7 since the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series against the Baltimore Orioles in 1979, and they are the first NHL team to win a Finals Game 7 on the road since the 1970-71 Montreal Canadiens. "When you're playing Game 7 for the Stanley Cup, and you're playing at home, it makes it tough to lose," said Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom, who was denied his fifth NHL championship. The Penguins won the game with Crosby playing only 9:59 because of a hip injury suffered in the second period when he was checked by Johan Franzen. He tried to play in the third period, but the pain was too much. It didn't diminish Crosby's enjoyment of the Cup celebration. He has faced relentless pressure to succeed since he was the league's No. 1 draft pick in 2005. Now he has a Stanley Cup after just his fourth NHL season. "It's not easy to be in the spotlight like he was at a young age," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. "There is a lot of focus. There's lots of scrutiny. There's lots of demands. … this erases a lot of questions." Crosby called it "a dream come true. It's everything you imagined and more." Malkin won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason MVP, primarily on the strength of his eight points in the series and his NHL-leading 36 points (22 assists) in the postseason "Everything it took to win — we did it," Crosby said. "Blocking shots. Good goaltending, different guys stepping up…" This Penguins team struggled for much of the regular season and was lifted down the stretch by a coaching change from Michel Therrien to Bylsma on Feb. 15. His record was 18-3-4 in the final two months and the Penguins moved from out of the Eastern Conference playoffs into fourth place when the season ended. "When I was traded to Pittsburgh, the Pens were in 10th and I was in 30th (with the Islanders)," said Crosby's linemate, Bill Guerin who came to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. "But we bonded quickly." Players bought in to Bylsma's system. "I'm a little surprised how quick they got it, but I'm not surprised how good they became," said Bylsma, who played for the Anaheim Ducks in Game 7 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals. After a scoreless first period, Talbot scored twice in the second to become the ninth NHL player to score two goals in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. He scored at 1:13 after intercepting a pass from Brad Stuart and then scored at 10:07 on a 2-on-1 break that began with Stuart pinching against Chris Kunitz who had the puck near the boards. HERO FOR A DAY: Penguins' Talbot dons Superman cape They held that lead until Detroit rookie defenseman Jonathan Ericsson scored with 6:07 remaining in the third period. In the final minutes, the Red Wings pressed and pulled goalie Chris Osgood. The Penguins didn't have it wrapped up until Lidstrom's shot at the buzzer hit a diving Marc-Andre Fleury, the Pittsburgh goalie who made 23 saves in erasing memories of a 5-0 loss in Game 5 a week ago. "They played real well without the puck," Lidstrom said. One of the interesting side stories of the Finals involved Hossa's decision last summer to leave the Penguins to join the Red Wings. He joined the Red Wings because he believed they had a better chance to win the Stanley Cup. "Regret?," he said. "I don't regret it. It could be different circumstances if I sign in Pittsburgh and now they probably couldn't sign some other players and they would be different team. So we could sit here for hours discussing this but it could be a different team, could be different things so I don't regret the decision." Said Stuart: "Obviously (we) feel pretty bad for him (Hossa). He was probably feeling the pressure a little bit. It's one of the storylines of the series, I guess, the fact we ended up playing them again. Obviously (we) feel bad for the guy. He's part of our team and feels the same way all of us do."	Max Talbot (PIT) On Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Detroit Red Wings in game seven of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals to win their third Stanley Cup. Max Talbot scored all of the Penguins goals to give them a 2-1 win over the Red Wings. In winning the cup, the Penguins became the first team in 38 years to win a Stanley Cup Finals game seven while playing on the road. Pittsburgh last won the Stanley Cup in 1992. This Stanley Cup run was not an easy one for the Penguins. In the opening round of the playoffs, the Penguins took six games to defeat in-state rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers. The second round series against the Washington Capitals featured a highly-touted individual matchup, as the Penguins young star Sidney Crosby matched skills against Alexander Ovechkin of the Capitals; it took the Penguins all seven games to win that series. The Penguins rolled the Carolina Hurricanes in a four game sweep to win the Eastern Conference title. In the Finals, they found themselves down three games to two against the Red Wings, a dynasty which has won four Cups in the past 12 seasons, and was the defending champion. The Penguins win in game seven was not only due to the scoring of Max Talbot; Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury allowed only one goal on 25 shots. The Penguins young star, Sidney Crosby had little impact on this game; though he was the second highest scorer of the entire playoffs, a hip injury in the second period kept him out of half of the game. After a scoreless first period, Pittsburgh's Max Talbot scored on an assist from Evgeni Malkin only 1:13 into the second period. Talbot added to his first goal with a second at the 10:07 mark in the second period, on assists from Chris Kunitz and Rob Scuderi. The final score came in the third period, at 13:53, as Jonathan Ericsson scored Detroit's only goal of the game, on assists from Nicklas Lidström and Jiri Hudler. The game featured five minor penalties; two by Detroit and three by Pittsburgh; all were inconsequential as all three goals were scored at full-strength.
Yukio Hatoyama has been chosen as leader of Japan's opposition Democratic Party, in the run-up to parliamentary elections later this year. The 62-year-old grandson of a former prime minister replaces Ichiro Ozawa, who stepped down amid a fund-raising scandal on May 11. The Democrats have promised to cut wasteful spending and bureaucracy. General elections are due by October, and Saturday's opinion polls suggest the Democrats may be ahead of the long-ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has ruled for about 50 years. Analysts said the Democrats' platform - the core of which is a pledge to break bureaucrats' grip on policy to reduce wasteful spending and end the cossetting of vested interests - was unlikely to change much, no matter who leads the party. The Democrats have also vowed to strengthen the social safety net and revive domestic demand in the midst of a deep recession. Ozawa's decision to step down also had little impact on financial markets, although many players want to see an end to a political stalemate that has obstructed policy in the world's second-biggest economy as it struggles with its worst recession in 60 years. Economic woes Policy making in Japan has been hampered since opposition parties won control of parliament's upper house in 2007, allowing them to delay legislation. Analysts said the general election was unlikely to be called until after Taro Aso, the prime minister, attends a G8 summit in Italy in early July and after a Tokyo Metropolitan assembly election on July 12, partly in the hope that the economy will improve by then. "Early August, late August - it's hard to tell," Koichi Nakano, a professor at Sophia University, said. "Given Aso's record of waiting, unless he's become a different person, he is going to want to wait for a better time." \|\|\|\|\| Yukio Hatoyama is the grandson of a former prime minister Japan's opposition Democratic Party has chosen Yukio Hatoyama, the grandson of a former prime minister, as leader ahead of elections later this year. Mr Hatoyama succeeds Ichiro Ozawa, who stepped down amid a fundraising scandal on 11 May. The new opposition leader has pledged to cut wasteful spending. Opinion polls suggest the Democrats are ahead of PM Taro Aso's Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled for some 50 years, with one short break. Mr Hatoyama, 62, won a swiftly organised election among Democratic Party members of Japan's Diet, or parliament. Mr Ozawa had been under pressure to resign after a close aide was charged in a fundraising scandal in March. Tokyo prosecutors alleged Mr Ozawa's political funding organisation received 21 million yen ($216,000; £142,000) in illegal donations from Nishimatsu Construction between 2003-07. Before the scandal broke, Mr Ozawa had been thought likely to unseat the beleaguered prime minister, Taro Aso, in parliamentary elections. But opinion polls have suggested his popularity had waned as a result of the scandal. Mr Hatoyama's party has promised to loosen the bureaucracy's grip on policy making and pursue more assertive diplomacy towards Japan's security ally the United States. But the BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says Mr Hatoyama may struggle to bring change to Japanese politics, which is dominated by wealthy political dynasties.	Yukio Hatoyama Japan's opposition party, the , on Saturday chose Yukio Hatoyama as its leader for . Hatoyama, the grandson of a former Japanese prime minister, replaced , who resigned from his post following a scandal over fundraising earlier this month. Hatoyama and the Democrats have promised to reduce wasteful spending and cut bureaucracy. He has also pledged to increase domestic demand during the , the worst in sixty years. The general elections are expected to be held in October. According to local opinion polls taken on Saturday, the Democrats may have an edge over Prime Minister Taro Aso's conservative (LDP), which has remained in power for five decades. Ozawa, the previous leader of elections, resigned on May 11 after an aide was accused in a fundraising fiasco in March. Prosecutors charged Ozawa had taken illegal donations totaling 21 million yen from the Nishimatsu Construction firm in the years 2003-2007.
Police have been granted a further seven days to question Mr Ibrahim Many families evacuated after police carried out controlled explosions in their cul-de-sac have been allowed to return to their homes in Bristol. Bomb disposal experts carried out three controlled explosions at the home of Andrew Ibrahim, 19, who has been held under the Terrorism Act since Thursday. Most of the 30 people who had to leave their Westbury-on-Trym homes on Thursday, returned on Sunday. Mr Ibrahim, a Muslim convert, can be held by police for seven days. His most immediate neighbours spent Sunday night away from home. The displaced residents had to spend the first night of their stay away from home in a local school and at the homes of Neighbourhood Watch members. And 14 people were given hotel accommodation for two more nights. This is obviously a very difficult time for the Muslim community in Bristol Farooq Siddique, Bristol Muslim leader A spokesman for Bristol City Council said those staying in hotels would not be asked to foot the bill. A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said that there should be a phased return for residents over the course of the week. 'Peace and harmony' Once all of those who had to leave their homes have been allowed to return, police will begin house-to-house inquiries. The first detonation was carried out on Friday, and the second and third on Saturday, once more sandbags had been delivered. About 14 homes were evacuated on Thursday ahead of the blasts, and another 40 to 50 people had to leave their homes temporarily on Saturday morning. On Saturday the Council of Bristol Mosques, which represents eight of the 10 mosques in Bristol and more than 30,000 Muslims, firmly rejected any links with terrorism. The council said in a statement: "The Council of Bristol Mosques condemns all forms of terrorism and its facets. "We stress that we stand alongside the authorities in Bristol to keep extremism out and we continue to support and promote peace, harmony and transparency for the best interest of Bristolians." Recent convert Mr Ibrahim, who moved into the area three weeks ago, is understood to have recently converted to Islam. He was arrested after covert inquiries prompted by an intelligence tip-off. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Police said he lived alone but did not own the house. He had had previous contact with police. Local Muslim leader Farooq Siddique said Ibrahim was a British Muslim. But he said he was "not known" to Bristol's Muslim community. He said: "This is obviously a very difficult time for the Muslim community in Bristol. It is a blow to community relationships in the city. "We want the police to be allowed to do their jobs as simply and as quickly as possible. We need to be united in this." Police said the materials blown up in the blasts would be analysed as part of a "long and complex" investigation. It was too early to say whether further arrests would be made, they said. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| Evacuated residents will likely remain out of their homes until Saturday Bomb disposal experts in Bristol have carried out a third controlled explosion at the home of a man arrested under the Terrorism Act. It comes a day after police were granted a further seven days to question Andrew Ibrahim, a 19-year-old British Muslim convert. A first controlled blast was carried out at the property, in a cul-de-sac in Westbury-on-Trym, on Friday. A second explosion was carried out earlier on Saturday. The second and third detonations had originally been intended for Friday evening, but were postponed as officers awaited the delivery of sandbags to minimise the impact of the blast. About 30 people in 14 homes had to be moved from their properties on Thursday. Another 40-50 people had to leave their homes temporarily on Saturday morning. '10 or 12 different bolts' Mr Ibrahim, who moved into the area three weeks ago, is understood to have recently converted to Islam. He was arrested on Thursday after covert inquiries prompted by an intelligence tip-off. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Police said he lived alone but did not own the house. He had had previous contact with police. Next-door-neighbour Rachel Clifford told BBC News that she met the suspect only recently, after she knocked on the door to complain about loud, Islamic-sounding music. She said the man in Islamic dress who answered the door had first had to unlock 10 or 12 different bolts. "I remember feeling quite unnerved, I just wanted to say my piece and get out of there," she said. Local Muslim leader Farooq Siddique said Ibrahim was a British Muslim. But he said he was "not known" to Bristol's Muslim community. He said: "This is obviously a very difficult time for the Muslim community in Bristol. It is a blow to community relationships in the city. "We want the police to be allowed to do their jobs as simply and as quickly as possible. We need to be united in this." Container The first controlled blast, in the early hours of Friday morning, was carried out after a raid on the suspect's home. Assistant Chief Constable Rod Hansen, who is leading the operation, told a press conference that a container was removed from the home, covered in sandbags and taken to a safe location before being destroyed. The materials blown up are to be analysed as part of what police described as a "long and complex" investigation. Police said it was too early to say whether further arrests would be made. A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said Avon and Somerset police were leading the investigation but that officers from Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command had been assisting them. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| Evacuated residents will likely remain out of their homes until Saturday Bomb disposal experts in Bristol have carried out a third controlled explosion at the home of a man arrested under the Terrorism Act. It comes a day after police were granted a further seven days to question Andrew Ibrahim, a 19-year-old British Muslim convert. A first controlled blast was carried out at the property, in a cul-de-sac in Westbury-on-Trym, on Friday. A second explosion was carried out earlier on Saturday. The second and third detonations had originally been intended for Friday evening, but were postponed as officers awaited the delivery of sandbags to minimise the impact of the blast. About 30 people in 14 homes had to be moved from their properties on Thursday. Another 40-50 people had to leave their homes temporarily on Saturday morning. '10 or 12 different bolts' Mr Ibrahim, who moved into the area three weeks ago, is understood to have recently converted to Islam. He was arrested on Thursday after covert inquiries prompted by an intelligence tip-off. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Police said he lived alone but did not own the house. He had had previous contact with police. Next-door-neighbour Rachel Clifford told BBC News that she met the suspect only recently, after she knocked on the door to complain about loud, Islamic-sounding music. She said the man in Islamic dress who answered the door had first had to unlock 10 or 12 different bolts. "I remember feeling quite unnerved, I just wanted to say my piece and get out of there," she said. Local Muslim leader Farooq Siddique said Ibrahim was a British Muslim. But he said he was "not known" to Bristol's Muslim community. He said: "This is obviously a very difficult time for the Muslim community in Bristol. It is a blow to community relationships in the city. "We want the police to be allowed to do their jobs as simply and as quickly as possible. We need to be united in this." Container The first controlled blast, in the early hours of Friday morning, was carried out after a raid on the suspect's home. Assistant Chief Constable Rod Hansen, who is leading the operation, told a press conference that a container was removed from the home, covered in sandbags and taken to a safe location before being destroyed. The materials blown up are to be analysed as part of what police described as a "long and complex" investigation. Police said it was too early to say whether further arrests would be made. A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said Avon and Somerset police were leading the investigation but that officers from Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command had been assisting them. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these?	Families who were evacuated in Bristol, United Kingdom have been told that they will not yet be allowed to return to their homes. This is despite the fact that many news reports from the time of the evacuation, including those from ''BBC News'' indicated that they would be able to return yesterday. Avon and Somerset police recently released a statement on the evacuation, part of which is available below: This move comes after Avon and Somerset police arrested a man in the Westbury on Trym area of the city on suspicion of terrorism.
The shooting down of a Malaysian Airlines plane with nearly 300 people on board over war-torn eastern Ukraine is likely to have profound consequences for the world's airlines. Airlines are already being more vigilant about avoiding trouble spots. That will make flights longer and more costly because of the need for extra fuel — an expense that will be passed on to passengers. They may be quicker to abandon routes near conflict areas. In the aftermath of Thursday's disaster, carriers around the globe rerouted flights to avoid Ukraine. Malaysia Airlines announced that it will no longer fly over any portion of the country, routing flights over Turkey instead. Some airlines had been circumventing the country for weeks after warnings from aviation authorities, and experts questioned Malaysia's decision to fly near the fighting. "I find it pretty remarkable that a civil airline company — if this aircraft was on the flight plan — that they are flight-planning over an area like that," said Robert Francis, a former vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. The airline noted Friday that other carriers flew the same path in the days and weeks before — and even on the same day its plane was shot down. Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lay insisted again Friday that the airline's path from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was an internationally approved route. Violence in Ukraine between government forces and pro-Russia rebels in the country's east erupted after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March. Earlier this week, the rebels claimed responsibility for hitting a Ukrainian military jet with a portable surface-to-air missile; the pilot was able to land safely. And the government charged that a military transport plane was shot down by a missile fired from Russian territory. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration had warned pilots in April not to fly over parts of Ukraine, and the U.N.'s International Civil Aviation Organization told governments to warn their airlines. Thursday's crash, however, occurred outside those warning areas, prompting the FAA to expand its prohibition to eastern Ukraine. Thomas Routh, an aviation attorney in Chicago, said it would be unusual for an airline to ignore such warnings, but he said there are many dangerous air corridors and airlines must decide whether a flight will be safe. "There are airlines flying through Afghanistan airspace every day," Routh said. Greg Raiff, an aviation consultant in New Hampshire, said that if airlines must avoid all the world's hot spots, flight times would be extended, requiring extra fuel and pilots. Some routes will become uneconomical, forcing airlines to abandon them, he said. Aviation experts said that many airlines continued to fly over Ukraine despite the warnings because it offered a shorter route that saved fuel. Malaysian officials denied that was their motive. Joshua Marks, CEO of aviation-data firm masFlight, calculated that flying over Ukraine instead of around the country saved Malaysia Airlines up to $1,500 per flight in fuel, or 2 percent, and shaved about 10 minutes off the trip. Ukraine closed the eastern region to air traffic below 26,000 feet on July 1 and extended the ban to 32,000 feet on Monday. An official with Eurocontrol, a consortium of European air traffic agencies, said about 350 planes had been flying over the area every day before the restrictions, but that had dropped by about one-fourth before Thursday's crash. By Friday, snapshots from flight-tracking services showed dense traffic to the west of Ukraine, light traffic over western Russia, and very few planes over Ukraine. Dubai-based Emirates airlines suspended flights to Kiev indefinitely. Germany's Lufthansa rerouted trips to avoid eastern Ukraine, although flights to Kiev and Odessa were unaffected. Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines said that it would stop flying over any part of the country. India's aviation agency said Air India and Jet Airways would also avoid Ukraine. Some airlines had already changed their routes. Australia's Qantas stopped flying over Ukraine several months ago and shifted its London-Dubai route 645 kilometers (400 miles) to the south. A spokeswoman declined to explain the change. Korean Air said it rerouted cargo and passenger flights in early March as the situation in Crimea deteriorated. Beyond Ukraine, Emirates recently stopped flying over parts of Syria as a civil war expanded. Some airlines have curtailed service in Iraq, where violence has escalated between the government and a jihadist militant group. The FAA has current warnings about flying over parts of Iran, Yemen, Egypt's Sinai peninsula, North Korea and other countries. Last month, a gunman in Pakistan fired on a jetliner that was landing in Peshawar, part of the country's volatile northwest region, killing a passenger and wounding two other people. Emirates suspended flights to Peshawar, and other carriers canceled some flights while they reviewed airport security. Two weeks before that, gunmen attacked the country's busiest airport in Karachi. ___ Sagar Meghani in Washington, John-Thor Dahlburg in Brussels and Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| Ukraine's foreign minister says there is no chance that the missile apparently used to shoot down a Malaysia Airlines jet over the east of the country was of Ukrainian military origin. Pavlo Klimkin told the Guardian on Friday morning that the Ukrainian army did not have such missiles in the area, and said none had been seized by separatist fighters in recent weeks. "We are absolutely sure and we checked yesterday that no missiles have been taken from the Ukrainian army," said Klimkin. MH17 crashed near the village of Grabovo on Thursday killing all of its nearly 300 passengers and crew. US authorities say they have evidence it was shot down by a missile. Separatist fighters in the region have shot down a number of Ukrainian planes and helicopters in recent days, and there is circumstantial evidence pointing to the seizure of a Buk missile system from the Ukrainian army by rebels. A video has surfaced from several days ago in which a well-known Kremlin cheerleader, Sergei Kurginyan, said after a visit to Donetsk in recent days that the rebels had seized a Buk system. Kurginyan said in the video that specialists from Russia had travelled to the region to fix the missile system, "as a friendly gesture to a brotherly nation". Additionally, a news item on Russian state television from late June announced that the rebels had taken control of a Ukrainian Buk system. But Klimkin was adamant that this was not the case. "Our military forces don't use any sort of anti-air missile in the region of anti-terror operation, so there could be no even theoretical possibility of taking this kind of missile," he told the Guardian. He suggested the missile system could have been smuggled into Ukraine from Russia: "In recent weeks we have had continuous inflow of mercenaries, money, weapons and heavy weaponry across the border, including tanks and Manpads [man-portable air-defence systems]," said Klimkin. He claimed that given the border was several hundred miles long, and in places "controlled by the terrorists", it was possible that a missile system could have been brought across the border without detection. Klimkin insisted that recordings released by Ukraine's SBU security services on Thursday of separatist fighters admitting they had downed a passenger liner were "absolutely genuine". Ukraine's foreign minister said he had spoken overnight to a number of his western counterparts, including the new UK foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, who offered British assistance and support. Klimkin said a video-conference had taken place on Thursday evening between the separatists and the Ukrainian president's representative, the former president Leonid Kuchma, which included mediation from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Russian ambassador to Ukraine. Access to the location had been negotiated for the OSCE and Ukrainian officials, said Klimkin, who declined to give details of what kind of delegation would travel to the crash site and when, citing security issues. The Donetsk region contains a number of different militias whose actions are not always coordinated, and an aide to the rebel commander Igor Strelkov told Associated Press on Thursday that his boss had not yet decided whether to allow investigators access to the site. The rebels claim the plane was down by the Ukrainian government. \|\|\|\|\| Pro-Russian separatists stand at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which went down in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing 298 people. Ukraine says it intercepted a phone call that shows separatists shot down the plane. REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev As the world struggled on Thursday to grasp how Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 tumbled from the sky and exploded in eastern Ukraine, the Kiev government posted a video online that it said demonstrated that pro-Russian separatists backed by Moscow shot it down. The video, including English-language subtitles, can be seen here: U.S. officials have not said whether they believe the recording to be authentic, and The Washington Post is unable to verify its authenticity. If the Ukrainian claims are legitimate, the recording would seem to bolster the narrative that separatists shot down the plane without realizing it was a civilian airliner. As noted on The Post’s live blog yesterday, three Russian language speakers working for the newspaper independently verified the English translation used. One voice on the tape says either “we have just shot down a plane” or “they have just down the plane.” (This Russian statement could be translated in either way in the context of this conversation.) This screenshot, circulated widely on social media Thursday, purportedly showing Igor Girkin, a man said to be aligned with the Russian military, bragging about his men shooting down to planes over Ukraine. IT was posted on VK.com, Russia’s version of Facebook: The surreality of separatists celebrating that they shot down a military plane on Facebook is weird. pic.twitter.com/uiAIumSj9Z — Jared Earle (@jearle) July 17, 2014 The man is also known as Igor Strelkov. A journalist in Ukraine reporting for Buzzfeed highlighted earlier this month the heavy hand that he has used to keep order in Slovyansk, a city of about 119,000 in eastern Ukraine. “I warn all fighters and commanders of the DPR militia, and also residents of Slovyansk and the Sloviansk area, that any grievous crime committed in the zone of military activity will continue to be punished ruthlessly and decisively,” according to an order issued by Girkin and published by Buzzfeed. “The command of the DPR militia will not allow unchecked criminality. Punishments for crimes will be unavoidable, regardless of the status and service of the criminal.” Executions over relatively petty crimes have been common under his watch, Buzzfeed reported. UPDATE: July 18, 11:35 a.m.: This post has been updated to reflect The Post’s translation of the video. \|\|\|\|\| Advanced U.S. satellites played a key role in the determination by intelligence officials that a surface-to-air missile shot down a Malaysian jetliner over Ukraine on Thursday. The assessment was almost certainly based on a technical branch of spycraft known as measurement and signature intelligence, or MASINT, analysts said. The method detects, tracks and identifies a variety of electronic signatures, including radar. The U.S. operates fleets of listening satellites and early warning satellites that could have identified the location of a missile launch site and its trajectory as it shot up to the 33,000-foot cruising altitude of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777. The Pentagon would have detected the launch because of its heat signature, said Riki Ellison, founder and chairman of Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, a group that lobbies for missile defense spending. The U.S. Air Force has satellites in high-Earth orbit that use infrared sensors to detect heat from missile and booster plumes against Earth's background. Called the Defense Support Program, the system provides early warning for intercontinental ballistic missile launches. The satellites are sensitive enough to sense hot spots in forest fires, according to the Air Force. U.S. radar installations and other assets in the region would assist in tracking any surface-to-air missile, which Ukrainian officials have said probably came from a Russian-made Buk system. The information would be relayed to U.S. European Command, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. "They would have known exactly where it was launched, where it was headed, and the rate at which it was traveling," Ellison said. Separately, the U.S. operates sensitive listening satellites that can capture a wide range of electronic emissions from foreign nations' defense systems, allowing analysts to determine the origin of the signals and the type weapon that was used. For instance, the Buk missile uses a strong radar search and tracking system to find its targets and then helps guide a missile to the target. At some point in its flight, the missile begins to use its own radar system, emitting a unique signal. The combination of unique signals over a period of seconds or minutes would allow a U.S. satellite to triangulate the point of launch and track the trajectory of the missile. For more news on the Malaysia Airlines crash, follow @rvartabedian and @wjhenn on Twitter. \|\|\|\|\| July 17, 2014 Contact: Kristie M. Greco Phone: (202) 267-3883 On the evening of July 17, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a Notice to Airman (NOTAM) prohibiting U.S. flight operations until further notice, in the airspace over eastern Ukraine, due to recent events and the potential for continued hazardous activities. The restricted area includes the entire Simferopol and Dnepropetrovsk flight information regions (FIRs). This action expands a prohibition of U.S. flight operations issued by the FAA in April, over the Crimean region of Ukraine and adjacent areas of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. No scheduled U.S. airlines are currently flying routes through this airspace. The NOTAM reads: FDC 4/2182 (A0025/14)–null AIRSPACE SPECIAL NOTICE UKRAINE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION -SIMFEROPOL (UKFV) AND DNEPROPETROVSK (UKDV) FLIGHT INFORMATION REGIONS (FIR) UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, DUE TO RECENT EVENTS, ALL FLIGHT OPERATIONS BY UNITED STATES (U.S.) OPERATORS WITHIN THE SIMFEROPOL (UKFV) AND DNEPROPETROVSK (UKDV) FIRS ARE PROHIBITED. EVENTS HAVE INDICATED THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTINUED HAZARDOUS ACTIVITIES. THIS ACTION EXPANDS A PROHIBITION OF U.S. FLIGHT OPERATIONS ISSUED BY THE FAA INITIALLY AS A NOTAM ON APRIL 3, 2014, AND LATER AS SFAR NO. 113 OVER THE CRIMEAN REGION OF UKRAINE AND ADJACENT AREAS OF THE BLACK SEA AND THE SEA OF AZOV. THE PROHIBITIONS DESCRIBED IN THE SPECIFIED AIRSPACE CONTAINED IN THIS NOTAM AND THE ASSOCIATED JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS SPECIAL NOTICE WILL BE RE-EVALUATED BY 31 OCT 2014. 18 JUL 00:30 2014 UNTIL 1410312359. CREATED: 18 JUL 00:41 2014	File photo from 2010 of Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 9M-MRD, the aircraft that was shot down. , a , was shot down by a on Thursday according to officials, over disputed eastern by an unidentified party. The flight, which departed in at 10:15 UTC en route to in , disappeared from radar at 13:15 near , a village in the of Ukraine. 283 passengers and 15 crew were aboard the aircraft, all 298 in total perished. The area the plane was flying over is a conflict zone currently between Ukrainian forces and pro- separatist forces. officials confirmed the aircraft has been shot down, according to data from a surveillance satellite which showed the last trajectory and impact of the missile. The missile is believed to be a M1 surface-to-air missile which are believed to be in the hands of rebels according to reports from the area. Flight path of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. So far no party has claimed responsibility for the attack. Ukrainian officials denied the missile which shot down the airliner belonged to Ukraine. , Ukraine's foreign minister, said to '''', "We are absolutely sure and we checked yesterday that no missiles have been taken from the Ukrainian army". The (SBU) published on an alleged wiretap of separatist commanders and Russian intelligence officers discussing the shoot-down and acknowledging the aircraft shot down was civilian. Meanwhile, Russia's defense ministry has denied involvement, posting a statement on their website which read, "In view of various types of speculation concerning operations of the Russian armed forces in the areas bordering Ukraine, we affirm that the anti-aircraft means of the Russian armed forces did not operate in that region July 17". Ukrainian president said, "This was not an 'incident', this was not a 'catastrophe', this was a terrorist act". Malyasian prime minister , said, "If it transpires that the flight was shot down, we insist that the perpetrators must swiftly be brought to justice." All civilian aircraft have been barred from flying over eastern Ukraine. The 's issued a (NOTAM) prohibiting flight operations by United States carriers over eastern Ukraine. However, questions remain as to why the aircraft was flying over the contested area. noted airspace was closed up to 32,000 feet. Flight 17 was flying at 33,000 feet just above the restricted airspace. Malaysia Airlines issued a statement saying "The usual flight route was earlier declared safe by the (ICAO). The (IATA) has stated that the airspace the aircraft was traversing was not subject to restrictions." == Sources == * * * * * * *
Actor Tony Booth, best known as the star of BBC sitcom Till Death Us Do Part, has died aged 85, his family have said in a statement. Advertisement The actor, political campaigner and father of Cherie Blair appeared in the BBC comedy from 1965 to 1975 as left wing firebrand and “scouse git” Mike Rawlins. His decade-long appearance made him a household name. Booth was born in Liverpool on 9th October 1931, and earned an early appearances in Coronation Street and The Avengers before his big break. He would go on to act in numerous other TV series including The Bill and Mersey Beat, but it was his political work that came to the fore in later life. He became president of the actors’ union Equity in 1998, and was a vocal supporter of the Labour Party – in 1981, he helped his son-in-law and future Prime Minister Tony Blair contact Labour MP Tom Pendry asking for help to become an MP. Advertisement BBC1’s Till Death Us Do Part first aired as a one-off Comedy Playhouse, before the sitcom was recommissioned for a full series. \|\|\|\|\| Star of Till Death Us Do Part was married four times and had eight daughters including Cherie Booth The actor and political campaigner Tony Booth, who starred in Till Death Us Do Part, has died aged 85. He had been married four times and had eight daughters, including Cherie, who is married to the former prime minister Tony Blair. More details soon … \|\|\|\|\| Image copyright Getty Images Actor Tony Booth, who starred in BBC sitcom Till Death Us Do Part, has died, his family have said. Booth, who was 85, had been suffering from Alzheimer's for more than 10 years and had suffered heart problems. He had a 50-year acting career and appeared in numerous TV shows including Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and The Bill. He was also a political activist and the father of Cherie Booth and father-in-law to ex-prime minister Tony Blair. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Booth (left) starred in Till Death Us Do Part with Una Stubbs, Dandy Nichols and Warren Mitchell Tony Booth often spoke out against his son-in-law's government and wrote about their life in Downing Street in his autobiography What's Left?. He campaigned to raise the state pension and criticised the government over the Iraq war. But he was close to his daughter and was at her side for events including when she was sworn in as a QC. Image caption Tony Booth was often at his daughter Cherie's side A statement released on behalf of his wife Steph Booth said he had "passed away late last night with close family members in attendance". The statement added: "The family ask for their privacy to be respected at this time." Image copyright PA Image caption In 1987 Booth played Alec Gilroy's best man Charles Halliday in Coronation Street Born in Liverpool in 1931, Booth discovered a talent for acting during his National Service. He won parts in shows including Z Cars and Dixon of Dock Green before landing the role of "Scouse git" Mike in Till Death Us Do Part. Booth played the left-wing son-in-law of right-wing Cockney Alf Garnett in the show between 1966 and 1975. Image copyright PA Image caption Booth married Coronation Street actress Pat Phoenix in 1986 In real life, Booth was married four times - his third wife was Pat Phoenix who played Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street. She died a week after they married in 1986. Booth also appeared in Coronation Street in two stints, in the 1960s and again in 1987. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].	actor died on Monday at age 85, according to his family. He is best known for his role in the comedy ''''. He is also known for his daughter , wife of former British prime minister . Booth had a long acting career. He was star of ''Till Death Us Do Part'' in the 1960s, where he played the part of Mike Rawlings. He also played in '''', '''', '''', and '''' on TV, as well as playing in numerous films. In 1998 he became president of , the British trade union for actors. As well as Cherie Blair, Booth also fathered seven other daughters, some out of wedlock, and had four marriages. He had a reputation as a womanizer, a heavy drinker, and a charmer. Booth lived with for a long time. He was diagnosed in 2004. He also suffered heart problems.
By MacDonald Dzirutwe HARARE (Reuters) - South African leader Thabo Mbeki and President Robert Mugabe held talks on Friday on Zimbabwe's election crisis ahead of a possible run-off that has raised fears violence could escalate. Mbeki, whose softly-softly mediation in Zimbabwe's crisis has drawn criticism at home and abroad, met Mugabe for three hours. Their talks came a day before the opposition MDC was to announce whether it would take part in a second round. Western powers have called on African states to do more to end the stalemate, which has dashed hopes that the election would usher in a new era of prosperity and more freedoms. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned the presidents of three southern African states -- Botswana, Zambia and Tanzania -- on Friday to urge them to help end the Zimbabwe deadlock. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack did not say why Rice did not telephone Mbeki. Regional heavyweight South Africa is heading efforts by the regional grouping SADC to defuse the tension in Zimbabwe, which suffers from 80 percent unemployment, chronic food and fuel shortages and the world's highest inflation of 165,000 percent. But Mbeki has lost credibility as lead mediator. "He (Mbeki) came to get a briefing as mediator. He has come to get an on the spot understanding of developments on the ground," Zimbabwean Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told reporters. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| Levels of organised violence and torture have escalated dramatically in the last fortnight in Zimbabwe amid mounting tensions over the country's disputed elections, a coalition of doctors said on Friday. "Since the last report on April 25, our members have reported a dramatic escalation in incidents of organised violence and torture, with the number of victims documented in the post-election period now standing at more than 900," the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights said in a statement. "This figure grossly underestimates the number of victims countrywide as the violence is now on such a scale that it is impossible to properly document all cases." The association said that the number of cases appeared to have risen particularly sharply in the last week, blaming the security services and hard-line supporters of veteran President Robert Mugabe for the attacks. "In the last 24 hours alone, 30 victims have been treated for limb fractures in Harare hospitals and clinics and supplies of plaster of Paris bandages are reported to be exhausted in most health centres," it said. "The current pattern of organised torture and violence being perpetrated by state security agents in the rural areas of Zimbabwe is similar to that documented prior to the 2002 elections" when Mugabe was last re-elected. "However, the current violence is dramatically more intensive and unrestrained. The level of brutality and callousness exhibited by the perpetrators is unprecedented and the vicious and cowardly attacks by so-called war veterans on women, children and the elderly shames the memory of all true heroes of the liberation struggle." Intensive talks Meanwhile, South African President Thabo Mbeki on Friday held intensive talks with veteran counterpart Robert Mugabe over the post-election crisis. Mbeki, the Southern African region's chief mediator on Zimbabwe, went straight into talks with Mugabe after arriving in Harare for his first visit since the announcement of presidential election results. The talks at State House lasted for more than three hours before Mbeki left for the South African embassy in Harare without making any comment to reporters. He was not due to meet any other Zimbabwean officials or opposition representatives. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which won control of Parliament and whose leader won a first-round victory against Mugabe at general polls on March 29, has called for Mbeki to be axed as a mediator over his softly-softly approach towards the Zimbabwean leader. The MDC has said 30 of its supporters have been killed in attacks by Mugabe followers since election day and thousands more have been tortured or injured. Those figures have been strongly disputed by the Zimbabwean authorities who have accused the opposition of being behind violence, such as arson attacks. The authorities have been rounding up an increasing number of high-profile opponents, including the veteran editor of one of the country's few remaining independent newspapers on Thursday. The main labour federation, meanwhile, said its two top leaders had been arrested over speeches made to workers at a May Day rally. Although there was no immediate confirmation from the police, a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) said its president, Lovemore Matombo, and secretary general Wellington Chibebe were in custody. "They were arrested yesterday [Thursday] for inciting people to rise up against the government" during anti-government speeches made to supporters on May Day, ZCTU spokesperson Last Charabuka said. The ZCTU was formerly headed by Tsvangirai. -- AFP \|\|\|\|\| The South African Press Association reported that he also told reporters: “We have seen it. There are people in hospital who said they have been tortured. You have seen pictures, you have seen pictures of houses that have been destroyed and so on.” Mr. Mamabolo also said the violence was taking place on both sides. Human rights groups and doctors in Harare agree that there is some retaliatory violence by opposition supporters. They say, however, that the armed security forces, along with veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and youth militias allied with the governing party, have overwhelmingly instigated what the doctors in the new report said was a level of brutality unprecedented in Zimbabwe’s violent past decade. Image President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa with President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe today at Harare airport. Credit... Alexander Joe/Agence France-Press/Getty Images Ministers in Mr. Mugabe’s government have blamed the opposition for the violence. A spokesman for the army denied in Friday’s state-run newspaper, The Herald, that it was involved in any way, saying instead that its members had been “provoked, insulted, abused and even attacked by some sections of our community for no good reason.” Mr. Mbeki has not contacted Mr. Tsvangirai, the opposition leader, for a meeting. Some Zimbabwean political analysts say Mr. Tsvangirai and his party made a mistake in declaring that they had lost faith in Mr. Mbeki’s neutrality and calling for a new mediator. The leaders of other southern African countries have reaffirmed Mr. Mbeki’s role, leaving the opposition with a strained relationship with him. The opposition has resisted saying whether it will take part in a runoff, but Mr. Tsvangirai will announce his decision on Saturday, said his spokesman, George Sibotshiwe. Mr. Mbeki arrived in Zimbabwe as Mr. Mugabe’s government was cracking down on critics, political rivals and others it saw as opposition supporters.	''New York Times'' reporting that he has been "sharply criticized and even mocked" South African president Thabo Mbeki has arrived in Harare today to talk with Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe about the upcoming presidential run-off election. This comes amid claims that violence has risen in the country over the last few days. The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights claim there has been a "dramatic escalation in incidents of organised violence and torture" after the recent elections with "more than 900" documented as injured. The organization said in a statement that "the level of brutality and callousness exhibited by the perpetrators is unprecedented and the vicious and cowardly attacks by so-called war veterans on women, children and the elderly shames the memory of all true heroes of the liberation struggle". Mr. Mbeki is acting as a mediator for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and may have discussed elections and the recent crackdown on opposition by the Mugabe government, which has included the arrest of Davison Maruziva, editor of free newspaper ''The Standard'', 22 deaths, the displacement of 40,000 opposition farming families and such a casualty influx into Harare hospitals that they are worried that plaster of Paris bandage supplies will soon be "exhausted". Talks between the two leaders at State House lasted for more than three hours before Mbeki left for the South African embassy in Harare. Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the largest opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), plans to announce whether he will stand for the run-off election in the South African city of Pretoria, where he is currently residing, tomorrow at 9:00 UTC.
Lawyers see the raid as a violation of the judiciary's independence In a bid to end the strike, President Yoweri Museveni announced that a transparent mode of arresting suspects released by the court would be set up. Last week, security agents raided the court to arrest six treason suspects who had been granted bail. They were all supporters of opposition leader Kizza Besigye. Two years ago, operations at the court were halted after a siege by a military unit during a case against Mr Besigye, who is also charged with treason. On Monday - the first day of the strike - police dispersed followers of Mr Besigye's Forum for Democratic Change protesting about the last week's High Court fracas. 'Unwarranted concern' "I have had consultations with the chief justice and agreed on what to do to avoid re-occurrence of such incidents," Mr Museveni said. "A legal and transparent modus operandi for re-arresting suspects will be formulated by agents involved in the administration of justice." But despite these assurances Justice James Ogoola, one of Uganda's most senior judges, said the judges and lawyers would continue with their strike as they await a comprehensive statement from the cabinet. "It is very unfortunate that the public has to suffer but the point had to be made, they will not survive unless the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and all other fundamental principles that hold the nation together are back to form," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. The International Commission of Jurists has condemned last week's incident and urged the government to respect the independence and freedom of the judiciary. The suspects arrested last week are alleged members of the Peoples Redemption Army (PRA) accused of plotting a coup. The government has often linked Dr Besigye's name to the PRA, a rebel group that was allegedly based in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Dr Besigye who was charged with treason and rape in the runner up to the presidential elections last year has denied any link to the group. He lost the election and still faces charges of treason in the High Court but was cleared of the rape charge last year. \|\|\|\|\| Sarah Telford United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) In a world awash with data, aid workers contend with gaps With nearly 168 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2020 -- the highest figure in decades -- there is no time, or data, to lose \|\|\|\|\| The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) today called on the Ugandan authorities to respect the independence of the judiciary by ceasing the intimidation of judges and lawyers in proceedings related to the trial of Dr. Kizza Besigye and twelve co-accused and by immediately complying with the court order to release the twelve co-accused on bail. The ICJ expressed its deep concern over the deployment on 1 March 2007 of scores of armed police outside the High Court in Kampala as a judge inside considered an application for the bail of twelve men held since November 2005 on charges of treason and conspiracy. Although the High Court adjourned the hearing of the application to 7 March 2007 and granted bail to the accused, police prevented the men from leaving the court buildings and then rearrested them. A defence lawyer who was reportedly assaulted by prison guards whilst assisting his client to complete bail papers required hospital treatment. "This is the second time since November 2005 that the Government has sought to intimidate judges and lawyers and prevent them carrying out their duties", said the ICJ. "The police have ignored the ruling of a judge of the High Court and the twelve co-accused who are now back in prison are being arbitrarily detained. They must be immediately released on bail as the court has ordered. This episode again seriously undermines the rule of law in Uganda and the constitutional independence of the judiciary", stated the ICJ. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Uganda is a party, obliges States to ensure that criminal trials are fair, including that trials take place before independent and impartial courts. The UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary affirm this principle by emphasising that there shall be no inappropriate interference with a court's legal authority by the executive branch and that judgements of courts are not subject to revision by the executive. All twelve accused men were returned to Luzira Prison despite being granted bail, some were forcibly removed from the High Court building. The ICJ is also concerned that three of the accused were held incommunicado for nearly a day after being taken into police custody and were only returned to Luzira prison late on Friday afternoon. On 16 November 2005 members of a special counter-terrorism security force entered the High Court buildings in Kampala and reportedly prevented 14 of the defendants in the same case from being released on bail as ordered by the court. The action resulted in the withdrawal of a judge from the case and the frustration of the High Court bail orders. For further information, please contact Stephen Coakley at +41 (0) 22 979 3800 or +41 (0) 79 516 2053. \|\|\|\|\| The Deputy Chief Justice, Laetitia Kikonyogo By Vision Reporters BUSINESS was at a standstill at the courts in the city and other parts of the country yesterday following the suspension of work by the Judiciary. The Deputy Chief Justice, Laetitia Kikonyogo (right), on Friday announced the suspension, saying it would last until March 9 when judges meet to review their decision. At the High Court, some judges were seen dressed casually and without the usual Police escorts. Some court registrars also reported but were in their offices. A support staff at the High Court said, “We are not judicial officers. We are civil servants under the Public Service commission. That is why we reported to work.” At the Buganda Road Court, the gates were closed to the public. There was one security guard manning the gate with few policemen. Nakawa Court offices were closed save for a policeman who was manning the gates, who said the chief magistrate came in the morning, picked newspapers and left. At the Constitution Square, the Police was heavily deployed. Grace Turyagumanawe, the regional Police commander, was seen giving orders to his juniors. In Lira, the trial of 205 suspects charged with capital offences was put on hold. The district High Court session was supposed to open yesterday according to the cause list released by the Principal Judge. Suspects charged with simple cases were escorted back to Lira and Erute prisons without their warrants signed by court officials. People who turned up to have their cases heard went back bitter. “If the government cannot sort out its problems with the judges, all prisoners should be released,” one person was heard saying. In Mbale, suspects were told to wait for communication from the Chief Registrar of the Courts of Judicature. Inmates who were transported from the central government prisons were taken back to the cells at around 10:00am. Both the High Court registry and the Chief Magistrate’s court registry remained open. Court clerks and other support staff also stayed on stand-by. The car park was empty save for the vehicle of the chief magistrate and acting deputy chief registrar, Musimbi Musene who drove in at around 11:36am. Musimbi who was casually dressed, remained within closed doors in his chambers. In Mityana, prison officers were stranded with about 50 suspects. Angel Okello, the officer in-charge of CID, said he had read about the suspension but had not received official communication. He said they will be forced to release suspects on bond if the courts do not resume work. “We had over 20 suspects to take to court. We found it locked at 9:00. a.m. We are still stranded with them as we plan what to do next,” Okello said. However, the Chief justice, Benjamin Odoki, Kikonyogo and the Principal Judge, James Ogoola, yesterday met at the High Court over the issue. Sources said the trio was yesterday due to meet President Museveni at State House. The suspension followed the re-arrest of PRA suspects at the High Court premises after they were granted bail.	Judges in Uganda began a week-long strike on Monday, protesting against the arrest of six suspects, after they had been granted bail, in the High Court premises last week. 2001 and 2006 Presidential challenger Kizza Besigye released after being arrested on treason and rape charges, January 2006. Source: FDC The six suspects, supporters of the opposition leader Kizza Besigye, are alleged to be members of the Peoples Redemption Army and are charged with treason for allegedly plotting a coup. Twelve men have been detained in connection to these charges since November 2005. Scores of armed police were deployed outside the High Court while the bail application was being heard last week, and the suspects were detained by armed military police. A defence lawyer was reportedly assaulted by prison guards. President Museveni has been in power since 1986, winning the 2006 elections after parliament abolished a two-term limit on presidency.Source: The White House Defending the arrests, President Yoweri Museveni said that the suspects had been re-arrested on fresh murder charges and that the arrests did not amount to disobeying the court. He also said that granting bail to those charged with "treason and terrorism" amounts to sending them beyond the reach of law. Last week's arrests seriously undermines the rule of law in Uganda, said the International Commission of Jurists, and called on the Ugandan government to stop "intimidating" lawyers and judges taking part in the trial. A similar incident occurred in 2005, with military personnel detaining men granted bail in the same case. President Museveni said that he had met with the Chief Justice to discuss the matter and that a "legal and transparent" method of re-arresting suspects will be formulated. Justice James Ogoola, a senior judge told the BBC that the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary should be brought "back to form" in the country. Opposition groups who demonstrated on Monday to show support to the judges were dispersed by police using tear gas. Ugandan newspaper, ''The Monitor'' reported that a baby had died during the tear-gassing. The state-owned newspaper ''New Vision'' reported that undertrials set for court appearances were sent back to prisons, without any hearings taking place, at various courts in Kampala, Lira, Erute, Mbale and Mityana.
This undated photo provided by Cass County Jail shows Kelsey Peterson, the former Lexington teacher accused of having sex with a 13-year-old male student and fleeing with him to Mexico. Sentencing for Peterson is set for Monday, Sept. 29, 2008 in U.S. District Court on Omaha. She pleaded guilty in July. (AP Photo/Cass County Jail, ho) Ex-teacher in Neb. gets 6 years in sex case OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former teacher who fled to Mexico with a 13-year-old student so she could have sex with him was sentenced Monday to six years in federal prison. Kelsey Peterson, 26, had pleaded guilty in July to a charge of transporting a minor across state lines to have sex and avoided a similar charge that would have carried a mandatory 10-year minimum sentence. She will be credited for nearly one year she has already served and could get another year off for good behavior, said U.S. Attorney Joe Stecher. The guilty plea doesn't mean Peterson is off the hook on state charges, which include kidnapping and first-degree sexual assault. Her attorney, James Martin Davis, said he hoped those charges will be dropped, but Dawson County Attorney Elizabeth Waterman said she will proceed with a state case. Peterson and her relatives and friends cried as they waved to each other across the courtroom and said, "I love you" after the hearing. She started having sex with the boy when he was 12 years old and a student at the middle school where she taught in the south-central Nebraska town of Lexington. Peterson's attorney, James Martin Davis, had publicly questioned the boy's birth certificate. Davis said the boy was likely at least 16, and that he was the aggressor. Amy Peck, attorney for the boy and his family, bristled at the suggestion. "He was a 12-year-old boy and the defendant knew it," Peck said in July, after Peterson's guilty plea. Peterson was the boy's sixth-grade math teacher at Lexington Middle School during the 2005-06 school year, then started having sex with him in November 2006, according to court documents. She and the boy disappeared in October, soon after the school district's superintendent confronted Peterson about allegations of an inappropriate relationship with the boy. Peterson was arrested a week later in Mexico after the boy called his family. The Associated Press previously named the boy as police were searching for him but stopped using his name after authorities charged Peterson with a sex crime. The boy was an illegal immigrant at the time but has been granted humanitarian parole by the Department of Homeland Security. Peck has said she plans to seek a visa that could put the boy and his parents on the path to citizenship. She said there is no relationship between Peterson and the boy. "I would fully doubt if there will be a relationship in the future," Peck said. \|\|\|\|\| Advertisement Search CBS News The Web • » Teacher Gets 6 Years In Student Sex Case Judge, Lawyers Agree Woman's Maturity Level Was About That Of Her 13-Year-Old Student E-Mail Story Print Story Sphere Share A A Text Size: A This photo provided by the Imperial County Sheriff's Office, shows Kelsey Peterson, then 25, in El Centro, Calif, on Nov. 5, 2007. (AP Photo) Related Stories Sex Teacher Expected To Cop Lesser Plea Boy Who Fled U.S. With Teacher To Return (AP) Kelsey Peterson's maturity level wasn't much higher than the sixth-grade students she taught. The 26-year-old teacher who started having sex with a former student when he was 12 wasn't a sexual predator, but she will have to register as a sex offender when she gets out of prison. That's the verdict of a federal judge, who on Monday sentenced Peterson to six years behind bars for fleeing to Mexico with the boy when he was 13. U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp said Peterson's maturity level "seems to be on the level of a junior high school student," and the boy's attorney agreed. "Twenty-year-olds are not attracted to 12-year-olds - that's just not normal," attorney Amy Peck said. "She viewed herself as younger than she really was and didn't see it as inappropriate." Peterson told the judge that she took responsibility for what she did, and said she wanted to move on with her life and make it better. "I am not a sexual predator. That's not who I am," Peterson said. But the victim, now 14 and starting 8th grade at another school, "is a changed kid," his attorney said. "He is much quieter now," Peck said. "He's been through a lot." Peterson was the boy's sixth-grade math teacher at Lexington Middle School during the 2005-06 school year, then started having sex with him in November 2006, according to court documents. The pair disappeared in October, soon after the district's superintendent confronted Peterson about allegations of an inappropriate relationship with the boy. She was arrested a week later in Mexicali, Mexico, after the boy made a cell phone call to his mother. Peterson's lawyer, James Martin Davis, acknowledged that Peterson probably won't ever be able to teach in schools again. She's not off the hook on state charges, either. In four years, she could be released from federal prison. She's being credited nearly a year for time she's already served., and could get another year off for good behavior. In the meantime, her attorney said, she's a gifted teacher and hopes to use those skills at a women's prison in Pekin, Ill. "I think she's got plans to teach math in the prison while she's there," Davis said. "She's already thinking along those lines." Meanwhile, the boy is living in Nebraska with his family, his attorney said, but she would not say where except that it's not Lexington. She said there's no relationship between the boy and his former teacher, and "I would fully doubt if there will be a relationship in the future." When Peterson was arrested, the boy "felt that it was my entire fault and felt terribly bad that Kelsey was in jail," he said in a statement provided by Peck. Peterson "often told me that there was something special about me," he said, and she slipped him love notes after class, gave him beer and let him drive her car. The Associated Press previously named the boy as police were searching for him but stopped using his name after authorities charged Peterson with a sex crime. He was an illegal immigrant in the United States when he left with Peterson. He's been granted humanitarian parole by the Department of Homeland Security, and his attorney hopes to win permanent legal status for him and his family. Davis has publicly questioned the boy's birth certificate, saying he was likely at least 16, and that he was the aggressor. Peck and the boy's family have bristled at the suggestion, and neither Peterson nor Davis repeated it Monday. Davis secured a plea deal for Peterson that stipulated a sentence of between 70 months and 87 months. By pleading guilty, she avoided a similar charge that would have carried a mandatory 10-year minimum sentence. Peterson and her relatives and friends cried as they waved to each other across the courtroom and said, "I love you" after the hearing Monday. "The next time I see you we can hug each other," she told family members, including her mother and father. Her attorney says she's just glad it's over, but another chapter is just starting. Dawson County Attorney Elizabeth Waterman said Monday that her staff will work to get custody of Peterson so she can face the state charges, which include kidnapping, felony sexual assault and child abuse. "We'll be ready to gear up on ours as soon as we can get custody back," Waterman said. Kelsey Peterson's maturity level wasn't much higher than the sixth-grade students she taught. The 26-year-old teacher who started having sex with a former student when he was 12 wasn't a sexual predator, but she will have to register as a sex offender when she gets out of prison.That's the verdict of a federal judge, who on Monday sentenced Peterson to six years behind bars for fleeing to Mexico with the boy when he was 13.U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp said Peterson's maturity level "seems to be on the level of a junior high school student," and the boy's attorney agreed."Twenty-year-olds are not attracted to 12-year-olds - that's just not normal," attorney Amy Peck said. "She viewed herself as younger than she really was and didn't see it as inappropriate."Peterson told the judge that she took responsibility for what she did, and said she wanted to move on with her life and make it better."I am not a sexual predator. That's not who I am," Peterson said.But the victim, now 14 and starting 8th grade at another school, "is a changed kid," his attorney said."He is much quieter now," Peck said. "He's been through a lot."Peterson was the boy's sixth-grade math teacher at Lexington Middle School during the 2005-06 school year, then started having sex with him in November 2006, according to court documents.The pair disappeared in October, soon after the district's superintendent confronted Peterson about allegations of an inappropriate relationship with the boy.She was arrested a week later in Mexicali, Mexico, after the boy made a cell phone call to his mother.Peterson's lawyer, James Martin Davis, acknowledged that Peterson probably won't ever be able to teach in schools again. She's not off the hook on state charges, either.In four years, she could be released from federal prison. She's being credited nearly a year for time she's already served., and could get another year off for good behavior.In the meantime, her attorney said, she's a gifted teacher and hopes to use those skills at a women's prison in Pekin, Ill."I think she's got plans to teach math in the prison while she's there," Davis said. "She's already thinking along those lines."Meanwhile, the boy is living in Nebraska with his family, his attorney said, but she would not say where except that it's not Lexington. She said there's no relationship between the boy and his former teacher, and "I would fully doubt if there will be a relationship in the future."When Peterson was arrested, the boy "felt that it was my entire fault and felt terribly bad that Kelsey was in jail," he said in a statement provided by Peck.Peterson "often told me that there was something special about me," he said, and she slipped him love notes after class, gave him beer and let him drive her car.The Associated Press previously named the boy as police were searching for him but stopped using his name after authorities charged Peterson with a sex crime.He was an illegal immigrant in the United States when he left with Peterson. He's been granted humanitarian parole by the Department of Homeland Security, and his attorney hopes to win permanent legal status for him and his family.Davis has publicly questioned the boy's birth certificate, saying he was likely at least 16, and that he was the aggressor.Peck and the boy's family have bristled at the suggestion, and neither Peterson nor Davis repeated it Monday.Davis secured a plea deal for Peterson that stipulated a sentence of between 70 months and 87 months. By pleading guilty, she avoided a similar charge that would have carried a mandatory 10-year minimum sentence.Peterson and her relatives and friends cried as they waved to each other across the courtroom and said, "I love you" after the hearing Monday."The next time I see you we can hug each other," she told family members, including her mother and father.Her attorney says she's just glad it's over, but another chapter is just starting.Dawson County Attorney Elizabeth Waterman said Monday that her staff will work to get custody of Peterson so she can face the state charges, which include kidnapping, felony sexual assault and child abuse."We'll be ready to gear up on ours as soon as we can get custody back," Waterman said. © MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. E-Mail Story Print Story Sphere Share A A Text Size: A	Kelsey Peterson, a former Nebraskan teacher has been sentenced to 6 years in prison for transporting a minor across state lines to have sex. She traveled to Mexico with a 13-year-old boy with whom she previously had an affair. Peterson took the boy to Mexico in October 2006 after accusations that she was having an affair with the boy surfaced. She was arrested in Mexico when the boy called his family in the United States. She was charged with kidnapping and first degree sexual assault. Peterson's attorney claimed that the boy's birth certificate was possibly forged or doctored and that the boy was in fact at least 16. Given time already served and the possibility time-off for of good behavior, Peterson could be released in four years. However, her conviction was on federal charges and she may still be prosecuted on state charges which could lead to additional time in jail. The child was an illegal immigrant at the time of the affair and kidnapping. The child has been since been put on humanitarian parole which means that he will not be deported for the foreseeable future. The child's attorney wants the boy and his family to obtain visas, and eventually to become United States citizens.
advertisement Body of Missing Florida Girl Found Sarah Lunde's body was found in a pond about one-half mile from her house, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee. She had been missing since last Sunday from her home in Ruskin, south of Tampa. Gee said Lunde's body had a green cast on one arm, just as Sarah did. "The green cast is apparent," he said. He said the body had been in the water for some time. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. "The family is very distraught," Gee added. Gee said there were no suspects. Detectives have been questioning a registered sex offender who knew Sarah's mother, but he has not been charged. This was the second death of a young girl in the Tampa area in less than two months. Jessica Lunsford's body was found last month in Citrus County, north of Tampa, three weeks after the nine-year old girl disappeared from her home. John Couey, a convicted sex offender who was living near Jessica's home, was arrested and charged with her murder. \|\|\|\|\| Sheriff: Body of missing Florida teen found Green cast, like Sarah Lunde wore, found on remains RUSKIN, Florida (CNN) -- The six-day search for 13-year-old Sarah Michelle Lunde ended Saturday when searchers found her body partially submerged in a pond near her Florida home. Hillsborough Sheriff David Gee said the pond at an abandoned fish farm will be drained Sunday and the surrounding area searched for possible evidence. Sarah's family discovered her missing early last Sunday. Lunde was wearing a green cast when she disappeared, and Gee told reporters, "the green cast is apparent" on the body. "The family is very distraught, obviously. It's a tough time for them, and we're trying to assist them in dealing with this," Gee said. He refused to comment on the condition of the body, but said it appeared to have in the pond several days. It's likely Sarah was killed soon after her disappearance, he said. Area residents were asked to turn over any clothing that might belong to Sarah that they find near where the body was found. "We will do anything in our power to bring the person or persons to justice," Gee said. "I believe we eventually will find enough evidence to charge the person." A search-and-rescue dog found the body half-submerged at an abandoned fish farm a half-mile south of the girl's home, the sheriff said. It was in an area that had been searched before. "It was clear from investigators that whoever put her there went to great effort to conceal her body," Gee said. The sheriff said he told Sarah's mother, Kelly May, this morning about the discovery. "She has family around her and some friends, and it's a very difficult time," Gee said earlier. "They're obviously very upset. They're very worried at this news." Beer bottles Since Sarah's disappearance, authorities have been questioning David Onstott, a 36-year-old convicted sex offender -- currently in custody on unrelated charges -- who recently ended a relationship with the missing girl's mother. Police have not called Onstott a suspect, and his attorney denies that Onstott had anything to do with Sarah's disappearance. On Friday, searchers were asked to keep an eye out for empty Bud or Bud Light beer bottles in the vicinity that may have a connection to Onstott. According to Sarah's 17-year-old brother, Onstott was at the family home early Sunday morning -- hours after she was last seen. The brother told police that it was the first time he had seen Onstott in months, and that Onstott picked up a half-full beer bottle from a table before leaving. Sarah was last seen by her brother at her home when she returned from a church function April 9. Her brother went out, and when he returned early Sunday she was gone. Her mother was out of town and reported her missing Monday. A national missing-persons alert was issued Tuesday. Troubled histories Authorities arrested Onstott on Tuesday in Apollo Beach, Florida, north of Ruskin, on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the sheriff's office said. Deputies said Onstott threatened a man with a screwdriver during an argument. He was arraigned Thursday on a charge of failing to register as a sex offender, and remains in the Hillsborough County Jail. Although his bond was set at $250,000, Onstott also was being held on a drunken driving warrant from Michigan, sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway said. Because there is no bond on the Michigan charge, Onstott is being held without bond, Callaway said. Onstott has a 1995 sexual battery conviction for assaulting a female acquaintance in her home, for which he served six years in prison and two years probation, Callaway said. Gee told CNN on Friday that Onstott has been cooperative. "Inside I'm broken because of what's happened. The hurt is beyond imagination," the Rev. Johnny Cook, pastor of Sarah's church, told CNN. Earlier Saturday, a tearful Youth Team leader at the First Apostolic Church of Ruskin described the experience of Sarah's kidnapping "terrifying." "We were still praying that she would walk through the doors, and just say 'Are you guys looking for me?' And this was a reality to us that she might not do that," Loren Arruda told CNN. Ruskin is about 10 miles south of Tampa on the edge of Tampa Bay. There are 24 sex offenders in the Ruskin area, police have said; 23 have been questioned, and they believe the 24th left the area before Sarah disappeared. Sarah has spent time in the state's foster care system, and, when she was 9, authorities ordered her hospitalized to ensure she did not hurt herself, law enforcement authorities said.	The body of Sarah Lunde, a missing 13-year-old Florida girl, was found very close to her home Saturday, authorities said. Lunde's body was found by a search-and-rescue dog in an abandoned fish farm about a half-mile away from her home, according to David Gee, sheriff of Hillsborough County. Lunde had been missing since last Sunday from her home in Ruskin, a town to the south of Tampa. Gee said the body had a green cast on one arm, just as Sarah did. "The green cast is apparent," he said. He also stated that the body had been in the water for a long period of time, and that an autopsy would be performed to determine the cause of Lunde's death. "The family is very distraught," Gee added. According to CNN, David Onstott, 36, was charged late Saturday night with first-degree murder Gee said. "He is the defendant.",Onstott confessed to the murder.He was arrested on Tuesday on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Aside from a 1995 sexual assault charge, Onstott is said to have been sighted at Lunde's house hours after Lunde disappeared, and grabbed a half-empty beer bottle as he left. This could possibly link him to the numerous beer bottles found around the area, which, it is rumored, will be subjected to DNA testing. Onstott was also arraigned on Thursday on charges of not registering as a sex offender and is currently being held in the Hillsborough County Jail. Although his bond was set at $250,000, sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway stated that since no bond was set on a Michigan drunk driving warrant Onstott is also being held for, there is no bond set on him for his various other charges, so Onstott is being held without bond for the moment. This case is now the second such case in a month. Jessica Lunsford's body was found in Citrus County, north of Tampa, after she had been missing from her home for three weeks. Convicted sex offender John E. Couey, who had been living near Lunsford's home, was arrested and charged with her murder after he confessed.
Twyford not seeking Mt Albert nomination Phil Twyford Member of Parliament 21 April 2009 Media Statement Twyford not seeking Mt Albert nomination Labour MP Phil Twyford announced today he will not be seeking the nomination for the Mt Albert by-election. Twyford said he believed the by-election was an ideal opportunity to bring more fresh talent into Parliament, building on Labour's 2008 intake. "I am already a Member of Parliament. If someone from outside stands and wins Mt Albert we get another injection of renewal, adding to the 13 new Labour MPs elected last year,” Phil Twyford said. “That will make us a stronger Opposition and is an investment in the next Labour Government. "I will be working hard in the coming weeks with other Labour Party members to win Mt Albert for Labour. "Mt Albert is Labour heartland. The strong party organisation is one of the legacies of Helen Clark's immense contribution to Labour. “I am confident that with such a great team of party activists we will win the by-election and win it convincingly," Phil Twyford said. ENDS \|\|\|\|\| “I have been advised that with the election date of June 13, Writ Day will be Monday, 11 May. The last date for candidate nominations to be received will be Tuesday, 19 May, and the last day for the return of the Writ will be Tuesday, 30 June.” “Accordingly it is appropriate to set a date for the by-election. I have taken the advice of the Chief Electoral Officer on this matter. The by-election for the vacant seat of Mt Albert will take place on Saturday 13 June, Prime Minister John Key announced today. “The resignation of Labour MP Helen Clark has created this vacancy, which was gazetted this morning,” says Mr Key. Super City: Auckland Divided Over Unity John Banks is the clear front runner for the Mayoralty of the Auckland Super City. In a crowded field of media identified possibilities he emerges as top choice with 17% support, followed by Bob Harvey on 10% and Stephen Tindall on 9%... Aucklanders are fairly evenly divided on the Super City concept with 45% in favour and 43% against. More >> ALSO: Landscape: Minister To Open New Conservation Park “Te Kahui Kaupeka is home to a huge variety of our wildlife, including keas, wetas and our native falcon. The landscape is truly spectacular and to have it officially open is a great gain for natural and historical heritage,” Ms Wilkinson says. More >> Gordon Campbell: The Plans To Bomb Iran’s Nuclear Facilities During the election campaign last year, Joe Biden caused a mini-flap by suggesting that within his first six months in office, Presaident Barack Obama would be tested in an international crisis by one of America’s enemies. Increasingly though, it looks as if that crisis will be triggered by one of America’s alleged friends – Israel – in the shape of a decision to unilaterally bomb Iran. More >> Mt Albert: By-Election Set for June 13 The by-election for the vacant seat of Mt Albert will take place on Saturday 13 June, Prime Minister John Key announced today. “The resignation of Labour MP Helen Clark has created this vacancy, which was gazetted this morning,” says Mr Key. "Accordingly it is appropriate to set a date for the by-election. I have taken the advice of the Chief Electoral Officer on this matter. More >> ALSO: \|\|\|\|\| The by-election in Mt Albert will be held on June 13. The seat is being vacated by former prime minister Helen Clark, who has been appointed head of the UN Development Agency. Prime Minister John Key says the last day for nominations, in what is considered a safe Labour seat, will be May 19. Three National candidates have been nominated with the party believing it is in with an outside chance, considering the party vote in Mt Albert separated Labour and National by just 2,500 votes at the election. List MP, and this country's first Korean MP Melissa Lee, is expected to get the nod. Nominations for Labour close on Wednesday. - NEWSTALK ZB \|\|\|\|\| Your news how you want it. On the go and no time to finish that story right now? Your News is the place for you to save content to read later from any device. Register with us and content you save will appear here so you can access them to read later. \|\|\|\|\| Four put hands up for Mt Albert By MARTIN KAY - The Dominion Post HIGH-FLIER: Labour MP Phil Twyford is still deciding whether to stand in the seat vacated by Helen Clark. Related Links Editorial: Labour must move on Relevant offers At least four contenders have thrown their hats in the ring for the Labour nomination to replace Helen Clark as MP for Mt Albert. Business studies lecturer Hamish McCracken, Auckland city councillor Glenda Fryer, Auckland University politics head tutor Meg Bates and employment lawyer Helen White have all confirmed their candidacies. But the potential candidate cited as Miss Clark's favoured successor, list MP Phil Twyford, is still deciding whether to put his name forward a week before nominations close. Mr Twyford said he had discussed the matter with senior party members, but declined to comment further. "It's always good to talk these things through with both party members and the party at the national level, so that's what I'm doing." He is regarded as one of the high-fliers in Labour's 2008 crop of new MPs, and securing a constituency would cement his place. Labour's hierarchy is also likely to want him in an electorate, but it is understood there are moves to dissuade him from standing in Mt Albert to avoid headaches over who would take his list spot should he win. There is little enthusiasm for the return of the next in line, former minister Judith Tizard, who lost Auckland Central last year, or the next four after her, former MPs Mark Burton, Mahara Okeroa, Martin Gallagher and Dave Hereora. The strong interest already confirmed gives Labour a range of options should Mr Twyford opt out. Mr McCracken has stood for Labour previously and, with Ms White and Mrs Fryer, has strong union roots. Ms Bates has held several party posts, including Young Labour president, and worked part-time as Miss Clark's electorate secretary. Nominations for the Labour candidacy close next Wednesday. National's nominations close today. List MP Melissa Lee said that she would decide today whether to put her name forward. Although Mt Albert is Labour's safest seat, with a majority for Miss Clark of 10,351 last year, National was just 2426 behind on party votes and insiders privately fancy its chances. Share this page Email Facebook Myspace Digg StumbleUpon Delicious Reddit \|\|\|\|\| Party says it will contest 'important' Mt Albert byelection despite Labour qualms The Green Party has decided to stand a candidate in the Mt Albert byelection - despite informal approaches by Labour people concerned that it would split the centre-left vote. Greens co-leader Russel Norman yesterday confirmed the party was in the process of selecting a candidate, a decision that will disappoint Labour and could be critical if the race between the National and Labour candidates is close. Helen Clark's electorate is a favourable one for the Green Party. Last year it won 3846 party votes, 11 per cent of the vote compared with its national result of 6.7 per cent. The difference between National and Labour was about 2000 votes for the party vote. Its candidate also got 2019 votes. Dr Norman said there had been "informal discussion round the traps" between Labour and the Greens about potential vote-splitting, but no formal approach was made for the Greens not to stand. It was their policy to stand in byelections. "We're an independent party and we'll be running. This is an important byelection and it's important for the Greens to have a candidate." Labour president Andrew Little said he had expected the Greens to stand. "Whether or not they will split the vote remains to be seen. We will put in a well-organised, tough campaign. We'll see what comes out but we are prepared to work pretty hard to get the confidence of Mt Albert to elect another Labour MP." Dr Norman said the party would campaign hard in a "reasonably Green-friendly seat". The local issues - including State Highway 20's Waterview tunnel and public transport - were important to the party. "The balance between new motorways and public transport spending is a major political issue. The Greens have been heavily involved in promoting public transport and there are clearly key issues about motorways versus public transport in that electorate in particular." Act leader Rodney Hide said his party also intended to stand a candidate. He had not considered standing aside to boost National's chances of capitalising on its honeymoon with voters to take the traditionally safe Labour seat. "Nor have we been asked to." If Labour had tried to encourage the Greens not to stand or to get their candidate to encourage voters to support Labour's candidate it showed they were concerned about losing the seat. "It's a bit poor of Labour to be running so scared that they're trying to restrict the democratic options of Mt Albert." Act candidate Kathleen McCabe got 1392 votes last year and the party 1227. Mr Hide said it would probably help both National and Labour if the party did not stand but he believed it was important to give people choice. "They're not going to get it if the Greens bow down to Labour's pressure, so it's good to see the Greens standing firm. We think the people are smart enough in Mt Albert to work out who they want to represent them without Labour telling them." The focus of Act's campaign was likely to be the economy and law and order.	The government has announced 13 June as the date for the upcoming Mount Albert by-election. The by-election has been caused by former Prime Minister Helen Clark's departure to head the United Nations Development Program. While it is considered to be a safe Labour seat, the by-election is expected to be heavily contested. Candidates must be nominated by 19 May. Nominations for the Labour Party close on Wednesday. So far four candidates have put their names forward: Auckland city councillor Glenda Fryer, former candidate Hamish McCracken, University of Auckland political studies lecturer Meg Bates and employment lawyer Helen White. List MP Phil Twyford, widely expected to succeed Ms Clark, has not put his name forward. The National Party has narrowed its possible candidates down to two: list MP Melissa Lee or unsuccessful 2008 candidate Ravi Musuku. The decision will be made at a party meeting on 4 May. The Greens and ACT New Zealand will both contest the by-election, but have yet to select candidates.
There have been complaints of fraud and irregularities in the vote counting Iraq's election commission has rejected calls from the president and prime minister for a recount of votes cast in the general election on 7 March. An election official said a recount of all votes would be impossible and was unnecessary because of checks on fraud. Earlier, President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri Maliki backed calls for a manual recount of votes. Partial results indicate a close race between Mr Maliki and former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. But the long delay in announcing the full results has led to growing allegations of fraud and demands for a recount. "It can't be done, it can't, we can't start all over again and count the votes manually," Saad el-Rawi of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) told BBC Arabic. "We don't say it's impossible," he added, "but it will take a lot of time. "We have more than 50,000 polling stations and 350,000 election officials. Do they want us to resend all the ballot boxes back to the stations and call back all the officials?" Other IHEC officials have said vote recounts from particular districts could be requested if candidates thought errors had been made. Change of tone With just over 90% of the votes counted, IHEC said on Saturday that Mr Allawi's Iraqiya political bloc was ahead by nearly 8,000 votes nationwide. ANALYSIS By Andrew North, BBC News, Baghdad The actual business of counting individual ballots from Iraq's elections was completed soon after the 7 March vote, in each province. So why is it taking so long to announce complete results? According to officials at election commission headquarters in Baghdad, it's because of the scale and complexity of the task - with 6,000-plus candidates and 86 parties across the country. Every piece of data is entered into the computers twice, by different teams working separately - to guard against fraud and errors. The two sets of results are then re-checked by the computers. If they are not within the agreed margin of error, election workers have to start the process again. There is an additional manual check before figures for each province are finally cleared for release. Officials insist these checks mean it is almost impossible to rig the result, despite the accusations. But it seems the election commission badly under-estimated the size of the task. Their computer servers have crashed more than once. But Mr Maliki's State of Law alliance was ahead in seven of 18 provinces - meaning he stands to get more representation in a future parliament as seats are allocated based on the outcome in each province. "As the president of the state, authorised to preserve the constitution and to ensure justice and absolute transparency, I demand the Independent High Electoral Commission recount the ballots manually starting from Sunday, March 21," Mr Talabani said in a statement. He did not say which provinces' votes should be recounted. Mr Maliki has also backed calls for a manual recount of votes but has not made it clear if the count should be nationwide. On Wednesday he called for a recount in the Baghdad region. Mr Maliki's tone has changed from last weekend, says the BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad. At that time he appeared to have a firmer lead and said the election process appeared to be going smoothly. International observers have largely approved of the conduct of the election. But Mr Allawi, who headed the country from 2004 to 2005, said the vote had been "grossly mismanaged" and that full results should have been declared days ago. Final results - after complaints have been investigated - are due by the end of the month. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| BAGHDAD -- As new results from this month's election continued to show a neck-and-neck race, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday issued a strongly worded warning that without a nationwide recount, the country could descend into violence. The electoral commission quickly rejected the request, saying a recount would be neither necessary nor feasible. Maliki's statement, in which he pointedly invoked his role as "Commander in Chief of the armed forces," alarmed some U.S. and Iraqi officials who worry Maliki is laying the groundwork to stay in office even if he does not win a plurality of the vote. Maliki's party has alleged the vote counting has been marred by fraud. Maliki, a Shiite who is increasingly isolated politically, is in a tight contest with secular Shiite Ayad Allawi, who draws his support largely from Sunnis. Allawi's strong performance threatens the control that Kurds and religious Shiite politicians hold on government power. The United States is hoping for a peaceful transfer of authority as it draws down to 50,000 troops this summer from the current level of 96,000. Maliki and his allies "think they're losing, and they have no intention of giving up their regime," said a U.S. military official who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject. "These are people who were exiled and who've risen to power almost overnight because we brought them back to power. Now they're going to lose that relative lock on power through these elections. This is not sounding like the peaceful transfer of power is about to occur." The U.S. military was watching electoral centers where ballots were being stored on Sunday, worried that Maliki might use the Iraqi military to lock down the buildings and "check the vote," the official said. "It's a very dangerous statement made by a prime minister," said Joost Hiltermann, an Iraq expert at the International Crisis Group. "If the country is going to unravel, this is the period when it would happen. This is the critical period of Iraq's modern history where they continue to build their institutions or return to a civil war more fractured than the one of the past." Members of Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission were visibly frustrated on Sunday as they rejected Maliki's recount demand, which was also made by Kurdish President Jalal Talabani. The commission had counted 95 percent of the votes by Sunday evening but was not expected to release the rest of the results until Friday. The final 5 percent of the vote could prove crucial, as neither Maliki nor Allawi has established a decisive lead. Officials from the commission said that there was no proof of massive fraud and that a manual recount was not possible or reliable. "We are surprised at all these statements," said Saad al-Rawi, one of the commissioners. "Those political blocs wanted the elections; why are they rejecting the results? If they have doubts, then they can just abolish IHEC and do what they want." The center where the votes are tabulated has been a scene of chaos for the past two weeks, as officials visited with complaints and employees were dismissed for making mistakes. But U.S. and U.N. officials have said that there are no signs of widespread fraud and that the lengthy counting process results from the extensive checks and balances within the computer system. Maliki's allies said that he was acting in the interest of the state to ensure the legitimacy of the elections and that he has the authority to rule until a recount is completed.	Iraq's election commission has refused requests from both the president and prime minister of the country to recount votes from the parliamentary election on March 7. According to an official from the commission, the Independent High Electoral Commission, a recount was unnecessary because of checks for fraud, as well as being impossible. Despite these claims, the long interval between the elections and the announcement of official results has led to increasing allegations of fraud and calls for a recount, from both civilians and politicians. In the city of Najaf, a recent protest demanding a recount drew hundreds of people, some with signs accusing the commission of fraud. The commission has had to deal with numerous issues in its count of the votes, including technical problems with the counting system, and mistakes in the counting of votes have led some employees to be fired from the operation. Despite the problems, it has succeeded in counting around 90% of the votes, and the current results have former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi leading current PM Nouri Maliki by around 8,000 votes, although Maliki's party stood to gain more representation, as it led in seven out of eighteen provinces, and seats in Parliament are allocated based on the outcome of each province. Final results from the election are expected by the end of March Iraqi President Jalal Talabani issued a formal call for a recount, saying that "I demand the Independent High Electoral Commission recount the ballots manually starting from Sunday, March 21." Maliki has also made his support for a recount clear. Despite the pressure, the commission has said that such a recount "can't be done," while at the same time denying that it was impossible, only very time-consuming, and only results from individual provinces could be recounted. Despite claims of fraud in the election, most international observers have been largely supportive of the conduct, although this sentiment is not shared by some Iraqi politicians, including Allawi, who said that the election had been "grossly mismanaged."
EUROPEAN GRAND PRIX Venue: Valencia Dates: 21-23 August 2009 Coverage: Live coverage of Friday's practice sessions, Saturday qualifying and Sunday's race - which starts at 1300 BST - across BBC TV, radio and online platforms. Find full listings here Two-time world champion Alonso is considered one of the most gifted F1 drivers By Andrew Benson BBC Sport in Valencia Fernando Alonso will move from Renault to Ferrari next year and spark a cascade of other driver changes, according to McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh. The double world champion's expected switch is an open secret in Formula 1, but Whitmarsh is the first senior figure publicly to acknowledge it. "I think we all know that the Fernando-Ferrari move has a knock-on effect that ripples through the other teams," he said. Ferrari said Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa were already contracted for 2010. "He (Whitmarsh) can say what he wants, there is no 'Fernando-Ferrari move'," said a spokesman for the Italian team. "Things can happen and not happen. But you cannot talk about any Fernando-Ferrari move. We have two drivers with a contract until the end of 2010. We are not under pressure to change anything." In reality there are some changes probably with Fernando and Ferrari and that frees up the driver market McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh Alonso, who denied last month that he had signed a contract with Ferrari, has ducked questions about his future since arriving in Valencia for this weekend's European Grand Prix. Whitmarsh's remarks were made in an interview with BBC Sport in which he addressed rumours that McLaren will replace Heikki Kovalainen with Nico Rosberg as Lewis Hamilton's team-mate next year. "At the moment we have not had, nor are we in, conversations with any other drivers and we will see in the future. In reality, there are some changes probably with Fernando and Ferrari and that frees up the driver market," he said. "Every year there are a number of pivotal points during the season which determine what is going to happen in the drivers' market. "This year I think we all know that the Fernando-Ferrari move has a knock on and that ripples through the other teams. "Clearly the BMW withdrawal will also have an impact. "So I don't think we see a need at the moment to rush into it. I think we are concentrating on developing the car and making sure we are more competitive, which I think we will be this weekend. "Heikki is pushing hard. He is a driver who can drive the car very quickly - if you look at his fuel corrected qualifying times, he has been massively competitive. "But he hasn't performed quite as well as he - and we - would like him to in the races." Ferrari are reported to be planning to partner Alonso with Massa and are said to be in negotiations with Raikkonen's management to pay off a proportion of the Finn's 2010 contract before moving him on to another team. Brawn, Renault and Toyota have all been linked with the 29-year-old, who won the world championship in his first year with Ferrari in 2007. But the injury suffered by Massa at the Hungarian Grand Prix last month has complicated matters. He is recovering from the fractured skull and damaged eye he sustained after he was hit on the helmet by a spring that had become detached from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn, so there is some doubt about when and whether he will be able to make a full return to F1. In that context, Ferrari may wish to keep open the possibility of Raikkonen driving for the team in 2010 in the event that Massa fails to make a full recovery. Massa, who is recuperating at home in Brazil, has targeted a return at his home Grand Prix on 18 October, and was visited last week by Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali. 606: DEBATE I think you can tell Kimi is done with F1. He was a great driver but appears to lack motivation after his WDC... alesi27 But the Ferrari spokesman said it was too early to predict any comeback by Massa. "We are all happy Felipe is getting better and better every day. But we are all - including Felipe - aware that we have to be patient. "He is having another CT (brain) scan at the end of this month or the beginning of September and we will have a better picture after that. "From the human point of view, he is already close to 100%. Then he has to complete a physical recovery process. After that he will have to start again his physical preparation, because at the moment he cannot do anything (about improving his fitness). "At the moment we are all happy he is recovering so quickly. We are pretty confident. For him and everyone it would be a dream if he could race in Brazil. "But we know we have to face the reality and the reality is to take it step by step." The driver market is wide open as F1 heads into its traditional 'silly season'. BMW's decision to withdraw from F1 at the end of the season has put their two drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld on the market. Kubica, the more highly rated of the two, has been linked to a move to Williams in place of Rosberg on a one-year deal, but could also interest Brawn and Renault, who would need a top-liner to replace Alonso, assuming his move to Ferrari goes ahead. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| GO TO EARLIER STORY GO TO THE NEWS INDEX GO TO NEXT STORY Schumacher undecided on racing future By Steven English Michael Schumacher has not ruled out racing for Ferrari later this season, during a press conference called in Geneva to explain why he pulled out of a comeback in the European Grand Prix next weekend. The seven-time world champion was forced to abandon plans to return at Valencia after experiencing neck pain following a test in an F2007. It is not yet clear whether Schumacher would be fit to race if he had more time to prepare, and he says he hasn't yet thought about the forthcoming races. When asked about rumours that he could race at Monza next month, or even return next season, Schumacher said: "Speculation in this business is pretty natural. Lots of people have their own opinions and thoughts but the fact of the matter is that I'm very disappointed not to do what I was looking to do. That's all that I'm really thinking about and have to digest somehow. "You can imagine that I obviously do feel kind of frustrated and quite sad because due to the circumstances I wasn't exactly expecting to be ready, but because of what happened I was obviously available to support the team and everybody. "We have prepared ourselves very seriously, we have done as much as we could do from our side, but right from the beginning, Ferrari and ourselves always mentioned that I would do the job under the condition of being ready for it. It's sad that in the end I couldn't fulfil this target." Schumacher added that he believes Luca Badoer is the right man to step in and replace the injured Felipe Massa in the European GP. "Luca is a very good friend," Schumacher added. "He has prepared himself quite strongly to be ready for all the years because this was his main job - to be ready in case something happened. "So he is not somebody that has been sitting quietly around not doing anything. He has always been ready and naturally he has worked out very hard since Felipe's accident. We had said that I first need to confirm if I physically could do it and therefore it was always normal for him to keep himself on the fitness level he would need. "I think he is the best one. Yes, he hasn't raced for a long time, but a racer doesn't lose the racing spirit and I wish him well for a difficult task. It's a tough thing to face but if I see anyone it can be Luca." Schumacher also said that he was delighted to see the progress being made by the injured Massa. "At the time I gave him [Massa] my cockpit I was tired and I wanted him to take over. The good thing is to see that his recovery is going well, he's very motivated - he's working not very hard because he's not allowed to - but it's good to see his progress and I'm very happy about that." ADS BY GOOGLE Go to earlier story Go to the News Index Go to next story \|\|\|\|\| Alonso-Ferrari nel 2010 Ma c'è una grana in vista L'accordo fra la scuderia di Maranello e il pilota spagnolo c'è da un anno, pronto un contratto da cinque stagioni. Ma Raikkonen non vuole farsi mettere alla porta MILANO, 8 luglio 2009 - L’accordo è stato messo a punto un anno fa, in piena estate. E quando pubblicammo la notizia ci fu un silenzio glaciale. La Ferrari si guardò bene dal replicare il comunicato-farsa redatto il 20 giugno 1995, pochi giorni dopo l’accordo con Schumacher per l’anno successivo. La nota dell’ufficio stampa di allora fu perentoria: "La Ferrari ribadisce, per l’ennesima volta e con la massima chiarezza, che le notizie relative al pilota Schumacher sono totalmente false". Passarono poche settimane e l’ingaggio del tedesco fu puntualmente confermato dall’avvocato Agnelli, nei giorni del Gran Premio d’Ungheria a Budapest. tacere — Con Alonso si è preferito tacere. Perchè ogni parola è superflua. Fernando è un pilota della Ferrari già da tempo, anche se lui e Briatore negano, mentre Maranello si limita a commentare: "Stiamo bene con Massa e Raikkonen". Ma il grande momento si sta avvicinando. In Spagna dicono che sarà tutto reso noto a Monza, al GP d’Italia del 13 settembre. Può darsi. Ma la Ferrari non intende avere troppa pressione sul gran premio di casa. Per cui si sta pensando di stilare il comunicato un po’ più tardi, magari a fine campionato, con i primi giri in pista di Alonso sulla F60, come abbiamo annunciato nei giorni scorsi, ai Ferrari Days di metà novembre a Valencia, due settimane dopo la conclusione del mondiale F.1. Stefano Domenicali (a sinistra) con Fernando Alonso. LaPresse santander — Un’occasione straordinaria per Alonso, dinanzi al pubblico di casa, in cui verrà allo scoperto anche il nuovo sponsor della Ferrari, il Banco di Santander, che diventerà partner della marca di Maranello (e dintorni) in parecchie operazioni andranno anche oltre la F.1. Il Banco di Santander si aggiungerà agli sponsor storici, Marlboro e Shell, facendo lievitare non poco il budget del Cavallino nei prossimi anni. Del resto, proprio Montezemolo in occasione della cena di Natale con i giornalisti, disse che la Ferrari, per quanto concerne la Formula 1, non ha alcun problema economico che la possa assillare: anche con la crisi economica non ci sono problemi. Il contratto di Alonso è bloccato su due stagioni garantite più altre tre con opzioni da ambo le parti, da onorare strada facendo in base ai rispettivi interessi. contenzioso — Piuttosto, le vere grane cominceranno da qui in poi. Perchè Raikkonen ha capito quale aria tira. Non a caso, da un anno a questa parte, lui che non ha mai dato alcun dettaglio sui suoi accordi con le Case, ha cominciato a dire che onorerà il contratto con la Ferrari sino a fine 2010. E non perde occasione per ripeterlo. Consigliato dai suoi avvocati, ha già messo le mani avanti per chiarire che non si farà da parte spontaneamente. Traduzione: se la Ferrari vorrà fare a meno di lui, dovrà riconoscergli l’intero ingaggio 2010, che ammonta attorno ai 28 milioni di euro. rottura — Sempre che non si trovi una soluzione amichevole. O che non si arrivi a una rottura, in quanto sino a oggi Raikkonen ha dato meno di quanto la Ferrari si aspettasse, nonostante il Mondiale vinto nel 2007. Da quando corre con le vetture di Maranello il finlandese non ha mai mostrato il tocco magico degli anni McLaren. E, per giunta, le sue prestazioni sono state troppo altalenanti. Un matrimonio non riuscito, dopo gli anni di amore tra Schumacher e la Ferrari. Troppo diversi i metodi di lavoro e di applicazione dei due. Fra Raikkonen e gli ingegneri non si è creato quel feeling magico che aiuta a superare insieme i momenti più difficili. Ma se Kimi dovesse invece disputare un gran finale di campionato 2009, l’arrivo di Alonso in Ferrari potrebbe essere ritardato di un anno. Con rammarico di tanta gente che lo attende a braccia aperte. Tifosi compresi. Ma non sarà così... \|\|\|\|\| F1 » Red Bull confirms 2010 F1 driver line-up Red Bull Racing – the in-form team as the 2009 F1 World Championship heads into its second half – has revealed that Mark Webber has re-signed to remain alongside Sebastian Vettel at the energy drinks-backed outfit next year, with Christian Horner contending that the duo constitute 'one of the strongest [line-ups] in the sport'.Webber became the top flight's newest grand prix-winner when he overcame a drive-through penalty for inadvertent contact with Brawn GP rival Rubens Barrichello to storm to victory at his 130th attempt at the Nürburgring just under a fortnight ago, in so doing turning the tables on team-mate Vettel – a driver being tipped in some quarters as 'the next Michael Schumacher' and a multiple world champion in-waiting – on the German's home turf and establishing himself firmly as a genuine title contender in his own right.Those qualities – especially coming off the back of a leg-breaking mountain-biking accident last November that left some wondering whether the Australian's driving would ever be the same again – have convinced Red Bull team principal Horner to snap up the 32-year-old's services for a fourth consecutive campaign.“I'm delighted that we have re-signed Mark for 2010,” the Englishman enthused. “He has continued to show huge commitment and determination this season, especially following his bike accident at the end of last year.“His recent results show he is in the form of his life – most notably with his win in the German Grand Prix – and he has the motivation to deliver at the highest level. It was therefore a straightforward decision to extend the relationship. We believe that the driver line-up of Mark and Sebastian is one of the strongest in the sport.“I'm extremely happy that Red Bull and I have been able to agree to race together again next year,” echoed the New South Wales native, who has notched up six rostrum finishes from his 44 starts with the Milton Keynes-based squad, five of them this year.“Even in the leaner and tougher years at the start of my relationship with the team, I've always enjoyed working with them, so now to go through this purple patch – which we hope will continue for a good while to come – makes the work even more enjoyable. We've got a very exciting finish to this year's championship, but I'm also looking forward to helping to develop and race the RB6 in the 2010 world championship.”Elsewhere within the paddock, as the circus readies itself for its mid-summer break following this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest and the annual F1 silly season gets into swing, other pieces of the 2010 driver puzzle are seemingly beginning to fall into place.It has been widely speculated that double world champion Fernando Alonso is to jump ship from Renault to Ferrari in place of 2007 title-winner Kimi Raikkonen – who many surmise will walk away from single-seaters altogether, in favour of indulging his love of rallying on a more full-time basis – and now it appears that like Red Bull, Toyota is close to confirming both Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock for another season together.The Italian and German represent one of the most consistent and reliable pairings in the present field, and between them have tallied eight podiums for the big-budget Japanese manufacturer, with Trulli having competed for the Cologne-based concern since the end of 2004. With no fewer than 208 grand prix starts under his belt, the man from Pescara is one of the three most experienced drivers on the grid – sitting eighth in the all-time list – and whilst he turned 35 earlier this month, the Abruzzese's passion and drive to succeed show few signs of diminishing.There is no news emanating, however, from current world championship leaders Brawn GP, with suspicions that Rubens Barrichello's extraordinary post-race outburst in Germany – accusing the team of 'making him lose the race' [see separate story –] – has burnt the Brazilian's bridges beyond repair, with 2008 GP2 Series vice-champion Bruno Senna waiting patiently in the wings to be given his chance. The nephew of the late, great Ayrton Senna was regarded as almost a shoe-in for the seat alongside Jenson Button for much of the winter, only to be overlooked in favour of his more experienced compatriot at the eleventh hour. \|\|\|\|\| Formule 1 Formule 1 nieuws Glock rijdt volgend seizoen ook voor Toyota Timo Glock zal ook in 2010 voor Toyota uitkomen. Dit heeft zijn manager laten weten. De Duitser is momenteel bezig aan zijn tweede seizoen voor het team uit Keulen. "Het is absoluut zeker dat Timo ook in 2010 met Toyota aan de start zal verschijnen. Daar bestaat geen twijfel over", verklaarde Hans-Bernd Kamps tegenover Sport1.de. De Duitser kende dit jaar een goed begin van het seizoen met een vierde plaats in Australië en een derde plek in Maleisië. Ook scoorde hij punten in China en Bahrein. In het kampioenschap bezet Glock momenteel de zesde plaats, met twaalf punten. Meer nieuws Homepage	Schumacher ''(left)'' with Alonso in 2005. Various rumours and reports with regards to a possible move to Ferrari by Fernando Alonso were given more credibility today when McLaren team principle Martin Whitmarsh alluded to the move in an interview with the BBC. "At the moment we have not had, nor are we in, conversations with any other drivers and we will see in the future. In reality, there are some changes probably with Fernando and Ferrari and that frees up the driver market," he said, when asked about what 2010 held for his team. A possible move has been talked about for some months. Back in July, Italy's Gazzetta dello sport reported a possible move, noting that Spanish banking giant Santander will sponsor the Maranello team from 2010; a Spanish driver would please the sponsors no-end. The Italian Team however denies that such a move is on the cards - although this does not necessarily rule out the possibility, with driver line-up announcements at the Scuderia traditionally kept secret until later on in the season. "Whitmarsh can say what he wants, there is no 'Fernando-Ferrari move',' said an unnamed Italian team spokesperson, according to BBC. Should the rumours prove to be correct, an extremely interesting combination could be on the cards. Autosport magazine have speculated that Michael Schumacher's unwillingness to deny a possible return to the sport could still see him return to competitive racing in F1 in 2010. When asked about a possible return, Schumacher said: "Speculation in this business is pretty natural. Lots of people have their own opinions and thoughts but the fact of the matter is that I'm very disappointed not to do what I was looking to do." Elsewhere in the paddock, very few driver positions have been confirmed, with the exception of Red Bull who have confirmed the status quo of Vettel and Webber for next year, and Timo Glock, for whom it was confirmed that he would be staying at Toyota earlier in the year.
Home » Business Today » TV3 granted injunction against Sky TV3 granted injunction against Sky by Sarah McDonald, NBR Staff TV3 seeks injunction Auckland's High Court has granted Rugby World Cup broadcaster TV3's parent company MediaWorks an interim injunction against Sky Television over what it says is excessive use of its coverage of the World Cup. The ruling imposes a ban on Sky using TV3 Rugby World Cup footage on 'The Cup', 'Rugby Highlights' and 'Sport 365 Highlights'. MediaWorks says Sky's coverage breaches the 'fair dealing' rules in its usage of footage. MediaWorks paid millions for the broadcast rights to the Rugby World Cup, outbidding both TVNZ and Sky. But it signed an agreement allowing the other broadcasters extended access to footage for news purposes. Now MediaWorks says Sky has used footage beyond this scope, to which it has no right. A full hearing of the injunction will take place on Friday. \|\|\|\|\| Your news how you want it. 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Survivor Target The Armstrong and Miller Show The Biggest Loser The Unit Tim Gunn's Guide To Style Trading Spouses Underbelly Wa$ted What's Really In Our Food pick your region ---------------- Alexandra Ashburton Auckland Blenheim Christchurch Dannevirke Dargaville Dunedin Gisborne Gore Greymouth Hastings Hokitika Hamilton Invercargill Kaikoura Kaitaia Levin Masterton Motueka Napier Nelson New Plymouth Oamaru Paihia Russell Palmerston North Paraparaumu Queenstown Reefton Rotorua Taumarunui Taupo Tauranga Te Kuiti Thames Timaru Tokoroa Wanaka Wanganui Wellington Westport Whakatane Whangarei By joining the TV3 site you'll be eligible to enter competitions, post comments and have the option of receiving regular updates. Web Site TV3 takes Sky to High Court over World Cup A dispute between New Zealand broadcasters over Rugby World Cup television coverage has turned nasty this morning. TV3 owner MediaWorks has issued proceedings in the High Court at Auckland, seeking an injunction against Sky Television. MediaWorks alleges Sky is guilty of illegal coverage of the Cup. The company says it signed a deal with TVNZ and Sky, allowing coverage for news purposes, but it alleges Sky used footage to which it had no right. Sharing Tools Please login to post 3 To Watch Outrageous Fortune MARKET NEWS Latest Headlines \|\|\|\|\| Mediaworks Takes Action To Protect Investment Mediaworks Takes Action To Protect Rugby World Cup Investment MediaWorks, owner of TV3, has today issued proceedings in the High Court in Auckland seeking an injunction against Sky Television for what it believes to be illegal coverage of the Rugby World Cup. MediaWorks believes Sky is in serious breach of the rules surrounding “fair dealing” in its usage of footage from the Rugby World Cup. “We have paid a very large sum of money for the exclusive TV rights to the Rugby World Cup, so that all New Zealanders can enjoy this significant event live and free,” said TVWorks Chief Operating Officer, Rick Friesen. “We are simply acting to protect our interests, and the interests of the viewing public, so that this event can remain as a free-to-air broadcast,” he said. In the spirit of the event, MediaWorks recently signed an agreement with TVNZ and Sky, allowing extended access to Rugby World Cup footage for news purposes. Despite this, Sky has used footage to which it has no right beyond the scope of the news agreement. “We believe Sky’s behaviour to be unethical and illegal, and we will be taking whatever action we can to protect the interests of ourselves and every Rugby fan in New Zealand,” said Mr Friesen. Ends	MediaWorks NZ logo. Note, CanWest no longer holds a stake in MediaWorks. Sky Network Television logo. The owner of TV3 and the music channel C4, has made an unprecedented move by winning an interim injunction against New Zealand's monopolistic pay television operator, Sky Network Television over their amount of content screened of the Rugby World Cup. TV3, the official RWC television broadcaster for New Zealand, described Sky's actions as illegal and unethical. MediaWorks, which runs TVWorks and RadioWorks, filed the injunction against Sky in Auckland's High Court today saying it breached fair dealing practices over its use of Rugby World Cup footage. Sky is now temporarily banned from screening TV3's WRC footage on ''The Cup'', ''Rugby Highlights'' (channel) and ''Sport 365 Highlights''. An agreement between MediaWorks and other broadcasters, including Sky, was signed allowing content to be used for news purposes, but state Sky breached the agreement and used content of which it had no right to. Bill Ralston, former head of news and current affairs at TVNZ (Television New Zealand), said when they had 2003 Rugby World Cup rights, "TV3 pushed the boundary by taking a bit more than they should." The three networks usually pushed the rules but the boundaries were relaxed. "Simply because Sky controls so many sports rights themselves, you can normally get a good quid pro quo out of them. You relax a bit, they relax a bit." The TVWorks Chief Operating Officer said, "We are simply acting to protect our interests, and the interests of the viewing public." Rick Friesen said, "We believe Sky’s behaviour to be unethical and illegal, and we will be taking whatever action we can to protect the interests of ourselves and every Rugby fan in New Zealand." An undisclosed amount of money was paid to secure the rights to screen footage, beating TVNZ and Sky. It has been rumoured the cost is to be in the millions of dollars (NZ$). Sky is yet to make a comment on this action. A full hearing on the injunction will occur on Friday.
From A for acai to Z for zip line: New words in US lexicon WASHINGTON (AFP) — More than 100 new words, from acai to zip line via carbon footprint and waterboarding, have entered the mainstream in the United States after being added to the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary. As every year, the new words paint a sociological picture of trends and events that are influencing Americans. Health and medicine, technology, and words related to food and eating are well represented. The three rubrics have been the richest picking grounds for new words in the last decade. This year, health-nuts could claim that becoming a "locavore" -- someone who eats locally grown foods -- has helped them kick the need for "naproxen" -- a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID -- while giving them "cardioprotective" benefits, or protecting the heart. And all that without ever having to leave the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Those who spend long hours online could compare notes on the latest "webisode" -- a television show aired on the Internet -- that they caught on a popular "vlog," which sounds like it could be a Romanian website but is, in fact, a blog that includes videos. Another source of new words, according to Merriam-Webster, is "government activities," under which the popular lexicon lists "waterboarding," the infamous interrogation method that simulates drowning. Merriam-Webster dates waterboarding to 2004, one year into the US-led war in Iraq. A word wins its place in Merriam-Webster's dictionary by passing a "carefully edited prose" test. That means it has to appear frequently in print without parentheses, italics, quote marks or any kind of explanation, which indicates that editors and writers assume their readers know and understand the word. Perhaps there is a tie to the Iraq war and the broader troubles in the Middle East, which have together generated heavy coverage in US newspapers and magazines, for the presence of several words of Arabic origin on the dictionary's newbie list. "Haram," for instance, means forbidden under Islamic law, while "shawarma" is a popular Middle Eastern sandwich, usually made with lamb or chicken and vegetables in pita bread. Both are from Arabic and both are among Merriam-Webster's newly added words. The slumping US economy has made its contribution to the list with "staycation," where people stay close to home for their summer or other holidays. "Carbon footprint" and "green collar" show the importance of environmental issues in the minds of Americans. And "acai" and "goji" -- both berries, the former from Central and South America and the latter from Asia -- illustrate how the world of foodies is still shrinking, bringing new and exotic culinary experiences to US tastebuds. A "zip line," incidentally, is neither new-fangled, environmental, foodie or related to the US government. But zip lines feature often on US television adventure and reality shows, and the word -- which means "a cable suspended above an incline with a pulley and harness for a rider" -- could be used as a metaphor for the US economy. Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved. More » \|\|\|\|\| wa·ter·board·ing noun \ ˈ w ȯ -tər- ˌ b ȯ r-diŋ, ˈ wä-\ Definition of WATERBOARDING : an interrogation technique in which an interrogation technique in which water is forced into a detainee's mouth and nose so as to induce the sensation of drowning First Known Use of WATERBOARDING 2004 Seen & Heard Seen & Heard What made you want to look up waterboarding? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).	waterboarding Merriam–Webster announced that it has added over a hundred new words to the pages of its ''Collegiate Dictionary''. Notable among these additions include: webisode, a television episode viewed from the web; staycation, a vacation that occurs near one's home; and vlog, a form of blog that features videos. Two recurring themes among the new words included "government activities" and words of Arabic origin. The term "waterboarding" reflected the former theme, and was defined as "an interrogation technique in which water is forced into a detainee's mouth and nose so as to induce the sensation of drowning". The practice has been used on detainees at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center, and its usage has drawn criticism from legal experts and human rights advocates who consider it to be a form of torture. Webster's does not include the word "torture" as part of its definition. The latter theme was represented by such terms as shawarma, a Middle-Eastern sandwich, and Haram, which means forbidden under Islamic law. Other additions included carbon footprint, green collar, and zip line.
TheStar.com \| GTA \| Puppy scam bites unwary Puppy scam bites unwary Mississauga woman who paid $500 latest victim of global fraud promising `free' dogs Sep 19, 2007 04:30 AM Theresa Boyle staff reporter A Mississauga woman says she's embarrassed and angry that she forked out more than $500 to get a "free puppy" from Nigeria, but wants to go public with her story to prevent others from making the same mistake. "I really got sucked in. I feel so gullible," Anita Hagerman, 44, said yesterday. Even though the 11-week-old Yorkie was advertised as free, Hagerman last week complied with requests for three payments, totalling $500, to ship the dog to Toronto from Nigeria. Her suspicion was aroused when she was asked for a fourth payment of $100 after being told the dog had become ill and required a shot before it could make the trip. "I've been taken, I know I have. It's a sad thing when people take advantage of others," she said. "I want to let other people know what's going on," she added. Hagerman is the latest victim in a worldwide "free puppy" scam originating from Nigeria. Scammers are placing ads online and in newspapers for popular breeds such as Yorkshire terriers and English bulldogs. They request hundreds of dollars in shipping fees, but the dogs are never sent. "The dogs don't exist," said Lee Oliver, spokesperson for the Toronto Humane Society. "I would characterize these people as vultures. They take advantage of deep-felt emotions that we have for dogs and cats in this world. "They are definitely keyed in to taking advantage of people who don't have the money to do it through normal channels," Oliver said. Oliver described it as an international scheme, noting it has appeared in newspapers and online across Canada. Indeed, the society issued a warning about the scam in April after seeing an ad in the free Toronto weekly 24. He said he's heard about one other GTA resident who responded to it. The online ad that Hagerman responded to was on LiveDeal.ca, which she accessed through the Toronto Star website. It came complete with a picture of a Yorkie pup in a white basket. The ad stated: "GORGEOUS YORKSHIRE TERRIER FOR FREE GRAB HER NOW!!!" The ad stated the dog is friendly with children and other animals, it needs a "God-fearing" home and "she is going to make you happy." Hagerman responded to the ad on Sept. 10. She sent an email saying she was interested in the dog and later that day she got a phone call from Nigeria from a man who said his name was Paul. He said he and his wife worked as missionaries and weren't able to keep the dog, which he referred to as "his baby." He said he would send the dog by air to Toronto but she would have to pay the $200 shipping fee. Hagerman wired the money via Western Union on Tuesday morning. Paul called later that day, saying the airline required $250 to put the dog in a crate. Once again, Hagerman complied. Then Paul called on Wednesday, saying he needed another $50 to change the dog's ownership. Hagerman sent more money. She paid $16 for each wire transfer. "By the middle of the week, I was starting to get suspicious because he was asking for a little bit here, a little bit there," she said. Each time she wired money, she was promised she could pick up the dog at the airport the next day. The last straw came on Wednesday night, when Paul told her he needed another $100, explaining that "my baby needs a needle." When she balked, he told her she could forget about getting the dog. When the Star contacted Paul in Nigeria yesterday, he said if Hagerman didn't make one last payment, "she's not getting the baby." He got angry when asked if he was trying to steal Hagerman's money. "Are you trying to call me a scam? I'm a family man," he said. "I am a man of God. I am a missionary." He said his family couldn't care for the dog and they couldn't find a home for it in Africa. "Me and my family don't have enough time for baby ... I want a good Christian home for my baby ... I love this baby," he said. Before angrily hanging up on a reporter, Paul asked: "Why all these questions? Why are you accusing?" Hagerman called Peel Regional Police, who referred her to PhoneBusters, the anti-fraud call centre operated by the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It collects information on the so-called "Nigerian letter" scam, which involves bogus emails offering large sums of cash if the recipients help launder money. "It sounds like this is a new spin on the Nigerian letter scam," Peel Const. Adam Minnion said of the "free puppy" scheme. "This type of scam is becoming more prevalent." On its website, LiveDeal Canada warns consumers against making out-of-country purchases. \|\|\|\|\| By CHRISTOPHER FAHERTY Special to the Sun May 2, 2007 Law enforcement officials have filed a criminal complaint against a Manhattan woman who is alleged to have fraudulently advertised free pure-bred puppies on major Web sites. Janet Goris, 33, of the Lower East Side, was charged with luring four prospective dogs buyers into sending her "shipping and handling" payments of between $300 and $400 in exchange for baby English bulldogs, the Queens district attorney's office said. "It is doubtful that the puppies even existed," the Queens district attorney, Richard Brown, said in a statement. Ms. Goris allegedly told investigators she sent 90% of the profits from the puppy scam to accomplices in Nigeria. She placed advertisements on Web sites such as Yahoo Classified and livedeal.com, where she posed as several different religious figures, sources said. She was arraigned on charges of grand larceny and conspiracy and released without bail Friday, the Queens district attorney's office said. A victim of the alleged scam, Jenny Chavis, 30, from Sebring, Fla., said the advertisement she found on Yahoo Classified claimed the puppies belonged to a traveling evangelical minister, the Reverend James Collins, whose mission helped find homes for the baby bulldogs. "I have four children who were so excited to pick the dogs up from the airport," Ms. Chavis said. "I cried for days." Ms. Chavis said she was instructed to wire $400 to a Western Union branch in the East Elmhurst section of Queens. After the funds were processed, a man who said he was Rev. Collins contacted her, she said. "He asked for another $200 to get the dogs released from Customs," Ms. Chavis said. "That's when I knew it was a scam." Officials are continuing the investigation in hopes of digging up more details about the alleged scheme, sources said, including the identity of the man who claimed to be Rev. Collins and possible ties to organized crime in Nigeria. Ms. Goris will return to court later this month, the Queens district attorney's office said. If convicted, she faces up to four years of prison. \|\|\|\|\| - Puppies are big business. Puppies sold over the Internet are a big part of that business. Now the bad guys are muscling in. You can easily spend a thousand dollars on a purebreed puppy. The toy dogs, like Yorkshires and Maltese, run $1,600 dollars and more. With prices like that, consumers often go looking for deals. Rebecca Aobaugh now has the dog of her dreams -- a teacup toy Maltese. Rebecca Aobaugh, dog owner: "I paid $1,600 dollars for her -- my husband paid $1,600 dollars for her." But before paying that price tag, she paid a higher price in lost innocence and a few hundred extra dollars. It all started when Rebecca responded to an Internet ad for a free puppy, owned by a poster who said he could no longer afford to care for the animal. Rebecca Aobaugh: "There was always a line in there that always got me. It was, 'please, please promise me that you'll send me pictures of my puppy.' So that kind of pulled at my heart strings and that's why I went for that." She sent $200 dollars for shipping of the dog to Cameroon, Africa. No dog arrived. An employee of Delta Airlines told Rebecca this could be a scam. Rebecca Aobaugh: "I said, no it's not a scam. How could it be a scam? How could people scam you for a puppy?" Then came a request for an additional $600 dollars. She didn't fall for it and that's how she ended up buying this little guy. So we went online looking for a free toy dog and found a Yorkie right away on Craigslist. The owner said he was from Hayesville, North Carolina and a Peace Corps volunteer, but he misspelled "corps." Stationed at Cameroon, the climate is too hot for the dog. There is no adoption fee, just pay for shipping. So we responded with an e-mail. "Sounds good, what do I do next?" we wrote. He writes back with his telephone number and we call Cameroon. Federal regulations don't allow us to play his side of the conversation, but here's what transpired. We ask, "are these the actual pictures of the dog?" He replies, "Exactly! Those are the present of the puppy." Odd wording for a southerner and his accent wasn't familiar. We ask, "you're from North Carolina?" He says, "exactly." We ask again, "so that's the accent I'm hearing, is a North Carolina accent?" His response, "please I can't hear you, please the lines not good." At first he says shipping will cost $480 dollars, but drops it to $280 dollars. Over the course of a week of e-mails we talk him down to $200 dollars, then $150 dollars and finally $100 dollars to ship a dog from Africa to San Francisco. We send him nothing. Stacey Myrice sold Rebecca her dog. Michael Finney: "Have you heard of this before?" Stacey Myrice, dog seller: "Yeah." Michael Finney: "A lot?" Stacey Myrice: "Yeah, absolutely... They've moved, they can't keep the dog anymore. They're looking for this wonderful home. A missionary, they'll say they're missionaries and it's always God bless at the end." Michael Finney: "Did you know that this scam has a name?" Rebecca Aobaugh: "No." Michael Finney: "The Nigerian puppy scam." Rebecca Aobaugh: "The lady at Delta Airlines said something about that. She said something and you know, I didn't want to believe her." We checked with the Peace Corps and were told there is no volunteer named Jamcrystal Halmkay stationed as a volunteer in Cameroon. By the way, Jamcrystal stopped our e-mail exchange when I continued questioning his identity. Copyright 2007, ABC7/KGO-TV/DT. \|\|\|\|\| By Tina Parcell Have you seen the Tractor Supply Company commercial about the free puppy? A man says “My neighbor gave my daughter a puppy,” and then describes how they’re now buying toys, food, dishes, etc. The actor smiles and says “It’s like my dad always said: there’s no such thing as a free puppy!” Well, this couldn’t be closer to the truth when it comes to the latest Nigerian ‘email’ scam: pets. Even worse, this genre of scam is rearing its ugly head on MySpace and even CraigsList, the first place many people check when looking for a great local deal. The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) issued a joint press release on May 29th regarding this situation. A victim in Pittsburg has described her experience in news stories in the LA Times and on WTAE Channel 4 Action News. Here is an example ad that has been determined to be fraud by the Council of Better Business Bureaus. “Lovely English bulldog puppy needing a loving and caring home, full of wrinkles, she is up to date on all her shots. Fine with kids and other pets, AKC and will come along with all her papers and toys, she will make the best house pet, will bring much love and joy to your home or family. Contact for more if you want to add her to your family.” Chances are, there will be pictures included. The rest of the scam goes like this: 1. There are shipping fees to get the puppy to the US (usually a couple of hundred dollars). You will be asked to wire these funds. 2. The seller will inform you they can’t ship the puppy because apparently there are also shots that are required for international travel. You will be asked to wire these funds. The list goes on. The money flows out. And the dog? It doesn’t exist. If you come across a deal that seems too good to be true, whether it involves a dog or not, check it first out on Scam.com. They have thousands of posts regarding peoples experiences with all types of scams. \|\|\|\|\| AKC Appears on NBC's Today Show to Discuss Puppy Scams -- Longing for a Canine Companion? Don’t Get Conned! -- New York, NY – The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) are warning consumers about scams targeting unsuspecting puppy buyers. Both the AKC and the CBBB have recently received a number of reports from consumers throughout the nation who have lost money after responding to online or newspaper classified advertising. Commonly, the scammer —posing as a breeder—will place an ad offering free or inexpensive puppies. Communicating solely through emails, the scammer may claim that he/she is affiliated with a religious organization and is being relocated to a foreign country and needs to re-home the puppies. “The consumer can be taken in by the sincerity of the scammer, who’ll say that they don’t care about money and just want to find a good home for their beloved puppies,” said Steve Cox, Vice President of communications for the CBBB. “But then the fees for shipping the pet mount up and the consumer can lose hundreds of dollars before realizing they’ve been conned and will never get their puppy.” “This is certainly not the only scam to be aware of, but it is a common one,” says AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “Because of the emotional investment, consumers are more vulnerable to being taken advantage of when it comes to a cute cuddly puppy than with any other purchase. A dog is a major investment -- a living, breathing being who will rely on you for 10 years or more. Take time to educate yourself on the hallmarks of a legitimate and responsible breeder.” The AKC and BBB offer the following advice: Do your research. Ask if the breeder is a member of an AKC-affiliated club and contact that club to verify membership or check recent listings of available AKC Litters from breeders at: http://www.akc.org/classified/index.cfm. You can also check with the BBB (www.bbb.org) and the AKC (919-233-9767) to see if there are any complaints about the breeder. Request references and speak to other people who have purchased dogs from this breeder—especially if the breeder does not live near you. Beware of breeders who seem overly concerned with getting paid. Any reputable breeder will be far more concerned with the appropriateness of the potential pet home than what and when they are getting paid. Make sure you have clear expectations – ideally in writing – of how and when the pup will be paid for. Be especially wary of any breeder who insists that you wire money and who calls to ask for more money to be wired to cover last minute shipping fees. Don’t be fooled by a slick web site. Unscrupulous breeders and even outright scams can be represented by professional-looking web sites that lure you in with fraudulent pictures of adorable puppies. At the very least speak with the breeder on the telephone and ideally meet the breeder, the puppy and the dam in person. If you locate a breeder online, never send money without checking their references and credentials first. The AKC recommends that you first contact the national organization for the breed (Parent Club). It is essential to visit the breeder at their home to see the entire litter and the care and conditions given to the puppies prior to purchasing. Take your time. Beware of breeders who claim to have multiple breeds ready to ship immediately. It’s highly unlikely that your perfect puppy will be available for shipping on the very day you call. Gestation and socialization of a litter takes months -- no puppy should be separated from the dam before 8 weeks of age. Report a scam.Anyone who has experienced a dog-related scam should report it to their local authorities as well as their local BBB (www.bbb.org) to file a complaint. Consumers can also direct questions and concerns to AKC Customer Service at 919-233-9767, or e-mail [email protected]. “If you are sure you are dealing with an actual breeder who has a dog to sell, there are still things to be aware of,” adds Peterson. “If you expect the dog you are buying to be AKC-registrable, you must obtain documentation when you pick up the dog. Be wary of excuses such as ‘AKC hasn't sent the papers yet.’ If a breeder is doing his paperwork in a timely manner, there is no reason the AKC Dog Registration Application form should not be available, so wait until you receive it before you pay for and take home your puppy. Once you have completed the financial aspect of the transaction, there is little recourse for an unsatisfied buyer.” To learn about the hallmarks of a responsible breeder, visit: http://www.akc.org/press_center/ facts_stats.cfm?page=responsible_breeder Media Contacts: AKC Daisy Okas Phone: 212-696-8343 Council of Better Business Bureaus Alison Preszler Phone: 703-247-9376 \|\|\|\|\| Free puppies? Don't fall for latest Nigerian scam SAN JOSE, Calif. (6/13/07)--Forget damsels in distress--scammers now use pictures of puppies to pull at victims' heart strings and con consumers out of their money (San Jose Mercury News May 29). The scams are like Nigerian advance-fee scams--which have been around for years--except with the face of a puppy. Advertisements for free bulldog puppies are listed on websites, MySpace pages and in newspaper classifieds. Scammers--posing as breeders--claim the puppies are stuck one way or another in Nigeria or elsewhere. They offer the puppies free or heavily discounted, provided buyers shell out money for shipping and other fees. As you might guess, the puppies never arrive, and victims lose their money (American Kennel Club and the Council of Better Business Bureaus May 29). The scammers are skilled at acting sincere and convince victims that they love the dogs. Pictures of puppies tug at victims' emotions, making them more vulnerable to fall for the scam. People who have been conned say they are concerned about the puppies' welfare, but in reality there are no puppies--scammers lift photos from other websites. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and Better Business Bureau offer advice on purchasing a real puppy and avoiding costly scams: Be wary of overnight deals. Dogs are a big investment, and decisions to buy them shouldn't be made quickly. Take time to research different kinds of dogs and breeders, and exercise extreme caution when a breeder offers to ship a puppy immediately after your conversation. Puppies shouldn't be separated from the litter before eight weeks, and the likelihood you talk to a breeder on the perfect day isn't good. Dogs are a big investment, and decisions to buy them shouldn't be made quickly. Take time to research different kinds of dogs and breeders, and exercise extreme caution when a breeder offers to ship a puppy immediately after your conversation. Puppies shouldn't be separated from the litter before eight weeks, and the likelihood you talk to a breeder on the perfect day isn't good. Investigate breeder credentials. Find out if the breeder is a member of an organization affiliated with AKC. Check to see if there are complaints about the breeder on the Better Business Bureau website, bbb.org or on the AKC website akc.org . Request references from the breeder and contact several--especially if the breeder doesn't live near you. Find out if the breeder is a member of an organization affiliated with AKC. Check to see if there are complaints about the breeder on the Better Business Bureau website, or on the AKC website . Request references from the breeder and contact several--especially if the breeder doesn't live near you. Don't communicate solely via e-mail. Whenever possible, visit the breeder and puppy in person. If that isn't feasible, at least have a phone conversation. Pay attention to where the breeder says he or she is from--scammers often have awkward English and accents that don't match with where they say they're from. Whenever possible, visit the breeder and puppy in person. If that isn't feasible, at least have a phone conversation. Pay attention to where the breeder says he or she is from--scammers often have awkward English and accents that don't match with where they say they're from. If you've been scammed, report it. Contact local police and your local Better Business Bureau if you've experienced any scam. If you have questions, call the AKC Customer Service line at 919-233-9767. For more information, read "Shield Yourself From Swindles--Scams Involving Checks, ATMs, and the 'Net" in Home & Family Finance Resource Center. Home & Family Finance® Resource Center Copyright © 2007 - Credit Union National Association, Inc.	A Nigerian "free " scam has been circling the internet for months without any reports on television or on the radio. Just yesterday the '''' reported about a , Ontario, Canada woman, on September 10, who was scammed by a Nigerian man (Paul) claiming to be a Christian missionary who could no longer take care of his puppy. In April, the '''' reported that the issued a warning for residents to watch out for the new scam, and to not respond to them. Humane Society communications officer Lee Oliver told the CBC that the only contact method, for an ad about a "free" puppy published in a newspaper, was email. After he emailed the person he received an email response in broken English saying the customer would have to pay $500. According to the women the advertisements are published in newspapers, such as free Toronto daily newspaper ''24'', and online. She saw the ad at Livedeal.com, a website which warns about making foreign purchases, and proceeded to email the person in Nigeria who was offering a "free" female pup. The ad called "GORGEOUS YORKSHIRE TERRIER FOR FREE GRAB HER NOW " had a picture of a "Yorkie" in a white basket. The seller of the puppy asked the women over the phone to pay $200 for the shipping fee, the next day he asked for $250 to put the dog in a crate, and again the next day $50 for ownership. He did not tell her it would amount to $500. On the third day he asked for $100 for a shot for his puppy. She immediately contacted authorities. "Are you trying to call me a scam? I'm a family man," he said. "I am a man of God. I am a missionary," Paul told a reporter for the Toronto Star. "Me and my family don't have enough time for baby ... I want a good Christian home for my baby ... I love this baby," he said. "Why all these questions? Why are you accusing?" According to Oliver, a nearby Toronto resident also responded to the scam. Warnings have not only been issued in Canada but also in the Cayman Islands. The United States also has many citizens that are victims of the scam.
An initial investigation at the site of the explosion, which occurred minutes after midnight in the Asian part of the city, failed to produce a definite conclusion. The city's police chief, Celalettin Cerrah, said there was no evidence that it was a bomb attack. "This area does not seem to be a target for terrorists," he said, raising the possibility of an explosion in the fuel tank of a vehicle. A local police official said the blast "might have been the result of a traffic accident." A woman and her 21-year-old daughter were killed in the blast, which some reports say occurred in a moving vehicle, while others state it was hidden in a garbage can, and exploded as they were leaving a wedding party in a nearby restaurant. Police have cordoned off the area, where the blast shattered the windows of residential buildings and damaged nine cars, sending panicked residents into the streets in the middle of the night. String of attacks A series of explosions, one of them a deadly bomb attack, have hit Turkey over the past month. Most recently, nine people were injured on Tuesday, when two small blasts of unknown cause ripped through garbage cans in the popular Mediterranean resort of Antalya. The incident followed the bombing of a bus in the seaside resort of Kusadasi on July 16, which killed five people, among them a British woman and an Irish teenager. A wrecked minibus after an explosion in Kusadasi, Turkey The police blamed that attack on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an armed rebel group branded as terrorists by the United States and the European Union, which has recently stepped up anti-government violence. Earlier in July, some 20 people were injured when a bomb planted in a dustbin in another resort, Cesme, went off. The attack was claimed by a little known Kurdish group which the police say is a cover for PKK attacks on civilians. Islamic extremists and far-left underground groups have also carried out bomb attacks in Turkey. In the deadliest attack in the country so far, 63 people were killed in two sets of twin suicide bombings in Istanbul in November 2003, blamed on a local cell of the al-Qaeda extremist network. \|\|\|\|\| Svet Dvoje poginulih u Istanbulu Istanbul -- Dve osobe su poginule, a najmanje pet ih je povređeno u jučerašnjoj u ekploziji u Istanbulu, javljaju agencije. Izvor: Beta četvrtak, 4.08.2005. \| 10:16 -> 22:14 Tweet Podeli Kako je preneo CNN u Turskoj, eksplozija, čiji uzrok još nije saopšten, dogodila se u kvartu Pendik, u istočnom delu grada. CNN navodi da je do eksplozije došlo u jednom automobilu, a TV Star javlja da se eksplozija dogodila u kamionu koji skuplja đubre. \|\|\|\|\| Two reported dead in Turkey blast YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Turkey Istanbul (Turkey) or or Create Your Own ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) -- A couple leaving a wedding party was killed and five people were injured early Thursday when a trash bin exploded in the Pendik district of Istanbul, according to Turkey's state-run news agency Anatolia. The cause of the explosion, which occurred about 12:15 a.m. (9:15 p.m. Wednesday GMT), was not immediately known. No claim of responsibility had been issued early Thursday. The man and woman, Eda and Hatica Muslu, were getting in their car when the explosion occurred, according to the DAWN news network. Police, firefighters and ambulance workers are at the scene, sifting through the wreckage of destroyed cars and helping the injured. On Tuesday, two explosions in trash bins wounded six people in the southern Turkish city of Antalya, a popular tourist resort, CNN Turk reported. Police said the first blast went off in a trash bin, wounding two municipal workers and a passer-by. About five minutes later, another blast wounded two tourists and a resident of Antalya. Authorities have not explained the cause of those explosions, but bombs have been placed in trash cans in the past. Turkey has suffered a series of bomb blasts in recent months, mostly blamed on militant Kurdish separatists. Islamic militants and far-left radicals have also been behind bomb attacks in Turkey in the past, including in Istanbul. Five people were killed last month when a bomb struck a minibus in the popular Aegean resort of Kusadasi. Kurdish militants claimed responsibility for that attack.	Two were killed and at least four were injured in Thursday's explosion in Pendik, eastern Istanbul suburb, Turkey. Some media reported that the blast occurred in a trash bin, while others say that it occurred in a moving vehicle. A 21-year-old woman and her mother died in the blast. It is still unknown who is responsible. This was the last of a series of explosions in Turkey, and trash bins have already been used for bombing. A similar explosion happened in Antalya on Tuesday, when two smaller explosions wounded nine people. Other tourist resorts have been targeted as well. In July, mini-bus bombing killed five in Kusadasi, and 20 were injured when a bomb in a dustbin exploded in Cesme.
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia recalled its ambassador to the United States on Monday after Washington recognized Kosovo as independent, and said it would do the same for all countries that treat Serbia's breakaway territory as a state. "We ordered the urgent withdrawal of our ambassador to Washington, and his return to Belgrade, that is the government's first urgent measure," Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica told a special session of parliament. "This will apply to all countries that recognize Kosovo's unilateral independence," he said, without specifically mentioning EU states that also said they would recognize Pristina. Serbia's southern province of Kosovo declared independence on Sunday after almost nine years under U.N. administration. Kostunica said the U.S. move continued the NATO aggression which began when it bombed Serbia in 1999 to expel Serb forces from Kosovo and stop a brutal crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists. "We all know that this unilateral, illegal, violent and immoral proclamation of a false state on the territory of Serbia was possible only under the auspices of brutal force, of the U.S. and NATO," he said. "The proof is the attempt to avoid the United Nations, and the disunity among European Union member states in spite of unbearable pressure by the U.S." Kostunica said recognition showed the true face of Washington's "policy of force". He repeated accusations that the United States supported Kosovo's independence so that it can have a "military training ground and a NATO warehouse". "The main goal of Serbia's state policy is the return of Kosovo to Serbia," he said in the address carried live on state television. "From now on, we will act to secure a free and safe life for our citizens in Kosovo." Continued... \|\|\|\|\| Kosovo Serbs rally on their side of the main bridge in Mitrovica Enlarge Image Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica also threatened to withdraw envoys from other countries which recognised the territory's secession from Serbia. Mr Kostunica said the envoy's recall was Serbia's "first urgent measure". France, the UK, Germany and Italy have all recognised the new state following its declaration of independence. In New York, Serbian President Boris Tadic made an impassioned appeal to the UN Security Council to reject Kosovo's declaration. But the Council remained deadlocked over how to respond to Kosovo's declaration of independence, although Russia and China supported President Tadic, and the UN body failed to agree on any action. Serbia has a powerful ally in Russia, the BBC's Jane Little reports from the UN, but other permanent members of the council - including the US, Britain and France - insist independence is legal and the only viable way forward. With a council so divided, it is unlikely any resolution could pass in favour of Serbia or Kosovo, our correspondent says. The leading European states which endorsed independence did so after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels in which it was agreed that Kosovo should not set a precedent for other states. Spain and several other member states have withheld recognition because of concerns about separatist movements within their own borders. 'Non-existent state' Serbian media report that Belgrade's ambassadors to all states which recognise Kosovo's independence are being ordered home. KOSOVO PROFILE Population about two million Majority ethnic Albanian; 10% Serb Under UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 1999 2,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independence Nato to stay to provide security Full text: Kosovo declaration In pictures: Celebrations Anger mounts in Mitrovica The Associated Press news agency quotes the foreign ministry as saying Serbia's envoys to France and Turkey have been withdrawn for "consultation until further notice". President Tadic told the UN Security Council there were "dozens of various Kosovos in the world and all of them lie in wait for Kosovo's act of secession to... be established as an acceptable norm". "If you cast a blind eye to this illegal act, who guarantees to you that parts of your countries will not declare independence in the same illegal way?" he asked. Serbia's interior ministry has filed criminal charges against Kosovo Albanian leaders instrumental in proclaiming independence, accusing them of proclaiming a "false state" on Serbian territory. In Belgrade, about 10,000 students marched in protest at the independence declaration, and Serb enclaves inside Kosovo also saw anti-independence rallies. Serbian security forces were driven out of Kosovo in 1999 after a Nato bombing campaign aimed at halting the violent repression of ethnic Albanian separatists. The province has been under UN administration and Nato protection since then. Pledges of support On Monday, Washington formally recognised Kosovo as a "sovereign and independent state". STANCE ON RECOGNITION For: Germany, Italy, France, UK, Austria, US, Turkey, Albania, Afghanistan Against: Russia, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus In Brussels, EU foreign ministers adopted a compromise proposal from Spain, one of several countries which argue that Kosovo's independence is a breach of international law and will boost separatists everywhere. The bloc set aside differences by stressing Kosovo's declaration was not a precedent for separatists elsewhere and pledging that the whole Balkan region would eventually join the bloc. Unanimous recognition of Kosovo was never at stake at the meeting because the EU has no legal right to recognise new states, BBC European affairs correspondent Oana Lungescu notes. The question was whether, despite their differences on recognition, Europeans could unite on how to bring stability in their backyard, after almost two decades of seemingly endless Balkan crises. HAVE YOUR SAY This is an ugly victory for demographic warfare SEQ, London It took hours of tortuous negotiations but the EU managed to pass the unity test, our correspondent says. Kosovo, the ministers agreed, was a unique case and did not call into question international legal principles, such as territorial integrity. The bloc's statement said the EU was ready to play a leading role in the Balkans, with a 2,000-strong police and justice mission headed to Kosovo and new measures to promote economic and political development in the region, including a donors' conference by June. The EU foreign affairs chief Javier Solana said there was a total commitment to bring all the Balkan countries into the EU. But Kosovo will not be able to get very close until it is recognised by all 27 members, and that may take a long time, our correspondent adds. Among other countries to recognise Kosovo was Turkey. Correspondents say this has symbolic significance because for centuries the Ottoman Turks ruled the Balkans, including modern-day Serbia and Kosovo.	After the recognition of Kosovo as an independent state by the U.S. government, the Serbian ambassador to the U.S. was recalled today as a protest to this decision. Serbia says it will do the same to all countries that treat Serbia's breakaway as a state, prime minister Vojislav Kostunica says. "We ordered the urgent withdrawal of our ambassador to Washington, and his return to Belgrade, that is the government's first urgent measure." Serbia's province of Kosovo declared independence last Sunday. The province has been under administration of the United Nations for almost nine years. "We all know that this unilateral, illegal, violent and immoral proclamation of a false state on the territory of Serbia was possible only under the auspices of brutal force, of the U.S. and NATO," Kostunica says, "The proof is the attempt to avoid the United Nations, and the disunity among European Union member states in spite of unbearable pressure by the U.S. The main goal of Serbia's state policy is the return of Kosovo to Serbia." In Kosovo a minority of approximately 120,000 Serbs live with a majority of about two million Albanians.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki has said that a U.S. attack on Iran would be "improbable". "U.S. officials are under pressure from Americans," London-based Al-Hayat daily quoted Mottaki as saying. He added that many things prevent the U.S. from attacking Iran; the most important one is its wrong policies in Iraq. "I don't think the U.S. is in a position to mount its pressure on the U.S. taxpayers," he said, adding that some people and groups in the U.S. beat the drum for war or advertise for arms factories, but their voice is weakening day by day. He also described as a "good measure" by Saudi Arabia and the Arab League to invite Iran and other non-Arab Islamic countries to attend the Arab leaders' summit for the first time. He added that such meetings prepare the ground for facing the threats against Arabs and the Muslim world. Mottaki said that, in his meetings with delegates in the Arab leaders summit in Riyadh, he witnessed their inclination to strengthen their ties with Iran, underlining that those who try to show Iran and Arab countries do not enjoy good relations will not achieve their goals. Speaking on Iran and Saudi Arabia consultations about the regional issues, he said there should be more consultations. "The consultations should continue…We are observing the latest developments… We try to bring our views [Iran and Saudi Arabia] closer…We did the same thing on Lebanon crisis." Mottaki added that Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad and Saudi King Abdullah had appointed representatives to constantly exchange views, underlining that regional influential powers are sometimes needed to resolve the problems of the region. MB/KB \|\|\|\|\| Politics Defense Ministry refuses to comment on alleged U.S. plans to strike Iran MOSCOW. March 30 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Defense Ministry has described media reports citing Russian military intelligence services alleging that the U.S. will be ready to strike Iran in the first half of April as "conjectures by mythical sources". "We will not comment on this," the Defense Ministry's information department told Interfax. A number of Russian media reported on Friday citing military intelligence sources that the U.S. armed forces deployed in the Persian Gulf area have virtually finished preparations for a missile attack on Iran and that the U.S. military command would be ready to attack Iran in the first half of April. \|\|\|\|\| (Adds paragraphs 8-15) MOSCOW, March 30 (RIA Novosti) - Russian intelligence has information that the U.S. Armed Forces have nearly completed preparations for a possible military operation against Iran, and will be ready to strike in early April, a security official said. The source said the U.S. had already compiled a list of possible targets on Iranian territory and practiced the operation during recent exercises in the Persian Gulf. "Russian intelligence has information that the U.S. Armed Forces stationed in the Persian Gulf have nearly completed preparations for a missile strike against Iranian territory," the source said. American commanders will be ready to carry out the attack in early April, but it will be up to the country's political leadership to decide if and when to attack, the source said. Official data says America's military presence in the region has reached the level of March 2003 when the U.S. invaded Iraq. The U.S. has not excluded the military option in negotiations on Iran over its refusal to abandon its nuclear program. The UN Security Council passed a new resolution on Iran Saturday toughening economic sanctions against the country and accepting the possibility of a military solution to the crisis. The source said the Pentagon could decide to conduct ground operations as well after assessing the damage done to the Iranian forces by its possible missile strikes and analyzing the political situation in the country following the attacks. A senior Russian security official cited military intelligence earlier as saying U.S. Armed Forces had recently intensified training for air and ground operations against Iran. "The Pentagon has drafted a highly effective plan that will allow the Americans to bring Iran to its knees at minimal cost," the official said. Russian Col.-Gen. Leonid Ivashov, vice president of the Academy of Geopolitical Sciences, said last week the Pentagon was planning to deliver a massive air strike on Iran's military infrastructure in the near future. "I have no doubt there will be an operation, or rather an aggressive action against Iran," Ivashov said, commenting on media reports about U.S. planned operation against Iran, codenamed Operation Bite. A new U.S. carrier battle group has been dispatched to the Gulf. The USS John C. Stennis, with a crew of 3,200 and around 80 fixed-wing aircraft, including F/A-18 Hornet and Superhornet fighter-bombers, eight support ships and four nuclear submarines are heading for the Gulf, where a similar group led by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower has been deployed since December 2006. The U.S. is also sending Patriot anti-missile systems to the region. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, however, was rather optimistic about the situation and said he ruled out a military resolution of the Iranian nuclear problem. "We are constantly working on how to resolve the situation around the Iranian nuclear program and other conflicts peacefully," Lavrov said. "This policy is unchanged and we will pursue it in the future." Russia and the U.S. are two of the six negotiators on Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran says is aimed at generating energy. \|\|\|\|\| Home > World > Americas US possibly to attack Iran on April 6 Font size : a \| A [ 30 Mar 2007 20:13 ] “The US will make air attack on Iran at 4 a.m by local time on April 6,” Debka website, close to Israeli intelligence bodies reports quoting the sources in Russian intelligence bodies. According to the report, Iranian nuclear establishments will be bombarded during the 12-hour-lasting operation. Land operation is not planned. The operation aims to prevent Iran’s nuclear program. / According to the report, Iranian nuclear establishments will be bombarded during the 12-hour-lasting operation. Land operation is not planned. The operation aims to prevent Iran’s nuclear program. / APA Printable version Add to Favorites Send by email RSS feed \|\|\|\|\| Middle East Pondering Possible US Attack on Iran -- 03/30/2007 Middle East Pondering Possible US Attack on Iran By Julie Stahl CNSNews.com Jerusalem Bureau Chief March 30, 2007 Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - As U.S.-British tensions with Iran escalate, many in the Middle East are discussing the possibility -- some say probability -- of a U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic. Iran, which has long provoked Israel and the West with its nuclear development program, has now earned itself another slap on the wrist from the international community. On Thursday, the U.N. Security Council issued a statement expressing "grave concern" over Iran's capture of 15 British sailors. The U.K. wanted a stronger statement -- one "deploring" the hostage-taking, but Russia reportedly opposed that suggestion. Iran's UN mission issued a statement saying the standoff "should be settled through bilateral channels" -- in discussions between the U.K. and Iran, in other words. "The British government's attempt to engage third parties, including the Security Council, with this case is not helpful," Iran said. Iran insists the British sailors were trespassing in its territorial waters, a contention the U.K. firmly rejects. This is not the first time that Iran has defied the United Nations. It is currently flouting a U.N. demand to halt its uranium enrichment program -- a process that can be used for building an atomic bomb. Iran has pledged to continue its nuclear pursuits. President Bush has indicated that the United States would rather not attack Iran. "All options are on the table," he said in 2005, adding that "the use of force is the last option for any president." Nevertheless, the Arab press is focused on the possibility of a U.S. strike against Iran. Some of the speculation stems from U.S. war games taking place this week in the Persian Gulf -- the biggest show of strength in the area since the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003. The U.S. Navy exercises, which included two aircraft carriers, ended on Thursday. The U.S. reportedly decided to hold the exercises within the past month, amid rising tensions with Iran. U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday that the presence of the U.S. warships was not intended "to provoke any military conflict." Meanwhile, both Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have said the will not allow the U.S. military to launch an attack on Iran from bases in their country. Nevertheless, Middle East media outlets point to signs that the U.S. may be planning some type of military action directed at Iran. In a March 1 article, Bahrain's daily Al-Watan reported that hotel occupancy in the Gulf State had reached 90 percent and was expected to increase, with stepped-up U.S. military activity in the country bringing an influx of American and other military correspondents. The paper also reported that "American military circles" had advised investors with U.S. citizenship to wrap up their business and take their money out of the region due to the "security tension." "Anyone who has been monitoring U.S. policy since the beginning of the year has noticed a state of alert and military mobilization of the American forces, particularly after Washington announced that Tehran is involved in the violent activities in Baghdad," the paper said. (Translation provided by the Middle East Media Research Institute.) In a special supplement section called "Firing Line," the Egyptian opposition daily Al-Masri Al-Yawm published a series of reports entitled, "The Next Gulf War - A Crushing American Blow and a Thundering Iranian Response." One of the articles reviewed what it called U.S. military preparations in the Gulf, including the deployment of a new generation of Patriot missile batteries; the appearance of the two aircraft carriers; an increase in troop deployment in Iraq; and changes in the U.S. senior military command. The paper also accused the U.S. of activating a "propaganda machine" to turn public opinion against Iran. Issam Al-Dari, the editor of the Syrian government daily Teshreen, wrote on February 28 that Iran would likely be the next U.S. target in the region. Al-Dari charged that the U.S. was leading the world from "one destructive war to even more destructive aggression." The U.S. has accused Syria of backing the insurgency in Iraq; of attempting to overthrow the pro-Western government in Lebanon; and of hosting the headquarters of numerous Palestinian terrorist organizations in Damascus. Kuwaiti columnist Muhammad Al-Rumihi wrote in the London daily Al-Hayat that the West appears "determined to enter into the 'mother of all wars' - that is, the war against Iran." But Abd Al-Mun'im Sa'id, director of the Al-Ahram Center for Strategic Studies in Cairo, rejected the possibility of a U.S. strike against Iran, saying the U.S. does not have "sufficient capability to carry out the mission." In an article in the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat on January 31, Sa'id said he did not believe that there was popular support in the U.S. for such a strike, which would not serve the U.S. goal of creating stability in the region. Analysts here have differing opinions. Many believe that while a military strike against Iran, whether led by the U.S. or another country, would be costly, striking Iran would cut off support for terrorism at its roots and decrease the violence in Iraq. Sunni Arab nations, including U.S. allies Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, are said to be more and more concerned about the growing power and influence of Shiite Iran in the region and its quest for nuclear power. (Senior Editor Susan Jones contributed to this report.) Subscribe to the free CNSNews.com daily E-Brief. Send a Letter to the Editor about this article. \|\|\|\|\| New Delhi: There is no breakthrough in the US-British tensions over Iran. And to add to that, news reports suggest that the US might attack Iran. Iranian television on Friday aired a new video showing one of 15 British detainees apologising to Iranians for "entering your waters without permission." A few hours later, Iran released a letter said to be written by another British sailor, stating she had been "sacrificed" to the policies of the British and US governments. British government responded to the video by criticising the treatment of the sailors and marines. Britain expresses disgust at the treatment of the captured British Royal Navy personnel by the Iranians and US might launch a massive air strike on Iran on Good Friday, April 6. Military experts are warning that US air strikes will target Iranian air and naval defence capabilities. It's not clear if the targets would include Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz and the reactor in Bushehr. On Thursday, the UN Security Council issued a statement expressing "grave concern" over Iran's capture of 15 British sailors. The UK wanted a stronger statement - one deploring the hostage-taking, but Russia reportedly opposed that suggestion. Iran's UN mission issued a statement saying the standoff "should be settled through bilateral channels" - in discussions between the UK and Iran, in other words. "The British government's attempt to engage third parties, including the Security Council, with this case is not helpful," Iran said. \|\|\|\|\| DEBKAfile Exclusive: US financial sources in Bahrain report American investors in Bahrain advised to pack up business operations and leave USS Nimitz nuclear carrier The advice came from officers with US Central Command 5th Fleet HQ at Manama, who spoke of security tension, a hint at an approaching war with Iran. Arab sources report the positioning of a Patriot anti-missile battery in Bahrain this week; they say occupancy at emirate hotels has soared past 90% due mostly to the influx of US military personnel. They also report Western media crews normally employed in military coverage are arriving in packs. Thursday, March 29, Gen. Khaled al-ĎAbsi, Bahrainís chief of air defense operations disclosed that new alarm networks had been installed and air defense systems upgraded to handle chemical, biological and radioactive attacks. The USS Nimitz and its support ships will be departing San Diego Monday, April 2, to join the John C. Stennis Strike Group in the Persian Gulf. The nuclear carrier is due to relieve the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower , but military sources in the Gulf believe all three US carriers will stay put if tensions continue to climb or if fighting breaks out involving American, British and Iranian forces. The mighty American armada is further supported by the USS Bataan and USS Boxer strike groups. War tensions have been triggered most recently by the crisis over the seized British sailors and large-scale US sea, air and amphibious exercises in the Gulf. 1. DEBKAfileís Tehran sources report that in the contest within the Iranian leadership over how to handle the affair of the captured British seamen, the wildest radical element has gained the upper hand, reducing the prospects of their imminent release. Heading the tough Tehran faction are hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Gen. Rahim Safavi, commander of the Revolutionary Guards whose naval wing performed the seizure. They gained strength from the British premier Tony Blairís initial passive, semi-conciliatory response. Tehran quickly grasped it had acquired not just a propaganda tool but a military asset, which the UK cannot match as long as the Americans desist from throwing their military might into the fray. Washington has refused to risk of a full-scale war confrontation with the Revolutionary Guards for the sake of the British sailors. Iranian strategists also registered that, although the Blair government has begun moving mountains to gain the freedom of the marine crew held in Tehran, London appeared fairly laid back about the kidnap of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston in broad daylight by gunmen in Palestinian Gaza, although three weeks had gone by. Revolutionary Guards serving with Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza no doubt filed a full report on the Johnston case to Tehran, which drew its own conclusions. 2. Taking part in the big demonstration of American naval, air and marine force launched March 27 are the two nuclear carrier strike forces Stennis and Eisenhower , thousands of marines and 100 warplanes. Maneuvers on this scale in the tight, overcrowded waters of the Persian Gulf carry risks of a collision between American and Iranian craft. DEBKAfileís military sources report that the Nimitz group is composed of the Princeton guided-missile cruiser, four guided missile destroyers Ė the Higgins , Chafee , John Paul Jones and Pinckney . The strike force is armed with two helicopter squadrons and a special unit for dismantling sea mines and other explosive devices. Earlier, DEBKAfile quoted intelligence sources in Moscow as predicting that a US strike against Iranian nuclear installations codenamed Operation Bite has been scheduled for April 6 at 0040 hours. Missiles and air raids will conduct strikes designed to be devastating enough to set Tehranís nuclear program several years back. \|\|\|\|\| ABOARD THE USS JOHN C. STENNIS – The United States wrapped up a massive military exercise in the Persian Gulf Wednesday, putting on a show of strength for Iran even as the United Arab Emirates became the second Gulf nation to declare it would not take part in any attack on the Islamic Republic. The U.S. has denied any intention to attack. But the public refusals of two allies to help could affect U.S. military options or require shifting of resources if tensions did seriously escalate. Qatar – home to 6,500 U.S. troops and the enormous al-Udeid Air Base, headquarters of all American air operations in the Middle East – said earlier this month it would not permit an attack on Iran from its soil. The Gulf Cooperation Council, a loose alliance of Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the Emirates, has called on all its members not to support any U.S. action against Iran. The United States has close to 40,000 troops in the Gulf, including 25,000 in Kuwait, 3,000 in Bahrain, 1,300 in the United Arab Emirates and a few hundred in Oman and Saudi Arabia, according to figures from the Dubai-based Gulf Research Center. Gulf Arab nations are increasingly uneasy with the United States' tough stance against Iran, fearing any outbreak of hostilities could bring Iranian retaliation. All lie within distance of Iranian missiles. Also, Iran has booming trade and tourism links and full diplomatic ties with the Emirates and most Gulf countries. On Wednesday, the U.S. Navy wrapped up its largest show of force in the Gulf since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, with 15 ships, 125 aircraft and 13,000 sailors in an exercise a few dozen miles off Iran's coast. The maneuvers were meant to show “the commitment of the U.S. to stability and security in the region,” said Rear Adm. Kevin Quinn, commander of Strike Group Three – which includes the USS John C. Stennis. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Charlie Brown said the U.S. Gulf maneuvers were defensive in nature, aimed at keeping open the sea lanes that carry two-fifths of the world's oil shipments. “We're not looking for any kind of confrontation with Iran,” Brown said. “The purpose of the exercise is to ensure that no one miscalculates about our commitment to security and stability in the Gulf.” But some U.S. allies were clearly aiming to make it clear they don't want to be caught in the middle if the situation escalates. “We have assured the brothers in Iran ... that we are not a party in its dispute with the United States,” said United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyana in a statement carried on the Emirates news agency WAM. “We will not allow any force to use our territories for military, security and espionage activities against Iran.” The Emirates “refuses to use its territorial lands, air or waters for aggression against any other country,” Khalifa said. That could prevent the U.S. Air Force from flying intelligence missions over Iran with its squadron of U-2 and Global Hawk spy planes based at al-Dhafra Air Base near the Emirates capital, Abu Dhabi. The U.S. Air Force said Wednesday it had not altered air operations in response to Sheik Khalifa's statement. Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Pierson, based in Qatar, declined to say whether U-2s were flying missions over Iran, but said the Air Force only operated in international airspace or over countries that had granted permission. In the run-up to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Turkey denied access to Turkish territory, forcing U.S. military planners to adjust their plans and to forgo opening a northern front. The refusal ushered in a tense period in Turkish-American relations. Krane reported from Dubai and Calderwood from aboard the USS Stennis. \|\|\|\|\| International L'Iran serait attaqué début avril (experts militaires russes) 21:05 MOSCOU, 19 mars - RIA Novosti. Les experts militaires russes estiment que la planification de l'attaque militaire américaine contre l'Iran a passé le point de non retour le 20 février, lorsque le directeur de l'AIEA, Mohammed ElBaradei, a reconnu, dans son rapport, l'incapacité de l'Agence de "confirmer le caractère pacifique du programme nucléaire de l'Iran". Selon l'hebdomadaire russe Argoumenty nedeli, une action militaire se déroulera au cours de la première semaine d'avril, avant les Pâques catholique et orthodoxe (cette année elles sont célébrées le 8), lorsque l' "opinion occidentale" sera en congé. Il se peut aussi que l'Iran soit frappé le vendredi 6, jour férié dans les pays musulmans. D'après le schéma américain, ce sera une frappe d'un seul jour qui durera 12 heures, de 4 heures de matin à 16 heures d'après-midi. Le nom de code de l'opération est à ce jour "Bite" en anglais (Morsure). Une vingtaine d'installations iraniennes devraient être touchées. A leur nombre, des centrifugeuses d'enrichissement d'uranium, des centres d'études et des laboratoires. Mais le premier bloc de la centrale nucléaire de Bouchehr ne sera pas touché. Par contre, les Américains neutraliseront la DCA, couleront plusieurs bâtiments de guerre iraniens dans le Golfe et détruiront les postes clefs de commandement des forces armées. Autant de mesures qui devraient ôter à Téhéran toute capacité de riposter. L'Iran projetait de couler plusieurs pétroliers dans le détroit d'Ormuz dans le but de couper l'approvisionnement des marchés internationaux en pétrole et de frapper au missile Israël. Les analystes affirment que les frappes américaines seront lancées depuis l'île de Diego-Garcia, dans l'océan Indien, d'où décolleront des bombardiers à long rayon d'action B-52 avec à leur bord des missiles de croisière ; par l'aviation embarquée des porte-avions américains déployés dans le Golfe et faisant partie de la 6e Flotte américaine en Méditerranée ; des missiles de croisière seront également tirés depuis les sous-marins concentrés dans le Pacifique et au large de l'Arabie. Résultat, le programme nucléaire iranien sera rejeté de plusieurs années en arrière. Dans des entretiens privés, des généraux américains supposent que les délais de déploiement de la défense antimissile américaine en Europe peuvent être reportés à plus tard. Autre événement prévu, le baril de pétrole pourrait s'envoler à 75-80 dollars et ce pour une période prolongée. Entre-temps, la nouvelle résolution sur l'Iran et dont le projet a été adopté par les cinq membres permanents du Conseil de sécurité et l'Allemagne devrait être votée au CS dès cette semaine. Le texte prévoit des sanctions à l'encontre de 10 entreprises publiques iraniennes et de trois compagnies relevant du Corps des gardiens de la révolution islamique, unité d'élite aux ordres du leader spirituel de la République islamique, l'ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Des sanctions sont aussi prévues contre 15 personnes physiques : huit dirigeants haut placés de sociétés d'Etat et sept personnages clefs au Corps des gardiens de la révolution islamique. envoyez par e-mail retour à la page d'accueil	Reports from the Israeli website Debka.com, which reports on intelligence matters, say that the United States is planning to launch air strikes on Iran targets on Good Friday, April 6 at 4:00 a.m. local time (UTC+3:30), citing unnamed Russian intelligence officials. The Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the United States State Department, Nicholas Burns, however, testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday that diplomacy was the "best and preferred" course of action in dealing with Iran, adding "I do not believe a military confrontation with Iran is either desirable or inevitable." Another newspaper, the Russian weekly "Argoumenty Nedeli" (''Week Arguments'') is quoted by the Russian Information Agency (RIA) Novosti as saying that the attack is planned for a single continuous attack of 12 hours from 4am to 4pm, with the choice of the Easter holidays in many Western countries likely since "Western opinion" will be "on holidays". Friday 6 April is cited by Novosti as a likely, though not definite, date. Another RIA Novosti report written in French and dated March 30 states that the US military command is ready to make an attack during the first fortnight of April, but that any final decision will be made by US political leaders. The targets will be "Iranian nuclear installations" that will be "designed to be devastating enough to set Tehran’s nuclear program several years back," said the website quoting unnamed Russian intelligence officials. United States forces completed a large-scale series of military exercises in the Persian gulf off the Iranian coastline this week, involving 15 ships, 125 aircraft and 13,000 sailors. Naval commanders said the exercises were meant to demonstrate United States' commitment to security in the region, including keeping sea-lanes open for oil shipment and were defensive in nature. Despite the claims by the Russian official, Iran does not think that the U.S. can "pressure" the U.S. tax payers into another war. "U.S. officials are under pressure from Americans. I don't think the U.S. is in a position to mount its pressure on the U.S. taxpayers," said Manuchehr Mottaki, Iran's Foreign Minister. The Gulf Cooperation Council has called on its member nations - Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, all home to U.S. forces in the region, to not take part in an attack on Iran. Qatar and the Emirates have already said that they would not. "Russian intelligence has information that the U.S. Armed Forces stationed in the Persian Gulf have nearly completed preparations for a missile strike against Iranian territory. The Pentagon has drafted a highly effective plan that will allow the Americans to bring Iran to its knees at minimal cost," said the unnamed Russian intelligence official as reported by ''RIA Novosti'' a Russian based news agency. The strike force is allegedly going to be composed of the "USS Nimitz and its support ships" which will join forces with the ''John C. Stennis strike group'' when it leaves the U.S. on April 2. Although the Nimitz is scheduled to relieve the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, all three ships will remain in the Persian Gulf if the 15 British sailors and marines being detained by Iran are not released and will also remain if any armed conflict begins between the two nations. The USS Bataan and USS Boxer will also be part of the strike force. The Nimitz strike force will be "composed of the USS Princeton guided-missile cruiser, four guided missile destroyers – the USS Higgins, USS Chafee, USS John Paul Jones and the USS Pinckney. The strike force is armed with two helicopter squadrons and a special unit for dismantling sea mines and other explosive devices," said Debka according to Russian intelligence officials. USS Nimitz (CVN-68), a US Navy aircraft carrier. Photo is from after her 1999-2001 refit. Despite the claim, Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov says that the situation will be resolved "peacefully." "We are constantly working on how to resolve the situation around the Iranian nuclear program and other conflicts peacefully. This policy is unchanged and we will pursue it in the future," said Lavrov. Russian intelligence officials also say that the recent U.S. military exercise in the Gulf on March 27 was "practice" for the strike in April and that it will be up the U.S. "leadership" to give the go ahead as by April, the military is expected to be ready for the strike. Different sources agree that the attack is allegedly only going to take place by air and will last 12 hours. No attack by land is expected. The attack is allegedly going to be called "Operation Bite." Russia's Defense Ministry refuses to comment on the reports.
The Israeli government considers Gilo an integral part of Jerusalem The US and UN have criticised Israel's approval of 900 extra housing units at a Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the move would hamper Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Their remarks came after Israel's interior ministry approved planning applications for the new units. The planning and construction committee authorised the expansion of Gilo, which is built on land captured in 1967. The land was later annexed to the Jerusalem municipality. US 'dismay' With the project yet to be reviewed, the public can still make objections. Settlements on occupied territory are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Jerusalem is Israel's capital and will remain as such Mark Regev Israeli premier's spokesman Mr Gibbs said: "We are dismayed at the Jerusalem Planning Committee's decision to move forward on the approval process for the expansion of Gilo in Jerusalem. "Neither party should engage in efforts or take actions that could unilaterally pre-empt, or appear to pre-empt, negotiations." It is the second time in two months that the Obama administration has spoken out on settlements. In September the White House said it regretted reports that Israel planned to approve new construction in the West Bank. The BBC's Paul Adams in Washington says the conventional wisdom in the US is that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has successfully thwarted Barack Obama's first foray into the stalled Middle East peace process, rebuffing American calls for a complete settlements freeze. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. But some Washington observers say it's too early to write off the president's efforts, he says. They believe Mr Obama is playing a long game and that the frosty relations between Mr Netanyahu and the White House could cause problems for the Israeli leader in the future, our correspondent adds. Mr Ban's spokeswoman said the UN chief believed the Israeli action would "undermine efforts for peace and cast doubt on the viability of the two-state solution". 'Envoy's request' Israeli media reported earlier that the government had rejected a request from Washington to freeze the construction work at Gilo. Mr Obama's Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, is said to have made the request to Mr Netanyahu at a meeting in London on Monday. Mr Netanyahu replied that the project did not require government approval and that Gilo was "an integral part of Jerusalem", according to Israel Army Radio. His spokesman, Mark Regev, declined to comment on the reports, but repeated Israel's refusal to include areas annexed to Jerusalem as part of any accommodation of Mr Obama's call for "restraint" in settlement construction. "Prime Minister Netanyahu... is willing to adopt the policy of the greatest possible restraint concerning growth in the West Bank, but this applies to the West Bank," he told the Reuters news agency. "Jerusalem is Israel's capital and will remain as such." The Palestinian Authority has demanded a halt to all settlement construction before it will attend new peace talks, which were suspended last year. The BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says Tuesday's announcement represents by far the largest batch of planning approvals for building on occupied territory since Mr Netanyahu became prime minister. The 900 housing units, which will be built in the form of four-to-five-bedroom apartments, will account for a significant expansion of Gilo. The interior ministry said construction work would be unlikely to start for another three or four years. A spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the planning approval was "yet another step that shows and proves Israel is not ready for peace". Nearly 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built on occupied territory in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Do you live in the area? Will you be affected by the planned construction of extra housing? Send us your stories using the form below. A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| AFP - The United States delivered Tuesday an unusually strong rebuke of Israel, voicing dismay at the approval of new Jewish housing in annexed east Jerusalem as peace efforts hit a new low. The biting response from President Barack Obama's administration came after the Israeli interior ministry gave the green light for the construction of 900 new units in Gilo, one of a dozen Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem. "We are dismayed at the Jerusalem planning committee's decision to move forward on the approval process for the expansion of Gilo in Jerusalem," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. "At a time when we are working to relaunch negotiations, these actions make it more difficult for our efforts to succeed," said Gibbs, effectively accusing Israel of undermining the floundering US-led peace process. Israel's settlement move flew in the face of Palestinian calls, backed by Washington, for a complete freeze on new building before any new round of talks. With the Palestinians so frustrated at the failure of peace efforts that they have launched a unilateral bid to seek statehood from the United Nations, the two sides are as far apart as ever. "Neither party should engage in efforts or take actions that could unilaterally pre-empt, or appear to pre-empt, negotiations," Gibbs warned on Tuesday in comments echoed by the US State Department. Reports in the Israeli media said hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had rejected US pleas to halt the construction in Gilo but did not specifically refer to the latest expansion move. Netanyahu was widely condemned by the international community for allowing new housing units to be erected in the disputed area. "The secretary-general deplores the government of Israel's decision today to expand Gilo settlement, built on Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 war," said a spokesman for UN chief Ban Ki-moon. Britain echoed the criticism. The Foreign Office said Foreign Secretary David Miliband "has been very clear that a credible deal involves Jerusalem as a shared capital. "Expanding settlements on occupied land in east Jerusalem makes that deal much harder. So this decision is wrong and we oppose it," a spokeswoman said. Israel captured east Jerusalem with the rest of the West Bank in the Six Day War of 1967. It later annexed it in a move never recognized by the international community and insists on retaining the whole of the Holy City as its "eternal, indivisible" capital. The Palestinians are determined to make the city's eastern sector the capital of their promised state and deplore the fact that Israel has so far only offered a limited reduction in new building there. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said the impasse gave him no choice but to unilaterally pursue international recognition of a Palestinian state, even as Europe and the United States discouraged the move. "We feel we are in a very difficult situation," he said in Cairo after talks with Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak. "What is the solution for us? To remain suspended like this, not in peace? That is why I took this step." The European Union, the Palestinians' biggest donor, joined the United States Tuesday in urging reconsideration of the recognition move and instead called for a return to talks. "I would hope that we would be in a position to recognize a Palestinian state but there has to be one first, so I think it is somewhat premature," said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, whose country holds the EU presidency. The Islamist Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip and is a bitter rival of Abbas's Fatah grouping, has also poured cold water on any bid for international recognition. \|\|\|\|\| Israel has angered its US allies by approving the construction of 900 more homes in a settlement in East Jerusalem, even as President Nicolas Sarkozy pushed for a peace summit. "We are dismayed at the Jerusalem planning committee's decision to move forward on the approval process for the expansion of Gilo in Jerusalem," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement. "At a time when we are working to relaunch negotiations, these actions make it more difficult for our efforts to succeed." The move, despite demands for a freeze by the Palestinians, also undermined Nicolas Sarkozy, just as the French president arrived in Saudi Arabia to push for a Middle East peace conference. It lessens still further the chance of any meaningful negotiations between the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Mahmoud Abbas, the beleaguered president of the Palestinian Authority. Mr Abbas, under pressure from his own Fatah party as well as the militant group Hamas, which has control over the Gaza strip, has said he will not agree to talks until there is a freeze on settlement building. The interior ministry confirmed the new construction, amid reports that Mr Netanyahu had turned down a direct request from Washington's envoy, George Mitchell, to halt the programme. The Israelis claim that the settlement, Gilo, is now part of Jerusalem, which it has always said would not be included in any freeze that might be agreed to facilitate talks. Gilo already houses 40,000 Israelis. Mr Netanyahu and Mr Abbas came close to a Washington-brokered deal for talks earlier this year, but Mr Netanyahu insisted on going ahead with building projects already planned in existing settlements. Mr Sarkozy, in advance of his trip to Saudi Arabia, said deadlock in the peace process played into the hands of extremists. "The priority is to restart as soon as possible the peace process," he said in an interview with the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadh. "It is urgent because the current deadlock plays into the hands of extremists and each day the chance of peace is slipping away a little." The French president has been conducting a high-profile series of meetings with Middle Eastern leaders in the last week, hoping to promote his own political standing as American attempts to push-start talks falter. President Barack Obama's credibility in Arab states has been seriously affected by his inability to force Mr Netanyahu to back down on the settlements issue. Mr Sarkozy's visit to King Abdullah's private farm outside Riyadh was described as a chance to build their personal relations. But Saudi Arabia is seen as an increasingly important force as a backer of Mr Abbas, and has also recently forged a reconciliation with Syria, which supports Hamas. Mr Sarkozy is also likely to press French business interests, including the sale of advanced weaponry and nuclear power technology. \|\|\|\|\| David Cameron has delivered a firm rebuff to Mitt Romney over Britain’s readiness for the Olympics. Speaking at the Olympic Park, the Prime Minister made clear that there were no doubts over the preparations. After Mr Romney’s scepticism about security and the levels of British enthusiasm in a US interview, Mr Cameron told reporters: “You’re going to see beyond doubt that Britain can deliver.” He added: “We’ve delivered this incredible Olympic Park on time, on budget and in real style, 46,000 people have turned a wasteland the size of Hyde Park into an extraordinary city town within one of the world’s most exciting cities.” The Republican presidential candidate had earlier cast doubt on Britain’s readiness for the Olympics as he prepared to meet leaders from all three political parties in Westminster. The former Governor of Massachussets told US TV last night that there were “disconcerting” stories about Britain’s readiness and it was hard to know “just how well it ... will turn out”. Speaking from the Tower of London, the US anchor Brian Williams asked: “In the short time you’ve been here in London, do they look ready to your experienced eye?” Mr Romney replied: “You know, it’s hard to know just how well it will turn out. There are a few things that were disconcerting, the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials, that obvious	east JerusalemUnited States and United Kingdom spokespeople have added to criticism from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that Israel's decision to authorise a further 900 homes in east Jerusalem will "undermine efforts for peace and cast doubt on the viability of the two-state solution". A spokesperson for Ban Ki-moon stated, "The Secretary-General deplores the Government of Israel’s decision today to expand Gilo settlement, built on Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 war." The US rebuked Israel for their decision. "We are dismayed at the Jerusalem planning committee's decision to move forward on the approval process for the expansion of Gilo in Jerusalem," said White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs. "At a time when we are working to relaunch negotiations, these actions make it more difficult for our efforts to succeed," he said, referring to the attempts by the US to lead the peace process. "Neither party should engage in efforts or take actions that could unilaterally pre-empt, or appear to pre-empt, negotiations." US Department of State spokesperson Ian Kelly added, "We object to this, and we object to other Israeli practices in Jerusalem related to housing, including the continuing pattern of evictions and demolitions of Palestinian homes." The British consulate in Jerusalem issued a statement on behalf of Foreign Secretary David Miliband that read, "The Foreign Secretary has been very clear that a credible deal involves Jerusalem as a shared capital. Expanding settlements on occupied land in East Jerusalem makes that deal much harder. So this decision is wrong and we oppose it." According to Israel Army Radio, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a request from the US Middle East envoy George Mitchell on Monday to halt building in the area on the grounds that that Gilo was "an integral part of Jerusalem". "Prime Minister Netanyahu … is willing to adopt the policy of the greatest possible restraint concerning growth in the West Bank, but this applies to the West Bank," said the Prime Minister's spokesperson Mark Regev. "Jerusalem is Israel's capital and will remain as such." Following the suspension of peace talks last year, the Palestinian National Authority has demanded a halt to all construction of settlements before it will return to negotiations. President Mahmud Abbas said that the breakdown in talks left him with no choice but to seek international recognition of a Palestinian state unilaterally, despite requests from the United States and the European Union to resume peace talks. "We feel we are in a very difficult situation," he said in Cairo after talks with his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak. "What is the solution for us? To remain suspended like this, not in peace? That is why I took this step." This comes as another blow to United States President Barack Obama, whose attempts at brokering a deal to halt settlement expansion are meeting with little success. With the credibility of the US leader diminishing, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has recently started meeting with a number of Middle East leaders in the past week, attempting to reconcile with Syria and meeting with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
E-mail this page Printer friendly LIBRARY AFRICA SOUTHERN AFRICA ZIMBABWE AI Index: AFR 46/008/2006 31 May 2006 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE AI Index: AFR 46/008/2006 ( Public ) News Service No: 139 31 May 2006 Embargo Date: 31 May 2006 00:01 GMT Zimbabwe: Satellite images provide shocking evidence of the obliteration of a community Amnesty International today released the first-ever satellite images of the wholesale destruction of a large community in Zimbabwe -- providing the clearest possible evidence to date of the devastating impact of the Zimbabwean government's policy of house demolitions. "These satellite images are irrefutable evidence -- if further evidence is even needed -- that the Zimbabwean government has obliterated entire communities -- completely erased them from the map, as if they never existed," said Kolawole Olaniyan, Director of Amnesty International's Africa programme. The organization commissioned the satellite images to demonstrate the complete destruction of Porta Farm -- a large, informal settlement that was established 16 years ago and had schools, a children's centre and a mosque. The organization also released graphic video footage showing the forced evictions taking place prior to the demolitions. "The images and footage are a graphic indictment of the Zimbabwean government's policies. They show the horrifying transition of an area from a vibrant community to rubble and shrubs -- in the space of just ten months," said Kolawole Olaniyan. On 27 June 2005, approximately one month after the start of Operation Murambatsvina ("Restore Order"), police officers came to Porta Farm and distributed fliers telling residents to pack up their property and leave their homes. The police told the residents they would be back the following morning, giving them less than 24 hours to comply. Early in the morning of 28 June, a convoy of vehicles and police descended on Porta Farm. The police were heavily armed. Residents watched helplessly as bulldozers and police officers in riot gear reduced their homes to rubble. Police officers reportedly threatened the residents, saying anyone who resisted eviction would be beaten. The destruction of Porta Farm went on all day -- only ending when darkness fell. Thousands of people were forced to sleep outside in the rubble in mid-winter. The next day, the police returned to continue with the demolitions. They also began to forcibly remove people on the back of trucks. The Porta Farm evictions took place while the UN Special Envoy, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, was in Zimbabwe. On 29 June members of the Special Envoy’s team visited Porta Farm and witnessed demolitions and forced removal of people in police and government trucks. The subsequent report of the UN Special Envoy describes how the team was "shocked by the brutality" of what they witnessed. Local human rights monitors reported that during the chaos several deaths occurred, including those of two children. Background In May 2005 the government of Zimbabwe embarked on Operation Murambatsvina (Restore Order), a programme of mass forced evictions and the demolition of homes and informal businesses. The operation, which was carried out in winter and against a backdrop of severe food shortages, targeted poor urban and peri-urban areas countrywide. In a critical report released on 22 July 2005 the United Nations (UN) estimated that in the space of approximately six weeks some 700,000 people lost their homes, their livelihoods, or both. The communities affected by Operation Murambatsvina were amongst the poorest and most vulnerable in Zimbabwe. In several cases, such as Porta Farm, they had been the victims of previous forced evictions carried out by the authorities. They were given almost no notice before their homes were demolished and no alternative accommodation was provided. The government stated publicly that the evictees should go back to the rural areas. The satellite images released by Amnesty International were analysed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, with funding from the MacArthur Foundation in the US. Amnesty International today released the first-ever satellite images of the wholesale destruction of a large community in Zimbabwe -- providing the clearest possible evidence to date of the devastating impact of the Zimbabwean government's policy of house demolitions."These satellite images are irrefutable evidence -- if further evidence is even needed -- that the Zimbabwean government has obliterated entire communities -- completely erased them from the map, as if they never existed," said Kolawole Olaniyan, Director of Amnesty International's Africa programme.The organization commissioned the satellite images to demonstrate the complete destruction of Porta Farm -- a large, informal settlement that was established 16 years ago and had schools, a children's centre and a mosque. The organization also released graphic video footage showing the forced evictions taking place prior to the demolitions."The images and footage are a graphic indictment of the Zimbabwean government's policies. They show the horrifying transition of an area from a vibrant community to rubble and shrubs -- in the space of just ten months," said Kolawole Olaniyan.On 27 June 2005, approximately one month after the start of Operation Murambatsvina ("Restore Order"), police officers came to Porta Farm and distributed fliers telling residents to pack up their property and leave their homes. The police told the residents they would be back the following morning, giving them less than 24 hours to comply.Early in the morning of 28 June, a convoy of vehicles and police descended on Porta Farm. The police were heavily armed.Residents watched helplessly as bulldozers and police officers in riot gear reduced their homes to rubble. Police officers reportedly threatened the residents, saying anyone who resisted eviction would be beaten. The destruction of Porta Farm went on all day -- only ending when darkness fell. Thousands of people were forced to sleep outside in the rubble in mid-winter.The next day, the police returned to continue with the demolitions. They also began to forcibly remove people on the back of trucks.The Porta Farm evictions took place while the UN Special Envoy, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, was in Zimbabwe. On 29 June members of the Special Envoy’s team visited Porta Farm and witnessed demolitions and forced removal of people in police and government trucks. The subsequent report of the UN Special Envoy describes how the team was "shocked by the brutality" of what they witnessed. Local human rights monitors reported that during the chaos several deaths occurred, including those of two children.In May 2005 the government of Zimbabwe embarked on Operation Murambatsvina (Restore Order), a programme of mass forced evictions and the demolition of homes and informal businesses. The operation, which was carried out in winter and against a backdrop of severe food shortages, targeted poor urban and peri-urban areas countrywide.In a critical report released on 22 July 2005 the United Nations (UN) estimated that in the space of approximately six weeks some 700,000 people lost their homes, their livelihoods, or both.The communities affected by Operation Murambatsvina were amongst the poorest and most vulnerable in Zimbabwe. In several cases, such as Porta Farm, they had been the victims of previous forced evictions carried out by the authorities. They were given almost no notice before their homes were demolished and no alternative accommodation was provided. The government stated publicly that the evictees should go back to the rural areas.The satellite images released by Amnesty International were analysed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, with funding from the MacArthur Foundation in the US. Public Document **************************************** For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566 Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW. web: http://www.amnesty.org For latest human rights news view http://news.amnesty.org AI Index: AFR 46/008/2006 31 May 2006 E-mail this page Printer friendly Further information AI Report 2005 entry Back to Top \|\|\|\|\| Zimbabwe: The destruction of Porta Farm EMBARGOED FOR TRANSMISSION UNTIL 00.01 HRS GMT, 31 MAY 2006. These images are available for download under the following terms and conditions - They must always be properly credited as shown They must not be sold or used commercially Any queries please contact [email protected] Before After © Digital Globe, Inc. © Digital Globe, Inc. Satellite image of Porta Farm, Zimbabwe, 22 June 2002 Satellite image of Porta Farm, Zimbabwe, 6 April 2006 To download a high resolution version of the images below, please right click on the image and select "Save Target As" (Internet Explorer)/"Save Link As" (Firefox/Netscape). Watch a preview of the news access tape . To order a copy of this footage please contact Amnesty International +44 207 413 5566.Press release: Zimbabwe: Satellite images provide shocking evidence of the obliteration of a community Back to Top \|\|\|\|\| The human rights group Amnesty International today released satellite images apparently showing the complete destruction of a settlement that once housed 10,000 people in Zimbabwe. The images of Porta Farm on the outskirts of the capital city, Harare, were taken four years apart and show only trees and plants where the buildings and roads of a thriving town once stood. Kolawole Olaniyan, the director of Amnesty's Africa programme, said the pictures provided the clearest evidence yet of the impact of the Zimbabwean government's policy of demolishing "illegal" urban settlements. "These satellite images are irrefutable evidence, if further evidence is even needed, that the Zimbabwean government has obliterated entire communities - completely erased them from the map, as if they never existed," he said. Amnesty commissioned the images from the commercial satellite imagery provider Digital Globe, which has also provided images of Iran's nuclear sites. The human rights group also released footage filmed secretly by a contact in Zimbabwe, which shows homes being reduced to rubble by bulldozers and police helping homeless families load their possessions on to trucks. "The images and footage are a graphic indictment of the Zimbabwean government's policies," said Mr Olaniyan. "They show the horrifying transition of an area from a vibrant community to rubble and shrubs." The first picture, taken in June 2002, shows a large, informal settlement of houses and other buildings with roads crossing between them and areas of farmland on the edge of the town. The second picture, taken in April 2006, shows plots now empty of buildings and overgrown with plants and trees. The only sign of previous human habitation is a grid of old roadways. An analysis of the images carried out by the American Association for the Advancement of Science found that there were 850 structures in the earlier picture, virtually all of which were removed. Porta Farm, west of Harare in the north-east of the country, was established 16 years ago and had schools, a children's centre and a mosque. Tiseke Kasambala, from Human Rights Watch, said many of those living in the settlement had moved there after previous rounds of evictions in the 1990s. "The people in Porta Farm had a long history of evictions," she said. "It was a town where kids went to school, families accessed medical services, where people lived their daily lives. "These images show starkly how an entire settlement of 10,000 people was destroyed in a couple of days. The issue is, where are these people now? How are they surviving?" According to both Amnesty and Human Rights Watch, police officers arrived in Porta Farm in June last year and gave out flyers telling residents to pack their belongings and leave their homes within 24 hours. The next morning, armed police arrived and bulldozers began destroying buildings. Some residents have said they were threatened and told they would be beaten if they resisted eviction. Within days the town had been razed to the ground. Members of the United Nations special envoy's team, which witnessed the demolitions and people being forcibly removed in the backs of trucks, said they were "shocked by the brutality" of the scenes. In a subsequent report, the team said the operation had "precipitated a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions" and called on the Zimbabwean government to recognise a "virtual state of emergency". Local human rights groups reported that several deaths occurred during the chaos, including those of two children. Thousands of people have been internally displaced as part of President Robert Mugabe's crackdown on homes in urban areas that the authorities say are illegal. Known as Operation Murambatsvina, translated as Operation Restore Order, the programme of mass forced eviction and the demolition of homes and informal businesses appears to be aimed at forcibly relocating the urban poor to rural areas. Human Rights Watch said the government had denied displaced people basic assistance, including shelter, food, sanitation and health services. A report by the UN in July 2005 estimated that 700,000 people had lost their homes, their livelihoods, or both, in a period of just six weeks last year and that about 570,000 were internally displaced. \|\|\|\|\| June 1, 2006 Amnesty International has released satellite images showing the obliteration of a large settlement during last year's clearances in Zimbabwe that made 700,000 people homeless. The graphic before and after shots released yesterday show the destruction of the Porta Farm settlement 20 kilometres west of Harare that was until last year home to up to 10,000 people. Where once stood 850 structures including homes and schools is now scrub with only the outlines of the former streets. "These images are a graphic indictment of the Zimbabwe Government's policies. They show the horrifying transition of an area from a vibrant community to rubble and shrubs," the human rights group's Africa director, Kolawole Olaniyan, said. The pictures from Digital Globe were acquired and analysed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and given to Amnesty. The Zimbabwe Government said it launched Operation Restore Order in May last year to remove illegal settlements. It was widely condemned as brutal and inhumane, and critics accused Robert Mugabe's regime of using it as an excuse to victimise opposition strongholds. Amnesty, noting that regime supporters also lost homes, said the clearances and forced dispersal of the inhabitants back to rural villages was at the behest of the security services who feared unrest in the settlements. Inflation in the former breadbasket of Africa is running officially at 1040 per cent - but unofficially at 1800 per cent - and 90 per cent of the population are below the poverty line. Average life expectancy is just 34 years compared with 55 in 1980. Porta Farm was set up by the Government in 1991 as a temporary home for thousands of squatters whose shacks were demolished in Harare before a Commonwealth summit. The settlement expanded over the years as poverty drove people from the capital to eke out a living on neighbouring farms. Reuters	Human rights group Amnesty International has released satellite images showing how the Zimbabwean community of Porta Farm, which once housed some 10,000 people, has been completely destroyed. Taken in 2002 and 2006, the photos starkly contrast the previous built-up area with the empty scrubland that remains. According to Amnesty International, residents of Porta Farm were given less than 24 hours notice to leave their homes. Human rights monitors reported that several people died in the chaotic environment of the ensuing demolitions and forced evictions. Two children were reportedly among the dead. Zimbabwe's forced evictions programme (called Operation Murambatsvina) has been widely condemned both within Zimbabwe and beyond. A 2005 report on Operation Murambatsvina by United Nations Special Envoy Anna Tibaijuka estimated that it has cost 700,000 people their homes or livelihoods. She was present at Porta Farm during the second day of its demolition, and was shocked by the brutality of the evictions. Residents of Porta Farm had fought eviction in the past, winning judgements from the High Court of Zimbabwe that they should not be evicted unless the government provided suitable alternative accommodation. However the High Court dismissed a contempt of court action that attempted to stop the 2005 evictions, giving no reason. The Zimbabwean government (led by President Robert Mugabe) says that the programme is in the public interest and was not against the law. It has denied responsibility for the deaths.
Singapore, 21 July 2008 Today, the Government of the Union of Myanmar, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations (UN) released the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) report. This assessment – commissioned as part of the tri-partite cooperation between the Government of the Union of Myanmar, ASEAN and the United Nations – provides the first comprehensive picture and objective analysis of the devastating impact on the people in the Ayeyarwady Delta and Yangon affected by Cyclone Nargis, which struck Myanmar on 02 and 03 May and killed over 84,530 people, with a further 53,836 still reported missing. Cyclone Nargis was the most devastating natural disaster in Myanmar’s history, and the assessment of damage and losses confirms a similar scale of impact to that of the Indian Ocean Tsunami in Indonesia in 2004, especially at the household and community level. The cyclone and resulting storm surge destroyed about 450,000 homes and damaged 350,000 others. 75 per cent of health facilities in the affected areas were destroyed or severely damaged, together with around 4,000 schools. The cyclone wiped out the livelihoods of families overnight, flooding over 600,000 hectares of agricultural land, killing up to 50 per cent of draught animals, destroying fishing boats and sweeping away food stocks and agricultural implements. This has left households extremely vulnerable – in mid-June, 55 per cent reported having only one day of food stocks or less, and have relied in part on the steady flow of relief supplies. The total economic losses amount to about 2.7% of the projected 2008 GDP, with the effects of the cyclone concentrated on a region important for agriculture and fishing in Myanmar. National, regional and international responders have been working since early May to urgently bring assistance to the affected communities, especially the most vulnerable groups, in the face of continuing logistical and operational challenges. The PONJA Report provides a broad and objective framework of the scale, scope and priority areas where assistance is needed to help the people of the Delta recover from this traumatic and devastating event. Recovery needs, which are estimated at just over a total of US$1 billion over the next 3 years, include the most urgent priorities of significant food, agriculture, housing, basic services and support to communities for restoring their livelihoods and rebuilding assets. The relief and early recovery activities presented in the revised Appeal issued on 10 July by the UN are designed to meet these urgent priorities in the coming months until April 2009, for which some USD 303.6 million is being requested. “While significant progress has been made to date, we are still in the relief phase of this aid operation,” said John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. “Nearly three months after Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar, the Government and its humanitarian partners are continuing to assist the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable communities,” Holmes emphasised. "That said, funding for parallel early recovery activities also is needed to urgently restore sustainable livelihoods, ensure access to basic services, and help revitalize communities”. Significant efforts and cost are projected for housing, education, restoring livelihoods and religious buildings over the next three years. According to consultations with communities during the assessment process, schools and religious centres are the most urgent rebuilding priorities, while assistance for repairs and grants for livelihoods are the highest priority for immediate assistance. Over 90 per cent of these needs are at the community level and can be addressed through community-based approaches. The indicative estimate of recovery needs and costs is preliminary and will need to be updated over time, reflecting the experience of other natural disasters in the region which demonstrate the importance of refining assessments and recovery plans at a sectoral level. This is the first time that ASEAN has played such a leading role in responding to a natural disaster affecting one of its Member States. ASEAN facilitated and coordinated international assistance to the survivors of the cyclone as well as the conduct of this assessment. At their special meeting on 19 May, ASEAN Foreign Ministers established the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force for the Victims of Cyclone Nargis, headed by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, which works closely with the United Nations and the Myanmar Government to coordinate international assistance. Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Surin Pitsuwan said, “By linking hands with the UN, the international NGOs, and the rest of the world, ASEAN has shown how international humanitarian cooperation can work to help bring relief and assistance to the victims of Cyclone Nargis. At the same time, ASEAN is putting into action its pledge to build a caring and sharing community.” Dr Surin added, “This PONJA Report is but one of the many steps needed to help the Nargis victims recover from the devastation. The road to recovery will be long and more post-PONJA activities will be needed to help the affected communities get back on their feet again. The international community has expressed their support that ASEAN continues its presence in Myanmar for the relief and early recovery phase in the next 12 months.” The Tripartite Core Group, a working level mechanism, brings together ASEAN, the Myanmar Government, and the United Nations to provide guidance and address issues related to the response effort. This joint assessment and strong coordination mechanism will provide the foundation for the enormous efforts still required to help the affected population recover from the cyclone. As well as providing the basis for the way forward, the PONJA assessment also identifies a number of principles that should guide relief and recovery efforts, including building local capacity, monitoring delivery, quality and impact of aid, and involving communities at all stages of the relief and recovery process. Applying these principles as part of a continued inclusive process between the Myanmar Government, the international community and local communities will be essential to meet the needs of the cyclone-affected population and to help build the resilience of Myanmar communities to prepare for and face future disasters. The full PONJA report is available online at: www.asean.org/21765.pdf and http://yangon.unic.org For further information, please contact: Linda Lee Public Affairs Office of the ASEAN Secretariat Tel: +62-21-7262991, 7243372 Email: [email protected] Adelina Kamal Head, Coordinating Office for the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force (AHTF), Yangon Tel: +95-1-544500 ext. 417 [email protected] Dawn Blalock OCHA New York Tel. +1-917-367-5126 [email protected] John Nyaga Tel. +1 917-367-9262 [email protected] Laksmita Noviera OCHA Myanmar Tel: +95-9-516-3898 [email protected] \|\|\|\|\| (Updates with Singapore, Myanmar comments) SINGAPORE, July 21 (Reuters) - Recovery from a cyclone that tore into Myanmar’s Irrawaddy delta in May, leaving at least 138,000 dead or missing, will cost more than $1 billion, a report by the United Nations and Southeast Asian nations concluded. The estimate, released on Monday at a meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), covers the most urgent needs such as food, agriculture and housing for the next three years. "It’s a relief to confirm there is no mass starvation, or outbreaks of epidemics," Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo told a news briefing. "But there is a need for help — we need money, we need assistance." He said the country would need everything from clean water and building works to boats, fishing nets and buffaloes. The United Nations appealed earlier this month for more than $300 million in additional aid for the former Burma, on top of $178 million already provided by donors. "While significant progress has been made to date, we are still in the relief phase for this aid operation," John Holmes, U.N. under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, told reporters. Holmes is due to visit Myanmar for three days this week to check on aid delivery to the isolated country that initially shut out foreign relief workers after the deadly cyclone. Myanmar’s secretive military government lifted restrictions on foreign aid workers after a visit in late May by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "We wish to express our gratitude to the international community," Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win said at the briefing. He said that the destruction had been so immense the country alone could not cope with relief. "The response from the international community was quite overwhelming." (Reporting by Jan Dahinten, Melanie Lee and Neil Chatterjee; Editing by Roger Crabb) \|\|\|\|\| Many still need help after Burma's worst ever disaster Relief and reconstruction work in Burma after Cyclone Nargis will cost at least $1bn (£500m), according to the UN and the regional body Asean. The figure is in a report released at Asean's annual meeting in Singapore. It is the first comprehensive assessment of the damage caused by the cyclone on 3-4 May, which is believed to have killed 130,000 people. Burma's ruling generals were criticised in the wake of the cyclone for being slow to accept international aid. Asean has already played a key part in helping to facilitate exchanges between Burma's ruling junta and international donors. Enormous task Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan told a news conference that the three parties involved in the report - the UN, Asean and the Burmese government - needed at least $1bn to deal with "a tragedy of immense proportions". The estimated figure covers the most urgent needs such as food, agriculture and housing for the next three years. "The task ahead is clearly enormous and will take a lot of time, a lot of effort," Mr Surin said. READ THE ASEAN REPORT Post-Nargis Joint Assessment [3.5Mb] Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download the reader here "While significant progress has been made to date, we are still in the relief phase for this aid operation," added the UN humanitarian chief John Holmes. The report outlines the scale of the cyclone - Burma's worst ever disaster - and estimates that it destroyed 450,000 homes, damaged 350,000 others, flooded 600,000 hectares of agricultural land and destroyed 60% of farming implements. About 75% of hospitals and clinics in the area were destroyed or badly damaged. 'Deep disappointment' Burma's military rulers are under the spotlight as delegates convene at the Asean meeting. Asean is normally reluctant to criticise member states On Sunday, delegates issued a rare statement criticising the isolated nation, urging it to release political prisoners. They expressed "deep disappointment" over the junta's one-year extension of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's detention. In the past, the bloc has been accused of being too reluctant to speak out about the internal affairs of its member states. The other issue on the agenda at the Asean meeting on Monday was the escalating tension between two other member states - Thailand and Cambodia - over ownership of the area around the ancient temples of Preah Vihear. "The situation has escalated dangerously, with troops from both sides faced off on disputed territory near the Preah Vihear temple," Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told delegates in his opening speech. He added that he had received assurances from both countries that they would exercise "utmost restraint" and abide by international laws to resolve the issue amicably. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these?	Cyclone Nargis caused an unprecedented level of destruction According to a new report released jointly by the Government of the Myanmar, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations (UN), the cost of providing aid and funding reconstruction after Cyclone Nargis will be US $1 billion over the next three years. ASEAN said in a press release that Cyclone Nargis was the "most devastating natural disaster in Myanmar’s history". They also say that the cyclone had a "similar scale of impact to that of the Indian Ocean Tsunami in Indonesia in 2004". 84,530 died in the cyclone and 53,836 remain missing. The study also reported that a high number of families are in need of shelter due to the destruction of their property by the cyclone. It says that 57% of people had their home completely destroyed by the cyclone, whilst only 2% of people had no damage to their home. On May 9, the United Nations requested $187 million in aid for Myanmar, but this figure has increased as the full extent of the damage has been revealed. The amount of donations were several times bigger than the requested amount. By 15 June, around 12 billion kyat, or two billion dollars in donations had already been received by the government of Myanmar, according to the report.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement More than 90 lorries supplying US forces in Afghanistan have been set on fire in a suspected militant attack in north-west Pakistan, police say. Police said at least one person was killed as about 300 gunmen using rockets overpowered the guards at a terminal near the city of Peshawar. Some of the lorries were laden with Humvee armoured vehicles. There have been a series of attacks on convoys recently - although not on this scale, says the BBC's Martin Patience. The road from Peshawar to Afghanistan is a major supply route for US and Western forces battling against the Taleban. A US spokesman, Lt Col Rumi Nielsen-Green, said the incident was "militarily insignificant". "So far there hasn't been a significant loss or impact to our mission," she said. But, with 300 lorries crossing the border each day, military officials will be deeply concerned that their supply line can be disrupted in this manner, our correspondent in the Afghan capital, Kabul, says. US military sources say that most of the additional US troops being sent to Afghanistan early next year will be deployed around the city. Overpowered guards The attack occurred around 0230 on Sunday (2130 GMT, Saturday) as militants stormed the Port World Logistics terminal. "There were dozens of them. They started firing, they used rockets, causing a lot of damage," the manager of the depot, Kifyatullah Khan, told the Associated Press news agency. "In this incident 96 flat trucks and six containers were destroyed, including a 40-foot container. Also armoured jeeps, trucks and fire brigade vehicles." "They were shouting Allahu Akbar (God is Great) and Down With America," a security guard told Reuters news agency. "They broke into the terminals after snatching guns from us," Mohammad Rafiullah said. Another report said 106 lorries had been set on fire - 62 laden with Humvees. A local official said it was the second attack on the terminals and security had been strengthened, but the guards were overwhelmed by the large numbers of attackers. War closer Security along the road leading to the border has deteriorated this year with soldiers recently carrying out an offensive in the Khyber region to drive militants away from the outskirts of Peshawar, the main city in the north-west. Hauliers say that more than 350 trucks carry an average of 7,000 tonnes of goods over the Khyber Pass to Kabul every day. Almost 75% of all supplies for Nato forces in Afghanistan come through Pakistan, the majority through Peshawar. Last month, militants looted 12 lorries carrying Humvees and food aid as they travelled through the Khyber Pass. The Taleban filmed themselves triumphantly driving off with their booty of Nato vehicles. The alliance's supplies heading for the border were suspended for a week while security was stepped up. Militants posed for photos alongside the stolen Humvee armoured cars Lorry drivers are also under increasing threat by the militants. Haji Haghaley showed his bullet-riddlled vehicle to the BBC's Damian Grammaticas last month, days after it had come under Taleban fire. Haji Haghaley said he had driven as fast as he could. Another driver told the BBC what had happened to his cousin recently. "He was carrying US army trucks, and the Taleban stopped him," the man said. "The Taleban burnt his truck. They took my cousin. They demanded 10 lakh rupees in ransom ($11,500), but then lowered it to 35,000 rupees ($400)." Our correspondent says Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, was also under militant threat. The war is pushing the Taleban deeper into Pakistan, he says. In recent weeks there have been a spate of attacks targeting foreigners there. An American diplomat escaped an assassination attempt because her armoured car protected her, but a US aid worker was killed in a second attack. The police have stepped up security in the city, there are new checkpoints, more armed patrols. But Peshawar's police say they are outgunned and ill-equipped for the fight on their hands. In the past, Western and Afghan officials have criticised the Pakistani government, saying it is not doing enough to tackle Islamic militancy in the tribal areas. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Authorities in Pakistan say that scores of suspected Taliban militants attacked and destroyed more than 100 trucks loaded with supplies and military vehicles for NATO and U.S troops in neighboring Afghanistan. A security guard was also killed in the attack. Rows of destroyed Humvees and military trucks are seen at the Portward Logistic Terminal in Peshawar, Pakistan, Sunday, 07 Dec. 2008 The pre-dawn Taliban raid took place at a logistics terminal in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar where dozens of trucks carrying Humvees and other military vehicles were parked. The terminal manager, Kifayatullah Khan, tells VOA there were a total of 106 vehicles and the heavily armed men destroyed all of them before fleeing the scene. "There were around 300 people who came and attacked the terminal. They first fired on our main gate with a rocket, damaging the gate and making their entrance," Khan said. "When they entered the terminal they started firing in different directions. One of our security guards was killed in the incident." More than 70 percent of supplies for NATO and U.S forces stationed in landlocked Afghanistan are trucked through Peshawar after they are unloaded from ships at the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi. But the supplies have come under frequent attacks by Taliban militants at logistic terminals in and around Peshawar as well as while passing through the Khyber Pass. Pakistani authorities suspended traffic through the Khyber Pass for several days in November after militants hijacked more than a dozen trucks on the their way to Afghanistan. Sunday's raid is being described by many in the region as the most serious of the recent such attacks. It has fueled concerns that Taliban militants are tightening their hold in and around Peshawar and could choke the supply route. The U.S military says its losses in the latest raid will have only a "minimal" impact on its operations against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. Pakistan is a close ally in the U.S-led war against terrorism. Its troops are engaged in anti-Taliban operations in the volatile tribal areas bordering Afghanistan where militants have their strongholds. Insurgents have retaliated by launching suicide and other attacks, killing hundreds of Pakistani security personnel as well as civilians. \|\|\|\|\| Rows of destroyed Humvees and military trucks are seen at the Portward Logistic Terminal in Peshawar, Pakistan, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008. Militants blasted their way into two transport terminals in Pakistan on Sunday and torched more than 160 vehicles destined for U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan, in the biggest assault yet on a vital military supply line. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad) More than 160 US, NATO vehicles burned in Pakistan PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Militants blasted their way into two transport terminals in Pakistan on Sunday and torched more than 160 vehicles destined for U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan, in the biggest assault yet on a vital military supply line, officials said. The U.S. military said its losses in the raid near the northwestern city of Peshawar would have only a "minimal" impact on its operations against resurgent Taliban-led militants in Afghanistan. However, the attack's boldness will fuel concern that Taliban militants are tightening their hold around Peshawar and could choke the supply route through the famed Khyber Pass. Up to 75 percent of supplies for Western forces in landlocked Afghanistan pass through Pakistan after being unloaded from ships at the Arabian sea port of Karachi. NATO is already seeking an alternative route through Central Asia. The attack at the Portward Logistic Terminal reduced a section of the vast walled compound to a smoldering junkyard. Terminal manager Kifayatullah Khan said armed men flattened the gate before dawn with a rocket-propelled grenade, shot dead a guard and set fire to a total of 106 vehicles, including about 70 Humvees. An Associated Press reporter who visited the depot saw six rows of destroyed Humvees and military trucks parked close together, some of them on flatbed trailers, all of them gutted and twisted by the flames. Khan said shipping documents showed they were destined for U.S. forces and the Western-trained Afghan National Army. The attackers fled after a brief exchange of fire with police, who arrived about 40 minutes later, Khan said. The nine other guards who were on duty but stood helplessly aside put the number of assailants at 300, Khan said, though police official Kashif Alam said there were only 30. At the nearby Faisal depot, manager Shah Iran said 60 vehicles destined for Afghanistan as well as three Pakistani trucks were burned in a similar assault. It was unclear if one or two bands of gunmen were involved. The attack was the latest in a series that have highlighted the vulnerability of the supply route to the spreading power of the Taliban and other Islamic militants in the border region. Suspected insurgents also attacked the Faisal terminal last week and burned 12 trucks loaded with NATO supplies, including several Humvees. Two guards were shot dead. In November, militants made off with a Humvee during a raid on the treacherous road from Peshawar to the Afghan border and showed it off later to reporters at a militant stronghold further south. The U.S. military in Afghanistan said in a statement that an unspecified number of its containers were destroyed in the attack but that their loss would have "minimal effect on our operations." "It's militarily insignificant," U.S. spokeswoman Lt. Col. Rumi Nielsen-Green said. "You can't imagine the volume of supplies that come through there and elsewhere and other ways." "So far there hasn't been a significant loss or impact to our mission," she said. Pakistan halted traffic through the Khyber Pass for several days in November while it arranged for troops to guard the slow-moving convoys. Shahedullah Baig, a spokesman for the interior minister in Islamabad, insisted Sunday that the extra security covered the terminals. "They are fully protected, but in this kind of situation such incidents happen," Baig said. However, Khan, the depot manager, said that was untrue, and there were only a handful of police at the terminals on Sunday afternoon. Khan said his business, which handles some 600 truckloads a month for foreign troops in Afghanistan, had received repeated threats. He didn't want to discuss whom they were from for fear of incurring further wrath. "We don't feel safe here at all," he said. "It is almost impossible for us to continue with this business." Peshawar has seen a surge in violence in recent weeks, including the slaying of an American working on a U.S.-funded aid project. The city lies close to the lawless tribal regions along the Afghan border, where Osama bin Laden and other top al-Qaida leaders are believed to be hiding. On Saturday, a car bomb detonated in a busy market area of the city, killing 29 people and injuring 100 more. The blast wrecked a Shiite Muslim mosque and a hotel, but the motive and culprits remained unclear. The instability in Pakistan's northwest coincides with serious tensions with its eastern neighbor India in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai. New Delhi blames the attack, which killed 171 people, on an Islamic militant group fighting Indian rule in the disputed Kashmir region, heightening tension between the nuclear-armed neighbors that could distract Pakistan from its role in helping the U.S. fight terrorism. Associated Press writers Zarar Khan in Islamabad and Heigi Vogt and Jason Straziuso in Kabul contributed to this report.	Peshawar District (highlighted in yellow) is in Pakistan's North-West Frontier ProvincePakistani officials have reported that vehicles supplying NATO forces in Afghanistan have been set on fire by suspected militants. The attack occurred in the northwestern city of Peshawar which lies on Pakistan's North-Western frontier at 0230 local time. Sources claim that more than 250 gunmen using rockets, grenades and AK-47s overpowered the guards setting the Humvees on fire. The Pakistani officials claim that 96 trucks, 70 Humvees and 6 containers were destroyed. In November this year, 12 lorries carrying Humvees were captured by the militants in the famous Khyber Pass. The convoy was also carrying food and aid to the NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Why did this happen? Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy. \|\|\|\|\| AUSTRALIA'S cricket selectors are ready to slap a "not negotiable" sign on Michael Clarke's place for the remainder of the Ashes series after he subdued an England uprising yesterday. By securing his spot in the Australian batting line-up with his third Test century, Clarke also stepped up yesterday as the obvious man to replace Ricky Ponting as captain in years to come. A slow-moving Adelaide Test may yet have a dramatic punchline today with Shane Warne set to challenge the tourists' top order on a wicket just starting to yield threatening turn. Australia were bowled out for 513 _ a deficit of 38 – and England were 1-59 at stumps, a lead of 97. With a brilliant 124 yesterday following his 56 in Brisbane, Clarke has cemented the Test place he lost last year. His form surge has put huge pressure on veteran Damien Martyn, although both could play next week's Perth Test due to lingering fitness doubts over allrounder Shane Watson. While Ponting, 31, will lead Australia for perhaps the next five years, 25-year-old Clarke has emerged as the most likely successor. Former Test captain Steve Waugh liked the look of Clarke yesterday. "He certainly looks more disciplined and hungry," Waugh said. "(The selectors) could not possibly leave him out now." And Test legend Doug Walters said of Clarke: "He's come back a better batsman and he is going to be there a long while. He's a brilliant talent." Neither side is writing off their chances – and Warne will throw everything at England this morning – but bookmakers have already made up their minds with the draw $1.02, Australia $15 and England $61. With captain Andrew Flintoff struggling with an ankle injury, England seems likely to raise the draw bridge allowing Australia to go on the offensive and claim the high ground, if not the match. Australia would need to bowl England out no later than just after lunch to have a realistic shot. "I believe we can win the game," Clarke said after his inspired 124. "Warney is spinning the ball a long way. Any time he is spinning the ball like that the Australian team certainly has hope." Watson has been ruled out of a one-day game for Queensland tomorrow and is rated only a 50-50 chance for the Test. Martyn scored 11 the first innings of this Test, caught in the gully off Matthew Hoggard. The next time he is dropped will be the end of his Test career and he will be hoping it's not on the eve of his home Test. England coach Duncan Fletcher last night declared his team had the bowling firepower to skittle Australia today but Flintoff's ankle niggle is major dampener to their hopes. "We have the bowlers to do it but it is very difficult on this wicket – bowlers and batsmen have struggled," Fletcher said. "We will see how things are going early. "After the result in Brisbane we said would we get back into the series but we have shown a lot of character and come back and played good cricket for four days. "That is important with a useful side. We talk about being consistent for a long period of time." England are not expected to make any audacious moves in the knowledge that a lost Test and a 2-0 deficit could cost them the Ashes. ADELAIDE Oval is poised for its biggest Test match attendance in 47 years. Yesterday's fourth day crowd of 24,552 took the second Ashes Test attendance to 116,406. About 20,000 are expected at the final day today and the SA Cricket Association expects the total crowd to eclipse the 131,728 which attended the January 25-30 Australia-England Test in 1963. \|\|\|\|\| England’s dreams of retaining the Ashes were dealt a savage blow on Tuesday when a dramatic final-day collapse enabled Australia to complete an emphatic six-wicket victory in the second Test. Resuming the final day at the Adelaide Oval 97 runs ahead on 59 for one, England knew that a solid batting performance would all but end Australia’s slim hopes of claiming an unexpected victory. But just as the tourists seemed to have weathered the early pressure, they lost nine wickets for 70 runs to be dismissed for 129 and Australia, chasing a victory target of 168, sealed victory by reaching the total for the loss of four wickets with 19 balls remaining. The shock triumph gives Australia a 2-0 lead in the series and effectively ends England’s hopes of retaining the Ashes as no side in the 123-year history of the compeition has ever come back to level the series after going two behind. Only once in the last 70 years has a team overturned that deficit to win the series – Australia won on home soil in 1936-7 after England claimed a 2-0 advantage – while no side has ever lost a Test with as big a first-innings-declared total as England’s 551 for six. Once again the chief architect of England’s demise was legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne, who finished with figures of four for 49 from 32 overs having claimed incredible figures of 27-11-29-4 bowling unchanged from the Cathedral End all day. It took Warne until the 11th over of the day until he made the breakthrough but the sustained pressure he exerted – restricting England to only 30 runs from 28 overs during the morning session – prompted a stunning collapse. Andrew Strauss was the significant breakthrough when he came down the wicket in the 11th over of the day and, although the ball bounced off his pad to short leg, umpire Steve Bucknor controversially upheld the appeal. Warne’s mastery of control contributed to the next dismissal in his next over with Ian Bell pushing nervously to point. Paul Collingwood raced down for a quick single, only for the Warwickshire batsman to hesitate and Michael Clarke transferred the ball to the non-striker’s end for Warne to complete the run-out. With the tourists rocked by those two setbacks, Warne sealed the third wicket to fall in a 14-ball spell by claiming the key scalp of Kevin Pietersen, bowled around his legs trying to sweep with a delivery which spun enough to clip his off stump. Having decimated the top order, Australia then turned the screw by turning to the pace of Brett Lee who struck in his second over by tempting Andrew Flintoff into a drive outside off stump which he edged behind. Geraint Jones fell in almost identical fashion, this time chasing an even wider delivery which was caught by Matthew Hayden at third slip, while Warne bamboozled Ashley Giles with a sharply-spinning leg break which was edged to Hayden again at slip. Warne claimed his fourth wicket of the innings with a disguised googly which outwitted Matthew Hoggard, who attempted to drive and got an inside edge onto his stumps. Glenn McGrath wrapped up the innings despite last man James Anderson surviving for 41 minutes to leave Australia facing what appeared a stiff victory target. That was underlined with England striking twice in the opening six overs with Justin Langer cutting Matthew Hoggard straight to point and Hayden being brilliantly caught by Collingwood running back to mid-wicket. England were given renewed hope by claiming two wickets in successive overs after Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey forged an 83-run stand off only 91 balls with Giles having the Australian captain caught at extra cover for 49 while Damien Martyn’s struggles continued when he was caught at slip off Flintoff. But Hussey continued to hit an unbeaten 61 and hit the winning runs off James Anderson to complete a remarkable victory in front of a capacity Adelaide Oval crowd.	Australia has clinched a dramatic win in the second 2006-07 Ashes Test match in Adelaide. In a massive swing of dominance and control, England forfeited a huge advantage on the fifth and final day after controlling the Test for the first four. The Adelaide Oval during the fifth and final day of the 2006-07 Ashes Test. England won the toss and batted first on the Adelaide Oval wicket. After losing a couple of early wickets, they recovered to amass 6-551 dec. spanning the opening two days. Paul Collingwood scored a patient 206, whilst teammate Kevin Pietersen built an innings of 158 in a much more brief fashion. In response, Australia began their first innings poorly, losing Matthew Hayden before the close of play on day 2. On the morning of day 3, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn also fell cheaply. However, a captain's effort by Ricky Ponting (142) and support by Michael Clarke (124), as well as cameos by Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne, helped the Aussies to just shy of England's massive total. Matthew Hoggard was the shining light for the visitors, taking 7-109. England resumed the fifth day at 1-59, and the match looked headed for a draw. However, with some magic from Shane Warne, Australia managed to roll England for just 129 in the last over before tea, setting up a thrilling final session run chase. Warne took 4-49, and was backed up well by Glenn McGrath, who took 2-15. Requiring 168 to win off 35 overs, Australia came out firing, scoring quickly before losing both Hayden and Justin Langer early. Ricky Ponting was joined by Michael Hussey, who was promoted to number four, and built a steady partnership before Ponting was dismissed for 49. Damien Martyn then fell cheaply, and Hussey was joined by Michael Clarke to complete the chase. The pair batted through to the total was reached, with Hussey scoring 61 not out. Australia reached the target with 19 balls to spare, at 6:45pm local time. No team had lost after declaring on as high a total batting first as England did in more than 125 years of Tests. As a Nine Network commentator described it, ''"Australia has just won the most extraordinary Test match; however, it was a Test that England should never have lost"''. Prior to the start of play, bookmakers had a draw paying $1.02. Australia now go into the third test at the WACA ground in Perth, Western Australia knowing one more win will reclaim the Ashes urn which they lost for the first time in over a decade in England during 2005.
The Israel authorities decided to organize live broadcasting of the excavations at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem via Internet, as stated by the Press service of the government. The broadcasting is to start on Thursday, February 15, in the evening. To watch the course of the excavations, the Internet users are invited to visit the site of the Israel Antiquities Authority that bears the responsibility for all the archaeological investigations conducted in the country. The representatives of the authorities have almost finished the installation of cameras at the sacred site of Jerusalem. Right now the site offers everyone to watch a video one-reeler in English. It lasts for three minutes and contains the necessary explanations concerning the project given by the leading Israel archaeologist, Gideon Avni. As a matter of the fact, the archaeological investigations and construction work to follow have raised a lot of protest among the Muslims. The critics of the project express their alarm that the excavations that will be followed by the construction of the new bridge for walkers will somehow damage the Islamic sacred site of the Temple Mount including Al-Aqsa Mosque and Qubbat as-Sakhra. As for the Israel authorities, they strongly disagree with such the assumptions and state that the fears have been spread in an attempt to undermine people's trust in the authorities and thus gain political power. The authorities have taken the protests as the project's opponents attempt to manipulate the religious feelings of Israel people. The Temple Mount, also called The Noble Sanctuary by Arabs and Muslims, is located in the Old City of Jerusalem. The first and second Jewish Temples, both destroyed in the past, were erected there. The representatives of Judaism believe that the temple Mount will become the site of the third and the last Temple that will be rebuilt after the coming of the Messiah. It is found on the list of the most contested religious sites worldwide. \|\|\|\|\| Israel denies the excavations threaten al-Aqsa mosque They say live footage will be shown to reassure people that the mosque is not being damaged during the digging. They say the work needs to be completed to replace a walkway, despite angry protests from Muslims around the world. Muslims see the dig as a provocation, and the webcams are unlikely to make much difference, correspondents say. By installing three cameras, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) says it wants to show that this is a proper archaeological work, the BBC's Helen Fawkes in Jerusalem says. SACRED TO MUSLIMS Site of Prophet Muhammad's first prayers and ascent into Heaven, home to al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock SACRED TO JEWS Site of first and second Temples and the rock on which Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice Guide to holy sites Where archaeology is politics Why issue runs deep The IAA says live video images of the excavation will be shown on its website beginning on Thursday. It says the cameras will be filming the area close to the mosque 24 hours a day. But a spokesman for the religious trust which runs al-Aqsa mosque said this was purely cosmetic. He added that instead of putting up cameras, the digging should stop. On Sunday, Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski said construction work on the edge of a compound was suspended to allow public consultations. However, preparatory excavations are continuing, despite riots by Muslim worshippers since the digging began last week. The site is also revered by Jews as the site of their biblical temples.	Israel's administration press-service has said that webcams are being installed at the holy site of the Al Aqsa Mosque-Temple Mount complex in Jerusalem, to enable people to watch excavations at the site over the Internet. Users will be able to watch live the archaeological process and the following construction works from February 15. Excavations at the site were halted on Sunday after protests by Muslims, who feared that the digging and the construction of a new pedestrian bridge in the area can have a negative impact on the al-Aqsa Mosque and the Qubbat as-Sakhra. Last week Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas declared the construction and blockade as "hostile measures" against Muslims. Israeli authorities say that these worries are groundless. They also accuse "irresponsible elements" of manipulating Muslim sentiment in order to gain political mileage. The Internet broadcast is to be set at the official website of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the department responsible for archaeological research within the country. Currently the site includes a three-minute video that explains in English the essence of the project in interpretation of the main archaeologist of Israel – Dr. Gideon Avni, the director of the Excavations and Surveys Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Mr Howard said Senator Hill's exit after almost 25 years in Parliament and 13 years as Liberal Senate leader would be a "huge loss" for the Government. Senator Hill, 59, is expected to become Australia's next ambassador to the United Nations in New York. He and the Prime Minister were coy about the appointment yesterday, insisting no formal offer had yet been made or accepted. But Foreign Minister Alexander Downer yesterday cleared the way for Senator Hill to go to New York by appointing Australia's present ambassador to the UN, career diplomat John Dauth, to be the new high commissioner in New Zealand. Mr Dauth will replace former Defence Department chief Allan Hawke, who was sent to Wellington in 2003 after Senator Hill dumped him as head of the department. Senator Hill yesterday articulated a case for reform of the global body. "This Government believes in collective security, it believes in the commitments of the charter, but it would like to see the UN work efficiently and effectively," he said. Among those with a keen interest in filling his Senate vacancy are moderate Simon Birmingham, and two leading figures in the party's Right faction: former state president Cory Bernardi and Chris Kenny, press secretary for Mr Downer. Federal Sports Minister Rod Kemp has rejected suggestions that he might also quit politics after the Commonwealth Games in March. "I shall be standing for preselection (at the next election)," he said. Amid a Liberal push to slash the number of plum jobs held by Nationals, Mr Howard yesterday rejected criticisms of the size of the junior Coalition partner's stake. "They're not over-represented at all. In fact it's almost statistically precise," he said. Nationals ministers De-Anne Kelly and John Cobb may survive amid concern that demoting them could backfire on party leader Mark Vaile. But pressure remains on Families Minister Kay Patterson and Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone — who was criticised by Labor immigration spokesman Tony Burke yesterday, he deriding her administration as "a turnstile of incompetence". Senator Hill yesterday insisted he was not pushed to resign. "I think it's a great privilege to be able to do it (resign) at a time of my choice when I still think I have some options ahead of me." Senator Hill said there was no pressure on the Prime Minister to retire. "The PM has been enormously successful and he's still enthusiastic and willing to provide the leadership I believe the country wants and needs," he said. He stood by Australia's decision to go to war in Iraq. "The justification, I believe, was valid at the time and I still do now and I suspect that if I am around in 20 years I will believe so then," he said. He would prefer his replacement be a moderate Liberal like himself. "I do think it's important that the Liberal parliamentary party representation reflects what the PM refers to as the broad church of the Liberal Party," he said. Australia Defence Association executive director Neil James said Senator Hill and Labor's Robert Ray were the best defence ministers the nation had had since Vietnam. MINISTERIAL MUSICAL CHAIRS MINISTERS LIKELY TO SHIFT JOBS ■Finance Minister Nick Minchin ■Health Minister Tony Abbott ■Education Minister Brendan Nelson MINISTERS UNDER PRESSURE: ■Veterans' Affairs Minister De-Anne Kelly ■Citizenship Minister John Cobb ■Family and Community Services Minister Kay Patterson ■Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone JUNIORS MINISTERS LIKELY TO BE PROMOTED ■Ageing Minister Julie Bishop ■Assistant Treasurer Mal Brough ■Workforce Participation Minister Peter Dutton NEWCOMERS ON THE RISE ■Victorian MP Andrew Robb ■NSW MP Malcolm Turnbull BACKBENCHERS TIPPED FOR FUTURE ELEVATION ■Victorian MP Tony Smith ■Victorian MP Sophie Panopoulos ■South Australian MP David Fawcett ■Tasmanian MP Michael Ronaldson With TIM COLEBATCH \|\|\|\|\| PM - Friday, 20 January , 2006 18:10:00 Reporter: Louise Yaxley HAMISH FITZSIMMONS: Senator Robert Hill has resigned as Defence Minister and will soon leave Parliament altogether. Speculation has been intense for months, but the South Australian Senator insists he wasn't pushed out. He's tipped to be Australia's next ambassador to the United Nations in New York, but Senator Hill says he hasn't been offered that job yet. The Prime Minister will announce a Cabinet reshuffle next week. And as Louise Yaxley reports, Mr Howard has paid tribute to Senator Hill, saying he's had a remarkably successful and influential career. ROBERT HILL: I've gone grey. You've lost your hair in this time (laughs)… LOUISE YAXLEY: At his farewell media conference, Robert Hill, was good-humoured, even cheeky with journalists. His announcement surprised no one. ROBERT HILL: I've decided to retire from the Parliament after nearly 25 years. I never believed that I would turn out to be the longest-serving leader of my party in the Senate since Federation, that was never my intention, but it's a rather nice thing to reflect upon that my colleagues have supported me in the way that they have for the last 16 years. LOUISE YAXLEY: The Prime Minister interrupted his holiday to praise his long-term colleague and explain how close they've been. JOHN HOWARD: I want to thank Robert for his years of service. I will miss him. He is a loss. He's a valued colleague, a good friend. Robert and I enjoy a very close working relationship. The closeness and the effectiveness of that relationship contributed very significantly to the internal cohesion of the Government. I trusted him totally, and I regularly consulted him on those difficult issues which inevitably arise when a government has been in power such a long period of time. LOUISE YAXLEY: Senator Hill gave no specific reason for leaving and says it's been a difficult decision. ROBERT HILL: The Parliament and political life is almost my comfort zone. LOUISE YAXLEY: But despite the many rumours that have been circulating for months about Senator Hill leaving, he insists he hasn't been forced out. ROBERT HILL: No pressure, no pressure at all, no. LOUISE YAXLEY: It's widely expected that Robert Hill will become the next Australian representative to the UN. Labor's Kevin Rudd attacked the idea. Mr Howard says that's over the top. JOHN HOWARD: The Member for Griffith is being a tad unrealistic and also suffering from a bit of partisan amnesia. LOUISE YAXLEY: And the Opposition Senate leader, Chris Evans, is a little more cautious in his criticism than Kevin Rudd. CHRIS EVANS: This will be the nineteenth political appointment to the diplomatic service. We think that's far too many and that it's to the detriment of professional service. But on another note I'd also add that probably Robert Hill's the best qualified compared to the previous appointments. LOUISE YAXLEY: Political retirements inevitably lead to questions about the Prime Minister's own plans. Robert Hill was waiting for the question and he gave no sign that he thinks John Howard should follow him into retirement. ROBERT HILL: He's still enthusiastic and willing to provide the leadership I believe the country wants and needs. He's fit, he's keen, he's enthusiastic, he's well supported by the Australian people and he's well supported by the parliamentary party. So there's certainly no pressure on him to make a decision. LOUISE YAXLEY: Mr Howard will decide within days how to reshuffle his front bench. The one predictable change is that Nick Minchin is almost certain to replace Robert Hill as Government Senate leader. Senator Minchin's name has also been put forward as a likely candidate to become the next Defence Minister. The Health Minister, Tony Abbott's name has also been speculated on. Labor's Chris Evans says that alarms him. CHRIS EVANS: Putting Tony Abbott in charge of Australia's defence would be a catastrophe. He hasn't shown a maturity of judgment to take on such an important role. LOUISE YAXLEY: Senator Hill has been Defence Minister throughout the war in Iraq. Labor's Chris Evans says it hasn't always been easy for him. CHRIS EVANS: I think Senator Hill was uncomfortable with the position the Government took on Iraq. The real Minister of Defence is Mr Howard, and his close relationship with Mr Bush tends to lead us into a position where we follow the USA into whatever adventure they are pursuing. LOUISE YAXLEY: But as he leaves the job today, Robert Hill says he has no regrets. ROBERT HILL: The justification I believe was valid at the time and I still do now and I suspect if I'm around in 20 years I'll believe so then. HAMISH FITZSIMMONS: Senator Robert Hill ending that report from Louise Yaxley.	right Australian Defence Minister, Liberal Senator Robert Hill, 59, has resigned after almost a quarter of a century in Parliament and confirmed he will retire from the Senate. The Senator has been the longest serving leader of his party in the Upper House since Federation. Robert Murray Hill was elected to the Senate for South Australia in 1980. Having spent 13 years in Opposition, he was appointed Environment Minister when the Howard Government was elected in 1996. He will serve out his final few days in the Senate in the next session of parliament. Prime Minister Howard said Senator Hill's exit after almost 25 years in Parliament and 13 years as Liberal Senate leader would be a "huge loss" for the Government. Mr Hill said it was good to make a decision to leave parliament before he was forced out for other reasons. At his farewell media conference on Friday, he said he has "no regrets." Questioned over the wisdom of Australia's involvement in the Iraq war he said, "...there was a time where we saw defence simply in terms of almost hiding behind the moat. We no longer do that." "We go out and we look after Australia's interests and we become part of an international community that's interested in security and stability, and we're prepared to take risks to achieve those goals," he said. The Australia Defence Association praised his efforts as defence minister, a position he has held since November, 2001. "He's easily the best defence minister of the Howard government and the best, along with (Labor's) Robert Ray since the 1970s," Defence Association spokesman Neil James said. It's widely expected that Robert Hill will become the next Australian representative to the United Nations in New York. Senator Hill yesterday articulated a case for reform of the global body. "This Government believes in collective security, it believes in the commitments of the charter, but it would like to see the UN work efficiently and effectively," he said. The most likely candidates for the defence portfolio are Finance Minister Nick Minchin and Health Minister Tony Abbott.
A MAN accused of driving an armoured personnel carrier (APC) into mobile phone towers in Sydney has been charged with numerous offences. Share this article (What is this?) Police say the 45-year-old man led officers for 90 minutes through six western Sydney suburbs as he crashed the privately-owned APC through fences and into mobile phone towers, telecommunication relay sheds and an electrical sub-station.He was arrested after the APC stalled on its way to damaging a seventh property, police say.Mobile phone services in the area have been disrupted while technicians wait to gain entry to the crime scenes.Police on patrol in Minchinbury noticed APC being used to destroy an electricity substation about 2am (AEST) today.After calling for back-up, they followed the carrier through the suburbs of Mt Druitt, Dharruk, Emerton, Glendenning and Plumpton.The APC left a path of destruction, bringing down a number of mobile phone towers and relay sheds, police said.The pursuit ended in Dean Park after about 90 minutes, when the vehicle stalled as it was being driven towards another mobile phone tower.Police arrested a 45-year-old Dharruk man there and later charged with with numerous offences.They include; six counts of malicious damage, break, enter and steal, predatory driving, possession of a prohibited drug, use of a weapon to avoid apprehension and driving in a dangerous manner.He is due to appear in Parramatta Bail Court later today. NEWS.com.au is not responsible for the content for external internet sites \|\|\|\|\| A MAN has been arrested after an armoured personnel carrier (APC) was taken on a rampage in Sydney's western suburbs. Share this article What is this? Mt Druitt police on patrol discovered the armoured vehicle destroying an electricity substation in Sterling Road, Minchinbury, at about 2am (AEST) today.They followed the APC through several suburbs, including Mt Druitt, Dharruk, Emerton, Glendenning and Plumpton.The APC left a path of destruction, bringing down a number of mobile phone towers and relay sheds, police said.The pursuit ended in Dean Park after about 90 minutes, when the vehicle stalled as it was being driven towards another mobile phone tower.Police arrested a 45-year-old Dharruk man and took him to Mt Druitt Police Station for questioning.Mt Druitt police Chief Inspector Guy Haberley said the man was arrested on his way to damaging a seventh mobile telephone tower."He continued to destroy mobile phone tower communications sheds by crashing through the perimeter fence and colliding with structures causing significant damage,'' Insp Haberley said.It's believed the APC is an old vehicle from a private collection. \|\|\|\|\| Police question rampaging tank driver Posted Police are continuing to question a man who allegedly used a restored army tank to go on a rampage through Sydney's western suburbs overnight. Police say the tank was used to destroy six mobile phone towers in a number of suburbs, including Mt Druitt, Emerton and Plumpton. An electricity sub-station at Minchinbury was also destroyed. Police Chief Inspector Guy Haberley says the driver was finally stopped when his tank stalled as he was driving towards another mobile phone tower. "[It was] certainly unusual, however the best thing was that no public were significantly put into any danger," he said. "The incident occurred between 2:00am and 3:35am, there was limited traffic on the roads and police patrolled it well and managed to avoid any damage to any public or to police."	M113 APC similar to the one used in the rampagePolice have arrested and charged a 45-year-old man from Dharruk in Western Sydney after he went on a 90 minute rampage throughout Western Sydney in an armoured personnel carrier. It is believed that the APC was privately-owned and was recently restored. The man gained attention of the police shortly after 2 a.m. AEST when he was spotted destroying an electricity substation in Minchinbury. The man then led police on a rampage through Mt Druitt, Dharruk, Emerton, Glendenning and Plumpton where he brought down six mobile phone towers and relay sheds. The rampage ended in Dean Park after the APC stalled as it was being driven towards another mobile phone tower. Police moved in and arrested the vehicle's driver. Chief Inspector Guy Haberly from Mount Druitt Police said the man destroyed mobile phone towers by "crashing through the perimeter fence and colliding with structures causing significant damage". The man was reportedly charged with breaking, entering and stealing; predatory driving; six counts of malicious damage; possession of a prohibited drug; use of a weapon to avoid apprehension and driving in a dangerous manner. Police refused the man bail.
Jurors Ask to Review Ebbers Testimony NEW YORK (AP) -- Jurors reviewed testimony from former WorldCom chief Bernard Ebbers for the first time Tuesday but failed to reach a verdict in their third day of deliberations at his fraud trial. The jury of seven women and five men asked in an afternoon note to see transcripts of testimony from Ebbers, 63, who is accused of engineering the $11 billion fraud at WorldCom. On the stand last week, Ebbers claimed he was never made aware that accountants were falsifying books at the company. The defense claims former chief financial officer Scott Sullivan masterminded the fraud. The jury also requested a transcript of Ebbers' cross-examination, during which the ex-CEO said he simply did not notice irregularities in company financial papers that reflected the fraud. The jury asked for Ebbers' testimony as part of a seven-part request. Among the other requests were testimony from Betty Vinson and Troy Normand, two accounting executives who pleaded guilty to taking part in the fraud. Jurors also asked for a list of documents that were seized from Ebbers' office by authorities. Later in the day, the jury reviewed a videotape of Ebbers speaking at a November 2000 conference in which he apologized for the company's poor performance and vowed it would find its way. It was the third video of Ebbers jurors have asked to screen again since deliberations began on Friday. Jurors were to return to court Wednesday morning to continue deliberating. Ebbers is charged with fraud, conspiracy and making seven false filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The counts carry up to 85 years in prison. © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy. \|\|\|\|\| Faces long prison sentence after being convicted on all nine counts in accounting fraud. Ex-WorldCom CEO Bernard Ebbers arriving at federal court in New York before Tuesday's verdict. Special Report full coverage J.P. Morgan settles for $2B Sleepless in Houston NYSE jet 'Air Grasso'? Read the documents Related Stories QUICK VOTE Will the conviction of ex-WorldCom CEO Bernard Ebbers help prosecutors fight corporate crime? Yes No Not sure View results Video More video Reid Weingarten, Ebbers' defense lawyer, comments on the guilty verdict. Play video Video More video Former WorldCom CEO convicted on all counts in accounting fraud. CNN's Susan Lisovicz reports. Play video NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Bernard Ebbers, the former CEO of WorldCom, was found guilty Tuesday for his role in the huge accounting scandal that led to the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history. A federal jury in New York, on its eighth day of deliberations, convicted Ebbers on all nine counts that he helped mastermind an $11 billion accounting fraud at WorldCom, now known as MCI. Ebbers, 63, had been charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of securities fraud and seven counts of filing false statements with securities regulators. He faces up to 85 years in prison, but sentencing guidelines are expected to result in a shorter term that legal experts say could nonetheless put Ebbers behind bars for the rest of his life. Sentencing is scheduled for June 13. Ebbers will appeal the verdict, his lawyer said Tuesday afternoon. "This is the mother lode for the government in its campaign against corporate fraud," said Orin Snyder, a former federal prosecutor who is now a partner in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. WorldCom first disclosed the accounting irregularities that led to Ebbers' prosecution and the investor lawsuit in June 2002. The news catapulted the No. 2 long-distance phone giant into the top tier of companies then reeling from accounting scandals, among them Tyco International, Global Crossing, Adelphia Communications and Enron. The admission of WorldCom's fuzzy math drove the company into bankruptcy in July 2002, eclipsing the filing of fallen energy giant Enron. Less than two weeks after WorldCom's downfall, President Bush signed into law one of the toughest corporate governance laws in history. The Sarbanes-Oxley Law, which included a provision making corporate chiefs criminally responsible for false regulatory filings, was a direct response to the corporate chicanery that cost investors billions of dollars and untold workers their jobs. The crackdown also led to several high-profile prosecutions. Of the former executives now on or facing trial, ex-Enron chairman Kenneth Lay should be the most unnerved by Ebbers' guilty verdict, legal experts said. Both Ebbers and Lay have insisted they were unaware of the fraud at their companies. And both faced chief financial officers who agreed to testify against them as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. (See: Ebbers wasn't dumb enough.) For Ebbers, former CFO Scott Sullivan did a lot of damage during his testimony at trial, despite efforts by defense lawyers to discredit him. Lay, whose trial is set to begin early next year, runs a similar risk with Enron's ex-CFO Andrew Fastow, now a witness for the prosecution. The two cases differ for other reasons that make it impossible to draw any conclusions about Lay's own prospects at trial. Still, Lay could be thinking today "'Oh shoot. Here's a guy who was similarly situated, who went to trial, the CFO was the main witness against him and he was convicted,'" said one legal expert, who did not want to be quoted because of professional ties to parties in the Ebbers case. "It's a model to be bummed about." Ebbers: I knew nothing Ebbers, a former milkman, basketball coach and Best Western hotel owner before he discovered the telecom business in 1983, wasn't at WorldCom's helm at the time of its final fall from grace. He had resigned as CEO -- a post he held since the mid-1980s -- two months before the bankruptcy scandal. In March 2004 prosecutors indicted Ebbers for allegedly masterminding the fraud at WorldCom, starting in 2000 when companies were beginning to slash spending on telecom services and equipment. Prosecutors say Ebbers allowed the accounting fraud because he wanted to protect his personal fortune, which consisted mostly of WorldCom stock. In addition, WorldCom had made loans of $400 million to Ebbers. The formal charges came on the same day that Sullivan, WorldCom's ex-CFO and Ebbers' chief lieutenant, pleaded guilty to the same charges leveled against Ebbers. Sullivan, 43, agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in the hopes of receiving a lighter sentence. Sullivan was the government's key witness at Ebbers' trial, which began in mid-January. He was the only witness to link Ebbers directly to the fraud. Ebbers, who took the stand in his own defense, insisted that he knew nothing of WorldCom's shady accounting and that he left much of the minutiae of running the company to underlings. Ebbers' lawyers say that Sullivan orchestrated the accounting scheme without Ebbers' knowledge. But the jury clearly didn't buy Ebbers' hands-off defense, said Snyder, the former federal prosecutor, suggesting the "ostrich-with-its-head-in-the-sand" defense might not work for other indicted CEOs, including Lay. Taking the stand is risky for any defendant and clearly backfired on Ebbers, legal experts said, but that doesn't mean it's always a mistake. Mark Belnick, the former general counsel of Tyco International, testified at his trial last year and was later acquitted. Martha Stewart, the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (Research), didn't take the stand and was convicted. Reid Weingarten, the lawyer who defended Ebbers as well as Belnick, told reporters Tuesday that he would probably put Ebbers on the stand if he had to make the decision again. In vowing to appeal, Weingarten said crucial evidence that would have exonerated Ebbers was kept out of court. "I expect him to be vindicated in the future, after some of the errors made in the trial are remedied," said Weingarten. In the WorldCom case, Ebbers and Sullivan aren't the only ones accused of bringing down the company. A handful of former company executives have pleaded guilty to charges of securities fraud and are cooperating with prosecutors. The verdict comes two days before a trial is set to start in a securities fraud suit by WorldCom investors against more than a dozen investment banks, WorldCom's former auditor and former directors. Settlements with about a dozen banks -- including Citigroup, Bank of America and Deutsche Bank -- have reached a total $4 billion, making it the largest securities class-action settlement ever. J.P. Morgan, accountant Arthur Andersen and the company's former directors are among the remaining defendants. The suit could break new ground for directors, who have not generally been held accountable in court for wrongdoing in securities fraud cases. Last month, a tentative $54 million settlement with 10 former WorldCom directors unraveled after a judge refused to approve it. The deal was considered novel because it would have required the ex-directors to pay part of the settlement out of their own pockets. WorldCom emerged from bankruptcy in 2004 with a cleaner balance sheet and a new name. Based in Ashburn, Va., MCI is now the target of a bidding war between Verizon Communications and Qwest Communications. Click here for more news on corporate scandals. Know a lot about the scandals? Click here for our quiz. Click here for news about Martha Stewart's chat with fans.	A federal jury found Bernard Ebbers guilty on all nine counts in an indictment for fraud, conspiracy and false regulatory filings. The verdict was handed down by a New York jury after 8 days of deliberation on the former WorldCom CEO and mastermind behind the accounting scandal that brought down the telcom giant. AP writer Erin McClam reported that when the verdict was announced, “Ebbers’ face reddened.” Sentencing is set for the second Tuesday of next week when he could receive 85 years in prison for the conviction. Ebbers who took the stand in his own defence, said he left the details of the company's accounting to others and that he had no knowledge of shady practices. But Scott Sullivan, the ex-chief financial officer of the company and key prosecution witness, directly linked Ebbers to the fraud. Sullivan agreed to co-operate with prosecutors in the hopes of receiving a lenient sentence for his own involvement in the scandal. The fall of WordCom sparked a massive class action law suit by investors. The plunge in WorldCom's stock changed the capitalized value of the company in the range of $11 billion as the scandal unravelled. Secuities fraud cases stemming from the suits will probably break new legal ground where the involvement of investment banks and public accounting firms who would normally check company irregularities will be called into legal question.
What keeps you up at night? Gut Check America is your chance to tell us what really matters in our country and to help determine what topics MSNBC.com covers. Click here to learn more and get involved. May 29: President Bush spent his day in Georgia, trying to sell his beleaguered immigration package. MSNBC's Patty Culahane reports from the White House. WHITE HOUSE - President Bush attacked opponents of an immigration deal Tuesday, suggesting they "don't want to do what's right for America." "The fundamental question is, will elected officials have the courage necessary to put a comprehensive immigration plan in place," Bush said against a backdrop of a huge American flag. He described his proposal - which has been agreed to by a bipartisan group of senators - as one that "makes it more likely we can enforce our border - and at the same time uphold the great immigrant tradition of the United States of America." Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement Tougher security touted Bush spoke at the nation's largest training center for law enforcement. He chose the get-tough setting as conservative critics blast a Senate proposal as being soft on people who break the law. Hoping to blunt that message, Bush emphasized that any new options for immigrants and foreign workers would not start until tougher security is in place. The presidential stop came during a congressional recess, with senators back home and facing pressure from the left and right on the immigration plan. Bush's aim is to build momentum for the legislation, perhaps his best chance for a signature victory in his second term. The Senate expects to resume debate on it next week. MSNBC video Immigration bill lesson May 24: Dan Abrams takes a look at the best of the late night comics including Jon Stewart’s “laymen’s terms” lesson on the new controversial new immigration bill Scarborough_Country "A lot of Americans are skeptical about immigration reform, primarily because they don't think the government can fix the problems," Bush said. "And my answer to the skeptics is: give us a chance to fix the problems in a comprehensive way that enforces our border and treats people with decency and respect. Give us a chance to fix this problem. Don't try to kill this bill before it gets moving," Bush told students and instructors at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Fear vs. leadership Bush repeatedly cast the matter as one of political courage. "Those determined to find fault with this bill will always be able to look at a narrow slice of it and find something they don't like," the president said. "If you want to kill the bill, if you don't want to do what's right for America, you can pick one little aspect out of it. "You can use it to frighten people," Bush said. "Or you can show leadership and solve this problem once and for all." The bill would give temporary legal status to millions of unlawful immigrants, provided they came forward, paid a fine and underwent criminal background checks. To apply for a green card, they would have to pay another fine, learn English, return to their home country and wait in line. The plan also would create a guest worker program. It would allow foreign laborers to come to the U.S. for temporary stints, yet with no guarantee they can eventually gain citizenship. Both the new visa plan and the temporary worker program are contingent on other steps coming first. Those include fencing and barriers along the Mexico border, the hiring of more Border Patrol agents and the completion of an identification system to verify employees' legal status. The legislation would also reshape future immigration decisions. A new point system would prioritize skills and education over family in deciding who can immigrate. Georgia's senators both played leading roles in producing Bush's deal with the Senate. Yet they have also said they may not support the final bill, depending upon how it is amended. Bush chastised those who say the proposal offers amnesty to illegal immigrants. He called it empty political rhetoric. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| Quote "The fundamental question is, will elected officials have the courage necessary to put a comprehensive immigration plan in place." President Bush (CBS/AP) At a training center for Border Patrol and immigration agents, President Bush offered a rhetorical confrontation Tuesday to critics of his immigration plan, CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports. "I'm sure you've heard some of the talk out there, people defining the bill. It's clear they haven't read the bill," Mr. Bush said. "They're speculating about what the bill says and they're trying to rile up people's emotions." Mr. Bush appealed to skeptics of the plan to give it a chance, saying it will make the borders more secure and treat illegal immigrants with respect but not amnesty. "My answer to the skeptics is, 'Give us a chance to fix the problems in a comprehensive way that enforces our border and treats people with decency and respect. Give us a chance to fix this problem. Don't try to kill this bill before it gets moving,'" Mr. Bush said. He attacked opponents of the plan, suggesting they "don't want to do what's right for America." "The fundamental question is, will elected officials have the courage necessary to put a comprehensive immigration plan in place," Mr. Bush said against a backdrop of a huge American flag at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. He described his proposal, which has been accepted by a bipartisan group of senators, as one that "makes it more likely we can enforce our border and at the same time uphold the great immigrant tradition of the United States of America." Mr. Bush spoke at the nation's largest training center for law enforcement. He chose the get-tough setting as a counter to conservative critics' ferocious denunciation of a Senate proposal as being soft on people who break the law. Hoping to blunt that message, Mr. Bush emphasized that any new options for immigrants and foreign workers would not start until tougher security is in place. The presidential stop came during a congressional recess, with senators back home and facing pressure from both left and right on the immigration plan. His aim is to build momentum for the legislation, perhaps his best chance for a signature victory in his second term. The Senate expects to resume debate on it next week. Mr. Bush repeatedly cast the matter as one of political courage. "Those determined to find fault with this bill will always be able to look at a narrow slice of it and find something they don't like," the president said. "If you want to kill the bill, if you don't want to do what's right for America, you can pick one little aspect out of it. "You can use it to frighten people," Mr. Bush said, "or you can show leadership and solve this problem once and for all." The bill would give temporary legal status to millions of unlawful immigrants, provided they came forward, paid a fine and underwent criminal background checks. To apply for a green card, evidence of legal residency, they would have to pay another fine, learn English, return to their home country and wait in line. The plan also would create a guest worker program. It would allow foreign laborers to come to the United States on a temporary basis, but with no guarantee they eventually could gain citizenship. Both the new visa plan and the temporary worker program are contingent on other steps coming first. Those include fencing and barriers along the Mexico border, the hiring of more Border Patrol agents and the completion of an identification system to verify employees' legal status. The legislation also would reshape future immigration decisions. A new point system would prioritize skills and education over family in deciding who can immigrate. Georgia's senators both played leading roles in producing Mr. Bush's deal with the Senate. However, they have also said they may not support the final bill, depending upon how it is amended. © MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.	President George W. Bush's speech on immigration Tuesday at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), located just outside of the city of Brunswick, Georgia, President George W. Bush made it clear that he was not going to stop fighting for the proposed immigration reform bill, which would allow illegal immigrants with no criminal records to register to remain temporarily in the United States after paying a fine. “A lot of Americans are skeptical about immigration reform primarily because they don't think the government can fix the problems,” Bush stated. “And my answer to the skeptics is, give us a chance to fix the problems in a comprehensive way that enforces our border and treats people with decency and respect.” President Bush followed this up with the following statement: “The bill is the best hope for lasting reform. If people are interested in fixing a system that's broken, this bill is the best hope to do so.” Georgia senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, both Republican, approve of the current bill, although they did say they may not support the final bill, depending on how it is amended. Along with giving a select number of illegal immigrants temporary occupancy, the bill would also create a guest worker program which would allow foreign laborers to come to the United States temporarily. However, illegal immigrants that were granted temporary residency in the United States under the reforms would have some obstacles to overcome in order to gain full legal status. To obtain a green card and become a permanent resident, the immigrant would have to go through a rigorous application process, which can take several years. It would require the temporary immigrant to pay another fine, learn English, and return to their home country to be placed on a waiting list with other applicants.
The enormity of the problems in tackling Afghanistan's massive opium crop has become apparent as the first wave of British troops are deployed in one of the most dangerous parts of the country. British Government ministers had repeatedly declared that one of the primary tasks of the 5,700- strong expeditionary force was to help end Afghan heroin production, which supplies 90 per cent of the narcotic in Britain. But the commander of the British forces in southern Iraq insisted yesterday that his troops would play no part in destroying poppy fields, while senior British civil servants cautioned that ending cultivation may take years. "After all, it took 30 years to end opium production in Thailand under much more benign circumstances," said Nick Kay, the United Kingdom's regional co-ordinator for southern Afghanistan. "Considering the problems in Afghanistan one can see it will not be an easy process." Col Gordon Messenger of the Royal Marines said that British troops deploying to Helmand, the biggest centre of heroin production in the biggest heroin-producing country in the world, would not be involved in a process being considered by President Hamid Karzai's government of eradicating poppies. "There will be absolutely no maroon berets [of the marines] with scythes in a poppy field," he said. British forces will not even directly stop vehicles suspected of smuggling the drug. The main role of the British forces will be to enable the Afghan police and army to establish control over areas which have remained outside their reach and allowed a resurgent Taliban and drug lords to gain ascendancy, said Col Messenger. Even if the policy were changed to allow British involvement in poppy eradication, the troops would not be in a position to take part in such programmes, said Col Messenger, who won a DSO in the 1990-91 Iraq war. Helmand, the biggest and the most lawless province in Afghanistan, accounts for 25 per cent of the opium produced nationally. It is the most important conduit for trafficking the drug to the West through Iran and to the rest of Asia through Pakistan. According to British and Iraqi officials, the size of the crop is due to double next year, negating any gain made elsewhere in Afghanistan. However, the yield from heroin has risen almost 1,000 per cent from seven Afghanis (around 8p) a kilo to 300 Afghanis (£3.44) in just two years. Amir Mohammed, the district governor of Chemtal, west Mazar-I-Sharif, in northern Afghanistan , said: "We are trying to stop the problem, but people are poor and they are, of course, tempted by so much money." The United Kingdom is giving aid of £20m a year in efforts to stop opium cultivation. However, farmers will not get monetary compensation matching the amount they will lose if they agree to abandon poppy cultivation. Mr Kay said that a whole series of measures being implemented, including the establishment of law and order, and job opportunities, would eventually lead to a fall in opium production. British officials are keen not to repeat the "mistakes" made in Iraq. "There has been criticism that in Iraq the military was deployed and aid did not follow," said Wendy Phillips, the Department for International Development's development adviser. "We are being very careful not to do this here. Here the British troops are working in full co-ordination with other agencies. This is not just a military matter." But military matters are concentrating the minds of British commanders as a massive build-up takes place in southern Afghanistan. Lt-Col Henry Worsley, a senior British officer in Helmand, said: "Inevitably there will be opposition because there are more soldiers here now. If I were a Taliban commander I would want to have a go. But we will have quite a potent force and they will only get away with it once." The RAF is already involved in attrition ,with Harrier jets based in Kandahar repeatedly taking part in raids. Last Sunday they carried out strikes with CRV7 rockets in the province of Oruzgan. But the Taliban and their al-Qa'ida allies are lethally active in Helmand, with an attempted suicide bombing targeting the province's governor, teachers being beheaded for providing education for girls, and the murder of aid workers, including the shooting of one while he was praying at a mosque. Engineer Mohammed Daoud, the governor of Helmand, stresses that the revenue from opium is fuelling the insurgency. " You cannot separate instablity and drugs in this province," he said. "The smugglers and drug dealers have very close connections with the Taliban and both support each other." It will be interesting to see, say Afghan officials, how the British forces will fight this insurgency while refusing to get drawn into opium eradication. * A bomb exploded near a Nato peace-keeping convoy in northern Afghanistan yesterday, killing one Afghan civilian and wounding 12 people, including a German peacekeeper. \|\|\|\|\| August 9, 2004 / Vol. 164, No. 6 Terrorism's Harvest How al-Qaeda is tapping into the opium trade to finance its operations and destabilize Afghanistan U.S. forces hot on the trail of Osama bin Laden and the leaders of the Taliban in late 2001 didn't worry much about elderly, pious-looking men like Haji Juma Khan. A towering tribesman from the Baluchistan desert near Pakistan, Khan was picked up that December near Kandahar and taken into U.S. custody. Though known to U.S. and Afghan officials as a drug trafficker, he seemed an insignificant catch. "At the time, the Americans were only interested in catching bin Laden and [Taliban leader] Mullah Omar," says a European counterterrorism expert in Kabul. "Juma Khan walked." That decision has come back to haunt the U.S. and its allies in Afghanistan. Western intelligence agencies believe that Khan has become the kingpin of a heroin-trafficking enterprise that is a principal source of funding for the Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists. According to a Western antinarcotics official, since slipping out of Afghanistan after U.S. forces released him, Khan has helped al-Qaeda establish a smuggling network that is peddling Afghan heroin to buyers across the Middle East, Asia and Europe, and in turn is using the drug revenues to purchase weapons and explosives. A Western law-enforcement official in Kabul who is tracking Khan says that after a tip-off in May, agents in Pakistan and Afghanistan turned up evidence that Khan is employing a fleet of cargo ships to move Afghan heroin out of the Pakistani port of Karachi. The official says that on return trips from the Middle East, at least three vessels brought back arms, such as plastic explosives and antitank mines, which were secretly unloaded in Karachi and shipped overland to al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters. Khan is now a marked man. "He's obviously very tightly tied to the Taliban," says Robert Charles, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement. Mirwais Yasini, head of the Afghan government's Counter-Narcotics Directorate, says, "There are central linkages among Khan, Mullah Omar and bin Laden." The emergence of Khan's network reflects the challenges the U.S. still faces in Afghanistan. Since ousting the Taliban in December 2001, the U.S. has struggled to hunt down al-Qaeda's leaders, disarm Afghanistan's warlords and shore up President Hamid Karzai against a revived Taliban-led insurgency. The renewed trade in opium has worsened all those problems. A recent World Bank report calculates that more than half of the country's economy is tied up in drugs. The combined income of farmers and in-country traffickers reached $2.23 billion last year—up from $1.3 billion in 2002. Heroin trafficking has long been the main source of funds for many local warlords' private armies, which continue to thwart Karzai's attempts to expand his authority beyond Kabul. But the drug trade is becoming even more dangerous: U.S. and British counterterrorism experts say al-Qaeda and its Taliban allies are increasingly financing operations with opium sales. Antidrug officials in Afghanistan have no hard figures on how much al-Qaeda and the Taliban are earning from drugs, but conservative estimates run into tens of millions of dollars. Al-Qaeda's foray into drugs dates from the days when the Taliban ruled the country. Though most devout Muslims consider narcotics taboo, bin Laden never directly condemned drug sales. A Western antinarcotics official says that in early 2001 al-Qaeda's financial experts joined forces with Khan and other alleged top Afghan drug traffickers to persuade Taliban leader Omar to ban opium cultivation. The ban was self-serving: it drove up opium prices from $30 per kilogram to nearly $650. That meant huge profits for the Taliban and their trafficker friends who were sitting on large stockpiles when prices soared. Neither the Taliban nor al-Qaeda actually grows opium poppy. Their involvement is higher up the drug chain, where profits are fatter and so is their cut of the deal. Yasini, the Afghan antidrug czar, says the terrorists receive a share of profits from heroin sales by supplying gunmen to protect labs and convoys. Recent busts have revealed evidence of al-Qaeda's ties to the trade. On New Year's Eve, a U.S. Navy vessel in the Arabian Sea stopped a small fishing boat that was carrying no fish. After a search, says a Western antinarcotics official, "they found several al-Qaeda guys sitting on a bale of drugs." In January, U.S. and Afghan agents raided a drug runner's house in Kabul and found a dozen or so satellite phones. The phones were passed to the CIA station in Kabul, which found they had been used to call numbers linked to suspected terrorists in Turkey, the Balkans and Western Europe. "It was an incredibly sophisticated network," says the official. In March U.S. troops searching a suspected terrorist hideout in Oruzgan province after a firefight found opium with an estimated street value of $15 million. Antidrug officials say the only way to cut off al-Qaeda's pipeline is to attack it at the source: by destroying the poppy farms themselves. This year, Afghanistan's opium harvest is expected to exceed 3,600 tons—making it the biggest crop since 1999 and enough to produce street heroin worth $36 billion. For their part, U.S. military commanders have been reluctant to commit the nearly 20,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan to opium eradication, fearing that doing so would divert attention from the hunt for terrorists. Afghan officials say that several times last year U.S. special forces spotted suspicious convoys that appeared to be ferrying opium. Radioing in for orders, the special forces were told to leave the convoy alone and keep hunting for al-Qaeda, the Afghan officials say. A senior Afghan security official says the U.S. military doesn't want to jeopardize the help it receives from local commanders by seizing drug stashes or busting labs controlled by friendly warlords. But the U.S. is finally starting to pay attention. Its ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has tapped top Drug Enforcement Administration official Harold D. ("Doug") Wankel to lead an intensified drive to nail kingpins, shut down heroin-production labs, eradicate poppy fields and persuade farmers to plant food crops. If the drug cartels aren't stopped, the U.S. fears, they could sow more chaos in Afghanistan, which al-Qaeda and the Taliban could exploit to wrest back power. "We need to make a difference in the next couple of years," says Wankel. Miwa Kato, a Kabul-based officer for the U.N.'s Office on Drugs and Crime, puts it this way: "The opium problem has the capacity to undo everything that's being done here to help the Afghans." Few outcomes would please America's enemies more. With reporting by Massimo Calabresi and Elaine Shannon/Washington \|\|\|\|\| Karzai: Don't Spray Our Poppies KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 19, 2004 An Afghan girl plays in a poppy field in the village of Essazai Kili. (Photo: AP) The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime says the poppy crop in Afghanistan rose by 64 percent last year, producing opium valued at about $2.8 billion - over 60 percent of Afghanistan's gross domestic product. Afghan President Hamid Karzai is expressing concern about reports that some people living near targeted poppy fields may already be experiencing side effects from exposure to herbicides. (Photo: AP) (AP) A U.N. survey released this week showed Afghanistan this year supplied 87 percent of the world's opium - the raw material for heroin - following record-high cultivation that has skyrocketed since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. The heroin industry undermines Afghanistan's democracy and puts money into the coffers of terrorists, the U.N. report said, adding that the "fear that Afghanistan might degenerate into a narco-state is slowly becoming a reality." President Hamid Karzai said fighting the booming opium trade is a top priority, following a U.N. report warning that Afghanistan risks becoming a "nacro-state." But he rejected a U.S. proposal to spray poppies with herbicides, citing health risks. Afghan and Western counter-narcotics officials have said that U.S. experts are looking at using crop dusters to spray opium poppies with herbicides - a key weapon in the disputed U.S.-backed war against coca farmers in South America. But Karzai said he opposes aerial spraying because of concerns over side effects among residents in farming communities close to the fields. "While emphasizing its strong commitment to the eradication of poppy fields, the government of Afghanistan opposes the aerial spraying of poppy fields as an instrument of eradication," Karzai's office said in a statement following Thursday's U.N. report. The U.S.-backed leader expressed alarm at reports from the key poppy-growing province of Nangarhar, close to the Pakistani border, that planes had already sprayed fields planted with poppy. "The president is deeply concerned about complaints from the region pointing to possible side effects of the aerial spraying on the health of children and adults," the statement said. Officials will travel to the area to investigate, it said. The United States and Britain are training small paramilitary units to smash laboratories and arrest drug suspects. Nangarhar has been earmarked for vigorous crop eradication. But it is unclear whether officials already have begun experimenting with herbicides, which critics say can wipe out legal crops planted nearby as well as harming villagers and livestock. Officials in Kabul could not be reached immediately for comment, but Mohammed Daoud, the Afghan deputy interior minister for counter-narcotics, told AP recently that the planes "could be useful, and would frighten people" - but said they should only be used as a last resort. One Western official involved in Afghan drug policy said in an interview last month that spraying was "not going to be imposed on anybody" without Afghan government support. In recent years, Afghanistan has used squads of laborers to thrash down poppy crops, but that has had little impact on drug output. The annual survey released Thursday by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime found poppy cultivation rose 64 percent to a record 323,700 acres in 2004, producing an estimated 4,200 tons of opium. It valued the trade at $2.8 billion, or more than 60 percent of Afghanistan's 2003 gross domestic product. On Wednesday, U.S. drug enforcement agencies asked Congress for an additional $780 million to fund both the crackdown and provide alternative crops or livelihoods for farmers. Pressure is also mounting to snatch big smugglers - believed to include a string of government officials - and officials say judges have already been recruited for a special court to try suspected drug kingpins. Mirwais Yasini, the head of Afghanistan's Counter-narcotics Directorate, said Thursday that this year's surge in production only added to the urgency. "It is undermining our national security, it is undermining our good name in the international community," he said. "We cannot live with this dragon any more." ©MMIV, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Ins And Outs: Bush Cabinet Shuffle Kerik In, Rumsfeld Stays Put As Bush Assembles Group To See His Gameplan Through Leaders Hail Ukraine Vote Decision World Leaders Praise Court Decision Annulling Ukraine's Election ©MMIV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.	raw opium seized in Afghanistan Colonel Gordon Messenger, commander of the British forces in Southern Afghanistan, has said that troops under his command will not be engaged in the fight against cultivation. "There will be absolutely no maroon berets of the marines with scythes in a poppy field," he said. The United Nations has reported that a "fear that Afghanistan might degenerate into a narco-state is slowly becoming a reality." U.S. State department officials and the claim that Afghan drug trafficking is a primary source of funding for terrorists. Doug Wankel, a former Drug Enforcement Administration official who is point man for the U.S. counternarcotics initiative at the American Embassy in , said the opium industry is "financing terrorism. It's financing subversive activities. It's financing warlordism. ... And if it's a threat to the government of Afghanistan, it's a direct threat to the national security interests of the United States." Australia recently committed 200 extra troops to Afghanistan. John Howard has said that they also will not be involved in destroying opium poppies. "Well, dealing with that is overwhelmingly the responsibility of the local authorities," he said. opium poppy A 2005 U.S. State department report warned that Afghanistan is becoming a "narcotics state". Afghan hectares in opium cultivation has increased by 50% since the coalition invasion; up from an average of 67,000 prior to the invasion (1998-2001), to an average of 97,000 since the invasion (2002-2005). The last year under the Taliban, 2001, saw production of 185 metric tonnes; in 2005 production was 4,100 metric tonnes. Afghanistan produced 87% of the world's opium in 2005 with 104,000 hectares in production. President Karzai has blamed the coalition for this situation, "This particular operation (controlling opium production) was supposed to be done by an agency, a department that was funded by the international community, by the United States, by Britain. The failure is theirs, not ours." Karzai said. "Where international money and creation of forces for destruction of poppies was concerned, it was ineffective and delayed and half-hearted." Karzai is opposed to aerial spraying which was proposed by the United States, as is done in other drug producing regions of the world, because of what Karzai called "health concerns". Adrian Edwards of the United Nations stated 2 months ago that early reports indicate "there will be an increase in poppy cultivation in 2006".
A man in Finland killed five people in a shooting rampage near the capital Helsinki on Thursday, before committing suicide. It is the third shooting rampage to hit the Nordic country in three years. Finnish police said the gunman killed four people at a shopping centre in the city of Espoo. The bodies of the gunman and his ex-girlfriend were later found at separate apartments not far from the shopping centre. "It has been confirmed that the sixth victim is the suspect. He was found in his home," Chief Inspector Jukka Kaski told a news conference. Detectives identified the killer as 43-year-old Ibrahim Shkupolli. Local news reports said he was an ethnic Albanian, born in Kosovo, with previous convictions for firearms offences. Police did not speculate on a motive for the shooting spree, but confirmed that Shkupolli had previously been convicted of abusing his former partner, who had gained a restraining order against him. Scenes of panic Media reports said the gunman opened fire with a nine millimeter handgun at around 10:20 am at the Sello shopping center in the suburbs of Espoo, sending New Year's Eve shoppers fleeing. "Everyone was in a panic. They didn't know what was happening and some were crying," one eyewitness told Finnish public broadcaster YLE. Police said one woman and three men were killed at the shopping centre, where the gunman's ex-girlfriend reportedly worked. It is unclear whether she was murdered before or after the killing spree at the mall. Several ambulances rushed to the scene after the shooting commenced. The shopping center was evacuated and police cordoned off the area. Public transport services were rerouted and a nearby railway station sealed. Past shooting incidents This is the third major shooting incident in the past two years in Finland where gun crime has become a major issue and gun ownership is widespread. Eleven people were killed in September 2008, when a 22-year-old gunman burst into a school classroom, shooting dead nine students as well as a teacher, before turning the gun on himself. In November 2007, an 18-year-old student shot dead six students, a headmistress and a nurse before killing himself in a school north of Helsinki. nw/rb/AFP/Reuters/AP/dpa Editor: Susan Houlton \|\|\|\|\| Four people have been killed by a lone gunman at shopping mall in Finland's second largest city, police have told the state broadcaster. The Iltasanomat paper earlier reported that four people had been shot at the mall in Espoo, while the STT agency reported that one person was shot twice in the head. Police vehicles and ambulances are parked outside the Sello shopping centre. Credit:AFP One witness told the Yle agency that a man dressed in black began shooting randomly early on Thursday morning on the second floor of the mall, in the city near Helsinki, the capital. Reports indicate that shoppers were being evacuated. \|\|\|\|\| A gunman dressed in black opened fire at a shopping mall in Espoo, Finland's second largest city after nearby capital Helsinki. Finland's state broadcaster YLE reported shots being fired early on Thursday at the Sello mall. Witnesses reported seeing victims lying on the ground. The reported fatalities have not yet been confirmed. Ambulances and police were seen rushing to the scene of the shooting. Security services cordoned off the shopping centre and public transport services were re-routed. In a shooting attack in September 2008, Matti Juhani Saari, a trainee chef, shot dead 10 people in an attack at the Kauhajoki School of Hospitality. He had recorded videos of himself brandishing weapons and posted them on YouTube. \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- A gunman opened fire inside a busy shopping center near the Finnish capital of Helsinki Thursday, leaving four people dead, police said. Before the shooting spree at the shopping center, Ibrahim Shkupolli, 43, had killed his ex-girlfriend, police said. He later turned the gun on himself at his home. Three men and one woman were killed at the Sello shopping center in Espoo, just west of Helsinki, police said. Some were employees of a grocery store at the mall, police said. A fifth victim, also an employee of the grocery store and apparently the suspect's ex-girlfriend, was found later at an apartment in Espoo, police said. Police told a news conference hours after the shootings that they found a sixth victim, who they believed to be the shooter. Shkupolli had lived in Finland "for some time," police said, but would not divulge his nationality. iReport: Are you there? Send your photos and videos Espoo is the headquarters for mobile phone giant Nokia and the hometown of Formula 1 racing driver Kimi Raikkonen. The Sello shopping center, one of Finland's largest, was busy with shoppers when the shootings began at 10:08 a.m. (3:08 a.m.) "People saw a gunman, calm, walking out of the grocery store after shooting," said Mika Pettersson, editor-in-chief of Finnish news agency STT. "People first thought it was fireworks that had been exploding, but after they realized what had happened, there was a panic." State-owned Finnish broadcaster YLE said the gunman used a 9mm handgun. Restaurant manager Naresh Gaonkar, who runs the Intialainen Ravintola Curry Palace across the street from the mall, told CNN there were police helicopters overhead and many police cars driving past with armed officers after the shootings. Trains going through Espoo were stopped, Gaonkar said. Pauli Poutanen, a reporter with CNN affiliate MTV3, reported employees of the grocery store where the attack happened were evacuated so quickly that they didn't have time to put on their winter weather gear. They were waiting outside in T-shirts in temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius, or 14 degrees Fahrenheit, he said. Gaonkar said many of them were inside his restaurant to stay warm. Other lone gunmen have carried out two recent high-profile shootings in Finland. In September 2008, student Matti Juhani Saari, 22, killed 10 people before shooting himself in the head at Seinajoki University of Applied Sciences in Kauhajoki, Finland. Saari, who had been armed with a semi-automatic pistol and Molotov cocktails, posted YouTube videos of himself firing weapons before embarking on the massacre. Pekka-Eric Auvinen, 18, killed seven fellow students and the principal at Jokela High School in Tuusula in November 2007 before shooting himself in the head. Auvinen posted a YouTube video titled "Jokela High School Massacre" before the killing spree. In it he warned that he planned to "eliminate all who I see unfit." Brandishing a shotgun, the teenager was seen in the video wearing a T-shirt proclaiming "Humanity is Overrated." Finland enjoys a strong tradition of hunting and has a high proportion of gun ownership, with 2 million firearms owned in a nation of 5 million people.	Interior of the Sello shopping centre A lone gunman dressed in black opened fire in a Finnish shopping mall in the city of Espoo, near the capital Helsinki. Four people have been confirmed dead following the incident, and others have been injured. Police have now stated that the gunman and his girlfriend have also been found dead; it is believed he committed suicide. According to the state broadcaster, YLE, three women and one man were among the dead. Several ambulances and police officers arrived at the mall. Kari Harjula, an eyewitness, told YLE, "I started to hear a lot of shouting from the outer doors of Citymarket and Sello, telling everybody to get out. The customers and employees were wondering what was going on. Soon some police ran in with riot shields and serious expressions on their faces. They yelled at everybody to get out; that the shopping centre was being evacuated. The situation was chaotic; there were a lot of police inside and outside. From a layman's point of view, it looked like a massive operation." Finland has one of the largest private firearms ownership and has seen several attacks in the recent past. In September 2008, a gunman killed nine students as well as a teacher before committing suicide, while in November 2007, another student killed eight, and ultimately shot himself dead.
Sandra Fluke -- birth control championing attorney, Rush Limbaugh target and all-around kick-ass lady -- is under consideration to be TIME Magazine's 2012 Person Of The Year, the magazine announced on November 26th. Given Fluke's highly publicized activism earlier this year, it is perhaps unsurprising that she's attracted some outspoken critics. She testified in front of House Democrats arguing that religiously-affiliated institutions' health insurance plans for employees and students should be required to cover birth control. However, Fluke has also won the support of women around the country, from celebrities like Martha Plimpton to college students. At HuffPost Women, we're in the latter camp. To celebrate Fluke's TIME nomination, we've complied six reasons to love Sandra Fluke: 1. She is one of the only people Rush Limbaugh has ever apologized to -- and she rejected it. 2. She champions other women. When HuffPost Women asked Fluke at the 2012 Glamour Women of the Year Awards how she was brave enough to do what she did, she answered: "What I did doesn't compare to what either [Ruth Bader Ginsburg or Zaha Hadid] did. But what I find amazing -- I was thinking about Erin [Merryn], the awardee that stepped forward and talked about the abuse that she had suffered and has done so much for young girls and young boys as well that makes it possible for them to come forward and talk about it. It just exemplifies what we can all do. We can all step forward and face what we're afraid of, and people will support us when we do that. It’s so amazing to see so many women tonight who have done that." 3. She is willing to cross political lines for what she believes is right. When Clueless actress Stacey Dash tweeted an endorsement of Mitt Romney only to be met with racist attacks, Fluke defended Dash: So disappointed to see people attacking @realstaceydash for voicing her opinion. Disagree politically, but #racist attacks are unacceptable. — Sandra Fluke (@SandraFluke) October 8, 2012 4. Did we mention she's gracious? When she got engaged to her long-term boyfriend in the aftermath of her testimony and Limbaugh's attack, she told the Daily Beast that, "having dated for over eight years, we're just excited that our friends and family were kind enough to pretend to be surprised at our engagement. We're really looking forward to spending the next eight years planning our wedding." 5. Despite all the attention, she remains accessible. She has a Tumblr where she allows fans to ask her anything. She also posts personal anecdotes she receives on how important access to affordable birth control is for women. 6. Oh, and this: Did we miss anything? Why do you love Sandra Fluke? Tell us in the comments! \|\|\|\|\| Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown law student who became a household name when Rush Limbaugh called her a name of another sort, will be in Lincoln on Tuesday, headlining Planned Parenthood of the Heartland’s annual fundraiser. She’s following up a big act from last year -- Lizz Winstead, co-creator of “The Daily Show.” No, Fluke said Thursday afternoon. She will probably not be funny. She plans to talk about women’s health care, said the 31-year-old who graduated cum laude from Georgetown in May, passed the bar exam in July and lives in Los Angeles with her fiancé and their dog, Mr. President. Mr. President? The small terrier has no political affiliation and is not named for a particular leader. “He was named a long time ago -- my fiancé wanted to be able to say things like, ‘Don’t pee there, Mr. President.’” Well then. Perhaps she will be funny. Most of us remember the S-Word debacle, the public debate that followed, some of it ugly and some of it ridiculous -- Look, she’s having so much sex her birth control costs $1,000! Fluke first came to Limbaugh’s attention late in February, after she was denied the opportunity to speak at a Republican-run House hearing on insurance coverage for birth control. She later came to President Barack Obama’s attention. And life hasn’t been the same since. “It certainly has been a different 2012 than the one I expected, for better and worse …” The better: “It’s uplifting and heartening to see how many people really care about the issues I’m talking about.” And the worse: “I’m regularly surprised by how venomous people can be when it’s just a question of political disagreement.” But the spotlight has allowed her to take her advocacy work to a different level, Fluke said. “I think it’s also allowed me to give a voice and shine a light on the work that a lot of people are doing.” Tari Hendrickson is the woman responsible for getting Fluke to Lincoln. “Sandra was No. 1 on my list; I never had a No. 2,” said Planned Parenthood’s regional development and planned gifts director. “She’s a voice of reason. I think she has raised the bar for rational conversation about a serious issue.” It took time for Hendrickson to track down Fluke -- she’d spent the summer and early fall campaigning for senators, congresspeople, President Obama. The pace has slowed post-election, although perhaps not for long. Last week, Fluke’s name was put forward as one of 40 nominees for Time Magazine’s 2012 Person of the Year. In its nomination bio, Time credited her speech at the Democratic National Convention -- watched by millions and viewed more than 100,000 times on YouTube -- as one “that helped Barack Obama trounce Mitt Romney among single women on Election Day.” Agree with her politics, or not, Fluke is no fluke. Her resume includes honors from the National Association of Women Lawyers, the American Federation of Teachers, American Constitution Society, NOW, Planned Parenthood, National Partnership for Women and Families. Since her undergraduate days, she’s served on coalitions too numerous to name, advocating for gay rights and women’s rights and against human trafficking, and she's done extensive pro bono work for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. Fluke plans to continue to speak out. “I think my ultimate goal is giving a voice to people who don’t always have one.” She’s a Planned Parenthood fan and has been invited to several affiliates around the country. This will be her first trip to Nebraska. Yes, she’s looking forward to it. No, she has not yet had time to plan her wedding, but she is working out the details of a job in L.A. And, in answer to a question about whether the radio show host who started all of this has called her to apologize: no. “You think I’d give him my phone number?” Funny.	Women's rights advocate and graduate Sandra Fluke was the keynote speaker at a event Tuesday night in Nebraska. Sandra Fluke (2012) Fluke was the headliner in , Nebraska at the Rococo Theatre for the annual fundraiser of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, titled: "The Big Event: Courage — No Matter What". She currently resides in , with her fiancé and "Mr. President", their pet dog. After graduating '''' with her degree this past May, Fluke successfully took and passed the in July and is now an attorney. In an interview with the '''', Fluke reflected on her role as a public figure and her ability to contribute to the contribute to the discourse about women's rights, "It's uplifting and heartening to see how many people really care about the issues I’m talking about." Fluke observed, "I think it's also allowed me to give a voice and shine a light on the work that a lot of people are doing." Fluke's speech centered on women's rights, women's healthcare, and the . She stressed the importance of women's issues in the recent election for U.S. President: "This year, something changed in our national conversation about women’s health.... Before my time, women's healthcare has never decided a presidential election. We really did make a difference this election." She spurred on attendees of the event to become more active in supporting women's rights: "It’s time for young women in this country to join the fight, because it’s our rights and our health that are at stake." Planned Parenthood regional development and planned gifts director Tari Hendrickson told the ''Lincoln Journal Star'' Sandra Fluke was her top choice for keynote speaker at the event: "Sandra was No. 1 on my list; I never had a No. 2. She's a voice of reason. I think she has raised the bar for rational conversation about a serious issue." Planned Parenthood of the Heartland Planned Nebraska communications manager Susan Allen told the '''' Sandra Fluke was the ideal person to serve as keynote speaker: "She is a wonderfully outspoken person on the affordable care act, women's health and women's rights. We decided she would be the perfect person to speak to Planned Parenthood supporters." Planned Parenthood intern and student Emily Schiltz commented on landing Fluke as the keynote speaker, "She is definitely the biggest person we've had in a long time." "I feel like she walks the walk rather than talk the talk," said Planned Parenthood intern and journalism student Audrey Nance. Fluke indicated her intention was to persevere in speaking about issues she thinks important: "I think my ultimate goal is giving a voice to people who don't always have one." She has been named as a candidate by '''' magazine in a November 26 announcement, for their ''''. ''Time'' concluded Fluke helped give U.S. President an edge in . Fluke was a featured speaker on September 5 at the in , . Fluke spoke to attendees at the convention about the consequences for of electing candidate for , , over incumbent President . Fluke has campaigned with President Obama in his bid for re-election. She was recognized April 22 with the ''Stand Up for Choice Award''. Fluke was given the ''Stand Up for Choice Award'' at the "Third Annual Multi-Generational Brunch" of the organization which was held in New York City (NYC), New York in the United States. Fluke received a nomination in March as a candidate for '''' magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. The list is released annually as a special edition of ''Time'' magazine, titled ''''. She gave testimony to the US Congress on February 23 before the at a hearing about and . She also worked for Sanctuary for Families in NYC which worked to crack down on human trafficking and domestic violence.
DURHAM, North Carolina (Reuters) - U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Democratic icon and a leading backer of presidential contender Barack Obama, had successful surgery on Monday to remove a malignant brain tumor and should suffer “no permanent neurological effects,” his surgeon said. “I am pleased to report that Senator Kennedy’s surgery was successful and accomplished our goals,” Dr. Allan Friedman said in a statement after a 3 1/2-hour operation at Duke University’s Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. After the surgery, Kennedy told his wife, Vicki, “I feel like a million bucks,” an aide to the senator said. Friedman, Duke’s chief of neurosurgery, did not specify how much of the cancerous tumor he was able to remove. He called the operation “the first step” in a treatment plan for the 76-year-old senator from Massachusetts, head of America’s most fabled political family. “After a brief recuperation, he will begin targeted radiation at Massachusetts General Hospital and chemotherapy treatment,” Friedman said. Dr. Mark Gilbert of the University of Texas’ cancer center, speaking at a news conference at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, said: “If all you do is surgery, even if you do a beautiful job, the tumor will be back in one or two months” without other treatments. Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor called a glioma, a type of tumor that usually kills within three years, after suffering a seizure on May 17. Massachusetts General said Kennedy’s tumor was in the left parietal lobe of the brain. Several doctors agreed that surgery in this region could affect a patient’s ability to speak and understand language, and perhaps could paralyze the patient’s right side as well. But Friedman said, “Senator Kennedy was awake during the resection (tumor removal) and should therefore experience no permanent neurological effects from the surgery.” CONFIDENT OF RETURN TO SENATE There was no immediate word on when Kennedy would be able to return to work in the Senate where he has served since 1962 when he took the seat vacated by his older brother, President John F. Kennedy. In a statement issued shortly before his surgery, Kennedy expressed confidence he would soon be back. “After completing treatment, I look forward to returning to the United States Senate and to doing everything I can to help elect Barack Obama as our next president,” he said. Slideshow ( 3 images ) Obama, a first-term U.S. senator from Illinois, has been likened to one of Kennedy’s older brothers, Robert, who was assassinated during the 1968 Democratic presidential campaign. President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 in his third year in office. Sen. Kennedy has been one of the most respected as well as polarizing figures in U.S. politics. He has long been a hero among fellow liberals while scorned by many conservatives. Yet news of his condition shook Washington last month and prompted colleagues on both sides of the political aisle to offer prayers and words of praise. Slideshow ( 3 images ) “I am deeply grateful to the people of Massachusetts and to my friends, colleagues and so many others across the country and around the world who have expressed their support and good wishes as I tackle this new and unexpected health challenge,” Kennedy said in his statement. Sen. Chris Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, said, “I know Ted is a fighter and he’ll be back on the Senate floor soon fighting for the American people.” Until then, Dodd said, Kennedy asked him to take the lead on some of his pending legislation, including a bill to upgrade insurance coverage of mental illnesses. “I’m honored to help shepherd this legislation through until he returns,” said Dodd, who serves on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee chaired by Kennedy. (Additional reporting by Vicki Allen, Maggie Fox and Richard Cowan in Washington; Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago) \|\|\|\|\| To continue, please log in or register: Already a member? Please log in: E-mail: Password: Remember me on this computer Forgot your password? If you have already created an account with Boston Globe services, you may log in with that user name and password. Not a member yet? Sign up for FREE! Benefits of membership: - Unlimited access to all Boston.com and Boston Globe content - Participation in chats, message boards and blogs - E-Mail newsletters on topics ranging from the Sox to Shopping Member agreement \| Privacy policy \| Member FAQ \|\|\|\|\| But by last Friday, the doctors’ thinking had apparently changed, and Mr. Kennedy and his wife met with a group of neurosurgeons from the country’s leading institutions, including the University of California at San Francisco and Duke, according to a doctor who knew about the meeting. Image Edward M. Kennedy, 76, has been in the Senate since 1962. Credit... Alex Wong/Getty Images Early on Monday morning, Mr. Kennedy’s office issued a statement saying that the senator expected to remain in the hospital at Duke for about a week and then return to Massachusetts, where he will undergo chemotherapy and radiation at Massachusetts General Hospital. It was not clear from either statement how long his course of chemotherapy and radiation treatment would take, or why the doctors decided to move Mr. Kennedy to Duke for surgery. Doctors who were not involved in Mr. Kennedy’s care said the Brain Tumor Center at Duke has a reputation for aggressively attacking tumors while also working to preserve the function of surrounding tissue, which in the case of Mr. Kennedy is critical for understanding language. In tumor removal surgery, these experts said, doctors at elite institutions use sophisticated imaging technology to produce a precise, three-dimensional picture of the tumor. They put the patient under anesthesia and cut away a piece of the skull just above the tumor. They then awaken the patient, and probe the area around the tumor to see exactly which parts of the brain are crucial for normal functioning. If the tumor is in the parietal lobe which was the case for Mr. Kennedy doctors typically stimulate a series points on the surface of the exposed region while having the patient speak or identify words. This allows the surgical team to map the precise areas that support language and to preserve them. Each individual’s brain is slightly different, so each patient must be directly tested to mark the critical brain areas, which are often tagged with little paper markers. In 2006, members of the Duke team published a study suggesting that, with careful imaging techniques, they could map language areas before opening the skull; in 6 of 37 patients tested, the imaging enabled a more complete removal of the tumor “than otherwise would have been achieved,” the authors reported.	Ted Kennedy Today, United States Senator Ted Kennedy underwent surgery for a brain tumor at Duke University Medical Center. Kennedy, 76, was diagnosed with malignant glioma, a common but dangerous form of cancer, after suffering a seizure on May 17. Kennedy has met repeatedly with friend and medical advisor Dr. Lawrence C. Horowitz to plan a course of treatment. The first, of the major phases of that treatment has now been completed, and it is expected that chemotherapy and radiotherapy will follow. "I am pleased to report that Senator Kennedy's surgery was successful and accomplished our goals," said Dr. Allan Friedman, the chief of neurosurgery at Duke, who performed the surgery. "After a brief recuperation, he will begin targeted radiation at Massachusetts General Hospital and chemotherapy treatment," Friedman added. In talks with the press, the senator has focused on his future beyond surgery. In a prepared statement issued by his office, Kennedy stated, "after completing treatment, I look forward to returning to the United States Senate and to doing everything I can to help elect Barack Obama as our next president."
Is it an evil omen or harbinger of better days for hundreds of thousands of baseball fans in the Kansai region? Pitchman: A construction worker shows off the statue of Colonel Sanders pulled from the Dotonbori River in central Osaka on Tuesday. KYODO PHOTO After nearly a quarter of a century at the bottom of the Dotonbori River in central Osaka, the upper half of a statue of Kentucky Fried Chicken founder and mascot Colonel Sanders was pulled from the depths Tuesday, Osaka City Hall said. The 180-cm, 26-kg statue was found during cleanup work for laying a paved path along the river. The statue was thrown into the river in 1985 by excited fans, overjoyed that the Hanshin Tigers had won the Central League championship for the first time in 21 years. But the Hyogo-based team quickly returned to form, failing to win another pennant until 2003. Baseball lovers across the country jokingly placed the blame on "the curse of Colonel Sanders." "I was really surprised. It had been lost since 1985," said Ichiro Takatsuki, a spokesman for Kentucky Fried Chicken Japan Ltd. in Tokyo. Takatsuki said that after the 1985 incident, the company urged all of its outlets to bolt the statue of Harland David "Colonel" Sanders to the ground. Of the 1,150 outlets nationwide, probably about 80 percent display a statue of Sanders, Takatsuki said. Tiger fans were drawn to the statue owing to its supposed resemblance to Randy Bass, a bearded American slugger who helped turn the team around. So overcome by their team's success that year, the fans pitched the statue into the river, one of the dirtiest in Osaka at the time. \|\|\|\|\| A statue of Kentucky Fried Chicken's Colonel Sanders tossed into Osaka's Dotonbori River some 24 years ago by rowdy Hanshin Tigers fans has been discovered. The Colonel's upper body, minus the hands, was discovered on Tuesday evening by divers checking for unexploded bombs as part of riverside pedestrian walkway improvement works. The figure's legs and right hand were discovered Wednesday morning. The Colonel ended up at the bottom of the river in 1985, when delirious Hanshin Tigers fans celebrating the team's first Central League title in 21 years decided the figure bore a striking resemblance to Tigers slugger Randy Bass and, lifting it off its base in front of the Dotonbori Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise, gave the Colonel a victory toss. The fans put a little too much energy into the toss, and the Colonel Sanders figure went over the railing of the Ebisu Bridge and into the river. Since the statue's victory dive into the Dotonbori, searches for the statue were undertaken, but none with any success. The Hanshin Tigers have not won the Japan Series since 1985, a fact attributed by some to the "Curse of Colonel Sanders." The upper body of the statue was discovered at around 4 p.m. about 200 meters away from where it plunged into the water in 1985. When the figure was being pulled up by the crane on a salvage barge, construction workers could be heard to say, "It looks like a corpse." However, when Tigers fans such as the riverside project foreman saw the statue, they exclaimed, "It's the Colonel!" Passersby also stopped in their tracks to take in the scene. With the media and locals looking on, divers began their search for the lower body at around 8:50 Wednesday morning, and discovered the right hand some minutes later. About 10 minutes after that, the diver's voice burst from a speaker on the salvage barge, saying, "It's the lower body. There's no mistake about it," bringing on a cheer from reporters and workers alike. The statue sections are covered in river mud and badly stained, and the figure's feet, left hand and glasses have yet to be uncovered. The Osaka Municipal Government, which is responsible for the riverside, is holding the statue and will consult with Kentucky Fried Chicken Japan on how to handle it. And what do Hanshin Tigers fans believe the Colonel's discovery portends? "We'll be number one in Japan this year for sure," they say. \|\|\|\|\| As a result, Tigers fans, like those of the Red Sox and the Cubs, talk of a mystical burden their team must overcome. In Hanshin's case, the burden is known as the Curse of Colonel Sanders. After the team won its lone championship in 1985, fans assembled at the Dotonbori Bridge in Osaka's flashy entertainment district. One by one, those who resembled Tigers players jumped into the river to raucous cheers. But since no one looked like Randy Bass, the team's star slugger, fans stole a statue of Colonel Sanders from a nearby Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet and tossed it in. \|\|\|\|\| SPORTS SCOPE The Curse of Colonel Sanders By ROB SMAAL Back in 1985, Hanshin fans were giddy with joy when their Tigers secured the Central League pennant and then went on to capture the Japan Series. The standard canal-jumping scene took a new twist when a plastic Colonel Sanders mannequin was tossed into the Dotonbori Canal in downtown Osaka. As the fans let out chants of "Baassu, Baassu," in honor of Hanshin slugger Randy Bass, the Colonel -- who many fans apparently thought bore a striking resemblance to Bass -- was heaved into the polluted waters below. And ever since the Kentucky Fried mascot took his chilly dip that October evening, the Tigers are said to have been under the Curse of Colonel Sanders, and as any Boston Red Sox fan can tell you, these curses are not to be taken lightly. As evidence of the "curse," one needs only to look at the CL standings in the years since the Colonel was tossed. The Tigers' best finish since then was third (in 1986 and '92), while Hanshin has finished last an astonishing eight times since its championship season of '85. Also since the infamous incident at Dotonbori, the Hanshin hierarchy was rocked by the suicide of managing director Shingo Furuya in 1988. That year, Furuya was dispatched to the U.S. to bring back Bass, who had gone home during the season to be with his ailing son back in Oklahoma. The big guy refused to return to Japan before his son was out of danger, and when Furuya was unable to talk the Hanshin slugger into rejoining his team, he did what he must have felt was the "honorable" thing and leapt to his death from a window of Tokyo's New Otani Hotel. * With the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs in town last month to open the 2000 MLB regular season here in Japan, it was interesting to hear the biggest complaint from the major leaguers and their entourage: Where's all the noise?! One of the things that keeps some of the ex-pat North Americans away from Japanese ballparks is the very thing that the MLB gang wanted to experience -- that would be the practice of oendan, the ritualistic nonstop chanting and banging that lasts pretty much the entire game. Japanese organizers apparently told local fans to leave their trumpets and drums at home for the two-game set. While most of the local media appreciated the more traditional laid-back atmosphere at the Big Egg, the tourists were clearly disappointed with the lack of "spirit," which some of the visiting scribes described as like being at a U.S. college football game. I, however, would liken it more to waking up in the middle of a construction site with vicious hangover. * Last month, I had the opportunity to attend a Toronto Raptors-L.A. Clippers NBA game at the shiny new Staples Center in Los Angeles. One thing I really noticed after living in Japan for a few years was how much people at sporting events back in North America enjoy themselves. At every break, the fans were out of their seats dancing in the aisles -- including my 62-year-old mom, which was actually kind of scary -- and this was at a Clippers' game, not exactly the toughest ticket in town. When Raptors star Vince Carter hit the winning 3-pointer as time expired, it capped an enjoyable evening in dramatic fashion. Seattle Mariners reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki is the latest Japanese pitcher to leave these shores. In a recent Time magazine cover story on the Asian invasion in the majors, the former Yokohama BayStars closer had the following to say: "The game needs to be more fun (in Japan), or else all the younger players are going to want to leave." The fans might just start to feel the same way, too. *** The comments of Japanese Olympic Committee chief Yushiro Yagi earlier this month regarding African athletes may be shocking, but they are hardly surprising. Yagi mentioned to reporters that he "can't stand losing to blacks" after Kenyan runner Erik Wainaina won the men's event and Elfenesh Alemu of Ethiopia was crowned the women's champion in the Nagano Marathon. While Yagi has apologized for his insensitive remarks, you have to wonder how anyone who holds such sentiments can be involved in something as diverse and racially integrated as the Olympic movement. Adolf Yagi, come on down! After the widely reported comments of Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, who warned the local military to be on the alert for marauding bands of foreigners in the event of a major earthquake, it's obvious that the brains of many Japanese bureaucrats and politicians shut down when their mouths open. And saying you "can't stand losing to blacks" in a distance-running event is a little like saying you "can't stand losing to rednecks" in a stock car race -- the odds are definitely against you.	A long-lost statue of the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Harland 'Colonel' Sanders was finally pulled up from a river in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan. Though covered with mud, he was still smiling as he was 23 and a half years before. In October 1985, the statue was tossed into the river by some overjoyed fans of the Hanshin Tigers baseball team, which led to a 'legend' known as "the Curse of Colonel Sanders." On Tuesday afternoon, the upper body of the reinforced plastic statue was found unexpectedly. Osaka City had a plan to lay a paved path along Dōtonbori River, and a contractor diver noticed a figure near the bottom while checking for unexploded World War II bombs. The workers pulled it up, and Tigers fans among them recognized the figure as the Colonel. The lower body was also found on Wednesday morning. The statue still lacks some parts like eyeglasses, feet and left hand, but the contractor reportedly says it's almost impossible for the rest to be found, due to lack of visibility in the water. Osaka City will return the statue, about 180 cm in height, to KFC Japan. Reportedly the company is considering displaying the statue at its franchise in the Tigers home Hanshin Kōshien Stadium in Nishinomiya City, Hyōgo Prefecture (neighboring Osaka Pref.). The story of the Hanshin Tigers and the Colonel statue dates back to October 1985. Because the team got the Central League title for the first time in 21 years, ecstatic fans crowded around Dōtonbori. Some were so overjoyed that they jumped into the river for the team players. Unfortunately no one among them looked like Randy Bass, the team's star slugger. Near them was a KFC franchise (closed 1998), and they presumably found resemblance between Bass and 'Colonel' Sanders (both were bearded). They started to chant "Baassu, Baassu" and tossed the Colonel statue into the river in honor of their hero. The team also won the Japan Series later in that year. However, this was the Hanshin Tigers' last triumph. The team soon fell into a long-term slump, and finished at the bottom among 6 Central League teams in 10 of 16 seasons by 2001. During the slump, some baseball lovers in Japan jokingly said "it was brought by the Curse of Colonel Sanders," which became a legend. The Tigers again got the League title in 2003 and 2005, but the fans' dream of another triumph has not yet come true. Asked whether the 'curse' will be lifted by the discovery, Hanshin Tigers manager Akinobu Mayumi said "now we can not lay (our luck) to it." A KFC Japan press officer said, "Truly, Sanders is a 'gentleman'. The 'curse' must end, and he must back Hanshin up to be a Japan Series Champion."
Gays in military: Supreme Court ends bid to block ban Activists want President Obama to bring a swift end to the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy Continue reading the main story Related stories The US Supreme Court has refused to force the US military to allow openly gay people to serve, while an appeals court considers the issue. A federal court in California had ruled the "don't ask, don't tell" policy unconstitutional but allowed it to stay in place pending an appeal. In the latest ruling, the Supreme Court rejected a gay group's request to lift the order allowing the ban to continue. President Obama wants the ban repealed, but prefers that Congress take action. Last month, US District Judge Virginia Phillips in San Francisco ruled the "don't ask, don't tell" policy violated gays' right to freedom of speech and equal protection under the law because it effectively prohibited them from speaking about their lives. She issued an injunction forbidding the Pentagon from enforcing the ban, but an appeals court ruled the ban could stay in place while the Obama administration appeals against the ruling. Britain, Israel and dozens of other countries allow gay personnel to serve openly, but under the US policy established in 1993, gays may serve in the military but cannot acknowledge their orientation. The military is forbidden to inquire but may expel service members found to be gay. Though Mr Obama favours repealing the ban, he has said the change should come through legislation, rather than the courts, and has appealed against the rulings. A Republican-led minority in the US Senate in September blocked debate on a provision to repeal the ban. With the party's numbers in Congress strengthened after the November election, ban opponents see a diminished chance of a repeal. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is set to release a survey showing most US troops think allowing gays to serve openly in the military would have a minimal effect on US war efforts. \|\|\|\|\| The military’s “ don’t ask, don’t tell ” policy restricting openly gay, lesbian and bisexual people from serving will remain in force while a legal challenge is considered by a federal appeals court, the United States Supreme Court declared Friday. In an unsigned, two-paragraph order, the justices denied a request by the Log Cabin Republicans, the group trying to overturn the law, to reinstate an order by a federal district judge in California, Virginia A. Phillips, that prohibited enforcement during the appeal. The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit had ruled, however, that the military could continue enforcement during the appeal, and on Friday the Supreme Court agreed. The decision did not address the merits of the case. The Supreme Court order noted that the newest justice, Elena Kagan, “took no part in the consideration or decision” of the application; she may have recused herself because she was involved in the case as solicitor general, the position she held before President Obama nominated her to the court. “Log Cabin Republicans are disappointed that the Supreme Court decided to maintain the status quo with regards to ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ but we are not surprised,” said the group’s executive director, R. Clarke Cooper. While Mr. Obama has said he disagrees with the 17-year-old law and has urged Congress to repeal it, the Justice Department has defended it in court as part of its traditional role in treating laws passed by Congress as presumptively constitutional. The House passed a repeal measure this year, but the Senate has not acted on the measure. Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which represents some of the 13,000 people discharged since the law took effect, said, “Today’s announcement underscores the need for Senate action to repeal ‘don’t ask’ in the lame-duck session.” A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment.	200px The United States has rejected a bid by gay rights group to have the US Military's "" policy rescinded again. A Federal court in had previously ruled the policy, which restricts personnel from discussing their sexuality, unconstitutional. In October, US District Judge ruled that since the policy prevented gays from talking about their lives it is a breach of their to . She forbade by injunction any use of the policy, later nullified by an appeals court decision. This allowed the policy to stay in place until the Obama administration had a chance to appeal the decision – While President Obama supports the lifting of the ban, he has made it clear that he would prefer the decision to be made by Congress, not the courts, which is why he wants the court verdicts struck down. The Supreme Court decision means the policy can now be applied once more, while the original ruling of unconstitutionality is contested. Under the terms of "Don't ask, don't tell", initiated in 1993, homosexuals can serve in the US Forces, under the condition that they do not openly admit to being gay; if they do, they can be dismissed. It is also not permitted under the policy to inquire as to whether any member is homosexual – again, an offence for which someone can be dismissed. R. Clarke Cooper, Executive Director of the group, said in a statement "Log Cabin Republicans are disappointed that the Supreme Court decided to maintain the status quo with regards to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ but we are not surprised." The passed a measure earlier this year to repeal the policy, but in the have so far blocked any action on the issue. == Sources == * * category:United States category:LGBT category:Crime and law category:Politics and conflicts category:Military
(CNN) -- Zimbabwe presidential contender Morgan Tsvangirai was released Wednesday after spending nearly 10 hours in police custody, a Tsvangirai spokesman said. Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe attends the United Nations food summit in Rome this week. Tsvangirai, head of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party, and several other MDC leaders were detained Wednesday because they were going to attend an unauthorized meeting in southern Zimbabwe, MDC party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said. No charges were filed, but authorities kept custody of the vehicles that the group was traveling in, said Chamisa, who communicated with journalists via text message Wednesday after going into hiding. Tsvangirai was picked up by police around 2 p.m. Wednesday, less than a month before the run-off election against President Robert Mugabe. MDC has accused Mugabe and his supporters of orchestrating a reign of violence ahead of the June 27 run-off, using beatings and dozens of arrests in a attempt to sway the results. Mugabe, who is in Rome, Italy, attending a United Nations World Food Summit, has disputed these claims, saying that MDC party members have concocted stories to get international support. But on Sunday, Arthur Mutambara, the head of an MDC faction, was arrested on charges of criticizing Mugabe's government. At least 30 aid agencies that provide food, health care and other services to some of the poorest people in Zimbabwe were also told to suspend their work in the country after the government accused them of helping Tsvangirai's party. The fallout from Zimbabwe's stalled election has brought a chorus of international criticism, including from the United States. "The continued use of government-sponsored violence in Zimbabwe, including unwarranted arrests and intimidation of opposition figures, to prevent the Movement for Democratic Change from campaigning freely ahead of the June 27 presidential runoff election is deplorable," U.S. President George Bush said Monday. Not long after news broke Wednesday of Tsvangirai's detention, the international community began calling for his release. "A tragedy is unfolding in Zimbabwe," U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. "There has been a dramatic retrenchment in political freedoms in the country. We are deeply concerned about whether or not the proper conditions for a free and fair election can be brought about." The first election was March 29. After weeks of delay, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission ruled neither candidate won the required majority of votes, and scheduled a runoff election for June 27. Tsvangirai, who claims he won the first election, wants international observers to monitor the second round of voting, but Mugabe's government has declined to allow it. This is not the first time Tsvangirai has faced alleged intimidation attempts. He fled the country to South Africa in March because, he said, he was being targeted for assassination by the government. A Zimbabwe Cabinet member denied that claim to CNN at the time. Last March, Tsvangirai was severely beaten in a police crackdown. The pictures of his battered and swollen face were circulated around the world and became an enduring image of political struggle in the country. All About Zimbabwe • Robert Mugabe • Morgan Tsvangirai \|\|\|\|\| With Move to Remote Voting, House Alters What It Means for Congress to Meet For an institution steeped in tradition, the changes were a reflection of the profound ways in which the pandemic is reshaping American life.	Morgan Tsvangirai and about 14 other members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party have been released by police after being held for about eight hours at a police station in Lupane, Zimbabwe. "It is nothing but the usual harassment which is totally unnecessary," Tsvangirai told Agence France-Presse. "We have seen worse things than this." Tsvangirai's convoy was stopped at a roadblock earlier today, while campaigning in June 27 presidential run-off election. President Robert Mugabe is the incumbent. No charges have been filed against Tsvangirai or the MDC members, but authorities have kept the vehicles in which they were traveling. President Mugabe disputed the reports as concocted by the MDC to curry favor internationally. Mugabe is currently in Rome, Italy for the United Nations World Food Summit. While Tsvangirai was detained, many governments and NGOs called for his release, including the United States and the European Union. "We are deeply concerned on the report of the arrest of Tsvangirai," said an official from the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. "We urge the authorities to release him immediately and to resist from all harassment of opposition members." Sean McCormack of the United States Department of State said Tsvangirai should be released "unharmed and untouched." "But we are deeply concerned about whether or not the proper conditions exist for a free and fair election," McCormack added. "We continue to call on the Zimbabwean government to create these conditions. But, given their history, that call also comes with a healthy does of skepticism." On Monday, President George W. Bush said, "The continued use of government-sponsored violence in Zimbabwe, including unwarranted arrests and intimidation of opposition figures, to prevent the Movement for Democratic Change from campaigning freely ahead of the June 27 presidential runoff election is deplorable."
(02-17) 10:54 PST Cheyenne, Wyo. (AP) -- Vice President Dick Cheney returned to his home state Friday, getting a standing ovation from lawmakers shortly after the lawyer he accidentally shot made his first public comments about Saturday's hunting trip. "I want to thank you for that welcome home," Cheney told the Wyoming lawmakers. "It's a wonderful experience to be greeted by such warmth by the leaders of our great state. It's especially true when you've had a very long week. Thankfully, Harry Whittington is on the mend and doing very well." In Corpus Christi, Texas, the 78-year-old Whittington stood outside the hospital where he has been treated, telling reporters he was sorry for all the trouble Cheney had faced since the accidental shooting during a quail hunting trip in South Texas. "We all assume certain risks in what we do, in what activities we pursue," Whittington said. "Accidents do and will happen." Dr. David Blanchard, the hospital's chief of emergency care, said Whittington was being released Friday because of "his excellent health," but added that Whittington wasn't answering questions because "he is not 100 percent." He said the Austin attorney was "a lucky person" to survive the shooting. Whittington was hit in the face, neck and chest with birdshot Saturday during the hunting trip. After a shotgun pellet traveled to his heart, he had suffered a mild heart attack Tuesday while being treated at Christus Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Memorial. On Wednesday, Cheney took full blame for the shooting. "I'm the guy who pulled the trigger and shot my friend," Cheney told Fox News in his first public comments since the shooting. He said it was "one of the worst days of my life." Whittington said the past weekend encompassed "a cloud of misfortune and sadness." "My family and I are deeply sorry for everything Vice President Cheney and his family have had to deal with," he said. He also thanked the hospital staff and said he was "a lucky person" to survive the shooting. On Thursday, President Bush said critics were drawing "the wrong conclusion about a tragic accident" when they say the delayed disclosure of the mishap was an indicator of an overly secretive White House. Bush said Cheney handled the situation "just fine." "I'm satisfied with the explanation he gave," Bush said, calling it "strong and powerful." In Texas, the Kenedy County Sheriff's Department has closed its investigation without filing any charges. The department's report supported Cheney's account of the accident. Cheney told an investigator that he did not see his hunting partner while aiming for a bird. The report also included the first public account from Whittington, interviewed from his hospital bed Monday. Whittington "explained foremost there was no alcohol during the hunt and everyone was wearing the proper hunting attire of blaze orange," reported Chief Deputy Gilberto San Miguel Jr. For his first public appearance since the shooting, Cheney chose the Wyoming Legislature, where in 1965 he worked as an intern and met Alan Simpson, then a rookie state legislator who would go on to be the No. 2 Republican in the U.S. Senate. Ten years later, after doing postgraduate work in political science, Cheney went to Washington and served as White House chief of staff to President Ford. He was elected in 1978 to Wyoming's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving until 1989, when he resigned to become secretary of defense under the first President Bush. Cheney remains popular in Wyoming. He received a loud ovation four years ago when he last addressed the legislature ___ Associated Press writers Lynn Brezosky in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Nedra Pickler in Washington contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| Programming note: CNN's "On the Story" examines the press corps' ire over the Cheney shooting accident, Saturday at 7 p.m. ET and Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Man shot by Cheney: 'Accidents do and will happen' Vice president notes Whittington's recovery in Wyoming speech CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (CNN) -- Harry Whittington said Friday he was sorry for what Dick Cheney and his family have "had to go through" after the vice president shot him in a weekend hunting accident. The 78-year-old Bush-Cheney campaign donor spoke briefly to reporters upon his release from a Corpus Christi hospital, but he took no questions. Cheney sprayed Whittington with birdshot on his face and upper torso in Saturday's hunting accident. Whittington suffered a mild heart attack Tuesday, doctors said, after a piece of birdshot in his body migrated to a heart muscle. "We all assume certain risks in whatever we do," Whittington said. "Whatever activities we pursue and regardless of how experienced, careful and dedicated we are, accidents do and will happen." (Watch Whittington thank doctors for caring for his wounds -- 3:25) Whittington, wearing a suit and tie, appeared with several bruises on his face and neck. His discharge from the hospital came earlier than expected. "My family and I are deeply sorry for all that Vice President Cheney and his family have had to go through this week," Whittington said. Minutes later in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Cheney delivered his first speech since the shooting in an appearance before the state Legislature. "Thankfully, Harry Whittington is on the mend and doing very well," Cheney said after receiving a standing ovation from lawmakers. Cheney, who grew up in Casper, Wyoming, said returning home was "a wonderful experience" after a "very long week." The vice president remained publicly silent about the shooting for four days until a television interview Wednesday when he accepted blame, saying it was "one of the worst days of my life." (Transcript) Whittington's departure from the hospital comes a day after President Bush and local authorities said they were satisfied with Cheney's account of how he accidentally shot his friend while quail hunting on a south Texas ranch. Bush said he "thought the vice president handled the issue just fine, and I thought his explanation yesterday was a powerful explanation." "I'm satisfied with the explanation he gave," Bush told reporters after meeting with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Bush also said he knew Whittington, an Austin attorney and major player in Texas politics, and that he and Cheney were concerned about the man's condition. "It profoundly affected [Cheney]. Yesterday when he was here in the Oval Office I saw the deep concern he had about a person who he wounded," the president said. "And now our concerns are directed toward the recovery of our friend." Meanwhile, Kenedy County Sheriff Ramon Salinas said that authorities have deemed the shooting a "mere hunting accident" and that no charges will be filed. Salinas' remarks came shortly after his office released a report in which Whittington insisted alcohol played no role in the shooting. Cheney acknowledged in his TV interview to having a beer at lunch several hours before the shooting. The attorney also was concerned the accident could give Texas hunting a bad name, according to the report. "Mr. Whittington again reiterated that this incident was just an accident," the report stated. Though hunting accidents occasionally warrant warnings or citations, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department spokesman Aaron Reed said criminal charges are not filed in shootings that authorities determine to be accidental. "There are no charges for hunting accidents," Reed wrote in an e-mail, explaining that citations or warnings are sometimes issued for code violations. A state game warden issued a warning to Cheney for hunting without a required stamp on his license, and the vice president's office later submitted the $7 payment for the stamp. In Thursday's report, Chief Deputy Gilberto San Miguel Jr. said that he went to the Armstrong Ranch about 8 a.m. Sunday -- more than 14 hours after the shooting, which took place around 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Police knew of the shooting Saturday, but authorities didn't interview anyone until the following day when San Miguel talked to Cheney and other witnesses at the ranch. Ranch owner Katharine Armstrong was the first to notify the media about the shooting, calling a reporter at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times newspaper on Sunday. The national media didn't learn of the accident until a story appeared on the paper's Web site Sunday afternoon.	Harry Whittington, the person who was shot by Vice President Dick Cheney in a hunting accident, was released from the hospital today. He said to reporters that "My family and I are deeply sorry for all that Vice President Cheney and his family have had to go through this week." Only minutes later, Cheney received a standing ovation from Wyoming lawmakers. "I want to thank you for that welcome home," Cheney said in his first public appearance after the shooting, when he was addressing the Wyoming state Legislature. The chief of emergency care Dr. Blanchard, who treated Whittington explained that the reasons for the discharge are Whittington's "excellent health". He added that Whittington was "a lucky person" to survive the shooting.
Jessie J faces copyright claim Domino is the star's first top 10 hit in the US Continue reading the main story Related Stories Jessie J is being sued by a US singer, who says that her single Domino copies one of his songs. Will Loomis claims that portions of the British star's hit were lifted from his 2008 track, Bright Red Chords. "Loomis never consented to the use of his song," said the singer's lawyer in a statement. "We look forward to obtaining an appropriate remedy". Jessie J and her representatives said they would not currently be commenting on the case. Loomis, from California, released his single with the band Loomis and the Lusts. In April, he uploaded a video to YouTube highlighting what he said were the similarities between the two tracks. The video has since been blocked by Jessie J's record label on copyright grounds. Domino was written by Jessie J along with Lukasz Gottwald (also known as Dr Luke), Kelly Claude, Martin Sandberg and Henry Walter. Released last December, the song gave Jessie J her second UK number one. The 24-year-old performed it at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert earlier this month, and it has spent 24 weeks on the US Hot 100, peaking at number six. "When I wrote this melody in my garage I never imagined it would be sung for the King and Queen of England," wrote Loomis on his band's Facebook page. "I especially never imagined it would be sung by Jessie J." His legal case was filed in Newport, California. It names Jessie J under her real name, Jessica Cornish, as a defendant, alongside Universal Music Group, Lava Records, and Universal Republic Records. The singer is seeking a jury trial and at least $150,000 (£96,000) in damages. \|\|\|\|\| Jessie J is being sued by California's Loomis & the Lust, who claim that her track "Domino" sounds a lot like their song "Bright Red Chords." The band's lead singer, Will Loomis, alleges that Jessie J's biggest Stateside hit has a few striking similarities to portions of the band's own 2008 track. He is suing not only Jessie, but also Universal Music Group, Lava Records and Universal Republic Records. "Mr. Loomis never consented to the use of his song," lawyer Chris Arledge wrote in a statement to Billboard. "And we look forward to obtaining an appropriate remedy from the court for this clear infringement." In April, Loomis uploaded a video of the band's song with Jessie's vocals laid on it, but the clip has since been removed on "copyright grounds." However, a music video for "Bright Red Chords" remains online, allowing fans to determine if Loomis has a case against the British songstress. Reps for Jessie J and producer Dr. Luke had not responded to MTV News' request for comment by press time. "Domino" is featured on Jessie's debut studio album, Who You Are, which dropped last year. It features songwriting and production credits from A-listers like Dr. Luke, Claude Kelly, Max Martin and Cirkut. "Domino" reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 24 weeks on the chart. "People have heard 'Domino' and said, 'It's nothing like you.' But I'm like, 'Well, the album's really eclectic anyway, and I never go into the studio and say, 'I wanna do another song that's like "Price Tag" or another song like "Do It Like a Dude," ' " Jessie told MTV's Buzzworthy blog last year. "I listened to a lot of Whitney [Houston] and Prince ... and we kinda just wanted to write a song that's timeless, that's fun and uplifting." Do you think "Domino" and "Bright Red Chords" sound alike? Let us know in the comments!	Jessie J in 2011. Will Loomis, lead singer of the US music group , is suing UK singer , known by her stage name Jessie J, and , , and for allegedly using elements of his 2008 song ''Bright Red Chords'' in Cornish's 2011 track '''' without his copyright permission. In a written statement to '''', Chris Arledge, Loomis's lawyer, said Loomis "never consented to the use of his song" and the prosecuting side "look forward to obtaining an appropriate remedy from the court for this clear infringement". On Loomis & the Lust's Facebook page, Loomis wrote: "When I wrote this melody in my garage I never imagined it would be sung for the King and Queen of England", adding: "I especially never imagined it would be sung by Jessie J." Loomis, of the US state of California, placed a YouTube video of ''Bright Red Chords'' with Cornish's vocals overlaid on it, to illustrate the apparent closeness between the two songs, in April. The video was subsequently banned from the website on "copyright grounds" by Cornish's record label. Cornish, , , , and are attributed as the writers of ''Domino''. Representatives of Cornish and Gottwald have not commented on the case, although Cornish has previously said about the song: "People have heard ''Domino'' and said, 'It's nothing like you.' But I'm like, 'Well, the album's really eclectic anyway, and I never go into the studio and say, "I wanna do another song that's like '''' or another song like ''''.
Why did this happen? Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy. \|\|\|\|\| By Alan Wheatley, China Economics Editor BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese shares slid 6.5 percent on Wednesday, tumbling from record highs and unsettling global markets after the government, determined to cool heated speculation, announced a surprise rise in its stock trading tax. But the world's fourth-largest economy still showed signs of the strength that helped fuel a near-quadrupling in its main stock index over the past 18 months, with the World Bank raising its growth forecasts and Moody's Investors Service flagging an upgrade to its credit rating. The Shanghai Composite Index (.SSEC: Quote, Profile, Research posted its second-biggest fall in a decade, surpassed only by a February 27 plunge of 8.8 percent that triggered losses worldwide. Wednesday's tumble wiped about $170 billion off the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets, as frantic selling by speculators pushed turnover to a record $53 billion -- more than last year's average daily turnover on the rest of Asia's stock markets combined. But analysts for now were playing down worries about a market rout. "If you look at what happened in February, that kind of a fall was not expected. It came from the blue," said Binay Chandgothia, chief investment officer for Principal Asset Management's Hong Kong operation. "If you look at what happened today, almost everybody on the street had been calling for a correction ... that's one big difference in terms of the trickle down impact of the correction on global markets." The stock tax hike, announced after midnight on Tuesday, was the latest in a series of official steps -- including increases in interest rates and banks' reserve requirements this month -- to cool the market. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| Yu Ying, 86-10-5861 7852 [email protected] BEIJING , May 30, 2007 - Although GDP growth again surprised on the upside, the pattern of growth and the implications for policy have remained largely unchanged, notes the World Bank's China Quarterly Update released today. In the first quarter of 2007, growth continued to be industry-led, powered by external trade and investment. With export growth to the EU and the developing world surging, the trade surplus continued to rise, and foreign reserves soared further. Inflation picked up on the back of international food prices, while China's stock markets are booming. The Quarterly Update finds that prospects for growth this year are good, both globally and in China. The international environment remains largely favorable, although there is a risk of a further rise in global food prices. With China's export prospects improved, and a policy stance that is less tight than expected, the World Bank revised its forecast for GDP growth in 2007 upwards to 10.4 percent and its projection for the current account surplus to almost 11 percent of GDP. With no obvious need to tighten overall demand, policy would best focus on liquidity and rebalancing the economy. From the macroeconomic perspective, the real economy does not appear overheated, as overall demand and supply are growing broadly in line with each other, notes the World Bank's China Quarterly Update. “The key macro issue in the real economy remains the widening trade surplus,” says Louis Kuijs, Senior Economist for China and the main author of the report. “Macro policies to tighten overall demand are therefore not obvious, although draining excess liquidity from the banking system will remain necessary.” The stock market boom has drawn widespread attention. “Concerns about asset market valuations strengthen the case for tighter monetary policy and higher interest rates to tie up liquidity in bank deposits,” says Bert Hofman, Lead Economist for China. “In turn, the need for tighter monetary policy has strengthened the case for more rapid RMB appreciation, although a lower trade surplus will have to come largely from policies to rebalance the economy.” The report points out that there is a risk that food price increases spill over into more general price increases. The rapid rise in the stock market index has drawn the attention of policymakers. While the report says that the authorities can be agnostic about the stock market index level, a sharp negative correction would have policy implications. The new-found confidence in the Chinese capital market could be damaged, and although the impact on the real economy and the banking sector is likely to be modest, large losses of financial wealth for specific groups could lead to pressure to bail them out. The authorities have already taken several types of measures to stem price increases by containing inflows into the stock market and stimulating outflows. The Quarterly Update discusses possible additional measures that could further moderate price rises, as well as other measures and structural reforms that can mitigate volatility in financial markets and make markets (and the economy) more robust to shocks. China's key economic challenge is to rebalance the economy. This requires a shift in production from industry towards services, more reliance on domestic demand, and more equally shared and environmentally sustainable growth. The Quarterly notes that the State Council's document on stimulating the service sector sets the stage for future policy action in this area, while many new policy initiatives could potentially support rebalancing, including policies for more equitable growth, administrative policies to reduce energy intensity, and price and tax mechanisms to address environmental and energy issues. China could debate what forms of taxes are best used to improve energy efficiency. Full text of the report	Shanghai's new Pudong financial district. In trading Wednesday, the Chinese stock markets plunged after the government tripled a tax on securities transactions. The so-called stamp tax was raised from 0.1% to 0.3% in an effort to cool the rapidly rising market. The Shanghai Composite Index of A-shares fell 6.5%. The CSI 300 fell 6.8%, with over half of the listed companies falling the single day limit of 10%. The market has already doubled in value this year, after rising 130% in 2006. It is estimated that some 300,000 new brokerage accounts are opened on an average day. Novice investors are reportedly sinking their life savings into the market. Meanwhile, the World Bank raised its forecast for GDP growth for China in 2007, from 9.6% to 10.4%. "The stamp tax is the latest gesture by the Chinese government to warn investors," Phil Chen of Grand Cathay Securities Investment Trust Co. told Bloomberg. "The trouble is, Chinese investors probably won't care if a few breadcrumbs are dropped in the transaction as they have such extraordinary returns on their investments."
http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1139053637 A Swiss man has become the first person to fly solo across the Channel using a single jet-propelled wing. ; http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1488655367/bctid1819673136 Yves Rossy, 49, who calls himself Fusionman because he is half man, half bird, made the 22 mile crossing from Calais to Dover in just under 15 minutes. Reaching speeds in excess of 125 mph, the flight was so smooth the Swiss even had time to carry out a few loops over the British coastline before pulling the rip cord and parachuting to earth. Mr Rossy, whose day job is an airline pilot, had to shelve his two previous attempts to enter the record books due to poor British weather but a blue autumn weather meant conditions were perfect today. At 1.06pm the former military fighter pilot, who now works for Swiss International Air Lines, his folded wings attached to his back, high fived his crew and then dropped from a plane 8,000 feet above the French coast. Less than 10 minutes later, thanks to the power from four mini-jets attached to the 8ft carbon fibre wing, he sped over the White Cliffs of Dover. Mr Rossy completed a few loops in the sky beyond the landing site over the next few minutes before making his descent and deploying his parachute. He parachuted on to British soil near the South Foreland lighthouse. Mr Rossy traced the route of French aviation pioneer Louis Bleriot, who became the first person to fly across the Channel in a plane 99 years ago. He overcame significant challenges, not least the container ships passing through the Channel. Mr Rossy had never flown for longer than 10 minutes before and his wing weight and measurements were precise, with even the addition of a tiny camera possibly affecting how long he could stay in the air. Over the past few months, he has been fine-tuning the wing's design and performance and carried out several test flights in wind tunnels and the Swiss Alps. His wing weighed about 120lb with fuel and included four simple, kerosene-burning jet turbines to keep him airborne. Created from a lightweight carbon composite, the wing had no steering devices, meaning Mr Rossy had to use his head and back to control the wing's movement. He was fitted with a special fire proof suit, helmet and parachute to protect him from the jet turbines mounted just inches from him on the wing. He faces a rapid return to reality on Monday when he goes back to work piloting a flight to Egypt with Swiss International Air Lines. One day he hopes his invention will become common place and hopes to form a Red Arrow's style display team. \|\|\|\|\| Swiss airline pilot Yves Rossy became the first person to fly between France and England on Friday with a jetpack strapped to his back. The pilot, who normally flies an Airbus airliner, swapped the plane's controls for four jets attached to a wing on his back to get across the Channel. The simple kerosene-burning jet turbines propelled him the 22 miles (35 km) between Calais and Dover at speeds of up to 120 mph (200 kph). The journey took just under 10 minutes. The 49-year-old Rossy, who calls himself "Fusion Man", ignited the jets inside a plane before jumping out more than 8,000 feet (2,400 metres) above ground. After a period of free fall he opened the wing and soared across the water. With no steering controls, the only way to change direction was like a bird, moving his head and back. When he reached Britain, he released his parachute and drifted down gently before landing in a field. Rossy traced the route of French aviator Louis Bleriot, who became the first person to fly across the Channel in an aircraft in 1909. He usually flies a Swiss International A320 Airbus between Zurich and Heathrow and took at least five years to develop the jet-propelled device. The wing, which spans eight feet, is made of lightweight carbon composite and weighs about 55 kg (120 lb) including fuel. He postponed the flight for a day due to poor weather and wore a flameproof suit to help him withstand the jet exhaust around his legs. A helicopter accompanied him during the journey.	Yves Rossy, 49, an airline pilot from Switzerland, has successfully completed a trip across the English Channel using a jet propelled pack. He is said to be the first human to successfully complete any such trip. Rossy flew between England and France, approximately 22 miles, with his top speed reaching 120 miles an hour. Rossy, who has named himself 'Fusion Man' began his trip in a plane. When they reached an altitude of 8,000 feet, Rossy jumped out of the plane and started his jet pack. The trip took just about 10 minutes to complete with Rossy landing via parachute in Dover in England. The pack is described as hang glider like, with a wing span of eight feet. When the fuel tank is filled, the device weighs about 120 pounds. Rossy was protected by a fire proof suit in case anything went wrong, an extra parachute and a helmet. Rossy had spent nearly five years designing and building the jet pack.
Remember Me HELLSHOCK "Shadows of the Afterworld" BIGELF "Hex" JAPANISCHE KAMPFHÖRSPIELE "Rauchen und Yoga" ELECTRIC WIZARD "Witchcult Today" VESANIA "Distractive Killusions" Last Updated: December 13, 2007 11:51 AM LORDI: More 'Beast Loose In Paradise' Single Details Revealed - Dec. 7, 2007 LORDI's new single, "Beast Loose in Paradise" will be released as a downloadable single via "Beast Loose in Paradise" — which is one of two new songs the band recently recorded — will appear in LORDI's upcoming feature film "Dark Floors". In a recent interview with MonsterDiscoHell.com, the group's mainman Mr. Lordi stated about the new material, "These two songs were composed mainly during the Ozzfest tour. As a matter of fact I remember composing the chorus and the main riff of 'Beast Loose in Paradise' in Milwaukee and the chorus and verses of 'Studs and Leather' in St. Augustine." He continued, "The origin of the main riff of 'Studs and Leather' goes way back. That one was taken from the unreleased LORDI album 'Bend over and Pray the Lord!' (which was supposed to be released as LORDI's debut album in 1999)! Though the tunes were changed, but the rhythm is still the same. The verse of 'Beast Loose in Paradise' is from another therapy band sessions from last Christmas. And the rest of both of the songs was basically made between the Ozzfest and TYPE O NEGATIVE tours... I think that's the first time some part of a song was made like this in the history of this band. The arrangements are done pretty much while the songs are demoed. The rest while rehearsing the songs and the final decisions in studio when recording." Asked if there was any truth to recent report in the Finnish music magazine Soundi that the new LORDI songs would be "more brutal and raw" than the material on "The Arockalypse", Mr. Lordi said, "Our music is not gonna get any brutal or heavier, but not any lighter [either], that's for sure! I think it's gonna be pretty much the same. But it's so hard to think and say for myself. You'll be the judges then. I'd say these two songs are familiar LORDI. Although 'Beast Loose in Paradise' is more 'movie-esque' and 'horror-ish' on purpose. And some might say it's even heavier, but at the very least the chorus will be familiar and melodic LORDI stuff. And "Studs and Leather" is basically 'Heaven's on Fire' meets 'Balls To The Wall'. But as I said, it's really hard to describe them myself. And like I've said before, it's pointless to start forming opinions based on what I've said as to what the the next album's gonna be like. These songs were made for the movie and do not necessarily represent the future material in any way." LORDI recently postponed its previously announced December 14 hometown gig at Lappi Areena in Rovaniemi due to ongoing post-production work on "Dark Floors". Tickets already purchased for the December concert will be valid for the new show. Tickets will also be refundable at the point of purchase. (Thanks: Lord of Noise) 's new single,will be released as a downloadable single via www.zed.fi on December 24 and as a physical CD on January 9. There will be two edits of the song: "Radio Edit" and the "Dark Floors Version". The "Dark Floors" version will include a longer intro.— which is one of two new songs the band recently recorded — will appear in's upcoming feature filmIn a recent interview with, the group's mainmanstated about the new material, "These two songs were composed mainly during thetour. As a matter of fact I remember composing the chorus and the main riff ofin Milwaukee and the chorus and verses ofin St. Augustine."He continued, "The origin of the main riff ofgoes way back. That one was taken from the unreleasedalbum(which was supposed to be released as's debut album in 1999)! Though the tunes were changed, but the rhythm is still the same. The verse ofis from another therapy band sessions from last Christmas. And the rest of both of the songs was basically made between theandtours... I think that's the first time some part of a song was made like this in the history of this band. The arrangements are done pretty much while the songs are demoed. The rest while rehearsing the songs and the final decisions in studio when recording."Asked if there was any truth to recent report in the Finnish music magazinethat the newsongs would be "more brutal and raw" than the material onsaid, "Our music is not gonna get any brutal or heavier, but not any lighter [either], that's for sure! I think it's gonna be pretty much the same. But it's so hard to think and say for myself. You'll be the judges then. I'd say these two songs are familiar. Althoughis more 'movie-esque' and 'horror-ish' on purpose. And some might say it's even heavier, but at the very least the chorus will be familiar and melodicstuff. Andis basicallymeets. But as I said, it's really hard to describe them myself. And like I've said before, it's pointless to start forming opinions based on what I've said as to what the the next album's gonna be like. These songs were made for the movie and do not necessarily represent the future material in any way."recently postponed its previously announced December 14 hometown gig at Lappi Areena in Rovaniemi due to ongoing post-production work on. Tickets already purchased for the December concert will be valid for the new show. Tickets will also be refundable at the point of purchase.(Thanks: To report any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with pertinent details. Anyone posting such material will be immediately and permanently banned. IP addresses are recorded to aid us in enforcing these conditions. COMMENT \| posted by : RiotAct666 12/7/2007 12:30:10 PM Cool COMMENT \| posted by : 12/7/2007 12:48:58 PM I hope GWAR uses it as target practice COMMENT \| posted by : madeinquebec 12/7/2007 12:54:11 PM These guy's 3 minutes are OVER COMMENT \| posted by : 12/7/2007 2:12:05 PM gwar never had 3 minutes..... COMMENT \| posted by : madeinquebec 12/7/2007 2:41:22 PM who cares about Gwar, I'm talking about Lordi (lardi-ass) COMMENT \| posted by : I 4 N I 12/8/2007 12:47:37 AM Are lordi any good? Haven't heard any of there material. Sounds like a decent band COMMENT \| posted by : I 4 N I 12/8/2007 12:47:40 AM Are lordi any good? Haven't heard any of there material. Sounds like a decent band COMMENT \| I 4 N I posted by : 12/11/2007 2:32:49 AM That depends on what you're into. With Lordi, think 80s hard rock with a bit of a twist. If you're cool with that, this is your new favourite band. Otherwise, you'd best go elsewhaere. Go to YouTube and type in Blood Red Sandman or Devil is a Loser to see them in action. BLABBERMOUTH.NET is run and operated independently of Roadrunner Records. The accuracy of the information contained herein is neither confirmed nor guaranteed by Roadrunner Records, and the views and opinions of authors expressed on these pages do not necessarily state or reflect those of Roadrunner Records or its employees. Latest News \| News Archive \| CD Reviews \| DVD Reviews \| Contact \| Submit News \| \| Advertise \| Wireless \| \|\|\|\|\| Finnish metal monsters LORDI have postponed their previously announced hometown gig on December 14 at Lappi Areena in Rovaniemi due to ongoing post-production work on the band's upcoming feature film "Dark Floors". Tickets already purchased for the December concert will be valid for the new show. Tickets will also be refundable at the point of purchase. In other news, Sony BMG Finland will release LORDI's new single, "Beast Loose in Paradise", on December 19. The single's title cut — which is one of two new songs the band recently recorded — is set to appear in the forthcoming movie. In a recent interview with MonsterDiscoHell.com, the group's mainman Mr. Lordi stated about the new material, "These two songs were composed mainly during the Ozzfest tour. As a matter of fact I remember composing the chorus and the main riff of 'Beast Loose in Paradise' in Milwaukee and the chorus and verses of 'Studs and Leather' in St. Augustine." He continued, "The origin of the main riff of 'Studs and Leather' goes way back. That one was taken from the unreleased LORDI album 'Bend over and Pray the Lord!' (which was supposed to be released as LORDI's debut album in 1999)! Though the tunes were changed, but the rhythm is still the same. The verse of 'Beast Loose in Paradise' is from another therapy band sessions from last Christmas. And the rest of both of the songs was basically made between the Ozzfest and TYPE O NEGATIVE tours... I think that's the first time some part of a song was made like this in the history of this band. The arrangements are done pretty much while the songs are demoed. The rest while rehearsing the songs and the final decisions in studio when recording." Asked if there was any truth to recent report in the Finnish music magazine Soundi that the new LORDI songs would be "more brutal and raw" than the material on "The Arockalypse", Mr. Lordi said, "Our music is not gonna get any brutal or heavier, but not any lighter [either], that's for sure! I think it's gonna be pretty much the same. But it's so hard to think and say for myself. You'll be the judges then. I'd say these two songs are familiar LORDI. Although 'Beast Loose in Paradise' is more 'movie-esque' and 'horror-ish' on purpose. And some might say it's even heavier, but at the very least the chorus will be familiar and melodic LORDI stuff. And "Studs and Leather" is basically 'Heaven's on Fire' meets 'Balls To The Wall'. But as I said, it's really hard to describe them myself. And like I've said before, it's pointless to start forming opinions based on what I've said as to what the the next album's gonna be like. These songs were made for the movie and do not necessarily represent the future material in any way." (Thanks: Lord of Noise)	Lordi opening this year's Eurovision Song Contest Finnish theatrical hard rock band Lordi have released ''Beast Loose in Paradise'' - which will be the soundtrack to the band's upcoming horror movie ''Dark Floors'' - as a downloadable single. The song was originally intended to be released via Zed.fi, but for unknown reasons has not appeared on the site. However, it has appeared on at least two other sites as a pay-to-download single - MSN Music Finland and MTV3.fi. The song was one of two recorded last month, and will be released by Sony BMG Finland as an actual CD on January 8 . The other song, titled ''Studs and Leather'', was also written for the movie. The cover art for the CD single has already been revealed. It is a direct tribute to the KISS album ''Creatures of the Night''. Most of both songs were composed during Lordi's tour of the United States as part of Ozzfest, with the band's lead vocalist saying in an interview with MonsterDiscoHell.com that the main riff of ''Beast Loose in Paradise'' was written in Milwaukee, while the chorus of ''Studs and Leather'' was composed in St. Augustine. He went on to say that ''Studs and Leather'' had originally been intended for ''Bend over and Pray the Lord!'', an unreleased album from 1999 that had been intended to be Lordi's debut. The verses from ''Beast Loose in Paradise'' had been decided on between the whole band during therapy sessions at Christmas 2006. He said that he had written most of the rest between two US tours, the Ozzfest tour and a tour as the support act for American gothic doom metal band Type O Negative. He continued to deny a recent rumour posted in Finnish music periodical ''Soundi'' that the new material was going to be "more brutal and raw" than that on Lordi's last album, ''The Arockalypse''. "Our music is not gonna get any brutal or heavier, but not any lighter either... I'd say these two songs are familiar Lordi. Although ''Beast Loose in Paradise'' is more 'movie-esque' and 'horror-ish' on purpose. And some might say it's even heavier, but at the very least the chorus will be familiar and melodic Lordi stuff. And ''Studs and Leather'' is basically ''Heaven's on Fire'' (KISS song) meets ''Balls To The Wall'' (Accept song).
Back to business for recovering Chirac 06/09/2005 - 17:00:27 French President Jacques Chirac was determined to prove it was business as usual today despite his stay in hospital as he held a telephone conference with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. It is the latest sign that the 72-year-old French leader is determined to stay on the job as his health improves. Chirac had been due to meet with Schroeder in Germany today, but was forced to cancel after suffering what doctors called a “small vascular incident” last week that hindered his vision. He was admitted to Val de Grace military hospital on Friday, but officials have said his health was improving. Dr Anne Robert, the head doctor of the army’s health service, today said the hospital did not plan to issue a statement on Chirac’s health because “everything is going as expected”. In a health update on Monday, Robert said Chirac was making a “very favourable” recovery. The government has been facing criticism for guarding details of his condition like a state secret. Chirac and Schroeder discussed issues such as an informal meeting of European Union leaders next month in Britain, a summit at the United Nations next week and would-be EU member Turkey’s refusal to recognise Cyprus, presidential spokesman Jerome Bonnafont said. Chirac also said he regretted not being able to attend today’s meeting in Rheinsberg, north of Berlin, with just 12 days to go before German legislative elections, Bonnafont said. Schroeder’s tenure is on the line, with polls giving the conservative Christian Democrats of challenger Angela Merkel a double-digit lead over his Social Democrats. Chirac and Schroeder have been strong allies – notably lining up against the US-led war in Iraq. Chirac said he hoped to be able to attend next week’s gathering of world leaders at the United Nations, and his office was moving ahead with plans for him to lead the French delegation, Bonnafont said. Whether Chirac would make the trip to New York on September 13-15 has been the subject of considerable speculation in the French press since he became ill. Chirac was resting under ”simple” medical vigilance and was expected to leave in a few days, after a total of about a week in the hospital. Get your FREE Ringtones, Java Games & Colour Logos from IOL 's NEW My Mobile site World News \| Messageboards \| Print Version \| Email to friend \| Previous Page © Thomas Crosbie Media, 2005. \|\|\|\|\| AP Photo NYLS102 PARIS (AP) - French President Jacques Chirac was making a ``very favorable'' recovery after several days in the hospital, a statement said as the government faced growing criticism Tuesday for guarding details of his health condition. Chirac's health updates have come once a day since it was announced that he was admitted Friday to a military hospital with what doctors said was a ``small vascular accident'' that affected vision in one eye. The most recent update, released Monday evening, said Chirac, 72, suffered a small-sized hematoma, or bruise, indicating an ``isolated and limited vision problem.'' ``The clinical signs are in the process of receding, indicating a very favorable evolution,'' said the statement, signed by Dr. Anne Robert, the head doctor of the army's health service. Chirac was resting and expected to leave the hospital in a few days, Robert said. Chirac was admitted to the Val de Grace hospital Friday evening but Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin was not informed until Saturday morning, prompting French media to ask who was in charge of the country during that delay. A brief hospital statement Sunday said Chirac's condition was ``very satisfactory.'' Several papers Tuesday devoted editorials or articles to what they called the slow trickle of vaguely worded health updates. ``In France, we practice a cult of secrecy which would have made the Kremlin proud in the former Soviet Union,'' Le Monde newspaper wrote in an editorial. The left-leaning daily Liberation ran a story headlined ``State secrets of health,'' which said the updates were too rare - and confusing. ``The statements from Val de Grace are obviously controlled and approved by the president's office, then signed by doctors and designed to say nothing,'' the newspaper said. Monday's progress report indicates that the hematoma could be subsiding by itself. Hematomas are bruises from collecting blood, and the severity can vary based on where they are located. Aides said Chirac was fully capable of carrying out his duties and continued to meet with his chief advisers. Chirac has canceled plans for this week and was to be represented at the government's weekly Cabinet meeting Wednesday by Villepin - the first time Chirac has missed a meeting since becoming president in 1995. It was not immediately clear whether Chirac will make his planned trip to New York on Sept. 13-15 for the U.N. summit. \|\|\|\|\| Sun 4 Sep 2005 President Chirac still in hospital French President Jacques Chirac remained hospitalised for a third day with a blood vessel problem as the head of his political party said no-one would stop his quest for the presidency in two years' time. Chirac, 72, was taken to a Paris military hospital late on Friday after suffering a blood vessel problem that was hindering his eyesight, but was already eager to leave, the prime minister said. His wife, Bernadette, was seen leaving Val-de-Grace military hospital in southern Paris this afternoon, but she did not speak to reporters. French radio reports said that she had returned from a holiday in south-east France, appearing to indicate she was not overly concerned about her husband's condition. © Copyright Press Association Ltd 2005, All Rights Reserved.	French President Jacques Chirac continued his hospital stay Tuesday in what a government spokesperson describes as favorable conditions. Chirac was admitted on Friday to a military hospital in central Paris, where doctors called his condition a "small vascular incident" that hindered his vision. Doctors report such a problem as he was having could range from a ruptured blood vessel to a stroke, since more than 80% of strokes are caused by blockage in an artery carrying blood to the brain. The problem reddened and bothered the eyesight of the 72-year-old Chirac. Chirac was scheduled to meet with Gerhard Schröder in Germany Tuesday, but was forced to cancel. Anne Robert, a military physician speaking on behalf of the military health services, said the president was resting and expects to leave the hospital in a few days. The head of the President's political party claims that nobody would stop Chirac in his quest for the presidency two years from now. Chirac's wife was spotted leaving the Val-de-Grâce hospital where Chirac is being treated, but she refused to speak with reporters. It has been heard from French radio reports that she had just returned from a holiday in southeast France, trying to hide the fact that she was terribly concerned about her husband's current condition. Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin reports upon spending about an hour visiting Chirac, he was in "good form." The Prime Minister also reports "he can't wait to leave," to reporters afterward visiting the French president. Controversy has erupted in the French press about the initial secrecy surrounding this hospital visit, and whether the health bulletins published are reliable information. It is in particular suggested that the health bulletins are written by the president's staff, then signed by medical staff --- if only because French law prevents physicians from discussing the state of their patients except with these patients or their close family.
Students chanting pro-reform slogans filled university campuses following the death of the Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri from a heart attack at the age of 87. His grandson, Nasser Montazeri, said he had died in his sleep. Ayatollah Montazeri was originally a follower of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary, and was seen in the 1980s as his natural successor. But he came to oppose the dictatorial nature of the regime, particularly its mass executions of members of an opposition movement in the years before Ayatollah Khomeini's death, and ended up one of its fiercest critics. He spent five years in the late 1990s under house arrest, and even after his release he continued to oppose what he termed the regime's repression. He attacked the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier this year. Nevertheless, he remained in Qom, the holy city seen as the regime's birthplace, and supporters were converging on the city from all over the country to attend his funeral, due to take place today/Monday. Reformist websites last night were also reporting that crowds were gathering in Tehran. "My grandfather died in his sleep last night," said Nasser Montazeri. "People and friends are coming to express their condolences but there are no special security measures around our house." Tagheer, the website of the reformist defeated election candidate Mehdi Karroubi said: "The social network of the reform movement has called on its supporters to gather in Mohseni Square (in Tehran) to mourn. Based on reports people have already gathered in some other squares in Tehran." By yesterday evening more security forces had been put on alert out of fear the funeral could become yet another focus for opposition rallies. Tagheer said there were reports of riot squads being seen in various parts of Qom. Videos were already being posted by midafternoon on YouTube of impromptu gatherings at universities of students who chanted slogans in his memory. In one, they can be heard shouting: "Montazeri, you are finally free." In his home town, Najafabad, shops were closed and crowds poured into the streets. Mourners chanted: "Innocent Montazeri, your path will continue." \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Crowds of mourners are gathering in the Iranian city of Qom following the death of leading reformist cleric Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri at 87. Some pro-reform websites say thousands of people are travelling to the city ahead of Monday's funeral. Other unverified reports say opposition supporters are also gathering in some squares in Tehran, fuelling government concern of increased political tension. Iran faced serious unrest after its disputed presidential election in June. Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, one of Shia Islam's most respected figures and a leading critic of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, himself said in August that the turmoil following the election "could lead to the fall of the regime". DEFIANT CLERIC Born into provincial family in 1922 and educated at a seminary Arrested and tortured for leading protests against Iran monarchy Designated successor to Islamic Republic's founder, Khomeini Fell out with Khomeini in 1989 over Iran's human rights record House arrest in 1997 for criticising current Supreme Leader Issues a fatwa against President Ahmadinejad after 2009's election Obituary: Ayatollah Montazeri Analysis: Government's challenge He said Iran's clerical leadership was a dictatorship and issued a fatwa condemning the government after the election. The BBC's Jon Leyne says his death comes at a crucial time in a standoff between the government and opposition, and the leaders will fear a big turnout for Monday's funeral. It is scheduled to start at 0900 local time (0530 GMT) and it is reported that no foreign media will be allowed to attend. Reporting in Iran by foreign organisations has been restricted since the post-election protests. One reformist website, Jaras, has quoted opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi as calling for Monday to be a "day of national mourning" and urging people to attend the funeral. Large crowds have already gathered outside the grand ayatollah's home in Qom, 125km south (90 miles) of Tehran, following his death on Saturday evening. The moderate Parlemannews website said that thousands of people were travelling from all over the country to be at the funeral. Grand Ayatollah Montazeri died of natural causes, his family said. He will be laid to rest at the shrine of Hazrate Masoumeh, one of the most revered female saints in Shia Islam, his office told AFP news agency. Another moderate website, Tagheer, which backs Mehdi Karroubi, said it had reports of people gathering in the Mohseni and other squares in Tehran to mourn. The reports have not been independently verified. Tagheer also said there were reports of heavy riot police presence in Qom. However, Grand Ayatollah Montazeri's grandson, Naser Montazeri, told Reuters news agency: "People and friends are coming to express their condolences but there are no special security measures around our house." State news agency Irna did not use the ayatollah title in its early reports of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri's death and referred to him as the "clerical figure of rioters". Vocal critic Hoseyn Ali Montazeri was a moving spirit in the 1979 revolution which created Iran's Islamic state. But during his lifetime, the cleric was transformed from a pillar of the revolution to one of the most vocal critics of its leadership. He repeatedly accused the country's rulers of imposing dictatorship in the name of Islam and said the liberation that was supposed to have followed the 1979 revolution never happened. Hoseyn Ali Montazeri was one of the early backers of the man who became the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Hoseyn Ali Montazeri organised public protests in support of Khomeini and was repeatedly detained and tortured in jail during the years of the monarchy. Hoseyn Ali Montazeri was designated to succeed Khomeini, but the pair fell out over Iran's human rights record a few months before Khomeini died of cancer in 1989. In 1997 he famously clashed with Khomeini's successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whom he outranked in the religious hierarchy, after questioning the powers of the Supreme Leader. MONTAZERI BBC INTERVIEWS Exchanged e-mails detailing views on reform in Oct 2009 Interviewed at his home in Qom in June 2008 Click below to read details E-mail exchanges Visiting Iran's ayatollahs This led to the closure of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri's religious school and an attack on his office in Qom. He was placed under house arrest for six years. After his detention, state-run media began referring to him as a "simple-minded" cleric, references to him in schoolbooks were erased and streets named after him were renamed, but he remained defiant. In his opposition to President Ahmadinejad, he became an unlikely inspiration for Iranian reformists. Despite his old age and failing health, Grand Ayatollah Montazeri backed the opposition's claims that the 2009 election result, which gave President Ahmadinejad a landslide victory, had been widely rigged. The cleric had often said his opinions were guided by his "sense of religious duty". Iran's authorities denied the rigging allegations and said the post-election protests were a foreign-backed plot to bring down the leadership. Are you in Iran? What are your memories of Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri? How do you think his death will affect the political situation in Iran? Send us your comments, pictures and video. A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. Send your pictures and video to [email protected], text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Iranians flocked to view Montazeri's body in his home in the city of Qom on Sunday [AFP] Iranians flocked to view Montazeri's body in his home in the city of Qom on Sunday [AFP] He had been held under house arrest for several years. Montazeri, 87, was an architect of the 1979 Islamic revolution who fell out with the present leadership. Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, Iran's most senior dissident cleric, has died, official media has reported. "Hossein Ali Montazeri passed away in his home last night," the official IRNA news agency said on Sunday. Montazeri lived in the city of Qom, which lies south of Tehran, and was referred to as the spiritual leader of the opposition after the country's recent disputed election. His funeral will be held on Monday and he will be buried in the shrine of Masoumeh, a revered Shia figure, in Qom, his office told AFP. Foreign media are banned from covering the ceremony. 'Huge blow' "Thousands of people from Isfahan, Najafabad, Shiraz and other cities have left for Qom to take part in his funeral," Parlemannews.ir, the website of the parliament's reformist faction, reported. Ghanbar Naderi, an Iran Daily journalist, told Al Jazeera: "This is huge blow to the reformist camp, because he is unreplaceable and nobody is happy to hear about his sad demise. "He used to say that religion should be separated from politics, because in this way, we can keep the integrity of religion intact." Montazeri criticised authorities of their handling of the disputed election aftermath In August, Montazeri described the clerical establishment as a "dictatorship", saying that the authorities' handling of street unrest after the disputed election in June "could lead to the fall of the regime". "I hope the responsible authorities give up the deviant path they are pursuing and restore the trampled rights of the people," he wrote. "I hope authorities ... have the courage to announce that this ruling system is neither a republic nor Islamic and that nobody has the right to express opinion or criticism," Montazeri said in August this year. Alireza Ronaghi, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Tehran, said that Montazeri's statements were significant because he was once in line to succeed the late Ayatollah Khomeini as Iran's supreme leader. 'No mayor player' But Seyed Mohammad Marandi, a political analyst at the University of Tehran, told Al Jazeera in August that Montazeri has been "saying the same thing for around 25 years". "After his inner circle was discovered to be linked to Mujahedin terrorists based in Iraq, he was isolated by the reformists," he said. "He is not a major player and has always been very critical," Marandi said. Baqer Moin, an Iranian journalist and author, told Al Jazeera that Montazeri's absence would be "greatly felt across the country", both among the faithful and among reformists. "He was the most heavy weight among them [the reformists]. He had great popularity because he was a humble man, he was a simple man ... and above all he was very courageous. "He didn't fear expressing his views, critical of the current supreme leader or the policies of the government." \|\|\|\|\| Iran's Top Dissident Cleric Montazeri Dies The outspoken Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri was 87 Photo: AP Iranian state media say Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri has died. The dissident cleric helped found the Islamic Republic, but later became one of the government's most vocal critics. His grandson is quoted Sunday as saying the 87-year old died peacefully during the night. Long sidelined by Iran's ruling elite, Ayatollah Montazeri continued to find an audience among those eager for views questioning the current leadership. In comments widely circulated on the Internet after the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June, the ayatollah questioned the validity of the vote and criticized the crackdown on those protesting the outcome. Montazeri's role as a spiritual guide to Iran's opposition mirrored the outsider position he played in helping overthrow the Shah in 1979 and ushering in the Islamic Republic he would come to criticize. A favorite of Iran's first Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Montazeri was expected to succeed him. But the two had a falling out over what Montazeri saw as the government's brutal treatment of Iranian opposition forces and an increasing authoritarianism. His continued criticism of the government, its human rights record and the current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led to his being put under house arrest in 1997 for five years. State media began to refer to him dismissively - if at all. But from his base in the holy city of Qom, the cleric, a top arbiter of Islamic law, continued to express his views on the republic, and his own role in its history. Ali Nourizadeh, of the London-based Center for Arab and Iranian Studies, argues that Montazeri showed bravery in reassessing his earlier views, for never considering his personal position in calling out what he felt was wrong, and for being an advocate of modernization. "He was the one who came out with ideas which Shi'ite clergymen would have never have thought about or even felt that it is necessary to say it," Nourizadeh sa said. "He was brave as far as the participation of women in social life and political life, as about the equality and other issues." Several opposition Web sites report that mourners have been gathering outside Montezeri's home in Qom ahead of a funeral planned for Monday. Ali Nourizadeh says people he has spoken with in Iran have encountered roadblocks as they try to reach the house. He says he doubts that will deter them. "I am sure the people are going to pay their last respects to the man who stood by them and, although it cost him a lot, he never abandoned his position, he never turned his back to people," Nourizadeh sa said. Authorities have a standing order against any large gatherings without permits and are already reported on alert as Shi'ites begin to observe an annual period of mourning. \|\|\|\|\| Reporting from Tehran - Thousands of supporters of Iran's most senior dissident cleric marched through streets in his hometown and descended upon the country's main theological center today to mourn his passing just days before the climax of a politically charged religious commemoration. Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, a pillar of the Islamic Revolution three decades ago who became a staunch defender of the nation's current opposition movement, died late Saturday of complications due to advanced age, diabetes and asthma, his doctor told state television. He was 87. His death could further galvanize the protest movement that grew out of disputed presidential elections in June but that has been driven as much, if not more, by raw emotion over perceived injustice as rational political calculation. Montazeri was an important figure in Iran's post-revolutionary period, a widely respected and creative Islamic jurist and political theorist. He was slated to take over as the country's supreme leader until a falling out with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founding father of the Islamic Republic, over killings of political prisoners in the late 1980s. Montazeri became a harsh and defiant critic of the revolution he helped create. "Ayatollah Montazeri will be remembered in the history of Iran as brave, open-minded and willing to say the truth at any time, even when encountering danger," Fazel Maybodi, a mid-ranking reformist cleric and a well-known disciple of Montazeri, said in a telephone interview from the city of Qom, the country's religious center. His death comes as the opposition prepares to hold protests to coincide with the emotionally charged Muharram ceremonies marking the 7th century martyrdom of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the prophet Muhammad and a highly revered figure within Iran's majority Shiite Muslim faith. Adding to the potential for unrest, the religiously significant seventh day following Montazeri's death will fall on Ashura, the often-frenzied culmination of Muharram, when Shiites pour into the streets to beat their chests and weep in ritual mourning of Imam Hussein. Opposition leaders Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi declared Monday a national day of mourning and called on Iranians to come to Qom, where he died and is scheduled to be laid to rest during the day in the shrine of Fatemeh Masoumeh, the second holiest site in Iran. Already today the roads leading south out of Tehran were clogged with traffic as opposition supporters and others headed to the shrine city to pay their respects. Residents and students in the city of 1 million began text messaging and e-mailing friends in the capital to invite them to stay at their homes overnight. On the restive campuses of Tehran, students gathered to mourn Montazeri, according to witnesses and videos posted to the Internet. The main market and schools of Montazeri's hometown, Najafabad, shut down as thousands holding black flags marched through the streets. "Dictator! Dictator!" they chanted, according to videotape posted to the Internet. "Montazeri's path will continue." Security forces spread out along the main squares of the capital and were reportedly flooding Qom to head off any potential unrest. At least one student of Montazeri, Ahmad Qabel, was arrested en route to the shrine city, a reformist website reported. State-controlled television carried minimal coverage of his death. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who followed Khomeini as the nation's supreme leader, offered his condolences to Montazeri's family while acknowledging the key role the cleric played in creating the ongoing rift within Iran's establishment. "For a long period of his life he had been at the service of the [Khomeini's] movement," Khamenei said in a statement published by the official Islamic Republic News Agency. "In the later part of his life there was an ordeal that I wish Almighty God will forgive and conceal, and that his worldly suffering will be atonement for that." Born in 1922, Montazeri pursued his religious studies in the seminaries of Qom. The scholar and theologian organized clergy to oppose the monarchical regime of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, spending several years in prison during the 1970s. Cast out of the inner circle of power and stripped of his official posts after his split with Khomeini, the small, bespectacled cleric over the last two decades became an outspoken critic of the Islamic Republic, calling for greater democracy and respect for human rights and civil liberties. His stature and relevance rose following the disputed elections, when he became a strong advocate for the opposition movement. He urged fellow clergy to stand with the Iranian people just as they had in the face of all "oppressive" regimes. "The regime has savagely suppressed million-strong protesters who were legally objecting to the election outcome," he wrote in September. "The grand ayatollahs are well aware of their influence on the regime, and they know quite well the regime needs their approval for its legitimacy," he continued. "Their silence may give the wrong impression to people that the grand ayatollahs approve of what is underway." The Iranian human rights group founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi awarded a Montazeri an annual award this month. Mostaghim is a special correspondent. \|\|\|\|\| Iran's most senior dissident cleric, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, who was seen as the spiritual father of Iran's reformists has died aged 87. Nasser Montazeri said today that his grandfather died in his sleep overnight. Montazeri had been designated to succeed Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the late founder of Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, but the two fell out a few months before Khomeini died of cancer in 1989. Iran's current supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, succeeded Khomeini instead and has been the target of escalating criticism by Iran's opposition movement since June's disputed presidential vote. Montazeri had repeatedly accused the country's ruling Islamic establishment of imposing dictatorship in the name of Islam. In 1997, Montazeri was place under house arrest in Qom, 130km (80m) south of Tehran, after saying Khamenei wasn't qualified to rule. The penalty was lifted in 2003, but Montazeri remained defiant, repeatedly accusing the country's ruling Islamic establishment of imposing dictatorship in the name of Islam. He said the liberation that was supposed to follow the 1979 revolution never happened. Montazeri was one of just a few Grand Ayatollahs – the most senior theologians of the Shia Muslim faith. After he was placed under house arrest, state-run media stopped referring to Montazeri by his religious title, describing him instead as a "simple-minded" cleric. Any talk about Montazeri was strongly discouraged, references to him in schoolbooks were removed and streets named after him were renamed. Montazeri was still respected by many Iranians, who observed his religious rulings or supported his calls for democratic change within the ruling establishment. On Saturday, after months of denials, Iran acknowledged that at least three people detained in the country's postelection turmoil were beaten to death by their jailers. The surprise announcement by the hardline judiciary confirmed one of the opposition's most devastating and embarrassing claims against authorities and the elite Revolutionary Guard forces that led the crackdown after the vote in June.	Iranian cleric Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri died yesterday. Montazeri had been a key leader in the 1979 Iranian revolution and at one time was expected to succeed Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as the Supreme Leader of Iran, until he fell out with Khomeini. In 1987 Montazeri had advocated for the legalisation of political parties. He had also criticsed the post-revolution regime for its brutality and the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988. After the disputed 2009 Iranian presidential election, Montazeri supported the opposition and declared the result of the election fraudulent. Montazeri's grandson said that he had died peacefully in his sleep. In Najafabad, the cleric's hometown, shops were closed and the streets full of mourners. The Times and other news agencies reported that the Iranian authorities were concerned that the burial, due to start at 09.00 local time tomorrow in Qom, would be a focus for more opposition protests against the Iranian government. Supporters of Montazeri were reportedly already arriving in Tehran, and ParlemanNews reports that thousands of people would be attending the funeral. The Telegraph reported that news of Montazeri's death had sparked protests by students even before the burial, who filled university campuses chanting pro-reform slogans.
Sign up to FREE email alerts from Liverpool Echo - daily Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email EXCITED shoppers packed into Liverpool One today after a red carpet ceremony to launch the centre. Hundreds gathered for the event near the entrance to the city’s huge new Debenhams store. They then piled into the stores as the £1bn development was opened to the public for the first time just after 10am. Crowds crammed the streets outside the shops, mingling with stilt-walkers, street performers and jugglers, many clutching red balloons marked with the Liverpool ONE logo. One of the eager guests was TV star Les Dennis. He said: “It’s already exciting, but when it’s finished it will be fantastic. It’s such a great thing for Liverpool.” Laura Black, 24, a teacher who lives in the city centre, said: It’s brilliant. I’ve lived in town for five and a half years and shopping has just got better and better. “This is what Liverpool needed to rival Manchester.” Joan Ward, 65, from Garston, “I stood waiting for the opening for a while. Debenhams is absolutely beautiful. Liverpool ONE is what we needed to attract more tourists.” And Liverpool One managers unveiled the huge shopping centre with the promise: “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Chief executive Joanne Jennings today told the ECHO: “What you are seeing today is only the first phase of the launch of Liverpool ONE as we reconnect the streets of the city and link the centre back to its historic docks and waterfront. “Liverpool ONE has brought forward this initial launch by six months so members of the press and visitors to Capital of Culture 08 can see a joined up city once again and get a feel for the sheer level of regeneration taking place. “The second phase opens on September 30, when the entire 42 acres of shopping and leisure will be fully open to the public with a programme of events being currently finalised that will take over the very heart of the city and celebrate in grand style.” Workers toiled round the clock to get the shops ready for today’s grand first phase opening ready. But while thousands of shoppers flocked to the city’s new retail heart, builders were working behind the scenes. The second phase of the development is between north Paradise Street and Hanover Street. Ms Jennings said: “The Phase 2 launch will see the last of the hoardings come down around the city and the leisure strand of the whole package come into its own as the top level piazza is opened, revealing a startling array of cafes, restaurants and bars that overlook the newly reopened Chavasse Park, itself the centrepiece of the whole of Liverpool ONE.” Described as “Liverpool’s new living room” the Chavasse Park area is overlooked by a terrace, linked by footbridges to bars and restaurants on South John Street where Liverpool ONE chiefs hope people will relax and take in the views of the city’s amazing waterfront. Ms Jennings said: “This area will become a destination for those looking to relax with friends and family.” The huge shopping area is dominated by flagship tenants Debenhams – its first store in the city – and John Lewis. Debenhams said its South John Street site would be its flagship store for the north and its biggest outside London. And John Lewis was today keeping a date with Liverpool youngsters who visited Liverpool ONE last December to bury a time capsule. The nine youngsters from Holy Cross primary school, in Fontenoy Street, Vauxhall, were invited back to perform the official opening ceremony by cutting the ribbon at the department store. Headteacher Angela Holleran said the children were delighted to be invited back on such an important day. She said: “It’s quite incredible how things have moved on in just a few short months. “The last time the children were here it was still a building site and they were dressed in hard hats and high visibility jackets and now it has been transformed into this stunning shop full of lovely things which they can’t wait to see. “They’re all bringing their families with them and are looking forward to showing them the plaque which marks where they buried the time capsule.” Alex gives seal of approval ALEX CURRAN today gave her seal of approval to Liverpool’s new mutli-million pound shopping centre. The wife of Steven Gerrard – who is well versed in retail therapy – said that she was delighted the city was getting a makeover. Alex added: “It's a fantastic city of great people and completely deserves this major investment. I love to shop and it's so exciting that the city's retail district is getting this much needed boost. “I can't wait to go and check it all out.” Alex is often seen in the city laden with shopping bags from Cricket, the Wags’ favourite city store. ECHO essentials NEARLY one million square feet of retail space and 2,500 car parking spaces at Liverpool One open today. The total complex, once the entire development is opened on September 30, will return 42 acres to the city and create 1.65 million square feet of shops. Liverpool will get 160 new shops, more than 20 bars, restaurants and cafés, and a 14-screen Odeon cinema. Chavasse Park will not open until September, allowing new turf and 221 trees to bed in before it is transformed into “Liverpool’s living room”. The new bus station will be fully utilised with the opening of the first phase. The nearby 58m bridge linking the Q-Park car park to John Lewis is the longest single- span box bridge in the world. Two hotels will be incorporated into the development – the Novotel in Hanover Street and the £50m Hilton next to Chavasse Park, which will open early next year, along with the 600-apartment One Park West tower at the front of the site. Up to 5,000 jobs will be created once the scheme, which will contain 40% of Liverpool’s retail outlets, is complete. [email protected] \|\|\|\|\| The retail site is expected to create about 4,000 jobs when it is completed The first phase of a £1bn retail development has opened in Liverpool city centre. The Liverpool One complex, which covers a 42-acre site near the city's Paradise Street, is expected to create about 4,000 jobs when it is completed. Just under 40 shops have opened with another 120 stores and 20 bars and restaurants due to open in September when the second phase finishes. The site will also feature two hotels, a cinema, flats and a five-acre park. John Lewis, which has traded on Basnett Street for 60 years, is one of the first stores to relocate to the new site. Encourage tourism Its new flagship store on South John Street is the firm's biggest unit outside London. Martin King, director of tourism at The Mersey Partnership, believes the new retail site will encourage more people to visit the city. "Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture means that the eyes of the world are upon us," he said. "We have been attracting more visitors than ever, generating more income than ever before, and establishing the city region as one of the top destinations in the UK. "Liverpool One is a fantastic and much-needed addition to the city which I'm sure will encourage even more people into the city centre." \|\|\|\|\| It will be a very windy day in the south with locally heavy rain slowly easing and clearing the western areas later. There will be severe gales in the southwest at first, these also easing later. In the north there will be some rain and hill snow at first with sunny spells and scattered wintry showers then spreading east through the day. Top temperature today of 10C (50F) in the south.	A building in the area that has been redeveloped The one billion pound Liverpool ONE retail development has opened in Liverpool. A 42 acre area of the city has been cordoned off for 3 years as developers from the Grosvenor Group rebuilt the area. Currently about 40 shops are open and another 120 shops and 20 bars and restaurants will open in September. The area also includes residential development and a cinema. The flagship store is John Lewis. The development is the largest retail development in Europe and contains the longest single-span box bridge in the world. A Novotel and a £50m Hilton Hotel are included in the site. Early next year Chavasse Park will reopen early as well as the 600 flat One Park West tower. BBC Radio Merseyside was one of the first parts of the development to open.
Commonwealth Suspends Fiji Membership Send to Kindle The Commonwealth has suspended Fiji's membership in protest at the recent military coup, BBC reported. Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon announced the suspension after an emergency meeting of the Commonwealth's Ministerial Action Group. The decision followed a meeting of foreign ministers from Commonwealth countries in London. The coup, the fourth in 19 years, which saw military chief Cmdr Bainimarama oust PM Laisenia Qarase, has already been condemned by the UK, Australia and New Zealand. It has also failed to win the backing of Fiji's influential Council of Chiefs and religious groups. Expats.bg Advertisement Advertisement \|\|\|\|\| Fiji suspended from Commonwealth Last Updated: 08/12/2006 14:14 Fiji was today suspended from the Commonwealth three days after its democratically elected government was overthrown in a military coup. The decision was made by foreign ministers from the United Kingdom and eight other nations at an emergency meeting in London. In a statement, Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon said they had agreed the takeover was a "serious violation of the Commonwealth's fundamental principles". The Ministerial Action Group unanimously demanded the restoration of constitutional rule and democratic government "with immediate effect". The suspension means representatives of the military regime are barred from taking part in Commonwealth meetings and activities, including get-togethers of its heads of state. In the latest of a series of coups over recent years, Commander Frank Bainimarama seized power on Tuesday, installing a military medic as prime minister. © 2006 ireland.com \|\|\|\|\| Cmdr Bainimarama seized power in a bloodless coup on Tuesday The decision followed a meeting of foreign ministers from Commonwealth countries in London. The coup, in which military chief Cmdr Bainimarama ousted PM Laisenia Qarase, has already been condemned by the UK, Australia and New Zealand. It has also failed to win the backing of Fiji's influential Council of Chiefs and religious groups. This is the third time that Fiji has been suspended from the Commonwealth following coups. 'Serious violation' Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon announced the suspension after an emergency meeting of the Commonwealth's Ministerial Action Group. FIJI TENSIONS TIMELINE 2000: Brief coup put down by army chief Bainimarama July 2005: Bainimarama warns he will topple government if it pardons jailed coup plotters May 2006: PM Laisenia Qarase wins re-election 31 Oct: Qarase tries - and fails - to replace Bainimarama November: Qarase says he will change law offering clemency to coup plotters - Bainimarama warns of coup 5 Dec: Military declares coup Fiji voices: Coup impact Fears for future History of coups "Fiji's military regime should forthwith be suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth pending the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in that country," he said in a statement. The group "unequivocally condemned" the military take-over, calling it "a serious violation of the Commonwealth's fundamental principles". The move means Fiji's military leaders are barred from all inter-governmental Commonwealth meetings. Existing technical assistance will continue, but there will be no new initiatives. But Mr McKinnon said dialogue with Fiji's new leaders was important. "It would be our endeavour to obviously engage with the regime as soon as we can in order to do what we can to bring the country back to democracy," he said. 'Peaceful campaign' Cmdr Bainimarama seized power on Tuesday, after a long-standing dispute with the country's democratically-elected leaders. It was in the Pacific island nation's fourth military coup in 19 years. Cmdr Bainimarama had accused the government of corruption and opposed Prime Minister Qarase's plan to offer amnesties to some of those involved in the racially-motivated coup in 2000. But key groups have failed to back the take-over. HAVE YOUR SAY Rather than trying to help a country get back on its feet, these big countries cripple it more Sean, US Send us your comments The Associated Press news agency reported that the council would convene a meeting within the next few days to decide on its reaction to the coup. Fiji's Council of Churches - another key body in Fijian society - has described the coup as the "manifestation of darkness and evil in society". Mr Qarase, who has been ordered to his home on a remote Fijian island, has warned that public anger over the military takeover could force the new rulers to step down. The ousted prime minister has pledged a peaceful campaign to restore civilian rule. "There is only one legal authority in the country at this time and that is the democratically-elected government which I lead," he told local radio.	At an urgent meeting held today in London the Commonwealth has decided to suspend Fiji, following the military coup that took place in Fiji three days ago. The suspension is immediate. The decision was made unanimously by the Ministerial Action Group. The group contained eight foreign ministers from Commonwealth countries, including United Kingdom. Don McKinnon, secretary general of the Commonwealth, described the coup as a: "a serious violation of the Commonwealth's fundamental principles." Mr McKinnon said: "Fiji's military regime should forthwith be suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth pending the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in that country. It would be our endeavour to obviously engage with the regime as soon as we can in order to do what we can to bring the country back to democracy." The suspension results in Fiji not taking part in any Commonwealth meetings nor activities. However existing technical assistance will continue but no new assistance programmes will be started. The military coup that took place a few days ago has already been condemned by Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Fiji's Council of Chiefs and religious groups. New Zealand has barred the military leader and president of Fiji, Commander Frank Bainimarama, from visiting New Zealand where some of his family live and has also banned seasonal workers coming from Fiji to work in New Zealand. Commander Bainimarama has sworn in Doctor Jona Senilagakali as the caretaker Prime Minster. Dr Senilagakali is an old military medic and relatively new at politics.
Print Share + Del Taco Shooting Leaves 3 Dead, Including Boy, 6 5-Year-Old Brother, Mother Upgraded To Fair Condition SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (CBS) ― 1 of 2 Five people were shot at a Del Taco in San Bernardino. CBS 2 of 2 Jimmy Schlager, 56, was identified as the gunman in a Del Taco shooting. San Bernardino Sheriff's Department/CBS Close numSlides of totalImages A gunman attacked his stepdaughter's family as they ate lunch inside a fast food restaurant, killing her husband and 6-year-old son, wounding the woman and another child, and then fatally shooting himself.Jimmy Schlager, 56, arrived at the Del Taco restaurant in San Bernardino on a bike at about 1 p.m. Saturday, walked over to a table and fired several shots at his 29-year-old stepdaughter, her husband, and their sons, ages 5 and 6, San Bernardino police Lt. Jarrod Burguan said."There was a very brief exchange of words, then he opened fire on them at near point-blank range," Burguan said.Coroner's officials identified the victims as 33-year-old Alex Trujillo and his 6-year-old son Adrian, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. The husband was declared dead at the restaurant and the 6-year-old died at a hospital, San Bernardino Fire Department spokesman Steve Tracey said.The woman and the 5-year-old boy's conditions were initially listed as serious but have since upgraded to fair condition, according to a spokesperson at Loma Linda University Medical Center.The woman's mother, who was married to Schlager, died several years ago, and investigators were trying to determine how well Schlager and his stepdaughter got along as police sought a motive for the shooting, Burguan said.Police said between five and seven employees and several other customers were in the fast food restaurant, but the gunman clearly walked in seeking the four victims and no one else was injured."They were screaming as they were coming out of Del Taco and people here in the parking lot were screaming gunshots, gunshots," Dolores Garcia said.Garcia told CBS 2's Suraya Fadel that she was outside the Del Taco when she heard the cries for help."Big booms... my daughter and I thought that shots were coming from outside because it's so loud," she added.Bullet holes marked the walls and glass covered the floor."I saw some people yelling and all of a sudden I heard 'boom, boom, boom, boom'," Jorge Garcia, who works at a recycling trailer in the same parking lot as the restaurant, told the Riverside Press-Enterprise. "I saw two employees run out of the employee door and then I saw eight or 10 people run out of the restaurant and across the street."Schlager, who is from Lancaster in northern Los Angeles County, had an extensive criminal record dating back to 1972 that included assault with a deadly weapon and a restraining order taken out by a co-worker.Despite living an hour's drive away, Schlager had many ties to San Bernardino and once lived just a few blocks from the restaurant, Burguan said.Burguan said the attack on the family was one of the worst crime scenes he could remember in San Bernardino, a city of about 200,000 people some 60 miles east of Los Angeles."This was something else," he said. (© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.) \|\|\|\|\| SAN BERNARDINO - A 56-year-old man carrying two guns entered a Del Taco restaurant during the lunch hour Saturday and opened fire on his adult stepdaughter, her husband and their two young sons and then shot himself in the head, police and fire authorities said. The 33-year-old man died at the scene and his 6-year-old son died en route to Loma Linda University Medical Center. The 29-year-old woman, who was shot up to 10 times, and her 5-year-old son were in critical condition at Loma Linda University Medical Center. The boy was moved to the intensive care unit in the afternoon. The gunman, whom San Bernardino police identified late Saturday as Jimmy Schlager, died at 4:05 p.m. at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Story continues below Jimmy Schlager The names of the victims had not been released. Schlager had a criminal record that dated to 1972 and included theft and assault with a deadly weapon charges. He was last arrested in 1999, and his last known address was in Lancaster in northern Los Angeles County, though San Bernardino police said he had prior addresses in San Bernardino and nearby communities. Although the 29-year-old woman was conscious and able to provide a statement to police, Lt. Jarrod Burguan said the motive for the deadly rampage was not clear. "I'm under the impression that the relationship was not good," Burguan said. The slayings were the 16th and 17th in San Bernardino in 2010. Police responded to a 1:14 p.m. report of a shooting at the Del Taco at 2007 Highland Ave. at the corner of Sterling Avenue. When they arrived three minutes later, they found a bloody and gruesome scene. Witnesses told police the gunman rode up to the restaurant on a bicycle, entered and went directly to the table where the family was having lunch. Words were briefly exchanged and the shooter opened fire. Story continues below William Wilson Lewis III/The Press-Enterprise A forensic technician takes a photograph of a window pierced and scattered where gun fire erupted inside a Del Taco restaurant at the corner of Highland and Sterling Avenues on Saturday. Burguan said it was unclear how the man knew that his stepdaughter and her family, who live in San Bernardino, were at the restaurant. The father and his two sons were shot at least twice each. Two guns were found near the suspect, one beside him and one underneath him, Burguan said. Hours after the shooting, investigators and forensic specialists remained at the scene collecting evidence. The adult male victim's body remained in the restaurant. The businesses in the busy shopping center, including Rio Ranch Market, remained open. Bullet holes were visible on windows on the east side of the building. An employee of a business near the Del Taco described a harrowing, chaotic scene, with gunshots ringing out and terrified employees and patrons fleeing. "I saw some people yelling and all of a sudden I heard boom, boom, boom, boom," said Jorge Garcia, who works at a recycling trailer that sits in the same parking lot as the Del Taco. "I saw two employees run out of the employee door, and then I saw eight or 10 people run out of the restaurant and across the street," he said. Story continues below William Wilson Lewis III/The Press-Enterprise Barrier tape surrounds a scene where gun fire erupted inside a Del Taco restaurant at the corner of Highland and Sterling Avenues on Saturday. The people were screaming, Garcia said. A friend ran over to the market and yelled "Get the kids inside," Garcia said. Garcia said customers continued to pull into the restaurant parking lot, and people stood outside waving their arms and saying, "Get back. There's a shooting." At least a half-dozen Del Taco employees were driven to a police station in a van to provide witness statements, Burguan said. The employees returned about 6 p.m. No employees were injured. They declined to comment publicly. Staff photographer William Wilson Lewis III contributed to this report. Reach Sandra Stokley at 951-368-9647 or [email protected] Reach Brian Rokos at 951-763-3464 or [email protected] Story Updates: Find more information on this story as new information is available on our Daily News Digest \|\|\|\|\| Gunman targets stepdaughter's family in San Bernardino restaurant; 3 dead He kills the woman's husband and 6-year-old son and critically wounds her and her 5-year-old son, then fatally shoots himself, police say. The San Bernardino Police Department late Saturday identified the gunman as Jimmy Schlager. It has not released the identities of the victims. A 56-year-old man opened fire in a San Bernardino Del Taco restaurant Saturday afternoon, killing his stepdaughter's husband and one of their two young sons before fatally shooting himself in the head, police said. The man also critically wounded his stepdaughter and her 5-year-old son. The incident began at 1:14 p.m. Saturday when Schlager walked into the restaurant with two handguns and approached family members as they sat at a table with their food. He uttered a few words and quickly opened fire, according to police spokesman Lt. Jarrod Burguan, who said investigators were aided in their reconstruction of events by witnesses and the stepdaughter, who was able to communicate despite having multiple gunshot wounds. The stepdaughter, 29, and her sons, ages 5 and 6, were taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where the older child died shortly after arrival. The woman and her younger son were both listed in critical condition Saturday night. Her husband, 33, died at the scene of the shooting. At least five other patrons and about 10 employees were in the restaurant at the time of the shooting, but nobody else was hurt, Burguan said. He noted that the victims were all shot at close range and that several people outside the restaurant witnessed the mayhem. "I saw some people yelling, and all of a sudden I heard 'boom, boom, boom,'" Jorge Garcia, who works near the restaurant, told the Riverside Press-Enterprise. He added that he saw two employees and several others run out of the restaurant and across the street. Some witnesses said the gunman arrived on a bicycle, but police were not able to verify that Saturday night. Burguan said little was known about the relationship between Schlager and his stepdaughter. The woman's mother "died several years ago," Burguan said. Schlager's last known address was in Lancaster, but police believe he had close connections in the San Bernardino area. In 2006, a restraining order had been issued against him. Police did not say who obtained the order but said it had nothing to do with his stepdaughter. "This is just a terrible tragedy," said Burguan. "A whole family? In my 18 years here I don't recall anyone ever coming and walking in a public place like a restaurant and shooting like this. We haven't had anything like this a long, long time." [email protected]	A typical fast food restaurant A 6-year-old boy and his father were shot and killed Saturday afternoon while eating inside a busy fast food restaurant in , California, before the shooter turned a gun on himself. According to the San Bernadino Police Department, 56-year-old Jimmy Schlager arrived at the Del Taco at 1:15pm PST (2015 ) on a bicycle, and, armed with two semi-automatic guns, entered the restaurant and opened fire on a family of four who were dining together. The employees and other customers all ran out of the restaurant and escaped without injury. The father of the family, identified as 33-year-old Alex Trujillo, was declared dead at the scene, said the San Bernadino Fire Department. His wife and two sons were taken to in critical condition. His 6-year-old son, Adrian, died shortly after. The victims each suffered two bullet wounds, except the mother, who police say received up to ten gunshots. The names of the 29-year-old woman and her 5-year-old son have not been released. Both remained in critical condition on Saturday night. After shooting the family, Schlager, later identified as the woman's step-father, shot himself in the head. He was taken to , where he later died from the self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Police said Schlager had previously been arrested a number of times, on charges that included theft and assault with a deadly weapon.
Financial discipline, fairer taxation and economic stability Today at the launch of the Liberal Democrat Alternative Budget, Liberal Democrat Leader, Charles Kennedy MP and Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Dr Vince Cable MP, emphasised the need for fairer taxation and tough choices in public spending. Mr Kennedy said: “When it comes to electoral success economic credibility is crucial. Which is why the Conservatives are still unelectable. “I am determined that, at the General Election, we will maintain the reputation for economic integrity that we have built up over this Parliament. “We have a reputation for being straight forward on tax. That will not change. But the difference between the parties on tax take is minimal. The real issue will be one of principle and of priority. “In principle it is important that the tax burden does not fall disproportionately on the poor and vulnerable. We also believe that the priorities we are setting out for spending taxpayer’s money are the priorities of the British people. “If Labour are true to form, they will duck the issue of taxation. They will spin and obfuscate. They will rule some things out but be coy about what they actually plan to do. “The Liberal Democrats have been the real opposition to the Government in this Parliament. At this General Election we will be the real alternative to the Government.” On the Liberal Democrat plans, Dr Cable said: “Economic discipline and credibility are essential. But we intend to balance these economic imperatives with greater fairness. “Our commitment to fairness is reinforced by a firm commitment to liberal economic policies: economic freedom. Without wealth creation there is no wealth to spread. “We have identified over five billion pounds a year where low priority spending can be reallocated to our priority areas such as pensions, policing, health and education.” Dr Cable also highlighted the importance of establishing a fairer tax system. Dr Cable said: “Our tax system currently reinforces rather than mitigates inequality. The poorest 20% pay a higher percentage of their income in tax than the top 20%. People don’t want to pay more tax but they want it distributed more fairly. “That is why we advocate scrapping Council Tax and replacing it with Local Income Tax (LIT). The majority of households will benefit or face no change under our system. Families on average income will benefit by over £450. “That is also why we are lifting over 400,000 home-buyers, largely first time buyers, out of paying Stamp Duty. “To enable us to abolish tuition fees and top-up fees, introduce free personal care for the elderly and cut local taxation we have also proposed a 50% tax ceiling on every pound earned over £100,000.” Summing up Dr Cable will say: “I believe we can have both a liberal and a fair economy; better public services and tax cuts for the average family, strong growth, with tough financial discipline. Our policies are fully costed and will promote economic freedom and social justice.” \|\|\|\|\| Budget 2005 The Chancellor will make his Budget Report Speech to the House of Commons on 16th March 2005. You can bookmark this page in advance for easy access to the full report, related press notices, a transcript of the Chancellor's speech and all the associated documents. To receive a PDF by email of the complete Budget Report on the 16th of March, please send an email with the words SUBSCRIBE BUDGET in the subject window to: [email protected] by the 10th of March 2005. If you previously subscribed to receive the 2004 Pre-Budget Report, you will automatically be added to this mailing list. Internal links Budget 2004: index Budget 2003: index Budget 2002: index Budget 2001: index Budget 2000: index Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report (EFSR) 1998 External links A guide to the Budget, including a list of all Chancellors since the Second World War, is available on this website. \|\|\|\|\| 2 December 2004 2004 Pre-Budget Report Opportunity for all: The strength to take the long-term decisions for Britain The 2004 Pre-Budget Report, 'Opportunity for all: The strength to take the long-term decisions for Britain', is published today 2 December 2004. Internal links Braille and audio versions of the Pre-Budget Report summary leaflet and audio versions of the Pre-Budget Report Press Notices are available from the HM Treasury Correspondence and Enquiries Unit, tel 020 7270 4558 or e-mail. Other documents published by HM Treasury, 2 December 2004 Related links Previous Pre-Budget Reports back to top	Gordon Brown (file) The United Kingdom Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Honourable Gordon Brown PC MP, in a speech to the British House of Commons today presented his ninth Budget, what is very likely to be his last Budget before the next UK General Election. This opened the parliamentary debate on the 2005 Finance Bill, and was followed by responses from the opposition parties. In a 48 minute long speech, the Chancellor presented a Budget of "tax cuts that are reasonable, spending that is affordable, and economic stability that is paramount", that was "the prudent course for Britain". There were few surprises that had not already been indicated in his 2004 pre-Budget report. The increase in the threshold on stamp duty was greater than that forecast by commentators, as was the amount of the Council Tax rebate to households with pensioners.
SANDUSKY, Ohio -- - John Hamilton of Sandusky says he was inspired by news reports of the Toledo mayor cutting grass around that city on his day off. As John rode around his own home town he tells FOX 8 News he couldn't help but notice tall grass around vacant homes and in the city's Parks, and with spare time of his own felt he could do something positive.On Thursday morning it bothered him seeing children waiting for a school bus at Central park, where the grass was more than a foot high. So he went to a shop he shares with his brother, got his riding mower and set out to make the park look better. "We have some really beautiful parks here in Sandusky" he told Fox 8 "I was only trying to save the city some money."As he started cutting the grass, however, Hamilton says a city worker who saw him there went over to ask him to stop. He says the employee showed him a list of places they were preparing to cut the grass themselves. "I told them to go ahead and do the others and I'll do this one".Moments later police showed up.Hamilton admits police asked him to stop, but he told them how frustrated he was with the way the parks look and that he wanted to continue. "They said they empathize with my concerns" but as John continued to cut the grass against their wishes he officers contacted their superior officer, who told them to issue one more warning and then if John continued to arrest him for persistent disorderly conduct and obstructing official business.The Hamilton refused, and was arrested, taken away in handcuffs. A police report obtained by Fox 8 shows one of the officers measured the grass, which was in fact more than a foot high. City crews finished cutting the grass there later on Thursday.Police say he was asked to stop, not because Hamilton was mowing the lawn, but because there was a liability involved. The acting police chief tells Fox 8 News that the park was littered with trash and Hamilton was mowing over all of it. City Manager Mat Kline says there were bottles and other debris that were being thrown by his mower into the street. Kline also says there are employee issues with unions that are supposed to cut the grass that had to be considered.The City Manager says he encourages citizens to volunteer in the community, and in fact there is a program that allows residents to adopt a part and take care of it, but you have to properly register. Kline admits the city, like many others, has some budgetary issues it has to deal with. "We have over 600 acres of grounds to maintain" he told Fox 8 News "and often we have only three people to take care of it. We knew grass was going to be an issue months ago" he says, adding the city asked everyone to be patient with them as they try to catch up in the spring.Hamilton was arraigned in municipal court early Friday. He says he has no regrets, and hopes the attention to his arrest will inspire others to get involved in doing something for the city. "The only thing im worried about is...how am I going to tell my wife". \|\|\|\|\| Police said they arrested 48-year-old Hamilton after he refused to stop mowing and charged him with obstructing official business and disorderly conduct. City Manager Matt Kline called the arrest unfortunate and said he understands Hamilton's frustration. Kline said budget cuts have left Sandusky understaffed for seasonal maintenance work. ___ Information from: Sandusky Register, www.sanduskyregister.com/cgi-bin/liveique.acgi ge? frontpage	A 48-year-old man in Ohio has been arrested and is facing charges of obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct after refusing to stop cutting the grass at a local public park. John Hamilton of Sandusky says on Thursday the grass in Sandusky Central Park was over 12 inches long. He decided to take up the task of cutting it after driving around his city and seeing how long the grass was in vacant lots and in public parks. He was also inspired by Toledo's mayor, who spent his time off cutting the grass in his local parks. Aerial view of Sandusky, Ohio "I was only trying to save the city some money," said Hamilton to FOX 8 in Cleveland. As Hamilton was cutting the grass, city workers attempted to stop him, showing him a list of lawns they were going to cut, including the one he was mowing. Hamilton told the worker to go cut another lawn while he finished cutting the one in Sandusky Central Park. A short time later, police arrived on the scene and told Hamilton to stop cutting the grass. When he refused, police verbally warned him. When he refused a second time, police arrested him and charged him with obstruction and disorderly conduct. Police say that the trash was not removed from the lawn prior to him mowing it and his riding mower was throwing the debris onto the sidewalks and into the streets. City officials call the incident unfortunate, but that they knew the grass would be an issue months before the growing season started. Officials say there are over 600 acres of park grass that needs to be mowed regularly, but that only three or four people are assigned the task due to city budget cuts. Officials also add that residents can adopt local parks in an effort to help maintain them, but Hamilton did not go through the process. Hamilton appeared in court today where he pled not guilty. "I am a citizen," said Hamilton who added he had no regrets about the incident. "The only thing I'm worried about is...how am I going to tell my wife."
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com Americans remain skeptical about the official explanations for the 9-11 terrorist attacks, with most believing new independent investigations are needed, according to a Zogby poll. The results show 42 percent of those surveyed believe there has been a cover up of the facts by the government with 10 percent unsure and 45 percent saying "Congress or an international tribunal should re-investigate the attacks, including whether any U.S. government officials consciously allowed or helped facilitate their success." An earlier Zogby poll sponsored by the same group, 911truth.org, found in 2004 showed nearly half of New Yorkers believed certain U.S. officials "consciously" allowed the attacks to happen. "To those of us who have followed the mounting evidence for U.S. government involvement in 9-11, these results are both heartening and frankly quite amazing, given the mainstream media's ongoing refusal to cover the most critical questions of that day," said Janice Matthews, executive director of the group. "We think it also indicates Americans are awakening to the larger pattern of deceit that led us into constitutional twilight and endless war, and that our independent media may have finally come of age." If you'd like to sound off on this issue, please take part in the WorldNetDaily poll. Related offers: The Life and Religion of Mohammed: Learn the ugly truth about the founder of the world's most violent religion How will we combat 'Future Jihad'? How can the West survive global jihad? \|\|\|\|\| Less than half of Americans satisfied with 9/11 investigations RAW STORY Published: Tuesday May 23, 2006 Print This \| Email This According to a new Zogby poll, less than half of Americans are convinced that that the events of September 11 have been thoroughly investigated, RAW STORY has learned. In the telephone survey of 1200 individuals, just 47% agreed that "the 9/11 attacks were thoroughly investigated and that any speculation about US government involvement is nonsense." Almost as many, 45%, indicated they were more likely to agree "that so many unanswered questions about 9/11 remain that Congress or an International Tribunal should re-investigate the attacks, including whether any US government officials consciously allowed or helped facilitate their success." The poll is the first survey that has attempted to gauge the level of Americans' doubts about 9/11 and was carried out for the "9/11: Revealing the Truth, Reclaiming Our Future" conference to be held in Chicago in June. Not surprisingly, Republicans as a group were the most supportive of existing investigations, with 70% expressing their satisfaction -- about the same percentage that has expressed approval of Bush's performance in recent polls. Sixty-four percent of those earning over $75,000 were also skeptical of doubts about 9/11. The groups most likely to want the attacks re-investigated were Hispanics at 67% and African-Americans at 64%. Other groups also skewed one way or another, but with the majority position generally not above 58%. Overall, the breakdown on the question closely followed the usual political divisions in the country: Republicans vs. Democrats and independents, whites vs. minorities, the wealthier and better-educated vs. the poorer and less educated, people over fifty vs. those under fifty, men vs. women. This rough balance in opinions is itself a striking finding. It suggests that doubts about the officials accounts of 9/11, far from representing an extreme fringe position, have become a standard component of anti-establishment attitudes. When asked specificially if they thought there had been a government coverup of evidence that contradicts the official story, the results were again not far from an even split, with 48% rejecting the idea of a deliberate coverup and 42% supporting it. Belief in a coverup was the majority position among Democrats, 18-29 year olds, and a few other groups. In an attempt to focus more specifically on the attitudes of those who were best informed about the events of 9/11, the poll asked its responders if they were aware of WTC Building 7, whose collapse on September 11 for no obvious reason was not investigated by the 9/11 Commission. Only 52% answered that they were aware of the collapse of Building 7, but out of that subgroup, 73% believed it should have been investigated. On a related topic, those polled were asked if they felt the Bush Administration had exploited the September 11th attacks to justify the invasion of Iraq or if Bush had been right to go into Iraq because Saddam Hussein supported terrorism. Here the country was divided exactly, 44% to 44%, with the answers following party lines more closely than those to the 9/11 questions. Among Republicans, 72% felt the invasion was appropriate, while among Democrats 69% felt it was not. A final question asked about the media's performance regarding 9/11, including coverage of victims' families, unanswered questions, theories that challenged the official account, and how the attacks were investigated. A majority of 55% rated the media as only fair or poor, while only 33% rated it as good. Surprisingly, the groups most likely to rate the media positively tended to be those that were also most skeptical about official accounts of 9/11, including African-Americans, progressives, and those with lower incomes. The media were rated poorly by roughly 60% of Republicans, conservatives, and the more affluent and better educated. Libertarians and extreme conservatives, at 74% and 67% respectively, were the most negative of all. FULL POLL HERE \|\|\|\|\| Mon May 22, 8:00 AM ET (PRWEB) - Utica, NY (PRWEB) May 22, 2006 -- Although the Bush administration continues to exploit September 11 to justify domestic spying, unprecedented spending and a permanent state of war, a new Zogby poll reveals that less than half of the American public trusts the official 9/11 story or believes the attacks were adequately investigated. 911Truth.org Urges 2006 Reform Candidates to Recognize a Powerful New Constituency The poll is the first scientific survey of Americans' belief in a 9/11 cover up or the need to investigate possible US government complicity, and was commissioned to inform deliberations at the June 2~4 "9/11: Revealing the Truth, Reclaiming Our Future" conference in Chicago. Poll results indicate 42% believe there has indeed been a cover up (with 10% unsure) and 45% think "Congress or an International Tribunal should re-investigate the attacks, including whether any US government officials consciously allowed or helped facilitate their success" (with 8% unsure). The poll of American residents was conducted from Friday, May 12 through Tuesday, May 16, 2004. Overall results have a margin of sampling error of +/- 2.9. All inquiries about questions, responses and demographics should be directed to Zogby International. According to Janice Matthews, executive director of 911truth.org, "To those who have followed the mounting evidence for US government involvement in 9/11, these results are both heartening and frankly quite amazing, given the mainstream media's ongoing refusal to cover the most critical questions of that day. Our August 2004 Zogby poll of New Yorkers showed nearly half believe certain US officials 'consciously' allowed the attacks to happen and 66% want a fresh investigation, but these were people closest to the tragedy and most familiar with facts refuting the official account. This revelation that so many millions nationwide now also recognize a 9/11 cover up and the need for a new inquiry should be a wake up call for all 2006 political candidates hoping to turn this country around. We think it also indicates Americans are awakening to the larger pattern of deceit that led us into Constitutional twilight and endless war, and that our independent media may have finally come of age." Poll co-author, W. David Kubiak concurs, saying: "Despite years of relentless media promotion, whitewash and 9/11 Commission propaganda, the official 9/11 story still can't even muster 50% popular support. Since this myth has been the administration's primary source of political and war-making power, this level of distrust has revolutionary implications for everyone working for peace, justice and civil liberties. If we ever hope to reclaim this country, end aggression and restore international respect, we all must finally scrutinize that day when things started to go so terribly wrong. The media and movement leaders ignore this call at their peril, because tens of millions are clearly telling us here they are ready for 9/11 truth." SCOPE: The poll covered five related areas: 1) Iraq - do Americans think the Bush administration exploited 9/11 to attack Iraq? (44% do, 44% don't); 2) Cover up - did the government and its 9/11 Commission conceal or refuse to investigate evidence that contradicts their official story? (only 48% said no); 3) the collapse of WTC 7, which was not even mentioned by the 9/11 Commission and has seldom been reported in the media---had respondents been aware of this collapse and, if so, did they think it should be investigated (only 52% had known about it, but over 70% of this group believe it should have been investigated); 4) new investigation of official complicity - do respondents think we need one? (only 48% said no); and 5) mass media - how do people rate its performance, including its coverage of alternative 9/11 theories, unanswered questions and inquiry issues? (43% rate it positively, 55% negatively). (The poll sponsors see knowledge of the collapse of World Trade Center Building 7 as a bellwether issue, because if people do not know this elementary fact, they have probably not been exposed to any independent 9/11 research at all. Because the number of respondents who support a new investigation of 9/11 (45%)) is roughly the same as the number who knew about the collapse of Building 7 (52%), it can reasonably be extrapolated that if the entire public were exposed to independent 9/11 research, about 90 percent would support a new investigation of the events of that fateful day.) SPONSOR: 911truth.org is a coalition of researchers, journalists and victim family members working to expose and answer the hundreds of still unresolved questions concerning 9/11, especially the nearly 400 questions that the Family Steering Committee filed with the 9/11 Commission. Initially welcomed by the commissioners as their "road map," these queries cut to the heart of 9/11 crimes and accountability, specifically raising the central issues of motive, means and cui bono (who profited?). The Commission ultimately ignored 80% of these issues, however, opting only to explore system failures, miscommunications and incompetence. The victim families' most incisive questions remain unaddressed to this day. For more information on the Chicago "9/11: Revealing the Truth, Reclaiming our Future" conference and other developments, see http://www.911truth.org and http://911revealingthetruth.org or contact our media coordinator, Michael Berger, at 314-308-4893. * Numerical computations conservatively based on 2000 Census data citing 174 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 64. Survey Methodology: Zogby America, 5/12/06 through 5/16/06 This is a telephone survey of adults nationwide conducted by Zogby International. The target sample is 1,200 interviews with approximately 81 questions asked. Samples are randomly drawn from telephone cd’s of national listed sample. Zogby International surveys employ sampling strategies in which selection probabilities are proportional to population size within area codes and exchanges. As many as six calls are made to reach a sampled phone number. Cooperation rates are calculated using one of AAPOR’s approved methodologies1 and are comparable to other professional public-opinion surveys conducted using similar sampling strategies.2 Weighting by region, party, age, race, religion, and gender is used to adjust for non-response. The margin of error is +/- 2.9 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups. Zogby International’s sampling and weighting procedures also have been validated through its political polling: more than 95% of the firm’s polls have come within 1% of actual election-day outcomes. ### 911TRUTH.ORG Mike Berger 314-308-4893 E-mail Information Trackback URL: http://prweb.com/pingpr.php/TWFnbi1UaGlyLUNyYXMtQ3Jhcy1IYWxmLVplcm8= \|\|\|\|\| Date: May 17, 2006 From: [email protected] RE: Results from nationwide poll Survey Methodology: Zogby America, 5/12/06 through 5/16/06 This is a telephone survey of adults nationwide conducted by Zogby International. The target sample is 1,200 interviews with approximately 81 questions asked. Samples are randomly drawn from telephone cd’s of national listed sample. Zogby International surveys employ sampling strategies in which selection probabilities are proportional to population size within area codes and exchanges. As many as six calls are made to reach a sampled phone number. Cooperation rates are calculated using one of AAPOR’s approved methodologies and are comparable to other professional public-opinion surveys conducted using similar sampling strategies. Weighting by region, party, age, race, religion, and gender is used to adjust for non-response. The margin of error is +/- 2.9 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups. Zogby International’s sampling and weighting procedures also have been validated through its political polling: more than 95% of the firm’s polls have come within 1% of actual election-day outcomes. Cooperation Tracking Study: April 2003 Update Narrative Summary 23. Some people have said that the Bush Administration exploited the September 11th attacks to justify the invasion of Iraq. Others say that Bush acted correctly by going into Iraq because Saddam Hussein supported terrorism. Who are you more likely to agree with? Bush exploited Sept. 11th attacks 44% Bush justified an attack on Iraq 44 Neither/Not sure 11 People are completely divided on whether they believe President Bush exploited the 9/11 attacks (44%) or justified an attack on Iraq (44%). Approximately one in ten (11%) is not sure. The largest majorities who feel that Bush exploited Sept. 11th attacks are Democrats (69%), Hispanics (59%), and Jews (64%). Close to half or more of 18-29 year-olds, single adults, African Americans, and residents of the Central/Great Lakes, West, and large cities agree. The largest majorities who feel that Bush justified an attack on Iraq are Republicans (72%) and residents of rural areas (59%). Approximately half of whites, 30-64 year-olds, Protestants, suburbanites, and married adults agree. Men and women are both evenly divided. 24. Some people believe that the US government and its 9/11 Commission concealed or refused to investigate critical evidence that contradicts their official explanation of the September 11th attacks, saying there has been a cover-up. Others say that the 9/11 Commission was a bi-partisan group of honest and well-respected people and that there is no reason they would want to cover-up anything. Who are you more likely to agree with? US government and 9/11 Commission are NOT covering up 48% US government and 9/11 Commission are covering up 42 Not sure 10 Close to half (48%) agrees the U.S. government and 9/11 Commission are not covering up anything, yet nearly as many (42%) believe the government and 9/11 Commission are covering up. One in ten (10%) is unsure. Both men and women and residents in each of the four regions are more likely to say the U.S. government and 9/11 Commission are not covering up anything. Majorities who agree include Republicans (64%), 50-64 year-olds, married adults, suburbanites (59%), Protestants, those with at least some college education, and people with annual household income of $50,000 or more (57%). Majorities (50%-56%) of Democrats, 18-29 year-olds, Hispanics, single adults and those who are divorced/widowed/separated, residents of small cities, and adults with less education than a high school diploma believe the government and 9/11 Commission are covering up something. Nearly half of independent voters (48%) agree. 25. World Trade Center Building 7 is the 47-story skyscraper that was not hit by any planes during the September 11th attacks, but still totally collapsed later the same day. This collapse was not investigated by the 9/11 Commission. Are you aware of this skyscraper's collapse, and if so do you believe that the Commission should have also investigated it? Or do you believe that the Commission was right to only investigate the collapse of the buildings which were directly hit by airplanes? I am not aware of World Trade Center Building 7's collapse 43% I am aware of it and think the Commission should have investigated it 38 I am aware of it and think the Commission was right to investigate just the Twin Towers' collapse 14 Neither/Not sure 5 A plurality (43%) is not aware of World Trade Center Building 7's collapse. Nearly as many (38%), though, are aware of it and think the Commission should have investigated it. People are least likely to be aware of the building’s collapse and think the Commission was right to investigate just the Twin Towers' collapse (14%). Pluralities in many sub-groups are not aware of World Trade Center Building 7's collapse. This includes Republicans and independents, adults 30 and older, whites, residents of the East and Central/Great Lakes regions, and women. Majorities of Hispanics (56%) and 18-29 year-olds (52%) and pluralities of Democrats and Southerners are those most likely to be aware of World Trade Center Building 7's collapse and think the Commission should have investigated it. Republicans (21%), college graduates (20%), people with household income of $75,000 or more (22%), and men (17%) are among the most likely to be aware of the building’s collapse and think the Commission was right to investigate just the Twin Towers' collapse. 26. Some people say that so many unanswered questions about 9/11 remain that Congress or an International Tribunal should re-investigate the attacks, including whether any US government officials consciously allowed or helped facilitate their success. Other people say the 9/11 attacks were thoroughly investigated and that any speculation about US government involvement is nonsense. Who are you more likely to agree with? The attacks were thoroughly investigated 47% Reinvestigate the attacks 45 Not sure 8 People are again closely divided, this time with a slight plurality (47%) saying the attacks were thoroughly investigated, while 45% feel the attacks should be reinvestigated. Nearly one in ten (8%) are not sure. Republicans (70%) and people with annual household income of $75,000 or more (64%) are the most likely to say the attacks were thoroughly investigated. Other majorities who agree include up to 58% of whites, 50-64 year-olds, residents of the East and West, college graduates and those with some college education, and people with annual household income of $50,000-$74,999. Majorities in several sub-groups feel the attacks should be reinvestigated. The most likely are Hispanics (67%) and African Americans (64%). Other majorities include up to 57% of Democrats and independents, 18-49 year-olds, residents of the Central/Great Lakes, high school graduates and those with less education. Between 56%-61% of people with household income less than $25,000 agree. Men are more likely to agree attacks were thoroughly investigated (51% to 42%), while women are more likely to say the attacks should be reinvestigated (48% to 43%). 27. How would you rate the US media's performance regarding 9/11, including their coverage of victim families' unanswered questions, theories that challenged the official account, and how the attacks were investigated? Good 33 Fair 36 Positive 43% Poor 19 Negative 55 Not sure 3 A majority of adults (55%) rates the media’s performance as negative, including an overall plurality (36%) who rates it as "fair." In comparison, 43% give the media’s performance positive ratings, with most of these coming as "good" (33%). Majorities in a few sub-groups give the media positive ratings. These include 50%-58% of African Americans, residents of small cities, divorced/widowed/separated adults, Progressives, those with less than a high school diploma, and people with household income less than $15,000 and $25,000-$34,999. In all remaining sub-groups, majorities rate the media’s performance as negative. This includes approximately three-fifths of Republicans, conservatives, Hispanics, residents of the West, married adults, college graduates and those with some college education, and people with household income of $35,000-$74,999. People whose political ideology is Libertarian (74%) and very conservative (67%) are the most likely to give negative ratings.	Forty-five percent of American adults surveyed in a Zogby poll think that the September 11, 2001 attacks should be investigated anew. Poll results indicated that 42% believe that there has been a cover up (with 10% unsure) and 45% think "Congress or an International Tribunal should re-investigate the attacks, including whether any US government officials consciously allowed or helped facilitate their success" (with 8% unsure). These are figures from a nationwide telephone survey of 1200 individuals conducted by Zogby International from Friday, May 12 through Tuesday, May 16, 2006. The results have a margin of sampling error of +/- 2.9. The poll was commissioned by 911truth.org, a single issue website aimed at pinning the blame of 9/11 on the Bush administration. The results of this Zogby poll were released last Monday (22 May), but went largely unreported by the mass media, possibly due to bias within the source.
So Ford wants to rebadge the slow-selling 500 as the Taurus. I guess the logic goes something like this: Slap a well-known name on a car that seems nailed to the showroom floor, and you'll get buyers stampeding through the door. Only problem is, the things Taurus is well known for now ain't what they were when the car was America's best selling sedan back in the late 80s and early 90s. The neglect was deliberate: Ford, like the other Detroit automakers, was making a fortune from trucks - a cozy market niche protected from imports - and SUVs that wrapped basic, cheap to make, truck-derived technology - full frames, live axles, lazy engines - in a thin veneer of passenger car creature comforts. Some internal planning documents at the time even predicted Ford would eventually stop producing anything like a regular sedan altogether by the early 21st century. Taurus - once a blue-chip brand name for American family car buyers - became shorthand for "rental hack". This latest idea demonstrates Ford clearly has little understanding of brands. That should come as no surprise: After all, this is the company that has devalued iconic, upscale nameplates like Ghia and Lincoln to little more than trim levels (the Lincoln Mark LT and MKX - fancy Ford F150 and Edge, respectively - are lame travesties differentiated from their Blue Oval bretheren by nothing more than fake wood and chromed plastic). This is also the company that nearly ruined Mazda by taking it downmarket in the early 90s, and after nearly 20 years still can't figure out what the hell a Jaguar is. What Ford doesn't seem to get is the fact the auto business is a fashion business (if it was just about transportation, we'd all be driving the same grey boxes everyday) and that there's a major emotional investment in the purchase of a car or truck that's fundamentally underpinned by the credibility of the brand promise. Rebadging the Ford 500 as a Ford Taurus tears any remaining credibility the car might have to shreds: To those in the know, it will remain a 500 by another name, and to those who don't know, a Taurus is Wal-Mart on wheels. Neither prospect is likely to get consumers rushing to take a second look at the car. \|\|\|\|\| 2008 FORD TAURUS FEATURES MORE POWER, STYLE AND MORE STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES New Ford Taurus features more than 500 engineering changes, making it more distinctive, quieter, faster and safer. 3.5-liter Duratec V-6 delivers an estimated 260 horsepower – an increase of nearly 30 percent from the previous engine. Available electronic stability control and all-wheel drive provide confident ride and handling in all weather conditions. Ford Sync™ offers new levels of connection, control, simplicity and personalization for electronic devices such as cell phones and MP3 players Taurus will reach showrooms this summer. CHICAGO, Feb. 7, 2007 – The 2008 Ford Taurus features more than 500 improvements that make it more distinctive, quieter, faster and safer. Highlights include new exterior styling, a new powertrain, a new all-wheel-drive system, more standard safety features and structural upgrades to further enhance crash protection. “Customers will find the 2008 Taurus delivers more of what they are looking for, including a strong design, high-quality interior, power and performance, must-have features like Ford Sync and a great safety reputation,” said Cisco Codina, Ford’s group vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service. The 2008 Taurus features Ford’s 3.5-liter Duratec V-6 that delivers an estimated 260 horsepower – an increase of nearly 30 percent from the previous engine – and 245 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to the same smooth shifting, six-speed automatic transmission as the new Ford Edge. Importantly to customers, even with more power and performance, the 2008 Taurus delivers real-world fuel economy similar to outgoing Five Hundred – thanks to advancements in powertrain technology. New exterior design is more emotional, more Ford The new look of the 2008 Taurus suggests the same proven emotional appeal of the popular Ford Fusion. The new Taurus features the Ford brand’s signature three-bar chrome grille, a sculpted hood with crisp accent lines and a new front fascia chamfered at the outer edges, adding more structure to the design. New taillamps carry a strong, horizontal theme to the rear, while a new rear fascia houses dual chrome-tipped exhausts. Chrome side vents, door handles and mirror caps give the high-line model a more expensive appearance. Ultra-quiet interior and plush ride Interior quietness is often associated with a customer’s perception of overall quality. For 2008 the Taurus team has delivered interior quietness that rivals many luxury cars. The new sound package includes such technologies as expandable foam pellets in the A-pillars to reduce wind noise and the use of an advanced sound-deadening material called Sonosorb™ in the doors, headliner and pillars. Sonosorb increases sound-deadening efficiency by 20 percent while retaining the same thickness as the material it replaces. Engineers also reduced road noise by stiffening the area where the rear package shelf meets the floor pan. Even the new climate control system is 50 percent quieter than before. Taurus’s plush, confident ride is further improved for 2008. Upgrades include revised shock towers that help increase front suspension travel by 10 percent, new dampers and springs in both front and rear, and a revised, retuned rear suspension. One of the most significant changes is how the engine is mounted in the vehicle. The engine was previously mounted to the front subframe. On the 2008 Taurus, the engine and transmission are bolted to the body with hydraulic mounts to reduce vibration. By moving the roughly 600-pound powerpack off the subframe, engineers were able to better tune the suspension and, ultimately, create an even better ride. Maximum convenience and space A large majority of customers shopping in the large car segment place front seat roominess as a key want (86 percent) while many also prioritize cargo capacity (63 percent). Answering these desires, the 2008 Taurus features the most spacious interior of any large sedan, with best-in-class legroom front and rear and 60/40-split fold-flat second-row of seats. With the fold-flat front-passenger seat, items up to nine-feet long can fit inside. Taurus also offers a number of must-have technologies. In addition to a standard auxiliary audio input jack, available convenience features include a voice-activated navigation system, a DVD entertainment system and factory-installed SIRIUS® satellite radio. Ford Sync™ is also available on the new 2008 Ford Taurus. Sync is a voice-activated hands-free in-car communications and entertainment system which fully-integrates mobile phones and digital media players. The Sync in-car communications system was developed in collaboration with Microsoft and will be offered exclusively on 12 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products in North America beginning this year. Building on safety leadership Research routinely demonstrates that safety features are at the top of customers shopping lists. For example, nearly 70 percent of shoppers are interested in side air bags and 65 percent are interested in electronic stability control. With these standard airbags and available electronic stability control, the 2008 Ford Taurus is expected to be segment leader in safety, capable of achieving five stars ratings in all four categories for the U.S. government’s crash tests. Ford’s AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control system can predict the vehicle’s intentions using a sensor to detect and measure oversteer and yaw by monitoring the vehicle’s speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When the system senses wheel slip, engine torque is reduced and braking is applied where needed to help keep the car tracking safely on its intended path. Additional standard safety equipment includes dual-stage driver and passenger front air bags, seat-deployed side air bags for driver and front passenger, and Ford’s Safety Canopy™ side curtain air bags for both rows. For an added measure of safety, a new steering wheel design recesses the air bag 15 millimeters farther away from the driver. About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 300,000 employees and more than 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.	thumb Ford Motor Company CEO Alan Mulally has reported that Ford will rename the Ford Five Hundred to the Taurus for the 2008 model year, when a facelifted model is expected to be launched to improve the lackluster sales of the outgoing model. Mulally says that Ford's decision to name all their cars with the letter F was a lackluster move, and makes their names easily forgettable. As a result, Mulally plans on reviving many respected Ford nameplates, the Taurus being one of them, and the Falcon possibly in the future. The Ford Taurus was originally introduced in 1986, and was a revolutionary car that rewrote the rules for creating a sedan, and pushed the other American automakers to follow suit, leading to a design revolution that completely rid Detroit of the "boxy" cars of the 70s and 80s. The Taurus survived for four generations, selling over 7,500,000 units. The Taurus was discontinued in October 2006, after a brief run of 2007 models destined for fleet customers. "How can it go away?" Alan Mulally remembered asking, "It's the best-selling car in America." While it is not expected for the name change to turn the Five Hundred into a 400,000 plus units a year blockbuster like the Taurus, it is expected to make sales more solid, and to make the car well known, since the Taurus is a well known nameplate around the country.
Scorecard - Commentary - Wickets - Partnerships - Wagon wheels - Player v player - Over comparison - Over graphs - Career averages - Match home - Bulletin - Article index (6) - Photo index (12) ODI no. 2549 ICC World Cup - 19th Match, Group A Netherlands v Scotland 2006/07 season Played at (neutral venue), on 22 March 2007 (50-over match) Result Netherlands won by 8 wickets (with 157 balls remaining) Scotland innings (50 overs maximum) R M B 4s 6s SR c Smits b Stelling 0 2 2 0 0 0.00 b Reekers 6 10 15 1 0 40.00 c & b de Leede 16 52 37 3 0 43.24 lbw b Stelling 4 10 13 0 0 30.76 lbw b Stelling 0 2 1 0 0 0.00 c Stelling b Jonkman 24 68 43 3 1 55.81 b Jonkman 19 30 23 4 0 82.60 st Smits b Mohammad Kashif 1 12 7 0 0 14.28 not out 18 49 28 1 1 64.28 c Smits b Mohammad Kashif 26 27 30 5 0 86.66 c ten Doeschate b van Bunge 7 13 8 1 0 87.50 Extras (lb 5, w 8, nb 2) 15 Total (all out; 34.1 overs) 136 Fall of wickets Bowling O M R W Econ 8 3 12 3 1.50 (2nb, 1w) 6 0 23 1 3.83 (2w) 4 0 24 1 6.00 (2w) 5 1 22 2 4.40 (1w) 7 2 29 2 4.14 3 0 17 0 5.66 (2w) 1.1 0 4 1 3.42 Netherlands innings (target: 137 runs from 50 overs) R M B 4s 6s SR not out 43 96 56 6 0 76.78 c Wright b Blain 9 11 8 2 0 112.50 c Smith b Blain 12 11 11 3 0 109.09 not out 70 64 68 13 1 102.94 Extras (lb 4, w 2) 6 Total (2 wickets; 23.5 overs; 96 mins) 140 Did not bat , , , , , , Fall of wickets Bowling O M R W Econ 4 0 26 0 6.50 5 0 29 2 5.80 (1w) 4 1 17 0 4.25 3 1 15 0 5.00 4 0 20 0 5.00 3.5 0 29 0 7.56 (1w) Toss Netherlands, who chose to field first Points Netherlands 2, Scotland 0 Player of the match WF Stelling (Netherlands) Umpires (Sri Lanka) and (New Zealand) TV umpire (England) Match referee (India) Reserve umpire Match notes Scotland innings Power Play 2: Overs 10.1 - 15.0 Power Play 3: Overs 15.1 - 20.0 Scotland: 50 runs in 16.5 overs (106 balls), Extras 9 Drinks: Scotland - 54/5 in 17.0 overs (NFI McCallum 9, CJO Smith 10) Scotland: 100 runs in 26.0 overs (165 balls), Extras 14 Drinks: Scotland - 126/9 in 33.0 overs (JAR Blain 8, PJC Hoffmann 7) Netherlands innings Netherlands: 50 runs in 8.2 overs (51 balls), Extras 1 Innings Break: Netherlands - 0/0 Lunch: Netherlands - 61/2 in 12.0 overs (B Zuiderent 21, RN ten Doeschate 18) 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 61 balls (B Zuiderent 12, RN ten Doeschate 37, Ex 1) Netherlands: 100 runs in 19.3 overs (118 balls), Extras 5 RN ten Doeschate: 50 off 61 balls (8 x 4, 1 x 6) 3rd Wicket: 100 runs in 111 balls (B Zuiderent 27, RN ten Doeschate 70, Ex 6) \|\|\|\|\| ICC World Cup: Netherlands v Scotland 22-03-2007 at St Kitts Netherlands beat Scotland by 8 wickets Netherlands won the toss and decided to field Scotland Innings 136 all out (34.1 overs) Netherlands Innings 140 for 2 (23.5 overs) Scotland Innings Runs Balls 4s 6s N S Poonia c J Smits b W F Stelling 0 2 0 0 R M Haq b D J Reekers 6 15 1 0 R R Watson c and b T B M de Leede 16 37 3 0 G M Hamilton lbw b W F Stelling 4 12 0 0 D R Brown lbw b W F Stelling 0 1 0 0 N F I McCallum c W F Stelling b M B S Jonkman 24 44 3 1 C J O Smith b M B S Jonkman 19 23 4 0 C M Wright st J Smits b Mohammad Kashif 1 7 0 0 J A R Blain not out 18 28 1 1 G A Rogers c J Smits b Mohammad Kashif 26 30 5 0 P J C Hoffmann c R N ten Doeschate b D L S van Bunge 7 8 1 0 Extras 2nb 8w 5lb 15 Total all out 136 (34.1 ovs) Bowler O M R W W F Stelling 8.0 3 12 3 D J Reekers 6.0 0 23 1 T B M de Leede 4.0 0 24 1 M B S Jonkman 5.0 1 22 2 Mohammad Kashif 7.0 2 29 2 R N ten Doeschate 3.0 0 17 0 D L S van Bunge 1.1 0 4 1 Fall of wicket 0 N S Poonia 9 R M Haq 15 G M Hamilton 15 D R Brown 39 R R Watson 77 C J O Smith 83 N F I McCallum 83 C M Wright 117 G A Rogers 136 P J C Hoffmann Back to top Netherlands Innings Runs Balls 4s 6s B Zuiderent not out 43 56 6 0 D J Reekers c C M Wright b J A R Blain 9 8 2 0 E S Szwarczynski c C J O Smith b J A R Blain 12 11 3 0 R N ten Doeschate not out 70 68 13 1 Extras 2w 4lb 6 Total for 2 140 (23.5 ovs) Bowler O M R W P J C Hoffmann 4.0 0 26 0 J A R Blain 5.0 0 29 2 C M Wright 4.0 1 17 0 G A Rogers 3.0 1 15 0 D R Brown 4.0 0 20 0 R M Haq 3.5 0 29 0 Fall of wicket 18 D J Reekers 37 E S Szwarczynski Back to top Umpires: E A R de Silva, A L Hill Netherlands: B Zuiderent, D J Reekers, R N ten Doeschate, D L S van Bunge, T B M de Leede, M B S Jonkman, W F Stelling, P W Borren, J Smits, E S Szwarczynski, Mohammad Kashif Scotland: R R Watson, R M Haq, C M Wright, G M Hamilton, N F I McCallum, D R Brown, C J O Smith, G A Rogers, J A R Blain, P J C Hoffmann, N S Poonia	Netherlands beat Scotland by 8 wickets (with 157 balls remaining) in Group A of the World Cup at the Warner Park Stadium, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis. Toss: Netherlands won, and elected to field first. Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Poonia, 0.2 ov), 2-9 (Haq, 3.2 ov), 3-15 (Hamilton, 6.2 ov), 4-15 (Brown, 6.3 ov), 5-39 (Watson, 13.4 ov), 6-77 (Smith, 20.4 ov), 7-83 (McCallum, 22.3 ov), 8-83 (Wright, 23.4 ov), 9-117 (Rogers, 31.1 ov), 10-136 (Hoffmann, 34.1 ov) Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Reekers, 3.1 ov), 2-37 (Szwarczynski, 5.4 ov) Scotland: R R Watson, R M Haq, C M Wright (capt), G M Hamilton, N F I McCallum, D R Brown, C J O Smith (wkt), G A Rogers, J A R Blain, P J C Hoffmann, N S Poonia Netherlands: B Zuiderent, D J Reekers, R N ten Doeschate, D L S van Bunge, T B M de Leede, M B S Jonkman, W F Stelling, P W Borren, J Smits (capt; wkt), E S Szwarczynski, Mohammad Kashif Player of the match: W F Stelling (Netherlands) Umpires: E A R de Silva (Sri Lanka) and A L Hill (New Zealand) TV umpire: M R Benson (England) Match referee: J Srinath (India) Reserve umpire: S A Bucknor (Jamaica)
(CNN) -- The bus that crashed Friday on an Arizona interstate south of Phoenix, killing six passengers, was operating illegally, the U.S. Department of Transportation said. The company, Tierra Santa Inc., had applied last April for authority to operate as an interstate carrier, but never responded after the department asked it for more information, said DOT spokesman Duane DeBruyne. "They never sent it," he said. The application was formally turned down on December 14, and the company -- based in Los Angeles, California -- was informed of the denial by certified letter, he said. No one from the company returned telephone calls from CNN. The wreck occurred at 5:27 a.m. on Interstate 10 south of Phoenix when the commercial bus rear-ended a pickup truck, according to Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves. The bus driver lost control and veered to the left, then to the right and off the road, rolling over at least once while several people were ejected from the bus, another Public Safety spokesman, Robert Bailey, told CNN sister network HLN. Two men and four women died, the spokesmen said. Watch KPHO-TV's slide show from the scene Sixteen people were taken to hospitals, including six who were critically hurt, Graves said. Among the injured were a 25-year-old pregnant woman, an 11-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, he said. The crash blocked both westbound lanes of traffic, according to the Public Safety Department, which had no estimate for when the lanes would reopen. Video from CNN affiliate KNXV-TV showed ladders leaning against the bus's broken windows and emergency crews treating some of the injured near the crash site. The blue-and-white bus settled in a ditch beside the road, aerial footage showed. Los Angeles, California-based Tierra Santa owns the bus, which started its trip in central Mexico near Durango, Graves said. The group entered the United States via El Paso, Texas, and the bus driver planned to switch with a relief driver once they reached Phoenix, about 30 miles north of the crash site, Graves said. The driver survived the crash and is cooperating with investigators, Graves said. Tierra Santa did not immediately return calls for comment from CNN. CNN's Melanie Whitley contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement At least six people have been killed and several others seriously injured in a bus crash near Phoenix, Arizona. State public safety officials said the roof of the bus was crushed in the accident on Interstate 10 south of Phoenix at 0527 local time (1227GMT). US media said the crash also involved two trucks and several cars. Rescuers smashed windows to get to victims and medics set up an emergency site on the highway to deal with casualties, reports said. Westbound lanes of Interstate 10 have been closed. Witnesses said the badly damaged bus was by the side of the road, surrounded by debris. Bart Graves, of the Arizona department of public safety, said the bus had been travelling from Los Angeles when it was in collision with a car and rolled over. He said two men and four women were killed and 15 other people injured, including two children. Five of those injured were airlifted to hospital. The bus, owned by Tierra Santa Inc, was carrying 21 passengers, Mr Graves added. Are you affected by this incident? Send us your experiences using the form below. Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments	Interstate 10 in red Multiple people are reported dead after an early Friday bus crash near Phoenix, Arizona. The Arizona Department of Public Safety stated that there were "multiple fatalities and serious injuries" in the incident. The collision occurred south of Phoenix, near milepost 173 on Interstate 10. Public Safety barred westbound traffic lanes and could not specify any time when these lanes would open. Six people have died while seven more are in critical condition. 10 others received less severe injures Local ABC broadcaster, KNXV-TV, said the crash occurred 5:27 AM local time (UTC 12:27). Apart from the buses, it involved two trucks and multiple cars. The buses, which lie at one side of the road, are covered by debris, according to witnesses. The ladders of the rescue workers leaned against its side. The bus was badly damaged with most of its windows broken. An emergency site was constructed to treat the casualties. The injured were gathered on a tarp in the road before being transported by ambulances and helicopters.

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