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Mel B will spend Christmas with an African leader accused of political oppression and aiding genocide.
The former Spice Girl has been invited to stay with Rwandan president Paul Kagame, who could face a war crimes trial for allegedly arming Congo rebel group M23 – said to have forced 140,000 people to flee their homes.
Scary Spice Mel is friends with the 56-year-old’s grown up children Ivan and Ange, who asked her to their family palace in East Africa.
The mum-of-three said: “Christmas is different every year. Last year we were in Australia and it was lovely but this year we’ve decided to go to Rwanda. We’ve got this amazing trip planned and we’re staying with the president, Paul Kagame.
“I know his son and daughter because they live in New York and they’re adorable people. They invited us out there.
“We will probably have our own Christmas in LA with stockings, presents and a big roast dinner, then we shall go off to spend time with the president.
“I said to the kids do you want to go to Africa and see lions, tigers and bears, or stay at home and watch TV all day? It was a no brainer.”
Kagame has been praised for overhauling Rwanda’s economy, healthcare and education system since he became president in 2000.
(Photo: Reuters)
He previously commanded the rebel force which ended the country’s 1994 genocide.
But a damning UN report last year suggested the Rwandan military had supported M23.
Head of US war crimes office, Stephen Rapp, has warned Kagame could be prosecuted for helping the insurgents carry out atrocities.
Spice Girl vs President
Mel B, 38
High: Brought us Girl Power and leopard-print catsuits.
Low: The Bo’ Selecta! character featuring a bulbous nose and animal-print leotard.
Pals: On meeting the Spice Girls, Nelson Mandela said: “This is one of the greatest moments of my life.”
Tweet: Yippieeee @JennyCraig’s Gingerbread Men recipe is perfect to do w the girls!
Paul Kagame, 56
High: Brought an end to the Rwandan civil war which killed one million people - a seventh of the country’s population.
Low: In 2012, being accused of assisting war crimes.
Pals: Visited the late Nelson Mandela at home in 2009. It is not documented what the former South African President said about Kagame.
Tweet: We stand in solidarity with our Kenyan brothers & sisters against terror. ||||| MEL B is looking forward to Christmas thanks to the "amazing trip" the former Spice Girl is planning to Rwanda.
The singer, whose real name is Melanie Brown, is friends with Ivan and Ange, the adult children of Rwanda's 56-year-old president Paul Kagame. He has invited her and her three children to spend Christmas at his palace in East Africa.
But the Daily Mirror 'playing the role of the Grinch in Mel B's African Christmas fairytale' says there's a problem. Kagame "could face a war crimes trial" for allegedly arming Congo rebel group M23 which is said to have forced 140,000 people from their homes.
A "damning" report released by the UN last year suggested Kagame had supported the insurgents to the hilt. The document, which was leaked last October, said the Congolese rebels were receiving "direct military orders" from Rwanda's army chief and Kagame's defence minister.
Stephen Rapp, the head of the US war crimes office, has warned that Kagame "could be prosecuted for helping the insurgents carry out atrocities".
The Daily Telegraph says that Kagame has many friends in the West, but he divides opinion. He is widely considered to be "the most dynamic and effective leader in Africa today, and also ruthless, repressive and intolerant of criticism".
Kagame has strongly denied the allegation he aided M23 saying: "We are not supplying even one bullet. We have not and we will not".
It's unlikely that Mel B and her three children will be discussing any of these allegations over the Christmas turkey. She took to Twitter to express her excitement at her African adventure.
"Christmas is different every year," she wrote. "Last year we were in Australia and it was lovely but this year we've decided to go to Rwanda. We've got this amazing trip planned and we're staying with the president, Paul Kagame."
She added: "I know his son and daughter because they live in New York and they're adorable people. They invited us out there. "We will probably have our own Christmas in LA with stockings, presents and a big roast dinner, then we shall go off to spend time with the president."
Blogger FleetStreetFox said Mel B's Christmas plans were the latest example of unwitting celebrities getting mixed up in politics.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell caused a storm when she revealed that Liberian dictator Charles Taylor had given her diamonds and Mariah Carey was widely criticised for singing for Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, a son of the late Libyan dictator. · | – The latest celebrity to party with a "bad guy"? Scary Spice. Melanie Brown, the Spice Girl also known as "Mel B," is spending Christmas with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his family, the Mirror reports. It seems Brown is friends with Kagame's grown kids, who invited her to the family palace. "They're adorable people," Brown says of his son and daughter. "I said to the kids, 'Do you want to go to Africa and see lions, tigers, and bears, or stay at home and watch TV all day?' It was a no-brainer." Many wouldn't attach the word "adorable" to Kagame, who took office in 2000 and led the rebel force that ended the 1994 genocide in his country: He could now face a war crimes trial for allegedly arming M23, an insurgent group in the Congo accused of atrocities there. He's been called "ruthless" and "repressive" on the one hand, but the continent's "most dynamic and effective leader" on the other, and he has quite a few friends in the West, The Week reports. Click for more celebs who've partied with controversial leaders. |
Research published in the scientific journal Evolution and Human Behavior suggests that women tend to pick partners who show some slight resemblance to their brothers.
“Previous research has already shown that people seem, on average, to pick partners who look somewhat like their parents,” explained Tamsin K. Saxton of Northumbria University, the study’s corresponding author. “(I wrote a short summary of that research here). A few theories have been put forward to explain why people might do that. But we realised that most of these theories could also apply equally to siblings. So, we wanted to test whether we could detect perceptual similarity between someone’s partner and siblings.”
By examining 64 facial photographs, the researchers found evidence that women’s romantic partners tended to resemble their brothers. Though they have yet to test this with a male sample, they believe the same tendencies should apply to men as well.
“One focus of our research is to understand more about how people pick the partners they do, and why people differ in their preferences and choices,” Saxton explained. “Recently, we’ve been trying to unpick the influences that people’s families might have on their partner preferences. We predicted that sibling resemblance might be just one of the many contributing factors in partner choice, and the current study indicates that it may indeed have an influence.”
“Having said that, it’s important to note that the effect is subtle. The way the study was designed was that we showed photos to the volunteers who did the ratings. The volunteers saw a facial photo of a man on the left-hand side of a sheet of paper. This man was a woman’s brother (though the volunteers didn’t know that). Then, on the right-hand side of the same sheet of paper, they saw facial photos of 4 other men. Again, the volunteers didn’t know that one of the men was the boyfriend of the same woman. We asked the volunteers to say which of the men on the right-hand side was most, second most, third most, and least similar to the brother.”
“If there was no similarity at all between a woman’s brother and partner, then we’d expect the volunteers to pick randomly, selecting each of the four pictures one quarter of the time,” Saxton said. “When we looked just at the raw numbers, we found that nearly one third of the raters’ choices were for the ‘correct’ brother-boyfriend pair as looking most similar. However, these raw numbers are only indicative, and we wanted to know how we might extrapolate the data to the population at large. We used a statistical model to try and predict this. Our model indicated that if we generalised beyond our dataset, we came up with a selection rate for picking the ‘correct’ brother-boyfriend pair as most similar 27% of the time, and as first or second most similar combined 59% (instead of 50%) of the time. The model gave a selection rate of just 16% for picking the brother as least similar to the boyfriend. Psychologists are interested even in these subtle effects because behaviour is complicated and arises from a multitude of different influences.”
Saxton emphasized that the effect of sibling resemblance appeared to be small — and only one factor among many that influences attractiveness.
“So, I guess one important point is that you shouldn’t expect to be able to pick a partner simply based on the appearance of a sibling,” she explained to PsyPost. “Not all women had partners that looked like their brothers. There will be many relationships where a woman’s partner doesn’t look like her brother, and that’s entirely consistent with what we found. The point though is that we might anticipate intuitively that there could be no resemblance between partners and siblings. However, our study found that there was this subtle resemblance, on average across the sample.”
Saxton also noted that her study had some caveats and alternative explanations.
“We realise of course that people’s parents resemble their siblings. So it’s possible that our ‘finding’ of brother-boyfriend resemblance could be an essential corollary of parent-partner resemblance. However, first, I think it’s theoretically plausible at least that you could pick a partner who looks like your parents but not your siblings (although this remains to be tested). Second, your siblings might be around even when your parents aren’t. Third, in the published paper, we compared our findings with previous work on parent-partner resemblance. We found that the effect size was broadly similar in the previous work compared to ours. Finally, I guess the point is that we have such a strong aversive reaction to thoughts of anything even remotely resembling incest that you might assume there would be no way that a woman’s partner could resemble her brother — but the study shows this not to be the case.”
“Also – it’s not clear how attraction and actual partner choice might map onto each other – they are not necessarily identical things,” Saxton explained. “Indeed, an earlier research paper used computer software to generate facial images that looked a little like the siblings of the participants in the research study. Then they asked the participants to rate how attractive the facial images were. The researchers found that men rated sibling-resembling faces as significantly more attractive than self-resembling faces but not significantly different from control faces, whereas women rated sibling-resembling faces as significantly less attractive than control faces and no different from self-resembling faces. Attractiveness judgements assessed in a laboratory context may not always map directly onto patterns of relationship formation and maintenance when other factors come into play.”
“Another caveat is that the photographs that we used weren’t fully standardised; they portrayed facial features, but also facial expressions, hairstyles, and some elements of clothing and background. We asked the raters to judge facial similarity, but these non-standardised elements likely contributed somewhat to their decisions. Therefore, it is possible that our raters were not matching the photographs merely on facial structural similarity, but also on elements such as emotionality (perceived through facial expressions), and socio-economic status and cultural cues (perceived through clothing and hairstyle).”
“Finally, our study focussed on contemporary western populations,” Saxton told PsyPost. “We found consistent results irrespective of whether we focussed on the photos that we had collected through direct contacts, or those that we had sourced online from the people more in the public eye. We haven’t tested whether the results would hold outside of these social groups though. In fact, we found a lot of variability in the extent to which a woman’s partner and brother resembled each other. If there are systematic influences that lead women away from a partner who looks like her brother, then in a context or cultural setting where those influences are greater, we might not find the same effects.”
The study, “Facial resemblance between women’s partners and brothers“, was also co-authored by Catherine Steel, Katie Rowley, Amy Newman, and Thomas Baguley. ||||| Photo: Laurence Mouton/PhotoAlto/Corbis; Illustration: Konstantin Sergeyev
In the late ‘80s, the founder of a support group for adopted children who had recently reconnected with their biological relatives coined the term “Genetic Sexual Attraction” (GSA) to describe the intense romantic and sexual feelings that she observed occurring in many of these reunions. According to an article in The Guardian, experts estimate that these taboo feelings occur in about 50 percent of cases where estranged relatives are reunited as adults (GSA’s discoverer had herself become attracted to the son she’d adopted out when she met him 26 years later, but her feelings were not reciprocated).
Though the research is scarce, those who have studied GSA offer a range of possible explanations for it, including a primordial feeling of always having “belonged” to the estranged relative, a sense of wanting to experience the bonding missed out on during childhood, or simply an overwhelming closeness based on similarities: like meeting a mate who was designed for you in a science lab. Perhaps GSA accounts for Kevin Gates’s attraction to his first cousin.
Consensual incest between fathers and their daughters remains the least reported and perhaps the most taboo sort of GSA relationship. Keith Pullman, who runs a marriage equality blog, has personally talked to over 20 GSA couples and notes that he’s only had a few father-daughter couples speak out, speculating that many of them fear that others will assume the daughter must have been abused in childhood (it should be said that when these unions lead to children, those children can face potentially serious difficulties as a result of the genetic implications of incest, even if some online communities downplay these risks).
Here, an 18-year-old woman from the Great Lakes region describes her romantic relationship of almost two years with the biological father she met after 12 years of estrangement.
What was your family like when you were growing up?
My parents had me when they were 18 — they met in high school and I was conceived on prom night. They were serious for about six months but broke up while my mom was still pregnant with me. My dad wasn’t there when I was born. I think my mom’s psychological problems meant the relationship never really worked out. She has bipolar disorder and some other mental health issues. They just weren’t happy and didn’t really keep in contact after I was born. She wanted to do it alone. When she’s manic it’s hard to know what she’s going to say. After I was born she had a nervous breakdown and couldn’t take care of me, so I lived with her grandparents until I was about 2. I think that’s part of the reason we’ve never been close: We didn’t bond when I was a baby.
Did you have any contact with your father when you were a child?
He briefly came back into my life when I was about 3 or 4 and I saw him on weekends until I was about 5. He lived about an hour away from us and my parents constantly argued about visitation. He was always doing the drive to see me because my mom wasn’t very fond of it — she wouldn’t even meet him halfway.
Can you remember much from your time with your dad when you were little?
I have some memories. He spoiled me rotten. I had this giant storage tote of Barbie dolls and I had my own Mary-Kate and Ashley bedroom. It was a little girl’s dream. We’d sit in the yard blowing bubbles together, and he took me to the zoo where he bought me a stuffed animal that I kept until I was 16. I ended up washing it and stupidly put it in the dryer, which melted all its fur. I remember he gave me a miniature tea set. I still have it.
So then there was zero contact or word from him?
When I was about 15 he emailed my mom saying he’d like to see me. I vividly remember the moment she told me. I said I missed him and wouldn’t mind seeing him. She asked me how I could miss someone I hadn’t been with for such a long time. But what I missed was a fatherly figure. My mom’s always picked the wrong guy out of the crowd and she’s had a couple of divorces. I’m still not really close with my current stepfather even though they’ve been together for ten years. For whatever reason, my father and I didn’t end up meeting for two more years, so there was no contact for 12 years — we were reunited when I was 17.
So what were your feelings toward him when you were growing up? Did you think about him much?
I’d wonder where he was, what he was doing. Why haven’t I seen him or heard from him? What did my mom do? What did he do? What did I do? My abandonment issues really hit when I was a teenager. My mom and my stepfather took a break because they were fighting so much and I cried the entire time he was gone. I missed him, which was weird because we didn’t have much of a relationship. I asked myself, Why am I crying over someone I’m not even close to?
Do you think it triggered the abandonment you felt from your own dad?
Yeah. I think I was subconsciously replaying what I’d been through.
How many stepfathers have you had?
Near the end of the time my parents had joint custody of me I had a stepdad. He took good care of my mom but she went through one of her stages again, so it ended. She had another husband who went crazy and tried to kill her. He was schizophrenic. Then she got with my brother’s dad and they dated for a while but when my brother was born the dad didn’t want anything to do with him, so I helped my mom raise him. Once he was about 3 she got together with my current stepdad and had my baby sister. My brother and I are 9 years apart and my sister is 12 years younger than me. I think of them as my brother and sister, and I also think of them as my babies because I helped raise them.
Why didn’t your father try to get in touch with you?
My mom said that he didn’t want to have anything to do with me. But she was very controlling and kept me under Fort Knox–like conditions. She’s had my Facebook password since I’ve had an account. One day, after I got my Facebook privileges back, he added me as a friend. At first, I figured it was my grandpa because they have very similar names. I thought, Maybe Grandpa got techy?
Then I realized it was my dad. I was like, Oh my God, where have you been? I don’t know if I can get close to you. I told him I thought he was dead and asked why it took him so long to contact me. He said he’d been adding me on Facebook but I’d always decline his requests. But that was my mom controlling my account. After we reunited, he showed me emails he’d sent trying to contact me.
What happened next?
We chitchatted online for a few days and found out we were similar. We shared the same favorite TV shows — The Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory — and we both love to draw. He came to see me about a week later. You wouldn’t have believed we hadn’t been around each other for 12 years. The idea of “getting to know him” seemed strange because we are so much alike. He came and hung out all day and then I asked to come spend a week with him — he lived in a small town about 30 minutes away. I think my mom knew I was going to move out and it really was getting to the point where I needed to escape, she was so controlling.
Has she always been that way?
Not when I was younger — she was going through a wild stage and she wanted to be more of a friend than a mother. She was still in her 20s and she worked at a bar. When I turned 13, she cracked down military-style. I didn’t have a voice and I had to do everything she asked, just to keep the peace.
Did you date when you were a teenager?
I didn’t really have a social life. I stayed home a lot because my mom didn’t trust me, and most of the kids my age were hooked on heroin, so it was hard to find friends. I lived in such a small town where there was nothing to do. In fifth grade I dated a boy for two years. But one night he got drunk and had sex with a girl who ended up pregnant. It fucked everything up. I told him he had to go and be with this girl and take care of the kid.
She ended up falling asleep with a cigarette in her mouth and their house burned down, so she left town with the kid and never came back. I supported him through that and we ended up half-ass dating, then my mom found letters we had written to each other about making out. She said things were getting too serious and sexual and took me out of class and homeschooled me for a while.
Did you have sex with that boyfriend?
No. I had a girlfriend in middle school and that was the most major sexual experience I’d ever had. But she was very religious and every time we were intimate she would sob and read me verses out of the Bible. It made me feel like I’d hurt her. The second time we did it she cried and said we’d done something wrong and she was worried her grandmother would find out. I was done after that. No more crying, and no more Bible transcripts. She had me in tears because I felt so guilty.
How do you define your sexuality?
I’ve always identified as bisexual.
So can you remember what it was like the moment you and your dad were reunited? Was there an instant attraction?
It was so weird and confusing. I was seeing my dad for the first time in forever but it was also like, He’s so good-looking! And then I was like, What the hell are you thinking? What is wrong with you? I saw him as my dad but then also part of me was like, I’m meeting this guy who I have been talking to over the internet and really connecting with and I find him attractive.
Was there a single moment you realized that you were sexually and romantically attracted to your dad?
After I had stayed with him for about five days.
What happened?
He was living with his girlfriend. On the first night he slept on the couch and I slept on the floor, just to make sure that I was okay.
Why was that?
Sleeping in new places makes me very anxious so I asked him to stay with me in case I had one of the terrible nightmares I usually experience. The second night I had him sleep on the couch again and then the third night I fell asleep with him on the floor lying on his chest, in his arms. The fourth night rolled around and we ended up on the floor again. This time we actually cuddled. When he woke up, we were spooning. I didn’t know this at the time but later, after we admitted our feelings, he told me he had had “morning wood” and had gone to fix it.
Did you feel it?
No, I was asleep and he quietly snuck off to the bathroom.
Do you mean he went to masturbate?
No, he just went to pee. He didn’t want me to see that he had an erection. Later that day, we went shopping because I had grown out of all my shorts, so I asked him if he could buy me some new ones. I was trying them on and asked him how I looked and he said I looked good and I felt like I was picking up on something more, but I pushed it out of my head. That night we were play-wrestling in the room I was going to sleep in and I bit him. He was wearing a pair of basketball shorts and a tank top and after I bit him I could see goose bumps pop up from his toes to his shoulders. Then he pinched my inner thigh and I got goose bumps.
We stopped and said that we didn’t know what was going on but admitted that we had strong feelings for each other. We discussed whether it was wrong and then we kissed. And then we made out, and then we made love for the first time. That was when I lost my virginity.
Did you tell him you were a virgin?
Yes. I told him I wanted him to be the first person I made love to. We talked about how it could be awkward if it didn’t end up working out. He also said that if I didn’t feel comfortable at any point I should tell him.
What was it like?
There’s a reason I lost my virginity to him — because I’d never felt comfortable with any other man. It was insanely sensual. It lasted for about an hour and there was a lot of foreplay. We both had orgasms. We are so similar, so it’s so easy to sexually please each other. For example, we both love neck-biting. I’ve never been in a more passionate, loving, fulfilling situation.
Even the first time, because often it’s not the best sexual experience …
That’s what I said! I’d heard that it would hurt so I was expecting pain, but we were both so careful with each other. I think it was also a good experience because most guys my age are only interested in having sex with you. I could tell that wasn’t the case with him.
I’m curious, given the age gap and the perceived power dynamic, did you feel forced or coerced at all?
Absolutely not. He made sure I wanted to do it. We both initiated it and he kept asking me if I was okay, not because he thought I was distressed but because he wanted me to know that we could stop at any point. It was like any other man and woman having sex after they had each admitted their feelings.
What was it like afterward?
It wasn’t weird at all. It felt so natural. It didn’t even feel taboo. I felt like I had just made love with a man who I’d been with for years.
Did you think that a relationship was a possibility?
We discussed it before we had sex. I told him I was saving myself for someone who I’d be committed to for the rest of my life. It was important for me to make it clear that if I made love to him he was in a relationship with me. I didn’t regret it at all. I was happy for once in my life. We fell deeply in love.
Had you been depressed before that?
I’ve struggled with chronic depression, and I was bullied at school.
What were you bullied about?
Mostly my weight and the fact that I wasn’t pretty enough. But when my dad and I started dating I became more confident, and it’s funny how much more attractive that makes you feel.
How quickly did he end things with his girlfriend?
We made sure to move out of the girlfriend’s immediately because we knew we couldn’t be together there. Before her, he was with a woman for eight years and she’s now our roommate. Talk about awkward for the first three months!
Did you tell her about the nature of your relationship?
She found out when she heard us making love. I guess we didn’t realize how thin the bedroom floor was. She really didn’t mind. Now we’re like a little family. She calls me her daughter.
How many people know about it?
Everyone on my mom’s side of the family sees us as father and daughter. Those who know that he’s my dad, and that we are engaged, include my father’s parents (they can see we are happy together and they can’t wait for us to have babies — they treat us just like any other couple), the woman we live with, and my best friend.
You’re engaged?
I’m planning on a full-on wedding but it won’t be legally registered. And personally, I don’t believe you need a piece of paper to prove that you want to be with the person you love. When you get married, you are signing part of yourself over to somebody. We’ll tell everybody that we got our marriage license, but they don’t have to see it. One of our friends will act as the celebrant.
Will you have a wedding? Do you have it planned?
Yes. I want it to represent our uniqueness, so we aren’t doing a white wedding. The color scheme is black and purple, and we are both going to wear Converse tennis shoes. He’s wearing jeans and a nice dress shirt. He says he’s not wearing a bow tie, but it’s my wedding and I am saying that he is. My best friend will be my maid of honor and she’ll be dressed in purple. My grandmother and grandfather — my fiancé’s parents — are going to attend and my grandpa will give me away. The tables will have bouquets of trees without leaves to represent our marriage, which will be like a growing tree. My dress will be black.
How do you manage to hide it from your mom? Is it difficult to keep it a secret?
She doesn’t live in the same town as us and we visit her, together, a couple of times a month. Occasionally we slip up and call each other “babe” or other goofy little names. She acts like there’s something up but she doesn’t know what the hell it is. We recently got tattoos together. Mine says, “I love my peanut butter,” because I call him my peanut butter. His says, “I love my jelly,” because that’s what he calls me. What father and daughter do you know who have names for each other and tattoos like that? She just said, “Oh, those are cute.” She plays dumb about it.
Do you think you’ll ever tell her?
We plan to move to New Jersey where we can be safe under the law, since adult incest isn’t illegal there, and once I’m there I’ll tell everyone. I’ll call my mom and let her know that we are in love and we are having children. If she wants to see her grandkids we’ll send her money and she can drive to see us. Once we are out about it I won’t be comfortable going back to my hometown. What if someone calls the cops?
Is that what’s stopping you from telling her now?
Part of me thinks she won’t give a crap and then another part of me thinks she’ll want to hunt us down and get the police to lock us up and throw away the key. She’s very unpredictable, so I just don’t know how she’ll react.
What about your sister?
I get the sense she knows. We’re so close that we always pick up on each other’s emotions. When we were younger and I was sad she would crawl down from her bunk into my bed and comfort me. I’ve noticed that she relates to my dad as she related to my ex-boyfriend. She used to call him “your dad,” but now she hugs him and uses his name. But I do want to tell her because she’s very important to me. If it weren’t for the legal issues I would tell everybody. It doesn’t feel right to me that we have to hide, but I have to do this to keep my relationship safe.
So would you have kids together, or would you adopt?
We’ll have kids together.
Will you tell your kids that their father is your dad, and their grandfather?
We’ve decided that most likely we won’t. I don’t want to give them any problems.
Would you feel comfortable keeping such a big secret?
That’s something I’ll have to figure out. His mom and dad will want to spend time with the grandkids, so we will have to decide how everyone will be known.
Do you worry about the potential genetic problems associated with having kids with your biological father?
Nope. I wouldn’t risk having a kid if I thought it would be harmful. I’ve done my research. Everybody thinks that kids born in incestuous relationships will definitely have genetic problems, but that’s not true. That happens when there’s years of inbreeding, like with the royal family. Incest has been around as long as humans have. Everybody just needs to deal with it as long as nobody is getting hurt or getting pressured or forced.
There are so many people having kids who will be passing on health problems, people with diabetes or mental health issues, or AIDS. My mom was allowed to have kids and both her and her mom were bipolar. My research tells me that the only real genetic risk is high blood pressure, which is controllable. I think people only worry about it because they look to the genetic problems that occurred when incest was happening generation upon generation. They say, Well, look at King Henry VIII — but he was only a genetic mutant because they had kept it in the family for so long.
Is the father-daughter dynamic part of your sex life?
Not usually, but it has come up a couple of times when one of us blurts out “baby girl” or “daddy” or something. Last time it happened, we both stood up and stopped doing what we were doing. It caught us off guard.
What is it like to know that your fiancé once dated your mom and has had sex with her?
That was so long ago. It’s really just the same as thinking about your boyfriend having sex with an ex-girlfriend. I never experienced them as a couple.
Do you think you have something special that other couples don’t?
I think we have a better relationship than any couple I’ve met because our bond is so strong. I just feel so close to him and so in love with him. We are almost two years into the relationship and I’m still head over heels with that “first few weeks in love” feeling. Everybody says we are the cutest couple they’ve ever seen. I took him to prom.
Didn’t he and your mom conceive you on prom night?
Yeah.
Do you ever call him Dad?
When I need my dad I say, “Hey, Dad, I need you.” And then he’s not going to be my fiancé or my boyfriend, but my father.
Do you ever think about what would happen if you broke up?
I honestly don’t know what I would do. My life would come to a complete standstill; I wouldn’t be happy or confident, and I wouldn’t know how to express myself the way I do when I’m with him. If people found out about this he’d probably get jail time. It’s typically the man who gets arrested when there’s an incest case.
Since you grew up without him and didn’t know where he was for such a long time, do you worry that if you broke up you’d lose both your fiancé and your father?
We’ve had that talk, and I do have abandonment issues. For example, he has to walk away when we have arguments and once he walked outside and I told him, Please don’t go outside because the last time someone had an argument in my household and walked away they never came back. (That was one of my stepfathers.) He’s promised that if either of us decides the relationship can’t work he still wants to be there as my dad.
Is the large age gap an issue?
I hate immature people, I can’t stand drama, and I want to smack most teens because they act like they are 5. I feel like a 37-year-old trapped in an 18-year-old’s body.
What do you like most about him?
I can go to him with anything and he will listen to me and give me good advice. He helps me fix problems. I love everything about him, but the extreme closeness and the special bond is what I really cherish — most people don’t have that. Right from the start we were comfortable being so open and close because we are so similar. I’ve never felt this close to anyone.
What sorts of things do you have in common?
We both like being outdoors and we are interested in artistic things like photography and painting. We both have an extreme love for animals — we have five dogs and we like the countryside and equine activities. He was in FFA when he was in high school and so was I. Our favorite food is chicken, our second favorite is fish. We both like computers and video games. We both want a big family.
Is he physically your type?
Definitely. He’s alternative and has piercings and tattoos.
Do you look alike?
I don’t think we do — people really just take us as boyfriend and girlfriend. I guess we have similar bone structures. But he’s dyed his hair and he looks young for his age, so most people think he’s in his 20s.
How much time do you spend together?
The only thing we do independently is go to work and school. He’s a maintenance man and I am studying cosmetology, but other than that we are together 24/7.
What’s your response to people who just can’t get their head around your relationship?
I just don’t understand why I’m judged for being happy. We are two adults who brought each other out of dark places. People need to research incest and GSA because they don’t get it and I don’t think they understand how often it happens.
What would you say to people who might think that this is an abusive relationship, that he’s your father and you are still a teenager?
When you are 18 you know what you want. You’re an adult under the law and you’re able to consent. I can take care of myself. I don’t need protection. If I were in a situation where I needed to get out I would. I’m not afraid to defend myself. My mom taught me self-defense, whether it be stabbing someone in the eye with a mascara brush or kicking a man in the crotch, and she was careful to teach me about inappropriate touching. From a very young age she told me not to listen to the classic things an abuser might say, like when they tell you to keep it secret or that they will kill you or your family.
Why did she focus so much on sexual abuse?
Her stepfather sexually abused her and her mother didn’t know about it until they’d split up because she was too scared to tell anyone.
Were you ever sexually abused when you were younger?
No, and my dad has told me that the thought of being involved with me when I was little is appalling to him. Once when I was about 4 I was in a golf cart with my great-great grandma’s husband and he touched me on my inner leg. It wasn’t super-aggressive, but I felt very uncomfortable about it. I told my father and he called my mom and they took me to a children’s hospital to get examined. There were no signs of abuse.
Were you suspicious of men when you were growing up?
Yes, because I’ve always known what they are capable of.
Do you think that’s why you didn’t date a lot of men?
It was and it wasn’t. There weren’t a lot of people who caught my eye, for one thing, and I didn’t really want to waste my first sexual experience with someone who I couldn’t guarantee I’d be with forever. My first kiss was with my boyfriend of two years. It’s always been important to me that it’s serious. I grew up without a father and my mother has had a lot of different partners. I don’t want that for my kids. I want them to be in a happy and stable household with two people who love them.
This interview has been edited. | – A new study suggests that when it comes to dating, women tend to pick partners who bear at least a slight resemblance to their own brothers. Reporting in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, the researchers write that selecting "optimal" breeding mates—not too closely related, but not too distantly, either—appears to be something we humans do, and though they haven't tested it yet, they suggest that men likely do the same. In the study, the researchers had women submit photos of their brothers and boyfriends, then added photos of three other men to the "boyfriend" mix. They had strangers choose which of the boyfriend photos most closely resembled the brother. The strangers picked the actual boyfriend 27% of the time, which Discover sees as a "small but statistically significant" improvement over mere chance. "We have such a strong aversive reaction to thoughts of anything even remotely resembling incest that you might assume there would be no way that a woman’s partner could resemble her brother—but the study shows this not to be the case," one of the researchers tells PsyPost. That said, she notes that the tendency is only subtle and needs to be studied further. Discover explains that there might be biological reason behind the preference: While incest carries all kinds of genetic risks, "some amount of genetic similarity between parents can actually be evolutionarily advantageous." It's what the researchers call "optimal outbreeding." (This woman married her son, and later her daughter.) |
Amazon is in the advanced stages of placing its second headquarters in Northern Virginia, sources close to the matter told The Washington Post, as the retail giant zeroes in on a self-imposed deadline to make the closely watched decision.
The Post reported on Saturday that Amazon has held detailed discussions about the possibility of opening its second outpost in Crystal City, a residential and business area strategically positioned south of the nation's capital. Amazon is said to be mulling how quickly it could move employees, its physical plant and how it could make the decision public, people close to the process told the publication.
Amazon's planning was more in-depth than it has had with other potential locations in Northern Virginia, and other cities across the U.S., The Post stated. Yet on Sunday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the tech giant's list of potential finalists included Dallas and New York City.
In fact, the retail behemoth is said to be so serious about Crystal City that the area's premier developer, JBG Smith, has pulled some of its buildings off the leasing market to make way for Amazon, The Post reported, citing unnamed public and private officials close to the process. It's possible that Amazon may also be in similar talks with other cities considered finalists, the report cautioned.
Separately, sources told CNBC that Amazon and local officials had a "very productive" and "very long" conference call on Friday. A potential incentive package may include a "very generous" transportation incentive to alleviate traffic fears, as well as educational aspects to ensure Amazon has a pipeline to a skilled workforce. ||||| The move follows a search by CEO Jeff Bezos that spanned more than a year. | Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Technology Amazon picks Northern Virginia, New York City to split new HQ
Amazon will divide its much-anticipated new headquarters between Crystal City in Northern Virginia and Long Island City in Queens, New York, a source with knowledge of the plan confirmed to POLITICO on Monday night.
The move follows a search that spanned more than a year and prompted local governments across North America to scramble to offer tax breaks and other incentives to win the company's favor.
Story Continued Below
Amazon's split decision means the selected locations can expect to share as many as 50,000 jobs and roughly $5 billion in investment.
The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
State and local officials are expected to make an official announcement on Tuesday, the source said. Amazon declined to comment.
By distributing the "HQ2" across the two communities, the e-commerce giant may be trying to ease the expected strain on housing and traffic that will accompany such a large project — and avoid the kind of civic tensions the company has sparked in its original home base of Seattle.
Morning Tech Technology news from Washington and Silicon Valley — weekday mornings, in your inbox. Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time.
But by picking multiple winners, Amazon is opening itself to criticism that it's simply launching satellite offices after a much-hyped national search that allowed it to extract taxpayer-funded incentives and other concessions from eager local officials, as well as detailed information about the hundreds of communities that submitted bids.
Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) tweeted Monday night that her future constituents in Queens are expressing "outrage" at all the largesse being lavished on Amazon.
“Amazon is a billion-dollar company,“ she wrote. “The idea that it will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks at a time when our subway is crumbling and our communities need MORE investment, not less, is extremely concerning to residents here.“
The choice of Crystal City, just a stone's throw from Washington, will boost the D.C. power base of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who already owns The Washington Post and was recently declared the world's richest man, with an estimated net worth of $136 billion.
The move, though, could exacerbate tensions with President Donald Trump, who has called Washington "a swamp," frequently denounces the Post for its coverage of him and accuses Amazon of avoiding taxes and ripping off the U.S. Postal Service.
Northern Virginia and Queens beat out a mix of known technology centers like Boston and Austin, as well as up-and-coming hubs like Denver, Atlanta and Pittsburgh.
The Washington metropolitan area has long been considered a frontrunner, fueled by Bezos' ties to the region. In addition to owning The Post, the Amazon CEO bought D.C.'s biggest house in 2016. Amazon sees the federal government as a huge customer for its cloud computing services, and the company maintains a large lobbying operation in the capital to push its agenda on everything from delivery drones to online privacy.
New York also checks many of the boxes for Amazon, including a large population rich in technically skilled talent. Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters last week that "I am doing everything I can" to lure the company, adding, “I’ll change my name to Amazon Cuomo if that’s what it takes."
Amazon kicked off the "Hunger Games"-like headquarters search in September 2017, making an open call for bids from local and regional governments in North America. The company's wish list included an area with more than one million residents as well as easy access to public transit and an international airport. Cultural fit — described as a diverse population and business-friendly government — was also a criterion.
That promise was enough to garner bids from 238 economic development offices across the U.S., Mexico and Canada, a list the company then winnowed to 20 finalists in January.
The national search sparked hope that Amazon might choose a promising mid-size city, perhaps in the American heartland, that would be transformed by an influx of high-paying, high-skilled jobs. That choice would have countered the narrative that the tech industry's economic growth has mainly benefited coastal urban centers. Instead, the company has chosen East Coast hubs where it already has sizable operations.
The process attracted criticism from some who questioned the economic prudence of offering billions of dollars in tax incentives to one of the world’s wealthiest companies.
The bid of Newark, N.J., for example, included tax incentives that would climb to $5 billion or more depending on the number of people Amazon hired. Maryland's appeal for Montgomery County totaled $3 billion in tax breaks and grants and $2 billion in transportation investments.
Such incentives present a gamble for officials who are banking on long-term economic growth to recoup massive corporate handouts. Wisconsin is grappling with those risks now after offering a multibillion-dollar financial package to Taiwanese electronics maker Foxconn to build a manufacturing plant in the state, only to see the company scale back its promises — a possible factor in Republican Gov. Scott Walker's electoral defeat last week.
Much of Amazon's selection process was kept hidden from the public as finalists signed non-disclosure agreements that precluded them from sharing details. Amazon visited each of the finalists this spring and, according to media reports, organized follow-up visits with top contenders this fall.
Rosa Goldensohn contributed to this article. | – The Washington Post thinks it might have figured out where Amazon will locate its second headquarters: Crystal City, Virginia. The locale is in the DC metro area, and the newspaper reports that Amazon and local officials are in "advanced discussions" about the company setting up shop there with an anticipated 50,000 jobs. After the report surfaced, CNBC confirmed that the two sides had a "very productive" and long conference call on Friday. Among other things, Crystal City was reportedly coming up with ways to ease Amazon's concern about DC traffic. But CNBC adds that Austin, Texas, appears to be a finalist as well. The Post adds plenty of caveats to its story about Crystal City, noting that Amazon might very well be holding similar discussions with other cities on a short list. In addition to Austin, cities previously mentioned include Chicago, New York City, and Newark, New Jersey. But the apparent scoop clearly caught the attention of Amazon, as evidenced by a not-so diplomatic tweet issued by an exec. "Memo to the genius leaking info about Crystal City, VA as #HQ2 selection," wrote Mike Grella, Amazon's director of economic development. "You’re not doing Crystal City, VA any favors. And stop treating the NDA you signed like a used napkin." (An Amazon warehouse in Baltimore just had deadly trouble.) |
When Fallan Kurek collapsed on the stairs at home her terrified parents had no idea what was wrong with their beloved daughter.
Paramedics rushed to her house in Tamworth after the 21-year-old teaching assistant vomited and minutes later she turned blue after she stopped breathing.
Fallan was taken to Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield with parents Brian and Julia by her side, but after three days in intensive care she was pronounced brain dead.
She passed away just hours later on Thursday May 14, surrounded by her loved-ones.
Her cause of death was recorded as pulmonary embolism on her lung – and her devastated parents say doctors said it was caused by the contraceptive pill she had been taking for just 25 days.
“We felt angry when they first mentioned it could be the pill,” said devastated Julia, who is also mum to Michael, 24, Robert, 22 and Jessica 19.
“She was only on it to regulate her periods. I couldn’t believe nobody had said the pill could do this. It should say it on the pack that they can kill and the label.”
Fallan, who worked as a teaching assistant with children with learning disabilities, was prescribed Rigevidon by her GP to regulate her periods.
Julia said her daughter was told to take the combined pill for three months before having a break.
Breathlessness
But after three weeks of taking the contraceptive, she began suffering with breathlessness and pains in her legs and ribs.
While out with her parents at a local salon she suffered what they thought was a panic attack. Worried Brian took her to the local Sir John Peel Hospital for a check-up where she was given an electrocardiogram (ECG).
“They said everything was fine, they said she had probably bruised her sternum,” recalled Julia.
“They said to go home and take some Ibuprofen and paracetemol. If symptoms continue then go see your GP.
“We thought nothing more of it, she still said she had this little niggling pain, but it wasn’t bothering her too much.”
Four days later Julia and Brian went to wake up Fallan to see if she was feeling any better.
“She said she felt fine, but when she sat up in bed she started getting breathless again,” said Brian, 52.
“She took her pill, then she got up, and then began walking downstairs.
“But as she got half way down the stairs she collapsed. I got to the bottom of the stairs and she just went limp in my arms.’’
Paramedics arrived and began carrying out tests on the still conscious Fallan, but within minutes they switched to emergency CPR when she stopped breathing.
She was rushed to Good Hope Hospital’s intensive care unit, where she was put on a ventilator and emergency scans on her head and chest took place.
But Julia said medics then asked her whether her daughter was taking the pill.
“While they were working on her someone came in to talk to me,” said the mum. “They asked me whether there was any heart problems in the family, or if Fallan had taken drugs - definitely not.
“The third question was, ‘Is she on the pill?’ I said, ‘Yes, is that relevant?’ He said, ‘We know what it is’ and off he went.
“Brian and I just looked at each other - we couldn’t believe it.”
A scan revealed that Fallan had a large clot on her lung, causing the right side of her heart to become inflamed. She spent the next three days in ICU at Good Hope, while her parents waited anxiously by her bedside.
Emergency
“On Wednesday night we were told her blood pressure and heart rate had gone sky high, and she needed an emergency CT scan,” said Julia.
“I just had a horrible feeling. We knew that something bad had happened.”
Sadly, the CT scan revealed that Fallan was clinically brain dead after being starved of oxygen before arriving at hospital.
Her ventilator was switched off on Thursday May 14, and she died half an hour later at 5.10pm.
“Fallen was looking forward to the rest of her life,” said heartbroken Brian. “She was confident, cheeky, bubbly, and the mother hen to all her friends.
“We just don’t want any other family to go through this.”
Inquest
An inquest into her death will be conducted by the South Staffordshire coroner in due course.
Her parents have also been given a temporary death certificate, so they can finally give their daughter a funeral on May 29.
The family is asking that anyone wishing to make a tribute to Fallan to donate to the ICU unit at Good Hope Hospital.
Julia hopes sharing Fallan’s story will raise awareness about potentially fatal symptoms of blood clots and taking the pill. “This is all because of 25 days,” she said.
Her parents also hope medical professionals will take more time to explain serious side effects to all women, not just those in high risk groups, such as smokers or overweight women.
“They know the pill can cause blood clots,” said Brian. “We can’t bring her back, all we can do is maybe save another life.”
Regulation
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the government body which regulates the drug, insists the pill is safe and that women should continue to take it.
A spokesman said: “Women should continue to take their contraceptive pill. These are very safe, highly effective medicines for preventing unintended pregnancy and the benefits associated with their use far outweigh their risks.
“The safety of contraceptive pills was reviewed at European level in 2014 and the review confirmed that the risk of blood clots with all contraceptives is small. The benefits of any combined hormonal contraceptive far outweigh the risk of serious side effects – prescribers and women should be aware of the major risk factors for blood clots and the key signs and symptoms.
“If women have questions, they should discuss them with their GP or contraceptive provider at their next routine appointment but should keep taking their contraceptive until they have done so.”
Gedeon Ritcher, the Hungarian company that manufacturer Rigevidon, did not respond when approached by the Birmingham Mail.
Have you experienced health problems using the contraceptive pill? We would like to hear from you. Email [email protected] ||||| A leading doctor has moved to reassure women that the contraceptive pill is safe.
It follows the tragic death of a 21-year-old woman who suffered a fatal blood clot after she was prescribed the contraceptive pill.
Fallan Kurek, who worked as a teaching assistant with children with learning disabilities, was prescribed Rigevidon by her GP to regulate her periods.
Thousands of women across Northern Ireland take the pill daily to regulate periods, reduce painful periods and to protect from pregnancy.
The pill can also be used to treat acne.
Derry GP, Dr Tom Black from the British Medical Association, said: “I think it is fair to say that the pill has been used for decades and the formulations we are using now in terms of hormones are a lower dose than would have been many years ago.
“Obviously, you need to be careful and take professional advice, particularly those patients who are overweight, older or those who smoke.
“There are those people who can’t use the pill but overall there have been millions of prescriptions for the pill and most people can use it safely.”
Ms Kurek had been taking the pill for just 25 days when she collapsed at her home in Staffordshire in England.
BPM Fallan Kurek's parents, Brian and Julia Kurek
Paramedics rushed to her house after she began vomiting – but minutes later she stopped breathing and turned blue.
She was rushed to hospital but died three days later on May 14.
A postmortem found she died as a result of a pulmonary embolism – a blockage in the lung normally caused by a blood clot.
According to the NHS, there is a very low risk of serious side effects from taking the contraceptive pill, such as blood clots and cervical cancer.
Rigevidon is a combined oral contraceptive pill used to prevent pregnancy.
Each tablet contains two types of female sex hormones – oestrogen and a progesterone in low doses.
Contraceptive pills that contain two hormones are called combined oral contraceptive pills.
The combined pill is not suitable for women over 35 who smoke, or women with certain medical conditions, such as those who have suffered migraines. ||||| Following our story of the tragic death of 21-year-old Fallan Kurek, who after taking the contraceptive pill, we have pulled together the latest information on the risks of taking the combined pill or progestogen-only pill below.
This advice is taken from the NHS Choices website - which has more advice on contraception methods here
Risks of taking the combined pill
There are some risks associated with using the combined contraceptive pill. However, these risks are small and, for most women, the benefits of the pill outweigh the risks.
Blood clots
The oestrogen in the pill may cause your blood to clot more readily. If a blood clot develops, it could cause deep vein thrombosis (clot in your leg), pulmonary embolus (clot in your lung), stroke or heart attack . The risk of getting a blood clot is very small, but your doctor will check if you have certain risk factors that make you more vulnerable before prescribing the pill.
The pill can be taken with caution if you have one of the risk factors below, but you should not take it if you have two or more risk factors. These include:
being 35 years old or over
being a smoker or having quit smoking in the past year
being very overweight (in women with a BMI of 35 or over, the risks of using the pill usually outweigh the benefits)
having migraines (you should not take the pill if you have severe or regular migraine attacks, especially if you get aura or a warning sign before an attack)
having high blood pressure
having had a blood clot or stroke in the past
having a close relative who had a blood clot when they were younger than 45
being immobile for a long time – for example, in a wheelchair or with a leg in plaster
Advantages and disadvantages
Some advantages of the pill include:
it does not interrupt sex
it usually makes your bleeds regular, lighter and less painful
it reduces your risk of cancer of the ovaries, womb and colon
it can reduce symptoms of PMS
it can sometimes reduce acne
it may protect against pelvic inflammatory disease
it may reduce the risk of fibroids, ovarian cysts and non-cancerous breast disease
Some disadvantages of the pill include:
it can cause temporary side effects at first, such as headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood swings – if these do not go after a few months, it may help to change to a different pill
it can increase your blood pressure
it does not protect you against sexually transmitted infections
breakthrough bleeding and spotting is common in the first few months of using the pill
it has been linked to an increased risk of some serious health conditions, such as thrombosis (blood clots) and breast cancer
Risks of taking the progestogen-only pill
The progestogen-only pill is very safe to take. However, as with the combined contraceptive pill, there are certain risks. These risks are small. For most women, benefits of the progestogen-only pill outweigh the risks.
Ovarian cysts
Some women can develop fluid-filled cysts on their ovaries. These are not dangerous and do not usually need to be removed. These cysts usually disappear without treatment. In many cases, the cysts do not cause symptoms, although some women experience pelvic pain.
Breast cancer
Research is continuing into the link between breast cancer and the progestogen-only pill. Research suggests that women who use any type of hormonal contraception have a slightly higher chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer compared with people who don’t use hormonal contraception. However, 10 years after you stop taking the pill, your risk of breast cancer goes back to normal.
If you have a family history of breast cancer, you may feel that this increase in risk (however small it is) is not worth taking. However, doctors do not think that using the contraceptive pill is likely to increase the risk in women who already have close relatives with breast cancer.
Advantages and disadvantages
Some advantages of the progestogen-only pill include:
it does not interrupt sex
you can use it when breastfeeding
it is useful if you cannot take the hormone oestrogen, which is in the combined pill, contraceptive patch and vaginal ring
you can use it at any age – even if you smoke and are over 35
it can reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and painful periods
Some disadvantages of the progestogen-only pill include:
you may not have regular periods while taking it – your periods may be lighter, more frequent or may stop altogether, and you may get spotting between periods
it does not protect you against STIs
you need to remember to take it at or around the same time every day
some medications, including certain types of antibiotic, can make it less effective
The progestogen-only pill is generally well tolerated and side effects are rare. Some side effects can include:
acne
breast tenderness and breast enlargement
an increased or decreased sex drive
mood changes
headache and migraine
nausea or vomiting
cysts (small fluid-filled sacs) on your ovaries (these are usually harmless and disappear without treatment)
stomach upset
weight gain
Have you experienced health problems using the contraceptive pill? We would like to hear from you. Email [email protected] ||||| Brenner also speaks to Megan Henry, coincidentally a college classmate of Erika’s and a member of World Class Athletes, the army’s elite team of soldier-athletes. Ten days after she had started using NuvaRing, Megan, like Erika, found herself gasping for breath. “One doctor I went to told me I was under stress, or maybe I had asthma,” she tells Brenner. “He gave me an inhaler.” On a flight to Florida for more training, she almost collapsed. “At Urgent Care, I was given an X-ray—it was clear. I said, ‘Could this be the NuvaRing?’ ‘Absolutely not,’ the doctor said.” Megan’s mother, Barbara, told her, “Megan, you need to come home now, and I will get you an appointment with a pulmonologist.” After a second flight—she later learned that that alone could have killed her—Megan told her history to a Connecticut doctor, who ordered a CT scan. It revealed dozens of blood clots in her lungs. Rushed to the hospital, she was put on blood thinners in the E.R., and she remained hospitalized for a week. “I was told, ‘Your career as an athlete is over,’ ” she said. “If you weren’t in the shape you are, you would be dead,” her doctor informed her. Though Megan tells Brenner that she is almost back to normal and training again, she will have a much higher risk of blood clots for the rest of her life, she said, and if she gets pregnant, she will likely have to go on a painful regimen of injections of Lovenox to prevent clots.
Brenner interviews Hunter Shkolnik, a lawyer bringing lawsuits against Merck. Shkolnik tells Brenner that Organon (the Dutch pharmaceutical company that created the device) launched into NuvaRing’s marketing with a scientist’s research study that had examined only 16 women using NuvaRing. That study, No. 34218, on the release of hormones in different birth-control delivery systems, was so outrageous, Shkolnik tells Brenner, that he felt it justified focusing his entire legal career on drug cases. Shkolnik tells Brenner that the summary prepared by Organon for the F.D.A. was attached to thousands of pages of backup, in which were buried the risks associated with blood clots. “This is a standard subterfuge used by Pharma,” he says. “You bury your bad news in one of 500 studies you have done on ease of use or lipid disorder. Then when the F.D.A. comes back to the drug company, the drug company can say, ‘You had it in your documents.’ If it isn’t in the 30-page summary, the F.D.A. is so understaffed it will never be noticed.”
Brenner investigates the way Merck has dealt with the F.D.A., talking to Shkolnik about a study that recently came out of Denmark, led by scientist Dr. Øjvind Lidegaard, who, after examining the health records of more than a million women, concluded that women using NuvaRing were more than six times as likely to develop blood clots as those who did not use hormonal contraceptives. Brenner reports that, while Merck Canada has changed its label to include the warnings from Lidegaard’s study, the U.S.-based Merck has failed to do so in the U.S.
In response to Brenner’s request for an interview with Merck chairman Ken Frazier or one of the company lawyers, Merck responded, “Ken Frazier and our other colleagues are not available to participate in this opportunity.” The e-mail also included Merck’s official statement: “Blood clots have long been known as a risk associated with combined hormonal contraceptives. The FDA-approved patient information and physician package labeling for NuvaRing include this information….We remain confident in the safety and efficacy profile of NuvaRing—which is supported by extensive scientific research—and we will continue to always act in the best interest of patients.”
Langhart recalls the day her daughter first told her about NuvaRing: “Erika came home that day and said, ‘Mom, my doctor said that this is a product that will be so easy. I only have to change it once a month. And he gave me samples.’ ” Langhart, weeping, tells Brenner, “I will never forgive myself for not checking it out on the Web. It didn’t occur to me. Erika was always so meticulous about everything she did.” | – A young woman died earlier this month from a pulmonary embolism that doctors link to her use of the contraceptive pill, her parents tell the Birmingham Mail. "We felt angry when they first mentioned it could be the pill," says Julia Kurek, mother of 21-year-old Fallan Kurek. "She was only on it to regulate her periods." Fallan was a "confident, cheeky, [and] bubbly" teaching assistant in England when she started her three-month prescription, Julia says, but soon suffered limb pains and breathlessness. A hospital electrocardiogram came up negative, so Fallan went home—and collapsed four days later. "She just went limp in my arms," says Julia. At the hospital a big clot was found on Fallan's lung, which inflamed her heart, and her heart rate and blood pressure shot up. An emergency CT-scan showed Fallan was brain dead from lack of oxygen, and three days later, her ventilator was turned off. Within a half hour, she was gone. "Fallan was looking forward to the rest of her life," says her dad Brian. "We just don’t want any other family to go through this." A formal inquest is pending, but according to the Kureks, doctors suspect that the "combined" pill (which contains artificial progesterone and estrogen) had given her blood clots. Medical officials say the combined pill is generally safe, but smokers over 35 or women with particular medical issues shouldn't take it, Belfast Live reports. Another Mail article compares risks involved with the combined and progesterone-only versions of the pill. |
(CNN) A longtime California police officer was killed Monday when a recently paroled gang member involved in an auto accident opened fire, authorities said.
The fallen officer was identified as Keith W. Boyer, a 27-year veteran of the Whittier Police Department. Whittier is about 17 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
A second Whittier officer who responded to the accident was wounded, according to Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The unidentified suspect was injured in an exchange of gunfire. He was in intensive care, police said.
Our deepest condolences & prayers go out to family & friends of @whittierpd Ofcr. Keith W. Boyer. #EOW 02/20/17, RIP brother. #LASD pic.twitter.com/iulgGOsinn
Authorities said the suspect and another driver were involved in the accident about 8:30 a.m. Monday. Corina said the two Whittier officers responded to the scene. They ordered the suspect out of the car.
Corina said officers went to check the suspect for a weapon because they could see he had tattoos over his face and neck and had "gang attire."
"As they went to pat him down for any weapons, that's when he pulled out his gun and that's when he started shooting," Corina said.
The suspect was driving a stolen car from East Los Angeles, Corina said. The suspect was identified as being involved in an earlier fatal shooting there, the lieutenant said.
Corina said the officers, who were wearing protective vests, didn't know the car was stolen or that the driver may have been involved in criminal activity.
Authorities said the suspect was released on parole about a week ago. Officials did not reveal details on his conviction or his parole.
"I won't speak about the suspect, because frankly I don't think he's worth speaking about," Whittier police Chief Jeff Piper said.
Officer was 'best of the best'
"I can honestly say on behalf of all the officers, he was the best of the best," Piper said of Boyer. "Our community knows him, and they would say the same thing."
Boyer, who died at a hospital, was a "a fantastic officer" who climbed the ranks from a job as a dispatcher. "Keith was very humble," Piper said.
A divorced father of grown children, Boyer had recently talked about retirement, Piper said.
The chief said he had played in a band with Boyer, who was a drummer.
At one point, Piper broke down.
"It's really hard for me to hold back my tears because all of us have been grieving since 10 this morning, and I didn't think I had any tears left," he said.
Piper said Boyer was the first officer the department has lost since the late 1970s. He was at least the fifth US law enforcement officer to be fatally shot in the line of duty this year, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Condolences for Boyer and best wishes for Hazell's recovery poured in from law enforcement.
#LAPD is mourning the tragic loss of @whittierpd ofcr & offers our deepest condolences to family & colleagues. Speedy recovery to 2nd ofcr. pic.twitter.com/Br3EBC1OkA — LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) February 20, 2017 ||||| Please enable Javascript to watch this video
One Whittier police officer has died and another officer was wounded following a Monday morning shootout with a recently paroled "known gang member" who is suspected of the fatal shooting of another man hours earlier, authorities said.
The police shooting, which also left the suspect injured, occurred around 8:30 a.m. in the area of Colima Road and Mar Vista Street in Whittier, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a news release.
The officer killed was identified Monday afternoon as Keith Boyer, a veteran of the Whittier Police Department.
“He was the best of the best,” Whittier police Chief Jeff A. Piper said.
Piper teared up as he described Boyer, saying the two had played music together and had been friends for a quarter-century.
The other officer, who is expected to survive, is Officer Patrick Hazell, Piper said.
Boyer was killed when he and Hazell were responding to a traffic collision, sheriff's Lt. John Corina said.
The gunman had rear-ended a car and then got out of his vehicle and asked the occupants of a car he hit to help him push his vehicle out of the road and around the corner onto Mar Vista Street, a sheriff's news release stated.
When the officers got there, they first went to talk to the occupants of the vehicle that was rear-ended, who in turn pointed them to the suspect's vehicle. The officers then went around the corner to that car and made contact with the driver, asking him to get out of the car. They were going to pat him down to check for weapons when the gunfire began, Corina said.
"When they're doing that, that's when he pulls out a gun and he engages them in a gunfight. And that’s when both officers get shot, and the suspect gets shot," Corina said.
It was not known how many shots were fired during the close-range gun battle, which took place in what Corina described as a "nicer area" of Whittier.
Once other officers arrived on scene, the shooter was taken into custody. He was driving a stolen car and was a known gang member from Los Angeles with an extensive rap sheet, Corina said.
Authorities have identified the 26-year-old Hispanic suspect, but have not named him yet.
He was released from custody about a week before Monday's shooting and was on parole, Corina said, calling it an "early release." It's not yet known why he was released or what charge he had been serving time for.
The car had been stolen out of East Los Angeles, where the suspect may have been involved in another killing earlier Monday morning, Corina said.
"Unbeknownst to the Whittier police officers, when they went to pull the car over, they had a murder suspect ... in a stolen car," Corina said.
Witnesses have identified the suspect as being responsible for that other killing, which was also a shooting, Corina said. The lieutenant did not provide many details about the earlier killing, but said investigators had been told the victim was a male relative of the suspect.
The family of the victim said the suspect was the man's cousin.
The man's killing occurred about 5:30 a.m. in the 1400 block of Volney Drive, the Sheriff's Department said later Monday in a brief news release.
Shortly after the police shooting, aerial video from Sky5 showed a Whittier police SUV with shattered rear and passenger windows. A sedan directly in front of the SUV had front-end damage, and a firearm was visible on top of its trunk.
Corina said it appeared the suspect had been armed with a semi-automatic handgun.
“It’s extremely tragic," Corina said. "You’ve got a couple officers who just responded to a traffic accident, and they think they’re there to help out people involved in a traffic accident. Next thing they know, they got this guy shooting at them. He shoots both of them and kills one of them.”
After identifying Boyer as the victim, Piper said he'd seen an increase in violence against officers during arrests. He referred to ballot-box propositions that he said were increasing crime.
"Everybody needs to know what these officers are dealing with on a daily basis," Piper said. "You have no idea how it's changed in that last four years. ... People don't want to follow rules. People don't care about other people. ... This is a senseless, senseless tragedy that did not need to be."
Sheriff Jim McDonnell spoke alongside Piper, also remarking on early release and rehabilitation programs.
"We're putting people back on the street that aren't ready to be back on the street," McDonnell said.
Speaking at a news conference shortly before 2 p.m., Corina told reporters the injured officer was in stable condition. The suspect, he added, was in the intensive care unit; video from the scene showed him conscious and handcuffed. while being placed into an ambulance.
In the afternoon, hundreds of law enforcement officers accompanied the Boyer's body in a procession from UC Irvine Medical Center to the Orange County coroner’s office. After a van holding the officer’s remains arrived at its destination, fellow officers lined up and saluted the flag-draped casket as it was wheeled inside.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Those who would like provide a tip anonymously are asked to contact Crime Stoppers by dialing 800-222-8477, or by visiting the website lacrimestoppers.org.
KTLA's Jennifer Thang contributed to this story.
Correction: An earlier version of this article included an incorrect spelling for Patrick Hazell's last name. The post has been updated.
Please enable Javascript to watch this video | – "This is a senseless, senseless tragedy that did not need to be," says a California police chief after a gang member paroled earlier this month allegedly killed a relative and a police officer. At least two officers had responded to the scene of a vehicle accident in Whittier around 8:30am Monday and were told the 26-year-old man, with tattoos on his face and neck, had rear-ended another vehicle, authorities tell KTLA. Noting the man's "gang attire," the officers—who were wearing bulletproof vests—ordered him out of his vehicle and were about to pat him down "when he pulled out his gun and … started shooting," a rep for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department tells CNN. Keith Boyer, a 27-year veteran of the Whittier Police Department, died at the hospital while Patrick Hazel, a three-year veteran, was admitted in stable condition. Neither officer had realized the suspect—who was injured in the gunfight and is in intensive care—had been driving a car stolen from East Los Angeles, where he'd fatally shot his 46-year-old cousin around 5:30am, authorities say, per the Los Angeles Times. The gunman's identity has not been released, nor have details about his prior criminal record. Whittier's police chief says the man was released from jail early because of new laws meant to reduce prison stays, which he says actually make cities less safe. "We need to wake up," he said through tears, describing Boyer as "the best of the best." |
Story highlights TWA family member cites "Internet conspiracies"
Producer: "One or more ordnance explosions outside the aircraft caused the crash"
"TWA Flight 800" will premiere July 17, the anniversary of the crash
NTSB investigator insists evidence showed an explosion inside the fuel tank
A documentary on the 1996 explosion that brought down TWA Flight 800 offers "solid proof that there was an external detonation," its co-producer said Wednesday.
"Of course, everyone knows about the eyewitness statements, but we also have corroborating information from the radar data, and the radar data shows a(n) asymmetric explosion coming out of that plane -- something that didn't happen in the official theory," Tom Stalcup told CNN's New Day.
All 230 people aboard TWA 800 died when the plane, headed for Paris, exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Scores of witnesses observed a streak of light and a fireball, giving early rise to suspicions that terrorists had struck the plane with a rocket.
Investigators concluded the streak was likely burning fuel streaming from the plane's wing tank.
The National Transportation Safety Board ruled that the explosion was caused by an electrical short circuit, most likely originating in a fuel gauge line, which found its way into the center wing fuel tank, where it detonated fuel vapors and caused the B-747 to fall in pieces into the waters off Long Island.
But some people have come forward, "all saying the same thing: that there was an external force -- not from the center wing tank, there's no evidence of that -- but there is evidence of an external explosion that brought down that plane," Stalcup said.
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Photos: TWA Flight 800 Photos: TWA Flight 800 TWA Flight 800 – Accident investigators said Wednesday, July 2, they would not re-open the probe of the mid-air explosion that brought down TWA 800 nearly 18 years ago on July 26, 1996, killing all aboard. The decision by the National Transportation Safety Board dashed the hopes of a documentary film team claiming to have uncovered "solid proof" that investigators erred in concluding it was an accident.
Here, a section of the wing of TWA Flight 800, seen here a couple of days after the crash, floats in the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island, New York. Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: TWA Flight 800 TWA Flight 800 – A member of the U.S. Coast Guard pulls a piece of wreckage from the waters on July 18, 1996. Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: TWA Flight 800 TWA Flight 800 – Ron Dwyer pauses to compose himself on July 20, 1996, as he speaks about his 11-year-old daughter Larkyn Lynn Dwyer, who was on TWA Flight 800. Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: TWA Flight 800 TWA Flight 800 – A warning sign on the dunes alerts beach-goers to watch for debris washed ashore at Smith's Point, Long Island, New York, on July 25, 1996. Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: TWA Flight 800 TWA Flight 800 – A police officer stands guard as part of the plane is transported from a dock in Brooklyn, New York, on July 19, 1996. Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: TWA Flight 800 TWA Flight 800 – Wreckage of the front portion of the Boeing 747 aircraft is displayed in its reconstructed state on November 19, 1997, in Calverton, Long Island, New York. Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: TWA Flight 800 TWA Flight 800 – Parts of the aircraft's wing sit in the hangar on July 8, 1999, in Calverton, New York. Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: TWA Flight 800 TWA Flight 800 – The partially reconstructed fuselage of TWA Flight 800 is pulled out of a hangar in Calverton, New York, on September 14, 1999. Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: TWA Flight 800 TWA Flight 800 – Antonella Naglieri, whose relatives Giuseppe Mercurio and Anna D'Alessandro were killed in the crash, places a rose in the surf after a memorial service at Smith Point Park in Shirley, New York, on July 17, 2001. Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: TWA Flight 800 TWA Flight 800 – Joanne Festa touches the memorial wall commemorating the victims of TWA Flight 800 on July 16, 2006, at the Smith Point County Park in Shirley, New York. Hide Caption 10 of 10
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He cited "corroborating information from the radar data" and complained that "not one single eyewitness was allowed to testify -- that's unheard of."
"The family members need to know what happened to their loved ones," he said.
Asked why such information might have been suppressed, Stalcup said, "That's a question that should be answered when this investigation gets reopened."
Possibility of a review of new information
The NTSB acknowledged receipt Wednesday of the filmmakers' petition -- signed by former investigators -- requesting that the investigation be reopened.
"As required by NTSB regulation, a petition for reconsideration of Board findings or a probable cause determination must be based on the discovery of new evidence or on a showing that the Board's findings are erroneous," said board spokeswoman Kelly Nantel.
"We assign petition responses to the relevant modal office for drafting. The NTSB's Office of Aviation Safety will assign staff, to the maximum extent practicable, who did not work on the original investigation to carefully prepare a response. The response will be presented to the full Board for their consideration and vote."
The board's investigation of TWA 800 lasted four years and "remains one of the NTSB's most extensive investigations," Nantel said.
Investigators "spent an enormous amount of time reviewing, documenting and analyzing facts and data and held a five-day public hearing to gather additional facts before determining the probable cause of the accident," she said.
But she left open the possibility the case will be reopened.
"While the NTSB rarely re-investigates issues that have already been examined, our investigations are never closed, and we can review any new information not previously considered by board," she said.
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One TWA 800 family member reacted to the news of the documentary with skepticism.
"Some of the people involved in this group have been involved in Internet conspiracy theories for the last 15 years," said Joe Lychner, whose wife, Pam, and two daughters, Shannon, 10, and Katie, 8, died in the incident.
"So far as I can tell, this is just a rehash of what's been out on the Internet," he said.
"If they have no new information and this is just trumped-up stuff that's been out there forever, yes, it is hurtful," Lychner said. "Why go through this again. Conversely, if they do have new information and it's provable, it's a game changer. I will watch this thing with a very critical eye, knowing what I know."
John Goglia, a member of the five-person NTSB during the investigation, said he "took offense" at the filmmakers' suggestion that board members ignored evidence. "I would never be part of any coverup -- period," he told CNN.
"This accident, this report, over 50,000 pages, if you take and just look at certain pieces of it, you can move the cause of this accident any way you want. You can take just the radar; you can say it was a missile. You have to take all of the pieces and look at them as a whole.
"The sequencing report that told how the airplane fell apart, none of it supports a missile -- none of it. When you look at the physical evidence inside the tank, it's clear that there was an explosion inside the tank. If the top of the tank goes up and the bottom of the tank goes down, and the forward side goes forward and the back of the tank goes back, that tells you that the blast was inside the tank -- not outside."
He said that no holes were found in the tank that would indicate something had penetrated it.
But the documentary asserts that a missile may have exploded adjacent to the plane.
Critics challenge government investigation
Skeptics have long theorized that TWA Flight 800 was brought down by sinister forces.
They include Hank Hughes, who served as a senior accident investigator with the NTSB and helped reconstruct the aircraft. Others include Bob Young, a TWA investigator who participated in the investigation, and Jim Speer, an accident investigator for the Airline Pilots Association.
"These investigators were not allowed to speak to the public or refute any comments made by their superiors and/or NTSB and FBI officials about their work at the time of the official investigation," a news release announcing the documentary said.
"They waited until after retirement to reveal how the official conclusion by the (NTSB) was falsified and lay out their case."
James Kallstrom, who headed the FBI's investigation into the explosion, dismissed suggestions that investigators concealed information and were not receptive to clues.
"If they felt that way back then, they could have come to me," Kallstrom said. "I was someone desiring to get to the bottom of this, believe me. And I had a reputation for not, you know, for not pussyfooting around. Yet it seems like they've comfortably waited until they have their pensions before they became whistle-blowers. So I think it's a bunch of bullcrap."
The documentary, "TWA Flight 800," will premiere July 17, the 17th anniversary of the crash.
Stalcup is co-founder of the Flight 800 Independent Researchers Organization and has been a longtime and passionate critic of the official investigation.
Suspicions that criminals or terrorists were behind the TWA 800 explosion are not new. The FBI conducted a parallel investigation, but concluded that the incident was not a crime or terrorist attack.
The NTSB said Tuesday that it was aware of the pending release of the documentary, which will air on EPIX TV network, and of the producers' intent to file a petition to reopen the investigation.
The documentarians said they have a "trifecta of elements" that will "prove that the officially proposed fuel-air explosion did not cause the crash." That trifecta includes forensic evidence, firsthand sources and corroborating witnesses, and the new statements from retired investigators.
The evidence proves that "one or more ordnance explosions outside the aircraft caused the crash," the producers said. But it does not identify or speculate on the source of the ordnance explosions. ||||| The National Transportation Safety Board will not reopen the 1996 crash investigation of Trans World Airlines Flight 800 despite a continuing fight to get the agency to consider whether a missile hit the plane, the agency announced Wednesday.
The documentary group TWA 800 Project, a collection of former NTSB investigators and scientists, petitioned the NTSB to examine evidence that they say shows an external force from something such as a rocket or missile brought the plane down.
Evidence presented by the group includes multiple eyewitness statements about a streak of light which appeared to be heading toward the aircraft before the explosion, members said.
All 230 people on board were killed when the Boeing 747 crashed off the coast of Long Island shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport on July 17, 1996.
After a four-year investigation, the NTSB concluded the explosion was caused by flammable fuel/air vapors in a fuel tank, possibly sparked by a short circuit.
The NTSB denied the group’s petition because it said the evidence and analysis it presented did not show the original findings were incorrect, according to a news release.
TWA Flight 800 allegation: Physics of explosion do not make sense PIX 11 News Closeup focuses on a new documentary about TWA Flight 800 on the 17th anniversary of its crash off Long Island. PIX 11 News Closeup focuses on a new documentary about TWA Flight 800 on the 17th anniversary of its crash off Long Island. See more videos
"Our investigations are never 'closed'," Christopher Hart, acting NTSB chairman said in the release. "We always remain open to the presentation of new evidence."
Tom Stalcup, a physicist and member of the TWA 800 Project, said he was "hoping the NTSB would do the right thing," but is not surprised.
"I mostly thought we would be rejected," he said.
Still, the fight is far from over, Stalcup said.
“This is not the end of the road by any means,” he said, but declined to elaborate on the group's next move.
Follow @theryanparker for breaking news | – Conspiracy theorists have long suspected TWA Flight 800 was brought down not by the NTSB's officially determined cause (a gas tank explosion), but by something less accidental, and a new documentary debuting next month will give them quite a bit of fuel. The film includes testimony from six high-level "whistleblowers," as Fox News calls them, all of whom were on the original investigation team. They say it was actually "one or more ordnance explosions outside the aircraft" that caused the 1996 crash, according to a statement from the producers, who explained the six "waited until after retirement to reveal how the official conclusion by the (NTSB) was falsified and lay out their case." The whistleblowers do not go so far as to claim the plane was shot down (one popular theory is that it was hit by a terrorist missile), nor do they theorize about the source of the "ordinance explosion," Fox News reports. But they intend to petition the NTSB to reopen its investigation. Witnesses who saw the Boeing 747 explode and crash into the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island claimed to have seen "a streak of light and a fireball," CNN reports. Investigators, however, said that was likely just burning fuel coming out of the plane's wing tank. TWA Flight 800 premieres on the 17th anniversary of the crash, July 17, on cable network EPIX TV. |
CLOSE Kendall and sister Kylie are being slammed for creating a line of vintage music T-shirts, part of their Kendall + Kylie line, that feature rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie, with the women’s faces and Instagram posts superimposed on them. USA TODAY
Kendall Jenner, left, and and Kylie Jenner at party for their KENDALL + KYLIE collection in New York, Sept 7, 2016. (Photo: Jocelyn Noveck, AP)
Kendall and Kylie Jenner have been caught in another marketing faux pas, and on Thursday they were apologizing on social media.
The youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan on Wednesday unveiled "vintage" rock T-shirts with their Instagram faces superimposed over some of rap and rock's icons, such as Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Pink Floyd, the Doors, Kiss and Led Zeppelin.
The shirts went on sale on their website, selling for $125 each and featuring the logo "Repurposed in the USA."
This did not go over well, and especially not with Voletta Wallace, mother of the late Christopher Wallace, the real name of Notorious B.I.G. She slammed the girls on Instagram, calling the shirts "disrespectful, disgusting, and exploitation at its worst!!!"
"I am not sure who told @kyliejenner and @kendalljenner that they had the right to do this," she fumed next to a picture of a shirt with a big red X through it. "The disrespect of these girls to not even reach out to me or anyone connected to the estate baffles me. I have no idea why they feel they can exploit the deaths of 2pac and my Son Christopher to sell a t-shirt."
Sharon Osbourne, wife of Black Sabbath's Ozzy Osbourne, tweeted her contempt in scathing terms the Jenners would understand.
"Girls, you haven’t earned the right to put your face with musical icons. Stick to what you know…lip gloss."
Girls, you haven’t earned the right to put your face with musical icons. Stick to what you know…lip gloss. pic.twitter.com/BhmuUVrDBn — Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) June 29, 2017
Daughter Kelly Osbourne posted an image of herself on Instagram, superimposed on a picture of Kendall and Kylie, and aiming an obscene gesture at the sister duo. "#CurrentMood," she captioned the picture.
Paris Jackson, daughter of Michael, posted three tweets chastising the sisters for trying to turn music legends into "fashion" brands. "pink floyd is not chanel. led zeppelin is not michael kors. metallica is not givenchy. don't get it twisted. #bandsnotbrands#RESPECTMUSIC," she tweeted.
Oops. Time for contrition, big time. The designs were "not well thought out and we deeply apologize to anyone that has been upset and/or offended, especially to the families of the artists," Kendall tweeted Thursday. She said the shirts were pulled and the images removed.
"We will use this an opportunity to learn from these mistakes and again, we are very sorry."
The shirts have since been removed from the Kendall + Kylie website.
It was the latest of recent marketing missteps by the Kardashian-Jenner reality clan. Kendall was widely mocked in April for appearing in a Pepsi ad that ripped off imagery from Black Lives Matter protests and positioned Kendall as soothing race relations with a can of soda.
After an outcry, Pepsi dumped the ad and apologized to Kendall, but few people believe the soda company alone was responsible — "momager" Kris Jenner had to have seen the storyboards before Kendall signed up.
Earlier this month, Kim Kardashian was slammed for hawking her new makeup line by allegedly using "blackface" images in an ad that featured a decidedly darker-skinned Kim. She apologized, suggesting that maybe the lighting was off during the photo shoot. And the line sold out regardless.
Also this month, Khloe Kardashian was accused by fashion designer Destiney
Bleu
of copying her bedazzled clothing designs for Khloe's new Good American collection — and Bleu had email receipts to back her up. Khloe denied the claims, calling Bleu's accusations "little more than a cheap publicity stunt."
Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2trxGgw ||||| Two of the Jenner sisters have pulled merchandise they made after coming under fire by the mother of the late Notorious B.I.G.
Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner both tweeted an apology after Voletta Wallace, Biggie’s mother, called them out for “exploiting” her son’s death, and the death of 2Pac Shakur.
“These designs were not well thought out and we deeply apologise to anyone that has been upset and/or offended, especially to the families of the artists”, their joint statement on the scandal that has rocked their t-shirt operation read. “We are huge fans of their music and it was not our intention to disrespect these cultural icons in any way.
"The tee shirts have been pulled from retail and all images have been removed. We will use this as an opportunity to learn from these mistakes and again, we are very sorry”.
The images, which the sisters had printed onto t-shirts, featured photos of the women superimposed on iconic musical images. They included those two rappers, as well as Ozzy Osbourne, one over a Pink Floyd album cover, The Doors’ Jim Morrison, and others.
"I am not sure who told @kyliejenner and @kendalljenner that they had the right to do this," Wallace said. "The disrespect of these girls to not even reach out to me or anyone connected to the estate baffles me. I have no idea why they feel they can exploit the deaths of 2pac and my Son Christopher to sell a t-shirt. This is disrespectful, disgusting, and exploitation at its worst!!!"
Ms Wallace was joined by Sharon Osbourne, the wife of Ozzy, in calling out the t-shirt entrepreneurs’ appropriation of photos of artists who are highly regarded as some of the greatest musicians of all time.
“Girls, you haven’t earned the right to put your face with musical icons”, Ms Osbourne wrote on Twitter. “Stick to what you know… lip gloss."
Kylie Jenner Interview magazine shoot 10 show all Kylie Jenner Interview magazine shoot 1/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 2/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 3/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 4/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 5/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 6/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 7/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 8/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 9/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 10/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 1/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 2/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 3/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 4/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 5/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 6/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 7/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 8/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 9/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein 10/10 Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine photographed by Steven Klein
The sisters’ budding t-shirt empire listed the shirts online for $125 before they were taken down.
Their joint web site for their fashion brand features a variety of clothing options for women, including dresses, shoes, tops, and bodysuits. ||||| Despite apologizing for superimposing their image over the faces of Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac on T-shirts, Kendall and Kylie Jenner‘s apology is not cutting it for Biggie’s estate.
In a statement to PEOPLE, the estate said, “While we appreciate that the Jenners have made an apology and pulled the unlawful and unauthorized items, this matter has yet to be resolved.”
The sisters introduced a line of “Rap vs. Rock” tees as part of their latest Kendall + Kylie collection drop, which was criticized by Twitter users as insensitive.
Shutterstock; courtesy Kendall + Kylie
The “rap” shirts feature photos of the late Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac with “K.K.” initials printed over top. One even features Kendall’s face screen printed over a photo of Biggie, whose mother, Voletta Wallace, is not happy.
Wallace took to Instagram to share her disappointment in the tops, specifically that the sisters used her son’s likeness without permission form his estate.
“I am not sure who told @kyliejenner and @kendalljenner that they had the right to do this,” she captioned a photo on Instagram, adding, “The disrespect of these girls to not even reach out to me or anyone connected to the estate baffles me. I have no idea why they feel they can exploit the deaths of 2pac and my Son Christopher to sell a t-shirt. This is disrespectful , disgusting, and exploitation at its worst!!!”
Kendall posted an apology later in the day on behalf of her and her sister.
“These designs were not well thought out and we deeply apologize to anyone that has been upset and/or offended, especially to the families of the artists,” she wrote. “We are huge fans of their music and it was not our intention to disrespect these cultural icons in anyway. The tee shirts have been pulled from retail and all images have been removed. We will use this as an opportunity to learn from theses mistakes, and again we are very sorry.”
This isn’t the first time a Jenner has faced controversy. In April, Kendall faced criticism for starring in a Pepsi ad that critics said was a tone-deaf attempt to co-opt a movement of political resistance. ||||| On Thursday, Violetta Wallace, Biggie's mother, took to Instagram to express her outrage with Kendall and Kylie's graphic tees. "I am not sure who told @kyliejenner and @kendalljenner that they had the right to do this," she wrote. "The disrespect of these girls to not even reach out to me or anyone connected to the estate baffles me. I have no idea why they feel they can exploit the deaths of 2pac and my Son Christopher to sell a t-shirt. This is disrespectful, disgusting, and exploitation at its worst!!!" Fashionista then pointed out that the brand's Instagram removed images of the tops, and that they're no longer available for purchase on its website. ||||| Justin Bieber rocked a ponytail while partying with Kendall Jenner, as they took in shows from Tyler The Creator and The Weeknd at the Coachella Festival on Saturday night.
The Biebs debuted his bohemian hairstyle before stepping out on the second night of the famed, Indio, California event, by posting a pic with Viner Nash Grier on Instagram.
The singer’s caption reads, “#Ponytails.”
On Thursday, the Canadian sparked romance rumors after he posted a cozy photo with longtime pal Kendall, hanging out at the private home they are staying at near Coachella.
However, last night was a group affair.
Justin and Kendall were spotted dancing and chatting together, and to pal including model Hailey Baldwin, who traveled to Coachella with the rumored couple. Also in the crew last night, were videographer Alfredo Flores, Viner King Bach, Kylie Jenner, and Joe Termini, among others.
In keeping with the festival spirit, Justin wore blue bracelets teamed with a dark hoodie, light blue sweatpants, and white sneakers.
Meanwhile, Kendall kept it cute in a white, off-shoulder crop top and a thigh-split skirt.
The brunette beauty completed her look with a Chicago Bulls baseball cap that she wore backwards (and may have been Justin’s), a chunky belt, and tons of jewelry.
Hailey Baldwin also went for a boho ensemble. The blond model wore a colorful Indian top and white shorts.
Australian model Shanina Shaik was also pictured moving through the crowd with the 21-year-old Biebs at one point during the festivities. The two pals were last seen partying on the singer’s rented yacht in Ibiza, Spain, last August.
Edgy comedy came during Tyler The Creator’s show when he jokingly called out Kendall. The Odd Future leader is pals with both the model and Kylie.
Billboard reports that during Tyler’s set — which showcased some material from his soon-to-be-released Cherry Bomb album — the 24-year-old let rip on some of the celebrities in the VIP roped off area in the pit.
“We got f—– Kendall Jenner over here, thinking she cute and s***,” the rapper said of the 19-year-old, before implying that listening to music wasn’t her priority.
He added, “Hey, Kendall, Kendall, Kendall. I’m over here to your right. F— you!”
love RT @itsOddFuture: Kendall Jenner goes to a Tyler, The Creator concert pic.twitter.com/tzOYOICIHM — Kendall Jenner (@KendallJenner) April 12, 2015
The Estee Lauder model’s demonstrative response was perfect, and was followed by forming a heart shape with her hands. The model’s later retweets of the moment indicate it was all in jest.
As is footage now doing the rounds of Justin shaking a tail feather at the festival, possibly during Tyler’s set.
The original video was posted by a security marshall, who apparently ordered the Biebs to stop moshing, hence the offensive message on the clip. In a word, the “Where Are U Now” singer throwing down is hilarious.
It’s also très cute.
But those memes are a-coming.
He's so turnt my god HAHHAHA pic.twitter.com/cv0jKPINre — Amanda (@ItsMandizzle) April 12, 2015
Other names seen watching music headliners on Day two, included Chris Brown, Drake, and Rihanna. The latter reportedly checked out The Weeknd’s show together.
On Friday, Justin swung by the dFM house party with a few male friends, before hitting up two after parties with a blue weave-wearing Kylie later that night.
The crooner and the 17-year-old reality star were spotted heading into a bash at Beacher’s Madhouse, which was hosted by Paris Hilton, who was also the DJ. Later, Justin and Kylie partied at Nylon magazine’s Midnight Garden party, after arriving separately.
“No girls with Justin,” a source confided to E! News. “He came with a small crew of about three guys. Kylie showed up with a group of girlfriends. They didn’t stay long.”
Katy Perry was also seen at the soiree, along with Brown, Azealia Banks, Taryn Manning, Sky Ferreira, Karrueche Tran, Josh Henderson, Jack Falahee, Christian Milian, and more.
Day three artists — which include Marina and the Diamonds, Vance Joy, Florence + The Machine — may not appeal to Justin, Kendall, and Co. But dance DJ David Guetta’s set might.
Failing that, the evidently gorgeous private house the pals rented nearby may turn out to be the destination to cap off the first weekend at Coachella 2015.
Model behavior.
Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner pic.twitter.com/RVNos1QHfO — Coachella 2015 (@2015sCoachella) April 12, 2015
Kendall Jenner and Fergie pic.twitter.com/nmJVOj423x — Coachella 2015 (@2015sCoachella) April 12, 2015
Kendall Jenner and Alfredo Flores pic.twitter.com/NRLSXXG8Cy — Coachella 2015 (@2015sCoachella) April 12, 2015
[Images via Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Instagram/Getty Images] ||||| The preeminent momager of the group, Kris Jenner, manages all of the Kardashian kin, including Kim, Khloe, Kourtney, Rob, Kylie and Kendall. (But who manages Bruce?)
"My [mom] was never my manager but she was always with me on set. She would bring the pasta machine and make home-made pasta wherever we went!" Dunst told The Telegraph. Still, mom Inez was the one who took Kirsten to auditions, including one for a cereal commercial, when she was just 3. Kirsten's earliest modeling gig, however, was even before then, as a toddler on the cover of this "Babysitter's Club" book.
Dina Lohan has been a stage mom her entire life, but Lindsay Lohan is reportedly considering firing her mother as her manager.
The one-time soap star is also the manager to daughter Hayden Panettiere and son Jansen Panettiere.
Former minister Joe Simpson may have managed his daughter's career successfully, but he made everyone feel weird when he told GQ in 2004, "Jessica never tries to be sexy. She just is sexy. If you put her in a t-shirt or you put her in a bustier, she’s sexy in both. She’s got double D’s! You can’t cover those suckers up!”
After he oversaw her career for decades, Beyonce Knowles fired father Matthew Knowles in March 2011, releasing this statement: "I've only parted ways with my father on a business level. He is my father for life, and I love my dad dearly. I am grateful for everything he has taught me. I grew up watching both he and my mother [Tina Knowles] manage and own their own businesses. They were hard-working entrepreneurs and I will continue to follow in their footsteps."
In a video for AOL music, Ashanti and her mom/manager sweetly interviewed each other for Mother's Day 2012. “You always taught me to be a leader, not a follower,” Ashanti told Douglas, a former dance teacher. “As simple as it is, it has always stuck with me and I’m very grateful for that advice.”
The "Home Alone" star's relationship with his father-manager Kit Culkin soured in the late '90s when rumors of mismanagement surfaced. The two are now estranged.
In 2000, a then 16-year-old LeAnn Rimes filed a lawsuit against her father-manager, claiming that he had stolen $7 million of her earnings. The pair have since reconciled. ||||| Lena Dunham (left) always finds a way to show off her hipster tats. The "Girls" actress dons an image of a cow in a field on her upper right arm ... but don't be fooled ... there are many more where that came from.
Well if that doesn't scream true love, I don't know what does. Amber Rose showed off a tattoo of her rapper boyfriend Rapper Wiz Khalifa on her tricep at the LA Premiere of the "Fast & Furious 6" on May 21. The 29-year-old model later tweeted a photo of the finished product, letting the whole world know about her love for the father of her child.
British football player David Beckham showed off his tattoo to fans during his visit to Peking University in March 2013 in Beijing, China. The 38-year-old soccer star, who famously announced his retirement at the end of this season, is covered in black ink. We're not so sure this hottie with a body needed the added ink to jazz anything up ...
Britain's "it" girl Cara Delevingne debuted her latest tattoo at "The Great Gatsby" Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in France (May 15). The model's new best friend, Rihanna, inspired her to get this ink on her pointer finger.
Known for her costume-wearing ways, the rapper dons a tattoo of Chinese symbols that supposedly reads "God is with you." Maybe this will bring the "American Idol" judge some luck in her ongoing feud with co-judge Mariah Carey.
Famed for her Tony Parker inspired tats (that she's also attempted to remove), Eva Longoria flashed the crowd her "tramp stamp" at the Cannes Film Festival: a cross just dusting her behind ...
Sean "Diddy" Combs loves New York so much, he almost married it. Instead, he got something that's truly for life: a tattoo. The 43-year-old Harlem-born rapper showed off his giant ink on his Instagram page, with the font of the tattoo unmistakably that of New York magazine's logo.
"90210" star Shenae Grimes and fiance, British model Josh Beech, got each other's names tattooed behind their ears as a unique way of showing their deep connection. Beech got his love's first name etched onto his skin, while Grimes marked her fiance's last name on hers.
The Biebs is a walking canvas at 18: he's got a rose tattoo, a crown, an owl, the Japanese Kanji symbol for music, a bird, the Hebrew word for Jesus and an image of Jesus, just to name a few tats. The last (but probably not least) to ink the pop idol's body are the roman numerals I, IX, VII and V -- 1, 9, 7, and 5 respectively. Why? That's anyone's guess.
Chris Brown shocked fans when he debuted a tattoo of a what looks to be a battered woman on his neck on Sept. 1. Many questioned whether or not it was meant to be Rihanna, but Brown's rep insists his ink is of a sugar skull, which is associated with the Mexican celebration of The Day of the Dead. Days later, Brown debuted his tattoo of a fighter jet, which just so happens to be in the same spot as Rihanna's new ink of the goddess Isis. Hmm....
Here it is: Rihanna's latest tattoo, which she got in honor of her late grandmother. The singer posted the photo on Instagram, writing, "Goddess Isis - Complete Woman - Model for future generations - #GRANGRANDOLLY - always in and on my heart #1love." It's a beautiful tribute, but Chris Brown's follow-up ink makes us question the status of their relationship.
Ke$ha topped the list for worst tattoo back in June when she debuted her new "Suck It!" mouth ink on Instagram. We don't really know why she decided to get this tattooed on her lower lip, but to be honest, we don't really want to ...
40-year-old former playmate Jenny McCarthy got creative during the Super Bowl blackout: she got a tattoo! The TV personality showed off her new tat, featuring an intricate rose with vines, on her Twitter account the next day.
Ah, one of the most infamous celebrity tattoos: Angelina Jolie's ink tribute to her ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton, who she was married to from 2000-2003. Jolie has since got her "Billy Bob" tattoo removed and replaced it with the longitudes and latitudes of the birth places of her six children with fiancé Brad Pitt.
Britney Spears was thrilled when she got a tattoo of a Chinese symbol on her hip that stood for "mysterious." Sadly, Spears didn't check what she was permanently putting on her body, considering the symbol ended up standing for "Strange." Whoops ...
Chad Johnson (formerly Chad Ochocinco) was distraught after his wife of a few weeks, reality star Evelyn Lozada, filed for divorce on Aug. 14. The NFL player allegedly head-butted Lozada following an argument, which left him in jail and out of a job. So, in order to prove his love for his wife, Johnson tattooed her face on his right leg. Well, he better start removing that one.
Dean McDermott really loves his wife ... no, really. The actor got Tori Spelling's face tattooed on his left tricep to represent his "undying love" for her. He also has two other tattoos for Spelling, including one of an angel displaying the words "Truly, Madly, Deeply, Tori" and a cross reading "Tori Girl."
Kat Von D probably regrets her decision to tattoo a picture of ex-fiancé Jesse James as a little boy on the side of her body. (The pair split last summer). At least she has enough ink to distract onlookers from catching a glimpse of the now-awkward tattoo.
She may not think it's a bad tattoo, but Kate Gosselin's ankle ink of Pooh Bear is a little disturbing. Then again, we're sure her eight kids love it ... well, until they hit their teens.
Megan Fox might have loved Marilyn Monroe when she decided to ink her famous face on her right forearm, but the actress is currently in the process of removing the tattoo. Why? Fox told Amica magazine Monroe was "a negative person ... disturbed, bipolar." Adding, "I'm removing it ... I do not want to attract this kind of negative energy in my life."
Kimberly Stewart obviously loves her dad, Rod Stewart, but did she have to go as far as getting "Daddy's Little Girl" tattooed right "there"? Probably not. It just makes us uncomfortable.
Lily Allen's tattoo is pretty self-explanatory. That's why it's just unnecessary. The singer has the word "Shhh..." inked on her finger. Ironically enough, Rihanna reportedly has the same one!
Margaret Cho started getting major tattoo work done in 2006 and has continued to ink herself over the years. Our favorite piece of body artwork? Her old-timey barmaid garter and gun! One of a kind.
Mike Tyson might have one of the most recognizable tattoos in Hollywood, thanks in part to his cameo in the hit movie "The Hangover." But the ink really got famous when Tyson's tattoo artist sued the producers of "The Hangover 2," claiming the face ink Ed Helms sported was too similar to Tyson's, which he owned the copyright to. The dispute was settled and Tyson's tat is still firmly inked on his face.
Steve-O doesn't just have one bad tattoo, he has dozens. But the "Jackass" star knows his tats are stupid, and that's why he loves them! "I never get a tattoo unless I know it will make somebody smile," he said. Hey, got to love him!
Hayden Panettiere's tattoo can be seen peeking out of her red-carpet dresses, but do you know it has no meaning? The "Nashville" star accidentally misspelled the Italian phrase "Vivere senza rimipianti," which means "to live without regrets" on her back. Her tattoo reads "rimipianti" instead of "rimpianti."
Did you know Mr. Ryan Gosling had tattoos? Well, he does. And surprisingly, he thinks they're pretty stupid. "I like when [tattoos] look bad, but no one will do bad tattoos," he told W magazine in 2010 of his various arm tattoos. "So I did one myself. That"s why it"s bad. I"m waiting to get old -- I think old guys with tattoos look good." We have no doubt Gosling will always look good.
Price check on Pink! The singer has a barcode on the back of her neck, which might just possibly be one of the silliest tats ever. Reportedly the code is made up of her birthdate (9/8/79), the release date of her album "Missundaztood" (11/20/01) and her lucky number (13).
Gucci Mane debuted his new tattoo of an ice cream cone with three scoops and the word "Brrr" across the right side of his face in January 2011. If you're wondering what it means, so are we. According to his rep, he wants fans to know that he lives his life "Cool as ice... as in 'I'm so icy, I'll make ya say Brrr." | – The youngest members of the Kardashian-Jenner dynasty are learning the hard way not to mess with beloved rock and rap icons. On Wednesday, sisters Kylie and Kendall Jenner debuted $125 T-shirts on their online store featuring images of themselves superimposed over shots of artists like Tupac Shakur, Metallica, and Led Zeppelin. Cue the backlash. USA Today reports that Voletta Wallace, the mother of Christopher "Notorious BIG" Wallace, tore into the Jenner sisters on Instagram for printing unauthorized images of her son. "I have no idea why they feel they can exploit the deaths of 2pac and my Son Christopher to sell a t-shirt," she wrote alongside an image of one of the shirts. One Tupac shirt featured their initials on top of the late rapper. Sharon Osbourne also took issue with the shirts, one of which involved Ozzy Osbourne (see it here), the Independent reports. "Stick to what you know … lip gloss," she tweeted. Despite the controversy, the LA Times reported mid-day Thursday that shirts featuring Metallica, Doors lead singer Jim Morrison, and the cover of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon album were "running low" on the site. On Thursday afternoon Kylie and Kendall tweeted that the shirts had been pulled from their Kendall + Kylie site and issued an apology for their designs, which they say were "not well thought out. ... We are huge fans of their music and it was not our intention to disrespect these cultural icons in any way," they wrote. Biggie's estate was not placated, telling People it appreciates the move but "this matter has yet to be resolved." (This isn't Kendall's first product-related controversy.) |
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Sasha and Malia Obama were criticised for their outfits at the annual turkey pardoning event at the White House
US President Barack Obama's daughters Sasha and Malia have been accused of showing disrespect and lacking "class" by a Republican official after their appearance at a Thanksgiving ceremony.
Elizabeth Lauten, communications director for congressman Stephen Fincher, made her comments in a Facebook post, since deleted.
After sharp criticism, Ms Lauten apologised for her "hurtful words".
She had drawn attention to the short skirts worn by the Obama girls.
She had also accused the two teenagers of looking bored when they stood with their father at the traditional turkey pardoning event at the White House, when the president spared two birds from the national dinner table.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The president and his wife have striven to protect Sasha (centre) and Malia (right) from media intrusion
While most commentators reported humorously on what they saw as the uninterested expressions of Malia, 16, and Sasha, 13, throughout the ceremony, Ms Lauten was notably more outspoken.
Her deleted post reads: "Dear Sasha and Malia: I get you're both in those awful teen years, but you're a part of the First Family, try showing a little class. At least respect the part you play.
"Then again, your mother and father don't respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter. So I'm guessing you're coming up a little short in the 'good role model' department."
The post goes on to advise the girls to "rise to the occasion and act like being in the White House matters to you".
"Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar," she added.
'Hours of prayer'
In her apology, Ms Lauten wrote: "After many hours of prayer, talking to my parents, and re-reading my words online I can see more clearly just how hurtful my words were.
"I'd like to apologise to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words, and I pledge to learn and grow (and I assure you I have) from this experience."
She pointed out that she "had judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager".
Sasha and Malia are among the youngest presidential children at the White House for years.
Their parents have strived to protect them from media attention as they go to school, play sports and socialise. ||||| The GOP staffer who called Malia and Sasha Obama classless has resigned today following a storm of outrage over her comments.
Elizabeth Lauten wrote a diatribe on Thanksgiving, slamming the First Daughters, aged 16 and 13, for wearing casual clothing and looking sullen during the White House turkey pardon.
Today, after thousands of calls for the self-professed media expert to be sacked, Lauten has agreed to resign from her post as communications director for Rep Stephen Fincher of Tennessee.
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Resigned: Elizabeth Lauten has stepped down as communications director for Rep Stephen Fincher after writing this (left) diatribe against Malia and Sasha Obama on Thanksgiving, slamming their attire and attitude
'Classless': Lauten told the girls to 'dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar' in her Facebook post
Lauten told NBC News by phone on Monday morning that her resignation is already 'in the works,' four days after her controversial post on Facebook went viral.
'Dear Sasha and Malia,' she wrote in the post, 'I get you're both in those awful teen years, but you're a part of the First Family, try showing a little class.'
Lauten added: 'Act like being in the White House matters to you.
'Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar.
'And certainly don't make faces during televised public events.'
Sasha, 13, was dressed in a short maroon dress with a long cream cardigan that matched her thick cream socks, worn over bare legs. Her sister Malia, 16, wore black tights under a mini kilt with a grey and cream jumper.
The Obama Administration responded to Lauten's comments on Monday, with White House spokesman Josh Earnest saying he was surprised a congressional staffer would use a Thanksgiving-themed event to criticize the first family.
He says individuals who frequently speak publicly tend to be mindful of how their words are perceived. Earnest added that it's common sense that first daughters should be off-limits to criticism.
Lauten apologized for her post hours later, writing that 'judgmental feelings truly have no place in my heart', saying that 'hours of prayer' had shown the error of her ways.
Apology: Hours later she removed the original outburst, issued an apology and set her page to private
The girls' expressions during their father's Thanksgiving address prompted playful comments on social media.
After the President had pardoned the designated bird, a four-month-old 49-pounder called Cheese, he asked Malia if she wanted to pet the turkey.
'Nah', she replied, in a rare departure from her usual, gracious disposition, which prompted a flurry of remarks from viewers.
But Lauten's reaction sparked outrage.
Dear Sasha and Malia... dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar Elizabeth Lauten's Facebook post
The incident was not Lauten's first social media slip-up.
In August, she posted a tweet from her boss's verified Twitter account about 'shagging'.
Stephen Fincher's followers were baffled when he tweeted: 'God I love this song. And beach music. AND shagging #pandora,' in reference to an Embers playlist on Pandora radio.
Lauten later deleted the post and apologized for the 'accident' - but insisted 'shagging' is a dance term rather than a sexual reference.
'It had nothing to do with Stephen Fincher. I don't think he knows what Pandora is; he certainly doesn't have it,' she said, according to Politico.
Following mass outrage to her post on Thursday, Lauten deleted it, set her profile to private, and issued an apology: 'I reacted to an article and quickly judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager.
Reaction: The girls prompted soft criticism for sullenly scowling at their father, the President, on Thanksgiving
Twitter users rushed to defend the girls who Lauten said 'deserve a spot at a bar' rather than the White House
'After many hours of prayer, talking to my parents and re-reading my words online, I can see more clearly how hurtful my words were.
'Please know that these judgmental feelings truly have no pace in my heart.
'Furthermore, I'd like to apologize to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words, and pledge to learn and grow (and I assure you I have) from this experience.'
Over the weekend, Lauten's critics defended Malia and Sasha by tweeting the renowned picture of George W Bush's daughter Jenna drunkenly tumbling over her friend on to the floor of a frat party, cigarette in hand, while her father was in office.
The 2001 photo, which earned the then 19-year-old the nickname Jenna And Tonic, went viral with the hash tag '#classy'.
Other responses included a picture of the moment Jenna, one of the former president's twin daughters, stuck out her tongue at White House photographers while riding in the presidential limousine.
Unimpressed: The First Daughters looked bored and unimpressed by their father's jokes about turkey
Clothing: Sasha wore a maroon dress and cardigan while Malia wore a mini kilt with black tights and boots
'Awful teenage years': The cyber-bullying post addressed to the young girls said they are at an 'awful' stage
'Did you forget that jenna bush got photographed at the age of 19 knocking someone over at a FRAT party? good lord,' one Twitter user wrote.
Another commented: 'The Bush twins used fake ID's to get into bars. & Jenna Bush stuck out tongue at press. Is that 'classy?' @DCGopGirl #tcot #UniteBlue.'
One wrote: 'Where were your ignorant comments on the Palin family brawl, the Bush girls (Jenna & Tonic).'
'So Sasha and Malia Obama have no class? Two words: Jenna Bush. #ElizabethLauten,' one tweet read. ||||| At the 67th anniversary of the National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation on Wednesday, President Obama pardoned two Ohio turkeys that will now live at the home of a former Virginia governor. (AP)
At the 67th anniversary of the National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation on Wednesday, President Obama pardoned two Ohio turkeys that will now live at the home of a former Virginia governor. (AP)
The communications director for a Republican member of Congress ignited a firestorm this weekend after she criticized President Obama’s teenage daughters in a Facebook post that touched a nerve even for Americans accustomed to political mudslinging.
“Try showing a little class,” Elizabeth Lauten, communications director for Rep. Stephen Lee Fincher (Tenn.), wrote Friday in a Facebook posting addressed to Sasha, 13, and Malia, 16, chastising them for their comportment during last week’s annual turkey pardoning event at the White House.
“Rise to the occasion. Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at the bar,” Lauten wrote. “And certainly don’t make faces during televised, public events.”
Lauten was not the first to comment on the girls’ demeanor at the event, an annual rite that is comfortably embedded in Washington tradition if not universally appreciated.
After the Wednesday event, several media outlets declared that the young women, standing behind their father as he pardoned two turkeys named Mac and Cheese, looked bored, exasperated or just . . . teenager-ly. USA Today published this headline: “Malia and Sasha Obama are so done with their dad’s turkey pardon,” while the Gawker Web site observed that “not even the pomp and ritual of the White House can overcome the most powerful force known to man: TEEN CONTEMPT.”
U.S. President Obama speaks as his daughters Sasha, center, and Malia listen before the pardon of two turkeys during a ceremony at the White House on Nov. 26. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Lauten’s Facebook post was shared on Twitter and then picked up by the blogosphere. Most of the online reaction to Lauten’s comments focused on her characterization of the girls’ appearance and their facial expressions, which was especially surprising given her role as a political communication adviser. Some Twitter users accused her of racial overtones in her comments.
By Saturday evening, hundreds of people had made use of the #ElizabethLauten hashtag on Twitter.
“Direct your dislike of their dad’s policies or politics toward their dad. Always leave the kids (D or R) out of it,” wrote one Twitter using the handle @Mica4Life.
Sasha and Malia Obama are among the youngest presidential children at the White House in years. Their parents have gone to great lengths to shield them from the glare of media attention as they attend school, play sports and socialize under the nose of the Washington press corps.
Julian Zelizer, a presidential historian and professor at Princeton University, said the U.S. media had generally respected similar efforts by past presidents, including Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, to keep their children away from the limelight.
“But in an era of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, this stuff is just hard to control,” he said. And, given the acrimonious nature of Republican dealings with the Democratic president, Zelizer said, “this is low-hanging fruit.”
In her post, Lauten also took a dig at the president and first lady, saying “your mother and father don’t respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter, so I’m guessing you’re coming up a little short in the ‘good role model’ department.”
Hours after the original post, Lauten followed up with a second post apologizing for her critique. “I quickly judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager,” she wrote.
“After many hours of prayer, talking to my parents, and re-reading my words online I can see more clearly just how hurtful my words were. . . . I pledge to learn and grow (and I assure you I have) from this experience.”
Lauten declined to comment about the incident, but she did confirm her Facebook postings to The Washington Post. A White House spokesman declined to comment.
Zelizer said President George W. Bush struggled with some of the same issues, when photos or reports of his daughters Jenna and Barbara partying appeared online.
“It’s a way to kind of make a statement about who the president is through how the kids are acting,” he said. “It’s not about the kids being insulted. It’s about the president, but it’s obviously frustrating for the president who’s a father.”
According to her LinkedIn profile, Lauten previously served as press secretary for a Republican representative from Illinois and as a “new media political manager” for the Republican National Committee. Her profile lists “political strategy on social media platforms (particularly Facebook and Twitter)” as among her professional specialties.
Fincher, a Republican who has been critical of Obama’s executive action on immigration and of the Affordable Care Act, did not make an immediate statement about the incident. ||||| A GOP staffer will resign after launching a verbal assault on Malia and Sasha Obama in the wake of their appearance at the president’s annual turkey pardoning ceremony last week at the White House.
Elizabeth Lauten, who served as a communications director for Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.), criticized the two girls in a Facebook rant which eventually went viral. “Act like being in the White House matters to you. Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar. And certainly don’t make faces during televised, public events,” wrote Lauten.
She also said that the Obama daughters, who largely stay out of the limelight, should show “a little class.”
Many have argued Malia and Sasha were behaving like typical teenagers at the event. They appeared unamused by their father’s corny jokes and at one point Malia declined to pet the Thanksgiving turkey by simply saying, “Nah.”
RELATED: Obama family goes book shopping
Lauten has since apologized for her post, admitting, “When I first posted on Facebook I reacted to an article and I quickly judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager.” Lauten’s name became a trending topic amid the controversy, with over 22,000 mentions in 24 hours. She had previously been responsible for a gaffe this summer when she accidentally tweeted about “shagging” on Fincher’s official Twitter account. Now, her resignation is “in the works.”
This is far from the first time the president’s daughters have been singled out for ridicule on the right.
In 2010, during the BP oil spill crisis, Glenn Beck mocked Malia for reportedly asking President Obama about the clean-up.
“Did you plug the hole yet, Daddy?” said Beck, imitating the president’s daughter. “Ask ‘Daddy’ why he ‘hates black people so much.’ ” The conservative radio host also mocked Malia’s intelligence, saying: “That’s the level of their education, that they’re coming to — they’re coming to Daddy and saying, ‘Daddy, did you plug the hole yet?’ “
In 2012, when the president cited Malia and Sasha as influential in his decision to embrace gay marriage, Bristol Palin, the daughter of ex-Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, attacked them in a widely criticized blog post.
“I guess we can be glad that Malia and Sasha aren’t younger, or perhaps today’s press conference might have been about appointing Dora the Explorer as Attorney General because of her success in stopping Swiper the Fox,” Palin wrote.
That same year right wing firebrand Ann Coulter declared: “Maybe it’s time to start imitating liberals in another way and go after the Obama children.”
Last year, following President Obama‘s statement that he would support the selling of Plan B, a birth control product, to girls as young as 15, Fox News host Andrea Tantaros speculated about the sex life of Malia, who was 14 years old at the time.
“Are they gonna put her on birth control? Because he’s very concerned with contraceptives and pharmaceuticals that are going in the mouths of everybody else’s 15-year-old daughter,” Tantaros said, according to Media Matters.
And that same year the NRA had the audacity to reference the secret service protection of Malia and Sasha in a controversial ad suggesting the president was a “hypocrite” on gun control. When Obama was running for president in 2008, he stated emphatically that politicians’ families should be “off limits.” But that hasn’t stopped some of his political enemies from occasionally taking potshots at his children.
If there’s any consolation, it’s nothing new. Rush Limbaugh famously compared Chelsea Clinton to a dog and said Amy Carter was the “most unattractive presidential daughter in the history of the country.”
This piece has been updated since its original publication. | – President Obama trotted out his daughters for the sixth pardon of a turkey of his tenure, and when they, like much of the rest of the nation, appeared bored by the tradition, a congressional aide created a stir by publicly taking offense, reports the Washington Post. In a Facebook post since deleted, Elizabeth Lauten, the communications director for Rep. Stephen Lee Fincher, R-Tenn., wrote: "Dear Sasha and Malia: I get you're both in those awful teen years, but you're a part of the First Family, try showing a little class. At least respect the part you play." She hit Obama and the first lady as "coming up short in the 'good role model' department," then advised the girls to "dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar" and to not "make faces during televised, public events." Lauten's post picked up steam online, inspired much comment via #ElizabethLauten on Twitter, and hours later prompted Lauten to "apologize to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words." The BBC notes that she went on to say that she "had judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager." The post is "a way to kind of make a statement about who the president is through how the kids are acting," says a presidential historian. Lauten, Fincher, and the White House all declined further comment, notes the Post. Malia Obama got in a little dig at Chuck Todd yesterday in a bookstore, adds the New York Post, calling the fact that he has a book out already "sad." |
Dozens of warships believed to contain the remains of thousands of British, American, Australian, Dutch and Japanese servicemen from the second world war have been illegally ripped apart by salvage divers, the Guardian can reveal.
An analysis of ships discovered by wreck divers and naval historians has found that up to 40 second world war-era vessels have already been partially or completely destroyed. Their hulls might have contained the corpses of 4,500 crew.
Governments fear other unmarked graves are at risk of being desecrated. Hundreds more ships – mostly Japanese vessels that could contain the war graves of tens of thousands of crew killed during the war – remain on the seabed.
The rusted 70-year-old wrecks are usually sold as scrap but the ships also contain valuable metals such as copper cables and phosphor bronze propellors.
Experts said grave diggers might be looking for even more precious treasures – steel plating made before the nuclear testing era, which filled the atmosphere with radiation. These submerged ships are one of the last sources of “low background steel”, virtually radiation-free and vital for some scientific and medical equipment.
Crews pretending to be fishermen have scavenged the waters around Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. At depths reaching 80m, some wreck sites are accessible to divers. In recent years, many shipwrecks have been mysteriously and illegally salvaged for metal. Wreck sites are often considered war graves. Here are the ships known to have gone down with over one hundred lives lost.
The Guardian revealed last year that the wrecks of some of Britain’s most celebrated warships had been illegally salvaged, leading to uproar among veterans and archaeologists, who accused the UK government of not moving fast enough to protect underwater graves.
Three ships – HMS Exeter, HMS Encounter, and HMS Electra – contained the bodies of more than 150 sailors. All sank during operations in the Java Sea in 1942, one of the costliest sea skirmishes for the Allies during the war.
In 2014, the wrecks of the HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales and the graves for more than 800 Royal Navy sailors were found to have been damaged by scavengers.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence demanded Indonesia protect the ships in its waters. “A military wreck should remain undisturbed and those who lost their lives onboard should be allowed to rest in peace,” a ministry spokesperson said.
Since then, divers in Malaysia have sent photos to the Guardian showing the destruction of three Japanese ships that sank off the coast of Borneo in 1944 during the Pacific War. And one of Australia’s most treasured ships, light cruiser HMAS Perth, has also been ripped up.
Dan Tehan, Australia’s minister for veterans’ affairs, told the Guardian: “The HMAS Perth is the final resting place for more than 350 Australians who lost their lives defending Australia’s values and freedoms, so reports the wreckage has been disturbed are deeply upsetting and of great concern.”
James Hunter, from the Australian National Maritime Museum, was one of the divers who discovered the Perth was “60 to 70% gone”.
Born in the mid-western US, he had been diving with his father since he was nine and worked as a maritime archeologist for close to two decades, including on the archaeological team that investigated the American civil war submarine H L Hunley.
Throughout his career, Hunter had heard of piecemeal salvaging of wrecks – stealing propellers and guns, or sometimes personal items of the crew. But last year, the museum heard stories from the diving community in Indonesia that ships were being destroyed whole-scale.
“I’ve been in this field for 20 years, and I have never heard of a historic wreck, especially a large 8,000-tonne steel hull, being completely removed. I couldn’t believe it. I almost refused to believe it,” he said.
But a month later, staring through the silty water in the Java Sea, Hunter saw how the salvagers had “ripped [the Perth] from one end to the other”.
“You may as well just go into a war cemetery and dig it up. It’s no different to me, at all,” said Hunter, who comes from a military family. “I was completely horrified.”
The US military has sent several delegations to Indonesia to try to protect its wrecks, several of which have been targeted.
Thousands of sailors rest at the bottom of the sea, and veterans argue that the vessels must be preserved as underwater war graves.
Large “crane barges” have been photographed above wreck sites, often with huge amounts of rusted steel on their decks. At the seabed, divers have found ships cut in half. Many have been removed completely, leaving a ship-shaped indent.
Cambodian, Chinese and Malaysian-registered vessels have been spotted above shipwrecks. In some cases, their crews have been arrested. In one case, the looters had acquired a letter from a Malaysian university which said the work was authorised as “research”.
The illicit business, which appears to have rocketed in the past 18 months, remains shrouded in mystery, with some archeologists suggesting selling corroded scrap metal was not worth the costly process of removing it from the sea bed.
“If you look at the amount of money you would be spending to salvage on this scale, the return you would get just to get a bunch of corroded metal, it just doesn’t seem like it adds up,” said Hunter, the marine archeologist.
Another point of confusion is the fact that plenty of accessible modern wrecks in the area have not been targeted. “If you’re simply looking at steel to melt down, go after a modern wreck ... I don’t understand why you would target a ship that is 75 years old and has got marine growth all over it and the metal is all corroded.”
Salvaging can take several weeks for larger ships. Here is how it’s done.
Archeologists believe the criminals might be turning a profit because the hulls are one of the world’s few remaining deposits of “low-background” metals. Having been made before atomic bomb explosions in 1945 and subsequent nuclear tests, the steel is free of radiation. This makes even small quantities that have survived the saltwater extremely useful for finely calibrated instruments such as Geiger counters, space sensors and medical imaging.
Some ancient ships, often centuries-old Roman vessels in European waters, have also been salvaged for their lead, which is also low-radiation and is used in nuclear power stations.
Martijn Manders, the head of the maritime programme at the cultural heritage agency of the Netherlands, has been looking at mystery of three Dutch wrecks that disappeared in the Java Sea.
“We still have people who are living and served in the Battle of the Java Sea or were directly involved in other ways. They see that the ships are being torn apart, which is very painful.”
While there might be small amounts of lead on the second world war wrecks, looters appeared to be more interested in the thick steel hulls, he said, pointing to the fact that salvagers dumped a large part of one ship, the HNLMS Kortenaer, back on the seabed.
That vessel was a lighter destroyer type and its hull was much thinner and more corroded. “All the iron in that ship was extremely rotted and of no value whatsoever,” Manders said.
Others said a booming demand in China for scrap metal might make the salvaging profitable without selling low-background metals. Even poor quality steel can bring in about £1m ($1.3m) a ship, according to some estimates, especially with the added brass from pipework, valued at about £2,000 a tonne, and copper wiring, roughly £5,000 a tonne.
Whatever the motives for destroying historical treasures, hundreds more wrecks that sit in south-east Asian waters are at risk from illegal salvaging.
Many ships from the second world war – some with possibly up to 5,000 dead sailors entombed inside – lie several hundred metres down, way below safe diving limits and have not been assessed since the new wave of salvaging started. But Hunter warned equipment was becoming available to remotely salvage these ships.
“Now we’ve got technology that is enabling people to find and potentially salvage wrecks in extremely deep water. This threat is getting bigger,” said Hunter. “And as the technology develops and as it gets cheaper and as it gets more accessible, I honestly believe this going to become a bigger problem.”
Sources: US Navy, Royal Navy, Australian Department of Defence, Dutch Ministry of Defence, wrecksite.eu, combinedfleet.com ||||| Modern day metal scavengers in Indonesia have been accused of illegally dumping the bodies of World War II soldiers who died during the Battle of the Java Sea in 1942. According to a report by De Telegraaf, the wrecks of the Dutch and British vessels went missing in 2016 without any trace of permits for their salvage operations.
The wrecks were identified as missing when Dutch divers went to fix plaques to the remains and found most of them missing.
Indonesian news site Tirto.id spoke to an employee of one of the companies that undertook the recovery, who said that hundreds of human remains were buried at a 'mass grave' near the port of Brondong in East Java.
These include the remains of British sailors onboard the Royal Navy destroyers HMS Electra and HMS Encounter, which were attacked during the historic battle. Around 170 men died in the attack against the Japanese.
According to The Guardian, when the recovered shipwrecks were cut open, workers found skulls, jawbones, feet and hand bones, hips and ribs inside.
According to international law, it is forbidden to violate war graves, let alone store the ships, without the consent of the country of origin.
"The British government condemns the unauthorised disturbance of any wreck containing human remains. Under international law, naval warships and associated artefacts enjoy protection through Sovereign Immunity," a UK Ministry of Defence spokesman said.
"International law also provides for protection for war graves. Desecration of wrecks of war and merchant vessels causes distress to loved ones of those lost on board and is against international law.
"A military wreck should remain undisturbed and those who lost their lives onboard should be allowed to rest in peace."
Other British ships that met their end during the Java battle include the HMS Exeter, HMS Repulse, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Banka, Tien Kuang [HMS Tien Kwang], HMS Kuala, Lock Ranza and HMS Thanet.
Dutch politician Andre Bosman also condemned the illegal operations, saying they raised "new questions and a feeling of great indignation". HNLMS De Ruyter, HNLMS Java and HNLMS Kortenaer were among Netherland's ships that were sunk in the region during the battle. | – The telling sign is a crane barge floating above. Once its divers inspect the shipwreck below, they lower explosives that rip it to shreds of steel, copper, and brass. This is how as many as 40 British, American, Australian, Dutch, and Japanese warships from World War II—which also serve as the graves of up to 4,500 crew members—have been desecrated in waters off Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, at an increasing rate and to an increasing extent. Using impressive maps and graphics, the Guardian describes the efforts of salvage divers posing as researchers or fishermen in the Java Sea. Australia-based maritime archaeologist James Hunter says he "couldn't believe" the shift from plucking off pieces of a ship to taking it in its entirety until he saw it with his own eyes. "I was completely horrified," he says. Though some experts believe a single ship can yield $1 million worth of steel, even if it's in poor shape, Hunter scratched his head at how the value of the corroded metal can offset the cost of the operation. The age of the steel is potentially why, and Outside explained the science earlier this year: During the steel-making process, oxygen is blown into the mix, "along with ambient atmospheric particulates." Once we began detonating nukes in the 1940s, steel started to contain radiation. Radiation-free steel from these pre-nuclear-era ships commands very high prices. And Hunter fears the deepest wrecks won't long be protected from divers. Technology "is enabling people to find and potentially salvage wrecks in extremely deep water," he says. "This threat is getting bigger." (More on the salvaging here.) |
Five members of a Bucks County family and two others are accused of conspiring to defraud insurance companies in excess of $20 million, Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane said.
Five members of a Bucks County family are accused of conspiring to defraud insurance companies in excess of $20 million to live an "excessively extravagant lifestyle," Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced Thursday.67-year-old Claire A. Risoldi along with her 64-year-old husband Thomas French, her 48-year-old son Carl Risoldi, her 48-year-old daughter Carla Risoldi, her 43-year-old daughter-in-law Sheila Risoldi, as well as 54-year-old Mark Goldman, a private investigator, and 51-year-old Richard Holston, a fabric vendor turned themselves into authorities Thursday morning.The investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately $7 million in assets, which the Attorney General called "fruits of the crimes" that could be used for restitution upon conviction. The assets included approximately $3 million in seized bank accounts, $1.2 million in jewelry, and six Ferraris, two Rolls Royces, one Cobra, and four other vehicles worth $2.8 million.According to the Grand Jury presentment, the investigation began after an October 2013 fire at Claire Risoldi's home in New Hope, Bucks County, or "Clairemont," as she referred to it.Officials say this was the third fire to occur at Clairemont in the past five years, including one in June 2009 and another in August 2010.Risoldi lived in the home with her husband, son, and daughter-in-law.Following each of the fires, the Risoldis filed insurance claims with their insurance carrier, which to date has paid out in excess of $20 million in claims for the three fires.The Risoldis are also seeking $20 million more in insurance claims for the fire, including $10 million for jewelry that the Grand Jury found Claire Risoldi falsely accused the volunteer firefighters, who extinguished the blaze, of stealing.According to the presentment, the official cause of each fire was "undetermined," which could include that the fires may not be accidental. In the case of all three fires, the Grand Jury found that there were large quantities of highly flammable materials stockpiled near the points of origin.Officials say video from a home security system inside Clairemont showed Claire Risoldi left the home a minute before smoke was visible outside and may have been inside while it was burning, which contradicts what she told both law enforcement and insurance representatives.Authorities say the Grand Jury reviewed evidence that established the Risoldi family had a 20-to 30-year history of filing questionable insurance claims. In one case, officials say, it was discovered in August 2014 that Claire Risoldi still possessed jewelry she claimed was stolen in 1993.Officials say the Risoldis increased the value of jewelry covered by their insurance policy from $100,000 to nearly $11 million. The final increase in coverage reportedly occurred a mere 25 days before the 2013 fire.The presentment says Claire, Carl and Carla Risoldi facilitated the receipt of invoices inflated more than ten-fold for Romanesque murals inside Clairemont depicting the family "in flowing robes gazing down from the heavens."It says the Risoldis, with assistance and false testimony from Holston, attempted to obtain $2 million for damaged window treatments at Clairemont.Officials say Claire Risoldi waged a campaign of intimidation of witnesses, including threatening an insurance adjustor and an attorney that was involved in one of the real estate transactions, whom she also attempted to bribe to change her testimony.They were arraigned and released after posting bail.The following are the list of charges:Claire A. Risoldi, Doylestown, Bucks County, is charged with one count each of: corrupt organizations, attempted theft by deception, receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, intimidation of witnesses or victims, obstructing the administration of law, tampering with public records, criminal use of a communication facility, false reports to law enforcement and insurance fraud; two counts each of: dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and theft by deception; and three counts of forgery.Carl A. Risoldi, Doylestown, Bucks County, is charged with one count each of: corrupt organizations, theft by deception, attempted theft by deception, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, intimidation of witnesses or victims, obstructing the administration of law, tampering with public records, criminal use of a communication facility and false reports to law enforcement; two counts each of: dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and insurance fraud; and three counts of forgery.Carla V. Risoldi, Doylestown, Bucks County, is charged with one count each of: corrupt organizations, theft by deception, attempted theft by deception, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, intimidation of witnesses or victims, obstructing the administration of law, tampering with public records, criminal use of a communication facility and false reports to law enforcement; two counts each of: dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and insurance fraud; and three counts of forgery.Sheila M. Risoldi, Doylestown, Bucks County, is charged with one count each of: corrupt organizations, theft by deception, attempted theft by deception, intimidation of witnesses or victims, obstructing the administration of law, tampering with public records, criminal use of a communication facility and false reports to law enforcement; two counts each of: dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, insurance fraud and attempted theft by deception; and three counts of forgery.Thomas J. French, Doylestown, Bucks County, is charged with one count each of: corrupt organizations, theft by deception, attempted theft by deception, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, intimidation of witnesses or victims, obstructing the administration of law, tampering with public records, criminal use of a communication facility, false reports to law enforcement and insurance fraud; two counts each of: dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and insurance fraud; and three counts of forgery.Mark Goldman, Wayne, Chester County, is charged with one count each of: corrupt organizations, theft by deception, attempted theft by deception, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, intimidation of witnesses or victims, obstructing the administration of law, tampering with public records, criminal use of a communication facility and false reports to law enforcement; two counts each of: dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and insurance fraud; and three counts of forgery.Richard Holston, Medford, New Jersey, is charged with one count each of: corrupt organizations, insurance fraud, obstructing the administration of law, theft by deception and perjury. ||||| DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A family's luxurious suburban lifestyle has been financed by more than $20 million in fraudulent insurance claims amid a series of mansion fires and repeated reports of jewelry theft, authorities said Thursday.
This June 17, 2009 photo shows Buckingham Fire Marshal Jim Kettler examining the window of a room where a fire broke out on the second floor of this Buckingham, Pa. home. Authorities say a Pennsylvania... (Associated Press)
This undated photo provided by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General shows Claire Risoldi. The state attorney general's office announced, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, the arrest of the 67-year-old... (Associated Press)
This Oct. 2013 photo shows firefighters from several area companies fighting a house fire in Buckingham, Pa. Authorities say a Pennsylvania family's luxurious lifestyle has been financed by more than... (Associated Press)
An investigation began after a 2013 fire at the stately home Claire Risoldi shared with relatives in Doylestown, an hour's drive north of Philadelphia. It was the third blaze in five years at the property, which she dubbed Clairemont, authorities said.
Risoldi had falsely accused volunteer firefighters of stealing 55 pieces of jewelry worth more than $10 million while battling the flames, according to a grand jury presentment. The family's jewelry collection had included two items valued at $106,000 only four months earlier, officials said.
Authorities said the ensuing probe uncovered a decades-long pattern of questionable insurance claims by Risoldi. She still possessed jewelry she reported stolen in 1993, according to investigators. She had reported another jewelry theft from a different home in 1984 and a house fire in 1977.
As a result of the investigation, authorities seized about $7 million in family assets, including $3 million in bank accounts, $1.2 million in jewelry, six Ferraris and two Rolls-Royces.
The state attorney general's office charged Risoldi, 67, with counts including conspiracy, attempted theft by deception, witness intimidation and forgery. Six other people, including her husband, two children and daughter-in-law, also face charges.
Risoldi, who is free after posting bail, isn't living at the Doylestown home and couldn't be located for comment Thursday. Her daughter's lawyer had no comment.
Officials haven't determined the causes of the Doylestown fires, but they said large amounts of highly flammable material had been placed near the origin of each blaze. Video from the home's security system in 2013 showed Risoldi leaving a minute before smoke was visible outside the house, authorities said.
An insurance company has paid out more than $20 million for the three fires but is fighting the most recent jewelry claim. Physical evidence "proved that the jewelry could not have possibly been stolen in the manner described by the Risoldis," the grand jury presentment said. | – What kind of people would set their home on fire, then falsely accuse volunteer firefighters of stealing $10 million in jewelry? The Risoldi clan of Bucks County, Pa., might fit the bill, according to prosecutors. The family fell under suspicion of fraud after a fire at Claire Risoldi's "Clairemont" mansion in 2013—the third fire in five years—which was followed by huge insurance claims, 6 ABC reports. According to a grand jury presentment, although the cause of all three fires is officially "undetermined," large amounts of highly flammable material had been placed near the origin of the blazes, and home security video shows Claire Risoldi leaving the home just a minute before smoke appeared in the 2013 blaze, which contradicts the account she gave to cops and insurance representatives. Authorities say Risoldi falsely accused the firefighters of taking 55 pieces of jewelry—and the family had increased the insurance coverage on the jewelry from $100,000 to nearly $11 million just 25 days before the blaze. Risoldi, 67, has been charged with conspiracy, attempted theft by deception, witness intimidation, and forgery, reports the AP. Her husband, two children, and a daughter-in-law are among six other people charged in the case. Prosecutors say the family used fraud to fund an "excessively extravagant lifestyle"; the insurance company has paid out more than $20 million in claims for the three fires, and Risoldi had also allegedly made other questionable insurance claims. Around $7 million in family assets have been seized, including $3 million in cash, six Ferraris, and two Rolls-Royces. |
Image copyright PA Image caption The Queen arrived at the state dinner for the heads of the Commonwealth countries flanked by Prince Charles, Baroness Scotland and Theresa May
The Queen has appealed to Commonwealth leaders to appoint her son, Prince Charles, to succeed her as their head.
She said it was her "sincere wish" that Prince Charles takes over "one day", as she opened the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London.
The role is not hereditary and will not pass automatically to the Prince of Wales on the Queen's death.
The 53 leaders, gathered at Buckingham Palace, are expected to sign off the deal when they meet on Friday.
There had been some suggestions that the position should be rotated around member states, the BBC's James Landale says.
Addressing the gathering of dignitaries, royals and the prime minister, the Queen said it was a "pleasure, this time, to welcome you to my home" for the biennial meeting.
She said it remained a "great pleasure and honour to serve you" and to observe "with pride and satisfaction that this is a flourishing network".
She added: "It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations, and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949."
Other issues under discussion at the two-day summit include ocean conservation, cyber security, and trade between the countries.
Singer Emeli Sande began proceedings with a rendition of the National Anthem in the palace's ballroom.
Image caption Emeli Sande, who has family ties to Zambia, sang God Save the Queen
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Justin Trudeau, prime minister of Canada since 2015, was among the leaders presented to the Queen
Image copyright Reuters Image caption New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who is seven months pregnant, gave a speech at the Queen's Dinner
Analysis: fait accompli?
By James Landale, BBC diplomatic correspondent
In theory, the decision that the Prince of Wales should succeed the Queen as head of the Commonwealth is entirely up to the Commonwealth heads of government. It is not an hereditary role.
Yet today we saw the culmination of a concerted operation by the British government and royal establishment to present this decision as a fait accompli against which it would be almost impossible to argue.
So, barring unforeseen objections, the Prince of Wales looks likely to succeed the Queen as head of the Commonwealth. But note this: the government leaders could have decided that the organisation should always be led by the British head of state, whoever he or she may be.
That, however, I am told, is not going to happen. They will back Prince Charles for now but they will not write a blank cheque to the British royal family in perpetuity. In other words, if the Duke of Cambridge wants the job one day, he is going to have to work for it like his father.
Read James's full blog here.
Prime Minister Theresa May told the leaders the summit would "take on some of the 21st Century's biggest questions".
Speaking in the ballroom, which was decorated with flags of the 53 nations, Mrs May said: "There have been difficulties, successes, controversies, but I believe wholeheartedly in the good that the Commonwealth can do."
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Sheikh Hasina, serving her third term as Bangladesh's prime minister, was among the female leaders joining the Queen
Image caption Prince William and Prince Harry were among the members of the royal family to attend the opening ceremony
The prime minister also thanked the Queen for hosting the event, calling the monarch a "steadfast and fervent champion" of the Commonwealth.
Outside, more than 100 officers and soldiers from the Coldstream Guards were in honour guard, wearing scarlet tunics and bearskins, as a 53 gun salute marked the formal opening.
Image copyright EPA Image caption The leaders gathered in the Buckingham Palace ballroom
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Theresa May opened the summit
The ceremony is being attended by 46 Commonwealth heads of government, out of the 53 member states, with the remaining attendees being foreign ministers.
Earlier, Prince Charles told attendees the modern Commonwealth had a "vital role to play", adding: "I pray that this [meeting] will not only revitalise the bonds between our countries, but will also give the Commonwealth a renewed relevance to all its citizens."
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and Prince William were among the other royals in attendance.
The Commonwealth represents about 2.4bn people, but critics say the organisation is so disparate that it struggles to know what it is for, says BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Some Commonwealth members were never part of the British Empire
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has said he will raise LGBT rights with leaders of Commonwealth nations on the fringes of the meeting.
But human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who attended a small protest outside the summit, said it was not Britain's place to "adopt a neo-colonial role to dictate" on LGBT rights.
He said: "Commonwealth leaders need to realise that we are not asking them to accept or approve of homosexuality, we're simply asking them to stop the persecution."
Mrs May said she would be "rallying" Commonwealth countries to follow the UK's fight against marine plastics - which has included a ban on microbeads and proposals to introduce a deposit return scheme for drinks containers in England.
"The Commonwealth is a unique organisation, with a huge diversity of wildlife, environments and coastlines," she said.
The UK is due to consult on proposals to ban plastic straws and cotton buds - 8.5bn of which are thrown away in the UK every year - as part of plans to tackle the issue.
It comes as 60 UK music festivals, including Bestival in Dorset and Boomtown in Hampshire, also pledged to ban plastic straws at their events this summer.
As head of the Commonwealth, the Queen presides over the meeting but does not take part in the leaders' discussions.
What is CHOGM?
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Queen usually attends CHOGM or is represented by Prince Charles ||||| Image copyright Reuters Image caption The Queen had given her backing to Prince Charles replacing her as Commonwealth head
The Prince of Wales will succeed the Queen as head of the Commonwealth, its leaders have announced.
The Queen had said it was her "sincere wish" that Prince Charles would follow her in the role.
Leaders of the Commonwealth have been discussing the issue at a meeting behind closed doors at Windsor Castle.
The head role is non-hereditary so is not automatically passed on when the Queen dies, with suggestions it might have rotated among the 53 leaders.
'Proud support'
In a statement, the leaders said they "recognise the role of the Queen in championing the Commonwealth and its people".
Prime Minister Theresa May and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau had earlier given their backing to Prince Charles.
Speaking at a news conference marking the end of the summit, Mrs May praised the Queen for her "vision and duty" in growing the Commonwealth from eight members to 53.
She said it was "fitting" Prince Charles would succeed her due to his "proud support" of the Commonwealth "for more than four decades".
Image copyright Andrew Matthews/PA Wire Image caption Theresa May gave her backing to Prince Charles
The leaders also agreed a "blue charter" to protect the ocean from pollution and climate change and a "cyber declaration" to combat online crime and threats.
The meeting during a two-day summit involved 46 heads of Commonwealth governments and foreign ministers from the remaining seven countries.
The Commonwealth represents about 2.4bn people, but critics say the organisation is so disparate that it struggles to know what it is for, BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond said.
He also said the news of the prince's appointment would be "of great satisfaction" to the Queen.
Other issues under discussion in London have included trade between the countries with Mrs May saying the leaders agreed to "fight protectionism" to expand intra-Commonwealth trade to $2 trillion by 2030.
The leaders' statement said they had set "specific commitments" which include building peace, promoting gender equality and tackling climate change.
They also said they will work to prevent violent extremism and human trafficking, pledged to halve malaria in Commonwealth countries by 2023 and agreed that all boys and girls should receive at least 12 years of education by 2030.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Canada joined more than 40 other leaders at the meeting
Meanwhile, the government has indicated it would welcome Zimbabwe's re-entry to the Commonwealth after Robert Mugabe pulled the country out in 2003.
Foreign secretary Boris Johnson said Zimbabwe's government has "made impressive progress" under Mr Mugabe's successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa, but the country would have to deliver "free and fair elections" for the people in July.
Rwanda has been chosen to host the next summit in 2020.
Image copyright EPA Image caption The meeting has been held at the Waterloo Chamber in Windsor Castle
What does the head of the Commonwealth do?
The role, currently held by the Queen, is largely a symbolic one and carries no maximum fixed term.
It is used to unify the 53 member states and to ensure the core aims of the Commonwealth are fulfilled. These include linking the countries through trade and international co-operation.
The head of the Commonwealth usually makes regular visits to the member states to foster these connections personally.
A decision on all successive heads has to be made by the Commonwealth leaders.
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Secretary-General and the Secretariat, its central organisation, help to plan many Commonwealth activities.
Sources: The Royal Family, The Commonwealth | – A day after Queen Elizabeth II's bold move on behalf of her son comes news that should cheer her: British media report that Prince Charles will succeed her as the next head of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth leaders have reportedly agreed on his appointment as head of the 53-nation group, and a statement confirming that is expected at the end of their two-day meeting, which began Thursday at Windsor Castle. The position is not a hereditary one, which left open the possibility that someone else could take on the role. The BBC suggested one option had been to have it cycle among the 53 leaders, but the Telegraph notes many thought Charles to be the only "realistic contender." Prime Minister Theresa May and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau had expressed their support for him. Many of the member states were formerly part of the British Empire. They are collectively home to 2.4 billion people, but only 15 of them will eventually have Charles as their head of state. |
A Shi'ite anti-government protester holds up a poster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a demonstration against Israeli air strikes in Syria, in Sanaa May 10, 2013.
BEIRUT Syria has received the first shipment of a sophisticated air defense system from Russia, President Bashar al-Assad was quoted as saying, sending a signal of military strength days before an EU arms embargo on the country lapses.
Russia had promised delivery of the S-300 missile system to the Syrian government despite Western objections, saying the move would help stabilize the regional balance at a time of insurgency in Syria waged by Western-backed rebels.
Moscow is a staunch ally of Assad and it has appeared to grow more defiant since the European Union let its arms embargo on Syria expire as of June 1, opening up the possibility of the West arming the Syrian rebels.
"Syria has received the first shipment of Russian anti-aircraft S-300 rockets," Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar newspaper quoted Assad as saying in an interview due to be broadcast later on Thursday.
More of the missiles would arrive soon, he was quoted as saying.
A source close to Russia's Defense Ministry said there had been a "bank transfer" in connection with the S-300 transaction but that Russian banks were becoming increasingly nervous about dealing with Assad.
"There were some problems with payments because big Russian banks were scared of dealing with Assad, but there was a bank transfer," the source said. "There are also not big banks and banks that are not based in Moscow. Beyond the down payment there was almost certainly a second payment, maybe a third."
Last year, a source close to Russia's weapons export monopoly Rosoboronexport said Syria had paid 20 percent of the contract price, but that the S-300 deal was frozen because of the country's civil war.
The United States, France and Israel have all called on Russia to stop the missile delivery.
More than 80,000 people have been killed in Syria since peaceful protests against four decades of Assad family rule morphed into a civil war, pitting the president's forces and his ally, Hezbollah, against Syrian rebels and a flow of Sunni Islamist militants who have come to help them from abroad.
Moscow says the expiry of the EU embargo complicates U.S. and Russian-led efforts to set up a peace conference between the Syrian government and its opponents, who demand an immediate end to Assad family rule.
GENEVA 2 CONFERENCE
The interview with Assad was to be released on Thursday on Al Manar, a television station linked to Assad's ally, the Shi'ite Muslim militant group Hezbollah.
Assad said he planned to go to the "Geneva 2" conference, al-Akhbar reported, though he was unconvinced of a fruitful outcome and pledged to continue fighting the uprising.
Officials in Israel, the United States' main ally in the region, say the S-300 could reach deep into the Jewish state and threaten flights over its main commercial airport near Tel Aviv.
Al-Akhbar said Assad also stressed ties between his forces and Hezbollah militants now openly fighting on the Syrian side of the Lebanese-Syrian frontier. "Syria and Hezbollah are part of the same axis," al-Akhbar quoted him as telling al-Manar.
"The Syrian army is the one fighting and leading the battles against the armed group, and this fight will continue until all those who are called terrorists are eliminated."
Syria straddles the fault lines of several regional and sectarian conflicts, and the violence in the country is increasingly seeping across its borders.
Israel, wary of any Syrian weapons being sent to Hezbollah in Lebanon, has already carried out three air strikes against Damascus to stop suspected transfers.
A recent series of strikes in Damascus, which shook the entire capital, stoked an angry reaction from Syria. State media outlets said Syria would respond to any further attacks and would also allow militant groups to attack Israel from a shared border on the Golan Heights.
Israel captured much of Syria's Golan Heights in a 1967 war and occupies the territory today, but Assad and his father, the deceased president Hafez al-Assad, had kept the border quiet for decades.
"The Syrian government will not stand in the way of any Syrian groups that want to wage a war of resistance to liberate the Golan," Assad was quoted as saying in the interview.
Hezbollah has said it is willing to support groups that chose to launch operations from the Golan.
Israel has become particularly wary of the S-300 shipments although Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Tuesday that the shipments were not yet on their way.
Earlier this month, Israel was reported to have told Washington that Syria had begun payments for a $900 million purchase of S-300s, with an initial deliver due within three months.
(Additional reporting by Thomas Grove in Moscow; Editing by Mark Heinrich) ||||| (CNN) -- Israeli fighter jets struck a Syrian convoy suspected of moving weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday.
Fighter jets struck the vehicles because they were carrying SA-17 missile parts, a Russian-made, medium-range delivery system, and other equipment that could have been used to attack Israel, another source told CNN.
Lebanon's state-run NNA news agency dismissed the report. "The news circulated by media about an Israeli raid on the Lebanese-Syrian borders are sheer rumors," it said.
Syria, meanwhile, reported an Israeli strike targeting a research facility near the capital city of Damascus. State-run media said the attack killed two workers and injured five others.
"Israeli warplanes penetrated our airspace at dawn today and directly bombed one of the scientific research centers responsible for raising the level of resistance and self-defense in the area of Jimraya in the Damascus countryside," the military said in a statement aired on state-run TV Wednesday. "This comes after multiple failed attempts over months by terrorist groups to enter and seize the mentioned site."
It was not certain whether the U.S. and Syrian accounts of Israeli attack referred to the same or different incidents.
Israeli military and government officials declined to comment.
World leaders seek $1.5 billion in aid for Syrians
A former high-ranking Israeli Intelligence official told CNN that Hezbollah likely wants to take hold of all the weapons it can in the event that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is forced to flee. Should al-Assad ultimately decide to leave, he may choose to further arm Hezbollah ahead of time so that militants could better attack Israel, the official said.
On Thursday, Hezbollah's TV station aired a statement condemning Israel's attack and calling it "barbaric."
"But, as usual, the international community has their tongue tied ... and will stay silenced without taking any further steps to condemn the attack or taking any serious position when Israel is the aggressor," the statement said.
In recent years, Syria transferred Scud missiles to Hezbollah that are capable of carrying chemical weapon warheads. But the senior U.S. official said American authorities do not believe the strike was linked to growing concerns about chemical weapons.
"We see no nexus," the official said Wednesday. The strike is thought to have hit a "target of opportunity," he said.
"Whether it was an attack against a supply convoy or a terrorist leader, it's not particularly surprising," senior Brookings fellow Michael O'Hanlon said. "At first glance, it likely won't be seen as a large escalation -- though there's still a possibility for retaliation."
Envoy calls for Security Council to act
The move came days after Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said al-Assad's hold on power was "slipping away."
Russia, a power broker in the nearly 2-year-old conflict, has criticized Western powers, including the United States, that have recognized the opposition as Syria's rightful leadership.
There have been concerns about the security of Syria's chemical weapons arsenal, as well as the security of its larger conventional weapons.
Last month, NATO said Syria's government was "approaching collapse" and urged al-Assad to stop fighting and accommodate a political transfer of power.
The United States has provided more than $200 million in humanitarian aid and other funding to the Syrian opposition. On Tuesday, President Barack Obama approved another $155 million in aid.
The United States has pressed the Syrian opposition to establish a leadership structure amid a conflict that has claimed the lives of about 60,000 people, according to a United Nations estimate.
But Washington has been circumspect about its involvement in Syria. "We want to make sure that not only does it enhance U.S. security, but also that it is doing right by the people of Syria and neighbors like Israel that are going to be profoundly affected by it," Obama told CBS News' "60 Minutes."
Escaping Syria in the middle of night
CNN's Saad Abedine contributed to this report. | – On the one hand, it's a fairly expected announcement: On the heels of Russia's confirmation of a missile deal with Syria, President Bashar al-Assad has confirmed that the initial shipment of S-300 air defense missiles was in fact delivered to his country, with the second portion of the order arriving today. But Assad's statement, made in an interview to air today on Al Manar TV, and reaction to it bear some noteworthy aspects: As the New York Times points out, Al Manar is a channel run by Hezbollah, and that choice of delivery method, in the Times' view, only enhances "the confrontational atmosphere" of Assad's statements. The interview was actually taped on Tuesday, according to a Beirut source. That same day, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon firmly denied a weapons delivery had occurred, warning Russia that such a move could spur Israel to retaliate. "If, by some fortune, [the missiles] arrive in Syria, we will know what to do," he said. Per the AP, the next day, Syria's foreign minister said in a TV interview that Damascus "will retaliate immediately" if Israel strikes Syrian soil again. (Reuters notes Israel has thus far launched three airstrikes against Syria in a bid to stop weapons transfers.) But the AP notes that with the S-300 system in hand, the Israeli air force's abilities are curtailed, as the S-300s will allow Syria to counter airstrikes launched from foreign airspace. What exactly are the S-300 systems capable of? A second Israeli minister says they have a range of up to 185 miles; the AP, which puts their range at 125 miles, reports they're able to track and strike multiple targets simultaneously. What does Israel have to say about all this? No statement has been issued yet. |
Days after she was crowned Miss Florida, Leesburg resident Elizabeth Fechtel learned the title has been taken away because of a tabulating error.
Losing the crown means Fechtel won't be able to compete in the Miss America pageant.
The Miss Florida Scholarship Organization, which puts on the Miss Florida pageant, said Friday that an independent review and audit of the scores awarded by the judges found that the first runner-up, Victoria Cowen of Panama City, had the top overall score at last weekend's pageant in St. Petersburg.
Elizabeth Fechtel's mother said the pageant director visited the family Thursday night to relay the news. They were told that in the last 15 seconds of the time allotted to vote, one judge drew lines to reverse his vote from Elizabeth, a 20-year-old University of Florida student, to Cowen, Dixie Fechtel said.
"We're still kind of processing everything," she said. "We were disappointed that she wasn't notified earlier because it was required for her to not be in school and college. So she had to drop all her classes this week."
Elizabeth Fechtel couldn't be reached for comment, but earlier in the week said she was "completely elated for all that is to come…"
In a related development, Amanda Longacre lost her crown as Miss Delaware this week after the pageant discovered she violated the age requirement. Pageant rules say Miss Delaware contestants must be no older than 24 and cannot turn 25 before the end of the year. Longacre's 25th birthday is Oct. 22.
She said on Friday she had provided her birth certificate, drivers license and other documents with her pageant application.
"I did absolutely nothing wrong and I want to make that clear," Longacre said.
In Florida, Mary Sullivan, executive director of the pageant Elizabeth Fechtel thought she had won, said any scholarships associated with preliminary competitions that Fechtel won will still be awarded to her.
"It was a human error," Sullivan said. "We have two auditors…but they unfortunately missed one of the markings on the ballot."
The Miss Florida Scholarship Organization released a statement that said "to protect the integrity of the Miss Florida Scholarship Organization it is imperative to make sure that the contestant who received the highest overall score is officially named the winner…"
Fechtel said her daughter, who was crowned Miss University of Florida earlier this year, is holding her head up and is proud of all the contestants.
Her daughter also won the Miss Leesburg title in 2010 and Miss America's Outstanding Teen in 2012.
"She's a very accomplished young woman and she's going to proceed to do bigger and better things," she said. "She's of course disappointed, but she's going to move forward."
The pageant awards the winner more than $19,000 in scholarship funds. Cowen will move on to compete in the Miss America pageant Sept. 14 in Atlantic City, N.J. If she wins, she will become the third Florida contestant to win the national crown.
Hanna Marcus of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report, which also includes information from Reuters. [email protected] or 352-742-5917 ||||| UF student Elizabeth Fechtel was planning to take the next academic year off.
After Elizabeth Fechtel was crowned Miss Florida 2014 on Saturday, sorority sisters gushed on social media. Several news outlets interviewed the Leesburg native. Fechtel called the pageant life-changing, saying she was “privileged and thrilled to have become Miss Florida.”
The excitement was short-lived.
Late Thursday, pageant officials visited Fechtel to inform her of a massive error: The crown should’ve gone to the first runner-up instead.
The Miami-based organization released a press release Friday saying that a tabulation mistake resulted in the title being awarded to Fechtel instead of runner-up Victoria Cowen.
Fechtel planned to take a year off from her studies at the University of Florida to prepare for the Miss America Pageant, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
The university shared a congratulatory message on Twitter and sent out a press release. By Friday evening, the statement was updated to reflect the pageant error. But the Miss Florida website still showed Fechtel next to a sparkling “Miss Florida” graphic.
Florida isn’t the only state making news for pageant blunders.
Amanda Longacre, Miss Delaware, had her title revoked Tuesday because she turns 25 in October, which violates Miss America rules. Participants cannot turn 25 before the end of 2014.
While Longacre will reportedly keep the $9,000 in scholarship money she received with the crown, the Tampa Bay Times reports that Fechtel will have to give her scholarship winnings to Cowen.
The national pageant will be held in Atlantic City, N.J. Calls to the pageant’s president and executive director Mary E. Sullivan weren't returned as of Friday afternoon.
Late Friday, the Miss America organization shared a headshot of Cowen on its Facebook page and congratulated her on her new title.
“We thank Elizabeth Fechtel and wish her the very best,” the post adds.
Further down, there’s a post with nearly 3,000 likes from earlier in the week — a smiling portrait of Fechtel.
The caption reads, “Congratulations to Elizabeth Fechtel on being crowned Miss Florida 2014!” ||||| In a cross between Miss Congeniality and "Dewey Defeats Truman," the Miss Florida pageant has a real oops moment on its hands.
The pageant announced Friday that someone miscounted the beans and crowned the wrong woman, forcing officials to dethrone the winner named last week in St. Petersburg.
After holding the title of Miss Florida for just six days, Elizabeth Fechtel of Leesburg has been replaced by first runnerup Victoria Cowen of Panama City. Cowen gets to advance to the Miss America pageant Sept. 14 in Atlantic City.
"Elizabeth has changed her life all around in these last five or six days," said her father, Vince Fechtel Jr.
Fechtel, 20, had withdrawn from the University of Florida to compete for Miss America, her father said. At school, she was a student senator and a recruitment chairwoman for her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi.
Fechtel comes from a well-connected family with ties to the Tampa Bay area. Her father is a former legislator who served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate in the 1970s and '80s. He was good friends and fishing buddies with the late Bill McBride, who, he said, was Fechtel's godfather. He said they had shared the news about the Miss Florida mix-up with McBride's wife, Alex Sink, on Friday. Fechtel's brother owns the Fechtel Co., a high-end home builder based in Lutz.
During the days of competition leading up to the June 21 crowning, Cowen and Fechtel, aka Miss University of Florida, had battled it out in preliminary rounds, both taking honors for swimsuit modeling and dancing. By the end of the week, Fechtel had claimed top honors, taking a victory lap down the stage at the Mahaffey Theater.
She began her media tour — talking to hometown newspapers and TV stations, writing a glowing thank-you note on her Facebook page, calling the win "life changing." On Friday afternoon, she was still pictured on the pageant's Facebook page, standing amid her competitors, beaming in a black mesh and sequined gown and, of course, the crown.
But it couldn't last. Pageant officials came to Fechtel's home and delivered the news Thursday evening.
"Just like me and her mother, she was extremely upset, for a lot of different reasons," Vince Fechtel said. "We were very concerned that it be clear that Elizabeth did nothing wrong, absolutely nothing, and she had spent all this time working. We were very distraught."
After getting the news, the family prayed and Fechtel called Cowen to congratulate her. The two women are friends who have spent time together in the pageant world. Scholarship money that Fechtel won, which her family said was in the thousands, will now go to Cowen.
The family says it was told that one of the judges changed his mind while scoring first and second place on the night of the pageant and that "in the last 15 seconds of the time allotted to vote, that he drew lines to reverse his first vote," mother Dixie Fechtel wrote in an email.
By Friday, word was getting out that Fechtel wasn't the actual winner. Reached by phone Friday afternoon, the pageant's president and executive director, Mary E. Sullivan, directed attention to a news release.
The statement cited an "error in the tabulation process." An independent review and audit of the scores confirmed that Cowen actually had the highest score.
The statement called the situation "highly unfortunate" but said the move was necessary to protect the integrity of the organization.
The Fechtel family says it doesn't bear any ill will toward the Miss Florida pageant and believes everything it has been told. The family wishes Fechtel had been told sooner, but said the auditors needed time to confirm the outcome.
Fechtel was studying political science, entrepreneurship and mass communications at UF. She likes underwater photography and has worked as a student reporter at the school TV station.
"She's a very capable, all-around accomplished young lady," Vince Fechtel said. "I mean, she's my daughter, and I've got to say, I'm just astonished. … Don't worry about Elizabeth. She'll do quite well."
On her website, she lists favorite quotes. Among them:
Be stubborn about your goals, yet flexible about your methods.
Stephanie Hayes can be reached at [email protected] or (727) 893-8716. Follow @stephhayes. | – Florida has just one-upped Delaware in the beauty-pageant gaffe department: The Miss Florida pageant crowned the wrong winner last Saturday because of a vote-counting error and has had to make an embarrassing about-face, reports the Miami Herald. The pageant initially named Elizabeth Fechtel its winner, and the 20-year-old University of Florida student basked in the glory for all of five days, until a pageant official arrived at her house Thursday evening to inform her that first runner-up Victoria Cowen is getting the crown instead. Fechtel had already dropped her classes at the University of Florida to begin preparation for the Miss America pageant, her mom tells the Orlando Sentinel. So what happened? Pageant officials told the Fechtels that one judge changed his mind about who should finish first in the final seconds of his allotted time and drew lines on his ballot to reverse his vote, reports the Tampa Bay Times. The switch got overlooked initially, but a subsequent independent audit confirmed that Cowen was the rightful winner. Fechtel called to congratulate her friend, and she'll also have to hand over the thousands in scholarship money she won ever so briefly. In a statement, the pageant chalked it up to an "error in the tabulation process." In Delaware, meanwhile, the newly crowned winner got stripped of her title because she was too old at 24. |
Evidence moles can smell in stereo
Most mammals, including humans, see in stereo and hear in stereo. But whether they can also smell in stereo is the subject of a long-standing scientific controversy.
Now, a new study shows definitively that the common mole (Scalopus aquaticus) – the same critter that disrupts the lawns and gardens of homeowners throughout the eastern United States, Canada and Mexico – relies on stereo sniffing to locate its prey. The paper that describes this research, “Stereo and Serial Sniffing Guide Navigation to an Odor Source in a Mammals,” was published on Feb. 5 in the journal Nature Communications.
“I came at this as a skeptic. I thought the moles’ nostrils were too close together to effectively detect odor gradients,” said Kenneth Catania, the Stevenson Professor of Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University, who conducted the research.
What he found turned his assumptions upside down and opened new areas for potential future research. “The fact that moles use stereo odor cues to locate food suggests other mammals that rely heavily on their sense of smell, like dogs and pigs might also have this ability,” Catania said.
Catania’s interest in the common mole’s sense of smell dates back ten years when he was studying the remarkable sense of touch of the common moles’ cousin, the star-nosed mole, which uses a set of fleshy tentacles surrounding its nose to detect edible objects as it burrows. He decided to test the common moles’ capability to find prey for comparison purposes. “I expected the common mole, which is virtually blind and doesn’t have a very good sense of touch, to be a lot worse than the star-nosed mole. So I was quite surprised when they turned out to be very good at locating prey. At the time, I figured that they must be using their sense of smell, but I didn’t pursue the matter.”
When the neuroscientist began seriously studying the common moles’ sense of smell last year, he discovered that it was even more remarkable than he had expected.
He created a radial arena with food wells spaced around a 180-degree circle with the entrance for the mole located at the center. He then ran a number of trials with the food (pieces of earthworm) placed randomly in different wells. The chamber was temporarily sealed so he could detect each time the mole sniffed by the change in air pressure.
“It was amazing. They found the food in less than five seconds and went directly to the right food well almost every time,” Catania said. “They have a hyper-sensitive sense of smell.”
After observing dozens of trials, he noticed a general pattern. When the mole first entered the chamber, it moved its nose back and forth as it sniffed, but then it seemed to zero in on the food source, and moved in a direct path. This was pretty remarkable, and made Catania reconsider the idea of stereo sniffing. Although there is evidence for this ability in stationary rats trained to detect flowing air, no one had shown how this might work for a natural behavior.
To further investigate the moles’ sense of smell, Catania blocked one of the moles’ nostrils with a small plastic tube. When their left nostrils were blocked, the moles’ paths consistently veered off to the right and when their right nostrils were blocked, they consistently veered to the left. They still found the food but it took them significantly longer to do so.
Next, the researcher designed a chamber where the food was always placed in the same position, directly across from the entrance. Moles using both nostrils went almost directly to the food, but the path of those with their left nostrils blocked was consistently to the right of the direct path and that of those with the right nostrils blocked was consistently to the left.
“This is strikingly similar to a landmark study of hearing in barn owls performed in 1979 by Eric Knudsen and Mark Konishi at the California Institute of Technology, who found that blocking one of the owl’s ears caused them to misjudge the location of a sound source,” Catania said.
The definitive evidence that the moles rely on stereo sniffing came from yet another test. Catania inserted small plastic tubes in both of the moles’ nostrils and crossed them, so the right nostril was sniffing air on the animal’s left and the left nostril was sniffing air on the animal’s right. When their nostrils were crossed in this fashion, the animals searched back and forth and frequently could not find the food at all.
As for humans, Catania remains skeptical. “In humans, this is easier to test because you can ask a blindfolded person to tell you which nostril is being stimulated by odors presented with tubes inserted in the nose.” Such studies suggest it is only when an odor is strong enough to irritate the nostril lining that humans can tell which side is most strongly stimulated.
The research was supported by National Science Foundation grant number 0844743.
Media Inquiries:
David Salisbury, (615) 322-NEWS
[email protected] ||||| Never underestimate a mole.
It’s easy to have low expectations for these creatures. My own experience with moles is limited to the sight of their carcasses at my doorstep, laid there by our triumphant and generous cat. Stretched out on the cold bluestone, they look like little more than eyeless pouches of fur.
Ken Catania of Vanderbilt University has gone a long way to redeeming the mole. In the 1990s, he did some of the first studies of star-nosed moles, a species with 22 oddly finger-shaped tentacles flaring from its nostrils. He discovered that those tentacles are an exquisitely sensitive touch organ with 25,000 sense receptors. It uses this bizarre star to rapidly scan its tunnels for food, sweeping back and forth a dozen times a second. It takes a fifth of a second from encountering a piece of food for the star-nosed mole to eat it, making it the fastest eater on record in the animal kingdom. (Here’s a story I wrote about Catania in the New York Times, plus a wonderful illustration of its fast-acting anatomy.) Catania’s research landed the star-nosed mole in Guiness Book of World Records.
Recently, Catania thought it would be interesting to compare an awesomely sensitive creature like the star-nosed mole with a pathetically equipped relative. He chose the Eastern mole, the common species that I so often find dead on my doorstep.
Scalopus aquaticus seems, on paper, like a supremely mediocre mole. It has no star on the end of its nose. Other mole species that lack a star still have lots of touch sensors on their faces. But these sensors are delicate bits of tissue, and Eastern moles, adapted to life in drier, harder ground, have lost them. They are blind, and their ears are only sensitive to low-frequency sound.
So Catania started observing eastern moles search for food. Instead of stumbling around, they turned out to be, in their own way, just as impressive as their star-nosed relatives. Despite being starless and blind, they consistently headed straight for the food.
Catania decided to study the moles formally, by building a special box. One half of the box was a holding chamber, in which he could put a mole. It was divided from the other side by a wall with a closed doorway in the center. On the other side of the box, Catania drilled 15 pits, arranged in a semi-circle at equal distances from the door. Into one of those pits Catania would drop a chunk of earthworm, and then he would opened the door. The mole would squirm through and explore the new part of the box. Every time, the mole headed straight for the hidden food.
The only way that Catania could imagine the mole could manage this was by smell. But the mole’s sense of smell would have to do more than just tell it that there was a worm somewhere in the box. It would have to direct the mole to the precise spot where the worm had been placed.
How animals smell their way to food is still fairly mysterious. One method that’s been well supported by experiments is to play the hot-cold game with your nose. If you get closer to food, its smell will get stronger. If you move away, it gets weaker.
Another possibility is that the moles can smell in stereo. They can compare signals from their two nostrils to judge how far to the left or right a smell is. We use stereo for our hearing, using the differences between what our left and right ears detect to pinpoint the source of a sound. Perhaps moles can do the same with their noses.
Other scientists had found some suggestive evidence that rats could smell in stereo, but Catania was not entirely convinced. After all, ears are separated on either side of the head, but nostrils are right next to each other. How they could get a different signal across such a small distance was hard to fathom.
So Catania did a series of experiments. He used an air pressure sensor to record when the moles took a sniff. As you can see from this video (sniffs marked by white spots), sniffing was a vital element of their search.
Catania then manipulate the noses of the moles in various ways to see if he could alter their performance. In one experiment, he plugged up one nostril. Now, instead of finding their food with 100% accuracy, the moles consistently failed. And they failed in a consistent way. If their left nostril was blocked, they veered off to the right. And if their right nostril was blocked, they veered to the left.
This reliable error suggested that they did, indeed, rely on both nostrils, each providing information about the smells on each side. Catania then ran another experiment in which he inserted tubes into the mole noses. The air flowing into each nostril crossed over to the other one, where it was detected by the nerve endings there.
Now the moles got hopelessly lost. Instead of simply getting biased information that steered them off course in a consistent way, the moles were overwhelmed by confusion.
Catania concludes that moles probably use both stereo and hot-cold strategies to find food. From a distance, hot-cold works well. Closer up, where smells can get much stronger over even a short distance, the moles switch to stereo.
It will be interesting to see if other animals show such clear evidence of smelling in stereo too. Catania has some evidence that star-nosed moles aren’t so good with stereo smell, which he’s now following up on. It’s possible that eastern moles took a capacity found in many mammals and evolved it into a much more powerful form to adapt to their particular kind of life in the hard ground. I’m not too eager to have pipes shoved up my nose, but I’m awfully curious to find out if we humans share the gift of the mole. | – The common mole is blind and mostly deaf, which means it relies on its nose to find dinner. Not a problem: A study at Vanderbilt University makes the case that moles smell in stereo. Researchers who watched a mole sniff out a meal determined that the little critter relied on signals from both nostrils to zero in on it. (This involved plugging one nostril and then the other, and mixing up the signals in other ways.) Some scientists have previously suggested that rats and possibly humans smell in stereo, notes National Geographic, but the Vanderbilt study seems to be the first to prove the concept scientifically. “The fact that moles use stereo odor cues to locate food suggests other mammals that rely heavily on their sense of smell, like dogs and pigs, might also have this ability," says lead researcher Kenneth Catania. |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Florida Sen. Marco Rubio says Snoop Dogg shouldn't have shot a toy gun at a clown dressed as President Donald Trump in a music video released over the weekend.
The video shows Snoop shooting at the Trump character with a gun that releases a flag with the word, "bang."
Rubio tells TMZ that "Snoop shouldn't have done that." He says "we've had presidents assassinated before in this country, so anything like that is something people should really careful about." He adds that if the "wrong person sees that and gets the wrong idea, you could have a real problem."
Rubio lost to Trump in the Republican primary campaign.
The video is for a remixed version of the song "Lavender," by Canadian group BADBADNOTGOOD featuring Snoop Dogg and Kaytranada. ||||| Marco Rubio Snoop Put Out a Dangerous Message With Mock Assassination
Sen. Marco Rubio Warns Snoop Dogg About Mock Assassination Music Vid
EXCLUSIVE
Senator Marco Rubio's taking a shot at Snoop Dogg over his music video taking a more literal shot at President Trump.
We got Rubio at Reagan National Airport, and he took a strong stance against Snoop's "Lavender" music video ... and the imagery of Snoop aiming a gun at the prez. He says disagreeing with policy is one thing, but worries Snoop is now crossing into a dangerous area -- where he's potentially giving twisted people very wrong ideas.
Remember, Rubio's famously a huge fan of hip-hop icons like Snoop, but this time he just ain't down. | – Florida Sen. Marco Rubio says Snoop Dogg shouldn't have shot a toy gun at a clown dressed as President Trump in a music video released over the weekend, the AP reports. The video shows Snoop shooting at the Trump character with a gun that releases a flag with the word, "bang." Rubio tells TMZ that "Snoop shouldn't have done that." He says "we've had presidents assassinated before in this country, so anything like that is something people should really careful about." He adds that if the "wrong person sees that and gets the wrong idea, you could have a real problem." The video is for a remixed version of the song "Lavender," by Canadian group BADBADNOTGOOD featuring Snoop Dogg and Kaytranada. |
A crane lifts a burned car while residents inspect the site of a car bomb attack in the Sha’ab neighborhood of Baghdad. Ten cars rigged with explosives blew up in predominantly Shiite Muslim areas in Baghdad on Sunday, killing dozens, police said.
Oct. 27, 2013 A crane lifts a burned car while residents inspect the site of a car bomb attack in the Sha’ab neighborhood of Baghdad. Ten cars rigged with explosives blew up in predominantly Shiite Muslim areas in Baghdad on Sunday, killing dozens, police said. Karim Kadim/AP
Nearly two years after the U.S. troop withdrawal, Iraq is in the midst of a deepening security crisis as an al-Qaeda affiliate wages a relentless campaign of attacks, sending the death toll soaring to its highest level since 2008.
In the latest violence, nine car bombs tore through markets and police checkpoints in Baghdad on Sunday, killing dozens of people.
The bloody campaign has virtually erased the security gains made in the past five years. More than 5,300 Iraqis have been killed this year.
Sunday’s attacks occurred just three days before Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is scheduled to arrive in Washington, where he will take part in meetings at the White House and on Capitol Hill. At the top of his agenda is a request for more U.S. help in the fight against the al-Qaeda affiliate, whose scope has grown to encompass neighboring Syria as well.
“We need to increase the depth and width of our cooperation, to be more agile and reflect the seriousness of the situation in Iraq,” Iraq’s ambassador to Washington, Lukman Faily, said in a telephone interview. “In our discussions, we will highlight the urgent need for the approval and quick delivery of military sales.”
View Graphic A single month's death toll from violence in Iraq.
At least 40 people died Sunday in attacks on mostly Shiite neighborhoods in Baghdad, according to an Interior Ministry official, who was not authorized to be quoted by name. In addition, a suicide bomber plowed his car into a group of soldiers in the northern city of Mosul, killing 14, according to a local police official.
More than 600 people have been killed in Iraq this month, after extraordinary bloodshed left 880 dead in September.
The surge in violence is largely, though not exclusively, due to attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, an outgrowth of al-Qaeda in Iraq. The group is trying to undermine the Iraqi state through a relentless campaign of car bombings, assaults on security forces and assassinations. ISIS has also carried out several jailbreaks, freeing militants whom American and Iraqi forces worked for years to capture.
Shattering of calm
Iraq once looked as though it could be stabilizing. After a horrific sectarian war engulfed the country in 2006 and 2007, the United States sent a surge of troops and began enlisting Sunni fighters to turn against al-Qaeda. When the U.S. military withdrew at the end of 2011, militant groups were on their heels and monthly civilian death tolls were in the dozens rather than the hundreds.
That period of relative safety lasted into 2012, but it began to unravel as Syria’s anti-government protest movement developed into a civil war fought along sectarian lines.
Many radical Sunni fighters in Iraq and Syria have now united under the banner of ISIS. The militants consider the two nations to be different fronts in a single war with an ambitious goal.
“They want a caliphate,” said Jessica Lewis, research director at the Institute for the Study of War, who has investigated the resurgence of al-Qaeda in Iraq. She was referring to the Islamic political system that ruled most Muslims after the death of the prophet Muhammad.
One of the group’s most important victories came in September 2012, when militants freed about 100 inmates from a prison in Tikrit. The infusion of manpower helped the organization intensify operations this past spring, Lewis said.
ISIS launched an even more devastating attack on the notorious Abu Ghraib prison on July 21, freeing more than 500 convicts who could bolster the group’s capabilities further in the coming months.
“My best estimate based on [the Tikrit] example is that we’re going to see another huge growth step in operational capability in the new year,” Lewis said.
Sectarian mistrust
The rise of ISIS has coincided with political dysfunction in Baghdad. During Iraq’s recent years of relative calm, Maliki has consolidated power in a way that has left many Sunnis feeling disenfranchised under the Shiite-led government. Sunni leaders complain bitterly that he has used his control of Iraq’s security forces to sideline political opponents under the pretense of combating terrorism.
In the vast deserts of Anbar province in western Iraq, the government has deployed thousands of troops to patrol its nearly 400-mile-long boundary with Syria.
But the border has become largely theoretical, and militants have moved across it with ease. In the atmosphere of sectarian mistrust that pervades Iraq, the Shiite-majority federal forces have not coordinated well with the province’s mainly Sunni tribes and local police, according to Anbar’s governor, Ahmed Khalaf al-Dulaimi.
Anbar has suffered at least seven major attacks in the past week, including assassinations of local political leaders, the siege of a government electricity office and assaults on checkpoints.
The largest operation was an Oct. 20 attempt to storm a police compound in the city of Fallujah that includes a prison. The assault by 25 men armed with guns and mortars was ultimately repulsed, according to a police official involved in the response, but the battle lasted five hours and left four police officers dead.
On the other side of the sectarian divide, Iraq’s various Shiite militias, some of which receive funding and strategic direction from Iran, appear to be stepping up operations. Public funerals throughout southern Iraq memorialize militia members who have died fighting for the regime in Syria, and there are growing signs that some militias are bringing the fight back to Iraq.
In the southern Shiite-
majority provinces of Basra and Dhi Qar, at least 12 members of the Sunni Sadoon tribe have been killed in recent weeks, according to a senior Basra police official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Dozens more members of the tribe in Dhi Qar have reported receiving death threats, and at least eight families have fled their homes, according to Haider Salman, a municipal council leader.
In Basra, the threats against Sunnis are so serious that Sheik Abdul Kareem al-Khazraji, who heads the government authority that administers Sunni religious sites, ordered mosques to close their doors because of the risk of attacks on large gatherings of worshipers.
“We are directing people to pray at home, to protect their lives,” Khazraji said.
To the north, militias have been active in Shiite-dominated pockets of Diyala province. Six Sunnis were killed in Muqdadiyah, according to a tribal leader in the area who identified himself as Sheik Abu Muhammad.
Such incidents are haunting for Iraqis who recall the violence of the last decade. The killing rose exponentially in 2006 when attacks on Shiite religious sites prompted militias to retaliate with campaigns of sectarian killing and intimidation.
The bloodshed this year has not reached those terrible peaks. But al-Qaeda’s leaders in Iraq again seem determined to use horrific violence to provoke retaliation by the government and Shiite militias. Sunday’s attacks targeted predominantly Shiite areas in Baghdad. In recent weeks, car bombs in Baghdad have targeted not only day laborers and markets, but also funerals and even a playground full of children.
As the death toll mounts, Iraq is approaching national elections in April. In past years, militants have typically stepped up attacks before elections in an attempt to intimidate voters and create an atmosphere of fear. The result has been beneficial for campaigns defined by sectarian and ethnic politics.
“Imagine Iraq as a ship in the middle of a storm,” Maliki said in a televised interview in early October, “and some of the cabin crew ask the captain to control the movement of the ship. How can he do this with all of the high waves?” ||||| Two car bombs exploded in Karbala, a centre of Shia worship and pilgrimage south of Baghdad, killing 13 people and injuring 50 in a shopping area. In Baghdad, one bomb hit the foreign ministry and a second struck a security patrol, as did another in the town of Latifiyah 20 miles to the south.
There were further attacks in Kirkuk, a city in the north of the country at the centre of several sectarian and ethnic divides, and Hillah and Mahmoudiyah to the south, and several other towns.
By late morning on Tuesday, the overall number of casualties was put at 46 dead and 200 wounded, with the figure still rising.
The attack in Karbala, the most deadly, followed a standard tactic of Al-Qaeda and its linked Sunni militant groups in Iraq, with an initial car bomb attracting the attention of police and other emergency services and a second bomb exploding when they arrived.
"The second explosion caused the biggest destruction. I saw body parts, fingers, hands thrown on the road," Murtadha Ali Kadhim, a 23-year-old shop worker, told the Reuters news agency.
"The security forces are stupid because they always gather at the site of an explosion and then a second explosion occurs. They become a target."
In most of the cases, the targets seem to have been civilians and police, but a motorcade carrying the governor of Anbar province, a Sunni heartland west of Baghdad stretching to the Syrian border, and long a haven for Al-Qaeda, was also hit. A bodyguard was killed.
Violence in Iraq has declined since the heights of the near civil war that followed the invasion of 2003, and Shia militant groups have mostly declared their intention to cease altogether and join the political process since the American troop withdrawal last year.
But the dominance of the political landscape by the Shia, who make up the biggest single group in the country, has fractured the Sunni community into competing groups, a minority of which have proved to be recruiting grounds for the terrorists.
Diplomats say a pattern has emerged of serious attacks every five or six weeks, indicating they do not have the numbers or material for sustained campaigns, but they had also been expecting a surge before and during the Arab League summit due to be held next week.
Hosting the summit was an ambitious decision by the Iraqi government, which has been attempting to spruce up the bomb-scarred capital for months in preparation.
But the government of Nuri al-Maliki, the prime minister, is keen to balance the country's new friendship with Iran with restoring better relations with those Sunni-led neighbours like Saudi Arabia who dominate the League's politics. | – Nine car bombs exploded in Baghdad yesterday, which, along with a suicide attack and other incidents killed at least 66 people, the AP reports—and, unfortunately, that didn't make it a particularly unusual day. The al-Qaeda affiliate group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria has been pummeling the country with terrorist attacks that have in the Washington Post's words, "virtually erased the security gains made in the past five years." At least 5,300 Iraqis have died this year, including more than 600 this month, and 880 in September. It was a little more than five years ago that the US "surge" calmed Iraq by uniting moderate Sunnis against al-Qaeda. But after the US left, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki began marginalizing Sunni leaders, fanning sectarian tensions. Syria, meanwhile, has provided a perfect base for ISIS fighters; Anbar province, which borders Syria, has suffered seven major attacks in the past week alone, as fighters pass freely across the border. Maliki will ask for US help in the fight when he visits Washington in three days. |
CLOSE Debbie Reynolds, the Academy Award nominated actress known for her role in the musical 'Singin' in the Rain,' passed away just one day after her daughter Carrie Fisher's death.
Carrie Fisher gives a kiss to her mother, Debbie Reynolds, in the photo room of the 20th Screen Actors Guild Awards in January 2015. (Photo: Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY)
Can you really die of a broken heart?
Late Wednesday, the stunning word came that vivacious entertainer Debbie Reynolds had passed away at 84 — one day after her daughter Carrie Fisher, 60, another cherished actress and author, died.
Reynolds' son, Todd Fisher, said the stress of his sister's death was insurmountable. It "was too much" for Reynolds, Fisher told the Associated Press. "She said, 'I want to be with Carrie.' And then she was gone," he said.
“She’s now with Carrie and we’re all heartbroken."
Reynolds was at Fisher's home in Beverly Hills planning the funeral for her daughter, who died Tuesday after a heart attack on a plane last week, when she may have suffered a stroke, according to TMZ.
Dying of a broken heart is "absolutely real," grief expert David Kessler tells USA TODAY. "I think it's extremely underdiagnosed. I think it's more common than we believe."
The scenario plays out most often among elderly couples who have shared a deep and enduring bond for decades, Kessler notes. One spouse passes away, and within days — and sometimes hours — the other spouse succumbs.
For parent and child, "it's less seen, but not surprising," Kessler says.
CLOSE Turns out, people really do suffer from broken hearts. Stress cardiomyopathy, also known as broken heart syndrome, is brought on by the response to a stressful event, such as the death of a loved one or divorce. VPC
The American Heart Association agrees, classifying broken heart syndrome as a medical condition also called stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Women are more likely than men to be stricken, the association says, and will experience sudden, severe chest pain, which is a reaction to a surge of stress hormones triggered by an emotionally painful event. The heart temporarily enlarges, but unlike a heart attack, there is no evidence of blocked heart arteries.
While the condition is usually treatable, it can lead to severe, short-term heart muscle failure.
Kessler has his own powerful insight into the agony of losing a child. His 21-year-old son died three months ago. "I now have a personal understanding on the deepest level" of trying to soothe an aching heart, he says.
The Los Angeles-based grief expert says he worked with Fisher a number of times. Fisher and Reynolds "were so close. I would not be surprised if part of this was broken heart syndrome."
He recalled Fisher bringing a friend into her home to live out her final days. Fisher "was someone who was very comfortable with death. She took life and death personally," he says.
For everyday people struggling to process the parade of high-profile deaths in 2016, they should not feel unnerved that they are distressed by the loss of someone they never knew such as a celebrity, Kessler says. "Your grief is a reflection of a connection that has been lost .... not necessarily someone you met. If your heart feels connected, it will grieve."
CLOSE Fans gathered around Debbie Reynolds star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday night, to remember the acting and dancing legend. Reynolds died on Wednesday at the age of 84, one day after the death of her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher. (Dec. 29) AP
As for rumblings about celebrity deaths "coming in threes," that isn't statistically accurate, Kessler says. "But our minds like to see patterns and organize it that way."
Kessler offers these words of advice for those particularly shaken by the double hit of Fisher and Reynolds: Do something to help yourself feel more comfortable. "Even though we may not know them, do not take this life for granted. Let me call my mother and tell her how much I love her."
Follow Miller on Twitter @susmiller.
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2iHdoqp ||||| Image copyright AP Image caption Debbie Reynolds (left) with her daughter and fellow actress Carrie Fisher
Debbie Reynolds, who starred opposite Gene Kelly in the 1952 musical Singin' in the Rain, has died a day after the death of her daughter, Carrie Fisher.
The US actress, 84, had been rushed to hospital with a suspected stroke.
Her son, Todd Fisher, said the stress of his sister's death had been too much for her and in her last words, she had said she wanted to be with Carrie.
US actress Bette Midler said Reynolds was "devoted to her craft" and that her death was "too hard to comprehend".
Actress Debra Messing said Reynolds, her on-screen mother in sitcom Will and Grace, had been an "inspiration".
"A legend of course," she wrote in a statement. "The epitome of clean-cut American optimism, dancing with Gene Kelly as an equal, a warrior woman who never stopped working.''
Actor Rip Torn, who worked with Reynolds in her Las Vegas stage show, said: "I was blessed to work with this remarkable woman for 45 almost 50 years. That makes for a very rare bond and unique relationship.
"She was generous to a fault, never caring who got the laugh from the audience. I will always love her."
Veteran comic actress Carol Channing agreed: "She was beautiful and generous. It seems like only yesterday she was having lunch here at the house and we were discussing the possibility of working together in a new show."
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Carrie Fisher tells Debbie Reynolds, "I love you momma"
For Star Trek actor William Shatner, Reynolds was one of the last of the Hollywood royalty.
"It breaks my heart that she is gone," he wrote. "I'd hoped that my grieving was done for 2016.
Reynolds had been at her son's house in Beverly Hills - apparently discussing the arrangements for Carrie Fisher's funeral - when she was taken ill.
She was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre suffering from breathing difficulties and her death was confirmed a few hours later. It is thought she suffered a stroke.
Carrie Fisher, renowned for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars series, had died aged 60 the day before, after spending three days in a Los Angeles hospital.
She never regained consciousness after suffering a massive heart attack on board a flight from London to Los Angeles on Friday.
Speaking to the Associated Press news agency about his mother, Todd said: "She's now with Carrie and we're all heartbroken.''
Celebrity news site TMZ reported that Reynolds cracked while discussing plans for Carrie's funeral with her son, telling him: "I miss her so much; I want to be with Carrie."
Can you die from a broken heart? By Stephen Evans, BBC News
Image copyright PA
Some people talk about "broken heart syndrome", known more formally as stress cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy. According to the British Heart Foundation, it is a "temporary condition where your heart muscle becomes suddenly weakened or stunned. The left ventricle, one of the heart's chambers, changes shape."
It can be brought on by a shock. "About three quarters of people diagnosed with takotsubo cardiomyopathy have experienced significant emotional or physical stress prior to becoming unwell," the charity says.
This stress might be bereavement but it could be a shock of another kind. There are documented cases of people suffering the condition after being frightened by colleagues pulling a prank, or suffering the stress of speaking to a large group of people. It's speculated that the sudden release of hormones - in particular, adrenaline - causes the stunning of the heart muscle.
This is different from a heart attack, which is a stopping of the heart because the blood supply is constricted, perhaps by clogged arteries.
Read more here
How does grief cause physical pain?
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption "Funny and vital": Fans in Hollywood mourn Debbie Reynolds
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Singin' in the Rain guaranteed Reynolds Hollywood legend status
Reynolds was leading lady in a succession of major Hollywood musicals and comedies in the 1950s and 60s.
She rose to stardom with Singin' in the Rain, at the age of only 19.
She received a best actress Academy Award nomination for the 1964 musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
Her other films included 1973 animated film Charlotte's Web, in which she provided the voice for the eponymous spider.
In 2015 she was given a lifetime achievement award by the Screen Actors Guild. The award was presented to her by her daughter.
Reynolds married singer Eddie Fisher in 1955 and had two children, Carrie and Todd. The couple divorced in 1959 after news emerged of his affair with movie star Elizabeth Taylor.
Reynolds married twice more.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Reynolds (left) had a complex relationship with her daughter Carrie Fisher [pictured in 1972]
The actress has a sometimes strained relationship with her actress daughter, who wrote about it in her semi-autobiographical novel Postcards from the Edge.
The pair stopped speaking to each other for many years but became closer later in life.
In an interview last month with US radio network NPR, Fisher said her mother was "an immensely powerful woman" whom she admired "very much".
As people gathered to pay their respects to the actress at Hollywood's Walk of Fame, one couple, Jose and Daniela Barrera, appeared to speak for many after a year marked by celebrity deaths.
"It's just, you know, a sad time I guess," Jose told the Reuters news agency. "With the closing of the year and so many deaths in the year, it's just sad."
"It was so sad," added Daniela. "It was a shocker. I mean, what were the odds of this happening? It was incredible finding out, sad." ||||| There’s been an outpouring of grief on the web as celebrities pay tribute to Debbie Reynolds, Hollywood icon and mother of Carrie Fisher. Reynolds died Wednesday afternoon, one day after her daughter passed away at the age of 60. She was 84.
A talented singer and actress, Reynolds appeared in many movies and stage productions spanning decades. She is survived by a son Todd and her granddaughter Billie.
Younger audiences will remember Reynolds as Grace Adler’s showbiz mom from “Will & Grace.”
Close friend Carol Channing wrote: “She was beautiful and generous. It seems like only yesterday she was having lunch here at the house and we were discussing
the possibility of working together in a new show. I have such fond memories of appearing with her here at the McCallum Theater in Palm Springs. So many laughs. My prayers go out to the family. She will be missed.”
Added Reynolds’ costar Rip Taylor: “I was blessed to work with this remarkable woman for 45 almost 50 years. That makes for a very rare bond and unique relationship. She was generous to a fault, never caring who got the laugh from the audience. I Will always love her. I am absolutely devastated tonight!”
Related Harrison Ford Remembers Carrie Fisher During Mark Hamill's Walk of Fame Star Ceremony Carrie Fisher Wins 2018 Grammy for Best Spoken Word
Read some of the online tributes below:
This is a beautiful love story to witness in my 58 years. I miss them both so much. Love is everlasting pic.twitter.com/AeIVGaGl9k — Todd Fisher (@tafish) December 29, 2016
Todd Fisher, Carrie’s brother and Reynolds’ son, wrote: “This is a beautiful love story to witness in my 58 years. I miss them both so much. Love is everlasting.”
Debbie Reynolds, a legend and my movie mom. I can't believe this happened one day after Carrie. My heart goes out to Billie. — Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) December 29, 2016
Albert Brooks wrote: “Debbie Reynolds, a legend and my movie mom. I can’t believe this happened one day after Carrie. My heart goes out to Billie.”
Debbie Reynolds was pure class. She was loving, talented, beautiful, unsinkable. I feel sorry for anyone who never got a chance to meet her. pic.twitter.com/XrIDFuLfYU — Larry King (@kingsthings) December 29, 2016
Larry King wrote: “Debbie Reynolds was pure class. She was loving, talented, beautiful, unsinkable. I feel sorry for anyone who never got a chance to meet her.”
So heartsick. Debbie went to be with Carrie. It's such a devastating 1,2 punch. She was my "mom" for years & I loved her dearly.A legend. — Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) December 29, 2016
Debra Messing wrote: “So heartsick. Debbie went to be with Carrie. It’s such a devastating 1,2 punch. She was my “mom” for years & I loved her dearly. A legend.”
It is beyond astonishing that both @carrieffisher & @DebbieReynolds1 have left this earth. I overwhelmingly adored & admired them both. 😢🌹🌹 pic.twitter.com/emLn1ZvwUd — Sean Hayes (@SeanHayes) December 29, 2016
Sean Hayes wrote: “It is beyond astonishing that both @ carrieffisher & @ DebbieReynolds1 have left this earth. I overwhelmingly adored & admired them both.”
The combination of the loss of @carrieffisher & then her mom @DebbieReynolds1 is too much. I'm really at a loss here… #toomuch16 — Eric McCormack (@EricMcCormack) December 29, 2016
Eric McCormack wrote: “The combination of the loss of @ carrieffisher & then her mom @ DebbieReynolds1 is too much. I’m really at a loss here… # toomuch16“
#DebbieReynolds has just died. This is too hard to comprehend. Beautiful, talented, devoted to her craft, she follows Carrie, dead days ago. — Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) December 29, 2016
Bette Midler wrote: “ # DebbieReynolds has just died. This is too hard to comprehend. Beautiful, talented, devoted to her craft, she follows Carrie, dead days ago.”
Mark Hamill wrote: #CruelCruelYear
Debbie Reynolds was one of the last of Hollywood Royalty. It breaks my heart that she is gone. I'd hoped that my grieving was done for 2016. — William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) December 29, 2016
William Shatner wrote: “Debbie Reynolds was one of the last of Hollywood Royalty. It breaks my heart that she is gone. I’d hoped that my grieving was done for 2016.”
I can't imagine what Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds' family are going through this week. I send all of my love. — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) December 29, 2016
Ellen wrote: “I can’t imagine what Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds’ family are going through this week. I send all of my love.”
Anna Kendrick wrote: “American treasure.”
Carrie, watching her mother from the wings. pic.twitter.com/QWE2YnQLJD — Martha Plimpton (@MarthaPlimpton) December 29, 2016
Martha Plimpton wrote: “Carrie, watching her mother from the wings.”
The most incredible love is when one can't live without the other…#RIP #DebbieReynolds — Constance Zimmer (@ConstanceZimmer) December 29, 2016
Constance Zimmer wrote: “The most incredible love is when one can’t live without the other… # RIP # DebbieReynolds“
Debbie Reynolds, God is holding you and Carrie in his hands.
We will always speak your name🌈
Love you, Debbie Allen — Debbie Allen (@msdebbieallen) December 29, 2016
Debbie Allen wrote, “Debbie Reynolds, God is holding you and Carrie in his hands. We will always speak your name.”
Damn. RIP Debbie Reynolds. Legendary entertainer. I'm sure broken hearted by the loss of her daughter. — Dane Cook (@DaneCook) December 29, 2016
Dane Cook wrote: “Damn. RIP Debbie Reynolds. Legendary entertainer. I’m sure broken hearted by the loss of her daughter.”
That is the saddest thing. So sorry for the whole family. Rip #CarrieFisher and #DebbieReynolds. 💔 — Ricki Lake (@RickiLake) December 29, 2016
Ricki Lake wrote, “That is the saddest thing. So sorry for the whole family. Rip #CarrieFisher and #DebbieReynolds.”
Painfully sad – there are no words 4 loss of Debbie Reynolds & Carrie Fisher. 2 vibrant, talented – moving spirits. #RIPC #RIPD #sagaftra — Gabrielle Carteris (@TheGabrielle_C) December 29, 2016
Gabrielle Carteris wrote: “Painfully sad – there are no words 4 loss of Debbie Reynolds & Carrie Fisher. 2 vibrant, talented – moving spirits.”
Debbie Reynolds helped light my passion for performing with Singin' in The Rain. She will always be an icon. Rest with Carrie, Debbie. — Grant Gustin (@grantgust) December 29, 2016
Grant Gustin wrote: “Debbie Reynolds helped light my passion for performing with Singin’ in The Rain. She will always be an icon. Rest with Carrie, Debbie.”
i love you billie. so so much. rest in peace, debbie reynolds. — Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) December 29, 2016
Ariana Grande wrote: “i love you billie. so so much. rest in peace, debbie reynolds.”
There are no words. Just that we all want 2 surround Billie with loving strength & support. Please give her space media. Please. Please. — Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis) December 29, 2016
Jamie Lee Curtis wrote: “There are no words. Just that we all want 2 surround Billie with loving strength & support. Please give her space media. Please. Please.”
FEW B4 HER, OR THE FEW WE SHALL EVER C AGAIN! NOW HER & HER DAUGHTER CAN SOAR 2GETHER IN GODS GR8 VAST KINGDOM! R.I.P. DEBBIE REYNOLDS — Corey Feldman (@Corey_Feldman) December 29, 2016
Corey Feldman wrote: “FEW B4 HER, OR THE FEW WE SHALL EVER C AGAIN! NOW HER & HER DAUGHTER CAN SOAR 2GETHER IN GODS GR8 VAST KINGDOM! R.I.P. DEBBIE REYNOLDS”
So sad to learn of @DebbieReynolds1 passing …an American icon and Hollywood legend. pic.twitter.com/OHh7VtsAAW — Gloria Gaynor (@gloriagaynor) December 29, 2016
Gloria Gaynor wrote: “So sad to learn of @DebbieReynolds1 passing …an American icon and Hollywood legend.”
What a tragedy! First Carrie, now her legendary mother Debbie Reynolds- my deepest and condolences to their family!! https://t.co/swJhKQg368 — Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) December 29, 2016
Mira Sorvino wrote: “What a tragedy! First Carrie, now her legendary mother Debbie Reynolds- my deepest and condolences to their family!!”
So blown away and saddened by this Debbie Reynolds news a day after her daughter, Carrie passes away. So much luv & strength to their family — Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) December 29, 2016
Dwayne Johnson wrote: “So blown away and saddened by this Debbie Reynolds news a day after her daughter, Carrie passes away. So much luv & strength to their family.”
THIS IS TRAGIC 😩 I 💖‘d DEBBIE,SHE WAS TUFF FUNNY,TOLD“BEST”OLD 40′s-50′s SHOW BIZ STORIES& LIVED THROUGH HOLLYWOOD 🐂💩…A HUGE TESTAMENT 2HER — Cher (@cher) December 29, 2016
This is beyond heartbreaking.
Debbie was an Idol …I Have Seen
Singing in The Rain a million times.
Loved all her films…WORDS
ARE INADEQUATE — Cher (@cher) December 29, 2016
Beautiful , sweet, Debbie Reynolds. Could the bond between mother and daughter have been s… https://t.co/KyUQ3ZbnVP pic.twitter.com/ZqktGezKid — Rita Wilson (@RitaWilson) December 29, 2016
Debbie Reynolds cd sing, dance & gave dazzling performances. RIP doesn't sound right for her or Carrie-I hope they're somewhere having fun — Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) December 29, 2016
Gary Marsh, the president and CCO of Disney Channel wrote: “Through her role as the magical Grandmother Agatha Cromwell in four ‘Halloweentown’ movies, Debbie Reynolds became as beloved by Disney Channel viewers as she was by their parents and grandparents. We join the film, theatre, recording and TV community in extending our condolences to her family.” ||||| The late Debbie Reynolds lived a fearless life, paving a legendary career for herself at just 16, overcoming Hollywood scandals and bouncing back from a marriage that left her flat broke.
But there was one obstacle that Reynolds worried she wouldn’t be able to overcome: losing her daughter, Carrie Fisher.
In Reynolds’ acclaimed 2013 autobiography, Unsinkable, the actress opened up about her fear of losing her daughter to what she called “demons.”
“It’s not natural to outlive your child,” she wrote. “This has always been my greatest fear… I don’t know if I could survive that.”
She added: “Carrie is my child and I love her with every ounce of strength I possess.
Their bond was strong until the end — dying within a day of each other.
Fisher, 60, was aboard an 11-hour flight from London to Los Angeles last Friday when she went into cardiac arrest. She died Tuesday, in the hospital where she was being treated.
After the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Reynolds died Wednesday at the age of 84. According to reports, she was only thinking about daughter in her final moments. Her son Todd Fisher said she told him hours before she was rushed to the hospital: “I miss her so much, I want to be with Carrie,” Todd told TMZ.
Their love for one another was strong, Reynolds and Fisher had a somewhat complicated bond — most memorably documented in Postcards from the Edge, the 1990 movie based on Fisher’s 1987 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name.
Desperately seeking her own identity from the shadow of her mother’s fame, Fisher became estranged from Reynolds. The two barely spoke for almost ten years. “We had a fairly volatile relationship earlier on in my 20s,” Fisher told Oprah. “I didn’t want to be around her. I did not want to be Debbie Reynolds’ daughter.”
Fisher had started smoking marijuana at 13, and by her early 20s her drug use had spiraled out of control, as she abused everything from cocaine and heroin to painkillers and LSD, she said. Later, Fisher would ascribe the drug use to a form of self-medication for her bipolar disorder, which she was diagnosed in her 20s.
“It’s very hard when your child doesn’t want to talk to you and you want to talk to them, and you want to touch them, you want to hold them,” said Reynolds. “It was a total estrangement. She didn’t talk to me for probably 10 years. So that was the most difficult time of all. Very painful, very heartbreaking.”
Ultimately, time began to heal their relationship. “It took like 30 years for Carrie to be really happy with me,” Reynolds told PEOPLE. “I don’t know what the problem ever was. I’ve had to work at it. I’ve always been a good mother, but I’ve always been in show business, and I’ve been on stage and I don’t bake cookies and I don’t stay home,” she added.
After their deaths, Reynolds’ son Todd Fisher tweeted a touching drawing of his mother and sister — writing, “This is a beautiful love story to witness in my 58 years. I miss them both so much. Love is everlasting.” ||||| This article is over 2 years old
Oscar-nominated star told her son ‘that she would like to be with Carrie again’, 15 minutes before she had a severe stroke
Hollywood legend Debbie Reynolds has died aged 84, just one day after the death of her daughter, famed actor and author Carrie Fisher.
Her death was confirmed by her son, Todd Fisher.
Debbie Reynolds: her life and career – in pictures Read more
“The last thing she said this morning was that she was very, very sad about losing Carrie and that she would like to be with her again,” Fisher said. “Fifteen minutes later she suffered a severe stroke.”
Reynolds died just hours after she was taken to Cedars Sinai medical center from her son’s house in Beverly Hills on Wednesday afternoon.
“The only thing we’re taking solace in is that what she wanted to do was take care of her daughter, which is what she did best,” he added.
On Friday, Carrie Fisher reportedly suffered a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles. Reynolds posted on her Facebook page on Christmas Day that Fisher was in a stable condition.
Carrie Fisher died two days later.
On Tuesday, Reynolds addressed Fisher’s death on Facebook, writing: “Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter. I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop. Love Carries Mother.”
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Billie Lourd, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds at the Screen Actors Guild awards in Los Angeles last year. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Further tributes came from Joely Fisher, a daughter of Reynolds’ ex-husband Eddie Fisher, and Carrie Fisher’s half-sister, who tweeted a picture of herself and Reynolds with the words “God speed mama”.
Joely Fisher (@MsJoelyFisher) God speed mama pic.twitter.com/XsO5zqN8w6
“So heartsick. Debbie went to be with Carrie. It’s such a devastating 1, 2 punch,” tweeted Debra Messing. Reynolds played Messing’s mother on the sitcom Will & Grace. “She was my ‘mom’ for years & I loved her dearly. A legend.”
Messing’s co-star Eric McCormack, who played Will, tweeted a short time later: “The combination of the loss of Carrie Fisher & then her mom Debbie Reynolds is too much. I’m really at a loss here.”
Albert Brooks, who directed and co-starred with Reynolds in 1996’s Mother, was another of the star’s “children” who paid tribute on Wednesday.
Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) Debbie Reynolds, a legend and my movie mom. I can't believe this happened one day after Carrie. My heart goes out to Billie.
Hollywood veteran Carl Reiner, who acted alongside Reynolds in the 1959 comedy The Gazebo, and later directed Carrie Fisher in the 1990 comedy Sibling Rivalry, tweeted: “How shocked we were to learn that Debbie Reynolds passed away just a day after her daughter Carrie. I loved & worked [with] both of these icons.”
Carol Channing, who performed with Reynolds on stage, told the Press Association: “She was beautiful and generous. It seems like only yesterday she was having lunch here at the house and we were discussing the possibility of working together in a new show.”
Actor Rip Taylor, who had also performed with Reynolds in Las Vegas, said: “I was blessed to work with this remarkable woman for 45, almost 50 years. That makes for a very rare bond and unique relationship. She was generous to a fault, never caring who got the laugh from the audience. I will always love her.”
In 2011, Reynolds and Fisher appeared together for an extensive interview on the Oprah Winfrey show. During the interview, mother and daughter spoke about their admiration for each other.
Fisher said: “I believe my mother knows now but if she doesn’t, it would be good if she did: that I take her advice, that I follow her example, that I respect who she is … and if I’m like her in any way then I’m happy that I am.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Winfrey tweeted a photo from the interview, saying: “Remembering the good times with Carrie and her mother.”
Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) Remembering the good times with Carrie and her mother. #RIPCarrie pic.twitter.com/aplDPUrfhm
Fellow chatshow host Ellen DeGeneres added her tribute, expressing concern for the relatives of both women.
Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) I can't imagine what Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds' family are going through this week. I send all of my love.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was among the organisations paying tribute on social media, tweeting: “An actress, a trailblazer and hero, rest in peace Debbie Reynolds.”
Actor and singer Bette Midler also hailed Reynolds on Twitter, saying she was “beautiful, talented, devoted to her craft”.
Reynolds began her rise to stardom at 16, when she caught the eye of Warner Bros during a beauty pageant, but her first breakout role was co-starring with Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her work in 1964’s The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
Debbie Reynolds, the Hollywood aristocrat who was a vitamin boost for the heart | Peter Bradshaw Read more
Reynolds had her two children, Carrie and Todd, with her first husband, singer Eddie Fisher. The couple divorced after Fisher had an affair with Elizabeth Taylor. She married and divorced twice more.
Carrie Fisher memorialized her tumultuous relationship with Reynolds in her semi-autobiographical novel, Postcards From the Edge. Reynolds wanted to play the role of the mother in the film adaptation of the book, but director Mike Nichols cast Shirley MacLaine instead.
mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) Debbie Reynolds cd sing, dance & gave dazzling performances. RIP doesn't sound right for her or Carrie-I hope they're somewhere having fun
Fisher spoke about her mother’s declining health in May, telling People magazine that the star had been “a little more frail” during the filming of their documentary Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.
Todd Fisher told ABC News in June that Reynolds had suffered a “small stroke” while in the hospital recovering from an operation. | – Hollywood is a sadder place with the loss of beloved star Debbie Reynolds, who died Wednesday, just a day after the death of daughter Carrie Fisher. The 84-year-old Reynolds is believed to have suffered a stroke at son Todd Fisher's home while planning her daughter's funeral, the BBC reports. Todd Fisher said the grief and stress of Carrie's death had been too much for his mother and the last thing she said was that "she was very, very sad about losing Carrie and that she would like to be with her again," per the Guardian. Experts say that in extremely stressful events like the death of a spouse or a child, it really is possible to die from a broken heart, with a surge of hormones creating a condition the American Heart Association calls stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Grief expert David Kessler tells USA Today that dying of a broken heart is not only "absolutely real," he believes it is "extremely underdiagnosed." Kessler, who worked with Fisher several times, says the condition is more often seen among couples who were married for many decades, but Reynolds and her daughter were so close that he "would not be surprised if part of this was broken heart syndrome." Some reactions to Reynolds' death: Bette Midler: "This is too hard to comprehend. Beautiful, talented, devoted to her craft, she follows Carrie, dead days ago." Debra Messing, Reynolds' "daughter" on Will & Grace: "So heartsick. Debbie went to be with Carrie. It's such a devastating 1,2 punch. She was my "mom" for years & I loved her dearly. A legend." Albert Brooks, who played her son in Mother: "Debbie Reynolds, a legend and my movie mom. I can't believe this happened one day after Carrie. My heart goes out to Billie." SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris: "We have lost a unique talent and a national treasure. Coming so close to the death of her daughter, Carrie Fisher, this is truly a double tragedy. Their imprint on our culture is profound and they both will live on." Co-star Rip Taylor: "I was blessed to work with this remarkable woman for 45, almost 50 years. That makes for a very rare bond and unique relationship. She was generous to a fault, never caring who got the laugh from the audience. I will always love her," he said, per Variety. |
Numerous studies have shown that marriage is good for your health. As a team of researchers from Basel, Nuremberg, and Berlin have now found, however, that does not apply to all health indicators. Their findings show that married couples on average eat better than singles, but that they also weigh significantly more and do less sport. The researchers compared the relationship between marital status and body mass index, which relates body weight to height. A high body mass index can be a risk factor for chronic illnesses such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
The researchers drew on representative cross-sectional data from 10,226 respondents in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Their study is the first to compare the relationship between marital status and body mass index in nine European countries. Beyond their focus on married couples, the researchers conducted additional analyses with cohabiting couples. They also examined possible reasons for weight gain by asking respondents about their eating and exercise behaviors.
Findings from all nine countries showed that couples have a higher body mass index than singles -- whether men or women. The differences between countries were surprisingly small.
According to the World Health Organization, a normal body mass index is between 18.5 and 25. Overweight is defined as an index between 25 and 30, and obesity as above 30. The average body mass index of the single men in the study was 25.7; that of the married men was 26.3. For women, the average index was 25.1 for singles and 25.6 for married women.
Although these differences may seem small, they are meaningful. In an average-height woman of 165 cm or an average-height man of 180 cm, they represent a difference of about 2 kg. Importantly, the effects of socio-economic status, age, and nationality are already taken into account in these results. "Our findings show how social factors can impact health. In this case, that the institution of marriage and certain changes in behavior within that context are directly related to nutrition and body weight," says Ralph Hertwig, Director of the Center for Adaptive Rationality at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin.
Survey findings on respondents' eating and exercise behaviors offered possible reasons for this trend. For example, couples reported buying more regional and unprocessed products and less convenience food. Moreover, married men were more likely than single men to buy organic and fair trade food. "That indicates that particularly men in long-term relationships are more likely to eat more consciously and, in turn, probably more healthily," says Jutta Mata, lead author of the study and Assistant Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Basel. But it does not mean that they are generally healthier: The study also shows that married men do less sport than singles. "Our findings indicate that couples are not healthier in every respect, as has previously been assumed," says Jutta Mata.
The respondents were asked about their eating and exercise behaviors and attitudes in face-to-face interviews. This approach ensures higher data quality: People's self-reports, for example of their weight, are more realistic if they are asked in person rather than, for example, by telephone. ||||| Wedded folks may not hit the treadmill as often as singletons, but they're sure making healthier decisions in the kitchen, according to new findings.
After amassing the data of 10,226 people from nine different countries, researchers compared the relationship between marital status and body mass index (BMI), and found that couples had a higher BMI than singles, contrary to what another study shows, according to a study published in the journal Social Science and Medicine.
The researchers took data from respondents in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, and the United Kingdom and focused on potential reasons for weight gain by gathering data on eating behaviors and exercise regimens. While the differences in BMI were slight, they still highlight social effects on health.
“Our findings indicate that couples are not healthier in every respect, as has previously been assumed,” said Jutta Mata, lead author of the study and an assistant professor of health psychology at the University of Basel, in a statement.
A normal BMI is from 18.5 to 25, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). BMI looks beyond traditional notions of obesity, which categorized people as either fat or skinny. BMI also takes into account your height. Being overweight is having a BMI range of 25 to 30, and being obese is having a range from 30 and higher.
The average BMI of the single man in the study was 25.7, with the average married man’s BMI being 26.3. In contrast, the single woman’s average index was 25.1 while the married woman’s average index was 25.6. The average height of a woman in the study was 165 cm (5-foot-5) and the average height of a man in the study was 180 cm (5-foot-11). The study showed a difference of 2kg, which equals to nearly 4.5 pounds difference.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that nearly 35 percent or 78.6 million U.S. adults are obese. The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in America is $147 billion, with obesity-related conditions including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Obesity is greatest among middle-age adults.
However, while the data show that couples have in general a higher BMI index, survey data from the respondents showed that couples bought more regional and unprocessed products and less convenience (fast) food. Married men were more likely than single men to buy organic food. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are healthier, because married men as a whole do less strenuous physical activities, such as play sports.
"That indicates that particularly men in long-term relationships are more likely to eat more consciously, and, in turn, probably more healthily," Mata said.
Source: Mata J, Frank R, Hertwig R. Higher body mass index, less exercise, but healthier eating in married adults: Nine representative surveys across Europe. Social Science and Medicine. 2015. | – Marriage doesn't just add to your happiness, but also to your waistline, according to a new study. But singles shouldn't boast just yet. German and Swiss researchers surveyed 10,226 people in nine European countries on their marital status and body mass index—a health indicator based on a person's height and weight—as well as their eating and exercise habits. The results, which factored in socioeconomic status, age, and nationality, show marriage really does make you pack on the pounds: an extra 4.5 pounds in average-height 5-foot-11-inch men and 5-foot-5-inch women, to be precise, reports Medical Daily. That number is based on an average BMI of 25.7 for single men, compared to 26.3 for married men. Single women had a BMI of 25.1, while the number was 25.6 for married women, per ScienceDaily. A normal BMI is 18.5 to 25; 25 to 30 is considered overweight. Though the risk of chronic illnesses like diabetes and cardiovascular disease climb with a person's BMI, the study doesn't actually show single people are healthier. Married men and women across Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, and the United Kingdom were found to eat better than their single counterparts. Married couples reported buying more regional and unprocessed foods and less fast food, while married men were more likely to buy organic and fair-trade food than single men. "That indicates that particularly men in long-term relationships are more likely to eat more consciously and, in turn, probably more healthily," the lead author says. But here's the downside: Married men also skimp on physical activity, the author notes, which suggests "couples are not healthier in every respect, as has previously been assumed." (This 1970s marital trend is on the rise.) |
This post has been updated.
Republican strategist and American Crossroads founder Karl Rove says he didn’t say Hillary Rodham Clinton may have “brain damage” from a 2012 concussion and blood clot, as reported in the New York Post on Thursday. But he says the former secretary of State “has hidden a lot” about the episode and will have to reveal more if she runs for president.
“I never used that phrase. But look, she had a serious episode, a serious health episode,’’ Rove said Tuesday in an interview on Fox News. “We don’t know what the doctor said about what does she have to be concerned about. She’s hidden a lot of this.’’
Rove made the comments about Clinton and brain damage last week at a conference in California, the Post reported Monday. “Thirty days in the hospital? And when she reappears, she’s wearing glasses that are only for people who have traumatic brain injury? We need to know what’s up with that,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.
Clinton, 66, was hospitalized for three days and was away from the State Department for a month during her illness, which began in December 2012 with a virus. While ill, she fell and suffered a concussion; in a follow-up exam, doctors discovered a blood clot located between her skull and brain behind her ear. She was treated with blood thinners.
Clinton’s illness caused her to cancel an overseas trip and postpone congressional testimony on the deaths of American diplomats in Benghazi, Libya. When she returned to public view, she wore glasses to correct lingering double vision from the episode.
Rove said he is simply raising questions that will be asked by news organizations — he cited The New York Times — if Clinton runs for president. “This will be an issue in the 2016 presidential race whether she likes it or not.’’
Rove says Clinton and her advisers will have to weigh health issues in her decision to seek the presidency. “Have them stand up and say ‘No, she’s not going to be concerned at all about her health, this is not going to be a part of her calculation.’ They won’t be telling the truth.’’
Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill said via e-mail that the former first lady’s health is “100%, period,” and he pointed out that when Clinton first fell ill, some politicos on the right accused her of fakery. Then-Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., for instance, said she had “Benghazi flu.”
“Now they’ve resorted to the other extreme — and are flat out lying,” Merrill said. Rove wants to “inject the issue into the echo chamber, and he’s succeeding. It’s flagrant and thinly veiled. They are scared of what she has achieved and what she has to offer. What he’s doing is its own form of sickness.” ||||| Karl Rove on Tuesday defended comments he reportedly made questioning Hillary Clinton's health, saying that her time in and out of a hospital surely will reemerge as a concern should she run for president in 2016.
"This is going to be an issue," Rove told Fox News.
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The New York Post reported that Rove, a Fox News analyst and former George W. Bush administration adviser, said at a recent conference that if Clinton runs for president, voters should be told what happened when she fell at her home in December 2012.
"Thirty days in the hospital? And when she reappears, she's wearing glasses that are only for people who have traumatic brain injury? We need to know what's up with that," Rove reportedly said.
Rove clarified on Fox News that he was never claiming Clinton had brain damage.
But he suggested details are scant on what medical issues she was dealing with in late 2012 and early 2013.
"This was a serious deal. She basically was out of action," he said Tuesday. "She spends over a month fighting this. ... And they're not particularly forthcoming."
Rove said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., faced similar health questions when he ran in 2008.
A representative for Clinton slammed Rove for the remarks reported by the Post. "Karl Rove has deceived the country for years, but there are no words for this level of lying," a spokesperson said, according to the Post. The spokesperson said: "She is 100 percent. Period."
Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill also told The Associated Press: "They are scared of what she has achieved and what she has to offer." White House Press Secretary Jay Carney referred to Rove as "Dr. Rove" when asked about the comments.
Clinton was not in a hospital for 30 days straight. Rather, she was in and out of treatment for about a month in late 2012.
At the time, she had a stomach virus -- and then fell at her home, struck her head and endured a concussion, according to her representatives. Doctors later discovered a blood clot behind her right ear. She was treated with blood thinners.
According to The Associated Press, her doctors said she suffered no neurological damage and was expected to make a full recovery.
The glasses Rove reportedly referred to are typically used by people with traumatic brain injuries -- but that's a broad category that includes concussions. And it's already well known that Clinton suffered one.
Clinton wore special glasses last year after her injury but has not been seen in them lately. ||||| Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
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Karl Rove stunned a conference when he suggested Hillary Clinton may have brain damage.
Onstage with Robert Gibbs and CBS correspondent and “Spies Against Armageddon” co-author Dan Raviv, Rove said Republicans should keep the Benghazi issue alive.
He said if Clinton runs for president, voters must be told what happened when she suffered a fall in December 2012.
The official diagnosis was a blood clot. Rove told the conference near LA Thursday, “Thirty days in the hospital? And when she reappears, she’s wearing glasses that are only for people who have traumatic brain injury? We need to know what’s up with that.”
Rove repeated the claim a number of times to the audience. Clinton’s rep said, “Please assure Dr. Rove she’s 100 percent.”
Despite Rove’s claims, then-Secretary of State Clinton was discharged from New York Presbyterian Hospital after spending three days undergoing treatment for a potentially life-threatening blood clot.
She was seen walking out of the Manhattan hospital for another series of tests but returned to the hospital shortly thereafter. She needed more tests related to her condition, the AP reported, citing unnamed officials.
Clinton, weakened by a stomach virus, fell in her Washington, DC, home in December 2012 and sustained a concussion. Her doctors said a blood clot had formed behind her right ear in the space between her brain and skull.
A spokesperson for Clinton added, “Karl Rove has deceived the country for years, but there are no words for this level of lying.”
As for her health, “She is 100 percent. Period.” ||||| This March 2, 2013 file photo shows Republican strategist Karl Rove speaking in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
Republican strategist Karl Rove on Tuesday distanced himself from a provocative New York Post headline, saying he does not believe -- as the newspaper asserted -- that former secretary of state Hillary Clinton suffered "brain damage" from a head injury in 2012.
"Of course she doesn't have brain damage," he said in an interview with The Washington Post.
But Rove said that it is apparent that Clinton suffered "a serious health episode." He added that if she runs for president in 2016, "she is going to have to be forthcoming" about the details of where, how and when it happened.
He noted that major media organizations will demand her medical records, as they do for every major presidential candidate and as they did for former vice president Richard B. Cheney, who suffered a series of heart attacks.
"She didn't feign illness," Rove said of Clinton's failure to show up at an early round of congressional hearings on Benghazi, Libya -- an absence that some conservative commenters dubbed the "Benghazi flu."
And as Clinton contemplates whether to make another bid for president, Rove said, "she would not be human if it didn't enter into her considerations."
The report in New York Post’s “Page Six” column said Rove addressed Clinton’s health during a conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, when he appeared alongside former Obama administration spokesman Robert Gibbs and CBS correspondent Dan Raviv.
Noting reports that Clinton had suffered a blood clot after a fall in December 2012, Rove said, “Thirty days in the hospital? And when she reappears, she’s wearing glasses that are only for people who have traumatic brain injury? We need to know what’s up with that.”
The tabloid said Rove “repeated the claim a number of times to the audience.” The headline on the item read, “Karl Rove: Hillary may have brain damage.”
According to news reports, Clinton was hospitalized for three days, not 30. The secretary of state was admitted to New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center for a blood clot that developed after a fall from dehydration related to a stomach virus, according to Clinton aides and hospital officials. | – Karl Rove insists he never said Hillary Clinton might have suffered brain damage, despite a headline to that effect today in the New York Post. "Of course she doesn't have brain damage," Rove tells the Washington Post, one of several interviews in which he was distancing himself a bit from the earlier story. "I never used that phrase," he said in an interview on Fox, notes USA Today. But the GOP strategist reiterated that Clinton did have a "serious health episode" after a fall in 2012 and will have to be more "forthcoming" about the details should she run in 2016. "This is going to be an issue," Rove tells Fox News. Here's what the New York Post quoted Rove as saying: “Thirty days in the hospital? And when she reappears, she’s wearing glasses that are only for people who have traumatic brain injury? We need to know what’s up with that.” News stories of the time had Clinton in the hospital for only three days, notes the Washington Post, while Fox News points out that the glasses she was wearing are often used by those who suffer concussions, and Clinton has said she suffered one. White House spokesperson Jay Carney laughed off the remarks today, with a dig at Rove's election punditry on Fox: "Dr. Rove might have been the last person in America on election night to recognize and acknowledge that the president had won re-election." |
James Foley's family has established a journalism scholarship on his behalf. Foley attended Marquette University, graduating with an undergraduate degree in the arts in 1996. The James Foley Scholarship will be in the J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication.
The funds donated to the scholarship will go to "provide financial assistance for a communications student who otherwise would be unable to attend Marquette," said the Foley family in a statement.
Beyond funding, the scholarship will also provide a mentoring program. The program will be staffed by Foley's family and friends. These mentors will encourage students at Marquette to follow in Foley's footsteps by providing "a voice for people whose stories would otherwise go untold." ||||| BOSTON (CBS) – A scholarship fund has been established for slain journalist James Foley at Marquette University.
Foley graduated from the Wisconsin university in 1996.
The fund has been established in the J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication.
DONATE: Foley Scholarship Fund
Foley was kidnapped while covering the conflict in Syria in 2012 and murdered after being held captive for almost two years. ISIS militants say they killed Foley in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes against them in northern Iraq.
MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON ||||| ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — James Foley, the U.S. journalist slain by Islamic State militants after being held in captivity for nearly two years, will be remembered Sunday at a Mass of Remembrance in his hometown.
Irene Harvey reaches over Barbara Bush to light her candle during a candlelight vigil for James Foley in his hometown of Rochester, N.H., Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014. Foley, a freelance journalist, was killed... (Associated Press)
A woman holds a candle during a vigil for James Foley in his hometown of Rochester, N.H., Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014. Several hundred people attended and paid tribute to the freelance American journalist... (Associated Press)
Foley was kidnapped on Thanksgiving Day 2012 while covering the Syrian uprising. The Islamic State posted a Web video Tuesday showing his murder and said it was in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes in northern Iraq.
President Barack Obama has called Foley a hero for telling the stories of oppressed people in war-torn regions like Syria and Libya. The U.S. launched a raid this summer to rescue Foley and other hostages, but special forces were unable to locate the captives.
The Mass at 2 p.m. Sunday is in Foley's hometown church, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Rochester.
At a vigil Saturday night in Rochester, about 200 people gathered to show support for the Foley family. Foley's parents, John and Diane Foley, attended, Foster's Daily Democrat reported.
"We are honored that you care and love Jim. We are honored that you recognized the sacrifices he made," John Foley said. "He loved the Syrian people. He was devoted to telling their story and doing whatever he could to help their fight."
Speakers praised Foley's determination to report on the Syrian people uprooted by conflict.
"Tonight we want to honor freedom and love: the freedom that James so vehemently believed that all people deserved," said Nadia Alawa, founder of NuDay Syria, a Massachusetts-based organization working to ease the pain and loss in Syria. "To James Foley, denying others freedom and a basic voice of feelings and free space was not OK."
She also condemned the campaign of terror and violence carried out by the Islamic State.
"(ISIS) thrives on using the name of Islam to justify their vengeful acts that targets innocent non-Muslims as well as Muslims for no apparent, rational reasons," Alawa said. "As a Muslim, I refuse to let terrorists take my religion as hostage."
The world's largest bloc of Islamic nations also denounced Foley's "heinous" killing and reiterated its support for international efforts to confront the Islamic State.
Iyad Madani, chief of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said in a statement Saturday that the actions of the Islamic State have nothing to do with the values of Islam or his organization's founding principles of tolerance and co-existence. | – Future journalism of students at Wisconsin's Marquette University will get some help from a scholarship fund in honor of James Foley. The American journalist executed by the Islamic State graduated from the school in 1996, CBS News reports, and his family has helped establish a scholarship to "provide financial assistance for a communications student who otherwise would be unable to attend Marquette," per The Wire. A mentoring program will also be created "to help build upon the convictions that drove Jim's passion: to provide a voice for people whose stories would otherwise go untold," according to the family's statement. Meanwhile, his parents have released the last email from Foley's captors. |
A satellite orbiting Earth has spotted 55 southern right whales hanging out in the shallow waters off Argentina.
It turns out that these particular whales are quite easy to spot from space, said Peter Fretwell of the British Antarctic Survey. They got the name right whales because they were once considered the "right" whales to hunt. They are large and slow, and they spend a lot of time lolling near the surface of calm ocean waters.
For this reason, their numbers dropped from a pre-whaling population of 55,000-70,000 to just 300 by the 1920s.
"The same reason they are the right whales to catch makes them the right whales to look for by satellite," said Fretwell.
In a paper published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One, Fretwell argues that tracking the southern right whale population by satellite is not only possible but efficient.
The traditional way to track whale populations is standing on a bridge of a ship and looking out into the ocean, or gliding over the water in an airplane. But these methods are expensive and time-consuming, said Fretwell, and also often inaccurate.
"Satellite imagery provides much more accurate and wider coverage," he said. "If this works, we can take it out to many other species as well."
For this study, Fretwell and his colleagues purchased a single, massive image taken in September 2012 by the WorldView2 satellite. The image covers 70 square miles including Golfo Nuevo, a circular gulf off the Argentine coast and an area where southern right whales are known to breed and raise their young from July through November.
By looking at the same image in different wavelengths -- including one able to penetrate 50 feet beneath the ocean -- the researchers were able to spot 55 probable whales and 22 possible whales in the gulf as well as 13 whale-shapes underwater.
As you can see in the gallery above, the satellite images of whales are far from crystal clear. The authors admit that the satellite system is not perfect. After all, it is possible that a flock of birds or a large rock could be mistaken for a whale -- or that what looks like a single whale is actually a mother whale with a calf.
But these uncertainties should go away with time, scientists say. New satellites will have higher quality imagery and will allow scientists to identify whales with greater confidence, Fretwell and his coauthors write.
Scientists have already used satellite imagery to count populations of penguins in Antarctica, and Fretwell said similar work was being done with seals. The key to using satellites to track animals is not the size of the animal but how much it stands out from its environment, he said.
If you like whales and space, you like what I write about. Follow me on Twitter.
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Teens taunted by bullies are more likely to consider, attempt suicide ||||| Southern right whale Image copyright SPL A baleen whale growing up to 18m in length
Feeds on crustaceans like copepods and krill
Global population may number about 15,000
Tends to live between 40 and 60 degrees South
Scientists have demonstrated a new method for counting whales from space.
It uses very high-resolution satellite pictures and image-processing software to automatically detect the great mammals at or near the ocean surface.
A test count, reported in the journal Plos One, was conducted on southern right whales in the Golfo Nuevo on the coast of Argentina.
The automated system found about 90% of creatures pinpointed in a manual search of the imagery.
This is a huge improvement on previous attempts at space-borne assessment, and could now revolutionise the way whale populations are estimated.
Currently, such work is done through counts conducted from a shore position, from the deck of a ship or from a plane. But these are necessarily narrow in scope.
An automated satellite search could cover a much larger area of ocean and at a fraction of the cost.
"Our study is a proof of principle," said Peter Fretwell from the British Antarctic Survey.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Peter Fretwell: "Blue light penetrates the water column"
"But as the resolution of the satellites increases and our image analysis improves, we should be able to monitor many more species and in other types of location.
"It should be possible to do total population counts and in the future track the trajectory of those populations," he told the Inside Science programme on BBC Radio 4.
The breakthrough is in part down to the capability of the latest hi-res satellites.
In this study, Mr Fretwell and colleagues used DigitalGlobe's WorldView-2 platform.
This is among the most powerful commercial Earth observation platforms in operation today, and can see surface features down to 50cm in size in its panchromatic mode (black and white).
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Vicky Rowntree: "Whales peak at Peninsula Valdes in September"
The team selected as their test area a 113-sq-km segment of the Golfo Nuevo on the Peninsula Valdes, a location famed for its gatherings of calving southern right whales.
Even though these are large animals, they still only take up a few pixels in the satellite picture.
Nonetheless, a manual search of the scene found 55 probable whales, 23 possible whales and 13 sub-surface features.
Several automated methods where then trialled, with the best results coming from a combination of the very hi-res panchromatic view and a narrow band of wavelengths in the violet part (400-450 nanometres) of the light spectrum.
This coastal band, as it is known, penetrates 15m or so into the water column in good conditions.
The automated approach found 89% of probable whales identified in the manual count.
Image copyright DigitalGlobe/BAS Image caption WorldView-2 has spectral bands that allow scientists to pull out specific information in the imagery
Mr Fretwell cautions that there are limitations to the technique. For example, rough seas or murky waters will confound a search. But he believes, on the basis of the trial study, that satellite counting can become a very useful conservation tool.
"In this type of automated analysis you have to balance two types of errors - errors where you miss whales, and errors where you misidentify whales. If you push too hard one way, like trying to catch all the whales, you'll increase the number of false positives. With our 90%, we had almost no misidentifications," the researcher explained.
Southern right whales were a very appropriate target for the study.
These animals were driven to near-extinction in the early 20th Century. Recognised as slow, shallow swimmers, they were the "right" whales to hunt.
Their numbers have seen something of a recovery, but without the means to carry out an accurate census, it is hard to know their precise status.
Concern has also been raised of late because of the sightings of many dead calves in the nursery grounds around the Peninsula Valdes.
Prof Vicky Rowntree from the University of Utah is the director of the Ocean Alliance's Southern Right Whale Program, and has spent many years studying the Valdes whales.
She said the new method would be a huge boon to her field of research.
"It's going to be absolutely amazing. The other dimension of it is that many marine mammal researchers have been killed flying in small planes while surveying whales. So my great desire is to get us out of small planes circling over whales and to be able to do it remotely. Satellite data is wonderful."
Image copyright Stephen roberts Image caption The southern right is the most abundant of the three right whale species
To hear more about southern right whales and satellite counting, listen to Inside Science with Lucie Green on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday at 1630 GMT.
[email protected] and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos | – Typically, scientists count whales from a ship's bridge or an airplane, but those techniques come with a number of downsides: They cost a lot of time and money and they can be inaccurate, the Los Angeles Times notes. What's more, "many marine mammal researchers have been killed flying in small planes while surveying whales," an expert says. Now, scientists have a potential solution to the problem. A team has successfully counted whales at or near the water's surface using satellite imagery, the BBC reports. They bought a single picture from the WorldView2 satellite, which can spot items just 20 inches long on Earth's surface. The image, showing 70 square miles, focused on a breeding area used by southern right whales off the coast of Argentina. Whales made up just a few pixels in the image. When scientists counted the whales themselves, they spotted 55 likely candidates—as well as 22 that may have been whales and 13 underwater shapes that looked like the animals, the Times reports. A computer program also counted the images, finding 89% of the probable whales. "As the resolution of the satellites increases and our image analysis improves, we should be able to monitor many more species," says a researcher, noting that "total population counts" should eventually be possible. |
/ Updated
On Feb. 19, 1942, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which paved the way for the World War II incarcerations of Japanese Americans. Over the next five years, more than 120,000 people, two-thirds of whom were native-born United States citizens, were forced to leave their homes and livelihoods for quickly-built camps in some of the country's most unforgiving climates.
During the intervening years, Japanese Americans fought bravely in the United States military, with the Army's 442nd Infantry Regiment, made up of second-generation nisei soldiers, being the most decorated unit in U.S. military history. Japanese Americans have also fought for justice at home, winning redress and an apology from Congress in the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
"[Congress] recognizes that a grave injustice was done to both citizens and resident aliens of Japanese ancestry," the law reads. "On behalf of the Nation, the Congress apologizes."
RELATED: Remembering Executive Order 9066, the ‘Single Act’ that Began Internment
A rosary and a stone sit on a monument honoring the dead in the cemetery at Manzanar National Historic Site on December 9, 2015 near Independence, California. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Seventy-five years later, the lessons from this period in time continue to resonate with many. Below are some of the stories of survivors of incarceration and the advocates that are keeping their histories alive that NBC Asian America has reported.
Behind Barbed Wire: Remembering America’s Largest Internment Camp
Last year, NBC Asian America spoke with five Americans who recounted the years of their lives spent behind the barbed wire of the Tule Lake Segregation Center, a maximum-security prison camp for those labeled as "disloyal" to the government.
From left to right: Satsuki Ina (photographed in her home in Sacramento, California); Hiroshi Kashiwagi (photographed in his home in San Francisco, California); Jim Tanimoto (photographed at his home in Gridley, California); George Nakano (photographed in his home in Torrance, California); and Jimi Yamaichi (photographed at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose in San Jose, California). All five, photographed in 2016, were interned at Tule Lake Segregation Center during World War II. Michael Chin / NBC News
Through audio, photos, and text, Satsuki Ina, Hiroshi Kashiwagi, Jim Tanimoto, George Nakano, and Jimi Yamaichi described what it was like to wake up one day and have their entire lives changed. The five also share their first impressions of Tule Lake, the ways in which their community fought back, and how — years later — they continue to find healing through collective memory.
Seventy Years After Manzanar, the Stories of Incarceration Live On
Three survivors of Manzanar, the most widely-known of the 10 camps, spoke with NBC Asian America about their experiences during the war, and how they learned to tell their stories.
"We never talked about it, or if we did it was just joking," Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, author of "Farewell to Manzanar," told NBC. "I was married 13 or 14 years before my husband knew [about Manzanar]. Somehow he asked me about it. I began to tell him and I became hysterical. It was shameful for three years to be living in this prison camp."
The Parallel Between Trump’s Immigration Ban and Past U.S. Anti-Asian Policies
"In particular, this climate of fear and racism and hatred that is going on parallels a lot with what we saw happen during World War II."
A Lookback at the Decades-Long Embargoed Incarceration Camp Photos
The federal government, reportedly from seeing these photographs as potentially damaging press, embargoed them for 30 years.
75 Years After Start of Internment, Archaeologists Excavate Hawaii’s Largest Camp
"When I was in elementary school I never even heard that this had occurred. We never studied this in history or talked about it," William Belcher, an archaeology professor at the University of Hawaiʻi - West Oʻahu, told NBC Asian America.
Four decades out of elementary school, that's changed.
From Internment to Advocacy, One Family’s Journey
"Here, my family lived behind barbed wire. Here, they fought to stay together. And here, their lives – like hundreds of thousands of Japanese Americans at the time – were forever changed."
Digital Project Aims to Preserve Stories of Incarcerated Japanese Americans
"I do think sometimes it's an uphill battle because most Americans view Asians as model minority and that's used against other groups. I think we have to somehow break through and show it in a clear light. We have to show that we're all struggling. It's not just one versus the other. We all have to make things better."
Follow NBC Asian America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr. ||||| / Updated By Stephany Bai
Densho, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of Japanese-American incarceration during WWII, recently highlighted the work of photographer Dorothea Lange, whose photographs were placed under government embargo for thirty years.
Natasha Varner, Densho’s communications manager, emphasized the importance of Lange’s work in an organization blog post. “Lange’s exclusion-era photographs helped catalyze Japanese-American activism in the 1970s, and they continue to powerfully shape the collective memory of one of the darkest moments in American history,” she wrote.
Lange, known primarily for her photographs of Dust Bowl America during the Great Depression, was hired by the War Relocation Authority (WRA) in 1942 to document the removal and imprisonment of Japanese Americans.
Original WRA caption: Turlock, California. These children have just arrived at Turlock Assembly center. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry will be transferred later to a War Relocation Authority center for the duration. Dorothea Lange / Densho, Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration
Lange had personal misgivings about the work, according to Densho: She told a friend that she was “appalled” by a “federal government who could treat its citizens so unjustly.” The organization said she was also frustrated by the WRA’s censorship, which explicitly banned Lange from photographing barbed wire and bayonets. She quit after just a few months, but not before producing “a body of work that at once captured the inhumane actions of the US government and the humanity of the individuals being forced to leave their lives behind for the 'crime' of Japanese ancestry.”
RELATED: Digital Project Aims to Preserve Stories of Incarcerated Japanese Americans
The federal government, seeing these photographs as potentially damaging press, embargoed them for 30 years, according to Densho. They were released for public viewing in 1972, when they were featured in the landmark traveling exhibition, Executive Order 9066.
April 25, 1942, Byron, California. Original caption: Toshi Mizoguchi waiting at the Wartime Civil Control Administration station to register for evacuation. Mr. Mizoguchi came to the United States from Japan in 1892 and has been a farm laborer on California ranches since that time. He is unmarried. He is seen wearing an American flag on a celluloid button. Dorothea Lange / Densho, Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration
Brian Niiya, Densho’s content director, told NBC News in an e-mail that the exhibit, and the release of the Lange photographs, was timely.
“The exhibition came in the context of increasing sympathetic media coverage of the Japanese American WWII story,” he said. “At the same time, there was also increasing interest within the Japanese American community, largely driven by Sansei coming of age and influenced by the 1960s-1970s social movements.”
“There is [an] oft-told story about Sansei [third-generation Japanese-American] kids first learning about the incarceration in school and confronting their parents about why they never told their kids about this," he continued. "(The most famous such story is that of Karen Korematsu, who learned about her father's landmark Supreme Court case in school!)”
Niiya wrote that exhibitions of photographs such as Lange’s, which had never been seen to the public before, helped catalyze political movements within the Japanese-American community.
“Along with camp pilgrimages, political activism around the repeal of Title II, and a flood of new books, these exhibitions were part of the changing attitudes to the Japanese American wartime experience in the early 1970s that led to the Redress Movement of the 1980s,” he wrote.
May 20, 1942. Woodland, California. Original caption: Evacuees of Japanese ancestry from this rich agricultural district are on their way to Merced Assembly center. This special train consists of ten cars. Dorothea Lange / Densho, Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration
Follow NBC Asian America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. ||||| Farming Behind Barbed Wire: Japanese-Americans Remember WWII Incarceration
Enlarge this image toggle caption Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project via The National Archives Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project via The National Archives
At 98, Riichi Fuwa doesn't remember his Social Security number, but he remembers this: "19949. That was my number the government gave me," he said. "19949. You were more number than name."
That was the number that Fuwa was assigned when he was 24 years old, soon after he was forced off his family's farm in Bellingham, Wash., and incarcerated at the Tule Lake camp, just south of the Oregon border in California's Modoc County.
Seventy-five years ago today, on Feb. 19, 1942, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 9066, which led all Japanese-Americans on the West Coast to be forced from their homes and businesses during World War II.
Fuwa was one of almost 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry, most American citizens and farmers, who were incarcerated in what were euphemistically called "relocation" or "internment" camps. I met Fuwa last summer, when I joined a four-day pilgrimage to Tule Lake undertaken by survivors of the camps and their children and grandchildren.
"I wanted to see the place for the last time," Fuwa told me.
Before the war, nearly two-thirds of West Coast Japanese-Americans worked in agriculture. People like 93-year-old Jim Tanimoto, from the Sacramento Valley town of Gridley. His father grew rice, then cultivated peaches.
Tanimoto and Fuwa's immigrant parents faced laws barring them from owning or holding long-term leases on land. Despite that, by 1940 they and their American-born children grew almost 40 percent of the vegetables in California.
toggle caption Courtesy of Gen Fujitani
Then, on Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese military bombed Pearl Harbor. Resentment and hysteria grew about anyone of Japanese origin, even those born in the United States. Tanimoto remembered, "Then Executive Order 9066 was signed. Things changed."
On Feb. 19, 1942, when President Roosevelt signed the executive order authorizing the removal of anyone from military areas, Japanese-Americans could read between the lines. They knew the order mainly targeted them. Soon, the commanding general for the West Coast determined that all people of Japanese origin – whether immigrant or U.S.-born citizen – in coastal areas had to move inland onto so-called "relocation camps." Many had to abandon their orchards and fields, with crops ready to harvest.
"When I stepped out of the train, the terrain was not a big shock," Tanimoto said. "I knew what the terrain looked like."
That's because, when he was younger, Tanimoto had hunted for deer up in the Tule Lake Basin, when all he could see was dusty land and scrub brush. When, in 1942, Tanimoto and the 15,000 other forcibly evacuated Japanese-Americans arrived at Tule Lake, they saw a landscape dominated by barracks covered in black tar paper.
"Rows and rows and rows of these buildings," said Tanimoto. "We were inside the barbed-wire fence, the armed guard towers. We couldn't walk out of the enclosure. I might get shot." He remembered thinking, "Hey, I'm an American citizen! Now I'm the one being hunted."
Government Farmworkers
Jim Tanimoto and many other once-successful farm owners were about to become field workers for the U.S. government.
The guard towers and rows of barracks have long since been torn down or moved. Our guide on the pilgrimage points out the few remaining buildings, and the huge swaths of farmland once worked by Tule Lake prisoners. Over 1,000 Japanese-Americans worked in the fields, most earning just $12 a month, a quarter of what farmworkers made at the time.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Densho: The Japanese American Legacy via The National Archives Densho: The Japanese American Legacy via The National Archives
Agriculture wasn't incidental at any of the incarceration camps. Many of the new War Relocation Authority administrators came right from the Department of Agriculture. Camp locations, though usually in deserts and other inhospitable places, were often chosen for their existing government irrigation projects or agricultural potential. The government's intention was to improve the land for after the war.
Each of the 10 incarceration camps nationwide had working farms, but Tule Lake was different. The land was on a former lake bed, so despite a dusty, snowy and windy climate and a short growing season, it produced enough food for its own mess halls and those at other camps. That production was so essential that when the Tule Lake camp opened, eligible men who refused to work were threatened with $20 a month fines.
Farmworkers at Tule Lake harvested almost 30 crops, including potatoes, rutabagas and daikon radishes. They also grew grain and hay for animal feed, and kept hogs and chickens.
Before the war, Lucille Hitomi's father ran a commercial flower business in Mountain View, Calif. At Tule Lake, he worked the fields, under white supervisors.
"I remember my dad saying, 'I don't know if they were good farmers,' " she said, but those bosses relied on the expertise of the Japanese-American laborers to develop a productive farm. To keep some semblance of normalcy, families like Hitomi's tried to create special meals. It helped that her brother worked at the camp slaughterhouse.
Enlarge this image toggle caption National Archives National Archives
"I don't know if this was legal," Hitomi remembered, "but sometimes he would bring bits of meat home. My mother brought to camp a hot plate and a frying pan, and she'd cook the meat in the barrack," instead of joining hundreds of others in the mess hall. "I guess it was more like home," Hitomi said.
The stated purpose of these farms was to feed the incarcerated, but camp administrators took produce, grain and hay grown by these imprisoned Japanese American workers, and sold it on the open market – over 2 million pounds of it from Tule Lake alone.
Loyalty questioned
One year after ordering Japanese-Americans out of their homes, the government made every adult in every camp fill out a questionnaire. "This outrageous questionnaire was used to separate the so-called loyal people from the disloyal," said writer and historian Barbara Takei, who also attended the pilgrimage.
Jim Tanimoto remembers that two questions caused the most confusion and anger: No. 27 asked a person's willingness to join the armed forces – this, after being incarcerated.
"And No. 28 was sort of like a trick question, 'Would you cut your ties with Japan and the emperor?, " he recalled. "Well, I'm an American citizen and a Gridley farm boy. I have no ties with Japan or the emperor, so how was I supposed to answer this question?"
If he had no ties to begin with, he couldn't answer "yes" and cut them. But if he answered "no," the U.S. government would assume he was disloyal.
Tanimoto and all of the other young men in Block 42, his area of the Tule Lake camp, refused to answer. They were arrested and jailed in nearby towns, then at a former Civilian Conservation Corps camp nearby.
"I stood on my constitutional rights," Tanimoto said. "You can't do this to American citizens."
More people at Tule Lake refused to answer these questions, or answered no to one or both, than at any other camp. Additional fences and guard towers went up, and anyone in the whole camp system who didn't answer "yes" to both questions was labeled "disloyal" and was sent to the re-named Tule Lake Segregation Center. This was in the 1940s, two decades before the civil rights movement.
"Now, post-civil rights movement, we realize that the right to protest is a precious American right," Takei said. "It was something that the people who were imprisoned in Tule Lake exercised, and because of that they were punished."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Gen Fujitani Courtesy of Gen Fujitani
A camp that was the largest 'city' in region
By fall of 1943, Tule Lake Segregation Center became the largest "city" in California north of Sacramento, ballooning to nearly 19,000 people, most of them labeled troublemakers. Camp got tense. With a larger workforce, the administrators expanded the farm, and expected a huge harvest, but the laborers complained of poor food rations and major safety concerns.
Then, a truck carrying Japanese-American laborers from the farm had an accident. Nearly 30 worker were injured. One died. Farmworkers refused to go back to work.
"They recognized that they had leverage by having the strike right when the crops are ready to pick," Takei explained. The camp director turned around and brought in Japanese-Americans from other incarceration camps to break the strike.
"These strikebreakers were also paid a dollar an hour, so in two days they could make more than a farm worker at Tule Lake would make in a month," Takei said.
Camp administrators would simply not let the fields go unharvested. A few days later, Takei explained, the Tule Lake laborers became even angrier.
"Workers saw a truck leaving the warehouse area filled with food," ostensibly to feed the strikebreakers. Some 200 people surrounded the truck.
"And that's what caused the camp director to call in a battalion, with the tanks rolling in, and the camp was shut down," said Takei.
Martial law
Japanese-American leaders were thrown in a stockade, with no legal recourse. Within days, martial law was declared.
This marked the end of large-scale farming, and the beginning of two tumultuous years at Tule Lake. The military raided barracks, and hundreds of people ended up in the stockade, then a jail, for months. There were more protests. A radical faction grew in camp, and eventually thousands of angry, scared, or confused Japanese-Americans imprisoned at Tule Lake renounced their U.S. citizenship, actions many felt were made under duress, and which took 20 years to reverse.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Gen Fujitani Courtesy of Gen Fujitani
The Tule Lake Segregation Center closed in the spring of 1946, six months after the war ended. What remained were empty barracks that once housed families, and thousands of acres of rich farmland. Riichi Fuwa, 98, remembered that the land he and other Japanese-Americans improved got parceled off to veterans returning from war.
"When the soldiers came back and they wanted to farm, they could homestead that place," he said.
I asked him, jokingly, if he was offered that land. Fuwa just laughed.
Some former incarcerees returned home and eventually rebuilt successful farm businesses. Not Fuwa. His farm was overgrown, all the equipment stolen.
"There's no way to express that feeling when you see the place like that," he said.
He soon left farming forever.
By 1960, the number of Japanese-American farmers dropped to a quarter of their prewar presence. With lost farms, homes and businesses, it's estimated that wartime incarceration cost Japanese-Americans up to $4 billion in today's values. Some of those losses were compensated in 1988, when President Ronald Reagan signed redress legislation offering a formal apology and giving $20,000 to each survivor.
The non-economic losses – to Japanese-Americans, to California, to the whole country – are impossible to measure. Especially now, Takei said, we must remember "how easily people — because of fear and anger — lose sight of our important national values of justice and rule of law." She drew parallels with Muslim Americans, refugees and immigrants, "as though demonizing other people is going to solve our problems."
All we have to do, she said, is look at the World War II incarceration of Japanese -Americans to see that's not true.
Lisa Morehouse is an independent journalist. This story was produced in collaboration with the Food & Environment Reporting Network, a non-profit investigative news organization. Meradith Hoddinott helped with research. ||||| poster="http://v.politico.com/images/1155968404/201611/883/1155968404_5214507358001_5214501338001-vs.jpg?pubId=1155968404" true Trump supporter cites Japanese internment 'precedent' in backing Muslim registry
A spokesman for the pro-Trump Great America PAC cited World War II Japanese internment camps as "precedent" for President-elect Donald Trump's discussed plan for a Muslim registry system.
Carl Higbie, a former Navy SEAL, appeared on Fox News' "The Kelly File" to argue in favor of the plan, which Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said in a Reuters interview is being modeled after the highly controversial National Security Entry-Exit Registration System implemented after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
Story Continued Below
Confronted with questions about the constitutionality of such a plan, Higbie cited history, in particular the forced relocation and incarceration of Japanese Americans following the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II.
"We've done it based on race, we've done it based on religion, we've done it based on region," he said. "We've done it with Iran back — back a while ago. We did it during World War II with [the] Japanese."
Pressed by host Megyn Kelly on whether he was suggesting re-implementing the internment camps, Higbie said no, before adding: "I'm just saying there is precedent for it."
Kelly then swiftly rebuked his suggestion.
"You can't be citing Japanese internment camps as precedent for anything the president-elect is gonna do," she said. ||||| / Updated By Mathew Ursua
Chopping through the overgrowth with machetes to clear a way through terrain, William Belcher’s students know there’s American history beneath dirt that’s settled for seven decades.
The land is stained.
"When I was in elementary school I never even heard that this had occurred. We never studied this in history or talked about it,” Belcher, an archaeology professor at the University of Hawaiʻi - West Oʻahu, told NBC News.
Four decades out of elementary school, that’s changed.
Belcher, now in his 50s, does archaeological work on the site of the Honouliuli National Monument, the site of an incarceration camp where some of Hawaii’s Japanese-American residents were held during World War II.
Seventy-five years after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 and set in motion the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans, Belcher’s archaeology students have been cutting through grass and bushes, getting dirt on their hands, and laboring atop soil that veils history where Hawaii’s largest incarceration camp stood.
Their work at the site, which was designated a national monument by then-President Barack Obama in 2015, is part of an effort to preserve it and map its features.
“It’s interesting to watch the students all of a sudden get a personal connection to this piece of land. It’s just part of the landscape of UH-West Oʻahu — just up the hill from the campus,” Belcher said.
For now, the field school students are among the few who can set foot there. Rebecca Rinas, a planner for National Park Service, told NBC News it could be many years before Honouliuli is open to visitors. Funding isn’t guaranteed and the two-year-old national monument is still landlocked by private land.
There are no public roads in or out of the site, Rinas said of the gulch in central Oahu that receives little airflow. Those conditions, Belcher noted, have made working on the site a challenge.
“The gulch gets to about 90 degrees — in excess of 90 degrees most of the time when we were there,” Belcher said. “The basic technology is to walk in a systematic fashion across the entire landscape.”
But the grass gets in the way.
The grass at the Honouliuli site is "very thick and very heavy and you're trying to see what's on the ground. Your visibility is very low. It's very difficult to do," William Belcher said, adding that the group spends a lot of time clearing the area with machetes. Courtesy of University of Hawai'i - West O'ahu
“It's very thick and very heavy and you’re trying to see what’s on the ground. Your visibility is very low. It’s very difficult to do,” he said, adding that the group spends a lot of time clearing the area with machetes.
Belcher said students also mapped roads, fence lines, concrete structures, and rocks with handheld GPS units.
“It’s interesting to watch the students all of a sudden get a personal connection to this piece of land. It’s just part of the landscape of UH-West Oʻahu — just up the hill from the campus."
Buried in the dirt are concrete slabs, one of which stands a meter below the surface. Belcher, who’s led about a dozen students over the last two summers into the gulch, said the slabs were foundations for buildings.
UH-West Oʻahu anthropology student Tracy Dixon was one of the 16 who worked the site over the past summer for credit. He said the group started excavating to look for a slab which was believed to be where a mess hall stood.
“Everybody who worked and was in that field school had a great time, bonded doing the hard work, and had an amazing experience,” Dixon told NBC News. He said that the group did locate a corner of the slab they were looking for after digging deep.
Of the more than dozen sites designated as incarceration camps and detention facilities in the U.S., Honouliuli was built for “prolonged detention.” It detained local Japanese leaders and businessmen, clergymen, and those with influence. (In addition to serving as an incarceration camp for Japanese Americans, several thousand prisoners of war, including Italians and Koreans, were also detained — even after the war ended.)
RELATED: The Untold Story: Japanese-Americans' WWII Internment in Hawaii
According to Belcher, unlike on the West Coast, territorial Hawaii’s Japanese weren’t kept in total exclusion. Forty percent of Hawaii was Japanese. Many were immigrants who crossed the Pacific Ocean on ships to work on plantations.
“Hawaii had a plantation economy that would’ve collapsed. It was dependent on the Japanese culture,” Belcher said. “They only interred a small percentage of the people on the island.”
In fact, before it became the site of Hawaii’s longest-operating incarceration camp, Honouliuli was plantation land.
“With that came a lot of importation of labor which increased the ethnic diversity and changed the landscape into intense agriculture,” Belcher said.
Reaching further back in time, archaeologists can examine ancient Hawaiian sustainability. Belcher said he’s interested in the gulch’s place in the ahupua‘a system. After the buildings were demolished in 1946, the site was used for ranching. Belcher explained that digs have uncovered horse bones from the 1950s through mid-2000s.
Along with connecting the dots of the site’s past, Belcher also said that he sees parallels in the Honouliuli site to today’s post-9/11 policies.
“Many saw that as an erosion of constitutional rights,” Belcher said. “Taking the other and picking that person as the enemy even if they’re productive American citizens.”
For Dixon, the student who worked the site over the summer, the monument is about an important time in American history. He said he plans to enroll again next summer.
“It was a very worthwhile project,” he said.
Follow NBC Asian America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr. ||||| George Takei wrote an open letter to the mayor of Roanoke, Va. on Wednesday. (Photo: Desiree Navarro, WireImage)
Update: Roanoke Mayor David A. Bowers apologized Friday for praising the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, according to The Huffington Post. "I apologize to all those offended by my remarks," Bowers said at a special meeting of the Roanoke City Council, resisting calls for his resignation. "No one else is to be blamed but me."
The mayor noted surprise his remarks went viral. "I anticipated that the statement might receive some coverage in the Roanoke Valley, but I did not in any way anticipate that it would trend internationally over the Internet," he said. "It's just not in my heart to be racist or bigoted," he added. "My statement was intended to be respectful -- was intended to be respectful -- measured and moderate in tone and substance, but it fell short obviously."
Original story:
George Takei was so angered by a Virginia mayor's response the Syrian refugee crisis on Wednesday, he took to Facebook.
After the Paris attacks, a stream of state leaders have called for a moratorium on refugees from Syria, opposing President Obama's pledge that the U.S. will take in 10,000 Syrian refugees next year.
But it was comments made by the mayor of Roanoke, Va., David A. Bowers, justifying the use of Japanese internment camps in World War II, which drew Takei's ire.
On Wednesday, Bowers joined 26 state governors in objecting the admittance of refugees. In his letter, Bowers stated he is "reminded that Franklin D. Roosevelt felt compelled to sequester Japanese foreign nationals after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and it appears that the threat of harm to America from Isis now is just as real and serious as that from our enemies then."
The comparison drew a sharp rebuke from Takei, a Japanese-American who was born in Los Angeles and in 1942 was sent to an internment camp with his family.
Takei writes: "The internment (not a "sequester") was not of Japanese "foreign nationals," but of Japanese Americans, two-thirds of whom were U.S. citizens. I was one of them, and my family and I spent 4 years in prison camps because we happened to look like the people who bombed Pearl Harbor. It is my life's mission to never let such a thing happen again in America."
He adds: "There never was any proven incident of espionage or sabotage from the suspected "enemies" then, just as there has been no act of terrorism from any of the 1,854 Syrian refugees the U.S. already has accepted. We were judged based on who we looked like, and that is about as un-American as it gets."
The Star Trek alum, who is currently starring in the show Allegiance on Broadway, closed by inviting the mayor to be his guest at an upcoming show.
You can read Takei's letter here:
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1j8BEBi ||||| Laura Bush is a former first lady of the United States.
On Sunday, a day we as a nation set aside to honor fathers and the bonds of family, I was among the millions of Americans who watched images of children who have been torn from their parents. In the six weeks between April 19 and May 31, the Department of Homeland Security has sent nearly 2,000 children to mass detention centers or foster care. More than 100 of these children are younger than 4 years old. The reason for these separations is a zero-tolerance policy for their parents, who are accused of illegally crossing our borders.
I live in a border state. I appreciate the need to enforce and protect our international boundaries, but this zero-tolerance policy is cruel. It is immoral. And it breaks my heart.
Our government should not be in the business of warehousing children in converted box stores or making plans to place them in tent cities in the desert outside of El Paso. These images are eerily reminiscent of the internment camps for U.S. citizens and noncitizens of Japanese descent during World War II, now considered to have been one of the most shameful episodes in U.S. history. We also know that this treatment inflicts trauma; those who have been interned have been twice as likely to suffer cardiovascular disease or die prematurely than those who were not interned.
Americans pride ourselves on being a moral nation, on being the nation that sends humanitarian relief to places devastated by natural disasters or famine or war. We pride ourselves on believing that people should be seen for the content of their character, not the color of their skin. We pride ourselves on acceptance. If we are truly that country, then it is our obligation to reunite these detained children with their parents — and to stop separating parents and children in the first place.
People on all sides agree that our immigration system isn’t working, but the injustice of zero tolerance is not the answer. I moved away from Washington almost a decade ago, but I know there are good people at all levels of government who can do better to fix this.
Recently, Colleen Kraft, who heads the American Academy of Pediatrics, visited a shelter run by the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement. She reported that while there were beds, toys, crayons, a playground and diaper changes, the people working at the shelter had been instructed not to pick up or touch the children to comfort them. Imagine not being able to pick up a child who is not yet out of diapers.
Twenty-nine years ago, my mother-in-law, Barbara Bush, visited Grandma’s House, a home for children with HIV/AIDS in Washington. Back then, at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, the disease was a death sentence, and most babies born with it were considered “untouchables.” During her visit, Barbara — who was the first lady at the time — picked up a fussy, dying baby named Donovan and snuggled him against her shoulder to soothe him. My mother-in-law never viewed her embrace of that fragile child as courageous. She simply saw it as the right thing to do in a world that can be arbitrary, unkind and even cruel. She, who after the death of her 3-year-old daughter knew what it was to lose a child, believed that every child is deserving of human kindness, compassion and love.
In 2018, can we not as a nation find a kinder, more compassionate and more moral answer to this current crisis? I, for one, believe we can. | – There's one date that will live in infamy, per President Roosevelt, but Feb. 19, 1942, might qualify, too. It was on this day 75 years ago that FDR signed Executive Order 9066, which laid the groundwork for the internment of Japanese Americans. NBC News reports that some 80,000 native-born citizens were incarcerated in one of 10 hastily constructed camps along with some 40,000 immigrants. An apology was made by President Ford in 1976, and reparations for the "grave injustice" were authorized by Congress in 1988, Smithsonian reports. As the anniversary is marked, some of the best reading on the subject: "When I was in elementary school I never even heard that this had occurred." That's changed for William Belcher, who is now leading an archaeological effort to excavate the Honouliuli Internment and POW Camp on O'ahu. Read it at NBC News. Last summer, NPR reporter Lisa Morehouse traveled with Riichi Fuwa to what's left of Tule Lake camp, which sits just south of the Oregon border. "I wanted to see the place for the last time," the 98-year-old says. She looks at it through the lens of the forced agriculture that occurred there. In an editorial, the Los Angeles Times looks back on what it calls its "shameful response" to internment, which read in part, "The time has come to realize that the rigors of war demand proper detention of Japanese and their immediate removal from the most acute danger spots. It is not a pleasant task. But it must be done and done now. There is no safe alternative." You likely know Dorothea Lange for her famed Dust Bowl photos (especially this one) from the 1930s, but the War Relocation Authority hired her in 1942 to photograph the incarceration of Japanese Americans. Her photos were embargoed by the government for three decades. NBC News reports on her "misgivings" about what was happening. Read Executive Order 9066, which doesn't actually refer to Japanese Americans, at the National Archives, which also offers a history of the internment. Smithsonian has the story of Fred Korematsu, who fought against internment all the way to the Supreme Court (and told police he had minor surgery in an attempt to change his appearance). |
Bloomberg News
An attendee looking at a battery charger is reflected on a Tesla Motors Inc. Model S electric vehicle displayed at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013 in Tokyo. Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg
Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA:US)’s plan to build what co-founder Elon Musk bills as the world’s largest battery factory could shake up the power industry and trigger a bidding contest between states eager for the 6,500 jobs the $5 billion investment could create.
The luxury electric-car maker announced yesterday that it’s selling at least $1.6 billion of convertible notes to finance the project and exploring locations in Texas, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico for a 10 million-square-foot facility. Tesla declined to comment on whether any negotiations had begun.
“This would rank as the most attractive industrial project out there,” said Dennis Cuneo, president of DC Strategic Advisors LLC and a former Toyota Motor Corp. executive who helped that carmaker select manufacturing sites.
Tesla has dubbed the project the “gigafactory,” and it would make Musk a force in both U.S. manufacturing and electric power. The plant he envisions would have more capacity than any other to make lithium-ion batteries.
“This has a huge impact beyond Tesla,” said Harley Shaiken, a labor economist at the University of California, Berkeley. “It gives enormous legitimacy to battery production and the future of the electric car because that lies in the battery. It’s high stakes, high technology.”
Tesla plans an investment of $4 billion to $5 billion by 2020 and will fund about $2 billion of the total, the Palo Alto, California-based company said in a presentation on its website. The convertible bond offering could grow to $1.84 billion, according to a separate statement.
Power Storage
The plant is key to Tesla becoming a mass-market automaker capable of producing 500,000 or more electric vehicles a year from a projected 35,000 this year, Musk has said. Its cheapest vehicle, the Model S, starts at $71,000.
The 42-year-old billionaire could also get closer to achieving his goal of being a leader in the power-storage industry in the U.S., as utility customers continue to turn to batteries and solar panels to reduce electricity bills.
The scale of production at the planned factory would be so immense that Tesla estimates it would drive down lithium-ion battery costs by at least 30 percent.
That possibility for batteries capable of storing large amounts of electricity from wind, solar and other renewable sources is what makes the project appealing, said James Albertine, an equity analyst with Stifel Nicolaus & Co., who rates Tesla a hold. Tesla rose 2.5 percent to $259.30 at 9:55 a.m. New York time.
“On the vehicle side, I am pretty steadfast in my skepticism at $200 or above. I’m a bear,” Albertine said. “My bull case is in the case that the cars become ancillary.”
‘Robust Competition’
Tesla, he said, would essentially become a power storage company. That would benefit SolarCity Corp., which is partly owned by Musk and may be a partner in the factory.
Musk said last week that Panasonic Corp. (6752) -- now the biggest supplier of lithium-ion cells used in Tesla’s batteries -- may also be involved. Panasonic’s participation is “not 100 percent confirmed,” he said in a Bloomberg Television interview.
While Tesla identified only four states as potential hosts, “it’s going to draw interest from many others,” Cuneo said. He predicted a “robust competition” where “incentives are probably going to be a big factor.”
A slide-show on the Tesla website includes a rendering of the facility in a desert landscape, with adjacent solar and wind farms to supply electricity. Construction could begin as early as this year, according to the presentation.
“Without question there will be a very intense bidding war -- $5 billion is a breathtaking figure,” Shaiken said. States want the jobs and “also the research and development related to this. That’s going to be very significant.”
Up Sevenfold
Tesla announced the fundraising and plans for the gigafactory after the shares closed at their highest since the company’s initial public offering in June 2010. They’ve gone up sevenfold in the past year.
The company will offer $800 million of notes due 2019 and $800 million due 2021. The company plans to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase as much as an additional $120 million due 2019, and an additional $120 million, due 2021, bringing the offering to as much as $1.84 billion. The coupon, conversion rate and other terms of the notes haven’t been determined, according to the statement.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Deutsche Bank AG are jointly managing the offering, the company said.
Previous Surge
Proceeds from the note sale will also be used to produce a “Gen III” vehicle that’s cheaper than the Model S sedan. The offering will also accelerate growth of Tesla’s business in the U.S. and overseas, as the company prepares to enter China next month.
The fundraising move echoes Tesla’s sale of $1.08 billion of new shares and notes in May 2013 amid a previous surge in the company’s shares.
“Obviously, they understand the need to strike while the iron is hot,” said Alan Baum, an analyst at Baum & Associates in West Bloomfield, Michigan, who tracks alternative-powertrain technologies. “What they are doing is taking advantage of being looked at as a different kind of company.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Alan Ohnsman in Los Angeles at [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jamie Butters at [email protected] ||||| Tesla
Need extra storage? Tesla has announced it will build the biggest-ever lithium ion battery in South Australia.
The 100 megawatt battery will act like an electricity back-up – it will store excess energy generated by a wind farm when electricity demands are low, then feed it back into the grid during peak hour.
South Australia has adopted renewable technologies faster than any other state in Australia, but repeated blackouts since September have sparked uncertainties about their reliability.
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In March, Tesla founder Elon Musk offered to fix the problem with a large-scale version of a Tesla car battery. On Twitter, he said he would get the system up and running within 100 days, or else do it for free.
Today, South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill announced that a deal had been struck. Tesla’s megabattery will be paired with the Hornsdale Wind Farm, which is being built near Jamestown in the state’s mid-north region. The launch date is expected to be in December this year.
Tesla
The battery will in fact be made up of thousands of Tesla car lithium ion batteries packed into hundreds of refrigerator-sized units spread across a field. Combined, they will be able to power 30,000 homes.
“You can essentially charge up the battery packs when you have excess power when the cost of production is very low… and then discharge it when the cost of power production is high, and this effectively lowers the average cost to the end customer,” Musk told reporters in Adelaide, South Australia today. “It’s a fundamental efficiency improvement for the grid.”
Scaling up
Tesla recently built a smaller battery farm in California after a leak at a natural gas facility led to fears of future energy shortages. The 20 megawatt hour system is made up of 396 refrigerator-sized units and was installed in less than 90 days.
Scaling up the size will come with technical challenges, but Musk says he is “confident in our techniques and the design of the system.” It will cost him $50 million or more if he cannot install it within the 100-day agreement, he says.
The batteries will require extensive cooling, because like lithium ion phone batteries, they can overheat. They will also lose efficiency over time and need to be replaced.
If the project can get off the ground, it will be a significant innovation, says Ian Lowe at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. “Cost-effective storage of electrical energy is the only problem holding us back from getting all of our power from wind and solar.”
It will be a learning experience for Tesla, South Australia, and the rest of the world, says Ariel Liebman at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. “It’s the first step on a 1000-step journey.”
Read more: Beyond batteries: This technology could revolutionise energy ||||| SYDNEY (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) has won an Australian contract to install the world’s biggest grid-scale battery, in what experts say will be a litmus test for the reliability of large-scale renewable energy.
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill (R) listens to Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk speak during an official ceremony in Adelaide, Australia, July 7, 2017 to announce that Tesla will install the world's largest grid-scale battery in the South Australian state. AAP/Ben Macmahon/via REUTERS
Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk, known for his bold approach to cars, clean energy and space exploration, trumped dozens of competing proposals to build the gigantic lithium-ion battery that will serve as emergency back-up power for South Australia - a state racked by outages.
But under the agreement, Tesla must deliver the 100-MW battery within 100 days of the contract being signed or it will be free - a commitment Musk made in a Tweet in March.
“There will be a lot of people that will look at this -‘Did they get it done within 100 days? Did it work?’” Musk told reporters in South Australia’s capital city of Adelaide.
“We are going to make sure it does.”
The battery, designed to light up 30,000 homes if there is a blackout, will be built on a wind farm operated by France’s Neoen - parts of which are still under construction.
Musk said failing to deliver the project in time would cost his company “$50 million or more”, without elaborating.
It will be the largest lithium-ion battery storage project in the world, overtaking an 80 megawatt-hour facility in California, also built using Tesla batteries.
Over the last three years, South Australia has decided to shut down its coal-fired power stations and instead rely on wind, solar and gas. In particular it has raced ahead of the rest of the country in turning to wind power, which supplies 40 percent of its energy.
The move has been applauded by environmentalists but left the state prone to outages as there is no way to store enough energy when the wind doesn’t blow. In September, South Australia’s 1.7 million residents were left without power, some of them for up to two weeks, when the grid overloaded and collapsed.
The battery is aimed at getting around the problem of inadequate storage.
“Cost-effective storage of electrical energy is the only problem holding us back from getting all of our power from wind and solar,” said Ian Lowe a professor of science at Australia’s Griffith University.
“This project is a significant innovation to demonstrate the feasibility of large-scale storage.”
LITHIUM AMBITIONS
Dozens of companies from 10 countries, including privately owned Lyon Group, working with U.S. power company AES Corp (AES.N), expressed interest in the project.
Now the sector is waiting to see if Musk can make good on his promise.
“Tesla has been telling the world that it can and will finish the project within three months, said a source at a Korean competitor to Tesla, declining to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.
“It seems that confidence helped Tesla win, but typically this kind of project takes six months so we have to wait and see whether or not Tesla can do it,” the source said.
Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk speaks during an official ceremony in Adelaide, Australia, July 7, 2017 to announce that Tesla will install the world's largest grid-scale battery in the South Australian state. AAP/Ben Macmahon/via REUTERS
Lithium-ion batteries have been in widespread use since about 1991, but mostly on a small scale, such as in laptops and cell phones. A typical lithium-ion battery can store 150 watt-hours of electricity in 1 kilogram of battery, representing more than double the capacity of nickel batteries.
For their proponents who have long been pushing for grander use, the success of Musk’s big South Australian experiment will be key to greater acceptance.
“For lithium technology to take off on a global scale, they clearly need the storage capacity to make sure renewables can deliver 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Adrian Griffin, a geologist who specializes in lithium extraction. | – Elon Musk is working up plans for a battery factory so vast that Tesla Motors has come up with a new name for it: the "gigafactory." Tesla will invest between $4 billion and $5 billion in what it believes will be the world's biggest battery plant, Bloomberg reports, which would not only help it make cheaper, mass market cars, it would make it a major player in the energy industry. Tesla estimates that the factory will single-handedly drive lithium-ion battery prices down 30%, and it wants to put half a million electric cars on the street annually by 2020; that number is 35,000 currently. Rob Wile at Business Insider sees even bigger implications, predicting that Tesla "took the first step towards obliterating the power companies." The problem with renewable energies has always been storing power for less sunny and windy days; Tesla's move will make that much cheaper. Which is why Tesla might have a partner in another Musk-owned company, SolarCity Corp, and possibly Panasonic, which supplies Tesla's current lithium-ion cells. Construction should begin this year and wrap in 2017, Time reports, though it's unclear where: Tesla has named Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas as finalists, but expect a bidding war from states for the roughly 6,500 jobs the factory will create. Click for Tesla's outline of the gigafactory (PDF). |
Joe Raedle / Getty Images file Russell Waddley of Miami received a flu shot in early December from Alina Pastoriza Garcia at a CVS pharmacy's MinuteClinic. Government health officials say new data show that the flu vaccine is about 62 percent effective at preventing illness this year.
Flu activity remains high across the United States, but there are signs this year's bad season may be waning in some areas, government health officials said Friday.
Forty-seven states reported widespread flu activity as of the week ending Jan. 5, up from 41 the previous week. Twenty-four states and New York City reported high levels of flu-like illness, but that was down from 29 states and NYC the week before, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Still, flu is unpredictable and illness could rebound or worsen, said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden.
"Really, only the next week or two will show whether we have, in fact, crossed the peak," Frieden told reporters in a conference call. "Nationally, it's likely that influenza will continue for several more weeks."
Flu activity was elevated all across the U.S., except in the far west region that includes Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii and Nevada, the new report showed.
More than 3,700 people have been hospitalized for the flu since October, and 20 children have died, the CDC says. Most of the hospitalizations have been in people older than 65. For the first time this season, deaths associated with the flu rose into the epidemic category, though just barely, CDC officials said.
Vaccines given to fight this year's flu appear to be about 62 percent effective overall , according to data from some 1,155 children and adults with acute respiratory infections. Of people who got the flu, 32 percent were vaccinated. CDC officials characterize that level as "moderate" effectiveness and infection control experts say it's about what they expect from the shots.
"That's normal," said Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of the department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. "It's a good but not a perfect vaccine."
This year's vaccines appear to be about 55 percent effective against influenza A strains, which are responsible for most illness and more severe cases, and about 70 percent effective against influenza B, which is usually less serious, the report showed.
That helps explain why some people who've received flu shots -- which are recommended for everyone older than six months -- say they've still gotten sick. It argues in favor of using antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu to help bolster vaccine effectiveness, or VE, CDC's report said.
"These early VE estimates underscore that some vaccinated persons will become infected with influenza; therefore, antiviral medications should be used as recommended for treatment in patients, regardless of vaccination status," the report concluded.
Related stories: ||||| CLOSE Flu changes each year, but the need for a vaccine doesn't. Wochit
A University of Tennessee senior nursing student, Jordan Gause, administers a free flu shot Sept.16, 2017, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Photo: Andrew Capps, Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel)
Outbreaks of influenza are getting an early start this year in part because of cold weather gripping much of the USA and low efficacy associated with this year's flu vaccine.
It's still too early to say whether this winter will be a bad season for the flu, but epidemiologists in 36 states already have reported widespread influenza activity to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in data released Friday. Twenty-one of those states show a high number of cases.
"It's just one of those years where the CDC is seeing that this strain of flu is only somewhat covered by the vaccine that was given this year," said Jennifer Radtke, manager for infection prevention at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. "They're seeing that it's anywhere from 10% to 33% effective, so any time there’s a mismatch between the vaccine and the circulating strain of the flu, you’re going to see more cases."
► Dec. 12: Does he have 'man flu'? One researcher claims it's for real
► Dec. 5: Flu season has arrived and it could be a bad one
► Nov. 22: Essentia fires about 50 workers for refusing to get flu shot
Peak flu activity in the U.S. usually occurs around February.
Vaccine effectiveness varies from year to year though recent studies show that a flu shot typically reduces the risk of illness by 40% to 60% among the overall population when the circulating virus is matched closely to the vaccine virus, according to the CDC.
“It's not uncommon to see (flu) this time of year. But we've had cold Decembers before and not had flu.” Jennifer Radtke, University of Tennessee Medical Center
Because only a certain percentage of people with flu symptoms go to hospitals and get tested, it can be challenging to track the actual number of people affected, Radtke said. False negative results for flu tests are also common, so it’s likely the number of people with the flu is much higher.
From the start of the flu season, which begins in October and lasts until May, Arizona has reported a nearly ninefold increase in the number of cases compared with the same period last year, according to the state Department of Health Services.
"It's not uncommon to see (flu) this time of year," said Radtke in Knoxville. "But we've had cold Decembers before and not had flu."
Flu symptoms include fever, body aches, chills, fatigue, cough and a sore throat. The illness typically passes within a few days but can be especially dangerous to the very young, the very old, pregnant women and those with respiratory problems.
Influenza can develop into pneumonia, an infection that causes the lungs' air sacs to become inflamed and fill with fluid.
Deaths already have occurred in some states this flu season. Among them:
• In Arizona, the state is reporting one death of a child in its latest tally; however, an otherwise healthy 20-year-old mother of two in Phoenix died Nov. 28, one day after being diagnosed, CBS News reported.
• In California, at least 10 people younger than 65 have died, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. An 11th death occurred Thursday. The state does not track flu-related deaths among those 65 and older.
• In Delaware, a 47-year-old man with underlying health problems and an 83-year-old woman have died, state health officials said.
• In North Carolina, 12 people, including a child, have died.
• In South Carolina, seven have died. All were age 65 or older.
Getting a flu shot now is still one way to combat the virus even though it can't promise total immunity, health officials say.
More insurers fully cover the cost, and pharmacists in all states now can administer the vaccinations, according to the American Pharmacists Association trade group.
"People are able to come in to the pharmacy — especially a 24-hour pharmacy like this one where you can come in at literally any time — and be in and out usually within 15 minutes," said Jason Lind, a Walgreens pharmacist in St. Cloud, Minn.
► Nov. 1: Getting the flu can wreak havoc on your finances
► Oct. 26: What Australia's bad flu season might mean for us
Also to keep the germs at bay, wash or sanitize your hands frequently, especially if you're touching shared surfaces such as shopping carts in public places; clean faucet and toilet handles frequently at home to reduce transmission of the virus within your family; cover your mouth when coughing; stay home when you're sick; stay away from sick people; and avoid touching your face.
It also pays to stay well rested and hydrated so if you do come in contact with a flu virus, your body is prepared to fight it off.
If you're already feeling ill, get to a doctor as quickly as possible.
► Oct. 24: U.S. vaccine panel to discuss waning effectiveness, new shots
► Oct. 17: 7 ways to meet the costs of cold and flu season
Antiviral prescription drugs such as Tamiflu can lessen the severity of influenza for people who have had flu symptoms for two days or fewer and prevent complications such as pneumonia. But they also can have side effects, so a flu shot while you're well should be your first choice.
“It can take up to two weeks to build full immunity to the flu after you are vaccinated," said Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. "So I encourage everyone who has not yet had a flu shot to get one today before the holidays.”
Contributing: Megan Janetsky, The Arizona Republic; Joe Szydlowski, The Salinas Californian; Maddy Lauria, The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal; Liv Osby, The Greenville (S.C.) News; Andrew Fraser, St. Cloud (Minn.) Times; The Associated Press. Follow Rachel Ohm on Twitter: @rachel_ohm
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2CiKbj1 | – The warnings came early that this year's flu season could be bad, and reports starting to filter in from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that prediction may have been an accurate one. Per the CDC, public health experts from 36 states have submitted reports indicating "widespread influenza activity," with a large number of cases in 21 of those states, USA Today reports. Epidemiologists are pointing to the reduced efficacy of this year's vaccine as one factor for the flu's early kickoff, with just a 10% to 33% effective rate. "Any time there's a mismatch between the vaccine and the circulating strain of the flu, you're going to see more cases," says a University of Tennessee Medical Center infection expert. The CDC is recommending people not only get the flu vaccine, but also take neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI) antivirals if they do get the illness, Medscape reports. |
Late in 2007, a year into his tenure as George W. Bush's secretary of defense and just over a year before the end of Bush's second term as president, I asked Robert Gates if he'd thought of staying on in the next administration. Many Republicans and Democrats were hoping he would, seeing him as a moderate professional sweeping away the shambles left by his predecessor, Donald Rumsfeld. But Gates seemed uninterested, even hostile to the notion. "The circumstances under which I would do that," he replied, "are inconceivable to me."
Over the next several months, he repeated the line to other inquiring journalists. He carried around a key chain with an electronic screen that counted down the number of days until he could leave Washington (a city he clearly disliked) and retire with his wife to their lakeside home in the Pacific Northwest.
And yet, when President-elect Barack Obama asked him to remain at the Defense Department's helm, Gates instantly agreed.
This summer, sitting in his spacious third-floor office in the Pentagon's E Ring, I asked him why. How was he persuaded to commit an "inconceivable" act? Gates confessed (and "confess" is the word he used) that his sighs of longing to leave in the months leading up to the 2008 election were part of a "covert action" to convince everyone that he didn't want to stay, in the hopes that nobody would ask him to. "I really didn't want to be asked," he said. But, he added, that was because all along he knew "that if I were asked, I would say, 'Yes.' In the middle of two wars, kids out there getting hurt and dying, there was no way that I was going to say, 'No.'"
It's a revealing story about Gates: the old-school statesman who believes that party politics should stop at the water's edge and that it's unseemly to turn down a president, any president (he has worked for seven now, all of them since Richard Nixon except Bill Clinton); but also the canny inside player and career intelligence officer who knows how to manage perceptions. Although he's the only Bush holdover in Obama's cabinet (for that matter, the only defense secretary ever to keep the job after a party switch in the White House), Gates now has extraordinary influence on Obama. Rahm Emanuel, Obama's chief of staff, said in a phone interview that Gates is "an essential part of the team," adding, "The president trusts him implicitly."
Gates is a paradox in another sense: A self-described protector of institutions, he has also, in less than four years on the job, changed the way the Pentagon does business and the military fights wars more than any defense secretary since Robert McNamara.
But there's a haunting dimension to this comparison. In his first two-and-a-half years running the Pentagon for President John F. Kennedy, McNamara brought rational analysis to weapons procurement and shifted military planning from "massive retaliation" (with an emphasis on nuclear bombs) to "flexible response" (and a buildup of conventional defenses in Europe). Yet this side of his tenure is completely overshadowed by the disaster in Vietnam.
Only somewhat less dramatically, Gates has heralded a shift in military planning from the "major combat operations" anticipated in the Cold War to the "asymmetrical conflicts" against insurgents and rogue states that plague the 21st-century world. Yet Gates, too, understands that his legacy will be shaped much more by the outcome of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq -- wars that he did not initiate, and occasionally had doubts about continuing, but which he now undoubtedly and unhesitantly owns.
When Gates accepted Bush's plea to replace Rumsfeld after the 2006 midterm elections, he did so with two aims: to improve security in Iraq, which seemed to be spiraling out of control, and to restore ruptured relations with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Congress.
Gates had spent most of his life in the classified cloisters of the government as a Russia specialist in the CIA, rising from junior analyst to director in some of the darkest days of the Cold War, with a stint as deputy national security advisor in the White House of Bush's father. But he'd never worked at the Pentagon. Because he arrived with little time and a narrow mission, he felt no need or obligation to play the role of steward. He looked around as an inside-outsider, and he was appalled by what he saw.
U.S. troops were fighting and dying in two foreign wars, but the Pentagon bureaucracy was shuffling through its peacetime paces. The Army and the Marines, for example, had a new armored vehicle, the MRAP, which could provide greater protection against Iraqi roadside bombs and save many troops' lives. But the brass were doing nothing to accelerate production. Similarly, the Air Force had a new generation of unmanned aerial vehicles, "drones" equipped with real-time video cameras and remote-control-fired missiles; troops in the field were clamoring for more, but Air Force leaders were not stepping up deployment.
Gates quickly intervened, taking both programs outside normal channels. He added $16 billion to build more MRAPs on a crash schedule. And he fired the Air Force's chief of staff, Gen T. Michael Moseley, in part for negligence with the nuclear command, but mainly, according to knowledgeable officials, for his sluggishness on the drones. Gates replaced him with Gen. Norton Schwartz, head of the Air Force's unglamorous Transportation Command. He picked Schwartz because he had tirelessly worked out a way, at Gates's request, to speed the air delivery of MRAPs to Iraq; that is, he'd acted as if a war was going on. (Schwartz's promotion made him the first Air Force chief of staff to come up through the ranks as neither a bomber pilot nor a fighter pilot; the move marked the beginning of a huge cultural shift in that branch of the military.)
Gates also noticed that the Army's most innovative colonels -- brigade commanders who not only understood counterinsurgency theory but practiced it in Iraqi cities and villages -- were getting stalled in their careers by generals with much less battlefield experience and who were wedded to Cold War precepts of combat. So, near the end of 2007, Gates called on Gen. David Petraeus, then the U.S. commander in Iraq and the architect of the counterinsurgency strategy there, to chair that year's Army promotion board, which would advance 40 colonels to the rank of brigadier general. More than a dozen of the Army's promising colonels, at least one of whom had been passed over twice, got their stars. With this single stroke, the Army's culture -- the signals sent to the troops of what kind of soldiers get promoted and what kind don't -- changed dramatically.
There was much more to do but too little time before Bush's presidency expired. So Gates began giving a series of public speeches. Their main theme was that the military needed to embrace the 21st century in its deployments, training, operations, and weapons buying. It needed, specifically, to shift away from what he described as "baroque" single-purpose weapons designed for Cold War scenarios (or big wars against big powers in a distant future that wasn't likely ever to happen) toward cheaper, more versatile weapons better suited to the low-intensity conflicts the United States was actually fighting. In an almost unprecedented move, Gates also called repeatedly for more funding for the Pentagon's traditional bureaucratic rivals in the State Department, warning of the "creeping militarization" of U.S. foreign policy.
Gates was explicitly laying out an agenda for the next defense secretary. Then he became him. Or, as he now puts it, "I punted all these balls to my successor and discovered I was the receiver." In the first half of Obama's term, he has followed through, catching the punts and running with them farther and faster than anyone expected. (One exception is the notion of transferring money to the State Department; that hasn't happened.)
Even before Obama's term formally began, Gates launched a three-month review of every major line item in the half-trillion-dollar defense budget, drawing the entire building -- the highest-level civilian analysts and military officers -- into the process. By April 2009, his teams had compiled a list of 50 programs primed for change. Gates decided to kill, slash, or restructure 33 of them, including some of the services' most cherished weapons systems. (Rumsfeld talked about "transforming" the military, but in fact canceled just two weapons: the Crusader artillery gun and the Comanche helicopter, the latter of which the Army didn't want anyway.)
Gates stopped the Air Force's F-22 Raptor stealth fighter plane, killed whole sections of the Army's multiplatform Future Combat Systems, and sank the Navy's DDG-1000 destroyer, to name a few. The F-22 was the great white whale. Many Air Force officers saw it as their dream weapon, the most sophisticated fighter plane in the world. Gates saw it as a Cold War relic at a time when no enemies had fleets of advanced fighter planes and decades after any American pilot had fought an air-to-air duel. The United States already had 187 of these planes (none of which had taken part in any of the wars the United States was fighting), at a cost of $65 billion. The Air Force wanted 381 in all or, as a last-ditch compromise, 247. Gates and his analysts calculated that 187 were enough. After a drawn-out debate, the Senate agreed, defeating an amendment to restore production.
All told, Congress approved 31 of Gates's 33 cuts. The other two -- the C-17 cargo plane and an alternative engine for the F-35 fighter -- Gates has vowed to kill this year. Gates's office calculates that his cuts will have saved $330 billion over the lifetime of those 31 programs, though such estimates, especially when drawn over not just years but decades, are very speculative.
Gates won these fights for several reasons. The first was that he is Gates: a Republican hawk (albeit a relatively moderate one) and therefore immune to charges that he's "soft on defense."
Second, he had the Joint Chiefs behind him, and that was because he fully consulted them at every step of the review. This is where Gates differs not only from Rumsfeld but from McNamara, the systems analyst who stormed into a Pentagon where no general had ever had to make a reasoned argument on behalf of a weapons system ("it's a military requirement" usually sufficed) and imposed massive changes. Gates knew that, to make change stick, the officers carrying it out had to feel they had a stake in the decision. By contrast, when President Jimmy Carter and his defense secretary, Harold Brown, killed the B-1 bomber, the Air Force program managers, who hadn't been consulted, didn't really kill it; they tacked on some cosmetic changes and called it the "cruise missile carrier aircraft." When Ronald Reagan won the next election, they dropped the pretense, and the B-1 resumed as if Carter had never made the decision.
Finally, Gates won because he had Obama's support. When Gates submitted his budget to Congress, the president attached a message that he would -- not "might," but "would" -- veto the bill if it contained money for even one more F-22. It was the only veto threat in the president's first budget, and it worked.
By then, it was clear -- to the surprise of many -- that the two men had hit it off. Their biographies were very different, but their executive sensibilities were nearly identical: pragmatic, problem-solving, averse to ideological formula and cliché, inclined to give everyone involved a say and then make a crisp decision. Several officials said that Obama had asked Gates to stay on as defense secretary mainly to provide continuity in the management of the wars -- and cover for any resulting controversies, owing to his credibility with the Joint Chiefs and with both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill. But it was soon evident that Gates had become, as one official put it, "a core player on the team." Obama meets with Gates once a week at the White House, something he does with only two other cabinet officers, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "There are a few cabinet secretaries who give advice outside their lane," a senior administration official said. "Gates is one of them."
Gates's most fateful influence may have come in the deliberations over the war in Afghanistan. Early in Obama's presidency, in hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gates endorsed the commanders' request for 21,000 more troops to shore up security for the upcoming Afghan election but stressed that he'd be "deeply skeptical" of requests for more down the road. One of his most searing experiences was as the CIA's deputy director during the Reagan years, watching the Soviet empire collapse in the Afghan quagmire. If the Afghan people see the war as an American war, Gates told the senators, "we will go the way of other imperial occupiers."
Yet late in the summer of 2009, Gates changed his mind. He was reading a lot of articles on Afghanistan, and one had particular resonance: a piece by Frederick Kagan, a military analyst and vocal war supporter at the American Enterprise Institute, called "We're Not the Soviets in Afghanistan," published that August by the Weekly Standard. Gates said the article reminded him of some facts about the earlier war that he'd forgotten -- that the Soviets had killed 1 million Afghans, displaced 5 million more, and set out basically to destroy the country. "Clearly," Gates said in our interview, "none of that is what we were about in Afghanistan."
At the same time, the new Afghan war commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, was briefing Gates on a new strategy, similar to Petraeus's counterinsurgency strategy in post-2006 Iraq, that would focus on protecting the Afghan population and taking explicit steps to minimize civilian casualties. McChrystal, who was eventually fired this summer for making impolitic comments to a Rolling Stone reporter, had been on the job less than two months at that point. Gates had fired his predecessor, Gen. David McKiernan, in May 2009 and strongly recommended McChrystal to replace him. McKiernan had asked for more troops but offered no new strategy, no coherent war plan at all; Gates, who had placed McKiernan on the job a year earlier, saw no point in adding more forces if all they'd do was keep grinding the wheels.
"The basis of my previous view was that once the Afghans come to see you as an occupier, you're toast," Gates recalled in our interview, which took place soon after McChrystal was sacked. "McChrystal's whole approach was avoiding that. How do you demonstrate to the Afghans that you're there as their partner and their liberator rather than as their oppressor? His strategy for doing that seemed to be really compelling."
By Sept. 13, 2009, when Obama held the first of what turned out to be 10 senior-level national security meetings to formulate a U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, Gates had come to support the idea of sending more troops -- tens of thousands more.
Emanuel recalled that Gates played "a key role" in the ensuing debates over whether to go in heavy with an expansive counterinsurgency strategy or go lighter with a strategy focused more strictly on going after terrorists (or something in between). Another official who attended the meetings referred to Gates as "a center of gravity in the review," noting, "If someone was 30 degrees in one direction and someone else was 30 degrees in the other direction, he would balance their views toward a consensus, bringing in elements of both."
In the end, Obama decided to send 30,000 extra troops (McChrystal had recommended 40,000) and adopt a somewhat scaled-down version of a counterinsurgency strategy, while also beginning to withdraw some of those troops by July 2011. What-if games are dubious enterprises, but it's not unreasonable to infer that, had Gates come into those meetings as skeptical as he'd been before his summertime conversion, the emerging consensus -- and Obama's decision -- might have tilted toward a smaller deployment and a less ambitious strategy.
Today, as the last 10,000 of the "surge" troops arrive in Afghanistan amid growing doubts in Washington and elsewhere about the war, Gates is optimistic that the strategy for Afghanistan will work. McChrystal's firing did little to change the overall approach because Obama replaced him with Petraeus, who knew the plan and terrain well. "I see the process of transition in Afghanistan being similar to Iraq," Gates said in our interview, "in which we're in the lead, then we're partners [with Afghan security forces], then they're in the lead, then we're in tactical overwatch, and then strategic overwatch. And that will take some time."
Two elements are key here. First, Gates's idea of an endgame is not the Bushian notion that Afghanistan becomes a democracy or even necessarily a stable country, but rather that its security forces can fight the war for the most part by themselves. Second, some U.S. armed forces will end up staying in Afghanistan -- just as some (between 30,000 and 50,000) are due to stay in Iraq -- for a long while.
"But by the same token," Gates added, "the one thing that I've made clear to everybody is that I'm not going to support a strategy that leads to a stalemate." In December, Obama's national security team will conduct an assessment of whether the strategy is working. "If we're not making any headway," Gates said, "then I think we have to look at making adjustments." What kinds of adjustments, he doesn't know. "But we're not just going to plunge ahead with exactly the same strategy if it's clear it's not working."
Will Gates still be there to help Obama plunge ahead or change course?
With the fall elections looming, the defense secretary's plans are already the subject of intense Washington speculation. When he agreed to join Obama's team, Gates thought he might stay for a year. Then came the budget review, in which he was given the leeway to implement many ideas that he'd only talked about under Bush. Then came the Afghanistan review, the results of which would take a while to play out. This summer, he was pushing the budget agenda further, including reforms in weapons contracting (especially the way contractors calculate "overhead," a vaguely defined money magnet that Pentagon gadfly A. Ernest Fitzgerald once called "the dark side of the moon") and drastic cuts in the number of military commands around the world (another Cold War relic), which entail similarly drastic cuts in the number of senior officers commanding and staffing them. Gates's goal is to cut $100 billion over the next five years through these sorts of economies. Aides say that he's "passionate," "revved-up," and "stoked" about the project.
Others, in and out of the Pentagon, are skeptical. Some doubt that renegotiating contracts and scrapping superfluous headquarters will save that much money. They also wonder whether Gates might be going, in one sense, a bridge too far and, in another sense, not far enough.
In the realm of Pentagon politics, it's one thing to slash a few cherished weapons programs. But it's another thing entirely to slash the number of colonels and generals -- which, besides the obvious immediate threat to officers' careers, means fewer promotions for majors and captains, who thus end their service at a lower rank and with less retirement pay. This is the sort of thing that could spark an old-fashioned officers' revolt.
Yet, for all the commotion it might cause, the savings from such a move -- even if they do amount to $20 billion a year -- are small change in a half-trillion-dollar military budget (not counting the cost of the wars). Much bigger savings would come from asking more basic questions: Does the Navy really need 11 aircraft carriers, and does each carrier need the same number of planes and escort ships? Do the Air Force and Navy really need 2,000 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter planes, as Gates plans to give them (in part as compensation for stopping the F-22)? Does the Army really need 73 brigade combat teams, with all the weapons, support, and personnel that go with them?
To a remarkable degree, the U.S. military still has a Cold War force structure, built around fighter planes, aircraft-carrier task forces, attack submarines, and a large nuclear arsenal. Yet, contrary to some critics in the officer corps, who accuse Gates of shifting the focus entirely away from preparation for big wars to fighting today's small wars, that's one Cold War legacy that Gates does not want to change. He favors substantial increases in the military budget. He favors spending tens of billions of dollars to maintain, and somewhat upgrade, the nuclear arsenal. He opposes any slacking off in America's global military presence.
In this sense, too, Gates is both expressing his genuine views and reflecting the political consensus. He is the secretary of defense; he has to pick his fights. At one point in our interview, he noted that he's not proposing to cut the number of aircraft carriers. When I asked why not, he replied, "I may be bold, but I'm not crazy."
Gates, who turns 67 in September, says he wants to leave the job and retire, this time for good, sometime in 2011. "I think that it would be a mistake to wait until January 2012," he said. It might be hard to find a good person to take the job so late, with just one year to go in the president's current term. And, he added, "This is not the kind of job you want to fill in the spring of an election year."
He pointed out that he's the 22nd U.S. defense secretary since the position was created in 1947. "If I stay until January 2011," he said, "I will have been in the job longer than all but four of my predecessors. And those four are Robert McNamara, Don Rumsfeld, Cap Weinberger, and Charles E. Wilson." He laughed. All four are famous for having stayed long past their welcome. Two of them, McNamara and Rumsfeld, started out energetic and celebrated before tumbling into the traps of ill-considered wars.
Then again, Gates said much the same thing about not wanting to stick around after 2008. Is his new countdown ticker, set to go off in 2011, another "covert action," as he put it, to discourage Obama from asking him to stay? He certainly doesn't say so. But if the president does ask, Robert Gates has always been the type to say, "Yes."
Jim Watson-Pool/Getty Images ||||| Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates is defending his new memoir, “Duty,” dismissing claims that it unfairly targets the Obama administration.
‘I make very explicit in the book that I agreed with all of the president's decisions on Afghanistan and ones that he made in 2009 and subsequently,” Gates told CBS’s Rita Braver in an interview aired Sunday on CBS's "Sunday Morning" and "Face the Nation." “My one concern was that over the course of 2010 and early 2011, the president began to have his own reservations about whether it would all work. I think that is not an unfair thing to say.”
(WATCH: Sunday show recap in 90 seconds)
Gates also defended the timing of his memoir’s release, pushing back against critics who have said it is inappropriate for a former Cabinet secretary to criticize a sitting president.
“Having been secretary for four and a half years, I didn't think that waiting until 2017 to weigh in on these issues and in a comprehensive and thoughtful way made any sense,” Gates said.
Read more about: Robert Gates, Books | – Robert Gates today took on the backlash that greeted his memoir, Duty, Politico reports, saying that his criticisms of the Obama administration were relatively restrained and justified. "My one concern was that over the course of 2010 and early 2011, the president began to have his own reservations about whether it would all work," he said. "I think that is not an unfair thing to say." Highlights of his interview with CBS' Sunday Morning: On Obama and Afghanistan: "It's one thing to tell the troops that you support them. It's another to work at making them believe that you believe as president that their sacrifice is worth it, that the cause is just, that what they are doing was important for the country, and that they must succeed. President Bush did that with the troops. I did not see President Obama do that. It was this absence of passion, this absence of a conviction of the importance of success that disturbed me." On the timing of the book: "[The book] deals with getting into wars [and] getting out of wars. With the experience and perspective of working for eight presidents, and having been secretary for four and a half years, I didn't think that waiting until 2017 to weigh in on these issues, and in a comprehensive and thoughtful way, made any sense." On that time he agreed with Joe Biden: "One time when I agreed with him on something—often Admiral Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and I would ride back to the Pentagon together from the White House—and Mullen turned to me at one point [and] said, 'You know that you agreed with the vice president this morning.' And I said, 'Yeah, that's why I'm rethinking my position.'" On Hillary Clinton: "The thing that I liked best about Secretary Clinton, other than the fact that she has a great sense of humor, was she is very tough-minded." Would she make a good president? "Actually, I think she would." On how he knew it was time to make an exit: "I became very emotionally caught up with the troops, and it got to the point where I couldn't speak to them, or about them, without choking up, and that was another reason why I thought it's time to go." |
An ambitious plan by Maryland to catalog the “fingerprint” of every gun sold in the state -- making dealers fire a shot and send in the spent casing -- is being scrapped, literally.
State authorities have conceded that the bullet ID program, enacted in 2000, cost $5 million, was plagued by technical problems and did not solve a single crime. Now, the 300,000 shell casings, one from every handgun sold in the state since the law took effect, will now be sold for scrap metal.
"Obviously, I'm disappointed," former Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening, whose administration pushed for the database, told the Baltimore Sun. "It's a little unfortunate, in that logic and common sense suggest that it would be a good crime-fighting tool."
But Second Amendment advocates say the program was doomed to fail.
“It was clear 10 years ago that this program was not going to work,” John Lott, president of the Crime Prevention Research Center told FoxNews.com. "Millions were spent on funding this program, money that could have been better used for actual police and law-enforcement resources.”
“It was clear ten years ago that this program was not going to work.” - John Lott, Crime Prevention Research Center
Lott even predicted that the program would fail over a decade ago in an op-ed piece in the National Review in February 2005. Even though the state spent approximately $60 per gun to catalog each firearm's unique ballistic signature, critics, including Lott, said legally purchased guns were typically not the ones wielded by criminals. They also said the program suffered from widespread erroneous entry of data and the inadequate software often resulted in hundreds of "matches" being found for each casing tested.
According to the Baltimore Sun, the hundreds of thousands of “fingerprinted” casings were stored in envelopes kept in boxes inside an old fallout shelter beneath the Maryland State Police headquarters in the Baltimore suburb of Pikesville, filling three massive rooms, each secured by a combination lock. Each shell was stamped with a barcode and then photographed by forensic scientists to create a database they hoped would yield matches to casings collected at crime scenes.
Related Image Expand / Contract FILE: Undated: A model 1911 pistol is held in the hands of an assembler at the Smith & Wesson factory in Springfield, Mass.
“The Maryland ballistics database has been a failure from its inception,” Amy Hunter, spokeswoman for the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action, told FoxNews.com. “The program has been effectively defunct for several years. Funding has been discontinued, and the personnel associated with the program have been reassigned, yet the requirement persisted and its costs were passed on to the consumer. The NRA-ILA supported the repeal and is pleased it’s now in effect.”
In theory, the “fingerprinting” system is sound science. Scratches are etched onto a casing which enables them to be matched to the weapon that fired the shot. The program was expanded from a limited, but successful National Ballistics database which only collected casings from crime scenes.
Throughout its run, the Maryland database helped investigators a total of 26 times, but with each case, they already knew which gun was in question, state police officials said. New York had followed Maryland’s lead and created a database of their own, but funding was pulled in 2012 when that program proved ineffective. Some backers say the program could have worked if authorities had stuck with it, claiming that handguns used in crimes are typically as old as 20 years or more.
In 2008, the Justice Department asked the National Research Council to study the value of creating their own database similar to the one in Maryland and New York, but it was determined that it would not be a good use of funds.
Perry Chiaramonte is a reporter for FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @perrych ||||| Millions of dollars later, Maryland has officially decided that its 15-year effort to store and catalog the "fingerprints" of thousands of handguns was a failure.
Since 2000, the state required that gun manufacturers fire every handgun to be sold here and send the spent bullet casing to authorities. The idea was to build a database of "ballistic fingerprints" to help solve future crimes.
But the system — plagued by technological problems — never solved a single case. Now the hundreds of thousands of accumulated casings could be sold for scrap.
"Obviously, I'm disappointed," said former Gov. Parris N. Glendening, a Democrat whose administration pushed for the database to fulfill a campaign promise. "It's a little unfortunate, in that logic and common sense suggest that it would be a good crime-fighting tool."
The database "was a waste," said Frank Sloane, owner of Pasadena Gun & Pawn in Anne Arundel County. "There's things that they could have done that would have made sense. This didn't make any sense."
In a old fallout shelter beneath Maryland State Police headquarters in Pikesville, the state has amassed more than 300,000 bullet casings, one from each new handgun sold here since the law took effect. They fill three cavernous rooms secured by a common combination lock.
Each casing was meticulously stamped with a bar code, sealed in its own envelope and filed in boxes stacked from floor to ceiling. Forensic scientists photographed the casings in hopes the system would someday identify the owner of a gun fired at a crime scene. The system cost an estimated $5 million to set up and operate over the years.
But the computerized system designed to sort and match the images never worked as envisioned. In 2007, the state stopped bothering to take the photographs, though hundreds of thousands more casings kept piling up in the fallout shelter.
The ballistic fingerprinting law was repealed effective Oct. 1, ending the requirement that spent casings be sent in. The General Assembly, in repealing the law, authorized the state police to sell off its inventory for scrap.
The science behind the system is valid. The scratches etched onto a casing can be matched to the gun that fired it, mapping a so-called fingerprint to the gun. The Maryland system was an expanded version of the successful but more limited federal National Integrated Ballistic Information Network started in the 1990s. It catalogs casings only from crime scenes and from guns confiscated by police. Maryland's unwieldy version collected the fingerprint from every single handgun sold in the state.
Worse, the system Maryland bought created images so imprecise that when an investigator submitted a crime scene casing, the database software would sometimes spit out hundreds of matches. The state sued the manufacturer in 2009 for $1.9 million, settling three years later for $390,000.
Zach Suber, a supervisor and forensic scientist for the Maryland State Police, says the process "could have been tweaked" to make it more effective. It's still possible, Suber says, that the collection of casings could have greater forensic value in the future.
That's because, on average, most guns used in crimes were bought nearly 15 years prior, according to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. By the time they end up on the street, they've often been stolen and resold illegally.
So the oldest ballistic fingerprints in Maryland's collection are just now reaching the age where the guns they identify may be falling into a criminal's hands, Suber said. He said the state police have no immediate plans to turn the collection into scrap metal, as the legislature suggested.
New York followed Maryland's lead and created a similar database, but that state pulled funding for the project in 2012 when it, too, had no success.
By then, it had been clear for years that the efforts weren't working. In 2008, the Department of Justice asked the National Research Council to study the value in creating a national ballistics database with fingerprints from every gun. Researchers, after reviewing the Maryland and New York programs, concluded that such an endeavor would be impractical and a waste of money.
There have been 26 instances in the past 15 years in which Maryland's cache of spent casings helped investigators in some fashion, but in each case investigators already knew the gun for which they were looking, state police said.
The first case came in 2004, when Prince George's County investigators thought the gun used in a homicide outside a Popeye's restaurant in Oxon Hill was bought by the suspect's girlfriend a month earlier.
Investigators pulled the casing from the gun the girlfriend purchased and matched it to the crime scene. But the case against Robert Garner relied more on eyewitness statements and other circumstantial evidence that put him at the scene of the shooting. Garner, who was ultimately convicted, had already been arrested and charged by the time investigators tapped into the ballistic fingerprinting database, according to state police records.
Just last week, Suber said, investigators on three different cases asked for help from the stash of spent casings. Montgomery County detectives thought a particular stolen gun might have been used in a homicide, even though they hadn't found the gun yet. In Baltimore, detectives looking into two separate murders asked for similar help.
The results aren't in, but in all three cases, investigators already suspected that a certain gun was used. Lawmakers had hoped the database would work the other way, pointing the way to a gun used in a crime.
By 2004, when Maryland officials calculated an ineffective system had already cost the state $2.4 million, some legislators tried unsuccessfully to repeal the ballistic fingerprinting law. Repeal efforts in 2005 and 2014 also failed.
"It's probably the best bill I've had," said Sen. Ed Reilly, a Republican from Anne Arundel County, who sponsored the bill that passed this year. He said prior efforts failed because a key committee chairman would not bring it to a vote.
That chairman, former state Sen. Brian Frosh, a Democrat, is now Maryland's attorney general. His successor as chairman, Sen. Bobby Zirkin, a Democrat, let the bill come up for a vote.
Frosh said he was open to repealing the law several times during his tenure, most recently in 2013, but he said police argued that the system still had potential.
"It's fair to look at it after 15 years and see how effective it was," Frosh said. "I don't have a problem abandoning it." ||||| With a bill, retroactive to show an ending date of October 1, the state of Maryland is ending its program to take ballistic fingerprints of firearms through shell casings after 15 years, $5 million spent, and no crimes solved.
When passed by Maryland lawmakers and signed into law by Governor Parris N. Glendening (D) in 2000, ballistic fingerprinting was sold to Maryland residents as a way for police to literally use discarded crime scene shell casings to find the gun that had fired them and, thereby, the person who possessed the gun at the time of crime. To accomplish this, Maryland began a process of requiring one spent casing from every new handgun sold in the state to be sent to the Maryland State Police. The theory was that markings on that round would be used to identify the gun should a spent casing with similar markings be found at a crime scene.
It is estimated that Maryland has approximately 300,000 such casings in an underground bunker waiting to be matched with a shell casing from a crime scene.
According to The Baltimore Sun, the pursuit of ballistic fingerprinting had already cost Maryland taxpayers $2.4 million by 2004 and a total of $5 million by 2015. Yet, no crimes were ever solved via the ballistic fingerprint requirements. Moreover, “the computerized system designed to sort and match the images never worked as envisioned… [and] in 2007, the state stopped bothering to take the photographs [of casings], though hundreds of thousands more… kept piling up in the fallout shelter.”
It should be noted that New York also took part in this folly “just a few days after Maryland.” On August 9, 2000, the New York Times reported that Governor George Pataki (R) signed a law requiring “all new handguns… to be test-fired before they are sold, so that the telltale markings they leave on bullets and shell casings can be entered into a state computer database.” Yet, New York did not wait as long as Maryland before ending ballistic fingerprinting. NY lawmakers defunded it in 2012.
In 2008, firearm examiner C. Rodney James, PhD, warned that the then-newly minted microstamping craze was the just the next step in the gun control evolution of ballistic fingerprinting and one that would prove no more successful. According to the NRA-ILA, James explained that microstamping will fall by the wayside like ballistic fingerprinting for the simple fact that it does not work.
In fact, James provided numerous reasons why it cannot work. Here are four of the many reasons he provided:
Barrels, firing pins, slides, bolts and similar parts affecting these marks can easily be replaced or altered. Without a system to “register” gunsmithing work, marks would become impossible to match… Conversion kits for various firearms are available to permit use of a different caliber of ammunition. Currently, these are not classified as “firearms” and are sold via mail… In a California Department of Justice study, 50 fired cases from the Federal Cartridge Corp. were compared. The cartridges had all been fired in the same gun. In microscopic examination by “experts,” 38 percent were missed! When different cartridge makes were added to the mix, still all from the same gun, 62 percent were missed. Obviously, this presents a serious problem with only one fired case or bullet from each gun.
Yet California has adopted microstamping, a so-called crime fighting tool that has already proven as unreliable as ballistic fingerprinting laws.
Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at [email protected]. | – Since 2000, more than 300,000 bullet casings have piled up in an old fallout shelter in Pikesville, Maryland, the result of an ambitious program launched to catalog the casings in a database, which would then be used to help solve crimes, per the Baltimore Sun. But 15 years and $5 million later, the program has been deemed a failure—not a single crime was said to have been solved with the database's assistance—and the "ballistics fingerprinting" law was repealed on Oct. 1. Parris Glendening, whose administration set up the database while he was governor, is sad to see the demise of his brainchild. "Obviously, I'm disappointed," he tells the Sun. But a local gun-shop owner in Anne Arundel County describes the initiative as "a waste," and gun rights advocate John Lott tells Fox News, "[The] money … could have been better used for actual police and law-enforcement resources." Tech issues plagued the system from the get-go. Gun manufacturers had to fire every new gun made in Maryland, then send the casing to the three-room shelter nestled beneath Maryland State Police headquarters, the Sun notes. Each casing got a unique bar code and its picture taken before it was sealed up in envelopes and filed in boxes. In theory, it should've worked, since casing scratches can be matched back to the originating firearm, but the Maryland program was much larger than a successful federal program it modeled itself after, and the database software was so buggy that the Sun notes it "would sometimes spit out hundreds of matches" for one crime-scene casing. A similar program started in New York in 2000 shut down just two years later, per Breitbart. The Maryland law was brought up for repeal several times over the years, but police kept insisting it had potential—until the latest hearing, when its defenders gave up. The casings will now likely be sold for scrap. |
Syrian security forces have renewed their assaults on the central cities of Homs and Hama, while anti-government forces are said to have killed soldiers in Idlib and a senior military official in Damascus, activists, rights groups and the state news agency report.
Opposition neighbourhoods in Homs were hit by tank and rocket bombardments on Saturday in the government's continuing crackdown on protesters there, with the city's Bab Amr area coming under concerted fire.
Activists said that the neighbourhood came under a renewed assault late on Saturday night, ahead of a meeting of Arab foreign ministers due to discuss setting up a joint observer mission with the United Nations.
Ministers from the Arab League, which suspended Syria in response to the crackdown, meet in Cairo on Sunday to discuss forming a joint UN-Arab monitoring team in place of an observer mission that was suspended last month.
An official source at the League said another proposal called for the appointment of a UN-Arab League envoy to deal with Syria, adding that some states may also propose the Arab League formally recognise the opposition Syrian National Council.
Rights groups say at least four people were killed during Saturday's violence in Homs, and that three bodies of people who had been killed earlier were also recovered.
Security forces have also made house-to-house raids over the last two days in Homs, which has been under siege for the last week, anti-government activists have said.
They say at least 300 people have been killed there since the government's latest assault began on February 4.
In Hama, the Syrian Revolutionary General Commission (SRGC), a rights group that has organised protests against President Bashar al-Assad's rule, says that the army is continuing to maintain a heavy presence. The group said troops raided the city's al-Sharia neighbourhood and that heavy gunfire and mass arrests were reported from there and at least three other districts.
Reports of violence between security forces and anti-Assad forces were also reported from Zabadani and Douma, which is just outside the capital Damascus.
The SRGC said that at least 46 people were killed in Saturday's violence: 20 in Homs, 11 in Deraa, 11 outside Damascus, three in Idlib and one in Hama.
Counter claims
Elsewhere, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), an UK-based rights group, reported that 10 soldiers were killed in an ambush by army defectors on Friday in the Idlib area, near the Turkish border. The defectors hit a patrol between two villages with hand grenades and roadside bombs, the SOHR said.
Army defectors also fought government troops for hours overnight in the al-Qaboun neighbourhood of Damascus.
Also in Damascus, state media reported that anti-government forces had killed a senior Syrian military doctor outside his home.
The SANA news agency reported that "an armed terrorist group" had killed Brigadier-General Issa al-Khouli, who it described as a doctor and hospital director, in the Rukneddine district of the Syrian capital on Saturday.
The Revolution Leadership Council, an anti-Assad group in Damascus, alleged that the government had carried out the killing itself.
Aleppo attacks
Meanwhile, the armed opposition has denied claims from the government that it carried out bomb attacks in the northern city of Aleppo that left dozens of people dead on Friday.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Arif al-Hummoud, a commander of the Free Syrian Army, a name used by various armed groups, said that opposition fighters had carried out an attack on Friday morning but were not responsible for the blasts.
"A group from the Free Syrian Army attacked a branch of the military security and a security unit in Aleppo with only [rocket-propelled grenades] and light weapons," he said.
Syrian state television quoted the health ministry as saying that 28 people were killed and more than 200 others wounded, including soldiers and civilians, in the attack and said it was carried out by "armed terrorist groups".
Abdul Rahman Abu Hothyfa, a spokesman for the opposition Syrian Revolution Co-ordinators Union, told Al Jazeera that it was "absolutely the regime" that carried out the attack.
Security forces opened fire on the protesters in several Aleppo neighbourhoods after Friday prayers, killing at least six people, according to the Local Co-ordination Committees, an umbrella organisation of anti-Assad activists.
The activist network said 12 people were killed in the province and at least 23 more in other parts of the country on Friday.
In addition to the victims of the attacks in Aleppo, the observatory said another 44 people were killed across Syria on Friday, including 28 civilians, nine soldiers and seven deserters.
Security forces deployed heavily outside mosques nationwide, firing on worshipers in some areas to prevent protests denouncing Russia's steadfast support for the Assad regime, activists said.
An activist in Homs giving her name as Salam al-Homsi said it was getting more difficult to save those injured.
"We can't even get them out of the rubble because the snipers won't let people help the wounded," she said. "There are no medical supplies and people are dying in the field hospitals. It's getting worse and worse."
'Destruction of Homs'
Al Jazeera's Sue Turton reports from Tripoli where supporters and opponents of Assad are trading gunfire.
Robert Ford, the US ambassador to Syria, has posted declassified photographs on his Facebook site that Washington said shows soldiers attacking a civilian area of Homs.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the "declassified US national imagery" shows the destruction of Homs.
Nuland said Ford, who left Damascus when the US embassy was closed for security reasons on Monday, would continue to use Facebook to "talk to the Syrian people on a regular basis, along with his Twitter feed".
The photographs also apparently show sophisticated military hardware, including tanks, mortars and artillery targeting civilian areas. ||||| Story highlights Houla resident: "We're used to the sights now, the blood, the sound of gunfire"
U.N.-Arab League special envoy promises "serious" discussions with al-Assad
Syria calls on the Security Council to hold accountable member states aiding the opposition
The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reports 26 deaths on Monday
Upon his arrival in Damascus, Syria, joint U.N.-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan called Monday for those responsible for Friday's massacre of 108 people in the town of Houla to be held responsible and for his six-point plan to be implemented.
"This was an appalling crime, and the Security Council has rightly condemned it," he said in a statement.
"Those responsible for these brutal crimes must be held accountable. I understand that the government is also investigating. It is the Syrian people, ordinary citizens of this great country, who are paying the highest price in this conflict.
"Our goal is to stop this suffering. It must end and it must end now."
Annan demanded that the government of Bashar al-Assad "take bold steps to signal that it is serious in its intention to resolve this crisis peacefully, and for everyone involved to help create the right context for a credible political process. And this message of peace is not only for the government, but for everyone with a gun ."
Photos: Photos: Massacre in Syria Photos: Photos: Massacre in Syria Hide Caption 1 of 7 Photos: Photos: Massacre in Syria Massacre in Syria – Syrians surround a U.N observer vehicle after placing the bodies of a girl and man on the car in Houla on Saturday, May 26, 2012. The photo is from the opposition Shaam News Network. Forty-nine children were among the 108 slaughtered in Houla on Friday, May 25, U.N. monitors say. The massacre in Houla, a suburb of the anti-government bastion of Homs, has reignited international fury against Bashar al-Assad's regime. Hide Caption 2 of 7 Photos: Photos: Massacre in Syria Massacre in Syria – The body of a slain Syrian child lies next to other shrouded bodies at a hospital mortuary in Houla on Saturday in another photo from the opposition Shaam News Network. Al-Assad's regime insists it is not behind the massacre and blames terrorist groups. Syria has attributed violence on "armed terrorist groups" throughout the 14-month-old uprising. Hide Caption 3 of 7 Photos: Photos: Massacre in Syria Massacre in Syria – Bodies of children lie in a Houla hospital morgue before their burial Saturday in another photo from Shaam News Network. Images from the town show a room crammed with mangled and bloody bodies of children -- some with their skulls torn open. Hide Caption 4 of 7 Photos: Photos: Massacre in Syria Massacre in Syria – U.N. observers visit a hospital morgue in Houla on Saturday before the burial of massacre victims. Opposition activists and residents blame al-Assad's regime for the bloodbath. Hide Caption 5 of 7 Photos: Photos: Massacre in Syria Massacre in Syria – A Houla resident shows a body to a U.N. observer at a mosque in the central Syrian town. Some U.N. Security Council members condemned the attacks "that involved a series of government artillery and tank shellings on a residential neighborhood" as well as killings of civilians by close-range gunshots. Hide Caption 6 of 7 Photos: Photos: Massacre in Syria Massacre in Syria – Syrians gather at a mass burial Saturday in Houla. "Those responsible for these brutal crimes must be held accountable," Kofi Annan, the U.N.-Arab League special envoy, said in a statement. Hide Caption 7 of 7
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He added, "The six-point plan has to be implemented comprehensively. And this is not happening."
Annan said he plans to have "serious and frank" talks with al-Assad and others. He has met with the country's foreign minister, according to images broadcast on state TV.
But a rebel leader said Annan's six-point plan is already "dead" following the killings in Houla, a suburb of the anti-government bastion of Homs. U.N. monitors in Syria said 49 children were among the dead.
Al-Assad's regime insists it was not behind the massacre and blames terrorist groups. Throughout the uprising against the government, Syria has blamed violence on "armed terrorist groups."
Opposition leaders say the massacre is the latest in Syria's crackdown against protesters.
Syrian U.N. representative Bashar al-Jaafari, who called the deaths "an appalling, horrific unjustified and unjustifiable crime," insisted Monday that the Syrian government is working to find the people responsible. He called on the U.N. Security Council to "convene to define those who arm, host, harbor and encourage the terrorist groups to continue their violence in Syria and bring them to justice," the state-run news agency SANA reported.
Jaafari railed against "member states" of the Security Council who are helping the opposition. "Those who are very interested in halting violence and making the comprehensive national dialogue in Syria a success should stop interfering in our internal affairs and should stop arming, hosting, funding and protecting the armed terrorist groups in my country," he said.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who has expressed outrage about the massacre, was in Russia on Monday seeking to persuade Russian officials to pressure the Syrian regime to comply with Annan's peace plan.
But after Hague met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, there was no clear sign that international action would ratchet up.
"It sounds very noble to say Russia is supporting the Syrian government, and when it stops supporting the Syrian government, everything will be fine," Lavrov told reporters.
But in reality, he said, "We do not support the Syrian government. We are supporting the Kofi Annan plan that addresses both the Syrian government and the armed opposition. ... We have to be objective."
After Friday's massacre in Houla, rebel leaders once again implored the international community for airstrikes against regime forces.
Meanwhile, residents of Houla were grieving as opposition activists and residents blamed al-Assad's regime for the bloodbath.
"By God, I washed the dead bodies of nine children. One was less than 9 months old!" a man screamed to a U.N. observer. "Why are they treating us like animals? We are humans. Did the infant carry an RPG? Was he a fighter? It was a baby, he had a pacifier in his mouth."
Images from Houla show a room crammed with the mangled and bloody bodies of children -- some with their skulls torn open.
"After the stuff we've seen, we can't feel anything. ... We're used to the sights now, the blood, the sound of gunfire," said another resident, who CNN is not naming because of safety concerns.
Pro-government gangs have returned to Houla, where food, water and medicine are in short supply, he said.
"They only thing we have here is the Free (Syrian) Army. It's the only thing that can protect us after God," the resident said.
The killings reignited international fury against al-Assad's regime for its 14-month crackdown on dissidents seeking an end to his rule.
On Sunday, some U.N. Security Council members condemned the Houla attacks "that involved a series of government artillery and tank shellings on a residential neighborhood" as well as the killings of civilians by gunshots fired at close-range.
In Jerusalem, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Israel supports the U.N. Security Council's condemnation of the atrocities in Syria.
"The pictures of the children's mutilated bodies are both shocking and disturbing," he told a group of visiting U.S. senators. "We call upon the nations of the world to unite and act immediately to stop the ongoing massacre of innocents."
U.S. National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said the United States was horrified by "credible reports" of the massacre, "including stabbing and ax attacks on women and children."
And some called Syria's promise of an investigation a farce.
"There's no way a Syrian military commission can credibly investigate this horrendous crime when so much evidence suggests pro-government forces were responsible," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "Annan should insist that Syria grant access to the U.N. commission of inquiry to investigate this and other grave crimes."
Over the weekend, the rebel Free Syrian Army said the Annan plan was "dead" after the Houla massacre.
"The joint command of the FSA inside Syria announces that it is no longer possible to abide by the peace plan brokered by Kofi Annan, (which) the regime is taking advantage of in order to commit more massacres against our unarmed civilians," Free Syrian Army spokesman Col. Qasim Saad Eddine said in a video posted Saturday.
"This is a clear evidence that Kofi Annan's plan is dead and a clear indication that Bashar Assad and his criminal gang do not understand anything but the language of force and violence," Eddine said. He urged the U.N. Security Council to "issue urgent and swift resolutions to save Syria, its people and the entire region by forming an international coalition mandated by the UNSC to launch airstrikes" against regime forces and their strategic points.
Violence continued Monday, with the Local Coordination Committees of Syria reporting 26 deaths.
U.N. officials say more than 9,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed and tens of thousands more have been uprooted since the crisis began in March 2011. Opposition groups report a death toll of more than 11,000 people. | – Here's yet another milestone that doesn't bode well for Syria: Gunmen killed a Syrian general as he left his home in the capital of Damascus today, reports AP. The attack on Brig. Gen. Issa al-Khouli marks the first time a high-ranking military official has been killed in Damascus, a sign that the violence that has plagued cities such as Homs might be headed there. In fact, fighting was reported today near the capital in Zabadani and Douma, reports al-Jazeera, in addition to heavy clashes and house-to-house raids in Homs and Hama. Click to read how some US officials agree with Bashar al-Assad that al-Qaeda is playing a role in the violence. |
Just hours after entering the world, a baby boy was abandoned in a church nativity scene — an early Christmas surprise that earned him the nickname “Baby Jesus.”
And get this: The name of the Queens house of worship in Richmond Hill where the baby was found on Monday is the Holy Child Jesus Church.
The full-term newborn was found swaddled in purple towels in the nativity’s crèche — where baby Jesus is found on Christmas morning.
Jose Moran, 60, a custodian at the church for three years, went to lunch and returned just after 1 p.m. He quickly got back to work — unaware of the newborn just a few feet away.
The baby was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where officials say he is going to be fine. (Courtesy Father Christopher Heanue)
“I was in the church sweeping,” he told the Daily News. “Then I hear a child crying. I didn’t make much of it. I thought there was somebody in the church with a child.”
So, he went back to sweeping.
A church custodian found the abandoned newborn Monday in the church nativity scene, with the umbilical cord still attached. (Paul Cerni/AP)
“I looked around and didn’t see anyone,” he recalled. “That got me curious. I followed the cries. I walked to the little nativity home we had installed inside the church ... I couldn’t believe my eyes. The baby was wrapped in towels. He still had his umbilical cord. He was next to the Virgin (Mary).”
Moran said workers at the church finished setting up the wooden manger and crèche about an hour before the baby was found.
“At least whoever abandoned him brought him to a safe place and didn’t leave him to die,” he said.
The custodian shared the story with his wife.
“She asked me why I didn’t bring him home,” Moran laughed. “I hope he finds the right home. He’s a miracle baby.”
The baby was given a clean bill of health at Jamaica Hospital and was in the care of the Administration of Children’s Services Tuesday as cops try to track down the mom.
Detectives also found video of the woman buying towels at the .99 Cents & Up Market on Jamaica Ave., about a block away from the church. (Courtesy)
“God works in mysterious ways,” an overjoyed Father Christopher Heanue said Tuesday. “(The child’s mother) must have been in a difficult place in her life. She found in this crèche ... this empty place where Jesus will be in a few weeks ... as a home for her son.”
At least one parishioner has offered to adopt Baby Jesus, who is also being called John the Baptist, the prophet who heralded Jesus’ arrival.
“This child was ... a kind of gift to the church in a poetic way, so we'd love to see it stay in the community,” Heanue said.
The newborn was found inside Holy Child Jesus Church on 86th Ave. in Richmond Hill around noon on Monday. (Sunshine Steven) Father Christopher Heanue said the baby was placed near the altar, in the nativity scene. (Courtesy Father Christopher Hean)
Police recovered surveillance video that shows the woman walking into the church with the baby and exiting a few minutes later empty handed. Detectives also found video of the woman buying towels at the .99 Cents & Up Market on Jamaica Ave., about a block away from the church. The woman had the baby with her, bundled up inside her coat, when she walked in, store clerk John Lv, 28, said.
"She was pretty calm,” Lv told The News.
Lv was surprised the woman abandoned the child.
José Morán found the baby sitting in the nativity’s crèche inside Holy Child Jesus Church on 86th Ave. in Richmond Hill.
"Maybe she couldn't raise the baby,” Lv said.
Churches, police stations, firehouses and hospitals, are considered safe havens where unwanted infants under 30 days old can be left, no questions asked, according to the state’s Safe Haven Law. But the mother could face charges because she didn’t tell anyone where the baby was, police said.
“We can’t imagine the desperation she must have gone through, but placing the baby in the manger where Jesus is born ... she wanted him to be close to Christ,” Brooklyn-Queens Diocese spokeswoman Rocio Fidalgo said. “We may never meet her, but our prayers are with her.”
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With Rocco Parascandola ||||| For a short time Monday afternoon, the Christmas manger at a New York City church might've been able to pass for the real thing: A newborn baby, with the umbilical cord still attached, was abandoned there. Now, New York City police are searching for whoever left the child.
It was around 11:30 a.m. Monday when a custodian at the Holy Child of Jesus Church in the Richmond Hill section of Queens left the empty chapel to get lunch. When he returned shortly after 1 p.m., he heard a baby crying, but saw no one else around.
That's when, New York City police said, the custodian turned to a nativity scene in the front of the church and saw a newborn baby wrapped in towels laying in the manger. Church pastor Christopher Heanue wrote on the church's Facebook page that the baby was a boy and weighed a little more than 5 pounds.
Emergency crews brought the newborn to a local hospital, where he was in good health, police said.
New York has a so-called safe haven law that says a newborn can be dropped off anonymously at a church, hospital, police or fire station without fear of prosecution. But the law, known as the Abandoned Infant Protection Act, requires that the child be left with someone or for authorities to be called immediately. Police said that didn't happen in this case, which has led investigators to begin searching for the person who dropped the child at the church.
Officers were canvassing the neighborhood around the church on Tuesday, looking for surveillance cameras that may might recorded something police can use. Authorities said they were also questioning witnesses to try to track down the baby's mother.
"Let us pray for this child," Heanue wrote, "for his parents and for whomever will receive him into their home."
———
Associated Press writer Jake Pearson contributed to this report. | – A janitor who heard a baby crying in an empty New York City church was astonished to find a real newborn baby in the church's Nativity scene with its umbilical cord still attached. Jose Moran tells the New York Daily News that he found the baby after returning from his lunch break on Monday, only about an hour after the manger was set up in the Holy Child Jesus Church in Queens. Police say the baby boy, who was found wrapped in a blanket, was brought to a hospital and found to be in good health. "At least whoever abandoned him brought him to a safe place and didn't leave him to die," Moran says. "I hope he finds the right home. He's a miracle baby." Police are trying to track down the newborn's mother. New York has a "safe haven" law allowing people to drop off unwanted newborns at places like churches, hospitals, and fire stations, reports the AP, but the mother could still face charges because the law requires authorities to be immediately informed of the baby's whereabouts. One of the church's parishioners has already offered to adopt the boy. "God works in mysterious ways," Father Christopher Heanue tells the Daily News. The infant was "a kind of gift to the church in a poetic way, so we'd love to see it stay in the community," he says. (Last year, Joseph proposed to Mary during a break from a Michigan church's live Nativity scene.) |
Danish food safety officials ordered a cleanup and better food handling at Noma, one of the world's top restaurants, after more than 60 people fell ill with viral gastroenteritis from eating at the two-star Michelin eatery that has also hit top spot three times in the world's best restaurants list in Restaurant magazine.
FILE – This is a March 14, 2012 file photo of Danish restaurant Noma in Copenhagen. More than 60 customers who dined at Noma one of the world's top restaurants in Denmark say they got viral gastroenteritis... (Associated Press)
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration said Friday it had investigated the popular, waterfront restaurant in Copenhagen after complaints from customers who had dined there during a week in February. It was not immediately clear what food had caused the infection.
Agency spokesman Morten Lisby described the outbreak that caused vomiting and diarrhea as "massive."
The 63 infected people ate at Noma between Feb. 12 and 16, according to a food safety report based on an inspection of local restaurants and food retail companies a week later.
Restaurant manager Peter Kreiner apologized for the incidents and said they were trying to track the source of the infection with officials.
"Our business is based on having satisfied customers here and we're incredibly sorry on behalf of our guests," Kreiner told Danish TV2. He said the restaurant had contacted the agency as soon as it became aware of the complaints.
Noma, which opened in 2004, is widely known for its chef Rene Redzepi who relies on fresh, locally-sourced products, from moss and snails to sloe berries and unripe plums. The restaurant has been credited with redefining Nordic cooking and receives thousands of reservation requests every day.
Menus at Noma cost up to 1,500 kroner ($260) and table reservations often must be made months in advance. ||||| Sixty-three guests became sick after eating last month at Noma, the Copenhagen restaurant that charges $440 for its food and wine menu and that was voted the world’s best eatery, Danish health authorities said.
Guests from 12 dinner parties over a four-day period experienced diarrhea and vomiting, and staff also reported illness, the national health inspection agency said in a report published on its website. The restaurant said in the report it was taking measures to correct issues raised by inspectors.
Noma, which specializes in Nordic foods and has served dishes such as poached sea urchin and powdered cucumber, was in April named the world’s best restaurant for the third straight year, in voting organized by Restaurant magazine. Health inspectors said in the report Noma failed to react in time to e- mails from dinner guests and one of its kitchen workers who reported they had fallen ill.
“We acknowledge that the internal procedures haven’t been good enough and because of busyness, employees didn’t check e- mails,” the report quoted Noma as saying.
The report didn’t mention any sanctions on the restaurant, whose 20-serving menu, including wine, costs 2,500 kroner ($440). Noma will have to pay for a follow-up check, the report said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Christian Wienberg in Copenhagen at [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tasneem Brogger at [email protected] | – This might make it a little easier to get a table at Copenhagen's Noma, which has reigned as the No. 1 eatery at Restaurant magazine for three straight years: Sixty-three diners got sick over a four-day period last month, reports Bloomberg. Danish health officials ordered the restaurant to ramp up its food-handling procedures after what they termed a "massive" outbreak of diarrhea and vomiting, reports AP. Would-be diners typically have to make reservations months in advance and can expect to shell out $440 for a Nordic meal with wine. “We acknowledge that the internal procedures haven’t been good enough and because of busyness, employees didn’t check e-mails" from the first ailing customers, says a restaurant statement. |
Investigators probing the death of "Top Gun" director Tony Scott said they still don't know why he plunged from the Vincent Thomas Bridge on Sunday.
Law enforcement sources said several notes Scott left do not mention any health problems or offer solid clues about why he jumped. It's possible, the sources said, that authorities might never make a clear determination of motive.
An autopsy was performed Monday. But, as in many cases, the coroner said a final cause of death would not be determined until toxicology and other test results became available in several weeks.
Officials have not determined whether Scott had any health problems before he jumped off the San Pedro bridge but said family members have denied media reports that he was suffering from cancer.
"The family told us it is incorrect that he has inoperable brain cancer," said Craig Harvey, a chief with the coroner's office.
Several people who were driving over the bridge when Scott jumped described witnessing what happened.
"He was on the roadway close to the fence looking around. He was looking around and fumbling with something at his feet. He looked nervous," David Silva told The Times.
Silva said he was a passenger in a car on the north side of the bridge and Scott was on the south side.
Silva said Scott "paused a couple of seconds and then began to climb the fence. He put his foot on the top of the fence and paused again. And then he threw himself off. I immediately thought, that guy is dead."
At first, Silva and other motorists thought the jump was an extreme-sports stunt. Then they realized the jumper didn't have a parachute or safety cord.
Silva said he called 911 immediately.
A Rancho Palos Verdes man who was driving across the bridge said the director appeared "determined" and "resolute."
Eric Brill, 59, said he was returning home after visiting his mother in Laguna Woods when he spotted a man wearing multicolored clothing climbing one of the cables on the other side of the bridge. The man was "clambering up in a very strong way," Brill said, something that confused him until he read later that Scott was an avid rock climber.
"It takes a while to register in your brain, because you're not used to seeing anything like this and for a few seconds you think it's some kind of mistake," Brill said. "I looked more closely — perhaps it's a maintenance man. But I knew very soon after that it wasn't anyone doing maintenance."
As Brill was about to drive past Scott, he said, the director "turned around, as if to see if someone was after him."
"I could very, very clearly see his face," Brill said. "He was very determined. He was not crying, he didn't look upset, he didn't look sad. He just looked very resolute."
Brill said he had read accounts from witnesses describing him as nervous and fidgety.
"I didn't see that," Brill said. "What I saw was a very determined guy."
[email protected]
[email protected] ||||| Silva said he was a passenger in a car on the north side of the bridge and Scott was on the south side.
"He was on the roadway close to the fence looking around. He was looking around and fumbling with something at his feet. He looked nervous," witness David Silva said in an interview with The Times. "I thought it was some extreme-sports guy."
Scott appeared nervous before leaping off the bridge Sunday afternoon, a witness said.
Scott, 68, had just completed a new movie, and there had been no public reports of health problems.
"The family told us it is incorrect that he has inoperable brain cancer," Harvey said.
But Craig Harvey, a chief for the coroner's office, said Scott's family denied media reports about brain cancer.
The autopsy will look at any major health issues Scott had.
The "Top Gun" director jumped off the Vincent Thomas Bridge on Sunday in what is being investigated as a suicide. As in many cases, the coroner said it would not have a final cause of death until toxicology and other tests are back in several weeks.
The Los Angeles County coroner's office said it has not determined whether director Tony Scott had any health problems before he jumped off a San Pedro bridge Sunday and said family members have denied media reports that he was suffering from inoperable brain cancer.
Silva said Scott "paused a couple of seconds and then began to climb the fence. He put his foot on the top of the fence and paused again. And then he threw himself off. I immediately thought, that guy is dead."
At first, Silva and other motorists thought it was an extreme-sports stunt. Then they realized the jumper didn't have a parachute or safety cord.
Silva said he called 911 immediately.
The coroner's office said all evidence suggests that Scott took his own life.
Scott left a suicide note at his office, law enforcement sources said, but police have not revealed what it said. Harvey said Scott also left several "instructional" notes to family and friends.
Simon Halls, a spokesman for Scott's family, said the family asked "that their privacy be respected at this time."
Los Angeles police first learned of the incident after 12:30 p.m. from a 911 caller who said a man had leaped off the suspension bridge that connects San Pedro and Terminal Island. It's a 185-foot fall from the bridge roadway to the waters of the Los Angeles Harbor.
Authorities have been talking to those on the bridge at the time of the incident.
A source said officials looked inside the car and determined that it belonged to the famed action-movie director and producer. A note in the car had contact information for his wife. The suicide note was later found in his office, according to law enforcement sources.
His body was pulled out of the water several hours later by divers from the Los Angeles Port Police.
The coroner's office identified Scott on Sunday evening.
Scott was a respected director and producer whose films included "Man on Fire," "Enemy of the State" and "Beverly Hills Cop II."
The last film he directed was "Unstoppable," a 2010 thriller about a runaway freight train.
His career in television included executive producing the series "The Good Wife" and "Numb3rs," both on CBS.
The British director, who lived in Beverly Hills, was best known for the 1986 hit "Top Gun," starring Tom Cruise as a Navy aviator. The movie grossed $21.6 million in its first 11 days of release.
Scott was one of three sons born to working-class parents in northern England.
He established his career as a commercial director and continued to make television spots late into his career. Before becoming a filmmaker, Scott was a painter.
Known for a kinetic visual style that aimed to take audiences into his high-octane action scenes, Scott also produced a number of blockbuster movies, most recently "Prometheus," directed by his brother Ridley Scott, and "The A-Team."
At the time of his death, he had recently completed filming "Out of the Furnace," a drama he was producing about an ex-con, starring Christian Bale. The movie is set to come out next year.
Scott was also preparing to produce a science fiction drama called "Ion" and had served as executive producer on "Stoker," set to come out in March.
His debut feature, 1983's vampire movie "The Hunger," starred Catherine Deneuve and established Scott's cinematic style. He followed that movie with "Top Gun," which not only boosted the career of Tom Cruise but also ushered in a series of Scott's action movies, which included "Days of Thunder," also starring Cruise, and "Crimson Tide," starring Denzel Washington.
Though his movies were consistent box-office hits, Scott rarely attracted critical praise and was never nominated for an Academy Award.
He was more successful with reviewers in television, however, for his work on "The Good Wife."
Scott was married three times and had twin sons with his third wife, actress and model Donna Wilson.
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-- Richard Winton and Andrew Blankstein | – Top Gun director Tony Scott, who jumped off a Los Angeles bridge to his death yesterday, was suffering from inoperable brain cancer, an insider tells ABC News. Police got multiple calls about the jump yesterday around 12:35pm; a number of boaters witnessed the scene, TMZ reports. "He landed right next to our tour boat, and many of us saw the whole thing," says a cruise passenger. Scott left several notes to loved ones in his car and elsewhere, though early reports didn't label them suicide notes, officials say. The Vincent Thomas Bridge's highest point is 185 feet over the Los Angeles harbor, and the AP notes that it has seen a number of suicides. Scott was a daredevil in his free time, enjoying rock-climbing and speedy cars and motorcycles. But "the biggest edge I live on is directing. That's the most scary, dangerous thing you can do in your life," he once said. |
German police announced Monday that they are on the lookout for thieves who stole an entire vineyard of grapes last week.
According to the police report, “The unknown offenders … used a professional harvesting machine over the entire surface” to collect the grapes on Wednesday afternoon. They had taken 3,527 pounds used to make Riesling wine valued at around $9,200, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported.
Thomas Lohnes/Getty
Authorities in the vineyard-rich Rhineland-Palatinate region in western Germany are asking the public for help in catching those responsible for the crime, which reportedly took place right next to the parking lot of a major supermarket.
Grape theft has occurred in Germany before, and cases are almost never solved. Following the theft of 350 kilograms of grapes, enough to make 350 bottles of wine in 2016, police told Die Welt that “no one is surprised when a harvester drives through the vineyards in the fall.” People are usually unaware that a crime is being committed and vineyard owners don’t check on the fruit daily, meaning that police cannot always determine when the theft occurred.
Authorities in another European country, however, have found a way to catch those responsible for stealing grapes. “Horses are the best way of getting around places where you can’t go by car,” Nicolas Krust, a member of the “green brigade” in the Haut-Rhin region of eastern France said, according to Agence France-Presse.
Krust is one of 16 officers on horseback that patrol the region, looking for people who litter, ticket illegally parked cars and watch for potential grape thieves. Locals believe that crime has fallen because of the unit.
“For several years we haven’t had many problems with theft which is linked to the presence of the green brigade,” Roland Martin, the mayor of Wuenheim, said
In the United States, two-and-a-half tons of grapes were reportedly stolen overnight in a Virginia vineyard last month, leaving the owner of Firefly Hill Vineyards with a loss of $50,000.
“I can handle losing a crop to Mother Nature, but to come in and take my crop in the middle of the night and steal what we’ve worked for eight months, that’s disheartening,” David Dunkenberger said, according to The Washington Post.
“You work your whole year for the harvest day and we were about to have that. We were almost there, and somebody stole it,” he said, mentioning that he has no idea who could have committed the crime or what they were planning to use the grapes for. ||||| Image copyright Renate007/Wikimedia Commons Image caption Deidesheim lies at the heart of Riesling country
Police in southern Germany are looking for thieves who stole an entire vineyard of grapes from under their noses.
The criminals made off with the field full of grapes by "running a professional harvesting machine over the entire vineyard", the police said, according to the local Rheinpfalz newspaper.
Most galling of all for the police is the fact that the vineyard does not lie on some remote hillside, but is to be found right next to the car park of a major supermarket on the outskirts of the village of Deidesheim.
The resourceful thieves struck at some point between teatime last Wednesday and sunset the following day, netting 1,600 kg (3,527 lb) of the white grapes used to make Riesling wine. The haul is estimated to be worth 8,000 euros (£7,110; $9,272).
Image copyright Kallistratos/Wikimedia Commons Image caption The local Goat Auction is the occasion for a wine festival
The police are keen for any information on the theft, as it is not the first in their part of Rhineland-Palatinate Region. Last year alone 600-800 kg of grapes were stolen in the surrounding Bad Duerkheim district.
Rhineland-Palatinate is home to six of Germany's 13 wine-producing regions, and is famous for Riesling and sparkling wine. Its 13,000 vineyards account for 90% of Germany's wine exports.
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Local vintners have long suspected that rival wine-growers may be responsible. They note how the thieves unerringly select the choicest grapes, steal them just as they ripen, and have access to specialised harvesting equipment.
"The motive is jealousy," Stephan Altmann told Die Welt newspaper when his Winning Vineyard was plundered two years ago. A local policeman added that harvesting machines heading into fields at dusk are a common sight in the area, and so not necessarily bound to arouse suspicion.
The Deisdesheim winemakers could take the advice of their neighbours in France's Soultz-Haut-Rhin district, where local farmers swear that grape theft has been cut drastically by environmental officers on horseback patrol, France 3 TV reports.
Image copyright France 3 TV Image caption France says horse patrols deter grape thieves
Reporting by Martin Morgan
Next story: Mistaken identity as Pakistan embarrassed by wallet theft
Use #NewsfromElsewhere to stay up-to-date with our reports via Twitter. ||||| (Jay Paul/for The Washington Post)
The thieves allegedly arrived in the dark of night and worked quietly and meticulously to steal their items — 2½ tons of grapes that the owner of the Virginia vineyard says were on the cusp of being harvested.
It’s a loss worth $50,000 in supplies, labor and potential wine sales for Firefly Hill Vineyards in Elliston, near the Blue Ridge Mountains, about 20 miles from Roanoke.
David Dunkenberger, who has owned the family-run vineyard for 12 years, said he doesn’t know who could have taken the grapes or what the thieves might plan to do with them. He said he doubts another winery would purchase grapes without knowing their history and suspects the thieves might try to sell them outside the area.
“I can handle losing a crop to Mother Nature, but to come in and take my crop in the middle of the night and steal what we’ve worked for for eight months, that’s disheartening,” he said.
Dunkenberger, who lives about a 10-minute drive away, said his daughter took samples of the grapes Sunday, and the family planned to harvest them Tuesday. Dunkenberger said he and his father showed up that morning and “everything was gone.” They suspect the heist occurred earlier that morning.
Dunkenberger estimated it would have taken his team of eight people about 12 hours to pick the grapes and process them properly. Vandals probably made away with his crop in much less time, he said.
“If they were cutting, they could have picked it clean in six hours,” Dunkenberger said. “I have no idea what they will do with them.”
He shared his feelings in several Facebook posts, describing how the 36-acre vineyard is a family experience and how his daughters, his father and others help during the season.
“Cherished memories spoiled by a bunch of low life, no soul, heartless excuses for human beings,” he wrote.
Capt. Brian Wright, a spokesman for the Montgomery County sheriff’s office in Christiansburg, Va., which is investigating the grape theft, said the “million-dollar question” is the whodunit.
A police report indicated “the victim discovered a crop of grapes about to be harvested had been stolen overnight.” Wright said it appeared the grapes had “just been cut off the vine.”
He said the case was unusual for the agency.
“We’ve had cases of plants being stolen,” he said. “The occasional shrubbery or ornamental trees. But we’ve not had a large case of crops.”
A bird netting that normally covers the grapes was still in place when Dunkenberger arrived Tuesday morning. He said the thieves apparently removed the netting, cut the grapes, then replaced it.
Dunkenberger said he expected to have a good crop this year, despite heavy amounts of rain that could have damaged the grapes.
He had planned to use the grapes for two French-American hybrid wines. But with fewer than 200 pounds of grapes available, the business is closed for the time being.
“You work your whole year for the harvest day and we were about to have that,” he said. “We were almost there, and somebody stole it.” | – Brazen thieves have swept into southern Germany and stolen 3,527 pounds of grapes—leaving an entire vineyard stripped bare, Newsweek reports. A police report issued Monday says the perpetrators used a professional harvesting machine to gather up $9,200 of grapes used to make Riesling wine. Amazingly, the vineyard in Rhineland-Palatinate sits beside a supermarket parking lot, but authorities say no one raised an eyebrow. "No one is surprised when a harvester drives through the vineyards in the fall," says a police source. It's nothing new, either: Between 1,300 and 1,700 pounds of grapes were stolen in the surrounding Bad Duerkheim district last year, per the BBC, and a Virginia vineyard allegedly had two and a half tons of grapes worth $50,000 stolen last fall. "I can handle losing a crop to Mother Nature, but to come in and take my crop in the middle of the night and steal what we’ve worked for eight months, that's disheartening," the vineyard owner tells the Washington Post. In Germany, vintners have blamed vineyard thefts on rivals: "The motive is jealousy," vineyard owner Stephan Altmann told Die Welt two years ago. |
Comedian Amy Schumer's new essay collection, The Girl with the Lower-Back Tattoo, is out. It's ranking No. 2 in Amazon's list of bestsellers and No. 1 in Satire and Humor sections. Nettled, perhaps, by the book's success, or by the fact that a female comic's business acumen landed her one of the most lucrative celebrity book deals in the business, a small group of fans of the now-defunct Opie and Anthony radio show are trying to sabotage the comedian by leaving fake one-star book reviews.
The plan was hatched in a subreddit dedicated to the show, which was hosted by shock jocks Gregg Hughes and Anthony Cumia until Cumia was fired for racist rants in 2014 (he was subsequently arrested for allegedly strangling a woman). (The show was renamed "Opie with Jim Norton.") Fans admired Cumia and Hughes for outrageously pushing the envelope on what comedy could do. The Amazon caper was proposed by one poster yesterday and got off the ground on a dedicated thread about an hour later, as users advised each other on how to create fake accounts and congratulated each other on especially witty entries (one poster broke the fourth wall by plugging another comic in his Amazon review, while a third suggested that "someone do that thing where you give a 5-star review but it's actually still a bad review disguised as a good one.").
An unusually clever entry:
"Do your part. Submit more reviews. It's still too high at 2.4 stars," said one poster yesterday. The book remains the No. 2 bookseller on all of Amazon, but with a 2.3 rating and comments like "boooo" and "Lena Dunham is fat" rising to the top, these self-declared comedy experts are teaching Amazon readers a lesson on what humor is. Lili Loofbourow ||||| I often wonder what makes people want to bare their souls to a fickle, hostile public.
It's not an unfamiliar inclination — I frequently delve into personal details in my own writing. But I'm not sure I can succinctly explain why. As a way of bearing witness to my own life? In the hopes that someone will recognize herself/himself in my experiences? Masochism?
In "The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo," Amy Schumer is the latest celebrity to take the skeleton of what we know about her and flesh it out with anecdotes and confessions and observations collected along her path. She's 35, so she is (hopefully) only about a third of the way along her path, but what she offers here is a better, more deeply felt life-so-far book than most I've read.
After some initial throat-clearing in the first 30 pages (the book's weakest), Schumer weaves a brave, vulnerable tale without falling into the usual celebrity traps of neediness and defense.
She writes about her dad's multiple sclerosis, a sexual assault she endured as a teenager, her experience living with an abusive boyfriend, her parents' multiple failed marriages and her own reckoning with an entertainment industry that prizes appearance over substance.
In so doing, she subtly offers a rationale for all this self-revealing: It strengthens you.
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"I've been criticized from so many angles and laughed at for all the wrong reasons," Schumer writes. "But, as many comics have realized, there is a gift in being laughed at, or heckled, or even booed off the stage. When your fears come true, you realize they weren't as bad as you thought. As it turns out, the fear is more painful than the insult."
In the chapter titled "Beautiful and Strong," Schumer relives a couple of soul-crushing dates (maybe too generous a word) at pivotal moments in her life. The self-doubt and humiliation are eminently relatable, even if you've never been set up with a guy wearing a shark-tooth necklace and hair plugs who reminds you you're "no model."
"Sometimes I want to quit — not performing, but being a woman altogether," she writes. "I want to throw my hands in the air after reading a mean Twitter comment and say, 'All right, you got me. You figured me out. I'm not pretty. I'm not thin. I don't deserve love. I have no right to use my voice. I will start wearing a burka and move to a small town upstate and wait tables at a pancake house.'"
But of course she doesn't.
"I know my worth," she writes. "I embrace my power. I say if I'm beautiful. I say if I'm strong. You will not determine my story. I will. I'll speak and share and (expletive) and love, and I will never apologize for it. I am amazing for you, not because of you. I am not who I sleep with. I am not my weight. I am not my mother. I am myself. And I am all of you."
She's also hilarious, which manages to come through on the page. (No small feat.)
Her teenage journal excerpts, which she footnotes with 2016 thoughts, contain some of the wittiest writing I've experienced. The chapter titled "Athletes and Musicians" has very little from which I can quote here, but trust me when I say: It's spit-out-your-Starbucks-in-public funny.
"An Exciting Time for Women in Hollywood" is a scathing send-up of both Hollywood and the reporters who cover it, based mostly on her experience hawking "Trainwreck" to a suspicious press corps. (The list of titles for "Trainwreck" in various foreign markets, by the way? Fantastic. "A Disaster Girl." "Derailment." "A Girl Without Complexes.")
"First, I'd like to thank all the people who pointed out that I was a woman," Schumer writes. "Your compliments were phrased very precisely so that I was never just described as 'funny,' but rather, a 'funny woman." You made sure I didn't lose sight of my ovaries. Thank you. Without your constant reminders, I may have just forgotten my uterus on a crosstown bus."
Schumer dedicates a chapter to Mayci Breaux and Jillian Johnson, the two women killed in July 2015 when a man opened fire in a Lafayette, La., theater showing "Trainwreck." She launches into an impassioned plea for sensible gun control — a cause she adopted after Breaux's and Johnson's deaths, and for which she offers no apologies.
"I know that for many of you, this might not be a chapter you signed up for and you may be thinking, Get back to telling your vagina jokes! Make us laugh, clown! I hear you. When I've written sketches about gun safety on my TV show, people have responded by saying they wish I'd just be funny. ... I'll tell you what I tell them: No! I love making people laugh and am grateful that I'm equipped to do that. But when an injustice affects me deeply, I will speak about it — and I suggest you do the same."
In many ways, "The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo" is 314 pages of Schumer finding her voice and using it to speak about injustices that affect her deeply, some more grave than others.
It's an exercise in either vanity or courage when a celebrity offers a self-reveal. In this case, it's mostly the latter. And even the parts that veer into the former are witty enough to make you glad you stuck around.
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Twitter @heidistevens13
The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo
By Amy Schumer, Gallery Books, 314 pages, $28
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Check out the latest movie reviews from Michael Phillips and the Chicago Tribune. | – Amy Schumer's new collection of essays, titled The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo, currently sits at the No. 2 spot on Amazon's bestsellers list, with Heidi Stevens at the Chicago Tribune describing it as "a brave, vulnerable tale" that's also "hilarious." Its Amazon rating of 2.8 doesn't quite reflect that. That's because trolls perusing a subreddit dedicated to the now-defunct Opie and Anthony radio show have set out to sabotage the comedian by leaving fake one-star reviews, reports the Week. "Do your part. Submit more reviews. It's still too high at 2.4 stars," one Redditor wrote on Tuesday. One recent one-star review reads simply, "Amy's book gets one half star because the book comes with a front and back cover.” Another notes, "Lena Dunham is fat." Except for a handful of two-star reviews, all others give the book five stars. "Ignore the low-life Redditors' fake, one star reviews. This is a great read," one reviewer writes. Another describes Schumer's "candid honesty and brilliant humor." If her book is any indication, Schumer will be ignoring the trolls. "I know my worth. I embrace my power. I say if I'm beautiful. I say if I'm strong. You will not determine my story. I will," she writes in the book. |
U.S. President Donald Trump said he rejected a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over Canada's dairy tariffs, negotiating style on NAFTA and because his people do not like Canada's "representative."
Trump made the remarks during a news conference in New York on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, when he was asked if he had, in fact, snubbed Trudeau.
"Yeah I did," Trump said, adding it was "because his tariffs are too high and he doesn't seem to want to move and I've told him forget about it and frankly we're thinking about just taxing cars coming in from Canada. That's the mother lode, that's the big one."
However, the Prime Minister's Office said in an email to CBC News that "no meeting was requested," and that it had no comment beyond that.
Trump went on to criticize Canadian officials and how they have negotiated during the recent NAFTA talks.
"We're very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada. We don't like their representative very much," Trump added.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters in New York Wednesday that he rejected a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau because he does not like Canada's tariffs, NAFTA negotiating style or representative at those negotiations. 0:30
Trump did not say which representative he meant.
During the NAFTA negotiations U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has acted as the lead official for the U.S. while Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland has filled that role for Canada.
A senior Canadian official told CBC News the Trump comments should be seen in the context of the continuing negotiations.
While Trudeau and Trump did not have a formal or even informal meeting at the UN, the pair did shake hands briefly during a luncheon for world leaders. ||||| WASHINGTON—High-stakes trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S. were dramatically upended on Friday morning after inflammatory secret remarks by President Donald Trump were obtained by the Toronto Star. Trump’s comments were viewed by Canadian negotiators as evidence for their suspicions that the U.S. was not making a legitimate effort to compromise. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s officials confronted the president’s officials with the leaked quotes at a high-level meeting on Friday morning.
In a remark he did not want published, U.S. President Donald Trump said that a possible NAFTA deal with Canada would be “totally on our terms,” according to a source. ( T.J. KIRKPATRICK / NYT )
Trump’s words caused a U.S. media firestorm. By the end of the day, Trump had confirmed the accuracy of the Star’s report, said he was fine with the leak because now Canada knows his true feelings and also complained at length that the leak was a breach of his trust. Canada and the U.S. were not able to reach a deal by Trump’s informal deadline of Friday. The talks were scheduled to resume on Wednesday. Trump made his controversial statements in an Oval Office interview with Bloomberg News on Thursday. He said, “off the record,” that he is not making any compromises at all with Canada — and that he could not say this publicly because “it’s going to be so insulting they’re not going to be able to make a deal.”
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“Here’s the problem. If I say no — the answer’s no. If I say no, then you’re going to put that and it’s going to be so insulting they’re not going to be able to make a deal ... I can’t kill these people,” Trump said of the Canadian government. In another remark he did not want published, Trump said that any deal with Canada would be “totally on our terms.” He suggested he was scaring the Canadians into submission by repeatedly threatening to impose tariffs on imports of Canadian-made cars. “Off the record, Canada’s working their ass off. And every time we have a problem with a point, I just put up a picture of a Chevrolet Impala,” Trump said. The Impala is produced at the General Motors plant in Oshawa, Ont. Bloomberg agreed to Trump’s request to keep the comments off the record. But the Star, which obtained the quotes from a source, is not bound by any promises Bloomberg made to the president, and it published the quotes after they became part of the critical negotiations. Trump corroborated the quotes in an afternoon tweet.
“Wow, I made OFF THE RECORD COMMENTS to Bloomberg concerning Canada, and this powerful understanding was BLATANTLY VIOLATED. Oh well, just more dishonest reporting. I am used to it. At least Canada knows where I stand!” he said. In a speech in Charlotte later, Trump said: “These are very dishonourable people. But I said, in the end it’s OK, because at least Canada knows how I feel. So it’s fine. It’s fine. It’s true.”
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Trudeau, who was in Oshawa as the drama unfolded, said, “We will only sign a deal if it is a good deal for Canada.” Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland maintained their practice of refusing to respond directly to Trump’s regular incendiary statements. “Over the past year and a half, there’s a lot of things that have been said from time to time,” Trudeau said. “I think people have noticed that our government’s approach is always to stay constructive, positive, to engage on the substance of issues, and to demonstrate that we understand that the path forward is one of making sure that there’s a win-win-win on all sides.” Trade experts said it was unclear how the disclosure of the quotes would affect the talks.
“Off the record, Canada’s working their ass off,” U.S. President Donald Trump said in an Oval Office interview with Bloomberg. “And every time we have a problem with a point, I just put up a picture of a Chevrolet Impala,” he added, referring to a car manufactured at the General Motors plant in Oshawa, Ontario. ( Doug Mills/ The New York Times )
“I suspect that the negotiators on both sides are mostly focusing on the issues, not the rhetoric. Of course, as part of their own strategy, they each might bring up Trump’s comments. All of this is uncharted territory in trade negotiations, though, so nothing would surprise me,” said Simon Lester, associate director of trade policy at the Cato Institute. Eric Miller, president of a U.S.-Canada consultancy, said the disclosure “will reverberate in the background of the NAFTA talks for the remainder of the negotiations.” “For Canada, it will enhance the scrutiny the government will face about any outcome,” Miller said. But it is also “damaging” to the U.S., he said, because it appears to reveal their strategy, “and when it comes to the end, if each party is saying that it’s a good deal that’s a much easier sell in every country than if some parties are facing persistent questions about whether they were rolled.” Read more: Trade talks end without meeting Donald Trump’s deadline, will resume next week Opinion | Rick Salutin: Trump, Trudeau and NAFTA: what could possibly go wrong? Analysis | Trump makes 67 false claims in 5th-most-dishonest week as president On the record, Trump told Bloomberg that a deal was “close,” that it could happen by Friday but might take longer, and that Canada ultimately has “no choice” but to make a deal. Bloomberg quoted those remarks. But then Trump said, “Off the record: totally on our terms. Totally.” “Again off the record, they came knocking on our doors last night. ‘Let’s make a deal. Please,’” he said. Bloomberg News editor-in-chief John Micklethwait, one of the journalists who conducted the interview, declined to comment. “‘Off the record’ means ‘off the record’ — and we should respect that,” Micklethwait said in an email. Trump, of course, is known for both dishonesty and for bragging about his own greatness, and he regularly utters dubious boasts about how he is supposedly dominating the feeble people on the other side of the bargaining table. When he claimed to have made no compromises, it is possible he was making a false claim to impress the Bloomberg journalists. There was no apparent evidence on Friday for his claim that he has wielded a photo of an Impala as a negotiating tactic. Daniel Dale is the Star’s Washington bureau chief. He covers U.S. politics and current affairs. Follow him on Twitter: @ddale8
Read more about: | – Canada, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in particular, were among President Trump's many targets in his freewheeling press conference Wednesday. Trump claimed that he had rejected a one-on-one meeting with Trudeau at the United Nations this week because talks to renegotiate the NAFTA deal are not going well, the Atlantic reports. "His tariffs are too high, and he doesn't seem to want to move and I've told him forget about it, and frankly, we're thinking about just taxing cars coming in from Canada," Trump said. "We're very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada," he added. "We don't like their representative very much." Trudeau's office, however, tells the CBC that "no meeting was requested" and it will not comment further on the matter. Mexico has already signed a deal ahead of the Trump administration's Oct. 1 deadline, but talks with Canada have not gone as smoothly—possibly because Trump insists that any deal will be "totally on our terms," according to remarks leaked earlier this month. Sources tell CNBC that US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer might issue the text of the Mexico deal, with framework to add Canada at a later date, as soon as Friday. Trump told the press conference that he refuses to use the name NAFTA. "What we're probably going to do is go with the USMC, like the United States Marine Corps, which I love," he said, though he added that it might be just "USM," for the United States and Mexico. |
The woman who was kidnapped on Sunday off a desolate Philadelphia street -- a harrowing crime that was caught on surveillance camera -- was found alive Wednesday in Maryland, while her abductor was arrested, authorities said.
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Carlesha Freeland-Gaither, 22, was found by Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents inside a parked car in Jessup, Maryland, law enforcement sources said. Her alleged abductor, Delvin Barnes, 37, was arrested at the scene, authorities said.
Ed Hanko, the special agent in charge of the Philadelphia FBI field office, said that because of tips called in from the public, investigators were "able to identify this individual, identify his car and track it into Maryland."
Law enforcement officials told ABC News that authorities tracked Barnes' car because he had GPS installed in it.
Freeland-Gaither was found inside the car and was treated at a local hospital before being released, police said.
Philadelphia Police Department
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, in a Thursday interview with ABC News, said the video of the kidnapping "added a sense of urgency" to the case. He credited Freeland-Gaither's spirit in the face of her circumstances.
"My understanding is that even after she was in the car and she was bound she continued to fight and struggle with this guy, so she’s got a lot of fight in her, and that probably helped keep her alive," Ramsey said.
Hanko said that she is "in good shape," but police still have not had a chance to interview her.
Freeland-Gaither's mother, Keisha Gaither, attended Wednesday's news conference and said that her daughter was emotional in a phone call.
"She was very upset. She was crying," Gaither said of her daughter.
"Thank you for keeping me up. Thank you for being there for us. I'm taking my baby home," she added.
Barnes is being held as a result of an outstanding attempted capital murder warrant that was issued for him in Virginia, though he is expected to face federal charges once the ongoing investigation into Freeland-Gaither's case is complete.
Courtesy WPVI
Investigators said that they have no reason to believe Barnes knew his victim before the abduction.
The Charles City County Sheriff's Office told ABC News that a 16-year-old female was abducted off the street on Oct. 1 -- similar to what happened to Freeland-Gaither -- and was also missing for nearly two days. Captain Jason Crawley said the victim in that case also did not know Barnes.
"He's a thug and this is what he does apparently," Ramsey told reporters. "People like this, there's nothing that makes sense."
In the surveillance video released Monday, Freeland-Gaither can be seen fighting to get away from her attacker during Sunday's abduction.
Freeland-Gaither was pulled down the street in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia toward the man’s car, which police believed to be a 2000 or 2002 gray Ford Taurus. At one point, she even fell to the ground to try and get away before she was pushed into the car.
Get real-time updates as this story unfolds. To start, just "star" this story in ABC News' phone app. Download ABC News for iPhone here or ABC News for Android here. To be notified about our live weekend digital reports, tap here. ||||| Story highlights Carlesha Freeland-Gaither, 22, is "doing about as well as you can expect"
Delvin Barnes admitted to the abduction, according to a criminal complaint
He waives extradition to Virginia, where he faces other charges; no bail set
Freeland-Gaither was found 3 days later in Maryland; Barnes didn't know her
An ATM transaction, a grocery store receipt, a GPS device planted by a concerned car dealer and videos -- including one that showed a 22-year-old woman manhandled, knocked to the ground, then forced into a car just blocks from her Philadelphia home.
All of it, among other tips and pieces of evidence, added up. And because of that, Carlesha Freeland-Gaither is thankfully back in Philadelphia where she belongs.
The 22-year-old nursing assistant was released early Thursday from Maryland's Howard County General Hospital, having been reunited with her family after a harrowing three days.
"She's doing about as well as you can expect. Obviously, she's traumatized by the entire event over the past few days, so it's going to take a little time for that to heal. But she's doing well. She's back with her family and she's very, very happy about that," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey told CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront."
"She had injuries, but nothing life threatening, fortunately," he said.
The man who authorities say abducted her, 37-year-old Delvin Barnes, has a new home himself, at a detention center in Baltimore County, Maryland. According to a criminal complaint, Barnes admitted to the kidnapping. He also reportedly said he didn't know the victim before he took her.
Appearing at a court hearing later Thursday from jail via video conference, Barnes waived his extradition to Virginia where he faces grave charges in another abduction case. That leaves Virginia authorities five days to pick him up.
JUST WATCHED FBI: Missing Philly woman found alive Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH FBI: Missing Philly woman found alive 02:26
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Maryland Judge Darryl G. Fletcher didn't set bail, due to the severity and number of charges in Virginia.
It's not clear when Barnes will be arraigned in the Philadelphia case, though it seems unlikely he'll be free when that happens.
But at least his alleged latest victim, Freeland-Gaither, is.
Philadelphia police Commissioner Charles Ramsey says that's because of "a lot of police work, a lot of tips from the public. But we were able to track it down."
Cinquetta Barfield, the victim's cousin, told CNN affiliate KYW on Thursday that Freeland-Gaither is "in good health."
"God was on our side. Everybody was praying for us and prayer works," she said.
And the victim's mother, Keisha Gaither, couldn't be happier or more thankful.
As she said Wednesday night to law enforcement, the media and the public, "Thank you for keeping me up. Thank you for being there for us. I'm taking my baby home!"
Taken after visiting godson
On Sunday, Freeland-Gaither went to the house of her mother's godson, her aunt Dayah Freeland said, and took a bus toward home.
After she was dropped off in Philadelphia's Germantown-Penn Knox area around 9:40 p.m., the suspect's car passed her, turned up the street, then met her at an intersection, Philadelphia police Chief Inspector Dennis Wilson told CNN sister network HLN.
It was then that her abductor pounced.
Surveillance video shows Freeland-Gaither being confronted by a man, then forcibly led away by him, tussling on the ground before being forced into a car.
During the struggle, her glasses and cell phone fell to the road. Freeland-Gaither kept fighting -- even breaking out one of the passenger side windows -- but she couldn't stop the car from speeding away.
Abductions are hardly unprecedented, but Ramsey said it is rare to see one captured on video.
"I've been on the job 46 years, (this is the) first time I've ever seen a kidnapping on videotape. (It) really was horrific to watch it unfold."
Police had asked for the public's help in finding 22-year-old Carlesha Freeland-Gaither.
Police: Car dealer provided key tip
This wasn't the only video that police released.
Another, from just after 6 a.m. Monday, shows a man in a dark hooded jacket using Freeland-Gaither's ATM card at a machine in Aberdeen, Maryland, which is about 75 miles from Philadelphia.
And on Wednesday, police released an additional video of a man, also wearing dark clothing, making a purchase at a convenience store on Monday.
Someone who sold a car to Barnes recognized him from one of the videos and alerted authorities. The dealer had placed a GPS device in the vehicle because of worries about Barnes' bad credit, according to Charles City County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jayson Crawley.
"From that, we were able to trace the car," Ramsey said. "We were able to then contact Charles City (Virginia authorities), ... and things started really falling into place very quickly."
Such devices are put in cars to alert customers if they're behind on payments and, if they don't pay on time, allowing dealers to shut down the vehicle and track it down, said PassTime USA CEO Stan Schwartz, the head of the company that made the unit. In this case, Barnes knew it was there.
PassTime has about 1.5 million such units out on the road, but has been only asked by law enforcement 10 to 15 times to track them as part of a criminal investigation, according to Schwartz. He said that the car dealer worked with authorities earlier this week, with the PassTime USA headquarters getting involved Thursday morning.
In the Virginia case, Barnes is charged with abduction, forcible rape, malicious wounding with a chemical and other charges related to the early October disappearance of a 16-year-old girl, according to Crawley. That girl managed to escape after two days, walking 2 miles naked and burned into a business seeking help.
Delvin Barnes is also charged with abduction, forcible rape and malicious wounding of a Virginia teenage girl.
Like the case involving Freeland-Gaither, authorities believe that case was a stranger abduction, meaning the victim didn't know who took her.
"We used to chill, hang out. He's a good guy," a friend of Barnes told CNN affiliate WTVR about the suspect.
"I don't believe it ... He is always looking to help somebody, always looking to bend over backwards. He'll give the shirt off his back if he could," Ronald Davis said.
The travels of Barnes ended Wednesday night in Jessup, Maryland.
"We surveilled that vehicle in the area," FBI agent Ed Hanko said of the car Barnes is thought to have used in Freeland-Gaither's kidnapping.
"... When the subject exited the vehicle, that's when Ms. (Freeland-Gaither) was recovered." ||||| Carlesha Freeland-Gaither was found alive in Jessup, Maryland Wednesday night after she was abducted in Philly Sunday. Delvin Barnes was arrested in connection to the abduction. NBC10's Nefertiti Jaquez has the details. (Published Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014)
Less than 72 hours after being violently snatched off a Philadelphia street as she walked home from visiting her godson, Carlesha Freeland-Gaither has been rescued from the "vicious predator" police say kidnapped her.
Now as she recovers from the attack that was caught on video and seen nationally, focus moves to her alleged abductor, who authorities have linked to a similar crime against a teenage girl.
"I’m taking my baby home. Thank you," Keisha Gaither, the woman's overjoyed mother, told the public at a news conference Wednesday night. Her family erupted into applause as the woman spoke.
Carlesha's Mom Thanks Detective for Keeping His Promise Watch as the mother of Carlesha Freeland Gaither thanks the detective who personally promised her officials would find her abducted daughter. MORE DETAILS HERE. (Published Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014)
New Surveillance Video Released in Woman's Abduction
The 22-year-old was rescued from the car of her alleged kidnapper, 37-year-old Delvin Barnes, in a Jessup, Maryland, parking lot Wednesday afternoon, officials said. She suffered some injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital in Columbia, Maryland, for treatment, police said. She was listed in good condition and is expected to recover.
“It’s very special for all of us. You hope, you hope, you hope, but you don't really know until you're actually able to get her, and make sure she's OK. So it's very important that this has a happy ending," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said.
Carlesha Freeland-Gaither, 22, was rescued by federal agents on Nov. 5 following her abduction in Philadelphia three days prior. Her alleged kidnapper, Delvin Barnes, is pictured right in an undated mugshot.
Photo credit: NBC10
Agents moved in quickly after receiving a tip from the ATF Office in Richmond, Virginia, which was investigating Barnes. They believed the man may have been the suspect after seeing surveillance photos in news reports, Philadelphia detectives said.
Authorities began tracking his gray Ford Taurus through a GPS device placed inside the vehicle by the car dealership where it was purchased, detectives said. The GPS was installed because Barnes had poor credit, officials said.
Agents honed in on his location, in a shopping center parking lot, and moved in to strike.
"He was more surprised than anything," ATF agent Tim Jones said of the arrest.
Barnes and the victim were in the backseat of the car when agents arrived, but he quickly jumped into the driver's seat to try and flee, Jones said. Agents blocked his way and took him into custody.
Freeland-Gaither screamed hysterically for help as the arrest was taking place, telling the agents she was the woman who had been abducted in Philadelphia, Jones said.
"Once she had time to process what had happened you could tell she was emotionally distraught," he said.
Barnes, who has ties to Philadelphia, apparently attacked Freeland-Gaither at random, detectives said. He is being held on an warrant for attempted murder of a 16-year-old girl last month in Charles City County, Virginia.
Alleged abduction suspect Delvin Barnes' gray Ford Taurus is loaded onto a flatbed to be taken into evidence.
Photo credit: NBC10
"He’s a thug and this is what he does apparently," Ramsey said of the alleged abductor. “He’s a vicious predator. He’s off the streets."
Barnes will be charged federally in the alleged kidnapping and assault, said Edward Hanko, special agent-in-charge of the FBI's Philadelphia division. Officials said many times that the investigation remained fluid and had a long way to go.
A Three Day Ordeal
Freeland-Gaither's rescue puts an end to three intense days of searching by Philadelphia Police, the FBI and her family.
The nursing aide was grabbed as she walked along Greene Street near W. Coulter Street in the city's Germantown section at 9:40 p.m. Sunday. She was returning home from a visit to see her godson.
The woman was forced down the street and into a car. She struggled to get away, fighting her attacker and breaking out the car's rear passenger window. But she couldn't escape -- her glasses and smartphone left on the sidewalk.
The entire ordeal was caught on surveillance video and widely shared.
DevelopingNew Clues in Woman's Violent Abduction
An intense manhunt ensued with the search quickly expanding from Northwest Philadelphia to Aberdeen, Maryland, where Freeland-Gaither's ATM card was used by a man early Monday morning.
Her family made tearful pleas for the woman's safe return and continued posting missing posters through Wednesday, never giving up hope.
Detectives got a break in the case from a woman living in Havre De Grace, Maryland. In her driveway, the woman found a bag of trash that included a receipt from an ACME supermarket in Northeast Philadelphia, a bag of Herr's potato chips and shattered glass.
The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told NBC10 that she initially thought it was just trash, but later called authorities after talking to a friend about the case.
Abducted Woman's Emotional Parents Beg for Her Release
Investigators were able to use the receipt to hone in on the supermarket and gather clear surveillance video of Barnes from the day of the attack, detectives said. In the video, he could be seen buying the same chips that the woman found, police sources said.
RAW: New Surveillance of POI in Abduction Case Authorities released new surveillance video Wednesday showing a person of interest in the abduction of 22-year-old Carlesha Freeland-Gaither, who was snatched from a Germantown street Sunday night. (Published Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014)
Officials thanked the public for helping to move along the investigation.
"We worked tirelessly, around the clock, investigated every lead that we had, and we really appreciate the public coming forward giving us a hand, giving us all the information that we were able to sit there and work on," Philadelphia Police Northwest Detective Division Capt. James Smith said.
"Problems With Women"
Barnes has a long history with the law.
Philadelphia Police arrested the man in November 2005 on a slew of charges including rape, burglary, aggravated assault, making terroristic threats and reckless endangerment, according to court documents.
Police reports obtained by NBC10 stated Barnes beat, sexually assaulted and held his estranged wife captive -- defying a protection from abuse order. The woman is also the mother of his child, family said.
VideoAbduction Suspect Once Held Ex-Wife Captive
He jumped from the woman's closet, grabbed her by the face and dug his nails into her skin, according to the reports. He held her in the home overnight and allegedly forced her to have sex with him, the police report states.
The next morning, the woman begged Barnes to let her use the phone and call her parents. As she spoke to her mom, she was able to indicate she was in trouble and told her mother to call 911, according to investigators. When the parents arrived, Barnes began to beat them before they were able to escape and call police, according to the reports.
Barnes was eventually arrested, charged and found guilty of aggravated assault, criminal trespassing, false imprisonment and related charges, the documents show.
Delvin Barnes, 37, is accused of abducting a Philadelphia woman and holding her captive for three days. The kidnapping prompted a multi-state search resulting in his arrest on Nov. 5.
Photo credit: Philadelphia Police
Lamar Barnes, the man's uncle, told NBC10 Wednesday night that his nephew recently was released from prison. He said the man is the son of a minister and that he's had trouble with women in the past.
“It’s just hard for me to accept the viciousness of it, not necessarily surprised. You know some men grow up having problems with women so they take it out on women. Apparently he’s one of them," Lamar Barnes said.
The uncle said he's glad to hear that Freeland-Gaither is safe and that Delvin's parents are "devastated" by the allegations.
"If he’s somebody I didn’t know, I would say whatever they do to him is fine. Well, he’s my nephew, same thing. What am I gonna do," he said.
Two weeks ago, officials in Virginia dropped charges against Barnes. According to court records, he was arrested in July for making a bomb threat, which is a felony. That charge was amended to trespassing, a misdemeanor, and the case finally dropped on Oct. 24, the records show.
Four days later, sheriffs in Charles City County, Virginia, linked Barnes to the abduction, rape and torture of a 16-year-old girl.
Authorities said the girl went missing on Oct. 1 and showed up two days later at a business. She was naked, bloody and covered in burns smelling of bleach and gasoline, officials said.
Abduction Suspect Also Accused of Raping Teen
DNA tests came back as a match to Barnes on Oct. 28, officials said. A warrant was issued and he was charged with attempted capital murder, abduction, forcible rape, malicious wounding, malicious injury with acid, explosives or fire and intimate object penetration, authorities said.
Coming Home
A Philadelphia Police caravan left the city late Wednesday carrying about 15 members of Freeland-Gaither's family to the hospital for a reunion with the victim.
The family made their way back to Philadelphia early Thursday morning in an effort to help the young woman move past the assault and begin the healing process right away, at home.
WATCH: Carlesha and Family Leave Hospital Watch as Carlesha Freeland-Gaither and her family leave the hospital in Maryland hours after she was found safe. (Published Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014)
"Thank you so much for having us in your prayers, thank you for keeping me up. Thank you for being there for us," the woman's mother, Keisha Gaither said.
Carlesha's Mom Thanks Detective for Keeping His Promise Watch as the mother of Carlesha Freeland Gaither thanks the detective who personally promised her officials would find her abducted daughter. MORE DETAILS HERE. (Published Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014)
NBC10 reporters Rosemary Connors, Nefertiti Jaquez, Denise Nakano, George Spencer, Randy Gyllenhall, Tim Furlong and Deanna Durante and investigative producer Jim O'Donnell contributed to this report.
Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, [email protected] or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter. | – A woman whose violent abduction was captured on surveillance video in Philadelphia has been found alive and well in Maryland, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer. Carlesha Freeland-Gaither, 22, is in good condition, and police say her assailant, identified as 37-year-old Delven Barnes, is in custody. NBC Philadelphia reports that police rescued Freeland-Gaither from a vehicle on the side of a road in Jessup, Md., yesterday after Barnes stepped out of it. Authorities had identified it as the vehicle used in the abduction, tracked it to Maryland, and had it under surveillance. Philadelphia's police chief called Barnes a "vicious predator" and said he hoped he'd spend the rest of his life in jail. Authorities say Freeland-Gaither, a nursing assistant, did not know her assailant, with Philadelphia's police commissioner telling CNN it appears to be a "stranger abduction." A number of media sources are reporting that Barnes is wanted in connection with a violent incident in Charles City County, Va., and CNN details the "horrific allegations": Per a local police official, a 16-year-old girl who went missing on Oct. 1 was found naked and bleeding two days later, having allegedly been kept at Barnes' home where bleach and gasoline were poured on her. She remains in the hospital, where she is recovering from third-degree burns. Barnes is expected to be charged with abduction, forcible rape, and malicious wounding with a chemical in connection with that crime today. Meanwhile, Freeland-Gaither is back in Philly, reports the Times Dispatch. |
Basketball superstar LeBron James is widely referred to as King James. On Wednesday, he extended his realm to entertainment.
James' entertainment company Springhill announced a production partnership with Warner Bros. to produce content for television, film and digital platforms.
Word of the deal immediately sparked speculation that it could mean that "Space Jam 2" could be in the works. The original 1996 "Space Jam," starring Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny, still has a cult-like following. A Warner Bros. spokesperson, however, had no comment.
It won't be his first entertainment venture -- he currently stars in the movie "Trainwreck." He had founded the SpringHill Entertainment company in 2013 with a business partner.
In announcing the deal, James said that "telling meaningful stories have always been my passion."
Related: LeBron tickets soar to nearly $1,000
"In everything I've done, from Nike (NKE) commercials to 'Uninterrupted' and 'Survivor's Remorse,' it's always about connecting with people of all ages and providing unique content they can all enjoy," he said.
"Uninterrupted" is a video series on athletes' stories for the online site Bleacher Report, which like CNNMoney and Warner Bros, is owned by Time Warner (TWX). "Survivor's Remorse" is a comedy for the Starz channel about a young basketball player in the NBA.
Details of the arrangement were not released.
Related: LeBron's road to becoming a billionaire ||||| Skip in Skip x Embed x Share NBA star LeBron James' recently announced partnership with Warner Bros. stoked rumors that a "Space Jam" sequel could be on the horizon. Video provided by Newsy Newslook
LeBron James and wife Savannah Brinson at the 'Trainwreck' premiere on July 14. (Photo: Andrew Toth, FilmMagic)
LeBron James is going Hollywood.
After stealing critics' hearts in the Amy Schumer summer comedy, Trainwreck, the NBA star is plotting more projects for big and small screens.
On Wednesday, Warner Bros. announced a partnership with James' company, SpringHill Entertainment, in what they called "an unprecedented agreement." The deal includes projects for television, film and original digital content.
"LeBron James has one of the most powerful, well-known brands in the world and we are excited to be in business with him and his partner, Maverick Carter, and SpringHill Entertainment," said Warner Bros. chairman Kevin Tsujihara in a statement. "The combination of LeBron's global media presence and Warner Bros.' unmatched production and distribution expertise is a big win for fans everywhere."
Said the Cleveland Cavaliers star: "Connecting with my fans and telling meaningful stories have always been my passion. In everything I've done, from Nike commercials to Uninterrupted and (Starz scripted comedy) Survivor's Remorse, it's always about connecting with people of all ages and providing unique content they can all enjoy."
What did the critics have to say about his first major movie star role? USA TODAY called his performance "a slam dunk." The New Yorker called James "the funniest person" in the whole dang thing.
NPR gave him major kudos, writing that "this isn't really a cameo; it's a bona fide supporting performance in a comedy, and he's straight-up terrific." And the Los Angeles Times said the NBA star's' "performance reflects impressive off-court timing and a sense of humor about his own image."
Here's to more of that, Warner Bros.-style. ||||| Based on the unscientific metric of audience laugh rate during a well-attended Sunday matinee, LeBron James is the funniest person in "Trainwreck," a movie written by and starring one culture-certified comedy genius, Amy Schumer, directed by another, Judd Apatow, and featuring the likes of Bill Hader, Colin Quinn, Dave Attell, Vanessa Bayer, and Mike Birbiglia. This is, depending on how you look at it, either a happy revelation of James's diverse talents or an unfortunate detail about the movie to which he lends them.
But let's stick to the good news: James, playing a gently bizarro version of himself, steals the show. He is the best friend of Schumer's love interest, a sports surgeon named Aaron Conners (Hader), and serves as the wary gatekeeper of his friend's fragile heart. This familiar rom-com role often produces reliable laughs, but it is normally played by a quirky comedic actress in pajamas, rather than by the best basketball player on the planet—and so the initial joy of watching James onscreen likely owes to the relief of discovering that he is not as terrible as he had every right to be. But that low bar is cleared quickly, during his first scene, after he nails a bit about being so cheap that he'd drive forty minutes out of his way to retrieve a pair of thirty-dollar sunglasses.
From there on—as he haggles over an itemized brunch bill, refers to sex as “making love,” sings the praises of Cuyahoga sunsets, and offers dating advice in the form of a spoken-word monologue of Kanye West's “Gold Digger”—it becomes clear that James has delivered something more than just a passably good cameo. He plays himself as at once artless and knowing, cheerfully sentimental but with a mean streak when it comes to protecting his buddy. In a requisite scene of one-on-one with Conners, he forgets to go easy and innocently bullies his feeble opponent all over the court. Was I the only one who, at some point, wanted the camera to leave the movie stars for a while and see what this LeBron character was getting up to on his own?
Maybe I am still in the thrall of watching James grill Schumer about her intentions with his friend—“When you look at the clouds, do you see his face?”—but it seems safe to declare that he has given the greatest motion-picture acting performance by an active professional basketball player of all time. This may sound like especially narrow praise, but that category includes plenty of hall-of-famers. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's performance in “Airplane!,” as the co-pilot Roger Murdock, looms large (“The hell I don't!”), but, looking at it again, Abdul-Jabbar appears a bit more stilted than I remembered. Ray Allen was credible as a high-school phenom in Spike Lee's “He Got Game,” playing opposite Denzel Washington, but the role's lasting impact owes more to the character's cool name, Jesus Shuttlesworth, than it does to Allen's acting chops. The various onscreen performances of funny-in-real-life Shaquille O'Neal, meanwhile, are mostly beneath mention, though other players who get scripts sent their way would be wise to recall his disastrous turn as a rhyming genie in the movie “Kazaam.” Last week, Charles Barkley aimed a little shade at James, saying, “LeBron should call this ‘Trainwreck 2,’ cause the Finals were ‘Trainwreck 1.’ ” But perhaps he was just worried that James had eclipsed his own dramatic exploits.
LeBron's most serious historical competition comes, as it always does, from Michael Jordan, and his starring turn in the partially animated Warner Brothers corporate bonanza “Space Jam,” from 1996. Amid rampant product placement, Jordan gives a charming and self-effacing performance, full of shrugs and smirks, all while acting in front of a green screen among cartoon characters that weren't in the room. Such conditions have gotten the better of many professional actors, yet Jordan made it through without looking any more ridiculous than he was supposed to. James had the benefit of working with living, breathing, funny humans, and with a script that let him be a silly version of his real self—but even so, it is a pleasant surprise to see James, who is sometimes referred to as a kind of charmless basketball cyborg, display some Jordan-level charisma. Enjoy it while it lasts, though, because James might just have been too good in “Trainwreck” for his, and our, own good. The offers will be coming in. Most of them will be terrible. Hopefully no one will ask him to play a genie. But what about “Space Jam 2”?
James, meanwhile, is not the only athlete to show up in “Trainwreck,” and the presence of Amar'e Stoudemire, Chris Evert, and Tony Romo only serves as more evidence of his better-than-expected performance. Reviewing the movie in the magazine, Anthony Lane points out that, after a while, “the namechecks become an embarrassment.” These cameos indeed seem mostly to be about the filmmakers’ industry juice, and a clear signal of the movie's aim for mass appeal. But the presence of these real sports people isn't entirely out of place, since sports themselves occupy a surprisingly important, and even heroic, role in the movie, which is odd, since Schumer, who wrote it, and Apatow, who directed it, both claim to hate sports.
But consider the plot: it begins with Schumer's character, Amy Townsend, in an editorial meeting at the men's magazine where she works, delivering a speech in which she says that sports are infantile and uninteresting, a blight on the American landscape—and that the people who like them, especially the men who like them, are boring and terrible. This is a fair social critique—sports as a domineering force, an expensive entertainment masquerading as culture. Then she meets Aaron Conners, the sports doctor whom she is assigned to profile. She admits to knowing nothing about the players he repairs—after claiming, for a moment, to root for the Long Island Mediums and the Orlando Blooms. Conners, of course, loves sports, arguing that they are an important source of community, that they bring people together. This disagreement is the proxy for the chasm between the characters that must be crossed. Something's gotta give.
And it isn't going to be sports. In a battle between love and basketball, even in a movie by sports skeptics, basketball wins. In Schumer's telling, a woman must come around to the joys of the game in order to fit in, and prove her fitness to a man. This isn't “Bull Durham,” in which a love of sports can be a language that both men and women might equally share. Instead, it's more like “Fever Pitch,” in which Drew Barrymore had to become a Red Sox fan to truly understand Jimmy Fallon. “Trainwreck” ends with a triumphant scene at Madison Square Garden, the only time in recent memory when something good has happened at a Knicks game. LeBron James is gone by then, but it was his world that brought everyone together. | – If you liked LeBron James in the new Amy Schumer film—critics did—get ready for much more. The NBA star has signed a deal with Warner Bros. that includes movies, TV, and digital content, reports USA Today. The deal with James' production company, SpringHill Entertainment, led to speculation that a sequel to Space Jam—the 1996 cult favorite with Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny—might be in the works, notes CNNMoney. If so, the studio wasn't saying. Details on the deal weren't announced. |
Bay Area Rapid Transit officials have made at least four arrests and closed two subway stations as protesters gathered at the height of the evening commute for the second Monday in a row, according to the agency and local news accounts.
About 100 protesters who gathered at 5 p.m. this evening outside stations and on train platforms were from two organizations. One group is angered by fatal officer-involved shootings over the last two years, and the other by the agency's move earlier this month to thwart a demonstration by shutting off cellphone service.
According to local news accounts, BART officers arrested four people on the Civic Center Station train platform not long after Monday's protest began. Some witnesses reported shouting matches between angry commuters and protesters who have snarled the busy commute three times now since July 11. BART is used by hundreds of thousands of regional commuters to cross the Bay from San Francisco to points east.
By 5:30 p.m., BART reported closing San Francisco's Powell Street and Civic Center stations. Protesters began marching down Market Street, the city's main diagonal artery, toward the Ferry Building, blocking traffic in places.
Both subway stations were reopened shortly after 6 p.m., then closed again.
Officials with the San Francisco agency that operates municipal buses and cable cars also closed its Civic Center station, which shares an entry area with BART, and has replaced the storied Powell Street cable car popular with tourists with a shuttle bus.
Some who gathered in the stations were with a group known as No Justice No BART, which is protesting two fatal officer-involved shootings, most recently that of a transient named Charles Hill who was intoxicated and armed with a knife. Backers of Anonymous, the loose organization of hackers, had gathered outside the stations to demonstrate.
ALSO:
Raiders CEO defends fans after Candlestick Park violence
Police shooter's body found in burned home, authorities say
Double murder suspect wore disguises, wigs to avoid capture
--Lee Romney in San Francisco
Photo: A Bay Area Rapid Transit train. Credit: Los Angeles Times ||||| SAN FRANCISCO --
Authorities repeatedly closed two San Francisco BART stations during the Monday evening commute, arresting 45 people in connection with an anti-BART protest that roamed both aboveground along Market Street and inside the transit system.
Commuters were frustrated and confused, as BART officials closed and reopened the Powell Street station four times and the Civic Center station three times - sometimes within minutes - fearing that roaming protesters would disrupt transit service. The shifting protest also snarled traffic along Market Street.
Earlier in the evening, BART police arrested five people in connection with a protest at the Civic Center platform. San Francisco police arrested five others for failing to disperse from a street protest near Seventh and Market streets.
Shortly before 9 p.m., San Francisco police began arresting 35 people in connection with the demonstration near the San Francisco Main Library near Hyde and Grove Streets. Most were cited for failing to disperse or illegally blocking traffic. Police spokesman Albie Esparza said no vandalism was reported in connection with the demonstration, but police did confiscate a hammer from one demonstrator.
Monday's rush-hour protest was the latest in a series of online and street demonstrations against the transit agency since a BART police officer fatally shot 45-year-old Charles Blair Hill, a transient, at the Civic Center Station on July 3, allegedly as Hill wound up to throw a knife.
Protesters and civil libertarians were also concerned about BART shutting down cellular communications, which it did during a demonstration on August 11, sparking another protest last week.
Caught in the middle: BART's passengers, who take an average 350,000 trips each weekday.
And while many commuters heckled demonstrators as they marched up Market Street, others were confused as to why BART kept opening and closing the two stations. BART authorities closed and re-opened the Powell Street station four times between 5:47 p.m. and 8:24 p.m., with the station remaining closed for a total of one hour and 38 minutes. The Civic Center station was opened and closed three times between 5:27 p.m. and 8:35 p.m., with the station being closed for a total of two hours and 36 minutes.
BART authorities did not cut cellular communications service during Monday's protest.
'Trying to get home'
Carole R. Brown checked BART's online schedule before leaving work to catch her train home to Oakland on Monday evening. It was open then, but by the time she got the station, authorities had closed it.
"I support the protesters," Brown said. "But I'm trying to get home. BART shouldn't have closed the station."
Commuters had packed the Civic Center station earlier than usual for the evening rush-hour commute Monday afternoon, in an effort to get out of town before the scheduled 5 p.m. start of the protest.
Yvette Delozoda, 45, argued with some of the protesters as she was trying to get to Daly City. "They're hurting people who work for a living. I just want it to be safe for everyone. Not every cop out here is trying to kill us."
Protester Mario Fernandez, 27, Oakland said he thought BART overreacted by shutting down the Civic Center Station.
"They're saying we're disrupting service - we're not," he said outside the station. "They overreacted, just like when they overreacted and shot Charles Hill and when they overreacted and shot Oscar Grant."
Marching on Market
At 5:40 p.m., about 100 protesters walked east down the middle of Market Street chanting, "From England to the bay, the cops must pay," in an apparent reference to recent riots in England. At its peak, nearly 200 eventually massed and marched - lined on either side by 50 police in riot gear with batons at the ready - to the front of the Ferry Building entrance before turning in the face of police guarding its entrance.
Many then roamed up and down Market Street for the next couple of hours. Authorities would briefly close the transit stations as demonstrators marched past the entrances.
The protests have ramped up online since the July 11 protest resulted in service disruptions and closures of the Civic Center, Powell and 16th Street Mission stations. BART says those protesters coordinated their actions in part with cell phones, prompting the agency to cut off cell service. But some consider the shutdown a violation of constitutionally protected free speech rights.
On Wednesday, the BART board is scheduled to meet to consider adopting a policy governing when - if ever - the transit agency may switch off its wireless network. The public will have an opportunity to comment at the 9 a.m. meeting at 344 20th St. in Oakland.
BART board President Bob Franklin saidthe current rationale allows a wireless blackout in BART's subway stations "when there is an imminent threat to the safety of people."
BART has been the target of an activist group known as Anonymous, which generally targets institutions its supporters consider to be suppressing free speech and Internet freedom.
"I'm shocked and appalled that it's happening here," Peter Fein, 33, of Ellensburg, Wash., an organizer with the Anonymous group, said Monday. "Free speech is what makes this country different."
As part of the Anonymous campaign known as "OpBART," the group promises to keep up pressure until BART officials admit they were wrong to cut off the cell-phone service in July, apologize to the public and fire Linton Johnson, the transit agency's chief spokesman, who defended the cutoff. | – Some 45 people were arrested yesterday during the latest protest against San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit's decision to cut cellphone service to foil a demonstration earlier this month. The protests forced the closure of two stations at rush hour, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. BART police arrested five who were protesting at the Civic Center platform; city police busted 40 others when they refused to disperse from two street-level protests. Witnesses described shouting matches between the demonstrators and angry commuters facing chaos for the second time in seven days, the Los Angeles Times reports, and the Chronicle paints a picture of what commuters had to deal with: The Powell Station was opened and closed four times and the Civic Center station three times, as BART officials warily eyed the shifting protests. The BART board meets tomorrow to discuss the possibility of adopting a policy on when, if at all, the agency can cut its wireless network. |
It had been the perfect Father’s Day... a trip to the beach with his nine-year-old daughter, the youngest of his five children.
So when Bill Hudson settled down with his laptop after dinner, he was looking forward to nothing more than a peaceful evening at home.
Then he sat bolt upright. There, flashing up on the screen, was an Instagram photograph posted by his eldest son, the actor Oliver Hudson – his first-born child with ex-wife Goldie Hawn and brother of Bill’s older daughter Kate.
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Ex: In a searingly raw interview with The Mail on Sunday last night, Bill Hudson (pictured) veering between tears of sadness and flashes of anger, vowed to ‘break all ties’ with his eldest children, actors Kate and Oliver
Children: Goldie Hawn pictured with her daughter, Kate Hudson, (left) and son Oliver Hudson, (right)
Taken more than 30 years ago, it showed a smiling Oliver and Kate as happy children, posing with their father.
It was the caption beneath the photograph that cut Bill’s heart to the quick. Addressing his message to his sister, Oliver wrote: ‘Happy Abandonment Day....@katehudson.’
The post went viral, spawning thousands of comments as social media seethed with debate about absent fathers and whether being a biological father automatically earns a man the right to be called ‘dad’.
Almost Famous actress Kate twisted the knife further by posting an intimate black and white photograph of herself alongside Goldie’s long-term love Kurt Russell saying: ‘Pa, just simply... thank you. Happy Father’s Day. I love you to the moon and back.’
The offending tweet: Oliver Hudson posted this picture of his father Bill, and sister Kate on Father's Day
An undated photograph of Bill Hudson and Goldie Hawn - they went on to have two children together
And as if to rub salt into Bill’s wounds, Oliver, too, posted a picture of himself with Kurt, adding the words: ‘Happy Father’s Day, Pa.’
For Bill, the anguish slowly turned to anger as the headlines raged and his ‘phone rang off the hook’.
But he has maintained a dignified silence – until now.
In a searingly raw interview with The Mail on Sunday last night, Bill, veering between tears of sadness and flashes of anger, vowed to ‘break all ties’ with his eldest children.
‘I say to them now, ‘“I set you free,” he pronounced, his voice breaking. ‘I had five birth children but I now consider myself a father of three. I no longer recognise Oliver and Kate as my own.
‘I would ask them to stop using the Hudson name. They are no longer a part of my life. Oliver’s Instagram post was a malicious, vicious, premeditated attack. He is dead to me now. As is Kate. I am mourning their loss even though they are still walking this earth.’
Kate twisted the knife by posting an intimate photograph of herself alongside Goldie’s long-term love Kurt Russell saying: ‘Pa, just simply... thank you. Happy Father’s Day. I love you to the moon and back'
Oliver, too, posted a picture of himself with Kurt, adding the words: ‘Happy Father’s Day, Pa'
It is a sad denouement to a decades-long family saga which, Bill says, ‘is more messed up and sad than any Hollywood screenplay could ever be’.
For years, Bill and former wife Goldie have bickered publicly about Goldie’s claims that he all but abandoned the two famous siblings.
Last night, in a blistering attack on Goldie, Tinseltown’s favourite ‘ditzy blonde’, Bill accused her of ‘wilfully alienating’ him from their two children.
At the heart of the matter is what Bill calls the ‘Hollywoodisation’ of Goldie’s story.
‘When we split up, she never had a bad word to say about me,’ he says. ‘But when Kurt came on the scene, the narrative changed and I became the big, bad wolf. I would say to her “Goldie, why are you trashing me and saying I’m an absent father when it’s simply not the case?” and she’d laugh and go “Oh Bill, you know it makes for a better story”.’
Eventually, Bill says, the fiction became fact as first Kate, now 36, and then Oliver, 38, ‘drifted away’ from him and rejected his repeated pleas to remain part of their lives. He lays the blame at Goldie’s door. I believe the drip, drip, drip of poison which started when they were kids finally took hold,’ he says. ‘Goldie wanted to create this myth of a perfect family with Kurt and she wanted me out.’
Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson in happier times. For years, Bill and former wife Goldie have bickered publicly about Goldie’s claims that he all but abandoned the two famous siblings
Things came to a final showdown a week ago with Oliver’s bitter post.
‘That was like a dagger to the heart,’ says Bill as he sits in the sun-dappled courtyard of a hotel near his ranch home in Malibu, California. ‘It’s time for the truth to come out.’
At 65, Bill still has the rugged good looks and easy charm that captivated Goldie when she was at the height of her fame. During their marriage, she became the highest-paid female star in the world thanks to quirky comedies such as Shampoo, There’s A Girl In My Soup and Private Benjamin. When the pair met in the first-class cabin of a New York to LA flight in 1975, Bill was a successful star in his own right with his group The Hudson Brothers, (‘the One Direction of our day,’ he quips). He had his own TV show and performed alongside The Beach Boys, The Osmonds and The Monkees.
‘The attraction was instant. I invited her out to dinner that night and that was it. The sex was mind-blowing. Even when everything else in the relationship turned sour, the sex was always amazing.’
The pair wed in 1976 when Goldie was already pregnant with Oliver.
When their son was born at LA’s Cedars-Sinai hospital, Oliver suffered from the life-threatening condition meconium aspiration, when a newborn accidentally inhales contaminated amniotic fluid.
‘Oliver was in isolation for three days,’ says Bill. ‘Goldie and I were beside ourselves. She was really sick and I’d go from her bedside to the neonatal intensive care unit. The doctors didn’t think Oliver would make it. I was only 26 and in a state of shock.
‘Goldie and I were sobbing but Oliver pulled through and from that moment he was our precious miracle.
‘He was my first-born. I adored that child. When Kate came along, I loved her with all my heart, too. There was this deep love among the four of us for years. And that’s what makes it so difficult to say goodbye.’
Actors Oliver Hudson, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell arrive at amfAR The Foundation for AIDS in 2013
Bill says clouds formed in the relationship over his wife’s ‘free spirit’ and desire for an open relationship.
‘Goldie was having affairs. She told me pretty much on our wedding night she wanted an open marriage, that she couldn’t imagine being faithful to one man for the rest of her life.’
When Goldie made a film, Cactus Flower, in London, her mother Laura moved into the marital home – a magnificent £10 million beachside villa in Malibu – and helped Bill care for the children.
‘Oliver was three and Kate four months old. Goldie went to Europe for a month. I stayed home on Daddy duty. I later found out she’d been sleeping with one of her co-stars, French actor Yves Rénier.
‘I wanted a traditional marriage but Goldie couldn’t settle. Eventually I moved out.’
The marriage ended in 1981. Bill went on to have a long-term relationship with Love Story actress Ali MacGraw, before marrying Cindy Williams, star of TV comedy Laverne & Shirley. They had two children Emily, now 31, and Zachary, 28, before that marriage also ended in divorce.
Goldie was having affairs. She told me pretty much on our wedding night she wanted an open marriage, that she couldn’t imagine being faithful to one man for the rest of her life
His youngest child is Lalania, nine, from a long-term relationship with a woman to whom he remains ‘exceptionally close’.
Meanwhile, Goldie met Kurt Russell in 1983. And while the pair have never married, their relationship is considered one of the happiest in Hollywood. ‘When we first split up, I took a house on the beach in Malibu to stay close to the kids,’ says Bill. ‘I was a part of their lives for years. Kate and Oliver came over at weekends, there were family holidays.
In fact, the photograph that Oliver posted on Instagram was taken by Cindy while we were on holiday in Florida. Goldie wanted a vacation with Kurt because they’d just got together and so Cindy and I took the kids to DisneyWorld. Everything was cool.’
But he says Goldie used her increasing fame and financial superiority to ‘freeze’ him out.
‘I call it parental alienation. We had a custody arrangement but Goldie constantly flouted it. I’d turn up to see the kids and would discover Goldie had taken them on the private jet to her home in Colorado.
'She gave interviews about her “wonderful” relationship with Kurt and how the kids called him “Pa”. She described me as an absent father. I’d call her and go “Goldie, how can you say that?” but she’d just reply: “It’s a better story.” ’
As Kate’s fame grew she, too, accused her father of being an absentee dad: ‘There was never a birthday card,’ she complained, to which Bill responds: ‘Rubbish! I sent birthday cards every year.
‘I ring her up every birthday, still do. The same with Oliver. I bumped into Oliver fairly recently in a supermarket in Malibu and he gave me a hug. I always thought Oliver could be the peacemaker, that somehow he would help bring our fractured family back together.
Actor Kurt Russell, with Goldie Hawn and her children, actress Kate Hudson and actor Oliver Hudson in 2004
‘Goldie poisoned them against me. She told the kids I’d moved to Portland. I did go to Portland for eight months to make an album but then I came back to LA. I never abandoned my family. I never walked away. I wanted to be a father to Kate and Oliver but Goldie made it harder and harder for me to see them. It’s all about control. What Goldie wants, Goldie gets.’
He recalled going to mediation during their custody battle. ‘Goldie grabbed my forearm as we were leaving and said to me: “It’s all about the money and power, babe.”’
When Oliver and Kate were in their early teens, Bill decided to end the court battles and told the children his door was always open to them. ‘Oliver would come and stay with me. We’d go fishing, have sleep-overs. But Kate drifted away.’
The pair enjoyed an uneasy rapprochement when Kate started dating Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson, father of her elder son Ryder, 11. She also has a three-year-old son Bingham with British rocker Matt Bellamy, from whom she split last year after four years.
‘At one point, I was writing a letter to my children every week for a year. Did those letters ever get to them? Who knows? When I read some of the comments on social media, it was so hurtful. People believe the bull****. Well, I’m here to say it’s just not true.’ At first, Bill picks his words carefully over Kate’s Father’s Day photo of herself with Kurt. ‘It was an intimate shot and, as her father, I found it inappropriate and unsettling. I’ll leave it at that,’ he says.
Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson at the 1975 Oscars (pictured left) and an undated picture of them (right)
Then, angrily, he adds: ‘She wants to be Kurt’s daughter? Well then, take his name, stop using mine.’
He has removed photographs of Kate and Oliver from his home and even thrown away their knitted baby booties ‘which I carried in the glove compartment of every car I’ve ever owned for good luck’.
Last week, Oliver posted a reply to one fan in which he was unrepentant, emphasising his closeness to Kurt Russell: ‘What started out as what I thought as a joke has turned into something more. And I embrace that. I’ve done and continue to do a lot of work on myself to better understand what make me tick. Yes, science links us but love binds us. OH + KR = ♥’
Bill is clearly still deeply wounded. He says: ‘Oliver could have picked up the phone and called me but he hasn’t. What shocks me is that this was clearly premeditated. He chose the photograph and posted it on Father’s Day, when he knew it would cause maximum pain. Oliver has lived in the shadow of his mother and sister all his life. Maybe he wanted to be in the headlines?
‘If what he wanted was me out of their lives, then he’s succeeded. I don’t want to see either of my eldest children ever again. It’s over.’ ||||| Paul Zimmerman via Getty Images
Father's Day seems to be a sore subject for some people. Take actor Oliver Hudson for example, who slammed his estranged biological father Bill Hudson in an Instagram post Sunday.
The 38-year-old actor shared a childhood photo of himself and his sister Kate Hudson with their father, and he wasn't subtle with the caption: "Happy abandonment day... @katehudson." Ouch.
Happy abandonment day... @katehudson A photo posted by Oliver Hudson (@theoliverhudson) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:18pm PDT
Heavy, right? But it's hardly the first time Oliver or Kate have spoken out about their biological father. The siblings have both gone on record to say that they consider their mother Goldie Hawn's longtime partner Kurt Russell to be their real father.
"[Bill Hudson] doesn't know me from a hole in the wall. But I don't care. I have a dad [Russell]. The bottom line is, you call your kids on their f--king birthday. I'm glad I had a dad who was there on my birthday," Kate told Vanity Fair back in 2000.
Meanwhile, Bill Hudson had his say when he released his tell-all book, 2 Versions: The Other Side of Fame and Family in 2011, in which he also said some unkind things about his children.
"I love Kate, but ... She has done stuff which is just awful. She is a spoiled brat in my eyes and at the end of the day, she should meet her little sister. I should meet my grandchild and she should help her grandmother," he wrote.
Meanwhile this Father's Day, the actress made no mention of her biological father, she only celebrated Russell with a sweet photo on Instagram that she captioned, "Pa, just simply..... Thank you 🙏 Happy Fathers Day I love you to the moon and back. ✨ #HappyFathersDay"
Pa, just simply..... Thank you 🙏 Happy Fathers Day I love you to the moon and back. ✨ #HappyFathersDay A photo posted by Kate Hudson (@katehudson) on Jun 21, 2015 at 9:40am PDT
The Huffington Post has reached out to Bill Hudson for comment. ||||| While dads around the world were enjoying Father’s Day on Sunday, Charlie Sheen was once again ranting on Twitter.
The target of the actor’s ire was his ex-wife Denise Richards, with whom he has two daughters and a lot of baggage — the two split in 2005 after Richards accused Sheen of threatening her. On Sunday, Sheen seemed to resurrect some of that bad blood by tweeting: “D Richards is a heretic washed up piglet Shame pile.”
“Happy Father’s Day!!!” he added.
The actor also tweeted “Brooke M is a sexy rok star whom I adore,” seemingly in reference to another ex-wife, Brooke Mueller. While those tweets have since been deleted, Sheen also posted an expletive-filled “open letter” about Richards, which can still be found online. In the letter, which is addressed to “the media,” Sheen calls Richards the “worst mom alive” and “a despicable charlatan.”
For her part, Richards appeared to take the high road with this tweet:
Read next: See the Throwback Picture Michelle Obama Shared on Father’s Day
Listen to the most important stories of the day ||||| Charlie Sheen confirmed on the Today show on Tuesday, Nov. 17, that his ex-wives Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller knew his HIV-positive status. He also recalled a heartbreaking story about telling one of kids about his diagnosis.
Sheen discovered his HIV-positive status about four years ago. "It started with what I thought was this series of crushing headaches and migraines and sweating the bed," the Two and a Half Men alum, 50, told Matt Lauer. "I thought I had a brain tumor. After a spinal test, they said, 'This is what's going on.'"
Sheen broke the news to his exes in 2011. At the time, the actor was still married to Mueller; he called her and told her to get checked.
Once TV's highest-paid actor, Sheen has been married three times. The star was married to model Donna Peele in the '90s, followed by Richards from 2002 to 2006, and Mueller, 38, from 2008 to 2011. Sheen shares two young daughters, Sam, 11, and Lola, 10, with Richards, and is dad to twin sons Bob and Max, 6, with Mueller. He also shares a grown daughter, Cassandra Estevez, with his ex Paula Profit.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
"I've told enough [people] that I've trusted to be in the position that I'm in today," Sheen told Lauer on Tuesday. As Us Weekly confirmed on Monday, Sheen's second ex-wife, Richards, has known about the actor's HIV-positive status for years, and supported him through his condition. A source told Us that the Drop Dead Gorgeous actress and her daughters are not HIV-positive. Sheen confirmed this to Lauer on the Today show on Tuesday morning.
Mueller's rep Steve Honig also released a statement to Us Weekly on Tuesday, confirming that she and the twins were also not infected. “Brooke has been inundated with calls from friends and family," the real estate broker's rep told Us. "To put their minds at ease, Brooke can confirm that she and the boys are not HIV positive."
Sheen only recently disclosed his HIV-positive status to his kids, including his eldest, Cassandra, 30. "It hit her hard, but she recovered," Sheen recalled on the Today show. "But she's tough like her dad . . . She was a rock star about it."
Sheen told Lauer why he was opening up finally about his battle.
"I am here to admit that I am, in fact, HIV-positive. I have to put a stop to this mirage of attacks of sub-truths and very harmful and mercurial stories that are about me that are threatening the health of so many others," he disclosed on the morning show. "I think I release myself from this prison today."
Sign up now for the Us Weekly newsletter to get breaking celebrity news, hot pics, and more delivered straight to your inbox! ||||| Social workers with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services removed Charlie Sheen‘s twin sons, Bob and Max, from their mother Brooke Mueller‘s care because of allegations the boys were not safe because of her ongoing alleged drug use, and in perhaps a surprising move, Sheen’s ex, Denise Richards, has been awarded temporary custody, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.
“Brooke was given many opportunities by social workers to clean up her act. Social workers felt that Bob and Max weren’t safe in Brooke’s care. The decision was made late on Thursday afternoon, and the boys are no longer in Brooke’s care. It’s expected at some point the boys will be taken care of by Charlie Sheen’s ex-wife, Denise Richards, who has cared for them in the past when Brooke went to rehab,” a source close to the situation told RadarOnline.com exclusively.
PHOTOS: Celebs Who Have Been In Rehab
As we previously reported, kind hearted Richards took care of Bob & Max last year when Mueller went back to rehab.
“She (Richards) loves the boys & their safety and well being mean everything to her. Bob & Max are safe & that is all the matters. Denise is simply complying with the court order,” the source told us.
PHOTOS: Charlie Sheen Through The Years
At the time, the Wild Things actress told Access Hollywood, ““They’re our family and they’re Sam and Lola’s brothers, and I can’t imagine growing up without my sister, so anytime she needs help, I’m there for the boys,” she continued. “[Sam and Lola] are the best big sisters to [the boys] and they love them.”
“I know it doesn’t seem normal, but it is our normal. They’re little kids and I love children, and like I said, it’s our daughter’s brothers, so I can’t say no.”
PHOTOS: Denise Richards & Brooke Mueller Shop Together With Their Kids
Mueller is “in a very, very bad place right now. She is absolutely despondent that she lost the boys. Maybe this will finally make her realize that she needs to get help,” the insider said.
A rep for Mueller had no comment. | – Just because we haven't heard from Charlie Sheen in a while doesn't mean all is well in his world. Yesterday, Sheen celebrated Father's Day by tweeting, apparently about ex-wife Denise Richards—mother of his two daughters—"D Richards is a heretic washed up piglet Shame pile. Happy Father's Day!!!" That's according to Time, which notes that Sheen later deleted that tweet as well as one apparently referring to second ex-wife Brooke Mueller: "Brooke M is a sexy rok star whom I adore." But he kept online a super vulgar open letter he wrote to Richards that calls her, among other things, a "doosh phace." Richards' Father's Day tweet to Sheen, for comparison: "Happy Dad's Day! @charliesheen have a great trip in Mexico! Kids were disappointed u weren't here for it- Hey we'll celebrate when u r back!" Another celebrity who took to social media to rant on Father's Day: Oliver Hudson. The actor, son of Goldie Hawn and brother of Kate Hudson, shared a picture on Instagram of himself and his famous sis, as children, with their dad, Bill Hudson. But the caption wasn't exactly sweet: "Happy abandonment day..." The Huffington Post reports that both Kate and Oliver have spoken out about their estranged biological father before, with Kate calling Hawn's longtime partner, Kurt Russell, her real dad. She Instagrammed a photo of herself and Russell yesterday with the caption, "Pa, just simply..... Thank you. Happy Fathers Day I love you to the moon and back." (Here's what two of Caitlyn Jenner's kids Instagrammed on Father's Day.) |
LONDON A large freighter completed a voyage through the hazardous Arctic Northwest Passage for the first time this week, showing the potential for cutting shipment times and costs as global warming opens new routes.
The 75,000 deadweight-ton Nordic Orion, built in 2011 by a Japanese shipyard, left the Canadian Pacific port of Vancouver in early September and is scheduled to arrive in the Finnish port of Pori on October 7, according to AIS shipping data.
The ship will deliver coking coal from Canadian miner Teck Resources to Ruukki Metals, a Finnish steel producer.
"By using this route the voyage is around a week shorter than using the Panama Canal, so overall we are paying less in freight costs," said Sakari Kallo, senior vice president of metals production at Ruukki.
Nordic Bulk Carriers, the Danish operator of the ship, estimated that the route saved around $80,000 worth of fuel.
"The Northwest Passage is more than 1,000 nautical miles shorter than the traditional shipping route through the Panama Canal and will save time, fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but even more importantly increase the amount of cargo per transit 25 percent," it said.
The Arctic route also enabled the Nordic Orion to carry its full capacity, adding 15,000 tons of coal that it would not have transported via the Panama Canal, where the depth limits the size of ships and cargo, the marine operator added.
HIGH RISKS
Maritime experts said the new route could result in much lower fuel costs in transporting bulky materials such as coal but also could expose vessels to delays if icebergs blocked their path.
"Shipping through the Northwest Passage is a high-risk, high-gain strategy," said Knut Espen Solberg, a former Arctic mariner and a specialist with Norwegian shipping services company DNV.
Until now, harsh Arctic conditions have limited shipping on the passage mostly to small cargo vessels and ice-breakers, which supply northern Canadian communities.
The 225 meter long Nordic Orion, a panamax-sized ship, has a strengthened hull to cope with floating ice.
Many scientists say the melting of Arctic ice is a consequence of warmer temperatures caused by greenhouse gases emitted by burning fossil fuels, particularly coal.
In another development on Friday, leading climate scientists said they were more certain than ever that mankind is the main culprit for global warming.
As the ice continues to melt, some experts have estimated that shipping via the Arctic could account for a quarter of the cargo traffic between Europe and Asia by 2030.
Last November, Russian gas export company Gazprom made the first ever delivery of liquefied natural gas through the Arctic north-east route, sailing from Norway east to Japan.
Many maritime analysts have said, however, that large volumes of commercial shipping via the Arctic are at least 10 years away.
(editing by Jane Baird) ||||| Sometime between Sunday and Monday evenings, Greenwich Mean Time, the bulk carrier Nordic Orion passed through the Northwest Passage and into Baffin Bay, sailing into history as it went.
The ship – a 225-metre, ice-strengthened carrier loaded with B.C. coal bound for Finland – became the first bulk carrier to make the voyage, which has lured explorers for more than a century and has long been eyed as a commercial route.
Until the Nordic Orion, however, the passage was travelled mostly by icebreakers, tugs and small cargo ships hauling supplies to northern communities, as well as adventurers undertaking the journey in rowboats and even Jet Skis.
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With a commercial bulk carrier now having passed through the route, discussions about Arctic sovereignty and marine infrastructure have become more than theoretical.
"The Canadian government needs to take a firm stand on shipping via the Northwest passage in order to safeguard the environment and to enforce Canada's sovereignty," James Given, president of the Seafarers' International Union of Canada, said Wednesday in an e-mail. "There must be a net benefit to Canada, and Canadian stakeholders in the shipping industry, not just an open door to Flag of Convenience Shipping to increase their profit margins by shaving miles off of their shipping routes."
The SIU represents sailors working in Canadian waters and on vessels delivering cargo to the United States, Europe and South America.
By sailing through the Northwest Passage, the Nordic Orion was able to trim about 1,000 nautical miles from the usual route through the Panama Canal. It was also able to carry about 25 per cent more coal, given how shallow the canal is.
Transport Canada, along with the Canadian Coast Guard, monitored the vessel while it was in the Northwest Passage, and the ship was required to provide daily position and ice conditions to Nordreg, a Coast Guard agency.
The Nordic Orion is owned by Nordic Bulk Carriers, a Danish company that has staked its future on Artic shipping. In 2010, it became the first non-Russian company to use the Northern Sea Route when it shipped iron ore from Norway to China.
This is the first time the company has sent one of its vessels through the Northwest Passage. It left Vancouver on Sept. 6, loaded with metallurgical coal. Port Metro Vancouver says the Nordic Orion loaded at Neptune Terminals, which is partly owned by Vancouver-based Teck Corp., one of the world's biggest producers of metallurgical coal.
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Metallurgical coal is used primarily in steel making, while thermal coal is used in electricity plants.
Neither Neptune Terminals nor Teck would comment on the sailing, citing customer confidentiality, and Teck said it does not use the Northwest Passage. But shipping agents say most coal is sold on a "freight on board" basis, which means that the customer takes ownership of the product as soon as it is loaded on the ship, and that Teck would not monitor or even necessarily know which route the coal would take to its final destination.
While shipping agents in Vancouver and around the world are mulling potential implications for shipping commodities, others have voiced concerns about the lack of environmental and safety infrastructure in Canada's North.
In a recent article, Michael Byers, an international law expert at the University of British Columbia, noted that Canada does not have a single port along the Northwest Passage but that Russia, by comparison, has 16 deep water ports along its Arctic coastline. | – Sure, scientists are nearly positive that humans are heating up the planet, but there's an upside: more efficient shipping. For the first time, a major freighter has crossed the Northwest Passage in the Arctic, reports the Toronto Globe and Mail. The 735-foot Nordic Orion achieved the feat this week when it entered Baffin Bay. Doing so shaved 1,000 nautical miles off the usual route through the Panama Canal and saved the freighter's Danish operators about $80,000 worth of fuel, reports Reuters. The fact that the ship burned less fuel than normal might be a small silver lining for environmentalists—until they see its cargo: coal, and lots of it, bound from British Columbia to Finland. And because the freighter didn't have to pass through the shallow Panama Canal, it was able to carry 25% more of the stuff, reports the National Post. The feat is expected to speed up international talks on shipping regulations for the passage, which until now had been mostly theoretical, notes the Globe and Mail. |
When Google CEO Larry Page stopped talking at events last summer, some company watchers feared the worst. But Page revealed on Tuesday that he's perfectly healthy, and his raspy voice is due to vocal cord paralysis.
Page wrote in a post on his Google+ page that his doctors speculate it's virus-based nerve damage from a terrible cold he suffered 14 years ago, though they can't pinpoint a definitive cause. That 1999 cold left him with paralysis of the left vocal cord, and another cold last summer paralyzed the right cord.
"Thankfully, after some initial recovery I'm fully able to do all I need to at home and at work, though my voice is softer than before," Page wrote. "And giving long monologues is more tedious for me and probably the audience."
Page's voice issues surfaced last June, when Google (GOOG) announced he had "lost his voice" and would skip the company's upcoming quarterly earnings call and other events. Page didn't appear in public until Google's Zeitgeist conference in October, where he declined to comment on his health but sounded notably hoarse.
Related: What we want to see from the new Android
Corporate governance pundits called on Page to disclose his condition given that he's the CEO of a public company, but neither he nor Google released details. Once Page did begin speaking at events like earnings conference calls, his short statements fueled more speculation.
Page didn't say why he ultimately revealed his condition, or why he chose Tuesday to do so.
Google's I/O developer conference kicks off on Wednesday, but Page hasn't attended the event in recent years. Fellow co-founder Sergey Brin usually handles the big I/O announcements. Page wrote that Brin told him "I'm probably a better CEO because I choose my words more carefully. So surprisingly, overall I am feeling very lucky."
Related: Will Google stock hit $1,000?
Page added that people tell him he has sounded better lately, and he has worked with vocal cord specialists to help him improve.
Paralysis of both vocal cords is very rare, Page said, which means researchers have little data to work with. Page also said that he is funding a "significant research program" through the Voice Health Institute, and he included a link to a survey seeking data from vocal cord paralysis sufferers. ||||| Photo
SAN FRANCISCO — Larry Page, Google’s chief executive, said on Tuesday that he had a rare and chronic health problem that makes him hoarse and constricts his breathing.
The announcement was the first time that Mr. Page, 40, had explained his voice troubles. Nearly a year ago, Google said that he would avoid public speaking for a time because he had lost his voice. Since then, he has spoken publicly, but with a weak, raspy voice.
One of Mr. Page’s vocal cords was paralyzed after a viral infection 14 years ago, and the second was left with limited movement after a cold last summer. Voice specialists said that it was extremely rare for a patient to experience paralysis or limited movement in both vocal cords, and that, as of now, the condition could not be reversed.
“Thankfully, after some initial recovery, I’m fully able to do all I need to at home and at work, though my voice is softer than before,” Mr. Page wrote in a post on Google Plus.
“And Sergey says I’m probably a better C.E.O. because I choose my words more carefully,” he added, referring to Sergey Brin, who founded Google with Mr. Page.
The condition can become life-threatening, doctors say, when it inhibits breathing. Mr. Page addressed that in his post.
“Vocal cord nerve issues can also affect your breathing, so my ability to exercise at peak aerobic capacity is somewhat reduced,” he wrote. “That said, my friends still think I have way more stamina than them when we go kitesurfing!”
Mr. Page also said that in 2003 he learned that he had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an inflammatory thyroid condition that he said had caused him no problems. He said it was unclear whether that condition was related to his vocal cord paralysis.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder that is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States, particularly among middle-aged women, and can cause fatigue, hoarseness, pain and stiffness, according to the Mayo Clinic. It is treated with hormone replacement drugs, though doctors often delay treatment if the thyroid is functioning normally. Mr. Page did not say whether he was receiving treatment.
His health had raised concerns among Google shareholders, particularly after the death of Steven P. Jobs, Apple’s former chief executive, and questions about an executive’s responsibility to reveal health problems. Until now, Google refused to provide details about Mr. Page’s condition.
“It’s never a positive,” Colin Gillis, an analyst covering Google at BGC Partners, said on Tuesday. Still, though Mr. Gillis said he had expected Mr. Page’s announcement to hurt Google’s stock price, shares rose 1 percent.
Doctors have ruled out cancer, according to a person briefed on Mr. Page’s health. Mr. Page speaks regularly in meetings and has continued to run daily operations at Google, the person said. Though a Google spokeswoman last year said that Mr. Page had lost his voice, the person said on Tuesday that he had, in fact, never lost his voice completely.
Mr. Page also said he had given a personal grant to the Voice Health Institute, a group founded in 2003, for a research program on improving vocal cord nerve function. The research will be led by Dr. Steven M. Zeitels, a laryngeal surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and one of several doctors who treated Mr. Page.
He did not disclose the size of the donation, but the person briefed on Mr. Page’s health said it was more than $10 million.
“The Pages’ generosity will enable us to help steward a new era of pioneering surgical, medical and engineering innovations that will provide new solutions for the millions of individuals suffering from voice loss and breathing problems in the upper airway,” said a statement from John L. Ward, president of the Voice Health Institute. Well-known singers like Julie Andrews, Steven Tyler and Lionel Richie are on the institute’s advisory board. To begin, the group, which is based in Boston, has asked people with a similar condition to Mr. Page’s to complete a survey about their symptoms. | – Google CEO and co-founder Larry Page has broken his silence about the condition that prevented him from speaking publicly last summer, sparking fears he may have had an undisclosed, life-threatening illness. Page says he is in good health, but his left vocal cord has been paralyzed since he caught a bad cold in 1999, and the second one was paralyzed by another cold last summer, CNN reports. Paralysis in both cords is extremely rare and experts say the condition—which has left Page with a weak, raspy voice—can't currently be reversed, the New York Times reports. In a post on his Google+ page, Page said he also has the thyroid condition Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and it's not clear whether it is related to his vocal cord problems. "Thankfully, after some initial recovery, I’m fully able to do all I need to at home and at work, though my voice is softer than before," he wrote, adding that Google co-founder Sergey Brin says Page is "probably a better CEO because I choose my words more carefully." Page says he is funding a Voice Health Institute research program to help people with the same condition. |
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter on Saturday held perhaps the most understated announcement of the presidential campaign so far, telling a festival in his home state of Michigan he’s officially in.
The Republican congressman filed papers with the Federal Election Commission on Friday, the same day his campaign site went live.
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“Through your hard work and through your principled determination to bequeath to your children a better America, we will restructure the government,” McCotter told supporters at the rally.
It’s not yet clear where McCotter fits into the field, or what expectations he has for the campaign. The Michigan Republican hasn’t announced staff hires or laid out a political strategy in any detail. And as a longtime congressman in a safe seat, he has not had to demonstrate his fundraising capabilities of late.
His website lays out five “core principles” but has little other content.
Still, McCotter is a favorite of conservative bloggers and talk-radio hosts, who cannot resist his colorful statements and behavior.
McCotter is also a draw on Capitol Hill, and any reporter who has covered McCotter for any period of time has likely received a CD in the mail of rock songs written and performed by the congressman. The lyrics of a recent album touted positions advocated by the Republican Study Committee.
Still, McCotter’s announcement drew little notice, and it’s hard to see how he’ll avoid getting drowned out by the likes of Michele Bachmann and other grassroots favorites already in the field. McCotter’s announcement was not carried live by cable television outlets. And the Drudge Report, a go-to news destination for conservatives, didn’t even mention the announcement on Saturday night. ||||| The event was neither live-streamed on McCotter's Facebook page nor his official campaign website , and fans were casting about unsuccessfully Saturday evening on Twitter for....
Perhaps announcing a presidential candidacy at a music festival in a park in Whitmore Lake, Mich., on a holiday weekend was not the best timing to garner national media coverage for the 45-year-old father of three..
However, you can now scroll down for a video of McCotter's understated announcement.
It may have been carried on local media, but CSPAN was running coverage of the progressive Netroots Nation conference, which took place in mid-June; CSPAN2 was in the middle of a tribute to historian Manning Marable; Fox News Channel had "Huckabee"; CNN had "Nepal's Stolen Children," with Demi Moore ; and MSNBC had its prison documentary series "Lockup."
...any existing video. Good thing we came along. At his Twitter address, @ThadMcCotter, the candidate did Tweet the announcement at 6 p.m. PT, an hour after it was supposed to take place (he may have been playing his guitar for the crowd in the interim).
The Tweet read: "Under stormy skies at #WAAM Freedom Fest, I announced 4 GOP nomination 4 President & wasn't struck by lightning. http://www.mccotter2012.com"
When you go to the website, there is an introductory video, but as of today, it had no sound. And it had no sound on YouTube, either.
It's an inauspicious start for the campaign of a Midwestern Republican whose highest name recognition may be only among his constituents and the 360,000 or so weeknight viewers of Fox News' 3 a.m. ET pop-culture/political roundtable "RedEye With Greg Gutfeld."
There, the droll McCotter is a regular guest.
Host Gutfeld, a former Huffington Post blogger who was just named as part of the rotating group of commentators on "The Five," FNC's summer replacement for "The Glenn Beck Show," called for McCotter to run for the highest office in the land on his show back in April.
In his "Greg-alogue," Gutfeld said that the race usually attracts egotists and not people who are "smart, creative, tough and moral."
Gutfeld explained his rationale for wanting McCotter by saying, "In my mind, he's one of the few pols who seem less interested in impressing celebrities or making cheap points of sentimentality than preserving the freedoms unique to our delightful island nation."
A graduate of the University of Detroit Law School, McCotter is known in Congress for his trenchant wit, his bipartisan country and rock band, called The Second Amendments, his politically and socially conservative views and his tendency to quote rock lyrics on the floor of the House.
He is also the author of a book called "Seize Freedom! American Truths and Renewal in a Chaotic Age."
But, as a representative from the 11th District just northwest of the heavily unionized Detroit area, he did vote in favor of the Employee Free Choice Act, aka "card check," something he later....
....called a mistake. He also voted in favor of the auto bailouts, and is sticking with that one, even attacking purported GOP front-running candidate Mitt Romney for not favoring government intervention on behalf of GM and Chrysler.
While Romney finds himself frequently having to explain his support of universal healthcare as the governor of Massachusetts, some free-market-minded GOP voters may demand a further explanation from McCotter on his auto-bailout stance.
But while McCotter wasn't in favor of GM restructuring through bankruptcy, he did express a desire to "restructure the government" in his campaign announcement, as reported in a CNN print story.
McCotter is also a devout Roman Catholic. He sat down on June 2 for a wide-ranging interview with host Raymond Arroyo of the news show "World Over Live," on Catholic satellite network EWTN.
While discussing the debt-ceiling vote, excessive government spending, budget reforms, his political views and the impact of technology on self-government, McCotter also referenced a variety of philosophers, from Edmund Burke to St. Thomas Aquinas.
Arroyo's last question was about McCotter's presidential ambitions.
McCotter replied, in part, "I believe we can't have another four years of this administration. I believe that would not be healthy for the country. I believe the ultimate salvation of the American people is the grace of God and sovereign citizens."
He declared there would be "implosion of big government" on the citizens that would "marginalize an exceptional nation for decades to come, and I cannot allow that to happen."
But first, McCotter has to get his campaign off the ground and on the media's radar. Unlike the most recently announced GOP candidate, Wisconsin Rep. Michele Bachmann, who appeared on five network and cable morning shows the day after her announcement, McCotter is not booked on any of the Sunday morning talk shows.
He has, however, acquired space at the Ames Straw Poll in Iowa next month, which will be a very important story on that weekend.
RELATED:
Michigan's Thaddeus McCotter to join GOP presidential field
Michele Bachmann's presidential bid in perspective [The conversation]
'Red Eye W/Greg Gutfeld hits 1,000 episodes (and way more Twitter fans)
-- Kate O'Hare
Media critic Kate O’Hare is a regular Ticket contributor. She also blogs about TV at Hot Cuppa TV and is a frequent contributor at entertainment-news site Zap2it. Also follow O'Hare on Twitter @KateOH
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Photos: McCotter addressing Michigan Republicans and playing guitar www.facebook.com/thaddeusmccotter.
Andrew Malcolm is on vacation | – Thaddeus McCotter is officially in the GOP race for president, but you'll be forgiven if you missed today's campaign launch. The conservative Michigan congressman announced at a small music festival, and the news got little coverage. Or bemused coverage: "Perhaps announcing a presidential candidacy at a music festival in a park in Whitmore Lake, Mich., on a holiday weekend was not the best timing to garner national media coverage," writes Andrew Malcolm at the Los Angeles Times. McCotter gave a 10-minute speech—“What we need in Washington is someone who understands that the wave of the future is not big government, but self-government"—then jammed with the band on guitar. Politico notes that he's a favorite of conservative bloggers and radio hosts not only because of his Tea Party ethos but his droll sense of humor. Can that possibly overcome his huge deficit in name recognition and fundraising? "Never underestimate Thaddeus," his mom tells the Detroit News. His campaign website is here. |
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Violinist Wuilly Arteaga playing the Venezuelan national anthem amid the protests earlier in May
Venezuelans have rallied online to help a violist who had his instrument broken during a protest.
Wuilly Arteaga has become a regular fixture at the country's street demonstrations, calmly playing classical tunes amid the chaos.
But on Wednesday evening, a video went viral, showing him in tears with a scuffed violin, its strings all broken, allegedly by police.
His growing fanbase has offered to raise funds for a new instrument.
Image copyright AFP Image caption A tearful Wuilly Arteaga with his broken violin on Wednesday
Mr Arteaga thanked his supporters with a video message on Twitter: "Even though I lost my phone in the protests, I have been receiving lots of messages via social networks."
He said he has not been involved in any of the fundraising activities, and has not accepted any donations, but he will start replying to people on Thursday.
Image copyright CHECK Image caption He was pictured playing earlier on Wednesday, before the instrument was damaged
Earlier, the musician told local reporters his account of how the violin was broken.
"I was playing in the middle of the protest when the National Guards' motorcyclists came up and grabbed the violin by its strings," he said.
He said he refused to let go and fell down, hurting his leg, which is when it was pulled from his arms.
When he asked for it back, a member of the forces gave him the damaged instrument and Mr Arteaga said he hugged him.
Image copyright AFP Image caption He has often been seen in the thick of the protests
Image copyright EPA Image caption Here he is again, playing in Caracas, earlier this month
Mr Arteaga often dresses in full yellow, blue and red colours of the Venezuelan flag, and has become a symbol of the more peaceful approach to protesting, although he is often found playing in the front line.
Venezuela has seen almost daily anti-government protests since April and at least 55 people have been killed in protest-related violence.
The country's deepening economic and political crisis has led to triple-digit inflation, a high crime rate and clashes between protesters and security forces. ||||| Tear Gas Doesn't Stop Venezuelan Protester From Playing The Violin
Enlarge this image toggle caption Maria Fernanda Martinez/Courtesy of Wuilly Arteaga Maria Fernanda Martinez/Courtesy of Wuilly Arteaga
Protests have been steadily building in Caracas, Venezuela — the capital of the once-prosperous, oil-rich nation that's now in economic and political turmoil. Earlier this week, amid the ongoing chaos, a young man named Wuilly Arteaga started playing his violin.
A video filmed during the protest shows Arteaga, 23, standing in the street as smoke billows in every direction. The eerie notes from the violin can be heard as tear-gas canisters explode around him. At one point, he says, he couldn't breathe. A group of nearby protesters made a barrier between him and the police with homemade cardboard shields.
"I was playing the national anthem and the protesters starting protecting me," Arteaga says in Spanish. "My music was like a gift to them. Like the sound of hope."
Arteaga, who taught himself how to play violin from videos on the internet, was playing "Gloria Al Bravo Pueblo" ("Glory To The Brave People"), the national anthem of Venezuela.
This week of demonstrations isn't the first and will likely not be the last. Over the last month, Venezuelans all over the country have been taking to the streets to protest their government and the quickly declining situation in their country. At least 39 people have died in the clashes, and it's estimated hundreds have been injured.
"Things here are sad," Arteaga says. "Venezuela is suffering right now with so much death. But rather than being angry with the government or with any one person, I always try to bring a message of peace."
Arteaga says this is not the first time he's used music as a form of protest. But after this video made the rounds online, he's started getting threatening messages and calls. This type of attention isn't ideal for Arteaga, who now says he has to be extra careful. But he believes his music will help bring Venezuelans together.
"There is no better time than now to be playing my music in the streets," Arteaga says. "This is the place we need it most, where we need music to have hope."
"Venezuela," he adds, "is worth fighting for."
Radio producer Camilo Garzón contributed to this story. ||||| (CNN) He had become an icon, the violinist who played on as protesters and police clashed around him.
But on Wednesday, the music stopped.
Wuilly Arteaga says the National Guard took his violin from him and handed it back -- in pieces.
"I was playing in the middle of the protest when National Guard vehicles approached us and one of the guards grabbed my violin by the strings," Arteaga told Colombian news channel NTN 24. "I didn't let go, and was dragged from the motorcycle through the whole street."
"At some point, I let go of the violin, because I couldn't [hold on] anymore."
Read More ||||| Turkish police have reportedly confiscated a piano that was being used to serenade Istanbul's protesters. Davide Martello claims that officials seized his grand piano as part of Saturday's raid on Gezi Park.
Martello became an unlikely icon for the sit-in at Taksim Square, where thousands of people had gathered to protest the increasingly authoritarian rule of prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. On Wednesday night, the German musician wheeled his piano into the throng and began performing for the masses – staging swelling piano recitals that lasted for as long as 14 hours. He had soon attracted a huge coterie of supporters, dozens of news reports and the makings of a profitable campaign. "The idea is to inspire politicians through music," Martello told the New York Times.
On Saturday night, at Erdoğan's order, police moved into Taksim Square, violently clearing the protesters. "The Turkish police seized my piano, my car and my Iphone. I need help!!!" Martello, 31, posted on Facebook. The only reason he escaped arrest, he said, was "because I have an angel with me". Speaking to the Times, Martello recalled the lead-up to the confrontation: "[I] started rolling my piano down to [my car on] the street and suddenly got caught in a thick cloud of tear gas. I couldn't believe it."
As the clouds cleared, he tried to begin playing, just "on the side of the street". "But then police appeared," Martello said. He was told to take his belongings from his vehicle and leave the area; officials have apparently taken the car, trailer and piano away. The German said he is in negotiations to get his items back, but "it's quite likely that the Turkish authorities won't give it back for free :(".
According to his website, Martello aims to bring his piano to every capital city in the world. So far, he only seems to have done Athens, Podgorica, Ljubljana, Budapest, Monaco, Tirana and Istanbul. "I just need my piano back before I decide whether I'll stay [in Istanbul any] longer," he said. | – Wuilly Arteaga has played his violin through weeks of anti-government protests in Venezuela, his songs enduring even as he was forced to dodge tear gas canisters hurled in his direction. But on Wednesday, the music was silenced. Arteaga—often seen playing Venezuela's national anthem on the front lines—says his violin was broken by the National Guard during a skirmish, reports CNN. "I was playing in the middle of the protest when the National Guards' motorcyclists came up and grabbed the violin by its strings," the 23-year-old says, per the BBC. He adds he held on and was dragged down the street by the motorcycle before an officer finally wrestled the violin from his grasp. His leg injured, Arteaga says he pleaded with the National Guard to return the violin and another officer eventually did. But Arteaga's reaction wasn't one of joy or relief. In a video, Arteaga—dressed as usual in the colors of the Venezuelan flag—is seen crying while holding a scuffed violin with its strings broken. Supporters have since reached out on social media with offers to buy him a new instrument, reports the BBC. It isn't clear when his music might return to the protests, but Arteaga previously told NPR, "There is no better time than now to be playing my music in the streets … This is the place we need it most, where we need music to have hope." Read more about the hellish situation in Venezuela here. |
Story highlights Suspect contacted children online pretending to be Canadian singer
Police are urging parents to be vigilant when it comes to online use
(CNN) A man who allegedly posed as singer Justin Bieber online has been charged with more than 900 child sex offenses, including rape.
The 42-year-old man allegedly used multiple platforms -- including Facebook and Skype -- to communicate with his victims, Australian police said in a statement Thursday.
"The breadth of offenses committed in this instance are frankly horrendous," Queensland Detective Inspector Jon Rouse said.
The man allegedly posed as Bieber in order to solicit explicit images from children under 16.
"This investigation demonstrates both the vulnerability of children that are utilizing social media and communication applications and the global reach and skill that child sex offenders have to groom and seduce victims," Rouse said.
JUST WATCHED Dangers of too much media? Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Dangers of too much media? 04:17
Read More ||||| Justin Bieber impersonator charged with over 900 child sex offences
Updated
A Brisbane law professor posing as pop singer Justin Bieber online to solicit explicit images from young children has been charged with multiple serious offences.
The 42-year-old man, understood to be in prison, was charged in November 2016 with a number of child sex offences including possessing child exploitation material and using a carriage service to groom persons under 16.
After a thorough examination of the man's computer, he has this week been further charged with another 931 child sex offences, including, rape, indecent treatment of children, making child exploitation material, using a carriage service to procure person under 16, and using a carriage service for child pornography material.
It will be alleged that the man used multiple online platforms including Facebook and Skype to communicate with his victims.
A large amount of child exploitation material was seized from his computer.
It is alleged his offending dates back to at least 2007.
Detective Inspector Jon Rouse said Task Force Argos, which investigates child sex crimes, would continue to target those using the internet to harm children.
"This investigation demonstrates both the vulnerability of children that are utilising social media and communication applications and the global reach and skill that child sex offenders have to groom and seduce victims," Detective Inspector Rouse said.
"The fact that so many children could believe that they were communicating with this particular celebrity highlights the need for a serious rethink about the way that we as a society educate our children about online safety.
"The breadth of offences committed in this instance are frankly horrendous and I want to recognise the efforts and commitment of the investigative team at Taskforce Argos to keeping children safe."
The man will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on April 6.
Topics: crime, law-crime-and-justice, brisbane-4000, qld
First posted | – A man who reportedly pretended to be Justin Bieber online has been charged with more than 900 child sex offenses in a case police in Queensland, Australia, call "frankly horrendous." The 42-year-old Brisbane law professor was charged with grooming and exploiting children last fall and was charged with another 931 offenses, including rape, this week after cops found a huge amount of child exploitation material on his computer, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports. "The breadth of offenses committed in this instance are frankly horrendous," says Queensland Detective Inspector Jon Rouse. Investigators believe his crimes go back at least 10 years. Police say the man, who's already in jail and will be back in court next month, used platforms like Facebook and Skype to communicate with his victims, pretending to be the Canadian singer to persuade children under 16 to send him explicit images, CNN reports. "The fact that so many children could believe that they were communicating with this particular celebrity highlights the need for a serious rethink about the way that we as a society educate our children about online safety," Rouse says. The Courier Mail identifies the suspect as Gordon Douglas Chalmers, who was refused bail after his arrest in November when he refused to let investigators access his online accounts. |
California's San Andreas fault has been quiet for far too long and is overdue for a major earthquake, a leading geoscientist has announced. In a conference this week, the state was warned to prepare for a potential earthquake as strong as magnitude 8.0.
"The springs on the San Andreas system have been wound very, very tight. And the southern San Andreas fault, in particular, looks like it’s locked, loaded and ready to go," said Thomas Jordan, director of the Southern California Earthquake Centre.
Jordan gave his warning in the keynote talk of the annual National Earthquake Conference in Long Beach, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Here's why he's so worried: research has shown that the Pacific plate is moving northwest relative to the North American plate at a rate of around 5 metres (16 feet) every 100 years - and that's building up a whole lot of tension along the San Andreas fault line that needs to be relieved regularly.
But the last time southern California experienced a major shake-up was in 1857, when a magnitude 7.9 quake rupture almost 300 km (185 miles) between Monterey County and the San Gabriel Mountains.
Further south, areas of the fault line have been quiet even longer, with San Bernardino county not moving substantially since 1812, and the region near the Salton Sea remaining still since the late 1600s.
All of this means that there's a lot of tension underneath California right now. Last year, Jordan's team found there's a 7 percent chance the state will experience a magnitude 8.0 quake in the next three decades.
And that's a big problem. Back in 2008, a US Geological Survey report found that a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the southern San Andreas fault could cause more than 1,800 deaths, 50,000 injuries, US$200 billion in damage, and long-lasting infrastructure disruptions - such as six months of compromised sewer systems and ongoing wildfires.
Even though Los Angeles isn't on the San Andreas fault line, simulations by the Southern California Earthquake Centre show that the shaking would quickly spread there:
According to their modelling, that size earthquake could cause shaking for nearly 2 minutes, said Jordan, with the strongest activity in the Coachella Valley, Inland Empire and Antelope Valley.
The reason Los Angeles is at so much risk is because it's built over a sedimentary basin, and the seismic waves spread and get trapped there to cause more extreme and longer-lasting shaking. As you can see in the magnitude 8.0 simulation:
While Jordan praised recent initiatives to earthquake retrofit buildings in LA, he warned that the rest of the state needs to get ready for the next big one, by making residents more aware of ways to stay safe during an earthquake and when and how to evacuate.
"We are fortunate that seismic activity in California has been relatively low over the past century," Jordan explained last year. "But we know that tectonic forces are continually tightening the springs of the San Andreas fault system, making big quakes inevitable." ||||| The San Andreas is the state's longest fault and perhaps its most famous—well-known enough to be the standalone title of a recent disaster film. And, says the LA Times, citing an earthquake expert speaking at the National Earthquake Conference, it's also the one we need to be keeping our eyes on the most right now.
The issue is that the fault line has been too quiet for too long. Scientists have found that the "earthquakes should be relieving about 16 feet of accumulated plate movement every 100 years" on the San Andreas, but the fault hasn't let off any steam in way over a century.
The southern section of the fault hasn't had a big 'quake since 1857, which "ruptured an astonishing 185 miles between Monterey County and the San Gabriel Mountains," near LA, in a 7.9 earthquake. Other nearby sections of the fault are also overdue. A segment by the Cajon Pass (where the 15 Freeway cuts between the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains) "have not moved substantially" since an 1812 earthquake, and over by the Salton Sea, it's been seismically silent as far back as 1680.
That indicates it's long overdue for a rupture. Or, to put it more chillingly, "The springs on the San Andreas system have been wound very, very tight. And the southern San Andreas fault, in particular, looks like it’s locked, loaded and ready to go."
The expert, Thomas Jordan, director of the Southern California Earthquake Center, went on to say that, with this information, LA should focus on being prepared for a BIG one—a magnitude 8 or so. (For perspective, a 2008 US Geological Survey study warned that a 7.8 earthquake along the southern San Andreas would send shaking far and wide from the Coachella Valley and Inland Empire to East LA and the San Gabriel Valley, and cause about 2,000 deaths. So, stronger than that.)
Jordan applauded the city's efforts to retrofit buildings vulnerable to collapse in a strong seismic event, saying, "It’s remarkable that this happened...We know politically how difficult it is to make these kinds of changes." LA's also at work making its cell phone network more resilient to serious shaking so that communication post-'quake would still be possible.
With most Angelenos less than totally prepared for a significant earthquake, there's no time like the present to get started. ||||| A new analysis has revealed hidden vertical motion along the San Andreas fault in four huge lobes of ground. The vertical motion is tiny and doesn't contribute much to earthquake risk, but could help researchers better understand motion along the fault.
For the first time, scientists have revealed the vertical motion that has been hiding in plain sight along the San Andreas Fault.
Four huge lobes of the Earth on either side of the San Andreas Fault are sinking, while others are rising, a new analysis of GPS data reveals. The simple motion makes it look as if the ground under the fault is doing the wave in slow motion.
"While the San Andreas GPS data has been publicly available for more than a decade, the vertical component of the measurements had largely been ignored in tectonic investigations because of difficulties in interpreting the noisy data," study lead author Samuel Howell, a doctoral candidate in ocean and earth science and technology at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, said in a statement.
Now, using a new technique, researchers were able to tease out the vertical motion, which "curiously straddled the San Andreas Fault," Howell added. [Photo Journal: The Gorgeous San Andreas Fault]
For more than a decade, tiny GPS arrays have dotted the land along the San Andreas Fault, the region where the North American and the Pacific plates collide. The 800-mile-long (1,287 kilometers) fault system, which creates a threaded network of many smaller faults, snakes through California from the Mendocino Coast in the north to the Salton Sea in the south.
In the past, researchers have mainly relied upon the GPS sensor data to determine the horizontal motion of the fault. But the vertical motion of the fault can be affected not only by tectonic motion of the plates, but also by everything from rainfall to the levels of groundwater (which have dropped dramatically as a result of California's drought) to local surface geology. Teasing apart the tectonic motion from these other, more transient factors was a challenging task, the researchers said.
"You can picture an old radio where you want to listen to your favorite show (vertical motion that the fault causes). You would have to turn the knob through other stations (natural and human-caused ground movements) and through a lot of static," Howell told Live Science in an email. "We wanted to dial-in to the part of the vertical signal that was due to the fault."
So Howell's team used a statistical technique to extract smooth trends in ground motion from the noisy data.
They found that there were four large hunks of ground about 125 miles (201 km) wide that were uplifting or subsiding on either side of the fault. What's more, the findings matched theoretical models for how the earth around the fault was moving in response to powerful earthquakes.
"We were surprised and thrilled when this statistical method produced a coherent velocity field similar to the one predicted by our physical earthquake-cycle models," study co-author Bridget Smith-Konter, a geologist at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, said in the statement.
As for the cause of this wave-like movement, "these vertical motions didn't just now start happening, but have been building up since the last major earthquake, and will begin to go away after the next one," Howell said. "We knew that the ground had to be moving up and down somehow, but this provides a measurement of that motion."
The creeping vertical motion is tiny, just a few millimeters, or two penny-widths a year, and doesn't add much to the seismic risk in the region, Howell said.
"The major risks come from the horizontal motions near the fault. The vertical motion comes from the fault being locked, [or] unable to move, between earthquakes," Howell said.
But the new understanding does create a more detailed understanding of the fault, which could in turn help with estimating the risk of future ruptures along the fault, the researchers reported June 20 in the journal Nature Geoscience .
Original article on Live Science. | – Scientists have detected previously unknown movement along the San Andreas Fault, although the discovery doesn't change the two most important facts: There will be a major quake along the California fault at some point, and nobody knows just when it will happen. The analysis of GPS data found that large areas of land along the fault, including the Los Angeles Basin, are rising by 2mm to 3mm a year—which NBC San Francisco notes counts as major movement in seismic terms—while other areas, including Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, are sinking. The motion makes it seem like the huge 125-mile lobes of land along the fault are "doing the wave in slow motion," reports Live Science. Lead study author Sam Howell of the University of Hawaii tells the Los Angeles Times that the movement is the result of a buildup of seismic energy, which will eventually be released in an earthquake. He says they happen along the fault roughly every 150 years, and while the last major one was 159 years ago, stress has been building up in some areas for centuries longer. The movement will help researchers "understand more about how the fault is behaving and the effect it's going to have in the surrounding region," he says, though it won't be any help in predicting an exact date for the next quake. "It's pretty much impossible to say when the next one will happen." (The director of the Southern California Earthquake Center says the southern part of the fault "looks like it's locked, loaded, and ready to go.") |
Is the person serving your kids Mister Softee an evil murderer? No, probably not. Photo via Flickr user Martin Kelley
If you want to sell soft-serve out of a truck, be prepared to be treated like a criminal.
In Tucson, Arizona, prospective ice cream men must get their fingerprints taken by the cops before being granted a license. In Napa, California, regulations state that you must be both “interviewed and fingerprinted by the Napa Police Department.” All around the country, in fact, people who want to sell frozen treats have to check in with law enforcement first.
Don Knabe, the chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, is completely on board with this trend—in fact, he wants LA County, population 10 million, to subject every ice cream truck driver within its borders to the same screening process applied to those seeking to conduct commerce involving “explosives, weapons, and adult businesses.” That means “inkless electronic fingerprinting,” which can be used to generate “a report of criminal history” and kept in a database forever. Knabe plans on introducing the measure this May.
Why is he doing this? According to his spokesperson Cheryl Burnett, the supervisor’s interest was sparked by a call from a nervous constituent. “A resident in Hacienda Heights said that her son was followed home by an ice cream vendor and threatened,” Burnett explained. “He subsequently checked out clean by the sheriff's department, but parents still have concerns.”
Outside the realm of “concern” there are only a few isolated incidents of ice cream men committing violent crimes: In 2012 a 14-year-old girl in Raleigh, North Carolina, was allegedly abducted and assaulted by a driver, and in 2013 a 72-year-old vendor in the LA area was arrested in 2013 for allegedly violating a court order that required him to stay away from kids. If there’s an epidemic of popsicle-dealing pedophiles, it hasn’t made the news.
Still, just because the threat has not materialized does not mean it never will; it is, like almost anything in life, possible. “It would be easy to have a child walk inside the van and disappear from sight,” Burnett told me. “The potential exists for a serious situation. We have an ordinance that keeps these vendors 1,000 feet from schools, but there is concern that is not enough.”
The vendors I spoke to said they would be happy to oblige should they be asked to give over their prints—but then, what ice cream truck driver would want to be quoted by name opposing a criminal background check?
Nastasha Case, the CEO of LA-based ice cream company Coolhaus, said that she didn't have a real problem with Knabe's proposal, as many cities in the LA area already require fingerprinting of vendors. Besides, “I have nothing to hide,” she said. “Better safe then sorry!”
“How bad could a finger scan be?” asked Rick Gaez of Good Times Classic Ice Cream. But while not terribly concerned about having his own prints on file, he told me he was still a “a little conflicted.”
“I want kids to be safe, but I don't know if that will help,” he said. “That seems like such a waste of time and resources.”
Gaez also wondered if requiring fingerprints might just be a way for some local governments to “hassle immigrants for something [they] see as an eyesore.” Many food vendors in LA County are Latinos, and if you don't like them—or if you just don't like the music they play—one way to get some off the streets is by making them to register with the cops, which can scare off even those without criminal records, particularly if they’re worried about their legal status.
“Many people enter the ice cream vending industry because they found other avenues of business ownership closed to them—often because they cannot obtain traditional financing from a bank,” said Chris Long, president of the International Association of Ice Cream Distributors and Vendors. While he said his organization supports “sexual offender checks,” those checks shouldn't single out ice cream vendors or “produce an excessive time or fiscal burden,” as that could pose an insurmountable hurdle to those seeking to enter the not particularly lucrative business of selling ice cream from a truck.
Does this Flinstones-themed truck hide EVIL? Again, it's unlikely. Photo via Flickr user satanslaundromat
Again, all this scrutiny is totally unnecessary—there’s no violent crime wave being caused by ice cream men or anyone else. From 2007 to 2012, LA County experienced a 30 percent drop in reports of serious crimes like murder and rape (though it should be noted that the vast majority of rapes are never reported). Since 1982, the crime rate has dropped 61 percent. But we are taught to be afraid of each other by television, the police themselves, and now social media.
One example of this effect in action: In May 2013, police in Menomie, Wisconsin, were forced to issue a statement denying a rumor circulating that men in a white van selling ice cream were trying to abduct kids. Local news station WEAU quoted one example of the hysterical Facebook posts going around:
ATTENTION MENOMONIE AREA RESIDENTS!! There are a couple of guys in a white conversion van with MN plates that has ice cream stickers on one side and Superman/Captain America stickers on the other side. They are said to be going around Menomonie and Western Wisconsin trying to abduct women and children. This is NOT a joke, or rumor...some children in Downsville ran inside to their mom saying that the men tried to get them to go inside the van. Please keep your eyes on your children & pay attention to your surroundings!!
“Again,” the station reported, “police and deputies say this is a legitimate ice cream truck, and no women or children are in danger.”
But fear is a powerful thing, particularly when stoked by those in power who would love to have everyone's fingerprints on file—and now have the technological capacity to pull it off.
“Fingerprinting is becoming a more common part of the background checks conducted on people who work with children and other vulnerable populations,” the Boston Globe reported in October 2013, after the practice spread across the state of Massachusetts.
“These are positions that involve some amount of public access and public trust,” Belmont, Massachusetts, police captain Peter Hoerr told the Globe. Hoerr helped write a measure in his town requiring ice cream truck drivers, door-to-door salespeople, and others to be subjected to fingerprinting and background checks in order to get a business license. “This kind of checking for licenses could not have been an option ten years ago,” he said.
In the past, it would have been a burden for local police to be inundated with so many fingerprints from people unlikely to ever be implicated in a crime. It used to take an expert hours to manually examine two sets of prints, but now those prints can be stored digitally and checked against a national criminal database in a matter of seconds. As far as the police are concerned, there is no downside. They want to fingerprint entire groups of people for the same reason police departments in small towns get a tank: because they can.
And the political class is always willing to hand the police more powers, imagined threats to our children trumping concerns about civil liberties. As Wellesley Selectwoman Terri Tsagaris said in the Globe article, “there are some people who are concerned that it could become intrusive,” all this fingerprinting of people who haven't committed any crimes, but “I think that we decided we would rather err on the side of safety.”
But why stop with ice cream trucks? What about people who live near a school? Or a park? Or anyone who can ever potentially come in contact with a person under 18—should we not have their fingerprints and retina scans and DNA swabs on file, just in case? Family members are statistically more likely to harm a child than a complete stranger, so we can't forget about them, either.
Or even better, we could decide it's not worth giving the police more power to address problems that exist only on your Aunt Kathy's Facebook.
Charles Davis is a writer in Los Angeles. His work has been published by Al Jazeera, Inter Press Service, the New Inquiry, and Salon. ||||| Los Angeles Police Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese, left, explains to Amber Leake, 9, the dangers of Internet child predators, as requested by her mother, Jeally Leake, center, after a news conference in Los Angeles on June 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
It was called “Operation Broken Heart.” Its targets were child sex traffickers, pimps, porn peddlers and sex tourists operating mostly through the Internet. And on Thursday, local, state and federal law enforcement in California announced the results: some 275 arrests.
Among them:
A teacher’s assistant accused of going to a meeting to have sex with two children.
A retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy, charged with distributing child porn online.
A 64-year-old computer programmer, accused of going to a park to meet a 15-year-old for sex.
A U.S. Army soldier on leave who responded to undercover cops posing as young girls and was arrested after showing up for sex.
A former substitute teacher who allegedly posted a personal ad seeking sex with a father and son, and was arrested after going to meet with who he thought was an 8-year-old boy.
“The dirty old man stereotype no longer applies,” ICE Homeland Security Special Agent Claude Arnold said at a news conference on Thursday. “The perpetrators in these cases come from all walks of life and virtually every strata of the socioeconomic spectrum. They’re community leaders, white-collar professionals and even law enforcement personnel. The common denominator in most of these cases is the Internet. It has become the preferred playground for child sex predators.”
Investigators with the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children task force posed as young teens online and then arrested those who showed up to engage in sex acts, Los Angeles Police Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese said. Also, parole officers arrested 186 sex offenders accused of violating their parole by possessing child porn or approaching children in public, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Law enforcement officials conducted the operations in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. However, the number of arrests is expected to increase as police continue to analyze and gather additional evidence, according to news reports.
Officials told the L.A. Times that one in 25 children between the ages of 10 and 17 nationwide have received online solicitations from strangers to meet in person.
“We can’t arrest our way out of the problem,” Arnold said. “Parents and children need to have frank conversations about how to stay safe in cyberspace.” | – Overreach or a necessary precaution? Los Angeles County supervisors might require ice-cream truck vendors to undergo background checks before they can drive around ringing bells and selling frozen treats to kids, reports the LA Times. The supervisor behind the push, Don Knabe, says his measure is vital to protect children because such vendors typically find many of their customers at parks or similar places where kids are often unsupervised. "We could be unknowingly permitting dangerous individuals to come into contact with innocent children," he argues. But at Vice, Charles Davis sees it as needless fear-mongering. If there's a supposed crime wave happening in LA or anywhere else involving ice-cream vendors, he'd like to hear about it. "Why stop with ice cream trucks?" he wonders. "What about people who live near a school? Or a park? Or anyone who can ever potentially come in contact with a person under 18—should we not have their fingerprints and retina scans and DNA swabs on file, just in case?" |
Are you smarter than a Singaporean high school student? Here’s one way to find out.
A math problem intended for sophomores and juniors in Singapore has become the obsession of some portion of the Internet over the past few days. The students were asked to answer a seemingly simple question: “When is Cheryl’s birthday?”
To figure it out, you’re provided with some vague clues. Cheryl separately gives two new friends some details about when she was born, including a list of 10 possible birth dates. She also tells one of the friends, Albert, the month of her birthday, then tells the other friend, Bernard, the day of her birthday.
As a final clue, there’s a conversation between Albert and Bernard, in which they each talk about what they know.
Now go solve the riddle!
Stumped? You’re not alone.
The question first appeared on April 8, as part of the Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiads contest. It was posted online Friday by a Singaporean television presenter and quickly went viral — perhaps because the problem was initially misidentified as one intended for 10- and 11-year-olds.
As the problem spread far and wide, it became a bit of a joke. Truthfully, we blame no one for choosing to laugh instead of crying out of frustration.
Albert and Bernard later went out and over drinks, compared notes and decided Cheryl and her frigging birthday wasn't worth their time. — mrbrown (@mrbrown) April 14, 2015
So when is Cheryl's birthday? Just check her Facebook. — Songhua (@songboh) April 12, 2015
There was so much attention focused on this problem that the Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiads organizers released a statement clarifying who the problem was intended for, so that “Singapore parents will not start to worry so much.”
[The inside story of the ‘white dress, blue dress’ drama that divided a planet]
The question is actually from a test given to students who are sophomores or juniors in high school — not middle school kids. And it comes deep into the exam and is one of the more difficult problems that students encounter.
“Being Question 24 out of 25 questions, this is a difficult question meant to sift out the better students,” Math Olympiads organizers wrote in a statement. “SASMO contests target the top 40% of the student population and the standards of most questions are just high enough to stretch the students.”
So yes, breathe a sigh of relief. And then take out a pencil and paper.
[How a middle school math teacher became Jordan Spieth’s caddie]
By this point there are more than a few answers out there, including the official one from SASMO.
And here is a video tutorial that can walk you through the solution: ||||| Image copyright Kenneth Kong Image caption The logic question posted by Mr Kong is now known as 'Cheryl's Birthday'
A school maths question posted on Facebook by a Singaporean TV presenter has stumped thousands, and left many asking if that's really what is expected of Singaporean students.
The question asks readers to guess the birthday of a girl called Cheryl using the minimal clues she gives to her friends, Albert and Bernard.
Cheryl's Birthday was initially reported to be an examination question for 11-year-olds.
Students stressed by tough examinations is a perennial issue here, and Cheryl's Birthday reignited concerns that the education system was too challenging.
Image copyright facebook
But it later emerged it was for students aged about 15 taking part in last week's Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiads (Sasmo).
Organisers said the test was aimed at the top 40% and aimed to "sift out the better students", adding it was "important to clarify so that Singapore parents will not start to worry so much".
Image copyright Twitter
Kenneth Kong, who first posted the problem, told the BBC: "It's a really difficult question for younger kids, so that's why people were so shocked at first... but now that people know it's for older students, they just think it's quirky."
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Author and mathematician Alex Bellos demonstrates how to solve the problem
Sasmo's executive director Henry Ong defended the question, saying there was "a place for some kind of logical and analytical thinking in the workplace and in our daily lives".
Image copyright Twitter
"We are not saying this problem is for every student... But if these kind of problems can be used to stretch the better students to sharpen their analytical power, why not?"
The question, which has been shared around the world, sparked a Twitter hashtag #cherylsbirthday and even a music track.
"After spending so much time together, thinking of Cheryl's birthdate, Albert and Bernard soon fell in love with each other and forgot all about Cheryl," said Elfy Bianca Hassan on Mr Kong's page.
"Dump her. Find other girls," suggested Nicholas Lim.
Image copyright Twitter
Others took umbrage at the wording. "I hope people picked up that the person who set the question needs to go for English grammar classes - there are at least two grammar errors," said Clarence Singam-Zhou.
So when is Cheryl's birthday?
The answer is 16 July, said Sasmo which posted the correct solution.
Image copyright Twitter
Sasmo also dismissed an "alternative solution" which resulted in 17 August.
Their rejection was that "since Bernard did not say that he does not know when Cheryl's birthday is, then how did Albert know that Bernard does not know?"
Problem solved. ||||| Exclusive: all was well with Albert, Bernard and Cheryl until Denise showed up ... that’s right, it’s another birthday brainteaser from Singapore
Cheryl's birthday puzzle part two, Denise's revenge - can you solve it?
Welcome to the first of my new puzzle series. Every second Monday I’ll be posting some kind of brainteaser, usually mathematical, here on the science blog network.
I’ll be posting the solution on Tuesdays. Which gives you the Guardian puzzlers – guzzlers, obviously! – a full day to chew, digest, absorb and solve.
To kick the series off, we have the puzzle that the entire world has been waiting for.
Remember the Albert, Bernard and Cheryl problem – also known as the Cheryl’s birthday problem? It exploded across the internet last month, becoming the most discussed logic puzzle of recent years.
The puzzle was written by Joseph Yeo Boon Wooi of Singapore’s National Institute of Education, originally for a test paper in the Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiad.
Well, Dr Yeo has written a sequel and I’m thrilled that he has given it to me for the launch of this series. A new character joins logic’s most famous threesome. Enjoy!
Albert, Bernard and Cheryl became friends with Denise, and they wanted to know when her birthday is. Denise gave them a list of 20 possible dates.
17 Feb 2001, 16 Mar 2002, 13 Jan 2003, 19 Jan 2004
13 Mar 2001, 15 Apr 2002, 16 Feb 2003, 18 Feb 2004
13 Apr 2001, 14 May 2002, 14 Mar 2003, 19 May 2004
15 May 2001, 12 Jun 2002, 11 Apr 2003, 14 Jul 2004
17 Jun 2001, 16 Aug 2002, 16 Jul 2003, 18 Aug 2004
Denise then told Albert, Bernard and Cheryl separately the month, the day and the year of her birthday respectively.
The following conversation ensues:
Albert: I don’t know when Denise’s birthday is, but I know that Bernard does not know.
Bernard: I still don’t know when Denise’s birthday is, but I know that Cheryl still does not know.
Cheryl: I still don’t know when Denise’s birthday is, but I know that Albert still does not know.
Albert: Now I know when Denise’s birthday is.
Bernard: Now I know too.
Cheryl: Me too.
So, when is Denise’s birthday?
To clarify: neither Albert, Bernard or Cheryl know anything else at the start apart from the fact that Albert has been told the month, Bernard the day (meaning the number of the day), and Cheryl the year.
Extra points: a playful aspect of the Cheryl birthday problem was that the answer - i.e. Cheryl’s birthday - is also Dr Yeo’s birthday. He has also hidden a fun little nugget - what he calls an “Easter egg” - in this one. It is something purely mathematical. What is it?
Go, guzzlers, go!
Facebook Twitter Pinterest As well as being the creator of the Cheryl puzzle, Joseph Yeo Boon Wooi also stands out in the mathematical community for the large number of o’s in his name. Photograph: Joseph Yeo Boon Wooi
My latest book is Alex Through the Looking Glass (UK) and The Grapes of Math (US). To keep in touch with this blog I’m on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Also, my personal website. | – Never mind the color of that dress: When is Cheryl's birthday? The latest viral puzzler to stump the Internet started out as a question for students in Singapore and spread around the world after it was posted here, reports the Washington Post. Students were asked to determine the birthday of a girl called Cheryl, who had given new friends Albert and Bernard a list of 10 possible dates and told one boy the month and the other the day. The puzzler was initially identified as one for 10- or 11-year-old students, causing mild alarm for Singaporean parents, but it turned out to be a question for high school sophomores and juniors at the Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiads. "It's a really difficult question for younger kids, so that's why people were so shocked at first ... but now that people know it's for older students, they just think it's quirky," the Singapore TV presenter who first posted it tells the BBC. The math competition posted the answer here. At the New York Times, Kenneth Chang provides a detailed explanation while wondering, "Why is Cheryl so coy about revealing the month and day, but not year, of her birthday? What else is Cheryl trying to hide?" (A Tacoma man developed incredible mathematical abilities after being beaten up outside a karaoke bar.) |
SALT LAKE CITY — A Moroni man has died from rabies, the first death of its kind in Utah since 1944.
Gary Giles, 55, died Sunday, but struggled for weeks with an slowly progressing disease that doctors couldn't stop from infecting his brain and other organs, ultimately leading to his death.
He and his wife, Juanita Giles, didn't realize that the bats that had frequented their home were carriers of a rabid and highly contagious virus.
"The bats never hurt us, and we were always catching them in our hands and releasing them outside because you hear all the time about how bats are good for the insect population, and you don't want to hurt them," Giles said Thursday.
"The bats would lick our fingers, almost like they could taste the saltiness of our fingers, but they never bit us."
Gary Giles first had neck and back pain and went to the local emergency room on Oct. 19 and was sent home with steroids and other pain management treatment for a potential pulled muscle; but that turned into numbness and tingling, and, eventually, wheezing. His wife called 911 and he was taken by ambulance to another local emergency room.
He was again transported to Utah Valley Hospital, and then put in the intensive care unit at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, where he died.
"It's very scary and it is creating a bit of a panic," Giles said, adding that she is getting rabies vaccinations — a series of four shots over two weeks — just in case. Other family members are also getting vaccinated, though the supply of vaccine is limited within the state.
She wants others to be aware of the risk.
"I had no clue," she said. "We would wake up in the night and they would be walking on our bed."
"I've always thought bats were kind of cute, but I had no idea the kind of risk we were at," Giles said.
A fundraising page* has been set up to help the family.
"My dad has always been a giver," Crystal Sedgewick, Giles' daughter who set up the page said. "During the final 24 hours that he was still able to speak with us, he was in a delusional state, and he still couldn't stop talking about all the people that he needed to help and favors that he had yet to follow through with."
She said it is difficult for the family to ask for or accept anything.
Bats are the most common source of rabies in Utah, Utah Department of Health epidemiologist Dallin Peterson said. He said a bite or scratch from a bat may not be felt because a bat's teeth and claws are very small.
The disease, as is likely with the case of Gary Giles, can also be transmitted via an infected animal's saliva.
Rabies, though very rare, Peterson said, is nearly always fatal once symptoms develop. The last deadly case in Utah was 74 years ago.
After exposure to an infected animal, Peterson said it can take three to 12 weeks for symptoms to show up. From there, it can be less than a week until a person is in a coma.
"Once it gets into the central nervous system, it advances quickly," he said. "It's a terrible way to pass away."
Between 150 and 200 bats are submitted to the health department every year to be tested. Migratory bats come from all over the state, most frequently stopping along the Wasatch Front. A hibernating kind of bat is also found in some national parks.
"They like nooks and crannies or caves, dark areas or attics," Peterson said.
This year, 14 bats tested by the health department have been found to have rabies. The state averages 20 to 25 positive tests each year.
In the fall of last year, bat infestations were found in West and Layton high schools. Because bats are endangered, they should not be killed, but dealt with by a professional. No one was harmed in the process, and houses were built to attract the bats outside of the school.
Peterson said anyone exposed to bats, especially bats that exhibit odd behavior, should seek medical help to rule out potential risk.
"If you find yourself near a bat, dead or alive, do not touch, hit or kill it," Peterson said.
While no human-to-human transmission has been documented outside of organ transplantation, he said it is "theoretically possible" to spread rabies through contact with bodily fluids such as saliva and tears, as well as cerebrospinal and respiratory tract fluids.
Rabies is not found in urine, blood, serum or feces.
Peterson said the health department hasn't confirmed that the Utah man died from exposure to an infected bat, but a Center for Disease Control and Prevention laboratory in Atlanta can detect the species.
An estimated 40,000 people in the United States get preventive treatment for rabies after a bite or scratch from a dog or cat that might not be up-to-date on vaccinations. The Utah Department of Health advises keeping up on rabies vaccinations for all domestic animals, not only for the sake of human owners, but to avoid the heartache of unnecessarily euthanizing or treating pets.
The health department advises people to not approach wild animals or strays, which can also carry the highly contagious and fatal viral disease.
Domestic animals with rabies may exhibit behavior changes, general sickness, trouble swallowing, increased drool or saliva and biting at everything.
For more information on rabies, call the health department at 801-538-6191 or visit health.utah.gov/epi/diseases/rabies.
×
Photos ||||| A 6-year-old Eustis boy reportedly died of rabies Sunday at an Orlando hospital after being scratched by a sick bat that Lake County officials said had been living in his home.
Henry Roque confirmed his son Ryker Roque’s death to NBC News after previously telling the “Today” show that Ryker became infected when the bat scratched him.
Lake County deputies responded to the Eustis home about two weeks ago after they were told the family’s pit bull may have had rabies. When they arrived, somebody told them the residents were at the hospital with their son, who had been scratched by a bat, sheriff’s Maj. Chris Delibro said.
“We’re told the bat had been in the house for a week or two prior to the boy going to the hospital,” Delibro said.
During that time, authorities said the bat may have come in contact with the dog.
Deputies didn’t see the bat, but they took the pit bull and a cat to the Sheriff’s Office’s animal shelter for testing. Delibro did not know the results of the tests.
Henry Roque said in an interview with the “Today” show that he found the sick bat and put it in a bucket. He told Ryker not to touch it, but Ryker did and was scratched, the father told the show.
After the scratch, Henry Roque said in the interview, he washed the wound but didn’t take Ryker to the hospital because the boy cried when he was told he would need shots.
About a week later, the 6-year-old complained of a headache and numbness in his fingers.
Then the family took him to the hospital, but reportedly it was too late for him to receive shots.
“That’s my buddy, he’s my boy, he’s my everything,” Henry Roque said in the “Today” interview. “He tells all his friends ‘My daddy will fix anything.’ I can’t fix that. I’ve never loved anything or anybody so much in my life. Ever.”
Attempts by the Orlando Sentinel to reach the family weren’t successful, but a GoFundMe page raising money for medical expenses said Monday, “We are so sad to say that Ryker lost his fight last night...our little baby is now an angel.”
Rabies deaths in the United States are rare, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Between 2008 and 2017, only 23 cases have been reported, and the number of deaths blamed on the disease has declined since the 1970s, according to the agency.
Most rabies hosts are wild carnivores and bats.
Orange County Health Department spokesman Kent Donahue said people should avoid touching wildlife.
“If you believe you may have been exposed to rabies, contact your health care provider and your county health department immediately,” Donahue said in an email. “If an exposure occurred, it is important to administer treatment right away.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
[email protected] or 407-420-5002. Or follow him on Twitter @byryangillespie and like his coverage on Facebook @byryangillespie.
3 arrested after Osceola County woman killed in botched murder-for-hire plot, sheriff says » ||||| Get the latest from TODAY Sign up for our newsletter
/ Updated / Source: NBC News By Maggie Fox
A 6-year-old Florida boy fighting rabies has died, his father said Sunday.
Ryker Roque was being kept under anesthesia in an Orlando hospital in a desperate bid to save him from the deadliest virus there is.
The family was trying an experimental technique called the Milwaukee protocol, which has saved at least two other children in the U.S. and 18 people around the world, according to its inventor, Dr. Rodney Willoughby of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.
It started when Ryker's father, Henry Roque, found a sick bat.
"(I) found a bat, put it in a little bucket, put it on the porch and I had asked my son, 'don't touch it under any circumstances'," Roque told NBC News.
"So, apparently he put his hand in there and touched it and he said it only scratched him, so I frantically googled it real quick and it says to wash his hands with soap, hot water for five minutes."
They knew they should have taken Ryker for immediate medical attention but relented when Ryker cried at the thought of getting shots.
A week or so later, Ryker complained of numb fingers and a headache. Henry feared he'd hit his head while playing and rushed him to the hospital.
When Henry Roque mentioned the bat, doctors became alarmed. "I mean, alarms, bells, whistles went off," he said.
"They went frantically looking for the other doctors to tell them that it was a bat and how severe it was. And then they all came in. We had a conference and they explained to me that it's almost always lethal."
Rabies can be prevented if someone is vaccinated before they start developing symptoms. But once symptoms start to show, the disease has spread to the brain and is virtually impossible to stop.
When reached last week, Willoughby, a pediatrician, said he could not comment Ryker’s case but said he regularly consults with medical teams trying to save rabies victims around the world.
Ryker Roque, 6, has been diagnosed with severe rabies from a bat bite. gofundme.com/ryker-medical-bills
The first person saved this way was Jeanna Giese, who was 15 in 2004 when she developed rabies. Willoughby’s protocol, which included sedation and treatment with antiviral drugs, cured her.
“She’s doing wonderfully,” Willoughby said. “She never even missed a school year.”
Giese even overcame the damage done to her brain by the virus.
“She’s married, she had twin children,” he said. “She’s doing so well I never hear from her.”
Any mammal can get rabies, and the disease causes horrible symptoms as the virus attacks the nervous system. It can make an animal aggressive and violent and can cause severe pain. Victims eventually fall into a coma and die when they can no longer breathe properly.
Globally, the World Health Organization says 55,000 people die of rabies every year, with dogs the source of 99 percent of these fatal bites.
People can survive if vaccinated immediately after a bite or other exposure to rabies. But the few U.S. cases are usually in children who have been bitten by bats and either do not realize they were bitten — bats have tiny teeth — or are unable to say so.
The incubation period can be months, so sometimes by the time symptoms start, it's hard for people and especially small children to even remember if they were near a bat.
Rabies vaccine supplies are tight in the U.S., so people cannot get a vaccine unless they have been exposed, usually via an animal bite, or have a high risk of bites.
“It’s almost never too late to take shots if you have had a real exposure to an animal,” Willoughby said.
NBC News producers Lisa Lampkin, Meredith Amor and Craig Stanley and correspondent Maya Rodriguez contributed to this story. | – Gary Giles and his wife, Juanita, would often use their hands to catch the bats that would end up flying around inside their home in Moroni, Utah, and they never had any issues. "The bats would lick our fingers, almost like they could taste the saltiness of our fingers, but they never bit us," Juanita Giles tells KSL. But things started going south with Gary Giles' health in mid-October, when he first started experiencing neck and back pain, and he headed to the ER on Oct. 19. He was treated and sent home with meds, but soon he was wheezing and feeling numbness and tingling, and he was rushed by ambulance to the ER. He died at the age of 55 Sunday, surrounded by his family, and doctors say the cause of death was rabies, likely from the bats. It's Utah's first death from rabies in almost 75 years. On a GoFundMe that has raised more than $7,300 to help the family pay for medical and funeral costs, one of Giles' daughters explains her dad was transferred to the ICU on Oct. 20, and the family was told he was in a coma on Oct. 26. He was taken off life support Sunday. A Utah Department of Health epidemiologist tells KSL contracting rabies is rare, and that bats are the most common cause in Utah, but that once symptoms pop up—and they can take three to 12 weeks to emerge—it's usually fatal. He adds people may not even feel the bat's tiny claws or teeth puncturing the skin. "I've always thought bats were kind of cute," Juanita Giles tells KSL, adding she and her husband would sometimes "wake up in the night and they would be walking on our bed." She adds: "I had no idea the kind of risk we were at." (A New Jersey woman strangled a rabid fox.) |
FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2013, file photo, a man cleans a Ferrari 458 Speciale at the 65th Frankfurt Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany. Video being shared online shows the aftermath of an accident on Saturday,... (Associated Press)
FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2013, file photo, a man cleans a Ferrari 458 Speciale at the 65th Frankfurt Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany. Video being shared online shows the aftermath of an accident on Saturday, August 6, 2013, when a driver backed into a nearly $300,000 Ferrari 458. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein,... (Associated Press)
FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2013, file photo, a man cleans a Ferrari 458 Speciale at the 65th Frankfurt Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany. Video being shared online shows the aftermath of an accident on Saturday, August 6, 2013, when a driver backed into a nearly $300,000 Ferrari 458. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein,... (Associated Press) FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2013, file photo, a man cleans a Ferrari 458 Speciale at the 65th Frankfurt Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany. Video being shared online shows the aftermath of an accident on Saturday,... (Associated Press)
GREAT FALLS, Va. (AP) — One driver may be giving her insurance company an expensive bill after she accidently backed into a nearly $300,000 Ferrari while attempting to parallel park outside a Virginia coffeehouse.
Video being shared online shows the aftermath of the Saturday accident in Great Falls, near Washington, D.C. It shows the rear of the woman's Mercedes convertible sitting on the hood of a Ferrari 458 Speciale with a car alarm blaring. It happened at a weekly meeting of local car enthusiasts. One man asks the woman who was behind the wheel of the Mercedes: "Are you serious?"
Fairfax County police say they helped the drivers exchange information, but no one will be charged.
The Ferrari 458 lists for more than $290,000 and tops out at over 200 miles per hour. | – One driver may be giving her insurance company an expensive bill after she accidentally backed into a nearly $300,000 Ferrari while attempting to parallel park outside a Virginia coffeehouse, the AP reports. Video being shared online shows the aftermath of the Saturday accident in Great Falls, near Washington, DC. It shows the rear of the woman's Mercedes convertible sitting on the hood of a Ferrari 458 Speciale with a car alarm blaring. It happened at a weekly meeting of local car enthusiasts. One man asks the woman who was behind the wheel of the Mercedes: "Are you serious?" Fairfax County police say they helped the drivers exchange information, but no one will be charged. The Ferrari 458 lists for more than $290,000 and tops out at over 200mph. |
The Aunslev Cross may be about to change Danish history. Photo: Østfyns Museer
A cross discovered by an amateur Danish archaeologist may "change history" according to an expert, who believes the cross may date from before Christianity is thought to have reached Denmark.
An amateur archaeologist on the island of Funen made a startling discovery last week – a necklace resembling Jesus on the cross. But after posting a picture of the discovery on Facebook, Dennis Fabricius Holm quickly found that the item may have a lot more significance than he had initially thought.
“I finished work early last Friday, so I decided to spend a couple of hours searching with my metal detector,” Holm told national broadcaster DR.
“Suddenly I hit upon something,” continued Holm. “Ever since I turned over the clump of earth and saw the cross, I’ve been unable to think of anything else.”
Malene Refshauge Beck, archaeologist with East Funen Museums (Østfyns Museer) told DR that she agreed that the necklace is likely to prove a memorable discovery.
“This is a sensational find that dates from the first half of the 10th century BCE,” Beck told DR. “There is a near identical figure, found in Sweden, which has been dated to this period.”
The discovery of Christian artefacts from this period in Denmark is particularly remarkable as it predates the Jelling Stone, the giant carved rune stone from the year 965 that is considered to be the earliest Danish representation of Jesus on the cross.
“This figure may therefore result in us reconsidering the date Danes are believed to have become Christian,” said Beck. “The person who wore it would undoubtedly have adhered to the Christian faith.”
While pieces from the period depicting crosses as well as fragments of a piece of jewellery that appeared to depict Jesus have been discovered in the past, the new find is by far the most well-preserved and clear, according to Beck.
The figure will now be further examined at the museum and will go on display at the Ladby Viking Museum this summer. ||||| The 1100 year old "Christ from Aunslev" will be exhibited at Vikingemuseet Ladby through easter 2016.
On Friday March 11th something very special appeared from the ground in a field near Aunslev at Eastern Funen. Dennis Fabricius Holm was out searching with his metal detector and made an exceptional find. Immediately he contacted the archaeologist at Østfyns Museer, Malene Beck.
Dennis had found a small gold pendant, 4,1 cm in height, in the shape of a man with outstretched arms – the image of Christ. The figure is made of fine articulated goldthreads and small filigree pellets and weighs around 13,2 grams. The reverse side is smooth. At the top a small eye for the chain is mounted. The cross looks a lot like the gilded silver cross found in 1879 in Birka near Stockholm in Sweden, in a female grave from the Viking Age. (grave 660).
The Aunslev cross is the first Danish specimen in full figure. Earlier there has been found fragments from similar crosses in Denmark: in the newly found silver hoard at Omø and in a Viking Age wagonbody burial at Ketting on the island Als, where all the fragments are of silver. The fragment of a hand from the Omø hoard , dated to the late 10th century, looks a little different. It lacks the thumb and has ornaments on the reverse side. The silver crosses from Ketting and Birka are both found in what is believed to be female graves, dated to the first half of the 10th century. So far that makes the Aunslev cross the only one found in a “bare field”. It’s pure luck, that the little jewelry has survived the last 1100 years in the earth. It was probably worn by a Viking woman, but it cannot yet be decided, whether the cross was to show, that she was a Christian Viking or was just a part of a pagan Viking’s bling-bling. For the time being, the Aunslev cross is dated to the first half of the 10th century, which makes it one of the oldest Christian crosses from Denmark and even older than Harald Bluetooth’s runic stone in Jelling.
Today the Aunslev Church lies solitary west of the village Aunslev. In the fields around the church, where the cross is found, there has been found several fine objects. Together the finds suggest, that the church has not always been lying alone. Once there was probably a Viking settlement here, which might have formed the basis of an early church. There has also been a runic stone at the site. According to the narrative, the stone was found just south of the church in 1623. In 1652 it was brought to Copenhagen, where it was destroyed in the big fire in Copenhagen in 1728. The inscription reads: “…stands this stone. Ro…placed…og Roulv made…Stone belongs to the group of “Roulv stones”.”
The Aunslev Cross will be on exhibition at Vikingemuseet Ladby from Friday March 18th and during the Easter holiday and will then be sent to preservation. In the summer it will be part of an exhibition in the museum, which shows some of the exiting Viking Age finds, found with metal detector, from Eastern Funen. ||||| An amateur metal detector has made a discovery that experts think could change our understanding of Christianity in Denmark.
Dennis Fabricius Holm was enjoying an afternoon off work when he found a Birka crucifix pendant in a field near the town of Aunslev, Østfyn.
“I got off early on Friday, so I took just a few hours, I went around with my metal detector and then I came suddenly on something,” Mr Holm told DK.
“Since I cleared the mud and saw the jewellery, I have not been able to think of anything else.”
On posting the find to social media, other users encouraged him to take it to a museum.
Malene Refshauge Beck, curator and archaeologist at Østfyns Museum said: “It is an absolutely sensational discovery that is from the first half of the 900s [10th century].”
“There is found an almost identical figure in Sweden, which has been dated to just this period.”
However, this specimen is in especially good condition and one of the most well preserved Christian artefacts found in Denmark.
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And the best thing about optical fibres is when at Imperial College London they were first demonstrated to be able to ‘bend’ light by Harold Hopkins and Narinder Kapany, dubbed the ‘founding father of fibre optics’
Weighing just 13.2 grams and 4.1cm in length, the figure is made of finely articulated goldthreads and tiny fillagree pellets.
It is smooth on the reverse side but has a small eye at the top for a chain.
It was probably worn by a Viking woman.
The dating of the crucifix, estimated at being from 900 – 950AD, is significant because it would indicate Danes embraced Christianity earlier than previously thought.
At the moment, the Jelling Stones - two large runestones erected in 965AD in Jutland - are thought to be the oldest known representation of Jesus on a cross in Denmark.
The stones, in the town of Jelling, commemorate Harald Bluetooth’s conversion of the Danes to Christianity.
Christian missionaries had been present in the country for around two hundred years before then, but had failed to convert the Vikings.
However, pressures from Christian trade partners to convert, and in particular, influence from the Kingdom of Germany to the south, meant that most Danes were Christian by the end of the Viking period in 1050.
“The figure can therefore help to advance the time when one considers that the Danes really were Christians,” said Ms Beck.
“Simply because one can say that the person who carried it here no doubt embraced the Christian faith.”
The impact of the find is such that the historical record of the country will need to be adjusted.
“This is a subject that certainly will have to appear in the history books in the future,” said Ms Beck.
“In recent years there has been more and more signs that Christianity was widespread earlier than previously thought - and here the clearest evidence so far.”
And as for the amateur archaeologist?
“I’ve hardly slept!” Mr Holm said to TV2 / Fyn.
“It has been very overwhelming. I have not yet grasped that find’s influence on Denmark's history.
“It is hard to comprehend.” ||||| Discovery by a 13-year-old and an amateur archaeologist leads to hoard linked to king who brought Christianity to Denmark
A 13-year-old boy and an amateur archaeologist have unearthed a “significant” trove in Germany which may have belonged to the Danish king Harald Bluetooth who brought Christianity to Denmark.
René Schön and his student Luca Malaschnitschenko were looking for treasure using metal detectors in January on northern Rügen island when they chanced upon what they initially thought was a worthless piece of aluminium.
But upon closer inspection, they realised that it was a piece of silver, German media reported.
Over the weekend, the regional archaeology service began a dig covering 400 sq metres (4,300 sq ft). It has found a hoard believed to be linked to the Danish king Harald Gormsson, better known as “Harry Bluetooth”, who reigned from around AD958 to 986.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Archaeologists working on the dig on Rügen island after the find by René Schön and Luca Malaschnitschenko. Photograph: Stefan Sauer/AFP/Getty Images
Braided necklaces, pearls, brooches, a Thor’s hammer, rings and up to 600 chipped coins were found, including more than 100 that date back to Bluetooth’s era, when he ruled over what is now Denmark, northern Germany, southern Sweden and parts of Norway.
“This trove is the biggest single discovery of Bluetooth coins in the southern Baltic Sea region and is therefore of great significance,” the lead archaeologist, Michael Schirren, told national news agency DPA.
The oldest coin is a Damascus dirham dating to 714 while the most recent is a penny dating to 983.
The find suggests that the treasure may have been buried in the late 980s – also the period when Bluetooth was known to have fled to Pomerania, where he died in 987.
“We have here the rare case of a discovery that appears to corroborate historical sources,” said the archaeologist Detlef Jantzen.
Bluetooth is credited with unifying Denmark. The Viking-born king also turned his back on old Norse religion and introduced Christianity to the Nordic country.
But he was forced to flee to Pomerania after a rebellion led by his son Sven Gabelbart.
Bluetooth’s lasting legacy is found today in smartphones and laptops – the wireless Bluetooth technology is named after him, and the symbol is composed of the two runes spelling out his initials HB. ||||| Metal detectorist Dennis Fabricius Holm made a pretty sweet find yesterday: the third known Birka crucifix.
These little wonders of 10th century goldsmith work are named for the first find, made in 1879 when Hjalmar Stolpe excavated in the cemeteries of Birka near Stockholm. In addition to the crucifix grave 660 contained, among other things, two other fine silver filigree pendants and a bronze-capped iron wand that may have served pagan religious purposes.
In 2012 Silke Eisenschmidt identified fragments of a second Birka crucifix among the finds from a wagon burial at Ketting, excavated by Jens Raben in 1927. This is on the island of Als on the south-east coast of Jutland, just across the sound from Funen, and the new find is from Nyborg municipality on the east coast of that island. (I was there for a castle conference last August.) The two Danish sites are less than a day’s sailing and rowing from the town of Hedeby, which suggests to me that this is where all three crucifixes were made. They’re too similar for more than one or two people to have been making them. Birka and Hedeby seems to have shared an itinerant population of craftspeople and traders.
Many thanks to Dennis for letting me publish his photographs! Note that by not cleaning the find thoroughly, Dennis is doing the right thing: this is a job for the finds conservator.
Update 13 March: My friend and collaborator Tobias Bondesson alerted me to a piece of filigreed hack silver from the Omø hoard that looks a lot like the right hand of a fourth Birka crucifix. It’s different from its siblings in being decorated on the reverse and having no thumb, but to my eye there’s little else this fragment could be from. The hoard was buried during the reign of Sweyn Forkbeard, 986–1014. It was found by detectorist Robert Hemming Poulsen in September of 2015. Omø is a small island between Funen and Zealand, not far across the water from Nyborg, which neatly reinforces the distribution we have begun to discern for the type. ||||| In this April 13, 2018 photo hobby archaeologist Rene Schoen and 13-year-old Luca Malaschnitschenko, right, search for coins after a medieval silver treasure had been found near Schaprode on the northern... (Associated Press)
BERLIN (AP) — Hundreds of 1,000-year-old silver coins, rings, pearls and bracelets linked to the era of Danish King Harald Gormsson have been found on the eastern German island of Ruegen in the Baltic Sea.
A single silver coin was first found in January by two amateur archaeologists, one of them a 13-year-old boy, in a field near the village of Schaprode. The state archaeology office then became involved and the entire treasure was uncovered by experts over the weekend, the Mecklenburg-West Pomerania state archaeology office said Monday.
"It's the biggest trove of such coins in the southeastern Baltic region," the statement said.
The office said the two amateur archeologists were asked to keep quiet about their discovery to give professionals time to plan the dig and were then invited to participate in the recovery.
"This was the (biggest) discovery of my life," hobby archaeologist Rene Schoen told the German news agency dpa.
Schoen said he and 13-year-old Luca Malaschnitschenko were using metal detectors on the field near Schaprode when Luca found a little piece that he initially thought was only aluminum garbage. But when they cleaned it, they understood it was more precious.
Archaeologists said about 100 of the silver coins are probably from the reign of Harald Gormsson, better known as "Harald Bluetooth," who lived in the 10th century and introduced Christianity to Denmark.
He was one of the last Viking kings of what is now Denmark, northern Germany, southern Sweden and parts of Norway.
His nickname came from the fact he had a dead tooth that looked bluish, but it's now best known for the wireless Bluetooth technology invented by Swedish telecom company Ericsson. The company named the technology, developed to wirelessly unite computers with cellular devices, after him for his ability to unite ancient Scandinavia.
The technology logo carries the runic letters for his initials HB.
___
Jan M. Olsen contributed from Copenhagen, Denmark. | – Denmark's Dennis Fabricius Holm got off work early on March 11 and decided to go for a stroll with his metal detector near the town of Aunslev. "Suddenly I hit upon something," he tells national broadcaster DR, per the Local. "Ever since I turned over the clump of earth and saw the cross, I've been unable to think of anything else." Holm had indeed made "an absolutely sensational discovery," says archaeologist Malene Beck of the Ostfyns Museum. The 1.5-inch-tall pendant, complete with gold threads and filigree pellets, features the image of an open-armed man and is almost identical to a silver crucifix found in Sweden, visible here. A release speculates it was worn by a Viking woman. The Independent calls it "one of the most well preserved Christian artifacts found in Denmark," but its date, AD900 to AD950, is what most intrigues experts. Christian missionaries were known to be in Denmark in the eighth century, but the oldest known depiction of Jesus on a cross in Denmark—on what is known as the Jelling Stones—didn't appear until AD965. It was believed to signify the start of the conversion of the Danes, most of whom were Christian by 1050. But since the pendant predates the Jelling Stones by at least 15 years, it "can therefore help to advance the time when one considers that the Danes really were Christians," Beck says. "The person who wore it would undoubtedly have adhered to the Christian faith." She adds the find is so significant that the history books will need to be rewritten. "I have not yet grasped that find's influence on Denmark's history," Holm tells TV2. "It is hard to comprehend." (Last year, a man with a metal detector uncovered Nazi-era treasure.) |
A Texas-based theater chain has banned Madonna after the pop star was apparently admonished for rudely texting during a premiere screening.
Madonna was reportedly texting up a storm while attending the New York Film Festival premiere of 12 Years A Slave last week and reacted in a rather spectacularly annoyed manner when asked to stop (‘It’s for business … enslaver!”).
The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema chain has long had a strict no-talking and anti-texting policy for its theaters, and will eject any patron that violates the policy. So when word of the incident reached Alamo founder and CEO Tim League, he tweeted (below) that Madonna would no longer be welcome at the chain until she “apologizes to movie fans.”
Asked by EW if he was serious about the ban — at one point while defending his stance on Twitter he had called it a joke — League replied late Saturday, “Yeah, I’m serious, but I don’t think it really affects her life that much.”
League pointed out his initial tweet was an “offhand joke, a spur of the moment 140 characters” and was “more of a means to get the issue out there, that it is rude to text during movies.”
“But now that it seems to have taken hold, sure, I’m going to enforce it,” he added.
Madonna has not responded to the reactions or to the rather anecdotal-sounding initial report, details about which can be found here.
Below are League’s tweets and the Alamo’s NSFW anti-texting message that plays before some R-rated films at its theaters. When this video first hit the Internet a couple years ago, it became a viral sensation (and yes, the voicemail is real, the story behind it here):
Until she apologizes to movie fans, Madonna is banned from watching movies @drafthouse. http://t.co/cHMeseJxMJ — Tim League (@timalamo) October 11, 2013 ||||| I don't know about you, but I have a hard time confronting rude people in public. Someone decides that sneezing on the back of my head with an uncovered hand is something they must do? I grit my teeth in silence. Someone talks during a movie? I do a strategic "half turn" in my seat at the most. I am tragically non-confrontational.
So I kind of admire whoever thought it was a good idea to confront Madonna for texting during a recent screening of the new film by Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave. However, this person was clearly insane. Because, uh, they decided it was a good and reasonable thing to confront Madonna? Clearly they have been quietly living under a rock for many, many years.
Because Madonna is not someone who is going to tolerate a talking-to -- no matter how well deserved it might be! If a person is also a brand, maybe leave the etiquette lesson for another day. I'm not saying Madonna was right to text up a storm during the flick, I'm saying I think it's naive to think that scolding her in public is going to have the desired effect. I'm not wrong. Exhibit what happened next.
Rather than just ignore her teacher in the school of manners, Madonna archly replied, "It's for business ... enslaver." If I told you I did not snort-laugh aloud at that remark, I would be lying. Is it culturally insensitive of her to compare her fellow-audience member's request to slavery? Totally. Is it also kind of the reason I still love Madonna? Very much so. She does not give a hoot what you might think of her. She's arch and smart, and if she wants to be rude during a movie -- power to her.
Do you think Madonna was out of line?
Image via Dana Yavin/Corbis | – Madonna made headlines last week for texting while watching the premiere of 12 Years a Slave at the New York Film Festival. And as a result, she's not welcome ... at a theater chain based in Texas. The CEO of the Alamo Drafthouse chain, known for its awesome no-talking-no-texting rules, tweeted Friday: "Until she apologizes to movie fans, Madonna is banned from watching movies @drafthouse." Tim League tells Entertainment Weekly he is indeed serious about the ban, but added, "I don't think it really affects her life that much." He says the whole thing started out as a joke and a way of pointing out that texting while watching movies is rude, but "now that it seems to have taken hold, sure, I’m going to enforce it." Click to see how Madonna responded when she was called out on her texting. |
San Francisco Assistant Chief of Police Toney Chaplin points to take a question at a news conference near a UPS package delivery warehouse where a shooting took place Wednesday, June 14, 2017, in San... (Associated Press)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A United Parcel Service driver who opened fire during a meeting with co-workers had filed a grievance that he was working excessive overtime and appeared to specifically go after the three drivers he killed before fatally shooting himself.
Jimmy Lam, 38, filed the grievance in March complaining of too much overtime and requesting that the package delivery company relieve him of working extra hours going forward, Joseph Cilia, an official with a Teamsters Union local that represents UPS workers in San Francisco, told The Associated Press.
During a Wednesday morning meeting, Lam walked up to driver Benson Louie and shot him. As his co-workers frantically fled the room, he shot Wayne Chan in the back, and then walked up to him and "finished him." Mike Lefiti was fleeing from the building when Lam went out onto the street and shot him, Cilia said witnesses told him.
"It's senseless. I can't think of anything. Why him? Why them?" Cilia asked. "I can't put it together."
Officials late Wednesday confirmed San Francisco residents Louie, 50, and Chan, 56, and 46-year-old Lefiti, of Hercules, were killed in the shooting.
Two other UPS employees were wounded, but Cilia said both were released from the hospital.
Amid a barrage of gunfire, some workers sought refuge on the roof of the four-story facility, while others ran outside and pounded on the windows of a public bus, witnesses said.
"They were screaming, 'Go! Go! Go!'" said Jessica Franklin, 30, who was riding to work when the bus made a regular stop in front of the UPS facility. "As they got on the bus, they were all ducking."
Auto shop owner Robert Kim said he saw "a mob of UPS drivers" running down the street screaming "Shooter! Shooter!"
The shooting prompted a massive police response in one of the city's industrial neighborhoods, about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from downtown San Francisco, Assistant Police Chief Toney Chaplin told reporters.
UPS spokesman Steve Gaut said the shooter was a company employee. A San Francisco Police Department official identified Lam, 38, and said he's from San Francisco but had no immediate details on his background.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.
Lefiti's cousin, Mack Toia, told KGO-TV (http://abc7ne.ws/2sch61d) he was at the UPS facility waiting to pick up Lefiti when shots rang out. He left his van and saw his cousin sprawled on concrete behind a gate, Toia said.
"The police officers were right on the scene just like that. I got to touch him, but I couldn't hug him," Toia said. "They just pushed me away because they were trying to resuscitate him."
Co-worker Isaiah Miggins said he saw Lefiti, known as "Big Mike," as he arrived for work just before 9 a.m., a few minutes before the shooting started. "He was a joyful man. Always happy," Miggins said.
On social media, heartbroken family members of Lefiti recalled him as a warm-spirited man devoted to his children and family. A photo on his Facebook page shows Lefiti in his brown UPS uniform holding a trophy. He also posted photos of his UPS truck and an award for 15 years of service to the company in 2015.
Chaplin said police have not determined a motive.
A 30-year-old tech worker who lives across the street from the warehouse said he heard up to eight gunshots.
"They were all in rapid succession," said Raymond Deng. "It was like tat, tat, tat, tat, tat, tat, tat."
Deng watched from his window in the Potrero Hill section of San Francisco as workers fled the building. He said another group of about 10 people gathered on the roof and held up their hands waving for help.
"I saw police officers go up from the ramp and then storm the buildings," he said. "It's crazy."
Officers found two victims outside and others inside and pulled the wounded to safety as they confronted the gunman, who was armed with an "assault pistol," Chaplin said.
"The suspect put the gun to his head and discharged the weapon," Chaplin said, adding that police did not fire any shots. Two guns were recovered at the scene, he said.
The shooting occurred the same day a gunman opened fire on Republican lawmakers at a congressional baseball practice in Virginia, wounding U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and several others.
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AP writers Janie Har, Jocelyn Gecker and Linda Wang in San Francisco and Mike Balsamo in Los Angeles contributed to this story. ||||| #SFPD contained the incident & building is secure. The Special Ops continues to search the building for additional victims & witnesses. #SF — San Francisco Police (@SFPD) June 14, 2017
EMBED More News Videos Multiple victims of the shooting at the UPS facility in San Francisco have been transported to SF General Hospital.
EMBED More News Videos San Francisco police held a news conference on a deadly shooting at a UPS facility that has claimed multiple lives.
These employees on the roof were rescued by police pic.twitter.com/3C1NTcAr8o — Kevin Wood (@megakwood) June 14, 2017
#UPS worker talks about the horrifying moments when a co-worker opened fire inside a #SF distribution center pic.twitter.com/H9W9cDDEJ8 — Juan Carlos Guerrero (@JuanCarlosABC7) June 14, 2017
#SFPD contained the incident & building is secure. The Special Ops continues to search the building for additional victims & witnesses. #SF — San Francisco Police (@SFPD) June 14, 2017
UPS employee confirms name of shooter, SF resident; says "he had it out for a manager", problems off the job, too. #ABC7now pic.twitter.com/89Z7sZSQ3P — Dan Noyes (@dannoyes) June 14, 2017
Police still out here at SF General after shooting at UPS Center pic.twitter.com/EDIPZfAGXX — Jessica Castro (@JessicaABC7) June 14, 2017
San Francisco police have completed a search of the Potrero Hill UPS facility where a shooting Wednesday morning took the lives of four people, including the apparent gunman.Five UPS employees were shot in the 8:55 a.m. incident at 320 San Bruno Ave. before the shooter, whose identity has not been officially released, shot himself in the head with an assault pistol in front of arriving police officers, according to Assistant Chief Toney Chaplin."This person took their life because the officers confronted him," Chaplin said. "None of our officers fired."Police said the gun was one of two weapons found at the scene.UPS officials earlier Wednesday described the incident as involving "six employees" and previous reports indicated the gunman was wearing a UPS uniform. However, Chaplin Wednesday afternoon said investigators had not confirmed that the gunman was a UPS employee.Three of those shot died of their injuries, while two others are being treated at the hospital.In addition to the shooting victims, Chaplin said five others suffered various injuries, most of them occurring during the rush to escape.The incident triggered a shelter-in-place order for residents in the area and shut down surrounding streets for much of the day while police evacuated the facility and conducted a search for any additional survivors or victims.Chaplin said one person was found in the building during the search and escorted out.Investigators have not yet determined a motive for the shooting and do not know if the employees who were shot were specifically targeted, Chaplin said. They have interviewed all witnesses and are currently interviewing victim's families in a search for clues."We're going to have to go back and reconstruct not just the last 24 hours, but if there was something that happened in the weeks and months prior," Chaplin said.UPS spokesman Steve Gaut said about 350 employees work at the facility at 320 San Bruno Ave., which operates as a package sorting hub and delivery center.Gaut said, "The company is saddened and deeply concerned about affected employees, family members and the community we share."Sen. Dianne Feinstein issued a statement about the shooting, saying she "was heartbroken to learn that yet another senseless act of gun violence has marred our wonderful city."Feinstein, who served as San Francisco's mayor after the assassinations of then-Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk at City Hall in 1978, said Wednesday's shooting led her to recall yet another mass workplace shooting in San Francisco, the one at 101 California St. in 1993 in which eight people died."Violence is never the answer, but the continuing scourge of gun violence is particularly disheartening," she said. "As we learn more details of this shooting, I'm hopeful that we can take away lessons to help prevent these acts from occurring in the future.San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee also issued a statement, offering "condolences and thoughts for the individuals and families affected by the senseless act of violence.""We all know the familiar faces of our local UPS drivers and delivery persons," Lee said. "Today's tragedy will be felt in every community served by these committed employees."San Francisco police union President Martin Halloran noted that police and fire personnel had participated in an "active shooter scenario" training just last week, and were able to respond within minutes Wednesday. | – A second shooting is making headlines Wednesday, this one across the country from the morning assault near DC. Police in San Francisco say multiple people have been shot and killed at a UPS facility in the city, reports ABC7. Authorities say a UPS employee opened fire during a morning meeting for drivers. Three employees were killed and two others injured. Authorities say the shooter shot himself in the head when confronted by police, later dying at the hospital, the Los Angeles Times reports. A UPS spokesperson says the shooter was wearing his uniform at the time of the incident. No motivation for the shooting has been given. |
Image caption Vicky Momberg's lawyers say she is likely to appeal
A former estate agent in South Africa has been jailed for racist abuse in what has been called a landmark ruling.
A court jailed Vicky Momberg for three years, with one year suspended, for using a derogatory word against a black police officer 48 times.
Her lawyer said she was not in a normal state at the time, as she had just been the victim of a smash-and-grab robbery.
Racism remains a major issue in South Africa, almost 24 years after white minority rule ended.
Momberg was convicted of four counts of crimen injuria after her racist rant was caught on video, and went viral on social media.
She hurled insults at black officers trying to assist her after she was robbed on the outskirts of the main city, Johannesburg, in 2016, and complained about the "calibre of blacks in Johannesburg compared to black people in Durban", where she was based.
Handing down her ruling, magistrate Pravina Raghoonandan said some may think the sentence was harsh but it was intended to signal that racism will not be tolerated in South Africa.
Previous prosecutions had not prevented racist incidents, and therefore imposing a direct prison sentence without the option of a fine would send a strong message, she added.
Analysis: Shining a light on racism
Pumza Fihlani, BBC News, Johannesburg
Momberg is now a convicted racist. At one point in court, she said she could not recall using the highly offensive word, which was commonly used during the height of white minority rule to demean black people. But the video evidence sank her, and it shocked many South Africans.
She used the derogatory word 48 times in a rage-filled, vitriolic assault against black people - police officers - trying to help her.
South Africa has seen a spate of racist incidents in recent years. They have shone a light on the country's painful history, and the fact that the nation is still divided.
It has led to calls for special legislation to deal with such cases, and for harsh sentences for racists.
Prosecutor Yusuf Baba said it was the worst case of crimen injuria, which refers to injuring someone's dignity through racial insults, to appear before the courts in South Africa.
"This is a landmark ruling... It sets a precedent for other racial-related cases." National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Phindi Mjonondwana said.
Momberg's lawyers argued that she went into an "emotional storm" after the robbery, and should be sent for rehabilitation rather than to prison.
Her lawyer indicated that she would appeal against the conviction and sentence. If the appeal fails, she will be the first person to be imprisoned in South Africa for racist abuse.
The emergence of social media has brought numerous cases of racism in South Africa to light.
In October, two white farmers who forced a black man into a coffin, beat him up and threatened to burn him alive were sentenced to jail for more than 10 years each, after a video of the incident went viral.
In 2016, a court fined former estate agent Penny Sparrow 150,000 rand ($13,000; £9,000) for calling black people "monkeys" in a Facebook post. ||||| In 2001, I went to Xipamanine market, a huge open-air bazaar in Maputo, Mozambique, where you can buy everything from clothes to traditional medicine. A Mozambican friend told me how to keep safe from pickpockets. “If someone takes something from you, yell Ladrão! Ladrão!”—Thief! Thief!—“and point to him.” “What happens next?” I asked. “People will grab him,” she said, “and possibly beat him to death.” She said the ultimate punishment was reserved for habitual thieves, and that the hardware section would be especially dangerous for them, because so many heavy objects were available. I was learning Portuguese at the time. Ladrão is the only word in any language that I have ever wished I could unlearn. If a thief scampered away with my passport, my camera, and all my money, would I be able to resist yelling it out? I couldn’t be sure, but I knew I would regret it immediately, and possibly for the rest of my life, if I did yell ladrão, and knew there was a possibility of brutal punishment being carried out in my name.
I thought of this incident Wednesday when Rosemarie Aquilina, the judge in the case of serial sexual assailant Larry Nassar, delivered the disgraced U.S. Olympic doctor what she called his “death warrant,” after a week of extraordinary testimony by his victims. Nassar begged the judge earlier this week to be spared having to hear all his victims speak. Judge Aquilina observed that a few days of emotional discomfort for Nassar would barely begin to even the score between him and the over-150 women he molested. She sentenced him to a prison term that will probably consume the rest of his life. The dignity of the proceedings was diminished by a few words, though, that the judge offered by way of regret. If the U.S. Constitution didn’t forbid cruel and unusual punishment, she said, she “might allow what he did to all of these beautiful souls—these young women in their childhood—I would allow someone or many people to do to him what he did to others.” Subjecting Nassar to a lifetime of rape is not my idea of justice, and fantasizing about it is not my idea of judicial temperament. On social media, civil libertarians have piped up to protest her, and many who followed the trial have expressed outrage at the sympathy for Nassar that this sentiment supposedly reveals. Their outrage is outrageous, and itself reveals twisted sympathies that are, for supposed advocates of victims, unfortunate.
Does Nassar deserve to be raped 150 times? Quite possibly: To be honest, when crimes approach the magnitude of his, I stop trusting my ability to keep tabs on just deserts, except to say that what he deserves is—whether it’s a lifetime in a dark hole, or years-long gang rape—beyond my ability to fathom. But to admit that he deserves inconceivable punishment is not to defend the judge’s remarks. Some crimes are bad enough that no remedy exists for them in civilized society. I am reminded of C.S. Lewis’s famous line that some men are indeed fit only to be slaves, but none is fit to be a master. I don’t know what Nassar’s victims think about the judge’s comments. I have never been subjected to a crime as traumatic as theirs, but it isn’t at all obvious that they would smile on her thirst for violent revenge. Would it be comforting to know that a horrific act of abuse, one whose very mention would nauseate me in any other context, is being done to correct the wrong against me? Or that my testimony provoked people to fantasize about punitive rape? Would it comfort me to know that a judge had shared my pain enough to voice unjudge-like wrath on my behalf? I watched only three of the witness testimonies against Nassar, and it sickened me to hear how he had affected these women’s lives. It pleased me to know that Nassar was sickened, too, and indeed it settled my stomach a little to read his feeble, tortured plea to be spared more. I like to think the denial of that mercy to Nassar was the most delicious vengeance for his victims, since it required nothing of them but honesty and dignity. It did not require that heinous acts—the same heinous acts committed on them—be committed on their behalf. Sadly, it may have required them to relive their own abuse. That so many had the fortitude to bear that ongoing trauma was one of the reasons the court’s proceedings inspired and awed so many. That the judge would undermine this dignity at the last minute is regrettable. ||||| Born and raised on the mean streets of New York City's Upper West Side, Katie Halper is a comedian, writer and filmmaker. She is the co-host of Morning Jew, writes for places like The Nation, Feministing, Jezebel and appears on places like MSNBC, RT, Sirius radio (which hung up on her once). Katie's had her photo taken with Rudy Giuliani and was called "cute and somewhat brainy" by the National Review.
image via youtube
File these stories under “This week in Justice Delayed/ relative progress/ baby steps/ Black Lives Matter a Little” news: a Black woman who never should have been convicted for firing a warning shot to scare off an abusive husband is “allowed” to serve the rest of her sentence at home under house arrest. And a judge threw out the convictions of 9 Black men who had sat at an all white lunch counter in Rock Hill, South Carolina in 1961.
Marissa Alexander was sentenced to 20 years in jail for shooting a wall and harming nobody. She was attempting to scare off her abusive then-husband, Rico Gray, who had admitted to and against whom she had a restraining order. Thinking he was not at home, Alexander went to their former house to get some belongings. The two got into an argument and, according to Alexander, Gray threatened her. Gray corroborates Alexander’s story: “I was in a rage. I called her a whore and bitch and … I told her … if I can’t have you, nobody going to have you,” he said, in a deposition. When Alexander retreated into the bathroom, Gray tried to break the door. She ran into the garage, but couldn’t leave because it was locked. She came back with a registered gun, which she legally owned, and yelled at him to leave. Gray recalls, “I told her … I ain’t going nowhere, and so I started walking toward her … I was cursing and all that … and she shot in the air.” Gray himself understands why Alexander fired the warning shot:
If my kids wouldn’t have been there, I probably would have put my hand on her. Probably hit her. I got five baby mommas and I put my hands on every last one of them, except for one … I honestly think she just didn’t want me to put my hands on her anymore so she did what she feel like she have to do to make sure she wouldn’t get hurt, you know. You know, she did what she had to do.
Gray also admitted Alexander was acting in self-defense, intending to scare and stop but not harm him: “The gun was never actually pointed at me … The fact is, you know … she never been violent toward me. I was always the one starting it.” Ultimately nobody was hurt. Nobody died. On May 12, 2012, a jury took 12 minutes to find Alexander guilty of aggravated assault. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
In 2013, Alexander was granted a new trial because of erroneous jury instruction. The seemingly sadistic State Attorney, Angela Corey, who insisted Alexander was “angry” and “not in fear,” when she shot the gun to scare off her abuser, was much more successful in convicting Alexander, who had no blood on her hands, than she was George Zimmerman or Michael Dunn, a white ban who shot and killed an unarmed Black teenager over the loudness of his music. So, it’s not surprising that Corey was, once again, overzealous in her prosecution of Alexander and actually tried to triple the sentence to an unbelievable 60 years!
But this past November, Alexander plead guilty to three felony accounts, was sentenced to three years in jail, and had the 1,030 days she has already served deducted from her sentence. Tuesday, she wass allowed to go home, but will be forced to stay under house arrest and to wear an ankle monitor. She will only be able to leave the house to seek employment.
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Of course, this is relatively good news, for a woman who was supposed to spend 20 years in jail. But it’s absurd that Alexander was ever convicted in the first place and that her sentence hasn’t been overturned.
Alexander’s case highlights the racist double standard found in the way the “Stand Your Ground” defense is applied. When George Zimmerman fatally shot an unarmed teenager, the police decided not to arrest him because of the Stand Your Ground law. When Zimmerman was finally put on trial, his lawyers cited Stand Your Ground. Ultimately, he was acquitted. Alexander, who killed nobody and was being threatened by a large man with a record of abuse, was denied a Stand Your Ground defense and imprisoned.
This pattern is more than anecdotal. The Tampa Bay Times found that defendants claiming “stand your ground” are more successful if the victim is black. Seventy-three percent of those who killed a black person faced no penalty. Only 59 percent of those who killed a white person got off. The Urban Institute determined that in “stand your ground” states, when white shooters kill black victims, 34 percent of the resulting homicides are deemed justifiable. When black shooters kill white victims only 3 percent of the deaths are ruled justifiable.
The next story is far more straightforward, legally speaking. The “Friendship Nine” consist of eight then-students at the Friendship Junior College in Rock Hill, South Carolina– W.T. “Dub” Massey, Willie McCleod, Robert McCullough, James Wells, David Williamson Jr., John Gaines and Mack Workman– as well an activist with the Congress of Racial Equality, Thomas Gaither. All of them were Black. On the morning of January 31, 1961, just after 11 a.m., the Friendship Nine arrived at McCrory’s 5-10-25 Cent Variety Store in downtown Rock Hill, sat at the lunch counter and were arrested for trespassing. The nine men made history when they decided not to pay their bail. They became the first sit-in-protestors to serve out their sentence. In this case, 30 days of chain-gang labor. This strategy, of “jail, no bail,” would become popular in the Civil Rights Movement. It not only saved the Civil Rights Movement the money they were spending on bails, but made undermined the legitimacy of Jim Crow laws. Professor Adolphus Belk, Jr., of Winthrop University, explained, “Rather than assuming the financial responsibility of paying that fine, it shifted it to the system. I suspect if the Friendship Nine didn’t do what they did in January, 1961, the sit-in movement would have died.”
On Wednesday, Ernest A. Finney, Jr., the same man who represented the Friendship Nine in 1961, entered the motion to have the sentences tossed out. The 83-year-old, who would become the first black Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court since Reconstruction, said,
would it please the court, today I’m honored and proud to move this honorable court to vacate the conviction of my clients. These courageous and determined South Carolinians have shown by their conduct and their faith that the relief that they seek should be granted. I move for the convictions entered in 1961 to be vacated.
Amazingly, the judge, Circuit Court Judge John C. Hayes III, is the nephew of the judge who sentenced the “Friendship Nine” to jail in 1961. When the younger Hayes announced that the convictions and sentences were officially vacated, the 250 people in the courtroom broke into a 20-second standing ovation.
These are two examples of progress, but the progress is too slow and, in the case of Alexander, too little. | – Vicky Momberg didn't just say the slur one time to black police officers. She said it nearly 50 times, and that rant has now earned her a three-year prison sentence, with one year suspended. The BBC calls the South African ruling a "landmark" one, as it's the first time there a white person has been sentenced to prison for racism. Her conviction and sentencing arose out of an incident that happened in Johannesburg in February 2016, when Momberg made an emergency call to say she'd been robbed. When black cops showed up to help her, she didn't like that, and hurled the word "kaffir"—an offensive word often used to describe blacks during the era of apartheid—at them a total of 48 times in what the BBC deems a "rage-filled, vitriolic assault." Someone caught her diatribe on tape, and it soon went viral. "I do not want a black person to assist me," she can be heard saying in the video (edited version here), per BuzzFeed, before threatening to run the cops over and shoot "everybody." Momberg was convicted in November of crimen injuria, the use of racial or other emotionally damaging insults that "unlawfully, intentionally, and seriously [impair] the dignity of another." Momberg's lawyers argued she'd gone through an "emotional storm" after being robbed, per the BBC, and that she should be sent to rehab, not a jail cell. Many online celebrated Momberg's sentence, though some agreed she needs help. One commenter on Twitter called her a "hateful racist" but noted that "paying damages to the cop she insulted & community service in a black community" would have served as a more "restorative justice" than prison time. Momberg's attorney says she'll appeal the conviction and sentence. |
A Long Island couple is suing neighboring homeowners for building a knockoff version of their copyrighted mansion.
Seth and Rivka Fortgang thought they were living in a unique dream house in the village of Lawrence that was the creation of Rivka, an exterior and interior designer who copyrighted the architectural plans, according to the lawsuit filed in Long Island Federal Court.
Although imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the Fortgangs contacted their lawyers when they learned of plans for a home being constructed on Villa Place in nearby Cedarhurst, which looked remarkably similar.
The suit alleges there is smoking gun evidence that the copycats went to the Village of Lawrence Building Department and requested the Fortgangs' architectural plans.
Daniel Schloss, the lawyer for Daniella and Ari Schwartz who are building the Cedarhurst mansion, argues in court papers that the Fortgangs' design features are not so special that they are covered under the Copyright Act.
"We note that the exterior façade of the Fortgang residence consists of several windows, rather generic gables, and entry way doors," Schloss sniffed.
"However in the interests of professional courtesy, our clients have agreed to temporarily postpone construction of the present design … pending certain changes and amendments to its exterior façade elements," he wrote.
But the suit contends that Rivka Fortgang has suffered substantial damage to her reputation and her business in the upscale Five Towns community as a result of the copying.
The Fortgangs' lawyers did not respond to a request for comment.
According to the real estate website Zillow, the Fortgangs' mansion is valued at $1.48 million. ||||| There’s no place like home, there’s no place like … wait, that one’s pretty close.
A Long Island couple says an architect ripped off the blueprint to their one-of-a-kind dream house — to build a carbon copy in the town next door.
Rivka Fortgang, an interior and exterior home designer from Five Towns, and her husband, Seth are now suing to block the mansion on Villa Place in Cedarhurst from being built because it will look nearly identical to their own home on Auerbach Lane in Lawrence, just a mile away.
The Fortgangs “constructed their unique home from the ground up, creating a visually distinctive and unique exterior stucco façade” in 2005 and copyrighted the original architectural drawings under the name “Fortgang Residence I,” according to the suit, filed Thursday in Long Island federal court.
The couple claims the firm Pereiras Architects Ubiquitous and property owners Daniella and Ari Schwartz accessed their exclusive plans in property records last August through the Lawrence buildings department — without their permission.
“There is no doubt that you have accessed and intentionally copied the plans of the Fortgang residence intending to create a replica of our clients’ home and distinctive exterior,” the Fortgang’s lawyer Steven Stern wrote in a cease-and-desist letter dated June 7.
The Villa home is in the early stages of construction but renderings show that it will be “substantially similar” to the Fortgang’s McMansion, the complaint says.
Their home features several giant, black-rimmed windows on the front and peaked windows on the roof.
The Villa residence design also has similarly styled-windows.
A lawyer for Daniella Schwartz argued that the two designs are, in fact, different.
“We note that the exterior façade of the Fortgang resident consists of several windows, rather generic gables, and entry way doors,” attorney Daniel Schloss wrote in a court filing.
Schloss also noted that the Villa property is “literally in another town and separated from the Fortgang residence by several major thoroughfares and commercial districts.”
The accused copycats agreed to temporarily halt construction “pending certain changes and amendments to its exterior façade elements,” court papers show.
But new color renderings of the Villa home were hardly changed, spurring the copyright infringement lawsuit.
The Fortgangs are suing for unspecified damages.
Rivka also claims her business and reputation as a designer in the Five Towns community has suffered due to the housing hoopla.
The Fortgang’s fortress boasts more than 4,400 square feet of space and 5 ¹/₂ bathrooms, according to Zillow.com, which estimates it’s worth $1.4 million.
A representative from Pereiras Architects Ubiquitous declined to comment.
Schwartz’s lawyer did calls for comment. ||||| BUILD YOUR OWN: Long Island couple sues neighbors for copying their mansion https://t.co/KW59ZTXO5G pic.twitter.com/pevWEYnfnJ — New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) July 7, 2016
In what might be the snootiest case of copyright infringement ever recorded, a Long Island couple is suing another wealthy Long Island couple for allegedly copying the design of their custom mansion, according to the New York Daily News.
The original mansion, located in the village of Lawrence, was designed and built by home designer Rivka Fortgang, according to plans she herself created, and copyrighted. The facade of the home consists of a pair of outset banks of windows that straddle the front door and another set of windows above it, beneath a gabled roof that has a trio of peaked attic windows. There are some Art Deco flourishes as well, giving the building a modern look and feel, while invoking more traditional home design. It’s a good looking home, which is why the Schwartzes of nearby village Cedarhurst may have copied it.
According to the lawsuit filed by the Fortgangs, the Schwartz couple accessed the architectural plans for the Fortgang house from the Lawrence Building Department to help design their new home. The Schwartzes’ prospective mansion does seem to share a number of features with the Fortgang home including the window and gable placement. A lawyer defending the Schwartz couple argued that those design aspects just aren’t that special, according to the Daily News. Quite the burn.
But Rivka Fortgang claims that the copied building is hurting her reputation, and the Schwartz family has agreed to postpone construction on the home until the matter can be settled. | – In 2005, Long Island couple Seth and Rivka Fortgang built their dream home in the village of Lawrence and copyrighted the architectural plans to ensure that it remained truly one-of-a-kind. Now Rivka, an interior and exterior designer who envisioned the whole project, says her business and reputation are suffering because a nearly identical house is being built in Cedarhurst just a mile away, reports the New York Post. Among the Fortgangs' accusations, per their copyright infringement lawsuit: "There is no doubt that [Daniella and Ari Schwartz] have accessed and intentionally copied the plans of the Fortgang residence" by way of the Lawrence Buildings Department with the intention of aping the design. Atlas Obscura observes that the locations of the window and gables do seem similar. The Schwartzes have thus far responded through their attorney, Daniel Schloss, and contend that while the design features being shared are too "generic" to be covered under the Copyright Act, they are temporarily postponing construction "in the interests of professional courtesy," reports the New York Daily News. The Fortgangs' attorney hasn't commented beyond the lawsuit. Real estate website Zillow puts the Fortgang house, which is 4,400 square feet and features 5.5 bathrooms, at $1.48 million. (Check out where this reclusive heiress hid the architectural plans of a mansion she never spent a night in.) |
Wisconsin presidential primary voters shunned front-runners from both the Democratic and Republican parties on April 5. Here are key moments from the victory speeches of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)
The Wisconsin primary is in the books. Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders won solid victories even while Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton remain the clear delegate leaders heading into New York’s primary on April 19.
Below are my winners and losers from Wisconsin.
Winners
How Bernie Sanders won Wisconsin, in less than 60 seconds (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)
*Bernie Sanders: Bernie Sanders is a 74-year-old, avowed socialist from Vermont. When he announced his presidential candidacy last year, no one — up to and including Bernie Sanders — thought he would win one state, much less the 15 he has now won. No, his win in Wisconsin won’t fundamentally alter Sanders's delegate math problem; to solve that issue, Sanders needs to win big states by very big margins. But, Sanders’s ability to win — and keep winning — in head-to-head match-ups against Clinton means that he has and will continue to have a major voice within the party. What Sanders wants to do with that voice — whether in the two remaining months of the primary process or at the national convention this summer — is the key question he has to decide on. And that Clinton has to worry about.
* Ted Cruz: Give the Texas senator credit: When he needs to win, he wins. If Cruz had lost Wisconsin, pressure would have ramped up on him to bow to the political reality of Trump as the nominee. Now, he can make the case that Wisconsin fundamentally changed the trajectory of the 2016 race (I don’t buy it).
"Tonight is a turning point. It is a rallying cry," Cruz says in Wisconsin — Katie Zezima (@katiezez) April 6, 2016
How Ted Cruz won the Wisconsin GOP primary, in 60 seconds (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)
Cruz gets 18 delegates for winning the statewide vote in Wisconsin and if his margins hold up, he looks well positioned to take the lion’s share of the remaining 24 delegates, importantly keeping most of them from Trump. For Cruz, the rest of the primary calendar is all about two things: (1) Keeping Trump under the 1,237 delegates needed to formally clinch the nomination and (2) Positioning himself as the clear/only Trump alternative. Cruz took a big step in the right direction on both fronts on Tuesday night.
* New York: Not that the state — and especially New York City — need much ego-bolstering, but, holy cow, the next two weeks are going to put the Empire State in the political limelight. That will be something new-ish for New York since the presidential nominations are almost always foregone conclusions before they get to the state. But the Clinton-Sanders fight to lay claim to the title of New York’s favorite Democrat will be epic. And Trump’s attempt to reassert himself as the likely GOP nominee in the state where he has made his name and his fortune should be great theater too. Take it away, Billy!
* Charlie Sykes: Outside of Wisconsin, almost no one had heard of Sykes two weeks ago. But, after his pointed interview with Trump, Sykes suddenly became a known national commodity. (He was doing a sitdown with Chris Matthews on MSNBC on Tuesday night!) Good on you, Charlie!
* Political junkies: An open Republican convention is more likely today than it was yesterday. I — and every other political junkie — never thought we would see one (in either party) in our lifetime. Now, it looks like a 50-50 proposition (or maybe even a bit better). This is me, when thinking of the idea of covering an open convention in Cleveland this summer:
Losers
* Donald Trump: Polling done in February showed the real estate mogul with a comfortable lead. He lost convincingly on Tuesday to Cruz. Why? Self-inflicted errors — from being totally unprepared for an interview with Sykes to his fumbling of questions about his stance on abortion. Want a stat that epitomizes Trump’s problems in Wisconsin? More than one in three (35 percent) of Wisconsin Republicans said that the prospect of a Trump presidency “scared” them.
There’s no other way to put it: Trump blew a chance in Wisconsin to take a major symbolic step toward the Republican nomination. The next two weeks will now be filled with questions of whether or not Trump’s hold on the nomination is slipping — not exactly the best run-up to the New York primary. Trump remains a favorite in the Empire State primary — and in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states set to vote in the coming month — but if he comes up short of the 1,237 delegates he needs to be the nominee, Wisconsin will count as a major regret for the billionaire.
* Hillary Clinton: Yes, the former secretary of state has a commanding — and close to insurmountable — delegate lead over Sanders. Even after Wisconsin. And, yes, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Sanders passes Clinton in pledged delegates (never mind her massive superdelegate edge).
BUT (all caps intentional!) Clinton has now lost seven of the last eight votes in this race to Sanders. That’s a remarkable thing when you consider everything I wrote above. Everyone expects — and has long expected — Clinton to be the nominee. The delegate math is close to conclusive for Clinton. And yet, Sanders not only keeps winning but for the third straight month the Vermont socialist outraised Clinton. New York becomes even more important for Clinton now as, if she loses it, the “she’s limping to the nomination” storyline will take over, which is very dangerous to her attempts at building momentum for the general election.
* John Kasich: Remember when Kasich’s claim to relevance in this presidential race was that he was the Republican who could win in the industrial Midwest? The Ohio governor never even got into the conversation in Wisconsin, remarkable given that Cruz isn’t an obvious fit for the state. Kasich will keep on running — he and his campaign have made that abundantly clear over the last 48 hours. And that is obviously his right. But, how do you make a case that you should be the nominee if/when the only state you won in the presidential nomination fight is the one you currently represent?
* Primary night speeches: No Clinton or Trump speeches on a primary night? Color me disappointed. If I need to stay up until all hours to cover these votes, the least the remaining five candidates can do is throw me a bone and give a victory/defeat speech. Come on, man. What are we even doing out there, man? ||||| Wisconsin voters went to the polls Tuesday to decide whether Donald Trump’s latest self-inflicted wounds are deep enough to deny him a win in the state’s Republican primary, and, in turn, to diminish his hopes of winning the presidential nomination.
In the unusual position of underdog, the billionaire faces the referendum after the roughest two-week stretch of his campaign. He saw fallout for mocking his chief rival’s wife, calling for punishment of women who have illegal abortions, and standing by a campaign manager charged with misdemeanor battery.
Senator Ted Cruz talks with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in Milwaukee on April 4, 2016. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg
Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who has led in Wisconsin polling, has been assisted by a growing Republican establishment effort to block Trump from winning the 1,237 delegates he needs to secure the nomination.
If Trump is only able to win a few of Wisconsin’s 42 delegates, it could seriously damage his prospects for surpassing the threshold to win the nomination outright, while also diminishing his pitch as the party’s consensus candidate.
The groups that aligned to stop Trump targeted Wisconsin as a proving ground because it’s the only GOP primary on the calendar before his home state, New York, votes on April 19. Tripping him up now could change the direction of a series of contests in the Northeast, including Pennsylvania and New York, where Trump is favored.
Whether the anti-Trump effort, which included attacks from outside groups and local conservative radio hosts, has found a formula for success remains to be seen.
Arguably the nation’s most politically polarized state, Wisconsin has been a unique hotbed of Republican activism since the 2010 election of Governor Scott Walker and the local and statewide recall elections that followed, divisive events that acted to help organize and unify Republicans.
“The establishment has been lined up against Donald Trump for months, and he’s repeatedly beat them,” said Rick Wiley, a former executive director of the state’s Republican Party who managed Walker’s failed presidential bid. “But the establishment in Wisconsin is different. They’ve fought battles together since 2010 and banded together to get behind Ted Cruz.”
Demographic Opportunity
On the Democratic side, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is hoping strong turnout among college students and union workers might propel him to a win that would change the narrative that it’s only a matter of time before Hillary Clinton secures the nomination.
At his final rally before Tuesday’s vote, Sanders told an enthusiastic crowd of about 2,400 in Milwaukee that he’ll win if there is record-breaking turnout. He’s called Clinton “nervous” and “already under a lot of pressure” to win.
Among likely Democratic primary voters, Sanders held a 49 percent to 45 percent edge over Clinton, with 6 percent undecided, according to a Marquette Law School poll released last week.
Senator Bernie Sanders speaks in Milwaukee on April 4, 2016. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg
A Sanders loss in Wisconsin, a state with a deep populist tradition where Clinton was badly beaten in the 2008 primary, would be a major blow to his underdog bid. A win, like his surprise victory in Michigan on March 8, would give him much-needed momentum heading into New York’s primary.
After the polls close at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, the results will say much about how long the nomination fights for both parties may drag on. For Republicans, the outcome will also offer insight into the chances of a rare contested national convention in Cleveland, Ohio, in July.
The state’s electorate—heavily white and blue-collar—seems somewhat favorable for Trump, who said the race would be “over” if he did well there. But he acknowledged having a difficult week and boosted his schedule in the state during the closing days.
“I think we're going to have a great day,” Trump said Tuesday on MSNBC during a stop in suburban Milwaukee, brushing off the previous week’s struggles. “I’ve had worse weeks on the campaign.”
Trump’s campaign says its manager, Corey Lewandowski, is innocent of the battery charge, which stemmed from an incident with a female reporter at a press conference. Asked by a Wisconsin woman on Fox News on Tuesday how he would “change and get the support of more women,” Trump said his policies on issues including border security attract female voters who want “protection.”
He’s now proposing funding a border wall by blocking remittances until the Mexican government pays—an idea President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters Tuesday, called “half-baked.”
“The notion that we’re going to track every Western Union bit of money that’s being sent to Mexico, good luck with that,” Obama said.
Trump’s also called Ohio Governor John Kasich a spoiler in the race. “He ought to get the hell out,” Trump said Monday. “He hurts me much more than he hurts Cruz.”
Kasich has conceded he won’t win Wisconsin and campaigned on Monday in New York. He hopes to do well enough in some congressional districts to earn delegates, part of his strategy to have enough momentum entering the convention to win the nomination as the most electable and qualified candidate.
Numbers Game
Heading into Tuesday’s voting, Trump led with 736 delegates, according to Associated Press estimates, followed by Cruz with 463 and Kasich at 143.
In Wisconsin’s Republican primary, the state awards three delegates to the winner of each of its eight congressional districts, while the statewide winner gets an additional 18 delegates.
There are 86 delegates at stake in the Democratic primary, which are awarded proportionally. Going into Tuesday, Clinton had 1,712 of the 2,383 delegates and super-delegates needed to win, while Sanders had 1,011.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks in New York on April 4, 2016. Photographer: KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images
Sanders claimed momentum heading into Wisconsin after winning five of the six primaries and caucuses since March 15, when he lost all five contests. He campaigned aggressively in the state, holding 15 events there since March 26, including three on Monday.
Clinton’s aides, while acknowledging trailing Sanders in recent polls, say that delegate math makes it all but impossible for him to win the nomination.
“The Sanders campaign’s path forward relies on overturning the will of the voters,” Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said in a Monday statement, while the candidate herself stumped in New York.
Cruz, speaking to reporters Monday in Kenosha, suggested that Trump is “afraid to debate” because he lacks the policy details that voters want.
“The momentum we're seeing is a result of the fact that the people of this state and the people of the country are looking for real, positive solutions, not simply someone to yell and scream and curse at them,” he said.
Walker, who enjoys an 80 percent approval rating among the state’s likely Republican primary voters, endorsed Cruz last week and appeared at his side in recent days. Besides Walker, Cruz benefited in Wisconsin from the support of party leaders including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.
But given Cruz’s reputation in Washington for showmanship, inflexibility, and a lack of collegiality, supporting him has been a bitter pill for some Republicans.
“They just swallowed hard and said, ‘We just can't have Trump, and we have to go for Cruz,’” said Brandon Scholz, a veteran Republican strategist in Madison who isn't aligned with any candidate.
Some Wisconsin political observers have billed the primary as the most consequential since 1960, when John F. Kennedy won the state’s Democratic race. Heavy media coverage and high-profile local and state races are expected to boost turnout.
The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board has projected overall turnout to be around 40 percent, which would be the highest in a state presidential primary since 1980.
“We expect Donald Trump to bring new voters to the polls—for and against,” Kevin J. Kennedy, Wisconsin’s chief elections official, said in a statement.
—With assistance from Jennifer Epstein in New York, Arit John and Kevin Cirilli in Wisconsin, and Ben Brody and Angela Greiling Keane in Washington. | – Just one state voted Tuesday, but there was still plenty at stake in Wisconsin for both parties—and it was a good night for Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders. On the Republican side, Cruz scored an easy victory over Donald Trump and John Kasich, reports CNN. With 97% or results in, Cruz has 48%, Trump 35%, and Kasich 14%. On the Democratic side, Sanders comfortably defeated Hillary Clinton 56% to 43%. Wisconsin has 42 delegates at stake for Republicans, and even though it's not winner-take-all, the Cruz victory will be a boost in his quest to keep Trump from securing the necessary number of delegates ahead of the GOP convention. "Tonight is a turning point," Cruz told supporters after the race was called. "It is a rallying cry." He's winning, he added, because his campaign is uniting the Republican party. Sanders, meanwhile, can now boast of winning seven of the last eight contests, with delegate-rich New York up for grabs on April 19, reports Politico. In his own speech to supporters, Sanders emphasized the "momentum" of his campaign. "Real change never, ever takes place from the top on down," he said. "It always takes place from the bottom on up." For Democrats, 86 delegates were at stake on Tuesday. The AP reports that turnout was projected to be about 40% of eligible voters, the highest in a presidential primary in the state since 1980. |
The new Nook doesn't have the most features, but it's got a good screen in a featherweight package -- and no ads.
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble‘s new Nook HD, which arrives in the retailer’s stores this Thursday, competes with Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD about as directly as it’s possible for one product to rival another.
They’re both $199 tablets with 7″ screens. They both use customized versions of Android to provide experiences that emphasize the consumption of content — books, magazines, video, apps and more — that you’ve purchased from the company that sold you the tablet. It’s the same basic idea from two different bookselling behemoths.
And yet, for all their similarities, the two tablets aren’t carbon copies. Even if a company decides to forsake most or all of its profit in hopes of making it up on later content sales, it’s impossible to sell a decent $199 tablet without making certain tradeoffs. And some of the decisions Barnes & Noble made are substantially different than Amazon’s.
For instance:
The Nook HD has a higher-resolution screen. It’s got 1440-by-900 pixels, a meaningful increase over the Kindle Fire HD’s 1280-by-800.
It’s narrower and lighter. The Nook HD’s curvy case (available in white and gray versions) is 5″ wide vs. the Fire HD’s 5.4″, a difference that sounds insignificant but makes for a more single-hand-friendly design. And at 11.1 oz., it’s enough lighter than the 13.9-oz. Fire HD that you notice the difference as you hold it up to read.
It doesn’t have a camera. Skype video calls via the front-facing camera are a major selling point for the Kindle Fire HD, but Barnes & Noble says that it doesn’t think most consumers care all that much about video calling.
The $199 model has 8GB of memory rather than the Fire HD’s 16GB. The skimpier capacity won’t matter if you’re just downloading books, but might be tight if you’re storing video and other memory-hungry content. But the Nook HD, unlike the Fire HD, has a MicroSD slot, letting you add more capacity by plugging in a card. (A 32GB MicroSD will run you around $20.) Or you can spring for the 16GB Nook HD, which is $229.
If you’re doing your price-comparison math down to the last nickel, take note that the Nook HD comes with an AC adapter; with the Fire HD, that’ll cost you an extra 10 bucks.
A bigger difference between the two tablets: The Nook HD’s low price isn’t subsidized with the ads and other in-your-face marketing Amazon uses to help cover its costs. With the Nook HD, there’s no equivalent of the Fire HD’s “special offers” screensaver — which you can remove for $15 — and the Barnes & Noble shopping experience is all concentrated in one section you can explore or ignore, rather than distributed throughout the interface as it is on the Fire HD. Overall, the interface has a more low-key, customizable, less hypercommercial feel.
The Kindle Fire HD has a feature called FreeTime, enabled in a recent software update, which lets parents create custom profiles for one or more kids, limiting the content they see to appropriate materials and setting maximum amounts of usage per day. The Nook HD’s Nook Profiles feature is roughly comparable; it doesn’t have the usage-limit option, but does let up to six family members of any age share the tablet, with everyone getting their own personalized content library.
Overall, though, the Fire HD has more features, including X-Ray, which annotates books and movies with information on their creators, characters and more, and Immersive Reading, which lets you read a Kindle e-book while listening to the Audible audiobook version. Barnes & Noble also doesn’t have a counterpart for Amazon’s $79/year Prime membership, which lets you stream a growing library of video and borrow books at no extra charge.
With 3 million e-books (including picture books for kids), almost 500 magazines and 44 newspapers, Barnes & Noble was already in solid shape when it came to reading materials. But while Amazon has been building its collection of movies and TV shows for years; Barnes & Noble is a newcomer to selling and renting video, having relied on Netflix and Hulu in its previous color tablets. It says it’s signed up Disney, Fox, HBO, Sony, Starz, Viacom, Universal, Warner and other providers for its fledgling video service, and will have thousands of offerings by the time the first consumers get their Nook HDs on Thursday, and “a broad collection” by the holidays.
When I tried the service prior to public release, there wasn’t much there yet: My search for “Paul Newman” only retrieved one movie, for example. But the video I checked out was noticeably crisper than the same stuff on the Kindle Fire HD, presumably because of the higher-resolution display.
As for music — well, Barnes & Noble isn’t getting into that business itself, so it has no direct equivalent of Amazon’s well-stocked music store. Its app store does have some relevant offerings, including Rhapsody and TuneIn.
Speaking of apps, the Nook HD has access to 10,000 of them, including many Android notables, from Angry Birds to Flipboard. That should be enough to keep anyone productive and entertained, but it’s only around a third of what Amazon says it has in its Appstore. And it’s an even dinkier drop in the bucket compared to what you’ll get on a tablet which has unfettered access to Google’s Google Play Store. If having access to the most apps is important to you, the $199 tablet you want is Google’s own Nexus 7.
One last point in the Nook HD’s favor: The review unit I had ran nearly-final software that seemed to be in good shape. That was a refreshing change from the Kindle Fire HD in its initial, profoundly buggy form. (The recent software update from Amazon has made that tablet much more usable.)
The Nook HD certainly doesn’t trump Amazon and Google’s competitors, let alone the iPad Mini. (Here’s Jared Newman’s feature comparison of all four tablets.) And if you plan to watch much video, I’d confirm that Barnes &Noble’s movie and TV show selection is as impressive as the company claims before opting for the Nook HD over the Kindle Fire HD. But with its featherweight form factor, sharp screen and pleasant user interface, the Nook HD — which is being joined by a 9″ big brother, the $269 Nook HD+ — keeps Barnes & Noble in the cheap-tablet game it helped create with its original Nook Color. Anyone who’s got $199 to spend on a tablet should give this Nook a look. ||||| NEW YORK – Barnes & Noble only a short time ago announced its latest Android-powered tablet: the Nook Tablet, designed to command the upcoming holiday season, and to take on Amazon, its closest competitor.
The Nook Tablet has an improved dual-core 1Ghz processor with 1GB RAM, and will retail at $249. Weighing under a pound, the company claims the tablet will have the lowest reflection and glare of any tablet on the market.
The device will be the same shape as the Nook Color, with a 7-inch screen, and will last on battery for 11.5 hours of reading.
It also boasts 9 hours of video playback, supports 1080p video, and will offer Netflix, Pandora and Hulu Plus as preloaded applications, according to William Lynch, the company’s chief executive officer.
(Source: CNET, CBS Interactive)
The tablet, though has “safe and dependable” Nook Cloud storage offered by the company, will offer 16GB internal memory, with an expandable storage slot for 32GB more. Compared directly to Amazon’s competitor, the Kindle Fire “only has 8GB and is not upgradable”, whereas the Nook Tablet has a potential capacity of 45GB storage.
But can it appeal to those hell-bent on buying a $199 priced Kindle Fire?
Though only $50 more, the Kindle brand alone will hold more weight, even though Barnes & Noble may have the larger selection of books. Plus, specification wise, the Nook Tablet has greater hardware, making the device somewhat more enticing for those with a higher budget.
In other, but related news, the Nook Color will go on sale at $199, while the Nook SimpleTouch will feature a new e-ink display in the update, and will be 25 percent faster than other e-ink products on the market. Claiming that it will last twice as long on battery, there will also be “no annoying ads”.
It will go on sale at $99, rivalling the Kindle Touch directly in price and feature specification.
The devices are available for pre-order today, and will be in stores beginning next week.
Related: ||||| Hardware
The Nook Color / Tablet scored plenty of points for originality in the industrial design department, polarizing users in the process. The long, plastic-shelled body did a fine job of standing apart from the push toward all-screen slates that has gripped the vast majority of the industry over the past several years. That's thanks in no small part to a carabiner that wouldn't have looked altogether out of place strapped to your trusty hiking backpack. Devotees of that old design will find some solace in the slimmed-down and souped-up arms of the HD+. The HD, on the other hand, wouldn't seem too out of place hanging out at the open bar of a Simple Touch family reunion, with a stubby body, rounded corners and slightly concave back, created by Robert Brunner, the former Apple designer who breathed life in B&N's popular reader series.
Function over form is what Barnes & Noble is selling this time out. That's not to say the Nook HD is a particularly bad-looking device, but as with the Simple Touches, there's little doubt that the company sacrificed a bit of sleekness in favor of building a slate around the human hand, a noble enough pursuit so far as tablet industrial design is concerned. As with B&N's other recent products, the Nook HD's got bezel to spare -- a plastic affair that shields the sides of the screen from both dings and thumb prints, making sure those greasy digits don't smudge the pristine HD display at the center of the device. Next to this, you'll find a black display bezel that's wider on the top and bottom of the device.
The area's a bit of a no man's land along the top -- there's no camera to be seen on the Nook's front or rear. It's a sacrifice the company seemingly made in the name of keeping costs low -- one of the few fronts the company seems willing to admit it got beat by the Kindle Fire HD. While most consumers with money to spend on a new tablet are likely not lacking on the devices-with-cameras front, in late-2012 at least one built-in webcam seems like a pretty baseline feature. That's particularly true for an easy-to-hold, high-def product that might have made a nice little Skype device. On the bottom black bezel, you'll find the Nook's signature lowercase "n" physical home button. It's the one truly conspicuous input on the device, placed there, no doubt, for aesthetic consistency and, B&N tells us, so that you'll never forget which way is up -- not that such orientation makes a heck of a lot of difference when the accelerometer is hard at work.
A small seam splits the front plastic bezel from another, slightly shinier piece of plastic on the side of tablet. This bit houses the Nook's other buttons. You'll find two volume buttons on the right and power on the left (give the screen a second or so to turn on after clicking the power button). It's not quite as intuitive as having a power button on top, but let's face it; the dream of relatively uniform button placement went out the window years ago. Up top, you've got a headphone jack and small mic hole that allows you to, among other things utilize the company's great Read and Record feature for kids' books.
On the bottom, there's a proprietary charging jack. When asked why it went that route vs. the nearly ubiquitous micro-USB (the choice on the tablet's e-reader siblings), the company claims that it's, in part, due to the ability to speed up charging. Given how many micro-USB cables we've got floating around, that would have been a nice choice -- and hey, it's good enough for the Fire HD and Nexus 7, right? Barnes & Noble's quick to point out, however, that, unlike the Fire, the price of the Nook includes the necessary (again, proprietary) cable, along with a wall adapter. To the charging port's right, a small yellow light turns green when the battery's full. To the left of this port is a microSD door that'll let you expand the device's 8GB or 16GB by up to 64GB, always a welcome feature on Nook devices, particularly in the case of a tablet, where, unlike e-readers, you'll probably actually be storing some HD multimedia files. It's also a boon for those who found past Nook tablet devices such a delight to root.
The rear of the device has that familiar soft-touch feel, which really feels nice in-hand, and offers a bit of traction for those sweaty palm you get while using the device on the elliptical machine. As with the Simple Touch devices, the rear indents a bit, providing a slot for your fingers to rest in while reading. However, it's far less pronounced here and honestly doesn't really serve all that much of a purpose. In the center of all of this, as per usual, is a large, indented lower case "n," should you ever forget which tablet you bought when it's faced screen-side down.
Along the bottom of the rear, two small speaker grids flank a small "nook" logo and all of the requisite FCC information (interestingly, the pricier Nook HD+ only has a single speaker ). (Update: Barnes & Noble contacted us to clarify that the HD+ has two speakers, they're just both behind a single grille.) We prefer the spread-out placement of the stereo speakers on the Fire HD, which make it a bit harder to accidentally muffle the sound while holding the tablet during a movie -- not that the sound on the Nook HD is all that much to write home about, SRS TruMedia or no. It doesn't really get all that loud. For most occasions, we suspect we'll be relying on that headphone jack up top for our multimedia needs.
On a whole, Barnes & Noble's done a nice job here on the industrial design front, creating a tablet that's easily held, thanks in part to a slim width (7.7 x 5 x 0.43 inches to the Fire's 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.4) and light weight (11.1 ounces to the Fire's 13.9). The 7-inch 1,440 x 900 IPS display really does pop, offering up great viewing angles and the sort of high-definition playback it would have been hard to imagine on a $200 tablet not all that long ago. The Nook also scored a solid 1,271ms score in our SunSpider testing. The plastic bezel on the front provides a nice spot on which to deposit one's thumb and, like the Simple Touch, provides for a design that stands apart from the army of lookalike tablets that dominate the market.
Software
The Nook HD is running, hold onto your hats, Ice Cream Sandwich under the hood. Barnes & Noble is far less cagey about Android versions than Amazon. That's perhaps because, while it's a highly skinned version, it's far less so than the one you'll find on the Kindle Fire HD, which essentially secures that tablet's place as a content delivery device. Click the power button and you'll see a lock screen welcoming you back, along with the date and time. In the center is a lock icon surrounded by faces representing different user accounts. Drag yours to the center and you'll open up access to your content. When switching to a different user, you'll get a split second view of the content on the previous user's desktop, a small bug the company will hopefully fix with the next upgrade.
Barnes & Noble's calling skin "paper-like" (not to be confused, of course, with Paperwhite), a dull name, we'll admit, but it certainly gets to the heart of the matter. The company's gone a way toward providing a minimalist experience, not overcrowding things with flashy features that are unnecessary to core usage. At top is a black toolbar letting you know whose Nook you're looking at. There are notifications in the center that you can tap to read (rather than the customary notification pull-down), the time, WiFi indicator, batter listing and settings icon. Tapping Settings lets you adjust brightness, switch WiFi networks, enable airplane mode and toggle lock screen rotation.
By default, the desktop is mostly bare, with visible fibers that really drive that whole "paper-like" thing home. At top, you'll see the date, your account icon and another little welcome message custom-fit to the time of day. Below is the Daily shelf, a small carousel featuring quick, rotating access to your most recent content -- movies, newspapers, books, apps, comics, et al. It's not unlike what you get on the Kindle Fire HD, but it's far less central here. Below this is an open area onto which you can drag content and apps. There are five desktop pages in all, so you've got plenty of area to play around with. Toward the bottom of the page are links to your library, apps, the web browser, email and the Nook store. Down farther still are a search bar and a button that gives you quick access to all your open apps.
Barnes & Noble introduced Your Nook Today for this round of tablets. Clicking this will drop the page down with a cool little animation that breaks the sticker. The first time you launch the feature, the page will take a bit of time to populate -- especially on a lackluster connection. At the top, you'll get the current local weather, along with the current highs and lows, courtesy of AccuWeather.com (a hugely desired feature, according to B&N). The page also features reading recommendations, based on your habits and a quick "Three Minute Read," for the on-the-go person who wants to feel they've accomplished something in an exceedingly short space of time.
The library page offers up all of your content broken down by category -- books (including comics), magazines, movies and TV, apps, kids (including all content from all mediums that fit in the category), catalogs, newspapers and various methods for refining your own content, live shelves, scrapbooks and files. Content in the different categories is organized into rows that can be advanced with a swipe. Clicking on the header will bring you to a page that features all of that content laid out on grid. As with the homepage, the layout features a lot of white space -- a defining characteristic of the UI, which, compared to the vanilla Jellybean offered up on the Nexus 7, feels a little half-baked. Though for those looking for a simple tablet that doesn't overwhelm the senses, there's perhaps something to be said for Barnes & Noble's approach here. The aesthetic carries over to the Apps page. The icons certainly pop when placed on the dull white background, surrounded by so much white space.
Browser
Barnes & Noble's offered up a fairly straightforward browsing experience this time out -- precisely what one would look for in a starter tablet like this. At the top, you've got tabs which can be added to with the click of a plus sign. Below this, you'll find the navigation bar and buttons, and a bookmarks icon that will bring you to a list of browser thumbnails on a plain background. Along the bottom are icons for sharing (via email and Evernote), searching and the ArticleView, which adheres to the device's central reading focus by serving up web stories in a more magazine-like format. Clicking the top right lets you add a bookmark to the page you're currently reading and brings up access to further reading settings.
Reading
Reading is still the essence of the Nook line, and in a sense, like the Nook Color before it, the HD can be regarded as a reading device with some extra tricks up its sleeves. After all, the company clearly designed the form factor around the reading experience. Accordingly, in press materials for the company, reading is regularly mentioned ahead of things like movies and apps, in spite of the push toward a higher-definition display. Not much has changed on the prose-reading front. You get a page largely monopolized by text, save for the book title on the top and your progress on the bottom. Page turns default to a standard swipe, though fiddling with the settings make it possible to add a more book-like page curl animation that features some intentional image bleed from the page before it.
Click the progress at the bottom and you get a slider that lets you flip through the book. You can also get information on the book (cover, reviews, recommendations), word and phrase search, sharing and format adjustments -- which offer up eight text sizes, six font styles and six page colors, among others.
More visual texts are where the Nook HD really shines. Magazines like Details really do look stunning on the HD display. And while the Nook HD+ offers up a better form factor for such reading, you can home in on text with a pinch. For a more straightforward reading experience, Barnes & Noble is offering up the same ArticleView you get in the browser. Click it and the images disappear, offering up a layout similar to the printer-friendly format offered up by many news sites.
Tap the bottom of the screen, and you get a carousel of article pages. Below that is a link to a grid layout that offers up the whole book laid out as thumbnails on a single page. You can also view the contents via a more traditional TOC. The whole experience is tied together with excellent transition animations, making for a smooth and seamless reading experience. For all the unfinished feeling one gets navigating through the UI, it's clear that B&N invested a lot in magazine reading this time out.
Comics, too, are a pleasure to read on the Nook HD. The colors really pop and enabling ZoomView Letterboxing makes it possible to read panel by panel, really the ideal way to enjoy sequential art on a tablet device. As with magazines, you can also view a carousel of pages on the bottom of the screen, along with textual and visual tables of contents.
Barnes & Noble added shopping catalogs to its list of reading options. The viewing options are quite similar to those of magazines, only these get pushed to you for free, because, well, their sole reason for existing is to sell you products. The images feature hotspots, which, when clicked, bring you to product pages where you can purchase products. They look great, sure, but in a world in which catalogs are still widely considered junk mail for most consumers, it's hard to imagine the feature serving as a major selling point for most users.
Kids' books, meanwhile, have long been something of a secret weapon in Barnes & Noble's tablet offerings. The company has worked closely with manufacturers to offer up an experience that really goes the extra mile to harness the multimedia capabilities of the devices, adding sound effects, animation and music. Opening up the book offers up three different experiences: Read By Myself, which offers up no narration, Read and Play, which features built-in narration and Read and Record, which lets parents record narration for their kids.
As with other texts, clicking the bottom of the screen offers up a carousel of pages from the book. All of this, coupled with the low price, relatively durable design, small form factor and user profiles make a compelling argument for the Nook HD as a strong device for families. The whole process is extremely simple, and once a profile has been created, it will be synced over to other Nook devices linked to the same account.
Profiles
As evidenced by the lock screen, Barnes & Noble is really pushing the profile feature this time out -- and it's not hard to see why. Families share tablets, particular inexpensive ones. But while you might not mind handing off a $200 tablet, you don't necessarily want to put all of your content into your kids' hands. You can set up to six profiles per device by clicking your user icon on the home screen. From here, it will give you the option to create a profile for an adult or child. You can change the profile image using built-in clip-art or pictures stored on the device and pick a gender (you can also opt for a non-gender-specific version). Filling in the age on the child account helps Barnes & Noble determine "age-appropriate content."
On the following page is a checklist for different content types you can let the children access, as well as rating levels for movies and TV shows. Once you've filled all this out and picked a few interests, the Nook will recommend free content to you.
Shop
The Nook Shop design is fairly straightforward, offering up a rotating carousel of featured content in the upper left, with a list of pages of different content (book, magazines, movies & TV, et al) to its right. Below this are further recommendations broken up by categories like "Passion for Fashion" and "Your Favorite Heroes" (comics). If you know what you're searching for, however, just skip straight down to the search field at the bottom of the page.
It should be pointed out that, like the Fire, the Nook's skinned UI means you're getting no access to the Google Play store. The company is instead opting to work with developers to create apps that better fit their device. And while B&N claims to have all the popular apps, there are some conspicuous absences here -- searching for Spotify, for example, will only offer up a copy of the $12 e-book, "Spotify for Dummies." Who knew such a thing existed -- and really, without access to the app, who would ever need such a thing?
Wrap-up
Barnes & Noble invested a lot in the hardware, and it shows. The Nook HD has a great little screen, snappy performance and industrial design that stands out from the competition without proving quite as polarizing as its predecessor. Most of all, it's built to be held, a fact that echoes the device's focus on the reading experience. That core functionality spills over onto the software side, making visually interesting magazines, comics and kids' books a pleasure to read. Priced (ad-free) at $199 for an 8GB model and $229 for 16GB, it's a great little piece of hardware for those looking for a reader that can also handle casual gaming and high-def videos. And the addition of profiles makes this a tempting proposition for families with children.
The "paper-like" UI, on the other hand, doesn't feel as if it got quite as much attention. It's stark and at times buggy (though the company promises that a fix is coming shortly), missing both the content focus of the Kindle Fire and the full functionality (and Google Play access) of the Jelly Bean-rocking Nexus 7. Also, the lack of a camera feels like a strange oversight. All said, however, the Nook HD is a fine little tablet for the price, though in a space where the Kindle and Nexus have been crowned champions, asking people to make the leap feels like a bit of a hard sell. ||||| Barnes and Noble Nook HD Review
The 7-inch HD tablet market is bursting at the seams, but for most users, the buying decision comes down to which ecosystem you prefer. I’ve looked at virtually all the major devices and find most admirable-to-excellent. The Barnes & Noble Nook HD sits in the upper-range of that spectrum.
The book seller followed competitor Amazon into the e-reader market, but has quickly gotten up to speed on design and technology. Soon after Amazon unveiled its all HD lineup of tablets (the Kindle Fire HD 7-inch and Kindle Fire HD+ 8.9-inch), Barnes & Noble followed with its own line of redesigned HD tablets. I spent a weekend with the 7-inch tablet.
By Design
Barnes & Noble has come a long way since its first e-ink e-reader, which is almost the exact same size as the new 7-inch device. The newer and far more powerful LCD-based tablet is, at 11.1 ounces, actually lighter than the old e-reader.
At 7.7-inches x 5-inches x .43-inches the Nook HD is slightly wider than the Google Nexus 7 and considerably narrower that the Amazon Kindle Fire It’s also lighter than both competing devices. I have large hands and can comfortably hold any of these tablets in one hand. My wife, however, found the Kindle Fire HD unwieldy and the Nook HD just right. To be fair, the Kindle Fire HD devotes some of that extra space to a camera (the Nexus 7 has one, too). Barnes & Noble chose to leave out the camera since taking photos and videos was not among the top four activities people conduct with their tablets. In my testing, I never missed the camera.
The rest of the body is about as clean and workable as competitive devices, though I do prefer the Nook HD’s more visible power and volume buttons to the Kindle Fire HD’s completely flush ones (always have trouble finding those). Plus, the Nook has a physical home button (like the iPad’s), a feature I wish every tablet had. The soft-touch back is where you’ll find the speakers, there’s also a micro-SD card slot along the bottom edge for storage expansion and an audio jack along the top edge. One funny side note: While Apple is busy trying to rid the world of 30-pin interfaces, Barnes & Noble is giving them fresh support in the Nook HD.
Under the hood, the Nook HD is an admirably powerful 7-inch tablet, with a 1.3 GHz dual-core processor, a full GB of RAM and, at 1440 x900, a higher resolution screen than either the Kindle Fire HD or the Nexus 7, both of which feature 1280x800 resolution screens. Like many other manufacturers, Barnes & Noble laminates the screen, a process which removes air-gaps from between the LCD panel, touch technology and glass to reduce overall screen reflection. I did find the screen quality impressive. 720p videos, books, comic books, magazines and the new catalog content looked excellent, and every bit of text was crisp at even the smallest size. On the other hand, I have been similarly impressed with the image quality on the Nexus 7 and Fire HD.
One area where the Kindle Fire HD does have the Nook HD beat is in sound quality. Amazon stuffed a couple of Dolby speakers into the Fire HD chassis and they can delivery loud and sharp sound quality. The Nook HD has stereo SRS TruMedia Speakers that simply paled in comparison. If you plan on watching a movie or listening to music on the Nook HD, get out your ear buds (no, the device does not ship with a pair). Update: Barnes & Noble has promised an over-the-air (OTA) update that should address audio issues in Nook Video content.
The Best Face
Barnes & Noble’s Nook HD features my favorite interface of all the 7-inch tablets I’ve tested. Built on top of a thoroughly hidden Android 4.0, the user-centric interface is a complete do-over from the Nook Tablet and it’s completely effective and intuitive.
User profiles sit at the center of this redesign. When you hit the “N” or home button, all the user profiles are there. You simply drag your face to the lock and you’re inside your profile. All the content, email account settings browser bookmarks, parental controls (or lack of them) are keyed to each individual profile. The Nook HD tablet I tested came preloaded with three profiles: one for a man, one for a woman and one for a child. However, I found it easy to add additional ones: A tap on the welcome message at the top of the screen displays all the user profiles associated with the device and the option to create more. I added two more in a matter of moments.
Barnes & Noble chose to add profiles because their research showed that users regularly pass along the tablet to multiple family members and the benefit is obvious. If you enable your child’s profile and then hand the device to them, they only have access to their books, movies and may be blocked from, say, shopping and browsing the web. While I like the profile controls, you'll want to remember to enable password protection on your adult profiles. Without it, your child can easily switch between profiles and all of the content on the device and available online.
Each profile opens to a simple and intuitive home screen that offers a carousel (the latest interface metaphor craze) of recently viewed items (books, movies, games, apps, newspapers, magazines). Below that are links to your library of local content, apps, the Web browser, email and shopping. At the very top of the page is a welcome and a “your Nook Today” button. Tap it and you’ll see your local weather (brought to you by Accuweather), as well as books and magazine sections based on your interests and previous selections.
Both the e-mail and web browser interface are brand new and, like everything else on the Nook HD, they’re the picture of clarity. Amazon Kindle Fire HD’s email interface is plenty clear, too, but Barnes & Noble made a very smart choice with its key apps: it gave Mail, Web, Apps, Shop and your Library a permanent, fixed place on the homepage. It’s true, you can find Shop, Apps and the Web in a scrollable text menu at the top of the Kindle Fire HD interface, but it’s not a prominent and also not entirely fixed. Overall, the Nook HD interface is simpler and better than what you’ll find on the Kindle Fire HD.
Content
Where Amazon still outstrips the Nook is a comprehensive shopping and multimedia experience. Music is, at best, an afterthought on the Nook HD. There’s a Rhapsody App on the device, but I don’t need another music service. Amazon has its own MP3 library and also adds cloud services that make it easy to add your own tracks to the cloud and, by extension, the Fire HD tablet.
The Nook HD has almost pulled even in the video space, with a new, well stocked Nook Video service (under Shop) that features movies and TV shows you can rent and buy. Amazon offers the $75 a year Prime option which adds unlimited free streaming for movies in the Prime Library.
As a reading device, magazine and books look equally good on the Fire HD and Nook HD, but you’ll be happier holding the much lighter Nook HD for longer. Both make magazine content look amazing. You can switch between the standard magazine view, unadorned article view, and a bird’s eye view of dozens of pages with either device. The art of reading magazines on 7-inch devices has been all but perfected, and the choice in this area may come down to selection, though I noticed no major differences in reading options.
The App selection is as rich as you’ll find on any other Android device, but with an extra layer of security—Barnes & Noble curates its entire App library.
Going Shopping
As I write this, Google is unveiling a new Nexus 7 that is reportedly lighter and more powerful than the previous model. It includes 16 GB of storage and costs just $200. Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD is also $199 for a $16 GB model, but it includes sleep-state ads (which bother some, but not me) and does not include an AC adapter (which you can buy separately for $19.99). The Barnes & Noble HD 7-inch is ad free and does include an AC adapter. The 8 GB model is $199. You’ll pay $229 for the 16 GB model. All of these devices are Wi-Fi only.
To put all this in perspective, the new mid-sized tablet in town, the Apple iPad mini costs $329 for the base, 16 GB model. For that reason alone I see it has a somewhat separate device and one that those seeking a sub $250 device may not consider. For those shopping in that range, however, the Barnes & Noble Nook is an instant winner. It’s feature rich, fast, fluid, has an excellent interface and is well worth $200. It’s the obvious choice for previous Nook owners and deserves serious consideration for those in the other e-reader and mid-sized tablet camps who may be considering jumping ship. | – Barnes & Noble's Nook HD is by no means a world-changer, but most reviewers think those in the market for a modestly priced e-reader would be well advised to give the $199 device a close look. Dig into the source links for more details, but here are some bottom lines: Lance Ulanoff, Mashable: "It’s feature rich, fast, fluid, has an excellent interface, and is well worth $200. It’s the obvious choice for previous Nook owners and deserves serious consideration for those in the other e-reader and mid-sized tablet camps who may be considering jumping ship." Eric Franklin, CNET: It "can’t match competing tablets in media library breadth, but as long as you're not looking for bells and whistles, its sharp screen and comfortable body make it an ideal tablet choice for reading books and magazines. " Harry McCracken, Time: "With its featherweight form factor, sharp screen, and pleasant user interface, the Nook HD ... keeps Barnes & Noble in the cheap-tablet game it helped create with its original Nook Color. Anyone who’s got $199 to spend on a tablet should give this Nook a look." Brian Heater, Engadget: It's got a "great little screen" and "snappy performance," making it a "fine little tablet for the price." But "in a space where the Kindle and Nexus have been crowned champions, asking people to make the leap feels like a bit of a hard sell." |
PHOENIX (AP) — Federal authorities allege that a former youth care worker at a Phoenix-area facility for immigrant youths sexually abused eight teenage boys, one of several cases brought to light in recent weeks as thousands of immigrant children remain detained around the country.
Court documents show Levian Pacheco faces several charges stemming from incidents that allegedly took place between August 2016 and July 2017 at a Southwest Key facility in Mesa. The case was first reported by ProPublica.
Authorities charge that Pacheco performed sex acts on two boys and touched six others, all between ages 15 to 17 at the time. Court documents also state that Pacheco is HIV-positive and that some of the teens opted to be tested for the virus.
Pacheco has pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations. His federal public defender has said in court documents that the government's allegations of the crimes committed by Pacheco include an "extraordinarily broad range of dates and lack of specificity."
"We are looking forward to defending Mr. Pacheco in court," attorney Benjamin Good said in an email to The Associated Press.
The revelations Thursday came one day after police said another worker at a different Southwest Key facility, Fernando Magaz Negrete, is suspected of molesting a 14-year-old immigrant girl.
Authorities say Magaz Negrete kissed and fondled the girl in her bedroom on June 27 in an encounter witnessed by the girl's 16-year-old roommate. They said surveillance video shows Magaz Negrete, 32, approaching the bedroom several times throughout the night, though the bedroom itself was outside the camera's view.
Southwest Key fired Magaz Negrete. It was not clear if he is represented by an attorney.
The Texas-based nonprofit organization, the largest contracted by the U.S. government to house immigrant children, has come under scrutiny for its practices at its various shelters around the Southwest. Many of the over 2,000 children who were separated from their parents after crossing the border illegally have been held at Southwest Key facilities.
The victims in the case against Pacheco were all unaccompanied minors and it's not clear if they had been separated from their parents or traveled to the U.S. alone, although the government was not widely separating families at the time of the incidents.
Southwest Key spokesman Jeff Eller said in an email that Pacheco was immediately suspended and police were called when allegations surfaced.
He said Southwest Key and the Health and Human Services department, which is in charge of caring for immigrant youths, take every incident seriously "and there is a never ending process to improve care and standards."
ProPublica published a report in July saying police responded to at least 125 calls reporting sex offenses at shelters that primarily serve immigrant children since 2014. The report detailed a 2015 incident at a Tucson, Arizona, Southwest Key facility in which authorities said an employee touched a 15-year-old Honduran boy's penis from outside his clothing. The worker was fired and later convicted of molestation. ||||| Zero Tolerance Trump’s Immigration Policy at the Border
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This story includes graphic details of alleged sexual violence against minors.
A youth care worker for Southwest Key has been charged with 11 sex offenses after authorities accused him of molesting at least eight unaccompanied immigrant boys over nearly a year at one of the company’s shelters in Mesa, Arizona, federal court records show.
The allegations against Levian D. Pacheco, who is HIV-positive, include that he performed oral sex on two of the teenagers and tried to force one of them to penetrate him anally. The other six teens — all between 15 and 17 — said Pacheco had groped them through their clothing. All of the incidents are alleged to have taken place between August 2016 and July 2017, according to a court filing last week that laid out the government’s case.
The case, initially investigated by local police, is now proceeding through U.S. District Court in Phoenix. Pacheco had worked at Southwest Key’s Casa Kokopelli shelter, one of eight the company runs in Arizona, since May 2016.
Casa Kokopelli was cited by the Arizona Department of Health Services in 2017 for failing to complete background checks, including fingerprinting, to ensure that employees hadn’t previously committed sex offenses and other crimes, records show. Pacheco worked for nearly four months without a complete background check, according to documents and an agency official. Those records did not show any previous arrests or convictions for sex offenses, they said. Read More Immigrant Youth Shelters: “If You’re a Predator, It’s a Gold Mine” We obtained police reports and call logs from more than two-thirds of the shelters housing immigrant children. Here’s what they show. Get Our Top Investigations Subscribe to the Big Story newsletter.
Pacheco, 25, was indicted in August 2017 after an investigation by local law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services inspector general’s office. The current charges include eight counts of abusive sexual contact with a ward and three counts of sexual acts with a ward. Pacheco, who is in U.S. Marshals’ custody, could not be reached for comment, but he denied the charges in court documents. His federal public defender, Benjamin Good, said, “We are looking forward to defending Mr. Pacheco in court.”
Trump administration officials have repeatedly asserted that the shelters are safe, even fun, places for kids. But there has been increasingly intense scrutiny of the federally funded, privately run shelters after the administration separated some 3,000 children from their parents at the border and sent them to shelters and foster homes across the country. Last week, ProPublica reported that police nationwide have responded to hundreds of calls reporting possible sex crimes at shelters that serve immigrant children. One of those calls resulted in the conviction of a Tucson shelter worker for molestation.
Now further documents have emerged describing alleged incidents in Arizona involving Southwest Key, the largest operator of immigrant youth shelters nationwide.
ProPublica only discovered Pacheco’s case while trying to find additional information about a vague reference to a molestation case in Arizona inspection records. Federal officials had known about the case when answering questions from ProPublica last week and when describing the conditions of the shelters before Congress, but did not mention it.
In addition to Pacheco, two other cases involving abuse at other Southwest Key shelters have recently surfaced.
On Tuesday, an employee at a Southwest Key facility in Phoenix, Fernando Magaz Negrete, was arrested on allegations that he sexually abused a 14-year-old girl by kissing her and rubbing her breast and crotch, according to Phoenix news outlets. And The Nation reported Friday that a 6-year-old girl who had been separated from her mother was allegedly fondled by a boy at another Southwest Key facility in Glendale, Arizona in June.
At other Southwest Key facilities, police reports and call logs from the last five years detail inappropriate relationships with staff, dozens of runaways, sexual contact among kids at the shelters and other allegations of molestation by employees. In one case, ProPublica found, a 46-year-old youth care worker in Tucson was convicted of groping a 15-year-old boy who had just arrived in the United States five days earlier.
In an email, HHS spokesman Kenneth Wolfe said the agency has issued a stop placement order and removed all unaccompanied minors from the Casa Kokopelli shelter. He declined to say when the stop placement order was issued.
“These are vulnerable children in difficult circumstances, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement at HHS’ Administration for Children and Families treats our responsibility for each child with the utmost care,” he said. “Any allegation of abuse or neglect is taken seriously.”
In response to questions from ProPublica, Jeff Eller, a spokesman for Southwest Key, wrote in an email that he was unable to comment on specific cases. When asked how Pacheco’s alleged actions could have escaped detection for 11 months, Eller didn’t answer the question, but said: “Any employee accused of abuse is immediately suspended and law enforcement called. This is what we did in this case.” Eller said the allegations were also reported to the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, which oversees the shelter system, and the appropriate state agency.
In response to a question about how the company could assure the public that children are safe in its facilities, Eller wrote: “We find the premise of your question dishonorable.”
“We report these cases to law enforcement and state agencies when they happen,” he said. “We educate every child in our care upon arrival to the facility of their right to be free from abuse or neglect in this program and this country. This message is repeated to the children throughout the duration of their stay at our shelters.”
In the past five years, the Texas-based nonprofit has received more than $1.3 billion in federal funds for the shelters and other services—including more than $500 million so far this year.
This week, following numerous reports of problems at the federally funded facilities, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, requested that the inspector general for the U.S. Health and Human Services department investigate the allegations of sexual and physical abuse at the shelters.
“These allegations demonstrate a long-term pattern of abuse warranting a thorough investigation into the claims, including the process and procedure by which any guards or contracted staff are hired, trained, and vetted,” the senators wrote in a letter to the inspector general.
HHS said Thursday that shelter operators reported 264 allegations of sexual abuse to the FBI last year. While those can include anything from “touching of the buttocks” to sexual assault, the agency said, 53 allegations involved an adult. The agency did not say how many of those allegations were founded or how many constituted more serious assaults.
Federal court records show that officials at the Southwest Key shelter in Mesa were unaware that Pacheco was abusing boys for months — and that it wasn’t until one of the boys spoke up last summer that the extent of the abuse allegations against Pacheco was uncovered.
Shelter officials first learned that Pacheco may have abused a boy at the facility when a teen identified in court records as “John Doe 1” told a teacher that a staff member had entered his room in the early morning hours of July 24, 2017 and touched his body, including his penis, over his clothing. The teen then told his roommate about the incident and that boy, known as “John Doe 2,” said the same staffer had fondled him in a similar way.
The second teen initially denied the incident when he was approached by staff members. Several hours later he told staffers that Pacheco had come into his room early one morning, tickled him and touched his “private parts.”
Pacheco was then removed from the facility and local law enforcement launched an investigation, records show.
The next day, July 25, a third teen told a shelter counselor that he had heard about Pacheco’s dismissal for inappropriately touching other boys. The teen told the counselor that Pacheco had also fondled him and that he was aware of three other boys Pacheco had molested. That child would later tell a “forensic interviewer” that Pacheco had groped him twice.
Local law enforcement and shelter staff tracked down those three teens and two others, who all said that Pacheco had molested them.
The fourth teen in the court records reported that Pacheco had touched him over his pajama pants sometime in June or July of 2017.
A fifth boy, who had been moved from Casa Kokopelli to another facility in Arizona, said he was brushing his teeth, and when he opened the bathroom door, Pacheco was standing there holding toilet paper. The boy said Pacheco then touched his penis over his clothing, the records show.
A sixth teen reported that Pacheco opened the shower door while he was bathing and stared at him but did not touch him. The boy later told social workers that on another occasion, he was changing his clothes after a soccer game when Pacheco walked into his room and said “My love, I have arrived,” according to court records. Pacheco proceeded to grab the boy’s penis, the teen said. Pacheco then laughed and told the child he “had it big,” the records show.
The seventh teen, “John Doe 7,” is the same victim whose allegations were briefly referenced in ProPublica’s story last week. The boy had been at the Mesa facility and was transferred to Tucson, where he revealed the molestation allegations to officials. The teen said he had been recovering from surgery in early June of 2017 and was groggy from pain medication when he awoke to find Pacheco in this room. Pacheco told the boy that he had a “big one.” The teen said he could tell that Pacheco had “ejaculated on himself,” according to court records.
On another occasion, the teen told officials, he was playing video games when Pacheco entered the room and told the boy to take out his penis. The boy refused and Pacheco grabbed the teen’s penis through his pants, according to court records. During a third incident, the teen said Pacheco pushed him down on a bed, pulled down his pants and underwear and began to shake his penis. The boy said he attempted to push Pacheco away, but was unable to because of his injury and surgery. Pacheco put the boy’s penis in his mouth, the court records state.
The eighth boy alleged that Pacheco came into his room and woke him by making noise with the blinds. Pacheco then told the boy he was going to “suck his,” according to court records. The boy said Pacheco took down his pants and put his mouth on the teen’s penis three times. The boy describes a separate incident in which Pacheco entered his room around midnight, took off his own pants and underwear and told the boy he wanted the teen to put his penis in Pacheco’s “butt,” records state. Read More Records Reveal “Lax” Supervision, Sexual Activity at Chicago-Area Shelters Housing Immigrant Children Newly obtained documents provide details on troubling incidents, including children having sex in a TV room and two girls running away on a museum field trip.
Pacheco then attempted to force the boy’s penis into his anus, but the boy pushed him away and threatened to report him, according to the records.
Pacheco disclosed he was HIV positive when he was arrested, according to court records. Officials with the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS educated the teenage boys about HIV and how it is transmitted and a “couple” of the eight children sought testing, records state. It’s unclear what the results were.
Five of the eight teenagers that Pacheco is accused of molesting either denied or didn’t disclose the allegation when first approached by interviewers and staff members.
Nayeli Chavez-Dueñas, a clinical psychologist who helped develop shelter guidelines on behalf of the National Latina/o Psychological Association, said she wasn’t surprised that alleged abuse went on for so long “because a lot of the children are terrified.” Many of the children have experienced sexual and physical violence, she said, and in the shelters, they face a lot of uncertainty.
“So when you have adults that are taking care of these children that are so vulnerable,” Chavez-Dueñas said, “they know that the children are going to be so afraid for their safety that they are not likely to report.”
Pacheco’s trial is scheduled to begin on August 28. | – While the controversy surrounding immigrant children separated from their parents at the US border continues to swirl, the AP reports on troublesome news out of a shelter outside Phoenix. Per federal authorities, Levian Pacheco, who used to work for Southwest Key's Casa Kokopelli facility in Mesa, has pleaded not guilty to nearly a dozen sex offenses against at least eight immigrant boys, as originally detailed in ProPublica. Pacheco, 25, who court documents indicate is HIV-positive, is accused of performing oral sex on two of the teen boys, one of which he tried to anally rape, as well as of groping a half-dozen other teens through their clothes. The incidents were alleged to have taken place between August 2016 and July 2017. All of the victims were unaccompanied minors, though it's not clear if they were separated from their parents or came to the US alone. ProPublica goes into disturbing detail on accusations from each of Pacheco's eight alleged victims; records indicate "a couple" of the boys have requested HIV tests. ProPublica also documents other alleged instances of sexual abuse, fondling (by workers and other children), and runaways at sites run by Southwest Key, the biggest immigrant youth shelter operator in the US. The AP notes one of those cases: A former Southwest Key worker at a different facility than the one Pacheco worked at has been accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl. The alleged incident involving Fernando Magaz Negrete is said to have taken place June 27 in the girl's bedroom. In a statement, Southwest Key addresses the abuse allegations, outlining its hiring process and how it educates kids to protect themselves, noting, "Our number one priority ... is to keep the children in our care safe." |
A Pennsylvania 16-year-old stands accused of murder after cops say he shot another teen in the face and then posed with the victim’s body for a selfie that led to his arrest.
Authorities say Maxwell Marion Morton took the picture after killing high school junior Ryan Mangan, 16, on Wednesday in Mangan’s home in the Pittsburgh suburb of Jeannette.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review said Saturday that according to a police affidavit Morton sent the selfie to a friend who turned it over his mother. She, in turn, gave it to police.
The affidavit also said that Morton sent the friend several messages including one that said, “Told you I cleaned up the shells,” and another that said, “Ryan was not the last one,” the newspaper reported.
“(Police) received a copy of the photo which depicted the victim sitting in the chair with a gunshot wound to the face,” the newspaper quoted the affidavit as saying. “It also depicts a black male taking the ‘selfie’ with his face facing the camera and the victim behind the actor.”
The affidavit went on to say that across the top of the selfie was the name “Maxwell.”
The Tribune-Review said the selfie showed Mangan as he was found dead at the scene.
Authorities said Morton confessed to shooting Mangan with a 9 mm handgun that was found in the basement of Morton's home.
Morton was being held without bail after his arraignment on a first degree murder charge and other charges. He is being charged as an adult.
Morton and Mangan were students in the Jeannette City School District, the newspaper said. ||||| Although officials have not described a motive in the shooting death of a Jeannette teen Wednesday, the young man charged with murder in the case is said by police to have paused to take a phone camera self-portrait of himself and the victim after the shooting and sent it to another young man.
Maxwell Marion Morton, 16, of Jeannette was charged with murder Friday night in the death of Ryan Mangan, 16, also of Jeannette. Westmoreland County detectives and Jeannette police charged Maxwell with criminal homicide, first-degree murder and illegally possessing a 9 mm handgun. He was arraigned before District Judge Joseph R. DeMarchis of Jeannette, was denied bail and is being held in the county jail. A preliminary hearing is set before before Mr. DeMarchis Feb. 19.
Ryan died of a single gunshot wound, according to the Westmoreland County coroner's office. He was found in his home about 6 p.m. Wednesday, and an autopsy was performed by forensic pathologist and former Allegheny County coroner Cyril Wecht on Thursday.
The investigating officers’ affidavit outlines what they believe happened:
Rebecca Murtland, Ryan’s mother, first contacted police at about 6 p.m. Wednesday saying she had found her son dead, with a gunshot wound in the face. A detective found a 9 mm shell casing at the scene, but no gun. Also found on the victim’s phone was a photo of himself holding a semiautomatic handgun, police said.
On Thursday, a woman told police her son had a copy of a Snapchat photo sent from the accused. Jeannette Sgt. Donald Johnston saw the photo, depicting the wounded victim in the chair as found by his mother. It also depicted a young man taking a “selfie” with the victim in the background. The photo had the name “MAXWELL” across the top and the young man was identified by Sgt. Johnston as Maxwell Morton.
The woman also said her son received messages from Maxwell, stating, “Told you I cleaned up the shells” and “Ryan was not the last one.” The investigating officers said the photo depicts the victim as he was found at the crime scene.
After a search warrant was served at Morton’s home, a 9 mm handgun was found in the basement under the steps. Police said after being advised of his rights with his parents present, the young man confessed to using that gun to shoot Ryan Mangan, “leaving the victim dead in his room.” ||||| JEANNETTE (KDKA) — A teen has been arrested and charged in the murder of a Westmoreland County teenager, and allegedly sent a photo of the dead teen to another person after the shooting.
According to court documents, 16-year-old Maxwell Morton was taken into custody and is now facing criminal homicide charges.
Ryan Mangan, 16, was found dead of a gunshot wound at his home in Jeannette of Wednesday evening. Police say he had been shot in the face.
Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck said earlier in the week that the investigation was centering on those who knew the boy and might have been with him earlier in the day. Peck says the shooting didn’t appear to be “random” but wouldn’t say why investigators believe that.
The criminal complaint also says that the mother of a third boy says her son received a Snapchat photo from Morton, which shows Morton in the photo with the victim after he had been shot in the face. The criminal complaint describes it as a “selfie.” The photo apparently also had the name “MAXWELL” written across the top.
Police also say the third boy received text messages from Morton saying, “Told you I cleaned up the shells” and “Ryan was not the last one.”
Friends say dealing with the tragedy has been difficult.
“Definitely makes it harder, not being able to know what really happened,” said friend Jimmy Malik. “Not being able to ask him and not being able to talk to him.”
Morton has been charged with first degree murder, criminal homicide and possession of a firearm by a minor.
Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.
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Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter | – A Pennsylvania teenager is behind bars after allegedly shooting a classmate in the head and taking an incriminating selfie of himself with the body, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. According to court papers, 16-year-old Maxwell Morton sent the image to a friend via SnapChat, an app that deletes messages after a few seconds—but that friend saved the photo right away. And "the photo had the name 'Maxwell' across the top," says a police affidavit. Morton is also accused of sending text messages about the 16-year-old victim, Ryan Mangan, that read, "Told you I cleaned up the shells" and "Ryan was not the last one." Morton reportedly confessed to the killing after police found a 9mm pistol tucked away under his basement stairs in Jeannette, Pa. But his motive isn't clear, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes. "His name's never out there for being bad. I'm shocked," says a mom whose son was best friends with Morton; she suspects an accidental shooting. Her son tells CBS Pittsburgh that it "definitely makes it harder, not being able to know what really happened. Not being able to ask him and not being able to talk to him." A professor in California puts the selfie down to "criminal pathology rather than technology," saying criminals like "validating their power and self of self-importance" by bragging about their deeds. Morton was arraigned Friday on murder and other charges as an adult, and held without bail, Fox News reports. |
The State Department has urged U.S. citizens in China to report any "symptoms or medical problems" they notice while in the country to a medical professional after a government employee experienced "subtle and vague, but abnormal, sensations of sound and pressure." The report comes after multiple U.S. and Canadian nationals suffered from what the U.S. government called "health attacks" in Cuba.
The employee at the U.S. Consulate in the southeastern Chinese city of Guangzhou has been left with mild traumatic brain injury, and was sent home in April, U.S. officials tell CBS News. The U.S. embassy and consulates in China have held town hall meetings to give employees a chance to ask questions, CBS News correspondent David Martin reports.
"A U.S. government employee in China recently reported subtle and vague, but abnormal, sensations of sound and pressure," the U.S. State Department said in its health advisory posted online Wednesday. "The U.S. government is taking these reports seriously and has informed its official staff in China of this event. We do not currently know what caused the reported symptoms and we are not aware of any similar situations in China, either inside or outside of the diplomatic community."
A spokesperson at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing confirmed to CBS News that from late 2017 through April 2018, a U.S. government employee assigned to the Guangzhou Consulate reported "a variety of physical symptoms." The employee was brought to the United States for medical evaluation and on May 18 the Embassy learned that the clinical findings of the evaluation showed mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI).
The embassy spokesperson told CBS News that the Chinese government had "assured us they are also investigating and taking appropriate measures."
Wednesday morning, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke on the Guangzhou health alert to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, calling it a serious incident.
"The medical indications are very similar -- and entirely consistent with -- the medical indications that have taken place to Americans working in Cuba," Pompeo said.
Pompeo met with China's foreign minister, who said it is investigating and hasn't found anyone who could be responsible for the possible sonic attacks, Martin reports.
Pompeo told the House committee that medical teams are being moved to address the issue.
More than 20 Americans who had worked or travelled in Cuba reported a range of medical symptoms beginning in November 2016, U.S. officials told CBS News last year. According to medical records first obtained by CBS News, a U.S. doctor diagnosed the American diplomats as suffering from mild traumatic brain injury. Symptoms included headaches and hearing loss. Former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in Sept. 2017 the American diplomats were victims of "health attacks."
In October, a State Department official said the U.S. had "received a handful of reports from U.S. citizens who report they experienced similar symptoms following stays in Cuba."
However, U.S. investigators haven't determined who or what was behind the alleged attacks.
"Twenty-four people have had symptoms and findings consistent with what looks like a mild traumatic brain injury," State Department medical director Dr. Charles Rosenfarb told a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee Jan. 9. "The findings suggest that this is not an episode of mass hysteria."
In response, the State Department reduced its Havana embassy to a skeleton staff, and ordered 15 Cuban embassy officials in the U.S. to leave the country. ||||| Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings.
/ Updated By Abigail Williams and Tracy Connor
It's not just the U.S. State Department that is baffled by the health problems of diplomats who've worked in Cuba. The Canadian government said Wednesday it also has no idea who or what is behind the mysterious ailments.
At a briefing in Ottawa, a Canadian official said eight of their citizens stationed in Havana, out of 27 tested, required medical care after reporting symptoms that ranged from dizziness and headaches to nosebleeds. Three diplomatic families left Cuba as a result, the official said.
The United States says 24 Americans affiliated with the embassy in Cuba have reported similar symptoms and signs consistent with traumatic brain injury. The State Department recalled all nonemergency personnel in late September and has no plans to return them, straining ties with Cuba.
Cuba has welcomed FBI agents to Havana to investigate. But officials told NBC News that the probe found no evidence of attacks. Additionally, some U.S. officials have questioned whether there's a single cause for the symptoms.
The State Department says the phenomenon is real.
"Is there any thought given to the fact that this is a case of mass hysteria? That a bunch of people are just being hypochondriacs and making it up?” Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., asked during a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing on Tuesday.
"Twenty-four people have had symptoms and findings consistent with what looks like a mild traumatic brain injury. The objective tests that were done were not ones that could basically be easily faked,” State Department Medical Director Dr. Charles Rosenfarb testified.
"The findings suggest that this is not a case of mass hysteria," he said.
While officials in Washington initially theorized that the staffers and their family members were sickened by some kind of sonic attack, other possible culprits are under investigation.
"I think there’s viral, there’s ultrasound, there is a range of things that technical experts are looking at," Todd Brown, diplomatic security assistant director at the State Department, said during the hearing.
"When you say viral, you are talking about somebody intentionally implanting a virus?" Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., asked.
"That could be a possibility," Brown said.
Francisco Palmieri of the State Department told a Senate subcommittee it's "incomprehensible" that Cuba doesn't know who is behind alleged attacks that harmed U.S. and Canadian diplomats. KEVIN LAMARQUE / Reuters
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has now decided to ratchet up the inquiry and convene an independent panel known as an Accountability Review Board.
At the hearing, Rubio grilled officials on why the board had not been set up earlier, in accordance with law.
"The law very clearly requires that within 60 days of an incident, and 120 days at most, that an accountability review board be stood up and they did not do that until almost a year after the first reports of the attacks,” Rubio told reporters. "That’s unacceptable."
The Cuban government has vociferously denied any involvement in or knowledge of attacks on American and Canadian diplomats.
"There is no evidence of any kind, not of the cause, not of the perpetrators, not of the origin, not of the motivations," a Cuban foreign ministry official, Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, said Tuesday evening. "There is no evidence at all, not one piece of evidence."
Despite the lack of evidence, the State Department said it's "incomprehensible" that leaders in Havana don't know what made the Americans and Canadians sick.
Rubio, an ardent critic of the island's Communist government, agreed.
"We can say we don't know how it happened, we can even say we can't know for sure who did it," he said. "But two things we know for sure: People were hurt, and the Cuban government knows who did it." | – A weird and singular case in China, where a US government employee stationed in the city of Guangzhou returned to America in April after reporting "subtle and vague, but abnormal, sensations of sound and pressure." An evaluation suggested the employee, stationed at the US Consulate there, had a "mild traumatic brain injury," a finding conveyed last week to the US Embassy in Beijing and one that spurred a State Department health alert issued Wednesday. The State Department's health advisory noted the cause of the symptoms is unknown. Both the State Department and Chinese government are investigating the case, reports CNN; the employee began reporting symptoms late last year, and no other American personnel are known to have experienced anything similar. "While in China, if you experience any unusual acute auditory or sensory phenomena accompanied by unusual sounds or piercing noises, do not attempt to locate their source. Instead, move to a location where the sounds are not present," recommends the State Department. US officials made no reference to Cuba, where similar reports have been made in relation to two dozen Americans, reports CBS News. |
China has signalled its readiness to accept Korean reunification and is privately distancing itself from the North Korean regime, according to leaked US embassy cables that reveal senior Beijing figures regard their official ally as a "spoiled child".
News of the Chinese shift comes at a crucial juncture after the North's artillery bombardment of a South Korean island last week that killed four people and led both sides to threaten war. China has refused to condemn the North Korean action. But today Beijing appeared to bow to US pressure to help bring about a diplomatic solution, calling for "emergency consultations" and inviting a senior North Korean official to Beijing.
China is sharply critical of US pressure tactics towards North Korea and wants a resumption of the six-party nuclear disarmament talks. But the Guardian can reveal Beijing's frustration with Pyongyang has grown since its missile and nuclear tests last year, worries about the economic impact of regional instability, and fears that the death of the dictator, Kim Jong-il, could spark a succession struggle.
China's moves to distance itself from Kim are revealed in the latest tranche of leaked US embassy cables published by the Guardian and four international newspapers. Tonight, the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, said the US "deeply regrets" the release of the material by WikiLeaks. They were an "attack on the international community", she said. "It puts people's lives in danger, threatens our national security and undermines efforts to work with other countries to solve shared problems," she told reporters at the state department.
The leaked North Korea dispatches detail how:
• South Korea's vice-foreign minister said he was told by two named senior Chinese officials that they believed Korea should be reunified under Seoul's control, and that this view was gaining ground with the leadership in Beijing.
• China's vice-foreign minister told US officials that Pyongyang was behaving like a "spoiled child" to get Washington's attention in April 2009 by carrying out missile tests.
• A Chinese ambassador warned that North Korean nuclear activity was "a threat to the whole world's security".
• Chinese officials assessed that it could cope with an influx of 300,000 North Koreans in the event of serious instability, according to a representative of an international agency, but might need to use the military to seal the border.
In highly sensitive discussions in February this year, the-then South Korean vice-foreign minister, Chun Yung-woo, told a US ambassador, Kathleen Stephens, that younger generation Chinese Communist party leaders no longer regarded North Korea as a useful or reliable ally and would not risk renewed armed conflict on the peninsula, according to a secret cable to Washington.
Chun, who has since been appointed national security adviser to South Korea's president, said North Korea had already collapsed economically.
Political collapse would ensue once Kim Jong-il died, despite the dictator's efforts to obtain Chinese help and to secure the succession for his son, Kim Jong-un.
"Citing private conversations during previous sessions of the six-party talks , Chun claimed [the two high-level officials] believed Korea should be unified under ROK [South Korea] control," Stephens reported.
"The two officials, Chun said, were ready to 'face the new reality' that the DPRK [North Korea] now had little value to China as a buffer state – a view that, since North Korea's first nuclear test in 2006, had reportedly gained traction among senior PRC [People's Republic of China] leaders. Chun argued that in the event of a North Korean collapse, China would clearly 'not welcome' any US military presence north of the DMZ [demilitarised zone]. Again citing his conversations with [the officials], Chun said the PRC would be comfortable with a reunified Korea controlled by Seoul and anchored to the US in a 'benign alliance' – as long as Korea was not hostile towards China. Tremendous trade and labour-export opportunities for Chinese companies, Chun said, would also help 'salve' PRC concerns about … a reunified Korea.
"Chun dismissed the prospect of a possible PRC military intervention in the event of a DPRK collapse, noting that China's strategic economic interests now lie with the United States, Japan and South Korea – not North Korea."
Chun told Stephens China was unable to persuade Pyongyang to change its self-defeating policies – Beijing had "much less influence than most people believe" – and lacked the will to enforce its views.
A senior Chinese official, speaking off the record, also said China's influence with the North was frequently overestimated. But Chinese public opinion was increasingly critical of the North's behaviour, the official said, and that was reflected in changed government thinking.
Previously hidden tensions between Pyongyang and its only ally were also exposed by China's then vice-foreign minister in a meeting in April 2009 with a US embassy official after North Korea blasted a three-stage rocket over Japan into the Pacific. Pyongyang said its purpose was to send a satellite into orbit but the US, South Korea and Japan saw the launch as a test of long-range missile technology.
Discussing how to tackle the issue with the charge d'affaires at the Beijing embassy, He Yafei observed that "North Korea wanted to engage directly with the United States and was therefore acting like a 'spoiled child' in order to get the attention of the 'adult'. China encouraged the United States, 'after some time', to start to re-engage the DPRK," according to the diplomatic cable sent to Washington.
A second dispatch from September last year described He downplaying the Chinese premier's trip to Pyongyang, telling the US deputy secretary of state, James Steinberg: "We may not like them ... [but] they [the DPRK] are a neighbour."
He said the premier, Wen Jiabao, would push for denuclearisation and a return to the six-party talks. The official also complained that North Korea "often tried to play China off [against] the United States, refusing to convey information about US-DPRK bilateral conversations".
Further evidence of China's increasing dismay with Pyongyang comes in a cable in June 2009 from the US ambassador to Kazakhstan, Richard Hoagland. He reported that his Chinese counterpart, Cheng Guoping. was "genuinely concerned by North Korea's recent nuclear missile tests. 'We need to solve this problem. It is very troublesome,' he said, calling Korea's nuclear activity a 'threat to the whole world's security'."
Cheng said Beijing "hopes for peaceful reunification in the long term, but he expects the two countries to remain separate in the short term", Hoagland reported. China's objectives were "to ensure they [North Korean leaders] honour their commitments on non-proliferation, maintain stability, and 'don't drive [Kim Jong-il] mad'."
While some Chinese officials are reported to have dismissed suggestions that North Korea would implode after Kim's death, another cable offers evidence that Beijing has considered the risk of instability.
It quoted a representative from an international agency saying Chinese officials believed they could absorb 300,000 North Koreans without outside help. If they arrived "all at once" it might use the military to seal the border, create a holding area and meet humanitarian needs. It might also ask other countries for help.
The context of the discussions was not made explicit, although an influx of that scale would only be likely in the event of regime failure. The representative said he was not aware of any contingency planning to deal with large numbers of refugees.
A Seoul embassy cable from January 2009 said China's leader, Hu Jintao, deliberately ducked the issue when the South Korean president, Lee Myung-bak, raised it at a summit.
"We understand Lee asked Hu what China thought about the North Korean domestic political situation and whether Beijing had any contingency plans. This time, Hu apparently pretended not to hear Lee," it said. The cable does not indicate the source of the reports, although elsewhere it talks about contacts at the presidential "blue house" in South Korea. ||||| Chinese state media delivered a rare rebuke aimed directly at US President Donald Trump, criticising him for avoiding responsibility for escalating tensions over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme and warning the US not to “stab China in the back”.
The state-run news agency Xinhua ran a near 1,200-word commentary on Monday evening saying Trump has picked the wrong target in China to vent his frustration over the Korean nuclear crisis.
It also said the US should heed the message North Korea was sending through its latest launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on Friday.
North Korea has unlikely mastered ICBM re-entry technology
“On one hand it is saying it will not withdraw from the path of strengthening its nuclear [capabilities] , on the other it is sending a strong signal that it wants to talk to the US,” the article said.
The signed Xinhua commentary restated China’s efforts to pursue denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula, adding that Trump’s “hard-hitting” approach could lead to the outbreak of war with “unthinkable consequences”.
China says it’s not to blame for crisis in North Korea, as US piles on the pressure
The piece followed Trump’s statements on Twitter this weekend accusing China of doing “nothing” about North Korea, after a short-lived honeymoon period with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping following their April summit in Florida.
“I am very disappointed in China,” Trump tweeted on Saturday. “Our foolish past leaders have allowed them to make hundreds of billions of dollars a year in trade, yet they do nothing for us with North Korea, just talk. We will no longer allow this to continue. China could easily solve the problem.”
It was not the first time Trump has voiced his displeasure with China over what he described as a lack of effort on its part to “solve” North Korean aggression. He also told reporters on Monday that the US would now “handle everything” on the issue.
China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Liu Jieyi , said on Monday the US and North Korea hold the primary responsibility to reduce tensions and resume talks over denuclearisation.
The Xinhua commentary called for the US and South Korea to suspend joint military exercises in order to begin diplomatic dialogue. South Korea and the US are scheduled for more joint drills this month.
Trump ‘rips China on Twitter’ after North Korea missile launch
“What the Korean peninsula needs is an immediate retreat, do not add wood, and definitely do not add fuel, to the fire ... it can turn into regional conflict or even war within a short time,” the commentary said.
The piece also criticised the US for sending a pair of B-1B bombers to fly over the Korean peninsula two days after North Korea’s successful missile test on Friday.
US says ‘no point’ in UN meeting on North Korea after latest missile test
The Xinhua commentary argued China has put in obvious and unquestionable efforts over the years to push for a solution to the North Korea nuclear issue and that the country did not have a magic wand to solve the problem.
It also pointed to China’s stake in the security of the peninsula, given that China and North Korea are linked by common mountains and rivers.
China remains North Korea’s most important ally and trading partner, despite strains in their relationship in recent years. The two also signed a mutual defence treaty in 1961.
Xinhua’s commentary noted that “some people lack a complete understanding of the Korean peninsula issue” in an indirect reference to Trump, but also directly blasted Trump’s choice to use Twitter as a platform for diplomacy.
‘We can strike all of US’: North Korea underlines missile threat
“Trump is a character and enjoys tweeting, but an emotional response cannot be the guiding policy to solve the Korean peninsula’s nuclearisation issue,” the commentary said. “In order to solve the nuclear issue on the peninsula, related parties need to use practical action and show sincerity, stop shirking responsibility, and especially should not stab China in the back.” ||||| Japan is preparing to send several warships to join a US aircraft carrier strike group heading for the Korean peninsula, in a show of force designed to deter North Korea from conducting further missile and nuclear tests.
Citing two well-placed sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, Reuters and the Kyodo news agency said several destroyers from Japan’s maritime self-defence forces would join the USS Carl Vinson and its battle group as it enters the East China Sea.
The move comes as the Chinese president called for calm in the region in a phone conversation with Donald Trump.
China “is committed to the goal of denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula, and advocates resolving problems through peaceful means,” Xi Jinping said, according to CCTV, the state broadcaster.
Syria strike designed to intimidate North Korea, Chinese state newspaper says Read more
The call came after a series of tweets in which Trump pressed China to be more active in pressuring North Korea to abandon its nuclear programme.
In a pair of tweets, Trump linked trade deals and the future of the US-China relationship to progress on reining in the regime’s nuclear programme.
The US president wrote:
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.
In another tweet, Trump said he had told Xi any trade deal between the two countries would be “far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem”.
The US aircraft carrier was redeployed from a planned visit to Australia and is sailing north from Singapore towards the Korean peninsula, as speculation mounts that Pyongyang is planning more missile launches to coincide with national anniversaries this month.
North Korea watchers believe the regime could conduct missile tests on or around the 105th anniversary of the birth of the state’s founder, Kim Il-sung, on Saturday, or on the 85th anniversary of the ruling Korean People’s Army on 25 April.
China is the North’s only key diplomatic ally and its largest trading partner, providing a lifeline to the reclusive state.
There are signs China is taking steps to squeeze North Korea and its erratic leader, Kim Jong-un. Chinese authorities have ordered trading companies to return North Korean coal shipments and banned all imports in late February.
To bridge the gap, China started importing coal from the US, the first time in two years, a move that is likely to be viewed favourably in Washington.
The sources said Japanese and US ships would take part in joint exercises, including helicopter landings on each other’s vessels and communications drills, as the Carl Vinson passe d through waters off Japan.
The planned rendezvous is a further sign of increased cooperation between the US, Japanese and South Korean navies. Last month, Aegis ships from the three countr ies held a joint drill to improve their ability to detect and track North Korean missiles.
The Carl Vinson is powered by two nuclear reactors and carries almost 100 aircraft. Its strike group also includes guided-missile destroyers and cruisers. A submarine is also expected to join the group.
“Japan wants to dispatch several destroyers as the Carl Vinson enters the East China Sea,” one of the Japanese sources was quoted as saying.
Reuters said one of the unnamed officials had direct knowledge of the plan, while the other had been briefed about it. Japan’s self-defence forces have not commented on the report.
Chinese media warned that the Korean peninsula was closer to war than at any time since the North conducted the first of its five nuclear tests in 2006.
The Global Times, a state-run tabloid, suggested Chinese public opinion was turning against North Korea and said harsher measures could be needed, including restricting oil shipments.
“Pyongyang can continue its tough stance, however, for its own security, it should at least halt provocative nuclear and missile activities,” the paper wrote in an editorial. “Pyongyang should avoid making mistakes at this time.“
A senior Japanese diplomat said the arrival of a US naval strike group off the peninsula was designed to pressure North Korea into agreeing to a diplomatic solution to its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes.
“ If you consider overall things such as the fact that the US government has not put out warnings to its citizens in South Korea, I think the risk [of military action) at this point is not high,” the diplomat said.
Some experts in South Korea said an imminent North Korean nuclear test was unlikely. Prof Kim Dong-yub of the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University , told the Korea Times a ballistic missile launch was the most likely option, adding that the chances of a nuclear detonation were “very low”.
On Tuesday, North Korea warned of “catastrophic consequences” in response to any further provocations by the US, days after the Carl Vinson began its journey towards the Korean peninsula.
“We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions,” North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying. “[North Korea] is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US.”
Reuters contributed to this report | – China appears to be tired of the US and other nations blaming Beijing for not reining in North Korea. "The 'China responsibility theory' on the peninsula nuclear issue can stop," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, per Reuters. He didn't name names, but he said that "certain people, talking about the Korean peninsula nuclear issue, have been exaggerating and giving prominence" to China's role. (President Trump has been among them.) Geng said other nations must step up, too, and the Wall Street Journal reports that the US is preparing to do just that, but in a way that surely won't please Beijing. The report says the Justice Department is readying its own sanctions against North Korea, with the target being Chinese businesses and banks thought to be bankrolling the regime. Specifically, the feds may go after a network run by a Chinese national named Chi Yupeng, who is one of the biggest importers of North Korean products into China. The Justice Department, citing information from North Korean defectors, says Chi's network funnels money to the North's military. All this is playing out in the wake of Pyongyang's July 4 launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile—North Korea celebrated the feat as only North Korea can—but South Korea's Yonhap News Agency is now raising a key doubt about that launch. The South's spy agency does not believe that the North has figured out how to keep an ICBM stable as it re-enters the atmosphere after launch. Without such a system, the North wouldn't be able to mount a warhead, nuclear or otherwise, and expect it to survive the re-entry process, explains CNN. |
Caffeine caused the death of a 16-year-old student, according to Richland County Coroner Gary Watts.
Watts held a news conference Monday to discuss the results of an investigation into the death of Davis Allen Cripe, who died April 26 at Palmetto Health Parkridge Hospital after collapsing in a classroom.
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Watts said Cripe drank a large diet Mountain Dew, a cafe latte from McDonald's and an energy drink in the two-hour period before he collapsed.
"We lost Davis from a totally legal substance," Watts said. He said he determined Cripe died from a caffeine-induced cardiac event.
"It was so much caffeine at the time of his death, that it caused his arrhythmia," he said.
"These drinks can be very dangerous," Watts said. "I'm telling my friends and family, Don't drink them."
Cripe's father said he was a good son who would never touch alcohol or drugs and he hopes the teen's death will save other lives by showing the dangers of excessive caffeine. ||||| LAGRANGE — Logan Stiner, a popular student and wrestler, was in his final week at Keystone High School when he suddenly collapsed in his home May 27.
A month after his death, an autopsy answered the pressing question of what killed him.
It was pure caffeine.
The 18-year-old Stiner was found about 11 a.m. May 27 on the floor of his home in the 400 block of Hendrix Boulevard. The same day his mother, Katie Stiner, said she found bags of caffeine powder in the house.
The case initially perplexed Logan’s friends and family, who remember Stiner as a healthy student who didn’t do drugs and only occasionally drank a cup of coffee.
The autopsy this week revealed a lethal amount of caffeine in Stiner’s system, said Lorain County Coroner Dr. Stephen Evans.
“It’s a complete shock to the entire family,” said Logan’s aunt, Kelly Stiner.
Evans said he has heard of only 18 other deaths from caffeine overdoses in the United States.
Stiner was found with more than 70 micrograms of caffeine per milliliter of blood in his system, Evans said, adding that the normal amount of caffeine in an energy drink is three to 15 micrograms.
Fifty micrograms is considered a lethal dose, Evans said.
“He was a young, healthy guy. People don’t realize (caffeine) could potentially kill you,” Evans said.
Logan Stiner — who didn’t have any heart conditions — had taken pure caffeine powder the day of his death, Evans said. The powder caused Stiner to have a cardiac arrhythmia and a seizure, which together, killed him.
“Since it’s a powder, he probably doesn’t know how much he was taking,” Evans said.
While it’s unclear to Evans how much caffeine powder or what brand of powder Logan Stiner took, a popular brand of concentrated powdered caffeine which can be purchased online recommends only 1/16th of a teaspoon per day.
Katie Stiner said she didn’t know that her son took caffeine powder, but that he once mentioned taking some kind of substance as a “pre-workout.”
“He had no clue what he was doing,” Katie Stiner said. “We talked about everything.”
Dr. Sahil Parikh, a cardiologist with University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, believes Logan Stiner’s case is unusual. Parikh said that up to four or five cups of coffee often have little effect on the heart. While caffeine and caffeine-like drugs have been known to cause cardiac arrhythmias, they are often easily curable, he said.
“It sounds like the amount that (Logan Stiner) ingested is beyond the normal amount in eating or drinking,” Parikh said.
Though pure caffeine powder is rarely found in stores, it can be bought in bulk online, something that Evans said teenagers like Logan Stiner can do easily.
“I think it’s dangerous. I didn’t realize it was sold in bulk over the Internet,” Evans said.
Logan Stiner’s family members, who said they’ve researched caffeine overdoses extensively since the teenager’s death, also were unaware that caffeine powder is easily accessible.
“We had no idea this stuff existed,” Kelly Stiner said.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was unfamiliar with caffeine powder, but did say the FDA recently started looking at the harmful effects of caffeine in general.
They are studying what caffeine can do to the human body following what they called an “influx of caffeinated energy drinks and a wide range of foods with added caffeine,” according to a news release.
For Logan Stiner’s family, the details of the 18-year-old’s death were difficult to take. Katie Stiner said her son was usually very careful about what he ate and rarely was stressed.
“Logan was at the height of his game in life,” Katie Stiner said.
Nevertheless, she said she knew her son didn’t just die of natural causes.
“I wasn’t going to let it go because I just didn’t understand,” Katie Stiner said.
Now, Katie Stiner and her family are working to recover from their devastating loss. “It’s been a month today and I don’t even know where the time went,” she said.
She hopes other teenagers will be wary of the negative effects of caffeine and caffeine powder, which she believes may be more prevalent than most people know.
“I don’t know if it’s as unusual as it seems.”
Contact Anna Merriman at 329-7245 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @AnnaLMerriman. ||||| A Kyushu man in his 20s died last year from caffeine intoxication after drinking large quantities of caffeinated beverages daily over a long period to fight fatigue, researchers at Fukuoka University said.
Although something, possibly part of a caffeine pill, was extracted from his stomach, his death was most likely caused by consuming too many caffeinated drinks, according to the university’s forensic medicine faculty.
Because there was no sign of a deliberate overdose, the man’s death was considered accidental.
According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, it is apparently the first reported case in Japan of a fatal caffeine overdose caused by the consumption of drinks.
“We had never heard of fatal caffeine intoxication,” the ministry said.
The man apparently consumed caffeinated soft drinks in large quantities to stay awake.
A company that sells one such product has warned against drinking large amounts of the beverage in a short period of time, and to avoid consuming the product along with alcohol, which can cause side effects.
More than a dozen lethal cases of caffeine poisoning have been reported in the United States, where drinks containing high amounts of caffeine are readily available.
While the government has set no criteria for acceptable intake levels, some experts had speculated that there could be similar deaths in Japan.
According to the Food Safety Commission, an arm of the Cabinet Office, a healthy adult should generally avoid drinking more than three cups of coffee a day, while a child between 4 and 6 years old should consume no more than a single 350-ml can of cola.
According to the Fukuoka University forensic medicine faculty, the man was working at a 24-hour gas station from midnight until dawn. After finishing a shift, he would stay awake until the following evening and then sleep until it was time to go to work again.
He often consumed an energy drink containing caffeine and had experienced vomiting several times in the year prior to his death, a symptom of caffeine intoxication.
On the day he died, he was sleeping after returning home and later vomited. He was sent to the hospital but died. It is uncertain what quantity of energy drinks he had consumed.
Shinichi Kubo, a professor of forensic medicine at the university, concluded that the man had died from a caffeine overdose and reported the results to the police after carrying out an examination.
While no other illness or abnormality was recognized, a small amount of alcohol was found in the man’s blood and a high concentration of caffeine was contained in his gastric residuals, blood and urine.
As there were no signs of foul play a legal autopsy could not be performed.
As a result, the university was unable to run an extensive study on part of a pill, apparently a caffeine tablet, found in his stomach and discover how it contributed to the man’s death. | – A shocking incident out of South Carolina has experts discussing how much is too much when it comes to a perfectly legal substance: caffeine. After consuming three highly caffeinated beverages in a two-hour period, 16-year-old student Davis Allen Cripe collapsed and died in April, reports WYFF 4. Richland County Coroner Gary Watts has now confirmed that the cause of death was a caffeine-induced cardiac event. According to the State, after Davis drank a large Diet Mountain Dew, a McDonald’s latte, and an energy drink within a two-hour period, he collapsed in class. He was pronounced dead at the hospital just over an hour later. Cripe’s father Sean says his son was healthy at the time of his death, and Davis’ autopsy revealed no pre-existing heart conditions. "It was so much caffeine at the time of his death, that it caused his arrhythmia," Watts says. “Davis, like so many other kids and so many other people out there today, was doing something [he] thought was totally harmless, and that was ingesting lots of caffeine,” Watts says, adding that because caffeinated drinks affect people differently, it’s difficult to gauge an exact limit. Consumer Affairs reported in 2015 that the issue is especially relevant to teens, with nearly 31% of 12- to 19-year-olds consuming energy drinks regularly. Of 5,448 caffeine overdoses in 2007, 46% occurred in people under 19, and those with underlying heart problems are especially vulnerable. In a tearful press conference Monday (see video above), Sean Cripes urged parents and teens to learn from what happened to his son, who was known for loving music and giving out hugs. “It wasn't a car crash that took his life,” Sean says. “Instead, it was an energy drink." (Another teen died after drinking three energy drinks within a 24-hour period.) |
CBS
Most Americans believe the massive federal budget deficit is a very serious problem that will create hardships for future generations, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll.
Sixty-four percent say they are very concerned the deficit will create hardship in the future, and another 26 percent are somewhat concerned. Just eight percent say they are not concerned.
Fifty-six percent say the deficit needs immediate action, while 38 percent say efforts to address the deficit can wait until the economy has improved. Republicans and independents were more likely to push to deal with the deficit now, while Democrats were more likely to say it can wait.
So how do Americans propose to address the deficit? By cutting programs, not raising taxes. Sixty-two percent would prefer to cut programs from which they benefit, including 81 percent of Republicans. Just 29 percent want taxes raised, including 42 percent of Democrats.
Pollsters asked Americans which of three programs - the military, Medicare and Social Security - they would be willing to change to cut government spending. The military was by far the top choice, cited by 55 percent. Twenty-one percent cited Medicare, and 13 percent Social Security.
Asked specifically which of four options they would prefer to reduce military spending, the top choice (cited by 55 percent) was reducing troops in Europe and Asia. Nineteen percent wanted to eliminate weapons programs, 12 percent wanted to reduce non-combat military pay, and seven percent wanted to reduce the size of the armed forces.
Vince Bucci
In light of the fact that Medicare and Social Security take up a sizable chunk of the budget, respondents were asked whether they would prefer to reduce benefits or raise taxes to maintain the programs. Just one in four wanted to reduce benefits, while two in three favored raising taxes.
Given four options for reducing the deficit tied to Medicare, 48 percent said they would prefer to raise premiums for high-income Americans; 21 percent said they would prefer to raise the age for people to receive benefits; 16 percent wanted to raise premiums for all; and nine percent favored covering fewer treatments.
Given three options to keep Social Security financially sound, a clear majority chose reducing benefits for high-income Americans. Eighteen percent wanted to raise the age for people to receive benefits, and eight percent would reduce scheduled benefit increases.
Americans were also given four options for raising taxes to reduce the deficit and asked to choose between them. Thirty-three percent favored creating a national sales tax, while 32 percent favored limiting the mortgage interest deduction. Twelve percent wanted to raise the national gasoline tax, and ten percent favored taxing health insurance benefits.
Three in four Americans say it is acceptable for the government to run deficits - so long as they are kept manageable or only exist in emergency situations. Sixteen percent say deficits are never acceptable.
The Economy
Despite Americans' concerns about the deficit, the vast majority do not see it as the nation's most pressing problem. Just six percent say the deficit is the nation's most important problem, the same percent that cite health care. By contrast, 51 percent say the economy and jobs are the paramount issue.
Just 26 percent say the economy is in good shape, while 74 percent say it's in bad shape. Still, that's an improvement from November, when 18 percent said they economy was in good shape, and February 2009, when just 5 percent said as much.
Thirty percent say the economy is getting better, while 21 percent say it is getting worse and 46 percent see no change in either direction. Thirty percent say the bad economy has reduced their wages or benefits, while roughly 70 percent say it has not.
Thirty-six percent of Americans say they have received a pay raise in the past year, and 28 percent say they received a raise one to two years ago. Twenty-nine percent said they it has been more than two years since they got a raise.
Americans remain concerned their jobs may disappear. Forty-one percent say they are very concerned about household job loss in the next year, compared to 36 percent who said as much in October. Only one in three say they are not very concerned or not at all concerned.
Obama Approval Rating Up to 49 Percent
Poll: More Want to Keep Health Care Law Than Want to Repeal It
Poll: Americans Remain Split on Gun Control
Poll: Many Want Congress to Focus on Jobs, not Health Care
Read the Complete Poll
Watch Washington Unplugged's political roundtable with CBS News Director of Surveys Sarah Dutton and CBS Evening News Senior Producer Ward Sloane here. ||||| Photo Advertisement Continue reading the main story
WASHINGTON — The latest Congressional failure to agree on a plan for balancing the government’s books could yield a surprising result: a sharp reduction in annual federal deficits, larger than anything contemplated by the special panel that reached its fruitless finale on Monday.
But the absence of an agreement also threatens to significantly slow growth in an already ailing economy by raising taxes on almost everyone while reducing government spending on almost everything.
Tax cuts passed in the Bush administration will expire at the end of 2012. By law, the panel’s failure triggers new caps on spending, cutting $1.2 trillion from the military, education, health care and other priorities over 10 years beginning next fall. The combined impact of higher tax rates and less spending would reverse the growth of annual deficits beginning in 2013, reducing by more than half the current $1.3 trillion gap between annual revenue and spending.
That has inverted the normal reality, in which spending rises inexorably unless Congress musters the political will to impose cuts. Now, although both parties say they are committed to more gradual approaches, an agreement is required to avoid the fiscal equivalent of shock therapy.
“There could be a bit of a silver lining,” said Rosanne Altshuler, an economist at Rutgers University who served on President George W. Bush’s 2005 tax reform panel. “It forces us to come to terms with cuts in areas that have been difficult to touch — the military and Medicare. We may not like how the cuts are going to be done, but we better start dealing with the fact that cuts are going to have to be made.”
The latest committee, created in August as part of a deal to let the federal government borrow more money, was charged with identifying at least $1.2 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade. Its failure forces the same amount of spending cuts, with half the money coming from the military budget.
The immediate economic impact depends first on investors, who must decide whether they are now any more concerned about the nation’s financial condition. Any increase in the interest rates that the government must pay would widen the deficit, as would any decrease in economic growth. But while stock market indexes fell sharply Monday, with the Dow Jones industrial average down 248.85 points, investors continue to pay for the opportunity to lend money to the United States. Two credit rating agencies, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, affirmed their ratings of United States debt securities on Monday and said the failure did not change their assessment of the government’s ability to pay its debts. Fitch, a third agency, said it was reviewing its ratings and hoped to make a conclusion by the end of the month. It said in August that a failure by the special committee would probably result in a negative rating.
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A second, looming question is whether Congress will extend a payroll tax break for workers and continue supplemental benefits for the long-term unemployed, both scheduled to expire at the end of the year. The tax break reduces the amount that workers must pay for Social Security; the extended benefits provide support for 3.5 million Americans who have been out of a job for longer than 26 weeks. The government will spend about $168 billion on the two programs this year. Economic forecasters estimate that a decision to end the benefits would reduce the country’s economic growth next year by more than one percentage point.
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The Obama administration had hoped to wrap extensions of both benefits into a broader agreement. It now faces the challenge of rescuing a smaller compromise from the ruins of the negotiations, with some Republicans in outright opposition and others demanding offsetting cuts in other federal spending.
President Obama plans to call for the extension of both programs in New Hampshire on Tuesday.
Representative Jeb Hensarling, a Republican from Texas on the special negotiating committee, said on “Fox News Sunday” that its members had been “laser-focused on trying to get success” on the payroll tax measure. But, he added, “the bigger tragedy is we have unsustainable debt that is threatening our national security, is threatening our jobs, frankly, and is threatening our children’s future.”
The decisions that must be made by the end of next year over the future of the Bush tax cuts and the reductions in spending are far larger, as are the economic consequences.
The Obama administration wants to extend most Bush-era tax cuts while restoring higher rates for higher incomes. Democrats say they will not strike any agreement on spending cuts without an agreement to raise new revenue. Mr. Obama repeated on Monday that he would veto any legislation extending all of the cuts. Republicans say they will accept nothing less.
A Moody’s Analytics report warns that failing a deal, the combined impact will amount to a “historically extreme” reduction in the deficit that could push the economy into recession. It notes that under current law, federal revenue would increase as a share of economic activity by 3.7 percentage points over 2012 and 2013 — the sharpest rise since 1969, when, Moody’s says, sudden tax increases “helped set off a mild recession.” Combined with the required budget cuts, the deficit would shrink to $510 billion from $1.3 trillion by 2013.
“You’re seeing a very rapid depletion of the budget deficit,” said Ben Garber, an economist with Moody’s Capital Markets Research Group who wrote the report. “You’re taking a weak economy and removing a large part of potential demand, which could be enough to tip us into recession.”
There is still plenty of time for Congress to unlock its self-imposed handcuffs and renounce frugality. Next year’s elections also could produce a clear mandate for one party to reduce deficits according to its priorities without any need for compromises. Partisans at both ends of the political spectrum said they welcomed the failure of the current talks as an opportunity to win just such a mandate.
Over the last month, conservatives feared that the committee would settle for cosmetic cuts. They now see an opportunity to secure larger reductions, without tax increases, to encourage faster growth.
Liberals hope the Occupy Wall Street protests have shifted political debate from an overriding focus on the long-term danger posed by the federal deficit toward a focus on unemployment, income inequality and other immediate economic problems.
“This committee was created at a very different time, when the dialogue was that our deficits were too big and unsustainable,” said Martin Hart-Landsberg, a professor of economics at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore. “This failure gives us time to help educate and change that dialogue, to focus on job creation and the direction of the economy.” | – Some 56% of Americans want the massive federal budget deficit dealt with now instead of when the economy improves, according to a New York Times/CBS poll, and 62% say they would prefer the deficit be addressed through spending cuts, rather than higher taxes. That preference, however, changed when respondents were asked about specific cuts to Medicare or Social Security—the two government programs that touch the most people, and are expected to be the biggest causes of future deficits. Some 55% of respondents said that if Medicare, Social Security, or the military needed to be cut, they would prefer the ax falls on the Pentagon. The findings highlight the difficulty President Obama and Congress will have reaching a consensus on ways to reduce the deficit. House Republicans have called for slashing $2.5 trillion in spending over the next decade, but their plan hasn't specified where most of the cuts will come. |
Ailing tech giant Yahoo knew about their data breach affecting hundreds of millions of accounts. The breach is among the largest on record. (Jhaan Elker/The Washington Post)
Yahoo on Thursday reported the largest data breach in history — affecting at least 500 million user accounts — months after first detecting signs of an intrusion that the company blamed on "state-sponsored" hackers.
The Web giant called on customers to change their passwords and institute other protective measures, but the largest fallout could be for Yahoo itself. The long-faltering company this summer agreed to sell its core business for $4.8 billion to telecommunications giant Verizon in a deal now clouded by news of the massive breach. Verizon said it learned of the incident only "within the last two days."
The timeline highlighted a dilemma created by hacks: Companies often take months or even years to report suspicions of breaches — if they report them publicly at all — holding the information back from customers, business partners and even potential new owners of a company.
[What you should do if you have a Yahoo account]
"The dark cloud this casts will be very long and will likely impact the merger agreement," Jeff Kagan, a Georgia-based telecommunications industry analyst, said in an email. "We'll just have to wait and see what happens next."
Yahoo learned of the incident in July, the same month it announced its deal with Verizon, a person familiar with the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity to freely discuss the issue.
When asked, Yahoo declined to say whether it first learned of the hack before or after that deal was announced.
Yahoo ultimately revealed the breach after Recode, a news site focusing on Silicon Valley, reported Thursday morning that the ailing tech giant would confirm a data breach affecting hundreds of millions of accounts.
The total number of affected accounts, by reaching 500 million, gave it the dubious distinction of being the largest breach on record, said Paul Stephens of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
[How data breaches grew to massive proportions in 11 years]
Stephens said that consumers must also take steps to take care of matters themselves, outside of their Yahoo accounts. "It's really important that individuals think long and hard about passwords as well as security questions and answers they used on Yahoo that they might have used somewhere else," Stephens said. "It's very important to remember that if that information is available to hackers, they are going to try and use it on other sites as well."
Yahoo reported that the intrusion apparently began in 2014. Company Chief Information Security Officer Bob Lord wrote in a blog post that names, email address, telephone numbers, dates of birth and answers to "security questions" may have been stolen but financial information such as credit card numbers apparently was not because that data was stored in a separate system.
"Yahoo is working closely with law enforcement on this matter," Lord wrote.
Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) chastised Yahoo for not reporting suspicions of a breach sooner and called on the federal government to impose stricter disclosure requirements for companies. Companies now face a messy patchwork of state disclosure laws but no federal standard for reporting about breaches, including when, how and who was affected.
"While its scale puts it among the largest on record, I am perhaps most troubled by news that this breach occurred in 2014, and yet the public is only learning details of it today," Warner said in a statement. "Action from Congress to create a uniform data breach notification standard so that consumers are notified in a much more timely manner is long overdue."
Although President Obama proposed a federal law in 2015 that would give companies 30 days to notify the public about a discovered hack, lawmakers have yet to approve a single national standard.
On Thursday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) called on investigators to determine whether Yahoo intentionally withheld information about the incident to "artificially bolster its valuation" by Verizon — a potentially serious act of deception.
The impact on Verizon's deal with Yahoo was not immediately clear. Major data breaches have become a routine event for corporate America and also for major government agencies and political groups. The Yahoo intrusion stands out for the sheer scale of the customers apparently affected, a legacy of the company's once-commanding position for Internet users who turned to the company for web searches, email accounts, user groups and news reports.
The Verizon deal was seen as a relatively soft landing for Yahoo, a company overtaken by competitors in nearly every one of its major businesses.
Verizon, in a company statement, said that it was monitoring news of the breach. "We understand that Yahoo is conducting an active investigation of this matter, but we otherwise have limited information and understanding of the impact," the company's statement said. "We will evaluate as the investigation continues through the lens of overall Verizon interests, including consumers, customers, shareholders and related communities. Until then, we are not in position to further comment."
The security breach is yet another bruise for the aging tech firm and chief executive Marissa Mayer, who joined Yahoo in 2012 to effect a turnaround and ended up having to sell the firm's core assets instead.
Microsoft's recent acquisition of LinkedIn, which came one month after the social network revealed it 167 million of its accounts had been breached, show a breach alone is not necessarily enough to derail a deal, said John Levallo, senior vice president at the public relations and strategic communications firm Levick.
But he said the tech giant will be hard-pressed to rehabilitate its overall reputation in light of this breach.
"Focus on the consumer and not the deal," Levallo said. "If I were in that boardroom at this moment in time, I would say we understand there's a huge deal on the table right now. But first address and resolve the issue for your consumers and the transaction will take care of itself."
Yahoo has had a poor security reputation in the past, one of the many things that Mayer has focused on since becoming chief executive.
Vice's Motherboard blog in August reported that Yahoo was investigating an alleged breach after the news organization found that a cybercriminal known as "Peace" claimed to be offering 200 million Yahoo user credentials for sale online. The data was advertised on the "dark web" — a part of the Internet accessible only through the use of special software such as the anonymous browsing tool Tor and often associated with illicit activities.
Staff writers Andrea Peterson and Ellen Nakashima contributed to this report. ||||| Yahoo is poised to confirm a massive data breach of its service, according to several sources close to the situation. The company was the victim of hacking that has exposed several hundred million user accounts.
While sources were unspecific about the extent of the incursion, since there is the likelihood of government investigations and legal action related to the breach, they noted that it is widespread and serious.
Earlier this summer, Yahoo said it was investigating a data breach in which hackers claimed to have access to 200 million user accounts and one was selling them online. “It’s as bad as that,” said one source. “Worse, really.”
The announcement, which is expected to come this week, also has possible larger implications for the $4.8 billion sale of Yahoo’s core business — which is at the core of this hack — to Verizon. The scale of the liability could bring untold headaches to the new owners. Shareholders are likely to worry that it could lead to an adjustment in the price of the transaction.
That deal is now moving to completion, but the companies cannot be integrated until it is approved by a number of regulatory agencies, as well as Yahoo shareholders. Representatives of Verizon and Yahoo started meeting recently to review the Yahoo business, so that the acquisition would run smoothly once complete.
But there’s nothing smooth about this hack, said sources, which became known in August when an infamous cybercriminal named “Peace” claimed on a website that he was selling credentials of 200 million Yahoo users from 2012 on the dark web for just over $1,800. The data allegedly included user names, easily decrypted passwords and personal information like birth dates and other email addresses.
At the time, Yahoo said it was “aware of the claim,” but the company declined to say if it was legitimate and said that it was investigating the information. But it did not issue a call for a password reset to users. Now, said sources, Yahoo might have to, although it will be a case of too little, too late.
The confirmation of such an extensive hack is another blemish on the record of CEO Marissa Mayer, a vaunted former Google exec who has presided over numerous declines in the business since she arrived four years ago. Her inability to turn Yahoo around or innovate any new products eventually led to the sale.
I reached out to Yahoo for comment and will update this post if I get a response (don’t wait up late for that!). ||||| Now playing: Watch this: 500 million Yahoo accounts stolen
Hackers swiped personal information associated with at least a half billion Yahoo accounts, the internet giant said Thursday, marking the biggest data breach in history.
The hack, which took place in 2014, revealed names, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates and, in some cases, security questions and answers, Yahoo said in a press release. Encrypted passwords, which are jumbled so only a person with the right passcode can read them, were also taken.
The internet pioneer, which is in the process of selling itself to Verizon, said it's "working closely" with law enforcement. It called the hackers a "state-sponsored actor," though it didn't identify a country behind the breach.
Yahoo urged users to change their passwords if they haven't since 2014. The company has 1 billion monthly active users for all its internet services, which span finance, online shopping and fantasy football. Its mail service alone has about 225 million monthly active users, Yahoo told CNET in June.
The hack serves as a reminder of how widespread hacking is and highlights the vulnerability of passwords. Cybersecurity specialists recommend using a different password for each account you have on the internet. Other experts are working on alternatives to passwords, such as biometrics like your fingerprint or retina.
"Cybercriminals know that consumers use the same passwords across websites and applications, which is why these millions of leaked password credentials are so useful for perpetuating fraud," said Brett McDowell, executive director of the FIDO Alliance, an organization that vets the security of password alternatives. "We need to take that ability away from criminals, and the only way to do that is to stop relying on passwords altogether."
Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
Verizon, which is paying $4.83 billion for Yahoo, said it was notified of the massive breach within the last two days. The telecommunications giant had "limited information and understanding of the impact," according to a statement.
"We will evaluate, as the investigation continues, through the lens of overall Verizon interests, including consumers, customers, shareholders and related communities," Verizon said.
B. Riley & Co. analyst Sameet Sinha told The Wall Street Journal the breach was unlikely to affect the sale to Verizon.
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, a member of the newly formed Senate Cybersecurity Caucus, criticized Yahoo for not discovering the breach when it originally happened in 2014.
"While we have seen more and more data breaches in the private sector in recent years, many of them affecting millions of consumers, the seriousness of this breach at Yahoo is huge," Warner said.
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit organization that tracks cybersecurity breaches, said the hack was the largest-ever publicly disclosed breach.
Yahoo has taken steps to protect its users, including invalidating security questions and answers, but the real risk lies in hackers using the passwords on other websites.
"We typically see a 0.1 percent to 2 percent log-in success rate from credential stuffing attacks, meaning that a cybercriminal using 500 million passwords to attempt to take over accounts on another website would be able to take over tens of thousands of accounts on most websites," said Shuman Ghosemajumder, Google's former click-fraud czar and CTO of Shape Security.
Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg's Twitter account was hacked using a similar method after the passwords of more than 100 million LinkedIn members were leaked.
It will take Yahoo at least several months before it starts regaining users' trust, according to research from Alertsec. The encryption provider did a study that found about 97 percent of Americans lose trust in companies like Yahoo after massive data breaches.
"When a company has allowed their customers' data to fall into the hands of criminals, the resulting lack of trust is difficult to repair," CEO Ebba Blitz said in a statement.
On August 1, a hacker named "Peace" claimed to have breached 200 million Yahoo usernames and passwords from a hack in 2012, and offered to sell them on the dark web after trying to do the same with MySpace and LinkedIn accounts.
A person familiar with the situation said Peace's assertion prompted Yahoo to initiate an internal investigation. That investigation found no evidence that substantiated Peace's claim, but the investigating team found indications that a state-sponsored actor had stolen data in 2014.
Former Yahoo information security officer Jeremiah Grossman, now chief of security strategy at SentinelOne, said that internet companies, especially giants like Yahoo, face challenges protecting enormous computer networks because the networks offer so many points of entry to attackers.
"It's unsurprising when breaches, even of this magnitude, take place," Grossman said. "Yahoo certainly isn't the first. And they won't be the last."
This story was originally published at 6:30 a.m. PT.
Updates, 10:20 a.m., 12:09, 12:41, 2:08, 2:30, 3:10, 4:15 and 4:42 p.m. PT: Added details of the 2012 hack that affected Yahoo, LinkedIn and MySpace, and added statements from Yahoo and Verizon, and analysis from experts. ||||| Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer. Getty/Kimberly White Yahoo is getting ready to confirm a huge, historic hack affecting 200 million users, Recode reports.
Back in August, Motherboard's Joseph Cox reported that 200 million apparent Yahoo user credentials were being sold on the dark web. At the time, the company's response was only that it was "aware of [the] claim."
But now Kara Swisher, one of the tech industry's most respected journalists, is reporting for Recode that Yahoo sources tell her the company is preparing to publicly confirm the hack. (Her sources did not confirm its exact size, only that it was "widespread and serious.")
Yahoo did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
Motherboard was told by the hacker who held the data (and was selling it for 3 bitcoins, worth $1,860 at the time) that the breach was carried out in 2012 — and was never made public. Data included usernames, encrypted passwords, date-of-births, and some email addresses.
A spate of historic data breaches affecting millions of users have recently been coming to light, affecting companies including LinkedIn, MySpace, and Tumblr. If user passwords are unencrypted (or not encrypted properly), hackers can then use this login data to break into individual user accounts — and often, because people reuse passwords across multiple sites, the hackers can use the information to break into accounts on other sites as well.
We saw multiple high-profile demonstrations of this problem this summer, as celebrities and public figures including Mark Zuckerberg and Drake had their Twitter accounts broken into. Twitter wasn't hacked — but the victims had reused passwords that were also used on hacked websites.
This new attention on the alleged breach comes at an awkward time for Yahoo. The tech company is selling its core business to Verizon for $4.8 billion (£3.7 billion) after years of flagging fortunes.
There's nothing ordinary users can do to prevent these kinds of breaches, but using a strong, unique password on each website or service you have an account on (managing those passwords with a password-manager app if necessary) will help limit the damage. ||||| SHARE THIS ARTICLE Share Tweet Post Email
Verizon Communications Inc. is exploring a price cut or possible exit from its $4.83 billion pending acquisition of Yahoo! Inc., after the company reported a second major e-mail hack affecting as many as 1 billion user accounts, according to a person familiar with the matter.
While a Verizon group led by AOL Chief Executive Officer Tim Armstrong is still focused on integration planning to get Yahoo up and running, another team, walled off from the rest, is reviewing the breach disclosures and the company’s options, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.
Tim Armstrong Photographer: Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg
A legal team led by Verizon General Counsel Craig Silliman is assessing the damage from the breaches and is working toward either killing the deal or renegotiating the Yahoo purchase at a lower price, the person said. One of the major objectives for Verizon is negotiating a separation from any future legal fallout from the breaches. Verizon is seeking to have Yahoo assume any lasting responsibility for the hack damage, the person said.
Yahoo shares fell as much as 6.5 percent to $38.25, the biggest intraday decline since February. Verizon rose less than 1 percent to $52.07.
User data from more than 1 billion accounts was stolen in August 2013, according to a Yahoo statement Wednesday, the second major breach the company has disclosed in the past three months. Given the severity of the hack, which included more than 150,000 U.S. government employees, Verizon is under pressure to reassess the value of the deal and appease shareholders who may see Yahoo as damaged goods.
“As we’ve said all along, we will evaluate the situation as Yahoo continues its investigation,” Verizon said Wednesday in an e-mailed statement. “We will review the impact of this new development before reaching any final conclusions.”
On Notice
In October, with slow progress and limited information available from the investigation, Silliman put Yahoo on notice, saying it was reasonable to assume the breach has had a material impact on the deal.
In the 2013 hack disclosed Wednesday, Yahoo said compromised user account information may have included names, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, passwords and, in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers. The company said it was notifying potentially affected users and had taken steps to secure their accounts.
Verizon has said that the deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017, still makes sense strategically. The company is hoping to expand beyond its wireless phone service by building a mobile media and advertising business and wants to work the billion or more Yahoo users into the fold.
Marissa Mayer Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg
For Yahoo Chief Executive Officer Marissa Mayer, the new hacks could weaken Yahoo’s reputation with users who have been using its services for years and further tarnish its credibility ahead of the Verizon deal.
"We are confident in Yahoo’s value and we continue to work towards integration with Verizon," Yahoo said in a statement.
Hours after the disclosure Wednesday, a Yahoo user filed a class-action lawsuit against the Sunnyvale, California-based company.
“Yahoo failed, and continues to fail, to provide adequate protection of its users’ personal and confidential information,’’ New York consumer Amy Vail said in the lawsuit. “Yahoo users’ personal and private information has been repeatedly compromised and remains vulnerable.’’
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is probing the Yahoo hack, Josh Earnest, White House spokesman said Thursday. He noted the FBI had said it was looking into the previous breach as well.
Also, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said his office is in touch with Yahoo and "is currently examining the circumstances of the breach" and the company’s disclosure of the hack to law enforcement.
— With assistance by Michael Riley, and Joe Sobczyk ||||| FILE - In this June 5, 2014, file photo, people walk in front of a Yahoo sign at the company's headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif. Yahoo says the personal information of 500 million accounts have been stolen... (Associated Press)
FILE - In this June 5, 2014, file photo, people walk in front of a Yahoo sign at the company's headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif. Yahoo says the personal information of 500 million accounts have been stolen... (Associated Press)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Yahoo said hackers stole personal information from 500 million of its user accounts, a massive security breakdown it attributed to a "state sponsored actor." The breach disclosed Thursday, the latest setback for the beleaguered internet company, dates back to late 2014.
That's when high-tech thieves hacked into Yahoo's data centers, the company said. But Yahoo only recently discovered the break-in as part of an ongoing internal investigation.
The stolen data includes users' names, email addresses, telephone numbers, birth dates, hashed passwords, and the security questions — and answers — used to verify an accountholder's identity.
Last month, the tech site Motherboard reported that a hacker who uses the name "Peace" boasted that he had account information belonging to 200 million Yahoo users and was trying to sell the data on the web.
Yahoo recommends that users change their passwords if they haven't done so since 2014. The Sunnyvale, California, company said its investigation so far hasn't found any evidence that information about users' bank accounts or credit and debit cards were swiped in the hacking attack. It said it has "no evidence" that the attacker is still in Yahoo's network.
News of the security lapse could cause some people to have second thoughts about relying on Yahoo's services, raising a prickly issue for the company as it tries to sell its digital operations to Verizon Communications for $4.8 billion.
That deal, announced two months ago, isn't supposed to close until early next year. That leaves Verizon with wiggle room to renegotiate the purchase price or even back out if it believes the security breach will harm Yahoo's business. That could happen if users shun Yahoo or file lawsuits because they're incensed by the theft of their personal information.
Verizon said it still doesn't know enough about the Yahoo break-in to assess the potential consequences. "We will evaluate as the investigation continues through the lens of overall Verizon interests, including consumers, customers, shareholders and related communities," the company said in a statement. ||||| Yahoo (YHOO) on Thursday afternoon disclosed a security breach involving at least 500 million customers, but questions are being raised about whether the internet company should have moved sooner to protect users.
News that Yahoo would disclose the hack was reported Thursday by Recode, which cited several anonymous sources close to the situation. Those sources describe the breach as “widespread and serious,” while declining to elaborate because of possible government investigations and potential lawsuits.
In early August, tech site Motherboard reported that a hacker who goes by the moniker “Peace” was selling information, including user names, birth dates and scrambled passwords, from 200 million Yahoo accounts.
“Consumers should be not be reading in the news something Yahoo hasn’t told them,” said Susan Grant, director of consumer protection and privacy at the Consumer Federation of America. “They should be hearing this from Yahoo, not only that we had this problem -- but also about what to do.”
In confirming the attack on Thursday, Yahoo said user account information was stolen from the company’s network in late 2014 by what the company called a “state-sponsored actor.” The data may have included names, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and passwords.
Yahoo initiated an internal probe following a report in July of a hacker selling 280 million user credentials on the black market, but found no evidence to substantiate the hacker’s claims, according to a source close to the company. A deeper review by the company’s security team found evidence a date theft occurred in 2014, the source said.
Yahoo declined comment as to why the company had not notified users earlier.
Like other companies, Yahoo is subject to data-breach notification laws in effect in 48 states that require companies to alert customers within specific periods of time that their information has been compromised.
“There are sometimes exceptions for notification when there are good reasons for law enforcement purposes for not revealing,” said Grant. But in Yahoo’s case the data loss has already been revealed, she noted.
A complicating factor, both for companies and customers, is that notification laws can be ambiguous. In Yahoo’s home state of California, for instance, the statute stipulates only that “The disclosure shall be made in the most expedient time possible and without unreasonable delay, consistent with the legitimate needs of law enforcement.”
Beyond changing their passwords, Grant advised Yahoo users concerned their information might be compromised to go the government site identitytheft.gov and follow the prompts on what it calls a recovery plan.
The reports come as Yahoo looks to close a deal to be acquired by telecommunications giant Verizon (VZ), which agreed in July to buy its internet business for $4.8 billion.
“It doesn’t appear Yahoo had hard enough defenses, and with a merger you have to worry about even more sensitive information being vulnerable, Grant said. “When there’s more information that can be potentially there for the taking, it raises concerns about the adequacy of the security.”
“Within the last two days, we were notified of Yahoo’s security incident. We understand that Yahoo is conducting an active investigation of this matter, but we otherwise have limited information and understanding of the impact,” said a Verizon spokesperson. “We will evaluate as the investigation continues through the lens of overall Verizon interests, including consumers, customers, shareholders and related communities.”
AOL did not return requests for comment. | – Yahoo broke the news to half-a-billion users Thursday that hackers breached its system and thus might know their passwords, security questions, phone numbers, and dates of birth. Yes, that's a "b" as in billion, making this the largest data breach ever, notes CNET. The company is blaming "state-sponsored" hackers for the 2014 breach, without offering specifics. Related coverage: What should users do? In addition to changing passwords and security questions, they might consider enabling two-step authentication. See Recode and USA Today for advice. The danger of the hack? The data "could be useful ammunition for any hacker attempting to break into Yahoo accounts, or interested in exploring whether users might have used the same security questions/answers to protect themselves elsewhere on the web," writes security expert Graham Cluley on his blog. Yahoo got wind of the breach when it heard in July of this year that someone was trying to sell account credentials for 280 million users on the black market. It looked into the allegation and found that the truth was actually much worse. See Bloomberg. Might this screw up Verizon's deal to buy Yahoo for $4.8 billion? In short, maybe. Yahoo isn't saying whether it learned of the hack before announcing the Verizon deal in July. For now, Verizon is saying only that it has "limited information and understanding of the impact." See the Washington Post. Did Yahoo move too slowly in alerting people? “Consumers should be not be reading in the news something Yahoo hasn’t told them,” says an official at the Consumer Federation of America. More at CBS News. Yahoo's message to users is here. |
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Nick Higham reports on the life and career of Peter O'Toole
Actor Peter O'Toole, who starred in Sir David Lean's 1962 film classic Lawrence of Arabia, died on Saturday aged 81, his agent has said.
He was being treated at London's Wellington hospital after a long illness, his agent added.
O'Toole's daughter Kate said the family was overwhelmed "by the outpouring of real love and affection being expressed towards him, and to us".
He received an honorary Oscar in 2003, having initially turned it down.
In a letter the actor asked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to delay it until he was 80, saying he was "still in the game and might win the bugger outright".
But when he finally clasped his statuette, he said: "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, my foot."
O'Toole's agent said he was "one of a kind in the very best sense and a giant in his field".
Image caption O'Toole was 30 when he played Lawrence of Arabia
Film critic Barry Norman described him as a "true movie star", who had "tremendous charisma".
Prime Minister David Cameron said: "My thoughts are with Peter O'Toole's family and friends. His performance in my favourite film, Lawrence of Arabia, was stunning."
Irish President Michael D Higgins added: "Ireland, and the world, has lost one of the giants of film and theatre.
"I was privileged to know him as a friend since 1969. I spent part of 1979 in Clifden where we met almost daily and all of us who knew him in the West will miss his warm humour and generous friendship."
Broadcaster Michael Parkinson told Sky News it was hard to be too sad about the news of his passing, and smiled as he said: "Peter didn't leave much of life unlived, did he?"
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Barry Norman: "He was acting right until the end... acting was his life"
Actor, director and broadcaster Stephen Fry tweeted: "Oh what terrible news. Farewell Peter O'Toole. I had the honour of directing him in a scene. Monster, scholar, lover of life, genius …"
Writer and actor David Walliams recalled his memories of the actor, saying: "Matt & I had drinks with Peter O'Toole in LA a few years ago. He was hugely entertaining. The greatest company. A legend on screen and off."
Actress Sheridan Smith also tweeted her tribute, saying: "So sad about the death of the incredible Peter O'Toole :( He saw a play I did last year & sent me & all the cast presents after. A true gent!"
Comic Eddie Izzard added his voice by saying: "Your work will be remembered", while actor and writer Simon Pegg said the actor was "a true great".
Actor Eddie Marsan hailed O'Toole's determination, tweeting: "'Waiting for the right part - you could wait forever. So I turn up and do the best I can.' That's an actor for you. R.I.P. Peter O Toole."
The Shield star Michael Chiklis added that O'Toole was the "original, hard drinking, classic, actor's actor", saying: "The piercing blue eyes of Lawrence of Arabia will never fade", while fellow US actor Neil Patrick Harris added: "Lucky to have worked with him for a month in Prague. Wonderful man, remarkable talent."
Journalist Piers Morgan also paid tribute, tweeting: "RIP Peter O'Toole. Spent one of the funniest days of my life with him at Lord's a few years ago. A brilliant actor & crazy, hilarious man."
O'Toole began his acting career as an exciting young talent on the British stage and his Hamlet in 1955 at the Bristol Old Vic, was critically acclaimed.
Image caption O'Toole is seen backstage at the opening night of Hamlet at the Old Vic theatre in London in 1963
He hit international stardom when Sir David cast him as British adventurer T E Lawrence, the World War One soldier and scholar who led an Arab rebellion against the Turks.
Playwright Noel Coward once said that if O'Toole had been any prettier, they would have had to call the film "Florence of Arabia".
Lawrence of Arabia earned him the first of eight Oscar nominations, with his second coming for 1964's Becket, in which he played King Henry II to Richard Burton's Thomas Becket.
Burton and O'Toole's shared love of drinking garnered many headlines along with their performances.
O'Toole played Henry again in 1968 in The Lion in Winter, for which he received his third Oscar nod, opposite Katharine Hepburn.
His five other nominations were for Goodbye, Mr Chips in 1968, The Ruling Class in 1971, 1980's The Stunt Man, My Favorite Year [1982] and finally for Venus in 2006.
Image caption Peter O'Toole starred with Audrey Hepburn in 1965's comedy How to Steal a Million
Other performances included leading Shakespearean parts, comic roles in adaptations of PG Wodehouse and his famed starring role in 1989 in Keith Waterhouse's stage play Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell.
It was a comedy about his old drinking pal Jeffrey Bernard, who wrote The Spectator magazine's weekly Low Life column.
O'Toole also had a reputation for riotous behaviour following bouts of drinking, but in the mid-70s he was diagnosed with pancreatitis and was warned by medics that more alcohol would prove fatal.
He had yards of his intestinal tubing - "most of my plumbing" - removed and he gave up drinking.
"If you can't do something willingly and joyfully, then don't do it,'' he once said. "If you give up drinking, don't go moaning about it; go back on the bottle. Do. As. Thou. Wilt."
'Waiting for the right part'
It was sometimes tough finding good roles, but he told the Independent on Sunday in 1990: "I take whatever good part comes along.
"And if there isn't a good part, then I do anything, just to pay the rent. Money is always a pressure. And waiting for the right part - you could wait forever. So I turn up and do the best I can."
In 1980 he starred in a critically panned production of Macbeth, but it was a sell-out after a drubbing from critics brought in audiences of curiosity seekers.
"The thought of it makes my nose bleed," he said years later.
Last July, after a career spanning 50 years and at the age of 79, O'Toole said he was retiring from the stage and screen.
However, last month it was announced he was being lined up for a role as a Roman orator in Katherine of Alexandria, a film scheduled for release next year. ||||| Omar Sharif, star of Dr Zhivago and one of the world's greatest bridge players, has died aged 83.
His agent Steve Kenis said on Friday: "He suffered a heart attack this afternoon in a hospital in Cairo."
Egyptian-born Sharif, who had Alzheimer’s disease, won international acclaim for his role in David Lean’s 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia.
It was his first English-language film and his turn as Sherif Ali won him two Golden Globes and an Oscar nomination.
Sharif later took the title role in Lean’s Doctor Zhivago, co-starring Julie Christie, for which he won another Golden Globe award.
He then played Fanny Brice’s husband, Nicky Arnstein, in Funny Girl alongside Barbara Streisand.
But although he starred in dozens of films, his career never quite lived up to its early promise and his later fame rested on his ability with a pack of cards.
Sharif was a regular in casinos and one of the world's best bridge players.
Playing backgammon in 1981
In May, Sharif's son Tarek El-Sharif, revealed that his father had Alzheimer's and confused the names of his best known films.
He said the actor mistook fans for people he used to know.
"My father has Alzheimer's," the 58-year-old told Spanish newspaper El Mundo.
"It's difficult to determine what stage. It's obvious he won't improve and will get worse."
Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif from the 1962 film 'Lawrence of Arabia
He said that his father, who had recently spent most of his time in his native Egypt, struggled with details in particular.
"He remembers for example that it was Doctor Zhivago but he's forgotten when it was filmed," he added.
"He can talk about the film but he forgets its name or he calls it something else like Lawrence Of Arabia."
Mr El-Sharif, the actor's only child with his ex-wife of 20 years Faten Hamama, said his father did not recognise that he was ill.
He was unaware that his former wife had died in January.
The pair had met on set and Sharif, who was born Michel Demetri Chalhoub, is said to have changed his name when he married her and converted to Islam.
Celebrity Hull fan Omar Sharif at the 2014 FA Cup final
Sharif attended boarding school in Cairo, where he developed a taste for acting.
He went on to gain a degree in mathematics and physics from Cairo University and became one of the top 10 bridge players in the world.
But he once claimed that he was "always one film behind my debts".
He is said to have lost a £4million villa on the Spanish island of Lanzarote in a bridge game in the 1970s.
Julie Christie and Omar Sharif in Dr Zhivago
Gambling took its toll on his career and, speaking in 2004, Sharif said he stopped making films when his own grandchildren started making fun of the low-rent movies he was appearing in.
He said: "I stopped making movies because for the last 25 years I've been making a lot of rubbish because I was in debt all the time".
The actor spent much of his life living in hotels and was reportedly living in one in the Red Sea resort of El Gouna as recently as May.
His son said his father felt "insecure" when he left the hotel and often refused to come out of his room. | – Actor Peter O'Toole, the legend of stage and screen perhaps best known for Lawrence of Arabia, has died at the age of 81, his agent confirms to the BBC. The Brit was nominated eight times for an Oscar but was win-less in his lifetime, though he did begrudgingly accept an honorary Academy Award in 2003. In 2012, the then-79-year-old announced his retirement from acting, saying that, "It's time for me to chuck in the sponge. To retire from stage and screen. The heart for it has gone out of me; it won't come back." |
Attorneys for suing filmmakers uncover a blurry version of an 88-year-old book in the files of Warner/Chappell. That leads to another serendipitous discovery.
On the eve of a judge's ruling, attorneys find key evidence tucked away in the files of the opposing side. They rush to court with word of their bombshell discovery. If this sounds like the third act of a Hollywood movie, it very well might become one.
The filmmakers working on a documentary about the world's most popular song, "Happy Birthday to You," and currently suing Warner/Chappell for the right to use the song in the documentary without any license fee, filed court papers on Monday touting newly uncovered evidence that "proves conclusively that there is no copyright to the Happy Birthday lyrics."
The "proverbial smoking gun," as the plaintiffs put it to a California judge, is a book of children's songs that comes straight out of Warner/Chappell's digital library.
Betsy Manifold and Mark Rifkin, attorneys for the plaintiffs, were only given access to these files just three weeks ago. They were told the documents were held back "mistakenly." What they found was a blurry version of the 15th edition of The Everyday Song Book, published in 1927. The book contained Happy Birthday lyrics. Intrigued by the discovery, and looking for a cleaner version, the lawyers started hunting down earlier editions, and in the archives of The University of Pittsburgh, they came upon the fourth edition, published in 1922, which included the famous Happy Birthday song without any copyright notice.
This book, plaintiffs believe, establishes that "Happy Birthday" lyrics were dedicated to the public years before the copyright registration that Warner/Chappell is relying upon was made.
If this proposition is accepted by the judge, Warner/Chappell may lose out on a cash cow that is reported to reap $2 million a year in revenue. Filmmakers like the named plaintiffs — and others who have forked over as much as six figures to license — would no longer have to pay a penny to feature "Happy Birthday" in motion pictures and television shows.
Good Morning to You Productions Corp., run by director Jennifer Nelson, filed the class-action lawsuit in 2013 after being told she'd have to pay $1,500 to use the song in her "Happy Birthday" documentary. After first being reported by The Hollywood Reporter, news of the litigation spread across the globe and was called the "lawsuit for the ages" by The New York Times. "It went viral and I never thought it would happen like this," said Nelson in a speech last year.
The legal action, like Nelson's pending film, puts a spotlight on a song that traces its origin to work by a schoolteacher named Patty Smith Hill and her sister Mildred Hill.
The Hill sisters later assigned rights to a publishing company owned by Clayton Summy. Later, copyright registrations were made by Sumny's company on "Happy Birthday." Warner/Chappell has been contending that the 1935 registration covers both the piano arrangement as well as nearly universally known lyrics.
The parties have engaged in nearly two years of debate over such topics as the possibility of fraud and whether decades-old letters about the origins of the song were protected by attorney-client privilege. After extensive discovery, both sides made summary judgment arguments last winter with U.S. District Judge George King requesting extra briefing on the issue of whether the "Happy Birthday" copyright was abandoned. Warner/Chappell has argued it wasn't abandoned unless the Hill Sisters published or authorize others to publish their works prior to the 1935 registration. The song publisher said there was no such proof of that.
Now, just as King was set to either blow out the candles on this litigation or deliver a gift to those wishing to make free use of the popular song, the plaintiffs have stepped forward with some dramatic flair.
The next oral hearing in the "Happy Birthday" dispute is scheduled for Wednesday. And so, the new filing comes at the judicial equivalent of a few minutes before midnight, so late that King had previously ordered the parties not to supplement the record with new evidence. The plaintiffs say they have good reason anyhow — the "smoking gun" only recently being obtained from the other side — to come forward with their serendipitous discovery.
According to their application for the judge to consider this new evidence, "Because the documents prove conclusively that the song is in the public domain, thus making it unnecessary for the Court to decide the scope or validity of the disputed copyrights, much less whether Patty Hill abandoned any copyright she may have had to the lyrics — indeed, all those issues become moot — Plaintiffs are compelled to bring them to the Court’s attention now, before more time is needlessly spent on the pending Summary Judgment Motions and before the oral argument scheduled for July 29, 2015."
Here's plaintiff's latest court papers.
Randall Newman, one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs, says Warner/Chappell "should admit defeat but they won't because too much money is at stake."
UPDATE: Warner/Chappell has submitted its response in court. The publisher is not opposing the plaintiffs' request to supplement the record, but say "at most, the documents would create an issue of fact whether The Cable Company," the company that put out The Everyday Song Book, "made a publication in 1922 that could have divested the copyright owners — the Hill Sisters — of their common law copyright in the Happy Birthday! lyrics."
Warner/Chappell says there's there no indication the Hill family was aware of the book nor authorized it. They write the "evidence instead shows that Summy sought and obtained a license to publish the Happy Birthday to You! lyrics" in 1935 — and "Summy would not have had to secure a license from Jessica Hill if it already had the rights to Happy Birthday to You! or if the work had fallen into the public domain."
Summy appears to have given "special permission" for the 1922 book — but in an attempt to at least let the case go to trial, Warner/Chappell asks "Was it for Good Morning to All only? Was it for that work in combination with the Happy Birthday lyrics?"
Elsewhere in Warner/Chappell's brief (read here), the defendant attempts to explain why it took them so long to hand over this key evidence. "Warner/Chappell was not hiding that or other documents or proceeding in bad faith," write their attorneys, explaining that it didn't believe documents from its "work product factual investigation" were "subject to discovery" until the March summary judgment hearing, a new review of files and so forth. ||||| The lawsuit notes that in the late 1800s, two sisters, Mildred J. Hill and Patty Smith Hill, wrote a song with the same melody called “Good Morning to All.” The suit tracks that song’s evolution into the familiar birthday song, and its ownership over more than a century.
But although Warner/Chappell claims ownership of “Happy Birthday to You,” the song was “just a public adaptation” of the original song, one of Ms. Nelson’s lawyers, Mark C. Rifkin, said in a phone interview.
“It’s a song created by the public, it belongs to the public, and it needs to go back to the public,” Mr. Rifkin said.
A spokesman for Warner/Chappell declined to comment on the suit. The company paid $25 million in 1988 to acquire Birchtree Ltd., a small company whose musical holdings included the birthday song.
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Mr. Rifkin cited an estimate that Warner/Chappell collected approximately $2 million per year in licensing fees for the song. He added that the suit asks that the firm return all the fees for the song it has collected in the past four years.
The rich history of the song’s evolution and the conclusion that it might be in the public domain closely tracks the findings of Robert Brauneis, a professor at the George Washington University Law School and the author of a 68-page article titled “Copyright and the World’s Most Popular Song.”
In the study, Professor Brauneis said that “it is doubtful that ‘Happy Birthday to You,’ the famous offspring of ‘Good Morning to All,’ is really still under copyright.”
“I believe this song is in the public domain and therefore it is not owned by anyone,” Professor Brauneis said in a phone interview on Thursday. He said “Happy Birthday to You” was “economically significant” in that it “still produces millions of dollars of income in a year,” and that a successful legal challenge “might be a model for challenges to other songs.”
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He said that another of Ms. Nelson’s lawyers, Randall S. Newman, had spoken with him about his study, but that he was not a consultant in the lawsuit.
Ms. Nelson is not the first documentarian to confront the issue of paying to use the Happy Birthday song. The filmmaker Steve James paid $5,000 to use the song in the acclaimed 1994 documentary “Hoop Dreams,” in which it is sung at a man’s 18th birthday party.
“It was an important scene,” Mr. James said in a 2005 article in The New York Times, “there was some amazement that Arthur had made it to 18. Of course, we wanted that in.”
Ms. Nelson, asked what she envisioned for her documentary, responded in the e-mail that her film would be about the “song’s history and its future.” The suit seeks to be given class-action status on behalf of all others who have paid licensing fees for it since 2009. ||||| The music publisher will also not stand in the way for a judge to declare the song to be in the public domain.
Sing the song, blow out the candles, eat the cake and unwrap the gifts.
According to a court filing on Monday, music publisher Warner/Chappell will pay $14 million to end a lawsuit challenging its hold on the English language's most popular song, "Happy Birthday to You." Additionally, the settlement stipulates a proposed final judgment and order that would declare the song to be in the public domain. A memorandum in support of the settlement sings the praises of the deal as "truly, an historic result." U.S. District Judge George H. King will have to sign off on it.
The revelation of the settlement terms comes after King came to the conclusion this past September that Warner and its predecessor didn't hold any valid copyright to the song and never acquired the rights to the "Happy Birthday" lyrics. At the time, the judge stopped short of declaring that the song was in the public domain, and just before a trial was set to begin in December exploring the history of a song dating back to a 19th century schoolteacher named Patty Smith Hill and her sister Mildred Hill, the sides reached an agreement.
Warners was expecting to have "Happy Birthday" under copyright until 2030. An IP valuation expert retained by the plaintiffs estimated that the song was to reap between $14 million to $16.5 million in the next 15 years.
"The judicial determination that 'Happy Birthday' is in the public domain also has substantial value," states the memorandum in support of the settlement. "Because Defendants have charged for use of the Song, untold thousands of people chose not to use the Song in their own performances and artistic works or to perform the Song in public. This has limited the number of times the Song was performed and used. After the Settlement is approved, that restraint will be removed and the Song will be performed and used far more often than it has been in the past. While there is no way to make a reliable estimate of the increase that will result, there can be no dispute that the increase will be substantial."
An agreement to have a judge declare the song in the public domain is no doubt unusual and will likely command some attention by the judge on review.
But for now, the settlement provides a big final act to the class action lawsuit brought by film director Jennifer Nelson, who was making a documentary about "Happy Birthday" and was asked to pay a $1,500 license fee. She sued to hinder Warners from ever forcing film and TV producers, or others, to pay again. The plaintiffs argued that a song appearing in early 20th-century children's textbooks had to be in the public domain because of general publication, abandonment or the length of the copyright term.
By agreeing to the settlement, Warners avoids going to trial to determine whether it should be punished for collecting licensing money for many decades. The music publisher also forgoes an appeal that it teased. The defendant continues to believe that a 1935 copyright registration should have entitled it to a presumption of copyright validity and that the song isn't in the public domain, but it has agreed to a judgment that states otherwise.
The plaintiffs were represented by attorneys led by Mark Rifkin, who according to the settlement terms will be seeking a $4.62 million fee, a third of the $14 million settlement fund. The rest would go to those who have paid to license "Happy Birthday" and meet the definition of the proposed class. Those folks are estimated to have spent more than $50 million on licensing fees on "Happy Birthday" over the years.
Last week, in announcing its quarterly earnings, Warner Music Group partly blamed an operating loss on expenses related to the "Happy Birthday" settlement. A hearing on the settlement is scheduled in March. | – A New York filmmaker is on a mission: To make what's regarded as the world's most often performed song one that can be belted out free of charge. Filmmaker Jennifer Nelson and her company, Good Morning to You Productions, have filed a class-action lawsuit against the publishing branch of Warner Music, which claims ownership of "Happy Birthday to You." She wants the song put in the public domain and Warner/Chappell to return the licensing fees it has earned off it—pegged at about $2 million a year, according her lawyer. Nelson herself paid Warner/Chappell $1,500 to use the song in a planned documentary about the tune, reports the Los Angeles Times. Tech Dirt applauds the move as a long time coming, writing that "as we've been pointing out for years, the song is almost certainly in the public domain." It outlines a series of issues with the copyright, beginning with the fact that the sisters credited with writing it more than a century ago "appear to have written neither the music nor the lyrics." The complaint reads: "Irrefutable documentary evidence, some dating back to 1893, shows that the copyright to 'Happy Birthday to You,' if there ever was a valid copyright to any part of the song, expired no later than 1921." Click for the full complaint. |
Reddit moderators shut down hundreds of the online message board’s most popular sections on Friday. The outages were part of an apparent protest by users after the surprise removal of a popular employee, Victoria Taylor, Reddit’s director of talent and a facilitator of the Ask Me Anything feature.
The move affected nearly 300 individual discussion areas, or subreddits that focus on various topics ranging from technology to art. Subreddits are moderated by community members, not Reddit employees. The shutdowns began on Thursday evening and expanded quickly on Friday.
“I want to apologize to our community for yesterday,” Reddit’s interim CEO Ellen Pao told TIME on Friday. “We handled the transition in a way that caused some disruption, and we should have done a better job.” Pao said the company’s management should have informed moderators earlier about planned personnel changes. Pao declined to comment further on Taylor’s departure.
Alexis Ohanian, one of Reddit’s co-founders and the company’s current chairman, said the site has appointed a dedicated point of contact on staff to communicate with the site’s moderators. Kristine Fasnacht, a long-time Reddit user and current employee, will take on the role, he said.
Ohanian said the plan was to have an email alias available for moderators who needed to contact Reddit employees, but that was not widely communicated after Taylor’s departure. “Unfortunately, we did not announce the transition right after that happened,” he said.
Ask Me Anythings, or AMA for short, are the tumbling question-and-answer sessions hosted on the site that have become very popular over the past few years. They are an entirely user-created genre—any Reddit moderator can host one. In instances with famous participants, like President Barack Obama’s 2012 AMA, the site has an employee help with planning and managing the logistics. “They existed before we had anything to do with them,” said Ohanian. The company is looking into appointing an staffer to continue doing that kind of liaising in the future.
Reddit users speculated Taylor’s dismissal was connected with her moderation of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s AMA on Wednesday, which became disorganized after a flurry of questions about racial issues. “That definitely had nothing to do with it,” said Ohanian.
Ohanian, who has tight bond with the community, said he spent the last 24 hours communicating with the site’s moderators and other users, much of it over Reddit itself. He was fielding questions on the site until about 3 AM Thursday night, he said, and made about a half-dozen phone calls to users. “Some people are understandably skeptical,” he said, “but at the very least it’s a step in the right direction.”
“Now it’s on us to act,” Ohanian continued, “to use Reddit to create a dialogue to better keep our community and user base informed.” He said the discussions so far had been fruitful. “They made some very good points. The first thing we could do was get a moderator like Christine to be the point person just for moderators. So if users have a question or want someone to talk to, we’re there.”
Pao and Ohanian said the site had returned to almost normal as of Friday evening. “Of the 50 default subreddits, 48 of them are up and that’s what most people see on the front page,” said Pao. The site’s homepage—the content on which is generated by the number of up-votes on threads throughout the site, a measure of activity and popularity—contained several threads on Taylor’s dismissal. One pointed out that Google searches for “Reddit alternative” had spiked in the wake of the protests.
After years under the ownership of Advance Publications, parent of the Conde Nast magazine empire, Reddit was spun off and raised $50 million in funding last year. It is reportedly valued at about $250 million. The company is currently trying to kickstart a major expansion but has weathered a series of hiccups over the last few months including policy changes to address bullying and “involuntary pornography.”
“We have a responsibility to [users] to figure out how we can be better stewards,” Ohanian said. “There have been times when we made mistakes. The important thing is that we learn from them.” ||||| After Reddit effectively consumed itself this weekend over the firing of beloved AMA coordinator Victoria Taylor, redditors have been clawing at themselves for a chance to hear Taylor’s side of things. And now, at long last, the ex-employee has made her first public statement since the real chaos began.
Posting on the subreddit /r/self, Taylor wrote:
All of which is very nice and heartwarming and inspiring, what have you, but more importantly, it doesn’t really tell us much of anything at all.
The prevailing theory of why she got fired seems to be some combination of her refusing to move to the West Coast and a reluctance to experiment with new formats for the site’s AMAs, the latter of which was pointed out in a now-deleted post on Quora from Marc Bodnick, the site’s Business and Community Leader:
Hopefully some more concrete information about what happened will make its way to the surface soon. But in the meantime, hey, at least you know someone out there believes in you. ||||| Update, July 10 at 3:20 p.m. PT: Interim Reddit CEO Ellen Pao stepped down Friday after controversy over the firing of a key staffer and debates over free speech on the popular Internet message board.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Interim Reddit CEO Ellen Pao has issued a no-nonsense apology to users of the popular website: "We screwed up."
Pao on Monday took to Reddit to address an issue that flared up over the weekend after the company fired a popular administrator, and used the opportunity to say sorry for problems that date back years.
Meanwhile, an online petition launched three weeks ago calling for her resignation now lists more than 190,000 signatures, just shy of the 200,000 milestone. That number represents about 1 percent of the nearly 164 million visitors Reddit tallied in June, 3 million of whom logged into the service. Reddit said more than 36 million accounts have registered on its service.
In her post, Pao acknowledged missteps reaching back "over the past several years. We haven't communicated well, and we have surprised moderators and the community with big changes," the post reads. "Today, we acknowledge this long history of mistakes." She also vowed to make changes in three key areas: tools, communication and search.
The Change.org petition accuses Pao of ushering in "a new age of censorship" on the community-curated news site and adds that some users worry that Pao will "run Reddit into the ground." It also buys into an unfavorable characterization of Pao stemming from her high-profile discrimination lawsuit against her former employer, venture capital powerhouse Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers -- calling her "a manipulative individual who will sue her way to the top." The petition started gaining steam on Friday, a day after Reddit fired Victoria Taylor, one of Reddit's high-profile staffers.
Pao has the "full support of the team," her spokeswoman, Heather Wilson, said in response to the petition.
Emotions flared up last week after moderators learned Reddit had fired Taylor. Reddit's director of talent, she was responsible for overseeing the popular Ask Me Anything "subreddit," a section that allows Reddit users to engage in real-time Q&A sessions. Notables ranging from Bill Gates to President Obama to Arnold Schwarzenegger have participated in the format. Taylor also acted as liaison of sorts between the company's employees and its volunteer moderators. In response to Taylor's abrupt departure, moderators have made dozens of subreddits -- each with several million subscribers -- private, redirecting readers to a static landing page.
Pao has been a polarizing figure in Silicon Valley since seeking $16 million from Kleiner Perkins, alleging she was fired in 2012 after complaining about pervasive sexism. A jury in March rejected her claim, but Pao has said she intends to appeal the verdict.
The latest incident put a spotlight on moderators' ongoing concerns, Reddit moderator Gilgamesh explained in an online post.
"As much as Victoria is loved, this reaction is not all a result of her departure: there is a feeling among many of the moderators of reddit that the admins do not respect the work that is put in by the thousands of unpaid volunteers who maintain the communities of the 9,656 active subreddits, which they feel is expressed by, among other things, the lack of communication between them and the admins, and their disregard of the thousands of mods who keep reddit's communities going," Gilgamesh wrote.
It appears that the company is paying attention.
"We appreciate all [that moderators] do for reddit and are putting in place a system for better and more continuous dialogue with them and our community," Pao said in an email. "We want to make reddit a great place for everyone and moderators are critical to this."
Editors' note: This story was originally published July 5 at 9:40 a.m. PT. It was updated several times with new tallies for the petition, Reddit comment in reaction to the petition, and most recently with Ellen Pao's apology. | – Reddit's ex-talent director is speaking out for the first time since she was unceremoniously fired last week. In a post on Reddit (obviously), Victoria Taylor, who ran "Ask Me Anything" interviews, writes that her weekend was "interesting, to say the least" but gives no details on why she was let go. Instead, she says she's figuring out what's next for her and thanks the Reddit community for its support and for showing that "your voices matter." In a since-deleted post on Quora—Gawker has a screenshot—the site's business and community leader Marc Bodnick did probe the reasons behind her departure. After speaking to "someone close to Reddit," he wrote that Taylor was hesitant to experiment with new AMA formats, including video, which management wanted. Bodnick also confirmed Reddit fired Taylor without notifying moderators, who were peeved. In a New York Times op-ed, two moderators explain exactly why they were upset and shut down the AMA subreddit. First, Reddit removed Taylor "without warning or providing alternative resources," they write. They say they first learned of her termination when an AMA guest turned up at Reddit's New York office to find "a canceled appointment and no backup support. Our team got a panicked message—and we had no real idea what was going on." While interim CEO Ellen Pao has put the issue down to miscommunication, the moderators say there was no communication at all. "Moderators and AMA guests were left stranded" by a move that shows "a reckless disregard for the company's own business and for the work the moderators and users put into the site," they write. "Dismissing Victoria Taylor was part of a long pattern of insisting the community and the moderators do more with less." (Many Redditors are unhappy with Pao.) |
Young Mother and Air Force Veteran Mysteriously Vanishes: 'She'd Never Leave Her Daughter,' Says Friend
The surveillance video is unremarkable: Tricia Williams Todd, a 30-year-old Air Force veteran, mother and nurse, purchases some groceries at a Publix in Hobe Sound, Florida. She smiles happily and chats with the clerk.That was the evening of April 26 – the last time that Todd was seen in public.Later that evening, Todd met her ex-husband, who was spending time with their 2-year-old daughter. According to police, Todd dropped off some medication for the toddler.Todd didn't show up for work the next morning at the Treasure Coast Hospice, where she worked as a nurse. When she didn't pick up her daughter later that afternoon, her father called authorities.Police soon found Todd's car, purse and keys, but no trace of the 5'4, 110-lb. redhead. Her wallet and cell phone were missing, but there has been no activity on her credit cards. Investigators searched a five-mile radius but turned up nothing. The Sheriff's Office tells PEOPLE that "no significant leads" came from the ground search.The disappearance has baffled those close to Todd. "She would never have left her daughter on purpose," family friend Michelle Rocker tells PEOPLE. "That baby was her entire world. She'd never leave her and run off."The family has set up a Facebook page to post and gather updates on the case. A Crowdrise fundraising page has been established to offset the expenses for the family's search.Todd's former husband is stationed at an Air Force base in North Carolina. He has returned to the base from Florida, but remains in contact with investigators. Sheriff William D. Snyder of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office told WPBF that he has been very cooperative with investigators."This is still an active search," said Snyder. "We have no plans to stop searching for Tricia Todd." ||||| The ex-husband of an Air Force veteran who vanished in April has confessed to her killing, Florida authorities said Wednesday.
Steven Williams, 30, was being held at the Martin County Jail without bond in connection to the disappearance of his ex-wife, Tricia Todd. He faces murder charges.
Williams had been cooperating with authorities and even agreed to a polygraph test as law enforcement conducted a large-scale search for the 30-year-old mother.
Steven Williams, the former husband of missing Florida mom Tricia Todd, has been charged with murder. Martin County Sheriff
While there is "no smoking gun, there is no home run" immediately linking Williams to the disappearance, his confession and the inconsistencies in his statements were enough to arrest him Tuesday, Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said at a news conference.
Todd, who worked as a hospice nurse, was supposed to pick up her 2-year-old daughter from Williams on the morning of April 27. But he said she never showed, according to police.
Her car was found near her home in Hobe Sound, south of Port St. Lucie, with the keys in the ignition and her purse inside. Both Todd and her cellphone were gone.
Related: No Evidence Tying Anyone to Tricia Todd's Disappearance, Sheriff Says
The night before, surveillance cameras at a Publix grocery store captured Todd.
Williams, who is also an airman and was living in North Carolina, was interviewed as part of the investigation. Before his confession, Snyder said, there was no evidence that a crime occurred.
Williams was seen on camera buying gas at around 1 a.m. on the day Todd went missing, later telling investigators that she asked him for it because the fuel in her car was running low. Her car was found with a drained tank, Snyder told reporters earlier this month. ||||| Florida investigators have found no significant breaks in the case of a mother who went missing last week, but said Tuesday they gave a lie detector test to her ex-husband and haven’t found any evidence linking him to the disappearance.
"It’s a very, very perplexing and mystifying case," Martin County Sheriff William Snyder told reporters at a news conference Tuesday, nearly a week since Air Force veteran and hospice nurse Tricia Todd vanished.
Todd, 30, was supposed to pick up her 2-year-old child from her ex the morning of April 27 but never showed, authorities said. Her car was found near her home in Hobe Sound, about 25 miles south of Port St. Lucie, with the keys in the ignition and her purse inside, it said. Her cell phone was missing.
At around 4 a.m. Tuesday, a detective, two lieutenants and an assistant state’s attorney interviewed Todd’s ex-husband in North Carolina and he voluntarily submitted to a polygraph test, Snyder said. The ex is the last person who reported seeing Todd early April 27.
Related: Grocery Store Surveillance Image Shows Missing Mom In Apparent 'Good Spirits'
"Nothing in [the ex husband’s] lengthy interview — and it was a long and detailed interview — nor his polygraph exam indicated that he was involved or had any additional information about Tricia Todd’s disappearance," Snyder said.
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The ex-husband was seen on video buying gasoline at around 1 a.m. before she disappeared, but he told investigators he got the gas for Todd because she was running low on fuel in her car, and that was corroborated, Snyder said. The gas tank in Todd’s car was drained and only a few gallons were found inside, consistent with that account, he said.
There is no hard evidence that a crime occurred, Snyder said, and a ground search will be scaled back but the investigation will continue. There has been no activity on her phone or credit cards that has been discovered, Snyder said.
"A person who is supposed to go home at a certain time, wake up at a certain time, pick her daughter up at a certain time doesn’t do that," Snyder said.
Tricia Todd went missing Wednesday, April 27, after she failed to pick up her child, authorities said. Martin County Sheriff's Office
"That’s a circumstantial case that there was an abduction, except that some of the elements of what you would see in an abduction are missing — nobody heard screams, there’s no physical evidence in any of the cars involved, any of the houses involved to indicate a scuffle, trouble, abduction," he said.
"Circumstantially, very suspicious," Snyder said. "Forensically, nothing."
Todd has never been out of contact for an extended period of time since having the child, Snyder said. He appealed to anyone who may have had conversations with Todd or received other information like an email to come forward.
"As of now there are no suspects, there is nobody that we can link to Tricia Todd’s disappearance," he said. | – Police have now conducted a "long and detailed interview" with the ex-husband of missing Florida mom Tricia Todd, but they say they're no closer to figuring out her whereabouts. "Nothing in [Steven Williams'] lengthy interview … nor his polygraph exam indicated that he was involved or had any additional information about Tricia Todd's disappearance," Martin County Sheriff William Snyder tells NBC News. "It's a very, very perplexing and mystifying case." Todd, an Air Force veteran and hospice nurse, was reportedly last seen by Williams early on April 27 when she dropped off medication for their 2-year-old daughter, per People. She didn't show up for work the next morning or to pick up the child later in the afternoon. Williams, who was filmed buying gas at 1am on April 27, told investigators he bought fuel for Todd because her car was running low. Authorities say that checks out: Todd's car had only a few gallons inside when it was found near her Hobe Sound home with the keys in the ignition. There has been no activity on Todd's phone or credit cards. "That's a circumstantial case that there was an abduction," says Snyder, noting a ground search will be cut back after nothing was discovered within a 5-mile radius. A friend says simply Todd "would never have left her daughter on purpose. That baby was her entire world." Todd's brother will file a motion for temporary custody of the child while Williams is on military duty in North Carolina, per WPTV. (This is the last known photo of Todd.) |
Last November, Los Angeles Unified School District lawyers fighting a civil lawsuit argued in court that a 14-year-old middle school student was mature enough to consent to having sex with her 28-year-old teacher, and that she bore some responsibility for what happened. The district's attorneys also introduced the girl's sexual history into the trial as part of their defense strategy.
Two legal experts sharply criticized the school district for using those tactics. They also said the case highlights a little-known conflict in California law: while the age of consent is firmly set at 18 in criminal cases, at least two appellate court rulings have found that in civil cases, it is possible to argue that a minor can consent to sex with an adult.
Last November's case involved a math teacher at Thomas Edison Middle School in Southeast Los Angeles who in December 2010 began a six-month sexual relationship with a girl who went to the school. The teacher, Elkis Hermida, was convicted of lewd acts against a child and sentenced in July 2011 to three years in state prison.
The girl's family filed a civil lawsuit against L.A. Unified, claiming the district was negligent and the experience had emotionally damaged the girl, endangering any future romantic relationships she might have.
During the three week civil trial, district lawyers denied that L.A. Unified had any knowledge of the relationship, argued the girl knew what she was doing when she chose to have sex with Hermida and suggested the girl was to blame for her situation, not LAUSD.
"She lied to her mother so she could have sex with her teacher," said Keith Wyatt, L.A. Unified's trial attorney in the case, in an interview with KPCC. "She went to a motel in which she engaged in voluntary consensual sex with her teacher. Why shouldn't she be responsible for that?"
Wyatt cited a 2009 legal ruling by the US District Court for California's Central District that said in certain circumstances a minor can consent to sex. That ruling, in the case of Doe v. Starbucks, cited a 2001 decision by the California Supreme Court in a criminal case, People v. Tobias.
In Tobias, the supreme court argued that when the state legislature added the crime of "unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor" to the penal code in 1970, the lawmakers "implicitly acknowledged that, in some cases at least, a minor may be capable of giving legal consent to sexual relations."
In its Doe ruling, the District Court went on to cite another court decision as grounds for its conclusion that "the rule that 'a minor may be capable of giving legal consent to sexual relations' has been extended to non-criminal cases."
The Doe and Tobias decisions left California law "horribly flawed," said Jennifer Drobac, a law professor with Robert H. McKinney School of Law at Indiana University who has studied consent laws nationwide, including the Doe v. Starbucks case.
California is one of several states where the criminal age of consent laws clash with the civil laws, according to Drobac, noting a minor can be a victim in a criminal case, but found at fault in a civil case related to the same crime.
"It doesn’t make sense," said Drobac. "The same parties, same behavior, same everything, consent is no defense in a criminal trial. But the same set of facts in a civil prosecution, consent is a complete defense. How is that possible? It's not logical."
Drobac called L.A. Unified's courtroom tactics in the civil lawsuit "shocking."
Another leading expert, law professor Marci Hamilton of the Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School in New York, called the school district's approach in the civil trial "outrageous," and accused it of "engaging in scorched earth tactics."
Hamilton echoed Drobac's criticisms of the California court rulings on consent.
"If this is a correct interpretation of California law, California is in the dark ages and against the great weight of the social science on brain and emotional development," said Hamiliton, who added, "the legislature needs to take this up.
"This reasoning is incoherent, especially in the school context," she went on. "It would have the court focus on the child's consent without taking the authority and power of the adult into account...This reasoning takes a page out of the old 'consent' defenses for rape based on a woman's sexual history, which have been thoroughly discredited."
L.A. Unified lawyer Wyatt insisted that a 14-year-old can have the maturity to consent to sex.
"Making a decision as to whether or not to cross the street when traffic is coming, that takes a level of maturity and that's a much more dangerous decision than to decide, 'Hey, I want to have sex with my teacher,'" Wyatt told KPCC.
In his closing argument during the civil trial, Wyatt maintained that the girl was pursuing the case for purely financial reasons.
"She wants to be paid for doing something that she knew was wrong, that she acknowledged was wrong, that she knew was from the beginning," Wyatt argued, adding, "She doesn't want therapy, she wants money. That's what they are asking you for."
Minor's sexual history heard
During the trial, L.A. County Superior Court Judge Lawrence Cho allowed L.A. Unified to introduce evidence of the girl's sexual history as part of its defense.
California's rape shield law prohibits evidence of a sexually abused victim's sexual history in criminal trials, but it is allowed in civil cases, according to Jeff Dion, Deputy Executive Director of the Washington, D.C.-based National Center for Victims of Crime.
"I think it's unusual that we are seeing it being used against a child," said Dion.
Marci Hamilton went further, saying, "basically they are treating child victims worse than an adult victim of rape. It makes no sense."
L.A. Unified also persuaded Judge Cho to place the girl's name on the jury's verdict form, which provided an opportunity for jurors to find her comparatively negligent, or at fault.
Cho admitted his ruling was unusual, saying, "There is currently no published decision in California" allowing the consideration of a child victim's comparative negligence in a school sex abuse case.
The judge "went beyond the bounds of common sense," said Hamilton.
Cho's move surprised the girl's attorney, Frank Perez.
"I have never seen a verdict form where the child has been listed as partially responsible for his or her own molestation," said Perez.
In the end, the jury didn't fill out the verdict form. It ruled in favor of LAUSD, accepting the district's argument that it had no knowledge of the relationship and therefore was not at fault.
Perez said the case is being appealed, in part because the girl's name was on the verdict form.
Following publication of this story, L.A. Unified issued a statement from Keith Wyatt Thursday.
"While we are sympathetic of the pain that this type of inappropriate relationship could cause this young woman and her family, the case focused on whether the school district could have done anything to prevent it," Wyatt said. L.A. Unified tried the case "in a respectful manner," he said, adding, "our argument shared in the disgust with this teacher’s actions, but it focused on the decisions of this teacher and young lady to hide their behavior from the school district."
Wyatt issued another statement from his law office on Thursday in which he apologized for his remarks:
“Upon reflection, I realize how insensitive the comments I made to KPCC were, and I am truly sorry to this young woman and her family. My statements were ill thought out and poorly articulated and by no means reflect the opinions of the school district or its leadership. It is regrettable that my remarks have taken away from the respectful manner in which this case was tried.”
L.A. Unified spokesman Sean Rossall said the district is continuing its professional relationship with Wyatt’s firm, Ivie, McNeill & Wyatt. He said the firm has represented the district "for over 20 years," and is currently handling 18 lawsuits on behalf of LAUSD. Regarding the upcoming trial over the Miramonte sexual abuse civil suit, Rossall said the firm’s only involvement was "in a very limited capacity as legal counsel for one of the witnesses."
Seeking reactions from members of the L.A. Unified Board, KPCC reached board members Tamar Galatzan, Monica Ratliff, Steve Zimmer, Richard Vladovic, and Monica Garcia. None would comment. The district did not respond to a request for comment from Superintendent Ramon Cortines.
One former longtime school board and L.A. city council member, Rita Walters, did comment.
"I think that the attorney for the district went out of his way to blame it on the victim," she said.
This story has been updated.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the Robert H. McKinney School of Law. ||||| LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles school district has parted ways with a lawyer who successfully defended it in a sexual abuse lawsuit by blaming a 14-year-old student for having sex with a teacher.
The district's general counsel said Friday it is removing attorney W. Keith Wyatt from future legal matters because of inappropriate remarks he made about the case.
Lawyers and advocates for sexual abuse victims criticized Wyatt's strategy of blaming the 14-year-old girl for agreeing to the sexual relationship.
The district was cleared last year of wrongdoing by a civil jury, though the teacher was imprisoned after a criminal trial.
The district had claimed it had no knowledge of the relationship and wasn't responsible.
A spokesman says Wyatt worked at a private firm retained by the district and had handled school litigation for 27 years. He had 18 cases pending. ||||| Los Angeles Police Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese, left, explains to Amber Leake, 9, the dangers of Internet child predators, as requested by her mother, Jeally Leake, center, after a news conference in Los Angeles on June 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
It was called “Operation Broken Heart.” Its targets were child sex traffickers, pimps, porn peddlers and sex tourists operating mostly through the Internet. And on Thursday, local, state and federal law enforcement in California announced the results: some 275 arrests.
Among them:
A teacher’s assistant accused of going to a meeting to have sex with two children.
A retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy, charged with distributing child porn online.
A 64-year-old computer programmer, accused of going to a park to meet a 15-year-old for sex.
A U.S. Army soldier on leave who responded to undercover cops posing as young girls and was arrested after showing up for sex.
A former substitute teacher who allegedly posted a personal ad seeking sex with a father and son, and was arrested after going to meet with who he thought was an 8-year-old boy.
“The dirty old man stereotype no longer applies,” ICE Homeland Security Special Agent Claude Arnold said at a news conference on Thursday. “The perpetrators in these cases come from all walks of life and virtually every strata of the socioeconomic spectrum. They’re community leaders, white-collar professionals and even law enforcement personnel. The common denominator in most of these cases is the Internet. It has become the preferred playground for child sex predators.”
Investigators with the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children task force posed as young teens online and then arrested those who showed up to engage in sex acts, Los Angeles Police Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese said. Also, parole officers arrested 186 sex offenders accused of violating their parole by possessing child porn or approaching children in public, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Law enforcement officials conducted the operations in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. However, the number of arrests is expected to increase as police continue to analyze and gather additional evidence, according to news reports.
Officials told the L.A. Times that one in 25 children between the ages of 10 and 17 nationwide have received online solicitations from strangers to meet in person.
“We can’t arrest our way out of the problem,” Arnold said. “Parents and children need to have frank conversations about how to stay safe in cyberspace.” | – The LA school district is taking flak for going after one of its own middle-school girls in court over a sexual abuse case. Attorneys for the district argued that the 14-year-old should be held responsible for a sexual relationship with a teacher and thus deserved no money for emotional trauma. They also presented the girl's sexual history in court—and won the case. Consider this quote from one of those attorneys, Keith Wyatt, to KPCC: "She lied to her mother so she could have sex with her teacher. She went to a motel in which she engaged in voluntary consensual sex with her teacher. Why shouldn't she be responsible for that?" Critics contend that the answer is obvious: An eighth-grader can't consent to a sexual relationship with a 28-year-old teacher. Or as a non-district attorney puts it in the Los Angeles Times: "The belief that middle-school children can consent to sexual activity is something one would expect to hear from pedophile advocates, not the second-largest school district in the US." The issue was a no-brainer in criminal court, where teacher Elkis Hermida was convicted of lewd acts against a child and sentenced to three years in prison. But as KPCC points out, the age of consent isn't as clear cut in civil cases. Critics of the Los Angeles Unified School District just wish it weren't a school district that exploited the discrepancy. Meanwhile, Wyatt's quote has caused so much outrage that the district says it will no longer use him for legal matters, reports AP. |
Kristen Stewart’s mom, Jules, is denying a new story in British tabloid The Mirror, which printed an interview with her that began trending over the weekend.
PHOTOS: Stars and their moms
In the interview, conducted by Sharon Feinstein, Jules reportedly outed her daughter, supposedly saying, “What’s not to be accepting about her now having a girlfriend? She’s happy. I’ve met Kristen’s new girlfriend, I like her.”
PHOTOS: Kristen's best red carpet looks
The only problem with the quotes? Jules claims she never said them.
“I spoke to Sharon Feinstein about my film K-11 that has been put on display in the Hollywood Museum,” she told Us Weekly. “It’s currently there under the LGBT banner on the third floor. She also asked me about my views on gay rights, which I was happy to express. Then we talked briefly about the fundraiser I am hosting for TheWolfConnection.org. Never ever did we discuss Kristen!”
PHOTOS: Kristen's grumpy faces
Noting that she is a “huge supporter of gay rights,” Jules went on to acknowledge that she briefly spoke about Stewart’s personal assistant Alicia Cargile, whom The Mirror claimed is Stewart’s girlfriend.
“I said, ‘Yes, she’s a lovely girl,’” Jules said, when asked if she knew Cargile.
Feinstein tweeted on Monday, June 15, that she stands by her story and plans on sharing audio from the interview.
I intend to load my tape of the interview I did with Kristen Stewart's mother Jules in two clips. Watch this space — Sharon Feinstein (@sharonfeinstein) June 15, 2015
The journalist told Us the audio from the interview with Jules will be shared on Tuesday, but later tweeted that the decision about whether to share the audio is not entirely up to her.
She continued to stand by her story on Tuesday, and shared a statement on her blog:
"I am aware that Ms. Jules Stewart has stated that her interview with me has been used out of context, that she never discussed her daughter or her daughter’s relationship. That is simply incorrect," she wrote. "I have reported the story as discussed and memorialized during our lengthly and cordial formal interview, which took place on Thursday 11th June. I am disappointed and saddened by her statements to the contrary. This was a very positive story and one told by a loving parent. Any statements to the contrary are simply not supported and not true."
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Want stories like these delivered straight to your phone? Download the Us Weekly iPhone app now! ||||| Movie website Pajiba took the right approach with this story, I feel: “The Media Will Finally Know How to Report on Kristen Stewart and Her Girlfriend,” today’s headline reads.
For months now, bloggers have been tiptoeing around the obvious. The euphemisms would almost verge on the offensive, if they weren’t so silly: “Kristen Stewart Grabs Dinner with Gal-Pal in L.A.,” E! Online enthused. “Kristen Stewart spotted with gal pal Alicia Cargile,” the Daily Mail tactfully reported. If there’s anyone worse to be than Kristen Stewart, perhaps it’s Alicia Cargile, whom the press has repeatedly referred to as an “assistant” and “gal pal.”
But as of this morning, all that has changed. In an interview with Kristen Stewart’s mother (published yesterday by British newspaper the Mirror), Jules Mann-Stewart shrugged off rumors by tacitly confirming her daughter’s sexuality: “What’s not to be accepting about her now having a girlfriend? She’s happy.” She went on to say that, as a mother, she will always accept her daughter’s choices. “I feel like people need to be free to love whoever they want,” she concluded.
To tell the truth, I’m overjoyed for Kristen Stewart, and a part of me is somewhat amused that her mom blabbed. (Whether it’s appropriate at all for someone’s mom to publicly “out” her is another story altogether.)
The 25-year-old actress is daughter to showbiz parents, and is notorious for choosing her own roles. Her work in her first two movies, “The Safety of Objects” and “Panic Room” — released when she was ages 11 and 12, respectively — absolutely blew me away. In February Stewart became the first American actress to ever win a César Award, for her role in “Clouds of Sils Maria.”
[Pajiba]
[Mirror.co.uk] | – Kristen Stewart is or isn't dating her female assistant despite a report that she definitely is dating her female assistant—got that? The Mirror quotes Stewart's mom, Hollywood script supervisor Jules Stewart, as saying that 25-year-old Kristen is dating her assistant, Alicia Cargile: "What’s not to be accepting about her now having a girlfriend?" Jules reportedly says. "She’s happy." But in Us Weekly, Jules says it's all hype: "Never ever did we discuss Kristen! ... I said, 'Yes, she’s a lovely girl,'" adds Jules of Cargile, but that's all. Yet Mirror journalist Sharon Feinstein is taking exception to Jules' remarks and plans to upload audio of the interview. |
Bradley Manning's court-martial reached an end today, with Army Colonel Denise Lind sentencing him to 35 years in prison. She also ordered a reduction in rank to private, a forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and a dishonorable discharge. He will receive credit for 1,294 days for time served. According to an Army spokesman, Manning would be eligible for parole after serving 1/3 of his sentence; with additional credit for time served, he could face 8-9 years. Manning also has the possibility of a clemency finding that would reduce his sentence.
The WikiLeaks source, arrested in Iraq in 2010 for releasing nearly 700,000 government documents to WikiLeaks, was found not guilty of the most serious charge of "aiding the enemy," which could have resulted in life imprisonment. Manning was found guilty on virtually all other charges under the Espionage Act, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and the code of military justice. The verdict left him facing a maximum 136 years; Lind later found the government had overcharged Manning and reduced that number to 90 years. Within the military justice system, Colonel Lind does not have to explain the reasoning behind Manning's sentence. She did not, taking less than two minutes to read the sentence. Bradley Manning showed no visible response.
Before delivering the sentence, Lind reminded attendees about court rules barring outbursts from the gallery. After she finished reading the verdict and excited the courtroom, several Manning supporters reportedly yelled, "We'll keep fighting for you, Bradley" and "You're our hero."
Much of the prosecution's case took place behind closed doors in order to present classified information
During the sentencing phase of the trial, prosecution and defense jousted over the question of consequences. The prosecution sought to demonstrate that Manning's leaks had damaged relationships between American diplomats and their foreign counterparts, for example, but could present only speculative evidence in open court. Colonel Lind rejected testimony about alleged "ongoing" damage from the leaks. Much of the prosecution's case took place behind closed doors in order to present classified information.
Manning's sentencing defense focused on his mental and emotional state at the time of the leaks, portraying him as an isolated soldier suffering from "gender dysphoria," a condition in which a person's subjective understanding of gender conflicts with his or her outward experience of gender. Such long-term experience causes "clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning," according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The defense argued Manning should have received mental health care from the Army and been removed from duty before the time of his leaks.
Defense witnesses also described Manning as an idealist who overestimated his authority and ability to provoke a discussion about the documents he released. In a brief statement, he apologized for his actions, saying, "At the time of my decisions, as you know, I was dealing with a lot of issues. Although they have caused me considerable difficulty in my life, these issues do not excuse my actions." He expressed a desire to return to society and rebuild a relationship with his family, including the aunt and sister who'd testified about Manning's childhood as the son of alcoholic, dysfunctional parents. "Before I can do that, though," he said, "I understand that I must pay a price for my decisions and actions."
In closing arguments Monday, the prosecution asked the court to sentence Manning to 60 years, plus a $100,000 fine. "He betrayed the United States," a prosecuting attorney said, "and for that betrayal he deserves to spend the majority of his remaining life in confinement." The government has also consistently emphasized a desire to make Manning an example. "There’s value in deterrence," said the prosecutor.
"There’s value in deterrence."
Defense attorneys countered that a repentant Manning could still find his place as a productive member of society. "Your honor, the defense requests that you judge a sentence that allows him to have a life," defense attorney David Coombs said. Coombs responded to the prosecution's request for 60 years by suggesting Manning would be in jail long after the information he released had been officially declassified. He did not suggest a number of his own.
"The defense requests that you judge a sentence that allows him to have a life."
Manning will receive credit for time served, more than 1000 days, plus a 112-day credit ordered by Colonel Lind for pre-trial treatment she described as "more rigorous than necessary." Manning spent nine months in solitary confinement in a Marine Corps brig in Quantico, Virginia; he spent 23 hours a day in the windowless cell and was often deprived of his clothing. He is working with his defense attorney on a clemency process hoping to reduce his sentence. The defense also plans to petition President Obama for a pardon.
Under military justice, the case will next move to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals for automatic review, during which the court can decide whether to hear additional arguments. Before that can happen, transcripts of the current trial (which began in June) have to be prepared and approved by the prosecution and defense — likely to be a lengthy process. As the case progresses, Manning will likely be held at the US Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. ||||| In sentencing Army Pfc. Bradley Manning to 35 years in prison, a military judge disappointed both the prosecution, which had sought a 60-year term, and Manning's most ardent supporters, who believe he should serve no time at all. Assuming that Manning is released on parole after a reasonable time, the sentence imposed by Col. Denise Lind strikes a reasonable balance between the damage Manning did to national security and the service he performed by exposing certain matters to public attention.
To his admirers, the 25-year-old Manning is a heroic whistle-blower who exposed official wrongdoing. Some of his disclosures, such as a 2007 video of an Apache helicopter attack that killed 12 civilians in Baghdad, support that characterization. But Manning's disclosures went well beyond that. Many of the 700,000 files the young soldier downloaded from government computers and turned over to the WikiLeaks website undermined U.S. diplomacy without providing any commensurate public benefit.
In some ways Manning is a sympathetic figure. He seems to have been motivated by a sincere, if naive, belief about the salutary consequences of spilling official secrets. For example, he apparently believed that ventilating the contents of State Department cables would usher in an era in which, as he put it, "states would avoid making secret pacts and deals with and against each other." In a poignant statement to the judge before sentencing, Manning said, "I look back at my decisions and wonder how on earth could I, a junior analyst, possibly believe I could change the world for the better."
Manning also was the victim of both mistreatment by his jailers and an overaggressive prosecution. After his arrest, he was held in virtual solitary confinement for 23 hours a day at a Marine Corps brig and sometimes stripped of his clothes, supposedly to prevent him from hurting himself or others. (Lind has reduced his sentence by 112 days because his confinement was "more rigorous than necessary.")
Even after Manning pleaded guilty to offenses that could have led to a 20-year sentence, the Army insisted on trying him on more serious charges, including "aiding the enemy," which could have put him in prison for life. Lind acquitted Manning of that charge but found him guilty of several others, including multiple violations of the Espionage Act.
Under military law, Manning may ask the "convening authority" — an Army general — to review his conviction and sentence, and there is also an appeals process. If the sentence stands, Manning could apply for parole after eight years. That would be an appropriate punishment.
Manning's supporters are urging President Obama to pardon him or commute his sentence to time served. That is both unlikely and unjustified; even if he was engaging in principled civil disobedience, Manning should face some consequences for violating the law. But if Manning is denied parole after serving several years in prison, a future president should be willing to consider clemency. ||||| Image copyright Reuters
A military prison disciplinary board has sentenced US whistleblower Chelsea Manning to 14 days in solitary confinement, her lawyer has said.
She will serve seven days, with another seven suspended, for charges relating to her attempt to kill herself in July.
She ended a hunger strike last week, after the military agreed to provide her with gender dysphoria treatment.
The army private, born as Bradley Manning, is serving a 35-year sentence for espionage.
Last July, the former intelligence analyst attempted to take her own life, after what lawyers said was the Army's refusal to provide appropriate health care.
She was found guilty on Thursday by prison officials in Leavenworth, Kansas, of "conduct which threatens" for her suicide attempt. She also was convicted of having "prohibited property" - the book "Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy" by Gabriella Coleman.
The secret life of a transgender airman
Profile: Private First Class Manning
"My punishment is 14 days in solitary confinement. 7 of those days are 'suspended.' If I get in trouble in the next six months, those seven days will come back," Manning wrote in a statement released by her supporters.
"I am feeling hurt. I am feeling lonely. I am embarrassed by the decision. I don't know how to explain it," she added.
Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013, after being found guilty of espionage for her role in leaking diplomatic cables and battlefield reports to Wikileaks, the anti-secrecy group.
The leak of more than 700,000 documents and videos was one of the largest breaches of classified material in American history. ||||| 8.37pm BST
We're going to wrap up our live blog coverage of the Manning sentencing. We've just published our latest news story by Paul Lewis here. Here's a summary of where things stand:
• Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison minus time served and is to be dishonorably discharged from the military. He is expected to have his first parole hearing in seven years, should the current sentence stand up to appeal, according to defense lawyer David Coombs.
• Manning's legal team said the sentence was unreasonably severe. In a remarkably sustained criticism of the proceedings and the result, Coombs suggested the trial was unfair, said the trial never should have been secret, and said murderers and child molesters he'd represented had received shorter sentences. He vowed to see the case through to Manning's parole.
• The Manning lawyers plan to lodge a formal request for a pardon or commutation from President Barack Obama. However Coombs pointed out that the administration had an unparalleled track record for prosecuting leakers (not for pardoning them).
• Manning was said to have met the news with equanimity. Coombs said Manning tried to get his lawyers to stop crying. "He looks to me, and he says, 'It's OK. It's alright. I know you did your best. I'm going to be OK. I'm going to get through this.'"
• Professors, legal experts and civil rights groups called the sentence "outrageous" and unprecedented." Rights groups said it would have a chilling effect on potential whistleblowers, discouraging them from reporting wrongdoing out of fear for their futures. It's "seriously wrong" for a soldier who shared information with the public to be punished "far more harshly than others who tortured prisoners and killed civilians," the ACLU said in a statement.
• The sentence is under appeal. Manning was expected to be transferred today to Fort Leavenworth, in Kansas. He turns 26 in December. | – Bradley Manning has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for his infamous leaking activities, according to multiple reports. He will also be dishonorably discharged and forfeit all pay and allowances, the Guardian reports. Manning will get credit for the time he's already spent in jail, which amounts to 1,294 days, or 3.55 years. His sentence falls short of the 60 years the government had sought, according to CNN, but the defense had wanted a 25-year term. Manning will be eligible for parole after serving a third of the sentence, the AP points out. The entire hearing lasted less than two minutes, with the judge, Col. Denise Lind, declining to explain the reasoning behind her sentence. Manning showed no visible emotion. As he was led from the courtroom, supporters shouted, "You're our hero," and "We'll keep fighting for you, Bradley." Defense attorneys had fought for a "sentence that allows him to have a life," the Verge reports, while prosecutors had argued that a lengthy sentence would deter others. "He betrayed the United States," one prosecutor said yesterday, "and for that betrayal he deserves to spend the majority of his remaining life in confinement." |
Reports by German newspapers Stuttgarter Zeitung and Süddeutsche Zeitung said humans had been exposed to a gas found in diesel fumes during an experiment "sometime between 2012 and 2015" requested by a group funded by German carmakers.
The tests were requested by the European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) — a now defunct organization founded by German carmakers Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW.
Read more: German university hospital defends auto firms' nitrogen dioxide test ethics
The experiments focused on "short-term nitrogen dioxide inhalation by healthy people," according to the newspapers. An Aachen-based university hospital then examined 25 people after they inhaled varying amounts of the gas over several hours.
The experiments were reported on after recent revelations of an experiment where — in equally controversial tests — monkeys were made to inhale the toxic gas.
Watch video 01:35 Now live 01:35 mins. Share Carmakers used humans for gas test Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink http://p.dw.com/p/2rhmB Carmakers used humans for gas test
Not to be tolerated
Reacting to the accusations, Volkswagen said in a statement "we are convinced that the scientific methods chosen at the time were wrong."
Daimler said Sunday it was "shocked by the extent of those studies and the way there were carried out."
"We strongly condemn the tests," the company said, adding that it had had no say in the testing method and the measures taken by the EUGT were "against Daimler's values and ethical principles."
The Stuttgart-based carmaker said it had launched an investigation into the tests on monkeys and humans which it considered "superfluous and repulsive."
German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks said later on Monday she was "horrified" by the news.
"What is known so far is disgusting," she said, adding that the auto industry and the scientific community must explain their role. "The fact that an entire industry has apparently tried to conceal brazen and dubious methods of scientific research makes it even more monstrous."
Read more:Opinion: Car industry going from bad to worse?
Germans and their cars Mobility made in Germany The reputation of Germany's famed carmakers may have taken a hit, but their sales still soar. Yet German brands make up less than two-thirds of all cars on German roads, which is still a male-dominated territory: Only one-third of all owners in 2017 were women. Interestingly, that number has virtually not changed over the past decade.
Germans and their cars A decade on the road German passenger vehicles, are growing steadily older, from 8.1 years a decade ago to 9.3 years in 2017, the highest-ever age. By the way: By no means is Germany the car capital of the world: It ranks 20th in motor vehicles per capita - 17 spots behind the US, where every 10 people own eight cars. The world's least motorized country? Togo.
Germans and their cars Land of the vintage automobile Roughly 600,000 vehicles - 13 percent of all cars on German roads - are considered vintage cars which means they are more than three decades old. 380,000 have a historic license plate, which requires the vehicle to be in "contemporary, original preservable condition."
Germans and their cars Steady motorization As of January 1, 2017, 45.8 million passenger vehicles were registered in Germany. Based on a population of 82.8 million, it translates to 684 cars per 1,000 people. Today, there are five times as many cars in Germany than there were half a century ago when roughly 9 million vehicles drove on the "Autobahn."
Germans and their cars BMW country is king The average passenger vehicle age in Germany varies from state to state. Maybe not surprisingly, cars in Bavaria, the home of BMW and the state with the highest economic per capita output, are the youngest at nine years, while the average vehicle on Brandenburg's roads, the state surrounding Berlin, is almost a decade old.
Germans and their cars Germany lags behind While the number of gasoline-powered cars have remained remarkably stable over the past decade, their share steadily decreased to two-thirds of all engines in 2017. The number of diesel cars has risen from 10 to 15 million since 2008. Electric and hybrid cars combined made up 200,000 of all 45 million - that's 0.5 percent. In Norway, the share of electric vehicles alone is more than 1 percent. Author: Benjamin Bathke
An occupational hazard
Aachen University Hospital said in a statement that the aim of the study was to examine whether exposure to NO2 at various concentrations below the previous limit would result in biological effects in healthy volunteers.
"The study thus served to optimize job security, for example for truck drivers, vehicle mechanics and welders," the statement read. "Extremely sensitive, non-invasive techniques were used to capture the biological response, in line with the best available methodology and based on years of development work."
Watch video 01:44 Now live 01:44 mins. Share 'Diesel summit' tries to prevent driving bans Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink http://p.dw.com/p/2oQNO German 'diesel summit' tries to prevent driving bans
hg/jd (dpa, Reuters) ||||| Image copyright EPA Image caption German carmakers have already been hit by a damaging scandal over cheating in emissions tests
The German government has denounced experiments funded by German carmakers in which humans and monkeys reportedly inhaled diesel exhaust fumes.
German media say the health impact research was done by EUGT, a body funded by Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW.
Such tests could not be justified, the government said, demanding details. A minister called them "abominable".
Daimler also condemned them. VW is embroiled in a scandal over software that gave false diesel exhaust data.
In 2015 VW admitted having fitted "cheat" devices in the US that made their engines appear less polluting than they actually were.
Image copyright AFP Image caption Car firms are trying to reduce losses from bad publicity about diesel fumes
EUGT was dissolved by the carmakers last year. The initials stand for European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector.
"These tests on monkeys or even humans cannot be justified ethically in any way," said Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert.
Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks called the experiments "abominable" and expressed shock that scientists had agreed to conduct them.
Social Democrat politician Stephan Weil - a VW supervisory board member - called them "absurd and abhorrent". "Lobbying can be no excuse whatsoever for such testing," he said.
What do we know about the tests?
On Thursday the New York Times reported that the EUGT research was designed to counter a 2012 decision by the World Health Organization to classify diesel exhaust as a carcinogen.
It said that in 2014, EUGT had exposed 10 monkeys to fumes - in an air-tight chamber - from several cars, including a diesel VW Beetle. The testing took place at a lab in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Then at the weekend Germany's Stuttgarter Zeitung and SWR radio reported that 19 men and six women had inhaled diesel fumes in another EUGT experiment.
During a month of tests at a lab in Aachen, west Germany, they were exposed to various concentrations of diesel fumes, which contain toxic nitrogen oxides (NOx). The BBC has not seen the study itself, but German media say it was published in 2016.
At the time the carmakers were arguing that modern technology had cut pollution from diesel engines to safe levels. But VW was later found to have fitted "cheat" devices that rigged the emissions data.
The Aachen University Clinic said its "ethically approved" human tests had "no link" to the VW emissions scandal.
Read more on the diesel emissions scandal:
What have the carmakers said about this?
Daimler, manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz cars, said on Sunday "we are appalled by the extent of the [EUGT] studies and their implementation". "We condemn the experiments in the strongest terms."
Reacting to the NYT report about the monkey experiments, VW tweeted on Saturday that it "explicitly distances itself clearly from all forms of animal abuse".
"We know that the scientific methods used by EUGT were wrong and apologise sincerely for this."
VW's supervisory board says it will conduct a full investigation, calling the experiments "utterly incomprehensible".
What is the latest on diesel pollution?
A new study by a German car specialist, Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, says levels of pollution from diesel cars are still too high in 10 German cities, so the vehicles are likely to be banned from the pollution hotspots unless engines are upgraded.
According to his research, vehicle software upgrades would not be enough to address the problem. Munich, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Cologne are among the cities with serious pollution hotspots.
Were the tests unethical?
The German government thinks so. VW apologised and Daimler said "the EUGT's approach contradicts our values and ethical principles".
Two independent scientists who have conducted air pollution tests on human volunteers told the BBC that the company sponsorship in the German case was problematic.
"If the research is not independent then there would be doubt about its validity and it would therefore not be ethical," said Prof Frank Kelly of King's College London.
He said hundreds of volunteers had participated in state-funded studies on the impact of diesel exhaust - studies which required prior ethical approval. In one study by the college, volunteers with chronic lung or heart conditions walked down London's busy Oxford Street and through Hyde Park.
"Experimenting on people or monkeys is not inherently unethical," said Dr Chris Carlsten of Canada's University of British Columbia.
He said it was "not very common" to do air pollution tests on monkeys, though some had been used in ozone impact studies.
He has studied the effects of diesel exhaust on volunteers, who are paid about C$14 hourly (£8; $11) for two hours of exposure at a time. The diluted exhaust exposure is similar to the level experienced in Beijing, he said.
"These studies are essential to back up policies that protect all of us," he said. ||||| FRANKFURT — In 2014, as evidence mounted about the harmful effects of diesel exhaust on human health, scientists in an Albuquerque laboratory conducted an unusual experiment: Ten monkeys squatted in airtight chambers, watching cartoons for entertainment as they inhaled fumes from a diesel Volkswagen Beetle.
German automakers had financed the experiment in an attempt to prove that diesel vehicles with the latest technology were cleaner than the smoky models of old. But the American scientists conducting the test were unaware of one critical fact: The Beetle provided by Volkswagen had been rigged to produce pollution levels that were far less harmful in the lab than they were on the road.
The results were being deliberately manipulated.
The Albuquerque monkey research, which has not been previously reported, is a new dimension in a global emissions scandal that has already forced Volkswagen to plead guilty to federal fraud and conspiracy charges in the United States and to pay more than $26 billion in fines.
The company admitted to installing software in vehicles that enabled them to cheat on emissions tests. But legal proceedings and government records show that Volkswagen and other European automakers were also engaged in a prolonged, well-financed effort to produce academic research that they hoped would influence political debate and preserve tax privileges for diesel fuel. | – Could carmakers replace cable companies in the battle for the title of Most Reviled Industry? This news out of Germany could certainly help. The BBC reports German carmakers funded research that involved having humans and monkeys inhale diesel exhaust fumes to gauge the health impact. The research was done at the behest of the European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (aka EUGT), which was exclusively funded by Volkswagen, Daimler, and BMW until they did away with the group in 2017. In a lengthy article published Thursday, the New York Times dug into the monkey side of things, reporting on a 2014 experiment in an Albuquerque, NM, lab in which 10 monkeys sat in airtight chambers for four hours as fumes from a diesel Volkswagen Beetle were piped in, all as cartoons played for entertainment. It was supposed to provide ammunition against a 2012 classification by the WHO that diesel exhaust is a carcinogen, but the results were both "deliberately manipulated" and inconclusive. Over the weekend came the news that the tests didn't stop at monkeys. German newspapers reported 25 adults were exposed to fumes over a number of hours as part of a look at "short-term nitrogen dioxide inhalation by healthy people," per Deutsche Welle, which reports the subjects were examined by Germany's Aachen University Hospital. Daimler on Sunday said it is "appalled," per the BBC, and a rep for Angela Merkel said the tests "cannot be justified ethically in any way." The hospital noted in a statement that the study "served to optimize job security, for example for truck drivers, vehicle mechanics, and welders," Deutsche Welle reports. |
WASHINGTON — An intruder was able to climb a fence and enter the White House in September because of a succession of “performance, organizational, technical” and other failures by the Secret Service, according to a damning review of the incident by the Department of Homeland Security.
The review found that the Secret Service’s alarm systems and radios failed to function properly, and that many of the responding officers did not see the intruder as he climbed over the fence, delaying their response.
Omar Gonzalez, the man charged in the incident, could have been stopped by a Secret Service officer who was stationed on the North Lawn with an attack dog, the review said. But the officer did not realize that an intruder had made it over the fence because he was sitting in his van talking on his personal cellphone.
The officer did not have his radio earpiece in, and had left the second radio he was supposed to have in his locker. It was only after he saw another officer running toward Mr. Gonzalez that he was alerted to the security breach. At that point, the officer gave the dog the command to attack, but the dog had not had a chance to “lock onto” the intruder “and may not have seen” him at all, according to the review. Mr. Gonzalez continued into the White House.
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The review has not been made public, but members of Congress were briefed on it Thursday. An executive summary was obtained by The New York Times.The review of the Sept. 19 breach is part of a much broader investigation of the Secret Service being conducted by the deputy secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. That investigation is focused on other incidents in which the White House fence was scaled and how security at the White House could be improved. Julia Pierson, the director of the Secret Service, resigned after the September incident as well as other security lapses by the agency.
In addition to faulting the Secret Service for its handling of the security breach, the review also found that the agency mishandled its investigation of Mr. Gonzalez in the months before he succeeded in entering the White House. He first came to the attention of the authorities in July when he was arrested on gun charges in Virginia. A month later, he was stopped outside the White House carrying a hatchet but was not arrested.
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The report also said that because of staffing shortages, the uniformed Secret Service officers who were responsible for protecting the White House did not receive adequate training. But the bulk of the report focuses on what happened on the evening of Sept. 19, from the time officers recognized Mr. Gonzalez outside the White House.
Mr. Gonzalez did not appear to show any odd behavior, so the officers did not talk to him or alert their supervisors. An hour later, at 7:19 p.m., officers on Pennsylvania Avenue spotted him climbing over the fence at a point where one of the ornamental spikes was missing. The officers ran toward him and told him to stop, but he continued over the fence onto the North Lawn.
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One officer called over his radio that someone had gone over the fence, and an alarm was sounded. Two officers approached Mr. Gonzalez with their firearms pointed at him and told him to stop. He continued running, and the officers decided not to use lethal force because they did not believe he was armed.
One of the officers followed Mr. Gonzalez into the bushes in front of the North Portico but lost sight of him.
The summary said that the officers “were surprised that Gonzalez was able to get through the bushes” because “prior to that evening, the officers believed the bushes” were too thick to pass through.
It was at that time that the officer with the dog joined the pursuit.
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An officer stationed nearby was unable to see what was occurring because his view was obstructed by trees and bushes. That officer “was unable to hear any comprehensible radio communications about alarm breaks or Gonzalez” until he had gotten close to the North Portico entrance.
“By the time the officer exited his vehicle and began yelling commands at Gonzalez, Gonzalez had nearly arrived at the bushes,” according to the summary. “The officer was unable to reach Gonzalez before he entered the bushes and, as a result, went around the bushes toward the North Portico only to find that Gonzalez had already entered the White House.”
An officer stationed at the North Portico door could not hear on the radio what was occurring and had an obstructed view. Instead of remaining at the door, the officer took out his weapon and took cover behind a pillar. The officer put his finger on the trigger of his gun, pointed it at Mr. Gonzalez as he came up the stairs, and told him to stop. But, Mr. Gonzalez continued running and the officer did not shoot because he did not believe Mr. Gonzalez was armed. It was later discovered that Mr. Gonzalez had a knife.
The wooden doors at the North Portico were closed and the officer assumed they were locked. “Believing that Gonzalez was trapped, and concerned that the canine might erroneously lock onto him, the officer chose to remain in place and out of the way” of the other officers who were chasing after him.
But the doors were not locked, and Mr. Gonzalez entered the White House. The emergency communication system by the entrance had been muted. As the officer stationed there tried to lock the doors, Mr. Gonzalez “barged through them and knocked her backward.” She told him to stop but he continued on to the East Room.
“After attempting twice to physically take Gonzalez down but failing to do so because of the size disparity between the two, the officer then attempted to draw her baton but accidentally grabbed her flashlight instead,” the report said. “The officer threw down her flashlight, drew her firearm, and continued to give Gonzalez commands that he ignored.”
Mr. Gonzalez entered the East Room, but then exited, heading down the hallway. Two officers stationed in the White House, assisted by two plainclothes agents who had just finished their shifts, tackled him.
Outside the White House several officers, who said they did not know the layout of the building, were lining up in a tactical formation. “By the time they entered,” the report said, “Gonzalez had already been subdued,” it said.
A copy of the findings was given to the acting Secret Service director, Joseph Clancy, at the end of last month so he “could immediately begin to take any additional security measures that the findings warranted in order to better ensure the White House complex is secure,” according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security. But no Secret Service agents or officers have been disciplined in connection with the incident. ||||| Security is heightened around the White House following Friday’s breach. Omar Jose Gonzalez, 42, appeared before a judge on one charge of unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon.
Sept. 22, 2014 Security is heightened around the White House following Friday’s breach. Omar Jose Gonzalez, 42, appeared before a judge on one charge of unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon. Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post
The Secret Service is under scrutiny after a man scaled the White House fence and made it all the way into the East Room.
The Secret Service is under scrutiny after a man scaled the White House fence and made it all the way into the East Room.
The Secret Service is under scrutiny after a man scaled the White House fence and made it all the way into the East Room.
Layer after layer of security measures that were supposed to block an intruder from getting into the White House all failed in stunning succession on the evening of Sept. 19, according to an internal review of a fence jumper’s breach.
There were nearly a dozen failures in the Secret Service’s rings of security that helped Omar Jose Gonzalez, 42, get inside the White House and deep into the East Room, according to a Department of Homeland Security review, a summary of which was obtained Thursday by The Washington Post.
In one example, a canine handler who was supposed to help chase down and tackle anyone who breached the White House compound was in a van on a personal cellphone call at the time and did not hear any radio traffic about a fence jumper. By the time he and his well-trained attack dog arrived, Gonzalez was already entering the White House front door, the review found.
In another failure, a crisis command center officer who thought he was alerting everyone to an intruder that Friday night didn’t realize his radio wasn’t working properly — meaning his alert was not being broadcast to officers stationed at the White House. Some alarms were also muted.
The end result: Many Secret Service officers were slow to realize that a person had jumped the fence, and then weren’t sure where he was. Construction on the north grounds obscured many officers’ views, further hampering their ability to spot trouble and respond.
An officer on the North Portico guarding the front gate also did not realize for some time that there was a fence jumper because of “unintelligible traffic over the radio,” the report said. With his gun drawn as he watched Gonzalez run up the steps, the officer let the intruder walk past him because he assumed the front door was locked; it was not.
Lawmakers said Thursday that they were shocked by the depth of the communication and protocol failures exposed by the report.
The review “reads as a comedy of errors by the U.S. Secret Service and confirms that fundamental reform is needed,” said Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which will hold a Secret Service oversight hearing Wednesday.
Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said the agency has already put in place or is in the process of implementing changes to fix the problems highlighted in the report.”
“The entire Secret Service workforce is dedicated to ensuring that we provide the highest level of protection to the people and facilities we protect,” Donovan said. “We must take this opportunity to make any necessary changes and improvements related to carrying out our protective mission to regain the trust of the American people.”
As outlined by the summary, things went badly that night from the very beginning.
President Obama and his daughters were flying to Camp David and had just lifted off in the president’s helicopter a few minutes before the breach.
A bystander captured video of a man allegedly jumping the fence at the White House and sparking a security alert. Omar J. Gonzalez allegedly got inside the front door of the White House before getting caught. (Alan Pawlinski via YouTube)
The section of the fence that Gonzalez scaled lacked an ornamental spike — called a trident — that would have made it harder for him to get over, the report found.
Two emergency response team members responded to the commotion quickly with rifles pointed at Gonzalez but determined he was not a lethal risk because he appeared unarmed. The one who got closest to tackling him was surprised when Gonzalez barreled through a line of bushes at the base of the North Portico steps. He and several fellow officers had assumed the dense bush line was impassable.
The review, which was first reported by the New York Times, also found striking communications failures. The canine handler and his dog, for example, were stationed in a van partly to avoid giving the impression of a militarized zone to White House visitors. But it was not equipped with monitors or speakers to alert him to a breach.
An officer in the service’s Joint Operations Command Center saw alarm panels indicating that someone had breached the fence line and sent out an alert over the radio. But he didn’t know the command center radio system lacked the capability to override standard radio traffic, so his transmission was not broadcast. He avoided making additional transmissions because he wanted to keep the line clear for other radio reports.
The officer stationed directly inside the front door had no idea there was an intruder, as the alarm at her station had been muted at the White House staff’s request. Gonzalez knocked her over as she tried too late to lock the front door. She reached for her baton to subdue him, but grabbed her flashlight by mistake.
Gonzalez had been questioned once by the Secret Service on the White House perimeter in August, and a Secret Service field office in Roanoke had been warned about him by Virginia state police. Authorities had arrested him and discovered he had a map of the White House and multiple weapons and ammunition. But the field office did not notify Secret Service headquarters of this — a failing the review attributed to a lack of clear directives from headquarters.
Lawmakers said Thursday the review lays bare the pressing need for an overhaul of the Secret Service. The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), introduced legislation Thursday authorizing a “top-to-bottom” review of the agency.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (Miss.), the committee’s ranking Democrat, said the review shows that the response to Gonzalez was hampered “because of critical and major failures in communications, confusion about operational protocols, and gaps in staffing and training. While some of these problems can be attributed to a lack of resources, others are systemic and indicative of Secret Service culture.” | – Homeland Security has wrapped up a review of the incident in which a man armed with a knife scaled a fence and got inside the White House, and one detail as relayed by the New York Times stands out above all others: The intruder "could have been stopped by a Secret Service officer who was stationed on the North Lawn with an attack dog. But the officer did not realize that an intruder had made it over the fence because he was sitting in his van talking on his personal cellphone." A close second is probably the officer stationed outside the North Portico doors who initially couldn't figure out what was going on because of garbled radio chatter, reports the Washington Post. When he eventually saw the intruder running toward the White House, the officer drew his weapon, took cover behind a pillar ... and then let the man proceed to the doors because he assumed they were locked. They were not. The officer also thought that if he emerged from the pillar, the attack dog might have mistakenly gone after him. |
Trey Gowdy had urged Devin Nunes (above) to share a classified memo that alleges misconduct by senior officials at the FBI with both Chris Wray and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. | Mark Wilson/Getty Images House panel votes to release secret memo Earlier, Trey Gowdy lobbied Devin Nunes to share the controversial memo with the FBI director.
Republicans on the House intelligence committee voted Monday in favor of releasing a classified memo that alleges misconduct by senior FBI officials involved in the Russia probe, despite objections from the Department of Justice.
The GOP-led panel voted along party lines to release the secret document — which was written by Republicans — and against making public a competing memo Democrats had crafted, said Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the committee. The group also rejected a proposal to give the Justice Department and FBI more time to vet the Republican document, he said.
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The memo has been a source of escalating partisan tension in Congress. Republicans argue it shows wrongdoing by FBI officials involved in surveillance of a Trump campaign aide, while Democrats say it mischaracterizes intelligence and is an attempt to distract from special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russia's interference in the 2016 election.
In a sign of the House GOP's growing suspicions toward the FBI — as well as the influence of Donald Trump's allies who wanted the memo made public — the panel voted to publish the document only a day after sharing it with the FBI director, who was appointed by the president.
"We have crossed a deeply regrettable line on this committee," Schiff said. "We had votes today to politicize the intelligence process, to prohibit the FBI and the Department of Justice from expressing their concerns to our committee and to the House, and to selectively release to the public the majority’s distorted memo."
House intelligence committee Chairman Devin Nunes showed FBI Director Christopher Wray the memo on Sunday after Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) pressured him to share its contents with the bureau, two people familiar with the meeting said Monday. Gowdy also wanted Nunes to let Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein see the memo too, but he did not join them Sunday.
In their meeting, Nunes told Wray he could flag any factual errors, national security concerns or material that could put FBI sources at risk, according to the people familiar with the meeting. Schiff said Wray told him his concerns with the memo were not alleviated just because he reviewed it.
"The review did not satisfy, I think, either the bureau or [DOJ's] concerns," Schiff said. "The director of the FBI asked for the opportunity to come before the committee and express those concerns." He said Republicans also formally confirmed on Monday that they are probing conduct by senior officials at the Department of Justice and FBI.
Committee Republicans did agree to share Democrats' competing memo with the rest of the House, which they called a precursor to potentially releasing it publicly. Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.) told reporters the Democratic memo "should be" released after House members have time to review it.
Trump now has five days to either object to the committee's request or clear the way for the memo's release. The White House said earlier on Monday that no decision would be made until lawmakers voted.
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"It will be subjected to appropriate and serious review before a decision is made. The President strongly favors transparency for the American people and has urged the Executive Branch to cooperate with Congress to the fullest extent appropriate," said White House lawyer Ty Cobb in a statement Monday.
Three people who have seen the memo told POLITICO recently that it accuses senior FBI officials of abusing a classified surveillance program, known as FISA, to spy on a Trump campaign foreign policy adviser. Obtaining a warrant under FISA requires the FBI to present an application to a court with evidence that indicates the target is acting on behalf of a foreign power.
The GOP has complained that the FBI included in its evidence material culled from a dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele that described illicit connections between Trump and Russia. Steele compiled the dossier in 2016 on behalf of research firm Fusion GPS, which was being paid by Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee.
The New York Times reported Monday that the memo also reveals that deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein approved an application to extend the surveillance of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page in early 2017.
Though Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor, helped craft the memo and has championed its public release, he said on "Fox News Sunday" that he believed the FBI should see the memo before it comes out. He also said it shouldn't be used to interfere with Mueller's probe.
"I told my Republican colleagues, ‘Leave him the hell alone,’ and that’s still my advice,” Gowdy said.
Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas), a member of the House intelligence committee and a former CIA officer, said he was not concerned about a Justice Department warning that releasing the memo without DOJ review could jeopardize national security. "I spent most of my adult life protecting sources and methods. I’m going to continue doing that," he said.
Rachael Bade contributed to this report. ||||| Republican Rep. Devin Nunes of California, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, appears to have moved from criticizing the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election to strategizing about how to blunt its impact should it imperil President Trump.
The most promising instrument in this effort, he suggested in unfiltered remarks last month, is retaining a GOP-controlled Congress.
Even if he had been speaking publicly, the eight-term Republican might not have chosen his words differently. This, after all, is the adamantly pro-Trump lawmaker who in February released a memorandum accusing the intelligence community of conspiring against the president. In May, Nunes sought documents from the Justice Department — as part of his investigation into the law enforcement officials leading the Russia inquiry — that senior intelligence officials maintained could expose a top source and endanger lives.
But it was in private, at a closed-door fundraiser for a Republican colleague, that Nunes took the new step of tying the investigation to the midterm elections this fall. In comments captured in an audio recording aired Wednesday by “The Rachel Maddow Show,” Nunes laid out in stark terms the rationale for preserving the GOP majority in Congress.
“If Sessions won’t unrecuse and Mueller won’t clear the president, we’re the only ones, which is really the danger,” Nunes said at an event for Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, referring to Jeff Sessions, the attorney general, and Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel. Sessions said last year that he would keep his distance from inquiries related to the 2016 election, owing to his role in Trump’s campaign — a move that has frustrated the president, leading him to blame his own attorney general for the “Russian Witch Hunt Hoax.”
“I mean, we have to keep all these seats,” Nunes added. “We have to keep the majority. If we do not keep the majority, all of this goes away.”
He seemed to suggest that congressional Republicans formed the last line of defense against potential fallout from the probe into Russian election interference. He called this a “classic Catch-22 situation,” appearing to confuse a “tough spot” — also his words — with a situation in which contradictory conditions make escape impossible.
Maddow said on her show that the tape was made by a progressive organization called Fuse Washington that paid for entrance into the fundraiser, held July 30 in Spokane, Wash. A spokesman for Nunes didn’t return a request for comment sent Wednesday by The Washington Post.
The remarks drew immediate rebuke from Democrats. Rep. Ted Lieu, also of California, called on Nunes to resign, saying his comments ran counter to the oath of office he had taken upon entering Congress.
Others observed that the lawmaker’s actions over the past year made his comments unsurprising. “After all,” tweeted University of Texas Law School professor Steve Vladeck, “this has been the only explanation — for quite some time — for his ridiculous behavior on everything from the unmasking scandal” to the “Rosenstein impeachment.” Nunes announced last year that he would step aside from his own committee’s investigation into Russian interference after the House Ethics Committee said it was examining allegations that he “may have made unauthorized disclosures of classified information.” He has denied wrongdoing.
Under our Constitution, the duty of Congress is not to clear the President. The duty of Congress is to be a check and balance on the Executive Branch, and to pursue the facts wherever they may lead.
Devin Nunes should resign for perverting the oath he took. https://t.co/ugc7CBgG39 — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 9, 2018
Nunes made several other noteworthy statements to the audience of GOP donors, also concerning the Russia investigation and its supervision.
He blamed the Senate’s schedule — and the interest in swiftly confirming Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court — for the failure of the House to take up impeachment proceedings against Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general. Just days before Nunes’s closed-door remarks in Washington state, a group of conservative lawmakers introduced a resolution calling for Rosenstein’s impeachment, though they stopped short of forcing a vote on the matter. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) responded by saying he opposed the effort and reaffirmed his belief that Justice Department officials were acting appropriately.
But Nunes said that resistance to Rosenstein’s impeachment was mostly about scheduling.
“I’ve said publicly Rosenstein deserves to be impeached,” Nunes said. “I don’t think you’re gonna get any argument from most of our colleagues. The question is the timing of it right before the election.”
The danger, Nunes said, was holding up the judicial nomination, as “the Senate would have to drop everything they’re doing and start to, and start with impeachment on Rosenstein, and then take the risk of not getting Kavanaugh confirmed.”
“It’s a matter of timing,” Nunes said.
Rosenstein, who appointed and now supervises Mueller, defended the special counsel investigation when he was brought before the House Judiciary Committee earlier this summer.
The series of recordings made public by Maddow do not include every question to which Nunes was responding. But at another point during the fundraiser, he addressed the issue of collusion, considering a hypothetical situation in which a campaign received stolen emails from a foreign power and then released them, labeling this activity “criminal.”
“Now if somebody thinks that my campaign or Cathy’s campaign is colluding with the Chinese, or you name the country, hey, could happen, it would be a very bad thing if Cathy was getting secrets from the Portuguese, let’s say, just because I’m Portuguese, my family was,” Nunes said, using McMorris Rodgers as an example in his hypothetical. “But, ultimately, let’s say the Portuguese came and brought her some stolen emails, and she decided to release those. Okay, now we have a problem, right? Because somebody stole the emails, gave them to Cathy, Cathy released them. Well, if that’s the case, then that’s criminal.”
In the portion of his remarks played on MSNBC, Nunes neither compares nor contrasts this scenario with the release in 2016 of private Democratic communications.
The indictment last month of 12 Russian military intelligence officers shed new light on the timing and methods of Russia’s penetration into email accounts associated with Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president. The same day that Trump publicly urged Russia, “if you’re listening,” to “find the 30,000 emails that are missing,” the indictment revealed, several Russian government hackers began trying to access the email accounts of staffers in Clinton’s private office. The indictment further described how the Russians delivered the cache of hacked emails to WikiLeaks, the online organization led by Julian Assange. In 2016, the London-based anti-secrecy activist had contact with Roger Stone, an informal adviser to Trump, according to two of Stone’s associates. (The Republican political operative denies communicating with Assange.)
Finally, Nunes, touted by the president as a “Great American Hero”, revealed at the fundraiser that even he sometimes winces at the Trump’s online communications. He called the president’s tweets a “mixed bag.”
“Like, sometimes you love the president’s tweets; sometimes we cringe on the president’s tweets,” he said, attempting to discredit Mueller’s purported examination of Trump’s inflammatory posts as part of his inquiry into possible obstruction of justice.
“This is all political,” Nunes said.
More from Morning Mix:
A Welsh town was suspicious of a newcomer. His shocking secret came out and now he’s been murdered.
The entire W.Va. Supreme Court faces impeachment for corruption: Gas money, restaurant lunches, an antique desk. ||||| The release of the contentious memo by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee on Friday underscored the partisan firestorm swirling around the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
President Trump Donald John TrumpBaldwin returns to 'SNL' as Trump and admits presidency is just 'a four- year cash grab' Maxine Waters: Republicans 'intimidated' by Trump Trump: Pruitt 'doing a great job' MORE declared Saturday that the memo, which alleges abuses by the FBI and Justice Department in obtaining a surveillance order on a former Trump campaign adviser, "totally vindicates" him in the Russia probe.
But Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee argue that the document fails to disclose the full scope of the Justice Department's warrant application and intentionally omits facts that would put the matter in the proper context.
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They're pushing to release their own memo on the subject — a rebuttal they say would reveal the partisan nature of the GOP document and knock down allegations that FBI and Justice Department officials acted inappropriately.
The GOP memo alleges that federal law enforcement officials relied heavily on a controversial opposition research dossier in their application for a warrant to surveil Carter Page, a former foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign.
According to the memo, the Justice Department failed to disclose that the research contained in the dossier was financed by political sources, and that its author, a former British intelligence agent, was biased against Trump.
Now, House Intelligence Committee members from both sides of the aisle are set to take to the Sunday morning news shows to discuss the GOP memo and the future of the Russia investigation.
On the Democratic side, Rep. Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffThe Daily Beast sues Justice Department for records on Nunes memo Overnight Tech: Latest on shooting at YouTube | Facebook deletes more Russian accounts | Trump keeps up attack on Amazon | Senators press Grindr on privacy Gowdy: Congressional investigators ‘leak like the Gossip Girls’ MORE (D-Calif.), the ranking member on the Intelligence panel, will appear on ABC's "This Week." Two other Intelligence Committee Democrats, Reps. Eric Swalwell Eric Michael SwalwellMarch for Our Lives to leave empty seats for lawmakers at town halls Dem rep: Trump congratulating Putin is 'like congratulating the Harlem Globetrotters' Dem lawmaker: McCabe's firing part of conspiracy to undermine Mueller MORE (Calif.) and Jim Himes James (Jim) Andres HimesOvernight Cybersecurity: House Intel votes to release Russia report | House lawmakers demand Zuckerberg testify | Senators unveil updated election cyber bill House Intel votes to release report in Russia probe Intel Dem: 'Putin thanks his lucky stars' for Trump's attacks on FBI MORE (Conn.), are set to go on "Fox News Sunday" and CNN's "State of the Union" respectively.
At the same time, Rep. Trey Gowdy Harold (Trey) Watson GowdyOversight chairman probes Pruitt's -a-night condo deal DOJ agrees to allow 'extraordinary' access to FISA applications Gowdy: 'I don't have a lot to show for the last seven years' in Congress MORE (R-S.C.) will be on CBS's "Face the Nation," Rep. Chris Stewart Christopher (Chris) Douglas StewartGOP rep: Probably time for more regulation on Facebook GOP rep: We’re going to show the CIA ‘got it wrong’ on Russia trying to help Trump Utah GOP wrestles with party purity MORE (R-Utah) will be on "Fox News Sunday," Rep. Brad Wenstrup Brad Robert WenstrupThe Memo: Trump doubles down amid some GOP doubts Lawmakers dispute ‘vindication’ for Trump in Intel memo House Intelligence Dem: Use of Steele dossier in FISA application 'small and insignificant' MORE (R-Ohio) will be on "State of the Union" and Rep. Will Hurd William Ballard HurdProposal to use Pentagon funds for border wall is ill advised DCCC adds first black candidates to list of top candidates Overnight Cybersecurity: Trump-linked data firm Cambridge Analytica attracts scrutiny | House passes cyber response team bill | What to know about Russian cyberattacks on energy grid MORE (R-Texas) will be on "This Week." All are members of the House Intelligence Committee.
Here's the full lineup:
NBC's "Meet the Press": Reince Priebus Reinhold (Reince) Richard PriebusKudlow jokes he’s ‘gotta beat’ Scaramucci's White House tenure The Memo: Kelly said to be losing influence with Trump Trump’s zeal for administration firings denigrates public servants MORE, Trump's former chief of staff, will be on the show. Former CIA Director John Brennan John Owen BrennanBrennan rips Trump: 'Your self adoration is disgraceful' Ex-CIA chief: Trump’s VA nominee will hurt our veterans Rand Paul live tweets his reading of spending bill MORE will appear, as well.
"Fox News Sunday": Stewart and Swalwell will both make appearances, as will Leon Panetta, a former CIA director and Defense secretary.
CBS's "Face the Nation": Gowdy will be on. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Health's infectious disease unit, will also make an appearance.
CNN's "State of the Union": Himes and Wenstrup will make appearances. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinTexas GOP lawmaker visits Venezuela to meet with Maduro Democrats question ICE standards for detaining pregnant women Overnight Finance: Markets freak then rally after dueling China, US tariffs | Private sector adds 241k jobs in March | Tech rivalries spill into Washington MORE (D-Ill.) and Rep. Karen Bass Karen Ruth BassDem rep on Trump tweet: ‘An embarrassment on the international stage’ Sunday Shows preview: Debate over memo takes spotlight in Washington Dem rips GOP lawmaker for calling for FBI 'purge': Maybe he needs a history lesson MORE (D-Calif.) will also be on the show.
ABC's "This Week": Schiff and Hurd are set to make appearances. ||||| FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2018, file photo, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, speaks during a TV news interview on Capitol Hill in Washington. Collins on Sunday, Jan. 28, said President Donald Trump would be... (Associated Press)
FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2018, file photo, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, speaks during a TV news interview on Capitol Hill in Washington. Collins on Sunday, Jan. 28, said President Donald Trump would be... (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the probe into contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia (all times local):
6:25 p.m.
Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee have voted to release a classified memo they wrote that alleges that the FBI and the Justice Department improperly used government surveillance during the investigation into Russian election interference and contacts with President Donald Trump's campaign.
That's according to Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the committee. Schiff says Democrats on the committee voted against releasing the memo.
The vote to release the memo comes after committee Republicans, led by chairman Rep. Devin Nunes, a California Republican, pushed for its disclosure. The memo addresses a dossier of allegations against Trump compiled by a former British spy, and questions over whether it was used to obtain surveillance warrants.
__
2:25 p.m.
The White House says President Donald Trump has not decided whether he'd authorize the release of a classified House Intelligence Committee memo, but says he favors "full transparency."
The House committee may vote as soon as Monday to release the memo that Republicans say alleges FBI misconduct.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday that "no one" at the White House has seen the memo, so the president was not prepared to make a decision.
A number of conservatives favor releasing the memo, which they believe could discredit the findings of the investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russian officials.
White House aides have previously said Trump favored releasing the document, which is in contrast to the stance of the Justice Department.
___
2:30 a.m.
Two Republican senators say President Donald Trump would be wise to keep a public silence on an independent investigation into his 2016 campaign's contacts with Russia.
That's in the wake of news reports that he sought to fire the special counsel.
The senators, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine, also urged special counsel Robert Mueller Sunday to review whether Trump tried to fire him last June, an accusation the president has labeled "fake news."
Graham, co-sponsor of legislation that would protect Mueller from being fired without a legal basis, said he would be "glad to pass it tomorrow." But he insisted that Mueller's job appeared to be in no immediate danger, pointing to the political costs if Trump did remove him. ||||| From left, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the ranking member, confer before considering a bipartisan bill... (Associated Press)
From left, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the ranking member, confer before considering a bipartisan bill to protect the special counsel from being fired, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 26,... (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bipartisan legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller now lies in the hands of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell after the GOP-led Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to advance it.
McConnell, R-Ky., has said the bill is unnecessary and he won't let it reach the Senate floor. But the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee added to the pressure on McConnell by voting for the measure and saying McConnell should change his mind.
"While my constitutional concerns remain, I believe this bill should be considered by the full Senate," said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.
Republicans have split on the issue amid President Donald Trump's repeated criticism of Mueller's Russia investigation. That break was apparent Thursday as four Republicans joined Democrats in the 14-7 vote to pass the legislation from committee. For now, the move is largely symbolic, given McConnell's opposition, but it shows the complexity of Republican support for Trump when it comes to the president's attacks on Mueller.
Nearly all GOP senators say Trump shouldn't fire Mueller. But Republicans who support the legislation say it's necessary to guard against presidential interference by giving Congress more oversight power.
Two Republicans and two Democrats introduced the bill this month as Trump ramped up criticism of Mueller, who is investigating potential ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign as well as possible obstruction of justice by the president.
Trump appeared to suggest Thursday he has no intention of trying to fire Mueller, for now. But he left open the possibility he could change his mind.
"I am very disappointed in my Justice Department. But because of the fact that it's going on, and I think you'll understand this, I have decided that I won't be involved," Trump said in a telephone interview with "Fox & Friends." ''I may change my mind at some point, because what's going on is a disgrace."
The legislation would give any special counsel a 10-day window to seek expedited judicial review of a firing and would put into law existing Justice Department regulations that a special counsel can only be fired for good cause.
The four lawmakers who wrote the legislation — GOP Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democrats Chris Coons of Delaware and Cory Booker of New Jersey — hoped committee approval would give them more time to find enough support in the full Senate.
After the vote, the committee's top Democrat stepped up that effort.
"The American people must know the truth, and this bill should now be brought before the full Senate for debate and a vote," Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California said in a statement.
With most Democrats on board, the bipartisan group had worked this week to gather additional Republican votes. That included negotiating with Grassley, who floated an amendment that included increased reporting to Congress by the special counsel.
Democrats initially opposed that, saying it could undermine the investigation if the special counsel had to reveal too much to Congress during the investigation. But the two sides reached a compromise.
The revised amendment would require that notification after the investigation was done, along with a report detailing the investigation's findings and explanations of any charges. It would require notification if a special counsel were removed.
Republicans who supported the bill could be at risk of angering Trump and some of his supporters they represent. Grassley, Graham, Tillis and Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., joined Democrats to advance the bill.
In opposing the bill, Utah GOP Sens. Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch said it was unconstitutional. But Tillis said Congress should leave that to the Supreme Court to decide.
White House aides have said Trump doesn't intend to fire either Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees Mueller's investigation. But White House legislative director Marc Short said last weekend that he couldn't rule it out in the long term because it's not known "how far off this investigation is going to veer." ||||| Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., is questioned by reporters as he arrives for a meeting of the House Intelligence Committee, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018 on Capitol Hill in Washington. Brushing aside opposition from... (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Brushing aside opposition from the Justice Department, Republicans on the House intelligence committee voted to release a classified memo that purports to show improper use of surveillance by the FBI and the Justice Department in the Russia investigation.
The four-page memo has become a political flashpoint, with President Donald Trump and many Republicans pushing for its release and suggesting that some in the Justice Department and FBI have conspired against the president.
The memo was written by Republicans on the committee, led by chairman Rep. Devin Nunes of California, a close Trump ally who has become a fierce critic of the FBI and the Justice Department. Special counsel Robert Mueller is investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether Trump's campaign was involved.
Republicans have said the memo reveals grave concerns about abuses of the government surveillance powers in the Russia investigation. Democrats have called it a selectively edited group of GOP talking points that attempt to distract from the committee's own investigation into Russian meddling.
The vote on Monday to release the memo is an unprecedented move by the committee, which typically goes out of its way to protect classified information in the interest of protecting intelligence sources and methods. The memo was delivered by courier to the White House on Monday evening. Trump now has five days to object to its release by the committee.
The White House said late Monday that the president will meet with his national security team and White House counsel to discuss the memo in the coming days.
Republicans said they are confident that the release won't harm national security. They also said they would not release the underlying intelligence that informed the memo.
"You'll see for yourself that it's not necessary," said Texas Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas, who's leading the House's Russia investigation.
But Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said the panel had "crossed a deeply regrettable line."
"Today this committee voted to put the president's personal interests, perhaps their own political interest, above the national interest," he said, noting that the memo's release could compromise intelligence sources and methods.
While Trump's White House signaled he would likely support the Republican memo's release, his Justice Department has voiced concerns.
In a letter to Nunes last week, Justice officials said releasing the classified memo could be "extraordinarily reckless" and asked to review it. Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd suggested that releasing classified information could damage the United States' relationship with other countries with which it shares intelligence.
After those complaints, FBI Director Christopher Wray reviewed the memo over the weekend.
Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., who was with Wray when he reviewed the memo, said the FBI director did not raise any national security concerns with him. Gowdy said the memo doesn't reveal any intelligence methods but it does reveal "one source."
But Schiff said that Wray told him Monday that the review didn't satisfy his concerns about the release of the memo. Wray wanted to brief the committee about FBI and Justice Department concerns ahead of any release, a request committee Republicans blocked, Schiff said.
The FBI did not respond to a request for comment Monday evening.
Privately, Trump has been fuming over the Justice Department's opposition to releasing the memo, according to an administration official not authorized to discuss private conversations and speaking on condition of anonymity.
At the behest of Trump, White House chief of staff John Kelly and other White House officials contacted Justice Department officials in the past week to convey the president's displeasure with the department's leadership on the issue specifically, the official said. In a series of calls, Kelly urged the Justice officials to do more within the bounds of the law to get the memo out, the official said.
It is still unclear exactly when or how the memo will be released.
Conaway said the memo could be released within the five-day window if Trump signals his approval for releasing it. But committee rules don't address how that approval must be given — or what happens if it comes in the form of a tweet.
Some Republican senators have said they don't want to release the memo, and Democrats have pushed back on Republican criticism of the FBI, saying it is an attempt to discredit Mueller's investigation. The probe has already resulted in charges against four of Trump's former campaign advisers and has recently moved closer to Trump's inner circle.
"They will trample on anything to protect the White House at this point in time," said Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., of the Republican move to release the memo.
Late Monday, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi blamed House Speaker Paul Ryan, who oversees the intelligence panel and has deferred to Nunes, whom she called a "stooge." She said on CNN that Ryan is allowing the release of a "false memo based on a false premise."
In response, Democrats on the panel have put together their own memo. On Monday, the committee voted to make the Democratic memo available to all House members — but not the public. Conaway said he was open to making it public after House members have a chance to review it.
The fate of the Nunes memo is only the latest flashpoint in the contentious relationship between Trump and the Justice Department.
Trump has frequently raged at Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia probe, a move the president believes was disloyal and led to the appointment of Mueller.
Separately Monday, Schiff and Conaway said former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon will appear for a closed-door interview Wednesday.
Bannon was interviewed by the committee earlier this month but refused to answer questions about his time in the Trump administration at the direction of the White House counsel's office. Bannon served on Trump's campaign and was the chief strategist in the White House until he left in August.
Bannon's refusal drew a subpoena from Nunes seeking to compel him to answer the committee's questions.
On Monday, Conaway said, "I expect our subpoena will be complied with."
___
Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report. | – The future of Robert Mueller was the talk of the town on the Sunday morning talk shows, with politicians on both sides of the aisle weighing the need to protect the special counsel following a report Trump tried to fire him in June. "It’s pretty clear to me that everybody in the White House knows that it’d be the end of President Trump’s presidency if he fired Mr. Mueller,” New York quotes Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham as saying on ABC's This Week. He says he would be willing to pass legislation to protect Mueller. CNN reports Republican Sen. Susan Collins agrees, saying on State of the Union that "it certainly wouldn't hurt to put that extra safeguard in place given the latest stories." And according to Politico, Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy told Fox News Sunday he "100%" supports Mueller. “I told my Republican colleagues, ‘Leave him the hell alone,'" he says. On the other hand, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said on NBC's Meet the Press he doesn't think "there's a need" for legislation protecting Mueller, and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin surprisingly agreed on State of the Union that such legislation would be "premature." The White House's Marc Short wouldn't say on Fox News Sunday if Trump would even sign a bill protecting Mueller. Here are two of the other hot topics from Sunday morning: Nunes Memo: McCarthy said on Meet the Press that a memo regarding the investigation into Russian election interference and Trump campaign collusion compiled by Rep. Devin Nunes should be made public, the Hill reports. Republicans claim the memo includes evidence that the FBI and Justice Department abused surveillance powers. But according to ABC News, Graham told This Week someone "without a political bias" needs to look at the memo first, and Gowdy downplayed its significance to Fox News Sunday. Immigration: Manchin discussed the White House's recent immigration plan on both Meet the Press and State of the Union, Reuters reports. Despite House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi decrying the plan as a way to "make America white again," Manchin said it's a "good starting point" and thinks Congress can use it to "find a pathway forward." |
The family of Africa’s youngest billionaire have offered a 1bn Tanzanian shillings (£330,000/ $436,000) reward for the safe return of Mohammed Dewji, who was kidnapped from an exclusive hotel gym in a dawn raid.
Dewji, 43, an industrialist and former politician known as Mo, was abducted by armed men as he arrived for his daily workout at the Colosseum hotel in Dar es Salaam at 5.35am on 11 October. The regional police commissioner said it appeared that Dewji – who has pledged to give away at least half of his $1.5bn (£1.15bn) fortune to charity – had been “kidnapped by whites [white people]”.
Dewji, who was the first Tanzanian to feature on the cover of business magazine Forbes, is thought to have fallen victim to a well-planned attack in the affluent Oysterbay neighbourhood of Dar es Salaam.
“The family is offering a reward of a billion [Tanzanian] shillings to any person who has information leading to the whereabouts of our son,” Dewji’s uncle Azim Dewji said at a press conference on Monday. “We want to assure anyone with the information about the whereabouts of our son to come forward and we will treat their information as secret.”
Mohammed’s company MeTL (Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania) tweeted details of reward and said it would pay out “for any tip that will help us find our MO!”.
MeTL Group (@MeTL_Group) “For every matter that you fear, God has his plans” MO#BringBackOurMO#MrudisheMoWetu#BringBackMo
We are offering a reward of 1 billion TSHS for any tip that will help us find our MO! Please email tips to [email protected]
The family promises to maintain secrecy pic.twitter.com/YHiSlVXuBX
Mohammed, who is married with three children, is widely known to travel without a personal security detail despite the heightened threat of kidnapping in Africa. Local media quotes one of his employees as saying he has a “huge celebrity status” in Tanzania.
Police said he was dragged away by masked armed men as he arrived at the luxury hotel’s spa and leisure complex in a black Range Rover with the licence plate “Mo 1”.
Paul Makonda, regional police commissioner in Dar es Salaam, said: “They fired a gun and then they opened the gate. Initial information indicates he was kidnapped by whites travelling in two vehicles. This kind of incident is new here”.
More than 20 people have been arrested in connection with the abduction. Tanzania’s home affairs minister, Kangi Lugola,said: “The police will never rest until the culprits are brought to book.” The hashtag # BringBackMo was trending in Tanzania.
supadada (@tulanana) #Tanzanian billionaire family offer close to half a million dollars for news leading to the return of @moodewji who was kidnapped a few days ago pic.twitter.com/HmZLS6FeMP
Dewji was born in 1975 in a house built from mud and sand in rural Tanzania.
His father, Gulamabbas, transformed his mother’s shop into an import-export empire, which enabled Mo and his siblings to be sent to private schools and exclusive sports clubs. Mo showed an early flair for golf, and his father sent him to the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy in Florida. But, when it was clear he wouldn’t make it to a PGA grade player, he enrolled at Georgetown University, in Washington DC, to study international business and finance with a minor in theology.
On his return to Tanzania, Dewji joined the family business as chief financial controller and quickly set about expanded the operation. MeTLis now the country’s largest home-grown business employing 24,000 people and accounting for 3.5% of gross national product (GDP).
Maria Sarungi Tsehai (@MariaSTsehai) @BillGates please help us to make the world know that in #Tanzania we want the culprits to #BringBackMo
We pray and demand the safe return of @moodewji
We know that you know him ☺️ pic.twitter.com/2Oj1C9ihDI
He has featured on the cover of Forbes three times, and is ranked by the magazine as Africa’s 17th-richest person with a $1.5bn fortune.
Dewji also launched a fizzy drink brand called Mo Cola to compete with Coca-Cola, and owns a majority stake in Simba Sports Club football team in the Tanzanian Premier League. The team, which was formerly known as Eagles and Dar Sunderland, has also tweeted calling for Dewji’s return.
Mohammed has said he is proud of his business success, but his real passion is in his commitment to giving away his wealth in order to help poorer Tanzanians. MeTL’s stated mission is to “ending poverty in Tanzania”.
Simba SC Tanzania (@SimbaSCTanzania) Kwa mtu yeyote mwenye taarifa ambazo zitasaidia kupatikana kwa mwekezaji wetu Mohammed Dewji anaweza kuwasiliana na familia ya Dewji kwa namba 0755030014, 0717208478 na 0784783228 au kutuma barua pepe [email protected] pic.twitter.com/oMz22cXnsm
“I have been blessed and I am very proud of the success of my company, MeTL, but with this success and the subsequent wealth comes responsibility,” Mohammed said when he created his Mo Dewji charitable foundation. “I believe in putting money back into my country first and foremost. When God blesses you financially, don’t raise your standard of living, raise your standard of giving.”
Dewji has signed up to the Giving Pledge, created by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to call on the world’s richest people to give away at least half of their wealth to charity.
As well as running his company, Mohammed served in Tanzania’s parliament as a MP for the ruling centre-left Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party for 10 years until 2015. ||||| This article is over 2 months old
Mohammed Dewji reportedly abducted by gunmen as he entered gym in Dar es Salaam
Africa’s youngest billionaire has been kidnapped by gunmen in Dar es Salaam, according to officials.
Mohammed Dewji, 43, who is said to have a fortune of $1.5bn (£1.1bn) and is the president of MeTL Group, which operates in about 10 countries across sectors ranging from agriculture to transport and food, was abducted as he entered a hotel gym.
The regional governor, Paul Makonda, said: “Initial information indicates he was kidnapped by whites travelling in two vehicles. This kind of incident is new here.”
Lazaro Mambosasa, the Dar es Salaam police chief, told a press conference the kidnappers had “shot into the air” before bundling Dewji into a car.
He said police were looking for suspects and had already made arrests.
Dewji was born in Tanzania and studied at Georgetown University in Washington DC. He served as an MP from 2005 to 2015.
In 2013, he became the first Tanzanian to be on the cover of Forbes magazine, and was named Forbes Africa person of the year in 2015.
Dewji is also the main shareholder in Simba football club, based in Dar es Salaam.
He is ranked 17th by Forbes on its list of Africa’s billionaires.
Dewji is married with three children. In 2016, he signed a pledge to donate at least half his fortune to philanthropic causes. ||||| Image copyright AFP Image caption Financial magazine Forbes says Mohammed Dewji is worth $1.5bn (£980m)
The man said to be Africa's youngest billionaire has been kidnapped by masked gunmen in Tanzania's main city Dar es Salaam, police say.
Mohammed Dewji, 43, was abducted outside a swanky hotel gym where he was going for his routine morning workout.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident and two of the abductors were believed to be foreign nationals, police added.
The motive for Mr Dewji's abduction is still unclear.
Who is Mohammed Dewji?
Financial magazine Forbes puts his wealth at $1.5bn (£980m), and has described him as Tanzania's only billionaire.
In a 2017 report, it said Mr Dewji was Africa's youngest billionaire.
Mr Dewji is also a major sponsor of one of Tanzania's biggest football teams, Simba.
He promised in 2016 to donate at least half his fortune to philanthropic causes, Forbes said.
Mr Dewji, locally known as Mo, is credited with turning his family business from a wholesale and retail enterprise into a pan-African conglomerate, reports the BBC's Athuman Mtulya from Dar es Salaam.
His company, MeTL, has interests in textile manufacturing, flour milling, beverages and edible oils in at least six African states.
Mr Dewji served as a ruling party MP for a decade until 2015. He told the BBC in a 2014 interview that this possibly made it easier for him to meet top politicians, but it did not give him an unfair advantage, as other businessmen also had access to them.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Tanzania's Mohammed Dewji spoke to the BBC in 2014
Environment Minister January Makamba, a friend of Mr Dewji, tweeted that he had spoken to Mr Dewji's father and the family confirmed that he had been kidnapped.
'Relaxed approach to security'
By Caroline Lewis, former MeTL employee
Mohammed Dewji has huge celebrity status in Tanzania. You would be hard pressed to find a person in Dar es Salaam who did not know of Mohammed or the Dewji family and he would often draw large crowds at public events.
But despite his wealth and fame he has always been incredibly relaxed in his approach to security - in fact all the Dewji family were.
He never moved with security guards or bouncers and would often pop out to the gym on his lunch break or to meet friends after work unaccompanied.
In his day to day life he didn't look like a billionaire - he was a friendly, affable young man going about his business.
What more do we know about his abduction?
The abduction took place in the affluent neighbourhood of Oysterbay.
The kidnappers fired shots in the air before driving away with the billionaire, eyewitnesses said.
Image copyright EPA Image caption Police officers inspect Mohammed Dewji's vehicle after his abduction
Mr Dewji, a fitness enthusiast, had no security guards with him and had driven to the gym on his own, Dar es Salaam regional police commissioner Paul Makonda told reporters.
Two of the kidnappers were white men, he added.
Security personnel across Tanzania have been put on high alert in the hunt for the abductors, police said.
Are kidnappings common in Dar es Salaam?
By Athuman Mtulya, BBC Africa, Dar es Salaam
The city's name comes from Arabic, and literally means Abode of Peace. And Dar es Salaam is very safe, in comparison to Lagos or Johannesburg, the main cities in Nigeria and South Africa respectively.
Although Tanzania has seen a wave attacks and abductions of opposition politicians and perceived government critics, this is the first time a businessman of Mr Dewji's standing has been kidnapped in the country.
Businessmen have never felt at risk of being kidnapped and they often move around on their own. Some may have chauffeurs, but not bodyguards. So Mr Dewji's abduction has come as a huge shock. ||||| Image copyright AFP Image caption Financial magazine Forbes says Mohammed Dewji is worth $1.5bn (£980m)
The family of Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji, who was kidnapped on Thursday, has offered a 1bn Tanzania shilling ($440,000; £330,000) reward for information that leads to his rescue.
Mr Dewji, reportedly Africa's youngest billionaire, was taken by masked gunmen in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam.
The police have arrested more than 20 people in connection with the abduction
But both the motive for the kidnapping and his whereabouts are still unclear.
Police believe that two white men were behind Mr Dewji's disappearance, reports the BBC's Athuman Mtulya from Dar es Salaam.
The family hoped that the reward will help the police's investigation, spokesperson Azim Dewji told a packed press conference.
"We want to assure anyone with the information about the whereabouts of our son to come forward and we will treat their information as secret," he said.
Kidnappings are uncommon in Tanzania, our correspondent says.
Who is Mohammed Dewji?
Financial magazine Forbes puts his wealth at $1.5bn (£980m), and has described him as Tanzania's only billionaire.
In a 2017 report, it said Mr Dewji, 43, was Africa's youngest billionaire.
Mr Dewji is also a major sponsor of one of Tanzania's biggest football teams, Simba.
He promised in 2016 to donate at least half his fortune to philanthropic causes, Forbes said.
Mr Dewji, locally known as Mo, is credited with turning his family business from a wholesale and retail enterprise into a pan-African conglomerate.
His company, MeTL, has interests in textile manufacturing, flour milling, beverages and edible oils in at least six African states.
Mr Dewji served as a ruling party MP for a decade until 2015. He told the BBC in a 2014 interview that this possibly made it easier for him to meet top politicians, but it did not give him an unfair advantage, as other businessmen also had access to them.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Mohammed Dewji spoke to the BBC in 2014
What more do we know about his abduction?
The abduction took place outside a swanky gym in the affluent neighbourhood of Oysterbay.
The kidnappers fired shots in the air before driving away with the billionaire, eyewitnesses said.
Image copyright EPA Image caption Police officers inspect Mohammed Dewji's vehicle after his abduction
Mr Dewji, a fitness enthusiast, had no security guards with him and had driven to the gym on his own, Dar es Salaam regional police commissioner Paul Makonda told reporters on Thursday. | – A man reported to be Tanzania's only billionaire and the youngest one in Africa has been kidnapped in what the BBC is calling a "huge shock." Mohammed Dewji was seized by masked gunmen Thursday morning as he entered a hotel gym in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam, considered to be very safe. It's the sixth abduction of a billionaire in Africa this year, but the first in Tanzania, reports the Citizen. "This kind of incident is new here," regional commissioner Paul Makonda says, per the AFP, adding "initial information indicates he was kidnapped by whites travelling in two vehicles." Three people have been arrested, though police are on the lookout for more abductors, said to have fired shots into the air before driving off with the 43-year-old father of three, who was without bodyguards. A former employee says Dewji has "always been incredibly relaxed in his approach to security" despite huge fame, per the BBC. He transformed his family's retail business MeTL into a company with diverse interests in some 10 countries, reports the AFP. A former legislator who attended Georgetown University, Dewji previously vowed to donate half his fortune to charity; Forbes puts his worth at $1.5 billion. |
Janet Hubert didn't hold back speaking out against Jada Pinkett Smith boycotting the Academy Awards this year.
Hubert -- who played Aunt Vivian on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air -- posted a video response to Will Smith's wife, who announced that she will not be attending the Oscars due to the lack of diversity among the nominees. "First of all, Miss Thing, does your man not have a mouth of his own with which to speak?" Hubert declared. "The second thing, girlfriend, there's a lot of sh** going on in the world that you all don't seem to recognize. People are dying. Our boys are being shot left and right. People are starving. People are trying to pay bills. And you're talking about some motherf**king actors and Oscars. It just ain't that deep."
WATCH: The Oscars Nominate All White Actors for Second Year in a Row
Hubert also did not agree with Jada asking other people in Hollywood to boycott the awards show. "And here's the other thing, for you to ask other actors, and other black actresses and actors, too, to jeopardize their career and their standing in a town that you know damn well you don't do that," she said. "And here's the other thing -- they don't care. They don't care! And I find it ironic that somebody who has made their living, and made millions and millions of dollars from the very people you're talking about boycotting just because you didn't get a nomination, just because you didn't win. That is not the way life works, baby."
The Smiths. Posted by Blacktress Janet Hubert on Monday, January 18, 2016
She added, "It's very suspect to me."
MORE: Ice Cube Talks Straight Outta Compton Oscar Snub -- 'I'm Not Surprised'
On Fresh Prince, Hubert played Aunt Viv from 1990 to 1993 before she was replaced by Daphne Maxwell-Reid. During her rant against Jada's Oscars boycott, the actress called out her former on-screen nephew -- whose work in Concussion was snubbed by the Academy -- for not helping her and her co-stars negotiate raises while she was on the show. "Karma's a b**ch," Hubert exclaimed. "You ain't Barack and Michelle Obama, and y'all need to get over yourselves."
ET caught up with several stars at the Critics' Choice Awards to get their take on the boycott. "I don't know if avoiding it altogether is going to help, but I just think we have to continue to move forward," Niecy Nash explained. "We have this awareness and this spotlight -- we've got to look at other work. There's other work out there that I think was missed. We've just got to do better."
MORE: Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs 'Heartbroken' Over Lack of Diversity Among Oscar Nominees
Check out Gina Rodriguez and Tracee Ellis Ross' reactions to the awards show controversy:
Related Gallery ||||| It was a takedown worthy of Uncle Phil, but it came courtesy of Aunt Viv.
Janet Hubert — best known for playing the original Aunt Vivian on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1990 to 1993 — took to Facebook on Monday to voice her opinion on Jada Pinkett Smith saying she will not watch or attend the Academy Awards because of a lack of diversity among this year's nominees. Hubert believes the boycott is really because Pinkett Smith's husband and Hubert's former co-star, Will Smith, was not nominated for his role in Concussion.
"First of all, Miss Thing, does your man not have a mouth of his own with which to speak?" Hubert said in a video message. "Second thing is, girlfriend, there's a lot of s—t going on in the world that you all don't seem to recognize. People are dying, our boys are being shot left and right, people are hungry, people are trying to pay bills, and you're talking about some…actors and Oscars. It just ain't that deep." Hubert said that the Smiths are asking people to jeopardize their careers, and she finds it "ironic" that Pinkett Smith has made "millions and millions of dollars from the very people that you're talking about boycotting." | – Janet Hubert, who played the "original" Aunt Viv on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1990 to 1993, has a message for former co-star Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, the Week reports. Pinkett Smith recently announced she'd boycott the Oscars over the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' failure to nominate any black actors for the second year in a row, but Hubert isn't impressed with her activism. "Girlfriend, there's a lot of s--- going on in the world that you all don't seem to recognize. People are dying, our boys are being shot left and right, people are hungry, people are starving, people are trying to pay bills, and you're talking about some motherf-----' actors and Oscars. It just ain't that deep," says Hubert, who thinks Pinkett Smith is only boycotting because her husband wasn't nominated for Concussion, in a Facebook video. Speaking of which, "maybe you didn't deserve a nomination," Hubert says, turning her attention to Will Smith. She alleges that the Fresh Prince cast once wanted Smith to help them negotiate raises, and he refused. "Well, karma must be a b----, because now here you are. Here you are, and you've had a few flops. And you know, there are those out there who really deserved a nod," like Idris Elba, who is "an incredible actor. You are not. ... Just because the world don't go the way you want it to go doesn't mean that you can go out and ... start asking people to stand up and sing 'We Shall Overcome' for you. You ain't Barack and Michelle Obama." Click to watch the rant in full. |
'Calm down everyone, it's part of our national language now' : Michael Winner wades into sexism row over PM's putdown
Director says Cameron's use of catchphrase shows he's in touch with public
Michael Winner has leapt to the defence of the Prime Minister after the use of his notorious advertising catchphrase in the Commons provoked a sexism row.
The Prime Minister is facing calls to apologise after he told a Labour shadow minister 'Calm down, dear' during Prime Minister's Questions yesterday.
But the film director, who coined the phrase in adverts for Esure car insurance a decade ago, said Mr Cameron's jibe showed he was in touch with the public.
Scroll down for video report
Sexist? Prime Minister David Cameron, with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg by his side, laughs during Prime Minister's Questions Travelling away from the political intrigues of 'Westminster village' today David Cameron works on a speech ahead of meetings in North Wales and Stoke
The party’s deputy leader Harriet Harman accused Mr Cameron of an ‘outdated and sexist attitude to women’ and a senior Labour source said: ‘He should certainly apologise.’
Mr Winner said: 'I find it unbelievable that Harriet Harman, the deputy leader of a supposedly important party, sees fit to go on about my phrase 'calm down dear', which the Prime Minister used in Question Time today.
'Which planet is Miss Harman on? Does she not know that this phrase which I created 10 years ago has become a part of the nation's language?
'It's used by everybody. People come up to me in the street and in restaurants saying it. It's a totally harmless bit of fun.
'The Prime Minister has used it before which shows he's in touch with the British public, which is more than Harriet Harman seems to be.'
Calm down dear: Michael Winner, left, has dismissed the criticism of his catchphrase. The Prime Minister told Angela Eagle: 'Calm down, dear, calm down. Calm down and listen to the doctor'
Senior Labour politicians have reacted furiously to the throwaway remark which came in response to noisy heckles from frontbencher Angela Eagle.
But Tories urged Miss Harman to ‘grow up’, saying the comment was clearly intended as a joke.
The row blew up after Miss Eagle, Parliament’s most prominent lesbian MP, interjected as the Prime Minister defended the Coalition’s plans to reform the NHS, arguing they were backed even by former Labour MP Howard Stoate, a practising GP.
The Wallasey MP shouted that Dr Stoate stood down at last year’s election, rather than being defeated as the PM claimed.
Poll Was 'calm down' Cameron really being sexist? Yes No Was 'calm down' Cameron really being sexist? Yes 9590 votes
No 23161 votes Now share your opinion
In response, the Prime Minister told Miss Eagle: ‘Calm down, dear, calm down. Calm down and listen to the doctor.’
As the Labour benches erupted in outrage, Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls angrily demanded to know who the Prime Minister was referring to, while party leader Ed Miliband appeared to call for an apology.
But the Prime Minister told the pair: ‘I said calm down, calm down dear. I’ll say it to you if you like. I’m not going to apologise. You do need to calm down.’
Aides said Mr Cameron was simply mimicking Mr Winner’s catchphrase in eSure’s popular advert. The Prime Minister used the same phrase as leader of the Opposition in exchanges with then prime minister Gordon Brown.
But the senior Labour source described the comment as ‘patronising, sexist, insulting and un-prime ministerial’.
Miss Eagle, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said afterwards: ‘I don’t think any modern man would have expressed himself in that way.
‘I have been patronised by better people than the Prime Minister. It is for the Prime Minister to decide whether he expressed himself appropriately in the Commons. It is up to him as to whether he wants to annoy 51 per cent of the population.’
Miss Harman, a long-standing campaigner for equality, said: ‘Women in Britain in the 21st century do not expect to be told to “calm down, dear” by their Prime Minister.’
Ed Miliband responds during PMQs. Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman (to his left) said of the incident: 'David Cameron's contemptuous response to Angela Eagle MP at Prime Minister's Questions shows his patronising and outdated attitude to women'
The House was full during the session with speaker John Bercow having to step in to quieten the furious Labour benches, telling MPs: 'There's far too much noise in this chamber, which makes a very bad impression on the public as a whole'
Labour’s shadow local government secretary Caroline Flint accused Mr Cameron of using the word ‘dear’ to put women down. She complained she had been on the receiving end of the same tactic from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles in the chamber, when he told her to ‘just get behind the programme then, dear’.
Shadow Chancellor Mr Balls said: ‘If I had ever said “calm down dear” to [wife] Yvette [Cooper] at home, she’d have clocked me one.’
But Conservative MP Priti Patel said: ‘Labour need to grow up. It is quite pathetic to try to turn this into a sexism row. I was in the chamber, and from where I was sitting Mr Cameron was clearly joking.
‘The problem is that Labour ask a question and they don’t like the answer and so they try to fabricate some other story out of it. They should grow up and get on with the job of being in opposition and let us get on with the job of being in government.’
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: ‘Let’s not over-analyse something that was clearly a humorous remark. He was mimicking a popular TV advert. Clearly no offence was meant.’
Anna Bird, of gender equality campaign group the Fawcett Society, said: ‘There are four times as many men as women in the House of Commons.
‘Those women that have made it into Parliament must fight an uphill battle to ensure their views are taken seriously, and face a culture of sexist jeering and dismissive comments – not just by other MPs, but by the Prime Minister himself.’
Eruption! Balls was pointing like a Cairo traffic policeman
By QUENTIN LETTS
Quelle calumny! David Cameron called Angela Eagle ‘dear’ at Prime Minister’s Question Time.
Comrade Eagle (Lab, Wallasey) is many things, among them an economics spokesman, a hardline socialist and a pinstripe-suit-wearing lesbian. A keen cricketer, she bats like Botham.
One thing she most certainly is not, though, at least not to Conservative chaps, is a ‘dear’.
Samantha Cameron need not fret. Her husband was speaking ironically.
Towards the end of a sometimes raucous PMQs he told Miss Eagle to ‘calm down, dear’. He was using a phrase popularised by Michael Winner in those insurance adverts on telly.
He said it because our Angela was yelling at him like a tattoed stevedore from her perch on the Labour front bench.
Storm after the calm: Labour frontbenchers including Ed Balls (pointing), Angela Eagle (circled) and Peter Hain react to Mr Cameron's remark
She was seeking, I have since ascertained, to correct a minor inaccuracy committed by Mr Cameron in remarks he was making in connection with the National Health Service.
‘Calm down, dear,’ said Mr Cameron in a jocular tone. Eruption from Labour high command! Tessa Jowell, the dame of Dulwich, nearly choked on her eyeballs, so far did they leap from their sockets.
Tessa used to be minister for equality. She is chilli hot-hot-hot on such matters.
Ed Balls started pointing like a Cairo traffic policeman. Ed was ventilating hard. Had he been equipped with a whistle, its pea might have shot from its moorings.
At first some of us thought Mr Cameron’s remark had been directed at Mr Balls’s wife, Yvette Cooper, who was near Miss Eagle. It certainly looked as though Mr Balls was leaping to the defence of his own demure lovely but then it became clear that the victim of Mr Cameron’s atrocious thought crime was Miss Eagle.
While most Labour frontbenchers fanned their faces, Edward Miliband, a few places to the other side, appeared less gripped by alarums. That may have been because he is often so wonderfully cross-eyed and mystified by events. He floats through life like a man in an old-fashioned diving suit, insulated from alacrity.
The hoo-hah was but beginning. Mr Cameron noticed the excitement of Mr Balls and offered to call him ‘dear’, too. Further cacophany.
It should perhaps be explained that the epithet ‘dear’ is regarded, by Islingtonians and other recipients of correct thought, as a mark of the most appalling sexism, reparable only by several months in the salt mines.
I must confess that I call my darling beloved ‘dear’ all the time. She (occasionally) returns the compliment – it depends on how I have been performing in my domestic duties.
Hoo-hah: Mr Balls could barely contain himself after Mr Cameron's comment - leading to the Prime Minister offering to call him 'dear' too
But in the land of Milibandia, where platoons of Guardian-reading, cheroot-chomping wimmin patrol the public squares, forcing political correctitude down citizens’ gullets like sausage-meat into a plastic skin, ‘dear’ is a dread word. It is ‘inappropriate’.
What should Mr Cameron have called Miss Eagle? ‘Mate?’ ‘Guvnor?’ ‘Sarge?’ Someone naughtily suggested later that he should have called her ‘the Rt Honourable Dear’.
Fainthearts will say that Mr Cameron’s choice of words was demeaning. Worse, they will accuse him of being patronising. Er, well, yes. Of course. He was engaged in the usual verbal biffery of PMQs. Is Miss Eagle never to be teased? Are Labour women never to have their moustachings tweaked?
Surely that would, in itself, be sexist. We must treat everyone the same, comrades.
Exchanges at Prime Minister’s Questions had touched on Afghanistan deaths, bank lending and the AV referendum. Yet the thing that, for Labour, plunged the electrodes into the soup, the thing that really sent their knees leaping, was Cameron addressing a member of the sisterhood as ‘dear’.
At times such as this we parliamentary sketchwriters start to suspect the whole world is being ordered simply for our benefit.
Barely ten minutes later a Labour spin doctor – chum of mine, as it happens, who in the normal course of things is a chuckling imp – walked down the press corridor with funereal tread, his face a mask of gravity as Mr Cameron’s tiny remark was condemned at length. ||||| "I don't think any modern man would have expressed himself in that way," she responded.
But asked if she wanted an apology from Mr Cameron, she said: "The Prime Minister is reponsible for what he says in the Commons.
"I think if there is an apology to make, it should be for the dreadful growth figures we have seen today, which demonstrated that the economy has effectively flatlined for six months."
She added: "I have been patronised by better people than the Prime Minister... It is for the Prime Minister to decide whether he expressed himself appropriately in the Commons. It is up to him as to whether he wants to annoy 51% of the population."
Labour's Caroline Flint accused Mr Cameron of using the word "dear" to "put women down", and said she had been on the receiving end of the same tactic from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles in the chamber last December, when he told her to "just get behind the programme then, dear".
In a message on Twitter, the shadow communities secretary said: "PM isn't the only one fond of using 'dear' to put women down. Pickles used the same tactic on me. See Hansard 6.12.10."
Meanwhile, the PM's comment was a hot topic for debate on parenting website Mumsnet, where contributors were split between those seeing it as patronising and those who regarded it as acceptable banter.
One poster, MrsBaldwin, wrote "In my view David Cameron just knocked some gloss off his 'I'm a modern Tory' spin. Is that what he says to SamCam at home?" while another, squeakytoy, asked "Why is it appalling? I would say it to my female and male friends if they were getting hysterical or shouty. It is nothing to do with gender." | – Brits are in a snit after an admonition by Prime Minister David Cameron to a top female official to "calm down, dear" during a public parliamentary session. Cameron made the comment to Angela Eagle, the "shadow" chief secretary to the Treasury from the opposition Labor Party, as she was challenging him. Eagle says Cameron has insulted 51% of the population with his "sexist" comment, reports the Telegraph. "I don't think any modern man would have expressed himself in that way," she added. But a film director who created a popular car insurance ad using the "catch phrase" years ago has come to Cameron's defense, saying the comment has "become part of the nation's language," and it's a "totally harmless bit of fun," he added. "The prime minister has used it before, which shows he's in touch with the British public." Labor Party officials are calling on Cameron to apologize. |
FILE - This Monday, March 9, 2015, file photo shows a sign for a Sonic Drive-In in Holmes, Pa. Sonic says there's been some "unusual activity" on credit cards used at some of its drive-in restaurants.... (Associated Press)
FILE - This Monday, March 9, 2015, file photo shows a sign for a Sonic Drive-In in Holmes, Pa. Sonic says there's been some "unusual activity" on credit cards used at some of its drive-in restaurants.... (Associated Press)
NEW YORK (AP) — Sonic says there's been some "unusual activity" on credit cards used at some of its restaurants.
The fast food chain said in a statement that its credit card processor told them about the incident last week and that it's now "working to understand the nature and scope of this issue." It did not disclose how many credit cards were potentially involved in the incident or when the incident took place.
There are more than 3,500 Sonic restaurants in 44 states, according to the company's website.
Sonic said that it is working with third-party forensic experts and law enforcement officials on the incident. The potential breach at Sonic was initially reported by Krebs on Security.
Sonic, based in Oklahoma City, is not the first restaurant operator to deal with such issues. Last year Wendy's announced that hackers were able to steal customers' credit and debit card information at more than 1,000 of its U.S. locations. Wendy's said at the time that the hackers were able to obtain card numbers, names, expiration dates and codes on the card. Some customers' cards were used to make fraudulent purchases at other stores.
Sonic Corp.'s stock dropped $1.04, or 4.2 percent, to $23.55 in Wednesday morning trading. ||||| Sonic Drive-In, a fast-food chain with nearly 3,600 locations across 45 U.S. states, has acknowledged a breach affecting an unknown number of store payment systems. The ongoing breach may have led to a fire sale on millions of stolen credit and debit card accounts that are now being peddled in shadowy underground cybercrime stores, KrebsOnSecurity has learned.
The first hints of a breach at Oklahoma City-based Sonic came last week when I began hearing from sources at multiple financial institutions who noticed a recent pattern of fraudulent transactions on cards that had all previously been used at Sonic.
I directed several of these banking industry sources to have a look at a brand new batch of some five million credit and debit card accounts that were first put up for sale on Sept. 18 in a credit card theft bazaar previously featured here called Joker’s Stash:
Sure enough, two sources who agreed to purchase a handful of cards from that batch of accounts on sale at Joker’s discovered they all had been recently used at Sonic locations.
Armed with this information, I phoned Sonic, which responded within an hour that it was indeed investigating “a potential incident” at some Sonic locations.
“Our credit card processor informed us last week of unusual activity regarding credit cards used at SONIC,” reads a statement the company issued to KrebsOnSecurity. “The security of our guests’ information is very important to SONIC. We are working to understand the nature and scope of this issue, as we know how important this is to our guests. We immediately engaged third-party forensic experts and law enforcement when we heard from our processor. While law enforcement limits the information we can share, we will communicate additional information as we are able.”
Christi Woodworth, vice president of public relations at Sonic, said the investigation is still in its early stages, and the company does not yet know how many or which of its stores may be impacted.
The accounts apparently stolen from Sonic are part of a batch of cards that Joker’s Stash is calling “Firetigerrr,” and they are indexed by city, state and ZIP code. This geographic specificity allows potential buyers to purchase only cards that were stolen from Sonic customers who live near them, thus avoiding a common anti-fraud defense in which a financial institution might block out-of-state transactions from a known compromised card.
Malicious hackers typically steal credit card data from organizations that accept cards by hacking into point-of-sale systems remotely and seeding those systems with malicious software that can copy account data stored on a card’s magnetic stripe. Thieves can use that data to clone the cards and then use the counterfeits to buy high-priced merchandise from electronics stores and big box retailers.
Prices for the cards advertised in the Firetigerr batch are somewhat higher than for cards stolen in other breaches, likely because this batch is extremely fresh and unlikely to have been canceled by card-issuing banks yet.
Most of the cards range in price from $25 to $50, and the price is influenced by a number of factors, including: the type of card issued (Amex, Visa, MasterCard, etc); the card’s level (classic, standard, signature, platinum, etc.); whether the card is debit or credit; and the issuing bank.
I should note that it remains unclear whether Sonic is the only company whose customers’ cards are being sold in this particular batch of five million cards at Joker’s Stash. There are some (as yet unconfirmed) indications that perhaps Sonic customer cards are being mixed in with those stolen from other eatery brands that may be compromised by the same attackers.
The last known major card breach involving a large nationwide fast-food chain impacted more than a thousand Wendy’s locations and persisted for almost nine months after it was first disclosed here. The Wendy’s breach was extremely costly for card-issuing banks and credit unions, which were forced to continuously re-issue customer cards that kept getting re-compromised every time their customers went back to eat at another Wendy’s.
Part of the reason Wendy’s corporate offices had trouble getting a handle on the situation was that most of the breached locations were not corporate-owned but instead independently-owned franchises whose payment card systems were managed by third-party point-of-sale vendors.
According to Sonic’s Wikipedia page, roughly 90 percent of Sonic locations across America are franchised.
Dan Berger, president and CEO of the National Association of Federally Insured Credit Unions, said he’s not looking forward to the prospect of another Wendy’s-like fiasco.
“It’s going to be the financial institution that makes them whole, that pays off the charges or replaces money in the customer’s checking account, or reissues the cards, and all those costs fall back on the financial institutions,” Berger said. “These big card breaches are going to continue until there’s a national standard that holds retailers and merchants accountable.”
Financial institutions also bear some of the blame for the current state of affairs. The United States is embarrassingly the last of the G20 nations to make the shift to more secure chip-based cards, which are far more expensive and difficult for criminals to counterfeit. But many financial institutions still haven’t gotten around to replacing traditional magnetic stripe cards with chip-based cards. According to Visa, 58 percent of the more than 421 million Visa cards issued by U.S. financial institutions were chip-based as of March 2017.
Likewise, retailers that accept chip cards may present a less attractive target to hackers than those that don’t. In March 2017, Visa said the number of chip-enabled merchant locations in the country reached two million, representing 44 percent of stores that accept Visa.
Tags: Christi Woodworth, Dan Berger, Joker's stash, National Association of Federally Insured Credit Unions, Sonic Drive-In breach, Visa | – Anyone who's recently eaten at a Sonic Drive-In may have had their credit or debit card number stolen and put up for sale online, Krebs on Security reports. It's currently unclear how many restaurants or customers were affected, but Sonic serves approximately 3 million customers per day at nearly 3,600 locations in 45 states, according to Bloomberg. The AP reports Sonic was informed of "unusual activity" on cards used at some of its restaurants by its credit card processor last week. “We are working to understand the nature and scope of this issue, as we know how important this is to our guests,” the fast-food chain said in a statement Wednesday. Krebs on Security reports it found a batch of stolen credit and debit card numbers that had recently been used at Sonic for sale online. The credit and debit card numbers of millions of Sonic customers are potentially there as well. News of the breach was followed by a 4.4% drop in the price of Sonic shares Wednesday. It was the worst stock decline for the company in two months. In the last major fast-food breach, credit and debit card numbers were stolen from customers at more than 1,000 Wendy's locations last year. (Troubles for Equifax were compounded by a fake website.) |
Veteran Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson is offering fans the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to take an acting class with him this holiday season. The Pulp Fiction actor took to his Twitter on Thursday night to announce that he would be offering acting classes this winter with Masterclass, an online learning platform.
In his first-ever online acting courses, Jackson will offer 21 video lessons that will help users “elevate [their] acting.” There will also be a class workbook offered with lesson recaps, assignments, and supplemental material; students will also be able to ask questions by uploading videos, which will be answered at Jackson’s discretion.
As Jackson suggested, this acting course is an excellent option for holiday gifting; if you’re looking to give someone the chance to personally learn the art of acting from Samuel L. Jackson, you can get them the single class for a cool $90 or an all-access pass to all classes on Masterclass for $180 a year. ||||| You know Samuel L. Jackson from iconic films like Pulp Fiction and Die Hard with a Vengeance. Now he’s your acting teacher. Sam shares his goals for his MasterClass, as well as his mindset toward acting: it’s an adventure.
Learn how Sam imbues every role with a sense of purpose and complexity of character—even if they only appear on screen for a few minutes. In this lesson, he shares the fundamentals of his characterization process.
Sam dives deep into the myriad ways actors can use their bodies to reflect their characters’ personalities. Learn how to use posture, gait, voice, and physical appearance to add complexity to your characters.
04 Case Study: Caveman's Valentine Sam breaks down the nuances of his characterization process and performance as Romulus, a prodigal but schizophrenic and homeless concert pianist, in The Caveman’s Valentine.
05 Student Session: Breaking Down a Script - Part 1 Sam directs student actors in a workshop, and the first scene on the docket is the iconic diner scene from Pulp Fiction. In this lesson, Sam helps them break down the script to gain a deeper understanding of the characters’ intentions.
06 Student Session: Breaking Down a Script - Part 2 Get inside Jules’s head as Sam breaks down the Ezekiel passage and walks the students through the different ways the character could perform the scene.
07 Student Session: Character Biographies Creating in-depth character backstory is an integral part of Sam’s process. He pushes the students to develop a connection with Jules by imagining his life story and how he got to this moment in the diner.
08 Student Session: Make It Your Own One of the student actors puts a unique spin on Jules, showing that there are many “right” ways to create characters.
09 Voice & Character Sam reveals how his childhood experiences have informed his approach to character voices throughout his career, and discusses his method of developing a vocalization plan.
10 Student Session: Plumb Your Emotional Depths Sam directs the actors to perform a scene from The Negotiator in which two characters—Danny and Farley—are on opposite ends of the power spectrum. Students play the scene and then switch roles.
11 Student Session: Use Your Voice, Use Your Body Sam analyzes the students’ choices of power positions when playing Danny and how movement and stillness can each convey power in a different way. He shows how posture works on each side of the phone as each character is pushed to their limits.
12 Working With Directors Learn Sam’s tried-and-true methods for developing strong working relationships with directors.
13 On-Set Collaboration Sam describes the movie set environment as “a moving circus.” Learn his code of on-set conduct, which has earned him respect throughout the industry as a true professional.
14 Student Session: Developing Characterization On the surface, this Kingsman scene is a simple conversation between two characters. The actors’ task is to dig deeper, access the subtext of the exchange, and create characters who will make the otherwise “bland” dialogue more interesting.
15 Student Session: Making Bold Choices When it comes to characterization, it’s better to show up with too much rather than not enough. Sam pushes the student actors to take risks and commit to their choices.
16 Enriching Your Acting Practice Sam encourages you to nurture a sense of curiosity and explore stories set in worlds that you are unfamiliar with, so that you have a more expansive view of the characters you take on throughout your acting career.
17 Auditioning Don’t walk into a casting room thinking about the job; go in with the goal of demonstrating your skill as an actor. Sam gives you this and more time-tested rules for auditioning.
18 Growing Your Acting Career Sam walks you through the most important business relationships you’ll form as an actor, and offers wisdom on how to best work with them.
19 Sam's Journey From New York to Hollywood Learn how Sam got “plucked” from the Negro Ensemble Company, where he performed alongside Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman, to go to Hollywood. ||||| Matthew McConaughey will teach a film class at the University of Texas at Austin this fall
They say there are only two things in life that are certain: death and, eventually, you will come back to Texas. And Matthew McConaughey is doing just that. Well, the returning to Texas part.
RELATED: Matthew McConaughey, a new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
McConaughey is headed back to the University of Texas at Austin, his alma mater, this fall to teach a filmmaking class, the university announced Thursday morning.
McConaughey will take students "behind the scenes" of his upcoming film Free State of Jones through recorded videos and at least one on-campus visit, Lauren Phillips, public affairs representative for the Moody College of Communications, told MySA.com Thursday.
He will be joined in the videos by Gary Ross, the director of the Hunger Games, and the duo will admit 30 students into the higher-level class.
RELATED: UT film school ranks No. 10 in the nation
McConaughey and Ross, accompanied by Rice, will show students clips from the movie and followed by recorded videos explaining why it was filmed that way, Phillips said.
This will be the second time McConaughey will co-teach this course with university lecturer Scott Rice. During the spring 2016 semester, students could take the 3-hour class. Phillips said that not too many photos or videos could be taken during the class because Free State of Jones had not yet been released.
Students had to sign a nondisclosure form as well, Phillips said.
RELATED: This Reddit user's great-great grandfather looks a heck of a lot like Matthew McConaughey
The class is an upper-level division course, so freshmen and sophomores will not be able to register, she said. But there are no special prerequisites or fees to take the once-a-week class.
The Oscar-winning UT alum often visits the university, giving pep talks to the football team and attending games.
[email protected]
Twitter: @kbrad5 | – Here's the perfect gift for that struggling, maybe not-so-gifted actor on your shopping list: Acting class, taught by none other than Samuel L Jackson. As Time reports, the Hollywood icon is making a foray into teaching his craft, via online learning portal Masterclass, which makes it not only accessible, but relatively affordable at $90. Included are 21 videos, workbook with lesson recaps, assignments, and supplements; students can ask Jackson questions via video, though it's up to him what he responds to. Jackson joins the likes of Steve Martin, Ron Howard, Usher, Steph Curry, Judy Blume, and Thomas Keller, all of whom teach their craft on the website. |
A federal appeals court has decided that New Hampshire’s ban on “ballot selfies” is unconstitutional.
Click to watch News 9's coverage.
In 2014, in an effort to curb potential voter fraud, the state outlawed displaying photos of marked ballots. A violation of the law carried a fine up to $1,000.
The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals said the law violated the First Amendment and prevented voters from engaging in free speech.
"The restriction affects voters who are engaged in core political speech, an area highly protected by the First Amendment," the court said in its ruling. "Ballot selfies have taken on a special communicative value: They both express support for a candidate and communicate that a voter has in fact given his or her vote to that candidate."
That didn't stop people from posting so-called ballot selfies, including state Rep. Leon Rideout.
“I took a picture of my ballot and posted it on Twitter and my Facebook page for state rep,” Rideout said. “To me, it was just another incremental infringement on our constitutional rights.”
The American Civil Liberties Union’s New Hampshire chapter challenged the law on behalf of Rideout and two other voters.
"The 1st Circuit correctly recognized that political speech is essential to a functioning democracy," ACLU legal director Gilles Bissonnette said. "The best way to combat vote buying and voter coercion is to investigate and prosecute cases of vote buying and coercion, not ban innocent political speech."
Legal analyst Kirsten Wilson said the appeals court saw the ban as a First Amendment violation.
“It's really a freedom of speech, and political speech, in particular, is one of the most protected areas of speech in the history of the United States,” Wilson said.
Rideout said he's undecided on posting his next ballot, but glad he has the choice.
“The ban on ballot selfies was unconstitutional, and I think that made today a great day for free speech and our Constitution,” he said.
The state is yet to comment on the decision.
The ruling applies to the entire jurisdiction of the First Circuit Court of Appeals, meaning ballot selfies are also allowed in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico. ||||| BOSTON (Reuters) - A 2014 New Hampshire law prohibiting voters from taking selfies with their ballots on election day is an unconstitutional infringement on the right to free speech, a federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday.
The New England state had banned the practice, which has become a popular way for voters to show support for favored candidates, claiming that it would set the stage for a return of the vote-buying scandals that rocked many U.S. states in the 19th century.
Three New Hampshire citizens, including a man who wrote in the name of his dog to express dismay at his choices in the 2014 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, sued the state that year claiming the measure violated their rights to free expression, as protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
A federal court in New Hampshire sided with them, but the state appealed, making its case in Boston just two weeks ago. The appeals court swiftly rejected its arguments.
“The statute’s purposes cannot justify the restrictions it imposes on speech,” Circuit Judge Sandra Lynch wrote in the court’s decision.
New Hampshire’s argument that ballot selfies could lead to people selling their votes or being compelled by their employers to vote in a certain way fell short in no small part because the state had no evidence of that actually happening, Lynch wrote.
“The legislative history of the bill does not contain any corroborated evidence of vote buying or voter coercion in New Hampshire during the 20th and 21st centuries,” she wrote. “Digital photography, the internet, and social media are not unknown quantities — they have been ubiquitous for several election cycles, without being shown to have the effect of furthering vote buying or voter intimidation.”
Lynch also noted that several federal and state laws in effect in New Hampshire already make it illegal to buy or sell a vote, which would allow prosecutors to take on allegations of election tampering even in an environment where selfies were permitted.
Other states, including nearby Rhode Island, have passed laws explicitly allowing ballot selfies, partly reasoning that the trend has helped younger voters show their enthusiasm for the democratic process. ||||| Just in time for the Nov. 8 presidential elections, a federal appeals court on Wednesday declared a New Hampshire law banning so-called ballot booth selfies "facially unconstitutional."
The 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled (PDF) there was no compelling government need to restrict First Amendment rights and ban voters from disseminating pictures of their ballots or of themselves posed with their ballots. State lawmakers, when approving the law that carries a $1,000 fine, had maintained in 2014 that the statute was needed to combat voter fraud—like having people coerced into voting a certain way and then having to prove it via social media or by some other means, for example. The appeals court explained:
Digital photography, the internet, and social media are not unknown quantities — they have been ubiquitous for several election cycles, without being shown to have the effect of furthering vote buying or voter intimidation. As the plaintiffs note, “small cameras” and digital photography “have been in use for at least 15 years,” and New Hampshire cannot identify a single complaint of vote buying or intimidation related to a voter’s publishing a photograph of a marked ballot during that period.
No federal law addresses the issue. That means across the US, the law in the 50 states on voting booth selfies remains mixed. There's a few court challenges across the country. The court that ruled Wednesday covers the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. The Huffington Post has a lengthy guide on which state's it's OK to post a picture of yourself showing your votes this November.
In essence, the ballot-booth selfie issue is a collision of the nation's history of ballot box secrecy and a public willing to post selfies of themselves doing just about anything, from having sex to eating dinner.
In a friend-of-the-court brief in the New Hampshire case, Snapchat essentially argued that a ballot booth selfie was a God-given, American First Amendment right-of-passage. Ballot selfies, the company maintained, "are important ways that younger voters participate in the political process and make their voices heard." In a footnote, Snapchat defined the selfie as being, "a photo where the photographer is also a subject. But the term has also been used to describe all smartphone pictures shared online, including those here."
New Hampshire argued that its law outlawing selfies "preserves the integrity of New Hampshire elections."
"The statute secures voter's right to vote their conscience while in the voting booth," New Hampshire told the court.
The three-member panel circuit court's unanimous decision upholds a lower court judge who had ruled similarly. ||||| WASHINGTON -- Aaron Huertas wanted to make sure he picked the right candidates when he walked into the voting booth Wednesday, taking advantage of the early voting period in Washington, D.C. When he came down to the end of the ballot, he pulled out his phone to confirm the name of the Board of Education candidate he wanted to back.
"A poll worker told me voters aren't allowed to use smartphones at the booth," he said. "Seemed odd to me. She was a bit brusque about it, so I didn't ... ask why."
Jenna Lowenstein was also stopped when she tried to take a picture of her ballot in 2008. She was running for an Advisory Neighborhood Commission position in D.C. at the time, and wanted to send her parents a photo of her name in print. A poll worker, however, made her delete the picture.
One of the reporters on this story also tried to take a picture of her polling place during a recent election -- for no other reason than to post on Instagram to share with her friends -- and was made to delete it by a polling worker. She was then told to leave the premises.
Increasingly, there's a good chance that if you're on social media, your friends will post -- or try to post -- a photo of themselves doing their civic duty.
But in some places, they could go to jail for doing so. And in other places, where there isn't actually any law prohibiting the practice, they may be barred from doing so anyway by state officials. The restrictions aim to prevent voter intimidation or voting bribery, both practices that are prohibited under federal law. But the state policies becomes more gray when a photographer isn’t participating in those activities.
Election law on what's allowed at polling places has not kept up to reflect the ubiquity of smartphones. Instead, secretaries of state and other officials are left interpreting outdated statutes and creating policies that are often unevenly applied and confusing for ordinary voters to figure out. They not only vary from state to state, but also from precinct to precinct.
In Washington, D.C., for example, there is no law saying that Lowenstein couldn't take a picture of her ballot. The D.C. Board of Elections, however, has a policy against it and puts up signs saying cell phones aren't allowed, which also explains why Huertas wasn't able to check his device when voting. There's no real penalty if you break the rule, except being told to stop what you're doing and the ensuing frustration.
Indeed on Saturday, the last day of early voting in D.C., voters standing in line at a polling place in the upper northwest portion of the city were told by a worker to put away their phones while they waited to cast a ballot. They did so, grudgingly, with one woman asking why.
"A number of reasons," the poll worker explained, eventually mentioning the "privacy of voters" and noting that cell phones usually have cameras these days.
New Hampshire implemented a law this year that makes it illegal to share a photo of your own ballot, with a fine up to $1,000. The American Civil Liberties Union is now challenging that law, on the basis that it violates freedom of speech. But in fact, many states ban sharing your ballot, even if they don’t specify that the law extends to Twitter.
Reid Magney, a spokesman for the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, told The Huffington Post that while there is no specific law against taking a photo of your own ballot in the state, "We advise voters not to take pictures of their completed ballots, let alone post them Facebook or Twitter." That’s because under Wisconsin’s election fraud law, it is a class 1 felony to intentionally show your marked ballot to another person. Magney said that people still do photograph and share pictures of their completed ballots, and he is not aware of anyone having been prosecuted by a district attorney.
Andy Sellars, a fellow at Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet and Society, put together a chart in 2012 showing which states have laws that actually prohibit taking photos of ballots or polling places. In short, very few do.
"We should have clarity here," said Sellars. "The danger when you have an ambiguous law in the states is it could be used for oppressive or unbalanced ends."
Most of the rules that do exist were put in place with the best of intentions, meant as measures to preserve the integrity of the voting process. Preventing the photographing of ballots, officials argue, maintains ballot secrecy and discourages vote-buying schemes, where a voter can take a photo of a marked ballot to prove he or she cast the right vote in order to get the payday.
"I certainly think it's a good thing to prohibit photographing ballots (including absentee ballots)," said University of Florida political scientist Daniel Smith. "If voters are able to photograph their ballots, they have a greater likelihood of being compensated for their vote, as it allows them to provide documentary proof to ballot brokers, or bolleteros as they are known in south Florida."
Officials also want to avoid a scenario where so-called "poll watchers" stand and take pictures to intimidate voters from turning out. Deval Patrick, now the Democratic governor of Massachusetts, wrote to the Mississippi secretary of state in 1994 about the issue. At the time, Patrick was assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice.
The Justice Department's lawyers, Patrick wrote, believed that "the actions of white people in videotaping black voters at or near the polls could constitute a violation" of the Voting Rights Act, calling them "thinly veiled attempts to intimidate black voters at the polls."
Banning photography does raise some First Amendment concerns, said David Greene, senior staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit that defends civil liberties and free speech. He noted that after the Supreme Court ruled in Burson v. Freeman that a 100-foot buffer zone for campaigning did not restrict free speech, many legislatures took that decision to mean that it was permissible to restrict First Amendment rights on some level around polling places.
Greene added that while it’s one thing to make sure people are not pressured while voting, it’s another to forbid them from photographing their ballots, when they can go tell their friends how they voted anyway. "I don’t think you should be able to restrict that type of stuff," he said.
But Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a nonprofit which defends privacy and free speech, said that forbidding tweeting a photo of your own ballot is "actually a good restriction from a voting fairness perspective."
"I imagine it's tempting to show others how you voted, but it is contrary to a theory of democratic government that recognizes the need to safeguard votes for unpopular candidates," he added.
Jerald Lentini, general counsel at the Bulldog Finance Group, which raises money for campaigns, said a good reason to change the laws on technology at the polls may simply be that they're already being "regularly broken by people who simply don't know that they're committing a crime."
"I don't know of any prosecutions for posting images of a ballot online, but I see people on Facebook doing it every single election. A lot of voters are very proud to cast ballots, especially when they feel strongly about a particular race, and they want to share that pride with their friends online," he said.
There's also the issue of possible malfeasance. While reporters are often -- but not always -- granted special permission to record and photograph at polling locations, more citizen journalists are now capturing events and sharing them online. Sellars said barring the public from being able to share problems on social media could be harmful.
"Obviously if there's a problem with how a polling station is conducting the election, that is an important thing for us to know very early or after an election," he said.
Penalties in states where there are laws prohibiting photographs at the ballot box range from misdemeanors to Wisconsin's class 1 felony. In places where the law is less explicit, violators will usually just be told to delete the picture and/or asked to leave. But the law isn't always enforced.
Suzanne, who asked that her last name not be used, voted in northern Virginia in 2011. She brought her son, who was then four months old, with her, and a polling worker agreed to take a picture of her with her "I Voted" sticker next to the optical scanner. Virginia, however, does not allow polling place photography.
In Louisiana, the state election code specifies that no one, including a voter, can "allow a ballot to be seen" by others. Violating this provision could result in a fine up to $500 and/or up to six months in jail.
But Meg Casper, the press secretary for Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler (R), acknowledged that this law has not kept up with changing technology.
"Obviously, this law was written before the age of social media, so we do receive many reports of individuals posting their ballots on Facebook, Twitter, etc.," she said. "Our response has been to remind voters that their vote is private."
Below are the laws and policies on taking photos in polling places in each state, based on the statutes and the responses received by The Huffington Post from government officials. These are rules that apply to regular voters, not reporters, who often have additional privileges. We marked a practice as "banned" whether it's prohibited by state law or by election officials.
In some cases, a state may allow photographing a blank ballot but not a completed one. In those cases, we still marked the law as banning ballot photography.
Finally, if you’re intimidating voters or engaging in vote bribery, it’s safe to say that you’re going to get in trouble no matter what.
Alabama: Alabama's policy is confusing, stating, "All citizens are allowed to photograph or videotape general election activities in a polling place as long as they remain 30 feet outside a polling place and do not photograph an elector marking their ballot." When asked how a voter could both be "in a polling place" and "30 feet outside a polling place" at the same time, Alabama Secretary of State spokesman Will Sutton explained, "I believe they mean citizens can take pictures as long as they remain 30 feet outside a polling place and do not photograph an elector marking their ballot." Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Alaska: State law says a "voter may not exhibit the voter’s ballot to an election official or any other person so as to enable any person to ascertain how the voter marked the ballot." Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography allowed.
Arizona: According to the Arizona secretary of state's office, photography and videography are prohibited within the polling place and for an additional 75 feet. Breaking this rule is a class 2 misdemeanor. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Arkansas: Arkansas state code says that "any ... person in or out of this state in any primary, general, or special election in this state" cannot "divulge to any person the results of any votes cast for any candidate or on any issue in the election until after the closing of the polls on the day of the election." It's not clear, however, if this rule would apply specifically to individuals attempting to take photographs of their own ballots, and the Arkansas secretary of state's office did not return requests for comment. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography may be allowed.
California: A 2012 secretary of state memo stated that the office "has historically taken the position that the use of cameras or video equipment at polling places is prohibited," with exceptions for media. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Colorado: Voters are not allowed to show how they voted, so an unmarked ballot may be allowed. There's no statewide rule on taking photos in polling places, though the Colorado secretary of state's office notes that some county clerks may bar voters from bringing cell phones or cameras into the polling place. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography allowed, although some counties may ban cell phone use.
Connecticut: State law criminalizes "any act which invades or interferes with the secrecy of the voting or causes the same to be invaded or interfered with," but it's not clear if this would apply to a voter photographing his or her own ballot. Connecticut officials did not return requests for comment. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography unclear.
Delaware: According to the Delaware Elections Commissioner Elaine Manlove, "[V]oters are not allowed to use cameras or phones in the polling place." Since it's a policy, not a law, there's no real penalty for breaking the rule, other than getting reprimanded. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
District of Columbia: Cell phones are barred at polling locations in the District. There's no penalty for breaking the rule, other than being asked to stop. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Florida: State law says, "No photography is permitted in the polling room or early voting area." Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Georgia: Georgia law states, "No elector shall use photographic or other electronic monitoring or recording devices or cellular telephones while such elector is within the enclosed space in a polling place." Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Hawaii: Rex Quidilla, spokesman for the state Office of Elections, said there is an administrative ban on photography in polling places. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Idaho: The secretary of state's office instructs poll workers that with the exception of the media, photography is not allowed in polling places. There's no penalty, however, if the rule is broken. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Illinois: According to state election code, voters are not allowed to take pictures of their marked ballots and show them to other people. Doing so could result in a class 4 felony. Bernadette Harrington, legal counsel for the Illinois State Board of Elections, said that there is no specific prohibition on photography in a polling place, although taking a photo of another person's marked ballot is barred. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography allowed.
Indiana: Taking a photo of a ballot and showing it to someone else -- including on social media -- is a level 6 felony in the state of Indiana. Trent Deckard, co-director of the Indiana Election Division, said there technically is no state prohibition on photography in polling places, but that could vary depending on the polling location. "We have an issue where a county elections board will adopt a policy asking people to silence their phones while they come in. There's no law on that," he said. "But then people will take that, at the precinct level, to 'don't use your phone at all.' And so they will creep a little bit further." Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography allowed, although voters may still be told to put away their phones.
Iowa: State law prohibits cameras and cell phones in the voting booth. The penalty is a misdemeanor violation. But according to Chance McElhaney, spokesman for the Iowa secretary of state, there's no prohibition on taking photos in the polling place "as long as it is not intimidating or showing the way a person marked their ballot." Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography allowed.
Kansas: According to V. Kay Kurtis, spokeswoman for the Kansas secretary of state, "Kansas laws don’t mention Facebook or even photography. Our office has discouraged taking pictures of ballots and posting them on the web, but we’ve been unable to prohibit or completely prevent it. We do think many people refrain from doing it if they know it’s discouraged by our office." Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Kentucky: State law bars people from using a "paper, telephone, personal telecommunications device, computer, or other information technology system to create a checkoff list or record the identity of voters." While the law doesn't specifically address using cell phones for other purposes, in 2008, then-Secretary of State Trey Grayson (D) said voters were not allowed to bring cameras and recording devices into polling places. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Louisiana: State law says people cannot "allow a ballot to be seen," resulting in a fine of no more than $500 or jail for no more than six months, or both. "Obviously, this law was written before the age of social media, so we do receive many reports of individuals posting their ballots on Facebook, Twitter, etc. Our response has been to remind voters that their vote is private," said Meg Casper, press secretary for the secretary of state. Photography at polling places doesn't appear to be banned, but it cannot be done in a way that affects or interferes with the voting process. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography allowed.
Maine: Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn said, "Ballots are not public documents, so voters should not be taking copies or pics and posting their ballots. We have not prosecuted anyone for this, but this is like putting a distinguishing mark on your ballot so that a party or candidate will know how you voted (harkens back to the days when the political machine would pay people for voting for their candidates). People should be discouraged from doing this." She did not comment on photography in polling places generally. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography may be allowed.
Maryland: Maryland regulations ban the use of electronic communication devices, including cameras and cell phones, inside polling locations. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Massachusetts: State law bans voters from sharing a marked ballot, with a penalty of jail for no more than six months or a fine of no more than $100. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography allowed.
Michigan: According to a recent press release from the Michigan secretary of state's office, "The use of video cameras, still cameras and other recording devices are prohibited in the polls when they are open for voting. This includes still cameras and other recording features built into many cell phones. ... Photos of ballots should not be posted on social media. Additionally, under Michigan election law, a ballot is rejected if deliberately exposed. A voter who deliberately exposes their ballot will not be allowed to vote in that election." Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Minnesota: Nathan Bowie, a spokesman for the Minnesota Secretary of State, said that while there is no law that specifically prohibits voters from recording their own voting experience, the office "strongly discourages voters from using cameras or video recorders in the polling place." Bowie cited voter privacy issues and the fact that taking extra time to Instagram could hold up the voting process for others. State law also prohibits voters from showing their marked ballot to others. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography not technically banned, but it is discouraged.
Mississippi: Mississippi does not allow voters to show marked ballots, but it's unclear whether photos can be taken in polling places. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography unclear.
Missouri: Missouri law bars a voter from showing a ballot to others "with the intent of letting it be known how he is about to vote or has voted." So in theory, putting up a photo on Instagram of a totally blank ballot, with no other information, would be allowed. Breaking the state rule comes with a class 4 misdemeanor. There's nothing in state law that bars voters from taking a picture in a polling place, although since some locations are private property (e.g. a church), the people running the operation could prohibit photos. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography allowed, but may be up to the discretion of the polling workers.
Montana: According to the secretary of state’s office, Montana law does not specifically prohibit taking pictures of a polling place or a ballot. However, election officials can limit any activity that may be disruptive to the voting process. Additionally, photos of marked ballots are discouraged, because Montana law states that an elector may not show the contents of the elector’s ballot to anyone after it is marked. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography allowed.
Nebraska: In Nebraska, under no conditions is a non-media person allowed to take photos inside a polling place building, including of a ballot, according to the secretary of state’s office. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Nevada: Under Nevada law, “A member of the general public shall not photograph the conduct of voting at a polling place or record the conduct of voting on audiotape or any other means of sound or video reproduction.” Violating the secrecy of a voter’s ballot through photography is also prohibited. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
New Hampshire: According to the secretary of state’s office, it is legal for a non-media person to take a photo inside a polling place, provided the photographer does not try to capture how another person has voted and does not try to capture what another voter is entering on a registration form. However, there is a law specifically barring a person from sharing a digital image of how he or she voted, with a fine up to $1,000. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography allowed.
New Jersey: According to the Digital Media Law Project, it is “unclear whether a citizen recording inside the polling place would qualify as ‘expressive activity’ subject to [the Supreme Court] ban.” New Jersey election officials did not respond to clarify. Verdict: Ballot photography is banned. Polling place photography allowed, but policies are unclear.
New Mexico: State law does not appear to ban photography inside polling places or of ballots, but election officials did not respond to clarify. Verdict: Policies unclear. Ballot photography may be allowed. Polling place photography may be allowed.
New York: There is no law against photographing inside polling places, but according to the New York State Board of Elections, causing a commotion could get you kicked out. John Conklin, a spokesman for the Board of Elections, said people are encouraged to take photos of their ballots before, but not after, voting. Verdict: Ballot photography allowed. Polling place photography allowed.
North Carolina: Under North Carolina law, “No person shall photograph, videotape, or otherwise record the image of any voter within the voting enclosure, except with the permission of both the voter and the chief judge of the precinct.” Ballot photos are also prohibited. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
North Dakota: According to the secretary of state’s office, photography inside a polling place is allowed, and there is no law against taking a picture of your own ballot. Verdict: Ballot photography allowed. Polling place photography allowed.
Ohio: In Ohio, voters may not use devices to take photographs inside a polling place, according to the secretary of state’s office. The penalties for breaking this rule are unclear. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Oklahoma: According to the Oklahoma State Election Board, there is no law restricting photography inside a polling place, but sharing your ballot while you're voting is banned. So, the board recommends that you don’t photograph your marked ballot. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography allowed.
Oregon: According to the secretary of state’s office, it is legal to take photos inside a polling place. Additionally, “elections officials can't show you a ballot for a photo, but an individual can.” Verdict: Ballot photography allowed. Polling place photography allowed.
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania law bans voters from showing a "ballot or the face of the voting machine voted by him to be seen by any person with the apparent intention of letting it be known how he is about to vote.” Those who break the law are subject to a fine up to $1,000, a maximum 12-month jail sentence, or both. The law does not specify whether photography inside polling places is banned, and election officials did not respond to clarify. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography allowed, but policies are unclear.
Rhode Island: According to the rules established by the Rhode Island Board of Elections, “Electronic recording of the election process is allowed inside the polling place as long as it is done outside of the railed or enclosed voting area. Electronic recording devices may not hinder the election process or compromise a voter's right to cast a secret ballot by recording the specific votes(s) cast by any person." Under the rules, a moderator may remove or arrest a person who disturbs voting. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography allowed.
South Carolina: In South Carolina, there are no laws against taking photographs inside a polling place. But a spokesperson for the state’s Election Commission said that people can take photos only as long as they “don’t get too close to the machines,” and that poll workers still may tell people to turn their cell phones off. Verdict: Ballot photography allowed. Polling place photography allowed, but do it without turning your cell phone on?
South Dakota: Under South Dakota law, “No person may, in any polling place or within or on any building in which a polling place is located or within one hundred feet from any entrance leading into a polling place ... use any communication or photographic device.” The penalty is a class 2 misdemeanor. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Tennessee: Tennessee law does not say that photographing ballots or inside polling places is prohibited, but election officials did not respond to clarify policies. Photograph at your own risk. Verdict: Official policies are unclear. Ballot photography may be allowed. Polling place photography may be allowed.
Texas: Texas law prohibits photography within 100 feet of a polling place. A person who violates this law may be asked “to turn off the device or to leave the polling place.” Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Utah: It is legal for any person in Utah to take a photo inside a polling place or of an unmarked ballot, according to the lieutenant governor's elections staff. However, under state law, it is illegal for a voter to allow his or her ballot to be seen by any other person with an intent to reveal the vote, subject to a class C misdemeanor. Verdict: Ballot photography banned, but sharing the photo could get you in trouble. Polling place photography allowed.
Vermont: There is no law in Vermont expressly prohibiting a person from taking a photo of a ballot or while inside a polling place, according to the secretary of state’s office. However, there is a law that allows a $1,000 fine for a voter who “allows his ballot to be seen by another person with an apparent intention of letting it be known how he or she is about to vote.” Verdict: Ballot photography allowed, but sharing the photo of your marked ballot could get you in trouble. Polling place photography allowed.
Virginia: Under Virginia law, it is forbidden to take photos in a polling place or of a ballot. The penalty depends on the offense. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned.
Washington: Washington voters primarily vote by mail. At voting centers where people drop of their ballots, there are no prohibitions against photography, as long as it’s not disruptive. Verdict: Ballot photography allowed. Polling place photography allowed.
West Virginia: In West Virginia, a person is allowed to take pictures inside the polling place (unless they are disrupting the voting process, at which time a poll worker can tell them to leave), but they cannot take pictures of people actually voting or take pictures of a ballot. Under West Virginia law, entering a voting booth “with an recording or electronic device in order to record or interfere with the voting process” is a misdemeanor subject to a fine up to $1,000, a maximum 12-month jail sentence, or both. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography allowed.
Wisconsin: Under the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board’s interpretation of state law, “no voter or observer may use any video or still camera inside the polling place while the polls are open for voting, except for news media.” There is not a specific prohibition on taking a picture of your ballot. However, the board advises voters not to photograph their completed ballots because under Wisconsin’s election fraud law, it is a class I felony to intentionally show your marked ballot to any person. Verdict: Ballot photography banned. Polling place photography banned. Seriously, don’t do it.
Wyoming: According to the secretary of state, Wyoming has no laws that specifically bar photography inside polling places or of ballots. However, there is a law that says, “Judges of election have the duty and authority to preserve order at the polls by any necessary and suitable means.” Verdict: Ballot photography allowed. Polling place photography allowed. But a judge might decide to kick you out anyway.
Want more updates from Amanda? Sign up for her newsletter, Piping Hot Truth. ||||| Speaker DeLeo vows to fix law after ruling says ‘upskirting’ — shooting a picture under a woman’s dress — is legal
The state’s highest court says “upskirting,” the practice of secretly photographing under a woman’s skirt, is not prohibited by state law.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court said today that a state law intended to prohibit “Peeping Tom” voyeurism of completely or partially undressed people did not apply to people who take pictures of people who are fully clothed.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo said this afternoon that the Legislature would immediately begin looking at ways of closing the loophole in the law.
“The ruling of the Supreme Judicial Court is contrary to the spirit of the current law. The House will begin work on updating our statutes to conform with today’s technology immediately,” DeLeo said in a statement.
The high court’s ruling today came in the case of a man who allegedly took photos under the dresses of women on Green Line trolleys.
The court focused on the language of the law, which prohibits secret photography of “a person ... who is partially nude.”
“A female passenger on a MBTA trolley who is wearing a skirt, dress, or the like covering [private] parts of her body is not a person who is ‘partially nude,’ no matter what is or is not underneath the skirt by way of underwear or other clothing,” the court said in a unanimous ruling written by Justice Margot Botsford.
The court said Suffolk County prosecutors, who argued that the Peeping Tom law should apply, had a “flawed” interpretation of the statute.
The high court ruling reversed a Boston Municipal Court judge’s denial of a motion to dismiss by Michael Robertson.
Trolley riders alerted MBTA Transit Police in August 2010 that a man appeared to be taking photographs of women, including one instance in which he appeared to be attempting to photograph a woman’s crotch area, the court said.
Transit Police set up a decoy operation the next day involving a female undercover officer wearing a skirt. Robertson allegedly took pictures of her, focusing on her crotch area, and he was arrested, the court said.
Robertson was charged in December 2011. In 2012, he filed a motion to dismiss the complaints. It was denied. But he took his appeal to the Supreme Judicial Court, which agreed with him.
The court said the core of prosecutors’ argument was “the proposition that a woman, and in particular a woman riding on a public trolley, has a reasonable expectation of privacy in not having a stranger secretly take photographs up her skirt. The proposition is eminently reasonable, but [the law] in its current form does not address it.”
Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office called the decision a “blow to privacy.”
“Prosecutors argued that a person has a right to privacy beneath his or her own clothes, and we will urge the Legislature to re-write the current statute to grant that right,” Conley’s office said in a statement. ||||| LISTEN TO ARTICLE 2:38 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Minnesota law that barred voters from wearing “Make America Great Again” hats, #metoo T-shirts, and other political apparel at polling places.
The 7-2 ruling on Thursday said Minnesota’s law was so broadly worded that it couldn’t be applied in a consistent way to comply with the Constitution’s First Amendment. Minnesota had justified its century-old ban as a way to preserve decorum and reduce the risk that voters would feel intimidated or pressured.
“Minnesota has not supported its good intentions with a law capable of reasoned application,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court.
Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor dissented, saying they would have asked the Minnesota Supreme Court to clarify what the state’s law covered.
Minnesota was one of about 10 states with broad prohibitions on political apparel at election sites. The court didn’t call into question more specific bans in other states covering apparel that supports or opposes a candidate or issue on the ballot.
The Supreme Court in 1992 upheld a Tennessee law that barred campaign materials promoting a specific candidate or party within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling place. That law didn’t mention more general political items.
Minnesota’s law barred a “political badge, political button or other political insignia” inside the election site. If someone was wearing prohibited attire, election officials would ask the person to remove or cover the item. A voter who refused could still cast a ballot, but officials would record the person’s name, and the voter could be subject to a fine or even criminal prosecution.
Roberts said Minnesota hadn’t done enough to clarify what was covered by the law. He pointed to guidelines that bar “issue-oriented material designed to influence or impact voting.”
“A rule whose fair enforcement requires an election judge to maintain a mental index of the platforms and positions of every candidate and party on the ballot is not reasonable,” Roberts wrote.
“Would a ‘Support Our Troops’ shirt be banned, if one of the candidates or parties had expressed a view on military funding or aid for veterans? What about a ‘#MeToo’ shirt, referencing the movement to increase awareness of sexual harassment and assault?”
Sotomayor wrote in dissent that the court could have answered those types of questions by asking the Minnesota Supreme Court to weigh in. That step “likely would obviate the hypothetical line-drawing problems that form the basis of the court’s decision today,” she wrote.
The challengers to the Minnesota law included Andrew Cilek, a man who wore a Tea Party Patriots T-shirt and a “Please I.D. Me” button when he went to the polls in 2010 in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
The case is Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, 16-1435. | – If you live in New Hampshire and want to take a picture of your Election Day ballot to post on Facebook so your friends can argue over your judgment, that's your call. So says a federal appeals court that overturned a ban on ballot selfies, ruling that the 2014 decision nixing them was unconstitutional, WMUR reports. The decision notes "core political speech," as represented by such a pic, is "highly protected" by the First Amendment, and that banning the selfies "is like burning down the house to roast the pig," per NBC News. "Ballot selfies have taken on a special communicative value" in which voters can show who they're throwing their support behind, the ruling adds. Flouting the ban could have led to a fine of up to $1,000. The state had argued the selfies can lead to voter intimidation, but the court disagreed, calling that fear "an unsubstantiated and hypothetical danger." Not that everyone followed the original ruling, which was challenged by the ACLU's state chapter. One of those selfie rebels: state Rep. Leon Rideout, who has posted his ballot pic on social media. "To me, [the ban] was just another incremental infringement on our constitutional rights," he says. Even Snapchat weighed in with a friend-of-the-court brief, per Ars Technica, noting selfies encourage "younger voters [to] participate in the political process." The ACLU's legal director applauds the court's decision, saying more focus should go toward legit cases of vote buying and coercion rather than toward "innocent political speech." The court's conclusion? "A picture is worth a thousand words." Other places covered by the ruling: Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Puerto Rico. (NBC and the Huffington Post detail which states allow ballot selfies, though some laws are murky). |
For more than a decade, Jeffrey Babbitt traveled two or three times a week from his home in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, to a comic book store called Forbidden Planet just below Union Square in Manhattan. There, he bought the latest copies of “X-Men” or “Doctor Who,” or sometimes just chatted up the employees, who over the years had become good friends.
For Mr. Babbitt, 62, who friends said was a retired train conductor, the store offered an escape into fantasy and a bit of a respite from home, where he cared for his 94-year-old mother, Lucille Babbitt.
“He was just a really, really, really sweet guy,” said Jeff Ayers, a manager at the store who has known Mr. Babbit for years. “One of our staff just had a baby and he was dying to see pictures.”
Mr. Babbitt was walking through Union Square near Forbidden Planet last Wednesday when he was punched in the face seemingly at random by an assailant who, the police said, declared his intention to “punch the first white man I see.”
After he was hit, Mr. Babbitt fell to the ground, striking his head on the pavement, the police said. The attacker, whom the police identified as Lashawn Marten, then struck two men who came to Mr. Babbitt’s aid, they said.
Mr. Babbitt was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center, where, the police said, he was eventually declared brain dead and died on Monday morning.
In a neighborhood that had long ago moved past its rough-and-tumble days, the seemingly random act of violence at 3 p.m. in a bustling park came as a shock. The police said that Mr. Marten, 40, had a long history of arrests, some for assault and drug offenses in New York City and in Newburgh, N.Y.
He was arrested shortly after the attack and charged with three counts of assault. With Mr. Babbitt’s death, those charges will most likely be upgraded by a grand jury that is to hear the case on Tuesday, according to the police.
Mr. Marten, who is black, has also gone by the alias Martin Redrick and listed a different birth date, the police said. He was living in supported housing for formerly homeless people and those with psychiatric disabilities provided by the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, said Shelley Ruchti, the group’s chief communications officer. She declined to describe the reason for his living there.
On Monday evening, many residents at Mr. Babbitt’s modest brick apartment building on Ocean Avenue in Sheepshead Bay had something nice to say about him, and could only shake their heads at the senselessness of his death.
“He was as good as good can be,” said Audrey Feifer, 75. “This should never have happened, no matter what color this person is.”
Ms. Feifer said Mr. Babbitt, who she said moved to the neighborhood from Florida about 20 years ago, used to insist on giving her rides to bus stops or to buy doughnuts.
Inside the apartment that Mr. Babbitt shared with his mother, Ms. Feifer said, he kept model steam locomotives, stacks of magazines about trains, and many comic books. He often wore shirts showing pictures of fairies and once drove Ms. Feifer out of state to join him at a Fairy-Con gathering, a festival for people who celebrate fairies.
A sister, his only sibling, helped Mr. Babbitt care for their mother, but she died from cancer about two years ago, Ms. Feifer said, and Mr. Babbitt took over all the caretaking responsibilities.
He did not seem to mind, neighbors said.
“He’d say, ‘Hi, Mom!’ so loud everybody could hear it,” said Igor Sapozhnikov, 56. “He loved his mother, and his mother loved him very well.”
Mr. Babbitt’s mother was at his bedside at least part of the time he was in the hospital, said Mr. Ayers, who visited him there. Many neighbors wonder who will care for her now.
Mr. Babbitt’s death came as the police said they were looking for a suspect in another bizarre and possibly racially motivated attack on the M60 bus in Harlem on Friday, Aug. 30.
In that unrelated attack, a man hurled a racial epithet at a 31-year-old Queens man, calling him a “cracker,” before knocking him to the ground and punching him. The victim, whose name was not released, sustained a broken nose and a fractured eye socket. The suspect, described by the police as a black man in his late 30s, fled on foot and had not been located.
At Forbidden Planet, employees were left bereft by Mr. Babbitt’s death, said Mr. Ayers, who broke into tears several times during a short interview.
Mr. Ayers had spoken to Mr. Babbitt the day before the attack when he came to the store looking to pick up a copy of a comic art book called “The Art of Grimm Fairy Tales” that he had ordered. The order had not yet arrived, and Mr. Babbitt was slightly annoyed, Mr. Ayers said.
“He’s been hounding me for weeks and weeks for this book,” he said.
Mr. Ayers said employees were also concerned about Mr. Babbitt’s mother. He said they planned to set up a fund to help continue her care.
“We’re a community here,” he said. “These are people whose lives we’re tied to.” ||||| To view our videos, you need to enable JavaScript. Learn how . install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now . Then come back here and refresh the page.
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The victim of an alleged hate crime in Union Square last week has died, and the medical examiner is ruling the death a homicide.
Officials say 62-year-old Jeffery Babbit passed away on Monday from a brain hemorrhage after suffering a skull fracture.
Police say Babbit was punched by 31-year-old Martin Redrick, during an attack on three people.
According to officials, Redrick allegedly walked out of the Union Square subway station and began shouting racist threats before he hit Babbit and two others.
Babbit went to Bellevue Hospital, where officials say he eventually slipped into a coma.
His neighbors say they're in shock.
"Very peaceful, very friendly, very helpful for example, like a neighbor. Very, very good people," said one neighbor.
"He was really kind-hearted, and it's really unfortunate that happened," said another.
"This is a crime, and I cannot tell you how I would like to get my hands on that man. God forgive me," said a third.
Redrick, who also goes by the name Lashawn Martin, is being held on $1 million bail and is due back in court on Tuesday, according to police.
Officials say Redrick is charged with second and third degree assault, but those charges may be upgraded. | – The death of a man who suffered a skull fracture and brain hemorrhage in Manhattan after being punched has been ruled a homicide, NY1 reports. Jeffrey Babbitt (some outlets use the spelling "Jeffery Babbit"), 62, was walking in Union Square around 3pm last Wednesday when Lashawn Marten allegedly punched him in the face in an apparently random attack, the New York Times reports. Marten, who is also reportedly known as Martin Redrick, said he wanted to "punch the first white man I see," police say. When two men came to help Babbitt, who hit his head on the pavement when he fell, Marten allegedly hit them, as well. Marten was arrested and charged with three counts of assault, but in light of Babbitt's death yesterday, those charges will probably be upgraded by a grand jury, which is hearing the case today, police say. Marten was allegedly yelling racist threats as he walked out of the subway station before the attack. Police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime, Gothamist reports. |
Nothing blocked the orbit of "Gravity" at the box office this weekend.
The 3-D space drama was No. 1 for a second weekend, collecting an impressive $44.3 million, according to an estimate from distributor Warner Bros. That means its ticket sales dropped only 21% from its debut -- the best second-weekend hold for any movie in wide release this year. After 10 days in theaters, the picture starring Sandra Bullock has already raked in $123.4 million in the U.S. and Canada and is on its way to grossing at least $250 million domestically.
With Alfonso Cuaron's hit still selling tickets at near light speed, newcomer "Captain Phillips" had to settle for the runner-up position this weekend. The Paul Greengrass-directed thriller starring Tom Hanks got off to a slightly better-than-expected start, debuting with a healthy $26 million. Meanwhile, Robert Rodriguez's "Machete Kills," the only other film that hit theaters nationwide this weekend, flopped with an embarrassing $3.8 million.
PHOTOS: Scenes from ‘Gravity’
Heading into the weekend, prerelease audience surveys indicated "Captain Phillips" would open with about $20 million. But even with "Gravity" still pulling adults to the multiplex, "Phillips" was able to attract an older crowd of its own: Roughly 62% of those who saw the Hanks movie this weekend were over 35. Critics have been enamored with the movie, and filmgoers loved it, too, assigning the picture an average grade of A, according to market research firm CinemaScore.
Produced by Sony Pictures for $55 million, "Captain Phillips" is based on the 2009 saga of a merchant mariner who was kidnapped by Somali pirates while steering a cargo ship around the Horn of Africa. While the film performed best in New York and Los Angeles, Sony said business was also strong in Minneapolis, where there is a high concentration of Somali immigrants.
The film marks the best live-action debut for Hanks since 2009's big-budget "Angels & Demons," which launched with $46.2 million. In recent years, the 57-year-old has struggled somewhat to find his footing at the box office. His 2011 romantic comedy "Larry Crowne," which he directed, co-wrote and starred in, tanked with just $35.6 million in domestic ticket sales. The expensive adaptation of "Cloud Atlas," in which he starred last year with Halle Berry, was a disappointment as well, though fared OK overseas.
The latest entry in Rodriguez's "Machete" film series came in below the lowest industry projections, performing far worse than the original, 2010 "Machete," which opened with $11.4 million. The few who showed up to see the sequel this weekend -- 67% of whom were male -- gave the poorly reviewed film an average grade of B-.
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The movie, acquired last year for $2 million by Open Road Entertainment, stars Danny Trejo as a spy who teams up with the U.S. president (Charlie Sheen, credited as Carlos Estevez) to ward off a terrorist attack on the Capitol.
Though "Machete Kills" had a dismal opening, it wasn't as bad as the debut of a new "Romeo & Juliet" adaptation. Moviegoers had no love for the latest twist on Shakespeare's classic, which collected $509,000 from 461 theaters this weekend.
Starring Hailee Steinfeld of "True Grit" and newcomer Douglas Booth, "Romeo & Juliet" was adapted by "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes. The film was distributed by Relativity Media, which received a fee to release the movie and didn't pay to advertise it. The picture was the first -- and perhaps now the last -- to be made by Swarovski, the crystal jewelry company.
ALSO:
'Gravity' to crater newcomer 'Captain Phillips' at box office
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Tom Hanks, Paul Greengrass navigate challenges of 'Captain Phillips' ||||| Box Office: 'Gravity' a Monster With $44.3 Mil; 'Captain Phillips' No. 2 With $26 Mil
UPDATED: Paul Greengrass' Somali pirate pic reverses a dry spell at the box office for star Tom Hanks; Robert Rodriguez' "Machete Kills" -- starring Mel Gibson -- flops.
Adults fueled another strong weekend at the North American box office as Warner Bros.' Gravity stayed at No. 1 with a record $44.3 million and Sony's Captain Phillips opened to a solid $26 million.
From director Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity raced past $100 million domestically to end the weekend with total earnings of $123.4 million. Worldwide, the space epic -- starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney -- has earned $191.4 million.
Gravity isn't as much of a monster overseas, but it is still doing strong business. It dropped only 27 percent in its second weekend, grossing $28 million from 38 markets to come in No. 1 and pushing its foreign total to $68 million.
GUEST REVIEW: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin on 'Gravity'
Gravity slipped only 21 percent in its second weekend domestically -- the lowest decline in history for a film that opened to more than $55 million (The Incredibles was the previous record holder at 29 percent). This doesn't count holiday weekends. It's also the lowest decline of the year to date for a movie playing in more than 2,000 theaters.
"This indicates the ability to open a tentpole in October," said Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman, who also noted that the film is now playing to younger moviegoers, as well as to consumers who rarely take a trip to the multiplex.
Gravity continues to be a big draw in 3D (82 percent), with Imax theaters alone taking in a record $9 million over the weekend for total sales of $26.5 million. It's the largest second weekend gross in Imax history.
Internationally, Gravity likewise is prospering in 3D. Russia, a huge 3D market, leads with a total $14.5 million, including weekend grosses of $4.3 million.
Gravity was somewhat slowed by the debut of Russian epic Stalingrad, which opened to a record-breaking $14.4 million -- the biggest opening ever for a Russian film. Stalingrad also opened in the Ukraine, grossing $1.2 million.
The other big headline of the weekend was Paul Greengrass' Somali pirate pic Captain Phillips, which reverses a dry spell for Tom Hanks at the North American box office. The critically acclaimed film did better than expected after earning an A CinemaScore, eclipsing the $19.5 million earned a year ago by fellow adult drama Argo.
THR COVER: Inside the Intense 'Captain Phillips' Shoot
Captain Phillips, based on real events and costing $55 million to produce, skewed slightly male (52 percent), while more than 60 percent of the audience was over the age of 35. The film's awards prospects should be boosted by its promising box office performance.
Hanks' last several films have underperformed, particularly Cloud Atlas (2012) and Larry Crowne (2011).
"We couldn't be happier to be a part of this film. To open to $26 million with Gravity being in the marketplace is an extraordinary feat," said Sony president of worldwide distribution Rory Bruer. "It says volumes for the film and its life. It's one of those performances by Tom Hanks that everyone will want to see."
After Captain Phillips, the weekend's only other new wide player was exploitation action film Machete Kills, from writer-director Robert Rodriguez. Machete Kills quickly fizzled, debuting to roughly $3.8 million -- the worst wide opening of the filmmaker's career.
With a cast led by Danny Trejo, Mel Gibson and Michelle Rodriguez, Machete Kills is the third film based on the fake trailers accompanying Grindhouse. Receiving a B CinemaScore, the movie also stars Charlie Sheen (who is credited as Carlos Estevez), Lady Gaga and Antonio Banderas and Cuba Gooding Jr.
Machete Kills placed No. 4 after Gravity, Captain Phillips and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2.
Cloudy 2, from Sony, grossed $14.2 million in its third weekend to place No. 3, pushing the family film's total to $78 million.
New Regency's ill-fated gambling thriller Runner Runner and Warner Bros.' Prisoners tied for No. 5 with $3.7 million each.
Runner Runner, starring Justin Timberlake opposite Ben Affleck, continued to struggle in its second weekend, falling 52 percent to $3.7 million for a tepid domestic total of $14.1 million. Overseas, where the film is doing slightly better, Runner Runner grossed $5.3 million from 55 markets for an international total of $31.3 million and world total of $45.4 million.
Prisoners has grossed $53.6 million for Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros. in North America. | – What goes up must come down—but it hasn't happened yet for highly lauded 3D thriller Gravity, which topped the box office for a second weekend with $44.3 million in ticket sales. Tom Hanks-led Somali pirate flick Captain Phillips sailed in to No. 2, grossing a seaworthy $26 million in its debut weekend, the LA Times reports. But it was a far less successful maiden voyage for Machete 2, which flopped with only $3.8 million, putting it at No. 4. It was bested by Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2, which scored $14.2 million in its third weekend, per the Hollywood Reporter. And coming in at No. 5, Runner Runner and Prisoners tied with $3.7 million apiece. |
There were many times that he almost gave up, but the intrepid New Yorker who checked out a Citi Bike in Gramercy Park for a journey across the country has finally hit California.
Jeffrey Tanenhaus, who grabbed the ride from a dock at the East 20th Street and Second Avenue on Aug. 6 and headed west, has biked more than 2,700 miles in the past 4¹/₂ months.
In his travels, he has dealt with intense winds and snow, mind-numbing interstate highways and a raging motorist who punched him out in Oklahoma.
“There were times when I wanted to quit, but there was nowhere to go, nowhere to turn around,” said Tanenhaus, who paid the maximum $1,200 fine for not returning the Citi Bike. “I had to keep going.”
Now he’s safely in the Golden State. He crossed over from Arizona near Blythe, Calif., this week and plans to spend the next month hanging out in Joshua Tree National Park and making his way to Los Angeles, where he hopes to arrive by mid-January.
The worst challenge Tanenhaus faced was wind, which hit 40 mph as he pedaled across the Southwest and sometimes forced him to get off and walk the bike.
“It’s a shock to ride a whole day and not see anything and not feel like you’re getting anywhere,” Tanenhaus said.
He ended up hitchhiking in one especially nasty windstorm.
A couple rolling by with an empty horse trailer let him throw his bike and gear inside and drove him more than 100 miles to Albuquerque, NM.
“It was very humbling to stand on the side of the road with a sign that said ‘west,’ ” he recalled.
There were other days when it would snow or barely get above freezing.
“I was wearing two pairs of socks on my hands, and my feet felt frozen,” Tanenhaus said.
He didn’t do much camping, because he didn’t have the proper gear for freezing weather.
Instead, he usually relied on the kindness of strangers who let him spend a night or two on their couch or in their RV.
Tanenhaus did take one break from his odyssey. He left his stuff with a friend in Albuquerque for two weeks around Thanksgiving and flew back to New York to be with family and friends.
In October, Tanenhaus suffered a wilting setback when a crazed driver in Oklahoma screamed at him for riding his bike in the road and punched him in the face, sending him to the hospital.
After that run-in, he made it through the panhandle of Texas, then hit the brutal weather of New Mexico and Arizona, where it was frequently below freezing.
“This has been a very challenging stretch, especially the Texas panhandle, and New Mexico, where it’s been very difficult on the bike,” Tanenhaus said.
“The landscape is pretty intimidating, desolate and stretched out. In New York, there is a Duane Reade every two blocks, but out here, I can go 40 to 60 miles without seeing a store, much less a place to sleep.”
He has done a bulk of the ride along historic Route 66, at times pedaling out on the shoulder.
“Out here in the West, sometimes there is no other road,” he said. “It’s not very scenic, but that’s where the roads are.”
Through it all though, the Citi Bike held up.
“It’s a pretty sturdy bike,” he said. ||||| Before he biked across the country, he was just one of New York City’s thousands of commuters. Four-and-a-half months later, Jeffrey Tanenhaus has finally reached California – on a New York Citi Bike.
Tanenhaus began his cross-country journey on Aug. 6, leaving his job as a corporate event planner in Manhattan.
His daily commute took him from downtown Brooklyn to Times Square, the best part of his day, according to Tanenhaus.
“I was always expecting my job to get better, or to get a different job or for something to come along. When it didn’t, I ended up leaving in early August,” he said Saturday from Blythe, California, during a phone interview
The 2,700-mile journey spanned 17 states and cost Tanenhaus the $1,200 late fee charged by Citi Bike for exceeding the maximum 45-minute limit.
Despite the sometimes grueling conditions Tanenhaus has faced, he is satisfied with the overall journey.
“It’s been the most amazing thing that I’ve done in my life,” he said. “On a bike it’s been incredibly rewarding and I’ve had to go slow so I’ve been able to go places that travelers wouldn’t normally stop.”
Tracking between 30 to 65 miles a day, Tanenhaus has seen presidential homes, national monuments and the sights along historic Route 66 – something Tanenhaus, a part-time tour guide, has enjoyed.
“I learned about things like the Underground Railroad and the Civil War in high school history, but when you’re actually riding through the history, you absorb it a lot better,” he said.
No cross-country journey for man or machine is complete without a tune-up, and Tanenhaus’ Citi Bike was no exception. Even with a set of new tires, new pedals and a new seat, Tanenhaus plans to return the bike back to Brooklyn, though he is unsure how to finance the trip.
“I’ve spent enough time on this bicycle – it’s someone else’s turn. I’m happy to return it back to the bike-sharing system,” he said.
Tanenhaus plans to complete the last leg of his journey in mid-to-late January, finishing at the Santa Monica Pier, the official end of Route 66.
“Just Wi-Fi, water and a working bicycle and I’m able to go across the country,” he said. “Some people can’t even make it across town without [their bike] breaking but I’ve made it 2,700 miles.” ||||| Apparently, it’s not just Big Apple motorists who hold a grudge against Citi Bike users, as a Manhattan man found out the hard way while riding one of the two-wheelers cross country.
Jeffrey Tanenhaus, who quit his job as an event planner in early August to embark on the Citi Bike trek, saw the ride take a bloody turn in Oklahoma this week when he was punched in the face by a bike-hating pickup driver.
Things had been going smoothly until he stopped to update his Instagram account on the side of a “very quiet road” around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Tanenhaus told The Post.
He noticed a pickup truck slow down as it came up behind him and, having grown accustomed to being a roadside curiosity, Tanenhaus assumed the motorist wanted to ask a few questions about his bike, which has a New York license plate affixed to the front.
“But the guy just starts launching verbal abuse at me — how much he hates bikers, and I need to get off the road — a lot of expletives thrown in there, a seething rant about bicyclists,” he said via telephone Wednesday.
The pickup driver then sped off. “[It was] the first time hostilities had been exhibited in the whole time riding,” Tanenhaus said. “I wasn’t even in his way.”
He was still standing dumbfounded next to his bike when the pickup suddenly returned.
“He comes back, straight towards me,” Tanenhaus said. “I knew it was going to be bad. I thought he was going to try to run me over — he pulled up again and started cursing at me.”
The bully then “got out of his truck and punched me in the face,” Tanenhaus said.
The motorist knocked over his bike, spouted a few more curses and sped off again.
Luckily, another driver saw the tail end of the fight and took the bleeding biker to the hospital, where he received four stitches for a busted lip.
He’s staying in Tulsa as he recovers and said the cycling community there has been welcoming.
“I’ve had a good experience,” he said.
Despite the setback, Tanenhaus is determined to finish his epic trip.
“It was an unfortunate incident, but I’m not going to let it taint my experience here so far,” he said.
Tanenhaus, who took the maximum $1,200 fine for not returning the Citi Bike, has already traveled nearly 1,780 miles — and may end up in San Diego instead of Los Angeles, as he originally planned, because of weather concerns. ||||| One night this past August, Jeffrey Tanenhaus, a corporate-event planner, checked out a Citi Bike from a dock near Gramercy Park and began a journey to cross the country on the blue, one-piece, aluminum-frame utility bike. “Riding a Citi Bike in New York was always the highlight of my day,” he says from Albuquerque. “Both my job and the lease on my apartment were ending, and I couldn’t stomach the thought of getting ‘just another job.’ I was out of options in New York, and I thought of the great American road trip: What if I scaled up and used a Citi Bike?”
How did you choose this particular bike? I can usually tell within ten seconds if a bike is good or not. It’s like dating. The brakes are a good indicator, as is the ease of pedaling. A good bike is like cutting through warm butter, while a bad bike is like cutting through stale bread. When I saw this bike, I could tell right away it had only been on the street for a few hours.
Did you have a route in mind? I didn’t expect to get very far — down the Jersey Shore at the most — because these bikes aren’t meant to travel long distances. I tried to stay on as much flat ground as possible. I found these paths called Rails-to-Trails, which are old railroad tracks that have been ripped up and turned into biking and hiking trails. I just kept discovering more and more vehicle-less flat trails. I go about 40 miles per day. Right now, I’m traveling the Bike Route 66, which, like the highway, ends in Santa Monica.
What will happen to the bike? I would like to get it back to New York and return it to the ecosystem from where it came, but I can’t bring it on a train, so I’ll have to take it apart, box it up, and then rebuild it. But I first want to make it to the last part, to California.I checked out my bike on the last day of my annual membership account. I was charged $1,200, the maximum amount, which I thought was fair. ||||| A Manhattan investment banker and former Israeli army staff sergeant became the Big Apple’s first Citi Bike fatality Monday morning when he was hit by a bus.
Dan Hanegby, 36, of Brooklyn Heights was riding on West 26th Street near Eighth Avenue in between a coach bus and a parked car when he lost control of the bike and fell to the ground at around 8:20 a.m.,police sources said.
Hanegby, a married father of two who worked as a director of the investment banking division for Credit Suisse Group, was then struck by the bus, sources said.
“They were very close, the bus and him… unfortunately he lost his balance and went under,” said Luichys Caba, 32, a building superintendent whose West 26th Street building caught the crash on surveillance footage.
Emergency responders rushed Hanegby to Bellevue Hospital where he was pronounced dead about two hours later.
The operator of the bus remained at the scene.
“He’s a good man. He’s a good father. He’s a good husband. I can’t believe this,” Hanegby’s neighbor on Columbia Heights said of him.
It was the first time since Citi Bike was rolled out in the Big Apple in 2013 and over 43 million bike trips that a user of the bike-share program was killed.
“This morning a rider on a Citi Bike bike was involved in a fatal crash. Together with the City of New York, we wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the rider’s family and loved ones on this terrible tragedy,” Citi Bike spokesperson Dani Simons said in a statement.
His death was also the second fatality in over 102 million trips to have been taken on a bike-share bicycle in the US since 2010 – when the first modern bike-share systems in the country were established, officials said.
The first fatality, Virginia Murray, was killed when she was struck by a flatbed truck last July while riding one of Chicago’s “Divvy’’ bikes.
Hanegby, who was born and raised near Tel Aviv, joined Credit Suisse in 2014 after a seven-year stint at Morgan Stanley where he was a vice president, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He was a staff sergeant in the Israel Defense Forces between 1999 and 2002.
Hanegby, once an avid tennis player who started playing at the age of seven, came to the US to attend Binghamton before transferring to Brown University two years later.
By the age of 16, he was ranked as the No. 1 tennis player in Israel – a title he held until he was 18, the age in Israel when compulsory military service begins, the Brown Daily Herald reported.
“I hate to lose in tennis, but there are other things in life that are worse,” Hanegby told the campus newspaper. “No tennis win can compare to that feeling of knowing you helped to stop the next suicide bomber. I would definitely do it again.”
During his time at Brown University between 2003 and 2007, he was captain of the men’s tennis team where he played singles and doubles.
Additional reporting by Abigail Gepner and Danielle Furfaro | – What does it take to get from New York to California? "Just WiFi, water, and a working bicycle," Jeffrey Tanenhaus tells WNBC-TV. The New Yorker rolled into the Golden State at the city of Blythe last week after riding 2,700 miles across 17 states—mostly along historic Route 66—on a distinctive blue Citi Bike he checked out in Manhattan on Aug. 6. Citi Bike is a fee-based bicycle sharing system. Speaking to New York magazine from Albuquerque this month, Tanenhaus said his job as a corporate event planner (to which he used to commute on a Citi Bike) and his apartment lease were both ending, and he "couldn't stomach" getting "just another job. I was out of options in New York, and I thought of the great American road trip." But, he tells New York, "I didn't expect to get very far—down the Jersey Shore at the most." Along the way to California, Tanenhaus saw the Washington, DC, sights; the Grand Canyon; and the gravesite of Col. Harland Sanders (think KFC), among other things. In the Southwest, wind and frigid temperatures were a challenge. Gusts up to 40mph forced him to sometimes push the bike, the New York Post reports. Strangers helped out, providing rides and allowing Tanenhaus to couch-surf or bunk in RVs. In October, Tanenhaus had to detour to a hospital after an angry Oklahoma driver punched him in the face. And he took a break in November, flying back to New York for Thanksgiving. Tanenhaus tells the Post that he plans to knock around Joshua Tree National Park for a while, and then reach Santa Monica, the end of Route 66, by mid-January. As for the bike, Tanenhaus has been billed $1,200 by Citi Bike ("which I thought was fair"). He tells New York he wants to get it back to the "ecosystem from where it came," which means disassembling it and taking it back to NYC on a train. (This bike ride down the Atlantic coast ended with a man being murdered.) |
An Arlington woman is missing after apparently falling off a cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Coast Guard said in a statement that it was searching for 33-year-old Samantha Broberg, who was reported missing from the Carnival Liberty about 200 miles off the coast of Galveston.
An official on the cruise ship told the Coast Guard that there was video footage of a woman falling off the ship about 2 a.m. Friday. After checking the passengers, it was determined that Broberg was missing.
The ship had left on a four-day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico, about 10 hours earlier.
“Our steward came into our room, checked the closets, checked the bathroom, looked under the bed looked out on our balcony. I mean, they did a very thorough search,” passenger Jo Trizila of Dallas told KXAS-TV (NBC5). “We knew it wasn’t going to end well when the last few updates the announcer said, ‘Would you please just keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.’” ||||| The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for a missing cruise ship passenger in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday evening.
Samantha Broberg, 33, was reported missing from the Carnival "Liberty" on Friday, approximately 200 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas.
The ship docked back in Galveston earlier today.
Crews searched for 20 hours and covered more than 4,300 square miles, according to a Coast Guard statement.
After Broberg was reported missing by her travel companions, a ship-wide search was conducted, and the ship's camera footage was reviewed, Carnival said.
The cruise line said that at approximately 2 a.m. Friday, Broberg climbed on a deck railing on the 10th deck of the ship and fell backward into the Gulf of Mexico, but the Coast Guard was not contacted until 5 p.m. Friday, after her disappearance was confirmed.
The woman's family released a statement Saturday asking for privacy.
"We hope and pray the U.S. Coast Guard is able to bring Samantha home," the statement said. | – Coast Guard ships and planes are searching the Gulf of Mexico for a woman believed to have fallen overboard from a cruise ship 10 hours after it left Galveston. Officials say that after 33-year-old Samantha Broberg was reported missing on the Carnival Liberty, a ship-wide search was carried out. A review of security camera footage found that she had apparently fallen off the ship at around 2am Friday, KHOU reports. "Authorities were notified, including the US Coast Guard, which is initiating a search effort in the area where the ship was located when the individual was last seen," Carnival said in a statement. "We are keeping our guest and her loved ones in our thoughts during this difficult time." The cruise ship left Texas on Thursday for a four-day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico, reports the Dallas Morning News. |
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A lawsuit claims a woman suffered a broken ankle on a recently opened glass-enclosed slide attached to the exterior of a downtown Los Angeles skyscraper.
City News Service says the lawsuit filed Wednesday against building owner OUE Skyspace LLC and a concession company claims negligence.
Fifty-seven-year-old Gayle Yashar and husband Morty Yashar of Woodmere, New York, seek unspecified damages.
The Skyslide opened last month as part of a renovation of the 72-story U.S. Bank Tower. The slide spans 45 feet from the 70th floor to the 69th.
The suit claims the design doesn't allow rider to slow down enough before reaching the end and a stack of mats in the runout area created a gap that trapped riders' feet.
An email seeking comment was sent to OUE Skyspace.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ||||| The glass “Skyslide” nearly 1,000 feet above downtown Los Angeles attached to the west’s tallest skyscraper hasn’t been open yet for a month, but it’s already the target of a personal injury lawsuit over a broken ankle.
The managers and operators of the 72-story U.S. Bank Tower slide have been sued by a woman who says she broke her right ankle after coming down the glass-enclosed attraction on the side of the tallest building on the West Coast.
Gayle Yashar, 57, alleges negligence in the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against OUE Skyspace LLC and Legends Hospitality LLC.
Her husband, Morty Yashar, is a co-plaintiff, claiming loss of consortium. The Yashars, of Woodmere, N.Y., are seeking unspecified damages.
A representative for the building’s owners did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
According to the complaint, Gayle Yashar was injured July 3, eight days after the slide opened. The suit alleges the slide was designed in a way that those who use it cannot slow down enough before reaching the end.
The complaint filed Wednesday also alleges that there are stacked mats at the end of the slide runout area.
“This created a gap that trapped the covered feet of riders,” the suit says. “This increased the risk of serious injury for an ankle fracture which was far beyond the risk assumed by the uninformed and unsuspecting riders.”
The owners also failed to warn riders of the risks involved in coming down the slide, the suit alleges.
The Yashars’ attorney, Barry Novack, said the audio portion of a video taken of Gayle Yashar’s run includes the sound of a crack as she reaches the bottom. She realized she hurt her ankle after she tumbled and then got up, Novack said.
–Staff and wire reports
>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here! | – Who would've thought a slide made of glass attached to the side of the tallest skyscraper on the West Coast could be dangerous? That's the claim being made in a lawsuit filed by two New Yorkers who visited Los Angeles earlier this month, My News LA reports. The 45-foot-long "Skyslide" opened last month on the side of the US Bank Tower, running between the 70th and 69th floors nearly 1,000 feet above the street, notes the AP. Gayle Yashar, 57, claims she broke her ankle while coming down the Skyslide July 3; she's suing for negligence, while her co-plaintiff and husband, Morty Yashar, is suing for loss of consortium. Her lawyer says you can hear her ankle crack on video taken during her ride. The couple is seeking unspecified damages from OUE Skyspace LLC, which owns the building. The lawsuit claims the slide's design doesn't allow riders to slow down before it ends. It also states that mats stacked near the end of the slide "increased the risk of serious injury for an ankle fracture which was far beyond the risk assumed by the uninformed and unsuspecting riders." (Slide down this sand dune and it will start "singing.") |
A chemical called sulforaphane derived from broccoli sprouts may help improve symptoms in some people with autism, a small new study suggests.
The study looked at 40 boys and men with autism, who were between ages 13 and 27. For 18 weeks, 26 of the participants received between 9 and 27 milligrams of sulforaphane daily (depending on their weight), while the remaining 14 participants received a placebo.
"We believe that this may be preliminary evidence for the first treatment for autism that improves symptoms by apparently correcting some of the underlying cellular problems," study author Dr. Paul Talalay, a professor of pharmacology and molecular sciences at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said in a statement.
Before the trial, the participants' caregivers and physicians assessed the individuals' autistic traits using two standard scales, with higher scores on each scale corresponding with lower abilities in verbal communication and social interactions.
At the end of the study, the average score of the participants who received sulforaphane decreased by 34 percent on one scale and 17 percent on the other scale. These participants showed improvements in behavior, such as having fewer bouts of irritability, a decrease in repetitive movements, and fewer problems with communication and motivation. Those who took the placebo experienced what the researchers called "minimal change," or a change of less than 3.3 percent, in their scores on the scales. [5 Things that Might Cause Autism]
The families, friends and medical staff reported they noticed behavior changes for half of the participants who were taking sulforaphane. These observers correctly guessed that these participants had been taking the extract and not the placebo, even though they were still blinded to which treatment the participants were receiving, said study author Dr. Andrew Zimmerman, now a professor of pediatric neurology at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.
The parents said that those participants were calmer and more socially interactive than before the start of the trial, whereas the staff said that the individuals' autistic symptoms were "much or very much improved" on the scales used in the study. The researchers also reported that some of the participants who had been taking sulforaphane looked the researchers in the eyes and shook their hands, which the participants had not done before the trial.
Some participants showed no improvement
Another four participants who had been taking sulforaphane also improved according to the scales used in the study, but neither the parents nor the researchers guessed that these individuals had been in the group taking the drug.
"This is by no means a 'cure,' but sulforaphane may ameliorate symptoms of autism," Zimmerman told Live Science. "
"But it's important to note that the improvements didn't affect everyone — about one-third had no improvement — and the study must be repeated in a larger group of adults and in children, something we're hoping to organize soon," Zimmerman said in a statement.
The autism scores of the patients who took the extract went back to their original values after the patients stopped taking the compound, Talalay said.
It would be very difficult to get the levels of sulforaphane used in the study just by eating large amounts of broccoli, Talalay warned. That's true for two major reasons: First, the levels of sulforaphane precursors, which are the compounds that are converted into active sulforaphane by the bacteria within the gut, are highly variable in different varieties of broccoli. The second is that people have very different levels of capacity to convert those precursors into active sulforaphane, he told Live Science.
The researchers also found that based onanother measure of autism symptoms, about half of the participants taking sulforaphane showed noticeable improvements in their social interactions, aberrant behaviors and verbal communication. In the placebo group, none of the participants showed any improvements in social interactions or verbal communication, and only 9 percent exhibited improvement in aberrant behaviors.
How does it work?
The causes of autism are not clear, but researchers have observed certain biochemical abnormalities that are often present in the cells of people with autism, the investigators said. For instance, people with autism frequently have high levels of oxidative stress, which is an imbalance in cells that can lead to problems such as inflammation and DNA damage.
Previous research has shown that sulforaphane may help improve the body's defense against oxidative stress. The compound may also strengthen what is called the "heat-shock response," which is a cascade of events that protects cells from the stress caused by high temperatures. The heat-shock response occurs, for instance, when a person has a fever.
Intriguingly, about one-half of parents of autistic kids report that their children's autism symptoms get better when the kids have fevers, Talalay said. It was because sulforaphane can also trigger a heat-shock response in cells that the researchers wanted to see if administering the compound might have the same effect on autism symptoms as fever often causes.
Sulforaphane may not have worked for everyone in the study because the causes of autism vary in different patients, and therefore, a given treatment may work for one patient but not others, said Dr. Thomas Frazier, the director of Cleveland Clinic's Autism School in Ohio.
"It is just an example of how there are different subgroups of autism," Frazier said told Live Science.
Frazier said that the study was promising, but he added that it needs to be redone in a more rigorous way. Future studies should use more-objective measures to assess sulforaphane's potential effect on symptoms of autism, rather than the subjective assessments of parents, he said.
The study is published today (Oct.13) in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. ||||| A small study led by investigators at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has found evidence that daily treatment with sulforaphane - a molecule found in foods such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage - may improve some symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. In their report being published online in PNAS Early Edition, the investigators describe how participants receiving a daily dose of sulforaphane showed improvement in both behavioral and communication assessments in as little as four weeks. The authors stress that the results of this pilot study - conducted at the MGHfC-affiliated Lurie Center for Autism - must be confirmed in larger investigations before any conclusions can be drawn about sulforaphane's therapeutic benefit.
"Over the years there have been several anecdotal reports that children with autism can have improvements in social interaction and sometimes language skills when they have a fever," explains Andrew Zimmerman, MD, a co-corresponding author of the current report who also published a 2007 paper documenting the fever effect. "We investigated what might be behind that on a cellular level and postulated that it results from fever's activation of the cellular stress response, in which protective cellular mechanisms that are usually held in reserve are turned on through activation of gene transcription." Affiliated with the MGHfC Department of Neurology, Zimmerman is now based at UMass Memorial Medical Center.
Sulforaphane was first isolated in the 1990s by Paul Talalay, MD - co-corresponding author of the PNAS Early Edition paper and now a professor of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at Johns Hopkins - and his group also found that the chemical supports key aspects of the cell stress response. Zimmerman, who was based at Hopkins when he published the fever paper, approached members of Talalay's team to propose investigating sulforaphane's possible benefits for treating autism. While the mechanism underlying autism and other disorders on the autism spectrum remain largely unknown, several molecular abnormalities - including some related to the cellular stress response - have been identified. After Zimmerman moved to MGHfC in 2010, the trial was initiated at the Lurie Center in Lexington, Mass.
The study enrolled 44 young men, ages 13 to 27, who had been diagnosed with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder. Participants were randomly assigned to a daily dose of either sulforaphane - extracted from broccoli sprouts - or a placebo, with neither investigators, participants nor their caregivers knowing who was receiving the study drug. Participants were assessed using standardized measurements of behavior and social interaction - some completed by caregivers, some by study staff - at the outset of the study and at 4, 10 and 18 weeks after treatment began. Treatment was discontinued after 18 weeks, and additional assessments of 22 participants were conducted 4 weeks later.
Study lead author Kanwaljit Singh, MD, MPH - of MGHfC, the Lurie Center and UMass - says that among the 40 participants who returned for at least one evaluation, the average scores for each of the assessments were significantly better for the 26 participants receiving sulforaphane than for the 14 who received a placebo. Even at the 4-week visit, some caregivers reported a noticeable behavioral improvement, and by the end of the study period, both study staff and family members correctly guessed the assignments of many participants. Overall, 17 of the 26 participants who received sulforaphane were judged by their caregivers to have improvements in behavior, social interaction and calmness while on active treatment.
After 18 weeks of treatment, the average scores on two assessments - the Aberrant Behavior Checklist and Social Responsiveness Scale - of those who received sulforaphane had decreased 34 and 17 percent, respectively - indicating improvement in factors such as irritability, lethargy, repetitive movements, hyperactivity, communication, motivation and mannerisms. Assessments using the Clinical Global Impression scale indicated that 46 percent of sulforaphane recipients exhibited noticeable improvement in social interaction, 54 percent in aberrant behaviors, and 42 percent in verbal communication. Most but not all of the improvements had disappeared by the 22-week reassessment, supporting the probability that changes had been the result of sulforaphane treatment.
"When we broke the code that revealed who was receiving sulforaphane and who got the placebo, the results weren't surprising to us, since the improvements were so noticeable," says Zimmerman, now a professor of Pediatric Neurology at UMass. "The improvements seen on the Social Responsiveness Scale were particularly remarkable, and I've been told this is the first time that any statistically significant improvement on the SRS has been seen for a drug study in autism spectrum disorder.
"But it's important to note that the improvements didn't affect everyone - about one third had no improvement - and the study must be repeated in a larger group of adults and in children, something we're hoping to organize soon," he adds. "Ultimately we need to get at the biology underlying the effects we have seen and study it at a cellular level. I think that will be done, and I hope it will teach us a lot about this still poorly understood disorder."
###
Additional co-authors of the PNAS study are Susan Connors, MD, MGHfC, Eric Macklin, PhD, MGH Biostatistics; and Kirby Smith and Jed Fahey, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The study was supported by grants from the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation, the Hussman Foundation, the Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Foundation, the Agnes Gund Foundation, the N of One Foundation and the Brassica Foundation for Chemoprotection Research. | – A chemical found in veggies like broccoli may help cut down on symptoms in people with autism, a study finds. With the help of parents and caregivers, researchers assigned autism "scores" to 44 males with the disorder, ages 13 to 27; higher numbers on two different scales were linked to more severe symptoms. Twenty-six subjects received the chemical, called sulforaphane, for 18 weeks, while others got a placebo. The scores of who took sulforaphane dropped by 34% or 17%, depending on which scale was used, LiveScience reports. They showed, for instance, less irritability and less trouble communicating. In 17 of the participants, changes were noticeable enough that family and medical workers were able to guess that they were on the real treatment rather than the placebo. Approximately a third of subjects showed no improvement. "This is by no means a 'cure,' but sulforaphane may ameliorate symptoms of autism," a researcher says. The study follows reports that kids with autism show fewer symptoms when they have a fever, he says; sulforaphane can have an effect on cells that mimics what's seen in a fever. In addition to broccoli, sulforaphane is found in cabbage and cauliflower, a press release notes. But just eating tons of the vegetables wouldn't likely produce the same results, researchers say. Studies have shown a 30% increase in the disorder in just two years. |
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Austrian activist Angelika: "Politics has failed so we have to do something"
A convoy of cars driven by German and Austrian activists has crossed into Hungary to pick up migrants and help them reach western Europe.
Thousands - many of whom initially fled conflict in Syria - have made their way through Austria since Hungary removed restrictions on transit on Friday.
Buses and special trains have been taking them from the Hungarian border to Vienna and on to Germany.
The Pope said every Catholic parish in Europe should host a migrant family.
Speaking during the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis appealed for "every parish, every religious community, every monastery, every sanctuary in Europe" to take in a family.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The border area is strewn with discarded belongings, as the migrants move into Austria
Image copyright Reuters Image caption The convoy taking migrants from Hungary to Austria is a private initiative
On Sunday a convoy of about 140 cars left Vienna for the Hungarian capital, Budapest, as part of a private initiative dubbed "refugeeconvoy"
One of the Austrian activists taking part, Angelika Neuwirth, told the BBC that their aim was to take them back to shelters in Austrian capital.
"I think this is my duty. I'm a mum, I'm a woman from Austria and I can't close my eyes anymore," she said. "We are all human. No-one is illegal."
However, Hungarian police spokeswoman Viktoria Csiszer-Kovacs said anyone taking migrants across the border was breaking the law.
Last week four Austrian activists who tried to do so were arrested for people smuggling but later released.
However, in the latest move a number of activists were able to collect migrants in Hungary without being stopped by police.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Drone footage filmed on Friday and Saturday shows the number of migrants prepared to walk to Austria
In other developments:
German officials say 11,000 asylum seekers arrived in the country on Saturday, with another 10,000 expected on Sunday
114 migrants have been rescued from a fishing boat off Cyprus - Syrians bound for Greece
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said Britain "needs to do even more" to help Syrian refugees
David Miliband, a former British foreign minister who now heads the New York-based International Rescue Committee, urged the US to take in 65,000 Syrian refugees
After days of confrontation and chaos, Hungary opened its borders with Austria and bussed thousands of migrants to the frontier on Friday.
Many, frustrated at being prevented from boarding trains in Budapest, had begun to walk along a motorway towards Austria.
Many of the migrants had travelled north through the Balkans - Greece, Macedonia and Serbia - before arriving in Hungary.
Hundreds more crossed into southern Hungary from Serbia on Sunday, where they were taken to a processing centre.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Thousands more migrants arrived in Germany by train on Sunday
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Locals have welcomed Latifah al-Dobah and her family to their new home in Germany, as Murad Shishani reports
Germany, Austria, and Hungary have said the decision to allow migrants through is aimed at averting a humanitarian crisis, and will not set a precedent.
"Now, step by step, we must move away from emergency measures to lawful and humane normality," Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann reaffirmed on Sunday.
EU rules requiring refugees to apply for asylum in the first country they land in "are still valid", a German government spokesman said.
However, in August Germany waived the rule on asylum seekers from Syria, allowing them to register in Germany regardless of where they first entered the EU.
Germany expects to take in 800,000 people this year. Syrians are the largest group travelling, followed by Afghans and Eritreans.
At the scene: Matthew Price, BBC News
BBC reporters on Twitter
There is little sign of a co-ordinated EU response to the crisis, despite more than 350,000 migrants having crossed the EU's borders in 2015 alone.
Germany, backed by the European Commission, has been pushing for a quota system for sharing out newcomers between EU member states.
But this has been opposed by several eastern members.
On Saturday, Hungary said that while it had temporarily relaxed restrictions on the transit of asylum seekers, it was pressing ahead with plans to tighten border controls and could send troops to its southern frontier if parliament agreed.
A border fence is due to completed by 15 September.
Migrant boy remembered
Image copyright AP Image caption White balloons were released in the memory of Alan and Ghalib
A memorial has been held in Vancouver, Canada for three-year-old Alan Kurdi, his brother Ghalib and mother Rehanna, who drowned trying to reach the Greek island of Kos. The three have family in Canada.
Pictures of Alan's body, washed up on a Turkish beach, prompted widespread anguish.
Members of the Kurdi family were joined by more than 100 people to remember the three Syrians, who died on the journey to Europe after fleeing the conflict in their home country. Canada had earlier rejected an asylum application on behalf of the family.
Tima Kurdi, the boys' aunt, said she was worried about their father Abdullah, who attended the burial for his family in Syria on Friday.
"He's not leaving the graves. He was sleeping the last three days there, on the ground, beside them."
The story of Alan Kurdi's family
A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.
Are you among those trying to reach Austria and Germany? Have you been involved in these events? Email [email protected] with your experience.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: ||||| Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption James Reynolds in Austria: "It wasn't designed to transport human beings"
Hungarian police say they have arrested four people over the discovery of the bodies of 71 migrants, thought to be Syrian, in a lorry in Austria.
Three of those arrested are Bulgarian and one is Afghan.
The victims included 59 men, eight women and four children who are thought to have been dead for about two days.
The decomposing bodies were discovered by Austrian police on Thursday morning in the abandoned lorry, near the Hungarian border.
Officials said the victims probably died after suffocating in the vehicle.
The lorry was towed to a customs building with refrigeration facilities where forensic teams worked through the night to examine the bodies.
The people are thought to have been dead when the vehicle crossed into Austria from Hungary. Among the victims was a girl aged between one and two years old.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The rules governing immigration to the EU - explained in 90 seconds
Analysis from the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna
The headline in Austria's Kurier newspaper is stark: "Who will stop this madness? Refugee tragedy on the eastern motorway".
This double-edged response to the lorry deaths reflects the feelings of many here in Austria, a country of 8.5 million which has seen a big increase in people requesting asylum, with 80,000 claims expected this year.
Its main asylum centre, at Traiskirchen, is so overcrowded that hundreds of people have been forced to sleep outside there for weeks. Amnesty International recently said conditions there were "shameful".
Many people are volunteering to help refugees. But others say the flow of migrants must be stopped. Far-right parties say there are too many foreigners in Austria already and are calling for the re-introduction of border controls.
The government says it does not want that - but it says this problem cannot be solved individually. It says Europe has to share the burden of looking after the refugees and migrants who arrive here every day.
What we know about Austria lorry find
'Migrants', 'refugees' or 'aliens'?
The Turkish city where migrants buy supplies
Migrants' perilous route to Germany
The local Austrian police chief said a travel document found on the vehicle suggested that the group were Syrian migrants.
"Our preliminary assumption is of course that they were refugees, possibly a group of Syrian refugees," Hans Peter Doskozil, Burgenland province police chief, told reporters.
The vehicle had the branding of a Slovakian poultry company, Hyza, on it but the firm said it no longer owned the vehicle.
Mr Doskozil said it was unusual for people smugglers to use a refrigerated vehicle.
"In our preliminary investigation we found that there was no ventilation possible through the sides of the lorry," he said, adding that the victims had probably suffocated.
Hungarian police said in a statement (in Hungarian) that they had "conducted house searches... and questioned almost 20 people as witnesses".
Mr Doskozil said one of the Bulgarians arrested is assumed to be the vehicle's owner, while it is "highly likely" the other two are "the ones who drove the vehicle".
He said there was "an indication we are talking about a Bulgarian-Hungarian human trafficking operation".
"If you look at the organisation of people traffickers, these are the lowest two levels of a criminal organisation," he added.
No details have been given about the Afghan detainee.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Police were alerted after fluid was seen leaking from the vehicle
The lorry, which has Hungarian number plates, is understood to have left Budapest on Wednesday morning.
It is believed to have been parked in the lay-by between Neusiedl and Parndorf for at least 24 hours before police discovered the bodies.
Tens of thousands of migrants from conflict-hit states in the Middle East and Africa have been trying to make their way to Europe in recent months.
Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner said on Friday that "the best solution is to find legal ways to Europe" instead of relying solely on "more border checks".
A record number of 107,500 migrants crossed the EU's borders last month.
Some of them pay large sums of money to people smugglers to get them through borders illegally.
Meanwhile, migrants continue to die as they try to reach Europe via the central Mediterranean route.
Hundreds of people are feared to have died after two vessels carrying migrants sank off the coast of Libya on Thursday.
Have you been affected by this story? If you wish to contact BBC News, you can do so by emailing [email protected]
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: ||||| VIENNA/MUNICH Austria said on Sunday it planned to end emergency measures that have allowed thousands of refugees stranded in Hungary into Austria and Germany since Saturday and move step by step "towards normality".
Austria had suspended its random border checks after photographs of a Syrian toddler lying dead on a Turkish beach showed Europeans the horror faced by those desperate enough to travel illegally into the heart of Europe, which is deeply divided over how to cope.
After 71 people suffocated in the back of a truck abandoned on an Austrian highway en route from Hungary, and as thousands headed from Budapest towards Austria on foot, Vienna had agreed with Germany to waive rules requiring refugees to register an asylum claim in the first EU country they reach.
Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann said that decision was being revised following "intensive talks" with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and a telephone call with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, bitterly opposed to the waiver.
"We have always said this is an emergency situation in which we must act quickly and humanely. We have helped more than 12,000 people in an acute situation," Faymann said.
"Now we have to move step by step away from emergency measures towards normality, in conformity with the law and dignity."
Hungary laid on over 100 buses to the border on Saturday night after Austria said it had agreed to the emergency measures, to the relief of thousands of migrants and refugees stranded in Budapest after traveling through the Balkans and Greece, many of them fleeing civil war in Syria.
Others set off from a station to make the 170-km (110-mile) journey on foot. A platforms filled up again on Sunday.
Germany has said it expects to receive 800,000 refugees and migrants this year, and urged other EU members to open their doors. It decided to free up additional three billion euros ($3.35 billion) for federal states and municipalities to help cope with the influx, a joint statement by the ruling coalition said.
'IT'S GETTING TIGHT'
At the station in Munich, state capital of Bavaria, a few dozen well-wishers turned up to cheer the new arrivals. Those who stopped to speak told of weeks of arduous travel by land and sea. Some seemed intimidated by the welcoming applause.
The president of the Upper Bavarian government, Christoph Hillenbrand, said he expected 13,000 migrants to reach the city on Sunday, up from a previous estimate of 11,000, following 6,800 arrivals on Saturday. Hillenbrand, adding that 11,000 could arrive on Monday, said Munich was running out of capacity.
Authorities there were using a disused car showroom and a railway logistics center as makeshift camps, and were adding a further 1,000 beds to 2,300 already set up at the city’s international trade fair ground. About 4,000 people were sent to other German states.
“It’s getting tight,” Hillenbrand told reporters at the train station.
Merkel's decision to allow the influx has caused a rift in her conservative bloc, with her Bavarian allies saying she had pushed ahead without consulting the federal state administrations dealing with the problem on the ground.
The political rift is greater across Europe, with Hungary's Orban accusing Berlin of encouraging the influx.
“As long as Austria and Germany don't say clearly that they won’t take in any more migrants, several million new immigrants will come to Europe," he told Austrian broadcaster ORF.
Orban has portrayed the crisis as a defense of Europe's prosperity, identity and "Christian values" against a tide of mainly Muslim migrants. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused Germany of looking to lower wages and hire "slaves".
Hungary, the main entry point for migrants into Europe's borderless Schengen zone, plans to seal its southern frontier with a new, high fence by Sept. 15.
The United States came under pressure to do more to help. David Miliband, head of the International Rescue Committee and a former British foreign secretary, called on Washington to bring out "the kind of leadership America has shown on these kind of issues" in the past.
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a call by opposition leader Isaac Herzog to give refuge to Syrian refugees, saying the country was too small to take them in.
Gulf states Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have come under criticism for officially taking in zero refugees.
Some EU states say the focus should be on tackling the violence in the Middle East that has caused so many to flee.
British Prime Minister David Cameron wants to hold a vote in parliament in early October to allow it to join air strikes by a U.S.-led coalition on Islamic State in Syria, London's Sunday Times said, and Le Monde reported that France was also considering joining.
SYMPATHY
In Budapest's Keleti station, migrants and refugees followed handwritten signs in Arabic directing them to trains to Hegyeshalom on the Austrian border, and volunteers handed out food and clothing.
On the frontier, long lines of people, many wrapped in blankets or sleeping bags and carrying sleeping children, got off buses on the Hungarian side and walked across into Austria.
"We're happy. We'll go to Germany," said a Syrian who gave his name as Mohammed.
But on Hungary's border with Serbia, there were reports that people had spent the night in the rain without food or shelter.
"While Europe rejoiced in happy images from Austria and Germany yesterday, refugees crossing into Hungary right now see a very different picture - riot police and a cold hard ground to sleep on," Amnesty International researcher Barbora Cernusakova said in a statement.
The numbers in Europe are small compared to the almost 4 million refugees in Syria's neighbors Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan, and Pope Francis called for every European church parish and religious community to take in one migrant family each.
But a poll in the French newspaper Aujourd'hui en France showed 55 percent of French people opposed to softening rules on granting refugee status.
European leaders are due to expand their list of “safe” countries to which migrants looking for a better life but not in fear of life and limb can be returned.
DANGEROUS CROSSING
The flow of people risking the dangerous journey on flimsy boats across the Mediterranean shows no sign of abating, as they flee the four-year-old civil war in Syria that has killed about 250,000 civilians, and wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa.
On the Greek island of Lesbos, about 500 Afghans protesting at lengthy identification procedures scuffled with police. A ferry took 1,744 migrants and refugees to Athens from Lesbos on Sunday and another one with 2,500 on board was expected later in the day, the coast guard said.
A record 50,000 people hit Greek shores in July alone, and were ferried from islands unable to cope to the mainland. There, a government in financial crisis is keen to dispatch them into Macedonia, from where they enter Serbia and then Hungary.
More than 2,000 refugees have died at sea in the Mediterranean so far this year. The Cypriot coast guard on Sunday picked up 114 Syrian refugees who were adrift in a fishing boat.
(Additional reporting by Michael Nienaber in Berlin, Georgina Prodhan in Munich,; Balazs Koranyi in Budapest, Francois Murphy and Angelika Gruber in Vienna,; Sybille de la Hamaide in Paris, Isla Binnie in Rome, Yannis Behrakis at Greek-Macedonian border, and Maayan Lubell in Jeruslaem; Writing by Anna Willard and Robin Pomeroy; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Phil Berlowitz and Nick Macfie) ||||| A member of a forensic team walks in front of a truck in which more than 70 bodies were found, at a customs building with refrigeration facilities in the village of Nickelsdorf, Austria, August 29, 2015.
VIENNA The 71 people found dead in an abandoned refrigeration lorry in Austria had been crammed in, five to a square meter (10 sq ft), police said on Sunday, as initial forensic tests indicated they had suffocated.
A baby girl and three other children were among the dead in truck discovered on Thursday on a highway from the Hungarian border to Vienna, where it had been left 24 hours earlier.
The victims are thought to be refugees from Syria or possibly Afghanistan, part of an huge wave of migrants pushing through Europe that is sorely testing the European Union's ability to cope.
Forensic examiners in Vienna have performed autopsies on 16 of the 71 bodies, said Gerald Pangl, police spokesman in the province of Burgenland where the truck was found.
"We are still awaiting the final report from the forensic team, but it looks like they suffocated."
Police said the vehicle, designed for the transportation of meat products, had no air holes. Technical specialists were still trying to establish whether a cooling unit was operational and had been running at the time of the transport, Pangl said.
Hungarian police said on Sunday they had arrested a fifth suspect, a Bulgarian citizen, in connection with the deaths and under suspicion of human trafficking. Three Bulgarians and one Afghan had already been arrested.
In another incident, two one-year-old babies and a five-year-old child who were found critically ill in the back of a van in Austria on Friday together with 23 other refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have recovered and left hospital, authorities said.
Uwe Wintergerst, head doctor of the paediatric department in Braunau, a town close to the German border near to where the van was stopped, said the children had been traveling for 20 days.
"As a result of a lack of food and drink, they were dehydrated and so we took them in, gave them liquids intravenously," he said. "They were stable enough to be able to make the decision to leave the hospital."
Police said they were unsure of the whereabouts of the two families, but that they had wanted to go to Germany. The Romanian driver of the van was arrested.
Austrian police said they had arrested five men in four separate cases over the past two days in the region bordering Hungary for smuggling a total of 36 people.
(Additional reporting by Marton Dunai in Budapest, Robin Raimund in Braunau and Shadia Nasrallah in Vienna; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky and Robin Pomeroy) | – Amid scenes of chaos in Europe and fresh attempts to seal borders, the people of Iceland have asked if they can do more to help. Some 10,000 people out of a population of 330,000 have as of Monday joined a campaign to urge the government to accept more Syrian refugees—and even offered space in their homes, the Telegraph and AFP report. "I think people have had enough of seeing news stories from the Mediterranean and refugee camps of dying people and they want something done now," says author Bryndis Bjorgvinsdottir, who launched the campaign Sunday after the Icelandic government said it was only able to help 50 refugees. What one resident had to say: "I'm a single mother with a 6-year-old son ... We can take a child in need. ... We have clothes, a bed, toys and everything a child needs. I would of course pay for the airplane ticket." More on the crisis: All trains from the main station in Budapest, Hungary were halted today, the day after thousands of people, including many Syrians fleeing the civil war, were allowed to board trains north to Austria and Germany without the proper documents, the AP reports. When trains from Budapest arrived in Vienna last night, overwhelmed authorities allowed the passengers to disembark and disperse. Thousands of Austrians outside the station carried signs welcoming them and some had brought food for the hungry travelers. "They have been traveling so long and must be very hungry and they have been treated so shabbily,” a social worker tells the New York Times. "We felt we had to do something," she says. "It's a small thing but maybe it will help." Hundreds more people arrived in Germany last night on trains from Budapest last night. The country is the preferred destination of many and chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that the European Union's open-borders agreement could be in danger if other countries fail to take their fair share of refugees, Reuters reports. EU rules state that refugees should register in the first country they arrive in, but this protocol has been widely ignored and Germany says it has now been suspended for those fleeing the Syrian conflict, reports the BBC. (Police say they have found out how 71 people found dead in an abandoned truck in Austria died.) |
Watch as President Obama discusses the remarkable progress today's Census report laid out with the Chairman of his Council of Economic Advisers, Jason Furman.
Today’s report from the Census Bureau shows the remarkable progress that American families have made as the recovery continues to strengthen. Real median household income grew 5.2 percent from 2014 to 2015, the fastest annual growth on record. Income grew for households across the income distribution, with the fastest growth among lower- and middle-income households. The number of people in poverty fell by 3.5 million, leading the poverty rate to fall from 14.8 percent to 13.5 percent, the largest one-year drop since 1968, with even larger improvements for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and children. Meanwhile, the ratio of earnings for women working full-time, full-year to earnings for men working full-time, full-year increased to 80 percent in 2015, the highest on record. Every State has seen declines in its uninsured rate since 2013 as the major coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act have taken effect. Solid employment growth and robust real wage growth so far this year suggest that incomes are continuing to rise in 2016, and, building on the progress shown in today’s Census report, the President will continue to call on Congress to take steps to invest in job creation, wage growth, and equal pay for equal work.
SIX KEY POINTS IN TODAY’S REPORT FROM THE CENSUS BUREAU
1. Real median household income rose by 5.2 percent in 2015, the fastest growth on record. Median household income grew $2,798 to $56,516 in 2015, the first time that annual real income growth exceeded 5 percent since the Census Bureau began reporting data on household income in 1967. Data from 2016 so far point to further strong gains in real household incomes, which depend on employment, nominal wages, and inflation. As of August, total nonfarm job growth has averaged a solid 182,000 jobs a month so far in 2016, and hourly earnings for private-sector workers have increased at an annual rate of 2.8 percent, much faster than the pace of inflation (1.3 percent as of July, the latest data available).
2. The total number of Americans below the poverty line fell by 3.5 million from 2014 to 2015, and the official poverty rate fell to 13.5 percent due to the largest one-year drop since 1968. The poverty rate for children under age 18 fell by 1.4 percentage point (p.p.) from 2014 to 2015, equivalent to more than 1 million children lifted out of poverty. Meanwhile, the poverty rate for those ages 18 to 64 saw its largest one-year decline on record (-1.1 p.p.), and poverty fell 1.1 p.p. for those ages 65 and older. As noted below (see point 5), the official poverty rate does not reflect the full effect of antipoverty policies because it includes only pre-tax income and excludes the direct effect of key policies like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The Supplemental Poverty Measure, which is designed to include the effects of these programs but also takes into the cost of basic needs when setting the poverty threshold, decreased 1.0 percentage point in 2015, from 15.3 percent to 14.3 percent.
3. Households at all income percentiles reported by the Census Bureau saw gains in income, with the largest gains among households at the bottom of the income distribution. While real median household income increased 5.2 percent, gains were even larger in the lower half of the income distribution, ranging from an increase of 5.5 percent for households at the 40th percentile to an increase of nearly 8 percent for households at the 10th percentile. While households at the top half of the income distribution also saw increases, their gains were smaller, with an increase of 2.9 percent in the 90th percentile of household income. 2015 marked the first time real household income grew at all percentiles reported by the Census Bureau since 2006, and real income growth in 2015 was the fastest since 1969 for the 10th, 20th, 40th, 50th, and 60th percentiles. Although the level of income inequality remains high, multiple measures of inequality—including the Gini coefficient, the ratio of the 90th percentile of income to the 10th percentile, and the share of income going to households at the top of the income distribution—fell modestly in 2015 as a result of this pattern of income growth.
4. All racial and ethnic groups saw increases in household incomes and decreases in poverty in 2015. As shown in the chart below, all racial and ethnic groups saw gains in real median household income and reductions in their respective poverty rates. Hispanic Americans saw both the largest gains in median income (6.1 percent), while Black Americans and Hispanic Americans saw the largest reductions in poverty (-2.1 p.p. and -2.2 p.p., respectively). The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which includes the effects of a number of important antipoverty programs (see point 5 below), shows a similar pattern, with all racial and ethnic groups seeing reductions in poverty.
5. In 2015, refundable tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) lifted 4.8 million children out of poverty. The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which includes the effects of a large number of antipoverty programs, is widely acknowledged to measure poverty more accurately than the official measure. Unlike the official poverty measure, the SPM measures post-tax and post-transfer resources, combining earnings with assistance from government programs—including in-kind transfers like food assistance—minus net tax liabilities and necessary expenditures on work, child care, and health care. The measure also bases the poverty line on the cost of meeting basic expenses. Together, in 2015, 9.2 million Americans, including 4.8 million children, were lifted above the poverty line by refundable tax credits, including the EITC and the CTC, illustrating their critical importance to the social safety net. Additionally, research has shown that helping low-income working families through the EITC and CTC not only reduces poverty, but also has positive longer-term effects on children, including improved health, educational outcomes, and labor force participation and earnings in adulthood. Expansions to the EITC and CTC signed into law by President Obama as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 lifted 1.0 million children out of poverty in 2013 according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; these provisions were made permanent under the bipartisan agreement at the end of 2015. The President’s Fiscal Year 2017 Budget includes a number of provisions to further strengthen tax credits for working families, including an expansion of the EITC to workers without qualifying children. (Note that some of these estimates rely on survey data, which research has shown tend to underreport household use of certain programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, leading to underestimates of the poverty-reducing effects of these programs.)
6. In 2015, the share of people without health insurance declined in almost every State, and all States have seen gains since 2013, reflecting continued progress under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Today’s new data from the American Community Survey (ACS) show that 49 States and the District of Columbia saw their uninsured rates decline in 2015. The uninsured rate has fallen in every State (as well as in the District of Columbia) since 2013. While the ACS is not the first survey to report estimates of State-level insurance coverage in 2015, the survey’s extremely large sample size allows it to provide particularly reliable estimates.
While all States have seen increases in insurance coverage since the ACA’s major coverage provisions took effect in the beginning of 2014, the extent of those gains have varied widely by State. Notably, States that have expanded Medicaid under the ACA have seen larger coverage gains on average, particularly if they started with a larger uninsured population. If Medicaid non-expansion States had seen coverage gains comparable to those seen by Medicaid expansion states with similar uninsured rates, the uninsured rate in these states would have been nearly 3 percentage points lower in 2015, increasing the magnitude of these states’ coverage gains since 2013 by almost two-thirds.
Today’s Census release also included an estimate of the national change in the uninsured rate based on the Current Population Survey (CPS). According to the CPS, the national uninsured rate dropped by 1.3 percentage points from 10.4 percent in 2014 to 9.1 percent in 2015, bringing the cumulative gain since 2013 to 4.3 percentage points. The new data from the CPS are broadly consistent with evidence from other Federal and private surveys showing that coverage gains continued during 2015; those surveys show that gains have continued into early 2016. The cumulative coverage gains since 2013 have put the uninsured rate at its lowest level ever.
Sandra Black is a Member of the Council of Economic Advisers.
Matt Fiedler is Chief Economist of the Council of Economic Advisers. ||||| CLOSE Nearly 70 percent of millennials in a study reported being anxious over their income. Buzz60's Angeli Kakade (@angelikakade) has the details. Buzz60
(Photo: Getty Images)
Americans notched solid financial gains in 2016 for a second straight year as household incomes rose, poverty fell and fewer people went without health insurance, signaling an end to the stagnation that had lingered since the Great Recession.
The median U.S. household income climbed 3.2% to $59,039, the Census Bureau said Tuesday. That followed growth of 5.2% in 2015, the largest on records dating to 1968. The combined increase over the past two years is the biggest such rise since the 1960s.
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"Real median household income has finally completed its nine-year slog of digging out of the ditch," says IHS Markit economist Chris Christopher.
The median, inflation-adjusted income of $59,000 last year surpassed the level in 1999 as the highest on record, but Census officials discouraged that comparison because the method for measuring income changed in 2014.
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The number of Americans living in poverty fell to 40.6 million from 43.1 million, lowering the poverty rate to 12.7% from 13.5% and placing it just marginally above the prerecession level.
John Bouman, president of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, called the decline "welcome," but added, "Poverty remains a persistent problem in this country, afflicting tens of millions of people."
The number of people without health insurance declined by 900,000 to 28.1 million. The share of Americans without coverage dipped to 8.8% from 9.1% the prior year.
The report underscores that in the final two years of the Obama administration, low- and middle-income Americans made noticeable progress after struggling in the early years of the economic recovery.
Arguing that former President Obama had left working Americans behind, President Trump in his campaign appealed to a base of blue-collar households with an agenda centered on tax cuts and a get-tough trade policy aimed at reclaiming manufacturing jobs. But Trump also has proposed cutting federal assistance for low-income households and rolling back the Affordable Care Act, which has provided health insurance to millions more Americans.
"Tuesday’s Census report comes as the president and congressional Republicans are advancing a cruel policy agenda that would decimate key anti-poverty programs, like federal food assistance and refundable tax credits," Bouman says. "If those proposals become law, they would undermine the quality of life and chances at upward mobility of millions of struggling Americans."
But Michael Tanner, senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute, says federal aid programs "are making poverty less miserable but they're not enabling people to rise above poverty."
While incomes rose last year, that's chiefly because the economy added 2.2 million full-time workers, says economist Elise Gould of the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. Median, inflation-adjusted earnings largely tread water. The Census Bureau’s income measure also includes bonuses, Social Security, public assistance payments, and interest and dividends from investments, among other sources.
Incomes climbed higher for Americans at every level, but the gains were sharpest for those at the top. Income increased 2.6% for the bottom fifth of earners, 4.4% for the next lowest group and 2.8% for middle-income households. Those in the top fifth saw incomes increase 4.4%, and the top 5% realized a 5.6% gain.
As a result, the share of all income going to middle-class Americans sank to the lowest on record, widening the wealth gap, notes Jared Bernstein, who was Vice President Biden's economic adviser and is a senior fellow for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
"in the near-term, inequality continues to grow," he says.
Women earned 80% of male pay on average last year, up nearly a percentage point and the first statistically significant increase since 2007.
Advances in pay were broad-based across racial groups. The median income for whites increased by 2% to $65,000; for blacks, by 5.7% to $39,500; and for Hispanics by 4.3% to $47,700. Incomes were virtually unchanged for Asian households, but they were the highest at $81,400.
"The solid economy is helping to close the racial gap," Bernstein says. The tight labor market is prodding employers to hire lower-skilled and disadvantaged workers who had been left on the sidelines.
Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2y28ugf | – By at least one measure, the great recession that started in December 2007 was officially recovered from by the time President Obama left office, the New York Times reports. According to Census Bureau figures released Tuesday, the median household income in America in 2016 was $59,039—an increase of 3.2%. That puts the median household income above where it was in 2007 before the recession hit. "Real median household income has finally completed its nine-year slog of digging out of the ditch," one economist tells USA Today. And the Washington Post reports last year's median household income was the highest on record—beating out the previous high set in 1999. However, the Census Bureau changed its methodology in 2014, so the record isn't definitive. Median household income is one of the most important signs of how the middle class is doing, and the Census report shows good progress by low- and middle-income Americans in the final two years of the Obama administration. The Census attributes the gains in 2016 to a lot of Americans finding full-time or better-paying jobs. Also in 2016, the number of Americans living in poverty dropped from 43.1 million in 2015 to 40.6 million. However, inequality remains a problem. The median income for white households in 2016 was about $65,000; it was $39,500 for black households. Meanwhile, Asian households had a median income of $81,400 and Hispanic households of $47,700. |
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Tesla Inc co-founder Elon Musk and Mexico’s tequila producers could be headed for a collision after the agave-based drink’s industry group opposed the flamboyant billionaire’s efforts to trademark an alcoholic drink dubbed “Teslaquila.”
One of the world’s richest people and chief executive of Tesla (TSLA.O), Musk is known for ambitious and cutting-edge projects ranging from auto electrification and rocket-building to high-speed transit tunnels.
Now it seems that Musk could be setting his sights on disrupting the multibillion-dollar tequila industry.
On Oct. 12, he tweeted “Teslaquila coming soon” and an accompanying “visual approximation” of a red and white label with the Tesla logo and a caption that stated “100 percent Puro de Agave.”
Not so fast, said Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT). It argued that the “name ‘Teslaquila’ evokes the word Tequila ... (and) Tequila is a protected word.”
The CRT keeps tabs on producers to assure they adhere to strict denomination of origin rules, which dictate the spirit must be made in the Mexican states of Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit or Tamaulipas, among other requirements.
According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website, Tesla has filed an application to trademark “Teslaquila” as a “distilled agave liquor” and “distilled blue agave liquor.” Similar applications have been filed in Mexico, the European Union and Jamaica.
“If it wants to make Teslaquila viable as a tequila it would have to associate itself with an authorized tequila producer, comply with certain standards and request authorization from Mexico’s Industrial Property Institute,” said the CRT in a statement.
“Otherwise it would be making unauthorized use of the denomination of origin for tequila,” it said, adding that the proposed name “Teslaquila” could make consumers confuse the drink with tequila.
Tesla did not respond to several requests for comment.
Other high-profile celebrities have cashed in on tequila’s new-found international appeal, as the sprit moves into the ranks of top-shelf liquors and sheds its image as a fiery booze drunk by desperadoes and frat boys.
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Last year, Diageo Plc (DGE.L) bought actor George Clooney’s high-end tequila brand Casamigos for up to $1 billion.
Other recent deals in the industry include Bacardi Ltd’s BACLTD.UL January deal to buy fine tequila maker Patron Spirits International for $5.1 billion.
After years of speculation, Mexico’s Beckmann family launched an initial public offering of Jose Cuervo (CUERVO.MX) in 2017, raising more than $900 million. ||||| Last month Tesla filed for a trademark on “Teslaquila,” a “distilled agave liquor” that mercurial CEO Elon Musk had joked about back in April. “Teslaquila coming soon,” Musk tweeted on October 12th, along with a picture of a label bearing the phrase, “100% puro de agave.”
The thing is, you can’t just go ahead and produce tequila — the spirit is only supposed to be made in Mexico, and its production and name are tightly-controlled by that country’s Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT). So, naturally, the council is not pleased about Tesla’s new, pun-laden product.
According to a Wednesday Reuters report, the CRT has issued a statement arguing that “Teslaquila” is meant to make people think of tequila, and “tequila” is a protected word that can’t be deployed by just anyone.
“If it wants to make Teslaquila viable as a tequila it would have to associate itself with an authorized tequila producer, comply with certain standards and request authorization from Mexico’s Industrial Property Institute,” the council grumbled. “Otherwise it would be making unauthorized use of the denomination of origin for tequila.”
Denomination of origin is a serious business for many countries, the U.S. included (Tennessee whiskey can only come from that state,) and it is most frequently applied in cases of booze and cheese. This protectiveness is particularly acute in Europe, whose trade deals mandate that feta cheese can only come from Greece, champagne can only come from that region of France, and so on.
If Tesla goes ahead with its tequila plans without the Mexican authorities’ approval — and it has applied for the Teslaquila trademark in that country too — then it may find itself being sued by the Mexican government. | – Elon Musk could be in for another fight, this one over tequila. The Tesla co-founder recently announced his intentions to get into the booze business by launching "Teslaquila," a distilled agave liquor. But Mexico's Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) is opposing Tesla's application to trademark "Teslaquila," arguing that the word is too close to the word "tequila," which is a protected word. Denomination of origin rules stipulate that tequila has to be made in the Mexican states of Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit or Tamaulipas, and dictates other requirements as well, Reuters reports. If Tesla "wants to make Teslaquila viable as a tequila it would have to associate itself with an authorized tequila producer, comply with certain standards and request authorization from Mexico’s Industrial Property Institute," CRT says in a statement. "Otherwise it would be making unauthorized use of the denomination of origin for tequila," and customers might confuse it with actual tequila. Fortune notes similar rules are in place for champagne (which must come from the Champagne region in France), feta cheese (which must come from Greece), and other food and drink products. (Oprah's favorite tequila is expensive—very expensive.) |
(CNN) -- A little girl whose Christmas wish inspired thousands of people to sing in the streets died overnight.
Laney Brown, 8, suffered from leukemia.
"Our little angel on earth earned her pink glittery angel wings in heaven," a post on an official Facebook page about her said. "She took her last breath at home in her bed at 3:10 surrounded by all her family and friends. I miss her so much already."
Delaney Brown of West Reading, Pennsylvania, "inspired a community and touched hearts across the world," as CNN affiliate WFMZ put it.
She loved music and dancing.
Her dying wishes were to meet country music superstar Taylor Swift and for some people to come by her house for a night of caroling.
On Friday -- her birthday -- Laney and Swift video-chatted through FaceTime, a software application that allows callers to see each other on Apple products.
Then, Saturday night, the singers came. At first it was hundreds of people, then thousands. Then it was about 10,000, CNN affiliate WFMZ reported.
She was too weak to go to the window, but heard the wonderful music.
"I can hear you now!!! Love you!" she said in a Facebook post that showed a photo of her lying in bed with a breathing mask -- and two thumbs up.
Laney was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia seven months ago. Last week doctors told her family that she had 70% cancer cells in her blood. She came home from the hospital Thursday.
The Christmas carol celebration outside her home attracted people from all over. Her dance team was there to honor her. Even Santa showed up.
Many of the singers held back tears.
"I can't even express how I feel," Krysta Rebe, who has a daughter Laney's age, told WFMZ.
It was only an hour of singing, but it lifted the spirits of everyone who jammed the block.
"As much as I want that miracle to be saving the life of an 8-year-old little girl, Laney, the miracle was an 8-year-old little girl teaching an entire community, town, city and the whole country the true meaning of Christmas," one participant, Marianne Franken, wrote on Facebook."
On Wednesday, thousands of people liked and commented on the Facebook post announcing the little girl's death.
"I do not cry for Laney, who lives on in peace and happiness with our Lord," wrote Cornell Stornbergh. "I mourn for us, who now have to live in a world without her." ||||| WEST READING, Pa. -
Laney Brown lost her struggle with a rare form of cancer early Christmas morning. Well wishes and messages of support for the little girl and her family poured in from around the world during her last days.
Delaney "Laney" Brown, the eight-year-old girl from West Reading, Pennsylvania who inspired a community and touched hearts across the world, has passed away quietly with her loving family by her side.
At this time, her family respectfully requests privacy to celebrate their daughter’s life and to mourn her loss.
Family spokesperson, Christopher Winters released this statement from the family" "We are devastated by the loss of our Laney. She was our angel. We will miss her smile, her laughter, and the way she would light up any room she was in. We are eternally grateful for all of the love kindness, prayers and support that we have received from people across the world. You will never know how meaningful it was for all of you to rally around Laney. Laney was a wonderful, kind, and loving child, who brought so much joy to our lives. Even as her illness progressed, Laney never stopped having faith, she continued to smile in spite of her pain, and she showed more concern for all of us than for herself. We will miss her every day of our lives and the void she’s left will never be filled. Our sincerest thanks for all that each of you have done. Your prayers and well wishes gave both Laney and us great comfort as we made our way through this very difficult time. We know Laney is in heaven and watching over all of us."
Funeral services for Laney will be at the convenience of the family.
A statement posted on the Team Laney Facebook page Wednesday morning said, "Our little angel on earth earned her pink glittery angel wings in heaven. She took her last breath at home in her bed at 3:10 surrounded by all her family and friends."
The Facebook page has garnered more than 117,000 "likes," most of them since news of Laney's dire prognosis began to spread across the country and around the world last week.
Doctors had given given Laney, who was diagnosed in May with high-risk AML leukemia, only days to live, prompting an outpouring of support and prayers for the family from people in Berks County and far beyond.
Nearly 10,000 people helped to fulfill one of Laney's dying wishes by gathering on the streets of West Reading on Saturday to sing Christmas carols, demonstrating the true spirit of the holiday season.
Those who couldn't be there have been showing their support on the Team Laney Facebook page.
"Prayers from the Hogan family in Anchorage, Alaska," wrote Tootsie Hogan.
"I've heard of you on local news in my country [Chile] and I couldn't help when a tear come out of my eye," wrote Emanuel Jaime Figueroa Cutipa. "Yours is a great courage and love story. My baby will know about your and your family for sure."
"A little prayer for you from Taiwan," wrote Uongu Teneoana. "Merry Christmas, Laney."
The family has asked for privacy so that it may enjoy its time with Laney.
Anyone wishing to donate money to the Laney's medical expenses may do so on her designated fundraising website. | – A Pennsylvania girl who inspired thousands of Christmas carolers to sing for her over the weekend died of leukemia this morning, reports WFMZ. Laney Brown, 8, had a Christmas wish to hear carolers, prompting an estimated 10,000 people to cram onto her street in West Reading on Saturday night. She couldn't make it outside, but her family posted a photo of her with two thumbs up. The night before, she talked via video with her idol Taylor Swift, another of her wishes, notes CNN. "She took her last breath at home in her bed at 3:10 surrounded by all her family and friends," says a post today on her Facebook page. "I miss her so much already." |
06:40
Colombia is just waking up to the news of the Nobel peace prize for President Juan Manuel Santos. It comes as a surprise for many Colombians who believed his chances had been scuttled by the rejection of the peace deal his government had hammered out with Farc rebels after four years of talks in a referendum on 2 October.
According to Kristian Herbolzheimer, of peace consultancy Conciliation Resources, given the “toxic dynamic” of local politics after the referendum, the prize’s consequences domestically are “unpredictable”.
Critics of Santos had derided the president for allegedly being motivated by winning the Nobel prize in his search for peace in Colombia. Last night someone who voted no in the plebiscite told me she was happy because the result of the vote meant Santos wouldn’t get the prize.
Carlos Holmes Trujillo, a member of the opposition Democratic Centre party and the committee designated to search for a way out of the crisis, told local radio that the prize is “a well-deserved recognition by the international community of the efforts he has been making for peace”.
The former president Álvaro Uribe, who campaigned vehemently against the peace deal with the Farc and has been a constant critic of Santos, has been tweeting since 5am (11am UK time) but has made no mention of the peace prize for his arch-rival. Also no reaction yet from Farc leadership who are in Havana.
César Rodriguez Garavito, the director of Dejusticia, a Colombian thinktank, says the Nobel prize will boost efforts to reach a new peace deal. Those who led the campaign for rejecting the peace accord in last week’s referendum are in talks with the government to make changes to the agreement that will make it more palatable to the half of Colombian voters who rejected it.
“It doesn’t change the results of the plebiscite, but it reminds the parties that what is at stake is the end of the war, not political calculations,” said Garavito. “It’s a recognition of the titanic efforts to reach peace.” | – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has won this year's Nobel Peace Prize for what the Nobel Committee calls "his resolute efforts to bring the country's more than 50-year-long civil war to an end," the AP reports. Santos and Rodrigo Londono, leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia left-wing rebel group, signed a historic deal late last month to end a 52-year conflict that had killed more than 220,000 people—only for voters to reject the deal in a shock referendum result the following week. A Nobel Committee spokeswoman said that despite the rejection, Santos "brought the bloody conflict significantly closer to a peaceful solution," and the committee hopes the prize will help give him the strength to keep striving for peace. The Syrian White Helmets, volunteer rescue workers who operate in rebel-held areas of Syria, had been considered the favorite to win the prize, the Guardian reports. "Congratulations to the people and President of Columbia. We sincerely wish them peace," the group tweeted. |
Through October, 45 people had been killed by law enforcement officers in Utah since 2010, accounting for 15 percent of all homicides during that period.
A Salt Lake Tribune review of nearly 300 homicides, using media reports, state crime statistics, medical-examiner records and court records, shows that use of force by police is the second-most common circumstance under which Utahns kill each other, surpassed only by intimate partner violence.
Saturday's shooting, which occurred after an officer responded to a trespassing call, remains under investigation.
Nearly all of the fatal shootings by police have been deemed by county prosecutors to be justified. Only one — the 2012 shooting of Danielle Willard by West Valley City police — was deemed unjustified, and the subsequent criminal charge was thrown out last month by a judge.
Does that mean such deaths should be treated as the inevitable cost of keeping police and the public safe?
"Police are trained and expected to react to deadly threats. As many deadly threats emerge is the exact amount of times police will respond," wrote Ian Adams, a West Jordan police officer and spokesman for the Utah Fraternal Order of Police. "The onus is on the person being arrested to stop trying to assault and kill police officers and the innocent public. … Why do some in society continue to insist the problem lies with police officers?"
But Robert Wadman, a criminal justice professor at Weber State University and former chief of the Omaha, Neb., police department, said the factors leading up to the decision to shoot a subject are more subtle than what prosecutors consider when reviewing the legal justification. Under Utah law, an officer is justified if at the moment of the shooting the officer reasonably believes deadly force is necessary to prevent death or serious injury.
"Sometimes the line between is it legal and is it necessary becomes difficult to distinguish," Wadman said. "In the judgment of the officer, 'Is my life in jeopardy? Yes.' At that point in time, they're legally grounded in using deadly force. But the question is, is it necessary? That's something that needs to be firmly addressed, for example, in training."
—
'Officers may use any force available'
The Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) division of the Utah Department of Safety oversees, directly or indirectly, the basic training of all police recruits in Utah. At its four-month academy, cadets are introduced to the use-of-force continuum, a diagram showing officer force options — simply showing up at the scene; verbal commands, touching or holding a subject, pepper spray, police dogs, baton, Taser, or deadly force — arrayed in a circle for the officer's selection.
"Officers may use any force available provided they can justify the reasonableness of force used," the manual states.
Adams maintains that officers in Utah typically use less force than may be justified. ||||| SALT LAKE CITY -- A Utah prosecutor this week determined police were legally justified in the deadly shooting of a black man in August that was captured on body camera video, enraging anti-police brutality groups and the family of the man who was fatally shot.
While one video appears to show the victim, Patrick Harmon, 50, shot from behind as he ran from police, a slowed-down version shows he pivoted toward officers with a knife, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said Friday.
Officer Clinton Fox told investigators Harmon threatened to stab him before he fired the fatal shots. Body camera video shows Fox shot Harmon at close range after Fox yells, "I'll f....ing shoot you."
Harmon's family said the video proves that he was "murdered."
"They just murdered him flat out," Alisha Shaw, Harmon's niece, told The Guardian. "They are lying. There is no way they were threatened by anything. He was only trying to get away."
Lex Scott, an organizer with Black Lives Matter in Utah, said the community is livid over the footage and wants the district attorney to resign. The Harmon family, which lives in Colorado and St. Louis, is "shell shocked," Scott said.
"You can't watch that video and not realize it is a clear case of murder," Scott said. "It is one of the clearest cases of murder we've ever seen."
African Americans make up about 2 percent of the population in Utah yet are over-represented in the criminal justice system, Scott said.
About 50 protesters rallied in front of Salt Lake City police building last weekend, including members of Harmon's family, demanding police release the footage. They did that this week after Gill's ruling.
The shooting comes amid an intense debate throughout the United States about race and policing following the fatal shooting of many black victims.
In 2014, police in Saratoga Springs, Utah, shot and killed Darrien Hunt, 22, after receiving reports of a man with a samurai sword. The Utah County attorney's office ruled the two officers involved were justified in shooting Hunt because they feared for their lives and the lives of others.
Hunt's family said the shooting was racially motivated. Hunt was black; the officers who shot him were white. He was wielding the sword as part of a Japanese anime costume.
Harmon was shot and killed on Aug. 13, after an officer saw him ride his bicycle across all six lanes of traffic and a median on a downtown Salt Lake City street.
He was stopped because he didn't have a required red rear tail light on his bicycle, according to the district attorney's report. Police say that Harmon gave "a couple" of different names and eventually they found warrants for felonies including aggravated assault.
As they put him in handcuffs, Harmon pleaded with them not to take him to jail.
The video shows a distraught-looking Harmon peacefully putting his hands behind his back, then suddenly breaking into a run. The video from Fox's body camera is difficult to decipher as the officer ran.
Fox said that as he chased him, Harmon suddenly turned and pulled out a knife and threatened to stab him. Neither that statement nor an obviously visible knife are captured on the video. But two other officers at the scene reported hearing Harmon say he would cut or stab the officers and a knife was found near Harmon's body.
"Officer Fox said he was terrified by how close Mr. Harmon was to the officers when Mr. Harmon stopped and turned toward them," the district attorney report on the shooting states. "Officer Fox said that in 10 years of law enforcement and two military deployments, it was the scariest situation he had ever been in."
The report also includes stills from the video and an image of a knife found at the scene.
Gill said that when his investigators slowed down the video, it showed that Harmon was pivoting toward the officer.
Harmon was shot on his side, and a knife was found at the scene, he said.
CBS affiliate KUTV reported that to locate the hip wound, officers cut off Harmon's pants and try to stop the blood flow and said to him several times, "Stay with us."
His office has to decide whether to file criminal charges by weighing whether the officer could reasonably fear being seriously injured or killed, Gill said.
Given the slowed-down version of video from the body camera worn by Fox and a second officer, the knife found at the scene and the relatively close distance between Harmon and Fox, Gill found that fear would have been reasonable, he said.
Gill said he didn't come to that conclusion easily. The first time he saw the video at full speed, he thought, "Oh my god, this isn't right," he said.
"These are not easy decisions. They're difficult decisions. I don't take them lightly, and this was a very trying decision," he said.
Jeanetta Williams, president of the Salt Lake branch of the NAACP, said Friday that the group will follow up with prosecutors to get more information before deciding what action to take.
"He ran, but in the video I didn't see a knife," Williams said. "I just saw him try to run and then they just shot him." ||||| LOGAN, Utah (AP) — Two teenage boys charged with shooting a 14-year-old girl in the back of the head and leaving her wounded in a ditch lured her to the spot in a small Utah town with a plan to rob and kill her, prosecutors said.
The 16-year-old boys set up a meeting by promising to sell her a knife and originally planned to stab her with knives of their own, according to newly filed charging documents. After they arrived, one boy decided instead to use a gun he had brought and shot the girl, prosecutors said Tuesday.
They took $55 from her purse, tossed her backpack in a trash bin and destroyed her cellphone and iPod, prosecutors wrote. The girl is in critical condition in a medically induced coma.
One teen told police that greed made them do it, investigators said.
The girl was reported missing Thursday evening when she didn't return home from school, and she was found early Friday in the dry canal in the town of Smithfield, about 90 miles north of Salt Lake City.
"She is in the fight of her life right now," said a spokeswoman for her family, Jill Parker.
The teen who brought the gun gave the spent shell casing to the other boy when he asked to keep it "as a memento," the charges state. Officers later found it displayed on his bedroom windowsill.
The teen who took the casing home told police that he saw his friend shoot a girl he didn't know, though investigators say text messages between the boys indicate they planned the robbery and shooting together.
The boys were charged with six counts each, including attempted aggravated murder, robbery and obstruction of justice.
The Associated Press is not naming the defendants because they are juveniles. It was not immediately clear if they had attorneys, and no phone numbers were listed in public records for them.
Cache County Attorney James Swink said he wants to try the boys as adults.
"I haven't seen anything like this case in the 18 years I've worked in Cache County," he told reporters. | – Police watchdogs have their antennae up at the latest report coming out of Utah: A Salt Lake Tribune review that pored over 300 homicides in the state has found that the most killings there over the past five years weren't at the hands of child abusers, drug dealers, or even gang members—they were from law enforcement. The report, which analyzed homicides since 2010, reveals that deadly force by police accounted for the second-highest number of homicides in Utah—45 deaths, or 15% of all homicides—with only domestic violence responsible for more. This review comes on the heels of a South Jordan man being shot to death by police over the weekend in a horse corral, the Tribune reports. This year alone there have been 13 homicides involving cops. Of the deadly encounters between police and citizens over the period of the report, county prosecutors considered only one to be "unjustified"—and manslaughter charges against that detective were dismissed in October, the Tribune notes. While the training manual for Utah recruits states, "Officers may use any force available provided they can justify the reasonableness of force used," the ex-chief of police in Omaha notes the nuances, telling the Tribune, "Sometimes the line between 'is it legal and is it necessary' becomes difficult to distinguish." (Deadly force was used in the weekend shooting of a 12-year-old Cleveland boy.) |
The Obama administration said Friday that two more states, Washington and Wisconsin, will be exempted from many requirements of the federal "No Child Left Behind" education law.
The decision brings to 26 the number of states granted waivers as Congress remains at a stalemate regarding an overhaul to former President George W. Bush's signature accomplishment. With more than half of the states now free from many of the law's requirements, there are questions about the future of No Child Left Behind.
The 10-year-old federal No Child Left Behind law requires all students to achieve proficient math and reading scores by 2014, a goal that many educators say is impossible.
The Education Department began granting the waivers in February in exchange for promises from states to improve how they prepare and evaluate students. The executive action by Obama is part of an ongoing effort to act on his own when Congress is rebuffing him.
The administration says the waivers are a temporary measure while Education Secretary Arne Duncan continues to work with Congress to rewrite the law, which is formally known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
"A strong, bipartisan reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act remains the best path forward in education reform, but as 26 states have now demonstrated, our kids can't wait any longer for Congress to act," Duncan said in a statement released Friday.
The 10-year-old federal No Child Left Behind law requires all students to achieve proficient math and reading scores by 2014, a goal that many educators say is impossible.
Members of both parties agree the No Child Left Behind law is broken but have been unable to agree on how to fix it. While it has been praised for focusing on the performance of minorities, low-income students, English language learners and special education students, it has also led to a number of schools being labeled as "failing."
Critics also say the law has had the unintended effect of encouraging instructors to teach to the test and has led schools to narrow their curricula.
Washington state schools chief Randy Dorn said the waiver will lift the requirement that all students pass both the state reading and math tests by 2014. It will also give Washington school districts more flexibility about how they spend some federal dollars.
In return, Washington will need to show improvement in test scores for subgroups of students who have historically had lower scores than average, such as those who qualify for free- or reduced-price meals.
In late May, Wisconsin officials said they were modifying some details of their waiver application and expected approval soon.
The federal Education Department earlier wrote to officials in that state, saying Wisconsin had a number of commendable proposals, but they were too short on detail.
Other waiver applications are still pending in 10 states and the District of Columbia. Six waivers were approved last month in Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, Utah and Virginia.
In order to get a waiver, each state had to promise to show in other ways that its students and schools are improving, and they were required to more closely link teacher evaluations to student test scores, among other requirements.
Washington's waiver application emphasized its embrace of new national education standards, the state's new teacher and principal evaluations, and its efforts to take a broader look at student achievement beyond reading and math by also testing for writing and science.
The waiver agreement requires that by 2018, Washington cut in half achievement gaps between various ethnic and economic groups, when compared with 100 percent passage rates. For example, if one group had 74 percent passing reading in 2011, that group would need to have 87 percent passing by 2018.
The agreement adds another requirement for Title I schools, which are high-poverty public schools that get extra money from the federal government to help students who are behind academically or at risk of falling behind.
It requires the state education office to annually identify priority schools, which are the 5 percent lowest-achieving of Title I schools; focus schools, which are the lowest 10 percent of Title I schools; and reward schools, the highest performing Title I schools or those making the most progress in a given year.
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Contact Donna Blankinship through Twitter at https://twitter.com/dgblankinship. ||||| Story highlights President Barack Obama will sign a new bill overhauling the controversial "No Child Left Behind" law on Thursday
Critics complained the George W. Bush-era law gave too much influence to Washington in controlling education policy
Washington (CNN) The Senate cleared an overhaul of the controversial No Child Left Behind program in a bipartisan vote on Wednesday, sending the measure to President Barack Obama, who will sign it into law, the White House said.
The vote was 85-12.
Critics complained the George W. Bush-era law, which was supported by Republicans and Democrats when it was approved in 2002, gave too much influence to Washington in controlling education policy and that power should be returned to state and local school boards.
"It wasn't long after the law was passed that we realized it was full of flaws," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said shortly before the vote.
Under the new law, named the Every Student Succeeds Act, students still must be tested in reading and math, but state and local officials would have greater leeway in determining how to respond to underachieving schools.
Read More ||||| Update, Dec. 2: The House of Representatives passed the Every Student Succeeds Act by a wide margin (359-64), voting to replace No Child Left Behind. Read our coverage of the House debate here . The Senate is expected to take up the bill Dec. 8 or 9.
Given that K–12 education has occupied all of 30 to 60 seconds of discussion in the 2016 presidential debates so far it’s probably no surprise that big progress on federal education policy isn’t getting a whole lot of media attention. Like it or not, K–12 education isn’t a top-tier political issue like, say, taxes, reproductive rights, gun policy, and so forth. (No matter what some might say.) swing-state polls might say.)
So while public debates over refugee policy and military intervention in the Middle East have been sucking up all the oxygen, to replacing No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Specifically, they announced on Nov. 18 that they’d found a compromise framework that would reduce the federal role in public education without reducing it too much, and give states more room to decide which districts and schools they should focus on for improvement. Even though the framework was approved before Thanksgiving, there’s a lot yet to be done as far as clarifying Congress moved a little closer to replacing No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Specifically, they announced on Nov. 18 that they’d found a compromise framework that would reduce the federal role in public education without reducing it too much, and give states more room to decide which districts and schools they should focus on for improvement. Even though the framework was approved before Thanksgiving, there’s a lot yet to be done as far as clarifying specifically what the bill does . The debate is set to move to the House later this week.
As far as I can tell, it’s a brilliant piece of political posturing … that doesn’t seem likely to provide educational opportunity for underserved kids.
First, here’s a quick reminder of what the law replaces: under NCLB, schools where low percentages of students scored proficient on math and reading assessments receive targeted, escalating interventions to improve students’ scores. The law provides a list of interventions and mandates that states can choose from in correcting these schools’ trajectories.
Now here’s an outline of what the new framework would reportedly do: each state would develop its own accountability system to meaningfully measure, and differentiate between, schools. Each state’s accountability system must incorporate students’ math and reading achievement, though states have considerable sway in determining how much weight these two measures have. States may also incorporate other measures in determining whether schools are succeeding, such as attendance, student engagement, school climate measures, teacher engagement, participation in extracurriculars, and so on.
There’s more! Schools that finish in the bottom 5 percent of their particular system for no more than three years must be identified for improvement. Same goes for dropout factories (schools with a graduation rate below 67 percent). After schools are identified, the state must make their district do something about it, though the framework doesn’t appear to offer any details on just what. Schools with any subgroup of students performing as poorly for a state-determined number of years (1? 4? 13? 25?) as the bottom 5 percent of schools are also identified as in need of improvement. The subgroups include African-American, Hispanic, English Learner, low-income, and/or Asian-American and Pacific Islander students.
So: if a school’s students from any of these groups is performing as poorly as the bottom 5 percent of all schools in the state, the state would then have to make those schools do something new to improve their performance.
Clear? No? Let me put it in other words. A given school has to change how it's operating if the district owns no hotels on Park Place or Boardwalk and its state’s superintendent of schools lost an arm-wrestling match with the U.S. Secretary of Education on a Wednesday when the wind was blowing south and the Cubs still haven't won the World Series. If the Cubs do break their curse, the arm-wrestling then takes place over a fire pit on a day when the wind is blowing west, unless the district lands on Free Parking first, in which case the evaluation is called on account of repeated traveling violations in the paint. Standardized tests are then suspended for all schools in the state that begin with a ‘j’ or are named for former Confederate generals. As long as the shuttlecock hasn’t yet crossed the line of scrimmage.
Makes sense now, right?
What do you mean, “no?”
It's a clear system that serves the political needs of most members of Congress and protects a variety of special interest groups. It combines a thin veneer of civil rights equity with excruciating complexity and uncertain accountability. It takes a relatively simple federal accountability system, removes the teeth, and layers on a bunch of vague responsibilities for states.
What's not to understand? What's not to like? It’s a compromise in a Congress that generally can’t accomplish anything!
But seriously: . They should protest its bizarre, unclear federal accountability mandates. The new rules would require states to design accountability systems that cover much wider terrain than No Child Left Behind’s relatively simple mandates. It would put them under uncertain pressure from the Department of Education, since it leaves much up to federal interpretation. States would be stuck in a dance with whoever happens to be running the Department at any given moment. Conservatives should oppose this bill . They should protest its bizarre, unclear federal accountability mandates. The new rules would require states to design accountability systems that cover much wider terrain than No Child Left Behind’s relatively simple mandates. It would put them under uncertain pressure from the Department of Education, since it leaves much up to federal interpretation. States would be stuck in a dance with whoever happens to be running the Department at any given moment.
Progressives should also run from this bill as if it were a Ted Cruz creation. Because there’s to believe that states are up to this task. In fact, is there any reason to believe that states are willing to design accountability systems that actually require them to focus on schools with lots of underprivileged and underserved kids? Ha. If this were a debate over no reason to believe that states are up to this task. In fact, is there any reason to believe that states are willing to design accountability systems that actually require them to focus on schools with lots of underprivileged and underserved kids? Ha. If this were a debate over clean water protections voting rights protections , or most other policy issues, progressives would line up to yell about how states can’t be trusted to do the right thing without strong federal oversight.
Why are some (so-called) progressives ready to give states more flexibility around educational equity?
And look, should Congress pass a bill based on this framework, President Obama should veto it. This framework gives state and local officials huge latitude (“acres of new running room,” ) to ignore or support their underserved students. Historically, this means that states ignore these kids, particularly students of color. wrote EdWeek’s Alyson Klein ) to ignore or support their underserved students. Historically, this means that states ignore these kids, particularly students of color.
Shoot, Obama should veto it with a neon Sharpie, rip it up, and hold a press conference where he lights the shreds on fire.
“But hey!” you’re thinking, “that’s how you know it’s a good compromise. No one gets what they want! No one likes it!” Yeah, that’s probably true. But, hungry as we might be to get something — anything — done in Congress, we shouldn’t fetishize compromises. Just because a compromise satisfies various political needs (“rebuking” Arne Duncan — whatever that means — or weakening the federal role in education policy, or etc) doesn’t mean that it’s good, workable policy. ||||| In just five months, the Obama administration has freed schools in more than half the nation from central provisions of the No Child Left Behind education law, raising the question of whether the decade-old federal program has been essentially nullified.
On Friday, the Department of Education plans to announce that it has granted waivers releasing two more states, Washington and Wisconsin, from some of the most onerous conditions of the signature Bush-era legislation. With this latest round, 26 states are now relieved from meeting the lofty — and controversial — goal of making all students proficient in reading and mathematics by 2014. Additional waivers are pending in 10 states and the District of Columbia.
“The more waivers there are, the less there really is a law, right?” said Andy Porter, dean of the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.
While No Child Left Behind has been praised for forcing schools to become more accountable for the education of poor and minority children, it has been derided for what some regard as an obsessive focus on test results, which has led to some notorious cheating scandals. Critics have also faulted the law’s system of rating schools, which they say labeled so many of them low performing that it rendered the judgment meaningless.
In exchange for the education waivers, schools and districts must promise to set new targets aimed at preparing students for colleges and careers. They must also tether evaluations of teachers and schools in part to student achievement on standardized tests. The use of tests to judge teacher effectiveness is a departure from No Child Left Behind, which used test scores to rate schools and districts.
Congress has tried and failed repeatedly to reauthorize the education law over the past five years because Democrats and Republicans cannot agree on an appropriate role for the federal government in education. And so, in the heat of an election year, the Obama administration has maneuvered around Congress, using the waivers to advance its own education agenda.
The waivers appear to follow an increasingly deliberate pattern by the administration to circumvent lawmakers, as it did last month when it granted hundreds of thousands of young illegal immigrants a reprieve from deportation. The administration has also unveiled policies to prevent drug shortages, raise fuel economy standards and cut refinancing fees for federally insured mortgages.
Critics question whether the waivers have done much to genuinely shift the focus of federal education reform, given their continued reliance on standardized tests. The waivers “should probably make the meh list,” said Joshua Starr, superintendent of the Montgomery County schools in Maryland, which was granted a waiver in May.
Mr. Starr said he believed that education reform should focus on incentives to help teachers collaborate and help students learn skills that could not simply be measured by tests.
“It is another example to me of how we’re not focused on the right things in the American education conversation today,” Mr. Starr said. “I have a lot of respect for Arne Duncan,” he added, referring to the secretary of education, “but it’s just sort of moving around the chairs on the Titanic.”
Mr. Duncan, in a telephone interview on Thursday, said states that had received waivers, including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, would also use a mix of other indicators to evaluate teachers and schools, like how many students actually enrolled in college or took Advanced Placement exams, as well as reviews of teachers by their peers, their students and their principals.
“You have to look at multiple indicators and multiple measures,” he said. “There’s been historically a push to way oversimplify what is very complex.”
House Republicans have repeatedly protested the Obama administration’s use of waivers as an end-run around Congress.
In a speech to the American Enterprise Institute this year, Representative John Kline, a Minnesota Republican and the chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Work Force, accused the administration of using waivers “in exchange for states adopting the policies he wants them to have.”
But education officials in the states that received waivers expressed relief from the pressure of the looming 2014 deadline.
“There was a general feeling that there were these goals that no one was ever going to meet,” said Kelli Gauthier, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Education. “Now we have standards that are possible.”
Instead of labeling all struggling schools as failing, the waivers direct states to focus most attention on the bottom 5 percent of low-performing schools. “With the waiver we can focus on those schools that really need a lot of help,” said June Atkinson, North Carolina’s state superintendent of public schools. | – Goodbye No Child Left Behind, hello Every Student Succeeds Act. Congress on Thursday overhauled the former into the latter, and President Obama signed it into law, reports CNN. The big talking point out of the bipartisan deal is one summed up by David Kirp in an op-ed at the New York Times: The new act "shifts, for the first time since the Reagan years, the balance of power in education away from Washington and back to the states." And "that’s a welcome about-face" in Kirp's view. He rounds up a litany of teach-to-the-test criticisms about the original Bush-era law, arguing that it's done more harm than good and was long overdue for the scrap heap. "Good riddance." This end-of-an era sentiment is common in coverage, writes Alia Wong at the Atlantic, who cautions that the reform isn't as sweeping as headlines suggest. "For all the breathless hype, the legislation seems unlikely to produce many changes that are actually visible on the ground," writes Wong. For one thing, 42 states already have waivers from the No Child Left Behind requirements deemed the most odious. And while the new act does have promising new elements, including funding to expand access to preschool, Wong thinks that "all the applause and whoops and back-patting" are a little much. The piece concludes with a link to another op-ed by Conor Williams, who calls the new act a "brilliant piece of political posturing" at the74million.org. "It takes a relatively simple federal accountability system, removes the teeth, and layers on a bunch of vague responsibilities for states," he writes. "Just because something is a compromise doesn’t mean that it will do good things for children." Click for the full posts from Kirp, Wong, or Williams. |
Candidates before a Republican presidential debate in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011 / Evan Vucci
CNN, in conjunction with the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation, sponsored the second debate on foreign policy in ten days. Here's our take on the winners and losers from Tuesday night.
WINNERS:
Newt Gingrich
Success begets success. Newt has done well in past debates and it has helped him in the polls. With his polling success, moderators gave him more airtime, which allowed the one-time afterthought and current front-runner to show off his debating skills. He took a risk by going against conservative Republican orthodoxy on immigration, and that could backfire, but overall Gingrich showed that he has been thinking about these issues for decades. And since it was a debate focused on foreign policy, no one asked him about his relationship with mortgage giant Freddie Mac and the $1.6 million he earned, which also helped the former House speaker.
Jon Huntsman
As the former ambassador to both China and Singapore, Tuesday's national security debate was Jon Huntsman's moment to shine. And for the most part, he succeeded: Huntsman, who touted throughout the debate his experience living abroad, presented clear policy positions on Pakistan and Afghanistan - at one point getting into a heated debate with Mitt Romney over the Afghan troop drawdown ?- and even managed to bring the conversation back around to the American economy. Perhaps for the first time in the campaign, the former Utah governor was able to set himself apart from the rest of the GOP crowd.
Ron Paul
This was the Texas lawmaker's strongest debate, getting lots of airtime and challenging many of his rivals about U.S. foreign policy. His views are not in the mainstream of Republican orthodoxy, but he is consistent in his beliefs and not afraid to tell voters what he really thinks. His fundraising numbers could go up in the short-term, based on his debate performance Tuesday night, even if long-term it may be hard for him to broaden his support.
Michele Bachmann
Despite having largely been written off as a major player in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Rep. Michele Bachmann delivered a strong performance in Tuesday's debate, demonstrating her confidence discussing policy issues, and taking her competitors to task when they faltered. In a heated exchange with Rick Perry over providing aid to Pakistan, the Minnesota lawmaker blasted the Texas governor for what she described as his "highly na?ve" take on the issue; later, she sparred with Newt Gingrich for his stance on immigration. Whether or not Bachmann's performance was strong enough to get her back in the game remains to be seen - but she certainly earned more screen time than in recent debates.
Mitt Romney
Romney had one of his worst performances of the 11 debates so far, but he still managed to do fairly well. Romney is a front-runner for a reason: he has been running for president for five years and that practice has paid off for the former Massachusetts governor. Romney skillfully turned questions about foreign policy into answers about domestic issues where he was able to contrast his own positions with those of President Obama, cementing the idea that this race is going to come down to Romney and one other candidate.
Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum is still widely considered a long-shot candidate, but he earned his fair share of airtime in Tuesday's debate. And while the former Pennsylvania senator may not have said much to change how America feels about him - he endorsed racial profiling Muslims and mistakenly referred to Africa as a country - he made his best effort to make his way back onto the public's radar.
LOSERS
Herman Cain
Herman Cain did not have the standout moment he needed to prove to voters he has a command of foreign policy. After surging in the polls, Cain's campaign has lost momentum in recent days, most notably after stumbling over a question regarding Libya. The only memorable moment from Cain in this debate came when he flubbed debate moderator Wolf Blitzer's name, calling the CNN anchor "Blitz."
Rick Perry
The Texas governor took some bold positions during this debate, but his policy stances were vigorously challenged by his colleagues. Perry almost seemed to immediately backtrack on the tough stance he took against foreign aid to Pakistan after Michele Bachmann called his position "naive." Perry was also on the defense when other candidates -- Mitt Romney, Herman Cain and Ron Paul -- said they disagreed with Perry's assertion that the U.S. should consider a no-fly zone over Syria. ||||| The Republican candidates debating Tuesday night can most likely agree on one thing: Foreign policy isn’t going to decide the 2012 presidential race.
But each of the eight debaters will still have something at stake when they take the stage in Washington for the CNN-hosted 11th debate of the year.
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For the candidates atop the polls — Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich — the debate is an opportunity to let voters imagine them in the White House Situation Room as commander-in-chief. For Jon Huntsman, it’s a chance to showcase his diplomatic bona fides.For underdog conservatives, such as Rick Perry, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann, the debate provides an opening to ask Republican voters for another shot at looking presidential.
And for Herman Cain, the second consecutive forum focused on national security and foreign affairs is another chance to outline a position on Libya — perhaps with fewer distractions twirling around in his head.
The fact that the debate is taking place in the shadow of the so-called supercommittee’s collapse, with huge, automatic defense cuts looming in the near future, adds some urgency to the event. As the Republican presidential field prepares for yet another prime-time bout, here are the top five dynamics POLITICO will be watching for:
Can Newt Gingrich perform as a front-runner?
Debate season has been friendly to Gingrich — very, very friendly. The former speaker of the House has gone from a nonfactor in the 2012 race to a leader in the polls chiefly on the strength of his debate performances.
There’s going to be a different standard for Gingrich’s performance now that he’s more than a marginal candidate. And his typical formula of attacking the moderator and disputing the premise of virtually every question may not be enough to sustain his position in the polls.
Gingrich has to do more Tuesday night than entertain a conservative audience; he has to look and sound like a president.
Longtime Gingrich-watchers say that the subject matter of the debate plays to his strengths. With the exception of Huntsman and perhaps the well-studied Romney, Gingrich has simply been immersed in security and foreign policy issues more extensively than any of his opponents.
“If they asked Newt whether he agreed with President Obama on Libya, the 11 minutes would not be stunned silence, but 150 examples of what he would have done differently,” said Rich Galen, the GOP strategist and former Gingrich aide. “I’m not particularly in favor of his candidacy, but this is the kind of thing that he just shines in.”
The greater challenge for Gingrich, said Galen, may be responding to attacks from other candidates in such a way that “he doesn’t look like he’s being disrespectful and swatting away a fly.” | – Tonight’s GOP debate in Washington will focus on foreign policy—though, as Politico notes, “foreign policy isn’t going to decide the 2012 presidential race.” The topic just “isn’t where the interest has been for voters or the media,” a strategist tells the Economic Times. Even so, there will be lots of things to keep an eye on, particularly since we have a new not-Mitt-Romney frontrunner: Newt Gingrich. Gingrich has the most to lose, with the Washington Post noting that he's the fifth contender to top the polls this year. He has performed well in previous debates—in fact, debate performance is largely what resurrected his campaign—but he'll have to live up to a higher standard now that he’s seen as a serious candidate. Longtime observers expect him to do well, since foreign policy is one of his strengths. Mitt Romney has focused on his ability to create jobs; tonight he will have to prove that he is strong enough to compete with a president who oversaw Osama bin Laden’s death, Moammar Gadhafi’s ouster, the Afghanistan surge, and the Iraq draw-down. After his embarrassing Libya gaffe, Herman Cain will have another shot to explain his position—and if he wants to recover, he’ll have to prove he actually knows something about foreign policy. Jon Huntsman, the only candidate with foreign policy experience, could get a chance to shine—but his positions so far haven’t resonated with voters. Will his message—opposition to US foreign entanglements—finally break through tonight? Previous debates have not showcased many policy clashes between candidates—but this time, look for quite a few differences when it comes to how we should deal with Iran’s nuclear program, Pakistan, an Afghanistan withdrawal, waterboarding, and more. The 8pm debate airs live on CNN. Click to see why Gingrich thinks he’s the best debater of the bunch. |
Sia fans are wigging out with over her disappointing concert in Israel last week — enough to sue the pop star for a full refund.
A group of dissatisfied spectators from the Aug. 11 show at Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park filed a class-action lawsuit Monday, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Apparently hearing Sia belt "Cheap Thrills" wasn't enough for attendees, who paid 344 Israeli Sheqels ($91) for tickets. The concertgoers' biggest gripe is the length of the singer's set — a mere 65 minutes.
(By way of comparison, Bon Jovi warbled for over two hours during a show at the same venue last October.)
Sia to headline free concert in support of abortion access
This is a better view of Sia performing than many concert goers at her show last week in Tel Aviv witnessed, according to a class action lawsuit. (ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images)
And the litigious listeners didn't find that time well spent, complaining the singer was about as mobile and engaged as a real chandelier, staying towards the back of the stage.
Sia, who hides her face behind a wig, "never once addressed the crowd, mentioned what it was like to be in Tel Aviv, or bantered in any way," according to the Israeli newspaper's account.
Instead, fans who didn't shell out for the pricey front-row tickets — which afforded a full view of the stage — had to make do with what they could see on the video screens.
The Australian singer and the promoter are facing a $2.1 million suit. (ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images)
The problem, the suit charges, was that they were shown a pre-recorded video featuring Kristen Wiig with Sia instead of the live performance happening on stage.
Internet theory suggests Sia has been kidnapped by Beyoncé
The lawsuit is demanding 8 million Sheqels ($2.1 million) from Sia and Israeli promoter Tandi Productions, the Jerusalem Post reported.
That the Australian pop diva played in the country at all, though, was no simple business transaction. She faced enormous pressure in the past few months from the pro-Palestinian BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement to cancel the show.
Sign up for BREAKING NEWS Emails privacy policy Thanks for subscribing! ||||| Australian pop sensation Sia’s highly anticipated performance in Tel Aviv last week apparently led many concert-goers to feel that the “Cheap Thrills” singer had left them with just that.
On Monday, a number of disappointed crowd members filed a class-action suit against the “Elastic Heart” artist, seeking to compensate all ticket holders for the August 11 concert.
Concert-goers who paid NIS 344 for lawn seats in Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park were dismayed when the entire concert ended after just 65 minutes, an unusually short length for a major production. But that wasn’t the only thing that upset fans, many of whom spent hours getting to the venue, waiting for the show to start, and battling traffic on the way home afterward.During the show, the megatron screens usually devoted to portraying the on-stage performance aired a polished, prerecorded video instead.The footage featured famous actresses such as Kristen Wiig, of Bridesmaids fame, and Gaby Hoffman, from the hit Amazon series Transparent, as dancers, even though they were absent from the actual stage.Although the video was meant to complement what was happening on stage, the sync was imperfect, even as the colors and lighting were vastly superior to the stage show.As a result, the vast majority of concert-goers (with the possible exception of people who shelled out for expensive front-row “golden ring” tickets) experienced in essence a movie screening on the lawn of the Yarkon, complete with live backing vocals from a bewigged Sia and a distant stage show they couldn’t see. Even the live vocals felt impersonal, as the artist never once addressed the crowd, mentioned what it was like to be in Tel Aviv, or bantered in any way.Those downtrodden crowd members also complained that the “Chandelier” artist put on a lackluster show, standing toward the back of the stage throughout the performance while wearing the signature wig that predominantly covered her face.The suit against Sia and Tandi Productions – the firm that brought her to Israel – reportedly calls for a nearly NIS 8 million sum to be paid as nominal reparations to all of the concert’s ticket holders. | – Sia may hide behind her fake bangs when she's performing, but her coif likely won't shield her from the $2.1 million class-action lawsuit just filed against her and an Israeli production company. Disgruntled concertgoers who forked over around $90 for tickets to the Australian singer's Aug. 11 concert in Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park were upset when the concert ended after only 65 minutes—and now want "nominal reparations," as the Jerusalem Post puts it. They may have expected a longer show in that particular venue, as the New York Daily News notes Bon Jovi played in the same park last year for more than two hours. To add impersonal insult to injury, the complaint also alleges Sia didn't interact with the crowd at all and that the large-screen monitors around the park showed a prerecorded video starring Kristen Wiig and Gaby Hoffman instead of what was going on onstage. (People didn't seem too thrilled at what they got out of a class-action complaint against Ticketmaster.) |
The world's longest aircraft - the Airlander 10 - has been damaged after nosediving on landing during its second test flight.
The 302ft (92m) long aircraft - which is part plane and part airship - was damaged during the flight from Cardington Airfield in Bedfordshire.
The £25m craft sustained damage to its cockpit when it hit the ground at about 11:00 BST.
HAV, the developer, said all the crew were "safe and well".
A spokesman said: "The flight went really well and the only issue was when it landed."
Live: For more on this and other stories from Bedfordshire
The company has denied claims from a witness that a line hanging down from the vehicle hit a telegraph pole about two fields away from its landing.
Image copyright sbna Image caption The £25m plane is understood to have sustained damage to its cockpit
In a statement, Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), said: "The Airlander experienced a heavy landing and the front of the flight deck has sustained some damage which is currently being assessed."
The vehicle had just completed its planned 100-minute flight when it nosedived as it came in to land.
"Hybrid Air Vehicles runs a robust set of procedures for flight test activities and investigation of issues," the company added.
"We will be running through these in the days ahead as we continue the development of the Airlander aircraft."
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has confirmed it is investigating the crash, but said it would not be sending a team to the site.
The aircraft had its first test flight from the airfield on 17 August.
Image copyright sbna Image caption Airlander 10 is understood to have suffered damage on its return to Cardington Airfield
Christened the Martha Gwyn, it was first developed for the US government as a surveillance aircraft but the project was shelved amid defence cutbacks.
HAV launched a campaign to return the Airlander 10 to the skies in May 2015. It claims it could be used for a variety of functions such as surveillance, communications, delivering aid and even passenger travel.
It says the huge aircraft will be able to stay airborne for about five days during manned flights.
The company hopes to be building 10 Airlanders a year by 2021.
Airlander 10 in numbers
44,100 lbs (20,000kg): The weight of the airship
20,000ft (6,100m): The altitude it can reach
80 knots (148km/h): Maximum speed
5 days: How long it can stay airborne during manned flights
22,050 lbs (10,000kg): Total payload - the weight the ship is able to carry ||||| Airlander 10, the world's largest aircraft, has crashed during its second test flight.
The huge ship – nicknamed "The Flying Bum" because of its pert, round back – crashed as it landed at its base at Cardington Airfield this morning, at the end of its second attempt to fly. Its official name is the Martha Gwyn – however, it gained notoriety not just because of its huge size but the interesting shape of its back.
"We're debriefing following the second test flight this morning," a spokesperson for the ship's makers, HAV, said. "All crew are safe and well and there are no injuries."
It isn't clear if the ship itself took any damage during the crash.
The ship appears to have run into problems as it was making its way back onto the ground, when it flew into a telegraph pole and began running into problems.
World's largest aircraft takes off
"A line that was hanging down from the plane hit the telegraph pole about two fields away," one eyewitness said. "Then, as it came in to land, it seemed to nose dive and landed on the cockpit, smashing it up."
The 302-foot long ship made its maiden voyage last week.
The ship is on sale for £25 million. The makers hope that it can be sold for a variety of uses – including surveillance, communications and deliveries.
Gadgets and tech news in pictures
+ show all Gadgets and tech news in pictures
1/43 Designed by Pierpaolo Lazzarini from Italian company Jet Capsule. The I.F.O. is fuelled by eight electric engines, which is able to push the flying object to an estimated top speed of about 120mph. Jet Capsule/Cover Images
2/43 A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Images
3/43 A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Images
4/43 Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images
5/43 Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images
6/43 The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images
7/43 Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images
8/43 Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex
9/43 Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex
10/43 A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters
11/43 A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters
12/43 A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex
13/43 A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters
14/43 A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters
15/43 A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty
16/43 A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty
17/43 Electrification Guru Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart talks about the electric Jaguar I-PACE concept SUV before it was unveiled before the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, U.S Reuters
18/43 The Jaguar I-PACE Concept car is the start of a new era for Jaguar. This is a production preview of the Jaguar I-PACE, which will be revealed next year and on the road in 2018 AP
19/43 Japan's On-Art Corp's CEO Kazuya Kanemaru poses with his company's eight metre tall dinosaur-shaped mechanical suit robot 'TRX03' and other robots during a demonstration in Tokyo, Japan Reuters
20/43 Japan's On-Art Corp's eight metre tall dinosaur-shaped mechanical suit robot 'TRX03' Reuters
21/43 Japan's On-Art Corp's eight metre tall dinosaur-shaped mechanical suit robot 'TRX03' performs during its unveiling in Tokyo, Japan Reuters
22/43 Singulato Motors co-founder and CEO Shen Haiyin poses in his company's concept car Tigercar P0 at a workshop in Beijing, China Reuters
23/43 The interior of Singulato Motors' concept car Tigercar P0 at a workshop in Beijing, China Reuters
24/43 Singulato Motors' concept car Tigercar P0 Reuters
25/43 A picture shows Singulato Motors' concept car Tigercar P0 at a workshop in Beijing, China Reuters
26/43 Connected company president Shigeki Tomoyama addresses a press briefing as he elaborates on Toyota's "connected strategy" in Tokyo. The Connected company is a part of seven Toyota in-house companies that was created in April 2016 Getty
27/43 A Toyota Motors employee demonstrates a smartphone app with the company's pocket plug-in hybrid (PHV) service on the cockpit of the latest Prius hybrid vehicle during Toyota's "connected strategy" press briefing in Tokyo Getty
28/43 An exhibitor charges the battery cells of AnyWalker, an ultra-mobile chasis robot which is able to move in any kind of environment during Singapore International Robo Expo Getty
29/43 A robot with a touch-screen information apps stroll down the pavillon at the Singapore International Robo Expo Getty
30/43 An exhibitor demonstrates the AnyWalker, an ultra-mobile chasis robot which is able to move in any kind of environment during Singapore International Robo Expo Getty
31/43 Robotic fishes swim in a water glass tank displayed at the Korea pavillon during Singapore International Robo Expo Getty
32/43 An employee shows a Samsung Electronics' Gear S3 Classic during Korea Electronics Show 2016 in Seoul, South Korea Reuters
33/43 Visitors experience Samsung Electronics' Gear VR during the Korea Electronics Grand Fair at an exhibition hall in Seoul, South Korea Getty
34/43 Amy Rimmer, Research Engineer at Jaguar Land Rover, demonstrates the car manufacturer's Advanced Highway Assist in a Range Rover, which drives the vehicle, overtakes and can detect vehicles in the blind spot, during the first demonstrations of the UK Autodrive Project at HORIBA MIRA Proving Ground in Nuneaton, Warwickshire PA wire
35/43 Chris Burbridge, Autonomous Driving Software Engineer for Tata Motors European Technical Centre, demonstrates the car manufacturer's GLOSA V2X functionality, which is connected to the traffic lights and shares information with the driver, during the first demonstrations of the UK Autodrive Project at HORIBA MIRA Proving Ground in Nuneaton, Warwickshire PA wire
36/43 Ford EEBL Emergency Electronic Brake Lights is demonstrated during the first demonstrations of the UK Autodrive Project at HORIBA MIRA Proving Ground in Nuneaton, Warwickshire PA
37/43 Full-scale model of 'Kibo' on display at the Space Dome exhibition hall of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tsukuba Space Center, in Tsukuba, north-east of Tokyo, Japan EPA
38/43 Miniatures on display at the Space Dome exhibition hall of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tsukuba Space Center, in Tsukuba, north-east of Tokyo, Japan. In its facilities, JAXA develop satellites and analyse their observation data, train astronauts for utilization in the Japanese Experiment Module 'Kibo' of the International Space Station (ISS) and develop launch vehicles EPA
39/43 The robot developed by Seed Solutions sings and dances to the music during the Japan Robot Week 2016 at Tokyo Big Sight. At this biennial event, the participating companies exhibit their latest service robotic technologies and components Getty
40/43 The robot developed by Seed Solutions sings and dances to music during the Japan Robot Week 2016 at Tokyo Big Sight Getty
41/43 Government and industry are working together on a robot-like autopilot system that could eliminate the need for a second human pilot in the cockpit AP
42/43 Aurora Flight Sciences' technicians work on an Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automantion System (ALIAS) device in the firm's Centaur aircraft at Manassas Airport in Manassas, Va. AP
43/43 Flight Simulator Stefan Schwart and Udo Klingenberg preparing a self-built flight simulator to land at Hong Kong airport, from Rostock, Germany EPA
Airlander 10 can carry a ten tonne payload and is supposed to be abel to stay in the air for up to five days. The company hopes to be building ten of them per year by 2021.
The Independent's bitcoin group on Facebook is the best place to follow the latest discussions and developments in cryptocurrency. Join here for the latest on how people are making money – and how they're losing it. | – The world's longest aircraft is likely going to have a similarly lengthy repair bill after a bit of a bumpy landing on Wednesday during its second test flight in the UK, the BBC reports. The $33.1 million, 302-foot-long Airlander 10—officially named the Martha Gywn, but called "the Flying Bum" by some for its "pert, round back," per the Independent—was returning to the Cardington airfield in Bedfordshire when an eyewitness said a line hanging from the plane hit the pole and caused the plane to slow-mo its way into a nosedive, inflicting damage to its cockpit. A rep for manufacturer Hybrid Air Vehicles refutes the pole claim, but says the company is assessing what happened and tells the Independent the crew is safe and no injuries have been reported. (The Airlander had its maiden voyage less than a week ago.) |
Adam Scott is facing growing pressure to sack his caddie Steve Williams after he described Tiger Woods as "that black arsehole".
Williams, who was sacked by Woods earlier this year, made the comment while on stage at a "caddie of the year" awards ceremony on Friday. He later issued an apology to Woods and continued to carry Scott's bag during Saturday's third round at the Shanghai Masters.
It is understood that players, caddies and senior golf figures will ask Scott to consider Williams's position for this week's Australian Open in Sydney – where Woods is also due to play – and the following week's Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.
"It's not an issue for me," Scott said. "I think everything in that room last night was all in good spirits and a bit of fun and I think it probably got taken out of that room in the wrong context. Steve issued a statement and apologised and he did the right thing."
Williams was on stage to receive his award for "celebration of the year" when Scott won the Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio in August, weeks after Woods sacked him. "It was my aim to shove it right up that black arsehole," he said on Friday.
Tiger Woods's agent, Mark Steinberg, said: "I was with Tiger last night when he heard the news. We got multiple calls from people who sounded like they were leaving the caddie party. Tiger obviously wasn't there. He doesn't know exactly what was said. But if multiple reports, which all seem to be accurate, are true, then it's sad it's come down to this. It's a regrettable comment, and there's really nothing that Tiger can do or say. He's just going to move on."
Anti-racism groups said Williams's apology was insufficient. Sabby Dhalu, secretary of One Society Many Cultures, said: "I think there should be an investigation into his behaviour and I don't think an apology is enough. The only way to root it out and prevent other people from behaving in the same way is to take sterner action, in the form of disciplinary action and I think an investigation should be conducted." ||||| Tiger Woods race row: Sacked caddie causes outrage with 'black a***hole' outburst at awards dinner
Steve Williams posted an apology on his website
Woods' management said comment was 'regrettable'
By Emily Allen
Last updated at 4:37 PM on 5th November 2011
Tiger Woods' former caddie Steve Williams has apologised for causing outrage at an awards dinner when he made a racist remark about his former boss.
Williams was given an award for the year’s best celebration - a reference to his tongue-in-cheek claim that his current employer Adam Scott’s victory at the Bridgestone Invitational in August was ‘the best win of my career’ - despite being on the bag with Woods for 13 majors.
Asked what the celebration was all about, the 47-year-old New Zealander said: ‘It was my aim to shove it right up that black a**ehole.’
Centre of storm: Steve Williams stunned guests at a gala dinner with a racial slur when accepting a prize for 'best celebration'
The comment was met with a mixture of laughter and shock at the ceremony, with some players turning to each other with eyes widened and jaws agape.
One caddie said: ‘Never have you been in a room and seen so many jaws drop at the same time. We knew he was an idiot but we didn’t know he was a racist idiot. I was standing next to a European Tour official who said, “Thank God he is not on our tour”.’
Approached early the next morning at breakfast, Williams was stunned to learn that British tabloids had gone with the story.
'Why would they do that?' he said. 'The whole thing was meant to be fun.'
He then posted a statement on his website saying: 'I apologise for the comments I made last night at the annual Caddie Awards dinner in Shanghai.
'Players and caddies look forward to this evening all year and the spirit is always joking and fun. I now realise how my comments could be construed as racist.
Blast: Williams and Tiger Woods worked together for more than 10 years
'However I assure you that was not my intent. I sincerely apologise to Tiger and anyone else I have offended.'
The 100 caddies, players and guests in attendance had accepted their invitations on the condition they did not disclose what happened at the ceremony, held after the second round of the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament.
Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent at Excel Sports Management, was with the golfer when he heard the news.
He said: 'It's a regrettable comment, and there's really nothing that Tiger can do or say. He's just going to move on.'
Williams, who could now face a ban or even the sack, had been a regular caddie for Woods since 1999 and helped the American to 13 majors before being fired in July.
He hit out at the manner of the split and a month later was in the news again after his new employer, Scott, won the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Akron, Ohio.
New boss: Williams with Adam Scott on the 16th hole during the first round of the WGC-HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club this week
Williams had told reporters: 'It's the most satisfying win I've ever had, there's no two ways about it. It's the greatest week of my life caddying and I sincerely mean that.'
He later apologised for those comments, saying his emotions got the better of him.
Williams has disputed Woods' version of how their partnership ended, and said he was short-shrifted by Woods despite his loyalty to the former No. 1 player during the sex scandal that derailed his career.
Scott is today preparing for his third round of the HSBC Champions. He is going for his second World Golf Championship of the year.
Woods and Scott are to be in the same group next week at the Australian Open, and there's chance they also could face off at the Presidents Cup in Melbourne the week after.
It's not the first time Williams has run into trouble for his words.
Three years ago at a dinner banquet in New Zealand, he made a disparaging remark about Phil Mickelson.
Williams said it was meant in fun, although he later apologised to Mickelson. ||||| While attending a "caddie of the year" event in Shanghai, where he won "Celebration of the year" thanks to his ridiculous behavior following Adam Scott's win at the Bridgestone Invitational—including claiming the victory was the greatest of his career—Steve Williams was asked why he made such an absurd statement and said "I wanted to shove it up that black arsehole."
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I can only imagine there were many audible gasps and much sucking of teeth after that damned record player skipped for the final time. Indeed, " organisers of the awards ceremony, held at the players' hotel, had declared the occasion 'private' and 'off the record' but when the guests spilled out of the venue they could talk of little else. 'I have never seen so many jaws drop in one room at the same time,' said one caddie who was present. 'I was standing next to a European Tour official and he said to me 'thank God he [Williams] is not on our tour'."
For "his" part, Williams seems to have realized that he is a stupid person and quickly apologized on his website. "He" wrote "I apologize for comments I made last night at the Annual Caddy Awards dinner in Shanghai. Players and caddies look forward to this evening all year and the spirit is always joking and fun. I now realize how my comments could be construed as racist. However I assure you that was not my intent. I sincerely apologize to Tiger and anyone else I have offended."
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Adam Scott has, once again, been forced to defend his caddie's idiocy and remains loyal and unperturbed. He shot birdie-birdie-eagle on the final three holes to find himself three strokes back of the lead going into the final round of the World Golf Championship. He said he thought the quote was probably taken out of context.
Scott seems like a decent guy and I'm sure is privately pissed because it takes a special kind of person to make Tiger Woods look like a victim. It takes an arsehole, really.
Caddie Steve Williams In Race Row After Attack On Tiger Woods [The Guardian]
Adam Scott Withers Another Steve Williams Moment And Stays In Picture At HSBC [Washington Post] | – Tiger Woods' old caddy shocked the professional golfing world yesterday by calling Woods "that black arsehole," Deadspin reports. Accepting an award for "best celebration" yesterday in Shanghai, Steve Williams was asked why he called Adam Scott's win at the Bridgestone Invitational the greatest victory of Williams' career. "I wanted to shove it up that black arsehole," said Williams, filling the room with shock and laughter, the Daily Mail reports. Naturally, the backpedaling came swiftly. Williams posted a apology on his website, saying, "I now realize how my comments could be construed as racist. However I assure you that was not my intent." Golfer Adam Scott, facing pressure to fire Williams, said, "It's not an issue for me," and called the remark "all in good spirits," the Guardian reports. Wood's agent said it was "sad it's come down to this. It's a regrettable comment, and there's really nothing that Tiger can do or say. He's just going to move on." |
OTTAWA (Reuters) - An international meeting in Canada on North Korea in January is designed to produce “better ideas” to ease tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile tests, Canadian officials said on Wednesday.
A man looks at a street monitor showing a news report about North Korea's missile launch, in Tokyo, Japan, November 29, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai
A Canadian source who declined to be identified said that up to 16 foreign ministers were scheduled to meet in Vancouver, although North Korea itself will not be invited. Canada announced the meeting on Tuesday and said it would be co-hosted by the United States.
“By discussing the various options out on the table, by listening to ... local wisdom of the regions and especially (to those) who live a bit closer to Korea than we do, you can come up with some better ideas,” Andrew Leslie, parliamentary secretary to Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, told reporters.
Early on Wednesday, North Korea tested its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile yet, putting the continental United States within range and increasing pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump to deal with the nuclear-armed nation.
Freeland later told reporters that Japan, South Korea and China would be among those invited to the meeting.
“It’s an important step in terms of showing the unity of the international community in applying pressure on North Korea,” she said, sidestepping a question about whether Trump might do something to upset the talks.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who came to power in 2015 promising the world that “Canada is back”, last week said he had discussed with Cuban President Raul Castro in 2016 the possibility of working together to address the crisis.
“These are the kinds of things where Canada can, I think, play a role that the United States has chosen not to play, this past year,” Trudeau said, referring to Trump’s isolationist global stance.
Defense experts say North Korean missiles aimed at the United States could land off course in Canada.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan told reporters Canada was looking at the threat extremely seriously but declined to say what military counter measures he might be take.
“We believe the diplomatic solution is the way to go - we feel there is hope for it,” Sajjan said.
In the meantime, Canada’s relations with North Korea appear to be warming up slightly.
In September, a Canadian diplomat said the North Koreans “perceive us as not an enemy and therefore potentially a friend”. Canada established diplomatic relations with North Korea in 2001 but suspended them in 2010. ||||| They are nightmare scenarios ripped straight out of Hollywood thrillers.
But rising global tension, notably over North Korea, has prompted federal officials to review and in some cases revise a series of critical contingency plans, including one that involves the evacuation of the federal cabinet to a secure military base outside of Ottawa.
The Privy Council Office, the bureaucratic wing of the Prime Minister's Office, drafted an agreement with National Defence a year ago to open up bunkers on two military bases should the National Capital Region become "unviable," according to documents obtained by CBC News under access to information legislation.
Each location is classified in the heavily redacted briefing dated Aug. 2, 2016, and only referred to as "Alpha and Bravo sites."
The agreement is part of the federal government's overall plan for the "Continuity of Constitutional Government," which aims to "ensure minimal or no interruption to the availability of critical services" during an emergency or natural disaster in Ottawa.
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland joins Chris Hall to discuss Canada’s role in addressing the North Korea nuclear crisis. 8:11
The federal government has long had contingency plans, known internally as CONPLANS, for a variety of emergencies running the gamut between earthquakes and floods through terrorism to full-scale war.
What is different lately, according to experts, is that officials are being forced to think more often in Cold War terms, particularly when it comes to the threat of a North Korean missile striking Canada, either as an accident or by design.
On Tuesday, Pyongyang tested the Hwasong-15 intercontinental missile, which the regime of Kim Jong-un claims can be tipped with a "super-large heavy warhead" and is capable of striking anywhere on the continental United States.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan was asked Wednesday what would happen should a missile land in Canada.
"When it comes to any type of foreign threats, we take them extremely seriously," he said. "We've been looking at North Korea right from the beginning when I was given this portfolio. I am very mindful of the country's missile testing that they have been doing. We believe that the diplomatic solution is the way to go, because I think that there is hope for it."
The notion that Canada could be hit by incoming missiles was part of the Cold War defence mindset and planning, which disappeared in the early 1990s, said Andrew Rasiulis, a defence expert with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
"After the Cold War was over, we stopped thinking about those things. It fell off the radar, so to speak," said Rasiulis, a former senior official at National Defence who once ran the Directorate of Nuclear and Arms Control Policy. "At the time, it was really a whole cultural shift."
Cold War legacy
At the height of the standoff with the former Soviet Union, the Canadian military had a series of bunkers to which the federal cabinet could retreat, including the so-called Diefenbunker, near Carp, Ont.
There was also the deep underground complex at Canadian Forces Base North Bay and another centre at the now-decommissioned military base in Calgary.
Rasiulis said a whole generation of public servants have not had to think in those cataclysmic terms and had not even begun to consider it as late as 2014 when he retired.
And that's why he considers the revision of continuity of government plan so significant. But Rasiulis said he considers the likelihood of Canada being struck by a North Korean missile to be low.
The thinking, however, over the last generation was, if there was thought of a nuclear event, it would be a terrorist dirty bomb, not a missile or missiles that could wipe out entire cities and result in tens of thousands of casualties.
Although on the surface they may not seem related, Rasiulis said the Russian annexation of Crimea and the lone-wolf, ISIS-inspired terrorist attack on Parliament Hill, both of which occurred three years ago, appear to have convinced officials that the capital was vulnerable.
The main tunnel to the so-called Diefenbunker in Carp, Ont. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
Sean Maloney, a professor at the Royal Military College of Canada and a Cold War expert, said he believes the issue is bigger than just whether there are contingency plans to keep the government operating. He questions what sort of civil preparedness is going on.
A nuclear blast brings with it an electromagnetic pulse that would fry power grids over a much wider area than just the radius of the blast. That, in turn, would take down not only businesses but public infrastructure, such as water and sewage plants.
"That is just the start of the problem," said Maloney. "People have not thought that through and they don't want to discuss it because it's too overwhelming for them."
He said during the Cold War, there was also a sense of "lethargy" because people were resigned to the fact that once the missiles started flying everything would be over.
Maintaining the power elite
Maloney wrote a paper in the late 1990s about the federal government's contingency plans in the event of a thermonuclear war with the Soviet Union.
It was entitled Dr. Strangelove Visits Canada, referring to the 1960s Stanley Kubrick comedy about what could happen if the wrong person pushed the wrong button.
Some of the issues raised in his paper could find new life in this new era of uncertainty.
"Critics of civil defence programs argued that protecting government leaders in shelters and not providing similar facilities to the population as a whole was 'undemocratic,' [and] designed to maintain the power elite," said Maloney who added the current plan to reconstitute the government "sounds very 1950s."
The government of former prime minister John Diefenbaker conducted the first large-scale training exercise for its contingency plan to evacuate Ottawa in December 1959.
It saw one North Star transport plane and one Labrador helicopter put on 30-minute standby to evacuate senior government ministers and officials from the east side of the lawn on Parliament Hill to the air base in nearby Rockcliffe.
Other officials were to have been transported by bus out of the city. ||||| The guest list isn’t firmed up, the date and location are still to be determined.
But, the government is billing a major international meeting it will host on the North Korea nuclear crisis as an essential, overdue step towards bringing key players together to brainstorm a non-military solution.
WATCH: South Korea conducts missile drills following North Korea’s missile launch
As to what that solution might be – nothing firm. The meeting will likely occur somewhere in Canada, sometime early next year. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, have been discussing plans for the meeting for months. But they chose to announce it late Tuesday after North Korea carried out its longest-ever missile test.
READ MORE: Canada, U.S. to co-host summit to discuss diplomatic response to North Korea threat
Freeland couldn’t say what Canada’s specific role would be but she said convening the meeting was an important step “in terms of showing the unity of the international community in applying pressure on North Korea.”
Canada offers what amounts to a less stressful setting for the talks, a senior government official said Wednesday on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
READ MORE: North Korea says newly-tested ICBM is capable of reaching entire U.S. mainland
“It makes sense we could bring together people that may not necessarily feel that they would want to go to the United States,” the source said, adding that holding talks in Japan or South Korea is simply too close to the crisis.
Tillerson saw the value in Canada taking the initiative forward, the source said.
WATCH: North Korea says latest missile test is capable of reaching U.S. mainland
“We have a lot of strong connections to countries in the region that could potentially be affected and are affected by this threat every day,” said the official. Canada has a history in the region, where it fought in the 1950-53 Korean War, but it is also a non-nuclear power.
Freeland said her Chinese counterpart would be among the invitees. The meeting, which will be co-hosted by the United States, will potentially involve the foreign ministers of close to two dozen countries.
WATCH: North Korea latest ballistic missile launch travels over 1000 KM
China and Russia are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, which held an emergency meeting about North Korea on Wednesday, amid wider calls for more sanctions against the country.
Canadian officials had no comment on whether Russia would be receiving an invitation. Moscow denounced the latest North Korean test as a provocation that would hurt the chances of finding a political solution.
READ MORE: North Korea building nukes ‘faster than expected,’ may announce completion within a year, South says
Canada has no diplomatic relations with North Korea, which has raised questions whether it has any meaningful contribution to make.
“We’ve not been seen as an interlocutor on North Korea,” said David Mulroney, a former Canadian ambassador to China.
“One of the problems with diplomatic isolation is we tend to be a long way from understanding or having insights we can bring to the table.”
READ MORE: Japan government on alert after radio signals suggest North Korea missile launch
But he added: “It is useful to remind people that we share values and security interests with the United States.” Freeland isn’t travelling with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to China next week, so officials don’t expect the North Korea summit to be a major topic of discussion.
However, Freeland said she discussed the planned meeting in great detail with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the recent APEC summit in Vietnam, and has been shopping it around to other key countries.
WATCH: Trump on latest North Korea launch: We will handle it
U.S. President Donald Trump spoke Wednesday with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping and “emphasized the need for China to use all available levers to convince North Korea to end its provocations and return to the path of denuclearization,” according to a White House statement.
Andrew Leslie, Freeland’s parliamentary secretary, said the countries that fought alongside Canada during the 1950-53 conflict are on the potential guest list.
“By presenting a united front, by discussing the various options out on the table, by listening to the wisdom, the local wisdom of the regions and especially who live a bit closer to Korea than we do, you can come up with some better ideas,” Leslie said.
WATCH: Trudeau says Canada engaged in North Korea, calls regime ‘particular and challenging’
A recent analysis by the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations posited one possible scenario that the world community could adopt to curb the nuclear ambitions of Kim Jong Un’s regime. Canada wasn’t mentioned.
Five key countries – the U.S., China, South Korea, Japan and Russia – need to strike a “grand bargain” that satisfies their individual interests in the region, wrote Patricia Kim, the council’s Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow in a blog post earlier this month.
READ MORE: South Korea reportedly using loudspeakers to broadcast news of North Korean defector across border
All countries, especially China, need assurances “that joining Washington to pressure North Korea, even at the risk of the Kim regime’s collapse, will not sway the regional balance of power in a manner that undercuts any one state’s fundamental interests,” she wrote.
They also need to send a firm message to North Korea “that it can no longer rely on the strategic gaps between its neighbours” to pursue both nuclear weapons and economic development. | – It's not just Hawaii that's prepared for a nuclear attack by North Korea. America's neighbor to the north has set aside two classified bunkers, including one to be used by members of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Cabinet, in case Canadian officials get an evacuation order or otherwise find Ottawa to be "unviable," according to documents obtained by CBC News. The sites aren't identified in the August 2016 documents, which make up part of the government's emergency contingency plans, but they're described as being on military bases. Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan says he's "very mindful" of North Korea's nuclear program and takes such threats "extremely seriously," particularly as experts suggest Canada could be hit by a missile aimed at the US. But Sajjan maintains a diplomatic solution is possible. Canada could play a key role in that regard: Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says Vancouver will host an international meeting on North Korea in January, reports Reuters, noting Japan, China, and South Korea will be invited. As many as two dozen countries may attend, reports Global News, citing a government source who describes the location as neutral, given that Canada is a non-nuclear power. "These are the kinds of things where Canada can, I think, play a role that the United States has chosen not to play this past year," Trudeau said last week when asked about Canada's push for international cooperation to address the crisis. The US, however, will co-host the meeting, designed to show "the unity of the international community in applying pressure on North Korea," Freeland says. |
Israel has said it will not backtrack on a settlement expansion plan after Britain, France and three other European governments summoned the Israeli ambassadors to London and Paris in protest at the authorisation of 3,000 new homes in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem.
An official in the office of the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, said: "Israel will continue to stand by its vital interests, even in the face of international pressure, and there will be no change in the decision that was made."
Israel announced the construction of the homes after the United Nations general assembly voted to recognise the Palestinian state.
The British prime minister's spokesman said Alistair Burt, the Foreign Office minister, had met the Israeli ambassador in London on Monday morning to complain about the new building programme, and that the Foreign Office had put out its own statement about the row. Sweden, Denmark and Spain also summoned Israeli ambassadors in protest at the plan.
Downing Street played down reports that Britain might withdraw its ambassador from Israel, but refused to completely rule it out as an option.
"We are not proposing to do that," the spokesman said when asked about the suggestion that Britain was planning to take the extraordinary step of withdrawing its ambassador. He said: "We are not proposing to do anything further at this stage" – suggesting that a withdrawal had not been completely ruled out. Asked to clarify, the spokesman said: "We are consulting with our international partners and discussing the situation with the Israeli government."
The recall of the British ambassador would be a dramatic and unprecedented rebuke to the Israeli government, whose isolation was sharply illustrated by the overwhelming backing for the state of Palestine in New York last week. Only eight countries out of 193 rallied to Israel's side in opposing the move.
Britain is furious at Israel's decision to take punitive measures in response, including the authorisation of the 3,000 new settler homes and the development of land east of Jerusalem known as E1 for construction.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said on Monday: "We deplore the recent Israeli government decision to build 3,000 new housing units and unfreeze development in the E1 block. This threatens the viability of the two-state solution.
"We have called on the Israeli government to reverse this decision. The Israeli ambassador to London, Daniel Taub, has been formally summoned to the Foreign Office this morning by the minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt. The minister set out the depth of the UK's concerns.
"Any decision about any other measures the UK might take will depend on the outcome of our discussions with the Israeli government and with international partners, including the US and EU."
The development of E1 has been frozen for years under pressure from the US and EU. Western diplomats regard it as a "game-changer" as its development would close off East Jerusalem – the future capital of Palestine – from the West Bank.
Britain has demanded that Israel rescind the decision. The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said the settlement expansion plans "would represent an almost fatal blow to the remaining chances of securing a two-state solution".
The EU foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, said such expansion "may represent a strategic step undermining the prospects of a contiguous and viable Palestine with Jerusalem as the shared capital of both it and Israel".
In France, the foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, said Israel's plans were a "new area of colonisation" and, if confirmed, would "sap the necessary confidence in a resumption of talks".
He said: "I call on the Israeli authorities to abstain from all decision regarding this and to show clearly their willingness to restart negotiations."
He summoned the Israeli ambassador to France, Yossi Gal, to express his unhappiness over the project.
French media reported that London and Paris were considering joint action that would send a "strong diplomatic signal". However, Paris also refused to confirm rumours that it was planning to pull out its ambassador.
"There are other ways of marking our disapproval," a ministry spokesperson said.
France, Britain and the EU have all protested directly to the director general of the Israeli foreign affairs ministry, Rafi Barak.
Other steps under consideration are sanctions against settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including tougher measures on the labelling of settlement produce exported to Europe, and the suspension of strategic dialogue meetings.
The UK and other EU countries had warned Israel against taking punitive action in response to the UN vote. A statement issued by the British embassy in Tel Aviv said: "The foreign secretary has consistently made it very clear that the UK would not support a strong reaction to Thursday's UNGA resolution that undermined the prospects for negotiations and efforts to build a strong foundation for the peace process. The recent Israeli government decision to build 3,000 new housing units threatens the two-state solution and makes progress through negotiations harder to achieve. We have called on the Israeli government to reconsider."
The Israeli cabinet unanimously rejected the UN vote at its weekly meeting on Sunday. It described the West Bank as "disputed territory" over which the Jewish people had "a natural right".
Israel's Channel 2 reported that Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama's former chief of staff, had described the behaviour of the prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, as "unfathomable". ||||| French President Francois Hollande criticized a new Israeli settlement-building drive on Monday as contrary to peacemaking with Palestinians but said Paris was not ready to impose sanctions on the Jewish state.
Speaking after Israel's envoy in Paris was summoned to the French foreign ministry, Hollande said he was "extremely concerned" by Israel's announcement that it would build 3,000 new settler homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, after a de facto UN recognition of Palestinian statehood.
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"The measures announced are in opposition to dialogue and (Israel) should go back on them," Hollande said at a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in Lyon.
A French foreign ministry official had earlier dismissed reports that Paris could recall its envoy in Jerusalem and said France was looking at other ways of putting pressure on right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
When asked if trade sanctions could be an option for Paris, Hollande said France's priority was to encourage both parties to resume talks as soon as possible.
"We don't want to shift into sanctions mode. We are more focused on persuading. It's an important moment, but I appeal for responsibility."
According to the foreign ministry, France imports about 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) of goods from Israel each year, making it the Jewish state's ninth biggest trade partner.
'In opposition to dialogue.' Hollande (L) with Netanyahu (Archive photo: EPA)
France and Britain, both UN Security Council members, have condemned Israel's plans to expand Jewish settlement, saying it would jeopardize international confidence in Israel's desire to make peace with Palestinians.
The foreign ministry said earlier on Monday it had told the Israeli ambassador that "settlements are illegal under international law, destroy confidence in reviving dialogue and constitute an obstacle to a fair peace based on a two-state solution."
Israel says it has a historical claim to land in the West Bank and to all of Jerusalem, while Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem in a 1967 war.
Netanyahu has dismissed world condemnation of his latest settlement plans, which were announced on Friday just hours after the United Nations voted overwhelming to upgrade the Palestinians' diplomatic status. France broke from its main Western allies by voting in favor of the upgrade.
Israel said it would build thousands of new settler homes, including in a wedge zone between Jerusalem and the West Bank, known as E1, which Washington considers especially sensitive as it would fragment territory Palestinians want for a state.
A source in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Monday "Israel will continue to secure its vital interests even in the face of international pressure. The decision will stand.
"The Palestinians' unilateral initiative at the UN was a blatant violation of agreements which were guaranteed by the international community. If the Palestinians continue with their unilateral measures, Israel will act accordingly," the source said.
Diplomatic sources said both London and Paris were considering the unprecedented step of recalling their ambassadors to Tel Aviv, but both countries signaled there was still room for maneuver to avoid a deep crisis with Israel.
"There are other ways in which we can express our disapproval," a French foreign ministry official told Reuters, declining to say what other measures were being considered.
Foreign ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said the Middle East peace process would be discussed at a European Union foreign minister's meeting on Dec. 10.
Germany, which abstained in the UN vote, also expressed concern Monday over the Israeli move but wouldn't say whether it had taken any direct measures in response. Netanyahu is due in Berlin on Wednesday for a previously scheduled meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Steffen Seibert, Merkel's spokesman, said Germany took a "very negative view" of the settlement announcement, which he said undermined peace efforts.
Russia also urged Israel to rethink its plans, saying the settlement project "will negatively affect efforts to restart direct talks".
Reuters, AP and AFP contributed to the report ||||| The Foreign Secretary said on Saturday that he was "extremely concerned" at the plans to create 3,000 new homes, which were announced a day after the United Nations recognised Palestine as a non-member observer state.
He warned the move undermined Israel's international reputation and created doubts about its commitment to achieving peace.
Mr Hague abstained at the UN General Assembly vote over Palestine's status on Thursday after President Mahmoud Abbas failed to give assurances that he would return to peace negotiations without preconditions.
But he also repeatedly made clear in calls with Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman that the UK would not support a strong reaction to the vote.
Speaking on Saturday, the Foreign Secretary said: "I am extremely concerned by reports that the Israeli cabinet plans to approve the building of 3,000 new housing units in illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
"Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and undermine trust between the parties. If implemented, these plans would alter the situation on the ground on a scale that makes the two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, increasingly difficult to achieve.
"They would undermine Israel's international reputation and create doubts about its stated commitment to achieving peace with the Palestinians.
"The UK strongly advises the Israeli government to reverse this decision. The window for a two-state solution is closing, and we need urgent efforts by the parties and by the international community to achieve a return to negotiations, not actions which will make that harder."
The Palestinians have refused to negotiate while Israeli settlement construction continues.
Hillary Clinton added her voice to Mr Hague's condemnation of the Israeli move.
"In light of today's announcement, let me reiterate that this administration - like previous administrations - has been very clear with Israel that these activities set back the cause of a negotiated peace," Mrs Clinton said.
She was speaking at a forum in Washington hosted by the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, to an audience that included Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
"The most lasting solution to the stalemate in Gaza would be a comprehensive peace between Israel and all Palestinians, led by their legitimate representative, the Palestinian Authority."
Source: PA ||||| The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, and British foreign secretary, William Hague, have launched attacks on an Israeli decision to build fresh settlements on occupied territory in the West Bank.
The Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu's decision to approve the construction of 3,000 new homes is widely seen as a response to the United Nations vote earlier this week that recognised a Palestinian bid to be a "non-member observer state".
The US, with Israel, strongly opposed that move, while Britain abstained in the vote. But now both countries have criticised the Israeli settlement decision, saying it hurts the chances of a two-state solution and the search for peace in the troubled region.
"Let me reiterate that this administration, like previous administrations, has been very clear with Israel that these activities set back the cause of a negotiated peace," Clinton said, in remarks delivered at the Saban Center think tank in Washington on Friday.
Hague said he was "extremely concerned" at the plans, which have been reported in the Israeli press as including a four-square-mile area just east of Jerusalem that is seen as vital to keeping open a viable land corridor between the city and any future Palestinian state.
Hague asked Israel to reverse the decision and said the prospect of a successful two solution was receding. "Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and undermine trust between the parties," he said in comments Saturday. "If implemented, these plans would alter the situation on the ground on a scale that makes the two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, increasingly difficult to achieve."
Hague added: "They would undermine Israel's international reputation and create doubts about its stated commitment to achieving peace with the Palestinians."
Israel had strongly opposed the Palestinian bid for improved recognition at the UN, saying that the tactic was a blow for peace negotiations. It had secured strong and vocal support from the US, its traditional ally, and a handful of other nations, but was unable to derail the move which was celebrated wildly on the streets of the West Bank.
Palestinian politicians reacted to the new settlement decision with dismay. "This would be the last nail in the coffin of the peace process," the Palestinian prime minister, Salam Fayyad, told Sky News.
The firm US and British line on the Israeli decision is unlikely to mark any real shift in allegiances or policy. Clinton backed up her criticism of Israel with another strong admonition of the Palestinians and said that they had acted wrongly and unilaterally in gaining improved recognition at the UN.
"Palestinian leaders need to ask themselves what unilateral action can really accomplish for their people. President [Mahmoud] Abbas took a step in the wrong direction this week, to say the least. We opposed his resolution," Clinton said.
The fresh spat over settlements comes at a time when all sides appear to regard the prospect of a peace settlement in the region as a distant dream. Any future Palestinian state remains deeply divided between the more moderate and secular rule of Abbas in the West Bank and the militant Islamic group Hamas, which governs in the tiny and isolated Gaza Strip.
In Friday's address, the US secretary of state said Hamas had "condemned those it rules to violence and misery" and now faced a choice.
"Hamas knows what it needs to do. If it wishes to reunite the Palestinians and join the international community it must reject violence, honor past agreements with Israel and recognize Israel's right to exist," Clinton said, adding: "America has showed that it is willing to work with Islamists who reject violence and work towards real democracy, but we will never work with terrorists."
Despite the criticism over settlement building, Clinton reiterated American support for its traditional Middle East ally.
"Americans honor Israel as a homeland dreamed of for generations and finally achieved by pioneering men and women in my lifetime," she said. "What threatens Israel threatens America. What strengthens Israel strengthens us."
Israel agreed to freeze settlement construction under the Roadmap For Peace plan in 2002. But it has failed to comply with that commitment despite repeated and widespread international condemnation.
Fresh trouble continues to break out in Gaza, after Hamas and Israel spent eight days trading rocket and missile fire earlier this month.
That conflict ended with an Egyptian-brokered truce but there have been repeated flare-ups since. On Saturday a Palestinian who was shot and wounded by Israeli troops on Friday, while protesting at the Gaza Strip boundary fence, died in hospital. Five others were also wounded in the incident. ||||| Israel orders steps against a number of countries that backed motion calling for halt to building of settlements in occupied territories
Israel has responded furiously to a UN security council resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, recalling two of its ambassadors to countries that voted for the motion and threatening to cut aid.
The security council adopted the landmark resolution demanding Israel halt all settlement building and expansion in the occupied territories after Barack Obama’s administration refused to veto the resolution on Friday.
A White House official said Obama had taken the decision to abstain in the absence of any meaningful peace process. The resolution, which passed by a 14-0 vote, was met with loud applause in the packed chamber after the US ambassador, Samantha Power, abstained.
The move was immediately condemned as “shameful” by the office of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. A spokesman pointedly referred to Israel’s expectation of working more closely with the US president-elect, Donald Trump.
On Saturday Netanyahu said Israel would reassess its ties with the UN and had ordered a review of the funding of UN institutions and the presence of UN representatives in Israel.
“I have already instructed to stop about 30m shekels (£6.3m) in funding to five UN bodies that are especially hostile to Israel ... and there is more to come,” he said, without giving any further details.
The security council last adopted a resolution critical of settlements in 1979, with the US abstaining then too. The US vetoed a similar resolution in 2011, which was the sole veto cast by the Obama administration at the security council.
Amid emerging criticism of the handling of the vote by Netanyahu, whose manoeuvres were seen as an attempt to sideline Obama and his administration, Israel ordered action against a number of countries.
The response included the recall of the Israeli ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal, who voted for the resolution, the cancellation of a planned visit by the Senegalese foreign minister to Israel in three weeks’ time, and the cancellation of all aid programmes to Senegal.
New Zealand’s foreign minister, Murray McCully, said his country’s vote should have been no surprise to Israel. “We have been very open about our view that the [security council] should be doing more to support the Middle East peace process and the position we adopted today is totally in line with our long-established policy on the Palestinian question,” he said.
The UK, France, Russia and China also voted in favour of the resolution, which described Israeli settlement building as a “flagrant violation” of international law.
The vote has sharply underlined the extent of Israel’s international isolation under Netanyahu, and in particular the hollowness of Netanyahu’s boast at the UN general assembly in the autumn over Israel’s purported diplomatic advances at the UN, not least among African members.
While Israel may expect a much easier ride after the inauguration of Donald Trump, support for the motion from countries such as the UK and France demonstrates the deep frustration in Europe with the policies of Netanyahu’s rightwing coalition over settlements and the moribund peace process.
For its part, the Obama administration made clear that the US decision to abstain was in direct response to choices made by Netanyahu on settlements.
The resolution also serves as a warning to the incoming Trump administration over its policies after the selection by Trump of a far-right pro-settler, David Friedman, to be ambassador to Israel.
While the US and EU have worked closely together in coordinating foreign policy on the Israel-Palestine question, there has been growing support among European governments for tougher steps against Israel, which has already resulted in a directive on the labelling of settlement products.
The strength of the language in the resolution reiterating the illegality of Jewish settlements built on land intended for a Palestinian state, occupied by Israel in 1967, is likely to have an impact on multinational companies operating in the occupied territories or working with Israeli enterprises with links to the occupied territories.
Although the resolution is not binding in legal terms, it will have other practical effects, not least in the impact it may have on the Palestinian complaint to the international criminal court, which includes Israeli settlements.
The resolution also includes language calling for differential treatment of Israel within the pre-1967 borders, calling on states to “distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967”, which could potentially pave the way for future sanctions.
Israeli supporters in the US – both senators and lobby groups – were aghast. Morton Klein, the president of the rightwing Zionist Organization of America, railed in unequivocal terms: “Obama has made it clear that he’s a Jew-hating antisemite.”
Leading pro-Israel Republicans also weighed in, including the House speaker, Paul Ryan, who denounced the US abstention as “absolutely shameful” and promised that “our unified Republican government will work to reverse the damage done by this administration, and rebuild our alliance with Israel”.
In Israel, however, questions were being asked about Netanyahu’s handling of the vote. Writing in Haaretz, the columnist Chemi Shalev was particularly scathing about Netanyahu’s diplomatic failure.
“Resolution 2334 shatters the [Israeli] government-induced illusion that the settlement project has been normalised, that it passed the point of no return, that it is now a fait accompli that will remain unchallenged,” he wrote.
“In recent years, after President Obama desisted from efforts to advance the peace process, Netanyahu, his ministers and settler leaders had behaved as if the battle was over: Israel built and built, the White House objected and condemned, the facts on the ground were cemented in stone.
“You can have your cake and eat it too, the government implied: thumb your nose at Washington and the international community, build in the West Bank as if there’s no tomorrow and still get $38bn in unprecedented [US] military aid.” | – Israel resisted international pressure today and vowed to plow ahead with its plan to expand settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, the Guardian reports. France, Britain, Sweden, Spain, and Denmark summoned Israeli ambassadors to protest the plan, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn't budge: "Israel will continue to stand by its vital interests, even in the face of international pressure, and there will be no change in the decision that was made," he said. In related news: French President Francois Hollande criticized the plan to add 3,000 new homes to Israeli settlements, but said he didn't "want to shift into sanctions mode," Ynet News reports. "We are more focused on persuading." Washington reiterated its opposition to Israel expanding settlements in the so-called E1 corridor, a roughly 5-square-mile area that borders Jerusalem, reports the Jerusalem Post. A US State Department spokesman said building in E1 is "particularly sensitive" and "especially damaging to efforts to achieve a two-state solution." In reaction to Palestine's new UN status as a "non-member observer state," Israel said yesterday it would hold back about $100 million in tax revenues from the cash-poor Palestinian Authority, the Los Angeles Times reports. Israel said it plans to use the money to repay part of Palestine's debt to an Israeli electricity company. Der Spiegel reports that Israel's national security adviser was offended when German said it would abstain rather than voting its customary "no" on the UN vote over Palestine. Germany said it blamed Netanyahu's unbending approach to the peace process. Relations between the two countries "have rarely been as bad as they are now," reports Der Spiegel. |
(CNN) -- Talk about a big catch! This massive alligator was recently tracked down by hunters at Outwest Farms in Okeechobee, Florida.
Outwest Farms owner Lee Lightsey, along with his son Mason, his guide Blake Godwin and two hunters discovered the creature Saturday at one of the ponds on their private ranch.
"We were on a hunt for hogs and happened to come across the gator. There are natural ponds and waterways around for the cows to drink," Godwin told CNN.
"There are lots of gators out there," Lightsey told CNN. "It's the start of mating season. This was a big one."
A big one indeed, the animal weighed in at 780 pounds, according to Lightsey. His son Mason told CNN he estimated it was "almost probably close to 15 feet."
Lightsey told CNN he isn't concerned over records. "It's just fun to see a great day for the hunters, the big ones like that are exciting for the hunters."
Nine-year-old Mason said this wasn't his first hunting trip, and it was "not scary at all" to hunt such a huge animal. He even posed next to the animal that was hoisted above the ground by a tractor's loader. The picture posted on Outwest Farms Facebook page has been shared over 4,000 times.
Some people have doubted the photo was real, Godwin told CNN, "There's a lot of folks saying that, but it's 100% real. I took that picture (referring to the photo of Mason laying on the alligator), the photo is real."
American alligators are especially common in Florida and can range from 10 to 15 feet long. They live in freshwater environments, such as ponds, marshes and rivers.
The Florida state record for the largest alligator caught is 14 feet, 3 1/2 inches from Lake Washington, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee. That gator weighed in at 654 pounds but is not the heaviest on record. The record holder in Florida for weight is 1,043 pounds.
Outwest Farms has been in business for over 18 years and specializes in alligator and wild boar hunts. According to its website, a hunt for a 13-feet-long gator will cost you $10,000.
So what happens to the gator? Taxidermy, Lightsey says. Any meat that the hunter doesn't take will be donated to charity.
The-CNN-Wire: By Amanda Jackson and Anne Woolsey
™ & © 2016 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved. ||||| Gone fishin’!
Two Florida hunters say they’ve caught the largest alligator they’ve ever found: nearly 15 feet long and 800 pounds.
Lee Lightsey, the owner of Outwest Farms in Okeechobee, and guide Blake Godwin were hunting over the weekend when they discovered the gator in one of their cattle ponds, Godwin told Fox 13.
The two men saw the gator from about 20 feet away, at which point Lightsey shot it as it came out of the water.
They used a farm tractor to pull it to shore.
“We also discovered the remains what we determined to be cattle in the water,” Godwin said.
“We determined that he was in fact attacking our livestock as they came to drink.”
Outwest Farms plans to donate the alligator’s meat to charity and stuff the rest of the animal to display at hunting shows.
“It is hard to believe that something this big exists in the wild,” Godwin told the TV station.
“Hunting is a way of life for us and we are very proud of it.” ||||| - Two hunters at a Florida farm say it's the largest alligator they've ever captured in the wild: nearly 15 feet long.
Lee Lightsey, the owner of Outwest Farms in Okeechobee, and hunting guide, Blake Godwin, discovered the monster alligator in one their cattle ponds while on a guided hunt on April 2. They believe the gator had been feasting on the farm's cattle.
"We also discovered the remains what we determined to be cattle in the water. We determined that he was in fact attacking our livestock as they came to drink," Godwin said. They spotted the gator Saturday as it surfaced about 20 feet in front of them and Lightsey shot it, Godwin said.
The gator measured just under 15 feet and weighed in at over 800 pounds. He was so big, they had to use a large farm tractor to pull it from the water, Godwin said.
Photos show the gigantic alligator dangling from a tractor that had lifted it up out of the swamp.
The company has been guiding hunts for alligators, wild boar, and turkey in Florida for 18 years and Lightsey says on his website he's been hunting all his life. The largest alligator they had taken before was just over 14 feet and this one was bigger than that, Godwin said.
They plan to donate the gator's meat to charity and have the alligator taxidermied for display at their hunting shows and expos.
By the way, Godwin said the photos of the monster gator were taken with their cell phones and uploaded directly to Facebook and weren't photoshopped. "It is hard to believe that something this big exists in the wild," Godwin said. "Hunting is a way of life for us and we are very proud of it!" he said. | – An alligator hunting company found one of the biggest alligators you'll ever see, caught by Outwest Farms owner Lee Lightsey in a pond on his ranch in Okeechobee, Fla., CNN reports. Lightsey says he was out hunting that day with his 9-year-old son, a guide, and two other hunters when they spotted the creature—said by the Lightseys to be almost 15 feet long and weighing in at more than 800 pounds, per Fox 13—in one of the ponds that their cattle drink from. Lightsey shot the gator as it started to emerge from the water about 20 feet away, and they used a tractor to drag it out of the pond, the New York Daily News reports. "We determined that he was in fact attacking our livestock as they came to drink," Lightsey says. The image of his son, Mason, posing next to the alligator has gone viral, already shared nearly 6,000 times on Facebook alone. "It is hard to believe that something this big exists in the wild," the guide who was on the hunt tells Fox 13. The farm says the alligator meat will be donated to charity, and the gator stuffed and displayed at future hunting shows. (Maybe the beast kept burglars at bay.) |
Quebec's justice minister says comments made by a Quebec court judge about a teenage victim assaulted by her taxi driver are unacceptable, after it came to light that the judge had commented on the girl's weight and suggested she enjoyed getting attention from a handsome older man.
In May, Judge Jean-Paul Braun found taxi driver Carlo Figaro guilty of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old passenger in 2015.
During the trial, Braun commented on the victim's appearance, saying she was "a bit overweight, but she has a pretty face."
When asked about Braun's comments Wednesday morning, Justice Minister Stéphanie Vallée told reporters they were "unacceptable" and that she would be filing a complaint with Quebec's magistrates council.
A spokesperson for that body, which hears complaints against judges, said for now it will not be commenting on Braun's remarks.
A spokesperson for the Quebec court also declined to comment, referring questions back to the magistrates council.
According to the victim's version of events, outlined in the judgment, on the night of the assault, Figaro stopped the car not far from her house and licked her face. She pushed him away and tried to get out, but in the meantime he touched her breasts and genitals over her clothing and unbuttoned her shirt.
Figaro denied that any sexual contact occurred, but said the victim rubbed the back of his head while she was in the car.
Figaro, now 49, has yet to be sentenced.
His next court date is in November. The defence has appealed his conviction.
'Not the same consent'
Audio recordings of the court proceedings show that Braun also went back and forth with Crown prosecutor Amélie Rivard, suggesting there are degrees of consent and questioning exactly which actions required Figaro to get the victim's consent.
The judge said it is not the same to consent to kiss someone and to "mettre … la main au panier," a French expression that usually refers to touching someone's rear end.
Rivard replied that she hadn't come across that distinction in the jurisprudence.
Braun also highlighted the girl's strict religious upbringing and suggested she enjoyed getting the attention from a man who "looks good" and that she had even flirted with him.
Rivard said the girl was simply being polite and that even if she were flirting, it didn't mean that constituted consent.
Braun also commented in his written decision on the appearance of the 49-year-old taxi driver.
"He looks good and doesn't seem his age," the judge stated.
"We can see from his testimony … that he has nice manners and that he likes to wear cologne: with Versace when he goes out, and with other less-expensive colognes during the week."
Figaro denied ever noticing the 17-year-old in the past, even though he stopped at the coffee shop where she worked regularly.
The judge, in his ruling, stated that he finds that hard to believe, "taking into consideration the [victim's] figure, which is quite voluptuous; the court specifies that she is a pretty young girl."
Despite his line of questioning regarding the girl's role in the assault, Braun found Figaro guilty.
In his decision, Braun said that while the victim perhaps didn't make it clear that she didn't want to be kissed, through her body language and words, she did make it clear that she didn't consent to what happened after that.
'Completely unacceptable'
CALACS West Island, a support group for survivors of sexual assault, said the comments were disturbing.
"He gave messages that were reprehensible … giving her the message that even though she was sexually assaulted, maybe in some way, she was flattered by these comments," Caroline Deslauriers, a counsellor with CALACS, told CBC News.
"These comments are completely unacceptable. They're unacceptable from anybody, but especially coming from a judge." ||||| Image copyright Thinkstock
A Canadian judge has come under fire for noting a sexual assault victim's weight and appearance in court.
Quebec court Judge Jean-Paul Braun also suggested the victim was a "little flattered" by the attention she received from her alleged assailant.
He made the comments while presiding over the trial of a taxi driver accused of assaulting a 17-year-old passenger.
Provincial Justice Minister Stéphanie Vallée called the comments unacceptable and has filed a complaint.
The Journal de Montreal newspaper first reported on Judge Braun's recorded remarks made in court in May.
Judge Braun eventually found the taxi driver, Carlo Figaro, 49, guilty of sexual assault. He is appealing the verdict.
According to the victim's testimony, Figaro tried to kiss her, licked her face and groped her while she was a passenger in his vehicle.
"You could say she's a little overweight, but she has a pretty face, huh?" the judge said of the victim during the trial, according to a recording obtained by the Journal de Montreal.
He also spoke about the different degrees of consent required to kiss someone, saying it was "not the same" as the consent required to grab a person's rear end, the newspaper reported.
The judge also reportedly mused the victim might have been flattered by the attention from the taxi driver because "it was perhaps the first time that he was interested in her".
It is not the first time Mr Braun has come under scrutiny.
He was criticised in 2013 for saying the case of a telecom technician who verbally harassed a 19-year-old and grabbed her breasts was not "the crime of the century".
On Twitter, the head of the Quebec Bar Association, Paul-Matthieu Grondin, called Judge Braun's remarks "deplorable" and said they do not have a place in today's justice system.
Quebec's magistrate's council, which handles ethics complaints about provincially appointed judges, said it does not comment on complaints it receives.
The council reviews complaints before determining whether to launch an investigation. If necessary an inquiry committee decides on possible sanctions.
In May, the province of Ontario made sexual assault training mandatory for newly appointed provincial judges. ||||| Quebec’s justice minister will file a complaint against a judge who said a 17-year-old victim of sexual assault had a pretty face and was maybe a “bit flattered” at the interest shown in her. Le Journal de Montreal reported Wednesday that Quebec court Judge Jean-Paul Braun made the comments earlier this year during the sexual assault trial of taxi driver Carlo Figaro, who was eventually found guilty of attacking her in his cab. “We can say she is a little overweight, but she has a pretty face, huh?” Braun said at one point. He went on to say she was possibly even “a little flattered” because “maybe it’s the first time he’s interested in her.” Braun said the victim was perhaps a bit naive, although she didn’t expect to be groped during the taxi ride.
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The trial heard that Figaro licked the girl’s face and grabbed her before she was able to get out of the vehicle. Braun noted that trying to kiss someone could be seen as an acceptable gesture. In Quebec City on Wednesday, Justice Minister Stephanie Vallee called the judge’s remarks unacceptable and said she intends to file a complaint.
Braun convicted Figaro, 49, last May of sexual assault and the cabbie will return to court in November for a sentencing hearing. He is appealing the verdict. Quebec court Chief Judge Lucie Rondeau said in a statement the court would not comment on Braun’s case. “Indeed, following the complaint announced by the justice minister, it is up to the Conseil de la magistrature du Quebec (judicial council) to decide whether an ethical fault has been committed,” Rondeau wrote. But that didn’t stop provincial politicians of all stripes weighing in Wednesday, roundly criticizing the judge’s comments as unacceptable. Helene David, the minister responsible for the status of women, called on judges to address the issue. “Do they need more training? Do they need more sensibility? I don’t know — this is their problem,” David told a news conference. “But they have to solve that kind of problem and change the mentality and attitude.” Parti Quebecois Leader Jean-Francois Lisee called Braun’s comments troubling. “This is very serious,” he said, adding the judge should recuse himself from further cases. “We turn to our judges for wisdom and (upholding) the law, and we have had neither.” Quebec solidaire member Manon Masse said in a statement the judge’s comments demonstrate that “rape culture is implanted in different spheres of Quebec society and, once again, this is another example of a person in a position of authority making inappropriate remarks toward women.” She called on the judicial council to settle the matter quickly. The council must first evaluate whether a complaint will be accepted and, if so, an investigative committee would examine the facts before determing whether there would be any eventual sanction. A spokeswoman for the council declined comment Wednesday. At the federal level, a bill proposed by ex-Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose that would mean changes to sex assault law training for federally appointed judges is before the Senate. In response to complaints about judges’ comments in other jurisdictions, Ontario also made sexual assault training a requirement for provincial judges in May.
Read more about: | – Taxi driver Carlo Figaro was found guilty of sexual assault in a Quebec court earlier this year, but not before the judge in his case made some questionable comments about the 17-year-old victim. The BBC reports a complaint has been filed by a provincial minister against Judge Jean-Paul Braun. Per the CBC, the teen victim had testified the 49-year-old Figaro had assaulted her while she was his passenger in 2015, stopping the cab near her home and proceeding to touch her body through her clothes, unbutton her shirt, and lick her face. "You could say she's a little overweight, but she has a pretty face, huh?" Braun said during the May proceedings, per a recording heard by the French-language Journal de Montreal. Braun also reportedly said she may have been a "little flattered by Figaro's attentions—he noted Figaro "looks good," is well-mannered, and wears brand-name cologne—and mused on the different levels of consent required for kissing versus grabbing someone's buttocks. However, Braun conceded that even if the teen, who he stated in his ruling had a "voluptuous" figure, had initially been flirty, she'd also shown she didn't offer consent for Figaro to do much of what he did. Justice Minister Stephanie Vallee filed a complaint against Braun to the local magistrates council and told reporters Wednesday his comments were "unacceptable." Figaro, who denies sexual contact happened, is appealing. His sentencing date is in November, per the Toronto Star. |
Justin Bourque, the 24-year-old suspected of carrying out a shooting that left three Mounties dead and two others wounded, has been apprehended by RCMP in Moncton, N.B.
RCMP spokesman Paul Greene said Bourque was arrested at 12:10 a.m. AT Friday.
Moncton resident Michelle Thibodeau told CBC News and other media that Bourque was arrested in her backyard in the northwest part of the city where the shooting occurred and which had been on lockdown while the manhunt for the suspect was underway.
Police advised residents on Twitter soon after the arrest that they can now leave their homes and move freely. The City of Moncton tweeted that city services, including buses, will resume as usual Friday. Schools will remain closed.
RCMP will hold a news conference to provide further details of the arrest at just after 8 a.m. AT in Moncton. The Canadian Press reported that Bourque is being held at the RCMP detachment in Sackville, N.B.
'I'm done,' suspected shooter reported as saying
Thibodeau said she saw police officers head into a patch of trees in her yard and heard five minutes of screaming.
“Justin came out with his hands up, and he said, 'I'm done,'" she told CBC News.
She said he was wearing the same clothes he had been seen in Wednesday and was dripping wet, likely from the rain that was falling in Moncton at the time.
Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc reflected on Friday morning about the impact of the last two days on his city.
"Moncton has always been known as a very resilient community. We have been through hard times before, not like this mind you, but I really do think the community will come together and we will find our way through this," he said.
The mayor said it is important to support the police and the family members who lost loved ones in the shooting. He said the relief of Bourque's overnight arrest will soon be taken over by the grief for the family members.
"I think it is going to be a bittersweet day. I think there will be a lot of sadness," LeBlanc said.
"I think the happiness and elation over the arrest of the suspect will continue but I think as time goes on, I think that people will realize how the families and all of us will have to come to terms with the terrible loss that this has caused us."
New Brunswick Premier David Alward said his thoughts were with the families who lost loved ones.
"These events have been among the most shocking and heart-wrenching moments in my service as premier," he said.
One of the slain officers was identified as Dave Ross, a Quebec-born Mountie who had lived in New Brunswick for seven years. Ross was a married father of a 19-month-old with another baby on the way, his mother-in-law told CBC News.
"To the families, friends and colleagues of the fallen officers, although we cannot know the full impact of your suffering, your fellow New Brunswickers share the horror and pain. You are not alone in your grief. Our hearts, minds and prayers are with you during the difficult days ahead," Alward said.
1 of 2 wounded officers released from hospital
Alward asked people to also remember the two officers who were wounded and all of the emergency services staff who helped during the shooting and subsequent manhunt. The two wounded officers underwent surgery Thursday. One was released, and the other remains hospitalized.
"When faced with tragedy, it is normal to feel bewildered and shocked," Alward said. "It is important to reach out to our family, friends and neighbours to work through the grief and stress that these events have caused, and encourage people to express themselves."
"Children, in particular, may have difficulties expressing their feelings and confusion."
He added that those feeling overwhelmed can get help in New Brunswick by dialing 811. People can send their condolences to the RCMP at [email protected].
'Absolutely surreal'
A feeling of relief swept through the city. Resident Joey Stokes went to the police headquarters to show his support.
"Our city's safe again," he said. "We live in Moncton. We're pretty tight-knit, everybody's friendly. To have this happen here, it's absolutely surreal."
Matthew Bachman also went to the police station on a wet, cold night.
“It just felt like we should go out and show our support,” Bachman said. “I was just glued to the TV the last two days.”
Police, including tactical officers, began their manhunt for the suspected shooter Wednesday at around 7:30 p.m. AT after responding to a call about a man walking along a road with what looked to be a gun.
After the call, shots were fired and officers called for backup.
The RCMP said police officers from across the country were brought in to help arrest the suspect. ||||| Three RCMP officers were killed and another two suffered non-life-threatening injuries in Moncton, N.B., where a manhunt was still underway for the gunman early Thursday morning.
More than five hours after the first calls to 911 came in, heavily armed officers from Codiac RCMP, the local detachment, were searching for 24-year-old Justin Bourque of Moncton in a heavily wooded area known as Pinehurst Park. The RCMP say he is considered armed and dangerous.
“This whole night’s been horrible for me, my family, the entire city,” said Will Njoku, 42, who was emptying the dishwasher just before 8 p.m. local time when he first heard shots.
He thought they were firecrackers, set off by teenagers celebrating the nice weather. Then Njoku heard the sirens, and five more shots.
“It seemed like we were in danger,” said Njoku, who lives on Rennick Rd. in west Moncton with his wife, four-year-old son and two-year-old twin boys.
#Codiac RCMP searching for 24-y-o Justin Bourque of Moncton. Considered armed and dangerous. http://t.co/AVbkq3CiAc — RCMP New Brunswick (@RCMPNB) June 5, 2014
Three blocks away and a street over, Danielle Hache was woken by the sound of the blasts.
“I heard the shotgun around eight. I was sleeping on my couch and it woke me up,” said Danielle Hache, who lives on Isington St., an area near one of the reported shootings.
Jenn Allaert, 35, was attending a high school awards ceremony with her daughter and about 300 other students and their families when the principal announced that police had ordered a lockdown.
“They said there was a gunman and that he was equipped with basically a bullet belt and multiple rifles and he was basically on a rampage. At that time we had heard that he had shot one RCMP officer,” she said.
Allaert got out of the school when the action moved toward the home of 66-year-old James McIntosh. He was out for an evening walk shortly before 8 p.m. when he heard gunshots ring out.
“We heard what must have been at least a dozen shots and you could tell it was different rifles, or different guns being used,” he said.
The shots were coming from the woods about 100 metres from the trailer park where he lives.
Shortly after 10 p.m., in a possibly unrelated incident, more shots were heard behind Angie’s Show Palace, a bar and grill in Dieppe, which is adjacent to Moncton, according to a man who works at the restaurant but did not want to be identified.
Eventually the massive manhunt snaked its way south, through a highway underpass and back into Allaert’s subdivision of Pinehurst Park.
“I did hear some kind of strange noise about 25 minutes ago . . . maybe kind of like a thunder noise,” Allaert said in an interview.
Photos of a man believed to be Bourque circulated on social media showing a man dressed in green camouflage clothing carrying two rifles.
#Codiac #RCMPNB - 3 officers mortally wounded by shooter. 2 officers sustained non life threatning injuries. Shooter still actively sought. — RCMP New Brunswick (@RCMPNB) June 5, 2014
Carolyn McCormack, a spokesperson for the Moncton Hospital, said at least three victims with gunshot wounds have been admitted.
“I was shocked and saddened to learn of tonight’s tragic situation in Moncton,” said New Brunswick Premier David Alward in a statement.
George LeBlanc, the mayor of Moncton, called on members of the public to stay inside their homes as police searched for the shooter.
“Terrible sad news for Moncton,” LeBlanc tweeted. “Prayers for the families.”
Const. Damien Theriault said police were urging people in the area to stay inside their homes and lock their doors. “We’re advising people to stay inside until further notice,” Theriault said.
Njoku said the shootings were “unbelievable” in Moncton, a city of 70,000 people in southeastern New Brunswick.
“This is a very safe neighbourhood, a small city,” Njoku said. ||||| Police in New Brunswick confirmed early Friday that shooting suspect Justin Bourque has been arrested.
Mr. Bourque, 24, wanted in connection with the shooting deaths of three RCMP officers, was taken into custody shortly after midnight.
A Twitter message from New Brunswick RCMP finally brought some relief to the residents of this city, many of whom had been living in fear since the shootings took place Wednesday evening.
Globe and Mail Update Jun. 05 2014, 7:09 PM EDT Video: Moncton father shares first-hand account of shooting
Emergency response officers check a residence in Moncton, N.B. on Thursday, June 5, 2014. Three RCMP officers were killed and two injured by a gunman wearing military camouflage and wielding two guns on Wednesday. Police have identified a suspect as 24-year-old Justin Bourque of Moncton. CP Live coverage Suspect captured in deadly Moncton shooting Police have apprehended the suspect in the shooting deaths of three RCMP officers in Moncton, New Brunswick. One resident who lives a few doors down from where the arrest was made says she is relieved. CP Video Video Video: Relief in Moncton as shooting suspect arrested Members of the RCMP Tactical Troop guard a roadblock to the on ramp to highway 15 west in Moncton, New Brunswick on June 5 2014. Police continue their manhunt for Justin Bourque of Moncton, NB, on June 5 2014. Three RCMP officers are dead and two wounded after Bourque, 24, shot the officers and possibly others on June 4 2014. Residents were told to stauy inside and not to open their doors for anyone they didn't know. The Globe and Mail gallery In pictures: Police hunt a killer
“Justin Bourque arrested by RCMP at 12:10 in Moncton He is in police custody. Residents of north Moncton can now leave their homes,” the message said.
Police caught up with Mr. Bourque along Mecca Dr., roughly a kilometre from the trailer park where he lived and 800 meters from the tidy suburban streets where his rampage began.
An officer radioed "14alpha12, he's here on Mecca" shortly after the arrest, according to archived scanner audio at broadcastify.com.
Mecca Drive is an area of two-storey middle class homes where Mr. Bourque would have had a clear sight of residents as well as traffic on nearby Wheeler Blvd.
A Moncton resident named Michelle Thibodeau tweeted that she witnessed the arrest.
"He was in my backyard. I saw him arrested in front of my eyes. He is alive," Ms.Thibodeau tweeted.
"The swat team arrived at my house and unloaded and started screaming in my backyard for him to surrender and he did. I watched it happen.
"They had him sprawled on my front lawn for some time and then loaded him into the swat vehicle. They are now checking my yard for firearms."
At least six officers remained on the scene around 3 a.m. One woman out for a walk in the driving rain shortly after the arrest said she heard police yelling at the suspect before hearing him yelling "I'm done" just after midnight.
According to police, the suspect was spotted three times on Thursday but could not be apprehended. By afternoon, police snipers moved into position and officers surrounded a rooming house in Moncton. But after clearing the building, they left empty-handed. As night fell, the RCMP asked residents to stay locked in their homes and keep their porch lights on.
“This is working through your worst nightmare,” RCMP Assistant Commissioner Roger Brown, the force’s commanding officer in New Brunswick, said Thursday as the search was still underway. “This is a very, very dangerous situation.”
Military-style armored vehicles patrolled the roads while helicopters whirred overhead. Tensions were high as police were grieving the loss of three colleagues, the worst mass shooting of police officers in Canada since the 2005 slaying of four officers at Mayerthorpe, Alta.
The officers in Moncton were gunned down in an ambush, police sources told The Globe and Mail.
One of the slain Mounties was Constable Dave Ross of the Codiac RCMP, according to several media reports. Constable Ross, a police dog handler, was married with a young son and another child on the way. His sister-in-law told The National Post that his widow came home to find the barbecue still running and Constable Ross gone, as he had been called to work urgently, likely after the first reports of a gunman at large. The RCMP did not immediately confirm the report and did not name the rest of the victims.
Two RCMP officers were also wounded during the gunfire. One was released from hospital on Thursday.
Mr. Bourque, who had no previous brushes with the law, was wearing military camouflage and carrying two high-powered rifles along with other weapons in a photo taken on Wednesday that police circulated. Witnesses who saw him shortly before the shooting described him as having a cold, blank look on his face. They said he carried an assault rifle, a shotgun and a crossbow, as well as several knives and ammunition belts. They also described him as a marksman who spent many hours at the gun range. It is not known whether his guns were bought legally.
As an eerie quiet settled over the city of 70,000, schools, government offices and public transit closed for the day. Police staffed roadblocks and checked cars for any sign of the suspect.
Residents of a large portion in the northwest part of Moncton, which includes a heavily wooded area, were ordered to stay inside and to lock their doors. Police appealed to citizens to report any sightings of Mr. Bourque or leads that may help identify his whereabouts. ||||| MONCTON, New Brunswick (AP) — Three police officers were shot dead and two others injured Wednesday in a rare case of gun violence in the east coast Canadian province of New Brunswick, officials said. Authorities were searching for a suspect.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in New Brunswick confirmed on its Twitter feed that three officers were dead and two others had sustained non-life threatening injuries. Police spokesman Paul Greene confirmed the deaths.
The RCMP said on Twitter that they were looking for 24-year-old Justin Bourque of Moncton. The police force tweeted an image of a suspect wearing military camouflage and wielding two guns.
Danny Leblanc, 42, said he saw the shooter in the distance Wednesday evening, wearing a camouflage outfit and standing in the middle of the street with his gun pointed at police cars.
The construction worker said he believed it was an RCMP officer he was looking at until he heard a burst of automatic gunfire coming from the man's gun.
He said he quickly retreated into his home and remained there with his family. At one point a neighbor posted on social media that their kitchen window was shattered by gunfire.
Leblanc said few people on his normally quiet street were sleeping as they awaited word at midnight on whether arrests had been made.
Word that police had been killed shocked the city, Leblanc said.
"It's devastating. I don't know if he was on a hunt for them, or what," he said.
Police said Wednesday night they believed the suspect was at large in a Moncton subdivision. Police had a number of roads in the city blocked and traffic was backed up on major arteries across the city.
Drivers were also asked to stay out of the area.
Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc urged all residents to pay strict attention to the RCMP warnings.
"The police and other emergency personnel are working under extremely difficult conditions and need our complete cooperation. Stay home, stay safe. If you cannot get home, seek out a friend or family and remain there until you are advised otherwise," LeBlanc said in a statement.
Such violence is rare in Canada, particularly on Canada's East Coast.
Four Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were shot and killed in the western Canadian province of Alberta in 2005 in the deadliest attack on Canadian police officers in 120 years. They had been investigating a farm in Mayerthrope, a small hamlet in Alberta when a man shot them before he was killed.
The Horizon Health Network, a provincial health authority, said on its Twitter feed that two patients were taken to Moncton Hospital with gunshot wounds.
Theriault said earlier the search for the suspect was concentrated around two streets.
Sean Gallacher, who lives near the area where police were concentrating their search, said he heard what he now believes were gunshots but initially thought his daughter had dropped some toys on the floor above him.
"I was downstairs and heard a few bangs," said Gallacher, 35.
Canadian Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney tweeted that he was "shocked by the tragedy" and that his thoughts and prayers were with frontline RCMP officers.
___
Associated Press writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report. | – After a manhunt that lasted more than 24 hours, police say that the man believed to have shot three Canadian Mounties dead is in custody and that residents of Moncton, New Brunswick, can safely leave their homes. A police spokesman says Justin Bourque, 24, was arrested just after midnight, the CBC reports. The northern part of the small city had been locked down since three officers were killed and two others wounded Wednesday night. Bourque—described by neighbors as a withdrawn man who loved hunting—was spotted three times during the massive manhunt, which involved police officers from across Canada, but still managed to elude capture for more than a day, the AP reports. No motive is known. Police caught up with Bourque on a street of homes around half a mile from where the rampage began, reports the Globe and Mail. "He was in my backyard. I saw him arrested in front of my eyes. He is alive," one witness tweeted."The SWAT team arrived at my house and unloaded and started screaming in my backyard for him to surrender and he did. I watched it happen." Another witness says she heard the suspect yelling, "I'm done" after police shouted at him to give himself up. Canada's governor-general says today is a day to remember the sacrifices of the three Mounties killed, the force's first deaths in the line of duty since 2007, CTV reports. |
Incident, in which car mounted pavement and members of public apparently detained driver, being treated as traffic accident
Eleven people have been injured after a minicab driver struck pedestrians outside the Natural History Museum in west London, sparking a major security alert.
Scotland Yard said nine of those hurt were taken to hospital after the incident in Exhibition Road, South Kensington, at about 2.20pm on Saturday. No injuries were thought to be life-threatening or life-changing.
Those taken to hospital included the driver of the the black Toyota Prius, who is under arrest and in custody at a north London police station. Police said the incident was a road traffic investigation and not a terrorist-related incident. Officers are continuing their inquiries.
However, the heavy and swift response to the incident by dozens of armed officers reflected the concerns about a possible terror attack in the capital after the Westminster and London Bridge incidents this year.
The prime minister, Theresa May, tweeted: “My thanks to the first responders at this incident this afternoon and the actions of members of the public. My thoughts are with the injured.”
Pictures and video on social media showed street damage and a large police presence in the capital’s museum district, which is also home to the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Video footage posted on Twitter showed a man being restrained on the ground in the middle of Exhibition Road. None of the four people surrounding him were in police uniform. A black Toyota car was behind them with the driver’s door open.
One witness, Lesley Carter, said passersby held the man down before police arrived. “I saw the man pinned down by about six people. It looked like the car had smashed into the wall between two other cars and the guy got out to run before being pinned down. Loads of people were running away and within minutes the police had turned up. It was a very quick response.”
The streets around the museum were cordoned off in the wake of the incident and South Kensington underground station was closed. By 4.30pm, police at the scene were telling curious tourists that the area was safe, but that an analysis was being carried out.
“I was serving some customers when the police came and just told everyone to run,” said a waitress from a restaurant on Exhibition Road, which was evacuated and cordoned off.
Another witness said: “We were walking near the Science Museum and heard a bang, bang … at first I thought it was gunfire. Then we walked past the scene of the accident and saw a guy pinned down by other men and lots of people calling the police.
“There didn’t appear to be many people hurt – a few sat by the side of the road but more looking shaken than anything. We were then ushered into the Science Museum and the area was quickly cleared of pedestrians.”
A spokesperson for the nearby V&A Museum said it had not been closed to the public after the incident. The Science Museum also remained open but did not admit further visitors. ||||| LONDON (AP) — London police say emergency services are outside the Natural History Museum in London after a car struck pedestrians. Police say a number of people have been injured and one person has been detained at the scene.
The crash happened at 2:20 p.m. on a day when the central London museum is usually teeming with pedestrians including international tourists. Photographs showed a dented silver car and a man being pinned to the ground outside the museum.
Police said Saturday they are working to establish the circumstances and the cause.
The London Ambulance Service was responding to the incident.
Police said more details would be released later. There was no immediate statement on the number or severity of the injuries.
London's official terrorist threat level has been set at "severe," indicating an attack is highly likely. | – Multiple injuries were reported Sunday afternoon after a car drove onto the sidewalk outside the Natural History Museum in London, the Guardian reports. According to the BBC, the injuries in an area popular with tourists are said to be minor. Officials say 11 people were treated for injuries with nine being transported to the hospital. "We heard a horrible thudding noise and a car engine," says a man who was waiting in line for the museum at the time. "Everyone started running and screaming inside." Photos from the scene show a dented car and a man being held on the ground by other people, the AP reports. Police say one man was arrested. "When it calmed down we ... saw a gentleman on the floor being restrained by police," a witness tells the BBC. Police have determined the incident was not terrorism-related but instead a "road traffic collision." |