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Total 100 articles, created at 2016-03-24 18:03 1 Poland's leaders want no refugees after Brussels blasts WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's president on Thursday threw his support behind a
(2.00/3) government decision to renege on a deal to accept thousands of refugees, blam... 2016-03-24 12:04 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 2 Second suspect believed in Brussels subway attack Belgian state broadcaster RTBF and France's Le Monde are reporting that a second attacker is suspected of taking part in the bombing this week of a Brussels subway train (2.00/3) and may be at large 2016-03-24 14:58 1KB www.mid-day.com 3 Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson announces retirement from international cricket
(2.00/3) Veteran Australian all-rounder Shane Watson announced that he would retire from international cricket at the end of the ongoing World Twenty20 tournament in India 2016-03-24 16:22 1KB www.mid-day.com 4 Eye Opener: Hunt for suspects connected to Belgian bombings (2.00/3) European security forces hunt more accomplices in the Brussels terror attacks. Also, a severe spring storm threatens more than 50 million Americans. All that and all that matters in today's Eye Opener. Your world in 90 seconds. 2016-03-24 13:38 1KB www.cbsnews.com 5 Holy Week provides welcome respite for ailing PBA players If there's one thing evident this 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup, it's that no one is safe. Injuries have already taken down four players in the top 10 of last conference's 2016-03-24 18:02 2KB sports.inquirer.net 6 Agri agencies get P6-billion subsidies from DBM Three agriculture agencies received around P6-billion worth of subsidies from the Department of Budget and Management. In a statement on Thursday, the DBM said P4.25 billion was released to the 2016-03-24 18:02 2KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 7 Coffee shop crew pray with grieving customer at drive-thru window // Snapped this picture while waiting in line at the Dutch Bros on 138th Avenue today. Turns out the young lady in line... Posted by Barbara Danner on Saturday, 19 March 2016 A woman 2016-03-24 18:02 2KB technology.inquirer.net 8 Referee, judges chosen for Pacquiao-Bradley 3 Familiar faces will be at the ring and the ringside as Manny Pacquiao closes his boxing career in a third bout against Timothy Bradley. According to BoxingScene.com, veteran referee Robert Byrd 2016-03-24 18:02 2KB sports.inquirer.net 9 Study: Americans who eat a Japanese diet have a 15% lower... On average, nobody lives longer than Japanese women. 2016-03-24 16:36 801Bytes www.ajc.com 10 Panel to review Las Vegas Sands’ NFL-grade stadium proposal A panel created by Gov. Brian Sandoval is discussing a plan to build a professional- grade stadium at UNLV that could someday be home to the Raiders. 2016-03-24 17:51 1KB www.washingtontimes.com
11 The Villages is nation’s fastest growing, again Have golf cart, will travel. At least to The Villages. 2016-03-24 17:51 3KB www.washingtontimes.com 12 Poolside style tips to steal from SA’s celebs Planning on chilling by the pool or on the beach this long weekend? For an A-list look, take your wardrobe cues from local celebrities 2016-03-24 16:48 3KB www.timeslive.co.za 13 Lindsey Graham: 2016 likely lost, but stopping Donald Trump can save GOP Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Thursday that his party will probably lose the presidential race to Democrat Hillary Clinton no matter who gets the nomination, but stopping Donald Trump would at least “salvage a party that I love.” 2016-03-24 17:14 2KB www.washingtontimes.com 14 Authorities release officers’ names in Stamford shooting Authorities have released the name of the two police officers involved in the shooting death of a plumber’s apprentice during an armed standoff in Stamford this week. 2016-03-24 17:14 1KB www.washingtontimes.com 15 Jurors to start deliberating Rockford police shooting case A civil lawsuit filed against the city of Rockford by a church where police shot and killed an unarmed black man in 2009 is headed to the jury. 2016-03-24 17:14 1KB www.washingtontimes.com 16 Vermont police chief named to board that oversees 911 system The St. Albans police chief is going to become chairman of the board that oversees Vermont’s Enhanced 911 emergency telephone system. 2016-03-24 17:13 1KB www.washingtontimes.com 17 EFF: SA media’s lack of sophistication keeps ‘reachable secrets as secrets’ The South African media is behind the curve on state capture. And its reflections on the topic are “largely as a follow-up to the factual reflections the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) gave on the Gupta family’s influence”‚ the party’s deputy president said on Wednesday. 2016-03-24 17:11 2KB www.timeslive.co.za 18 Ex-lawyer for timeshare group admits misleading witness The former general counsel for a company that prosecutors say offered phony consulting services to owners of timeshares has admitted misleading a witness. 2016-03-24 17:00 1KB www.washingtontimes.com 19 Mobile VA Center making its way through SC Lowcountry A mobile Veteran Affairs center is making its way through the Lowcountry over the next week. 2016-03-24 17:00 1KB www.washingtontimes.com 20 Ole Miss ex-student to plead guilty to tying noose on statue A former University of Mississippi student is scheduled to plead guilty Thursday to placing a noose on the University of Mississippi’s statue of its first black student. 2016-03-24 15:22 3KB www.washingtontimes.com 21 David Letterman's new Santa retirement look Whoa, David Letterman -- is that you? It's been only 10 months since the late-night host did his farewell show on CBS, but he already looks quite... different. 2016-03-24 14:43 1KB rss.cnn.com 22 Iain Duncan Smith's resignation shows George Osborne's austerity model has reached its limits What we talk about when we talk about terrorism The Chancellor must either abandon his surplus target or adopt a new strategy for achieving it. 2016-03-24 07:27 11KB www.newstatesman.com 23 Yahoo - National Association of Realtors® Sponsors "Now I Get It" Video Series on Yahoo Finance New Campaign Helps Demystify the Home Buying Process and Highlight the Value Realtors® Bring to the Consumer Journey --(BUSINESS WIRE)-... 2016-03-24 14:23 3KB investor.yahoo.net 24 19 killed in China coal mine cave-in At least 19 miners have been killed in China's Shanxi province after a coal mine caved in, the mine's owner said on Thursday 2016-03-24 15:25 1001Bytes www.mid-day.com 25 Dutch great Johan Cruyff dies Dutch football great Johan Cruyff has died at the age of 68. The former Ajax and Barcelona forward, who also managed both clubs, was diagnosed with lung canc... 2016-03-24 15:24 4KB www.dailymail.co.uk 26 The Brussels attacks point to the existence of a broad terrorist network in Belgium Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić found “responsible” for genocide There is more to this than merely retaliation for the arrest of Salah Abdesalam, the Paris bomber who was captured four days ago. 2016-03-24 07:27 4KB www.newstatesman.com 27 Last call of missing Indian in Brussels tracked to metro: Government The last phone call of Infosys employee from Bengaluru who has gone missing in Brussels since Tuesday's deadly terror strike, has been tracked to a metro rail in the Belgian capital, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said 2016-03-24 15:23 1KB www.mid-day.com 28 Syrian army enters IS-held Palmyra Syrian troops backed by Russian warplanes on Thursday advanced into the ancient city of Palmyra, which has been under jihadist control for nearly a year, a m... 2016-03-24 15:23 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 29 Increased border checks after Brussels attacks 'likely to last around two weeks' Increased borders checks in the wake of the Brussels terror attacks are likely to only last for two weeks, according to a union leader. Controls have been "s... 2016-03-24 15:23 4KB www.dailymail.co.uk 30 Baby rhino found in Indian forest nursed back to health Wearing a red and grey-striped blanket, a 12-day-old baby rhinoceros is bottle-fed by keepers at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in northeast India, after b... 2016-03-24 12:42 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 31 Bill to allow guns bans in ticketed venues fails in House A bill seeking to allow Tennessee cities to ban guns from being carried at ticketed events has failed in a House subcommittee. 2016-03-24 15:22 1KB www.washingtontimes.com 32 Video: Bust of US-Mexico 'Super Tunnel' Leads to Drug Seizures, Arrests The tunnel runs about 415 yards from a restaurant in Mexicali, Mexico and ends in the living room of a three-bedroom house in a residential area of a California border city east of San Diego. 2016-03-24 15:17 1KB abcnews.go.com
33 Hong Kong police say missing book editor Lee Bo returns home HONG KONG (AP) — A book editor whose disappearance nearly three months ago rattled civil liberties advocates in Hong Kong and sparked international concern r... 2016-03-24 15:17 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 34 Vinyl won’t save musicians: It’s still just a miniscule portion of music-industry revenues Old-school records sounds great—but we'll need to sell a lot more of them to make up for declines elsewhere 2016-03-24 12:24 2KB salon.com.feedsportal.com 35 North Carolina governor signs controversial LGBT bill North Carolina's governor on Wednesday signed a controversial bill blocking cities from allowing transgender individuals to use public bathrooms for the sex they identify as -- as well as restricting cities from passing nondiscrimination laws more broadly. 2016-03-24 14:08 1KB rss.cnn.com 36 Lethal Belgium attacks raise heat of EU referendum debate LONDON (AP) — The carnage in Brussels, accompanied by credible reports about a wider-than-expected network of Islamic State followers active in Europe, has s... 2016-03-24 15:08 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 37 WT20: Managing chaos in that situation was key factor, says MS Dhoni Indian captain said the team's ability to stay calm under intense pressure and manage the 2016-03-24 15:03 2KB www.mid-day.com 38 Terence Crawford likely to face Viktor Postol in unification bout WBO light welterweight champion Terence Crawford is likely face newly-crowned WBC light welterweight champion Viktor Postol in a unification fight that would take place... 2016-03-24 12:23 787Bytes www.digitaljournal.com 39 In Zimbabwe, make fun of Robert Mugabe at your peril HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — A photo mashup, posted on Facebook, shows 92-year-old Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe posing cozily with singer Rihanna and wearing h... 2016-03-24 14:57 4KB www.dailymail.co.uk 40 My awful date with Donald Trump: The real story of a nightmare evening with a callow but cash-less heir It was New York in the early 1970s. He arrived in a white Cadillac convertible. And had no cash to pay for dinner 2016-03-24 12:24 2KB salon.com.feedsportal.com 41 “A party that attracts antisemites like flies to a cesspit”: the Jewish Chronicle condemns Labour What we talk about when we talk about terrorism In a damning leader, the newspaper calls on Jeremy Corbyn to address the “cancer” of antisemitism in his party. 2016-03-24 13:35 10KB www.newstatesman.com 42 UN chief arrives in Beirut; Syria talks to adjourn in Geneva The U. N. chief has arrived in Lebanon on an official visit that comes as the U. N.- brokered peace talks in Geneva between the Syrian government and the opposition are to adjourn until later in April. 2016-03-24 14:45 1KB www.washingtontimes.com 43 Hear this, Sanders supporters — you don’t need to back Hillary: You have every right to say “Bernie or bust” Bernie backers want change, not the status quo that Clinton offers, so they have no obligation to her in November 2016-03-24 12:24 4KB salon.com.feedsportal.com
44 We trust British politicians with third terms. So why not African ones? What we talk about when we talk about terrorism We don't see a third term as a danger sign when it's Margaret Thatcher or Tony Blair - so why do we see it as one in the Congo? 2016-03-24 13:29 13KB www.newstatesman.com 45 Rahm and Debbie have to go: Why Hillary should be calling for their resignation If Clinton cares at all about the future of her party, she must cut bait with two of her most corrupt disciples 2016-03-24 12:24 5KB salon.com.feedsportal.com 46 Robert Reich: We’re talking about the largest redistribution of wealth to the rich in American history Trump and Cruz may call themselves outsiders, but their tax plans are firmly in line with the GOP establishment VIDEO 2016-03-24 12:24 2KB salon.com.feedsportal.com 47 Conspiracy theories rain down: California cloud-seeding project brings out the truthers Los Angeles County hopes to make it rain amidst a crippling drought. Skeptics believe something more sinister afoot VIDEO 2016-03-24 12:24 6KB salon.com.feedsportal.com 48 Two brothers named as the Brussels bombers for attacks that killed 34 people What we talk about when we talk about terrorism Zavantem airport blasts killed at least 11 while about 20 died in an explosion at Maelbeek metro station. 2016-03-24 13:19 9KB www.newstatesman.com 49 What is Leadership? Much has been written about the elusive concept of leadership. People skills, training, worldly, smart, sense of purpose, compelling communications skills, charisma etc etc. 2016-03-24 14:31 2KB www.news24.com 50 Delhi records 558 drunk driving cases on Holi Delhi has recorded a total of 558 drunk driving cases till now on the occasion of Holi, police said on Thursday 2016-03-24 14:29 991Bytes www.mid-day.com 51 Youth throws slipper at Kanhaiya Kumar in Hyderabad Chaos prevailed at a meeting addressed by JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar here on Thursday as a slogan-shouting youth threw a slipper at him 2016-03-24 14:28 2KB www.mid- day.com 52 Fishmongers plan to make a killing over Easter weekend One snoek will set you back up to R260 in Cape Town as fishmongers cash in on the Easter rush for pickled fish. 2016-03-24 14:27 4KB www.news24.com
53 Scientists say Shakespeare's skull may be missing from grave LONDON (AP) — Archaeologists who scanned the grave of William Shakespeare say they have made a head-scratching discovery: His skull appears to be missing. Re... 2016-03-24 12:28 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 54 Homosexuality: A Christian View | CBN.com (beta) This week we'll be featuring a special series that examines the subject of homosexuality from a Christian perspective. We begin our series with the Word of God, where homosexuality is mentioned only a few times. Several experts offer a careful examination what the scriptures... 2016-03-24 12:36 914Bytes www1.cbn.com
55 Saudi Arabia reviews hajj security plans after deadly crush RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi press is reporting that the kingdom has held a workshop to review hajj security plans following a crush that killed more th... 2016-03-24 14:19 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 56 Man stabbed for protesting against daughter's eve teasing in Meerut A man was allegedly stabbed by a youth when he protested against the eve teasing of his daughter in the Lisari Gate area in Meerut, police said on Thursday 2016-03-24 14:17 1KB www.mid-day.com 57 Russian walker to lose Olympic gold medal after court ruling MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian race walker stands to lose his gold medal from the 2012 London Olympics after the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday rejected... 2016-03-24 14:12 5KB www.dailymail.co.uk 58 Where's real action on 'Quantico'? Check the Writers Room NEW YORK (AP) — Under bright lights in a Montreal studio, the stars of "Quantico" are filming a new episode of this ABC thriller cast as hotshot trainees at... 2016-03-24 14:11 6KB www.dailymail.co.uk 59 MPs quiz Osborne on budget as poll says his approval rating never been lower - Politics live Rolling coverage of all the day’s political developments as they happen, including George Osborne being questioned by the Treasury committee about the budget 2016-03-24 14:10 1KB www.theguardian.com 60 Louis van Gaal speculation mounts after omission from Manchester United video The future of Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has been placed in further doubt after the Dutchman was left out of the club's promotional video for t... 2016-03-24 14:06 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 61 Kriel back in Bulls starting XV Bulls coach Nollis Marais has named his team for their Super Rugby clash against the Sunwolves in Singapore. 2016-03-24 14:02 2KB www.sport24.co.za
62 Official: 40 dead ducks along Pennsylvania road placed there QUARRYVILLE, Pa. (AP) — Investigators in Pennsylvania are trying to find out who left more than 40 dead ducks along a rural road last week. The Pennsylvania... 2016-03-24 14:02 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 63 Dog found with tongue cut out A dog has had to be put down after it was found malnourished and with its tongue cut out in Phoenix, Durban. 2016-03-24 13:51 1KB www.news24.com
64 Bosnian Serb leader Karadzic ultimately chose brutal path SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — From psychiatrist and poet to leader of the Serbian resistance in Bosnia, Radovan Karadzic ultimately chose a brutal path... 2016-03-24 13:48 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 65 Drew Review: South Yorkshire Police's handling of abuse was 'inadequate' The handling of child sexual exploitation cases by South Yorkshire Police was "inadequate", according to a major report. 2016-03-24 12:33 6KB www.bbc.co.uk
66 Oil price war threatens U. S. sense of energy security: Kemp By John Kemp LONDON, March 24 (Reuters) - The political economy of oil prices in the United States is complicated. The United States is the world's largest o... 2016-03-24 13:41 8KB www.dailymail.co.uk 67 What is the future of artificial intelligence? On the return of Pee-Wee Herman Google's artificial intelligence machine AlphaGo has had shockingly good results - but how AI should be used remains a difficult question. 2016-03-24 12:21 9KB www.newstatesman.com 68 9 charged with murder after teen slain in massive brawl AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Authorities say nine people have been charged with murder and another is being sought after a teenager was stabbed to death in a massive,... 2016-03-24 13:40 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 69 Ukraine PM's party says will discuss Groysman PM nomination KIEV, March 24 (Reuters) - The People's Front party of Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Thursday it was prepared to discuss nominating Parli... 2016-03-24 13:38 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 70 The lesson of history is that Conservative divisions over Europe will get worse, not better, after the referendum Donald Trump's rise is scary. But he's not as popular as he seems David Cameron has borrowed Harold Wilson's tactics. He may get the same outcome. 2016-03-24 12:21 8KB www.newstatesman.com 71 Even Corbyn is more popular than the PM and Osborne after the Budget An Ipsos Mori poll found six in 10 people are dissatisfied with the Chancellor, with just 27% satisfied - his worst rating in three years. Corbyn has a rating of 35 per cent - one higher than Cameron. 2016-03-24 13:28 6KB www.dailymail.co.uk 72 China's Xi to meet with Obama on sidelines of nuclear summit BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) will meet with President Barack Obama in Washington next week on the sidelines... 2016-03-24 13:27 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 73 Lesbian who tricked girls into relationships stayed clothed during sex Jennifer Staines, 23, from Preston, Lancs, duped three girls into having sex with her by posing as Jason Spiller, and even maintained one relationship for over a year. 2016-03-24 13:26 4KB www.dailymail.co.uk 74 Adam Johnson was chasing England recall... now in jail for six years CRAIG HOPE: It completes a fall from grace for the 28-year-old one-time England international who commanded a transfer fee of £10million at his peak and was earning £60,000 a week with Sunderland. 2016-03-24 13:26 5KB www.dailymail.co.uk 75 US durable goods orders drop 2.8 percent in February WASHINGTON (AP) — Orders to U. S. factories for long-lasting manufactured goods fell in February with a key category that tracks business investment dropping ... 2016-03-24 13:25 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk
76 Turkish warplanes strike PKK targets in northern Iraq - military ANKARA, March 24 (Reuters) - Turkish warplanes bombed and destroyed nearly a dozen targets belonging to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq la... 2016-03-24 13:24 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 77 11 New Restaurants for You to Try Right Now Celebrate warming temperatures at these recently-opened spots. 2016-03-24 12:31 3KB www.dnainfo.com 78 Dramatic moment British YouTube star accidentally films own car crash London Vlogger Ben Brown, 29, was driving with his friends when a car slammed into them as they passed a junction. The four men are hurled forward but saved by their seatbelts and airbags. 2016-03-24 13:20 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 79 Man who went out 'for a drink' in Essex wakes up 900 miles away Alexander Caviel, 21, downed a dozen shots, and knocked back a bottle of champagne during a night out in Chelmsford. 2016-03-24 13:20 4KB www.dailymail.co.uk 80 Pogba and France squad in good spirits ahead of Holland friendly The France squad appeared in good spirits as they made their way to Holland for Friday's friendly clash ahead of Euro 2016. Paul Pogba and Bacary Sagna gave thumbs up on the flight. 2016-03-24 13:19 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 81 Murder or self-defense? What happened the night Colin Brough died on NAU campus Records, interviews provide new details on shooting after 1 student died, 3 were wounded at Northern Arizona University 2016-03-24 13:17 29KB rssfeeds.usatoday.com 82 France reports lone case of mad cow disease PARIS (AP) — France has confirmed an isolated case of mad cow disease in a five-year- old cow that died in the northeast Ardennes region. The Agriculture Mini... 2016-03-24 13:17 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 83 House of doctor who helped Churchill with lisp on sale for £2.5m Rignalls (pictured) in Buckinghamshire, has gone on sale for the first time in 40 years. It was built for Sir Felix Semon who treated 23-year-old Winston Churchill for a lisp. 2016-03-24 13:17 5KB www.dailymail.co.uk 84 More Americans seek jobless aid, yet applications still low WASHINGTON (AP) — More people sought U. S. unemployment aid last week, but applications are still at a low level consistent with steady job growth. THE NUMBER... 2016-03-24 13:14 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 85 Grieving widow forces retail giants to restrict their sales of knives Tesco, Amazon and John Lewis are among retailers to sign up to new rules to make buying knives more difficult after 61-year-old Justin Skrebowski was stabbed to death in a Poundland in Oxfordshire. 2016-03-24 13:14 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk
86 Security in transport hubs beefed up The Holy Week exodus is underway and authorities are beefing up security in the country's transport hubs after the terror attacks in Brussels, Belgium. 2016-03-24 12:24 746Bytes news.abs-cbn.com 87 The headphones that deliver 3D sound The Ossic X headphones (pictured) are the brainchild of a start-up in San Diego, California and are designed to be used with VR headsets, TVs, computers or simply for listening to music. 2016-03-24 13:13 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 88 Jurgen Klopp says match between Germany and England is of no interest Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says the outcome of Saturday's match between Germany and England is of no interest to him, but admits he would be happy if either side won Euro 2016. 2016-03-24 13:11 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 89 Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 20 iconic quotes from the PSG and Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one of the most charismatic and well-known figures in world football, could be on his way to the Premier League next season. Here are 20 of the best quotes from the PSG striker. 2016-03-24 13:11 4KB www.dailymail.co.uk 90 Online tool reveals exactly how sugar harms our health Sugar not only causes rotten teeth and obesity, but can lead to kidney and liver problems as well as erectile dysfunction in men, this online tool by healthcare provider Beneden shows. 2016-03-24 13:08 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 91 Lords curbs will tilt balance of power towards government, say peers Plans to remove the House of Lords' ability to veto some draft laws would "tilt the balance of power towards government", peers warn as they call for them to be shelved. 2016-03-24 12:24 3KB www.bbc.co.uk 92 Ohio school security guard charged with threatening schools NORTH COLLEGE HILL, Ohio (AP) — Police in Ohio say a school security guard for a Cincinnati-area district has been charged in threats that led to recent scho... 2016-03-24 13:05 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 93 Not just Vijay Mallya, 5,275 wilful defaulters owe banks Rs 56,621 crore Liquor baron Vijay Mallya and his Rs 7,000-crore default occupy headlines, but there are 5,275 other 2016-03-24 13:02 9KB www.mid-day.com 94 UK's economic analysis of EU membership due in April - Osborne LONDON, March 24 (Reuters) - Britain's finance ministry is likely to publish a widely- anticipated analysis of the costs and benefits of membership of the Eur... 2016-03-24 12:56 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 95 Peru electoral court lets leader stay in presidential race LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peru's electoral council on Thursday rejected a move to bar leading presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori from the first round of voting on... 2016-03-24 12:52 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 96 Model claims she has 'healed' a deaf African child Rebecca Ronald, who has featured in campaigns for Lorna Jane and Billabong, was working with young children in Uganda when she 'healed' the girl using the 'power of faith'. 2016-03-24 12:51 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk
97 2 young sisters die in Ohio house fire WAYNESFIELD, Ohio (AP) — Authorities say a house fire in Ohio has left two young sisters dead. The blaze broke out around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday just north of t... 2016-03-24 12:48 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 98 Kuwait oil company says it's found new oil and gas field KUWAIT CITY (AP) — Kuwait's state oil company says it has discovered a new oil and gas field in the Western part of the country. Kuwait Oil Company said in a... 2016-03-24 12:48 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 99 Activist fund seeks to replace Yahoo board An activist hedge fund Thursday launched a bid to replace the entire Yahoo board of directors, saying the struggling Internet firm's management team has "fai... 2016-03-24 12:47 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 100 Morning Call: The best from Gibraltar - impact of Brexit A selection of the best articles about politics, business and life on the Rock from the last seven days. 2016-03-24 12:21 9KB www.newstatesman.com Articles
Total 100 articles, created at 2016-03-24 18:03
1 Poland's leaders want no refugees after Brussels blasts (2.00/3) WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's president on Thursday threw his support behind a government decision to renege on a deal to accept thousands of refugees, blaming security concerns raised by Tuesday's attacks in Brussels. The move could prompt similar decisions by other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, many of which have protested — or, like Hungary and Slovakia, sued over — the European Union's plan to divide up some 120,000 refugees among member countries. The plan is part of efforts to help alleviate Europe's ongoing refugee crisis, which has seen hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa arrive on the continent in recent months. Opponents of migration have warned that extremists could slip in along with the flood of refugees making their way to the continent. Poland's decision could also negatively affect a deal European leaders struck last week with Turkey that is aimed at limiting the influx of migrants to Europe and better ensuring that those who arrive really might be entitled to asylum because of danger in their countries, rather than people looking for better economic opportunities. Poland's conservative, anti-migrant government had grudgingly confirmed the previous government's commitment to take in 7,000 refugees from Syria and Eritrea over the next two years. At the same time, sensing general uncertainty about receiving migrants into a mostly homogenous nation, the officials stressed that permissions to settle would be preceded by meticulous security and identity checks. But following the Brussels attacks, Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said "I see no possibility for migrants to come to Poland now. " On Thursday, the spokesman for Polish President Andrzej Duda confirmed that decision and said Europe has failed to build an efficient system of checking new arrivals to make sure they don't pose a security risk. "The prime minister is right when she says that without an efficient system of hot spots... no country, neither Poland, nor Spain or Germany or Austria is able to fully control this problem," said spokesman Marek Magierowski. Poland has not been on the route migrants take from Turkey to Greece and then through the Balkans to Western Europe, but it is especially focused on security ahead of two major international events it will host in July: a NATO summit and Pope Francis' meeting with hundreds of thousands of Catholic youths. On Thursday, the interior minister and the coordinator of security services presented draft legislation expected to take effect in May that will allow for close surveillance and summary expulsions of foreigners suspected of being threats to security.
Brussels attack: Man wanted in subway bombing rss.cnn.com 2016-03-24 12:04 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
2 Second suspect believed in Brussels subway attack (2.00/3) Brussls: Belgian state broadcaster RTBF and France's Le Monde are reporting that a second attacker is suspected of taking part in the bombing this week of a Brussels subway train and may be at large. The media, citing unnamed sources, said today the suspect was filmed by surveillance cameras in the Brussels metro on Tuesday carrying a large bag alongside Khalid El Bakraoui, whom prosecutors have identified as a suicide bomber. RTBF said it is not clear whether the second suspect was killed in the attack. El Bakraoui's brother was identified as one of two suicide bombers who targeted the Brussels airport the same day in attacks that killed at least 31 people and injured more than 200. Prosecutors did not immediately respond to the reports.
Brussels attack: Man wanted in subway bombing rss.cnn.com 2016-03-24 14:58 By PTI www.mid-day.com
3 Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson announces retirement from international cricket (2.00/3) Veteran Australian all-rounder Shane Watson announced on Thursday that he would retire from international cricket at the end of the ongoing World Twenty20 tournament in India. Shane Watson. Pic/AFP Watson, 34, shared his decision to call it quits with teammates in Mohali, where Australia take on Pakistan in a World T20 group match on Friday, Cricket Australia said. In a statement issued by the board, Watson said "It's been over the last week that it's really become clear that now really is the right time to retire from all international cricket. " Earlier Watson admitted that he was 'pleasantly surprised' when he got the call-up for Australia's T20I side to take on India in January after he was overlooked for the preceding One-Day International (ODI) series. Now the 34-year-old has a last chance to bow out of the international arena by winning the one global trophy that has eluded Australia. "There's no doubt to win the T20 World Cup, we came very close in 2010 making the final, so that certainly would be an incredible thing to be a part of," he said.
Malik vows Pakistan to give their all for Afridi at World T20 dailymail.co.uk 2016-03-24 16:22 By Agencies www.mid-day.com
4 Eye Opener: Hunt for suspects connected to Belgian bombings (2.00/3) |European security forces hunt more accomplices in the Brussels terror attacks. Also, a severe spring storm threatens more than 50 million Americans. All that and all that matters in today's Eye Opener. Your world in 90 seconds.
Belgian ministers offered resignation over bomb suspect dailymail.co.uk 2016-03-24 13:38 Eye Opener www.cbsnews.com
5 Holy Week provides welcome respite for ailing PBA players If there’s one thing evident this 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, it’s that no one is safe. Injuries have already taken down four players in the top 10 of last conference’s Best Player of the Conference race, mightily affecting the complexion of the playoff race so far. That’s why the Holy Week provides a welcome respite for the injured players, who hope to return to the court as fast as possible. And for two-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, he wants to do just that in San Miguel’s next game. “Mahaba naman ang pahinga namin. Baka by next game, pwede na ako,” he said, as he plans a Easter Sunday return against Star with his swollen right knee already feeling better. The same goes with Rain or Shine’s Paul Lee, who re-injured his left knee after colliding with Ryan Reyes last Monday. “Malaking bagay yung break kasi kahit papaano, makakarecover ako,” he said. No team was more decimated by the injury bug than GlobalPort, which saw its lethal backcourt duo fall down with injuries. Stanley Pringle sprained his ankle, and was followed by Terrence Romeo hurting his calf as the Batang Pier spiraled down the cellar. The GlobalPort management is still hopeful that the two can return just in time to salvage the team’s 2-6 record late in the eliminations. They will start joining practice in the coming week. In contrary, TNT skipper Jayson Castro’s status was more promising. The Bacolor native already returned from his Achilles injury in the Tropa’s 114-103 win against the Elasto Painters, where he posted 26 points, on a 10-of-14 shooting, to go with four rebounds and four assists. Still, Castro said admits he’s still hurting a bit. “Medyo masakit pa rin pero after this game, may break pa. Kailangan ulit mag-rehab.” Castro is still expected to come off the bench and provide the spark anew for TNT against Ginebra on Wednesday. “Ready na lang sa next game ulit. Kailangan naming manalo against Ginebra,” he said.
2016-03-24 18:02 Randolph B sports.inquirer.net
6 Agri agencies get P6-billion subsidies from DBM Three agriculture agencies received around P6-billion worth of subsidies from the Department of Budget and Management. In a statement on Thursday, the DBM said P4.25 billion was released to the National Food Authority for the implementation of their Food Security Program, which allows the NFA to buy ‘palay’ from farmers. P1.09 billion, meanwhile, went to the Philippine Coconut Authority for the implementation of various locally-funded programs including coconut planting/ replanting, coconut fertilization, coconut intercroppping and smallholders oil palm plantation development. The PCA was given P1.29 billion under the 2016 General Appropriation Act to support coconut farmers in major coconut-producing provinces and to facilitate the production of 2.11 metric tons of copra. However, the DBM said that the release of P200 million balance for community/household level coconut processing and integrated pest management control, has been withheld due to low obligation levels for 2015 subsidies for these projects. The National Irrigation Administration also received P797 million for the expansion of irrigation systems across the country, in addition to the P12 billion it received from the DBM last March 2 for the same purpose. “The amount was released to NIA after the irrigation agency submitted the required programs of works and project profiles for projects not covered by the earlier fund release for Irrigation Network Services. Out of NIA’s total appropriation of P32.74 billion in the 2016 National budget, P20 billion has been released to date,” the DBM said in a statement. Irrigation Network Services include extension and expansion of existing irrigation systems, repair, operation, and maintenance of pumping systems, repair of groundwater systems, irrigation management support services, rehabilitation of irrigation works damaged by Typhoon Yolanda, and climate change adaptation works.
2016-03-24 18:02 Frances Mangosing newsinfo.inquirer.net
7 Coffee shop crew pray with grieving customer at drive-thru window A woman from Washington was able to capture a moment of kindness in a place where she did not expect to see it—the drive-thru line of a coffee shop. A certain Barbara Danner took to Facebook to share a photo of Dutch Bros. Coffee employees comforting and saying a prayer for the woman in front of her. Danner said she later found out that the woman’s husband passed away the day before. “Snapped this picture while waiting in line at the Dutch Bros. on 138th Avenue today. Turns out the young lady in line ahead of us lost her 37-year-old husband last night,” Danner said in the caption. “When the DB guys and gals noticed she was falling apart, they stopped everything and prayed with her for several minutes, invited her to come back for prayer and support, as well as anything else that she might need,” she added. Nineteen-year-old Pierce Dunn, one of the employees, was quoted as saying by The Oregonian that he wanted the woman to feel supported. “She was crying. I shed a few tears. We’ve cried since as well. When something that real happens, it hits close to home,” he said. Fellow Evan Freeman reportedly said he prayed with the customer despite not being a religious person himself. “She could have said she wanted an apple, and I would have gone and planted a tree and grown her an apple. It just happened to be religion that she wanted,” Freeman said. YG/RC
2016-03-24 18:02 INQUIRER.net technology.inquirer.net
8 Referee, judges chosen for Pacquiao-Bradley 3 Familiar faces will be at the ring and the ringside as Manny Pacquiao closes his boxing career in a third bout against Timothy Bradley. According to BoxingScene.com, veteran referee Robert Byrd will be the third man in the ring for the April 9 fight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Byrd officiated the first match between Pacquiao and Bradley in 2012. Judges chosen for the fight aren’t new to the fighters either as the five-man member Nevada State Athletic Commission chose Burt Clements, Dave Moretti, and Steve Weisfeld. Moretti has been at ringside for seven Pacquiao fights including the Filipino’s previous one against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in what became the most lucrative match in boxing history, though he hasn’t judged any of Bradley’s. Pacquiao first had Moretti as a judge was in his loss to Erik Morales in 2005. Weisfeld was present when Juan Manuel Marquez knocked Pacquiao out in 2012 but the judge had the Filipino boxing champion ahead 48-47 in the sixth round. Clements is the only one of the three judges to have presided over both boxers’ fights as he scored two of Bradley’s and one of Pacquiao’s. Bradley had Clements score his match against Diego Gabriel Chaves in 2014 and his eight round stoppage of Joel Casamayor in 2011. Clements’ lone appearance in a Pacquiao fight was in 2004 when the Filipino drew with Marquez in the first encounter of what came to be a four-part series.
2016-03-24 18:02 Bong Lozada sports.inquirer.net
9 Study: Americans who eat a Japanese diet have a 15% lower... On average, nobody lives longer than Japanese women. Their life expectancy is 87 years (and Japanese men, who live about 80 years, aren't far behind). This remarkable longevity is suspected to be partly because the Japanese diet-filled with plants, fish and vegetables-is so healthy. See the full story at Time
2016-03-24 16:36 www.ajc.com
10 Panel to review Las Vegas Sands’ NFL-grade stadium proposal LAS VEGAS (AP) - A panel created by Gov. Brian Sandoval is discussing a plan to build a professional-grade stadium at UNLV that could someday be home to the Raiders. The Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee is meeting Thursday to review a proposal from the Las Vegas Sands. The casino company led by billionaire Sheldon Adelson is calling for a public-private partnership to build a $1.3 billion domed stadium that could be shared by a professional team and UNLV. Raiders owner Mark Davis has shown interest in moving to Las Vegas or other cities if he’s unable to get a new stadium built in Oakland. Critics are concerned that the project would divert hotel room tax dollars away from an ongoing effort to expand the Las Vegas Convention Center.
2016-03-24 17:51 - Associated Press - Thursday, March 24, 2016 www.washingtontimes.com
11 The Villages is nation’s fastest growing, again ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Have golf cart, will travel. At least to The Villages. The retirement community in central Florida famous for its souped-up golf carts once again was the nation’s fastest growing metro area, according to figures released Thursday by the U. S. Census Bureau. It was the third year in a row that the community of 119,000 residents had gotten the title of “fastest-growing” with a growth rate of 4.3 percent from July 2014 to July 2015. “It’s exciting to hear we are No. 1 again,” said Sue Kelly, executive director of the Lady Lake Chamber Commerce in adjacent Lady Lake, Florida. Most of the growth came from retirees moving to the community located northwest of Orlando, and 99 percent of the migration was from people who already live in the United States, according to the Census figures. Kelly, who moved to the area in 1988, remembers when the area didn’t even have a stop light, most people found jobs in other communities miles away and agriculture dominated the area. Now, the community has major chain restaurants, a hospital and locals can find work nearby. The area also has plenty of stoplights now for cars and golf carts, which are a dominant form of transportation in the golf-course saturated The Villages. “Every time we turn around, we have something new,” Kelly said. “We have become a community. We were always a community, but we were just a little village.” Two other Florida metro areas were among the 10 fastest-growing cities in the United States in the past year. Cape Coral-Fort Myers had a growth rate of 3.3 percent, and Punta Gorda grew by 2.8 percent. More than an eighth of the growth from migration in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area came from outside the United States, and the rest came from domestic migration. The metro area now stands at 702,000 residents. Ninety-five percent of the migration growth in Punta Gorda in the past year came from domestic residents, and the rest came from people living outside the United States. Its population now stands at 173,000 residents. Two Florida metro areas had among the nation’s the largest population gains in pure numbers, not rates. South Florida grew by more than 75,000 residents, and metro Orlando gained an extra 60,000 residents. They were respectfully the 7th and 10th biggest gains in the nation. In Orlando, more than a third of the migration growth came from outside the United States. In South Florida, all the migration growth came from outside the United States since the metro area actually lost U. S.-born residents. Census figures show that South Florida surpassed 6 million residents for the first time. It’s the nation’s eighth biggest metro area. Nancy Stroud, a Boca Raton lawyer whose practice focuses on land use, said the milestone strengthens the need for smart growth and protections for the environment in South Florida. “That means better funding and respect for the value of planning and regulation, including from the state level,” Stroud said. ___ Story Continues →
2016-03-24 17:51 - Associated Press - Thursday, March 24, 2016 www.washingtontimes.com
12 Poolside style tips to steal from SA’s celebs A head wrap is the answer to keeping unruly poolside hair under control: it’s an easy way to hide a frizzy do and will stop the wind from whipping your locks into knots. Plus it’ll help to protect your hair – and delicate scalp - from the sun’s damaging rays. Practicalities aside, a head wrap will also add a cool, individualistic touch to even the plainest poolside ensemble. Here are some of the local celebs who’ve embraced the head wrap: Bonang Matheba A photo posted by Bonang ''Adebimpe' Matheba (@bonang_m) on Nov 26, 2015 at 4:41am PST Candice Swanepoel A photo posted by Candice Swanepoel (@angelcandices) on Mar 28, 2015 at 10:09am PDT Boitumelo ‘Boity’ Thulo A photo posted by Boitumelo Thulo (@boity) on Nov 7, 2015 at 10:15am PST Light, airy and available in all sorts of prints, kaftans are effortlessly chic way to cover up after taking a dip. And, they’re not just poolside attire. Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe of The Zoe Report reckons kaftans are one of the most versatile pieces of clothing because you can wear them to the beach, brunch, a braai or even a cocktail party depending on whether you dress them up or down. For instance, she recommends pairing a kaftan with glam beaded embellishments with flat metallic sandals and delicate jewellery for a daytime event, noting that once you add heels it’ll become more of an evening look. Take a look at these celebs who are uber fans of the kaftan: Chiano Sky A photo posted by ChianoSky (@chichi_lingo) on Nov 2, 2015 at 8:12am PST Zuraida Jardine A photo posted by Z U R A i D A (@zuraidajardine) on Jun 11, 2015 at 7:04am PDT Lee Ann Liebenberg A photo posted by Lee-Ann Liebenberg (@leeann_liebenberg) on Mar 12, 2016 at 8:53am PST There’s no rule that says that you can’t wear jewellery around the pool (although practicality dictates you might need to take your accessories off before diving into the water). Don a pair of dramatic drop earrings, an arm cuff or two, or team a statement neckpiece with a swimsuit with a plunging neckline. Remember, though, less is more when it comes to accessories, so don’t overdo it. Boity Thulo and Pearl Thusi show us how to bling up a bathing suit: Boitumelo ‘Boity’ Thulo A photo posted by Boitumelo Thulo (@boity) on Nov 2, 2015 at 4:23am PST Pearl Thusi A photo posted by Pearl Thusi- Real Black Pearl (@pearlthusi) on Dec 22, 2015 at 9:08am PST A photo posted by Pearl Thusi- Real Black Pearl (@pearlthusi) on Nov 30, 2015 at 5:14am PST For an instant hit of A-list glamour, you can’t beat a pair of supersized sunglasses and a hat with an extra wide brim. Beyond looking stylish, these practical pieces will protect your skin, hair and eyes from the sun’s harsh rays. These gals aren't afraid to go big on accessories: Bonang Matheba A photo posted by Bonang ''Adebimpe' Matheba (@bonang_m) on May 19, 2015 at 6:05am PDT Minnie Dlamini A photo posted by Minnie (@minniedlamini) on Nov 13, 2015 at 1:40am PST Lee Ann Liebenberg A photo posted by Lee-Ann Liebenberg (@leeann_liebenberg) on Feb 22, 2016 at 6:50am PST
2016-03-24 16:48 Staff reporter www.timeslive.co.za
13 Lindsey Graham: 2016 likely lost, but stopping Donald Trump can save GOP Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Thursday that his party will probably lose the presidential race to Democrat Hillary Clinton no matter who gets the nomination, but stopping Donald Trump would at least “salvage a party that I love.” “If Trump is the standard bearer, it’s not about 2016. It’s about losing the heart and soul of the conservative movement,” Mr. Graham said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Mr. Graham dropped out of the presidential race and reluctantly threw his support behind Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who has become the GOP establishment’s go-to candidate to stop the front- running Mr. Trump. He said Mr. Cruz was the only candidate who had a “fighting chance” of beating Mrs. Clinton in the general election. “Here’s my concern: We can lose in 2016, and we probably will,” he said. “ Trump gets wiped out. Ted makes it competitive. I don’t know if he can beat her or not, but at least we’ll have a fighting chance.” The South Carolina senator said that Mr. Trump and his harsh rhetoric would lose women and Hispanic voters in the election, possibility driving them from the Republican Party for years to come. He also faulted Mr. Trump for appealing to people such as David Duke, a former Grand Wizard in the Ku Klux Klan who said he supports some of Mr. Trump ’s agenda. “I’m not going to stand behind a guy that gets David Duke’s support. What is it about Trump ’s campaign that David Duke likes,” Mr. Graham said. “I don’t think he is a reliable conservative Republican. So it is no longer about winning the election for me. It is about trying to salvage a party that I love and conservatism as I know it.”
2016-03-24 17:14 Sen. www.washingtontimes.com
14 14 Authorities release officers’ names in Stamford shooting STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) - Authorities have released the name of the two police officers involved in the shooting death of a plumber’s apprentice during an armed standoff in Stamford this week. A SWAT team was responding to a report of a disturbance Monday night when police opened fire and struck 25-year-old Dylan Pape, who was carrying a realistic looking fake gun and was “threatening harm,” according to police. The SWAT team members were identified Wednesday as Lt. Christopher Baker, a 16-year member of the department, and Sgt. Steven Perrotta, a 12-year veteran. Authorities have not said who fired the fatal shot. Both have been placed on modified duty pending the outcome of the investigation. The state’s chief medical examiner wrote on Pape’s death certificate that he “Provoked police to shoot him.”
2016-03-24 17:14 - Associated Press - Thursday, March 24, 2016 www.washingtontimes.com
15 Jurors to start deliberating Rockford police shooting case ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) - A civil lawsuit filed against the city of Rockford by a church where police shot and killed an unarmed black man in 2009 is headed to the jury. The Rockford Register Star reports (http://bit.ly/1Zw6wMy ) jurors adjourned Wednesday after hearing more than four hours of closing arguments and instructions. They are expected to reconvene Thursday morning to begin deliberations. The plaintiffs, Kingdom Authority International Ministries Church, asked jurors Wednesday to award them as much as $4 million. The church is seeking compensation for emotional distress suffered by children and day care operators who were present when Mark Anthony Barmore was killed. He fled from police into the church and tried to hide in a boiler room, where he was shot. City attorneys say the officers’ actions were necessary to protect the children and day care workers. ___ Information from: Rockford Register Star, http://www.rrstar.com
2016-03-24 17:14 - Associated Press - Thursday, March 24, 2016 www.washingtontimes.com
16 Vermont police chief named to board that oversees 911 system MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - The St. Albans police chief is going to become chairman of the board that oversees Vermont’s Enhanced 911 emergency telephone system. Chief Gary Taylor will succeed Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux, who has served as chairman since 2008. Marcoux will remain on the board as vice chairman. Taylor praised Marcoux for his service and commitment to Vermont’s 911 program. The mission of the Enhanced 911 Board is to provide a statewide emergency telephone system. The nine-member board includes members from the public, local government, medical service providers and emergency response organizations.
2016-03-24 17:13 - Associated Press - Thursday, March 24, 2016 www.washingtontimes.com
17 EFF: SA media’s lack of sophistication keeps ‘reachable secrets as secrets’ Floyd Shivambu‚ in an opinion piece entitled “ON STATE CAPTURE: Ideological Reflections!”‚ said: “There are of course so many Gupta undue capture and influences on many aspects and parts of the state‚ but South African media’s lack of sophistication and utterly sluggish investigative capacity keep what are reachable secrets as secrets.” As “most parts of the media represent fractions of capital”‚ Shivambu argued that there is reluctance to utilise the “adequate legislative framework that can guarantee ordinary South Africans and the media access to crucial information”. Shivambu quoted just one example of his party scooping the media. He cited the case of short-tenured finance minster Des van Rooyen reportedly arriving “with advisors at the National Treasury and that a contingent of National Treasury staff members almost resigned” as being “first made public by the EFF‚ and media caught up very late”. He did‚ however‚ vow: “There are still many revelations we are going to make about the Gupta corruption‚ and we will do so at the right time and moments.” Later in the essay‚ Shivambi returned to the “legislation that guarantees media access to information”‚ saying “credible sections of the media should have identified and quantified the numbers of contracts Guptas companies and subsidiaries have with the state”. This‚ he argued‚ “must be revealed because there has never been one single business empire in South Africa that monopolises state contracts in the manner the Gupta family has done”. Shivambu’s “reflections” came hours after Gupta-owned media ANN7 and The New Age agreed to apologise to the African National Congress over coverage of the party’s national executive committee meeting at the weekend. "The NEC expressed its utmost disgust at the arrogance‚ disrespect and reckless journalism displayed by the New Age newspaper [March 18-19]‚ ANN7 news channel [March 16-18] and representatives of the Gupta family‚" secretary-general Gwede Mantashe had told reporters on Sunday.
2016-03-24 17:11 Tmg Digital www.timeslive.co.za
18 Ex-lawyer for timeshare group admits misleading witness CAMDEN, N. J. (AP) - The former general counsel for a company that prosecutors say offered phony consulting services to owners of timeshares has admitted misleading a witness. Thirty-six-year-old Joshua Gayl of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Camden to conspiracy to obstruct justice. Gayl worked for VO Financial, which was originally known as Vacation Ownership Group. Prosecutors say the company ran a $3 million mail and wire fraud conspiracy involving timeshare mortgages. Prosecutors say Gayl mislead a witness and helped defendants send potential trial witnesses payments intended to influence their testimony. The defendants were convicted of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and other offenses. Gayl faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
2016-03-24 17:00 - Associated Press - Thursday, March 24, 2016 www.washingtontimes.com
19 Mobile VA Center making its way through SC Lowcountry CHARLESTON, S. C. (AP) - A mobile Veteran Affairs center is making its way through the Lowcountry over the next week. The mobile center offers information and resources for veterans to help them transition from service in the military to civilian life. The center will be at the Dawson Center at Voorhees College in Denmark on Thursday. On March 29th, the mobile center visits the Charleston Veterans Center in North Charleston for a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The mobile center will be in Allendale on March 31st.
2016-03-24 17:00 - Associated Press - Thursday, March 24, 2016 www.washingtontimes.com
20 Ole Miss ex-student to plead guilty to tying noose on statue A former University of Mississippi student is scheduled to plead guilty Thursday to placing a noose on the University of Mississippi’s statue of its first black student. A federal court filing shows that Austin Reed Edenfield is scheduled to waive indictment and plead guilty to a criminal charge before U. S. District Judge Michael Mills in Oxford. Edenfield had been scheduled to plead guilty in September, but Mills delayed that court date for reasons that haven’t been publicly explained. The filing doesn’t indicate what charge Edenfield faces. People typically agree to waive indictment and plead guilty in federal court as part of a plea bargain. Edenfield’s lawyer hasn’t responded to requests for comment. Assistant U. S. Attorney Robert Norman said in a June court hearing that Edenfield took part in the February 2014 incident. A noose and a former Georgia state flag with a Confederate battle emblem were placed on the Ole Miss statue of James Meredith. He integrated the university in 1962 amid rioting that was suppressed by federal troops. Prosecutors said in June that another former student, Graeme Phillip Harris, hatched the plan to place the noose and flag on the statue after a night of drinking with Edenfield and a third freshman in the Sigma Phil Epsilon fraternity house on campus. Harris pleaded guilty in June to a misdemeanor charge of threatening force to intimidate African-American students and employees at the university after prosecutors agreed to drop a stiffer felony charge in exchange. His lawyer argued Harris didn’t deserve prison, saying he’d written a letter of apology to Meredith after falling under the influence of racist traditions at the fraternity. A Georgia resident, Harris was sentenced to six months in prison, followed by 12 months’ supervised release. Federal Bureau of Prisons records show he’s currently held at a minimum- security federal prison in Butner, North Carolina, and is scheduled to be released July 1. The third man has not been charged. After the noose and flag were placed on the statue on the night of Feb. 15, 2014, Norman said Harris and one of the other freshmen returned at sunrise on Feb. 16 to observe and were filmed by a video camera at the Ole Miss student union. All three of the students withdrew from Ole Miss, and the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity closed its chapter. ___ Follow Jeff Amy at: http://twitter.com/jeffamy. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/author/jeff-amy .
2016-03-24 15:22 - Associated Press - Thursday, March 24, 2016 www.washingtontimes.com
21 David Letterman's new Santa retirement look (CNN) Whoa, David Letterman -- is that you? It's been only 10 months since the late-night host did his farewell show on CBS, but he already looks quite ... different. David Letterman is building an Ark. (via @DailyMailCeleb ) pic.twitter.com/KYAvnrHTYD Thought this was a pic of Santa on vacation but it's actually David Letterman https://t.co/mwVyROefl1 pic.twitter.com/75OhITZC4J Wholly endorse David Letterman's new retirement look. https://t.co/HcJpS3pKG9 pic.twitter.com/VkHfuqrj3v You know what's really changed about David Letterman? He looks happy. That's what.
2016-03-24 14:43 Brandon Griggs rss.cnn.com
22 Iain Duncan Smith's resignation shows George Osborne's austerity model has reached its limits What we talk about when we talk about terrorism The surprise is that it did not happen sooner. When George Osborne entered the Treasury in 2010 and began his austerity programme it was often predicted that a cabinet minister (most likely a Liberal Democrat) would resign within months in protest. Yet the government endured for a full five years without a senior frontbencher departing over economic policy. This partly reflected the compromises made by Osborne as growth slowed. But significant deprivations were still imposed: the household benefit cap, the 1 per cent limit on working age benefit increases, the bedroom tax and £28bn of cuts to spending on the disabled. Yet not only did no cabinet minister resign, the Conservatives went on to win a parliamentary majority. Osborne’s strategy was said to have been vindicated. After this success, he doubled-down and reaffirmed his pledge to achieve a budget surplus by 2020. But less than a year after the the Tories’ election victory, the Chancellor’s approach is in jeopardy. A cabinet minister has finally resigned over fiscal policy. In his letter to David Cameron, Iain Duncan Smith excoriated the government for cutting disability benefits while cutting taxes for high-earners (though it has been doing so for years) and for refusing to means- test universal pensioner benefits. Osborne’s “fiscal self-imposed restraints”, he warned, were leading to policies ever more perceived as “distinctly political rather than in the national economic interest”. The Chancellor is discovering that even with a Conservative majority, it is hard to balance the budget on the backs of the poorest. Only three months ago, he was forced to abandon planned tax credit cuts after a Tory revolt. He is now poised to similarly backtrack over reductions to Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) for the disabled. The two largest revenue-raising measures (£3.4bn and £4.4bn) in his recent fiscal statements have both been defeated Osborne’s economic imperative of a budget surplus is colliding with the political reality of a minute majority (12 seats). A pre-Budget revolt over proposed pension tax relief changes forced him to concede even before announcing them. Almost all Tory MPs support austerity in theory but they increasingly oppose it in practice. The easiest and least divisive cuts have already been made; the Conservatives’ election pledges have further limited Osborne’s room for manoeuvre. Faced with a Labour opposition they feared could oust them from power, the Tories vowed not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT, and to protect spending on the NHS, pensioner benefits, schools, and international development (defence has since joined the list). More than half of all public spending is ring-fenced and Osborne has pre-emptively denied himself obvious sources of revenue. It is this choice, and a deficit of £72.2bn, that explains the political blunders of recent times. All this while the economy continues to grow at a comparatively healthy rate of 2 per cent. If his leadership hopes are to endure (and Osborne may be irrevocably damaged), the Chancellor cannot afford to keep proposing measures he lacks the political strength or will to implement. He must either abandon, or miss, his surplus target, or adopt a new strategy for achieving it. The latter could involve progressive tax rises of the kind that Osborne has at times considered (such as a mansion tax) but not pursued. It is an irony that his task would have been easier had the coalition between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats continued. This partnership would have given him political cover to either abandon his surplus target or to impose tax rises (as Osborne himself privately noted before the election). The Conservative manifesto, designed as a negotiating position, was often described by economists as “impossible” to implement. Osborne is discovering how right they were. As horrifying as Tuesday’s terrorist attack in Brussels were, there was a strong sense of déjà vu. As human beings, we understand the world through stories and in the aftermath of yesterday’s terrorist attack in Brussels, it seems we are telling each other the same stories. The Islamic State is evil and it must be stopped. Security must be increased. Refugees must be stopped. Walls must be erected. We must protect ourselves from terrorists who hate us, who are motivated by an evil ideology. When stories are given official status, they are considered to be policy narratives. Policy narratives rely on a process of exclusion and inclusion in order to define a problem, attribute blame and propose a solution. This Sunday, Patrick Cockburn wrote in the Independent that Western states have ducked the blame for the rise of ISIS because governments deliberately separate Western action in the Middle East from the War on Terror. He is correct. This is a result of the terrorism policy narrative constructed through successive counter-terrorism strategy papers, a narrative which has systematically removed the UK in particular, and the West in general, from the official story of terrorism in the UK. For example, the 2009 Contest strategy , which contains the government’s most comprehensive explanation of the terrorist threat, starts by outlining out a neat lineage of terror. The 1968 PLO hijacking of an Israeli flight from Rome is framed as the first incident of international terrorism. Contest then lists a series of disparate terrorist events ranging from the 1987 intifadah to, to the 2002 Bali Nightclub Bombings, and 9/11. These events are presented without any reference to the historical or geopolitical context. Instead, Islamic extremism acts as the connecting thread. As such, the 1987 intifadah is presented as an example of the rise in popularity of Islamic extremism, with no mention of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The conflict in Chechnya is framed as being motivated solely by Islamic extremism, with no mention of the country’s history with Russia. Even the Algerian Civil War is included as an example of the rise of radical Islam: In 1992, Afghan Arab veterans created the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) in Algeria, which again sought to overthrow the Government and establish what they regarded as an Islamic state; over the next six years the GIA killed many civilians and members of the security forces. Over 100,000 people died in the Algerian civil war. (HM Government 2009, 24, paragraph 1.10, emphasis added) Significantly, the war in Iraq is never discussed in Contest. Instead, the strategy paper laments that extremists have used Iraq as a base since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. No explanation is given for the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Further, any mention of Western action playing a role in extremism is framed as a conditional: Many Muslims as well as non-Muslims believe that the West (notably the US and the UK) has either caused conflict, failure and suffering in the Islamic world or done too little to resolve them. Military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan (and consequent civilian casualties), perceived western inaction in Palestine and alleged support for authoritarian Islamic governments have all created controversy and anger. The treatment of detainees in Guantanamo Bay (and previously in Abu Ghraib) is widely felt to demonstrate an unacceptable inconsistency in the commitment of the West to human rights and the rule of law. In recent polling across four Islamic states a significant majority judged that it was the aim of the US to ‘weaken and divide the Islamic world’; a significant minority thought the purpose of the ‘war on terror’ was to achieve US political and military domination ‘to control Middle East resources’. (HM Government 2009, 43, paragraph 5.20, emphasis added) Mentioning the torture in Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib as treatment widely felt to demonstrate Western inconsistency towards human rights grossly minimizes some of the most egregious human rights violations in recent history. The documented torture that happened in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay are presented as conditionals, and quickly dismissed from the story of terrorism. This is the process of defining the problem and attributing blame. In the case of British counter- terrorism policy, the problem is thus defined as a global terrorist threat, with the blame lying squarely with radical Islamism. And whilst a radical ideology is part of any act of political violence, it is never the only causal explanation. That is because political violence of any kind, be it war or terrorism, has complex causes. In order to fully understand it, one must look at the combined role of structure, agency and ideology. The official narrative of terrorism in the UK excludes the role of structure completely, focusing only on the agents (Al Qaeda, ISIS), and ideology. When the context is removed, fighting terrorism reduces the world into simplistic dichotomies of enemy and victim, us and them, Muslims and non-Muslims, the West, and the rest. The official UK counter-terrorism strategy thus effectively removes the UK and Western states from the official British story of terrorism, allowing the government, the media and the general public to reduce the terrorism threat to the Islamic ideology. Terrorism is thus constructed as a foreign problem, completely separate from the actions of Western states. This is what allows them to duck the blame for terrorist events, to continue talking about extremism as if the West is blameless. And as Deborah Orr argues, this makes radicals of us all. What is needed, urgently, is a change in the narrative. And it must begin with empathy. In this week’s Hidden Brain podcast, Shankar Vedantam speaks of the importance of empathy when dealing with intractable social conflicts. But in order to have empathy, we need to break down simplistic dichotomies and acknowledge the complexities of terrorism. And the first step in acknowledging these complexities is examining the role the UK has played and continues to play in the War on Terror. Only then will paradigms begin to shift, and a new story will begin to be told.
2016-03-24 07:27 Jonathan Jones www.newstatesman.com
23 Yahoo - National Association of Realtors® Sponsors "Now I Get It" Video Series on Yahoo Finance New Campaign Helps Demystify the Home Buying Process and Highlight the Value Realtors® Bring to the Consumer Journey --(BUSINESS WIRE)-- (NASDAQ:YHOO) today announced that the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) will sponsor new episodes of "Now I Get It", a popular video series on Yahoo Finance. NAR's campaign will connect with future home buyers and renters, especially millennials, through targeted ads and brand integrations within episodes that feature , President of NAR. "Yahoo Finance is known for its unrivaled access to financial insights and news, and we're always looking for new ways to work with great brands like the to help them share a compelling story with this audience," said , Chief Revenue Officer,. "Working with NAR, we're delivering video content that's not only relevant and informative for our users, but something they can enjoy watching across devices. " As the exclusive sponsor, NAR will engage viewers around six new episodes of "Now I Get It" on Yahoo Finance. This special real estate focused miniseries will answer commonly asked questions about the home buying process to help consumers make educated decisions, while reinforcing the value of an experienced broker. During branded segments at the end of each episode, NAR President will share perspectives on topics including when to sell, remodeling, buying vs. renting and more. The first episode of the NAR sponsored series debuts today and will focus on the best time to sell a house based on region, time of year, and type of property. NAR will also run targeted pre-roll video, native and display ads on to amplify the sponsorship. Gemini native ads will enhance the campaign by driving consumers to a custom Mobile Content Module, featuring articles that highlight each episode theme. NAR's campaign on was developed in partnership with the real estate organization's agency of record,. "Whether you are a current or aspiring homeowner, we're excited to partner with for this new campaign to share advice and tips on navigating the real estate market with a wide audience of all ages through video, native and display advertising," said , NAR President. "With Yahoo's extensive video advertising solutions and editorial capabilities, we are creating and sharing content that helps break the barriers between Realtors® and consumers. " "Now I Get It" is a popular video series on Yahoo Finance that explains the business concepts and jargon from the biggest financial stories of the day. New episodes of "Now I Get It" will air every other week. Episodes, additional clips and articles are available at https://finance.yahoo.com. is a guide focused on informing, connecting, and entertaining our users. By creating highly personalized experiences for our users, we keep people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the world. In turn, we create value for advertisers by connecting them with the audiences that build their businesses. is headquartered in , and has offices located throughout the , (APAC) and the , and (EMEA) regions. For more information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.net) or the Company's blog (yahoo.tumblr.com). About the National Association of Realtors® of Realtors®, "The Voice for ," is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
2016-03-24 14:23 investor.yahoo.net
24 19 killed in China coal mine cave-in Beijing : At least 19 miners have been killed in China's Shanxi province after a coal mine caved in, the mine's owner said on Thursday. The accident occurred on Wednesday night in a colliery of the Anping Coal Mine in Shanyin County, said a statement by Shanxi Datong Coal Mine Group, the mine's owner. Xinhua news agency citing the statement reported that a total of 129 miners were working underground when the accident took place. Rescue work was underway
2016-03-24 15:25 By PTI www.mid-day.com
25 Dutch great Johan Cruyff dies Dutch football great Johan Cruyff has died at the age of 68. The former Ajax and Barcelona forward, who also managed both clubs, was diagnosed with lung cancer last October. He died of cancer, it was announced on Thursday. A statement on his website said: "On March 24 2016 Johan Cruyff (68) died peacefully in Barcelona, surrounded by his family after a hard fought battle with cancer. It's with great sadness that we ask you to respect the family's privacy during their time of grief. " Cruyff captained Holland at the 1974 World Cup, at the height of his playing career, and led the Dutch to the final. Despite winning Holland an early penalty, which Johan Neeskens converted, Cruyff and Holland were left disappointed as they lost 2-1 to West Germany. At Ajax he won seven league titles but most notably three consecutive European Cups from 1971 to 1973. Cruyff's career at Ajax ran in parallel to manager Rinus Michels implementing the highly successful Total Football system. Michels went to Barcelona in 1971 and Cruyff followed two years later. A prolific goalscorer, and a great creator for others, Cruyff even had his own trick, famous to this day. The 'Cruyff turn' was perfected by its inventor, who finished his playing career in Holland with spells at Ajax and Feyenoord. A sought-after football thinker, he managed Ajax from 1985 to 1988, and then, just as in his playing career, Cruyff was lured away by Barcelona. At the Nou Camp he won the European Cup, in 1992, and four league titles among a raft of trophies. During his time at the club he underwent major heart surgery in 1991, which prompted him to stop smoking. He was sacked by Barcelona in 1995 but remained influential at the club for the rest of his life. Cruyff was also a three-time winner of the Ballon d'Or award, taking the award in 1971, 1973 and 1974. At the time, the award recognised the best player in Europe, rather than being a worldwide award as it is today. His son Jordi later played for Barcelona and Manchester United. The death of Cruyff stunned football. The Dutch football association (KNVB) wrote on Twitter: "With great sadness we have learned of the death of Johan Cruyff. Words are not enough. " The former Liverpool striker Ian Rush wrote: "Very saddened by the passing of Johan Cruyff - a dear friend, unbelievable player and a national hero!! " Ossie Ardiles, the former Argentina and Tottenham midfielder, added: "Johan Cruyff. Extraordinary player. One of the best ever. Had the privilege to play with him twice. RIP" Clubs and players from across Europe paid their own tributes, and Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos made his own fond tribute. While Barcelona and Real Madrid are fierce rivals on the pitch, Ramos said: "Goodbye to one of the all-time legends of football. Player and coach ahead of his time. RIP Johan Cruyff. " Manchester City's Yaya Toure wrote: "Shocked by the sad news about Johan Cruyff. RIP" Former United States international Alexi Lalas saluted the lasting impact made by Cruyff. He wrote: "RIP Johan Cruyff. He made the beautiful game more beautiful. " Ajax and Barcelona shared a mutual grief. Ajax issued a short statement that read: "Johan Cruyff has died in Barcelona at the age of 68. The greatest Ajax player of all time had suffered with lung cancer since October last year. "Ajax share in this great loss and wish the families much strength. " The initial reaction from Barcelona was succinct. Before the grand tributes that will follow, the club tweeted simply: "We will always love you, Johan. Rest in peace. "
Dutch soccer great Johan Cruyff dies at age 68 dailymail.co.uk
Johan Cruyff tributes: Football world in mourning dailymail.co.uk
Dutch soccer legend Johan Cruyff dies - website dailymail.co.uk 2016-03-24 15:24 Press Association www.dailymail.co.uk
26 The Brussels attacks point to the existence of a broad terrorist network in Belgium Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić found “responsible” for genocide Three bombings have taken place in Belgium today with two explosions occurring at the airport and another one at Maalbeek metro station. There are 26 people confirmed dead, and reports are still coming in of exactly what happened. Attacks of this kind once again demonstrate the difficulties in securing “soft targets”, particularly where they relate to the transportation system (bearing in mind that transport networks have previously been targeted in Madrid, in 2003, and London, in 2005). There will be a rush to suggest these attacks have come as retaliation for the arrest of Salah Abdesalam, one of the central figures in the Paris attacks from last November, just four days ago. Yet, it is unlikely a cell would have been able to mobilise so quickly and build several viable devices within this time. Much more worrying is that today’s attack suggests the existence of a broad terrorist network in Belgium – one that was already primed and ready to attack, long before police caught up with Abdesalam. Abdesalam managed to hide in the Molenbeek district of Brussels for more than four months before authorities finally caught up with him. His capture followed a series of other arrests across Belgium focusing on supporters of Islamic State. Belgium faces a significant terrorist threat. Molenbeek has long been associated with hardliners and radicals. Beyond the Paris attacks, people from the area have also been linked to the gun attack on the Jewish Museum of Belgium in 2014 which killed four, and the failed terrorist attack on a Thalys high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris last year. Research conducted by the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (where I work) suggests that, per capita, Belgium has twice as many foreign fighters in Syria as France, and four times as many as Britain. More than 100 are believed to have travelled from Brussels alone. The UN human rights tribunal in the Hague has declared former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić “criminally responsible” for the 1995 massacre in Srebrenica – Europe’s worst since World War Two, in which 8,000 people died. The 70 year old was found guilty for 10 out of the 11 charges he faced at the international criminal tribunal. Acquitted of a first count of genocide, he was found ultimately responsible for Srebrenica, the siege of Sarajevo and crimes against humanity in other towns and villages during the Bosnian war of the 1990s. He has been sentenced to 40 years in jail. Karadžić, who once headed the self-styled Bosnian Serb Republic and was Supreme Commander of its armed forces, said ahead of the verdict that he had worked to uphold peace and deserved praise, not punishment. “My permanent fight to preserve the peace, prevent the war and decrease the sufferings of everyone regardless of religion were an exemplary effort deserving respect rather than persecution,” he said. He is the highest-ranking person to face trial over the Bosnian War, in which 100,000 people were killed, and the country divided along ethnic lines that largely survive today.
2016-03-24 07:27 Jonathan Jones www.newstatesman.com
27 Last call of missing Indian in Brussels tracked to metro: Government New Delhi: The last phone call of Infosys employee from Bengaluru who has gone missing in Brussels since Tuesday's deadly terror strike, has been tracked to a metro rail in the Belgian capital, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said. Raghavendran Ganesh. Pic/Sushma Swaraj Twitter account Indian Embassy in Brussels is making efforts to locate Raghavendran Ganesh since the terror attacks at the Brussels airport and the metro which left 31 dead and 300 injured. "We are doing our best to locate Raghavendran Ganesh," Swaraj had on Wednesday said. Two Jet Airways crew members -- Nidhi Chaphekar and Amit Motwanai -- were injured in the explosions at Zaventem airport and Swaraj said they are recovering well. Both Nidhi and Amit are from Mumbai. "I have just spoken to Manjeev Puri, our Ambassador in Brussels. He has informed me that Nidhi and Amit are both recovering well," she has said. Swaraj had on Wednesday also said government was coordinating with Jet Airways to evacuate Indian citizens. Brussels airport serves as the European hub for the Mumbai-based airline's international operations, which is now being relocated to Dutch capital Amsterdam from coming Sunday.
2016-03-24 15:23 By PTI www.mid-day.com
28 Syrian army enters IS-held Palmyra Syrian troops backed by Russian warplanes on Thursday advanced into the ancient city of Palmyra, which has been under jihadist control for nearly a year, a monitor and a military source said. "Regime forces have entered the Hayy al- Gharf neighbourhood in the southwest of Palmyra. They are advancing very slowly because of mines planted by IS (the Islamic State group)," Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. "The regime is also advancing from the north of the city," Abdel Rahman said. A military source confirmed the advance. "The army has entered from the northwest after seizing control of part of the Valley of the Tombs," he told AFP. "The clashes, which are ongoing, are fierce. " Syrian government forces enter Islamic State-held Palmyra dailymail.co.uk
Syrian forces enter IS-held Palmyra; intense clashes with IS dailymail.co.uk 2016-03-24 15:23 Afp www.dailymail.co.uk
29 Increased border checks after Brussels attacks 'likely to last around two weeks' Increased borders checks in the wake of the Brussels terror attacks are likely to only last for two weeks, according to a union leader. Controls have been "stepped up" at checkpoints staffed by British officials but the level cannot be maintained, Lucy Moreton suggested. It comes as startling images emerged of 26 stowaways being discovered in a lorry stopped by Kent police after it had crossed the Channel. An independent report, meanwhile, found p lans to remove foreign criminals and illegal immigrants were cancelled in 40% of cases. Ms Moreton, general secretary of ISU, which represents border agency and immigration staff, said checks had been "raised" at border points but would significantly disrupt freight if they continued long- term. She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There's quite a lot of immediately available money for very high profile types of interventions. We've stepped up controls at the border, and at all borders, but it is maintaining that at a high level for a long period of time and whether there is the political will, or potentially even the necessity to do so. " Asked if there was the political will, she replied: " Experience from past would suggest that it isn't. The increased checks at the border last about two weeks, or that's how long they lasted after the Paris attacks. " Close to 34,000 plane tickets had to be cancelled in 18 months, according to a report from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration. A lack of security staff to accompany detainees out of the country was a "major constraint", the report said. Ms Moreton said: "More staff would assist. A large number of flights are missed because we simply can't move detainees from one place to another as we need to. That would inevitably increase the cost of the contract to the Home Office and whether the Home Office would be prepared to pay for that is another matter. " The Home Office has outsourced some of its border and immigration functions to private contractors and the report, covering July-November 2015, examined the escorted and non-escorted removal services provided by private firms. It found that the Home Office and the companies contracted for the removal services were slow to resolve issues and reach agreement on areas for improvement. The recorded loss on unused tickets was £1.4 million - equivalent to 4% of the total amount spent on tickets - although records were not always kept, inspectors found. Home Office figures for October 2014 - March 2015 showed that on average 2.5 tickets were issued for each individual successfully removed. In the financial year 2014-15, "40% of all planned removals were cancelled". As enforced removal is resorted to only when someone will not leave voluntarily, efforts to delay or stop deportation, through legal challenges or non-compliance, are commonplace. The report said: "The Home Office regarded some of the reasons for failed removals to be 'out of (its) control'. "While this might be true in individual cases at the point of removal, it was unclear what steps were being taken to identify lessons that might be applied by the Home Office and others to reduce 'out of control' failures. " The Home Office accepted the report's recommendations and said it was looking for ways to reduce the cost of pre-departure accommodation at a unit for families subject to enforced removal. An official response said: "Work is already under way to address the recommendations relating to ticketing and escorting and, as the report acknowledges, these issues are being factored into the re-procurement exercise for both contracts which began in 2015. " The Home Office confirmed that all freight vehicles entering the UK through "juxtaposed" ports in France at Calais, Coquelles and Dunkirk are screened for stowaways using techniques including body detection dogs, carbon dioxide detectors, heartbeat monitors and scanners. Searches are also carried out at UK ports.
2016-03-24 15:23 Press Association www.dailymail.co.uk
30 Baby rhino found in Indian forest nursed back to health Wearing a red and grey-striped blanket, a 12- day-old baby rhinoceros is bottle-fed by keepers at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in northeast India, after being found alone in a remote forest region. Rangers from Kaziranga National Park found the rhino calf lying in a stream and abandoned by his mother in the Bagori forest range in India's famous tea-growing state of Assam. Dehydrated and in distress, the calf, a greater one-horned rhino, was brought to the nearby Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), which cares for orphaned or displaced wild animals. Staff have begun hand-raising the rhino, bottle-feeding him milk replacement powder and vitamin supplements and allowing him to interact with other calves to reduce stress. "When he came he was unable to walk properly, he was very weak and suffering from hypothermia," Dr Panjit Basumatary, a veterinarian at the CWRC, told AFP. "Now he is almost back to normal, another week or two of care and we think he should survive," he said. The baby rhino will be released into the wild when he is about three years old, the vet said, as he will be less vulnerable to being attacked by tigers or other wild animals. Kaziranga National Park is home to two-thirds of the world's greater one-horned rhinoceros population, according to the park's website, as well as the highest density of tigers in a protected area. Excessive hunting has left the Indian rhinoceros, which once roamed over wide swaths of the country, now classed as vulnerable, after its habitat was reduced dramatically. The world's fourth-largest land animal, it can weigh up to 3,000 kilos.
2016-03-24 12:42 Afp www.dailymail.co.uk
31 Bill to allow guns bans in ticketed venues fails in House NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A bill seeking to allow Tennessee cities to ban guns from being carried at ticketed events has failed in a House subcommittee. The Republican-controlled Civil Justice Subcommittee voted 3-2 along party lines on Wednesday to kill the measure sponsored by Democratic Rep. John Ray Clemmons and supported by the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police. The measure was introduced after a state attorney general’s legal opinion last year that a state law stripping local governments of the power to bar people with handgun carry permits from being armed in parks extended to facilities like sports arenas or parks rented or operated by private entities. The bill would have allowed gun bans to be kept in place at parks or facilities with police or armed guard patrolling parking facilities and surrounding areas.
2016-03-24 15:22 - Associated Press - Thursday, March 24, 2016 www.washingtontimes.com
32 Video: Bust of US-Mexico 'Super Tunnel' Leads to Drug Seizures, Arrests Now Playing: Bust of US-Mexico 'Super Tunnel' Leads to Drug Seizures, Arrests Now Playing: New Jersey Police Chief on Leave After Email Allegedly Defending Racial Profiling Surfaces Now Playing: #ManInTree Stays 7 Stores Above Ground for Over 24 Hours Now Playing: Man in Seattle Spends Second Day in Tree Now Playing: Woman Learns She's Pregnant with Triplets After Husband Dies in Car Crash Now Playing: Super Dad Builds Awesome Indoor Playhouse With Rope Bridge for Kids Now Playing: Missing American Couple Last Seen at Brussels Airport Now Playing: Hulk Hogan Addresses Racial Slurs Controversy on 'The View' Now Playing: 5-Year-Old Girl's Rescue of Mom From Pool Caught on Tape Now Playing: US Security Heightened Following Brussels Terror Attacks Now Playing: More Americans Believe in the Afterlife than God
2016-03-24 15:17 ABC News abcnews.go.com
33 Hong Kong police say missing book editor Lee Bo returns home HONG KONG (AP) — A book editor whose disappearance nearly three months ago rattled civil liberties advocates in Hong Kong and sparked international concern returned home from the Chinese mainland Thursday, police said. Lee Bo met with Hong Kong immigration and police officers as part of an investigation upon his return but "did not provide thorough information" about his undocumented departure from Hong Kong, a police statement said. He told them he went to the mainland voluntarily "by his own means" to assist in an investigation against a colleague and had not been abducted, as many in Hong Kong had suspected. The statement said Lee told officers he had been safe and free while on the mainland, and needed no assistance from Hong Kong police. He refused to disclose any other details. The comments are consistent with Lee's earlier remarks on television and in notes to his wife, when he asked that the missing- person investigation into his Dec. 30 disappearance be dropped. However, supporters and rights activists suspect Lee was under duress when he made the statements. The British government said last month that Lee, a British passport holder, was "involuntarily removed" to the mainland in a major breach of the bilateral treaty that let Beijing take control of the city from Britain in 1997. The case has highlighted fears Beijing is reneging on the "one country, two systems" framework it promised to keep in place until 2047, which allows Hong Kong to keep much autonomy as well as civil liberties unseen on the mainland such as free speech. Lee was associated with Mighty Current, a small publishing house that churned out gossipy, hastily written and thinly sourced titles about China's Communist leadership that were banned on the mainland and popular with mainland visitors to Hong Kong. He promised he would no longer sell the kinds of books Mighty Current used to market, according to a Chinese media report, leaving the company's future in doubt. "I will not publish or sell books that are sheer fabrication," Lee told Chinese reporters after he crossed the border back into Hong Kong, according to The Paper, a state-funded news site. "Press and speech freedoms do not mean you can make things up. There are still people in Hong Kong who are doing that and I hope they will no longer do that. " Mighty Current's Swedish-Chinese publisher Gui Minhai disappeared from his apartment in Thailand in October amid concerns he had been taken to China against his will. Three other colleagues disappeared around the same time while in mainland China. Gui appeared on Chinese state television in January, saying he had returned to China voluntarily to surrender for fleeing his suspended sentence in a 12-year-old fatal drunken driving case. A month later, Chinese state media said Gui had admitted he violated Chinese laws by shipping banned books to the Chinese mainland from Hong Kong. Lee's three other colleagues are free on bail in the mainland, but Gui appears to be still detained without charge. Their Causeway Bay Bookstore remains shuttered. ___ Associated Press writer Didi Tang in Beijing contributed to this report.
2016-03-24 15:17 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
34 Vinyl won’t save musicians: It’s still just a miniscule portion of music-industry revenues Topics: Music , technology , music streaming , U. S. Economy , Vinyl , Entertainment News Here are some things I’m pretty sure of. Vinyl has better, warmer, more complex sound than CDs, as well an old-school cool. The larger album covers and room for liner notes are better than the compressed little field and compact disc allowed. And vinyl has lent its name to an HBO show that is not perfect, but is at least besotted with the pre-punk and punk-rock ‘70s. So there is plenty of reason to buy vinyl and feel good about your record collection. But the idea that we hear in music circles sometimes, and that recent headlines will only encourage – that vinyl sales will save the beleaguered music business – is not quite right. Here’s the opening to a Pitchfork article titled “Vinyl Sales Made More Money Than Free Streams Last Year”: This article is perfectly responsible and well-reported. The trouble comes when people only read the headline, or jump to conclusions about what the data means. An increase in vinyl sales is good for musicians. But if you look at the article in context, you’ll see that vinyl – up, but still less than six percent of record industry revenues – only looks good because of the failure other sources of income. CDs are down by 11 percent, digital albums by 3 percent, and individual digital tracks by 12 percent. Despite the promise of tech hypesters, free streaming is just not as lucrative as predicted. It’s going in the right direction, but it’s only at $385 million – that number sounds high until you realize that there are more than 300 million people in the United States. Many musicians hate free streaming, since it gives their music away for almost nothing, and it’s very hard opt out of the process. And how much of that goes to musicians is tricky to decipher.
2016-03-24 12:24 Scott Timberg salon.com.feedsportal.com
35 North Carolina governor signs controversial LGBT bill Washington (CNN) North Carolina's governor on Wednesday signed a controversial bill blocking cities from allowing transgender individuals to use public bathrooms for the sex they identify as - - as well as restricting cities from passing nondiscrimination laws more broadly. Ordinance defied common sense, allowing men to use women's bathroom/locker room for instance. That's why I signed bipartisan bill to stop it Another day, another time for us to stand together!! Tell @PatMcCroryNC to stop this bill with the link below #NCGA https://t.co/tlIvnHvQvC The #NCGA won't hold a special session to raise teacher salaries, but they will come back to legislate discrimination? Enough is enough!
2016-03-24 14:08 Tal Kopan rss.cnn.com
36 Lethal Belgium attacks raise heat of EU referendum debate LONDON (AP) — The carnage in Brussels, accompanied by credible reports about a wider- than-expected network of Islamic State followers active in Europe, has sparked fresh debate in Britain about whether the island nation is made safer or more vulnerable by its European Union membership. The topic is vital because of the pitched national debate ahead of a June 23 referendum on whether to remain in the EU, a position backed by Prime Minister David Cameron and leading opposition figures, or break away and go it alone, a path favored by London Mayor Boris Johnson, UKIP leader Nigel Farage and others. The security question has split intelligence chiefs and national leaders, with some arguing that Britain could better secure its borders — and keep jihadis out — if it leaves the EU, while others say Britain benefits by sharing vital intelligence gathered throughout the 28-nation bloc that would be lost if Britain walks away. Europol director Rob Wainwright said Thursday that Britain got thousands of important leads because of its participation in EU data- sharing and intelligence-sharing protocols. He said leaving the EU would cut off this access at a time when Islamic State extremists pose an "unprecedented" threat to Europe. He said there had been a "huge" increase in cooperation between European intelligence and police in recent years. "I see the benefit of that for British police authorities every day," he said, asserting that Britain has access to the names of 300,000 wanted criminals and missing people because of its access to EU data. Removing that access makes no sense, he said. But former Secret Intelligence Service chief Richard Dearlove disagreed, taking a "Britain first and foremost" view that splitting from the EU would boost Britain's safety by making it far easier to exclude potential jihadis arriving from other European countries. He downplayed the valued of intelligence-sharing agreements, arguing that Britain has Europe's best intelligence service and "gives far more than it gets" in its dealings with other countries' spy agencies, including many that cannot be trusted with sensitive information because they are riddled with leaks. The issue has divided the intelligence community. Another former chieftain, David Omand — who headed the GCHQ surveillance agency — said Britain's would be "the loser in security terms" if it leaves the EU. The issue has also divided Prime Minister David Cameron's Cabinet.
2016-03-24 15:08 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
37 WT20: Managing chaos in that situation was key factor, says MS Dhoni Bengaluru: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the team's ability to stay calm under intense pressure and manage the "chaotic situation" with a cool head paved the way for their nerve- wracking one-win over Bangladesh in the ICC World Twenty20 here. MS Dhoni. Pic/AFP The prospect of securing a semifinal berth at stake, India survived a mighty scare to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in front of a packed crowd at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, helping them to the second position in the group. "In a situation like this, it's literally chaos. What you are trying to do is you're trying to manage chaos," Dhoni said after the match. "Everybody will come and he'll have his own opinion. Often the opinion of a batsman is very different to the opinion of a bowler. But what you have to do is you have to see what the strength of the batsman is who is batting at that point of time, how the wicket is behaving, whether there is some kind of reverse swing or no reverse swing on offer. All these things you need to calculate and I feel what really helps is you listen to all of them. "But at the end of the day you push the bowler to bowl what you feel is good at that point of time. If I am convinced that this is something I want to do, I will go ahead with it but definitely having an open mind at that point of time really helps because at times in situations like these under pressure, that's where the input of others comes in. But you have to assess everything and it has to happen in a very short span of time. " Dhoni said the victory will not erase the pain of the 2007 loss to the same opponent that knocked India out of the World Cup. "We still remember 2007 loss. The reason being we were not able to qualify for the next stage in spite of playing good cricket. We are also human beings - we also feel hurt if we have not done well. I think it is an emotional connect to the game and I think this victory does not ease 2007 loss," he said. Dhoni hailed the younger players in the side for stepping up and performing in key roles. He specifically gave credit to Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, who looked nervous at the start after a misfield that led to a boundary and a dropped catch. "As far as Hardik is concerned, there is a phase where there would be ups and downs. Once you are through these phases or chapters, you become an accomplished player as a bowler and as a batsman," he told reporters at the post-match press conference.
WT20: You aren't happy that India won, says angry MS Dhoni to scribe mid-day.com 2016-03-24 15:03 By PTI www.mid-day.com
38 Terence Crawford likely to face Viktor Postol in unification bout WBO light welterweight champion Terence Crawford is likely face newly-crowned WBC light welterweight champion Viktor Postol in a unification fight that would take place outside of Omaha, Nebraska where most of Crawford's fights are held.
2016-03-24 12:23 By Leo www.digitaljournal.com
39 In Zimbabwe, make fun of Robert Mugabe at your peril HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — A photo mashup, posted on Facebook, shows 92-year-old Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe posing cozily with singer Rihanna and wearing hip hop garb, including a baseball cap that sits askew above his glasses. Prosecutors didn't think the spoof was funny. A printed screenshot of the image is now a key piece of evidence in the trial of the school headmaster who posted it and faces a year in jail if convicted of insulting the longtime leader of the southern African nation. Edson Chuwe, headmaster of government-run Shamva Primary School, is not the only one to run afoul of Mugabe, who has sparred with the West over his government's human rights record. A local non-governmental group, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, says it has represented over 150 people charged with insulting Mugabe since 2010, though many cases were dropped. Poking fun at Mugabe is a risky business in Zimbabwe, which has a law that forbids "undermining the authority of or insulting the president. " In Chuwe's case, the charge sheet says the edited picture suggests Mugabe and Rihanna were "in a position suggesting that they were in love. " Lenman Pwanyiwa, a member of the development committee of the school where 42-year-old Chuwe presides, was also arrested for clicking "like" in a Facebook response to the image. On Tuesday, a magistrate removed the case from the court roll and advised police to summon the duo to court when ready for prosecution. The school where they work is northeast of Harare, the Zimbabwean capital. "It's a joke," said Dzimbabwe Chimbga of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, which is defending Chuwe and Pwanyiwa and has approached the Constitutional Court in a bid to scrap the law that says insulting the president is a crime. "Freedom of speech means citizens have a right to criticize and even poke fun at political leaders. It is ridiculous to criminalize such actions," Chimbga said. Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is also justice minister, has defended the law as necessary to prevent "the breach of public order and public safety. " "The office of the president as headed by him personally may be diminished if the head is savaged falsely," Mnangagwa said in an affidavit submitted to the Constitutional Court in response to the 2013 challenge, which has yet to conclude. Meanwhile, more people are being charged. A recent case involves Tompson Mloyie, a policeman who appeared in court Tuesday in Harare. He told colleagues that, "Mugabe is too old to rule and he married a prostitute," according to the charge sheet. Mugabe's wife, Grace Mugabe, has increased her political profile and is a player in factional battles within the ruling ZANU-PF party, some of whose members are jockeying for influence ahead of an eventual leadership succession. In another case, Zimbabwean Moenda Mbera is due in court May 16 for allegedly telling companions that ruling party supporters are thin because of Mugabe's purported mismanagement. Zimbabwe's economy is struggling; unemployment is high and many businesses have closed. Over the years, opposition figures and others have been charged for calling Mugabe a goblin, a rotten old donkey and a homosexual. Prosecutors withdrew charges in most cases after failing to establish an offence, said Chimbga from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. Police and prosecutors have been warned against flooding courts with such cases. In 2013, Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malaba of the Constitutional Court said police and prosecutors were doing more damage to Mugabe's reputation by bringing "beerhall talk" to the courts, where the cases attracted media coverage.
2016-03-24 14:57 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
40 My awful date with Donald Trump: The real story of a nightmare evening with a callow but cash-less heir Topics: Donald Trump , Elections 2016 , Editor's Picks , My bad date with Donald Trump , Peter Lugar's , Love and Sex , Life stories , Innovation News , Sustainability News , Business News , Life News , News , Politics News It was the early 1970s. I was about 23 at the time and he was in his late 20s. We met through friends talking at a bar. My friend knew his friends. It’s was a lively Upper East Side — considered cool at the time — spot. Still there and still considered a great place to go for a burger. A comfortable place for all generations. The tables are so close everyone feels like a friend. It’s cozy. This was over 40 years ago. So I met a nice guy through friends at the bar and he asked me for my telephone number. He called me the next day and asked me out. Said he would pick me up around 7. I lived in a building with a doorman who called me on the house-phone to say my date was here. I locked and went downstairs expecting to see a guy standing out front with his hands in his pockets looking sheepish. Instead there was no one. Just a white Cadillac convertible. My date leaned over and said, “Hop in.” I didn’t know what to make of this. I lived in NYC and nobody ever picked me up in a car except to go to the airport. I was too surprised and flustered to be impressed. I felt like I was in a James Dean movie. If he wanted to impress me, a Cadillac wouldn’t do it, but if he got out of the car, and opened the door for me, then I would be impressed. The interior was cherry red. The dashboard was red, even the steering wheel was red. It made me feel woozy. Like I was sitting someplace I shouldn’t. It was not the best start for a date.
2016-03-24 12:24 Lucy Klebanow salon.com.feedsportal.com
41 “A party that attracts antisemites like flies to a cesspit”: the Jewish Chronicle condemns Labour What we talk about when we talk about terrorism In its strongest condemnation of the new Labour leadership yet, the Jewish Chronicle newspaper has warned Jeremy Corbyn to stop the “cancer” of antisemitism setting in to his party. The leader article, which is also the paper’s frontpage story, argues that Labour is becoming “a party that attracts antisemites like flies to a cesspit”. This week's @JewishChron front page pic.twitter.com/1t97qiRzWK — Stephen Pollard (@stephenpollard) March 17, 2016 It describes antisemitism as “a cancer in their party and it is getting worse by the day”, and calls on Labour “not to lose the last residue of trust from our community, it must recognise and deal with that cancer”. Although the piece states “Corbyn appears to be genuine in his rejection of antisemitism”, it expresses concern that antisemites are beginning to believe the party is their “natural home” under the new leadership. It cites the cases of (since suspended) members Gerry Downing and Vicki Kirby, and the Oxford University Labour Club (OULC) . Downing, a revolutionary socialist with controversial views on 9/11, has been excluded from the party – following media scrutiny and criticism from David Cameron during PMQs. Among multiple incendiary statements, Downing had published an article on his website Socialist Fight entitled: “Why Marxists must address the Jewish question concretely today”. Kirby, the vice-chair of Labour’s Woking branch, has been suspended for the second time following antisemitic comments on social media in which she reportedly suggested Adolf Hitler might be a “Zionist God” and that Jews had “big noses”. After an investigation into those comments in 2014, she was readmitted into the party. But Labour was compelled to suspend her again following her appointment as vice-chair – this time under pressure from Labour MPs at a PLP meeting earlier this week. Both scandals follow events at the OULC , where allegations of antisemitic slurs and views voiced by members are being investigated. While the Jewish Chronicle welcomes such action being taken, it argues that the party moved too slowly – and didn’t seem to see it as a priority: “It is true that both Downing and Kirby have had their memberships suspended, and an inquiry set up to probe OULC. But when these were first identified, party officers appeared to have almost no interest — as if the very mention of antisemitism was worthy of little more than a yawn. “It was only when the media tumult — and the uproar from some Labour MPs who have no wish to represent a party that tolerates Jew-haters — became too great to ignore that the party acted.” The party won’t comment specifically on this piece, and is launching an investigation run by Labour peer and former Leader of the Lords, Jan Royall. A spokesperson comments: “The Labour Party takes all allegations of antisemitism, racism, bullying, intimidation and candidate misconduct very seriously. Baroness Jan Royall is currently leading an investigation into the conduct of individual Young Labour Party members. Baroness Royall will consider all allegations and all relevant evidence.” The focus of the investigation is on antisemitism allegations in the case of youth members, rather than problems with antisemitism in the party as whole. Something that may further concern the Jewish community, and others who see the leadership as slow on the uptake when it comes to condemning antisemitism. As horrifying as Tuesday’s terrorist attack in Brussels were, there was a strong sense of déjà vu. As human beings, we understand the world through stories and in the aftermath of yesterday’s terrorist attack in Brussels, it seems we are telling each other the same stories. The Islamic State is evil and it must be stopped. Security must be increased. Refugees must be stopped. Walls must be erected. We must protect ourselves from terrorists who hate us, who are motivated by an evil ideology. When stories are given official status, they are considered to be policy narratives. Policy narratives rely on a process of exclusion and inclusion in order to define a problem, attribute blame and propose a solution. This Sunday, Patrick Cockburn wrote in the Independent that Western states have ducked the blame for the rise of ISIS because governments deliberately separate Western action in the Middle East from the War on Terror. He is correct. This is a result of the terrorism policy narrative constructed through successive counter-terrorism strategy papers, a narrative which has systematically removed the UK in particular, and the West in general, from the official story of terrorism in the UK. For example, the 2009 Contest strategy , which contains the government’s most comprehensive explanation of the terrorist threat, starts by outlining out a neat lineage of terror. The 1968 PLO hijacking of an Israeli flight from Rome is framed as the first incident of international terrorism. Contest then lists a series of disparate terrorist events ranging from the 1987 intifadah to, to the 2002 Bali Nightclub Bombings, and 9/11. These events are presented without any reference to the historical or geopolitical context. Instead, Islamic extremism acts as the connecting thread. As such, the 1987 intifadah is presented as an example of the rise in popularity of Islamic extremism, with no mention of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The conflict in Chechnya is framed as being motivated solely by Islamic extremism, with no mention of the country’s history with Russia. Even the Algerian Civil War is included as an example of the rise of radical Islam: In 1992, Afghan Arab veterans created the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) in Algeria, which again sought to overthrow the Government and establish what they regarded as an Islamic state; over the next six years the GIA killed many civilians and members of the security forces. Over 100,000 people died in the Algerian civil war. (HM Government 2009, 24, paragraph 1.10, emphasis added) Significantly, the war in Iraq is never discussed in Contest. Instead, the strategy paper laments that extremists have used Iraq as a base since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. No explanation is given for the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Further, any mention of Western action playing a role in extremism is framed as a conditional: Many Muslims as well as non-Muslims believe that the West (notably the US and the UK) has either caused conflict, failure and suffering in the Islamic world or done too little to resolve them. Military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan (and consequent civilian casualties), perceived western inaction in Palestine and alleged support for authoritarian Islamic governments have all created controversy and anger. The treatment of detainees in Guantanamo Bay (and previously in Abu Ghraib) is widely felt to demonstrate an unacceptable inconsistency in the commitment of the West to human rights and the rule of law. In recent polling across four Islamic states a significant majority judged that it was the aim of the US to ‘weaken and divide the Islamic world’; a significant minority thought the purpose of the ‘war on terror’ was to achieve US political and military domination ‘to control Middle East resources’. (HM Government 2009, 43, paragraph 5.20, emphasis added) Mentioning the torture in Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib as treatment widely felt to demonstrate Western inconsistency towards human rights grossly minimizes some of the most egregious human rights violations in recent history. The documented torture that happened in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay are presented as conditionals, and quickly dismissed from the story of terrorism. This is the process of defining the problem and attributing blame. In the case of British counter- terrorism policy, the problem is thus defined as a global terrorist threat, with the blame lying squarely with radical Islamism. And whilst a radical ideology is part of any act of political violence, it is never the only causal explanation. That is because political violence of any kind, be it war or terrorism, has complex causes. In order to fully understand it, one must look at the combined role of structure, agency and ideology. The official narrative of terrorism in the UK excludes the role of structure completely, focusing only on the agents (Al Qaeda, ISIS), and ideology. When the context is removed, fighting terrorism reduces the world into simplistic dichotomies of enemy and victim, us and them, Muslims and non-Muslims, the West, and the rest. The official UK counter-terrorism strategy thus effectively removes the UK and Western states from the official British story of terrorism, allowing the government, the media and the general public to reduce the terrorism threat to the Islamic ideology. Terrorism is thus constructed as a foreign problem, completely separate from the actions of Western states. This is what allows them to duck the blame for terrorist events, to continue talking about extremism as if the West is blameless. And as Deborah Orr argues, this makes radicals of us all. What is needed, urgently, is a change in the narrative. And it must begin with empathy. In this week’s Hidden Brain podcast, Shankar Vedantam speaks of the importance of empathy when dealing with intractable social conflicts. But in order to have empathy, we need to break down simplistic dichotomies and acknowledge the complexities of terrorism. And the first step in acknowledging these complexities is examining the role the UK has played and continues to play in the War on Terror. Only then will paradigms begin to shift, and a new story will begin to be told.
2016-03-24 13:35 George Eaton www.newstatesman.com
42 UN chief arrives in Beirut; Syria talks to adjourn in Geneva BEIRUT (AP) - The U. N. chief has arrived in Lebanon on an official visit that comes as the U. N.-brokered peace talks in Geneva between the Syrian government and the opposition are to adjourn until later in April. Ban Ki-moon is to meet top Lebanese officials and discuss regional matters. Lebanon, which has taken in over 1 million Syrian refugees, also has a U. N. peacekeeping force that maintains security along the Lebanese-Israel border. Ban is expected to address refugee support, youth unemployment, and private sector development. He’ll visit a Syrian refugee settlement in central Lebanon and also the country’s second-largest city, Tripoli, in the north. The secretary general will be joined by World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank Group representatives on a five-day tour that will also take him to Jordan and Tunisia.
2016-03-24 14:45 - Associated Press - Thursday, March 24, 2016 www.washingtontimes.com
43 Hear this, Sanders supporters — you don’t need to back Hillary: You have every right to say “Bernie or bust” Topics: Bernie Sanders , Bernie or Bust , bernie bros , Supporters , Hillary Clinton , Democratic Party , Democrats , Rallying , Bill Maher , Elections News , Social News , Media News , Life News , News , Politics News “ Bernie or Bust! ” That’s the defiant rallying cry of the Bernie Sanders hardcore, the pledge made by Sanders supporters that intend to vote for him and him alone in the general election – whether his name’s on the ballot or not. It’s not just a disaffected few making a stand either; these ‘Bernie or Busters’ don’t constitute a mere handful of the senator’s many devotees. In November, a reported 33% of Bernie Sanders supporters won’t give Hillary Clinton their vote if she wins the Democratic bid. That’s a sizable chunk of Dem voters – over 41% of them so far – saying it’s either Bernie Sanders for President, or nobody at all. It’s a bold statement, especially as the alternative to the Democratic candidate in the general is now almost certain to be Donald Trump, aka the sexist, immigrant-bashing serial liar and current sixth-greatest threat to the global economy. Predictably, some have been critical of the Bernie or Bust movement. By refusing to stump for HRC on Election Day, they say 33% of Sanders supporters increase the risk of Trump’s America. Just last weekend, Bill Maher admonished those of his fellow Sanders supporters that flat-out won’t ever vote Clinton. As Maher sees it, Bernie or Busters take issue with Clinton’s “insufficient purity” as a candidate. Arguably, there’s a bit more to it than that. Eight years ago, Barack Obama glided to victory on a progressive platform that promised real change. But after eight years of brutal compromise and frustrating stalemates with the GOP, Gitmo remains open, American troops are still in Afghanistan, the criminals that engineered the financial crisis are at large, and race relations have deteriorated rather than improved. Now Sanders supporters hear Hillary Clinton promising to continue wherever Barack Obama leaves off, and they wonder what the point of four more years of the same would be in an increasingly desperate country and, indeed, world. To the Bernie or Busters, half-measures no longer cut it. It’s why they’re for Sanders in the first place. And if their protest means letting a sub-Mussolini demagogue slip into power, so be it. You can call adopting such a stance naïve. Ultimately, though, it won’t help to tell the Bernie or Busters that they’re wrong. They want change, not the status quo that the Clinton camp more or less offers. The Bernie Sanders campaign is plainly saying “enough is enough” to the way things are; it’s no good for the Democratic establishment to take a position of presumed superiority and urge Sanders supporters to hand their vote to Hillary Clinton despite their misgivings, when this is exactly the kind of attitude that the Bernie or Busters are rebelling against. After Sanders’ stunning defeat last Tuesday, his voters are now being told they can’t possibly refuse Clinton in a general election. In reality, these supporters have every right to say “Bernie or Bust.” Firstly, and obviously, they do literally have the right. The right to vote is not also an obligation to vote, despite what some may say. The core principle of democracy is freedom of choice, in who you vote for, and in whether you decide to vote at all. (Just as a side-note, voting numbers have been going down for a long time. It’s not like we can exclusively berate Bernie or Busters for refusing to vote Democrat when for years voters have increasingly been too disillusioned to turn out for either side.) With academics contesting that the US is not really a democracy but an oligarchy , it can be difficult for some to even find the point in voting. Unless, of course, an apparent agent of change offers them a good reason to.
2016-03-24 12:24 Brogan Morris salon.com.feedsportal.com
44 We trust British politicians with third terms. So why not African ones? What we talk about when we talk about terrorism The presidential election in the Republic of Congo, which took place yesterday, and regarding which the results were not available at the time of publication of this article, will tell us much about the progress of democracy in the country, as well as our own western attitudes towards African democracy. The pundits are confident that Angela Merkel will next year enter a fourth term as leader of one of the world’s great democracies. Shortly after that, David Cameron will voluntarily hand over his role as prime minister to whoever the British Conservative Party - as opposed to the British public - chooses. Two of Cameron’s three immediate predecessors served three terms. And, indeed, Lynton Crosby, the strategist credited with Cameron’s election successes, carried out exactly the same role for four-term Australian premier John Howard. In Europe, the question of term limits for national leaders is never mentioned by voters. Where it is referred to at all, it is the stuff of rarefied discourse in academic common rooms. The priorities for electors are, as ever, the economy, public safety and security, healthcare, education and other staples. In broad terms, the priorities of African voters are no different: why would they be? So when these voters are told by people in developed nations, often their former colonial masters, that they should not re-elect the same person more than once - regardless of any perceived public benefit that person or party may bring - this makes so little sense to them and appears so nakedly hypocritical that they suspect ulterior motives. The democratic period here in Congo-Brazzaville was preceded by a Marxist one-party state and civil war, and began early this century. It has been one of consistent economic growth, increasingly successful healthcare, literacy rates that rank amongst Africa’s highest, and a tax- to-GDP ratio at the EU average. The Republic’s main cities, Brazzaville and Pointe Noire, are safe and public security is significantly better than in most neighbouring states. The nation works constructively with the Bretton Woods institutions, has an inflation rate of around two per cent and a declining unemployment rate. It is an exemplary member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the leading world body that works to assure transparency in the extractives sectors. The country is presently being punished as much as any other economy reliant on oil revenue, yet it is working hard to diversify. It is far from perfect, of course. In terms of social policy and development, there is much work to do. The Congolese understand this. In their streets, bars, homes and workplaces people talk keenly about priorities and hopes; and about their aspirations for their children (the average age in the Congo is a fraction under 20). In many ways, though, Congolese people want more of the same – only better. They do not seem blinkered or downtrodden. They are as quick with criticism of government and politicians as citizens across Europe – an evening spent watching television brings this home quite forcibly. The fundamental difference is that they understand how bad things could be. Only last week, they saw on their televisions the terrorist murders in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire and gaze daily across the great Congo river at the much less well-off and unstable Democratic Republic of Congo. They believe that things will continue to progress in their own country, and for the largest part believe that the president who has delivered all of this change remains preferable to the unknown. I prefer to think, however, that it is goodwill, and not hypocrisy that has led to this “third-term” disconnect. Many Europeans are passionate in wanting the best for those African states that we harmed at birth or later through neglect and brutal interventionism. In the 21st century, some of that passion translates into postcolonial guilt. But it is no less real for all that. Yet here in Brazzaville, it feels very much like the European insistence on a two-term maximum ought to be a suggestion rather than a demand disguised as a moral imperative. If we truly wish to assist these proud sovereign states, Africans should never be expected to interpret our advice as orders. The 2015 constitutional change that allowed Sassou Nguesso to stand again also brought in shorter presidencies, and passed to parliament the important power to appoint the re-instated post of prime minister. It reformed and gave significant new powers to the constitutional court. Additionally, it gave official status to the opposition, created a series of new national consultative bodies, beefed up human rights guarantees and introduced significant electoral reforms. It abolished the death penalty: no small feat. Yet these measures have been largely overlooked whilst we in the west remain fixated on the “third-term”. It may be true that political term-limits foster strong institutions that act to check and balance governments and to prevent poor practice. Yet we in Europe have not reached consensus on that question ourselves, and therefore can hardly place it as the over-riding requirement of a nation’s progress. Moreover, Congo-B is a good example of a democratic African country whose people choose their leader freely but only for one more term, and even then on a strict basis of social and economic ‘deliverables’. In this new, and dare one say even optimistic, era of African democracy the same laws of politics seem likely to apply eventually. So, for now, Denis Sassou Nguessou is as popular as the Congo’s progress under his leadership would seem to justify. And perhaps for now we should accept African third-termers as a historical conclusion of the lifetimes’ work of the actual individuals who brought their nations through the tough times we ourselves created in the early 1960s. Given a choice between a hopelessly split, ineffectual and often self-serving opposition against a capable operator and leader who won his political spurs in the toughest of ways and is committed to building on the solid foundations that he has created, it wouldn’t be surprising if the people of the Republic of Congo look set to choose Denis Sassou Nguesso. As horrifying as Tuesday’s terrorist attack in Brussels were, there was a strong sense of déjà vu. As human beings, we understand the world through stories and in the aftermath of yesterday’s terrorist attack in Brussels, it seems we are telling each other the same stories. The Islamic State is evil and it must be stopped. Security must be increased. Refugees must be stopped. Walls must be erected. We must protect ourselves from terrorists who hate us, who are motivated by an evil ideology. When stories are given official status, they are considered to be policy narratives. Policy narratives rely on a process of exclusion and inclusion in order to define a problem, attribute blame and propose a solution. This Sunday, Patrick Cockburn wrote in the Independent that Western states have ducked the blame for the rise of ISIS because governments deliberately separate Western action in the Middle East from the War on Terror. He is correct. This is a result of the terrorism policy narrative constructed through successive counter-terrorism strategy papers, a narrative which has systematically removed the UK in particular, and the West in general, from the official story of terrorism in the UK. For example, the 2009 Contest strategy , which contains the government’s most comprehensive explanation of the terrorist threat, starts by outlining out a neat lineage of terror. The 1968 PLO hijacking of an Israeli flight from Rome is framed as the first incident of international terrorism. Contest then lists a series of disparate terrorist events ranging from the 1987 intifadah to, to the 2002 Bali Nightclub Bombings, and 9/11. These events are presented without any reference to the historical or geopolitical context. Instead, Islamic extremism acts as the connecting thread. As such, the 1987 intifadah is presented as an example of the rise in popularity of Islamic extremism, with no mention of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The conflict in Chechnya is framed as being motivated solely by Islamic extremism, with no mention of the country’s history with Russia. Even the Algerian Civil War is included as an example of the rise of radical Islam: In 1992, Afghan Arab veterans created the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) in Algeria, which again sought to overthrow the Government and establish what they regarded as an Islamic state; over the next six years the GIA killed many civilians and members of the security forces. Over 100,000 people died in the Algerian civil war. (HM Government 2009, 24, paragraph 1.10, emphasis added) Significantly, the war in Iraq is never discussed in Contest. Instead, the strategy paper laments that extremists have used Iraq as a base since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. No explanation is given for the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Further, any mention of Western action playing a role in extremism is framed as a conditional: Many Muslims as well as non-Muslims believe that the West (notably the US and the UK) has either caused conflict, failure and suffering in the Islamic world or done too little to resolve them. Military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan (and consequent civilian casualties), perceived western inaction in Palestine and alleged support for authoritarian Islamic governments have all created controversy and anger. The treatment of detainees in Guantanamo Bay (and previously in Abu Ghraib) is widely felt to demonstrate an unacceptable inconsistency in the commitment of the West to human rights and the rule of law. In recent polling across four Islamic states a significant majority judged that it was the aim of the US to ‘weaken and divide the Islamic world’; a significant minority thought the purpose of the ‘war on terror’ was to achieve US political and military domination ‘to control Middle East resources’. (HM Government 2009, 43, paragraph 5.20, emphasis added) Mentioning the torture in Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib as treatment widely felt to demonstrate Western inconsistency towards human rights grossly minimizes some of the most egregious human rights violations in recent history. The documented torture that happened in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay are presented as conditionals, and quickly dismissed from the story of terrorism. This is the process of defining the problem and attributing blame. In the case of British counter- terrorism policy, the problem is thus defined as a global terrorist threat, with the blame lying squarely with radical Islamism. And whilst a radical ideology is part of any act of political violence, it is never the only causal explanation. That is because political violence of any kind, be it war or terrorism, has complex causes. In order to fully understand it, one must look at the combined role of structure, agency and ideology. The official narrative of terrorism in the UK excludes the role of structure completely, focusing only on the agents (Al Qaeda, ISIS), and ideology. When the context is removed, fighting terrorism reduces the world into simplistic dichotomies of enemy and victim, us and them, Muslims and non-Muslims, the West, and the rest. The official UK counter-terrorism strategy thus effectively removes the UK and Western states from the official British story of terrorism, allowing the government, the media and the general public to reduce the terrorism threat to the Islamic ideology. Terrorism is thus constructed as a foreign problem, completely separate from the actions of Western states. This is what allows them to duck the blame for terrorist events, to continue talking about extremism as if the West is blameless. And as Deborah Orr argues, this makes radicals of us all. What is needed, urgently, is a change in the narrative. And it must begin with empathy. In this week’s Hidden Brain podcast, Shankar Vedantam speaks of the importance of empathy when dealing with intractable social conflicts. But in order to have empathy, we need to break down simplistic dichotomies and acknowledge the complexities of terrorism. And the first step in acknowledging these complexities is examining the role the UK has played and continues to play in the War on Terror. Only then will paradigms begin to shift, and a new story will begin to be told.
2016-03-24 13:29 George Eaton www.newstatesman.com
45 Rahm and Debbie have to go: Why Hillary should be calling for their resignation Topics: BillMoyers.com , Rahm Emanuel , Debbie Wasserman Schultz , Bill Clinton , Hillary Clinton , Elections News , Politics News There are two Democrats whose resignation from office right now would do their party and country a service. Their disappearance might also help Hillary Clinton convince skeptical Democrats that her nomination, if it happens, is about the future, and not about resurrecting and ratifying the worst aspects of the first Clinton reign when she and her husband rarely met a donor to whom they wouldn’t try to auction a sleepover in the Lincoln Bedroom. In fact, while we’re at it, and if Secretary Clinton really wants us to believe she’s no creature of the corporate and Wall Street money machine — despite more than $44 million in contributions from the financial industry since 2000 and her $675,000 in speaking fees from Goldman Sachs, not to mention several million more paid by other business interests for an hour or two of her time — she should pick up the gauntlet herself and publicly call for the departure of these two, although they are among her nearest and dearest. And we don’t mean Bill and Chelsea. No, she should come right out and ask for the resignations of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Democratic National Committee Chair — and Florida congresswoman — Debbie Wasserman Schultz. In one masterstroke, she could separate herself from two of the most prominent of all corporate Democratic elitists. Each is a Clinton disciple and devotee, each has profited mightily from the association and each represents all that is wrong with a Democratic Party that in the pursuit of money from rich donors and powerful corporations has abandoned those it once so proudly represented — working men and women. Rahm Emanuel first came to prominence as head of the finance committee for Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, browbeating ever-increasing amounts of money out of fat cat donors, and following Clinton into the White House as a senior adviser attuned to the wishes and profits of organized wealth. Few pushed harder for NAFTA, a treaty that would cost a million or more working people their livelihood, or for the “three-strikes-and-you’re-out” crime bill which Clinton later admitted was a mistake. After alienating most of Washington with his arrogance and bluster Emanuel left in 1998 and went into investment banking in Chicago , making more than $16 million in less than three years. He came back to Washington as a three-term Illinois congressman, chaired the fundraising Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (calling on his Wall Street sources to get in on the gravy by electing so-called New Democrats over New Deal Democrats), and soon was back in the White House as Barack Obama’s chief of staff. There, he infamously told a strategy meeting of liberal groups and administration types that the liberals were “retarded” for planning to run attack ads against conservative Democrats resisting Obamacare. Classy. Writer Jane Hamsher described him as tough guy wannabe but really “a brown nose for power ready to rumble on behalf of the status quo.” And now he’s mayor of Chicago, reelected last April for a second term, but, as historian Rick Pearlstein wrote in The New Yorker a couple of months ago , “Chicagoans — and Democrats nationally — are suffering buyer’s remorse.” Remember that shocking dashcam video of a black 17-year-old named Laquan McDonald being shot 16 times by a Chicago policeman while he was walking away? Of course you do; who can forget it? Remember, too, that for 400 days the police kept the existence of the video secret and did nothing about the shooting. Meanwhile, the City of Chicago paid five million dollars to McDonald’s family, who at that point had not filed a lawsuit. But despite the large sum of money coughed up by his own administration, Emanuel claims he never saw the video. If that’s true, he was guilty of dreadful mismanagement; if he did know, he’s guilty of far worse. Only after his re-election was the cover-up of the murder revealed. In Pearlstein’s words, “Given that he surely would not have been reelected had any of this come out before the balloting, a recent poll showed that only 17 percent of Chicagoans believe him. And a majority of Chicagoans now think he should resign.” The Laquan McDonald murder is just one of the scandals on Emanuel’s watch: crime and abuse by police run rampant, the city’s public schools are a disaster, the transit system’s a mess. Yet while Emanuel has devoted little of his schedule to meeting with community leaders, Pearlstein reminds us that he did, however, “spend enormous blocks of time with the rich businessmen, including Republicans, who had showered him with cash…” Now many of them have deserted him, including one of his richest Republican — yes, Republican — contributors, multimillionaire Bruce Rauner, who became governor of Illinois. 2016-03-24 12:24 Bill Moyers salon.com.feedsportal.com
46 Robert Reich: We’re talking about the largest redistribution of wealth to the rich in American history Topics: RobertReich.org , Ted Cruz , Robert Reich , Business News , Politics News Why Either Trump’s and Cruz’s Tax Plans Would Be the Largest Redistributions to the Rich in American History The tax cuts for the rich proposed by the two leading Republican candidates for the presidency – Donald Trump and Ted Cruz – are larger, as a proportion of the government budget and the total economy, than any tax cuts ever before proposed in history. Trump and Cruz pretend to be opposed to the Republican establishment, but when it comes to taxes they’re seeking exactly what that Republican establishment wants. Here are 5 things you need to know about their tax plans: 1. Trump’s proposed cut would reduce the top tax rate from 39.6 percent to 25 percent – creating a giant windfall for the wealthy (at a time when the wealthy have a larger portion of the nation’s wealth than any time since 1918). According to the Center for Tax Policy, the richest one tenth of one percent of taxpayers (those with incomes over $3.7 million) would get an average tax cut of more than $1.3 million each every year. Middle-income households would get an average tax cut of $2,700. 2. The Cruz plan would abandon our century-old progressive income tax (whose rates increase as taxpayers’ incomes increase) and instead tax the amount people spend in a year and exclude income from investments. This sort of system would burden lower-income workers who spend almost everything they earn and have few if any investments.
2016-03-24 12:24 Robert Reich salon.com.feedsportal.com
47 Conspiracy theories rain down: California cloud-seeding project brings out the truthers Topics: AlterNet , California , Cloud Seeding , drought , Sustainability News California got a brief respite from its historic drought, thanks to a recent wave of storms that swept across the West Coast, filling reservoirs and replenishing snowpack. Grateful residents don’t just have El Niño to thank; part of the rainfall was, in fact, man-made. But there are some who believe something more sinister may be afoot. Mother Nature gets a boost from science Now suffering through its fifth year of a crippling drought, the Golden State was done waiting for Mother Nature to do her thing, so officials and scientists took matters into their own hands and revived an old cloud-seeding program to boost the region’s rainfall levels. In January, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works awarded a $500,000 one-year contract to North American Weather Consultants (NAWC), a Utah-based cloud-seeding company that performed similar work for the county in 1961, to help enhance the region’s rain production. On the night of March 13, the firm switched on 10 cloud-seeding ground stations strategically positioned across the mountainous areas of northern Los Angeles between Sylmar and Pacoima in San Fernando Valley. The stations targeted cloud formations above Angeles National Forest, where rain would feed into tributaries supplying water to the Big Tujunga, Pacoima and San Gabriel dams. Thus began the first cloud-seeding project conducted by the DPW since 2002. Ten cloud-seeding locations were selected across Los Angeles County. (image: Los Angeles County Department of Public Works ) Science fiction, minus the fiction Like so much of modern science, the idea of controlling the weather started in the realm of fiction. But cloud seeding today “actually comes with a lot of science behind it,” said Kerjon Lee of the LA DPW in a recent interview with CBS News’ Carter Evans. Discovered in 1946 by the American chemist and meteorologist Vincent Schaefer, a self-taught scientist who never completed high school, the principle of cloud seeding is actually quite simple. Particles of silver iodide — or sometimes potassium iodide, liquid propane or solid carbon dioxide in the form of dry ice — are sprayed into a saturated cloud to kickstart cloud condensation, a natural process in which particulate matter acts as nuclei that attract supercooled water vapor, which freezes into ice. Once those ice particles gain enough weight, they fall from their clouds, melt and turn into rain. Cloud seeding can be done by ground generators, plane or rocket. (image: DooFi/ Wikipedia ) Cloud seeding, chemtrails and conspiracy theories While working as a researcher at General Electric, Schaefer modified clouds above Massachusetts’ Berkshire Mountains by seeding them with dry ice. But according to the U. S. National Research Council, “the potential legal liability implications of the early experiments led the General Electric Company to discontinue field experiments, and in 1947 to negotiate a contract for further fieldwork to be carried out by the military.” (Schaefer, who received 14 patents over a 20-year period, would continue to study weather modification, publishing a paper two years later about his experiments modifying lightning storms in the northern Rockies.) Cloud-seeding’s shift from private research to national defense helped fuel conspiracy theories that zeroed in on aircraft contrails, those line-shaped clouds that sometimes form behind aircraft flying several miles above the Earth’s surface. A product of water vapor condensing and freezing around small particles present in an aircraft’s exhaust, these contrails, conspiracy theorists argue, are actually “chemtrails” that indicate the military or some other governmental organization is spraying chemical or biological agents at a high altitude for some mysterious, top-secret reason. The theory galvanized with the release of a 1996 research paper by the U. S. Air Force about weather modification titled, “ Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025.” The report’s authors were quite clear about how weather manipulation might one day become weaponized: “So persistent is the chemtrail theory that U. S. government agencies regularly receive calls from irate citizens demanding an explanation,” writes Oliver Smith, digital travel editor at the Telegraph. “Pernilla Hagberg, a Swedish politician, even raised the issue. … Other proponents of the ‘chemtrails’ theory say it is an attempt to control global warming, while some cite far more sinister goals, such as population control and military weapons testing .” In fact, contrails are believed to contribute to global warming by trapping radiation emitted by the Earth. In 2014, Gawker’s weather blogger Dennis Mersereau offered his own debunking. He writes: Contrails from a Qantas Boeing 747-400 at an altitude of 36,000 feet (image: Sergey Kustov/ Wikipedia Of course, these theories are regularly dismissed by the government, as well as aviation experts like pilot Patrick Smith, who writes in his book Cockpit Confidential: Everything You Need to Know About Air Travel : The Los Angeles Department of Public Works actually helped stoke the conspiracy fire in late January, when it decided to notify local residents about the upcoming cloud-seeding equipment installations by taking out a classified ad in the Pasadena Star News. Conspiracy theorists saw the move as a way for the government to be legally transparent, yet virtually conceal the news of its activity.
2016-03-24 12:24 Reynard Loki salon.com.feedsportal.com
48 Two brothers named as the Brussels bombers for attacks that killed 34 people What we talk about when we talk about terrorism Explosions at an international airport and metro station in Brussels killed 34 people on Tuesday 22 March. Isis claimed responsibility for the attacks. It is thought that there were three attackers behind the three blasts. Two of the suicide bombers have been named in Belgian media as brothers Khalid and Brahim el-Bakraoui. A third, surviving suspect, Najim Laachraouiis, has been named. Belgian media has been reporting that he has been arrested , but Reuters is reporting that the person detained was someone else. If the perpetrators turn out to be from the same network as the Paris attackers, this could be the first time in Europe that two big attacks were carried out successfully by the same terrorist network. The departures area at Zaventem airport was struck just after 8am by two separate blasts, and emergency services have completely cleared the airport. A false ceiling collapsed, covering people with debris. The Belgian health minister stated that 11 people died, and 81 were injured, at the airport. An AK-47 was found in the airport departure hall, according to Belgian state broadcasters. Another explosion took place at the Maalbeck metro station near the EU building. The Brussels transport authority has stated that 15 people were killed, and 55 wounded, in this blast. The whole metro system is now on lockdown. The attacks come four days after the capture in the city of Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in the November 2015 Paris bombings. Belgian media reports that the federal prosecutor in the case has confirmed that the airport explosion was a suicide attack. David Cameron expressed his shock and concern at the events on Twitter: I am shocked and concerned by the events in Brussels. We will do everything we can to help. — David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 22, 2016 He chaired an emergency meeting of COBRA yesterday morning in light of the attacks. The terror alert level in Belgium has been raised to 4, the highest possible. As horrifying as Tuesday’s terrorist attack in Brussels were, there was a strong sense of déjà vu. As human beings, we understand the world through stories and in the aftermath of yesterday’s terrorist attack in Brussels, it seems we are telling each other the same stories. The Islamic State is evil and it must be stopped. Security must be increased. Refugees must be stopped. Walls must be erected. We must protect ourselves from terrorists who hate us, who are motivated by an evil ideology. When stories are given official status, they are considered to be policy narratives. Policy narratives rely on a process of exclusion and inclusion in order to define a problem, attribute blame and propose a solution. This Sunday, Patrick Cockburn wrote in the Independent that Western states have ducked the blame for the rise of ISIS because governments deliberately separate Western action in the Middle East from the War on Terror. He is correct. This is a result of the terrorism policy narrative constructed through successive counter-terrorism strategy papers, a narrative which has systematically removed the UK in particular, and the West in general, from the official story of terrorism in the UK. For example, the 2009 Contest strategy , which contains the government’s most comprehensive explanation of the terrorist threat, starts by outlining out a neat lineage of terror. The 1968 PLO hijacking of an Israeli flight from Rome is framed as the first incident of international terrorism. Contest then lists a series of disparate terrorist events ranging from the 1987 intifadah to, to the 2002 Bali Nightclub Bombings, and 9/11. These events are presented without any reference to the historical or geopolitical context. Instead, Islamic extremism acts as the connecting thread. As such, the 1987 intifadah is presented as an example of the rise in popularity of Islamic extremism, with no mention of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The conflict in Chechnya is framed as being motivated solely by Islamic extremism, with no mention of the country’s history with Russia. Even the Algerian Civil War is included as an example of the rise of radical Islam: In 1992, Afghan Arab veterans created the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) in Algeria, which again sought to overthrow the Government and establish what they regarded as an Islamic state; over the next six years the GIA killed many civilians and members of the security forces. Over 100,000 people died in the Algerian civil war. (HM Government 2009, 24, paragraph 1.10, emphasis added) Significantly, the war in Iraq is never discussed in Contest. Instead, the strategy paper laments that extremists have used Iraq as a base since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. No explanation is given for the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Further, any mention of Western action playing a role in extremism is framed as a conditional: Many Muslims as well as non-Muslims believe that the West (notably the US and the UK) has either caused conflict, failure and suffering in the Islamic world or done too little to resolve them. Military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan (and consequent civilian casualties), perceived western inaction in Palestine and alleged support for authoritarian Islamic governments have all created controversy and anger. The treatment of detainees in Guantanamo Bay (and previously in Abu Ghraib) is widely felt to demonstrate an unacceptable inconsistency in the commitment of the West to human rights and the rule of law. In recent polling across four Islamic states a significant majority judged that it was the aim of the US to ‘weaken and divide the Islamic world’; a significant minority thought the purpose of the ‘war on terror’ was to achieve US political and military domination ‘to control Middle East resources’. (HM Government 2009, 43, paragraph 5.20, emphasis added) Mentioning the torture in Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib as treatment widely felt to demonstrate Western inconsistency towards human rights grossly minimizes some of the most egregious human rights violations in recent history. The documented torture that happened in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay are presented as conditionals, and quickly dismissed from the story of terrorism. This is the process of defining the problem and attributing blame. In the case of British counter- terrorism policy, the problem is thus defined as a global terrorist threat, with the blame lying squarely with radical Islamism. And whilst a radical ideology is part of any act of political violence, it is never the only causal explanation. That is because political violence of any kind, be it war or terrorism, has complex causes. In order to fully understand it, one must look at the combined role of structure, agency and ideology. The official narrative of terrorism in the UK excludes the role of structure completely, focusing only on the agents (Al Qaeda, ISIS), and ideology. When the context is removed, fighting terrorism reduces the world into simplistic dichotomies of enemy and victim, us and them, Muslims and non-Muslims, the West, and the rest. The official UK counter-terrorism strategy thus effectively removes the UK and Western states from the official British story of terrorism, allowing the government, the media and the general public to reduce the terrorism threat to the Islamic ideology. Terrorism is thus constructed as a foreign problem, completely separate from the actions of Western states. This is what allows them to duck the blame for terrorist events, to continue talking about extremism as if the West is blameless. And as Deborah Orr argues, this makes radicals of us all. What is needed, urgently, is a change in the narrative. And it must begin with empathy. In this week’s Hidden Brain podcast, Shankar Vedantam speaks of the importance of empathy when dealing with intractable social conflicts. But in order to have empathy, we need to break down simplistic dichotomies and acknowledge the complexities of terrorism. And the first step in acknowledging these complexities is examining the role the UK has played and continues to play in the War on Terror. Only then will paradigms begin to shift, and a new story will begin to be told.
What is it about Molenbeek? Two brothers named as the Brussels bombers for attacks that killed 34 people newstatesman.com 2016-03-24 13:19 George Eaton www.newstatesman.com
49 What is Leadership? PLEASE NOTE: MyNews24 is a user-generated section of News24.com. The stories here come from users. John Jessup Comments: 0 Article views: 32 Latest Badges: Beginner Awarded after your first article is published on MyNews24. You've got nine more to go to reach the next level! View all John Jessup's badges. What is Leadership? 24 March 2016, 14:31 Much has been written about the elusive concept of leadership. People skills, training, worldly, smart, sense of purpose, compelling communications skills, charisma etc etc. But if we look at SA's current leadership where we all know another blunder or scandal is just around the corner, we can maybe get a better idea of what all the tenets of leadership add up to. Judgement. Every single problem that we face as a nation from our leadership boils down to poor judgement. That is Zuma's biggest single problem. He sadly lacks the judgement needed to lead. Wrong calls on just about everything from the company he keeps to the Nkandla debacle and all the others. There is simply no comprehension or grasp of the future consequences of his decisions and actions. Another conclusion can be that he simply does not care or is out to embarrass the country and himself for some obscure reason and/or he just wants to rip off as much as he can while he can. But these things, especially the last, again show terrible judgement as these actions will in turn be judged by the country sooner or later and he will inevitably pay the price for them, even if that price is limited to his legacy. We deserve better leadership and nobody more than those who put him into office indirectly and directly. - MyNews24 Get Published! UPLOAD Click here to upload your article Click here to upload your photo Click here to upload your video Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received. Follow us on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook | Read our Comments Policy
2016-03-24 14:31 www.news24.com
50 Delhi records 558 drunk driving cases on Holi New Delhi : Delhi has recorded a total of 558 drunk driving cases till now on the occasion of Holi, police said on Thursday. "Till late Wednesday night, we have recorded a total of 558 drunken driving cases. The highest has been in South Delhi with 264 cases," Special Commissioner of Police Muktesh Chander told IANS. He also said that Delhi Police has deployed 400 teams in various parts of the national capital to monitor the situation during Holi.
2016-03-24 14:29 By IANS www.mid-day.com
51 Youth throws slipper at Kanhaiya Kumar in Hyderabad Hyderabad: Chaos prevailed at a meeting addressed by JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar here on Thursday as a slogan-shouting youth threw a slipper at him. The incident occurred at Sundraiah Vignan Kendram, as Kanhiaya Kumar was beginning his address at the seminar on constitutional rights. Kanhaiya Kumar addresses a press conference in Hyderabad. The Delhi student leader, who is on bail on sedition charges, arrived in Hyderabad to join protesting Hyderabad University students who are demanding that their vice-chancellor resign. Pic/AFP The youth sitting among the audience stood up, raised slogans against the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) president and threw a slipper towards him on the dais. It, however, missed the target. The youth questioned why Kanhaiya Kumar, who he alleged supports terrorists like Afzal Guru, was being allowed to share the stage. Activists of All India Students Federation (AISF) and others among the audience caught hold of the youth and roughed him even as Kanhaiya Kumar appealed for restraint. Police intervened to take custody of the youth. Another youngster said to be accompanying him was also arrested. Their identity was not immediately known. Continuing with his speech, Kanhaiya Kumar said that such incidents do not matter to him. "Do whatever you want to do, I am not the one to get scared. My way is the Gandhian way," he said. The student leader wanted to know at whose behest they are resorting to such acts. Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on charges of sedition last month after anti-national slogans were allegedly raised during a meeting organised in memory of parliament attack convict Guru on JNU campus in New Delhi. Police did not allow him to enter University of Hyderabad on Wednesday. He wanted to address students and pay tributes to Rohith Vemula, a Dalit research scholar who committed suicide in January.
2016-03-24 14:28 By IANS www.mid-day.com
52 Fishmongers plan to make a killing over Easter weekend Cape Town - One snoek will set you back up to R260 as Cape Town fishmongers cash in on the Easter rush. Everything from yellowtail to hottentot was proudly displayed at Kalk Bay harbour on Thursday, with charming traders coaxing potential customers to cough up for their steeply priced stock. In the Western Cape the tradition of making pickled fish for Good Friday creates quite a demand, giving traders the liberty to push up their prices significantly. - Food24 recipe: Pickled fish Hawker Mandy Oliver of Retreat said traders expected to make a killing on Thursday. “Today is payday – everyone’s favourite day of the month,” she laughed. Traffic was not especially impressive this week, Oliver explained, but it was hoped the numbers would pick up later in the afternoon. She insisted her prices were “not that bad”, pointing out that this was one time of the year when fishmongers made a decent profit. “It’s how business works, the higher the demand, the more we can charge. People need to remember we have people to pay. We don’t catch the fish ourselves. We also have families to feed and bills to pay. This is our time.” The steep price days before Easter was a penalty for those who failed to plan ahead, a cleaner joked. “As jy nie vir vars vis wil betaal nie, koop maar vir jou ‘n blikkie sardientjies [If you don’t want to pay for fresh fish, buy a can of sardines],” he laughed. Vanessa Saaiman of Strandfontein said she was shocked when a fishmonger charged her R220 for a “stink snoek”. 'Ridiculous' “It’s ridiculous. He usually charges me R50. I eventually told my husband to take our kids and his rod and catch us something for me to pickle,” she said. “He eventually came back with three fishes this size,” Saaiman explained, holding her hands about 30cm apart. “I made the pickled fish, but it was so little I decided to make seafood paella to go with it because it’s cheaper. It’s becoming too expensive to practice your religion.” Cherylyn Booysen from Bonteheuwel said she bought her fish from a neighbour who charged R200 for an average-sized snoek. “It’s a clever way to earn some extra cash. And if you know the seller well, they even allow you to pay it off.” Her pickled fish had been in the fridge for the past five days to “get all that lekker flavour”. “My family loves it. They don’t think about it signifying the sacrifice made by Jesus who died for us. For them it’s a treat which I only make once a year.” Costs Skipper Robert Gillespie, who has been catching fish for the past 30 years, said customers needed to realise there were costs involved in their trade. “It’s not like sticking your hand in the sea, catching one and selling it to someone. We have levies to pay, staff to reimburse, and licences to cover,” he said. The catch at Kalk Bay this year was not as impressive as 2015, Gillespie said. “If there’s a lack of fish, the prices have to be pushed up even more so that the mongers can make a decent profit. However, compared to factory prices, buying fresh from the hawker is still the cheaper option.” Hawker Mervyn Frantz said fresh fish would always be in demand, no matter what the price. “But we aren’t here to rip people off. We are only trying to make a living,” he said. “En watter antie sal nou nee dankie se vir ‘n lekker vars stuk snoek of yellowtail? Nie ons Kaapse mense nie. [And what auntie would say no thank you to a nice piece of snoek or yellowtail? Not our Cape Town people].” - Food24: 25 fabulous recipes for Easter entertaining
2016-03-24 14:27 www.news24.com
53 Scientists say Shakespeare's skull may be missing from grave LONDON (AP) — Archaeologists who scanned the grave of William Shakespeare say they have made a head-scratching discovery: His skull appears to be missing. Researchers used ground-penetrating radar to explore the playwright's tomb in Stratford-upon-Avon's Holy Trinity Church. Staffordshire University archaeologist Kevin Colls, who led the study, said they found "an odd disturbance at the head end," with evidence of repairs some time after the original burial. He said the finding supports a claim — first made in 1879 but long dismissed as myth — that the Bard's skull was stolen by grave-robbers in the 18th century. "It's very, very convincing to me that his skull isn't at Holy Trinity at all," Colls said. Church records say Shakespeare was buried in his home-town church, 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of London, on April 25, 1616, two days after his death at the age of 52. His wife, Anne Hathaway, daughter and son-in-law were later buried alongside him. Colls and geophysicist Erica Utsi found the family members lie in shallow graves in the church chancel, rather than in a single vault. There are no traces of nails or other metal, suggesting they may have been buried in cloth shrouds rather than coffins. Colls said the findings, which feature in a documentary airing Saturday on Britain's Channel 4 television, would "undoubtedly spark discussion, scholarly debate and controversial theories" — and some Shakespeare scholars remained skeptical. Michael Dobson, director of the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham, said the grave-robbing claim was first made in an 1879 short story. "It's striking the piece of fiction imagines Shakespeare being buried quite shallow, and it turns out he was buried quite shallow," he said Thursday. "But it is still a piece of fiction. " A skull takes a starring role in Shakespeare's "Hamlet," in which the Danish prince addresses the bony cranium of a man he once knew: "Alas, poor Yorick! " But Dobson said it would have been unusual for anyone to want a writer's skull at the time of the alleged theft. "There wasn't a huge fashion for robbing literary graves in the 18th century," he said. Holy Trinity's vicar, Patrick Taylor, said he was not convinced there is "sufficient evidence to conclude that his skull has been taken" — and there are no plans to disturb the grave to find out for sure. "We shall have to live with the mystery of not knowing fully what lies beneath the stone," he said. That may be a wise decision in light of the warning inscribed on Shakespeare's gravestone: "Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones. "
2016-03-24 12:28 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
54 Homosexuality: A Christian View | CBN.com (beta) This week we'll be featuring a special series that examines the subject of homosexuality from a Christian perspective. We begin our series with the Word of God, where homosexuality is mentioned only a few times. Several experts offer a careful examination what the scriptures tell us about this issue.
2016-03-24 12:36 www1.cbn.com
55 Saudi Arabia reviews hajj security plans after deadly crush RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi press is reporting that the kingdom has held a workshop to review hajj security plans following a crush that killed more than 2,400 pilgrims. The stampede on Sept. 24 was the deadliest incident in the history of the pilgrimage, according to an Associated Press count based on official statements from the 36 countries that lost citizens in the disaster. Last year's hajj was also marred by a crane collapse in Mecca that killed 111 people. The Saudi Gazette reported that the three-day workshop, which ends Thursday, reviewed emergency medical plans and "the lessons of last year's hajj season. " It was attended by various government officials. Saudi has not released findings from its internal investigation into the stampede, nor has it changed its official death toll from 769 people killed.
2016-03-24 14:19 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
56 Man stabbed for protesting against daughter's eve teasing in Meerut Meerut(UP): A man was allegedly stabbed by a youth when he protested against the eve teasing of his daughter in the Lisari Gate area in Meerut, police said on Thursday. Representational picture The 14-year-old girl was standing in front of her house on Wednesday when a neighbourhood youth Juved Kureshi allegedly eve teased. The girl reported the matter to her father. When the girl's father protested against the eve teasing, Kureshi allegedly stabbed him with a knife and fled, the police said. The injured man has been admitted to hospital. A complaint in this regard has been lodged a Lisari police station, the police said adding that Kureshi is absconding. 2016-03-24 14:17 By PTI www.mid-day.com
57 Russian walker to lose Olympic gold medal after court ruling
MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian race walker stands to lose his gold medal from the 2012 London Olympics after the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday rejected the selective punishments imposed by Russian authorities in six doping cases. The Switzerland-based court ruled that the Russian anti-doping agency, known as RUSADA, had wrongly imposed bans which were timed in a way that the six athletes' results were not annulled and allowed them to keep major titles. Russia will also lose an Olympic silver medal and two world championship gold medals as a result of the CAS decision. Sergei Kirdyapkin is set to be stripped of his Olympic gold medal in the 50-kilometer walk. The medal stands to go to Australia's Jared Tallent, subject to ratification by track and field's governing body and the International Olympic Committee. "I'm just very, very happy to know that I am rightfully and will be officially named as the Olympic champion from London," Tallent told The Associated Press by telephone. "It's something that I felt on the day and ever since when I raced. This is a victory for clean athletes. " Tallent said the Australian Olympic Committee had told him it expects the IOC to formally change the result in June. He said he has been promised his own medal ceremony, four years late. Athletics Australia said it would immediately contact the IAAF to ensure the result is officially changed. China's Si Tianfeng would move up to silver, with bronze for Ireland's Rob Heffernan. The six cases before CAS were based on the biological passport system, which tracks unusual blood values for signs of doping. RUSADA had argued that its suspensions applied only to times when the athletes' blood values were extreme, but the IAAF appealed, saying that the timing of the bans was "selective. " In Kirdyapkin's case, RUSADA had allowed him a window of four months in 2012 which meant he kept an Olympic gold medal which he would otherwise have lost. CAS, however, ruled that all of Kirdkyapkin's results from August 20, 2009, to Oct. 15, 2012, were now disqualified. That covers the London Olympics, which took place in July-August 2012. Also affected by the CAS ruling is Olga Kaniskina, who stands to lose her silver medal in the 20K walk from the London Olympics. China's Qiejang Shenjie would move up to silver. Russia is also set to lose two gold medals from the 2011 world championships in Daegu, South Korea — Yulia Zaripova in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Sergei Bakulin in the 50K walk. Zaripova's gold would go to Tunisia's Habiba Ghribi; Bakulin's medal to fellow Russian Denis Nizhegorodov. CAS said reallocation of medals is up to the IAAF. CAS also imposed disqualifications on walkers Valery Borchin and Vladimir Kanaikin. Russian reaction to the decision was muted. Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said the CAS ruling was "an issue from last year already, a closed issue" in comments to R-Sport. Maxim Saushkin, a spokesman for the Russian state-run training center where five of the six walkers were based, said there would be no comments from the athletes or their representatives until they received "the relevant documents" confirming the ruling. The acting head of RUSADA, Anna Antseliovich, told the AP that she stood by her agency's original decision to allow the six athletes to keep certain results, but that she would respect the CAS verdict. "We presented our experts' opinions at CAS. We believe the decision had been imposed properly, but the CAS arbiters found that the IAAF position was stronger and more convincing," she said. "We'll take it into account when RUSADA takes decisions, but each case is individual. " RUSADA was suspended from conducting any testing in November 2015 after a World Anti-Doping Agency commission accused it of covering up doping among leading Russian athletes. Of the six athletes in the case, four have since become eligible to compete again, and some say they want to compete at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August. However, Russia remains suspended from all international track and field, including the Olympics, after the WADA commission's report detailed state-sponsored, systematic drug use. Doping in race-walking is a particular concern for the IAAF, after more than 30 cases in Russia in recent years. "The Russian athletes are definitely getting what they deserved," Tallent said, adding that "it'll be a dark day for the sport" if Kirdyapkin is allowed to race in Rio. "Once you're a cheat and you're caught, you should never be allowed to compete again. You should be banned for life," Tallent said. "I hope that Russia is still excluded. " Kirdyapkin and Bakulin face possible further charges over allegations that they continued to race while they were supposed to be suspended. Kaniskina also worked as director of a major training center while serving a suspension.
2016-03-24 14:12 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
58 Where's real action on 'Quantico'? Check the Writers Room NEW YORK (AP) — Under bright lights in a Montreal studio, the stars of "Quantico" are filming a new episode of this ABC thriller cast as hotshot trainees at Virginia's FBI Quantico Base. With their sworn mission to uncover domestic terrorists, these recruits would never guess that, less than a year down the road, one of them, Alex Parrish, will be framed for orchestrating a ghastly crime: blowing up New York's Grand Central Terminal. "Quantico" is a suspenseful, fast-paced saga filled with action, intrigue and hanky-panky among its sprawling ensemble. Meanwhile, it unfolds along two distinct time lines, whipsawing between training sessions and, months later, the bombing's aftermath as Alex (series star Priyanka Chopra) struggles to prove her innocence and flush the real culprit from her FBI ranks. With storytelling this knotty, it's always worth remembering that "Quantico" just doesn't write itself. Knock on a door nearly 400 miles due south of Montreal, in a converted factory space in Brooklyn's Greenpoint neighborhood — that's where the multi-layered narratives come to light and where scripts emerge. The season's 15th episode airs this Sunday (10 p.m. EDT) boasting the latest dose of drama, derring-do and dirty tricks. But 15 is old news for the four-man, four-woman team of writers who, on a recent morning, gather around a conference table led by Joshua Safran, the series' creator and executive producer. They are there to tackle Episode 21. Weeks earlier 21 had been, in writers' lingo, "broken" — painstakingly charted from start to finish, then transformed into a scene-by-scene memo for submitting to the network for approval. But ABC had balked at one throughline, so before the episode's designated writer, Cameron Litvack, can start the script, the room must tie up those pesky loose ends. While they're at it, Safran wants to make sure 21 smoothly paves the way for Episode 22, the season-ender, for which he will do the honors. "Getting to the end and making sure we resolved everything and didn't leave anything out — that's been the toughest thing the last couple of weeks," Safran says. "Everything has to connect! " Did we mention that Litvack must have his script done in less than a week? "Right now," says Safran, "the issue for me with 21 is that it's very talky. I want to add a little bit of energy. " Energy seems to be Safran's stock-in-trade. Animated, jovial and boyish-looking (though a seasoned veteran with "Gossip Girl" and "Smash" among his past TV credits), he crackles with energy, propelling ideas at Mach speed while kneading a well-thumbed deck of playing cards. ("I don't smoke," he notes, "so I shuffle cards. ") "Cam, are you OK with this idea? " he says after making a suggestion. "It's better that way," Litvack agrees. "Not TOO much Alex. " "We won't get her in the story right now," says Safran, "but we set up what her point of view is with Shelby (a fellow FBI trainee and frenemy of Alex), so we can get to it in 22. " The vibe of this Writers Room, and those who inhabit it, suggest nothing so much as a spirited seminar in a graduate writing course. The air bristles with story twists, character refinements and other interplay that keeps assistant writer Braden Marks busy at his laptop capturing the give-and-take while, on the wall, a white board mapped out scene by scene is continuously tweaked. Safran says he always meant to create a show that challenges the viewer, "something that requires active watching as opposed to 'I'm going to drink wine and play Candy Crush while my television is on.' For some people that's too much. But for other people, going on that ride is the way to hook them. " And, for the record, if at season's end any viewer feels inclined to re-cut all 22 back-and-forth-plotted hours into a start- to-finish epic, "everything would line up so neatly that what might seem confusing when we fold it over every week like a calzone would be a really delicious pizza once it was unfolded. " Already, Safran has "a thought," he hedges, for next season's "calzone" ("Quantico" has won a sophomore renewal), but that remains to be seen, as does whether filming will remain in Montreal or migrate somewhere thriftier. A geographic gulf between writing and filming, while not ideal, isn't uncommon in series TV, and such tools as Skype, email and stop-overs by a visiting writer help bridge the gap. But the fact is, it doesn't really matter where the Writers Room is. However disembodied from production and all its razzmatazz, however undercover the writers convene, here in this inner sanctum resides the brain trust that devises how the actors will perform and what the viewers will see. Come afternoon, after a communal writers' lunch of brought-in deli fare, Litvack will peel off from his fellow scribes. In his mid-30s, he has written for "Charmed," ''Ugly Betty" and "Forever," and now, suitably battle-hardened, he displays no stress over this, his latest unforgiving deadline. "We have a hive-like mentality when we break these stories," he explains, "so we put enough detail in them that it makes the script-writing process much easier. " For the rest of the crew, Episode 22 is waiting. _____ EDITOR'S NOTE — Frazier Moore is a national television columnist for The Associated Press. He can be reached at [email protected] and at http://www.twitter.com/tvfrazier. Past stories are available at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/frazier-moore _____ Online: http://www.abc.go.com
2016-03-24 14:11 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
59 MPs quiz Osborne on budget as poll says his approval rating never been lower - Politics live Here are the main points from George Osborne’s evidence to the Treasury committee about the budget. It was a less combative hearing then normally, mainly because the Labour MP John Mann, the committee’s resident interrogative rottweiler, was not there, but nevertheless the questioning was substantive, and reasonably productive. Osborne rejected this, telling her. But Andrew Tyrie , the Conservative MP who chairs the committe, said it had become a “standing joke that when any government department says they have no present plans to do something it must be about to do it”. The FPC has recommended it should be allowed, if necessary, to direct regulators to require limits on buy-to-let lending. These limits could apply to lending in terms of loan-to-value ratios or interest coverage ratios (ICRs). A buy-to-let mortgage’s ICR is the ratio of the expected rental income from the buy-to-let property to the expected mortgage interest payments. The FPC has already been given powers of direction over the residential mortgage market.
2016-03-24 14:10 Andrew Sparrow www.theguardian.com
60 60 Louis van Gaal speculation mounts after omission from Manchester United video The future of Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has been placed in further doubt after the Dutchman was left out of the club's promotional video for the summer tour of China. Van Gaal's position at Old Trafford has been the subject of continued speculation with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho tipped to take over. Van Gaal will soon enter the final year of a three-year contract to manage the Red Devils but was left out of a 48-second clip on the club website to promote the summer trip to the Far East. The video featured 14 members of the current squad and several former players. The video for last summer's tour to the United States featured Van Gaal prominently but his position has come under pressure with the team now out of Europe and not featuring in the Premier League title race. United's hopes of a top-four finish and Champions League qualification for next season were boosted by victory in the Manchester derby on Sunday and they face West Ham in an FA Cup quarter-final replay on April 13. But leaving Van Gaal out of the promotional video for the International Champions Cup games against Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai on July 22 and Manchester City in Beijing three days later has added to speculation that the Dutchman could be on his way out.
2016-03-24 14:06 Press Association www.dailymail.co.uk
61 Kriel back in Bulls starting XV Pretoria - Bulls coach Nollis Marais gave first starts to Tian Schoeman, Jason Jenkins and Lizo Gqoboka in his run-on team for Saturday's Super Rugby match against the Sunwolves in Singapore (kick-off 12:55 SA time). They all played off the bench in last weekend’s draw against the Sharks, and along with Jesse Kriel returning, will replace Jan Serfontein, Francois Brummer, Grant Hattingh and Trevor Nyakane respectively. Hattingh is injured and did not travel to the Far East, with the other three moves on the bench. Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg will be the back-up lock for this clash, while Marais also named prop Pierre Schoeman (in for Hencus van Wyk) and hooker Bandise Maku on the bench. Maku will make his first appearance this year if he takes to the field, while Schoeman will make his Super Rugby debut if he comes on to the field. "We had a good session here in Singapore and I wanted to refresh our effort this week. The guys coming off the bench will be fresher than those who played against the Sharks and we are going to need a fast start. We have seen them play, but the Sunwolves will still be an unknown factor to us. They will be dangerous and we need to be sharp," Marais said. Bulls captain Adriaan Strauss said the team is excited to be in Singapore and play here for the first time. "Our focus is to deliver 80 minutes of quality rugby on the field. We have not played here before, so will have to adapt to the conditions and the opponents, so need to be at our best. We are keen to deliver a performance that we and our supporters can be proud of. " Teams: Sunwolves TBA Bulls 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Lizo Gqoboka Substitutes: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Pierre Schoeman, 19 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 20 Nic de Jager, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Francois Brummer, 23 Jan Serfontein
2016-03-24 14:02 www.sport24.co.za
62 Official: 40 dead ducks along Pennsylvania road placed there QUARRYVILLE, Pa. (AP) — Investigators in Pennsylvania are trying to find out who left more than 40 dead ducks along a rural road last week. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture says more the ducks were placed on the road after they were already killed. Agriculture spokeswoman Brandi- Hunter Davenport tells LNP (http://bit.ly/1XPvDs2 ) that tests determined they didn't die of disease. The birds were left along a road in southern Lancaster County, about 50 miles southeast of Harrisburg, on March 16. The birds died of some kind of trauma and were likely dropped from a vehicle that drove along the road. The ducks were found along more than a one-mile stretch. The state police are continuing to investigate who killed and dumped the ducks.
2016-03-24 14:02 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
63 Dog found with tongue cut out Durban - A dog has had to be put down after it was found malnourished and with its tongue cut out in Phoenix, Durban last week. Animal rights group, Phoenix Animal Care and Treatment, posted the story of their "most horrible case yet" on Facebook last Wednesday. “RIP BEAUTIFUL BOY! The little dog we rescued yesterday had to sadly be put to sleep,” the post read. “Someone had cut off his tongue that's why he could not eat and had ended up this way. “We hope nothing but the same or even worse off life to the subhuman who did this to him. Now you are safe in the arms of your maker and in an eternity of nothing but the love you deserve.” ‘He was skeletal’ The dog was found by Surie Pillay, The Mercury reported, who immediately took the him to a vet in Umhlanga. On Phoenix’s Facebook post, Pillay wrote that when she asked residents about his owners, everyone said he could be a stray and that he had been wandering around for days. "When I spotted him, he collapsed on the ground and had no energy to wake up. He was skeletal.” One of the group’s representatives, Neeri Naidoo, told The Mercury that the dog was malnourished, hungry and thirsty. Due to his mutilation he could not eat or drink. A volunteer in the group, Dianne Bester and other animal rights activists launched a campaign to find the person responsible. To report known animal abuse in your area, please call your nearest SPCA branch. Telephone numbers can be found HERE.
2016-03-24 13:51 www.news24.com
64 Bosnian Serb leader Karadzic ultimately chose brutal path SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — From psychiatrist and poet to leader of the Serbian resistance in Bosnia, Radovan Karadzic ultimately chose a brutal path. Born in 1945 into a poor family in Savnik, Yugoslavia, Karadzic moved to Sarajevo in 1960 to study medicine. By 1971 he was practicing psychiatry in the ethnically mixed Bosnian capital, writing poetry and a children's book. In 1985, he was tried for embezzlement of public property while building a family house and served 11 months in jail. But by 1990, with nationalism on the rise, Karadzic shifted his focus to politics, forming the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) that led to his election to parliament in the first democratic elections after the fall of communism the same year. As the Yugoslav republics were breaking away one by one, first Slovenia, then Croatia, Karadzic warned non-Serbs in Bosnia not to declare independence from Serb dominated Yugoslavia, telling them clearly what would happen if they did. "Do not think that you will not lead Bosnia and Herzegovina into hell, and do not think that you will not perhaps lead the Muslim people into annihilation because the Muslims cannot defend themselves if there is war," he said in October 1991. Karadzic, who saw himself as a historic figure who would unify all Serbs in a common country, led the Serb resistance to the majority vote for Bosnia's independence in 1992 and declared himself the leader of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnian Serbs armed and backed by the Yugoslav Army conquered some 70 percent of the country, laying siege to its capital and killing and expelling non-Serbs from the territory they controlled. The conflict took over 100,000 lives and forced over two million people from their homes. In July 1995, his troops overran the town of Srebrenica and killed over 8,000 men and boys in the worst massacre in Europe since the Nazi era. Karadzic was indicted by the U. N. war crimes tribunal in 1995, one of the 11 counts relates to genocide in Srebrenica. He went into hiding and evaded arrest for 13 years before he was caught in Belgrade, Serbia, in 2008, where he hid masked as a New Age healer. He made himself unrecognizable growing a thick beard and long, grey hair. Karadzic defended himself during his trial, which started in 2009, denying the crimes and claiming he was a "man of peace. "
2016-03-24 13:48 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
65 Drew Review: South Yorkshire Police's handling of abuse was 'inadequate' South Yorkshire Police's handling of child sexual exploitation (CSE) was "inadequate" and the force "regularly missed" opportunities to tackle the problem, a report has found. The force "seriously under-resourced" its early work and several attempts to alert senior officers to the issue fell on "deaf ears", it says. It does however say the force has since made "considerable progress". South Yorkshire Police said tackling CSE was an "absolute priority". Analysis and reaction to the Drew Report's findings - and other news from Sheffield and South Yorkshire South Yorkshire Police 'did not care', says abuse victim The Drew Review in numbers The report, by Professor John Drew who is a former chief executive of the Youth Justice Board, was commissioned by South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings and covers the period from 1997 to 2016. It was commissioned in the wake of the Jay Report , which found at least 1,400 girls were abused in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. Prof Drew's 107-page report makes 11 recommendations, including implementing a standardised procedure for investigating CSE and ensuring that intelligence is handled promptly and appropriately. "My overall judgement is that the police response to safeguarding children and young people from child sexual exploitation in the past was inadequate, especially in Rotherham. "Some, but only some, of this failure can be linked to the lack of awareness, nationwide, of child sexual exploitation in the early 2000s. "Opportunities to explore the prevalence of sexual exploitation in more detail regularly presented themselves and were regularly missed. " The report found "serious failings of policing in Rotherham" and said that while improvements were made from 2007 onwards "significant failures" continued to occur. In Sheffield, it found officers worked in an "under-resourced vacuum" and requests for further resources and attempts to explain the situation were ignored. Prof Drew said senior officers working at the time had told him they were "not aware" of the requests. "A generous interpretation of this situation would be to say that the senior command lacked professional curiosity and were focused instead on other areas of police performance. " Michael Buchanan, BBC Social Affairs Correspondent This report gives us a damning insight into why South Yorkshire Police failed repeatedly to act on the intelligence pouring into force. The callous attitude that senior officers displayed towards the young victims is extraordinary. Faced with allegations that children were being drugged, raped, abused and trafficked, they decided to do nothing. What today's report describes as "a lack of professional curiosity" was more simply put to me by one former officer as "they ignored it. " The police - probably many members of the public - would like to move on from the failures of the past. But despite all the reports and reviews that have taken place since 2013, not a single officer has been held to account. That is mainly due to the glacial pace of the IPCC investigation. Yes, there are numerous complaints against dozens of officers, so it's complicated. But there is no sign of a conclusion to their inquiries and as this report highlights, that lack of resolution continues to undermine public confidence in the force. He says the "distorting impact" of national priorities on targeting crimes such as burglary, robbery, and theft from vehicles meant it was "well nigh impossible for local police forces to attach importance to other emerging crimes". However, he said that South Yorkshire Police's response to safeguarding children and young people from CSE was now "adequate". The force was now "led by individuals who were determined to learn from the past" and that "significant additional resources" had been allocated to "catching up from a previously poor position". The report also found the force now "understood and acted on previous criticisms and recommendations" though its Action Plan for combating CSE could be "further improved". Prof Drew also uses his report to criticise the "slow pace" of the Independent Police Complaints Commission's investigations into disciplinary matters which, he said, are not due to be completed before 2017 "at the earliest". "I cannot emphasise too strongly the harmful impact that this is having on victims and survivors, on police officers and staff, and on public confidence in policing," he said. The force's Chief Constable David Crompton said: "Since the Jay report we've heavily focused our resources on this issue and charged 124 people with offences related to child sexual exploitation. "We note the report's recommendations and accept that there is more to be done. Alongside the Police and Crime Commissioner, our partner agencies and forces across the country we will identify best practise and continue our commitment to protect children from sexual exploitation and harm. " The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) revealed it has 55 ongoing investigations linked to at least 66 officers in South Yorkshire and their handling of CSE in Rotherham. It has also revealed it has received more than 100 allegations linked to officers who have not yet been identified. A spokesperson for the IPCC last month said it was "committed to ensuring the allegations are investigated sensitively and thoroughly". In response to Prof Drew's comments, the IPCC said it would be analysing the report "to see if it identifies any matters that we are not already aware of and which may require investigation. " The IPCC said it had a team of 21 investigative staff were now working on Rotherham-related cases. A newly-appointed Director of Major Investigations would ensure the resources allocated to these inquiries remained under review, it added.
2016-03-24 12:33 BBC News www.bbc.co.uk
66 Oil price war threatens U. S. sense of energy security: Kemp By John Kemp LONDON, March 24 (Reuters) - The political economy of oil prices in the United States is complicated. The United States is the world's largest oil consumer and one of its biggest importers. But it is also a substantial producer with large oil and gas resources. And its oil is medium-cost, more expensive to produce than the large fields in the Middle East but cheaper than frontier areas like the Arctic. U. S. politicians tend to be happiest with mid-priced oil: not too expensive to upset motorists but not too cheap to threaten the survival of domestic production and increase dependence on imports. In the last century, the country has swung between confidence in its self-sufficiency and energy independence to extreme insecurity about its dependence on imported oil ("Oil scarcity ideology in U. S. national security policy", Stern, 2012). In recent years, the debate has been characterised by optimism, even complacency, about rising U. S. domestic production and falling reliance on imports, but that could easily change, as it has in the past. The shale revolution transformed America's sense of its energy security but it occurred thanks to high oil prices and a wave of technical innovation and entrepreneurship. The shale revolution had almost nothing to do with the political class, though politicians have been quick to claim the credit for an American success story. But just as rising prices and production banished concerns about import dependence, so falling prices and output could reawaken them if pushed too far ("Market madness: a century of oil panics, crises and crashes", Clayton, 2015). OIL IMPORTS RISING U. S. crude oil imports are rising for the first time for more than five years, a sign that Saudi Arabia is winning its war for market share against shale producers. In the week ending March 18, the United States imported nearly 8.4 million barrels per day of crude oil, according to the U. S. Energy Information Administration (http://tmsnrt.rs/1RnbeGQ). Weekly crude oil imports were the highest since July 2013 ("Weekly Petroleum Status Report", EIA, Mar 23). Faster imports were driven by a surge in oil deliveries from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Nigeria which cleared U. S. customs over the seven day period (http://tmsnrt.rs/1RnbcyK). Reported imports are subject to considerable week to week variability depending on the timing of tanker arrivals and customs clearance, so it is important not to place too much emphasis on one week's figures. But there is no mistaking the trend. Crude petroleum imports have been trending higher since the middle of 2015. Daily crude imports averaged 7.9 million barrels per day over the last 13 weeks, up from 7.1 million bpd in the 13 weeks ending July 3, 2015 (http://tmsnrt.rs/1Rnbiqn). Imports are rising thanks to a combination of strong demand from U. S. oil refineries and falling domestic oil production from shale formations ("West African crude regains glow in west as shale fades", Reuters, March 17). Crude is also being imported and put into tank farms. Traders favour storage in the United States because it is a location of net consumption and has favourable banking, legal and physical infrastructure. Imports will almost certainly increase further over the remainder of the year as refineries ramp up production to meet record gasoline consumption and U. S. crude output continues to decline. U. S. crude production is forecast to drop from 9.4 million barrels per day in 2015 to 8.7 million bpd in 2016 and 8.2 million bpd in 2017 ("Short-Term Energy Outlook", EIA, Mar 2016). Meanwhile U. S. consumption of refined products is predicted to increase by almost 100,000 bpd in 2016 and another 160,000 bpd in 2017. The growing gap between domestic oil production and product consumption can only be covered by additional imports of crude or refined products. NATIONAL SECURITY Recapturing market share from shale and other higher-cost producers has been a key objective for Saudi Arabia and OPEC. But there could be a political cost if the market share strategy is pushed too far, in the form of a backlash from the United States. The rise in U. S. domestic oil production and reduction in imports has been hailed by policymakers from both major parties as an important achievement. Even if the concept of "energy independence" is an illusion in an interconnected oil market and global economy, rising domestic production has contributed to an improved sense of energy security. But if the price war continues to harm domestic oil producers, it is likely to trigger a political response at some point. In 1986, U. S. Vice-President George Bush warned Saudi Arabia's King Fahd that oil price stability was a national security issue for the United States. Bush told the Saudis lower oil prices were a boon to many sectors of the U. S. economy but not to all of them ("Bush sees oil glut undermining United States", Chicago Tribune, 1986). "There are two edges to this sort of falling prices, and one of them has got to be the fact that this country - our country, the United States of America - has always felt that a viable domestic oil industry is in the national security interests of the United States," he told his hosts in Riyadh. Oil prices, as well as security and the control of terrorism and radicalism, have always been central to relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Saudi policymakers have strongly denied that their current price strategy is aimed against shale production. Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi told an audience of US producers at CERAWeek in Houston in February: "Let me say for the record, again, we have not declared war on shale or on production from any given country or company. "We are doing what every other industry representative in this room is doing. We are responding to challenging market conditions and seeking the best possible outcome in a highly competitive environment. "Efficient markets will determine where on the cost curve the marginal barrel resides. " But the finer points of that argument may be lost on hard-pressed US shale producers and their political representatives. ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL So far, energy issues are playing out in a minor way on the presidential and congressional campaigns. Democrats are more energized by renewable energy issues and much of the party's base is ambivalent or actively hostile to fossil fuel production because of its climate impact. Hillary Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, has promised to impose tougher conditions on fracking. "By the time we get through all of my conditions, I do not think there will be many places in America where fracking will continue to take place," she said during a debate earlier this month. Her rival for the party's nomination, Bernie Sanders, has taken an even stricter line, stating simply "I do not support fracking". Given that fracking now accounts for half of all U. S. oil production these positions may not be practical ("Hydraulic fracturing accounts for about half of current U. S. crude oil production", EIA, Mar 15). The outgoing Obama administration is also adopting a tougher regulatory stance on all forms of fossil fuel production as part of an effort to make climate progress a legacy issue. In practice, most U. S. oil and gas is produced in states like Texas, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Alaska that increasingly lean towards the Republican Party, though others like Pennsylvania and Ohio are swing states. For the moment, the party is convulsed by internal divisions as a result of the rise of businessman Donald Trump and is more focused about maintaining its control over Congress. In 2012, the oil and gas industry tried and failed to make domestic energy production and energy security an election issue, and it may not be salient this year. But the political climate is unusually febrile in 2016 and falling oil production could play into it in unexpected ways. (Editing by Susan Thomas)
2016-03-24 13:41 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
67 What is the future of artificial intelligence? On the return of Pee-Wee Herman How did we get brains big enough to create machines with artificial intelligence? Some suggest that it was to help keep track of all the people, and their roles, within our growing social groups. Large, well-integrated and co-ordinated groups improved our chances of survival because they made the division of labour possible. The alternative explanation is that our brain power is due to needing brains that facilitated problem-solving and invention. Whatever the cause, our evolved problem-solving abilities have thrown a spanner in the works. Google’s artificial intelligence machine AlphaGo upends the evolved social contract. Now we can only hope that the machine will help us understand how to preserve the value of individuals who have no contribution to make. Until recently, for instance, Lee Sedol’s unique selling point lay in his ability to beat all-comers at the ancient Asian game of Go. Now a team of human beings equipped with AlphaGo, an AI tool, have beaten him. The threat of AI does not lie in our having created the first machines whose workings we can’t explain; they aren’t going to subjugate people. But they are going to leave many without a contribution to offer society. After the first defeat, Sedol pronounced himself “in shock”. After the second defeat he was “quite speechless”. After the third he confessed he felt “powerless”. If that’s how someone who explicitly prepared to pit himself against an AI feels, imagine how stunned we are going to be when the wider applications render many of us surplus to requirements. This quiet revolution has already started. You know about Google’s self-driving car. Artificial intelligence is already better than most doctors at interpreting medical scans. It is organising school timetables and finding the optimal delivery schedule for supermarket supplies: getting Easter eggs into the hands of slavering infants involves AI. You’re not even going to notice the takeover. Next time you’re in a supermarket, give the self- service checkout a hard stare. It’s essentially a static robot. And this robot has human assistants. Those people who turn up when you attempt to buy alcohol are summoned by the machine. The human assistant is still necessary, but only because the manufacturers and programmers made a decision to limit the robot’s capabilities. They didn’t have to: if we decided we wanted fully autonomous robot checkouts, we could equip them to read iris scans or fingerprints, or simply use face recognition. And that would require us to sign up and hand over our biometric data. Given a little time to get used to the idea, most of us probably would do, and more jobs will go. That tells us something about why we should start coming to terms with the implications of AlphaGo’s success. AI is not inherently evil. But our inventive brains have created a situation that confuses our social brains. On the one hand, the tribe’s comfort will be increased by efficient machines. On the other, the tribe will find itself supporting a growing number who no longer make a meaningful contribution. It’s not clear our big, clever brains can solve the problem. Maybe those who profit from making human roles redundant could pay a “human capital gains” tax: we could charge the innovators for replacing a job and divert the money into social programmes. But how to make Google pay to implement its AI? We may have found the problem AlphaGo can’t solve. In all the hoopla last year over the new addition to the Star Wars series more than a decade on from the last instalment, it may have escaped some people’s attention that another franchise was being revived after an even longer interval. It has been 31 years since a young upstart named Tim Burton made his feature debut bringing the bizarre US television character Pee- Wee Herman, created and played by Paul Reubens, to cinema screens in Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. Pee-Wee on TV was already well within the parameters of the oddball: with his shrunken grey suit, red bow tie, white tassled loafers and even whiter Pierrot-esque face, he occupied that indistinct zone between child, man and performance art. His nasal voice and honking laugh seemed cultivated to annoy every bit as much as his playground catchphrases (“I know you are, but what am I?” repeated ad infinitum). But Reubens’s single-minded – some might say bloody- minded – focus on playing Pee-Wee utterly straight (if that’s not the wrong word for a character who teeters on the brink of camp) was vital to the character’s success. Combined with Burton’s doolally visual sensibility, which was still only then in its infancy, it resulted in a movie of unusual originality and imagination. Burton is not on board for the new Pee-Wee movie, Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday , a Netflix original presentation which debuted on the streaming service last week. (Nor was he part of the lacklustre second film, Big Top Pee-Wee , from 1988.) But Pee-Wee has an equally influential benefactor these days: Judd Apatow, the one-man comedy factory whose films include Knocked Up and Trainwreck. Apatow produced Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday and it is his adoration of Pee-Wee that got the project off the ground in the first place: he approached Reubens after a live show a few years ago, brandishing a Polaroid he had taken of the comedian more than 30 years ago, when Apatow himself was a 16-year-old comedy hopeful. Happily, Apatow hasn’t imposed his own stamp on the material, unless you count the central bromance between Pee-Wee and the actor Joe Mangeniello , star of True Blood and the Magic Mike movies. But then there has always been a homoerotic element to Pee-Wee – remember the sexual frisson when he posed as the wife of an escaped criminal in the original? The two become fast friends when Mangeniello strolls in seductive slow-motion into the diner where Pee-Wee is working as a short order cook. And it is Pee-Wee’s determination to attend his new pal’s birthday party on the other side of the country in New York City that is the catalyst for his new journey. In Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure , he made it all the way to Hollywood in pursuit of his stolen bike (think of that movie as a candy-coloured Bicycle Thieves with added stop-motion monsters) but that has all been forgotten in the new film, in which it is claimed that he has never set foot outside Fairville, a town stuck in the 1950s. “You know I don’t want to go anywhere or try anything new!” he chirrups when a travel agent tries to entice him into visiting Morocco or Mexico by placing a fez and then a sombrero on his head in quick succession. Could it be that Pee-Wee has become a symbol for the stereotypically entrenched American, clinging to a rosy past that never really existed, and barricaded against fresh experiences? It looks that way. Mangeniello lays it on the line: “You’re stuck in a rut, Pee- Wee!” The adventure which ensues has as much nuttiness as you would expect, even if it lacks the innovative governing vision that Burton brought to the original. (The director this time around is John Lee, whose CV includes work for the Adult Swim comedy network.) But it can boast crisp, delicious cinematography from the excellent Tim Orr. And what it has in abundance is the sort of delirious spectacle that is integral to Pee-Wee’s world – the intricate Heath Robinson-style contraption that propels Pee-Wee out of his house on skis and through the neighbourhood in a miniature car, or the daft interlude with a group of travelling stylists who have created a United States of Hair. There was always a strange anxiety present in Pee-Wee about the adult world, and the particularly sexual demands that it brings; you could go so far as to say that the entire character is born out of Pee-Wee’s attempt to arrest his own development. This is more in evidence than ever in the new film, where Pee-Wee’s key encounters are with ravenous groups of women. The first is a trio of vampish bank robbers that would have done Russ Meyer proud; next he has to contend with a farmer’s nine daughters, each of whom is competing to be his bride. (In one scene straight out of a horror movie, they are crawling through the window and breaking down his bedroom door.) He does eventually do the unthinkable and actually kiss a woman. But relax: she only becomes attractive to him once he discovers that she is his namesake. That’s so Pee-Wee. Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday is available now on Netflix.
Ta-Nehisi Coates and writing about race in America On the return of Pee-Wee Herman newstatesman.com 2016-03-24 12:21 George Eaton www.newstatesman.com
68 9 charged with murder after teen slain in massive brawl AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Authorities say nine people have been charged with murder and another is being sought after a teenager was stabbed to death in a massive, chaotic brawl that involved baseball bats, pipes, knives and other weapons near Augusta. Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree says the killing of 18-year-old Demajhey Bell on March 18 was "the epitome of a senseless murder. " Bell died Sunday at a hospital. A woman told sheriff's deputies that 30 to 50 teens armed with baseball bats, pipes, knives and other weapons showed up to fight her 15- year-old daughter. The Augusta Chronicle (bit.ly/25nvC48) posted video recorded from bystanders that shows girls fighting, boys attacking people with bats, and an out-of-control Dodge Charger that nearly runs over people. Authorities said one man's arm was shattered with a baseball bat. ___ Information from: The Augusta Chronicle , http://www.augustachronicle.com
2016-03-24 13:40 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
69 Ukraine PM's party says will discuss Groysman PM nomination KIEV, March 24 (Reuters) - The People's Front party of Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Thursday it was prepared to discuss nominating Parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Groysman for the post of prime minister. "People's Front will discuss the proposal from our partners in (President) Petro Poroshenko's party on the nomination of Volodymyr Groysman and the principles of forming a new coalition," the party said in a statement. (Reporting by Natlalia Zinets; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; editing by Matthias Williams)
2016-03-24 13:38 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
70 The lesson of history is that Conservative divisions over Europe will get worse, not better, after the referendum Donald Trump's rise is scary. But he's not as popular as he seems When Harold Wilson announced in early 1975 that he would hold a referendum on Britain’s EEC membership, the new Conservative leader, Margaret Thatcher, derided the government’s decision as “a tactical device to get over a split in their own party.” Much the same could be said today of David Cameron’s referendum promise. But, in this regard, Cameron appears not to have learned the lesson of the last referendum. Far from helping Labour get over the split in its party, the referendum just compounded the issue. It took them 22 years to recover fully and win a general election. Read any account of the 1975 referendum and you will be transported back to a world where the labour movement was at the peak of its powers. A world where left and left-of-centre politicians – from Tony Benn to Roy Jenkins to Jeremy Thorpe – consistently dominated headlines and set the national agenda, and Labour had won four elections out of the last five. There are many different theories as to why Labour disintegrated in the years that followed – structural changes in the workforce, the rise of individualism, ill-advised militancy on the part of the trades unions – but none of them really account for the suddenness of the party’s demise. 1975 was the moment Labour stepped over the edge of the cliff and Europe was the issue that pushed them. After that it was only a matter of time until – like Wile E. Coyote – they looked down and realised there was no ground beneath them. After his 1972 resignation from the shadow cabinet over the decision to support a referendum on EEC membership, Roy Jenkins was never again to feel quite at home in the party led by Wilson and Callaghan. And when one of the strongest advocates of British withdrawal, Michael Foot, took over as Labour leader in November 1980, enough was enough. Two months later, Jenkins along with three other senior Labour Europhiles – Shirley Williams, David Owen and Bill Rodgers – quit the Party and founded the SDP, splitting irrevocably the progressive, social democratic coalition that had been a dominant force in British politics since 1945. The result of the referendum was even worse news for the traditional Labour left, which had campaigned strongly for a no vote. When 67.2 percent of the country voted yes, even the Guardian lined up to ridicule them: “the notion that Mr Benn or the Transport and General Workers’ Union can ‘speak for the working class’ has been exploded in full sight,” was the judgment of Peter Jenkins. But the Tories can hardly look back at 1975 with glee as the moment the Labour party imploded, because they fared little better. Enoch Powell quit the Conservative Party for good in February 1974, in protest against the fact that he was expected to toe the party line on EEC membership. He timed his departure to create maximum political impact – five days before a general election – and then proceeded to advocate voting Labour. Talk about burning your bridges. Powell’s self-imposed exile left other Eurosceptic Tories feeling marginalised. When the referendum came a year later, the party lined up behind its pro-EEC leadership. Though exact figures are not available, The Economist estimated at the time that 85 per cent of Conservatives voted to stay in. Despite this apparent display of unity, the wound opened by Powell in 1974 has refused to heal. Every Tory leader since has had to plot a careful course between the Europhile Scylla and Eurosceptic Charybdis within their own rank and file. Thatcher’s demise came when she tacked too close to the Eurosceptics, only to have her Europhile deputy PM, Geoffrey Howe, resign and bring her down with him. Major’s battle with “the bastards” (he was caught on an open mic referring to his Eurosceptic Cabinet colleagues as such in 1993) was a running sore that blighted his whole time in office. And today, Cameron faces the twin problem of fighting off an electoral challenge from Powell’s political heirs in Ukip, while also keeping the Eurosceptic wing of his own party happy. So in a sense, the 2016 EU referendum is itself a consequence of the domestic political storms unleashed by the last one. History may not be the best guide to the future, but if Cameron thinks his referendum will put the Tory party’s travails over Europe to bed, he should think again. Donald Trump added another 58 delegates to his haul last night with a strong win in Arizona. He took 47 per cent to Ted Cruz’s 25 per cent (John Kasich could only manage 10 per cent, receiving 18,000 fewer votes than Marco Rubio who dropped out of the race last week). It wasn’t a great night overall for Trump though, as Cruz denied him any delegates from Utah by securing 69 per cent of the vote – plenty more than the 50 per cent needed to take all of the state’s 40 delegates. Trump got just 14 per cent, reflecting his weakness in the west generally as well as with Mormons who make up around 90 per cent of the Republican primary electorate in Utah. Having secured Mitt Romney’s vote in Utah, Cruz picked up Jeb Bush’s endorsement – more signs that the Republican establishment is resigning itself to supporting him as its best chance of stopping Trump. The next Republican primary will be Wisconsin’s in two weeks – potentially a crucial night in determining whether Trump will make it to the 1,237 delegates he needs to secure the nomination without a contested convention. Wisconsin will assign 42 delegates: 18 to the overall winner and 3 to the winners of each of its eight congressional districts. If Trump takes all or most of them, he’d give himself a good shot at making it to 1,237. If he wins few or none, it’ll be tough. As we enter a bit of a lull in the Republican race, it’s as well to take stock of what we’ve seen so far. With Trump notching up his 21 st victory from 34 contests, maintaining a commanding lead in the delegate race and dominating the airwaves , it’s easy to get the impression that Trump- mania has swept the nation. But just how widespread is this phenomenon? Well, Trump has so far won 7.8 million votes in the Republican primaries – 37 per cent of the 21 million votes cast and 2.1 million more than second-placed Ted Cruz. He seems to have increased his support slightly as other candidates have dropped out. From Iowa through to Super Tuesday, he won 34 per cent of the votes cast; since Super Tuesday he’s won 40 per cent. But that’s out of the subset of the population who vote in Republican primaries. In the 30 states plus DC that have voted so far, 77.6 million people voted in the 2012 general election. That means the Republican primary electorate has comprised around 27 per cent of the overall electorate, and Donald Trump’s 7.8 million votes represents around 10 per cent of all voters. Less than a third of American voters have a favourable view of Trump, while 62 per cent have an unfavourable view of him, making him the less popular than any other candidate in either party, and substantially less popular than losing candidates Al Gore, John Kerry, John McCain and Mitt Romney were at the same point in their presidential runs. For example, 47 per cent of voters had a favourable opinion of Romney in March 2012, while just 36 per cent had an unfavourable one. Of course, if Trump is the Republican nominee he’ll get far more than 10 per cent – and probably more than a third – of the vote, as many more Republicans would rally around their nominee. And it is indeed scary that 7.8 million people have been willing to vote for him. But when you hear Trump boasting of his popularity or see reports of his victories, it’s worth remembering that he’s currently got the support of just 10 per cent of American voters.
"It was really about Europe": Pensions Minister Ros Altmann blasts former boss Iain Duncan Smith for resigning Donald Trump's rise is scary. But he's not as popular as he seems newstatesman.com
“Maybe you weren’t educated properly”: The BBC’s Andrew Neil gets burned by a ten- year-old Donald Trump's rise is scary. But he's not as popular as he seems newstatesman.com The polls show what's always been true: Labour can win with Jeremy Corbyn Donald Trump's rise is scary. But he's not as popular as he seems newstatesman.com
Here's something we can all do to celebrate the end of the tampon tax Donald Trump's rise is scary. But he's not as popular as he seems newstatesman.com
Jeremy Corbyn's critics aren't messing around. Time to get nasty Donald Trump's rise is scary. But he's not as popular as he seems newstatesman.com 2016-03-24 12:21 George Eaton www.newstatesman.com
71 Even Corbyn is more popular than the PM and Osborne after the Budget Facing MPs on the Treasury committee, he said: 'Clearly, if we are going to make reforms to disability benefits we have to go about it in a better way than we did.' But he was criticised by Andrew Tyrie, the chairman of the Treasury committee, for setting out additional borrowing requirements of £56billion. He said this was 'rather curious' coming so soon after November's Autumn Statement, when the Chancellor spent an unexpected £27billion windfall stemming from improved forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). But Mr Osborne said he would have been 'rightly criticised' if he had simply set aside the £27 billion windfall identified by the OBR to swell the surplus he is planning for 2019/20. On Monday the new Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb announced that the Government was not planning any further cuts to the welfare Budget, leaving the Chancellor searching elsewhere for funds to plug the shortfall. He has faced calls from some Tory MPs to target benefits handed to wealthy pensioners to plug the hole. However the Chancellor said he was not willing to break the Tory manifesto pledge by withdrawing the free bus pas, TV licence and winter fuel allowance that are given to pensioners regardless of their income. One positive in today's poll showed support for Mr Osborne over his stand-out Budget announcement to introduce a sugar tax, with seven in ten people backing the measure. Speaking in front of the Treasury committee today he warned drinks companies not to 'waste time and money' on challenging the new sugar tax in the courts. He struck a defiant tone when asked about the legality of the levy, telling MPs: 'If they want to have an argument about the sugar tax, bring it on.' The tax will add 24p a litre to products with the highest sugar content with the intention of raising £500million a year. It could add an extra 8p to a can of Coca Cola, but economists have warned that the tax will not achieve its aim of reducing the consumption of sugary content. Soft drinks companies are preparing to sue the Government over the tax, which will come into effect in two years' time. Coca-Cola, Irn-Bru maker AG Barr and Robinson's manufacturer Britvic are among drinks companies that are drawing up plans for a legal challenge. The food industry is also likely to be supportive amid fears that the sugar levy could set the stage for a swathe of new 'sin' taxes on sugar in food, as well as on fat, salt and alcohol. But asked by MPs on the Treasury Committee whether the Government was prepared for a battle in the courts, Mr Osborne said today: 'I would say, if they want to have an argument about the sugar tax, bring it on. 'We are going to introduce a sugar tax, it's not a threat or a promise, it's the way it's going to be and I think it's the right thing for this country.' George Osborne has warned drinks companies not to 'waste time and money' on challenging the new sugar tax in the courts. He struck a defiant tone when asked about the legality of the levy, telling MPs: 'If they want to have an argument about the sugar tax, bring it on.' The tax was the stand-out announcement in the Chancellor's Budget last week and will add 24p a litre to products with the highest sugar content with the intention of raising £500million a year. It could add an extra 8p to a can of Coca Cola, but economists have warned that the tax will not achieve its aim of reducing the consumption of sugary content. Soft drinks companies are preparing to sue the Government over the tax, which will come into effect in two years' time. Coca-Cola, Irn-Bru maker AG Barr and Robinson's manufacturer Britvic are among drinks companies that are drawing up plans for a legal challenge. The food industry is also likely to be supportive amid fears that the sugar levy could set the stage for a swathe of new 'sin' taxes on sugar in food, as well as on fat, salt and alcohol. But asked by MPs on the Treasury Committee whether the Government was prepared for a battle in the courts, Mr Osborne said today: 'I would say, if they want to have an argument about the sugar tax, bring it on. 'We are going to introduce a sugar tax, it's not a threat or a promise, it's the way it's going to be and I think it's the right thing for this country. 'I think it will make a huge improvement to childhood health and it's been warmly welcomed across the political spectrum but also very much supported by the health profession, very much supported by the education profession. 'So we will now get on and consult on the technical details of the tax, although I set out the parameters of it and it will be introduced in 2018. 'And it's introduced in 29018 precisely so companies have two years to reformulate their products or change their marketing mix if they wish to do so. Otherwise they will pay the tax.' Under the Budget proposals, drinks containing more than 8g of sugar per 100ml will face a charge of 24p per litre. Products with between 5g and 8g will see a tax of 18p. Regular Coke, which has 10.6g of sugar per 100ml, Irn-Bru and Red Bull would all attract the top rate, adding around 8p to the price of a standard 330ml can. But fruit juices, which are higher in natural sugars, and milk-based drinks. The tax came as a shock to the industry, after ministers appeared to have ruled it out earlier this year. Industry sources said they were told just days before the Budget that there were no plans for a tax. There have been successful challenges to similar taxes in Finland and Denmark. In December, European judges blocked Scotland's plans to enforce minimum alcohol pricing per unit. It would be another headache for the Chancellor, who is reeling from the resignation from Iain Duncan Smith and his broadside against the Government's austerity agenda, controversy over cuts to welfare and the furore over the levels of tax paid by Google and other multinational firms. Earlier this week he came under fire after refusing to apologise for planning to slash disability benefits by a further £4.4billion - only to ditch the plans just 48 hours earlier.
2016-03-24 13:28 Matt Dathan www.dailymail.co.uk
72 China's Xi to meet with Obama on sidelines of nuclear summit BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn- peeng) will meet with President Barack Obama in Washington next week on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit. Obama will host Xi on March 31. The White House says they'll discuss cooperation as well as areas of disagreement between the U. S. and China. Dozens of world leaders are heading to Washington for the summit, which focuses on preventing terrorists from obtaining nuclear weapons. Obama has sought China's cooperation on punishing North Korea for its nuclear weapons program and on climate change. The two countries remain at odds on maritime disputes, cybersecurity and other issues. Obama and Xi have met frequently in recent years in the U. S., China and in third countries. The White House announced the meeting while Obama was traveling in Argentina.
2016-03-24 13:27 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
73 Lesbian who tricked girls into relationships stayed clothed during sex A woman who tricked teenage girls into having sex with her by pretending to be a man insisted on staying fully-clothed during sex and bound her chest to avoid detection, it has emerged. Jennifer Staines, 23, from Preston, Lancashire, duped three young women aged between 12 and 17 into having sex with her by posing as 'Jason Spiller', and even maintained one relationship for over a year. But Jason would never take his clothes off during sex and used an imitation rubber penis, telling the victims they could not touch it because of a circumcision operation. Staines also wore a chest bandage to disguise her breasts, which she claimed was because of stab scars. Yesterday she was jailed for 39 months at Bristol Crown Court after she admitted a string of sex offences against the girls, who were aged between 12 and 17 at the time. Fiona Elder, prosecuting, told the court: '[The victim] was not allowed to do anything to him. He said he was circumcised and it was painful to be touched. 'His T-shirt was always kept on and his boxer shorts were always kept on during sex.' The court heard how Staines groomed her victims using fake social media profiles, which she created under the name of Jason and claimed she was 'looking for love'. She even went on holidays with the girls, where she would change in toilets to disguise her real shape, during her five years of deception. Despite using condoms, one of the girls went to her doctor concerned she could be pregnant. Miss Elder said all three victims described their intimacy with Staines as 'normal' in a girlfriend/boyfriend relationship. The first girl was from Bristol and aged 13 when Staines, then 17, first contacted her via social media. 'She found Jason a helpful and sympathetic ear,' she said. 'They became closer. They got together as girlfriend and boyfriend.' The pair talked via webcam, with Staines always wearing a hat, before she turned up in Bristol with gifts and was allowed to stay with the girl. Though Jason wanted sex, the youngster said she wasn't ready. Jason was allowed to stay again and they 'snogged'- but the court heard how the relationship deteriorated when Staines became controlling. Staines even managed to maintain the deception when the girl found a sanitary towel in her bag, the court heard. The second victim, from Scarborough, was aged 17 and Staines 21 when they engaged in a relationship and had sex about 15 times, the court heard. Jason would never take his clothes off and wore a chest bandage because of 'stab scars'. Staines was nearly rumbled when the girl found a photograph of her as a girl, but she told her victim that it was a picture of Jason's twin sister. Sex with condoms always occurred in the dark but 'didn't feel right', the victim reported, and when she touched his crotch there were socks in his boxer shorts. The third victim, from Bristol, was also 17 and Staines 22 when Jason touched her intimately and used a sex toy on her. Her family was adamant Staines was actually a woman, but the victim was upset by this and even talked about having children with him. Stephen Mooney, mitigating, said his client had had gender dysphoria - the condition of feeling one's emotional and psychological identity as male or female to be opposite to one's biological sex. He said Staines was now in a lesbian relationship. Mr Mooney told the court: 'The behaviour demonstrated by Jennifer Staines was behaviour which was motivated not by desire for sex. It was a desire for love and affection.' Staines admitted four sexual assaults and two counts of assault by penetration. She also admitted two counts of possessing indecent photos of one of the teenagers Sentencing her, Judge Barry Cotter QC said she had 'planned carefully to deceive'. 'You did everything to ensure you had the ability to engage in relationships in which they believed you were a gender you were not,' he said. 'I can't determine whether it was for love, love and sex, or just sex.'
2016-03-24 13:26 Lucy Crossley www.dailymail.co.uk
74 Adam Johnson was chasing England recall... now in jail for six years Adam Johnson has been jailed for six years having been found guilty of sexual activity with a child earlier this month. It completes a fall from grace for the 28-year-old one-time England international who commanded a transfer fee of £10million at his peak and was earning £60,000 a week with Sunderland. It was two years ago that Johnson sat in a room with journalists at Sunderland's Stadium of Light and spoke about his dream of returning to the England set-up ahead of that summer's World Cup. He had scored seven goals in as many matches for Sunderland and believed he was worthy of a recall. He wasn't the only one, every pundit and reporter in the land was calling on Roy Hodgson to end his 21-month exile from the international scene, the last of his 12 caps having arrived courtesy of a five-minute cameo against Norway during a Euro 2012 warm-up friendly. Still just 26, it was entirely plausible that Johnson had rediscovered the fearless form many suspected he had left behind on Teesside when he quit Middlesbrough - the club who had expertly nurtured him - for Manchester City in a £7million deal four years earlier. At the Etihad, amid the millionaires and the silverware, Johnson may have become a richer man, but he emerged a poorer player. In February of 2014, however, and on the eve of a Capital One Cup final against the club at which his career had stalled, Johnson spoke of playing his 'best-ever football'. He wasn't joking when he revealed summer holiday plans were on hold in the hope of booking a seat on the plane to Brazil. But Hodgson's call never materialised and Sunderland - beaten by City at Wembley - finished the season fighting relegation, Johnson scoring just one goal in 16 matches as his performance levels dipped. He has now been stripped of his dozen caps for his country. In fact, Johnson's form has never recovered. Five goals from 36 appearances last season and two from 20 this time around is a poor return for an attacking player who cost Sunderland £10m when they ended his City nightmare in 2012. He scored a fine free-kick to help his team rescue a point at Liverpool at the start of February - the last game he played before his contract was terminated a few days later - but such moments of quality are the exception rather than the rule these days. It is all a far cry from the skinny teenager who dared to dribble and made others dare to dream of the future which lay ahead. Making his debut at 17 for Middlesbrough, he was billed as 'the next Stewart Downing'. In 2005, that was high praise. He made a mockery of full backs and, indeed, those who had likened him to Downing, for it quickly became apparent that Johnson had the potential to be better than his Boro team-mate. After six seasons at the Riverside he was given the platform to prove as much. But at City, like so many young English talents, he regressed. His reputation, though, remained intact, such was the fleeting nature of his appearance in sky blue. To the outsider, he was done an injustice by then manager Roberto Mancini. And so Johnson's move to boyhood club Sunderland was supposed to act as the rebirth of a player heralded as one of the most talented of his generation. Later, he reflected on his time at City. 'There is a temptation (to sign for them), of course. The wages, you're flattered when City are after you, but you'll go there and be third choice,' he said. 'When I was there, I was always the one who would be dropped when the manager rotated the team. I wouldn't sign for them now if I was a young English player.' But perhaps Mancini was right when he deemed Johnson not good enough for City's starting XI. For while Johnson would become a terrace hero at Sunderland having scored four times in derby victories over Newcastle, the Black Cats had expected far more when they laid down an eight-figure sum and wages of £50,000 per week. When he was arrested in March of last year he was immediately suspended by the club but was later reinstated and helped them avoid relegation. Last month, the 28-year-old admitted grooming a 15-year-old girl and sexual activity with the teenager, relating to kissing her in his Range Rover, but denied the two more serious charges of sexual activity with a child, one involving oral sex and another involving digital penetration. He was cleared of the oral sex charge but found guilty of the second charge. The charges arose from a meeting between Johnson and the girl in his car in County Durham on January 30 last year.
2016-03-24 13:26 Craig Hope www.dailymail.co.uk
75 US durable goods orders drop 2.8 percent in February WASHINGTON (AP) — Orders to U. S. factories for long-lasting manufactured goods fell in February with a key category that tracks business investment dropping by the largest amount since December. Orders for durable goods fell 2.8 percent in February following a 4.2 percent increase in January, the Commerce Department said Thursday. Commercial aircraft, a volatile category, fell 27.1 percent after surging 48.6 percent in January. Orders in a category which serves as a proxy for business investment spending fell 1.8 percent after a 3.1 percent rise in January. It was the biggest decline in the investment category since a 3.5 percent drop in December. Economists saw the big decline in durable goods orders as evidence that the manufacturing sector remains under pressure. Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, said that the drop in orders for business investment suggested that capital investment would be a drag on overall economic growth in the first quarter. He said if next week's consumer spending report also comes in weaker than expected then he will have to trim his current 2.3 percent forecast for first quarter growth. Manufacturing had a tough year and prospects remain uncertain for 2016. The sector is being hurt by economic weakness in major export markets and a strong dollar. The rising value of the dollar against other currencies makes U. S. goods less competitive in foreign markets. The large drop in demand for commercial aircraft reflected weakness in orders at airplane giant Boeing. Demand for military aircraft and parts fell 29.2 percent in February after a 97 percent surge in January. The weakness in demand for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft, the category used as a proxy for business investment, reflects in part trouble in the energy industry, which has suffered cutbacks and layoffs because of the big plunge in oil prices over the past year. For February, orders for machinery fell 2.6 percent while demand for appliances and other electrical equipment dropped 2.8 percent. Demand for computers rose 1.3 percent while orders for communication equipment fell 2.3 percent.
2016-03-24 13:25 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
76 Turkish warplanes strike PKK targets in northern Iraq - military ANKARA, March 24 (Reuters) - Turkish warplanes bombed and destroyed nearly a dozen targets belonging to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq late on Wednesday, the armed forces said, the latest operations targeting insurgent camps near the Turkish border. The F-16 and F-4 jets carried out the operation against the camps in the Hakkurk, Haftanin, Avasin and Basyan areas at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT), destroying 11 targets including ammunition depots and shelters, the military said on Thursday. On Tuesday, warplanes struck shelters, caves and ammunition depots used by the PKK in northern Iraq and rural areas near the southeastern Turkish town of Semdinli. Security forces also killed 10 PKK fighters on Wednesday in clashes in the southeastern towns of Nusaybin, near the Syrian border, and Sirnak, near the Iraqi border, the army said. The military says more than a thousand insurgents have been killed in the largely Kurdish southeast since a 2-1/2-year-old PKK ceasefire collapsed in July, prompting the heaviest clashes in the region since the 1990s. President Tayyip Erdogan has said that more than 300 members of the security forces have died, while the pro-Kurdish opposition says hundreds of civilians have also been killed. Separately, the military said two soldiers had been killed and three wounded when a homemade bomb was detonated by remote control in Nusaybin. The town has been under a curfew since March 14, when security forces launched operations against militants there. (Reporting by Tulay Karadeniz; Writing by Daren Butler and David Dolan; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
2016-03-24 13:24 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
77 11 New Restaurants for You to Try Right Now Type of cuisine: Sushi Open since: March 15 The second location of Silver Rice , the popular Crown Heights-based sushi shop known for their deconstructed “sushi cups,” has opened on Flatbush Avenue in Crown Heights. The new shop is open for dinner most nights, usually from about 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. Check their Facebook page for updates. Type of cuisine: Sushi/Japanese Open since: March 1 This new sushi bar on Vernon Boulevard offering sashimi and hand rolls is earning rave reviews on Yelp , where customers have described it as “really as good as it gets” and “literally the best sushi in the neighborhood.” While not inexpensive, reviewers say the pricey bill is worth it: “It is expensive, but sitting at the bar is such a fantastic, transportive [sic] evening,” one diner wrote. Type of cuisine : Bakery and cafe Open since: February 23 Russ & Daughters, a Lower East Side staple, is now serving its popular kosher bialys, smoked fish, bagels and soups at the Jewish Museum. Diners can eat in or take food to go from the new cafe, which is on the museum’s lower level. Type of cuisine: Italian from the island of Capri Open since: March 19 With a star chef from Italy and a sommelier from the island of Capri, Capri Ristorante is about an authentic as it gets. The seafood-driven menu will offer a rotating catch of the day, delivered fresh every morning. Pasta dishes and veal and chicken parm are also on deck for non-seafood eaters. Type of cuisine: Chinese/Latin fusion Open since: Late February Try this new no-frills eatery that features a blend of Latin and Chinese cuisines with dishes like tostones with garlic vinaigrette, General Tso’s Chicken, broccoli and fried rice. Type of cuisine: Bakery, coffee and chocolates Open since: March 18 Cookies, biscotti fruit tarts and handmade pastries are just a few of the delicious, chocolate things Uptown residents Jemal Edwards and Brad Doles are serving up at their new bakery in Inwood. Type of cuisine: Japanese Open since: Mid-March With a chef who’s been described as a “third generation soba master,” Yama-Ichi serves an “expansive” menu that includes seafood-based appetizers, soba, udon, and a selection of sushi and sashimi, all washed down with sakes and whiskies. Type of cuisine: Soul food and Caribbean Open since: March 15 This new soul food spot features Southern favorites like crispy fried chicken and jerk chicken as well as vegetables like candied yams and collard greens. They’re also serving up classic desserts like peach cobbler and strawberries and cream. Type of cuisine: Gluten-free Healthy lunch options can be hard to come by in Midtown, so chow down on a salad “100% guiltin’ free” at this gluten free eatery . Type of cuisine: Thai Get your curry fix at the newest Thai spot on the Bed-Stuy and Clinton Hill border. Appetizers include shumai, chicken curry puffs, and mango chicken salad, and main courses serve up tilapia with oyster sauce, tofu, and more, with most dishes under $10. Type of cuisine: Gourmet coffee, pastries Open since: March 22 The specialty coffee shop, known for its own roasts of coffee beans, opened its latest city location at the base of the soaring Gehry Building.
2016-03-24 12:31 www.dnainfo.com
78 Dramatic moment British YouTube star accidentally films own car crash A vlogger inadvertently filmed his own car crash while driving with friends. Ben Brown, who was sitting in the passenger seat was joking with his mates when another car slammed into the side of their vehicle. A GoPro camera filmed the dramatic crash which 29 year old Brown later uploaded to YouTube. Luckily the London film maker and photographer was saved by a side air bag that was released on impact, as was the man behind him. Footage from inside the car shows the four guys chatting. 'Look at that,' Brown says, admiring a large vehicle that passes them, but he unwittingly causes a distraction as seconds later their car is ploughed into. All four men are hurled to the side as a loud crack is heard and they're jolted forward The two on the left are saved from their heads slamming into the window by airbags. Their seatbelts too, prevented any serious injuries. 'Oh my God!' exclaims Brown, clutching the side of his head. 'Are you guys alright? Is everyone OK?' the panicked driver asks. Fortunately no one is hurt. Outside footage shows the how another car drove straight into the men as the two met at a junction. A further angle from within the car also shows the alarmed men in the back holding their heads. 'Holy S**t' one says. 'God that took me down,' announces Ben, wincing. The police arrive as the video comes to an end. 'F**king hell' of the men can be heard saying. Brown, who spends time in Cape Town, used to be an athlete before turning to more creative pursuits. He writes on his website: 'I was on the British Flat Water Kayak Team for 10 years, during this time I won the junior & senior Marathon World Championships, among other World Cup wins & podium results. 'I'm taking a break from competitive sport to pursue my creative passions; film making, photography & travel.' Active since 2006, the vlogger has over 500, 000 YouTube subscribers while his channel has been viewed over 76million times.
2016-03-24 13:20 Harriet Mallinson www.dailymail.co.uk
79 Man who went out 'for a drink' in Essex wakes up 900 miles away A financial advisor who went out for 'a drink' with friends in Essex - woke up more than 900 miles away in Barcelona after downing Jagerbombs, champagne and glasses of Disaronno. Alexander Caviel, 21, downed a dozen shots, and knocked back a bottle of £90 champagne during a night out in Chelmsford. After ending his evening in a fried chicken shop in the early hours of Saturday morning, he spotted a bus heading for nearby Stansted airport. He claims he has no knowledge of getting on the bus and booking a £200 flight to Barcelona at around 4am using his mobile phone. He had his passport with him as proof of identification during his boozy night out with friend James Mansfield, 19. The shocked financial advisor claims he only realised what he done when the plane landed in Spain where he decide to go on a four-day, impromptu adventure He said: 'I'm not a heavy drinker and I never have pre-drinks but this time we were drinking all night and I even bought a £90 bottle of champagne, it tasted disgusting. 'Me and my friend James had been out the last couple of weekends which is unusual for us but we were just enjoying life and having fun. 'But I ended up losing him and I went for late night food at a chicken shop which is next to the bus station and I saw a coach heading to Stansted. 'I remember thinking to myself, 'it would be nice to fly away somewhere'. 'The next thing I had a really vivid dream that I was on a plane - it was very, very realistic, but I didn't think much of it and just went back to sleep.' The young man, from Chelmsford, Essex, added: 'If I hadn't managed to lose James it probably wouldn't have happened as he would have tried to stop me. 'The thing is when you are drunk you don't worry but when I fully woke up and it sank in I realised the extent of it. 'But I called home and my dad said he thought it was hilarious but told me just to stay safe and enjoy myself so I did.' Mr Caviel met a couple of backpackers from the states when he landed at 8am and he headed for the city with his newfound friends. He had to buy a phone charger and only left the country with the clothes he was wearing along with a few bits and pieces which he has kept as a memento. During the adventure Mr Caviel explored the Catalan city, visited the docks, went for VIP nights out, visited an aquarium, and took a cable car into the mountains. He stayed at three separate hotels and also wanted to go on a helicopter trip but realised he had probably splashed enough cash by that point. But he confessed to feeling lonely on the trip so used his Snapchat to show his friends what he was getting up to. He said: 'It was lonely actually because I'd never been on holiday on my own before. 'But it was nice not having any ties - I could do what I want when I wanted so it was a fun adventure.' The YouTube vlogger bought his ticket through an Ryanair app on his phone and used Ryanair to return home on Tuesday. His mother, Michelle, added: 'We first heard from him on Saturday morning, and he just said 'mum, don't worry I'm not in any danger, but I am in Barcelona, and I'm not sure how I got here'. 'I didn't believe him at all, so we went on FaceTime and I just thought 'Oh my God'. 'Of course I was worried, but he is quite well-travelled for his age, quite confident and will speak to anyone. 'It is good to have him home and to hear about what he has been up to on his spontaneous little break.' 2016-03-24 13:20 Amanda Williams www.dailymail.co.uk
80 Pogba and France squad in good spirits ahead of Holland friendly The France squad appeared in good spirits as they made their way to Holland for Friday's friendly clash ahead of Euro 2016. The tournament hosts travelled to Amsterdam on Thursday and Bacary Sagna and Paul Pogba were pictured grinning whilst giving a thumbs up on the flight. Manchester City defender Sagna shared the image via his Twitter account and said 'Depart pour les Pays-Bas' which translates into 'Departure for the Netherlands'. Real Madrid centre back Raphael Varane also shared an image of himself alongside France midfielders Lassana Diarra and Blaise Matuidi via Instagram. Hoping to start ahead of the midfield duo is N'Golo Kante who has earned his first call-up following an impressive season for Premier League leaders Leicester. Meanwhile, Juventus are confident Pogba will not be leaving in the summer, despite interest from Europe's top clubs. Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta believes the Italian giants will not be losing the Frenchman's talents any time soon with Pogba contracted to the club until 2019. 'Pogba is a Juventus player and still has an ongoing contract with us,' Marotta told reporters. 'Plus he has also told us about his intention to stay with us. All the conditions are there for him to continue with Juventus for the upcoming years. 'The Juventus jersey is something you honour right until the end. It is not a foregone conclusion yet that he will stay at Juventus, because nothing is ever guaranteed in football, but it is highly likely that he will stay put.'
2016-03-24 13:19 Elliott Bretland www.dailymail.co.uk
81 Murder or self-defense? What happened the night Colin Brough died on NAU campus About one o’clock in the morning on Friday, Oct. 9, Steven Jones, an 18-year-old freshman, and two of his friends were talking on their phones outside a rowdy apartment complex known as the Courtyard, across the street from Northern Arizona University. Jones was hit in the face. His two friends were pushed to the ground as the melee spilled from the street and onto campus. Less than a minute and 100 paces later, the earth shifted on this campus near the base of Arizona’s highest mountain range. Twenty-year-old Colin Brough lay face down, bleeding to death from two bullet wounds in his chest and shoulder. His friend and roommate Nick Piring was screaming from two bullets in his arm and side. Jones scanned the flashlight affixed to his Glock handgun over the gathering crowd, asked his friends to call 911 and, as recorded in the 911 call, shouted, “He tried to hurt me. I’m sorry.” Seconds later, Jones was jumped by the crowd as he bent over the injured students. Two more students, Nick Prato and Kyle Zientek, went down. Whether Jones was shooting blindly — his glasses had been knocked from his face by the first punch — or placing his shots is unknown. It was the first school shooting in NAU’s 116-year history. NAU President Rita Cheng was asleep when she got a phone call from NAU Police Chief Gregory Fowler. He told her there had been a shooting on campus. The situation was under control but tragic. News of the shooting spread quickly across the student body by text message and Twitter. As the story made national news, anxious parents tried to reach their children to make sure they were all right. Doug Brough was trying to get through to his son, Colin. He got no answer, so he texted him. And texted him. He never heard back. This is an apartment building known as the Courtyard apartment on Franklin Avenue, where a fight broke out on Oct. 9, 2015. Steven Jones, 19, is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault in the death of one NAU student and the wounding of three others on the Flagstaff campus. (Tom Tingle/The Republic) The outrage was immediate. Within days, a Coconino County grand jury brought an indictment against Jones for one count of first-degree, premeditated murder and six counts of aggravated assault. To justify the premeditation claim, Deputy Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker told the court, “The defendant then ran to his car, retrieved his gun and then went back to the fight.” But the details were less certain, and NAU police didn’t know how to divulge them. The first police reports given to the press were almost completely blacked out on sections pertaining to statements by Jones and other witnesses. Then the police reports went public, and the story looked different. Jones didn’t exactly return to the fight, it appeared. The fight followed him into the parking lot. Jones grabbed his gun from his red Mustang and walked toward the scuffle. As Brough and Piring moved toward him, he ordered them to the ground. Instead, they kept coming, according to multiple witnesses — but again, witness accounts varied. Toxicology screens showed the four victims, all 20 years old, were drunk and Jones was sober. Brough’s blood-alcohol level was 0.285 percent, more than three times the state legal limit of 0.08 percent for driving. Piring’s was 0.208 percent, Zientek’s was 0.181 percent and Prato’s was 0.092 percent. Brough, Prato and Zientek all tested positive for cannabis, as well; Brough also had benzodiazepines, the class of drugs that includes Valium, in his blood stream. Jones’ attorneys say he was under attack and acted in self-defense. Prosecutors say he brought a gun to a fist fight, using deadly force against four unarmed victims. That was the phrase repeated in the state’s response to motions to send the case back to a grand jury and to modify Jones’ conditions of release. A judge denied both motions, and Jones remains behind bars awaiting trial. The phrase was also echoed by others in Flagstaff, as if, in this state, where many extol the right to bear arms for self-protection, a college student should still be free to start a fistfight without worrying that the person he attacks will respond with deadly force. “A fistfight is between two guys,” Jones’ attorney Burges McCowan said. “Steven and his friends were jumped. They chased them.” But in Arizona, the definition of self-defense is not self-evident. It’s up to the jury to decide if a “reasonable person” would believe his or her life was in danger to justify shooting them. And shooting someone is self-defense only if the threat is ongoing. Once the “apparent danger” is over, there is no longer justification for using deadly force. Jones’ jury will have plenty to ponder. On Thursday, Oct. 8, Steven Jones’ evening started at the college library, where he and several other freshmen Sigma Chi pledges studied for their entrance exam to the fraternity. Police later found a notebook page penciled neatly with the Greek alphabet in Jones’ car. Around midnight, Jones and three of the pledges, Shay McConnell, Jake Mike and Hunter Todd, decided to go to a party at the Grove, an off-campus student apartment complex at the top of Franklin Avenue. It was Todd’s idea to go. The youths did not know each other well. They had met only a few weeks before. In his statement to police, Todd described Jones as “cocky with the ladies,” but otherwise a “cool guy.” Police would later interview a peer instructor handling a class on adapting to college who described Jones as “miserable,” but making progress in adjusting. He had told her he had anger problems and had slammed the door when she kicked him out of class for being on his phone. Jones’ attorney, Burges McCowan, described the conversation with the peer instructor as “a momentary exchange,” and her remarks to police were influenced by the emotion of events. “At the time of the shooting, Steven was getting all A’s and doing fine,” McCowan said. Jones grew up in Glendale and was homeschooled. His profile in a high-school graduation program for homeschooled students said he played multiple musical instruments and was interested in photography. He was a hunter and fond of guns. His father, Warren Jones, ran a gun-supply business until recently. Steven Jones’ Instagram account was rife with selfie photos in which he brandished guns and wrote captions like “It’s a full auto kinda day” and “In the woods alone with an ak47.” The homeschool graduation program said he was also fond of cars, and court records indicate he drove fast and recklessly, racking up a number of moving violations in Phoenix-area courts. And he had indeed been “cocky with the ladies.” In July of 2014, the parents of a girlfriend obtained an injunction against him for harassment when he was 17 because he was not following an agreement to see their 16-year- old daughter only when the parents were present. A court affidavit said the girl ran away to Jones’ house, where the parents claim the daughter admitted having sex and smoking marijuana and cigarettes. The parents tracked her down with a GPS device. Then they found a phone Jones had given her. A Glendale City Court judge forbade Jones to see the girl or go near her residence. There was no follow-up by either Jones or the father in the court record. By August of 2015, Jones had moved to Flagstaff to start school. A few weeks later, on that October night, Jones was the designated driver, and the three freshmen decided to park his 2007 red Ford Mustang in the parking lot next to Mountain View Hall because there was scant parking at the Grove apartment complex, nearly one-third of a mile east and uphill. According to their statements to police, they stayed at the Grove an hour or so, playing video games, and Jones, McConnell and Mike admitted to taking sips of beer or hits off joints. After the shooting, Jones’ blood screen came back clean of alcohol and cannabis. This is the Grove apartments, where Steven and a few friends attended a party the night of the fight and subsequent shooting on campus. (Photo: Tom Tingle / The Republic) Mike spent a lot of the time outside talking on the phone with his girlfriend, and his girlfriend problems were the topic of conversation on the walk back down the hill toward Jones’ car. The Franklin Avenue corridor, as it’s called, is a sort of a student-filled buffer zone between the 20,800-student campus and Flagstaff proper, and the buildings that constitute off-campus housing range from modern, multi-building high-rises like the Grove to stand-alone houses and smaller apartment complexes like Courtyard. The area also has a reputation for partying. On most nights, the street buzzes. Cars whiz past students on skateboards and bikes. Music blasts from the some of the houses. You can hear the trains whistle downtown, and from atop the hill, you can see the landmark Hotel Monte Vista sign glowing in the distance. Then the lights of the rec center come into view and the giant Mountain View Hall, where many fraternity and sorority members live. Across the street, by contrast, are the squat brown boxes of the Courtyard apartments. The complex known as “the Courtyard” along Franklin Avenue in Flagstaff where a party was taking place in the early-morning hours of Oct. 9. The complex is right across the street from Northern Arizona University. (Photo: Tom Tingle/The Republic) By the time the friends reached the Courtyard in the early morning of Oct. 9, Jones, Mike and McConnell realized Todd was no longer with them. They lingered on the sidewalk between the front building and the alley to the south, which leads back to a patio between the buildings, trying to raise Todd on their cellphones. There was a Sigma Chi party going on next door to where Brough and Piring lived in apartments that face the street. Todd had stepped inside the Sigma Chi party, but his friends still hadn’t found him. Brough and Piring were not in their own apartment, however. They were at a second party hosted by some of their fellow Delta Chi fraternity brothers in an apartment on the other side of the patio in the back building. Some of the residents told police later that the Delta Chi party was already winding down. Shortly afterward, Jones and his friends showed up near the apartment complex and may have been mistaken for the same party crashers, though they denied having been there before or even trying to enter the party. Or it may have been a childish prank that ignited the confrontation. Shay McConnell told police that Mike rang a doorbell and told them to run; a “ding-dong ditch,” he said. When police asked about the doorbell prank, however, Mike acted surprised, as if he had never heard of it. The doors to the apartments share a porch so small that standing on the sidewalk is uncomfortably close to standing right in the doorway. Certainly someone could be heard through the flimsy front doors. Whatever the spark, the explosion swept from around the side of the building from the patio behind. Others came out of another apartment. One partygoer, Chase Irwin, told police he saw Brough run past him. Moments later, Irwin heard the shots. Brough’s aunt, Veronica Rader, said her nephew decided to live at the Courtyard because it was a quieter atmosphere than the fraternity house. “He was serious about his studies,” she said in an interview outside the apartment complex a day after the shooting. Brough was a junior business major from Colorado and an honors student. He had already landed an internship in London for the following summer. He was into lacrosse and snowboarding and worked a 6 a.m. shift as lifeguard at a Flagstaff pool. With his big grin and mop of shaggy hair, he was the type of person who had many friends. He and Nick Piring had roomed together at a freshman dorm in 2013. During their second semester, they joined NAU’s Delta Chi fraternity along with their dorm neighbor Nick Prato. Delta Chi, with about 80 members, is the second-largest NAU fraternity, after Sigma Chi, and has its own off-campus house across from the High Country Conference Center. But some of the members, such as Brough and Piring, lived elsewhere. By fall 2015, they were living together at the Courtyard with another roommate, who called them the “three amigos.” Too often, the Courtyard is anything but quiet. Police had been to their apartment twice already that semester for noise complaints. And after the shooting, police serving a search warrant on the apartment found a pair of grinders and a scale on a coffee table in the living room. They found a bong. They also found a.45 Remington in a desk drawer. Louis Diesel, a Flagstaff attorney representing Piring, Prato and Brough’s family in potential future civil litigation, declined comment on the objects found during the police search. The Courtyard is a privately owned, wooden, seven-unit complex at 262 E. Franklin Ave. It has two qualities that make it a very attractive party spot. A brick patio separates the two buildings, creating a central courtyard that can’t be seen from Franklin Avenue. But it can be accessed through the back doors of the apartments in the front building. And it’s right across from Mountain View Hall, a sprawling, 574-bed dorm on the NAU campus, which is home to many members of Greek life. On a day earlier this year, red plastic cups and empty liquor bottles littered the ground around the trash cans on the street and sidewalk just east of the complex, as if they had been tossed over the fence from the patio. Flagstaff, like Tempe and Tucson, homes to the other two state universities, has struggled with rowdy student parties in neighborhoods that surround the campuses. In 2015, the city toughened its nuisance party ordinance, adding standard fines and reducing the number of people that could be considered a nuisance gathering from 15 to five. Flagstaff police responded nearly two dozen times to various units at 262 E. Franklin Ave. in 2015; most of them were about disturbing the peace or follow-up visits to previous calls. Police body-camera videos on several occasions show young men and women crowded into the center patio. Students fled into apartments when they saw police, leaving their beer cans and bottles on the ground, slammed the doors, and often refused to come out despite repeated knocks from officers. “I’m sorry. It kind of blew up,” said a man, who lives in the complex, as police responded to a loud-party call at the complex on Valentine’s Day 2015. “It always blows up down here,” the officer answered. “Every year. The one year I came down here, I got 150 people out of that unit. I’m dead serious.” On that day, he said he counted 120 inside a single apartment. But not all of the police calls were just for parties. Six weeks before the shooting, on Aug. 30, Flagstaff police responded to a call about a large fight at the address. An officer found an NAU graduate student walking in the street, blood dripping from a wound on his forehead. He told police he was pushed into a window but wasn’t sure who was responsible. Residents told police that the fight broke out after a disagreement over letting him and his brother into a party because they are Black. On Wednesday, Sept. 9 — exactly one month before Brough’s death — police responded to the Courtyard three times in a single day for noise-related calls. The first visit was shortly before 9 a.m., as 30-40 people started their day with some playing beer pong. They ran into an apartment when they saw police and refused to answer the door. Around the corner, music blared from Brough and Piring’s apartment. This is the Courtyard apartments on the campus of Northern Arizona University where a fight broke out on Oct.9, 2015. (Photo: Tom Tingle / The Republic) Police had responded to that unit once the previous month because of loud noise. One of the officers responding to the apartment on Sept. 9 had cited Piring previously for unlawful use of a driver’s license and false reporting to law enforcement. Piring had tried to use a phony New York state ID to get into a bar. He told the officer he was visiting and denied being an NAU student. The incident was also captured on a police body cam. On Sept. 9, however, the officer decided to give Piring, Brough and their roommate a break. They weren’t cited for noise violations because they cooperated. All told that day, police served nuisance party violations at three units in the Courtyard. One unit received two notices. This same unit hosted another party only a month later, the night of the shooting, according to police reports. “We’re trying to work with the police department to stop the issues occurring there,” said Muesch, who has owned the property about seven years. Tenants agree to abide by the city’s noise ordinance as part of their lease, he added. He declined to discuss current security measures but added that at the time the shooting occurred, a security guard patrolled the property every night. On the night of the shooting, partygoers told police that a security guard responded to complaints about noise and told everyone to calm down. An hour later, police were bombarded by 911 calls of a far more serious nature. “There’s a guy outside, and he’s shooting people .. Steven Jones in a patrol car shortly after his arrest by Northern Arizona University police. (Photo: Northern Arizona University Police) Jones and his freshman friends, Shay McConnell and Jake Mike, were leaving the sidewalk front of the Courtyard shortly after 1 a.m., having still not located their friend, Hunter Todd. They were going to go home, McConnell told police. Six to 12 young men suddenly confronted them. Words were exchanged. Nick Piring heard the noise, and when he went outside, he told police, Colin Brough was shouting obscenities at Jones and his friends, telling them to leave. They said they would. Jones told police that the angry partygoers shouted more obscenities and sexual slurs at him and his friends and threatened to kill them. One of the strangest witness statements came from a young man who was at the Delta Chi party, Austin Contreras. According to a police report, Contreras said that when he “observed everyone ‘getting big,’ and ‘starting to puff,’ and talking a lot of crap,” he walked into the fray out of nowhere and punched “a tall blond kid” in the face and then ran away. McConnell is tall and blond. But he told police he never got punched, only pushed down. Jones, however, was punched in the face. His glasses flew onto the ground. “It rocked my world,” Jones later told police. He said that he can’t see well without his glasses, but that he could tell the difference between “a person and a tree.” Jones and his friends took off running. The others followed. McConnell and Mike were both knocked to the ground as they moved away, possibly by the same person, according to some accounts. The witness accounts are scattershot for the 30 seconds to a minute it took between the first punch and the first shots. Several described the person punching and pushing alternately as Brough or the “kid in the white shirt.” Brough was wearing a white shirt and so was Prato. But Prato said he was outside waiting for a designated driver and watching the altercation from a distance. The fight washed down the sidewalk in front of Mountain View Hall. Jones peeled off and ran for his car, parked about 100 paces from the apartment building, thinking the others were in pursuit. Jones said he found the key fob to open his car door, but could not find the actual key. He grabbed the gun, a.40 caliber Glock 22, out of a nylon zipper bag in the glove box. He left the car door open as he turned back toward the fight, walking 70-80 feet to near the edge of the parking lot. A short incline landscaped in rock rises to the sidewalk in front of Mountain View Hall. Some witnesses said that by then, the Delta Chis were starting to walk back to the Courtyard. Jones announced he had a gun, he later told police. Piring said that all he heard was, “Stop.” The gun had a tactical flashlight attached to it. Piring later noted that all he could see was the light when it was pointed in his direction. Others watching from Mountain View saw the flashlight and assumed it was held by a security guard. Those who saw Jones in his trained “low-ready stance” thought he was a police officer. Piring told police that Brough was yelling at several people “and turned to look at this kid.” Piring was running toward Brough to try to calm him down. Piring said Brough started walking toward Jones, but wasn’t charging. McConnell said Brough lunged. Kyle Zientek, one of the students wounded, said that “Colin steps up in the kid’s face,” or was about 4 feet away. Jones said he ordered them to the ground, something corroborated by McConnell and Mike. When Brough and Piring moved in his direction, Jones did a “double tap,” firing two shots into Brough, who dropped face-first into the stones, and two shots into Piring, who was next to him. Brough took the shots to the chest and shoulder. One of them penetrated his vena cava, the large vein that carries blood into the heart. The autopsy later noted that the bullets had entered on an up-to-down trajectory, indicating Brough was leaning forward when shot. He died in minutes. Piring was shot in the arm and side. He went down as well. The estimates of how close they were when the shots were fired ranged from 4 feet to more than 10. Jones stood and scanned the scene with his flashlight attached to the gun. McConnell and Mike were busy trying to get away from the aggressors and only half saw the shots. They were astonished to see that Jones had a gun. Mike panicked when the flashlight beam passed over him, fearing he would be shot as well. Jones asked him to call 911, which he did. In the background of the 911 call, Jones can be heard screaming, “I didn’t mean to do it. He tried to hurt me. I’m sorry.” Several people rushed to help the downed young men, including Mike and Jones, and as Jones bent over Brough, he was jumped from behind by several bystanders. He had a number of abrasions when arrested, including a bump where his head had slammed into the ground. A Delta Chi named Nick Pletke was among the bystanders who said he tried to disarm Jones. He said he was trying to get the gun, which Jones had stuck in the back waistband of his pants. But he fled when Jones got his hand on the weapon first. Mike said he pulled one attacker off of Jones in the fracas. Prato ran to Brough after the first shots. He cradled him in his arms and saw his friend’s eyes roll back in his head. Jones was still grappling on the ground, and as Prato walked toward him, Jones pulled the gun and shot again. A bullet passed through Prato’s neck. Jones told police and his attorneys that he thought he was firing blindly into the air. Prato said Jones looked right at him when he was shot. Zientek was shot twice in the back, but his memory was hazy of how it happened and what he was doing. He told police he saw Jones with the gun and “that’s when I went to get it I think.” He was the most seriously injured of the three survivors, losing a kidney to his wounds, and spending the longest time in the hospital. All told, Jones had fired 10 rounds; seven of them hit four students, according to the prosecution. Meanwhile, a Mountain View resident named Chase Jones was filling a water bottle near the front door of the dorm when he looked out the window and saw someone rolling on the ground. He ran outside and saw someone with the gun. He calmly told him he didn’t care what had happened. He just wanted him to put the gun down. Steven Jones was shaking, saying it was self defense and that someone was trying to take the gun away. Chase Jones assured him he wouldn’t let them take the gun. Steven Jones set it on the ground. Then he walked across the parking lot toward Franklin Avenue to where police cars were arriving. He put his hands up and said, “I’m the shooter.” An NAU police officer put Jones in handcuffs. “I’m so scared. I want my mom,” Jones sobbed as the officer put him in the car. Steven Jones, 19, looks up at his attorney during a February court hearing to try to get a new grand jury to hear the evidence, Feb. 19, 2016. Tom Tingle / The Republic It was Colin Brough’s mom who took the microphone four months later when Jones made his plea for a new grand jury in his criminal case. Claudia Brough wore multiple buttons bearing photos of her son. She cringed as she spoke, fighting back tears. It was the first time she was in the same room with the young man accused of killing her son. Jones, 19, sat a few feet away in belly chains and leg irons, wearing a blue jail jumpsuit. His parents sat in the row behind, their faces ashen. Coconino County Superior Court Judge Dan Slayton listened to arguments to lower Jones’ $2 million bond so he could live with his parents while preparing for trial. The prosecution opposed any change in bond, saying he is dangerous to the community. As Claudia spoke, sobs could be heard in the courtroom. She told the judge that when her son came to NAU his freshman year, she didn’t expect him to be perfect. She expected him to make mistakes, learn from them and become the man that God intended him to be. “He was doing that,” she said, her voice breaking. Problems aren’t solved by pulling out a gun, she added. She was told her son’s last words were: “Why did you bring a gun here?” Two of the wounded, Nick Prato and Nick Piring, also addressed the judge, opposing Jones’ release. “It’s a no-brainer, honestly,” Piring said. Kyle Zientek, the most seriously wounded of the three survivors, is studying abroad this semester and wasn’t in court. Attorney Christopher Rapp, who represents him, told the judge that Zientek “had extreme fear” and worried about Jones being released to live with his parents in Maricopa County, where Zientek’s family lives as well. Jones’ attorneys also argued for the case to be sent back to the grand jury. They said the state provided false and misleading evidence and omitted key evidence from two of the victims that bolstered Jones’ self-defense argument, including downplaying Piring’s statement to police that he “leapt” toward Jones before Brough was shot, not after. “As a result, the grand jury was prevented from making an independent decision regarding the true facts of the investigation,” wrote Joshua Davidson, one of Jones’ attorneys. After hearing from the families, the judge denied the motion to send the case to a new grand jury but indicated he may be open to home detention while Jones awaits trial. Both sides state the facts that bolster their arguments. The prosecutor insists that Jones brought a gun to a fistfight that was already over. Jones’ attorneys claim he was defending himself from a mob attack. If the case isn’t plea bargained to a lesser offense — as criminal cases often are — Jones will argue self-defense. That would be a difficult legal fight. A jury would have to ponder whether the fight was over before he retrieved his gun, whether Brough and Piring were charging Jones when they were shot, whether the aggressors really threatened to kill Jones and whether the threat was so great that Jones had to shoot out of fear for his life. The legal process to determine his fate could take years. Right now, the mood at NAU remains somber. Students say they feel a sadness and a loss that something so terrible could happen to young men. NAU sophomore Masood Shah walks on his way to and from class through the parking lot where the shooting took place. “It opened my eyes to how short life can really be, and you’re not really promised another day,” the 19-year-old said. Many students who don’t know the people involved aren’t dwelling on what happened. It’s a new semester. Everyone is trying to move forward, NAU President Rita Cheng said. NAU is offering counseling and making faculty and student mentors available to those who need help, she said. NAU’s dean of students is reviewing police reports to see whether any individual students may have violated the university’s behavior code of conduct. Under the code, students can be disciplined for underage drinking or fighting whether they are on or off campus. The criminal trial that looms is a reminder of the tragedy that still shadows the campus. “Everyone at NAU will forever be changed,” Cheng said. Masood Shah, 19, a freshman at NAU, said the shooting has had a big impact on the close-knit campus. (Photo: Tom Tingle / The Republic)
2016-03-24 13:17 USA TODAY rssfeeds.usatoday.com
82 France reports lone case of mad cow disease PARIS (AP) — France has confirmed an isolated case of mad cow disease in a five-year-old cow that died in the northeast Ardennes region. The Agriculture Ministry said on Thursday that it was the third isolated case detected in Europe since last year. France notified the World Health Organization of the case, as well as the European Commission. "The detection of this case has no consequences for the consumer," the ministry statement said. There is no known treatment for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease. A human disease, variant CJD, is linked to consumption of tainted meat. France and Britain lived through a full- blown crisis of the brain-wasting disease in the 1990s.
2016-03-24 13:17 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
83 House of doctor who helped Churchill with lisp on sale for £2.5m A house that was built for the doctor who helped a young Winston Churchill overcome a speech impediment has gone on the market for £2.5million. Grade II-listed Rignalls in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, has not been on the market for 40 years, and is like an Edwardian time capsule and now in need of some modernisation. It was built in 1909 for Sir Felix Semon, a gifted German throat and speech specialist who moved to London in 1875, and in 1987 helped a 23-year-old Churchill overcome his lisp while in the military. He had difficulty pronouncing the letter 's' but Semon, who was knighted in 1987, advised him that 'practice and perseverance are alone necessary'. Churchill worked on his pronunciation diligently, rehearsing phrases like 'the Spanish ships I cannot see for they are not in sight', and tried to avoid words beginning and ending with an s. In his biography Semon is said to have commented 'I have just seen the most extraordinary young man I have ever met'. Churchill consulted him again in 1901 for further advice, the same year Semon was appointed physician extraordinary to King Edward VII. His lisp was most obvious years later when he referred to the Nazis as 'Narzees'. But the public interpreted this as him being dismissive and contemptuous of the enemy and it worked greatly to his advantage. Semon retired from professional life in 1909, when he had this house built and lived there until he died in 1921. Rignalls was designed by the well-known Arts and Crafts architect Charles Holden, who is best known for designing a number London Underground stations in the 1920s and 30s. He was awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects' (RIBA) Royal Gold Medal for architecture in 1936. Rignalls is one of the rare country houses he designed that reflects his early Arts and Crafts experience, he was later better known for major commercial and institutional buildings. During the Second World War the house was owned by a member of the free French government and leader Charles de Gaulle is reputed to have visited on numerous occasions. The house is typical of the Arts and Crafts movement with steep pitched roofs and striking chimneys and internally it has light and spacious reception rooms. It has a double height reception hall, where Semon's wife, who was an opera singer, would perform to guests from the galleried landing. The house also has a drawing room, sitting room, dining room, study and garden room as well as eight bedrooms and three bathrooms. All the principal rooms are south facing, overlooking the terraced gardens and the popular Hampden Valley beyond. The house, which is a mile from the village of Great Missenden in the Chiltern Hills, comes with 10.3 acres of land, including a swimming pool, orchard, paddock and mature woodland. The landscaped gardens were designed by renowned horticulturalist Gertrude Jekyll and are typical of her style, with a York stone terrace, retaining walls and wide brick steps going down to each level. Mark Rimell from Strutt & Parker, who are selling the property, said: 'This is very much a typical Arts and Crafts house. The great joy of that period is the size and proportion of the rooms, which are fantastic, and the incredible detailing. 'It was built for Felix Semon and when you walk into the hallway you can just imagine it at that time. It has an enormous double height reception hall and his wife, who was an opera singer, used to give concerts from the galleried landing. 'He commissioned Charles Holden to design it, and Holden commissioned Gertrude Jekyll to design the garden. The owners have paperwork showing the correspondence. 'Rignalls is a classic of Jekyll's kind, it absolutely has her stamp on it. 'It contains features typical of the Gertrude Jekyll style, such as retaining walls, wide bricks steps going down to each level, sweeping lawned tennis courts, all interspersed with colourful shrubberies and variety of plants. 'It's got the most wonderful views over the Hampden valley. 'The current owner has lived here for over 40 years, a testament to how much this classic Edwardian house and gardens has been treasured by the family for decades. 'It does need some updating now but it would make the most fantastic family home and the formal reception rooms are lovely.'
2016-03-24 13:17 Jessica Ware www.dailymail.co.uk
84 More Americans seek jobless aid, yet applications still low WASHINGTON (AP) — More people sought U. S. unemployment aid last week, but applications are still at a low level consistent with steady job growth. THE NUMBERS: The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications for unemployment benefits rose 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 265,000. The four-week average, a less volatile figure, increased just 250 to 259,750. The number of people receiving benefits fell to 2.18 million from 2.22 million the previous week. That is 8.3 percent lower than a year earlier. THE TAKEAWAY: Applications are a proxy for layoffs, so the data indicates that businesses are holding tightly onto their staffs, despite overseas economic turmoil and modest growth in the U. S. Applications have been below 300,000, a historically low level, for 55 straight weeks, the longest stretch since 1973. Many businesses say they are having trouble finding new employees with the skills and experiences they need, so that may contribute to their reluctance to lay off any of their current staff. KEY DRIVERS: When businesses are cutting few workers, they are more likely to step up hiring. Employers added a healthy 242,000 jobs last month, while the unemployment rate remained at 4.9 percent. Modest consumer spending growth and some recovery in housing is sustaining the U. S. economy, even as weakness overseas and cutbacks in business spending has dragged down manufacturing. In a separate report Thursday, the Commerce Department said that orders for big-ticket manufactured goods fell 2.8 percent in February. The drop was led by a sharp decline in orders for commercial aircraft. Still, excluding transportation goods, orders fell 1 percent, a sign that manufacturing may struggle for a second year after a weak 2015. Sales of existing homes dipped in February, but followed two solid readings in December and January. And new home sales rose 2 percent last month, though all the increase occurred in the West.
2016-03-24 13:14 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
85 Grieving widow forces retail giants to restrict their sales of knives A grieving widow has convinced retail giants to change their policy on knife sales after her husband was stabbed to death in Poundland. The bargain store and other huge chains, including Tesco, Amazon and John Lewis, have agreed to make it more difficult to buy blades in their stores. Gulsen Alkan's art dealer husband Justin Skrebowski, 61, was stabbed to death while buying balloons for their three-year-old twins on her birthday last December. The new agreement will see retailers: Ms Alkan, 39, started a petition following the killing in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, encouraging retailers to agree formal measures in the hope of preventing others enduring the same tragic fate. It was directed at Home Secretary Theresa May, and questioned why cigarettes should be kept out of sight in shops but not knives. More than 52,000 people pledged their support within a month, prompting the UK's top chains, including Asda, Sainsbury's, Lidl, Argos and Morrison's, to take action. Ms Alkan, of north Oxford, said: 'Throughout this dreadful time I have not wanted revenge but rather the certain knowledge that no family should ever have to go through what my family has gone through. 'I cannot say that this makes me happy because I wish so very much that it had never happened and that Justin was with me and our twins now but it is the only thing that has brought me peace.' The agreement, which includes a crackdown on knife sales to under 18s and changes in the way blades are displayed, follows talks held last week between major retailers and the Home Secretary. It increases focus on age verification checks for knife sales in-store, or if ordered online, at point of collection or delivery and commits retailers to regular staff training. The Home Secretary announced on Wednesday that the North Oxford mother's crusade had been heard by the government. Mrs May said: 'Knife crime has a devastating impact on victims, families and communities, and I am determined to do all I can to prevent it. 'Retailers have a vital role to play in this fight and I welcome today's commitment. Knives have no place on our streets.' Last week she also banned the sale of large serrated blades called 'zombie knives' in a bid to slash knife crime. Nicola Blackwood, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, has guided Mrs Alkan through her campaign and helped her to lobby her cause in Westminster. She said: 'Gulsen and everyone who has signed her petition should feel proud that they have successfully persuaded the Home Office to act on this. 'The safe display and sale of knives in shops is crucial, and the message of the Home Secretary's announcement today is that retailers have to step up to the responsibility they have in preventing knife crime.' Trevor Joyce, 36, of Abingdon, was charged with murdering Mr Skrebowski. He is due for trial at Oxford Crown Court on June 6.
2016-03-24 13:14 Joseph Curtis www.dailymail.co.uk
86 86 Security in transport hubs beefed up The Holy Week exodus is underway and authorities are beefing up security in the country's transport hubs after the terror attacks in Brussels, Belgium. - The World Tonight, ANC, March 23, 2016
2016-03-24 12:24 ABS-CBN news.abs-cbn.com
87 The headphones that deliver 3D sound
Virtual reality video games may plunge headset wearers into a realistic world, but the experience can't be said to be truly immersive without believable sound too. Now there's a pair of headphones that is claimed to deliver 3D sound, so gamers can hear footsteps behind them, or gunshots coming from the right, for example. The headphones do this using '3D audio algorithms,' head-tracking technology and sensors to mimic the way we hear in real-life. Scroll down for video The Ossic X headphones are claimed to be 'the world's first headphone that instantly calibrates to the listener, increasing the sense of auditory space, and acoustically recreating the way you hear the world every day.' The San Diego-based start-up said we all hear the world differently based on the size of our heads and shape of our ears, which plays a critical role in defining how sound enters our ears. Traditional headphones don't cater for this, so sound appears to be close to the head, rather than coming from all around. To solve this problem, the Ossic X headphones are said to calibrate to the listener's head to provide more accurate sound placement, '10 times' more immersive than traditional sets. The headphones are designed to work with VR headsets without built-in earphones (pictured), so gamers can hear bursts of sound coming from all around them The calibration process starts when the headset is put on, when data is instantly analysed by algorithms to determine accurate sound playback based on a person's anatomy. More precise details about how it works are kept under wraps, but the device has large echo-free ear chambers to boost sound quality and depth. The company believes its technology will provide a better experience for people playing games, listening to music, watching TV or using a VR headset. It is raising money to put the headphones into production on Kickstarter , where the headphones are priced from $249 (£176). The Ossic X headphones are said to calibrate to the listener's head to provide more accurate sound placement, '10 times' more immersive than traditional sets. They could be used for PC gaming (shown) The company has smashed its fundraising target, pulling in $1.3 million (£0.9 million) with 28 days to go and plans to ship the Ossic X headphones in December. The intelligent headphone market is predicted to top $7.48 billion in the next six years, according to market consulting firm Grand View Research. The likes of Bose, HTC, Samsung and Apple are working on options with better sound cancelling, for example, but some VR headsets, such as the Oculus Rift have built-in speakers, meaning such headphones may have to carve another niche. The company believes its technology will provide a better experience for people playing games, listening to music, watching TV (pictured) or using a VR headset
2016-03-24 13:13 Sarah Griffiths www.dailymail.co.uk
88 88 Jurgen Klopp says match between Germany and England is of no interest Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says the outcome of Saturday's match between Germany and England is of no interest to him, but admits he would be happy if either side won Euro 2016. Currently in Tenerife for a training camp with those players not on international duty, the German admits the only thing he wants from the weekend game in Berlin - which involves six of his Liverpool stars - is no injuries. 'It is a friendly game so I don't care. I hope all of them come back healthy,' he told LFCTV. 'In the European Championships I have this problem only if they play against each other. Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne could feature for Roy Hodgson's side, while Emre Can may figure for the World Cup holders on Saturday. The former Borussia Dortmund boss, born in Stuttgart, Germany, has expressed his desires for either his own country or adopted home nation to emerge victorious in this summer's tournament. 'Germany are European champions but if England can get the title I'm happy too, if Belgium can get the title I am happy too. 'We have a lot of players at the tournament and it is easy to find a team you want to support.'
2016-03-24 13:11 Daniel Sandford www.dailymail.co.uk
89 Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 20 iconic quotes from the PSG and Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one of the most charismatic and well-known figures in world football, could be on his way to the Premier League next season as his contract at PSG expires this summer. The PSG striker, 34, is as famous for his memorable soundbites as his achievements on the pitch - here are 20 of his best quotes. On his restless nature: 'Whenever life stands still, I want action. I always drive like a maniac. I've gone 325 km/hr in my Porsche Turbo, leaving chasing cops behind. I've done so many f***** up things I barely want to think about them.' On his early playing days: 'I was a goalie for a while. I don't know why really. Maybe I had flipped out on the old goalie and said something like: 'You suck, I can do this better myself'. It was probably something like that. But one game I let in a lot of goals, and then I became furious. I screamed that everyone was s***. That football was s***. That the whole world was s***, and that I would start playing hockey instead... But I stopped being a goalie and went up to the attack, and became kind of good.' After helping Sweden beat Denmark in the Euro 2016 qualifying play-offs: 'They said they were going to send me to retirement. I sent their whole nation into retirement.' On bamboozling Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz while playing for Ajax: 'First I went left, he did too. Then I went right, and he did too. Then I went left again and he went to buy a hotdog.' On his versatility: 'I can play in the 11 positions because a good player can play anywhere' On his favourite film: ' There was no movie I loved more back then than 'Gladiator' and there is a scene there, everyone knows it, when the emperor comes down in the arena and asks the gladiator to remove his mask and the gladiator does that and says: 'My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius ... And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.' That was how I felt, or wanted to feel, I wanted to stand there in front of the whole world and show all those who had doubted me who I really was, and I couldn't imagine who would be able to stop me.' On his immortality : Reporter: Who will win World Cup? Zlatan: 'God knows' Reporter: 'It's kind of hard to ask him'. Zlatan: 'Why? You're looking at him now.' On former Aston Villa striker John Carew: 'What Carew does with a football, I can do with an orange'. On his adventurous childhood: 'One time I got dressed in all black, Rambo-style, and took a massive pair of bolt-cutters and nicked a military bike' On how he plays at his best: ''I have to be mad to play well. I have to shout and make scenes.' On what he gave his fiancee as an engagement present: 'Present? She got Zlatan.' To a female reporter who asked about his sexuality: 'Come to my house and I will show you that I'm not gay, and bring your sisters.' On over-doing the celebrations after winning the league with Juventus: 'I haven't gotten drunk many times, only one collapse in a bathtub after the first scudetto with Juventus. It was Trezeguet, the snake, who pushed me into drinking shots.' On meeting Arsene Wenger, after which he turned down a chance to 'audition' for Arsenal: 'He was kind of trying to look through me, or finding out who I was deep within. He's a guy who makes psychological profiles on his players, are they emotionally stable and stuff like that. He's very careful about things, like all big coaches, and I didn't talk much at first.' On being his own man: 'I run my own race. I don't give a damn what people think and I've never felt comfortable with authority. I like guys who run the red light, if you know what I mean.'
2016-03-24 13:11 Spencer Brown www.dailymail.co.uk
90 Online tool reveals exactly how sugar harms our health We all know sugar rots our teeth and can make us fat. But there are other little-known hidden dangers of the white stuff that can seriously harm our health, a new guide reveals. Created by Beneden,a healthcare and insurance provider, the online tool below shows exactly how sugar affects the body... From kidney and liver problems to erectile dysfunction and a dampened immune system, it makes for alarming reading. Many men with diabetes are more likely to suffer erectile dysfunction, while overindulging in sugar causes lethargy, which can affect sex drive. In women, eating too many sweet treats causes blood sugar levels to soar, which creates the perfect conditions for yeast fungus to grow, causing repeated bouts of thrush. And when it comes to children, a Columbia University study found those given around 100g of sugar - the amount found in a litre bottle of fizzy drink - white blood cells - responsible for trapping and killing harmful pathogens in the body - were 40 per cent less effective. This crippled the body's defences for up to five hours afterwards, researchers said. CLICK ON THE A VATARS BELOW OR FOLLOW THIS LINK TO USE THE ONLINE TOOL After clicking on an avatar, scroll down the sugar cubes on the right, and drag the slider across to see the ‘before’ and ‘after’ effects of how sugar affects different parts of the body.
2016-03-24 13:08 Madlen Davies www.dailymail.co.uk
91 Lords curbs will tilt balance of power towards government, say peers Government plans to remove the House of Lords' ability to veto some draft laws would "tilt the balance of power... towards government", peers have said. A review of the Lords' powers was set up after peers voted down planned tax credits cuts - later axed by ministers. But its scope has been criticised by two Lords committees who say its proposals would "damage" Parliament's role and should be shelved. Unlike in the Commons, the Tories do not have a majority in the of Lords. The review, carried out by ex-Lords leader Lord Strathclyde, recommended taking away the absolute veto the Lords had over statutory instruments - a form of legislation implemented without Parliament having to pass an Act - and instead limiting them to sending the secondary (or delegated) legislation back to the Commons to "think again". They would only be allowed to do this once, enabling the Commons to have the final say and push through its agenda even if the Lords disagreed. But in separate reports published on Wednesday, the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee and the Constitution Committee said weakening parliamentary scrutiny of secondary legislation "would tilt the balance of power away from Parliament… towards government". Criticising the scope of the review, they said it was "not a proper basis for determining constitutional change" and warned the recommendations "will only damage Parliament's role and reputation". "A six week review based on informal consultation following highly politicised events in both Houses is not a proper basis for determining constitutional change," the Constitution Committee said. Secondary or delegated legislation allows the government to make changes to a law without needing to push through a completely new act of Parliament. This can occur when primary legislation (an act of Parliament) specifies that changes to the law may be delegated to ministers in certain circumstances in future. It may allow ministers to make technical changes to the law, like altering the level of a fine, but it can also sanction broader changes like fleshing out an act with greater detail. Statutory Instruments (SIs) form the majority of delegated legislation. The cross-party committees said the government should shelve the plans and allow both Houses of Parliament to consider the way in which secondary legislation is scrutinised. Chairman Lord Lang of Monkton, a Conservative peer, said: "The Strathclyde Review was asked the wrong questions by the government. "The role of the House of Lords in rejecting the tax credits regulations was not about the House of Lords versus the House of Commons; it was about Parliament scrutinising the government. " Baroness Fookes, chairman of the Delegated Powers Committee, said she welcomed the review for "shining a spotlight - perhaps unintentionally - on the unfortunate tendency of successive governments to leave substantial issues of policy and principle to be dealt with by delegated legislation". "At best this is sloppy practice, and at worst it gives ministers far too much power to do whatever they want without sufficient scrutiny by Parliament," she added. She said the committee would be "more demanding" of ministers and demand answers if they "seek substantial and wide powers without adequate explanation". The review of the Lords' powers has been criticised by the Labour Party, which said it was a "massive over-reaction" to the tax credits defeat and accused ministers of "intimidating" the Lords. 2016-03-24 12:24 BBC News www.bbc.co.uk
92 Ohio school security guard charged with threatening schools NORTH COLLEGE HILL, Ohio (AP) — Police in Ohio say a school security guard for a Cincinnati-area district has been charged in threats that led to recent school evacuations and were traced to his prepaid cellphone. Christopher Darnell Files is charged with two felony counts of inducing panic for threats Monday and Tuesday that led to evacuations of elementary, middle and high schools in the city of North College Hill. Court records don't show an attorney for him. Superintendent Gary Gellert says said one call demanded money, while the others just threatened to bomb the school. Gellert says Files was hired as a private security guard two weeks ago after a large fight on school property. North College Hill Police Chief Ryan Schrand says investigators used GPS to locate Files' phone.
2016-03-24 13:05 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
93 Not just Vijay Mallya, 5,275 wilful defaulters owe banks Rs 56,621 crore Bangalore: Liquor baron Vijay Mallya (60) and his Rs 7,000-crore default occupy headlines, but there are 5,275 other "wilful defaulters"— together, they owe India's banks Rs 56,521 crore ($8.56 billion), according to the Credit Information Bureau (India) Ltd, or CIBIL, a company set up by banks to collect defaulter information. The money that wilful defaulters owe Indian banks has grown nine-fold over 13 years, and is more than 1.5 times the central government's allocation for agriculture and farmer welfare (Rs 35,984 crore) in Union Budget 2016-17, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of CIBIL data. Banks declare borrowers to be "wilful defaulters" when they deliberately do not repay loans, despite the ability to do so. Many defaults may not be wilful, caused as they may be by adverse economic conditions. Mallya's now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines is fourth on CIBIL's list—available with IndiaSpend—of wilful defaulters. India's five leading wilful defaulters are Mumbai-based Winsome Diamonds & Jewellery Ltd. and associate Forever Precious Jewellery & Diamonds Ltd., which together owe banks Rs 3,263 crore. They are followed by Indore-based real-estate developer Zoom Developers (Rs 1,647 crore), Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. (Rs 1,200 crore), Mumbai-based Beta Naphthol (Rs 951 crore) and Kanpur-based Raza Textiles (Rs 694 crore). Except Winsome Diamonds & Jewellery Ltd, the other companies are in various stages of liquidation, according to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website. E-mails sent last week to Winsome Diamonds and Kingfisher Airlines went unanswered, as did emails to two prominent banks that loaned them money—State Bank of India (SBI) and Punjab National Bank (PNB). SBI accounts for 32% of dues owed by wilful defaulters. Amount owed by wilful defaulters grows nine-fold over 13 years In 2002, the total amount owed by wilful defaulters was Rs 6,291 crore ($0.95 billion). It grew— as we said—nine-fold over the next 13 years to Rs 56,521 crore ($8.56 billion). "A powerful nexus between chairmen of public sector banks, auditors, Reserve Bank of India and the banks' boards is behind the country's total Non-Performing Assets (NPA) and wilful defaulters," said S Nagarajan, General Secretary, All India Bank Officers' Associations. Maharashtra has more wilful defaulters than any other state: 1,138, who owe Rs 21,647 crore. Next is West Bengal with 710 and Andhra Pradesh with 567 cases. But in terms of defaults, Delhi is second with more than Rs 7,299 crore. Nationalised banks account for 79% of money loaned. As many as 19 nationalised banks record 4,738 wilful defaulters who owe them more than Rs 26,600 crore. Of these, the SBI and its associates record 1,546 wilful defaulters, who owe Rs 47,350 crore. Wilful defaulters of public-sector banks overshadow those with private and foreign banks. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior executive manager of a Singapore-based bank said: "Often, banks do not even report unpaid loans to CIBIL due to a nexus between politician and defaulter. Kingfisher is on the list, because Mallya's cover has been blown. This is the reason corporate get easy loans from government banks and not private and foreign banks. " Private-sector banks also have an unpaid-loan problem, but their bad loans are less than half the level of public-sector banks, which account for 73% of all lending, as IndiaSpend reported last month. "Government banks face immense pressure from parliamentarians to provide loans to corporate, the politician-bureaucrat-corporate nexus is very strong," said Sanat Dutta, a lawyer for nationalised banks in debt recovery tribunals for more than 10 years. Diamonds in Dubai, land in US, cricket team—what defaulters did with their loans India's wilful defaulters have a history of using loans from public banks for a variety of purposes– some unrelated to their businesses, others used for expansion without business diligence. Among the wilful defaulters is English daily Deccan Chronicle, which survives despite a string of unpaid loans—used for other businesses, including a cricket team—and Mumbai-based JB Diamonds, the target of income-tax raids after a 2010 Rs 800-crore default. Once India's largest diamond exporter, 49-year-old JB Diamonds was accused by a Hong Kong banking administrator—the company owes Rs 500 crore to Hong Kong banks—of #well- planned fraudulent transactions. " Jatin Mehta—promoter of India's largest wilful defaulters, Winsome Diamonds and associate Forever Precious—was accused in forensic audits (quoted here in the Indian Express) of "wrongly attempting to distance himself" from business partners who did not pay dues, in particular a Jordanian in Dubai, but had been chosen by Mehta himself. Vijay Choudhury, the promoter of Zoom Developers, which owes money to a consortium of 26 public-sector banks led by PNB, bought land valued at Rs 1,000 crore in the US using loan money, according to the Enforcement Directorate, which ordered the land attached. "The accused have knowingly formed various trust and beneficiary companies and projected them as independent entities concealing the relationship between the trust and the foreign companies…", said the attachment order, quoted in India Today. With Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines, SBI alleged that money loaned was diverted several times to various companies of Mallya's United Breweries (UB) group. Mallya and his company (UB Group) are contesting SBI's charges, and the case is currently with the Bombay High Court. Various cases are underway against wilful defaulters in debt recovery tribunals nationwide. There are many more who have escaped legal action. More wilful defaulters than CIBIL's data show CIBIL is one of four Credit Information Companies (CICs) that collect and maintain data of wilful defaulters who owe Rs. 25 lakh and more. The three other CICs are Experian Credit Information Company of India Private Limited, Equifax Credit Information Services Private Limited and High Mark Credit Information Services Private Limited. This CIBIL list contains data on wilful defaulters—who owe Rs 25 lakh and more and against whom suits were filed—provided by 50 of about 90 Indian banks, as on December 31, 2015. The list of defaulters held by three other CICs is here: Equifax, Experian and CRIF. The full list of wilful defaulters is with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which does not disclose names. Last month, the Supreme Court asked the RBI for a list of defaulters who own more than Rs 500 crore to banks. The RBI list contains the names of those against whom loan-recovery suits have been filed, as well as those free of legal action. As many as 7,265 borrowers (who borrowed more than Rs 25 lakh) owed Rs 64,434 crore to public-sector banks as on September 30, 2015, according to this statement in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament. Of these, first-information reports— the first legal step–have been filed in only 1,624 cases. Other than wilful defaulters, there are 7,436 others who owe banks Rs 115,301 crore ($17.47 billion), according to the CIBIL list. There are more defaulters, as we said earlier, than the CIBIL list shows. If the unpaid loans made by India's public-sector banks were recovered, they would be enough to pay for India's 2015 spending on defence, education, highways, and health, as IndiaSpend reported last month. These bad loans, or gross non-performing assets (NPAs) as they are called in banking parlance, of public-sector banks have crossed Rs 4.04 lakh crore ($59 billion), a rise of 450% since March 2011. Mallya's Kingfisher is now the public face of a long-festering problem, but even that has been evident to those in banking circles. After Kingfisher, the cleanup begins In 2010, Kingfisher Airlines got Rs 6,900 crore from 17 lenders, mostly public-sector banks. The biggest lender is SBI with Rs 1,600 crore. Other banks that lent money to Kingfisher include Punjab National Bank and IDBI Bank (Rs 800 crore each), Bank of India (Rs 650 crore), Bank of Baroda (Rs 550 crore), Central Bank of India (Rs 410 crore). With the spike in loan write-offs and NPAs and a fall in profits spooking the banking sector, RBI governor Raghuram Rajan has made it clear that banks "may require deep surgery" to clean up their balance sheets and put stressed projects back on track. One suggestion to tighten things comes from lawyer Dutta, who said the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, needed amendment. "Currently we can't initiate criminal proceedings against the defaulters as the act is civil in nature," he said. (Ghosh is with 101reporters.com , a pan-India network of grassroot journalists. He writes on political and social impact stories.) (Indiaspend.org is a data-driven, public-interest journalism non-profit)
2016-03-24 13:02 By IndiaSpend www.mid-day.com
94 94 UK's economic analysis of EU membership due in April - Osborne LONDON, March 24 (Reuters) - Britain's finance ministry is likely to publish a widely-anticipated analysis of the costs and benefits of membership of the European Union in mid-April, finance minister George Osborne said on Thursday. The analysis is expected to form a key component of the government's campaign to persuade Britons to vote to stay inside the EU ahead of a referendum on the issue on June 23. Osborne said the document would be published before his next appearance in front of parliament's Treasury Select Committee, currently scheduled for April 19. "I think you will have had time to digest what's been published," Osborne told the committee, although he said no specific date for publication had been fixed. Parliament returns from its Easter break on April 11. (Reporting by William James, editing by David Milliken)
2016-03-24 12:56 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
95 Peru electoral court lets leader stay in presidential race LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peru's electoral council on Thursday rejected a move to bar leading presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori from the first round of voting on April 10. The decision published early in the morning said the court ruled out vote-buying allegations against Fujimori, the daughter of former strongman Alberto Fujimori, who is serving 25 years in prison for authorizing death squads and corruption during his government from 1990 to 2000. The tribunal earlier banned two other candidates from the first round of voting, including the leading challenger to Fujimori, Julio Guzman, on grounds his party violated its internal rules in selecting him. That decision was seen as so rigorous that the European Union and the Organization of American States expressed concern. Polls show none of the candidates is likely to pass the 50 percent needed to win on the first round, so a June runoff is likely. And while Fujimori leads the polls, they also show that many Peruvians say they would never vote for her to succeed President Ollanta Humala in July. The complaint against Fujimori stemmed from a campaign event at which she was present. The equivalent of $89 was awarded to the winners of a dance contest, while Peruvian law prohibits candidates from giving more than roughly $6 during campaign events. The electoral council has also disqualified candidate Cesar Acuna for handing out cash at a campaign event. No other candidate has been polling above 10 percent — including former two- time President Alan Garcia.
2016-03-24 12:52 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
96 96 Model claims she has 'healed' a deaf African child A model has claimed she cured a deaf African child by praying twice and putting her fingers in the girl's ear in an Easter 'miracle'. Rebecca Ronald, who has featured in campaigns for Lorna Jane and Billabong, was working with young children in Uganda when she 'healed' the girl using the 'power of faith'. The Miss Universe Australia finalist took to Instagram to share the story and claimed that after she uttered the words 'you are about to hear for the first time', the young girl was instantly cured. The model posted a picture of her and a group of African children - one of whom she singled out as the girl she healed. 'As Riley & I were preaching, she stood out to me & I had such a compassion for her,' she wrote. 'Afterwards while we were praying for each individual, I asked her to come aside & as I went to speak, her friend intervened to say that she was deaf. 'I had just finished preaching on what God had been teaching me about; the power of Faith.. and knowing my God can do all things, I said to her, 'you are about to hear for the first time'. 'I prayed once - nothing happened, then I felt Holy Spirit say, put your fingers in her ear and command them to open. 'Sounds easy, but in the moment, it can be the hardest thing because is requires the very thing I taught on, Faith with power which opposes human reasoning - so I did and when I finished praying, her face lit up and overjoyed she said 'I can HEAR for the first time!!!!'' She said that this was an example of the 'Heavenly Father's' love in action. 'The Lord told me to expect miracles this trip & miracles is what we are seeing,' she said. 'While westerners think they are the blessed ones not living in poverty, I disagree because these easterners get it, and I believe that is why I have never witnessed the power of God like I have here.' Her Instagram post has attracted 113 likes and a number of supportive comments. Just two days after the 'miracle' her boyfriend Riley proposed on an African mountain top. She posted a picture of him down on his knees, saying: 'Once upon an African mountain top, on his 27th birthday, he asked me to be his bride....& I said, YES! 'Can't wait to be his Mrs. Hurlock #fiancé #fiancée #Godisfaithful'
2016-03-24 12:51 Jenny Awford www.dailymail.co.uk
97 2 young sisters die in Ohio house fire WAYNESFIELD, Ohio (AP) — Authorities say a house fire in Ohio has left two young sisters dead. The blaze broke out around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday just north of the town of Waynesfield in the western part of the state. The county sheriff's office says firefighters and police tried to get into the home but were beaten back by the fire. Authorities say 10-year-old Trinity Lhamon and 7-year- old Keelin Doty were later found dead inside. The sheriff's office says no other details will be disclosed because of the investigation. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
2016-03-24 12:48 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
98 Kuwait oil company says it's found new oil and gas field KUWAIT CITY (AP) — Kuwait's state oil company says it has discovered a new oil and gas field in the Western part of the country. Kuwait Oil Company said in a statement to the country's state news agency Thursday that preliminary tests suggest the new field in the al-Jathatheel region will provide a significant boost to the country's resource reserves. It says company teams are currently carrying out tests at the field. The statement gave no estimate on the size of the field, and a company spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to the U. S. Energy Information Administration, Kuwait has the sixth largest crude oil reserves worldwide. Kuwait is a member of OPEC bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia at the northern end of the Persian Gulf.
2016-03-24 12:48 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
99 Activist fund seeks to replace Yahoo board An activist hedge fund Thursday launched a bid to replace the entire Yahoo board of directors, saying the struggling Internet firm's management team has "failed to deliver results. " In an open letter to Yahoo shareholders, Starboard Value LP said it would nominate nine "highly qualified" directors to the company's board, following a threat made last year to do so if it was unsatisfied with the pace of change. Replacing the board could pave the way for a sale or merger of Yahoo, whose troubles have deepened despite a restructuring plan led by chief executive Marissa Mayer. "We believe that Yahoo is deeply undervalued and opportunities exist within the control of management and the board of directors to unlock significant value for the benefit of all shareholders," Starboard said. "We have been extremely disappointed with Yahoo's dismal financial performance, poor management execution, egregious compensation and hiring practices, and general lack of accountability and oversight by the board. The letter said the board "clearly lacks the leadership, objectivity, and perspective needed to make decisions that are in the best interests of shareholders. " Although Yahoo is one of the best-known names on the Internet and is used by around one billion people, it has fallen behind Google in Internet searches and has been steadily losing ground in online advertising. In February, Yahoo said was cutting 15 percent of its workforce and narrowing its focus as it explores "strategic alternatives. " The announcement, coming with the release of a big quarterly loss, offered the first sign that Yahoo may be open to a sale or merger after years of struggling to regain its former glory. The California company reported a loss of $4.43 billion in the final three months of last year, due mostly to lowering the value of its US, Canada, Europe, Latin America and Tumblr units. Revenue was up marginally from a year ago at $1.27 billion. Yahoo said at the time it was launching "an aggressive strategic plan to simplify the company, narrowing its focus on areas of strength to better fuel growth. " At the same time, it said it was looking at "additional strategic alternatives," suggesting it could seek a deal to sell or merge the company. But some Yahoo stakeholders have been impatient. Starboard said in a letter earlier this year investors appear to "have lost all confidence in management and the board" after the company, led by Silicon Valley star Mayer, has failed to turn around Yahoo's struggling core Internet business.
2016-03-24 12:47 Afp www.dailymail.co.uk
100 Morning Call: The best from Gibraltar - impact of Brexit This is going to be the last morning call on the subject of Gibraltar for a good while, and there has been a lot to celebrate during our two year stint – but this week’s news has been overshadowed by the tragic events in Brussels. The Gibraltarian government was quick to declare its solidarity and express its outrage on behalf of the attacked; staff at the embassy were declared safe. Our thoughts go out to all who were affected. In other news, over the time we’ve been following Gibraltar closely there have been some regular refrains from its critics: it’s a tax haven, they’ve said, although only this week Bulgaria removed the country from its tax haven list. It’s far from the only nation to have done so; the claim is ringing increasingly hollow as the critics continue to trot it out. In other local news we reported last week on sea anglers’ horror at the government’s decisions on fishing boundaries; clearly both parties have been talking and are now content . We wanted to find a suitable story on which to go out – and indeed on Tuesday we will be running a piece on the outlook for Gibraltar in the coming financial year. However, rather than celebrate our own short stint working with the Gib government we find we’re not the only ones retiring: Albert Poggio, the Gibraltar Government’s representative in London and director of Gibraltar House in that city, is to retire in June after 28 years’ service. Mr. Poggio is among those who have been highly supportive of us during our time presenting this hub and we wish him well, as well as our closest associate in the Gib government, Clive Golt, in the future. We’ll be back with one more story and a final note of farewell on Tuesday – in the meantime we wish all of our readers a restful extended weekend. However unlikely it may prove, the prospect of Britain's withdrawal from the EU sends shivers through Gibraltar's financial services, gaming and tourism industries, which are at the core of Gibraltar’s economy. For, if Britain leaves the EU, Gibraltar goes too, and, should Brexit occur, it is Gibraltar’s relationship with the UK that as in the past, largely will shape Gibraltar's future. Gibraltar joined the European Union in 1973 as part of the UK. While rights to freedom of services across borders of EU member states apply between Gibraltar and the rest of the EU, because Gibraltar is not a separate member state (and is in fact part of the UK Member State) those rights do not apply between Gibraltar and the UK. Instead a bilateral agreement, formalised almost two decades ago, gives Gibraltar's financial service companies the equivalent EU passporting rights into the UK. Accordingly and pursuant to such agreement, where EU rights in banking, insurance and other financial services are concerned, the UK treats Gibraltar as if it is a separate member state. This reliance on the special relationship with the UK is recognised by both the Government and the Opposition in Gibraltar, and when the territory (which in this instance as part of the UK electorate) goes to the polls on 23 June, the vote to remain in the EU is likely to be overwhelming. This may have symbolic significance but realistically seems unlikely to influence the outcome. In actual terms, although some non-EU jurisdictions use Gibraltar and its EU passporting rights as a stepping stone into Europe, almost 80% of Gibraltar’s business dealings are with the UK. But whether or not Britain maintains the 'special relationship' with Gibraltar, if Brexit becomes a reality, other factors will come into play, with the ever-present Spanish Government’s historic sovereignty claim over Gibraltar topping the list. Recently Spain's caretaker Foreign Minister Jose Maria Margallo went on record that if the UK voted to leave the EU he would immediately 'raise with the UK the question of Gibraltar.' If this was to come about it could take one or more of several different forms, ranging from a complete closure of the border between Spain and Gibraltar, demanding that Gibraltar passport-holders obtain costly visas to visit or transit Spain, imposing more stringent border controls, or a frontier toll on motorists driving into or out of Gibraltar. The latter idea was in fact floated by the Spanish Government three years ago, but dropped when the EU Commission indicated that any such toll would contravene EU law. Here, again, imponderables come into play, for much will depend on which political parties will form the next Spanish government. A Spanish government headed by the right wing PP party is likely to take a less accommodating attitude towards Gibraltar (the Foreign Minister having recently indicated that in case of Brexit the Spanish Government may opportunistically push once again for a joint sovereignty deal with the UK over Gibraltar) whereas a left of centre coalition will likely adopt a more pragmatic and cooperative relationship with Gibraltar in the event of EU exit. The most significant changes to Gibraltar's post-Brexit operation as an international finance centre are likely to be in the sphere of tax, and while Gibraltar has always met its obligations in relation to the relevant EU rules and Directives, it has also been slightly uncomfortable with aspects of the EU's moves towards harmonisation of corporate taxes across member states. Although it was formed as a free market alliance, since its inception fiscal matters have been at the root of the EU, but Gibraltar's 'special relationship' with Britain has allowed considerable latitude in relation to what taxes it imposes or those it doesn't. However, as is the case with other member states, Gibraltar has increasingly found in recent years its fiscal sovereignty eroded and its latitude on tax matters severely curtailed. As in Britain, Gibraltar has benefitted from several EU Directives introduced to harmonise and support the freedom of establishment, particularly the Parent-Subsidiary Directive which prohibits withholding taxes on cross-border intra-group interest dividend and royalty payments made within the EU. As a stepping stone for foreign direct investment, should Brexit come about EU subsidiaries could no longer rely on these Directives to allow tax-free dividend or interest payments to their holding companies based in Gibraltar. In the case of the UK, bilateral double tax treaties will no doubt mitigate the impact of the non-application of any tax related Directives. Gibraltar, however, is not currently a party to any bilateral double tax treaties. Accordingly, Gibraltar would either have to seek from the UK the extension of all or some of the UK’s bilateral tax treaties to Gibraltar (subject of course to the agreement by the relevant counterparties) or it would need to negotiate its own network of bilateral double tax treaties with a whole series of EU and non EU Member States. To say the least, neither of these options would be straightforward to implement at short notice and would need the wholehearted support of the British Government Whilst Gibraltar’s economy is likely to be adversely affected should Brexit occur, there may be some potential benefits. An EU exit would result in fewer regulations and possibly may provide Gibraltar with greater exposure to emerging economies. From a tax perspective, an EU exit would probably enable Gibraltar to introduce tax rules and incentives that are contrary to EU tax laws and would provide the Gibraltar Government more freedom to adopt competitive tax regimes that may be considered contrary to EU state aid rules. How possible or effective any such strategy would be is doubtful given the OECD driven anti-tax avoidance climate affecting all reputable jurisdictions whether within or outside the EU. In this as well as other possible change much will hinge on any post-Brexit relationship with the UK - an issue which the Gibraltar Government addressed recently in a paper sent to Westminster's Foreign Affairs Committee. It stressed not only that 'EU membership has been an important factor in the development of Gibraltar’s economy' but also the importance of 'clarity as to the rights the British Government will protect and defend for Gibraltar in the context of its own negotiations.'
2016-03-24 12:21 George Eaton www.newstatesman.com
Total 100 articles. Created at 2016-03-24 18:03