Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to become Barcelona's all-time leading scorer on 234 goals in a 5-3 win over Granada Tuesday which moved the champions to within five points of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
It was Barca's sixth consecutive league win and puts pressure on Madrid ahead of their trip to Villarreal Wednesday, three days after Jose Mourinho's side dropped two points in a 1-1 draw at home to Malaga.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola praised the record-breaking Argentinian.
"We have to congratulate Messi, he has scored so many goals and is only 24, he does not just score ordinary goals but great goals and we hope he gets lots more for us, we can compare him perhaps to Michael Jordan in football," he said.
Xavi Hernandez and Messi hit the net for Barcelona in the first half before Diego Mainz reduced arrears for the Andalusians on 55 minutes.
In doing so, Messi equalled the record of 232 goals held by club legend Cesar Rodriguez.
Guilherme Siqueira levelled from the spot for the away side seven minutes later after Dani Alves pulled down Dani Benitez, raising the prospect of a possible upset.
However those fears lasted only minutes as Messi produced a trademark chip over Granada's Brazilian 'keeper Julio Cesar in the 67th minute to put Barcelona 3-2 ahead.
Cristian Tello then drove the ball into the net after Messi's shot was parried by Cesar to make it 4-2 for the hosts, and Messi followed up with another fine piece of individual skill to make it 5-2 in the 86th minute.
Dani Alves received a second yellow card on 88 minutes for handling the ball in the area and Siqueira scored from the spot again, moments before the final whistle.
Previously, Cesar was believed to have scored 235 goals for Barcelona, but a study had revealed that the 1950's striker had in fact scored 232 goals -- a statistic confirmed earlier on Tuesday on Barca's website.
Messi's latest hat-trick, taking his Barca total to 234, also made it 34 goals so far in the league, two more than Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Earlier on Tuesday evening Osasuna and Getafe drew 0-0 in an uneventful match.
The result means both teams edge a point closer to the objective of safety that both managers have set for their sides this week.
However an Osasuna victory would have temporarily placed the side from Pamplona in fourth position and in a Champions League qualifying place.
Instead Osasuna remain sixth on 40 points, nike coupons promo codes
a point behind fourth placed Levante, while Getafe sit four points behind in 11th.
The game burst into life just before half-time when first Juan Martineznike factory outlet coupon
'Nino' for Osasuna and then Jose Jimenez 'Mane' for Getafe had good chances to open the scoring.
However the second-half failed to continue in the same vein and chances were scarce as both teams seemed content to record a third sucessive 0-0 draw in this fixture.
2012年3月21日星期三
Elway: Tebow took news of Manning deal with class
DENVER (AP) — On the day the Denver Broncos nike outlet store coupons printable
celebrated the arrival of Peyton Manning, all the action photos of Tim Tebow that once graced the hallways at the team facility were gone.
How's that for a subtle hint?
Though executive John Elway and coach John Fox wouldn't exactly come out and say it, the Tebow era in Denver looks to be all but over.
At a news conference Tuesday to introduce Manning, Elway said he's exploring all his options for Tebow, the incredibly popular and polarizing quarterback who led the Broncos back to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2005.
"Tim Tebow is a great kid. If I want someone to marrylas vegas nike outlet
my daughter, it would be him," Elway said. "But I think with the opportunity to have Peyton Manning's services, we had to take advantage of that. Now that it's happened, we have to go back and address Tim and see what the best situation is for the Denver Broncos, as well as him."
A message was left by The Associated Press for Tebow and his agent, Jimmy Sexton.
Although disappointed at Manning's decision to come to Denver, Tebow took the news in stride during a phone conversation with Elway.
"He's said, 'Well, we're talking about Peyton Manning. I understand exactly what you're doing,'" Elway explained. "He was very, very positive."
The next step in the process may be finding a trade partner, but the Broncos are in no hurry to do so. As for an outright release, well, the Broncos said no way.
"He's a first-round pick," Broncos general manager Brian Xanders said. "He's just won the division, we were 1-4 at the time, he's got a guaranteed contract. I can't see that."
Tebow's base salaries for the next few seasons are very cap friendly: $1.942 million in 2012, $2.266 million in 2013 and $2.590 million in 2014.
Teams such as San Francisco, Green Bay and Jacksonville could be in the market for Tebow, at least as a backup.
However, his next destination likely will not be Miami.
A person familiar with the situation said Tebow would not fit the West Coast offense the Dolphins plan to install this season under first-year coach Joe Philbin. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because trades and other personnel moves are confidential until completed.
The Dolphins have been mentioned as a possible Tebow landing place since he starred at the University of Florida. Miami has incumbent quarterback Matt Moore on its roster along with recently signed David Garrard, who is expected to compete for the starting position.
For as well as this has gone for Denver, Elway hopes this to turns out well for Tebow, too.
"It would be our goal to get him in the best situation possible for him to have success also," Elway said.
Although the unorthodox QB energized the Broncos last season and guided them back to the postseason, Tebow's long, looping throwing motion led to some accuracy issues. And with his eagerness to run, he's hardly the prototypical pocket passer.
Still, Tebow has a flock of fans for reasons that have to do as much with his faith as his football skills. A devout Christian, he's been a role model since his days at Florida, when he led the Gators to two national titles and captured the Heisman Trophy.
His soaring popularity made this decision even more coupons for nike
difficult for Elway.
"I've got to make the best decisions I can for the Denver Broncos. Without a doubt in my mind, this is the best decision for the Denver Broncos at this point and time," Elway said.
Manning eventually plans to reach out to Tebow, once he settles in and catches his breath after his whirlwind free agency tour.
"I know what kind of player Tim Tebow is, what kind of person he is," Manning said. "What an awesome year he had this year. If Tim Tebow is here next year, I'm going to be the best teammate I can be to him. He and I are going to help this team win games.
"If other opportunities present themselves to him, I'm going to wish him the best. He's going to be a great player wherever he is."
celebrated the arrival of Peyton Manning, all the action photos of Tim Tebow that once graced the hallways at the team facility were gone.
How's that for a subtle hint?
Though executive John Elway and coach John Fox wouldn't exactly come out and say it, the Tebow era in Denver looks to be all but over.
At a news conference Tuesday to introduce Manning, Elway said he's exploring all his options for Tebow, the incredibly popular and polarizing quarterback who led the Broncos back to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2005.
"Tim Tebow is a great kid. If I want someone to marrylas vegas nike outlet
my daughter, it would be him," Elway said. "But I think with the opportunity to have Peyton Manning's services, we had to take advantage of that. Now that it's happened, we have to go back and address Tim and see what the best situation is for the Denver Broncos, as well as him."
A message was left by The Associated Press for Tebow and his agent, Jimmy Sexton.
Although disappointed at Manning's decision to come to Denver, Tebow took the news in stride during a phone conversation with Elway.
"He's said, 'Well, we're talking about Peyton Manning. I understand exactly what you're doing,'" Elway explained. "He was very, very positive."
The next step in the process may be finding a trade partner, but the Broncos are in no hurry to do so. As for an outright release, well, the Broncos said no way.
"He's a first-round pick," Broncos general manager Brian Xanders said. "He's just won the division, we were 1-4 at the time, he's got a guaranteed contract. I can't see that."
Tebow's base salaries for the next few seasons are very cap friendly: $1.942 million in 2012, $2.266 million in 2013 and $2.590 million in 2014.
Teams such as San Francisco, Green Bay and Jacksonville could be in the market for Tebow, at least as a backup.
However, his next destination likely will not be Miami.
A person familiar with the situation said Tebow would not fit the West Coast offense the Dolphins plan to install this season under first-year coach Joe Philbin. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because trades and other personnel moves are confidential until completed.
The Dolphins have been mentioned as a possible Tebow landing place since he starred at the University of Florida. Miami has incumbent quarterback Matt Moore on its roster along with recently signed David Garrard, who is expected to compete for the starting position.
For as well as this has gone for Denver, Elway hopes this to turns out well for Tebow, too.
"It would be our goal to get him in the best situation possible for him to have success also," Elway said.
Although the unorthodox QB energized the Broncos last season and guided them back to the postseason, Tebow's long, looping throwing motion led to some accuracy issues. And with his eagerness to run, he's hardly the prototypical pocket passer.
Still, Tebow has a flock of fans for reasons that have to do as much with his faith as his football skills. A devout Christian, he's been a role model since his days at Florida, when he led the Gators to two national titles and captured the Heisman Trophy.
His soaring popularity made this decision even more coupons for nike
difficult for Elway.
"I've got to make the best decisions I can for the Denver Broncos. Without a doubt in my mind, this is the best decision for the Denver Broncos at this point and time," Elway said.
Manning eventually plans to reach out to Tebow, once he settles in and catches his breath after his whirlwind free agency tour.
"I know what kind of player Tim Tebow is, what kind of person he is," Manning said. "What an awesome year he had this year. If Tim Tebow is here next year, I'm going to be the best teammate I can be to him. He and I are going to help this team win games.
"If other opportunities present themselves to him, I'm going to wish him the best. He's going to be a great player wherever he is."
2012年3月15日星期四
Hollywoon Reporter: Portman stylist most powerful
NEW YORK (AP) — Kate Young, the stylist responsible for some of Michelle Williams' and Natalie Portman's most memorable red carpet moments, tops The Hollywood Reporter's countdown of the 25 most powerful stylists in showbiz.
Young earned the honor in part for helping make Portman a red carpet fixture last year while she was pregnant and on her way to winning the best actress Oscar for "Black Swan."
The issue ranks the trendsetters behind the A-listers, including Leslie Fremar at No. 2, whose clientele includes Charlize Theron and Reese Witherspoon.
No. 3 is Petra Flannery, who likes to discover new talent and make them fashion stars. Her roster nike shoe stores
includes Emma Stone, Zoe Saldana, Mila Kunis and Megan Fox.
Other notables: At No. 11, Jeanne Yang, who styles Katie Holmes so well they have a luxury sportswear collection in their names at Barneys New York; No. 12, L'Wren Scott, who is engaged to Micknike outlet st louis mills
Jagger and is a favorite of first lady Michelle Obama; and No. 20, reality TV star Brad Goreski, who made the list while his former employer, stylist-turned-designer Rachel Zoe, went from No. 1 last year to off the countdown this year. (The Hollywood Reporter saysnike blazers for men
she's now "too big to rank.")
Young earned the honor in part for helping make Portman a red carpet fixture last year while she was pregnant and on her way to winning the best actress Oscar for "Black Swan."
The issue ranks the trendsetters behind the A-listers, including Leslie Fremar at No. 2, whose clientele includes Charlize Theron and Reese Witherspoon.
No. 3 is Petra Flannery, who likes to discover new talent and make them fashion stars. Her roster nike shoe stores
includes Emma Stone, Zoe Saldana, Mila Kunis and Megan Fox.
Other notables: At No. 11, Jeanne Yang, who styles Katie Holmes so well they have a luxury sportswear collection in their names at Barneys New York; No. 12, L'Wren Scott, who is engaged to Micknike outlet st louis mills
Jagger and is a favorite of first lady Michelle Obama; and No. 20, reality TV star Brad Goreski, who made the list while his former employer, stylist-turned-designer Rachel Zoe, went from No. 1 last year to off the countdown this year. (The Hollywood Reporter saysnike blazers for men
she's now "too big to rank.")
Domingo to sing title role in 'Nabucco' in London
LONDON (AP) — Placido Domingo will sing the title character in Verdi's "Nabucco" for the first time at The Royal Opera next year.
The new production, announced Wednesday, will be the fourth new role for Domingo in little more than a year, nike shox tl
all baritone parts.
The 71-year-old, famous for his decades as a tenor, also is slated to make role debuts in Massenet's "Thais" in March in Spain, Verdi's "I Due Foscari" at Los Angeles in September, nike outlet printable coupon
and Verdi's "La Traviata" at New York's Metropolitan Opera next March. He will appear in "Nabucco" in April, 2013.
The Royal Opera also will present the Britishnike junior tennis
premiere of George Benjamin's "Written on Skin," and new productions of Meyerbeer's "Robert le Diable," Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin," Rossini's "La Donna del Lago" and Britten's "Gloriana."
The new production, announced Wednesday, will be the fourth new role for Domingo in little more than a year, nike shox tl
all baritone parts.
The 71-year-old, famous for his decades as a tenor, also is slated to make role debuts in Massenet's "Thais" in March in Spain, Verdi's "I Due Foscari" at Los Angeles in September, nike outlet printable coupon
and Verdi's "La Traviata" at New York's Metropolitan Opera next March. He will appear in "Nabucco" in April, 2013.
The Royal Opera also will present the Britishnike junior tennis
premiere of George Benjamin's "Written on Skin," and new productions of Meyerbeer's "Robert le Diable," Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin," Rossini's "La Donna del Lago" and Britten's "Gloriana."
2012年2月13日星期一
New Jersey Church Where Houston First Sang Remembers Her
— Congregants at the Newark church where Whitney Houston got her start came together Sunday to mourn her sudden death.
Houston, 48, died Saturday at a Beverly Hills, Calif., hotel, authorities said. The cause wasn’t known, her publicist said.
The pop star began singing at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark as a child. And while parishioners had fond memories of her many performances there over the years, they said her and her family’s longtime membership and service to the church is what they will never forget.
Houston was born in Newark and raised in East Orange, and many said she never forgot her Jersey roots. Her mother, Grammy-award winning gospel singer Cissy Houston, had led the musical program at the 112-year-old church. Whitney’s cousin, singer Dionne Warwick, also sang in its choir.
“The pastor asked us to support the Houston family, to share our love and God’s love with them and to give them strength in this sad time,” said Shawn Cooper, 32, of Newark as he left an early morning service, which was only open to church members.
“I haven’t been a regular churchgoer, but felt I should be here today because this is a time for the community to come together,” Cooper said, noting the church was full Sunday morning. “The Houston family means a lot to this community, they have done a lot for this community, and being there for them is the best thing we can do as a community today.”
Several other parishioners voiced similar sentiments as they made their way into the church, ignoring the bitter cold temperatures and moderate to gusty winds.
A few sympathy cards were tied to a fence post at the church, including one addressed “to the greatest songstress ever.” Next to it, a small bouquet of fresh flowers fluttered softly in the brisk morning air.
Speaking outside the church before the service, New Hope’s Pastor Joe Carter asked reporters gathered to respect the Houston family’s privacy.
“The family shared Whitney with the world, but Whitney was a mother, a daughter, and a sister, and that’s the focus we want to keep in front of everyone today. We ask that in this time of grief, you respect their privacy,” Carter said.
At another service later Sunday morning, the Rev. Jesse Jackson made a surprise appearance at the church. He recalled watching Houston perform in the church choir and spoke on how she had “grown up in this wonderful church,” noting that New Hope was involved “in the height” of the nation’s civil-rights struggle.
Jackson said he was “traumatized” by Houston’s sudden and unexpected death, noting that it came less than two week after the death of Don Cornelius, the creator and longtime host of TV’s “Soul Train” show.
“Before we could adjust to (Cornelius’ death), the news broke last night about Whitney,” he said. “The two announcements had a devastating impact.”
A former classmate at a Newark high school recalled Houston in a phone interview as a sweet, bubbly yet unpretentious girl.
Dr. Maria Pane said she attended Mount Saint Dominic Academy with Whitney Houston. The two had homeroom together as well as physical education, French and art.
“She was such a beautiful, kind girl and very quiet that to be honest with you, I had no idea there was a star in the making,” said Pane, who now lives in Maryland.
Pane said the two rode the bus together after school, and she remembered Whitney’s favorite way to pass the time at the bus stop: practicing her dance routines.
In a statement late Saturday night, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called the singer “a true New Jersey treasure” who died too soon.
“Her terribly premature death is an awful loss for her family and the incredible New Jersey musical family.
Her soaring talent put her in the pantheon of great New Jersey musical talents like Frank Sinatra, Count Basie and Bruce Springsteen. Our prayers are with her family.”
Some of Houston’s fans came to the church Sunday as a way of dealing with their grief. Among them was Charice Crawford, a 34-year-old Irvington resident who said the singer’s music became the soundtrack to her life.
“This is where I needed to be this morning,” said Crawford, who does not belong to the church. “I understand why I couldn’t attend the service, but being here helps ease the grief of her passing.”
When she was a child, Crawford said she and her younger brother would pretend they were Houston and ex-husband Bobby Brown, singing their songs to entertain family members.
“I always wanted to be her when I was little, and I always bought her albums the minute they came out, Crawford said. “It’s so sad to think she’ll never sing again.”
Houston, 48, died Saturday at a Beverly Hills, Calif., hotel, authorities said. The cause wasn’t known, her publicist said.
The pop star began singing at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark as a child. And while parishioners had fond memories of her many performances there over the years, they said her and her family’s longtime membership and service to the church is what they will never forget.
Houston was born in Newark and raised in East Orange, and many said she never forgot her Jersey roots. Her mother, Grammy-award winning gospel singer Cissy Houston, had led the musical program at the 112-year-old church. Whitney’s cousin, singer Dionne Warwick, also sang in its choir.
“The pastor asked us to support the Houston family, to share our love and God’s love with them and to give them strength in this sad time,” said Shawn Cooper, 32, of Newark as he left an early morning service, which was only open to church members.
“I haven’t been a regular churchgoer, but felt I should be here today because this is a time for the community to come together,” Cooper said, noting the church was full Sunday morning. “The Houston family means a lot to this community, they have done a lot for this community, and being there for them is the best thing we can do as a community today.”
Several other parishioners voiced similar sentiments as they made their way into the church, ignoring the bitter cold temperatures and moderate to gusty winds.
A few sympathy cards were tied to a fence post at the church, including one addressed “to the greatest songstress ever.” Next to it, a small bouquet of fresh flowers fluttered softly in the brisk morning air.
Speaking outside the church before the service, New Hope’s Pastor Joe Carter asked reporters gathered to respect the Houston family’s privacy.
“The family shared Whitney with the world, but Whitney was a mother, a daughter, and a sister, and that’s the focus we want to keep in front of everyone today. We ask that in this time of grief, you respect their privacy,” Carter said.
At another service later Sunday morning, the Rev. Jesse Jackson made a surprise appearance at the church. He recalled watching Houston perform in the church choir and spoke on how she had “grown up in this wonderful church,” noting that New Hope was involved “in the height” of the nation’s civil-rights struggle.
Jackson said he was “traumatized” by Houston’s sudden and unexpected death, noting that it came less than two week after the death of Don Cornelius, the creator and longtime host of TV’s “Soul Train” show.
“Before we could adjust to (Cornelius’ death), the news broke last night about Whitney,” he said. “The two announcements had a devastating impact.”
A former classmate at a Newark high school recalled Houston in a phone interview as a sweet, bubbly yet unpretentious girl.
Dr. Maria Pane said she attended Mount Saint Dominic Academy with Whitney Houston. The two had homeroom together as well as physical education, French and art.
“She was such a beautiful, kind girl and very quiet that to be honest with you, I had no idea there was a star in the making,” said Pane, who now lives in Maryland.
Pane said the two rode the bus together after school, and she remembered Whitney’s favorite way to pass the time at the bus stop: practicing her dance routines.
In a statement late Saturday night, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called the singer “a true New Jersey treasure” who died too soon.
“Her terribly premature death is an awful loss for her family and the incredible New Jersey musical family.
Her soaring talent put her in the pantheon of great New Jersey musical talents like Frank Sinatra, Count Basie and Bruce Springsteen. Our prayers are with her family.”
Some of Houston’s fans came to the church Sunday as a way of dealing with their grief. Among them was Charice Crawford, a 34-year-old Irvington resident who said the singer’s music became the soundtrack to her life.
“This is where I needed to be this morning,” said Crawford, who does not belong to the church. “I understand why I couldn’t attend the service, but being here helps ease the grief of her passing.”
When she was a child, Crawford said she and her younger brother would pretend they were Houston and ex-husband Bobby Brown, singing their songs to entertain family members.
“I always wanted to be her when I was little, and I always bought her albums the minute they came out, Crawford said. “It’s so sad to think she’ll never sing again.”
Carnival goes to the dogs with Rio pet parade
Most pre-Carnival street parties in Brazil are all about samba, but the moves on display at Sunday's Blocao parade were focused more on wagging and strategic sniffing than on fancy footwork.
Hundreds of decked-out dogs — and a few brave cats — got in on the Carnival fun at Rio de Janeiro's annual pet-friendly parade: Labradors in pink tutus or engineers' overalls cavorted with Maltese terriers with fairy wings, and poodles in superheros' capes sniffed sausage dogs dressed up as Salome, with sequin-covered harem pants.
Carnival is perhaps the defining moment in Brazilian life, and the annual Blocao — a play on the word for street party, "bloco," and dog, or "cao" — allows four-legged family members a chance to take part in the fun.
"The animal excitement is taking over Copacabana," said Blocao organizer Marco Antonio Toto as the parade's sound truck, topped by an enormous inflatable terrier, crawled its way down the seaside Atlantica Avenue. "The neighborhood of Copacabana has currently the most dog owners per square meter. It deserves this prestigious party. Our animals deserve this celebration."
Talent agent Ariane Raballo made the trip from Rio's sister city of Niteroi to parade with her two mini Yorkies dressed as Carmen Miranda, complete with cornucopias of tiny tropical fruits on their heads.
"We come every year," said Raballo, as Maia and Lady Kate strained at the leash to sniff the four-legged passers-by and posed coquettishly as parade-goers of the two-legged variety snapped photos with their iPhones. "They love it."
Spirits were high, and there was remarkably few fights: Gigantic Rhodesian ridgebacks romped with teacup poodles, and lumbering labs palled around with cocker spaniels. Leashes required constant detangling as new friends taking in each others' scent tied themselves in knots.
Even Kiko, a 3-year-old dachshund dressed as a hot-dog, was enjoying himself.
"Normally, he's not a very social dog, with humans or other dogs," said his owner, Denis Naiff, a psychology professor whose wife and daughter were sporting matching hamburger hats. "But he's really having fun. Must be the Carnival spirit."
The heat looked to have some of the dogs down, and some owners poured water into their pets' mouths to cool them down.
Eduardo Jonathan, a 31-year-old makeup artist dressed as Batman, said he was suffering under his rubber costume, though Batman Jr. his 5-year-old Yorkie, looked to be taking the heat in stride. The dog hammed it up for the TV cameras as Jonathan and a friend disguised as the Joker sweated off their facepaint.
Two men dressed as giant ticks looked even hotter. Their many-legged costumes were made out of synthetic fur, and both had removed their masks so as to avoid suffocation as they passed out fliers for an anti-parasite spray.
"I think the fact that the Blocao exists and that so many people are here with their pets shows that the attitudes toward animals are changing here," said Elisabeth Monetiro, a public servant attending with her two of her three rescue dogs. Three-year-old mutts Princesa and Juliette were dressed up as she-devils, complete with glowing red horn headbands.
"Finally, society is starting to understand that even if you don't like animals, you have to respect them," said Monteiro, who volunteers with an animal rights group.
London-based ceramist Mario d'Oliveira was using the occasion to make a different kind of point.
Holding an "invisible dog" on the end of a stiff wire leash, d'Oliveira approached passing children, who either laughed or nearly cried at his antics.
"You can tell a lot about people by how they react," he said. "An invisible dog is also quite a conversation piece, so you when you walk him, you end up making lots of new friends."
Hundreds of decked-out dogs — and a few brave cats — got in on the Carnival fun at Rio de Janeiro's annual pet-friendly parade: Labradors in pink tutus or engineers' overalls cavorted with Maltese terriers with fairy wings, and poodles in superheros' capes sniffed sausage dogs dressed up as Salome, with sequin-covered harem pants.
Carnival is perhaps the defining moment in Brazilian life, and the annual Blocao — a play on the word for street party, "bloco," and dog, or "cao" — allows four-legged family members a chance to take part in the fun.
"The animal excitement is taking over Copacabana," said Blocao organizer Marco Antonio Toto as the parade's sound truck, topped by an enormous inflatable terrier, crawled its way down the seaside Atlantica Avenue. "The neighborhood of Copacabana has currently the most dog owners per square meter. It deserves this prestigious party. Our animals deserve this celebration."
Talent agent Ariane Raballo made the trip from Rio's sister city of Niteroi to parade with her two mini Yorkies dressed as Carmen Miranda, complete with cornucopias of tiny tropical fruits on their heads.
"We come every year," said Raballo, as Maia and Lady Kate strained at the leash to sniff the four-legged passers-by and posed coquettishly as parade-goers of the two-legged variety snapped photos with their iPhones. "They love it."
Spirits were high, and there was remarkably few fights: Gigantic Rhodesian ridgebacks romped with teacup poodles, and lumbering labs palled around with cocker spaniels. Leashes required constant detangling as new friends taking in each others' scent tied themselves in knots.
Even Kiko, a 3-year-old dachshund dressed as a hot-dog, was enjoying himself.
"Normally, he's not a very social dog, with humans or other dogs," said his owner, Denis Naiff, a psychology professor whose wife and daughter were sporting matching hamburger hats. "But he's really having fun. Must be the Carnival spirit."
The heat looked to have some of the dogs down, and some owners poured water into their pets' mouths to cool them down.
Eduardo Jonathan, a 31-year-old makeup artist dressed as Batman, said he was suffering under his rubber costume, though Batman Jr. his 5-year-old Yorkie, looked to be taking the heat in stride. The dog hammed it up for the TV cameras as Jonathan and a friend disguised as the Joker sweated off their facepaint.
Two men dressed as giant ticks looked even hotter. Their many-legged costumes were made out of synthetic fur, and both had removed their masks so as to avoid suffocation as they passed out fliers for an anti-parasite spray.
"I think the fact that the Blocao exists and that so many people are here with their pets shows that the attitudes toward animals are changing here," said Elisabeth Monetiro, a public servant attending with her two of her three rescue dogs. Three-year-old mutts Princesa and Juliette were dressed up as she-devils, complete with glowing red horn headbands.
"Finally, society is starting to understand that even if you don't like animals, you have to respect them," said Monteiro, who volunteers with an animal rights group.
London-based ceramist Mario d'Oliveira was using the occasion to make a different kind of point.
Holding an "invisible dog" on the end of a stiff wire leash, d'Oliveira approached passing children, who either laughed or nearly cried at his antics.
"You can tell a lot about people by how they react," he said. "An invisible dog is also quite a conversation piece, so you when you walk him, you end up making lots of new friends."
Zac Posen at Fashion Week looks to Asian culture
Did Zac Posen spend a sabbatical in the Orient?
The designer's runway show Sunday at New York Fashion Week was filled with references — both allusive and obvious — to Asian culture for his fall line.
Looks were paired with printed obi belts in a collection rich with jewel tones of dark red, emerald green, shiny gold and deep navy. Red and black large peony blossoms popped on a jacquard dress and separates, a folded lapel jacket and pencil skirt. The models wore their hair in sleek, slicked back buns with heavily lined eyes.
Posen featured a series of his signature, sexy gowns, some with kimono-like wide, draped sleeves. Nearly all the pieces shown in the Lincoln Center tents where Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is held had mermaid or fishtail hemlines, with fabric flowing and gathering at the model's knees and feet.
Don't be surprised to see these silhouettes popping up on red carpets during this awards season. Posen is a favorite in Hollywood, recently dressing model Elle Macpherson in a strapless, tiered ivory gown for the Golden Globes and actress Glenn Close in a black, taffeta-and-tulle gown for the Screen Actors Guild awards — and the Oscars are just a few weeks away.
The designer's runway show Sunday at New York Fashion Week was filled with references — both allusive and obvious — to Asian culture for his fall line.
Looks were paired with printed obi belts in a collection rich with jewel tones of dark red, emerald green, shiny gold and deep navy. Red and black large peony blossoms popped on a jacquard dress and separates, a folded lapel jacket and pencil skirt. The models wore their hair in sleek, slicked back buns with heavily lined eyes.
Posen featured a series of his signature, sexy gowns, some with kimono-like wide, draped sleeves. Nearly all the pieces shown in the Lincoln Center tents where Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is held had mermaid or fishtail hemlines, with fabric flowing and gathering at the model's knees and feet.
Don't be surprised to see these silhouettes popping up on red carpets during this awards season. Posen is a favorite in Hollywood, recently dressing model Elle Macpherson in a strapless, tiered ivory gown for the Golden Globes and actress Glenn Close in a black, taffeta-and-tulle gown for the Screen Actors Guild awards — and the Oscars are just a few weeks away.
Landon Cassill gets seat with new team
)—Landon Cassill has a job for the Daytona 500 for the first time in his career.
Cassill said Thursday he’s been hired to drive for a team that purchased assets and last year’s points from the now defunct Red Bull Racing team. Cassill will drive the No. 83 Toyota, he said, and the points Brian Vickers earned in that car last year guarantee Cassill a spot in the first five races of the season.
Cassill said he has a deal with the new team to drive all year.
“It’s my first time going into a NASCAR season with a signed deal knowing I’m going to be in the car every week,” Cassill said. “It’s my first time attempting the Daytona 500—wait, I am locked into the Daytona 500. That’s a pretty big dream came true.”
Doug Richert will be the crew chief for the No. 83 team, which is being fielded by investors who had previously backed TRG Motorsports. Cassill said the owners will announce the team name and sponsorship in the coming days.
Cassill has been working the NASCAR garages since he was 17, and five years later, his search for something steady has finally ended. He’s made 33 starts in the second-tier Nationwide Series since 2007, and has made 48 Sprint Cup Series starts over the last two seasons. His best finish was 12th at Michigan last season while driving for Phoenix Racing.
Cassill was originally planning to drive a start-and-park car for Front Row Motorsports when the opportunity with this new team was offered to him. Front Row had given him a clause to leave the team if he found a full-time ride.
The opportunity was created when this new team was able to complete a transaction with energy drink company Red Bull, which pulled out of NASCAR after five seasons. The team fielded two cars last year, Kasey Kahne ended the year 14th in the standings, and Brian Vickers was 25th.
The new team now owns the points for both entries, and could field a second car alongside Cassill in the Feb. 26 season-opening Daytona 500.
Former TRG general manager Harry McMullen will have the same role with the new team. The team is working out of Randy Moss Motorsports shop in Statesville, N.C., and will get its engines from Triad.
“I’ve got a lot of faith in this deal. These guys want to get to the race track, want to do it right, pay their bills and they really want to have a good reputation,” Cassill said. “They want to race and they want to do it right. They got away from that (at TRG) and have moved on and created a pretty neat opportunity.”
TRG Motorsports ran three seasons in NASCAR, but was forced to start-and-park at times. TRG shut down its Sprint Cup team this winter, and owner Kevin Buckler is not involved in this new team.
Cassill said Thursday he’s been hired to drive for a team that purchased assets and last year’s points from the now defunct Red Bull Racing team. Cassill will drive the No. 83 Toyota, he said, and the points Brian Vickers earned in that car last year guarantee Cassill a spot in the first five races of the season.
Cassill said he has a deal with the new team to drive all year.
“It’s my first time going into a NASCAR season with a signed deal knowing I’m going to be in the car every week,” Cassill said. “It’s my first time attempting the Daytona 500—wait, I am locked into the Daytona 500. That’s a pretty big dream came true.”
Doug Richert will be the crew chief for the No. 83 team, which is being fielded by investors who had previously backed TRG Motorsports. Cassill said the owners will announce the team name and sponsorship in the coming days.
Cassill has been working the NASCAR garages since he was 17, and five years later, his search for something steady has finally ended. He’s made 33 starts in the second-tier Nationwide Series since 2007, and has made 48 Sprint Cup Series starts over the last two seasons. His best finish was 12th at Michigan last season while driving for Phoenix Racing.
Cassill was originally planning to drive a start-and-park car for Front Row Motorsports when the opportunity with this new team was offered to him. Front Row had given him a clause to leave the team if he found a full-time ride.
The opportunity was created when this new team was able to complete a transaction with energy drink company Red Bull, which pulled out of NASCAR after five seasons. The team fielded two cars last year, Kasey Kahne ended the year 14th in the standings, and Brian Vickers was 25th.
The new team now owns the points for both entries, and could field a second car alongside Cassill in the Feb. 26 season-opening Daytona 500.
Former TRG general manager Harry McMullen will have the same role with the new team. The team is working out of Randy Moss Motorsports shop in Statesville, N.C., and will get its engines from Triad.
“I’ve got a lot of faith in this deal. These guys want to get to the race track, want to do it right, pay their bills and they really want to have a good reputation,” Cassill said. “They want to race and they want to do it right. They got away from that (at TRG) and have moved on and created a pretty neat opportunity.”
TRG Motorsports ran three seasons in NASCAR, but was forced to start-and-park at times. TRG shut down its Sprint Cup team this winter, and owner Kevin Buckler is not involved in this new team.
Bahrain security tight before uprising anniversary
MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Bahrain deployed thousands of security forces Sunday to confront anti-government protesters ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Shiite-led uprising that seeks to loosen the ruling Sunni dynasty's monopoly on power.
Opposition groups urged marchers to stream toward an empty lot dubbed "Freedom Square" outside the capital Manama. Some activists seek to occupy the site before Tuesday's anniversary of the start of the wave of protests, and turn it into a new semi-permanent hub for the uprising to replace Pearl Square.
The central Manama roundabout was the opposition's headquarters during the first weeks of the Shiite majority's campaign against the Sunni monarchy. Security forces stormed the protesters' encampment at the landmark square after authorities imposed martial law in March and tore down the pearl sculpture that marked the site.
The now heavily-guarded square holds great symbolic value for Bahrain's opposition movement, and protesters have repeatedly tried to retake it. But the capital has largely been off limits to demonstrators since March.
Street battles between security forces and protesters still flare up almost every day in the predominantly Shiite villages around the capital.
Bahrain's ruling Sunni monarchy has warned it would not tolerate a spike in protests to mark the anniversary. Sporadic clashes occurred Sunday with police firing tear gas.
The island's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said last year's events were regrettable, although he downplayed the severity of the threat the protests had posed to the 200-year-old-rule of the Sunni dynasty.
The king says that a massive opposition movement does not really exist in the country.
"I regret the events of the past year," he told the German weekly Der Spiegel in an interview that was published Sunday. "But there is no opposition in Bahrain, not in the sense of a united bloc. Such a thing is not in our constitution. There are just people with different views, and that is good."
Shiites account for about 70 percent of Bahrain's population of some 525,000 people, but say they have faced decades of discrimination, such as being blocked from top political and security posts.
Bahrain's Sunni rulers have taken steps on reforms, including giving more powers to parliament. In an announcement early Monday, Bahrain's king named a Shiite, Sadok bin Abdulkarim al-Shehabi, as health minister.
The health position is significant because Bahrain's main hospital figured prominently during the early weeks of the uprising with authorities claiming medical staff aided demonstrators. Dozens of doctors and nurses have been put on trial.
The government, however, has so far refused to make the far-reaching changes the protesters and the main Shiite group, Al Wefaq, have demanded. These include ending the monarchy's ability to select the government and set all-important state policies.
Al Wefaq criticized the authorities for imposing "a siege" on the villages around Manama ahead of the first anniversary of Bahrain's "revolution."
Its statement Sunday said police have stormed houses and fired tear gas indiscriminately in densely populated civilian areas. There were no reports of injuries, but Al Wefaq said several people have been detained.
At least 40 people have been killed during months of unprecedented political unrest in Bahrain, the Gulf country hardest hit by unrest during last year's Arab Spring protests. Neighboring Saudi Arabia and other Sunni-ruled Gulf states dispatched troops to Bahrain in March to help crush the protests.
In another tightening of policies, the official Bahrain News Agency said the kingdom will now demand prior visa approval for many nations that had been allowed to obtain entry stamps upon arrival, including the U.S. and other Western countries.
The move follows the deportation Sunday of two American activists accused of joining protests after entering on tourist visas.
Opposition groups urged marchers to stream toward an empty lot dubbed "Freedom Square" outside the capital Manama. Some activists seek to occupy the site before Tuesday's anniversary of the start of the wave of protests, and turn it into a new semi-permanent hub for the uprising to replace Pearl Square.
The central Manama roundabout was the opposition's headquarters during the first weeks of the Shiite majority's campaign against the Sunni monarchy. Security forces stormed the protesters' encampment at the landmark square after authorities imposed martial law in March and tore down the pearl sculpture that marked the site.
The now heavily-guarded square holds great symbolic value for Bahrain's opposition movement, and protesters have repeatedly tried to retake it. But the capital has largely been off limits to demonstrators since March.
Street battles between security forces and protesters still flare up almost every day in the predominantly Shiite villages around the capital.
Bahrain's ruling Sunni monarchy has warned it would not tolerate a spike in protests to mark the anniversary. Sporadic clashes occurred Sunday with police firing tear gas.
The island's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said last year's events were regrettable, although he downplayed the severity of the threat the protests had posed to the 200-year-old-rule of the Sunni dynasty.
The king says that a massive opposition movement does not really exist in the country.
"I regret the events of the past year," he told the German weekly Der Spiegel in an interview that was published Sunday. "But there is no opposition in Bahrain, not in the sense of a united bloc. Such a thing is not in our constitution. There are just people with different views, and that is good."
Shiites account for about 70 percent of Bahrain's population of some 525,000 people, but say they have faced decades of discrimination, such as being blocked from top political and security posts.
Bahrain's Sunni rulers have taken steps on reforms, including giving more powers to parliament. In an announcement early Monday, Bahrain's king named a Shiite, Sadok bin Abdulkarim al-Shehabi, as health minister.
The health position is significant because Bahrain's main hospital figured prominently during the early weeks of the uprising with authorities claiming medical staff aided demonstrators. Dozens of doctors and nurses have been put on trial.
The government, however, has so far refused to make the far-reaching changes the protesters and the main Shiite group, Al Wefaq, have demanded. These include ending the monarchy's ability to select the government and set all-important state policies.
Al Wefaq criticized the authorities for imposing "a siege" on the villages around Manama ahead of the first anniversary of Bahrain's "revolution."
Its statement Sunday said police have stormed houses and fired tear gas indiscriminately in densely populated civilian areas. There were no reports of injuries, but Al Wefaq said several people have been detained.
At least 40 people have been killed during months of unprecedented political unrest in Bahrain, the Gulf country hardest hit by unrest during last year's Arab Spring protests. Neighboring Saudi Arabia and other Sunni-ruled Gulf states dispatched troops to Bahrain in March to help crush the protests.
In another tightening of policies, the official Bahrain News Agency said the kingdom will now demand prior visa approval for many nations that had been allowed to obtain entry stamps upon arrival, including the U.S. and other Western countries.
The move follows the deportation Sunday of two American activists accused of joining protests after entering on tourist visas.
54th Annual GRAMMY Awards: Full Winners List
54th Annual GRAMMY Awards: Full Winners List
Adele kicked off her big return with a major win!
The British chanteuse, 23, was presented with the first award of the night for Best Pop Solo Performance, at Sunday's GRAMMY Awards, where she was up against Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and Pink. The six-time GRAMMY nominee was schedule to perform for the first time since undergoing throat surgery in November.
PHOTOS: What the stars wore at the 2012 Grammys
As music's biggest night on television airs live on CBS, check back for Us Weekly's up-to-the-minute list of winners.
NEWS: LL Cool J honors Whitney Houston with a prayer
Song of the Year: Adele and Paul Epworth, "Rolling in the Deep"
Best Pop Solo Performance: Adele, "Someone Like You"
Best Rap Performance: Jay-Z and Kanye West, "Otis"
Best Rock Performance: Foo Fighters, "Walk"
Best R&B Performance: Corinne Bailey Rae, "Is This Love"
Best Dance Recording: Skrillex, "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites"
Best R&B Album: F.A.M.E., Chris Brown
Best Pop Vocal Album: 21, Adele
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Duets II, Tony Bennett & Various Artists
Best Dance/Electronica Album: Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites, Skrillex
Best Traditional R&B Performance: Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona, "Fool For You"
Adele kicked off her big return with a major win!
The British chanteuse, 23, was presented with the first award of the night for Best Pop Solo Performance, at Sunday's GRAMMY Awards, where she was up against Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and Pink. The six-time GRAMMY nominee was schedule to perform for the first time since undergoing throat surgery in November.
PHOTOS: What the stars wore at the 2012 Grammys
As music's biggest night on television airs live on CBS, check back for Us Weekly's up-to-the-minute list of winners.
NEWS: LL Cool J honors Whitney Houston with a prayer
Song of the Year: Adele and Paul Epworth, "Rolling in the Deep"
Best Pop Solo Performance: Adele, "Someone Like You"
Best Rap Performance: Jay-Z and Kanye West, "Otis"
Best Rock Performance: Foo Fighters, "Walk"
Best R&B Performance: Corinne Bailey Rae, "Is This Love"
Best Dance Recording: Skrillex, "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites"
Best R&B Album: F.A.M.E., Chris Brown
Best Pop Vocal Album: 21, Adele
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Duets II, Tony Bennett & Various Artists
Best Dance/Electronica Album: Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites, Skrillex
Best Traditional R&B Performance: Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona, "Fool For You"
Peru captures wounded Shining Path rebel leader
The leader of Peru's leftist Shining Path insurgency was captured on Sunday after being shot in a remote jungle rife with drug trafficking, giving President Ollanta Humala his first major victory against what remains of the rebel group.
Artemio, the nom de guerre of Florindo Eleuterio Flores, was flown to a hospital in Lima after his arrest by security forces. Local media showed Humala standing next to Artemio, who was laying in a bed with his hands wrapped in bandages.
Humala, who fought the Maoist group while an army officer in the 1990s, said the arrest would dismantle the Shining Path in the Huallaga Valley, which has long been a center of the cocaine trade in Peru, the world's top coca grower.
"With this, I think we can now begin to bring peace to the Huallaga," Humala said.
The last high-ranking figure of the Shining Path who was still at large, Artemio took charge of several hundred members of the group in the Huallaga Valley after the founder of Shining Path, Abimael Guzman, was imprisoned in 1992. The group survived in recent years by charging fees to guard drug trafficking routes.
Though the rebels have not posed a threat to the stability of the government for years, they were once a powerful and feared force that threatened to topple the state. Nearly 70,000 people died in a bloody internal conflict launched by the Shining Path in 1980.
"We can tell the country today that the terrorists in the Huallaga Valley have been defeated, having captured Artemio alive," Humala said.
Humala initially had said Artemio, who never finished high school and swears ideological allegiance to Guzman, was dead.
Artemio, who is in his 50s and known for using multiple aliases, was hurt early on Thursday and reportedly suffered a punctured lung and a severe wound to his right hand that caused heavy bleeding.
Defense Minister Alberto Otarola said special forces attacked Artemio but gave no details about the operation. One local media outlet said Artemio had been shot by one or more members of the Shining Path who conspired with the government to turn against him.
After the shooting, some of Artemio's aides took him to a medical clinic and a nurse who was forced at gunpoint to bandage his wounds later said he was mortally wounded. His aides fled with Artemio as army helicopters chased them, but eventually they abandoned him on a riverbank.
Peruvian anti-drug police tried for years to arrest Artemio and the United States two years ago offered a multimillion dollar reward for information leading to his capture. The Shining Path has long been suspected of detonating a car bomb near the U.S. Embassy in Lima in 2002 that killed nine people.
Humala has vowed to step up efforts to catch what the government calls "narco-terrorists." His predecessor, former President Alan Garcia, failed to stamp out several hundred rebels, who have yet to surrender their arms. More than 50 soldiers and police died on Garcia's watch trying to catch Shining Path fighters.
VRAE, HUALLAGA STILL CONCERNS
Security analyst Jaime Antezana has said the fall of Artemio could be a crushing final blow to the Shining Path in the Huallaga Valley, though former Interior Minister Fernando Rospigliosi said in the El Comercio newspaper Huallaga will struggle with drugs and armed groups for years.
"The violence and problems in the Huallaga aren't going to end. What's going to end is a specific front occupied by Artemio," he said.
Humala's approval rating rose 7 percentage points to 54 percent in January after he shuffled his Cabinet to give it a more law-and-order bent and to crack down on protests against big mining projects.
In December, the reclusive Artemio emerged briefly from hiding to ask the government for a truce and for amnesty after years of fighting. His pleas were rejected and government officials said they would hunt him down.
Besides the Shining Path group in the Huallaga Valley, another faction of the rebels is active in a knotted bundle of river valleys in southeastern Peru known as the VRAE, which is the world's most densely planted coca-growing region.
Security analysts say the group in the VRAE, lead by Victor Quispe, has mostly abandoned its Maoist ideology and is basically a criminal enterprise engaged in the drug trade, but Quispe and his brothers have periodically said they are committed Communists. Some security experts have said the Quispe faction could try to expand into the Huallaga Valley now that Artemio's group has been weakened.
Artemio, the nom de guerre of Florindo Eleuterio Flores, was flown to a hospital in Lima after his arrest by security forces. Local media showed Humala standing next to Artemio, who was laying in a bed with his hands wrapped in bandages.
Humala, who fought the Maoist group while an army officer in the 1990s, said the arrest would dismantle the Shining Path in the Huallaga Valley, which has long been a center of the cocaine trade in Peru, the world's top coca grower.
"With this, I think we can now begin to bring peace to the Huallaga," Humala said.
The last high-ranking figure of the Shining Path who was still at large, Artemio took charge of several hundred members of the group in the Huallaga Valley after the founder of Shining Path, Abimael Guzman, was imprisoned in 1992. The group survived in recent years by charging fees to guard drug trafficking routes.
Though the rebels have not posed a threat to the stability of the government for years, they were once a powerful and feared force that threatened to topple the state. Nearly 70,000 people died in a bloody internal conflict launched by the Shining Path in 1980.
"We can tell the country today that the terrorists in the Huallaga Valley have been defeated, having captured Artemio alive," Humala said.
Humala initially had said Artemio, who never finished high school and swears ideological allegiance to Guzman, was dead.
Artemio, who is in his 50s and known for using multiple aliases, was hurt early on Thursday and reportedly suffered a punctured lung and a severe wound to his right hand that caused heavy bleeding.
Defense Minister Alberto Otarola said special forces attacked Artemio but gave no details about the operation. One local media outlet said Artemio had been shot by one or more members of the Shining Path who conspired with the government to turn against him.
After the shooting, some of Artemio's aides took him to a medical clinic and a nurse who was forced at gunpoint to bandage his wounds later said he was mortally wounded. His aides fled with Artemio as army helicopters chased them, but eventually they abandoned him on a riverbank.
Peruvian anti-drug police tried for years to arrest Artemio and the United States two years ago offered a multimillion dollar reward for information leading to his capture. The Shining Path has long been suspected of detonating a car bomb near the U.S. Embassy in Lima in 2002 that killed nine people.
Humala has vowed to step up efforts to catch what the government calls "narco-terrorists." His predecessor, former President Alan Garcia, failed to stamp out several hundred rebels, who have yet to surrender their arms. More than 50 soldiers and police died on Garcia's watch trying to catch Shining Path fighters.
VRAE, HUALLAGA STILL CONCERNS
Security analyst Jaime Antezana has said the fall of Artemio could be a crushing final blow to the Shining Path in the Huallaga Valley, though former Interior Minister Fernando Rospigliosi said in the El Comercio newspaper Huallaga will struggle with drugs and armed groups for years.
"The violence and problems in the Huallaga aren't going to end. What's going to end is a specific front occupied by Artemio," he said.
Humala's approval rating rose 7 percentage points to 54 percent in January after he shuffled his Cabinet to give it a more law-and-order bent and to crack down on protests against big mining projects.
In December, the reclusive Artemio emerged briefly from hiding to ask the government for a truce and for amnesty after years of fighting. His pleas were rejected and government officials said they would hunt him down.
Besides the Shining Path group in the Huallaga Valley, another faction of the rebels is active in a knotted bundle of river valleys in southeastern Peru known as the VRAE, which is the world's most densely planted coca-growing region.
Security analysts say the group in the VRAE, lead by Victor Quispe, has mostly abandoned its Maoist ideology and is basically a criminal enterprise engaged in the drug trade, but Quispe and his brothers have periodically said they are committed Communists. Some security experts have said the Quispe faction could try to expand into the Huallaga Valley now that Artemio's group has been weakened.
Woods suffers another setback at Pebble Beach golf
Tiger Woods opened his PGA Tour season by charging his way into contention only to let another opportunity slip through his fingers at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Woods followed up his season-opening third place finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship by finishing tied for 15th after shooting a disappointing final-round three-over par 75 on the Pebble Beach Golf Links course on Sunday.
The former world number one was tied for the lead heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi. This time he was four strokes back of third-round leader Charlie Wi but ended up a distant nine strokes behind winner and playing partner Phil Mickelson.
"What was frustrating is I had a chance," Woods said. "All I had to do was get off to a good, solid start today and I didn't do that."
Asked if this one stung more than Abu Dhabi, the 14-time major winner said he had more ground to make up at Pebble Beach.
"I had the share of the lead at Abu Dhabi," Woods said. "Here I was four back trailing on a golf course that was playing softer than what it did the first day after the rains.
"And I figured I needed to shoot 65 or 66 to win the golf tournament and it ended up being I had to shoot 66 just to get into a playoff with Phil.
"I chose the right numbers. Unfortunately I just couldn't execute to get to it."
The share of 15th leaves Woods still chasing his 72nd PGA Tour win and first official win on any tour since 2009.
Woods did chalk up his first victory in two years in December, but that came in the limited-field Chevron World Challenge, an invitational tournament that Woods stages to provide funds for his charity foundation.
Woods disputes any suggestion that he hasn't won in over two years.
"People think it's a couple of years but I just won a couple months ago," Woods said. "I look at that as a win.
"And I'm just kind of off to my first start of the year here in the States, and I made some good improvement this week."
It was the 30th time US golfing heroes Woods and Mickelson have matched up head-to-head, with Mickelson 5-0 against Woods in their last five meetings in a final round. Overall they are an even 13-13-4 in head-to-head contests.
"I've always enjoyed playing with Phil," Woods said. "We have always battled since the first time we went at it head-to-head probably in 1997. We were in a position that we needed to go get Charlie. We had to go get him and Phil did."
Woods followed up his season-opening third place finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship by finishing tied for 15th after shooting a disappointing final-round three-over par 75 on the Pebble Beach Golf Links course on Sunday.
The former world number one was tied for the lead heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi. This time he was four strokes back of third-round leader Charlie Wi but ended up a distant nine strokes behind winner and playing partner Phil Mickelson.
"What was frustrating is I had a chance," Woods said. "All I had to do was get off to a good, solid start today and I didn't do that."
Asked if this one stung more than Abu Dhabi, the 14-time major winner said he had more ground to make up at Pebble Beach.
"I had the share of the lead at Abu Dhabi," Woods said. "Here I was four back trailing on a golf course that was playing softer than what it did the first day after the rains.
"And I figured I needed to shoot 65 or 66 to win the golf tournament and it ended up being I had to shoot 66 just to get into a playoff with Phil.
"I chose the right numbers. Unfortunately I just couldn't execute to get to it."
The share of 15th leaves Woods still chasing his 72nd PGA Tour win and first official win on any tour since 2009.
Woods did chalk up his first victory in two years in December, but that came in the limited-field Chevron World Challenge, an invitational tournament that Woods stages to provide funds for his charity foundation.
Woods disputes any suggestion that he hasn't won in over two years.
"People think it's a couple of years but I just won a couple months ago," Woods said. "I look at that as a win.
"And I'm just kind of off to my first start of the year here in the States, and I made some good improvement this week."
It was the 30th time US golfing heroes Woods and Mickelson have matched up head-to-head, with Mickelson 5-0 against Woods in their last five meetings in a final round. Overall they are an even 13-13-4 in head-to-head contests.
"I've always enjoyed playing with Phil," Woods said. "We have always battled since the first time we went at it head-to-head probably in 1997. We were in a position that we needed to go get Charlie. We had to go get him and Phil did."
Inside Media Matters: Sources, memos reveal erratic behavior, close coordination with White House and news organizations
This is the first in a Daily Caller investigative series on Media Matters For America. Daily Caller reporters Alex Pappas and Will Rahn contributed to this report.
David Brock was smoking a cigarette on the roof of his Washington, D.C. office one day in the late fall of 2010 when his assistant and two bodyguards suddenly appeared and whisked him and his colleague Eric Burns down the stairs.
Brock, the head of the liberal nonprofit Media Matters for America, had told friends and co-workers that he feared he was in imminent danger from right-wing assassins and needed a security team to keep him safe.
The threat he faced while smoking on his roof? “Snipers,” a former co-worker recalled.
“He had more security than a Third World dictator,” one employee said, explaining that Brock’s bodyguards would rarely leave his side, even accompanying him to his home in an affluent Washington neighborhood each night where they “stood post” to protect him. “What movement leader has a detail?” asked someone who saw it.
Extensive interviews with a number of Brock’s current and former colleagues at Media Matters, as well as with leaders from across the spectrum of Democratic politics, reveal an organization roiled by its leader’s volatile and erratic behavior and struggles with mental illness, and an office where Brock’s executive assistant carried a handgun to public events in order to defend his boss from unseen threats.
Yet those same interviews, as well as a detailed organizational planning memo obtained by The Daily Caller, also suggest that Media Matters has to a great extent achieved its central goal of influencing the national media.
Founded by Brock in 2004 as a liberal counterweight to “conservative misinformation” in the press, Media Matters has in less than a decade become a powerful player in Democratic politics. The group operates in regular coordination with the highest levels of the Obama White House, as well as with members of Congress and progressive groups around the country. Brock, who collected over $250,000 in salary from Media Matters in 2010, has himself become a major fundraiser on the left. According to an internal memo obtained by TheDC, Media Matters intends to spend nearly $20 million in 2012 to influence news coverage.
Donors have every reason to expect success, as the group’s effect on many news organizations has already been profound. “We were pretty much writing their prime time,” a former Media Matters employee said of the cable channel MSNBC. “But then virtually all the mainstream media was using our stuff.”
David Brock was smoking a cigarette on the roof of his Washington, D.C. office one day in the late fall of 2010 when his assistant and two bodyguards suddenly appeared and whisked him and his colleague Eric Burns down the stairs.
Brock, the head of the liberal nonprofit Media Matters for America, had told friends and co-workers that he feared he was in imminent danger from right-wing assassins and needed a security team to keep him safe.
The threat he faced while smoking on his roof? “Snipers,” a former co-worker recalled.
“He had more security than a Third World dictator,” one employee said, explaining that Brock’s bodyguards would rarely leave his side, even accompanying him to his home in an affluent Washington neighborhood each night where they “stood post” to protect him. “What movement leader has a detail?” asked someone who saw it.
Extensive interviews with a number of Brock’s current and former colleagues at Media Matters, as well as with leaders from across the spectrum of Democratic politics, reveal an organization roiled by its leader’s volatile and erratic behavior and struggles with mental illness, and an office where Brock’s executive assistant carried a handgun to public events in order to defend his boss from unseen threats.
Yet those same interviews, as well as a detailed organizational planning memo obtained by The Daily Caller, also suggest that Media Matters has to a great extent achieved its central goal of influencing the national media.
Founded by Brock in 2004 as a liberal counterweight to “conservative misinformation” in the press, Media Matters has in less than a decade become a powerful player in Democratic politics. The group operates in regular coordination with the highest levels of the Obama White House, as well as with members of Congress and progressive groups around the country. Brock, who collected over $250,000 in salary from Media Matters in 2010, has himself become a major fundraiser on the left. According to an internal memo obtained by TheDC, Media Matters intends to spend nearly $20 million in 2012 to influence news coverage.
Donors have every reason to expect success, as the group’s effect on many news organizations has already been profound. “We were pretty much writing their prime time,” a former Media Matters employee said of the cable channel MSNBC. “But then virtually all the mainstream media was using our stuff.”
2012年2月11日星期六
Turkish prosecutor removed amid spy agency row
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's state prosecution service has removed a prosecutor responsible for summoning the head of the spy agency from the case, state media said on Saturday, in an apparent attempt to resolve a row between the government and the judiciary.
On Wednesday, state prosecutors summoned Hakan Fidan, the head of Turkey's national intelligence agency, MIT, and other officers to answer questions about secret talks the agency held with the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
MIT has rebuffed the summons and Fidan has so far failed to appear. On Friday, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party moved a parliamentary bill intended to curb the investigation.
The summons, a rare imposition for the powerful agency, has stirred speculation of a power struggle between Erdogan, who controls the service, and elements in the judiciary and police.
On Saturday, Istanbul Deputy Chief Prosecutor Fikret Secen said state prosecutor Sadrettin Sarikaya, one of two prosecutors who had summoned Fidan, had been removed from the case, state-run news agency Anatolian reported on its website.
The report did not give any details as to why Sarikaya had been removed and state prosecution officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Speaking outside the court in Istanbul after his removal, Sarikaya said: "This is the chief prosecutor's prerogative ... There is nothing that can be done. We did our duty," Anatolian reported.
At the heart of the current investigation are talks MIT officials held in Oslo with representatives of the PKK, which has been fighting since 1984 for an independent Kurdish homeland in Turkey's southeast. The contacts came to light last year through recordings on the Internet.
NATIONALIST WARNING
Besir Atalay, one of Erdogan's deputies, criticized the summons on Saturday, saying public officials could not be accused for simply carrying out their duties.
"This is how the government sees it. The people in question are carrying out their public duty at great sacrifice to themselves. Therefore, to be accused and be summoned like this in the public eye is wrong," Anatolian quoted Atalay as saying.
"It is wrong to summon in this way a MIT director who is directly linked to the prime minister without the prime minister's permission and knowledge," he said.
Erdogan, who underwent medical surgery on Friday, has yet to comment on the proceedings. He is expected to resume routine engagements next week.
Atalay said he hoped the parliamentary bill presented on Friday by the ruling AK Party aimed at blocking the summons would be passed next week.
Some have interpreted the targeting of the MIT as a nationalist warning to Erdogan against seeking any negotiated settlement with PKK, whose separatist struggle has led to the death of more than 40,000 people since it began in 1984.
In a country rife with conspiracy theories, some have also suggested an influential Islamic movement, headed by Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim theologian living in the United States, could be seeking to clip Erdogan's wings.
Many Turks would sooner see the PKK defeated militarily rather than negotiate with an organization that is branded a terrorist group by Ankara, the European Union and United States.
On Wednesday, state prosecutors summoned Hakan Fidan, the head of Turkey's national intelligence agency, MIT, and other officers to answer questions about secret talks the agency held with the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
MIT has rebuffed the summons and Fidan has so far failed to appear. On Friday, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party moved a parliamentary bill intended to curb the investigation.
The summons, a rare imposition for the powerful agency, has stirred speculation of a power struggle between Erdogan, who controls the service, and elements in the judiciary and police.
On Saturday, Istanbul Deputy Chief Prosecutor Fikret Secen said state prosecutor Sadrettin Sarikaya, one of two prosecutors who had summoned Fidan, had been removed from the case, state-run news agency Anatolian reported on its website.
The report did not give any details as to why Sarikaya had been removed and state prosecution officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Speaking outside the court in Istanbul after his removal, Sarikaya said: "This is the chief prosecutor's prerogative ... There is nothing that can be done. We did our duty," Anatolian reported.
At the heart of the current investigation are talks MIT officials held in Oslo with representatives of the PKK, which has been fighting since 1984 for an independent Kurdish homeland in Turkey's southeast. The contacts came to light last year through recordings on the Internet.
NATIONALIST WARNING
Besir Atalay, one of Erdogan's deputies, criticized the summons on Saturday, saying public officials could not be accused for simply carrying out their duties.
"This is how the government sees it. The people in question are carrying out their public duty at great sacrifice to themselves. Therefore, to be accused and be summoned like this in the public eye is wrong," Anatolian quoted Atalay as saying.
"It is wrong to summon in this way a MIT director who is directly linked to the prime minister without the prime minister's permission and knowledge," he said.
Erdogan, who underwent medical surgery on Friday, has yet to comment on the proceedings. He is expected to resume routine engagements next week.
Atalay said he hoped the parliamentary bill presented on Friday by the ruling AK Party aimed at blocking the summons would be passed next week.
Some have interpreted the targeting of the MIT as a nationalist warning to Erdogan against seeking any negotiated settlement with PKK, whose separatist struggle has led to the death of more than 40,000 people since it began in 1984.
In a country rife with conspiracy theories, some have also suggested an influential Islamic movement, headed by Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim theologian living in the United States, could be seeking to clip Erdogan's wings.
Many Turks would sooner see the PKK defeated militarily rather than negotiate with an organization that is branded a terrorist group by Ankara, the European Union and United States.
Rock star welcome for Suu Kyi on Myanmar campaign trail
WARTHINKHA, Myanmar (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people lined the streets to give a rapturous welcome on Saturday to Myanmar Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as she hit the campaign trail for the first time in her bid to win a seat in the country's parliament.
Riding in a convoy of three dozen cars and flanked by hundreds of motorcycles, Suu Kyi received rock star treatment from crowds of cheering, flag-waving supporters chanting "long live mother Suu" throughout her seven-hour crawl to the rustic constituency where she will contest April by-elections.
The leader of Myanmar's pro-democracy struggle stood through a car sunroof, waving and smiling as dilapidated, overloaded trucks shuttled in the crowds, in an outpouring of excitement at a rare rally in a country tightly controlled for 49 years by an army that brutally suppressed activism.
"We need your strength, for the people," Suu Kyi shouted to the crowd, much of which held aloft her picture alongside that of her late father and independence hero, Aung San who was assassinated when his daughter was two years old.
The decision to contest the by-election represents a giant leap of faith for Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party after two decades being jailed, harassed and sidelined by the former junta, which made way to a nominally civilian government 11 months ago.
The NLD boycotted the widely flawed 2010 election but last year accepted an olive branch from president and former junta fourth-in-command, Thein Sein, who reached out to Suu Kyi. She regards the reform-minded ex-general as sincere and trustworthy.
The motorcade moved at a snail's pace on a 56-km (35-mile) venture south of the commercial capital Yangon, weaving through bamboo-hut villages on bumpy, dusty dirt-tracks as farmers and children jostled to catch a glimpse of "The Lady," as she is affectionately known.
Some 5,000 supporters in Warthinkha, a village of just 1,000 people, packed into a rice paddy to hear her rousing speech on a makeshift stage, her voice drowned out by bursts of applause.
'ALL-OUT EFFORT'
"I call on the people to have confidence in us. The NLD has no magic power, but we will get to our desires soon with an all-out concerted effort, with the courage and ability to get over the struggle," Suu Kyi told the crowd.
"There are so many struggles ahead, I recognize this not because I'm disappointed but just to say we need strength and reinforcement to overcome them.
"The journey we are on, with the people, is very rough but the destination we are headed for is peaceful."
Her bid for a parliamentary role is largely symbolic, with only 48 seats up for grabs in the by-elections, meaning the NLD can only secure a tiny stake in the national legislature.
The last time the party contested an election was in 1990, when its landslide win was ignored by the junta. Suu Kyi did not run in the poll because she was under house arrest.
It remains to be seen exactly what Suu Kyi could achieve in a parliament stacked with military appointees and lawmakers allied with a party widely believed to have been formed and funded by the ruling generals before they stepped aside.
But the farmers who turned out in their droves believe Suu Kyi can be the decisive factor in transforming the country.
"I've never seen such a huge crowd. We're very lucky she's decided to stand in the election representing our village," said mother of four, Naw Ohn Kyi, 59. "It's like we've won the biggest prize in the lottery without even buying a ticket."
Another villager, Sa San Thein, 35, added: "We were thrilled to hear Aunty Suu was coming. It's just like a mother who left on a long journey, coming home unexpectedly."
The elections will be closely watched by the international community as a litmus test of the government's sincerity towards reforms, which have included the release of an estimated 650 political prisoners and ceasefires with ethnic rebel armies.
Diplomats expect the polls will be free and fair, despite irregularities in the 2010 election, because the participation of Suu Kyi, the charismatic darling of the West, would be a powerful endorsement of its fledgling democratic system.
A clean poll is also a pre-requisite for lifting of sanctions that are currently under review, as Western nations seek to bring the vastly underdeveloped but resource-rich country out from the cold after two decades of isolation.
Riding in a convoy of three dozen cars and flanked by hundreds of motorcycles, Suu Kyi received rock star treatment from crowds of cheering, flag-waving supporters chanting "long live mother Suu" throughout her seven-hour crawl to the rustic constituency where she will contest April by-elections.
The leader of Myanmar's pro-democracy struggle stood through a car sunroof, waving and smiling as dilapidated, overloaded trucks shuttled in the crowds, in an outpouring of excitement at a rare rally in a country tightly controlled for 49 years by an army that brutally suppressed activism.
"We need your strength, for the people," Suu Kyi shouted to the crowd, much of which held aloft her picture alongside that of her late father and independence hero, Aung San who was assassinated when his daughter was two years old.
The decision to contest the by-election represents a giant leap of faith for Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party after two decades being jailed, harassed and sidelined by the former junta, which made way to a nominally civilian government 11 months ago.
The NLD boycotted the widely flawed 2010 election but last year accepted an olive branch from president and former junta fourth-in-command, Thein Sein, who reached out to Suu Kyi. She regards the reform-minded ex-general as sincere and trustworthy.
The motorcade moved at a snail's pace on a 56-km (35-mile) venture south of the commercial capital Yangon, weaving through bamboo-hut villages on bumpy, dusty dirt-tracks as farmers and children jostled to catch a glimpse of "The Lady," as she is affectionately known.
Some 5,000 supporters in Warthinkha, a village of just 1,000 people, packed into a rice paddy to hear her rousing speech on a makeshift stage, her voice drowned out by bursts of applause.
'ALL-OUT EFFORT'
"I call on the people to have confidence in us. The NLD has no magic power, but we will get to our desires soon with an all-out concerted effort, with the courage and ability to get over the struggle," Suu Kyi told the crowd.
"There are so many struggles ahead, I recognize this not because I'm disappointed but just to say we need strength and reinforcement to overcome them.
"The journey we are on, with the people, is very rough but the destination we are headed for is peaceful."
Her bid for a parliamentary role is largely symbolic, with only 48 seats up for grabs in the by-elections, meaning the NLD can only secure a tiny stake in the national legislature.
The last time the party contested an election was in 1990, when its landslide win was ignored by the junta. Suu Kyi did not run in the poll because she was under house arrest.
It remains to be seen exactly what Suu Kyi could achieve in a parliament stacked with military appointees and lawmakers allied with a party widely believed to have been formed and funded by the ruling generals before they stepped aside.
But the farmers who turned out in their droves believe Suu Kyi can be the decisive factor in transforming the country.
"I've never seen such a huge crowd. We're very lucky she's decided to stand in the election representing our village," said mother of four, Naw Ohn Kyi, 59. "It's like we've won the biggest prize in the lottery without even buying a ticket."
Another villager, Sa San Thein, 35, added: "We were thrilled to hear Aunty Suu was coming. It's just like a mother who left on a long journey, coming home unexpectedly."
The elections will be closely watched by the international community as a litmus test of the government's sincerity towards reforms, which have included the release of an estimated 650 political prisoners and ceasefires with ethnic rebel armies.
Diplomats expect the polls will be free and fair, despite irregularities in the 2010 election, because the participation of Suu Kyi, the charismatic darling of the West, would be a powerful endorsement of its fledgling democratic system.
A clean poll is also a pre-requisite for lifting of sanctions that are currently under review, as Western nations seek to bring the vastly underdeveloped but resource-rich country out from the cold after two decades of isolation.
Competitive Investment Rates Draw Logistics Provider to Bahrain
To: BUSINESS, FOREIGN AND TRANSPORTATION EDITORS
MANAMA, Bahrain, Feb. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Samel, a leading specialist for dry bulk solutions in the Middle East, has chosen Bahrain as its logistics hub for the Gulf Region.
"This strategic partnership allows Samel and the Bahrain Logistic Zone (BLZ) to open the gates for highly specialized logistics in this region, with Bahrain playing an important role as a distribution hub for the GCC," Dr. Wolfgang Hoppmann, Samel CEO, said.
Factors such as Bahrain's competitive rates, world-class import/export services and close proximity to the Khalifa Bin Salman Port, led to Samel's decision, Hassan Ali Al Majed, the director general of BLZ, said.
Dr. Wolfgang expects that others businesses, particularly in the bulk goods industry, will quickly follow his company's path as Bahrain's competitive rates and investment opportunities become better known.
"Ultimately, this will lead to a drastic increase in the number of companies with specialized expertise and operational skills, especially in the bulk market, setting up shop in Bahrain, which will help support Bahrain's economy in the future," Dr. Wolfgang Hoppmann, Samel CEO, said.
SOURCE Kingdom of Bahrain
MANAMA, Bahrain, Feb. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Samel, a leading specialist for dry bulk solutions in the Middle East, has chosen Bahrain as its logistics hub for the Gulf Region.
"This strategic partnership allows Samel and the Bahrain Logistic Zone (BLZ) to open the gates for highly specialized logistics in this region, with Bahrain playing an important role as a distribution hub for the GCC," Dr. Wolfgang Hoppmann, Samel CEO, said.
Factors such as Bahrain's competitive rates, world-class import/export services and close proximity to the Khalifa Bin Salman Port, led to Samel's decision, Hassan Ali Al Majed, the director general of BLZ, said.
Dr. Wolfgang expects that others businesses, particularly in the bulk goods industry, will quickly follow his company's path as Bahrain's competitive rates and investment opportunities become better known.
"Ultimately, this will lead to a drastic increase in the number of companies with specialized expertise and operational skills, especially in the bulk market, setting up shop in Bahrain, which will help support Bahrain's economy in the future," Dr. Wolfgang Hoppmann, Samel CEO, said.
SOURCE Kingdom of Bahrain
Southern Africa bloc discusses deadlocked AU chief vote
Southern African foreign ministers met Saturday to discuss the recent deadlocked polls for a new African Union head and to chart the regional bloc's strategy for the next vote.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting was called at short notice after last month's AU vote failed to secure victory for its candidate, former South African foreign minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
"Our agenda is going to be very short, we don't have many things to discuss but we have some very important things to debate," Angola's Foreign Minister Rebelo Pinto Chikoti said in his opening remarks.
After consultation, the ministers will "make good proposals for heads of state who will be eventually taking some of our proposals further on to other meetings at African Union level", Chikoti added.
An evaluation of the January polls and the strategy for the next vote were listed on the agenda of the meeting, also attended by the foreign ministers from South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia and Mozambique.
Last month's tightly contested AU race saw Gabon's Jean Ping, who has headed the African Union Commission since 2008, unable to obtain the required two-thirds majority in a tight race with Dlamini-Zuma.
Ping's mandate was extended until the AU's next summit in June in Malawi.
The vote was preceded by intense campaigns, with Ping counting on support from French-speaking West and Central Africa countries, and Pretoria lobbying across Africa for Dlamini-Zuma who was backed by the 15-member SADC.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting was called at short notice after last month's AU vote failed to secure victory for its candidate, former South African foreign minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
"Our agenda is going to be very short, we don't have many things to discuss but we have some very important things to debate," Angola's Foreign Minister Rebelo Pinto Chikoti said in his opening remarks.
After consultation, the ministers will "make good proposals for heads of state who will be eventually taking some of our proposals further on to other meetings at African Union level", Chikoti added.
An evaluation of the January polls and the strategy for the next vote were listed on the agenda of the meeting, also attended by the foreign ministers from South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia and Mozambique.
Last month's tightly contested AU race saw Gabon's Jean Ping, who has headed the African Union Commission since 2008, unable to obtain the required two-thirds majority in a tight race with Dlamini-Zuma.
Ping's mandate was extended until the AU's next summit in June in Malawi.
The vote was preceded by intense campaigns, with Ping counting on support from French-speaking West and Central Africa countries, and Pretoria lobbying across Africa for Dlamini-Zuma who was backed by the 15-member SADC.
Contraception Compromise Doesn’t Please Bishops
The leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops denounced President Obama’s contraception compromise in a letter to its membership, citing “grave reservations” about a policy that would allow employees of religious institutions to have access to contraception at no additional cost through insurance companies.
The revised plan, which was announced Friday, makes contraception available to employees of religious institutions who seek it, while keeping the costs of contraception from being incurred by religious institutions that have a moral opposition to it.
According to the new plan, religious affiliated hospitals and universities will not be required to list contraception in their health plans or pay for it for their employees. Instead, the burden will fall on insurance companies, which will be mandated to provide contraception coverage to employees of abstaining institutions at no additional premium.
“It remains unclear as to how insurers will be compensated for the cost of these items, with some commentators suggesting that such compensation will ultimately be derived from the premiums paid by the religious employer,” the bishops’ letter said. “It does not meet our standard of respecting the religious liberty and moral convictions of all stakeholders in the health coverage transaction.”
The nation’s bishops also expressed a concern that the government is creating its own arbitrary definition of which organizations are “religious enough” to receive full protection under the rule.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said officials from the White House had reached out to their organization and offered to continue the dialogue to work out “questions that remained unanswered.”
After the revised plan was announced Friday, the president of the Catholic Health Association said she was “pleased.”
“The framework developed has responded to the issues we identified that needed to be fixed,” Carol Keehan said in a written statement. “We are pleased and grateful that the religious liberty and conscience protection needs of so many ministries that serve our country were appreciated enough that an early resolution of this issue was accomplished.”
Planned Parenthood also supported the president’s decision.
“In the face of a misleading and outrageous assault on women’s health, the Obama administration has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring all women will have access to birth control coverage, with no costly co-pays, no additional hurdles, and no matter where they work,” Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said in a written statement before the announcement.
“We believe the compliance mechanism does not compromise a woman’s ability to access these critical birth control benefits.”
The revised plan, which was announced Friday, makes contraception available to employees of religious institutions who seek it, while keeping the costs of contraception from being incurred by religious institutions that have a moral opposition to it.
According to the new plan, religious affiliated hospitals and universities will not be required to list contraception in their health plans or pay for it for their employees. Instead, the burden will fall on insurance companies, which will be mandated to provide contraception coverage to employees of abstaining institutions at no additional premium.
“It remains unclear as to how insurers will be compensated for the cost of these items, with some commentators suggesting that such compensation will ultimately be derived from the premiums paid by the religious employer,” the bishops’ letter said. “It does not meet our standard of respecting the religious liberty and moral convictions of all stakeholders in the health coverage transaction.”
The nation’s bishops also expressed a concern that the government is creating its own arbitrary definition of which organizations are “religious enough” to receive full protection under the rule.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said officials from the White House had reached out to their organization and offered to continue the dialogue to work out “questions that remained unanswered.”
After the revised plan was announced Friday, the president of the Catholic Health Association said she was “pleased.”
“The framework developed has responded to the issues we identified that needed to be fixed,” Carol Keehan said in a written statement. “We are pleased and grateful that the religious liberty and conscience protection needs of so many ministries that serve our country were appreciated enough that an early resolution of this issue was accomplished.”
Planned Parenthood also supported the president’s decision.
“In the face of a misleading and outrageous assault on women’s health, the Obama administration has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring all women will have access to birth control coverage, with no costly co-pays, no additional hurdles, and no matter where they work,” Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said in a written statement before the announcement.
“We believe the compliance mechanism does not compromise a woman’s ability to access these critical birth control benefits.”
Contraception Compromise Doesn’t Please Bishops
The leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops denounced President Obama’s contraception compromise in a letter to its membership, citing “grave reservations” about a policy that would allow employees of religious institutions to have access to contraception at no additional cost through insurance companies.
The revised plan, which was announced Friday, makes contraception available to employees of religious institutions who seek it, while keeping the costs of contraception from being incurred by religious institutions that have a moral opposition to it.
According to the new plan, religious affiliated hospitals and universities will not be required to list contraception in their health plans or pay for it for their employees. Instead, the burden will fall on insurance companies, which will be mandated to provide contraception coverage to employees of abstaining institutions at no additional premium.
“It remains unclear as to how insurers will be compensated for the cost of these items, with some commentators suggesting that such compensation will ultimately be derived from the premiums paid by the religious employer,” the bishops’ letter said. “It does not meet our standard of respecting the religious liberty and moral convictions of all stakeholders in the health coverage transaction.”
The nation’s bishops also expressed a concern that the government is creating its own arbitrary definition of which organizations are “religious enough” to receive full protection under the rule.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said officials from the White House had reached out to their organization and offered to continue the dialogue to work out “questions that remained unanswered.”
After the revised plan was announced Friday, the president of the Catholic Health Association said she was “pleased.”
“The framework developed has responded to the issues we identified that needed to be fixed,” Carol Keehan said in a written statement. “We are pleased and grateful that the religious liberty and conscience protection needs of so many ministries that serve our country were appreciated enough that an early resolution of this issue was accomplished.”
Planned Parenthood also supported the president’s decision.
“In the face of a misleading and outrageous assault on women’s health, the Obama administration has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring all women will have access to birth control coverage, with no costly co-pays, no additional hurdles, and no matter where they work,” Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said in a written statement before the announcement.
“We believe the compliance mechanism does not compromise a woman’s ability to access these critical birth control benefits.”
The revised plan, which was announced Friday, makes contraception available to employees of religious institutions who seek it, while keeping the costs of contraception from being incurred by religious institutions that have a moral opposition to it.
According to the new plan, religious affiliated hospitals and universities will not be required to list contraception in their health plans or pay for it for their employees. Instead, the burden will fall on insurance companies, which will be mandated to provide contraception coverage to employees of abstaining institutions at no additional premium.
“It remains unclear as to how insurers will be compensated for the cost of these items, with some commentators suggesting that such compensation will ultimately be derived from the premiums paid by the religious employer,” the bishops’ letter said. “It does not meet our standard of respecting the religious liberty and moral convictions of all stakeholders in the health coverage transaction.”
The nation’s bishops also expressed a concern that the government is creating its own arbitrary definition of which organizations are “religious enough” to receive full protection under the rule.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said officials from the White House had reached out to their organization and offered to continue the dialogue to work out “questions that remained unanswered.”
After the revised plan was announced Friday, the president of the Catholic Health Association said she was “pleased.”
“The framework developed has responded to the issues we identified that needed to be fixed,” Carol Keehan said in a written statement. “We are pleased and grateful that the religious liberty and conscience protection needs of so many ministries that serve our country were appreciated enough that an early resolution of this issue was accomplished.”
Planned Parenthood also supported the president’s decision.
“In the face of a misleading and outrageous assault on women’s health, the Obama administration has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring all women will have access to birth control coverage, with no costly co-pays, no additional hurdles, and no matter where they work,” Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said in a written statement before the announcement.
“We believe the compliance mechanism does not compromise a woman’s ability to access these critical birth control benefits.”
CORRECTED-Golf-South Africa to host Tournament of Hope in 2013
Feb 10 (Reuters) - The inaugural Tournament of Hope,
widely proclaimed as the richest single event in golf, will be
held in South Africa late next year, the International
Federation of PGA Tours said on Friday.
To be played from Nov. 28-Dec. 1, the $8.5 million
tournament will become the sixth elite event to be sanctioned by
the world's leading tours and will help raise awareness of
HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.
Like the four individual World Golf Championships (WGC)
events which are widely regarded as one rung down from the
majors, it will bring together the best players in the world
based mainly on the official rankings.
"In addition to the Tournament of Hope, the promoters will
organise other awareness functions in South Africa and around
the world during the week of the tournament," the International
Federation of PGA Tours said in a statement.
The 2013 edition will end on World AIDS Day and the
tournament will be staged on similar dates in future years.
Three of the individual WGC events are held in the United
States, the Accenture Match Play Championship, the Cadillac
Championship and the Bridgestone Invitational, while the HSBC
Champions is staged in China.
The Tournament of Hope was first announced by Sunshine Tour
commissioner Gareth Tindall last April when he described it as
offering "the biggest prize money in professional golf".
No date was mentioned at the time, though Tindall hoped the
inaugural event could be held at the end of 2012.
The Tournament of Hope will join the four individual WGC
events and the World Cup team competition, which is staged in
China, under the umbrella of the International Federation of PGA
Tours.
widely proclaimed as the richest single event in golf, will be
held in South Africa late next year, the International
Federation of PGA Tours said on Friday.
To be played from Nov. 28-Dec. 1, the $8.5 million
tournament will become the sixth elite event to be sanctioned by
the world's leading tours and will help raise awareness of
HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.
Like the four individual World Golf Championships (WGC)
events which are widely regarded as one rung down from the
majors, it will bring together the best players in the world
based mainly on the official rankings.
"In addition to the Tournament of Hope, the promoters will
organise other awareness functions in South Africa and around
the world during the week of the tournament," the International
Federation of PGA Tours said in a statement.
The 2013 edition will end on World AIDS Day and the
tournament will be staged on similar dates in future years.
Three of the individual WGC events are held in the United
States, the Accenture Match Play Championship, the Cadillac
Championship and the Bridgestone Invitational, while the HSBC
Champions is staged in China.
The Tournament of Hope was first announced by Sunshine Tour
commissioner Gareth Tindall last April when he described it as
offering "the biggest prize money in professional golf".
No date was mentioned at the time, though Tindall hoped the
inaugural event could be held at the end of 2012.
The Tournament of Hope will join the four individual WGC
events and the World Cup team competition, which is staged in
China, under the umbrella of the International Federation of PGA
Tours.
At least 3 killed in avalanche in Kosovo
PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) — An avalanche hit a village in Kosovo's mountainous south Saturday, killing a married couple and their 17-year-old son and leaving nine others missing, police said, as heavy snow continued to blanket the Balkans.
The village of Restelica, where the deaths occurred, and its region bordering Macedonia and Albania have been blocked by snow for several days, Kosovo police spokesman Baki Kelani said. NATO peacekeepers have been called in to help local authorities in the rescue operation.
In neighboring Montenegro, authorities proclaimed a state of emergency after the heaviest snow there in 63 years sealed off hundreds of villages, shut down roads and railways and closed the main airport in the tiny Balkan state on Saturday.
Snow virtually sealed off the capital Podgorica, closing its airport and hampering rail and road traffic. At 52 centimeters (20 inches) high, it was the biggest snowfall in the capital since 1949.
The state rail company said an avalanche had blocked a train's route near the mountain town of Kolasin and another engine had to rescue the 50 passengers.
The cold snap in Europe, which began in late January, has killed hundreds of people — most of them homeless. Boat traffic on the frozen Danube river — one of Europe's key waterways — has been unable to move for the longest time in recent memory.
In Serbia, overnight snowfall hampered operations to reach about 20,000 households in remote villages, which have been cut off since the blizzards started more than two weeks ago. The country has been hit by electricity shortages, with authorities ordering a public holiday Friday to preserve energy.
Schools and universities will be closed to save electricity for the whole of next week.
High winds and blizzards closed many roads and highways on the Adriatic Sea in Croatia on Saturday, with unprecedented snow blanketing some of its islands and tourist resorts. About 3,000 households in western Croatia were affected by power cuts because of the bad weather.
Below-freezing temperatures also persisted across Germany. In Hamburg, tens of thousands of people crowded onto the frozen Aussenalster lake in the city center.
In Italy, farm lobbies said that weeks of freezing cold and a string of snowstorms have prevented fruit, vegetables and meat from reaching market, leaving around 100,000 tons of products to rot. Dairy farmers also warned that unless roads linking them to markets are cleared soon, milk will spoil.
Snow also continued to fall in the country's north-central regions, accentuating problems in towns in the Apennine mountains and near the Adriatic still struggling with several snowstorms in two weeks. The capital, Rome, dug its way out of its second snowfall in a week. Before this winter, its last significant snowstorm was in 1986. Several Italian airports had delays or cancellations.
Snow also hit southern Italy. In the town of Castelvenere, a funeral had to be canceled when snow blocked the arrival of a coffin to church.
The village of Restelica, where the deaths occurred, and its region bordering Macedonia and Albania have been blocked by snow for several days, Kosovo police spokesman Baki Kelani said. NATO peacekeepers have been called in to help local authorities in the rescue operation.
In neighboring Montenegro, authorities proclaimed a state of emergency after the heaviest snow there in 63 years sealed off hundreds of villages, shut down roads and railways and closed the main airport in the tiny Balkan state on Saturday.
Snow virtually sealed off the capital Podgorica, closing its airport and hampering rail and road traffic. At 52 centimeters (20 inches) high, it was the biggest snowfall in the capital since 1949.
The state rail company said an avalanche had blocked a train's route near the mountain town of Kolasin and another engine had to rescue the 50 passengers.
The cold snap in Europe, which began in late January, has killed hundreds of people — most of them homeless. Boat traffic on the frozen Danube river — one of Europe's key waterways — has been unable to move for the longest time in recent memory.
In Serbia, overnight snowfall hampered operations to reach about 20,000 households in remote villages, which have been cut off since the blizzards started more than two weeks ago. The country has been hit by electricity shortages, with authorities ordering a public holiday Friday to preserve energy.
Schools and universities will be closed to save electricity for the whole of next week.
High winds and blizzards closed many roads and highways on the Adriatic Sea in Croatia on Saturday, with unprecedented snow blanketing some of its islands and tourist resorts. About 3,000 households in western Croatia were affected by power cuts because of the bad weather.
Below-freezing temperatures also persisted across Germany. In Hamburg, tens of thousands of people crowded onto the frozen Aussenalster lake in the city center.
In Italy, farm lobbies said that weeks of freezing cold and a string of snowstorms have prevented fruit, vegetables and meat from reaching market, leaving around 100,000 tons of products to rot. Dairy farmers also warned that unless roads linking them to markets are cleared soon, milk will spoil.
Snow also continued to fall in the country's north-central regions, accentuating problems in towns in the Apennine mountains and near the Adriatic still struggling with several snowstorms in two weeks. The capital, Rome, dug its way out of its second snowfall in a week. Before this winter, its last significant snowstorm was in 1986. Several Italian airports had delays or cancellations.
Snow also hit southern Italy. In the town of Castelvenere, a funeral had to be canceled when snow blocked the arrival of a coffin to church.
Blackburn 3-2 QPR: Hosts hold on despite late comeback to secure priceless three points in relegation dogfight
A sublime first-half display was enough for Blackburn as it secured an important 3-2 win against QPR to drag its opponent well and truly into a relegation fight.
A quick-fire first half double from Yakubu and N’Zonzi had the visitors shell-shocked and with the last kick of the first-half Junior Hoilett’s effort took a wicked deflection to do the damage.
Mark Hughes would have been furious with what he saw from his side in the first half and despite a much improved second period, Jamie Mackie’s brace turned out to not be enough as the team's poor form continues under their new manager.
In just the 15th minute Blackburn’s go to man Yakubu opened the scoring in typical fashion. A long punt up-field by Robinson was flicked on to Yakubu who turned sharply on the edge of the area before firing past Kenny who was wrong-footed. The lead was nothing more than the home side had deserved after a really bright start.
It wasn’t long before the home side doubled its advantage but this time it was through a far less likely scorer in the rather large shape of Stephen N’Zonzi in the 23rd minute. The visitors were wide open at the back and Martin Olsson drove towards goal before cutting back to N’Zonzi who smashed the ball past a helpless Paddy Kenny.
In what was the final action of the half, Blackburn scored once more to have the game all but won after a deflected effort from Junior Hoilett looped into the far corner. The Canadian was completely unmarked at the far post and as the ball fell to Hoilett he struck it first and with the ball seemingly going at Paddy Kenny the shot took a wicked deflection off Onuoha to leave the keeper rooted to the spot.
The second half started as the first began with Blackburn in the ascendency and it almost added to the lead through the most audacious of efforts from Yakubu. Morten Gamst Pederson tried an effort from 30 yards that was sliced completely but it fell to Yakubu on the edge of the area who showed real instinct turning and chipping goalwards that had Paddy Kenny beaten but it hit the bar.
QPR’s had struggled to find any opening on the Blackburn goal until midway through the second half though luckily for the home side the chance fell to Nedum Onuoha. Taarabt picked up a loose ball in midfield and played a perfect through ball to Onuoha who had made a surging run but his side footed effort was comfortably saved by Robinson.
The visitors were much improved though in the second period and got one back through the substitute Jamie Mackie. Taye Taiwo was allowed so much space on the left-hand side and walked into the Blackburn area before playing the most simple of square balls for Mackie who smashed it in to give his side a lifeline.
With time running out Mackie scored again to set up a dramatic final few minutes but it was too little too late for Mark Hughes’ men who now find themselves well and truly emerged in a relegation fight.
While Blackburn is still searching for its first clean sheet of the season, it got the three points that will be so important in its bid to stay in the Premier League.
A quick-fire first half double from Yakubu and N’Zonzi had the visitors shell-shocked and with the last kick of the first-half Junior Hoilett’s effort took a wicked deflection to do the damage.
Mark Hughes would have been furious with what he saw from his side in the first half and despite a much improved second period, Jamie Mackie’s brace turned out to not be enough as the team's poor form continues under their new manager.
In just the 15th minute Blackburn’s go to man Yakubu opened the scoring in typical fashion. A long punt up-field by Robinson was flicked on to Yakubu who turned sharply on the edge of the area before firing past Kenny who was wrong-footed. The lead was nothing more than the home side had deserved after a really bright start.
It wasn’t long before the home side doubled its advantage but this time it was through a far less likely scorer in the rather large shape of Stephen N’Zonzi in the 23rd minute. The visitors were wide open at the back and Martin Olsson drove towards goal before cutting back to N’Zonzi who smashed the ball past a helpless Paddy Kenny.
In what was the final action of the half, Blackburn scored once more to have the game all but won after a deflected effort from Junior Hoilett looped into the far corner. The Canadian was completely unmarked at the far post and as the ball fell to Hoilett he struck it first and with the ball seemingly going at Paddy Kenny the shot took a wicked deflection off Onuoha to leave the keeper rooted to the spot.
The second half started as the first began with Blackburn in the ascendency and it almost added to the lead through the most audacious of efforts from Yakubu. Morten Gamst Pederson tried an effort from 30 yards that was sliced completely but it fell to Yakubu on the edge of the area who showed real instinct turning and chipping goalwards that had Paddy Kenny beaten but it hit the bar.
QPR’s had struggled to find any opening on the Blackburn goal until midway through the second half though luckily for the home side the chance fell to Nedum Onuoha. Taarabt picked up a loose ball in midfield and played a perfect through ball to Onuoha who had made a surging run but his side footed effort was comfortably saved by Robinson.
The visitors were much improved though in the second period and got one back through the substitute Jamie Mackie. Taye Taiwo was allowed so much space on the left-hand side and walked into the Blackburn area before playing the most simple of square balls for Mackie who smashed it in to give his side a lifeline.
With time running out Mackie scored again to set up a dramatic final few minutes but it was too little too late for Mark Hughes’ men who now find themselves well and truly emerged in a relegation fight.
While Blackburn is still searching for its first clean sheet of the season, it got the three points that will be so important in its bid to stay in the Premier League.
Everton 2-0 Chelsea: Pienaar and Stracqualursi strikes defeat visitors as pressure grows on Andre Villas-Boas
gained its second 'top-four' scalp in two games at Goodison Park, beating Chelsea 2-0.
The Toffees opened the scoring just five minutes in thanks to the returning Steven Pienaar's wonderfully controlled strike.
They then pinned Chelsea back with some brilliantly incisive attacking and got a deserved second through Denis Stracqualursi to follow up their win over Manchester City with another impressive victory.
Given that Everton had beaten the league leaders at Goodison Park in its last home game, it was unsurprising the Toffees started full of confidence and somewhat caught Chelsea on its heels. The visitors looked shaky defensively and paid the biggest price just five minutes in as Everton took the lead.
A coming together between Tim Cahill and Lampard saw the ball loop over the Blues’ defense and somewhat fortuitously into the path of Pienaar who controlled brilliantly on his chest and smashed beyond Petr Cech.
Despite the early nature of the goal, it was no more than the hosts deserved and they almost added to it just moments later as a Neville cross was met by the head of Stracqualursi, who nodded inches wide of the post.
A Donovan drive from distance, which stung the palms of Cech, gave the hosts further hope of gaining a Premier League scalp, as Andre Villas-Boas’ men appeared rattled.
It took 25 minutes for the Londoners to show any sort of fight but a chance for a Fernando Torres head at goal was brilliantly denied by Sylvain Distin before Daniel Sturridge saw his shot desperately blocked at the edge of the box.
A wild kick from a frustrated Raul Meireles on the breaking Stracqualursi conveyed Chelsea’s frustrations in the first half but the hosts failed to capitalize by wasting the free-kick, taking it short.
The pace did not appear to have slowed as the second half commenced, with both sides continuing to show the attacking intent which made the game easy to watch for neutrals.
Stracqualursi’s twist and turn in the box ended in a blocked shot but emphasized Chelsea’s position as the side under the cosh from an Everton whose creativity has improved no end since a productive January.
Another weak Torres header from a deep cross served to underline Chelsea’s lack of attacking thrust and there appeared no way back into the game with Everton counter-punching brilliantly.
And it was to prove so as the Toffees landed the knockout blow with 15 minutes remaining on the clock. A brilliant run in off the right from Donovan found the Blues’ defense backpedalling, and the American’s wonderfully weighted pass allowed striker Stracqualursi to smash beyond Cech, despite the keeper getting a palm to the ball.
Chelsea's game was up with that goal and Villas-Boas appeared to know it, removing Mata - one of the few impressive performers - for youngster Romelu Lukaku.
Everton was then little troubled by their visitors, as it had in truth been throughout the match, and kept the ball patiently in order to see out a deserved win which may mark yet another late-season renaissance.
The Toffees opened the scoring just five minutes in thanks to the returning Steven Pienaar's wonderfully controlled strike.
They then pinned Chelsea back with some brilliantly incisive attacking and got a deserved second through Denis Stracqualursi to follow up their win over Manchester City with another impressive victory.
Given that Everton had beaten the league leaders at Goodison Park in its last home game, it was unsurprising the Toffees started full of confidence and somewhat caught Chelsea on its heels. The visitors looked shaky defensively and paid the biggest price just five minutes in as Everton took the lead.
A coming together between Tim Cahill and Lampard saw the ball loop over the Blues’ defense and somewhat fortuitously into the path of Pienaar who controlled brilliantly on his chest and smashed beyond Petr Cech.
Despite the early nature of the goal, it was no more than the hosts deserved and they almost added to it just moments later as a Neville cross was met by the head of Stracqualursi, who nodded inches wide of the post.
A Donovan drive from distance, which stung the palms of Cech, gave the hosts further hope of gaining a Premier League scalp, as Andre Villas-Boas’ men appeared rattled.
It took 25 minutes for the Londoners to show any sort of fight but a chance for a Fernando Torres head at goal was brilliantly denied by Sylvain Distin before Daniel Sturridge saw his shot desperately blocked at the edge of the box.
A wild kick from a frustrated Raul Meireles on the breaking Stracqualursi conveyed Chelsea’s frustrations in the first half but the hosts failed to capitalize by wasting the free-kick, taking it short.
The pace did not appear to have slowed as the second half commenced, with both sides continuing to show the attacking intent which made the game easy to watch for neutrals.
Stracqualursi’s twist and turn in the box ended in a blocked shot but emphasized Chelsea’s position as the side under the cosh from an Everton whose creativity has improved no end since a productive January.
Another weak Torres header from a deep cross served to underline Chelsea’s lack of attacking thrust and there appeared no way back into the game with Everton counter-punching brilliantly.
And it was to prove so as the Toffees landed the knockout blow with 15 minutes remaining on the clock. A brilliant run in off the right from Donovan found the Blues’ defense backpedalling, and the American’s wonderfully weighted pass allowed striker Stracqualursi to smash beyond Cech, despite the keeper getting a palm to the ball.
Chelsea's game was up with that goal and Villas-Boas appeared to know it, removing Mata - one of the few impressive performers - for youngster Romelu Lukaku.
Everton was then little troubled by their visitors, as it had in truth been throughout the match, and kept the ball patiently in order to see out a deserved win which may mark yet another late-season renaissance.
Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan both contribute to victories
Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan both continued to stay hot in the Premier League on Saturday.
Dempsey's long-range strike caused an own goal by Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, while Donovan added another assist to his English Premier League repertoire.
Facing Stoke and with Fulham already up 1-0, Dempsey drilled a 30-yard strike off the crossbar and off the back of the diving Sorensen for a 28th-minute own goal that was very much the handywork of the American. The Cottagers went on to win the match 2-1.
Donovan's Everton side was also up 1-0 in its match against Chelsea when the American picked up the ball on the right flank, cut in past David Luiz and slotted a great pass through to Denis Stracqualursi, who finished past Peter Cech.
Everton went on to win the match 2-0, and moved up to 10th in the EPL table. It was Donovan's 6th assist in just nine games with Everton since moving from LA Galaxy on a short-term loan.
Dempsey's long-range strike caused an own goal by Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, while Donovan added another assist to his English Premier League repertoire.
Facing Stoke and with Fulham already up 1-0, Dempsey drilled a 30-yard strike off the crossbar and off the back of the diving Sorensen for a 28th-minute own goal that was very much the handywork of the American. The Cottagers went on to win the match 2-1.
Donovan's Everton side was also up 1-0 in its match against Chelsea when the American picked up the ball on the right flank, cut in past David Luiz and slotted a great pass through to Denis Stracqualursi, who finished past Peter Cech.
Everton went on to win the match 2-0, and moved up to 10th in the EPL table. It was Donovan's 6th assist in just nine games with Everton since moving from LA Galaxy on a short-term loan.
In Maine, Paul vies to extend Romney losing streak
SANFORD, Maine (AP) — Mitt Romney hoped to avoid a fourth straight election setback Saturday in the GOP presidential nomination race, but feisty Ron Paul could extend that losing streak with a victory in Maine's caucuses.
Romney, the one-time front-runner, stepped up efforts to court Republicans in recent days, reflecting growing concern about the outcome of what has become a two-man race in Maine.
Neither Newt Gingrich nor Rick Santorum, who won in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado on Tuesday, is actively competing in Maine, where party officials planned to declare a winner Saturday evening.
Paul was optimistic as he greeted morning caucus-goers in Sanford, where a few hundred Republicans gathered in a nearly-filled high school gymnasium.
"I think we have a very good chance," Paul said. Romney will "be better off if he wins it and I'm going to be a lot better off if I win. So this will give me momentum and it will just maintain his. It's a pretty important state as far as I'm concerned."
Romney wants Maine voters to help in his struggle to convince his party's conservative wing that he should be the candidate they back. The former Massachusetts governor said in a Washington speech Friday that he was "a severely conservative Republican governor."
He echoed that message in Sanford minutes after Paul left, and later in the day at a crowded Portland caucus.
"In my home with my mom and dad I learned conservative values," Romney said. "I want to ask you and the people of Maine for your vote. If I get your vote, it'll help me become our nominee. If I become our nominee, I'm going to beat this guy and bring America back."
Paul, a libertarian-minded Texas congressman, is fighting to prove he's capable of winning at all, particularly in a state where his campaign has focused considerable attention. He has scored a few top three finishes in other early voting states, but his strategy is based on winning some of the smaller caucus contests where his passionate base of support can have an oversized impact.
Paul suggested his candidacy was at a critical juncture. Asked whether he would stay in the contest until the GOP's national convention in August, he answered: "I'm going to stay in as long as I'm in the race. And right now I'm in the race."
There is no reliable polling to gauge the state of the Maine election, which drew fewer than 5,500 voters from across the state four years ago. But Romney's recent activities suggest a victory is by no means assured, despite the natural advantages of being a former New England governor competing in a state he won with more than 50 percent of the vote four years ago.
He changed his schedule Friday night to add personal appearances at two caucuses Saturday; he had planned to take the day off.
Romney faced a rowdy crowd at a town hall-style meeting in Portland Friday night, where one heckler was removed by police. Others asked pointed questions about his off-shore bank accounts, feelings about the nation's poor, and his continued support for the natural gas extraction process known as fracking.
On Saturday morning, he suggested that he's the only one in the race who isn't a Washington insider.
"I have never spent a day in Washington working," Romney said. "I expect to go there, get it fixed, and then go home. I'm not going to stay in Washington."
Some crowd members chanted, "Ron Paul," as Romney left the crowded gymnasium.
Maine's nonbinding presidential straw poll, which began Feb. 4, has drawn virtually none of the hype surrounding recent elections in Florida and Nevada, where candidates poured millions of dollars into television and radio advertising.
Romney and his allies spent a combined $15.9 million in Florida. But his campaign had placed only a small cable television ad buy airing Friday and Saturday, at a cost of several thousand dollars. But he sent surrogates to the state in recent days and hosted a telephone town hall in addition to Friday's campaign stop.
Maine's caucuses are spread over a week.
The state party will announce a winner Saturday evening, although a few contests will be held Sunday. Washington County, in the state's far eastern region, postponed its caucuses until Feb. 18 because of a snow storm, disappointing some participants.
Helen Saccone, who's from Lubec, said she understands that weather could create problems, but that those who wanted to caucus should have had the chance. "It's Maine. Life goes on when it snows in Maine," she said.
The rural region is likely stronger territory for Paul, who has been more active than Romney in the state.
Paul did reasonably well in Maine four years ago, earning more than 18 percent of the vote, and his support has grown since then in a state whose electorate isn't afraid to support candidates outside the mainstream.
The tea party, hardly a Romney ally, has exerted significant influence, taking over the GOP platform and helping to elect Gov. Paul LePage.
"Paul needs to show he can win somewhere," GOP strategist Phil Musser said. "My sense is a win in Maine for Romney would be nice. But to be honest, Ron Paul is camped out up there and he needs to win one."
The timing of the contest also raises the stakes.
The narrative coming out of Maine will likely reverberate in the political echo chamber for weeks, given there isn't another election until Arizona and Michigan host their contests Feb. 28. Romney hopes that narrative will be more positive than it has been over the last week, arguably his worst of the year.
Romney, the one-time front-runner, stepped up efforts to court Republicans in recent days, reflecting growing concern about the outcome of what has become a two-man race in Maine.
Neither Newt Gingrich nor Rick Santorum, who won in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado on Tuesday, is actively competing in Maine, where party officials planned to declare a winner Saturday evening.
Paul was optimistic as he greeted morning caucus-goers in Sanford, where a few hundred Republicans gathered in a nearly-filled high school gymnasium.
"I think we have a very good chance," Paul said. Romney will "be better off if he wins it and I'm going to be a lot better off if I win. So this will give me momentum and it will just maintain his. It's a pretty important state as far as I'm concerned."
Romney wants Maine voters to help in his struggle to convince his party's conservative wing that he should be the candidate they back. The former Massachusetts governor said in a Washington speech Friday that he was "a severely conservative Republican governor."
He echoed that message in Sanford minutes after Paul left, and later in the day at a crowded Portland caucus.
"In my home with my mom and dad I learned conservative values," Romney said. "I want to ask you and the people of Maine for your vote. If I get your vote, it'll help me become our nominee. If I become our nominee, I'm going to beat this guy and bring America back."
Paul, a libertarian-minded Texas congressman, is fighting to prove he's capable of winning at all, particularly in a state where his campaign has focused considerable attention. He has scored a few top three finishes in other early voting states, but his strategy is based on winning some of the smaller caucus contests where his passionate base of support can have an oversized impact.
Paul suggested his candidacy was at a critical juncture. Asked whether he would stay in the contest until the GOP's national convention in August, he answered: "I'm going to stay in as long as I'm in the race. And right now I'm in the race."
There is no reliable polling to gauge the state of the Maine election, which drew fewer than 5,500 voters from across the state four years ago. But Romney's recent activities suggest a victory is by no means assured, despite the natural advantages of being a former New England governor competing in a state he won with more than 50 percent of the vote four years ago.
He changed his schedule Friday night to add personal appearances at two caucuses Saturday; he had planned to take the day off.
Romney faced a rowdy crowd at a town hall-style meeting in Portland Friday night, where one heckler was removed by police. Others asked pointed questions about his off-shore bank accounts, feelings about the nation's poor, and his continued support for the natural gas extraction process known as fracking.
On Saturday morning, he suggested that he's the only one in the race who isn't a Washington insider.
"I have never spent a day in Washington working," Romney said. "I expect to go there, get it fixed, and then go home. I'm not going to stay in Washington."
Some crowd members chanted, "Ron Paul," as Romney left the crowded gymnasium.
Maine's nonbinding presidential straw poll, which began Feb. 4, has drawn virtually none of the hype surrounding recent elections in Florida and Nevada, where candidates poured millions of dollars into television and radio advertising.
Romney and his allies spent a combined $15.9 million in Florida. But his campaign had placed only a small cable television ad buy airing Friday and Saturday, at a cost of several thousand dollars. But he sent surrogates to the state in recent days and hosted a telephone town hall in addition to Friday's campaign stop.
Maine's caucuses are spread over a week.
The state party will announce a winner Saturday evening, although a few contests will be held Sunday. Washington County, in the state's far eastern region, postponed its caucuses until Feb. 18 because of a snow storm, disappointing some participants.
Helen Saccone, who's from Lubec, said she understands that weather could create problems, but that those who wanted to caucus should have had the chance. "It's Maine. Life goes on when it snows in Maine," she said.
The rural region is likely stronger territory for Paul, who has been more active than Romney in the state.
Paul did reasonably well in Maine four years ago, earning more than 18 percent of the vote, and his support has grown since then in a state whose electorate isn't afraid to support candidates outside the mainstream.
The tea party, hardly a Romney ally, has exerted significant influence, taking over the GOP platform and helping to elect Gov. Paul LePage.
"Paul needs to show he can win somewhere," GOP strategist Phil Musser said. "My sense is a win in Maine for Romney would be nice. But to be honest, Ron Paul is camped out up there and he needs to win one."
The timing of the contest also raises the stakes.
The narrative coming out of Maine will likely reverberate in the political echo chamber for weeks, given there isn't another election until Arizona and Michigan host their contests Feb. 28. Romney hopes that narrative will be more positive than it has been over the last week, arguably his worst of the year.
Russia's Putin too busy to meet election observers
A group of European vote monitors said Saturday they were denied a meeting with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin ahead of next month's presidential elections because of his busy schedule.
The Russian premier is the overwhelming favourite to beat four weak rivals in a March 4 ballot that should hand him a third term as Kremlin chief.
The 59-year-old served as president in 2000-2008 and then as premier for the past four years before deciding to swap jobs with his hand-picked successor Dmitry Medvedev.
But Putin -- a former KGB agent whose domineering style went almost unchallenged until the first street protests against his rule broke out two months ago -- has refused to debate his rivals and already predicted his own victory.
A team of observers from the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) said that Putin's team this week also told them the prime minister was too busy to fit them into his schedule.
"We were informed that a meeting does not fit into Mr. Putin's plans," Interfax quoted mission head Tiny Kox as saying. "We accept that as the answer."
Putin has a history of testy relations with foreign vote monitors and in December accused the US State Department of inciting the rallies that followed that month's contested parliamentary polls.
His spokesman Dmitry Peskov had earlier in the week told the state RIA Novosti news agency that there was "no such meeting in Putin's schedule."
The PACE team said it met the other four candidates during its stay and recorded several complaints against Putin.
"The candidates who received the delegation were also unhappy that one of the candidates -- the current prime minister -- continues to use his administrative resources," PACE said in reference to Putin's regular appearances on state television.
Putin's team has launched a counter-offensive against the protests after initially appearing to have been caught off guard and uncertain about how to respond to the first public challenge against his authority.
State unions and organisations in recent weeks began busing their members and employees to a weekly series of tightly-choreographed rallies that hail Putin as a national leader who guarantees Russia's sovereignty.
Thousands more came out again across Russia's main provincial towns Saturday despite Arctic chills that sent temperatures plunging to minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 degrees Celsius) in some regions of Siberia.
Official news reports said the event in the central Russian region of Kirov was held under the slogan "I Love You Russia!" while the one in the Siberian city of Chita defended "A Strong, Stable and Sovereign Russia."
The biggest pro-Putin rally will be organised in Moscow on February 23 when Russia celebrates Defenders of the Fatherland Day.
The Russian premier is the overwhelming favourite to beat four weak rivals in a March 4 ballot that should hand him a third term as Kremlin chief.
The 59-year-old served as president in 2000-2008 and then as premier for the past four years before deciding to swap jobs with his hand-picked successor Dmitry Medvedev.
But Putin -- a former KGB agent whose domineering style went almost unchallenged until the first street protests against his rule broke out two months ago -- has refused to debate his rivals and already predicted his own victory.
A team of observers from the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) said that Putin's team this week also told them the prime minister was too busy to fit them into his schedule.
"We were informed that a meeting does not fit into Mr. Putin's plans," Interfax quoted mission head Tiny Kox as saying. "We accept that as the answer."
Putin has a history of testy relations with foreign vote monitors and in December accused the US State Department of inciting the rallies that followed that month's contested parliamentary polls.
His spokesman Dmitry Peskov had earlier in the week told the state RIA Novosti news agency that there was "no such meeting in Putin's schedule."
The PACE team said it met the other four candidates during its stay and recorded several complaints against Putin.
"The candidates who received the delegation were also unhappy that one of the candidates -- the current prime minister -- continues to use his administrative resources," PACE said in reference to Putin's regular appearances on state television.
Putin's team has launched a counter-offensive against the protests after initially appearing to have been caught off guard and uncertain about how to respond to the first public challenge against his authority.
State unions and organisations in recent weeks began busing their members and employees to a weekly series of tightly-choreographed rallies that hail Putin as a national leader who guarantees Russia's sovereignty.
Thousands more came out again across Russia's main provincial towns Saturday despite Arctic chills that sent temperatures plunging to minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 degrees Celsius) in some regions of Siberia.
Official news reports said the event in the central Russian region of Kirov was held under the slogan "I Love You Russia!" while the one in the Siberian city of Chita defended "A Strong, Stable and Sovereign Russia."
The biggest pro-Putin rally will be organised in Moscow on February 23 when Russia celebrates Defenders of the Fatherland Day.
2012年2月10日星期五
Former FBI Director Louis Freeh to Head Latest Penn State Probe
Former FBI director Louis Freeh was tapped today to head an independent investigation of Penn State University's role in allegations of child sex abuse by former football coach Jerry Sandusky.
The investigation announced today by the school's board of trustees is the fifth probe of the school launched since the scandal broke earlier this month.
The state attorney general's office, the federal Department of Education, the NCAA, and the university's faculty senate are all also investigating or planning investigations of the abuse and events surrounding it on Penn State's campus.
Today, the head of the board's special committee, Ken Frazier, announced that it had hired Freeh to look specifically at how the culture, policies, and practices of the university and its administration could have allowed the alleged sexual abuse to happen on campus and go unreported for so long. It will also seek to make recommendations to the board as to how to prevent similar events from ever occurring again, Frazier said.
"No one is above scrutiny," Frazier said.
Freeh, who led the FBI from 1993 to 2001, said he will use a team of former FBI agents, former U.S. attorneys and prosecutors and investigators with experience in pedophilia and sexual predators. The team will interview all individuals involved in the scandal as well as go through university records and documents going back to 1975, he said.
"I'm tasked with investigating the matter fully, fairly, and completely, without fear or favoritism, including the board of trustees," Freeh said. "The special committee ensured us total independence."
Freeh said his team will not have the power to issue subpoenas or force testimony.
As part of its work, Freeh's team will examine the Penn State University police, their role, practices, and investigative procedures, he said. Freeh said he will make all the results of the investigation available to public at the end of their work.
Frazier noted that Freeh has no connection to the university, or to Pennsylvania, and so would be an impartial investigator.
Former Top Fed Louis Freeh Heads Newest Penn State Probe
On Friday, the school's faculty senate decided to form their own special committee to look into the Sandusky allegations after feeling that the Board of Trustee's special committee was too closely tied to Penn State. Their committee will be comprised mainly of people who are not affiliated with the university, they said. They have not yet announced specific plans for its investigation.
The NCAA will examine how well the university oversaw its athletics programs, as well as the actions of relevant responsible personnel, according to a letter they sent the university. Sanctions against athletic programs could follow, they said.
The federal Board of Education also launched a probe into whether the university failed to comply with mandatory reporting requirements for crimes that occur on campus relating to 2002 incident in which graduate assistant Mike McQueary allegedly saw Sandusky raping a boy in the football complex showers and failed to report the incident to police.
An internal review has also been launched at the Second Mile, the charity founded by Sandusky and which he is accused of using to find vulnerable boys to abuse. Former Philadelphia district attorney Lynne Abraham, who prosecuted cases of sexual abuse in the Philadelphia Catholic diocese, was hired by the Second Mile to lead the investigation.
None of the investigators have given timeframes for the completion of their work..
The investigation announced today by the school's board of trustees is the fifth probe of the school launched since the scandal broke earlier this month.
The state attorney general's office, the federal Department of Education, the NCAA, and the university's faculty senate are all also investigating or planning investigations of the abuse and events surrounding it on Penn State's campus.
Today, the head of the board's special committee, Ken Frazier, announced that it had hired Freeh to look specifically at how the culture, policies, and practices of the university and its administration could have allowed the alleged sexual abuse to happen on campus and go unreported for so long. It will also seek to make recommendations to the board as to how to prevent similar events from ever occurring again, Frazier said.
"No one is above scrutiny," Frazier said.
Freeh, who led the FBI from 1993 to 2001, said he will use a team of former FBI agents, former U.S. attorneys and prosecutors and investigators with experience in pedophilia and sexual predators. The team will interview all individuals involved in the scandal as well as go through university records and documents going back to 1975, he said.
"I'm tasked with investigating the matter fully, fairly, and completely, without fear or favoritism, including the board of trustees," Freeh said. "The special committee ensured us total independence."
Freeh said his team will not have the power to issue subpoenas or force testimony.
As part of its work, Freeh's team will examine the Penn State University police, their role, practices, and investigative procedures, he said. Freeh said he will make all the results of the investigation available to public at the end of their work.
Frazier noted that Freeh has no connection to the university, or to Pennsylvania, and so would be an impartial investigator.
Former Top Fed Louis Freeh Heads Newest Penn State Probe
On Friday, the school's faculty senate decided to form their own special committee to look into the Sandusky allegations after feeling that the Board of Trustee's special committee was too closely tied to Penn State. Their committee will be comprised mainly of people who are not affiliated with the university, they said. They have not yet announced specific plans for its investigation.
The NCAA will examine how well the university oversaw its athletics programs, as well as the actions of relevant responsible personnel, according to a letter they sent the university. Sanctions against athletic programs could follow, they said.
The federal Board of Education also launched a probe into whether the university failed to comply with mandatory reporting requirements for crimes that occur on campus relating to 2002 incident in which graduate assistant Mike McQueary allegedly saw Sandusky raping a boy in the football complex showers and failed to report the incident to police.
An internal review has also been launched at the Second Mile, the charity founded by Sandusky and which he is accused of using to find vulnerable boys to abuse. Former Philadelphia district attorney Lynne Abraham, who prosecuted cases of sexual abuse in the Philadelphia Catholic diocese, was hired by the Second Mile to lead the investigation.
None of the investigators have given timeframes for the completion of their work..
Former FBI Director Louis Freeh to Head Latest Penn State Probe
Former FBI director Louis Freeh was tapped today to head an independent investigation of Penn State University's role in allegations of child sex abuse by former football coach Jerry Sandusky.
The investigation announced today by the school's board of trustees is the fifth probe of the school launched since the scandal broke earlier this month.
The state attorney general's office, the federal Department of Education, the NCAA, and the university's faculty senate are all also investigating or planning investigations of the abuse and events surrounding it on Penn State's campus.
Today, the head of the board's special committee, Ken Frazier, announced that it had hired Freeh to look specifically at how the culture, policies, and practices of the university and its administration could have allowed the alleged sexual abuse to happen on campus and go unreported for so long. It will also seek to make recommendations to the board as to how to prevent similar events from ever occurring again, Frazier said.
"No one is above scrutiny," Frazier said.
Freeh, who led the FBI from 1993 to 2001, said he will use a team of former FBI agents, former U.S. attorneys and prosecutors and investigators with experience in pedophilia and sexual predators. The team will interview all individuals involved in the scandal as well as go through university records and documents going back to 1975, he said.
"I'm tasked with investigating the matter fully, fairly, and completely, without fear or favoritism, including the board of trustees," Freeh said. "The special committee ensured us total independence."
Freeh said his team will not have the power to issue subpoenas or force testimony.
As part of its work, Freeh's team will examine the Penn State University police, their role, practices, and investigative procedures, he said. Freeh said he will make all the results of the investigation available to public at the end of their work.
Frazier noted that Freeh has no connection to the university, or to Pennsylvania, and so would be an impartial investigator.
But Freeh came under scrutiny shortly after the announcement for his years working at MBNA, once one of the nation's largest credit card companies, which held a $30 million contract with Penn State to obtain names and addresses of alumni and students, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Freeh worked from 2001 to 2006 as MBNA's general counsel, until the company was acquired by Bank of America.
ABCNews.com has also determined that Freeh's boss, MBNA's chief executive Ric Struthers, sat on the Smeal Business School Board of Visitors at Penn State and now sits on the Board of Trustees for the Second Mile, Jerry Sandusky's charity. Struthers helped coordinate the "MBNA Jerry Sandusky Testimonial Dinner and Roast," held by Penn State's athletics department to benefit the Second Mile, in 2000.
Tom Davies, a manager at the public relations firm Kekst & Co., hired by Penn State in the wake of the scandal, maintained that Freeh has no meaningful ties to Penn State.
"Judge Freeh has no previous personal connection to Penn State University," Davies said in a statement. "The investigation will be completely independent."
Former Top Fed Louis Freeh Heads Newest Penn State Probe
On Friday, the school's faculty senate decided to form their own special committee to look into the Sandusky allegations after feeling that the Board of Trustee's special committee was too closely tied to Penn State. Their committee will be comprised mainly of people who are not affiliated with the university, they said. They have not yet announced specific plans for its investigation.
The NCAA will examine how well the university oversaw its athletics programs, as well as the actions of relevant responsible personnel, according to a letter they sent the university. Sanctions against athletic programs could follow, they said.
The federal Board of Education also launched a probe into whether the university failed to comply with mandatory reporting requirements for crimes that occur on campus relating to 2002 incident in which graduate assistant Mike McQueary allegedly saw Sandusky raping a boy in the football complex showers and failed to report the incident to police.
An internal review has also been launched at the Second Mile, the charity founded by Sandusky and which he is accused of using to find vulnerable boys to abuse. Former Philadelphia district attorney Lynne Abraham, who prosecuted cases of sexual abuse in the Philadelphia Catholic diocese, was hired by the Second Mile to lead the investigation.
None of the investigators have given timeframes for the completion of their work..
The investigation announced today by the school's board of trustees is the fifth probe of the school launched since the scandal broke earlier this month.
The state attorney general's office, the federal Department of Education, the NCAA, and the university's faculty senate are all also investigating or planning investigations of the abuse and events surrounding it on Penn State's campus.
Today, the head of the board's special committee, Ken Frazier, announced that it had hired Freeh to look specifically at how the culture, policies, and practices of the university and its administration could have allowed the alleged sexual abuse to happen on campus and go unreported for so long. It will also seek to make recommendations to the board as to how to prevent similar events from ever occurring again, Frazier said.
"No one is above scrutiny," Frazier said.
Freeh, who led the FBI from 1993 to 2001, said he will use a team of former FBI agents, former U.S. attorneys and prosecutors and investigators with experience in pedophilia and sexual predators. The team will interview all individuals involved in the scandal as well as go through university records and documents going back to 1975, he said.
"I'm tasked with investigating the matter fully, fairly, and completely, without fear or favoritism, including the board of trustees," Freeh said. "The special committee ensured us total independence."
Freeh said his team will not have the power to issue subpoenas or force testimony.
As part of its work, Freeh's team will examine the Penn State University police, their role, practices, and investigative procedures, he said. Freeh said he will make all the results of the investigation available to public at the end of their work.
Frazier noted that Freeh has no connection to the university, or to Pennsylvania, and so would be an impartial investigator.
But Freeh came under scrutiny shortly after the announcement for his years working at MBNA, once one of the nation's largest credit card companies, which held a $30 million contract with Penn State to obtain names and addresses of alumni and students, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Freeh worked from 2001 to 2006 as MBNA's general counsel, until the company was acquired by Bank of America.
ABCNews.com has also determined that Freeh's boss, MBNA's chief executive Ric Struthers, sat on the Smeal Business School Board of Visitors at Penn State and now sits on the Board of Trustees for the Second Mile, Jerry Sandusky's charity. Struthers helped coordinate the "MBNA Jerry Sandusky Testimonial Dinner and Roast," held by Penn State's athletics department to benefit the Second Mile, in 2000.
Tom Davies, a manager at the public relations firm Kekst & Co., hired by Penn State in the wake of the scandal, maintained that Freeh has no meaningful ties to Penn State.
"Judge Freeh has no previous personal connection to Penn State University," Davies said in a statement. "The investigation will be completely independent."
Former Top Fed Louis Freeh Heads Newest Penn State Probe
On Friday, the school's faculty senate decided to form their own special committee to look into the Sandusky allegations after feeling that the Board of Trustee's special committee was too closely tied to Penn State. Their committee will be comprised mainly of people who are not affiliated with the university, they said. They have not yet announced specific plans for its investigation.
The NCAA will examine how well the university oversaw its athletics programs, as well as the actions of relevant responsible personnel, according to a letter they sent the university. Sanctions against athletic programs could follow, they said.
The federal Board of Education also launched a probe into whether the university failed to comply with mandatory reporting requirements for crimes that occur on campus relating to 2002 incident in which graduate assistant Mike McQueary allegedly saw Sandusky raping a boy in the football complex showers and failed to report the incident to police.
An internal review has also been launched at the Second Mile, the charity founded by Sandusky and which he is accused of using to find vulnerable boys to abuse. Former Philadelphia district attorney Lynne Abraham, who prosecuted cases of sexual abuse in the Philadelphia Catholic diocese, was hired by the Second Mile to lead the investigation.
None of the investigators have given timeframes for the completion of their work..
Will Shoppers Stay Home on Black Friday?
Consumers feel worse about their finances than last year with 41 percent saying they plan to spend less during the holidays, according to a survey by the Consumer Federation of America.
Retailers are hoping for a busy Black Friday to kick off the holiday shopping season, which traditionally contributes 20 percent to annual retail sales.
When asked, where are you going and what are you planning to get on Black Friday? many ABC News Facebook fans say they plan to avoid crowded stores in favor of locally-owned businesses.
"Shop local, please!" Leslie Kinder, a business owner in Wichita, Kan., said. "The economy needs you to spend your money with us little guys this year. Do your homework and you'll find the local guys will give you just as good a deal as the big box stores, and they'll give you good service to boot."
Overall, only 8 percent of shoppers plan to spend more than they did last year, according to the 12th annual survey released Monday by the Consumer Federation of America and the Credit Union National Association.
Of the 1,011 survey respondents across the country, 37 percent said their financial condition is worse now than a year ago, compared with 30 percent who felt similarly last year.
Many ABC News Facebook fans said they will not be shopping but working, trying to perhaps improve their own financial standing. Some workers have expressed dismay over stores' earlier opening times, as an more retailers announced they will open at midnight or even earlier. Toys "R" Us will be opening at 9 p.m. for the first time this year.
Kathy Kaufman Weber said it was "very iffy" that she would go Black Friday shopping at all. If so, she said she would be "much more likely" to shop at stores opening at midnight.
"I will not get up at the crack of dark to go to a store where it is likely to not garner me anything worthwhile," she said.
Donna Johnson McNeece said she will be "going to bed early and sleeping in" after cooking for two days "on my feet."
"That sounds better to me than trying to get around a store full of people, who seem to lose their manners on that day," she said.
The Consumer Federation of America survey responses showed an improvement from the downbeat results of 2008 in which 55 percent said they intended to spend less.
But from 2000 to 2007, the percentage who said they planned to spend less never exceeded 35 percent. The federation notes that because consumers always spend more than they intend, the year-to-year comparisons, not the absolute levels, are what's meaningful for predicting spending.
The survey showed a direct link between financial condition and spending. Of those who said they planned to spend more, 33 percent said their financial condition had improved since last year, while only 19 percent said it had declined. Of those who said they plan to spend less, only 15 percent indicated their financial condition had improved while 55 percent said it had worsened.
Jean Mohler in Canton, Ga., said she is not exchanging gifts this year. Instead, she is "holding on" to the money she she has and will be "giving things to friends and family I already own."
"Good food, good family gatherings, laughs and love -- those are my gifts!" she wrote.
Retailers are hoping for a busy Black Friday to kick off the holiday shopping season, which traditionally contributes 20 percent to annual retail sales.
When asked, where are you going and what are you planning to get on Black Friday? many ABC News Facebook fans say they plan to avoid crowded stores in favor of locally-owned businesses.
"Shop local, please!" Leslie Kinder, a business owner in Wichita, Kan., said. "The economy needs you to spend your money with us little guys this year. Do your homework and you'll find the local guys will give you just as good a deal as the big box stores, and they'll give you good service to boot."
Overall, only 8 percent of shoppers plan to spend more than they did last year, according to the 12th annual survey released Monday by the Consumer Federation of America and the Credit Union National Association.
Of the 1,011 survey respondents across the country, 37 percent said their financial condition is worse now than a year ago, compared with 30 percent who felt similarly last year.
Many ABC News Facebook fans said they will not be shopping but working, trying to perhaps improve their own financial standing. Some workers have expressed dismay over stores' earlier opening times, as an more retailers announced they will open at midnight or even earlier. Toys "R" Us will be opening at 9 p.m. for the first time this year.
Kathy Kaufman Weber said it was "very iffy" that she would go Black Friday shopping at all. If so, she said she would be "much more likely" to shop at stores opening at midnight.
"I will not get up at the crack of dark to go to a store where it is likely to not garner me anything worthwhile," she said.
Donna Johnson McNeece said she will be "going to bed early and sleeping in" after cooking for two days "on my feet."
"That sounds better to me than trying to get around a store full of people, who seem to lose their manners on that day," she said.
The Consumer Federation of America survey responses showed an improvement from the downbeat results of 2008 in which 55 percent said they intended to spend less.
But from 2000 to 2007, the percentage who said they planned to spend less never exceeded 35 percent. The federation notes that because consumers always spend more than they intend, the year-to-year comparisons, not the absolute levels, are what's meaningful for predicting spending.
The survey showed a direct link between financial condition and spending. Of those who said they planned to spend more, 33 percent said their financial condition had improved since last year, while only 19 percent said it had declined. Of those who said they plan to spend less, only 15 percent indicated their financial condition had improved while 55 percent said it had worsened.
Jean Mohler in Canton, Ga., said she is not exchanging gifts this year. Instead, she is "holding on" to the money she she has and will be "giving things to friends and family I already own."
"Good food, good family gatherings, laughs and love -- those are my gifts!" she wrote.
'Gamer' Husband Auctioned Off on Craigslist
Alyse Baddley, 21, hadn’t spent quality time with her husband, Kyle, in quite a while. Kyle was too engrossed in his game of “Modern Warfare” to notice. So Alyse cooked up a scheme to put the 22-year-old in his place: by selling him on Craigslist.
Alyse, frustrated by her husband’s unresponsive behavior, told her mother-in-law, “I’m going to sell your son on Craigslist.”
‘”She said, ‘Oh do it!” Alyse recalled in an interview with ABCNews.com.
So the two composed a message on the Logan, Utah, site offering to trade Kyle to a “good home.”
According to the advertisement, Kyle “enjoys eating and playing video games all day.” And he’s “easy to maintain, just feed and water every 3-5 hours,” the ad advised.
The bidder “must have Internet and space for gaming.” However, the Craigslist post noted, if “an acceptable replacement” was offered, Alyse would be willing to trade husbands with someone.
Alyse was surprised to receive a number for responses, mainly humorous messages from amused readers.
One woman offered to train Kyle and give him back. Another respondent, a man, wrote that he was already house-trained and would love to trade himself for Kyle, adding that he preferred reading books to playing video games.
But a few readers evidently took the ad more seriously, writing to Alyse that they were concerned about her relationship with Kyle.
Kyle’s father, Scott Baddley, said he sees no cause for concern. Kyle is not devoting as much time to “Modern Warfare” now, he said. In fact, the couple is on the way to Florida to spend Thanksgiving with Kyle’s sister.
Alyse and Kyle married in 2010, right before Kyle headed for Afghanistan to complete his military service.
“The ad was all just a joke, and I love my husband and he loves me,” Alyse said. “I didn’t ever think anyone would reply to this, but it’s gotten so much attention, which is kind of cool.”
Below, the full post:
“I am selling my 22 year old husband. He enjoys eating and playing video games all day. Easy to maintain, just feed and water every 3-5 hours. You must have Internet and space for gaming. Got tired of waiting so free to good home. If acceptable replacement is offered will trade.”
Alyse, frustrated by her husband’s unresponsive behavior, told her mother-in-law, “I’m going to sell your son on Craigslist.”
‘”She said, ‘Oh do it!” Alyse recalled in an interview with ABCNews.com.
So the two composed a message on the Logan, Utah, site offering to trade Kyle to a “good home.”
According to the advertisement, Kyle “enjoys eating and playing video games all day.” And he’s “easy to maintain, just feed and water every 3-5 hours,” the ad advised.
The bidder “must have Internet and space for gaming.” However, the Craigslist post noted, if “an acceptable replacement” was offered, Alyse would be willing to trade husbands with someone.
Alyse was surprised to receive a number for responses, mainly humorous messages from amused readers.
One woman offered to train Kyle and give him back. Another respondent, a man, wrote that he was already house-trained and would love to trade himself for Kyle, adding that he preferred reading books to playing video games.
But a few readers evidently took the ad more seriously, writing to Alyse that they were concerned about her relationship with Kyle.
Kyle’s father, Scott Baddley, said he sees no cause for concern. Kyle is not devoting as much time to “Modern Warfare” now, he said. In fact, the couple is on the way to Florida to spend Thanksgiving with Kyle’s sister.
Alyse and Kyle married in 2010, right before Kyle headed for Afghanistan to complete his military service.
“The ad was all just a joke, and I love my husband and he loves me,” Alyse said. “I didn’t ever think anyone would reply to this, but it’s gotten so much attention, which is kind of cool.”
Below, the full post:
“I am selling my 22 year old husband. He enjoys eating and playing video games all day. Easy to maintain, just feed and water every 3-5 hours. You must have Internet and space for gaming. Got tired of waiting so free to good home. If acceptable replacement is offered will trade.”
Greyhound Left the Driving to the Passengers
Passengers aboard a Greyhound bus traveling from Memphis to St. Louis got more than the trip they bargained for Friday, after they were abandoned by their bus driver, twice.
The first bump in the 45 Greyhound passengers’ ill-fated journey began with a stop near Sikeston, Mo., along I-55. Passengers told St. Louis’s KSDK the 45-year-old female driver, whom Greyhound officials would not name, pulled over because she wanted a 65-year-old passenger whom she said was being unruly off the bus.
Back on the road, nearly 40 miles later in Cape Girardeau, the driver again pulled the bus over on the side of the road. At this stop, the driver told passengers she was the one leaving, locked the bus door and went outside to wait for a ride.
Local police arrived after alarmed passengers called 911 and ordered the driver back on the bus.
The driver complied to the officers’ commands, KSDK reports, but instead of continuing on to St. Louis, drove the bus to nearby Charleston, Mo., instead.
There the driver stopped at a truck stop and left the bus again around midnight, this time for good.
The bus’s now-stranded passengers called Greyhound but ended up having to spend the night on the bus after it took several hours for a replacement driver to arrive.
The passengers finally arrived in St. Louis around noon on Saturday, nearly 12 hours late.
Greyhound apologized for the driver’s actions, and said it would issue refunds to all passengers.
The bus company also announced it would discipline the driver, who has been with Greyhound since 2004, today.
“I think it’s safe to say the protocol was not followed,” Greyhound spokesman Maureen Richmond told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “It’s inexcusable and certainly unprecedented.”
The first bump in the 45 Greyhound passengers’ ill-fated journey began with a stop near Sikeston, Mo., along I-55. Passengers told St. Louis’s KSDK the 45-year-old female driver, whom Greyhound officials would not name, pulled over because she wanted a 65-year-old passenger whom she said was being unruly off the bus.
Back on the road, nearly 40 miles later in Cape Girardeau, the driver again pulled the bus over on the side of the road. At this stop, the driver told passengers she was the one leaving, locked the bus door and went outside to wait for a ride.
Local police arrived after alarmed passengers called 911 and ordered the driver back on the bus.
The driver complied to the officers’ commands, KSDK reports, but instead of continuing on to St. Louis, drove the bus to nearby Charleston, Mo., instead.
There the driver stopped at a truck stop and left the bus again around midnight, this time for good.
The bus’s now-stranded passengers called Greyhound but ended up having to spend the night on the bus after it took several hours for a replacement driver to arrive.
The passengers finally arrived in St. Louis around noon on Saturday, nearly 12 hours late.
Greyhound apologized for the driver’s actions, and said it would issue refunds to all passengers.
The bus company also announced it would discipline the driver, who has been with Greyhound since 2004, today.
“I think it’s safe to say the protocol was not followed,” Greyhound spokesman Maureen Richmond told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “It’s inexcusable and certainly unprecedented.”
Greyhound Left the Driving to the Passengers
Passengers aboard a Greyhound bus traveling from Memphis to St. Louis got more than the trip they bargained for Friday, after they were abandoned by their bus driver, twice.
The first bump in the 45 Greyhound passengers’ ill-fated journey began with a stop near Sikeston, Mo., along I-55. Passengers told St. Louis’s KSDK the 45-year-old female driver, whom Greyhound officials would not name, pulled over because she wanted a 65-year-old passenger whom she said was being unruly off the bus.
Back on the road, nearly 40 miles later in Cape Girardeau, the driver again pulled the bus over on the side of the road. At this stop, the driver told passengers she was the one leaving, locked the bus door and went outside to wait for a ride.
Local police arrived after alarmed passengers called 911 and ordered the driver back on the bus.
The driver complied to the officers’ commands, KSDK reports, but instead of continuing on to St. Louis, drove the bus to nearby Charleston, Mo., instead.
There the driver stopped at a truck stop and left the bus again around midnight, this time for good.
The bus’s now-stranded passengers called Greyhound but ended up having to spend the night on the bus after it took several hours for a replacement driver to arrive.
The passengers finally arrived in St. Louis around noon on Saturday, nearly 12 hours late.
Greyhound apologized for the driver’s actions, and said it would issue refunds to all passengers.
The bus company also announced it would discipline the driver, who has been with Greyhound since 2004, today.
“I think it’s safe to say the protocol was not followed,” Greyhound spokesman Maureen Richmond told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “It’s inexcusable and certainly unprecedented.”
The first bump in the 45 Greyhound passengers’ ill-fated journey began with a stop near Sikeston, Mo., along I-55. Passengers told St. Louis’s KSDK the 45-year-old female driver, whom Greyhound officials would not name, pulled over because she wanted a 65-year-old passenger whom she said was being unruly off the bus.
Back on the road, nearly 40 miles later in Cape Girardeau, the driver again pulled the bus over on the side of the road. At this stop, the driver told passengers she was the one leaving, locked the bus door and went outside to wait for a ride.
Local police arrived after alarmed passengers called 911 and ordered the driver back on the bus.
The driver complied to the officers’ commands, KSDK reports, but instead of continuing on to St. Louis, drove the bus to nearby Charleston, Mo., instead.
There the driver stopped at a truck stop and left the bus again around midnight, this time for good.
The bus’s now-stranded passengers called Greyhound but ended up having to spend the night on the bus after it took several hours for a replacement driver to arrive.
The passengers finally arrived in St. Louis around noon on Saturday, nearly 12 hours late.
Greyhound apologized for the driver’s actions, and said it would issue refunds to all passengers.
The bus company also announced it would discipline the driver, who has been with Greyhound since 2004, today.
“I think it’s safe to say the protocol was not followed,” Greyhound spokesman Maureen Richmond told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “It’s inexcusable and certainly unprecedented.”
'Supercommittee' Failure Prompts Fear of 'Devastating' Pentagon Cuts
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has warned that possible budget cuts triggered by the breakdown of the congresssional “supercommittee“ would have devastating consequences, but many skeptics question whether such dire predictions are an exaggeration.
If members of Congress cannot implement a contingency plan, the Pentagon would have to bear half of the $1.2 trillion in budget cuts. The cuts would begin in 2013, when the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Defense Department would have to slash 10 percent, or about $550 billion, from its budget. Combined with the $450 billion worth of cuts already planned, that would amount to $1 trillion in the next decade.
After 10 years, the cuts would leave the United States with the smallest ground forces since 1940, a Navy fleet that would be the smallest since 1915 and the lowest number of fighters in the Air Force’s history, Panetta warned. The Pentagon would have to cancel acquisition programs such as the Army’s helicopter and ground vehicle modernization programs and the new Air Force bomber program, delay others, and reduce the fleet. Wartime funding would not be affected.
“The impacts of these cuts would be devastating for the department,” Panetta said in a letter to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., last week. It “would render most of our ship and construction projects unexecutable,” and “seriously damage other modernization efforts.”
The cuts would be a double-edged sword, experts say. On the one hand, they would force the Pentagon to look more closely at its budget, which has ballooned in recent years, and make much-needed changes in how it allocates taxpayer dollars. On the other hand, it could make the Defense Department less efficient in the short term.
“The cuts are not as draconian as you might expect, given the rhetoric, but they are serious nevertheless,” said Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. “It’s not the depth of the cuts. It’s the abruptness with which they will occur.”
Instead of making “smart cuts,” such as reducing the number of bases and the number of military and civilian personnel, the Pentagon would be forced to make “quick cuts” right away, Harrison added. That would likely entail terminating or delaying acquisition programs, a move that could end up costing more money in the future.
The cuts would put the Defense Department’s budget at $472 billion, the same level as in 2007, a spending high for the Pentagon. If it remains at 2007 levels, U.S. military spending would be almost three times that of China, and $38 billion above average annual spending during the Cold War, points out Winslow Wheeler, director of the Straus Military Reform Project and the Center for Defense Information.
Citing these numbers, supporters of defense budget cuts say Panetta’s warnings are overblown and that sequestration would be beneficial because it will force a change in the Pentagon’s culture of unquestioned funding by Congress.
Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the department has added $1.3 trillion in its budget for the wars and $1 trillion for its base budget. But all the while, the Navy and Air Force fleets have gotten smaller, the forces are less trained and the equipment is, on average, older than what it was a decade ago, Wheeler said.
“It’s a very flush-with-money budget,” Wheeler said. “To call such a level of spending a ‘catastrophe,’ or ‘doomsday,’ is a failure of management and intellect every bit as complete as the political failure of the hapless Democrats and Republicans on the so-called supercommittee.”
“The party’s over,” Wheeler added. “The Department of Defense needs to start making informed, hard decisions and those managers who cannot operate in that environment need to be replaced.”
Despite the supercommittee’s failure, members of Congress have the power to enact changes that would lessen the impact on the Pentagon. They can delay implementation of sequestration or change the terms so that the Defense Department has to bear less of the budget cuts, but then that money would need to come from social programs.
Members of Congress are hesitant to implement Pentagon budget cuts, but given the stalemate and bipartisan wrangling, it remains unclear whether there will be an alternative. If history is a guide, the automatic budget cuts likely won’t go into effect. The two times sequestration has occurred, first in 1988 and then in 1990, the budget cuts were either reduced or ended by legislation.
Top Pentagon officials have “ratcheted up the rhetoric about what the defense cuts would mean to a level where they’re fairly confident that Congress won’t actually let it go into effect in 2013,” Harrison said. “They are not doing anything to plan for the contingency. … They are hoping there is a silver bullet that’s going solve everything for them. There’s no guarantee that that will happen.”
If members of Congress cannot implement a contingency plan, the Pentagon would have to bear half of the $1.2 trillion in budget cuts. The cuts would begin in 2013, when the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Defense Department would have to slash 10 percent, or about $550 billion, from its budget. Combined with the $450 billion worth of cuts already planned, that would amount to $1 trillion in the next decade.
After 10 years, the cuts would leave the United States with the smallest ground forces since 1940, a Navy fleet that would be the smallest since 1915 and the lowest number of fighters in the Air Force’s history, Panetta warned. The Pentagon would have to cancel acquisition programs such as the Army’s helicopter and ground vehicle modernization programs and the new Air Force bomber program, delay others, and reduce the fleet. Wartime funding would not be affected.
“The impacts of these cuts would be devastating for the department,” Panetta said in a letter to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., last week. It “would render most of our ship and construction projects unexecutable,” and “seriously damage other modernization efforts.”
The cuts would be a double-edged sword, experts say. On the one hand, they would force the Pentagon to look more closely at its budget, which has ballooned in recent years, and make much-needed changes in how it allocates taxpayer dollars. On the other hand, it could make the Defense Department less efficient in the short term.
“The cuts are not as draconian as you might expect, given the rhetoric, but they are serious nevertheless,” said Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. “It’s not the depth of the cuts. It’s the abruptness with which they will occur.”
Instead of making “smart cuts,” such as reducing the number of bases and the number of military and civilian personnel, the Pentagon would be forced to make “quick cuts” right away, Harrison added. That would likely entail terminating or delaying acquisition programs, a move that could end up costing more money in the future.
The cuts would put the Defense Department’s budget at $472 billion, the same level as in 2007, a spending high for the Pentagon. If it remains at 2007 levels, U.S. military spending would be almost three times that of China, and $38 billion above average annual spending during the Cold War, points out Winslow Wheeler, director of the Straus Military Reform Project and the Center for Defense Information.
Citing these numbers, supporters of defense budget cuts say Panetta’s warnings are overblown and that sequestration would be beneficial because it will force a change in the Pentagon’s culture of unquestioned funding by Congress.
Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the department has added $1.3 trillion in its budget for the wars and $1 trillion for its base budget. But all the while, the Navy and Air Force fleets have gotten smaller, the forces are less trained and the equipment is, on average, older than what it was a decade ago, Wheeler said.
“It’s a very flush-with-money budget,” Wheeler said. “To call such a level of spending a ‘catastrophe,’ or ‘doomsday,’ is a failure of management and intellect every bit as complete as the political failure of the hapless Democrats and Republicans on the so-called supercommittee.”
“The party’s over,” Wheeler added. “The Department of Defense needs to start making informed, hard decisions and those managers who cannot operate in that environment need to be replaced.”
Despite the supercommittee’s failure, members of Congress have the power to enact changes that would lessen the impact on the Pentagon. They can delay implementation of sequestration or change the terms so that the Defense Department has to bear less of the budget cuts, but then that money would need to come from social programs.
Members of Congress are hesitant to implement Pentagon budget cuts, but given the stalemate and bipartisan wrangling, it remains unclear whether there will be an alternative. If history is a guide, the automatic budget cuts likely won’t go into effect. The two times sequestration has occurred, first in 1988 and then in 1990, the budget cuts were either reduced or ended by legislation.
Top Pentagon officials have “ratcheted up the rhetoric about what the defense cuts would mean to a level where they’re fairly confident that Congress won’t actually let it go into effect in 2013,” Harrison said. “They are not doing anything to plan for the contingency. … They are hoping there is a silver bullet that’s going solve everything for them. There’s no guarantee that that will happen.”
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