Chinese University Denies Involvement in 'Economic Espionage'
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A Chinese state-run university named in a U.S. indictment as being linked to suspected economic espionage has denied being involved in inappropriate activity, calling the allegations an attempt by American authorities to politicize a technical dispute.
 KOMO News |
Police: Washington officer shot men who tried to steal beer
Washington Post OLYMPIA, Washington — Police in the capital of Washington state say an officer shot two men in their 20s suspected of trying to steal beer from a grocery store. Olympia Police Chief Ronnie Roberts said at an early Thursday news conference that both men ... 2 shoplifting suspects shot, critically injured by Olympia copKOMO News Olympia police officer shoots suspected shopliftersKING5.com Two men shot by Olympia police after allegedly shoplifting beerMyNorthwest.com Sky Valley Chronicle all 9 news articles » |
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MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow and Baghdad are expanding military cooperation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday during talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in the Kremlin.
Authorities believe man -- possibly with help -- tortured Savopolous family to death in their home before torching it, and took his time doing it
Mexico’s economy slowed down in the first quarter, as faltering manufactured exports, affected by the severe winter in the U.S., offset an incipient recovery in domestic consumption.
PARACHINAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Air strikes killed at least 15 suspected militants in Pakistan's northwestern Shawal Valley on Thursday, intelligence officials said, a week after security forces moved in on Taliban strongholds there.
 Philly.com |
IS affiliate in Egypt vows to attack judges over executions
Washington Post CAIRO — The leader of an Islamic State affiliate in Egypt has vowed to kill judges and security forces in retaliation for the execution of six suspected militants earlier this week. Abu Osama el-Masri, the leader of the group calling itself the Sinai Province, made ... Egypt militants call for attacks on judgesThe Guardian Nigeria all 25 Austria's FM: we reject 'inhuman' capital punishmentThe Cairo Post Worldview: Egypt's Sisi fueling discontentPhilly.com all 21 news articles » |
Young British man found dead on a German motorway in 2003 may have suffered psychological violence, French expert tells inquest
A British student who was thought to have killed himself in Germany may have been put under severe psychological pressure by a rightwing cult in the days before he died, an inquest has heard.
Jeremiah Duggan, 22, was found dead on a road near Wiesbaden on 27 March 2003 after he attended a youth event organised by the far-right movement LaRouche.
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The EU begins a summit with six eastern countries in Latvia, Kyrgyzstan joins the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union, Azerbaijani workers tear down facades blamed for a deadly fire in Baku, and the European Rafting Championships kick off in Bosnia. (RFE/RL)
Thailand’s Shame by Mackenzie Yang
Each april, Thailand celebrates its New Year, marking the onset of the monsoon rains and the bounty of the rice harvest. The festival is not just the playful dousing of family and friends with water, signifying the cleansing of sins and bad luck. It is also a period of reflection, including the symbolic asking for forgiveness by young Thais for their youthful indiscretions.
The Labour Party will not elect a new leader until the autumn, giving candidates time to battle over the rubble of a party that had its worst showing in nearly 30 years.
Saudi Airstrike Hits Aid Office, Killing 5by webdesk@voanews.com (Reuters)
Saudi shells hit an international humanitarian aid office in northern Yemen on Thursday, killing five Ethiopian refugees and wounding 10, a local official said. Artillery fire and airstrikes hit the town of Maydee along Yemen's border with Saudi Arabia in Hajja province, a stronghold of the Iran-allied Houthi militia that a Saudi-led Arab alliance has been bombing for eight weeks. Saudi forces and Houthi militiamen exchanged heavy artillery and rocket fire, and Arab airstrikes hit...
Father of the house condemns parliamentary conduct of Scottish nationalists as infantile after attempt to take veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner’s seat
The longest-serving MP in the House of Commons, Labour’s Sir Gerald Kaufman, has condemned the parliamentary conduct of Scottish National party MPs as infantile, describing them as “goons”.
The SNP’s 50 new members angered traditionalists before the election of the Speaker on Monday when some attempted to turf the veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner out of the seat he has claimed for nearly 45 years.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said during talks with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on May 21 that Moscow and Baghdad are expanding military cooperation.
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A British bomb-maker has been found guilty of building improvised explosive devices to kill American soldiers in Iraq.
The eurozone’s economy slowed and consumer confidence weakened for the second straight month in May, according to surveys.
Andrzej Duda also wants to recalibrate the country’s relationship with neighbouring Germany
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on two firms based in Iraq and in the United Arab Emirates for helping Iran purchase second-hand civilian aircraft.
Washington sends bold signal to Beijing by flying hi-tech surveillance jet over Spratly Islands, and gets an unwelcome response
The White House laid out a strategy Tuesday to address a surge in honeybee deaths that includes scrutinizing the effect of pesticides on pollinators and planting more bee-friendly vegetation on federal land.
Bees routinely die during the winter months, but the rate has been rising, and beekeepers have recently started to lose a large number in the summer, too. More than 40% of U.S. honeybee colonies died in the year ended in April, the Agriculture Department said this month.
In its report Tuesday, a White House task force said it wanted to lower the proportion of colony losses in the cold months to 15% within 10 years, down from 23% this past winter.
Among the many causes scientists are researching is the role played by pesticides—particularly a class known as neonicotinoids, often applied to crops.
Pesticides are absorbed by plant tissues and then transferred to pollen and nectar. Bees, used to pollinate many different types of crops in the U.S., exhibit a wide range of sensitivities to neonicotinoids, the report said.
The task force said the Environmental Protection Agency would take the lead in coming years to research the potential safety risks posed by pesticides and to reduce their impact on bees. In April, the EPA said it would stop approving new outdoor uses for those types of chemicals until more studies on bee health are conducted.
“Mitigating the effects of pesticides on bees is a priority for the federal government,” the task force said.
Scientists believe various factors are hurting bees, including nutrition deficiencies that stem from limited access to high-quality and diverse food sources, the report said.
To address that, the task force called for improving 7 million acres of land as habitat for pollinators—envisioned as a combination of action by the federal government and public-private partnerships.
Other harmful factors include the stress of frequently moving colonies to pollinate various crops, and the Varroa mite, a bloodsucking parasite that weakens bees and introduces diseases to hives.
While beekeepers have a way of repopulating their hives—splitting healthy hives in half and installing new queens to replenish the colonies—they are struggling to keep up with the cost and time of doing so.
The federal government doesn’t count the number of beekeepers, but the American Beekeeping Federation has said its membership roster has fallen by at least half in the past two decades. Fewer beekeepers present a serious challenge to the agriculture industry, which relies on bees to pollinate some $15 billion of crops each year.
The task force report said federal funding already is being directed toward improving the health of pollinators, and noted that the Obama budget request for fiscal 2016 includes more than $82 million in funding, $34 million more than the $48.5 million in the current budget for the year ending Sept. 30.
Some environmental groups, which have been calling on the EPA to ban all neonicotinoid pesticides, criticized the task force, saying the efforts don’t go far enough to protect bees. “Failure to address this growing crisis with a unified and meaningful federal plan will put these essential pollinators and our food supply in jeopardy,” said Tiffany Finck-Haynes, a campaigner at Friends of the Earth.
CropLife America, which represents pesticide companies, said bee colonies aren’t harmed when pesticides are used appropriately. “We will continue to work with growers, beekeepers, regulators and other stakeholders to promote responsible pesticide use,” said CropLife America President Jay Vroom.
The task force also set a five-year goal of increasing the Eastern population of the monarch butterfly. The report noted pollinator-friendly landscaping and gardens are already planted at the USDA, the Smithsonian Institution and at the White House. The Obamas keep a beehive on the South Lawn of the White House, and the bees help to pollinate the kitchen garden.
Write to Tennille Tracy at tennille.tracy@wsj.com
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Former DEA agent, employee charged with secretly running strip club
Daily Mail NEW YORK, May 20 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities announced charges on Wednesday against a former Drug Enforcement Administration supervisor and a technology specialist at the agency for failing to disclose their ownership stake in a New Jersey strip club. and more » |
Pro-government forces pull back leaving heritage site in danger
The Islamic State captured the ancient Syrian town of Palmyra after government defense lines there collapsed May 20, a stunning triumph for the group only days after it gained control of the strategic city of Ramadi in Iraq.
Plane carrying tonne of cocaine crashes during chase by Colombian air force by Staff and agencies in Bogota
Pilot’s body recovered from small Hawker jet that went into ocean when engine failed during escape attempt
A plane from Venezuela with more than a tonne of cocaine on board has crashed into the Caribbean while being pursued by Colombia’s air force.
The air force said fighter jets intercepted the plane after it entered Colombia’s air space on Wednesday and ordered it to descend. After the pilot made an evasive manoeuvre one of the plane’s motors apparently failed and the aircraft crashed off the coast of Puerto Colombia, the military said.
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SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - A kingpin from Mexico's Sinaloa drugs cartel whose boasting on social media may have led to his arrest pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import tons of cocaine and marijuana on Wednesday in federal court in San Diego.
President Ramzan A. Kadyrov of Chechnya finally had enough Wednesday of social media users mocking him relentlessly for seeming to push polygamy. His solution? Keep women locked up at home.
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Legion of foreign fighters battles for Islamic Stateby By JOHN-THOR DAHLBURG and MISHA DZHINDZHIKHASHVILI
PANKISI GORGE, Georgia (AP) -- One day this April, instead of coming home from school, two teenagers left their valley high in the Caucasus, and went off to war....
Concern About Palmyra’s Ancient Riches by ROBIN POGREBIN
Palmyra — whose rich, monumental ruins include the Temple of Ba’al; an ancient theater; and a famous 2000-year-old colonnade that is already scarred by mortar fire — is threatened by the arrival of Islamic State militants.
Obama administration officials have called the fall of Ramadi a huge setback, but they have sought to quell critics in the region with the deployment of weapons, expected to arrive in early June.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Amnesty International said Thursday that Qatar is failing to deliver on reforms for its migrant workers a year after the wealthy Gulf nation announced plans to improve conditions for low-paid laborers building its highways, hotels, stadiums and skyscrapers....
CAIRO — A year ago, Mohamed Zarea ran a successful nonprofit in a sprawling office in central Cairo, with 50 employees providing legal and medical aid to Egyptian prisoners.Now, Zarea and just three remaining staff members operate out of a small apartment with a leaky roof in a rundown suburb. They have halted most of their assistance to detainees. Egyptian authorities recently blocked Zarea’s access to more than $50,000 from the European Union, he said, crippling his 18-year-old organization, the Human Rights Association for the Assistance of Prisoners.Read full article >>
Traders used private electronic chat rooms in colluding to set currency and interest rates
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Former Olympian Alina Kabaeva appeared in public for the first time in weeks, looking 'overweight' and 'older', according to Russian media, reigniting rumours of a child with the Russian leader (pictured).
CAIRO (Reuters) - Islamic State's Egypt affiliate on Wednesday urged followers to attack judges, declaring a new front in an Islamist militant insurgency in the world's most populous Arab state.
 CNN |
Exclusive: China warns US surveillance plane
CNN Above the South China Sea (CNN) The Chinese navy issued warnings eight times as a U.S. surveillance plane on Wednesday swooped over islands that Beijing is using to extend its zone of influence. The series of man-made islands and the massive ... US, China continue to work closely on number of issues: White HouseXinhua China issues warning to US surveillance planeWND.com all 50 news articles » |
 NBCNews.com |
Police officer, Suspect Killed in Omaha Shooting
NBCNews.com OMAHA, Neb. — Omaha's police chief says an officer shot while helping serve an arrest warrant has died, as has the suspect. Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said Wednesday that 29-year-old Officer Kerrie Orozco died at Creighton University Medical Center ... Nebraska cop is fatally shot as she's serving arrest warrant; alleged gunman killedNOLA.com Omaha police chief says officer shot while serving warrant has died; suspect ...U-T San Diego LIVE UPDATES: Officer killed in the line of dutyKMTV all 51 news articles » |
 СЕГОДНЯ |
Ющенко: От Украины Запад уже отбивается как от назойливой мухи
ИА REGNUM От Украина западные страны начинают отбиваться как от назойливой мухи, заявил экс-президент Украины Виктор Ющенко в интервью изданию «Сегодня». По мнению Ющенко, такое поведение Запада связано с тем, что Украина не предлагает долговременной стратегии ... Ющенко: От Украины отбиваются, как от назойливой мухиНезависимая газета Ющенко: Население вынесло из украинских банков 20 миллиардов долларовFINANCE.UA Виктор Ющенко: Запад отмахивается от Украины, как от назойливой мухиКомсомольская правда FaceNews.ua- Газета.Ru Все похожие статьи: 2 » |
Deadly Blaze Reveals Ugly Truth Behind Baku Beautificationby noreply@rferl.org (Daisy Sindelar)
With less than three weeks until the start of the European Games in Baku, authorities are coming under criticism for shoddy construction practices believed to behind a May 19 fire that left 15 people dead.
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Russia has demanded that Ukraine repays all debts on time and accused Kyiv of effectively setting the stage for default with a new law.
In wake of the Deepwater Horizon crisis, a bold share swap deal with Putin’s Rosneft allowed the stricken oil giant to reinvent itself with a new centre of gravity to the east
As 2011 dawned, BP was desperate to turn the page. For nine months, the crisis-stricken oil major had been weathering the US fallout from the Deepwater Horizon disaster, which killed 11 workers and caused the largest oil spill in history.
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ACADEMY COMMENCEMENT United States Coast Guard Academy New London, Connecticut 11:42 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you! (Applause.) Thank you very much. Everybody, please have a seat. Class of 2015 -- ahoy! AUDIENCE: Ahoy! THE PRESIDENT: There are now fewer days to go until the Class of 2015 graduates than -- never mind. (Laughter.) There are now zero days until the Class of 2015 graduates. (Applause.) Thank you, Admiral Zukunft, for your kind introduction and for your leadership of our Coast Guardsmen on all seven continents. Governor Malloy, Secretary Johnson, Ambassador, distinguished guests, faculty and staff, families and friends. And Admiral Stosz, as you prepare to conclude your time as Superintendent, thank you for your outstanding stewardship of this Academy. You made history as the first woman ever to lead one of our nation’s service academies. (Applause.) And I know you’ll keep making history, because I was proud to nominate you for your third star and as the Coast Guard’s next Deputy Commandant for Mission Support. (Applause.) It is wonderful to be with all of you here today on this beautiful day. Michelle sends her greetings as well. She is the proud sponsor of the Coast Guard cutter Stratton -- which is tough to beat. But as Admiral Zukunft pointed out, both the Coast Guard and I were born on the same day. So I want you all to know, every birthday from now on I will be thinking about the Coast Guard. (Laughter and applause.) Now, the Coast Guard may be the smallest of our services, but I have to say you may also be the loudest. (Laughter.) Whenever I visit our military bases, there are always lots of soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines. They make a lot of noise. But wherever I am -- across the country or around the world, including Afghanistan -- nowhere near an ocean -- the most determined cheer from the crowd comes from our proud Coast Guardsmen, because usually there might only be one or two of them. (Laughter.) As Paul mentioned, in my State of the Union address this year, I mentioned how I’ve seen America at its best when commissioning our new officers, including here in New London. And it's true, some folks across the country didn’t quite get the reference. One person tweeted that they were pretty sure I just made this up. (Applause.) Then there was one person in town who asked, “Did Obama name drop New London?” So let me do it again. It is a great honor to be back in New London, at the United States Coast Guard Academy -- (applause) -- to salute the newest ensigns of America’s oldest, continuous maritime service. (Applause.) Cadets, this is a day to celebrate all that you’ve achieved over these past four years. You have excelled at one of the most selective and rigorous academic institutions in America. You’ve held yourselves to a high code of conduct, proven yourself worthy to be called commissioned officers in the United States Coast Guard. You pushed yourselves physically -- from Swab Summer to beating your officers at basketball and softball and football. (Applause.) You braced up, squared your meals, spent Friday nights waxing the floors -- maybe a little “Rodeo Buffing.” (Laughter.) I saw the video. That looks dangerous, by the way. (Laughter.) You made your mark, and you will be remembered. In Chase Hall. In this stadium. And at Hanafin’s and Bulkeley House. (Applause.) Which reminds me, in keeping with longstanding tradition, I hereby absolve all cadets serving restrictions for minor offenses. (Laughter.) Minor offenses. You came together as one team. We are joined today by Commander Merle Smith -- the first African American graduate of this Academy -- (applause) -- Class of 1966, a decorated Vietnam veteran. His legacy endures in all of you -- because the graduating Class of 2015 is the most diverse in Academy history. And you took care of each other, like family. Today we honor the memory of your classmate from the Republic of Georgia, Soso, along with Beso. Their spirits will live on in the partnerships you forge with Coast Guards all over the world. Today, you take your rightful place in the Long Blue Line. For Marina Stevens and her family, it is a very long line. Where is Marina? Just wave at me real quick. There she is right there. Marina’s dad is Coast Guard civilian. Her mom, Janet, an Academy graduate, was a Coast Guard captain and will pin on Marina’s shoulder boards today. Marina’s grandfather was a Coast Guardsman. Her great-grandfather joined the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1918. That’s four generations, spanning nearly the entire life of the modern Coast Guard. No wonder she’s named Marina. (Laughter and applause.) It’s in her blood. And, Cadets, I know that none of you reached this day alone. So join me in giving a huge round of applause to your mentors and your incredible parents and your family members -- so many of them, themselves, veterans as well. Please give them a big round of applause. (Applause.) Class of 2015, I’m here as your Commander-in-Chief, on behalf of the American people, to say thanks to each of you. Thanks for choosing to serve -- for stepping up, for giving up the comforts of civilian life, for putting on that uniform. Thank you for the service you are about to render -- the life of purpose that you’ve embraced, the risks that you’ve accepted and the sacrifices that you will make. But I’m not here to just sing your praises. I want to speak to you about what comes next. Soon, you’ll fan out across the Coast Guard and some of you will go to sectors and shore command. Some of you will start your duty aboard cutters. Some of you will start flight training. America needs you. And we need the Coast Guard more than ever. We need you to safeguard our ports against all threats, including terrorism. We need you to respond in times of disaster or distress and lead your rescue teams as they jump out of perfectly good helicopters. We need you in the Caribbean and Central America, interdicting drugs before they reach our streets and damage our kids. We need you in the Middle East; in the Gulf; alongside our Navy; in places like West Africa, where you helped keep the ports open so that the world could fight a deadly disease. We need you in the Asia Pacific, to help our partners train their own coast guards to uphold maritime security and freedom of navigation in waters vital to our global economy. These are all demanding missions. The pace of operations is intense. And these are tight fiscal times for all our services, including the Coast Guard. But we are going to keep working to give you the boats and the cutters and the aircraft that you need to complete the missions we ask of you. We’re moving ahead with new Fast Response Cutters, new Offshore Patrol Cutters. We’re on track to have a full fleet of new National Security Cutters -- the most advanced in history. And I’ve made it clear that I will not accept a budget that continues these draconian budget cuts called sequestration, because our nation and our military and our Coast Guard deserve better. (Applause.) And this brings me to the challenge I want to focus on today -- one where our Coast Guardsmen are already on the front lines, and that, perhaps more than any other, will shape your entire careers -- and that’s the urgent need to combat and adapt to climate change. As a nation, we face many challenges, including the grave threat of terrorism. And as Americans, we will always do everything in our power to protect our country. Yet even as we meet threats like terrorism, we cannot, and we must not, ignore a peril that can affect generations. Now, I know there are still some folks back in Washington who refuse to admit that climate change is real. And on a day like today, it’s hard to get too worried about it. There are folks who will equivocate. They’ll say, “You know, I’m not a scientist.” Well, I’m not either. But the best scientists in the world know that climate change is happening. Our analysts in the intelligence community know climate change is happening. Our military leaders -- generals and admirals, active duty and retired -- know it’s happening. Our homeland security professionals know it is happening. And our Coast Guard knows it’s happening. The science is indisputable. The fossil fuels we burn release carbon dioxide, which traps heat. And the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are now higher than they have been in 800,000 years. The planet is getting warmer. Fourteen of the 15 hottest years on record have been in the past 15 years. Last year was the planet’s warmest year ever recorded. Our scientists at NASA just reported that some of the sea ice around Antarctica is breaking up even faster than expected. The world’s glaciers are melting, pouring new water into the ocean. Over the past century, the world sea level rose by about eight inches. That was in the last century; by the end of this century, it’s projected to rise another one to four feet. Cadets, the threat of a changing climate cuts to the very core of your service. You’ve been drawn to water -— like the poet who wrote, “the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.” You know the beauty of the sea, but you also know its unforgiving power. Here at the Academy, climate change -- understanding the science and the consequences -- is part of the curriculum, and rightly so, because it will affect everything that you do in your careers. Some of you have already served in Alaska and aboard icebreakers, and you know the effects. As America’s Maritime Guardian, you’ve pledged to remain always ready -- Semper Paratus -- ready for all threats. And climate change is one of those most severe threats. And this is not just a problem for countries on the coasts, or for certain regions of the world. Climate change will impact every country on the planet. No nation is immune. So I’m here today to say that climate change constitutes a serious threat to global security, an immediate risk to our national security. And make no mistake, it will impact how our military defends our country. And so we need to act -- and we need to act now. After all, isn’t that the true hallmark of leadership? When you’re on deck, standing your watch, you stay vigilant. You plan for every contingency. And if you see storm clouds gathering, or dangerous shoals ahead, you don't sit back and do nothing. You take action -- to protect your ship, to keep your crew safe. Anything less is negligence. It is a dereliction of duty. And so, too, with climate change. Denying it, or refusing to deal with it endangers our national security. It undermines the readiness of our forces. It’s been said of life on the sea -- “the pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” Cadets, like you, I reject pessimism. We know what we as Americans can achieve when we set ourselves to great endeavors. We are, by nature, optimists -- but we’re not blind optimists. We know that wishful thinking in the face of all evidence to the contrary would set us on a course for disaster. If we are to meet this threat of climate change, we must be realists. We have to readjust the sails. That’s why confronting climate change is now a key pillar of American global leadership. When I meet with leaders around the world, it’s often at the top of our agenda -- a core element of our diplomacy. And you are part of the first generation of officers to begin your service in a world where the effects of climate change are so clearly upon us. It will shape how every one of our services plan, operate, train, equip, and protect their infrastructure, their capabilities, today and for the long term. So let me be specific on how your generation will have to lead the way to both prepare ourselves and how to prevent the worst effects in the future. Around the world, climate change increases the risk of instability and conflict. Rising seas are already swallowing low-lying lands, from Bangladesh to Pacific islands, forcing people from their homes. Caribbean islands and Central American coasts are vulnerable, as well. Globally, we could see a rise in climate change refugees. And I guarantee you the Coast Guard will have to respond. Elsewhere, more intense droughts will exacerbate shortages of water and food, increase competition for resources, and create the potential for mass migrations and new tensions. All of which is why the Pentagon calls climate change a “threat multiplier.” Understand, climate change did not cause the conflicts we see around the world. Yet what we also know is that severe drought helped to create the instability in Nigeria that was exploited by the terrorist group Boko Haram. It’s now believed that drought and crop failures and high food prices helped fuel the early unrest in Syria, which descended into civil war in the heart of the Middle East. So, increasingly, our military and our combatant commands, our services -- including the Coast Guard -- will need to factor climate change into plans and operations, because you need to be ready. Around the world, climate change will mean more extreme storms. No single weather event can be blamed solely on climate change. But Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines gave us a possible glimpse of things to come -- one of the worst cyclones ever recorded; thousands killed, many more displaced, billions of dollars in damage, and a massive international relief effort that included the United States military and its Coast Guard. So more extreme storms will mean more humanitarian missions to deliver lifesaving help. Our forces will have to be ready. As Admiral Zukunft already mentioned, climate change means Arctic sea ice is vanishing faster than ever. By the middle of this century, Arctic summers could be essentially ice free. We’re witnessing the birth of a new ocean -- new sea lanes, more shipping, more exploration, more competition for the vast natural resources below. In Alaska, we have more than 1,000 miles of Arctic coastline. The United States is an Arctic nation, and we have a great interest in making sure that the region is peaceful, that its indigenous people and environment are protected, and that its resources are managed responsibly in partnership with other nations. And that means all of you are going to have to step up -- because few know the Arctic better than the U.S. Coast Guard. You’ve operated there across nearly 150 years. And as the Arctic opens, the role that the Coast Guard plays will only grow. I believe that our interests in the Arctic demand that we continue to invest in an enduring Coast Guard icebreaking capacity. I was proud to nominate your last commandant, Admiral Papp, as our special representative for the Arctic. And as the U.S. chairs the Arctic Council this year, I’m committed to advancing our interests in this critical region because we have to be ready in the Arctic, as well. Climate change, and especially rising seas, is a threat to our homeland security, our economic infrastructure, the safety and health of the American people. Already, today, in Miami and Charleston, streets now flood at high tide. Along our coasts, thousands of miles of highways and roads, railways, energy facilities are all vulnerable. It’s estimated that a further increase in sea level of just one foot by the end of this century could cost our nation $200 billion. In New York Harbor, the sea level is already a foot higher than a century ago -- which was one of the reasons Superstorm Sandy put so much of lower Manhattan underwater. During Sandy, the Coast Guard mounted a heroic response, along with our National Guard and Reserve. But rising seas and stronger storms will mean more disaster response missions. And we need the Coast Guard to be ready, because you are America’s maritime first responder. Climate change poses a threat to the readiness of our forces. Many of our military installations are on the coast, including, of course, our Coast Guard stations. Around Norfolk, high tides and storms increasingly flood parts of our Navy base and an airbase. In Alaska, thawing permafrost is damaging military facilities. Out West, deeper droughts and longer wildfires could threaten training areas our troops depend on. So politicians who say they care about military readiness ought to care about this, as well. Just as we’re helping American communities prepare to deal with the impacts of climate change, we have to help our bases and ports, as well. Not just with stronger seawalls and natural barriers, but with smarter, more resilient infrastructure -- because when the seas rise and storms come, we all have to be ready. Now, everything I’ve discussed with you so far is about preparing for the impacts of climate change. But we need to be honest -- such preparation and adaptation alone will not be enough. As men and women in uniform, you know that it can be just as important, if not more important, to prevent threats before they can cause catastrophic harm. And only way -- the only way -- the world is going to prevent the worst effects of climate change is to slow down the warming of the planet. Some warming is now inevitable. But there comes a point when the worst effects will be irreversible. And time is running out. And we all know what needs to happen. It’s no secret. The world has to finally start reducing its carbon emissions -- now. And that's why I’ve committed the United States to leading the world on this challenge. Over the past six years, we’ve done more than ever to reduce harmful emissions, unprecedented investments to cut energy waste in our homes and building, standards to double the fuel efficiency of our vehicles. We're using more clean energy than ever before -- more solar, more wind. It’s all helped us reduce our carbon emissions more than any other advanced nation. And today, we can be proud that our carbon pollution is near its lowest levels in almost two decades. But we’ve got to do more. So, going forward, I’ve committed to doubling the pace at which we cut carbon pollution. And that means we all have to step up. And it will not be easy. It will require sacrifice, and the politics will be tough. But there is no other way. We have to make our homes and buildings more efficient. We have to invest in more energy research and renewable technologies. We have to move ahead with standards to cut the amount of carbon pollution in our power plants. And working with other nations, we have to achieve a strong global agreement this year to start reducing the total global emission -- because every nation must do its part. Every nation. So this will be tough. But as so often is the case, our men and women in uniform show us the way. They're used to sacrifice and they are used to doing hard stuff. Class of 2015, you’ve built new equipment that uses less energy. You’ve designed new vessels with fewer harmful emissions. Stephen Horvath, selected as a Fulbright Scholar, will research new technologies for renewable energies. The Coast Guard is building more fuel-efficient cutters. So you're already leading. And, Cadets, as you go forward, I challenge you to keep imagining and building the new future we need -- and make your class motto your life’s work: “To go where few dare.” This is a place where we need you. Across our military, our bases and ports are using more solar and wind, which helps save money that we can use to improve readiness. The Army is pursuing new, lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Air Force F-22 broke the sound barrier using biofuels. And the Navy runs an entire carrier strike group -- the Green Fleet -- with biofuels. Our Marines have deployed to Afghanistan with portable solar panels, lightening their load and reducing dangerous resupply missions. So fighting climate change and using energy wisely also makes our forces more nimble and more ready. And that’s something that should unite us as Americans. This cannot be subject to the usual politics and the usual rhetoric. When storms gather, we get ready. And I want to leave you with a story that captures the persistence and the patriotism that this work requires, because this is a nation made up of folks who know how to do hard things. Down in the front row is Dr. Olivia Hooker. In 1921, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when she was just six years old, her African American community was attacked by white mobs -- it was a horrific racial incident. And hundreds of innocent African Americans were killed. The mobs destroyed her father’s clothing store. They looted her house. They even burned the little clothes for her doll. And Olivia could have given in to bitterness. She could have been pessimistic about her country. Instead, she made it better. So in World War II, she enlisted as a SPAR, becoming the first African American woman in the Coast Guard. (Applause.) As a yeoman in Boston, she served with distinction. By the time the war was won, she was discharged, she was a petty officer second class. With the GI Bill, Olivia earned her master’s, then her doctorate. She has been a professor and mentor to her students, a passionate advocate for Americans with disabilities, a psychologist counseling young children, a caregiver at the height of the AIDS epidemic, a tireless voice for justice and equality. A few months ago, Olivia turned 100 years old. (Applause.) So, Olivia, you’re going to have to tell us you’re secret. She’s still as sharp as they come, and as fearless. (Applause.) In Yonkers, New York, she even still volunteers as a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and was determined to be here with us today. So, Dr. Hooker, thank you. You’re an inspiration. (Applause.) One hundred years old. So Dr. Hooker has led a remarkable life. But this is what she says -- “It’s not about you, or me. It’s about what we can give to this world.” Cadets, you're at the start of your careers. And we cannot know, each of us, how many days we will walk this Earth. We can't guarantee we're all going to live to 100. But what we can do is live each day to its fullest. What we can do is look squarely at what will make the biggest difference for future generations and be willing to tackle those challenges. And as you embark on your life of service, as you man your stations, and head to the seas, and take to the skies, should the sea begin to surge and the waves swell and the wind blows hard against your face, I want you to think back to this moment -- to feel what you feel in your hearts today. And if you remember all that you’ve learned here on the Thames -- how you came here and came together, out of many one, to achieve as a team what you could never do alone -- if you resolve to stay worthy of traditions that endure -- honor, respect, devotion to duty -- if you heed the wisdom and humility of a petty officer second class from Oklahoma, to think not of yourself, but what you can give to this world -- then I’m confident that you will truly go where few dare. And you will rise to meet the challenges that not only face our country, but face our planet. And your legacy will be a nation that is stronger and safer for generations to come. So, Class of 2015 -- thank you for your service. Congratulations. God bless you. God bless all our Coast Guardsmen. God bless our United States of America. Thank you. (Applause.) END 12:14 P.M. EDT
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Alina Kabayeva, the former gymnast linked to the Russian president, takes to the stage at Moscow festival wearing capacious red dress
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The term "organised crime" instantly conjures up brutal imagery of a crime family going about its day-to-day business to the tune of Coppola's The Godfather. Life began to imitate art, as US and Italian Mafia families (reportedly) copied the mannerisms of the over-stylised characters in the movies.
 Комсомольская правда |
Дуров продолжил полемику с Кремлем о потере соцсети "ВКонтакте"
Росбалт.RU МОСКВА, 20 мая. Основатель компании "ВКонтакте" Павел Дуров отреагировал на комментарий пресс-секретаря президента России Дмитрия Пескова о смене руководства соцсети. "Дмитрий Песков отчасти прав, и, если почитать мои интервью, а не их интерпретации, то слов вроде ... Павел Дуров опроверг обвинения в адрес КремляФонтанка.Ру Песков: Кремль не отнимал «ВКонтакте» у Павла ДуроваНТВ.ru Павел Дуров открестился от обвинений в адрес КремляГОСНОВОСТИ ИА REGNUM -NEWSru.com Все похожие статьи: 81 » |
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 ЛІГА.net |
Задержанных бойцов ГРУ РФ посетили сотрудники Красного Креста
ЛІГА.net Сотрудники международного комитета Красного Креста посетили двух задержанных в Украине россиян, которых Киев называет российскими спецназовцами. В команду специалистов Красного Креста входил врач, задачей которого было проверить состояние здоровья задержанных. Задержанные под Луганском россияне пообщались с родственникамиПолит.ру Задержанных на Украине россиян посетил Красный КрестBBC Russian Задержанные в Луганской области россияне поговорили с родными при посредничестве международного комитета "Красного креста"Радиостанция ЭХО МОСКВЫ Интерфакс -Взгляд -Новый Регион Все похожие статьи: 117 » |
Escaping Islamic State Enslavementby webdesk@voanews.com (Dakhil Elias)
“First, they took all the men...” Rakhda said, beginning a tale familiar to other victims of the Islamic State. In mid-August, Rakhda’s village, the Yazidi enclave Kocho in northern Iraq, was surrounded by militants. Nearby in Sinjar, US fighter jets were pounding IS positions, but it didn’t deter the fighters outside Kocho. They entered, separated out the men, and killed them. Then they divided up the rest – young women, old women and men, families with small children. Fighters took Rakhda, her son and daughter first to Tal Afar, then across the Syrian border to Raqqa. There, her status became clear - not just a prisoner, but a slave. “They were trading us among themselves,” she said in a phone interview with VOA's Kurdish Service. “When they were tired of us, they sold us to someone else.” Eventually, Rakhda, her seven-year-old daughter Rula and three-year-old son Hoshyar were bought by a man called Abu Jihad, who was one of IS’s foreign recruits – a Chechen. Abu Jihad put them to work. He brought powdered sugar and another chemical, likely potassium nitrate, which Rakhda boiled together to make rocket fuel. “For five months, I was making ten to twelve rockets a day,” she said, packing parts of the rockets with the volatile mixture. Her children were forced to help. “When anyone made a mistake making rockets, he beat them with cables.” Forced to Convert Sunni Muslims may be the most numerous victims of the Islamic State, which tolerates only its own puritanical brand of Sunni Islam. IS also kills Shi’ites as heretics, while Christians and Jews are marked as infidels. But the militants view the Yazidis as something else – a group whose blend of various faith traditions is idolatrous, justifying a particularly brutal response. In a public relations blitz, IS called its treatment of Yazidis a revival of “spoils of war,” using Koranic verses to support rape, enslavement and murder. Or as U.N. investigators chose to describe it, possibly genocide. Those they don’t kill, IS tries to convert. When Abu Jihad was not making Rakhda and her children build weapons that could be used against their own people, he forced them to recite the Koran. Three-year-old Hoshyar fumbled in his attempts, and Abu Jihad threatened to cut off his head. With those words hanging over her, seven-year-old Rula learned quickly and can still recite Arabic phrases she, as a Kurdish speaker, never did understand. Now, she said, “I want to forget.” Escape Despair washed over Rakhda, especially when her children were beaten. “Many times I wanted to kill myself,” she said. Instead, she and her children escaped. In early April, Abu Jihad took the rockets and headed for a battle on the far side of Raqqa. With the help of a friend’s uncle, Rakhda and her children made their way stealthily to the Euphrates River, which runs through the city and on to a boat bound for Kobani in the north. From there, the family made it back home. But home, Rakhda said, was not there. “My family – my mother, father, brother and my in-laws – all are missing.”
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 РБК |
США заявили об отсутствии планов по размещению системы ПРО на Украине
РБК У Вашингтона и НАТО нет планов по размещению элементов системы ПРО на Украине, заверила официальный представитель Госдепа Мари Харф. Ранее с инициативой начать консультации по этому вопросу выступил спикер СНБО Турчинов. Зенитно-ракетный комплекс «Patriot» ... Газета Верховной Рады "Голос Украины" напечатала законы "Об осуждении коммунистического и национал-социалистического (нацистского ...Радиостанция ЭХО МОСКВЫ США и НАТО не планируют размещать на Украине систему ПРОКоммерсантъ У США и НАТО нет планов по размещению системы ПРО в Украине, - ГосдепРБК Украина УНИАН Все похожие статьи: 87 » |
Inside Bin Laden Papers: Targeting Americans, Missing Familyby webdesk@voanews.com (Sharon Behn)
“Do you wish to execute a suicide mission?" "What objectives would you like to accomplish on your jihad path?" "Who should we contact in case you become a martyr?" "Do any of your family or friends work with the government? If so, would he/she be willing to cooperate or help us?” These are just some of the questions on what is basically an al-Qaida job application, one of thousands of documents recovered from Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan by U.S. Navy SEALs in 2011 and made public on Wednesday. Bin Laden was killed in the raid. Seeking revolution The documents released Wednesday by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence range from personal letters to bin Laden's son Hamza, to a screed calling for the killing of Americans and the downfall of the West. “The mission of the global mujahideen of today is to kill a few tens, or hundreds, or thousands of the infidel citizens of America and its western ally countries in their homelands and wherever they are sited on any spot on the planet,” stated one of the papers. One of the letters from bin Laden to his associate Sheikh Mahmud Atiyah welcomed the “revolutions” and “protest marches” across the Arab world. “These are gigantic events that will eventually engulf most of the Muslim world, will free the Muslim land from American hegemony,” the al-Qaida leader wrote. The “next stage will be the reinstating of the rule of the Caliphate,” he said. One U.S. intelligence official, speaking to VOA on condition of anonymity, said the documents reveal al-Qaida's intentions at the time. “Bin Laden at the time of his death remained focused on large-scale operations, while other al-Qaida leaders believed smaller operations or inciting lone terrorist attacks could succeed at bleeding the West economically," the official said. Family business Interspersed with messages of world domination and strategic discussions with al-Qaida affiliates are letters from bin Laden’s operatives telling the extremist leader that they are unsure if they can smuggle his son Hamza to him. Hamza had been under house arrest in Iran and was released a month before bin Laden's death. He was 20 years old at the time of his father's death. “I am embarrassed to talk to you about this,” opens one letter. “You are his father and you are our Amir and we will obey. I have the feeling that you are not aware of the security situation here. I tried to find a way to send him to you on the main road, but I was not able to find one due to the intensified security procedures and searches.” There also were personal notes, although it is unclear who wrote them. Living with bin Laden at the time was one of his wives, Amal; one of his sons; other women and children; and a man described as a courier. In one of those notes that appears to be from bin Laden to his “dearest and precious” mother, he asks about her well-being and if she has had any dreams or visions. Another letter is to a daughter, Umm Mu’adh: “How are you and what is your news? By God, I miss you so much. Yes, I miss my pious daughter,” he wrote. “I yearn for the beautiful days I spent with you.” Still hands-on Former CIA Director James Woolsey felt the level of detail in bin Laden’s letters showed how intimately involved he remained in al Qaida and its affiliates around the world. “He may have been only hands-on on paper, but [he was] still giving very detailed instructions about what ought to be done,” Woolsey said. In a Skype interview with VOA Wednesday, Woolsey questioned the wisdom of the U.S. government’s decision to make the documents public, saying today’s terrorist groups will learn to be cagier. “I think they would far rather take immediate action to ensure that we can’t do this again. They may find some way to have computers self-destruct if they are operated by someone who doesn’t use the right kind of code,” Woolsey said “These are smart people and they are used to war, and they are used to deception, and security, and they may be able to find some way to make it harder for us to exploit these types of materials if we come across them or are able to obtain them in the future.” Intelligence mining Patrick Skinner of the Soufan Intelligence Group said, however, the material released by U.S. Intelligence shows that bin Laden toward the end of his life was largely an isolated individual desperate for some kind of relevancy. “It just shows you how aspirational everything was,” said Soufan. “He was still an inspirational figure, his image, but he himself, it appears that he was really disconnected.” Spokesman Jeffrey Anchukaitis of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said the documents have been studied in detail. “Analysts sifted through the recovered digital and hard copy materials in search of clues that would reveal ongoing al-Qaida plots, identities and locations of al-Qaida personnel, and other pertinent information of immediate intelligence importance,” he said. Anchukaitis did not say if any terrorist attacks had been thwarted as a result. The documents include bin Laden’s advice on how to conduct operations in Yemen, and take advantage of the upheaval in Egypt, Tunisia, regardless of the numbers of Muslims killed in achieving the ultimate goal of a caliphate. The terrorist leader’s online library included West Point papers from its Combating Terrorism Center, a number of articles on France, a map of Iran nuclear sites, religious documents and material from other violent extremists. Inside the compound also was a guide to the video game “Delta Force Extreme 2.” Social movement The documents, said Seth Jones of the Rand Corporation, offer a glimpse of the inner workings of al-Qaida and the man who led the organization. “What they provide in this sense, is transparency in how the organization operated,” Jones told VOA. “What you really gauge, frankly, is that this is a social movement, that’s not going to go away any time in the foreseeable future.” “Now, it is important to recognize that this is only a very small tranche of thousands and thousands of documents from the trove captured at bin Laden’s complex. It’s important to keep that in context in looking at these ones that are released,” Jones added. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a statement that the release followed an interagency review. Hundreds of additional documents are under scrutiny for possible future declassification and release, the ODNI said in a statement. VOA's Jeff Seldin and Jeffrey Young contributed to this story.
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MOSCOW — Ukraine wants a nuclear missile shield, according to the country’s security chief, something that would almost certainly provoke an aggressive response from Russia.Ukraine is “rebuilding our missile shield, the main task of which is to defend against aggression from Russia,” Oleksandr Turchynov, the head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said Wednesday in an interview published by Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform.Read full article >>
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Story highlights
- Saudi defense official on Sunday Times report: "I don't understand what the story is"
- Report: Saudis have taken "strategic decision" to acquire atomic weapons from Pakistan
(CNN)A Saudi defense official on Tuesday dismissed as "speculation" a media report that Saudi Arabia is seeking to acquire nuclear weapons from Pakistan amid growing fears of a nuclear-armed Iran.
The Sunday Times of London reported that the Saudis had "taken the 'strategic decision' to acquire 'off-the-shelf' atomic weapons from Pakistan," citing unnamed senior American officials.
Contacted about the report by CNN, a Saudi Defense Ministry official said: "I don't understand what the story is. This has been in the news for 18 years and will continue to be for the next 15 years."
The official added, "The ministry does not comment on rumors and speculation."
A U.S. State Department official noted Tuesday that Saudi Arabia is a signatory of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
"It has committed never to acquire nuclear weapons, and to apply full international safeguards to all peaceful nuclear activities," the official said. "We attach great importance to Saudi Arabia's continued implementation of these commitments."
The Sunday Times reported the move by the Saudis -- said by the newspaper to have been bankrolling much of the Pakistani nuclear program for three decades -- comes amid concern among Sunni Arab nations over a framework deal on Iran's nuclear program that aims to limit Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.
The framework deal was hammered out by world powers and Tehran in talks that ended in early April. The parties have until the end to June to work out the details and finalize the plan.
The Obama administration has stressed that if a final deal is reached with Iran, the removal of any sanctions will come in phases. President Barack Obama has backed the deal but faces an uphill battle selling it to a skeptical Congress.
Although the discussions involve the so-called P5+1 -- the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif did much of the hard negotiating on the outline deal.
"We have consulted throughout the recent negotiations with our allies and partners around the world, including Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf countries, and will continue to do so as we move into the final weeks and months of these talks," the State Department official said Tuesday.
Besides the concern from Sunni nations that the agreement might allow Shiite powerhouse Iran to develop nuclear weapons, the deal has been met with fierce opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Envoy: Saudi Arabia will take any steps for security
In a March interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, the Saudi ambassador to the United States would not rule out the possibility of the Saudis creating their own nuclear bomb to counterbalance a nuclear-armed Iran.
"This is not something we would discuss publicly," Ambassador Adel Al-Jubeir said on "The Situation Room." Later, when pressed, he said, "This is not something that I can comment on, nor would I comment on."
He added, "But the kingdom of Saudi Arabia will take whatever measures are necessary in order to protect its security. There are two things over which we do not negotiate: our faith and our security."
Al-Jubeir said, however, the details disclosed by the Obama administration to the Saudis at that point about the developing nuclear deal with Iran were "positive."
Christie: Framework nuclear deal 'flimsy'
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a possible 2016 GOP presidential hopeful, took a much more critical view of the outline deal in a speech Monday.
"The framework we've negotiated here seems flimsy, and I have grave concerns over how we're going to make the Iranians live up to their end of the bargain and how we can ensure proper, verifiable compliance," said Christie, laying out a hawkish foreign policy vision.
Christie also framed capitulating to Iran as potentially causing a domino effect that could ripple throughout the Middle East: "The deal as structured will lead to a nuclear Iran and, then, a nuclearized Middle East," he said.
"That not only threatens Israel, everybody, it threatens the United States and it turns 70 years of nuclear deterrence policy on its head."
The U.S. House of Representatives last week approved legislation that allows Congress to review any deal on Iran's nuclear program negotiated by the Obama administration. The bill, already passed by the Senate 98-1, now goes to the President for his signature.
Obama: 'A good deal'
The framework includes the easing of U.S. and U.N. sanctions on Iran if it takes certain steps to curb its nuclear program.
Iran would reduce its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98% for 15 years and significantly scale back its number of installed centrifuges, according to the plan. In exchange, the United States and the European Union would lift sanctions that have crippled the country's economy.
"It is a good deal, a deal that meets our core objectives," Obama said after it was announced April 2. "This framework would cut off every pathway that Iran could take to develop a nuclear weapon."
It would include strict verification measures to make sure Iran complies, he said.
CNN's Jamie Crawford contributed to this report.
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