INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015 Jury rejects sex bias charge

SAN FRANCISCO: A California jury deliberations with the freedom to get any money in the form of missed The session in court on Friday indi- chance at an investment role. rejected charges of gender discrimina- change any or all of the verdict. Pao’s compensation or eligible for punitive cated that the jury was favoring KPCB in During several days of testimony at tion against a prominent venture capi- lawyers painted the 45-year-old woman damages. Judge Kahn’s decision to what would be seen as a major victory trial, Pao maintained that women were tal firm Friday in a case seen as a proxy as an innocent victim of sexual discrimi- send jurors back to deliberate means for the firm, which has been criticized shut out of some KPCB networking trial of Silicon Valley sex bias. The state nation common at the esteemed ven- there is no official verdict. Each point at for not settling with Pao to avoid hav- events and that bad behavior by male court jury found ture capital firm. But KPCB attorneys issue in the closely-watched civil case ing embarrassing in-house scenarios colleagues included the gift of a “Book Caufield and Byers (KPCB) did not dis- portrayed Pao as a calculating schemer remains open for debate in the jury publicly exposed. Jurors began deliber- of Longing” poetry tome and a conver- criminate against , who burning with resentment and with a room. ations late Wednesday morning after sation that included talk of porn stars. claimed she was fired after complaining thirst for a quick buck. rival attorneys finished closing argu- KPCB lawyer Lynne Hermle reminded about bias at the firm that notably Pao asked the jury to order KPCB to Silicon Valley sexism spotlighted ments. Pao’s lawyer sought to convince jurors of a chart Pao made of co-work- backed Amazon, Facebook and Google. pay $16 million in money she would The gender discrimination trial pits the panel that KPCB had a double stan- ers she resented, including a married However the outcome was immediately have made if she wasn’t fired from the an iconic venture capital firm against an dard when it came to gender, and then partner with whom she had an affair called into question however after trial firm in 2012. Pao is now the well-paid employee shown the door not long retaliated against her when she com- and high-profile partner Doerr. Hermle judge Harold Kahn found that the jury interim chief of social news site Reddit. after her affair with a married partner. A plained about it. “They ran Kleiner contended that Pao perpetually clashed verdict did not have enough votes on On each question regarding whether six man, six-woman jury was asked, Perkins like a boys club,” Pao’s attorney with co-workers and put her own agen- one of the claims. Pao’s gender was a “substantial motivat- essentially, to decide whether the suit Alan Exelrod argued. Pao contends that da first. Pao tried to “torpedo” a KPCB The question surrounded whether ing reason” for her being passed over filed by Pao is a stand against a boys she and other women were passed over investigation into her complaint while Pao’s filing of her lawsuit or a memoran- for promotion and eventually fired, a club atmosphere at KPCB or a money for advancement and endured harass- devoting much time and effort to culti- dum regarding her complaint was a requisite two-thirds or more of the jury grab by an employee who lacked the ment in a male-oriented culture. Pao vating email trails and gathering digital “substantial motivating reason” for her voted “No.” Those votes, if they stand, skills to join the rarified ranks of Silicon was hired in 2005 to be an office man- documents to give lawyers handling being fired. Kahn sent the jury back to would mean that Pao is not in line to Valley venture capitalists. ager for Doerr and years later got a her lawsuit, Hermle argued.— AFP

Autopsies determine children found in freezer were slain

DETROIT: A brother and sister whose bod- neither she nor her siblings had gone to ies were found in a deep freezer in their school in two years. It’s not clear if they Detroit home had been beaten to death, actually were receiving lessons at home. autopsies determined Friday, painting a Under Michigan’s school code, parents can more complete picture of the horrors that take their children from public schools unfolded inside the home for years but and homeschool them without alerting that apparently went unnoticed by the local or education officials. outside world. The Wayne County medical City Councilwoman Mary Sheffield said examiner’s office classified the deaths of Friday that’s not good enough. “There is Stoni Ann Blair and Stephen Gage Berry as no accountability whatsoever,” Sheffield homicides, saying both were killed by told The Associated Press. “You can pull multiple blows and that the young boy your student out (of school), but there is also had “thermal injuries.” no way to monitor the care and well-being Their older sister, who is 17, told child of that child. That’s a huge concern.” welfare officials that their mother, Sheffield, who held a prayer vigil Friday Mitchelle Blair, tortured Stephen “for night at the family’s apartment complex, approximately two weeks prior to his said she will be working with legislators to death by tying a belt around his neck, take a closer look at the law. The issue throwing hot water on him while in the gained some attention briefly in 2013, shower and putting a plastic bag over his when a bill was introduced in the state head.” The girl and Blair’s other surviving House that would have required parents child, an 8-year-old boy, have been placed to register their homeschool with the in the care of a relative. Blair, 35, is jailed state. on first-degree child abuse charges, but prosecutors said Thursday that she could Physical abuse face murder charges depending on what “But it didn’t go anywhere,” said Bill the autopsies found. The prosecutor’s DiSessa, state Education spokesman. Gilda office said Friday that there would be no Jacobs, CEO of the Michigan League for changes in the charges over the weekend. Public Policy, said it’s too easy for children Investigators believe Stoni was 13 to fall through the cracks. “Nobody knows when she died and Stephen was 9. They what goes on inside certain homes, and NEW HAMPSHIRE: In this Jan. 3, 2012 file photo, votes are tallied during a caucus of precinct 42 near Smithland, Iowa. Few states have shaped think Stephen died in August 2012 and there is literally no accountability built presidential politics like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. By hosting the nation’s first presidential primary contests, the states have that Stoni died the following May. In a into the homeschooling process,” said reaped political and financial rewards for decades on successful candidates and hastened the end for underachievers. Yet their loutc may be court filing Thursday to end Blair’s Jacobs, whose Lansing-based organiza- declining in 2016. — AP parental rights, the state Department of tion is an advocacy group for the poor. Human Services quoted her surviving Angela Gordon, an aunt who is caring for daughter as saying that after Blair killed the two surviving children, said her first Early states in US presidential Stephen, his body was wrapped in a bed priority is enrolling them in school. She linen and put in the freezer. She said in said she had no indication anything was May 2013, Stoni incensed their mother by wrong at the apartment and questioned saying she didn’t like either of the surviv- whether home checks were completed by primary may be losing clout ing siblings, and that their mother stran- the state. gled Stoni with a T-shirt and placed a plas- The state said in its court filing that tic bag over her mouth. The older girl said Child Protective Services had contacts Republican primary ‘shaping up in political marathon’ her mother forced her to put her sister’s with the family in 2002 and 2005, and that body in the freezer, the agency wrote. investigations substantiated allegations of NASHUA: Few states have shaped presidential Gov Scott Walker spent much of this month House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Conservative physical abuse. Neither of the fathers were politics like Iowa, New Hampshire and South trekking through all three states, as did other pre- donor Foster Friess, who almost singlehandedly Homeschooled involved in the four children’s lives, and Carolina. By hosting the nation’s first presidential sumed candidates who are aggressively hiring bankrolled Santorum’s super PAC in 2012, predict- Court officers carrying out an eviction both owe more than $10,000 in child sup- primaries and caucuses, the states have heaped state-based political operatives. Bush told South ed an extended campaign this time because of notice at the family’s home in an apart- port, the agency noted. Blair also collect- political and financial rewards for decades on suc- Carolina Republicans their state is critical because the quality of the candidates. “I don’t expect a ment complex near downtown Detroit on ed government food assistance and cessful candidates and hastened the end for it holds “the first big primary,” a nod to a projected clear leader to emerge until after South Carolina,” Tuesday found the bodies in the freezer. Medicaid for all of her children - including underachievers. Yet their clout may be declining turnout that dwarfs participation in Iowa, New Friess said. A compressed voting calendar, as well Neighbors said afterward that they hadn’t Stoni and Stephen - through this month. in 2016. Campaign aides and veteran political Hampshire and Nevada. Visiting New Hampshire as natural geographic advantages for some candi- seen the dead children for about a year - “While we cannot release information on a operatives expect the Republicans’ next primary recently, Kentucky Sen Rand Paul predicted the dates later on, also offers an incentive for some although investigators believe it must specific case, this type of tragedy under- season to extend well beyond the first three primary season could “go on for quite a while,” but Republican candidates to stay in longer. Several have been longer than that - and that they scores that protecting children is the states, thanks to an explosion of well-financed highlighted the momentum that the early states Southern states, including delegate-rich Texas, rarely saw the two surviving children. responsibility of everyone in our commu- super PACs, a robust stable of candidates and offer. Yet those likely contenders and others are are expected to hold their elections March 1, When neighbors asked if the children nities,” said Bob Wheaton, state Human changes in the election calendar that could make laying the groundwork to continue competing when delegates will be awarded to candidates attended school, they said Blair told them Services spokesman. “We rely on the eyes the 2016 GOP primary season one of the most even if they stumble early. proportionally. the kids were being homeschooled. The and ears of those in the community to competitive in history. 17-year-old told child welfare officials that help us protect children.”—AP That drawn-out scenario is despite the wishes Political team Shifting landscapes of the Republican National Committee, which While he faces hurdles in the early states, Bush At least three likely competitors have strong recently changed rules with the aim of giving the is amassing considerable resources to go well ties to Texas - one of its senators, Ted Cruz; the eventual nominee a quicker and easier path to beyond the early states - both through traditional state’s former governor, Rick Perry; and Bush, a the general election. While there is little competi- fundraising and his allied super PAC. Walker’s trav- Texas native as well as a brother of the former Hillary Clinton wiped tion expected on the Democratic side, the el schedule includes states voting later in primar- governor and president and a son of the former Republican primary is “shaping up to be the ulti- ies, his aides note. Paul has been organizing a president and GOP leader. Both Rubio and Bush mate political marathon,” said Phil Musser, a GOP political team both inside and outside the early have won statewide office in Florida, which is email server ‘clean’ consultant and veteran of presidential politics. He voting states for several months. And even before expected to hold its primary March 15, the first suggested candidates might not get the “sling- they formally announce their campaigns, many day that states can host winner-take-all contests. WASHINGTON: Hillary Clinton wiped “clean” manently delete all emails from her server, shot effect” from early state victories that they likely candidates already enjoy the backing of The final primaries or caucuses must be held by her private server that hosted her emails but Gowdy said it appears to have occurred once might have. super PACs that can raise campaign cash with no June 3, with a Republican presidential nominat- while secretary of state, permanently delet- after October 28, when the State Ronald Weiser, former finance chairman of the limits. ing convention set for July 18. ing all correspondence, and did not turn over Department first asked her to hand over the Republican National Committee, agrees. “The At least 10 potential contenders are now Candidates need to win early to show they can more of the messages, lawmakers said records. early states are still important, but they’re not crit- backed by super PACs, or related organizations, go the distance, says Phil Cox, executive director Friday. A simmering scandal over Clinton’s ical anymore,” he said. “You’re not gone if you that offer a financial safety net to help replace the for a super PAC backing New Jersey Gov Chris admitted use of a private email account for ‘Unprecedented’ deletion of records don’t do well in those first couple primaries.” By fundraising boost traditionally earned from Christie. Still, he says, there is less incentive for can- the duration of her four years as President In a letter to Gowdy, Clinton lawyer David nature of being first, however, Iowa, New strong finishes in Iowa, New Hampshire or South didates to drop out early than in the past. Even Barack Obama’s top diplomat has threatened Kendall wrote that she has already complied Hampshire and South Carolina will continue to Carolina. Florida Sen Marco Rubio was the latest Republicans in early states acknowledge the shift- to mar a spring rollout of her all-but-certain with the order to hand over all work-related consume much of the political world’s attention to join the super PAC club when an ally recently ing landscape. But they warned candidates not to White House campaign. emails to the State Department. Now, with over the coming 11 months. Those states, along announced plans to run the organization. take those states too lightly. Candidates who think “We learned today, from her attorney, that review process complete, “there are no with Nevada, are the only Republican primary Presidential super PACs did not exist at this point they can just survive the early rounds and fight Secretary Clinton unilaterally decided to [email protected] emails from contests allowed next February, according to par- in the 2012 campaign. Once established, they through the slog will be following “a really risky wipe her server clean and permanently Secretary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of ty rules that outline strict penalties for states that showcased the ability of a few wealthy donors to strategy without precedent,” said Fergus Cullen, delete all emails from her personal server,” state on the server for any review, even if try to jump ahead. sustain underdog candidates such as former former New Hampshire GOP chairman. “A win House Benghazi Committee chairman Trey such review were appropriate or legally Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Pennsylvania Sen Rick Santorum and former here is going to mean something.”— AP authorized,” he said. Reiterating what Clinton herself had conveyed at a press conference earlier this month, Kendall said Clinton and her legal team determined which emails were personal and unrelated to work-nearly Two Czech women freed in Pakistan 32,000 emails-and deleted them. The remaining 30,490 work-related emails were PRAGUE: Two young Czech women kidnapped negotiations with the kidnappers, told the released two months later, Humpalova called on provided to the State Department in in Pakistan in 2013 have been freed and have agency the families of the victims had contact- the Czech government to exert pressure on December at the agency’s request, he said. returned home, Prime Minister Bohuslav ed the Turkish charity as a last resort after Islamabad to return her to her homeland “as Gowdy called Clinton’s permanent dele- Sobotka said yesterday. “I can confirm that Hana exhausting all other means to save the pair. “We soon as possible”. tion of her personal records “unprecedented” Humpalova and Antonie Chrastecka have have put into use every tool at our disposal to Speaking to Anadolu, Humpalova said: “It and said the committee will work with lead- already returned to the Czech Republic,” get them back. We have delivered them to their was very hard. For the first time in our lives we ers in the House of Representatives on a path Sobotka told the CT24 news channel. He added families safely today,” Sahin told Anadolu, saw weapons and armed men.” “We still do not Hillary Rodham Clinton forward. “But it is clear Congress will need to that the two 26-year-old women were freed adding that the charity still did not know why know why were taken. There were weapons speak with the former secretary about her with the help of the Turkish Muslim humanitari- the Czechs had been kidnapped. fired and bombs going off. But we got used to it Gowdy said in a statement after Clinton’s email arrangement and the decision to per- an organization IHH. “I would like to ask the Humpalova and Chrastecka, both psycholo- in time.” She said the worst part of their two- lawyer wrote to explain why no new emails manently delete those emails,” he said. The media to respect the women’s privacy,” Sobotka gy students, were kidnapped on March 13, year ordeal was being apart from their families. would be forthcoming from the likely 2016 Benghazi committee’s top Democrat Elijah added. 2013, in the southwestern Baluchistan province “From the first moment I was kidnapped, I want- presidential candidate. Gowdy had issued a Cummings slammed as a “political charade” Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency while being escorted by a tribal policeman after ed to be with them. I am so happy right now subpoena for all Clinton emails related to Gowdy’s persistent call for emails that have quoted Chrastecka as saying: “I still can’t believe crossing into Pakistan from Iran on holiday. In a and so excited,” Chrastecka said. Kidnappings Libya, particularly the September 11, 2012 already been handed over, and said the I am here. Even now, I fear this is a dream.” The video released shortly after the kidnapping, the plague parts of Baluchistan and northwest attacks in Benghazi that killed four Clinton emails provided to the committee on agency said Chrastecka and Humpalova had two young Czechs pleaded for the release of Pakistan, where criminals looking for ransoms Americans, and formally requested she turn Libya should be made public and that she arrived in the eastern Turkish province of Van Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui, jailed in snatch foreigners and locals, sometimes passing over her server to a neutral third party. It is should swiftly be scheduled for public testi- late on Friday following two months of “intense” 2010 in the United States on charges of terrorist their hostages on to the Taleban and Al-Qaeda- unclear exactly when Clinton decided to per- mony.—AFP talks. Izzet Sahin, the IHH official leading the links. In another video shot in August 2013 and linked groups.— AFP