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Live Photos and footage of the Eglinton Hostel Walter R B Ballantyre- Photo supplied to the USA Weekly News by founding members of the SYHA who were personal friends of the late Walter Ballantyre who were asked to keep an eye on the SYHA to make sure that the SYHA should be true to its basic purpose of giving people of limited means the opportunity of enjoying the Scottish countryside. Walter R B Ballantyre who donated all the over 70 hostels in Scotland to the Scottish Yourth Hostels Association, who gave more than fifty years of distiguished voluntary service to the Scottish Youth Hostels Association (SYHA) and who between 1935 and 1988, held successively, the offices of Assistant Honorary Sedretary, Honoroary Secretary, Vive Chairman, Chairman and Honorary President. And Chariman from 1958 to 1975 he exerted a wise and moderating influence upon the affairs of the association and was always concerned that it should be true to its basic purpose of giving people of limited means the opportunity of enjoying the Scottish countryside. In recognition of this service to his own Association and to the wider international youth hostel movement, he was elected as Honary President of the Scottish Youth Hostels Association (S.Y.H.A.) in 1975 and was awarded the Richard Schirrmann Medal in 1978 and the Order of the British Empire in 1982. World Peace News
EARTH REPAIR FOUNDATION World Unity and Peace is not an option - it is a necessity! There are many serious and troublesome problems going on in the world which will affect all present and future generations, unless we do something now. Think Globally, Act Locally, Respond Personally Only one generation needs to be positively influenced to think and act more mindfully, to enable the creation of a peaceful and sustainable future world for everyone. Now is the time . . . Please help in any way you can!
Help Rescue the Future with the Earth Repair Charter Global Solution Strategy
This visionary one-page Charter has been produced as a wide-ranging, long-term global action plan for governments and people who want to create a future without war. It presents succinct, practical and achievable solutions to help bring about a sustainable and peaceful future for everyone. The Charter's mission is to motivate all people and nations to adopt its objectives and the world's best practices to help make our time on Earth better, for present and future generations. Production of the Charter has been co-ordinated by the Earth Repair Foundation (ERF). This Global Solution Strategy Charter which has been developed over the last two decades, encapsulates ERF's goals. The Earth Repair Charter Global Solution Strategy is from the people, for the people and for all governments on Earth. It is supported and endorsed by many prominent leaders and organisations and is the result of intensive research and careful definition in consultation with educators, indigenous councils, scientists, environmentalists, spiritual leaders and others committed to world improvement. The Charter is freely and readily available as a PDF to encourage inspiration and implementation world-wide! Please network this extraordinary document wherever possible. Read what many outstanding individuals including the Dalai Lama, Prof David Suzuki, Dr Bob Brown, Peter Garrett and Dr Keith Suter have written about the Charter. When enough people lead our leaders will follow. Download a PDF of the one-page Charter JOIN WITH MILLIONS IN THE COMMON PURPOSE OF ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS VISIONARY CHARTER, AND HELP CREATE A CULTURE OF LASTING PEACE
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Protect natural heritage and biodiversity
respect the Earth and take responsibility for all our actions, realising the interconnectedness of life;
protect in perpetuity and cease further destruction of all remaining biodiverse old-growth native forests and other areas of high conservation value including lakes, rivers and oceans;
prohibit the contamination of air, soil and waterways;
accelerate training and employment programs to repair previously-cleared and degraded land;
plant and intergrow with companion vegetation, increasing quantities of appropriate trees to help repair the atmosphere;
preserve and maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, plants and animals in their natural habitats.
Ensure respect for all Indigenous Peoples
engage with Indigenous Peoples to learn from their history, cultures and spiritual values;
support self-determination and sovereign treaty rights worldwide;
facilitate permanent representation of the world’s Indigenous Nations and Peoples in all United Nations forums;
uphold the United Nations draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
honour the inheritance of traditional languages, knowledge, sacred materials and sites;
learn from the wisdom of elders of all cultures.
Enable ecologically sustainable development
adopt the world’s best practices and reduce, reuse and recycle to minimise our consumption of Earth's finite resources;
educate for a sustainable world population by providing comprehensive and free family-planning assistance;
design adequate sustainable habitat to end homelessness;
introduce into all education systems, reverence for nature, permaculture, the skills of birthing and parenting, first-aid, effective communication, self-esteem and creative artistic expression;
co-operate internationally to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by replacing fossil-fuel use with safe and renewable energy technologies;
disengage from nuclear industries and stop uranium mining until safety is ensured from all radioactive materials, mine tailings and other by-products from the nuclear cycle;
implement a moratorium on releasing genetically engineered crops which can interfere irreversibly with natural biodiversity;
label accordingly all foods altered with DNA technology;
increase the provision and efficient use of public transport systems;
utilise environmentally responsible products and services, and deal only with materials manufactured or created within the principles of ecologically sustainable development;
contribute to inter-generational equity by progressively planning for the wellbeing of future generations.
Acquire health and immunity efficiency
incorporate a complementary and wholistic approach to health care and medical science;
practise the wisdom of Hippocrates, who taught, "Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food";
attain and maintain physical and mental wellbeing by combining an optimistic attitude, sleep, exercise and a nutritious diet of fresh, organically grown foods, including sprouted seeds, nuts and grains, raw fruits, vegetables and herbs;
abstain from health-reducing practices, substances, smoking tobacco and all drug abuse;
inspire everyone to realise their highest physical, mental and spiritual potential.
Use permaculture to help end world hunger
supersede unsustainable monoculture, toxic pesticide use and intensive animal factory-farming with high-yielding, diverse, local, organic agricultural systems and free-range animal farming;
establish efficient food and medicine gardens as productive permaculture learning and growing centres, in schools, backyards, parks, gaols and rehabilitation facilities;
propagate, plant and care for trees, intercropped with complementary vegetation, in all possible city, urban and rural areas to produce fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbs, grains, fibre, timber and fuel, to reduce unemployment and help end hunger and poverty;
promote individual and community self-reliance through local exchange trading systems, and natural low-impact landcare strategies.
Practise composting to restore soils
produce valuable humus-rich soil for home, municipal, farm and forestry use, by composting all currently-wasted biodegradable materials;
replace artificial fertilisers with fine rock-dust and humus to remineralise soils, increase the nutrient value of food crops and boost resistance to plant disease;
treat sewage to irrigate vegetation and rejuvenate degraded lands.
Base economic order on social justice
promote equal opportunity for everyone;
demand that corporate business and governments put the welfare of people before profits and military spending;
grant amnesty for political prisoners, and relieve the debt burdens of impoverished countries;
aim for fair resource distribution to satisfy the essential needs of all to live with health and dignity.
Resolve conflict with creative mediation
learn, develop and encourage the skills of conflict resolution;
expedite participatory democracy between people and their elected governments and councils;
establish a department of peace within every government;
nurture equality, love, respect and understanding between individuals, genders, age groups, families, castes, communities, cultures and races;
encourage all religions, faiths, nations and peoples to co-exist in harmony as one family, sharing the Earth as our common home;
facilitate equal worldwide access to education resources and communication technologies;
ensure basic human rights and freedom of speech for all;
investigate and rectify all human rights violations;
stop the glamorisation of war and violence;
motivate the media to be positive, accurate and responsible.
Transform the military to earth repair
redirect funding, technological expertise and resources of all national military services, towards implementing this solution strategy as the priority within each country;
enable all nations to participate in developing the United Nations Global Peacekeeping Operations to ensure international security;
decommission and eliminate nuclear and biological armaments, land mines, depleted uranium missiles, and all instruments of mass destruction;
Unite with others in a common purpose
network to raise awareness of this solution strategy and propose its goals for adoption by education, religious, union, political, business, legal, military and community groups, local Councils, and for legislation by Governments;
rescue the future by helping achieve the local and global objectives of this Charter;
contribute towards a peaceful and abundant Earth, where everyone can enjoy life in wisdom, happiness, harmony and love.
Revision: 21st September, 2004
THIS IS A CHARTER FROM THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, AND FOR ALL GOVERNMENTS OF THE WORLD.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO INCREASE ITS EFFECTIVENESS AND WIDER DISTRIBUTION ARE WELCOMED. PLEASE DOWNLOAD a PDF, COPY OR REPRINT AND NETWORK THE CHARTER ASAP. THANK YOU!
Most people on Earth would know about this solution strategy from two people in 33 days, if they each shared it with one new person a day for 33 days, and each person receiving the strategy shared it with one new person a day for the balance of the 33 days. Totals over 6 billion people. When enough people lead our leaders must follow.
Michael Moore:Stupid White Men : Online Chapters"The Sad and Sordid Whereabouts of bin Cheney and bin Bush" A Free Online Chapter addition to "Stupid White Men" by Michael Moore Part One: "What Does a 99-cent Bic Lighter Tell Us About the Bush War on Terrorism?" On September 22, 2001, just 11 days after the terrorist attacks in New York and Arlington, I had to fly. I had actually wanted to fly on September 11, and in fact had a ticket on the 3:00pm American Airlines flight from LAX to JFK. As we all know, that flight never made it off the ground as hours earlier four California-bound flights, two on American and two on United, were hijacked as part of a coordinated suicide mission to attack the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon outside Washington, DC. Stranded in Los Angeles, my wife and I (out there for the annual Prime Time Emmy Awards for our series, "The Awful Truth"), were awakened that morning by my wife's mother, calling us from Flint at 6:15 a.m., L.A. time. I answered the phone and heard her say that "New York was under attack, New York is at war." I remember thinking, "So what's new," but she suggested we immediately turn on the TV. I fumbled for the remote and switched on the hotel room TV. And there it was. The twin towers on fire, black smoke billowing upward. "OK," I thought, "a really bad fire." But then they ran the replay from 15 minutes earlier, of the second plane hitting the south tower. This wasn't an accident. We tried to call our daughter in New York. The phone lines weren't allowing any calls. We tried calling our friend, Joanne Doroshow, who works a few blocks from the towers. Again, the lines were jammed. A horrible panic started settling inside me. Finally, I reached Joanne's office. A woman answered, frantic. I asked if Joanne was there. "NO!" she shouted. "She's not here! We have to go! Ohmygod!" She dropped the phone and I heard a loud roar, like a train. My wife said, "Look at the TV." I did, and I saw from L.A. what I was listening to over the phone: the collapse of the south tower. It would be another four hours before we were able to reach our daughter, and seven hours before Joanne calls us, safe inside her apartment (she had ducked into a building just in time as the cloud of debris rained its way down the street). That night, as we watched the images repeated on the TV, a ticker began running the names of some of the dead who had been on the planes. Along the bottom of the screen came the name, "William Weems." A friend of ours the next morning confirmed that this was, in fact, the same Bill Weems, a line producer from Boston with whom we had recently filmed a batch of humorous TV spots targeting the tobacco companies. Bill was on the Boston-to-L.A. plane. He died as the jet, traveling at 586 miles per hour, slammed into the south tower. He left behind a wife and 7-year old daughter. It was all so unbelievably horrific. The airports were closed and all planes were now grounded. I found a Hertz dealer who would rent me a mini-van for $1,700 -- and 43 hours later we pulled out of our hotel on the Pacific Ocean and began our 2,990-mile journey home to our apartment in New York City. Somewhere around Oklahoma City, the airports were all open again, but my wife did not want to ditch the mini-van and get on a plane. So we continued on home for the next few days, the first ever trip each of us had made driving coast to coast. It was, as it turned out, well worth it, as it gave us a chance to gauge the reaction of average citizens, especially as we passed through Bush and Ashcroft country (The internet letters I wrote – and read – from the road can be found on my website). By September 22, I had no choice but to get back on a plane. I had been scheduled to give a talk in San Antonio, and so off I went on an American flight out of Newark. At the airport there was a newly, hastily put-together list of all the items that I could NOT bring aboard the plane. The list was long and bizarre. The list of banned items included: No guns. (Obviously) No knives. (Ditto) No boxcutters. (Certainly now justified) No toenail clippers. (What?) No knitting needles. (Huh?) No crotchet hooks. (Now, wait a minute!) No sewing needles. No mace. No leaf blowers. (OK, now it's personal) No corkscrews. No letter openers. No dry ice. The list went on and on. A lot of the items made good sense. I wasn't quite sure if terrorists also made quilts in their spare time, and I guess I must have missed the terrorist incident where some poor bastards smuggled dry ice aboard a plane (were they trying to keep their Popsicles cold until they ate them and then used the sticks for their attack?). Frankly, I was a little freaked-out about flying so soon after 9-11 and I guess there was just no way I was going to fly without a weapon for my protection. So I took the New York Yankees-signed baseball that Mayor Giuliani had given me on "TV Nation," put it in a sock, and – presto! Whip that baby upside somebody's head, and they're going to take a little nap. Note to budding terrorfuckers: If you try something on a flight I'm on, I'll Clemens ya. That, or the smell from my ratty sock, is going to do you in. Though I now felt "safe" with my makeshift weapon, as I continued to fly through the fall and winter, I did NOT feel safe being greeted at airport security by weekend warriors from the National Guard holding empty M-16s and looking like they shop in the same "special needs" department at K-Mart which I visit from time to time. More importantly, though, I kept noticing something strange. The guy in front of me, while emptying his pockets into the little plastic tray to run through the x-ray machine, would take out his butane lighter or matchbook, toss them into the tray, then pick them up on the other side -- in full view of security. At first I thought this was a mistake until I looked at the list of banned items again -- and saw that butane lighters and matchbooks were NOT on the forbidden list. Then came December 22, 2001. Richard Reid, on an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami, attempted to light his shoes on fire, using matches. His shoes, the police said, contained a plastic explosive and, had some passengers and flight attendants not taken quick action to restrain him, he would have been able to blow the entire plane out of the sky. But his lighter would not light the shoes fast enough, and everyone survived. I was sure after this freakish incident that the lighters and matches would surely be banned. But, as my book tour began in February, there they were, the passengers with their Bic lighters and their books of matches. I asked one security person after another why these people were allowed to bring devices which could start a fire on board the plane, especially after the Reid incident. No one, not a single person in authority or holding an unloaded automatic weapon, could or would give me answer. My simple question was this: If all smoking is prohibited on all flights, then why does ANYONE need their lighters and matches at 30,000 feet -- while I am up there with them?! And why is the one device that has been used to try and blow up a plane since 9-11 NOT on the banned list? No one has used toenail clippers to kill anyone on Jet Blue, and no one has been blowing away the leaves in the aisle of the Delta Connection flight to Tupelo. BUT SOME FRUITCAKE DID USE A BUTANE LIGHTER TO TRY AND KILL 200 PEOPLE ON AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT #63. And this did nothing to force the Bush Administration to do something about it. I began asking this question in front of audiences on my book tour. And it was on a dark and rainy night in Arlington, Virginia, at the Ollsson's Bookstore a couple miles from the Pentagon that I got my answer. After asking my Bic lighter question in my talk to the audience, I sat down to sign the books for the people in line. A young man walks up to the table, introduces himself, and lowering his voice so no one can hear, tells me the following: "I work on the Hill. The butane lighters were on the original list prepared by the FAA and sent to the White House for approval. The tobacco industry lobbied the Bush administration to have the lighters and matches removed from the banned list. Their customers (addicts) naturally are desperate to light up as soon as they land, and why should they be punished just so the skies can be safe? The lighters and matches were removed from the forbidden list. I was stunned. I knew there had to be some strange reason why this most obvious of items had not been banned. Could the Bush mob be so blatant in their contempt for the public's safety? How could they do this, and at the same time, issue weekly warnings about the "next terrorist threat"? Would they really put Big Tobacco's demands ahead of people's lives? Yes, of course, the answer has always been YES but not now, not in a time of national crisis, not NOW, so soon after the worst domestic mass murder in U.S. history! Unless there was no real threat at all. The hard and difficult questions must be asked: Is the "War on Terrorism" a ruse, a concoction to divert the citizens' attention? Accept, if you will for just a moment, that as truly despicable as George W. Bush is, he would not be so evil as to help out his buddies in tobacco land that that would be worth suffering through another 9-11. Once you give the man that – and for once I am asking you to do just that – once you admit that not even he would allow the murder of hundreds or thousands more just so Marlboro addicts can light up outside the terminal, then a whole other door opens – and that door, my friends, leads to the Pandora's Box of 9-11, a rotten can of worms that many in the media are afraid to open for fear of where it might lead, of just how deep the stench goes. What if there is no "terrorist threat?" What if Bush and Co. need, desperately need, that "terrorist threat" more than anything in order to conduct the systematic destruction they have launched against the U.S. constitution and the good people of this country who believe in the freedoms and liberties it guarantees? Do you want to go there? I do. I have filed a Freedom of Information Act demand to the FAA, asking that they give to me all documents pertaining to the decisions that were made to allow deadly butane lighters and books of matches on board passenger planes. I am not optimistic about what the results of this will be. And let's face it – it's just one small piece of the puzzle. It is, after all, just a 99-cent Bic lighter. But, friends, I have to tell you, over the years I have found that it is PRECISELY the "little stories" and the "minor details" that contain within them the LARGER truths. Perhaps my quest to find out why the freedom to be able to start a fire on board a plane-full of citizens is more important than yours or my life will be in vain. Or maybe, just maybe, it will be the beginning of the end of this corrupt, banal administration of con artists who shamelessly use the dead of that day in September as the cover to get away with anything. The latest News from your ABC News Death of the crocodile hunterLive Video Footage of Steve Irwin Mike dolan remembers TV naturalist Steve Irwin, killed by a stingray today Crikey, welcome to Crocodile country," was the sort of phrase that made Steve Irwin famous. That and the fact that he could wrestle a 12ft crocodile with great bravado in front of a camera. Today, however, the khaki-clad Australian died after a stingray's barb pierced his chest while filming in Queensland. The creature is not usually considered a killer; Irwin, 44, is only the third Australian known to have died this way. For decades, he had taken calculated risks with all sorts of wildlife, relying on his knowledge of animal behaviour and personal experience to beat the odds. But the man who became known as 'The Crocodile Hunter' – after his US TV show of the same name– was more than a showman. He was a passionate conservationist and wildlife advocate. It all began in Queensland where he was brought up. While his father Bob was officially a plumber, and his mother Lynn a maternity nurse, the family's consuming passion was rescuing local wildlife. In 1970 the hobby became a full-time job when the Irwins opened a reptile park. Young Steve came to share his parents' obsession with wild creatures, and soon displayed an uncanny rapport with them, able to sense their moods and preferences. Although he eventually claimed the title 'The Crocodile Hunter', Irwin's methods differed drastically to those of earlier hunters. Rather than ending up as handbags, the crocs bagged by Irwin were later released in a new home deeper in the wild, or at the Irwins' reptile park. In 2001, Irwin appeared in a cameo role in the Eddie Murphy film Dr Dolittle 2. This led to a featurefilm, The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, and a string of documentaries, including The Crocodile Hunter Diaries. Within a few years, he was one of the most famous faces on US TV. Irwin was the type of man who would walk out of a Chinese restaurant if he spotted shark fin soup on the menu. He hated the idea of a threatened species being brought to the edge of extinction because it made a tasty appetiser. He recently agreed to appear on the Australian children's TV show The Wiggles, knowing that children's attitudes towards wildlife were essential to its future survival. "My husband has a unique ability to jump through the TV screen and into your lounge," his American wife, Terri, said recently. "He grabs you and drags you into the wild so you share his wonder and excitement.
The World Peace Prayer Society cordially invites you to join in the Universal Prayer Auf Deutsch • En Español People all over the world are joining together to bring peace to our hearts and our planet through the prayer May Peace Prevail on Earth. This prayer for world peace carries a message of great hope and healing. It transcends barriers of nationality, race and religion to unite humanity in a call for the common good of all life on Earth.
The World Peace Society of Australia's approach to peace is through non-violence and non-fear. We fundamentally believe that a lasting world peace will not be initiated politically, it will begin first in the hearts and minds of each of us. Until we have peace within our families and our communities and most importantly ourselves, no politician will ever have the power to bring peace. (click here for more about us) September 11 has been a call to humanity, to empathize with our brother and sister countries in peace. No war can bring peace. A small child is taught every day that violence at home, or in the playground, or on the street will not solve problems, so how do our government leaders believe that violence and fear between nations will bring a lasting world peace? Surely it is not our weapons that stop war, nor escalation of violence that brings peace - it is in the simplest of heart-felt conversations between brothers and sisters of one family in oneness. So all our actions for peace are centred on the theme of how "Peace Begins with Me".
Exciting news - usaweeklynews.com -is being launched by International News Ltd - usaweeklynews- will bring you informative-real and entertaining news, as well as cheap advertising at buytradebid.com and will have a place where you can have your say on world news and views.... Top World Pictures from Reuters
Top email questions for usaweeklynews readers: (1) Do you think George Bush should stay or go? (2)Is George W. Bush Your Hero? (3)Do You Agree With Bush's Policies on Iraq? (4)Are You Still Mad At Jane Fonda? (5)Who Makes A Better First Lady? (6)Who Would You Rather Have As President? (7) Do you think George Bush should join Madona on tour singing his latest hit, "I did it my way"? Send your answers to editor3@usaweeklynews.com
Royal trip axed over security fears The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have been forced to cancel a visit to the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan due to fears over the royal couple's safety. Islamic leaders have called for nationwide protests on Tuesday after the Pakistani military carried out its deadliest operation yet targeting suspected militants in the region. Missile-loaded helicopters fired on a madrassa - an Islamic college - which is said to have been used during recent weeks as a terrorist training camp. The strike on the school in Chingai, a village in tribal region of Bajur in NWFP, killed 80 people. Charles and Camilla were set to travel to the city of Peshawar, which is the capital of the province, on Tuesday morning. They were due to be shown around a moderate madrassa there, but the Pakistani government advised their security teams to call off the day outing because it was too dangerous. The Prince was said to be extremely disappointed. The trip to the moderate Markaz-ul-Uloom-ul-Islamia madrassa was viewed by aides as perhaps the most important engagement of the tour. It was central to the message of religious tolerance Charles is promoting. Madrassas in Pakistan, where young Muslims go to learn more about their faith, are often seen as a breeding ground for terrorists, but the Markaz-ul-Uloom-ul-Islamia is progressive and incorporates English lessons into its curriculum. The Prince and the Duchess are expected to stay in the capital Islamabad, but it is not known what their movements will be. Women are Grumpier in the Morning than men
Champions League preview Chelsea face Barcelona, while Liverpool host Bordeaux. Capello content after narrow win Thu 02 Nov, 12:00 PM Wednesday's Champions League victory over Steaua Bucharest was mission accomplished as far as Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello was concerned.Having beaten Steaua 4-1 in Romania two weeks ago, Real were expected to cruise through the return meeting at the Bernabeu and all-but guarantee their spot in the next phase. Real did make it through to the knockout stages - courtesy of their 1-0 win over Steaua and Lyon's victory over Dynamo Kiev - but it was far from straightforward for the Spanish giants. Steaua gave as good as they got in the Bernabeu and only a freak own goal from Banel Nicolita 20 minutes from time allowed Real to claim the win. For Capello though, that was enough. "We're happy to have qualified for the next stage. We suffered until the very end because Steaua have pressurised intensely, and they really hurt us, especially in the first half," he said. "They came to play with three attacking players. But the most important thing was going through." Real's win saw them move to nine points from four games, three behind leaders Lyon who have the only remaining 100 per cent record in the tournament after Karim Benzema's early goal saw off Dynamo on Wednesday. Real and Lyon clash at the Bernabeu in the next round of fixtures on November 21, and that game could well decide which team finishes top of Group E. "The match against Lyon is important because it's better to be first than second," said Real midfielder Guti, who felt his side could have made life easier for themselves against Steaua if they had made the most of their chances. Ruud van Nistelrooy spurned a couple of opportunities - including blazing a second-half penalty over - while Ivan Helguera missed an open goal and Robinho wasted a breakaway with a poor attempted pass. There were other opportunities as well, and Guti believes his side are not the finished article just yet. "We had many chances to score more goals (against Steaua), but we're satisfied with the result and with having mathematically gone through," he added. "As long as the team is winning, we have to line up the same starting XI. Still, our game needs to improve and we need to maintain more ball possession." Celtic boss laughs off Beckham link Monday October 30, 11:38 AM Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has laughed off a report that he could look to sign former England captain David Beckham. Beckham, who is in the final year of his contract, has yet to put pen to paper to a new deal with Real Madrid. And the 31-year-old midfielder is being linked with a possible move to the Scottish Premier League champions, who opened up a ten-point lead at the top of the table with a 2-1 win at Kilmarnock. Beckham has said that he does not want to play in the Premiership again and Strachan said: "I can see the scenario. Victoria (Beckham), myself and Lesley (Strachan's wife) sitting in the Tunnock's cafe in Uddingston (Lanarkshire). "I know the rhubarb tarts are great but I don't know if it's enough to bring Becks and Victoria up here. "What I said was that he is still a very good player and he can play for five more years but I can't imagine it and none of you can. But it's kept me on my toes this morning. And you wonder why I try to keep myself to myself and don't speak off the record."
St. Louis named most dangerous U.S. city By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD, Associated Press Writer Mon Oct 30, 9:53 AM ET ST. LOUIS - A surge in violence made St. Louis the most dangerous city in the country, leading a trend of violent crimes rising much faster in the Midwest than in the rest of nation, according to an annual list. The city has long fared poorly in the rankings of the safest and most dangerous American cities compiled by Morgan Quitno Press. Violent crime surged nearly 20 percent in St. Louis from 2004 to last year, when the rate of such crimes rose most dramatically in the Midwest, according to FBI figures released in June. "It's just sad the way this city is," resident Sam Dawson said. "On the news you hear killings, someone's been shot." The ranking, being released Monday, came as the city was still celebrating Friday's World Series victory at the new Busch Stadium. St. Louis has been spending millions of dollars on urban renewal even as the crime rate climbs. Mayor Francis Slay did not return calls to his office seeking comment Sunday. Scott Morgan, president of Morgan Quitno Press, a private research and publishing company specializing in state and city reference books, said he was not surprised to see St. Louis top the list, since it has been among the 10 most dangerous cities for years. The study looks at crime only within St. Louis city limits, with a population of about 330,000, Morgan said. It doesn't take into account the suburbs in St. Louis County, which has roughly 980,000 residents. Visiting St. Louis on Thursday, FBI director Robert Mueller said it was too early to tell why some types of crime were rising faster in the Midwest. Mueller said the FBI is working harder to form partnerships with police departments to launch programs like St. Louis' Safe Streets task force, which focuses police efforts on problematic neighborhoods. The safest city in 2005 was Brick, N.J., with a population about 78,000, followed by Amherst, N.Y., and Mission Viejo, Calif. The second most dangerous city was Detroit, followed by Flint, Mich., and Compton, Calif. The bad news for St. Louis was good for Camden, N.J., which in 2005 was named the most dangerous city for the second year in a row. Camden Mayor Gwendolyn Faison said Sunday she was thrilled to learn that her city no longer topped the most-dangerous list. "You made my day!" said Faison, who has served since 2000. "There's a new hope and a new spirit." Cities are ranked based on more than just their crime rate, Morgan said. Individual crimes such as rape or burglary are measured separately, compared to national averages and then compiled to give a city its ranking. Crimes are weighted based on their level of danger. The national FBI figures released in June showed the murder rate in St. Louis jumped 16 percent from 2004 to 2005, compared with 4.8 percent nationally. The overall violent crime rate increased nearly 20 percent, compared with 2.5 percent nationally. While crime increased in all regions last year, the 5.7 percent rise in the 12 Midwestern states was at least three times higher than any other region, according to the FBI.
Online Christmas shoppers cost companies billions Monday October 30, 07:38 AM
LONDON (Reuters) - Businesses could lose more than seven billion pounds in the run-up to Christmas as employees waste company time browsing the Internet for presents, employment experts said on Monday. Lured by increasingly sophisticated Web sites designed to keep consumers online for as long as possible, more than two million people took up Internet shopping in the past 12 months, the Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS) said. It calculated the potential cost in lost company time by estimating an average of half an hour a day spent shopping online at an average hourly wage of 12.50 pounds. "For many employers, every hour a member of staff spends looking for Christmas presents online is an hour they should have spent working," said Peter Mooney of ELAS. ELAS' prediction of nine billion pounds in Christmas Internet sales this year chimes with other recent forecasts for booming online shopping. Hitwise UK, a leading tracker of Internet trends, has already forecast record Christmas online purchases as better delivery times and improved search engines encourage shoppers to browse cyberspace rather than visit crowded high streets. Industry body IMRG said in August UK Internet sales outpaced total spending in shops by 10 times as traditional retailers such as supermarket giant Tesco start to compete for Internet business with online sites like Amazon. ELAS advised companies to lay down rules for staff now to help limit the distraction of cyberspace's seasonal offerings.
Turkish club's players and staff struck by lightning
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Six players and a member of the backroom staff at Turkish second division leaders Alanyaspor were injured when they were struck by lightning at the training ground on Tuesday. Two of the players were seriously hurt and remained unconscious, general manager Mevluthan Cavusoglu told the state-run Anatolian news agency. The team had been preparing for a league match on Thursday against Mersin Idmanyurdu. Cavusoglu said Alanyaspor may seek a postponement of the game. Alanyaspor are four points clear at the top of the second division.
Productivity growth skids to standstill
WASHINGTON - Growth in productivity — the key ingredient for rising living standards — skidded to a standstill in the late summer while workers' wages and benefits shot up at the fastest clip in more than two decades. The combination of slowing productivity and rising wages was seen as a formula for inflation troubles down the road. It could keep the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates any time soon and possibly lead to another increase. Productivity, the amount of output per hour of work, showed no growth at all from July through September. Growth was just 1.3 percent over the past 12 months, the weakest showing in nine years. The cost of wages and benefits measured by each unit of output grew at an annual rate of 3.8 percent in the third quarter. Employee compensation climbed by 5.3 percent over the past year. That gain matched a 12-month increase ending in late 1990 and was the fastest since a 5.8 percent rise in the 12 months ending in the fourth quarter of 1982. Both the extent of the weakness in productivity and the size of the increase in unit labor costs caught analysts by surprise. They said the numbers were certain to raise concerns at the Fed about future inflation risks. Higher wages and benefits are good news for workers. But such increases can trigger inflation if companies pass on the higher wage costs by making products more expensive. Rising productivity allows companies to pay their workers more from the increased production rather than having to finance the wage increases through price increases. "If rising unit labor costs are passed on in higher prices, that would mean stubbornly high inflation and no rate cuts from the Fed," said Nigel Gault, a senior economist at Global Insight. Companies could pay the higher salaries from their profit margins, which have jumped in recent years, but that would mean less in returns for shareholders. The weak economic news pushed stocks lower for a fifth consecutive day, the longest stretch of declines since June 2005. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 12.48 points to close at 12,018.54. Wall Street had hoped the slowing economy would translate into Fed rate cuts, something put into doubt by the slowdown in productivity and rising wage pressures. Investors were also concerned about a mixed sales performance in October at major retailers. Many shoppers apparently took a breather last month after a shopping spree in September. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported a meager 0.5 percent rise in same-store sales in October. The company said it would trim prices to gain market-share in such areas as toys and electronics. Consumers would benefit during the holiday shopping season but the move could mean lower profit margins as other stores struggle to compete. In other economic news, orders to U.S. factories for manufactured goods rose by 2.1 percent in September. While that was the biggest increase in six months, it was heavily influenced by a huge surge in demand for commercial aircraft. Outside of transportation products, factory orders actually fell by 2.4 percent. The Fed raised interest rates 17 consecutive times through June of this year in an effort to slow the economy enough to bring inflation pressures under control. The Fed has left rates unchanged for three straight meetings, hoping it has done enough to brake economic growth. But the significant slowing in productivity growth and the continued rise in wage pressures could prompt the Fed to resume raising interest rates to fight inflation, analysts said. At the very least, it will mean a prolonged period before the Fed feels safe in cutting rates. "The Fed will not be easing anytime soon unless the economy absolutely falls apart," said Stephen Stanley, chief economist at RBS Greenwich Capital. Since 1995, the U.S. has enjoyed a decade of strong gains in productivity. But as the economy has slowed this year, productivity has slowed, too, even as unit labor costs have risen by rates of 3 percent or more in each of the past five quarters. The 1.3 percent rise in productivity over the past four quarters ending in September represented a significant slowdown compared with rates averaging more than 3 percent annually from 2002 through 2005. "Productivity is not growing fast enough to keep labor costs from pressuring firms," said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors. "The labor cost numbers raise concerns that it may take quite a long time for inflation to settle down and decline significantly."
Former Army private indicted
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A former soldier in the 101st Airborne Division was indicted Thursday in the rape and death of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and the slayings of three of her relatives last March.
Former Army private Steven D. Green, 21, was charged with murder, aggravated sexual assault and conspiracy, among other offenses, in the federal indictment. If convicted, Green could face life in prison or the death penalty, a Justice Department statement said. Green's defense attorney, Patrick J. Bouldin, said that he hadn't seen the indictment but that his client intends to plead not guilty and "firmly stands behind that plea." The incident occurred March 12 in Mahmoudiya, Iraq, a village about 20 miles south of Baghdad, where Green was stationed with the division's 502nd Infantry Regiment. The indictment alleges that Green and others raped the girl and burned her body to conceal their crimes. The indictment also alleges that Green and four others stationed at a checkpoint nearby killed her father, mother and 6-year-old sister. Green was discharged from the Army in May 2006 for a "personality disorder," according to military investigators, and will be tried in U.S. District Court. Green's lawyer said he is in custody but would not reveal where. Nine soldiers from the 101st Airborne are accused of wartime atrocities stemming from the division's yearlong deployment, which ended in September.
Senators criticize IRS filing program By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer Thu Nov 2, 5:53 PM ET WASHINGTON - Leaders of the Senate Finance Committee say a deal between the Internal Revenue Service and private tax preparers that allows people to submit returns by computer is too restrictive and discourages electronic filing. Sens. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Max Baucus, D-Mont., said declines in participation in the Free File program show it is not working. "If the tax preparation industry cannot provide free basic filing services without hidden costs and traps, perhaps it is time to consider having the IRS provide a direct filing portal to enable all taxpayers to file electronically without cost," they wrote IRS Commissioner Mark Everson on Thursday. A recent report by an internal watchdog at the Treasury Department noted that fewer people were using the program after renegotiating of the contract between the IRS and the private industry that went into effect in January. The IRS contends that report misstated the intent of Free File, which was to help a limited number of people with the most simple tax returns. The agency said a survey in June showed "an overwhelming level of taxpayer satisfaction with this program." A record 70 million taxpayer transmitted returns through a computer this year, but only 3.8 million used the Free File program. That compared with about 5 million the previous year, when some private software companies offered their programs to everyone. The new contract limited eligibility for free tax preparation software to 70 percent of taxpayers, which covers people not earning more than $50,000. Grassley, the committee chairman, and Baucus, the top Democrat, said participating companies have used the Free File Web sites to market an array of other products with little oversight from the IRS. They said one site contained a link for taxpayers to purchase a tax preparation franchise for $15,500. The senators noted that the Treasury inspector general praised the new contract for extending the program to allow Free File users to file for extensions. But they said companies are not obligated to provide the extension form on their Web sites until April 1. But under a now-disbanded program, taxpayers had the option of filing that form electronically to the IRS by telephone starting in early February. Congress has been ambivalent about direct electronic filing. Grassley's committee last June backed legislation making it possible for individuals to file returns by computer without buying commercial software or paying a professional preparer. But the House objected to the IRS competing with private tax preparation software companies. The House this year voted to prohibit the IRS from developing or providing free electronic tax preparation outside the Free File program.
TAXWATCH Before death do we part Tax errors in divorce agreements are costly: Here's how to avoid them
By Eva Rosenberg, MarketWatch Last Update: 10:50 AM ET Sep 25, 2006 LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Despite a divorce agreement that specifically said neither party shall pay or receive alimony, one reader, Divorced in New York, was hit with a $5,000 tax bill from the Internal Revenue Service for some phantom alimony. Even though the IRS had a copy of the divorce agreement in hand, the agency insisted on assessing the taxes. Why? Because this woman's ex-husband presented canceled checks to prove he made payments to her in the amount reported as alimony. The IRS didn't really care that it wasn't alimony. What were the payments? They were her portion of his monthly pension, as granted to her in the divorce. Unfortunately, the state was sending the money to Divorced's ex-husband, with the withholding already pulled out, and he was sending to her half of the net. Then, on his tax return, the ex-husband was deducting his full payment as alimony, and pocketing her share of the refund. This problem could have been avoided if the attorney had set up a QDRO, says Patricia Powell, a certified financial planner and chief executive of The Powell Financial Group Inc., in Martinsville, N.J. What's a QDRO? A qualified domestic relations order. Properly prepared, it instructs the pension plan to issue a check directly to the ex-wife for her share of the income. With a QDRO, an ex-spouse can decide whether to get a lump sum rolled over to her IRA, cash it out and pay taxes, or continue to get monthly payments. She can designate how much she chooses to have withheld from her check. And, getting credit for her full share of the withholding, if Divorced had reported the pension income properly on her own tax return, she would have owed no tax. This is a typical error when couples indulge in do-it-yourself divorces, said Lynne Gold-Bikin, chair of the family law practice group at Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP in Norristown, Penn. Even seemingly simple divorces are more complex than they appear. They involve knowledge of both divorce law and tax law. Gold-Bikin says that if you're not a tax-law expert, you should get one to review the divorce agreement and settlement. If your divorce doesn't get a tax tune-up, what kinds of errors are apt to occur? Here are some common problems. Deceptive equality Often, assets appear to be evenly split based on fair market value. Everything looks all nice and equitable, but one person just got stuck with all the taxable assets, while the other walked off tax-free, warns Powell. One of the biggest traps for women, especially mothers, is that they often give up their right to practically everything in order to keep the house and avoid moving their children. Here are some tax rules to consider: Pensions, 401(k)s and IRAs are taxed at ordinary income rates. With the high distribution added to your other income, this can throw you into the top tax bracket of 35%. Stocks and investments often get long-term capital gain treatment - limited to 15%. The house looks like a good deal with that $500,000 personal residence exclusion. But once your ex signs it over to you, you've instantly lost half that cushion. If the appreciation on your residence is substantially more than the $250,000 personal exclusion, Powell advises you sell the house while you're still married and can use the full $500,000 joint exclusion. Then, split the money and buy your own home in the same neighborhood, which will now have a higher tax basis (basis is the cost, for tax purposes). Note: In most states, property tax keeps up with the increasing market value of the home. In California, due to Proposition 13, property taxes are based on the original purchase price. Before you do this in California, run the numbers to see whether the increased annual property tax payments on the new home might cost you more than the potential capital gains tax. Cash is valued at face-value for tax purposes - there is no tax on cash! How can you avoid the problem of "deceptive equality"? Powell suggests you sell off the assets with the high tax values and split the cash. Or if that's impractical, balance the split based on the tax costs. Have your certified financial planner or tax professional review the assets' tax bases to help you reach a truly equitable split. The vanishing alimony trick Alimony recapture can be a common problem, cautions Gold-Bikin. IRS Publication 504 explains what the recapture is: "You are subject to the recapture rule in the third year if the alimony you pay in the third year decreases by more than $15,000 from the second year or the alimony you pay in the second and third years decreases significantly from the alimony you pay in the first year." Why is this recapture needed if the divorce agreement is properly drafted? Gold-Bikin said this often happens when the alimony payments aren't made on schedule. If several payments are missed in one year, then made up in another year, it's easy to see that $15,000 swing take place. Or if payments are stopped altogether and there haven't been three years of regular alimony payments, that would also trigger the recapture. Why does this matter? Because the person paying the alimony will lose the deduction. And the person who received the money may go back and file amended returns for all the alimony years - and get refunds. Read that last sentence again if you're dealing with a deadbeat former spouse. You may have a refund coming! How can you avoid this problem? Gold-Bikin recommends you adhere to the alimony payment schedule.
Indian ground workers stand on the ground, surrounded by smoke from fire crackers, before an awards ceremony after the semi-final match of the ICC Champions Trophy cricket tournament between South Africa and the West Indies, in Jaipur November 2, 2006. REUTERS/Arko Datta (INDIA) 02 Nov 2006 A believer dressed as Gede the spirit of death smokes a cigarette at a cemetery in Port-au-Prince November 2, 2006. Haitians celebrating All Hallows visit cemeteries to pay respects to the dead in a two-day national holiday that offers food, alcohol and flowers to Baron Samdi, the guardian of the dead in Voodoo. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz (HAITI) 02 Nov 2006
Kashmiri youth run during a recruitment drive by the Indian Army in Anantnag, 55 km (34 miles) south of Srinagar, November 2, 2006. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli (INDIAN-ADMINISTERED KASHMIR)02 Nov 2006 An polar bear shakes water from his head after receiving food at a Berlin Zoo November 2, 2006. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz (GERMANY) 02 Nov 2006
U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush walk across the South Lawn to board Marine One to depart the White House in Washington November 2, 2006. People walk past a building protected by a surveillance system in London November 2, 2006. Britain is becoming a surveillance society where individuals are filmed hundreds of times a day by CCTV and where companies "data mine" to build up profiles on customers, the Information Commissioner warned on Thursday.
Sarah Drury of the U.S. stretches during a practice session for the FIVB women's volleyball world championships in Kobe, western Japan November 2, 2006. REUTERS/Toru Hanai (JAPAN) A Kosovo Albanian woman walks in the first snowfall in Kosovo's capital Pristina, November 2, 2006. REUTERS/Hazir Reka (SERBIA)
Editors of the USA Weekly News Tom and Chris investigate the sale by the Scottish Youth Hostels Association of the Eglinton and Brunsfield Hostels to friendly developers who are turning these historic heritage Edinburgh hostels that were donated for the benefit of the youth as affordable accomodation to promote Scotland. The developers expect to make over £13 million pounds profit from each building by turning these historic buildings into 30 flats and selling them for £1 million each. The developers have paid about £2 million for each building which should show them a net profit of about £25 million pounds. It is believed is that the directors of the Scottish Youth Hostels Association will receive a large payment from the developers for their help in transfering these valuable properties to the developers at a fraction of their real value as development sites in the most pretigious part of Edinburgh the Capital City of Scotland.
Walter R B Ballantyre- Photo supplied to the USA Weekly News by founding members of the SYHA who were personal friends of the late Walter Ballantyre who were asked to keep an eye on the SYHA to make sure that the SYHA should be true to its basic purpose of giving people of limited means the opportunity of enjoying the Scottish countryside.
Walter R B Ballantyre who donated all the over 70 hostels in Scotland to the Scottish Yourth Hostels Association, who gave more than fifty years of distiguished voluntary service to the Scottish Youth Hostels Association (SYHA) and who between 1935 and 1988, held successively, the offices of Assistant Honorary Sedretary, Honoroary Secretary, Vive Chairman, Chairman and Honorary President. And Chariman from 1958 to 1975 he exerted a wise and moderating influence upon the affairs of the association and was always concerned that it should be true to its basic purpose of giving people of limited means the opportunity of enjoying the Scottish countryside. In recognition of this service to his own Association and to the wider international youth hostel movement, he was elected as Honary President of the Scottish Youth Hostels Association (S.Y.H.A.) in 1975 and was awarded the Richard Schirrmann Medal in 1978 and the Order of the British Empire in 1982. Now Walter Ballantyre has died in 1988, a new breed of directors with completely different aims have emerged. Their names are Victor Hugh Bourne- director appointed 23-10-06; Paul Goldfinch -director appointed 23-10-06; Judith Roxburg director appointed 23-10-06 and Margo Sarah Paterson-secretary appointed 23-10-06. It appears from interviewing staff and members that the aims of these new directors is to turn the original company company known as the Scottish Youth Hostels Association (SYHA) with over 70 vary valuable freehold hostels through Scotland into a private company and form a new company called the SYHA which is effectively a shell comany with no assets for the public image. The original company wil hundreds and millions in real estate assets which owns the over 70 Hostels would then be a private company controlled by these greedy people who want to take the use of these assets away from the member sand the wider community and keep them for themselves. It appears that they have moved a long way in carrying out these aims. They have on the 23-10--06 formed a new not for profit company called the Scottish Youth Hostels Association. To do this it appears they lust have changed the name of the old company from the SYHA to another name to make this name available in the United Kingdom. It is impossible to have two companies with the same name in the United Kingdom. So what happened to the original SYHA that Watler Ballantyre formed, donated over 70 freehold hostels to and proudly excerted a moderating influence over for many years to make sure the SYHA would stay true to its basic purpose of giving people of limited means the opportunity of enjoying the Scottish countryside.
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Rolling Stones Fan can't get no satisfaction
A Rolling Stones fan is suing the band for $26m after they cancelled a concert in Atlantic City. The October 27 gig was called off four hours before it was scheduled to start because of Mick Jagger's ongoing throat problems. Rosalie Druyan has started legal proceedings, accusing Jagger and the rest of the band of fraud and acting in bad faith. She said it cost her and thousands of fans money on non-refundable hotel bookings. Her lawsuit says Jagger sought medical attention before the concert and knew he would not perform but did not disclose it in time for ticket-holders to cancel travel reservations. Ms Druyan bought a pair of tickets on the internet for $575 (£300) and said she was not notified about the cancellation until it was too late to cancel her $300 (£157) hotel reservations. The band has rescheduled the concert for November 17. Meanwhile, the Stones have cancelled an upcoming concert in Hawaii so Jagger can rest his voice. The November 22 gig was meant to end the second North American leg of the "Bigger Bang" world tour. Other dates have been moved around to allow Jagger to recuperate from his throat problems.
Orbiter to Look for Lost-To-Mars Probes Leonard David Senior Space Writer SPACE.com Wed Nov 1, 8:45 AM ET A super-powerful camera orbiting Mars may help discover the fate of long-lost spacecraft that never phoned home after reaching the red planet.NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is now circling that puzzling world, equipped to assist in determining whether life ever arose on the red planet and characterize its climate and geology, as well as prepare for future expeditionary crews to land there. But another sharp-shooting skill of MRO is catching sight of past probes--craft that ran into trouble and died in the line of Mars duty. That includes NASA's gone but not forgotten Mars Polar Lander and the British-built Beagle 2. MRO is outfitted with an array of equipment, including the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera--built to provide the most detailed view of Mars' surface to date. From Mars orbit, MRO can take zoom-in images of objects on the surface of the planet, checking out features that are about the size of a small dining room table. Ugly ending NASA's Mars Polar Lander was shot toward the red planet in January of 1999, only to be lost on December 3 that same year as the probe neared its south pole exploration target. What truly happened to the craft and its exact whereabouts remain best guesses. An investigation of the loss concluded that the most probable cause of the failure was due to the generation of bogus signals when the craft's legs were deployed high above the martian landscape. Those spurious signals are thought to have produced a false indication that the spacecraft's outstretched legs had actually reached Mars. That misread of its true altitude may have resulted in Mars Polar Lander prematurely shutting down its set of descent engines. Then, it is thought, the craft fell to an ugly ending within Mars' south pole region. "We'll search for Mars Polar Lander when the lighting conditions are good. Right now it's too dark down there," said Alfred McEwen, Director of the Planetary Image Research Lab at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. He is MRO's HiRISE principal investigator. As for when the first opportunity to utilize HiRISE to look for Mars Polar Lander, McEwen told SPACE.com that he hasn't focused on a time frame as yet. "It's a matter of both illumination angle and atmospheric conditions." Seasonal snows The Mars Polar Lander site is on the edge of polar night right now, as Mars is not quite half-way through its southern winter, explained Richard Zurek, MRO's project scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. Zurek said that even when spring comes again to the southern hemisphere on Mars--February 8, 2007--the seasonal snows made largely of carbon dioxide ice will still cover the high southern latitudes. These won't be gone from the area until the latter part of May of next year, he added. "Right now, MRO is focusing on the high northern latitudes, providing information for the Phoenix mission to use in selecting their landing site," Zurek told SPACE.com. That will be the main focus for MRO until the end of the calendar year, he said, as Mars moves into late northern winter and observing conditions deteriorate over the north polar area. NASA's Phoenix lander is to be launched next year, the first in a series of Scout-class spacecraft. It is also a resurrected Mars Polar Lander mission but this time headed for Mars' water-ice-rich northern polar region. One busy bird Early next year the focus will shift to looking at Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) candidate sites, Zurek pointed out. MSL is a hefty wheeled rover to be dispatched to the red planet in 2009. "MRO will look at a few of those even before the end of the year, as southern spring and summer are seasons when dust suspended in the atmosphere is more extensive and opaque," Zurek continued. "Of course, unless there is a planet-encircling storm this year, there will still be good seeing over many areas, but local activity and regional storms introduce a more random element and a more diffuse background haze. So, MRO will try to get an early look in areas that are more prone to obscuring dust activity." It's clear that MRO is going to be one busy bird as Mars researchers hope to work through a list of roughly 50 or more Mars Science Laboratory targets prior to a landing site workshop in October 2007. Other views Zurek said that scientists also hope to snag some early views of the Viking Lander 2 site. That NASA spacecraft successfully set down in Mars' Utopia Planitia in early September of 1976. Doing so will help calibrate interpretations of higher latitude data being collected for the Phoenix lander mission, he said. "We also hope to get back for a second view of Victoria Crater to pair with the one just taken in order to produce a stereo image before lighting conditions change too much," Zurek said. NASA's Opportunity Mars rover has wheeled itself into position to begin studies of that large feature. The space agency's other doing-just-fine Mars rover, Spirit, is also a likely target - but one that is not as urgent as some of the other MRO targets on the "to do" list, he observed. But first, MRO must focus on the near-term needs of Phoenix and Mars Science Laboratory, Zurek emphasized. "And second, we should not forget that MRO is supposed to do more than look at places that we already know. It also seeks new places that may prove to be even better destinations for future missions and to test our present understanding with new data as we explore more of the diverse planet that is Mars," he added. Beagle 2 wreckage or ? Similar to the Mars Polar Lander loss was the plight of a British-built Beagle 2 probe. It was deployed from the European Space Agency's Mars Express on December 19, 2003. Mars Express remains busy at work as it orbits the planet. Beagle 2 was targeted to land in Isidis Planitia via parachutes and airbags to cushion its touch down. The probe was a science instrument-packed 152 pound (69 kilogram) device that never uttered a peep from the surface of Mars. "Depending on our success with Mars Polar Lander--and with landers with fairly well-known locations--we will eventually try for Beagle 2, but that is a much greater challenge due to its smaller size and the greater uncertainty of its landing ellipse," Zurek said, noting that his opinions are his own and do not represent the view or policy of JPL. Indeed, it might be a stretch for MRO to spot Beagle 2 as it is only a few feet wide. Late last year, Beagle 2 wreckage was thought found in imagery relayed from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor - claimed by some to show that the craft came close to success. But others in the Mars photo-interpretation community contend that no incontrovertible evidence exists in imagery to support Beagle 2 being discovered. Resolution resolve "MRO may hopefully resolve what happened to Beagle 2," explained Mark Sims, the project's mission manager at the Space Research Center's Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. MRO has enough resolution to perhaps directly image the lander and certainly enough to image any debris or components, like airbags, parachutes, etc. That is, assuming that such gear is not covered by dust. Now nearly three years after Beagle 2's landing, hardware dusted over may no longer be recognizable, Sims told SPACE.com. "We understand that the HiRISE team intends to image the Beagle 2 landing ellipse at some point in the mission," Sims said. However, for obvious reasons, he added, doing so is not a high priority for MRO, given top-of-the-checklist need to image sites for Phoenix, Mars Science Laboratory, and other future missions. "We, however, look forward to what MRO might detect as it would be good to ascertain how close to a successful landing Beagle 2 came," Sims noted. Mineral fingerprint Using MRO as a spotter scope for vanished Mars probes is on the schedule. But the spacecraft also totes another "eye spy" device for finding spacecraft gone astray. Along with HiRISE, MRO's Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) is now up and operating too. It is able to identify minerals on the surface of Mars and is one of six science instruments aboard MRO. CRISM investigations are being led by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. Spacecraft hard landings, like in the case for Beagle 2, can churn up a rather large area of soil in the process. CRISM might locate signs of different minerals in the upturned crash spot that don't match those of the surrounding terrain. JPL's Zurek said that this kind of CRISM data would be like having a mineral fingerprint pointing to the spot where Beagle 2 plopped down. Images: Visualizations of Mars VIDEO: Getting There - MRO's Trip to Mars Top 10 Facts About NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter New Mars Orbiter: Preview of Coming Attractions Mars in 3-D: Images from Mars Express Original Story: Orbiter to Look for Lost-To-Mars Probes Visit SPACE.com and explore our huge collection of Space Pictures, Space Videos, Space Image of the Day, Hot Topics, Top 10s, Multimedia, Trivia, Voting and Amazing Images. Follow the latest developments in the search for life in our universe in our SETI: Search for Life section. Join the community, sign up for our free daily email newsletter, listen to our Podcasts, check out our RSS feeds and other Reader Favorites today!
Federal police officers detain a man during an operation outside Oaxaca University in Oaxaca City November 2, 2006. Mexican riot police used tear gas and water cannon on Thursday to force back Molotov-cocktail hurling protesters as violence flared again in the strife-torn city of Oaxaca. REUTERS/Daniel Aguilar (MEXICO) 02 Nov 2006 Yoko Ono, widow of former Beatle John Lennon, shows a victory sign at a news conference in Tokyo November 2, 2006, ahead of John Lennon Super Live concert on Saturday. The Dream Power charity concert is planned to build about ten children's schools in Africa and Asia, the organiser said. REUTERS/Toshiyuki Aizawa (JAPAN) 02 Nov 2006 Ultra-Orthodox Jews prepare to worship as they stand in front of the controversial Israeli barrier outside Rachel's Tomb in the West Bank city of Bethlehem November 2, 2006. Jewish worshippers visited and prayed at the tomb of the biblical matriarch Rachel on Thursday, marking what they believe to be the anniversary of her death.REUTERS/Sharon Perry (WEST BANK) 01 Nov 2006 Firemen rescue an injured worker from a basement workshop in Urumqi, capital of China's western Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, November 2, 2006. Four people have been killed and another four injured in a workshop fire in Urumqi on Thursday morning, Xinhua News Agency reported.
A 12-year-old girl, who is HIV/AIDS positive and orphaned by the disease, is attended by a nurse at a hospice in the capital Harare November 2, 2006. Local health officials say HIV/AIDS kills an average of 3000 people a week in the country struggling with a shortage of anti-retrovirals (ARV's) and prohibitive medical costs due to a severe economic crisis. REUTERS/Howard Burditt (ZIMBABWE) 02 Nov 2006 Actor and filmmaker Mel Gibson discusses the making of his forthcoming film "Apocalypto" before receiving the Chairman's Visionary Award at the 2006 Latino Global Business Conference and Digital Expo in Beverly Hills, California, November 2, 2006. Gibson's appearance marked his first public appearance since his DUI arrest on July 28 in Malibu, California. A Congolese labourer collects sand from the river bed to be sold for use in construction on the outskirts of the capital Kinshasa November 2, 2006. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO) Rescue workers try to save a horse in Marrum, the Netherlands, November 1, 2006. Approximately 100 horses were stranded on a small piece of land when a fierce storm struck two days ago. About 18 horses drowned while trying to escape. A man lies in a hospital after he was wounded in a bomb attack in Baghdad's Sadr city, November 2, 2006. A motorcycle bomb killed seven people and wounded 45 when it exploded in a crowded market, an interior ministry source said.
Do estate-tax reductions apply to foreigners living in the US? By Steve Dinnen Q: Under former estate-tax laws, foreigners living in the United States didn't have the right to pass on large sums tax free to their spouse. Congress assumed that surviving spouses would skip the country to escape the tax bill. But does the new law that increased estate-tax exemptions on assets passed on to nonspouse US citizens apply to foreigners, too? R.F., Boston A: The rules regarding noncitizen spouses have not changed, says Gary Altman, a certified financial planner in Rockville, Md. The only thing the 2001 tax act did was increase the amount that passes free of federal estate tax. Every resident or citizen of this country has the right to pass that amount (currently $2 million) free of estate taxes to anyone they want. If a person has more than that, he or she can give what is leftover to their spouse estate-tax free, because of the unlimited marital deduction. But if that spouse is not a US citizen, the estate is subject to tax on everything above $2 million, Mr. Altman says. So the noncitizen spouse, in this case, is treated as not being a spouse. Congress has allowed for a special form of trust, called a qualified domestic trust, that will defer the estate tax on the assets over $2 million until the noncitizen spouse later dies, no matter where he or she ends up living. Many individuals with noncitizen spouses are confused about these rules, says Altman. That makes it very important for people who live or own real estate in the US to plan their financial affairs to avoid estate taxes. Q: How do you compare Treasury Bills with TIPS and Series I Savings Bonds for earned interest, tax treatment, and safety? J.F., via e-mail A: T-Bills, TIPS, and Series I Bonds are all subject to federal taxes. But they're exempt from state and local levies, says Doug Bender, managing director at McQueen, Ball & Associates in Bethlehem, Pa. Earned interest may be calculated differently for each type of security. All are guaranteed by Uncle Sam, so safety is not an issue. As Mr. Bender explains, Treasury Bills are short-term instruments (less than one year) that are issued at a discount from maturity value. The difference between the purchase price and the maturity value is your income. For example, a $1,000 face value T-Bill purchased for $950 will generate $50 in interest if held to maturity. T-Bills are very liquid, with yields that are comparable to and sometimes superior to money-market rates. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) pay a rate of interest that's set when they're sold. The interest is paid on the principal of the security, which will vary with the rate of inflation. The principal is adjusted monthly based upon changes to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U), as issued by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. As the principal is adjusted, interest payments may rise with inflation or fall with deflation. The fixed rate of interest is paid semi-annually and based upon the original principal or the inflation-adjusted principal, whichever is greater. TIPS are issued at regularly scheduled auctions in maturities of 5, 10, or 20 years and are available in minimum denominations of $1,000. A longer-term investment, TIPS are ideal for tax-deferred accounts or Roth IRAs, Bender says. I-Bonds are sold at face value with a minimum investment of just $25. Earned income is the combination of a rate that's fixed for the life of the bond, plus a variable rate, which is based on changes in the CPI-U and is adjusted semiannually. Interest on I-Bonds may be earned for up to 30 years from their issue date, and it's paid out when they're cashed in. But there's a one-year required holding period, and if you redeem them within five years of issue, you forfeit the most recent three months of interest. I-Bonds have inflation-protection aspects similar to TIPS. You can buy no more than $30,000 worth of them in any given year. Bender believes that I-Bonds are well suited to smaller accounts. Their tax- deferral feature - taxes need not be paid until they're cashed in - is attractive. But their penalties for early withdrawal and lack of transferability makes them inappropriate for investors who need flexibility. For more information on all of these investments visit www.treasurydirect.gov. Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, leave after visiting a Sikh temple in Lahore November 2, 2006
Ricky Martin performs during the 2006 Latin Recording Academy "Person of The Year" event honoring him in New York City November 1, 2006. Fijian army soldiers stand on parade at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Fiji's main army base, in Suva November 3, 2006. Fiji's prime minister and military seemed headed for a collision as fears grow of another damaging and bloody coup, that South Pacific neighbours warned would devastate the island nation's fragile economy.
Madonna's new man It seems one little motherless Malawian's got to get Into The Hollywood Groove pretty quickly: Madonna and Guy Richie are to be his new Mother and Father. The adoption's Causing A Commotion - plenty of people are Hung Up on the idea that one-year-old David Banda will be Little Boy Lost when he swaps his dilapidated orphanage for Madonna's mansion. But Malawian court officials say they'll be checking to see if the change proves to be Paradise or if Intervention is needed. "Madonna was granted an interim order to adopt the child, which means that there's going to be a subsequent hearing by the same court to either allow her to adopt the child or not. This also means that she has been put on observer status to see how she will relate to the child, and people from social welfare will have to observe that." Mummy Madonna There's new reports Madonna's adopting a baby boy from Malawi, with the father of a one-year-child saying she's officially adopted his son. "I am the father of David, who has been adopted. I am very very happy because as you can see there is poverty in this village and I know he will be very well looked after in America." Madge's reps had been dismissing the adoption speculation to justify the singer's visits to Malawi, but the latest talk has her spokeswoman saying a statement will be made in the next 48 hours.
Factual Back-Up For Fahrenheit 9/11: Section One THE FOLLOWING IS THE LINE BY LINE FACTUAL BACKUP FOR 'FAHRENHEIT 9/11' Section One covers the facts in Fahrenheit 9/11 from the 2000 election to George W. Bush's extended visit to Booker Elementary on the morning of September 11th. FAHRENHEIT 9/11: Fox was the first network to call Florida for Bush. Before that, some other networks had called Florida for Gore, and they changed after Fox called it for Bush. “With information provided from the Voter News Service, NBC was the first network to project Gore the winner in Florida at 7:48 pm. At 7:50 pm ,CNN and CBS project Gore the winner in Florida as well.” By 8:02 pm , all five networks and the Associated Press had called Gore the winner in Florida. Even the VNS called Gore the winner at 7:52 pm. At 2:16 am, Fox calls Florida for Bush, NBC follows at 2:16 am. ABC is the last network to call the Florida for Bush, at 2:20 am, while AP and VNS never call Florida for Bush. CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/stories/02/02/ cnn.report/cnn.pdf Ten minutes after the top of the hour, network excitement was again beginning to build. At 2:16 a.m., the call was made: Fox News Channel, with Bush's first cousin John Ellis running its election desk, was the first to project Florida -- and the presidency -- for the Texas governor. Within minutes, the other networks followed suit. "George Bush, Governor of Texas will become the 43rd President of the United States," CNN's Bernard Shaw announced atop a graphic montage of a smiling Bush. "At 18 minutes past two o'clock Eastern time, CNN declares that George Walker Bush has won Florida's 25 electoral votes and this should put him over the top."PBS: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/media/election2000/ election_night.html FAHRENHEIT 9/11: The man who was in charge of the decision desk at FOX on election night was Bush’s first cousin, John Ellis. “John Ellis, a first cousin of George W. Bush, ran the network's ‘decision desk’ during the 2000 election, and Fox was the first to name Bush the winner. Earlier, Ellis had made six phone calls to Cousin Bush during the vote-counting.” William O’Rourke, “Talk Radio Key to GOP Victory,” Chicago Sun-Times, December 3, 2002. A Fox News consultant, John Ellis, who made judgments about presidential ‘calls’ on Election Night admits he was in touch with George W. Bush and FL Gov. Jeb Bush by telephone several times during the night, but denies breaking any rules. CNN, November 14, 2000; http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/ 11/14/politics/main249357.shtml. John Ellis, the Fox consultant who called Florida early for George Bush, had to stop writing about the campaign for the Boston Globe because of family ‘loyalty’ to Bush. CBS News, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/ 11/14/politics/main249357.shtml, November 14, 2000. FAHRENHEIT 9/11: “Make sure the chairman of your campaign is also the vote countin’ woman and that her state has hired a company that’s gonna knock voters off the rolls who aren’t likely to vote for you. You can usually tell them by the color of their skin.” “The vote total was certified by Florida's secretary of state, Katherine Harris, head of the Bush campaign in Florida, on behalf of Gov. Jeb Bush, the candidate's brother.” Mark Zoller Seitz, “Bush Team Conveyed an Air of Legitimacy,” San Diego Union-Tribune, December 16, 2000. The Florida Department of State awarded a $4 million contract to the Boca Raton-based Database Technologies Inc. (subsidiary of ChoicePoint). They were tasked with finding improperly registered voters in the state’s database, but mistakes were rampant. “At one point, the list included as felons 8,000 former Texas residents who had been convicted of misdemeanors.” St. Petersburg Times (Florida), December 21, 2003. Database Technologies, a subsidiary of ChoicePoint, “was responsible for bungling an overhaul of Florida’s voter registration records, with the result that thousands of people, disproportionately black, were disenfranchised in the 2000 election. Had they been able to vote, they might have swung the state, and thus the presidency, for Al Gore, who lost in Florida. Oliver Burkeman, Jo Tuckman, “Firm in Florida Election Fiasco Earns Millions from Files on Foreigners,” The Guardian, May 5, 2003 http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,949709,00.html. See also, Atlanta-Journal-Constitution, May 28, 2001. In 1997, Rick Rozar, the late head of the company bought by ChoicePoint, donated $100,000 to the Republican National Committee. Melanie Eversley, “Atlanta-Based Company Says Errors in Felon Purge Not Its Fault,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 28, 2001. Frank Borman of Database Technologies Inc. has donated extensively to New Mexico Republicans, as well as to the Presidential campaign of George W. Bush. Opensecrets.org, “Frank Borman.” FAHRENHEIT 9/11: Gore got the most votes in 2000. [A] consortium [Tribune Co., owner of the Times; Associated Press; CNN; the New York Times; the Palm Beach Post; the St. Petersburg Times; the Wall Street Journal; and the Washington Post] hired the NORC [National Opinion Research Center, a nonpartisan research organization affiliated with the University of Chicago] to view each untallied ballot and gather information about how it was marked. The media organizations then used computers to sort and tabulate votes, based on varying scenarios that had been raised during the post-election scramble in Florida. Under any standard that tabulated all disputed votes statewide, Mr. Gore erased Mr. Bush's advantage and emerged with a tiny lead that ranged from 42 to 171 votes. Donald Lambro, “Recount Provides No Firm Answers,” Washington Times, November 12, 2001. “The review found that the result would have been different if every canvassing board in every county had examined every undervote, a situation that no election or court authority had ordered. Gore had called for such a statewide manual recount if Bush would agree, but Bush rejected the idea and there was no mechanism in place to conduct one.” Martin Merzer, “Review of Ballots Finds Bush's Win Would Have Endured Manual Recount,” Miami Herald, April 4, 2001. See also, the following article by one of the Washington Post journalists who ran the consortium recount. The relevant point is made in Table I of the article. http://www.aei.org/docLib/20040526_KeatingPaper.pdf
Obesity linked to lack of childhood sleep Rising levels of obesity may be linked to a lack of sleep in childhood, researchers have claimed. Children and adolescents are getting fewer hours of sleep than they used to and this affects the levels of hormones that control appetite and energy expenditure, the study found. Dr Shahrad Taheri from Bristol University blames shorter sleep periods among youngsters on increased use of televisions, mobile phones and computers. His research suggests that most TV viewing by children happens near bedtime, and can disrupt sleep. Writing in the Archives of Disease in Childhood from the British Medical Journal, Dr Taheri said that removing electronic gadgets from children's bedrooms could be part of a strategy to tackle obesity. "Sleep is probably not the only answer to the obesity pandemic, but its effect should be taken seriously, as even small changes in energy balance are beneficial," he said. "An obesity prevention approach in children and adolescents that promotes a healthy diet, physical activity and adequate sleep could be adopted. "Good sleep could be promoted by removing televisions and other electronic items from children's bedrooms and ensuring a strict, regular bedtime routine. "Ensuring adequate sleep in children and adolescents may not only help fighting against obesity, but could have other added health and educational benefits - for example improvements in academic performance."
Probe into £1 billion bank loan insurance blackmail- Probe into £1 billion loan insurance blackmail-customers ‘forced into taking useless policies.. A Major Investigation of “rip off” insurance policies sold by banks and building societies was ordered today. The Office of Fair Trading said consumers are paying £1 billion a year too much for policies supposed to protect then if they fall ill, have an accident or lose their jobs-but which in reality are often completely useless. Lenders almost always try to sell the highly lucrative policies when customers take out a personal loan or a credit card, and in some cases, also when they arrange a mortgage. In many cases customers are effectively being blackmailed into policies because they are told they will not get a loan if they do not take out the insurance. Britain’s competition watchdog today launched its biggest ever investigation into the way banks and building societies “conned” billions out of customers for insurance. In one of the biggest single “scams” ever identified by the Office of Fair Trading it was revealed that customers are being “ripped off” to the tune of £1 billion a year by high street banks, credit card companies and insurers. The damning report has found has found millions are being sold unsuitable policies and mislead about how much they will cost. In many cases they are effectively being blackmailed into policies because they are told they will not get a loan without the insurance. Sales of the so-called payment protection insurance (PPI) has grown massively in recent years with seven million policies sold annually – business estimated to be worth around £5.5 billion. Today OFT chief executive John Fingleton said the evidence tit uncovered was so alarming that the industry had to be referred to the Competition Commission for a full investigation. He said, “Following the work we have undertaken it is clear that many consumers are failed by PPI- insurance which gives them a poor deal and often less protection than you think.” A review of PPI carried out by City watchdog the Financial Services Authority found three major areas of concern. They are: 1. Customers not being given clear information about how much the policies will really cost and not making it clear that they are optional. 2. Customers not being told that there are exceptions to the policies that mean they often will not be able to claim. Staff are not bothering to find out whether the policies are suitable for the customers. 3. Customers are often steered towards up-front single premiums because they are more profitable. Today’s OFT report highlights the enormous extra costs borrowers can be saddled with by taking out PPI. For example a £5,000 pound five-year loan advertised at 6.1 per cent APR had an actual interest rate of 22 per cent when PPI was added on. A Major Investigation of “rip off” insurance policies sold by banks and building societies was ordered today. The Office of Fair Trading said consumers are paying £1 billion a year too much for policies supposed to protect then if they fall ill, have an accident or lose their jobs-but which in reality are often completely useless. Lenders almost always try to sell the highly lucrative policies when customers take out a personal loan or a credit card, and in some cases, also when they arrange a mortgage. In many cases customers are effectively being blackmailed into policies because they are told they will not get a loan if they do not take out the insurance. Britain’s competition watchdog today launched its biggest ever investigation into the way banks and building societies “conned” billions out of customers for insurance. In one of the biggest single “scams” ever identified by the Office of Fair Trading it was revealed that customers are being “ripped off” to the tune of £1 billion a year by high street banks, credit card companies and insurers. The damning report has found has found millions are being sold unsuitable policies and mislead about how much they will cost. In many cases they are effectively being blackmailed into policies because they are told they will not get a loan without the insurance. Sales of the so-called payment protection insurance (PPI) has grown massively in recent years with seven million policies sold annually – business estimated to be worth around £5.5 billion. Today OFT chief executive John Fingleton said the evidence tit uncovered was so alarming that the industry had to be referred to the Competition Commission for a full investigation. He said, “Following the work we have undertaken it is clear that many consumers are failed by PPI- insurance which gives them a poor deal and often less protection than you think.” A review of PPI carried out by City watchdog the Financial Services Authority found three major areas of concern. They are: 1. Customers not being given clear information about how much the policies will really cost and not making it clear that they are optional. 2. Customers not being told that there are exceptions to the policies that mean they often will not be able to claim. Staff are not bothering to find out whether the policies are suitable for the customers. 3. Customers are often steered towards up-front single premiums because they are more profitable. Today’s OFT report highlights the enormous extra costs borrowers can be saddled with by taking out PPI. For example a £5,000 pound five-year loan advertised at 6.1 per cent APR had an actual interest rate of 22 per cent when PPI was added on.
OFT slams banks over debt cover By Naomi Caine Have you got insurance to cover your loan payments? If so, it's probably no good. A damning report into the £5.5 billion market for payment protection cover by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has accused insurers of "failing consumers". The OFT now plans to refer the matter to the Competition Commission. Consumers are routinely sold payment protection insurance when they take out a loan or mortgage. The policies are supposed to cover your debt payments if you are ill and cannot work. There's nothing wrong with that, you might think. But you'd be wrong. The sale of payment protection insurance (PPI) is dominated by the big banks, which often foist the cover on customers when they are negotiating loans. Sales staff do not always make it clear that the cover is optional - or that you can buy it from another insurer. The hard sell is perhaps no surprise: sales staff can earn high rates of commission for pushing PPI. High cost of cover The dominance of the banks, plus the high commission rates, make PPI expensive. It can more than treble the interest rate on some loans. Norwich and Peterborough's loan rate, for example, jumps from 8.5% to 26%, according to figures from uSwitch, a comparison website. The higher interest rate bumps up the monthly payments on a £10,000 loan by £78. If that weren't bad enough, some companies automatically add the insurance premium onto the quote for the monthly debt repayments, making accurate costs comparisons difficult. Nick White, head of personal finance at uSwitch, says: "It's not surprising to see that the Competition Commission is now involved in this investigation as the high-street banks currently account for 80% of all PPI policies sold. Consumers are not shopping around and looking at the standalone policies that represent much better value for money." PPI might be expensive, but it is often riddled with exclusions. The claims ratio is estimated at 15% to 20% by the OFT. Compare that with a claims ratio of 74% on motor insurance and 55.2% on household insurance. Paula Houghton, personal finance campaigner at Which?, the consumer group, says: "Bad practice is rife in the PPI market. It is simply not delivering adequate protection for consumers. Policies are complex, often inappropriate and offer poor value." The Financial Services Authority (FSA), the regulator, has conducted its own review into PPI. It is the regulator's second probe into the industry. Last year, it warned companies to clean up their act or face tighter controls. But nothing much seems to have changed. Clive Briault, managing director of retail markets at the FSA, says: "Major weaknesses remain, which go to the heart of the culture surrounding PPI sales. Many firms are still not giving customers clear information. It is not being made clear that PPI is optional and customers are not getting full information about how much the insurance will cost. Customers are still not being made fully aware that there may be parts of the policy under which they cannot claim." The study identified particularly poor standards among firms such as motor dealers and retailers. The FSA has pledged to get tough on the worst offenders, and has threatened stricter regulation of the sale of PPI if the industry does not make improvements. Fears of mis-selling But there are already seven million policies in circulation, which could mean mis-selling on a grand scale. White says: "At best, the excessive cost of PPI for minimal benefits makes it bad value for money. At worst, mis-selling means the most vulnerable people are parted from large amounts of money under false pretences, and left more exposed to debt. This is particularly worrying at a time when personal debt has reached record levels, and continues to escalate." Campaigners want insurers to introduce summary boxes - as adopted by the credit card industry - to ensure that all costs are clear to the consumer and they can make proper comparisons between policies. They would also like to see a ban on the inclusion of PPI in loan quotes, to stop high pressure and unfair sales tactics. However, a clampdown on PPI could signal the end of low loan rates. White says: "The high price of PPI is clearly subsidising the low loan rates on offer. I would not be surprised to find that the knock-on effect of a clampdown on the dubious selling practices and high pricing surrounding PPI policies will result in a steady increase in interest rates." Top tips It could be many months before any changes are introduced by the Competition Commission. In the meantime, consumers should follow some basic tips. • Remember that PPI is almost always optional - you should not be refused credit if you decide not to buy it. • Do you really need insurance? You might already have some cover or savings to tide you over in case of illness or unemployment. • Make sure you are clear about any exclusions. • Check what you will get back if you cancel the policy or repay the loan early. • You don't have to take out PPI with your lender - shop around to compare benefits and prices. Andrew Hagger of Moneyfacts says: "Companies such as Paymentcare and British Insurance offer similar cover to mainstream lenders at a much reduced cost to the customer, without charging interest on top, or hitting them further in the pocket with poor value rebates on cancellation."
The Rev. Ted Haggard, Key Evangelical quits amid gay sex claim By CATHERINE TSAI, Associated Press Writer COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The leader of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, resigned Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years The Rev. Ted Haggard, a married father of five who has been called one of the most influential evangelical Christians in the nation, denied the allegations. His accuser refused to share voice mails that he said backed up his claim. Haggard also stepped aside as head of his 14,000-member New Life Church while a church panel investigates, saying he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations." "I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity," Haggard said in a written statement. "I hope to be able to discuss this matter in more detail at a later date." He also told KUSA-TV late Wednesday: "Never had a gay relationship with anybody, and I'm steady with my wife, I'm faithful to my wife." The allegations come as voters in Colorado and seven other states get ready to decide Tuesday on amendments banning gay marriage. Besides the proposed ban on the Colorado ballot, a separate measure would establish the legality of domestic partnerships providing same-sex couples with many of the rights of married couples. Mike Jones, 49, of Denver told The Associated Press he decided to go public with his allegations because of the political fight. Jones, who said he is gay, said he was upset when he discovered Haggard and the New Life Church had publicly opposed same-sex marriage. "It made me angry that here's someone preaching about gay marriage and going behind the scenes having gay sex," said Jones, who added that he isn't working for any political group. Jones, whose allegations were first aired on KHOW-AM radio in Denver, claimed Haggard paid him to have sex nearly every month over three years. Jones also said Haggard snorted methamphetamine before their sexual encounters to heighten his experience. Haggard and his attorney, Martin Nussbaum, did not return calls Thursday night from the AP. Jones said that he had advertised himself as an escort on the Internet and that a man who called himself Art contacted him. Jones said he later saw the man on television identified as Haggard. He said that he last had sex with Haggard in August and that he did not warn him before making his allegations this week. Jones said he has voice mail messages from Haggard, as well as an envelope he said Haggard used to mail him cash, though he declined to make any of it available to the AP. "There's some stuff on there (the voice mails) that's pretty damning," he said. Haggard, who is about 50, was appointed president of the evangelicals association in March 2003. He has participated in conservative Christian leaders' conference calls with White House staffers and lobbied members of Congress last year on U.S. Supreme Court appointees after Sandra Day O'Connor announced her retirement. After Massachusetts legalized gay marriage in 2004, Haggard and others began organizing state-by-state opposition. Last year, Haggard and officials from the nearby Christian ministry Focus on the Family announced plans to push Colorado's gay marriage ban for the 2006 ballot. At the time, Haggard said that he believed marriage is a union between a man and woman rooted in centuries of tradition, and that research shows it's the best family unit for children. "Homosexual activity, like adulterous relationships, is clearly condemned in the Scriptures," the evangelicals association says on its Web site. The Bible says homosexuality is a sin that "brings grave consequences in this life and excludes one from the Kingdom of God." Haggard's resignation from the NAE seems unlikely to do lasting damage to the organization, an umbrella group for a diverse and independent-minded membership. At his own church, Haggard's decision to step aside — if it became permanent — would have a more profound effect. "One would hope and pray that this matter would be resolved expeditiously and quickly and he can be restored back to being the pastor of the church and the leader of the NAE," said Michael Cromartie, vice president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative Washington think tank. New Life Church member Brooks DeMio, 44, said he thinks Jones is a liar and can't believe Haggard would engage in sex with a man. "He loves the Lord, homosexuality is a sin and that's not Ted," DeMio said. "His desire is to serve other people and uphold the word of God. ... I don't know him well enough to give a complete character description, but I know him enough to know it's not true." Carolyn Haggard, spokeswoman for the New Life Church and the pastor's niece, said a four-member church panel will investigate the allegations. The board has the authority to discipline Haggard, including removing him from ministry work. "This is really routine when any sort of situation like this arises, so we're prepared," Carolyn Haggard said. "The church is going to continue to serve and be welcoming to our community. That's a priority."
Bindi steps up By Elaine Ford. Posted: Thursday, October 12 2006 . Bindi Irwin left her cherished Australia Zoo for a spell to honour a promise her dad Steve made to present the top award at the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards in Sydney. The Crocodile Hunter's eight-year-old daughter and her mum, Terri, stuck close together in their first night out since her tribute at her dad's memorial service two weeks ago. Bindi got to present the "Fave Aussie" award to singer Guy Sebastian. "I am the smallest presenter, but I get to give the biggest award." A smiling Terri says it was good to have a focus on the special night and that Bindi's appearance would've made her dad proud. "Bindi's been looking forward to this for a long time, so we're really glad to be here."
Irwin's death will never air, says wife Wed Sep 27, 2006 3:49 PM BST By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK (Reuters) - Footage of "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin's death will never be shown on television, his wife said in her first interview since the exuberant naturalist was killed by the serrated barb of a stingray's tail. Asked in an interview with the ABC News program "20/20" whether the footage of Irwin's September 4 death would ever be aired on television, Terri Irwin was blunt and emphatic. "It won't be. No. No. What purpose would that serve,' she said, adding that she had not looked at the footage of her husband's death. That footage shows Irwin swimming above a stingray, while filming a documentary off Australia's northeast coast, when it lashed out and speared him in the heart with its barbed tail, according to Irwin's manager, John Stainton, who said Irwin pulled the barb from his chest before losing consciousness. U.S.-born Terri Irwin said her 44-year-old husband knew he would not live a long life. "He'd talk about it often. But it wasn't because of any danger from wildlife. That was never a consideration. He just felt life could be dangerous," she said in the interview, to be broadcast in the United States on Wednesday evening. Irwin's family and friends held a private funeral at his beloved Australia Zoo -- where he was also buried. A public televised memorial service was held at the zoo's "Crocoseum" last Wednesday. His 46 "Crocodile Hunter" documentaries were watched by 200 million people around the world and his death prompted an international outpouring of grief.
Stars and ordinary Australians farewell Irwin Wed Sep 20, 2006 1:46 BEERWAH, Australia (Reuters) - A khaki-clad choir, Hollywood stars and thousands of ordinary Australians bid farewell to "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin at a memorial service for the TV naturalist at his "Crocoseum" on Wednesday. The service, broadcast live around Australia as well as across Asia and the United States, brought the nation to a standstill 16 days after Irwin was killed when the serrated barb from a stingray's tail pierced his heart. "Please don't grieve for Steve. He's at peace now, but I'd like you to grieve for the animals, for the animals have lost the best friend they ever had, and so have I," Irwin's father Bob told the service. A koala slumbered in a gum tree next to the stage and Irwin's tearful U.S.-born wife Terri held their young son Robert in her lap as Irwin's family said their public goodbye. "My daddy was my hero, he was always there for me when I needed him," Irwin's eight-year-old daughter said after walking onto the "Crocoseum" stage to a standing ovation. "We filmed together, caught crocodiles together and loved being in the bush together. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did," she said, her finger running over the words as she read her farewell. A crowd of about 5,000 people at the "Crocoseum" in Irwin's beloved Australia Zoo in tropical Queensland state were entertained by popular Australian children's group The Wiggles in a largely upbeat service. Australian folk singer John Williamson led fans and a khaki-clad choir of Australia Zoo workers in a rousing rendition some of Irwin's favourite songs, including "True Blue" and "Give Me a Home Beneath the Gum Trees". Taped video tributes were played from Irwin's Oscar-winning actor friend Russell Crowe, Hollywood stars Kevin Costner and Cameron Diaz, talk show host Larry King and U.S. singer Justin Timberlake. Prime Minister John Howard said Irwin touched the hearts of millions around the world, while Crowe said in a taped message from New York that Irwin's death "was completely unfair". "We've all lost a friend, we've lost a champion," Crowe said. In a final tribute, Australia Zoo staff spelled out Irwin's catchphrase "Crikey" in yellow flowers as Irwin's truck was driven from the "Crocoseum" for the last time to end the service.
Pastor Ted Haggard, the top leader of the powerful US evangelical movement and outspoken opponent of gay marriage with close White House links, has stepped down from his positions following allegations he paid for sex with a male prostitute Ted Haggard The president of the U.S. National Association of Evangelicals, who has had regular talks with the White House and vocally opposes gay marriage, resigned on Thursday after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a male escort. (NAE/Handout/Reuters)
Copies of books written by pastor Ted Haggard sit on a rack of the bookstore in the New Life Church on north of Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. Ted Haggard, a national evangelical leader and pastor of the 14,000-member New-Life Church, resigned Thursday, after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years. A church cross is seen in a 2005 file photo. The president of America's National Association of Evangelicals, who has been a vocal opponent of gay marriage, resigned on Thursday after an accusation he had a sexual relationship with a male escort. Ted Haggard, who denied the accusation, also 'resigned temporarily' as senior pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, according to a statement from the church. James Groesbeck, one of the elders of New Hope Church, listens to reporters before heading into a meeting of church officials near Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. Ted Haggard, the leader of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, resigned Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years. The Rev. Ted Haggard,president of the National Association of Evangelicals, in Sept. 2005 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Haggard, the leader of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, resigned Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years. (AP Photo/Erik Stenbakken, New Life Church) The view down the lane leading to the home of New Life Church pastor the Rev. Ted Haggard is shown north of Colorado Springs, Colo., Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. Haggard resigned as president of the influential National Association of Evangelicals on Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man. Haggard _ who has been a leading opponent of the drive for same-sex marriage _ also stepped aside as head of his 14,000-member New Life Church while a church panel investigates, saying he could 'not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations.' Below a live video feed of himself, the Rev. Ted Haggard delivers a sermon to those gathered at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 2002. Haggard, leader of the influential National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal opponent of the drive for same-sex marriage, resigned Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, after being accused of paying for sex with a man. Haggard also stepped aside as head of his 14,000-member New Life Church while a church panel investigates, saying he could 'not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations.' The Rev. Ted Haggard, speaks at the World Prayer Center on the New Life campus in Colorado Springs, Colo., in this photo taken in December 2002. Haggard, leader of the influential National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal opponent of the drive for same-sex marriage, resigned Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, after being accused of paying for sex with a man. Haggard also stepped aside as head of his 14,000-member New Life Church while a church panel investigates, saying he could 'not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations.' Abby Gilbert, one of the 14,000-member New Life Church members talks about the church's pastor, Ted Haggard, north of Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. Haggard, the leader of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, resigned Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years. ( E.J. Cox, one of the some 14,000 members of the New Hope Church, talks about the church's pastor, Ted Haggard, outside the main entrance to the church north of Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. James Groesbeck, one of the elders of the New Life Church, talks to reporters before heading into a meeting of church officials north of Colorado Springs, Colo., Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. Ted Haggard, a national evangelical leader and pastor of the 14,000-member congregation, resigned Thursday, after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years. Colorado's Front Range mountains hang in the background of New Hope Church, north of Colorado Springs, Colo., Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. The Rev. Ted Haggard resigned as president of the influential National Association of Evangelicals on Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man. Haggard _ who has been a leading opponent of the drive for same-sex marriage _ also stepped aside as head of his 14,000-member New Life Church while a church panel investigates, saying he could 'not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations.' (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Flags flutter in the wind outside the World Prayer Center on the grounds of the New Life Evangelical Church, north of Colorado Springs, Colo., Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. The Rev. Ted Haggard resigned as president of the influential National Association of Evangelicals on Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man. Haggard _ who has been a leading opponent of the drive for same-sex marriage _ also stepped aside as head of his 14,000-member New Life Church while a church panel investigates, saying he could 'not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations.' Pedestrians and motorists pass the entrance to the New Life Church, north of Colorado Springs, Colo., Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. The Rev. Ted Haggard resigned as president of the influential National Association of Evangelicals on Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man. Haggard _ who has been a leading opponent of the drive for same-sex marriage _ also stepped aside as head of his 14,000-member New Life Church while a church panel investigates, saying he could 'not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations.' Lights illuminate the worship center at the New Life Church north of Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. Ted Haggard, a national evangelical leader and pastor of the church, resigned Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years. A sign for a ballot amendment for marriage in Colorado's Nov. 7-general election stands outside the main entrance to the New Life Church near Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. Ted Haggard, the leader of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, resigned Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years. The view down the lane leading to the home of New Life Church pastor the Rev. Ted Haggard is shown north of Colorado Springs, Colo., Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. Haggard resigned as president of the influential National Association of Evangelicals on Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man. Haggard _ who has been a leading opponent of the drive for same-sex marriage _ also stepped aside as head of his 14,000-member New Life Church while a church panel investigates, saying he could 'not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations.' A portrait of Ted Haggard, pastor of New Life Church, locate north of Colorado Springs, Colo., hangs in the world prayer center on the church's campus, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. Haggard, a national evangelical leader, has allegedly paid for sex with a Denver man up to 36 times over the past three years. Ted Haggard The president of the U.S. National Association of Evangelicals, who has had regular talks with the White House and vocally opposes gay marriage, resigned on Thursday after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a male escort. (NAE/Handout/Reuters) Mike Jones poses for a photographer in downtown Denver on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. Jones told the Associated Press on Thursday that evangelical leader Rev. Ted Haggard paid him to have sex as many as 36 times over three years. Haggard resigned as president of the influential National Association of Evangelicals on Thursday following Jones' allegations. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) Rev. Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, in Sept. 2005 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Haggard, the leader of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, resigned Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years. (AP Photo/Erik Stenbakken, New Life Church)
