News for Week 7 of 2010

News — By ken on February 16, 2010 at 7:52 pm

Fighting In Afghanistan Rages As Karzai Urges NATO Restraint Associated Press February 20, 2010 U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers are slowly advancing in their offensive in southern Afghanistan as the country’s president, Hamid Karzai, is urging NATO forces to avoid civilian casualties. (Feb. 20)

Raw Video: Dozens Killed in Portugal Flooding Associated Press February 20, 2010 Flooding and landslides swept away cars and knocked down houses as a violent storm killed at least 32 people on Saturday on the Portuguese island of Madeira, a news agency reported. (Feb. 20)

Portugal rushes aid to Madeira after deadly floods‎ Portugal’s armed forces are sending two ships with helicopters and medical supplies to Madeira island, where floods have killed at least 32 people. .Many residents are without water and electricity. The regional capital was among the worst affected areas by Saturday’s floods and mudslides.

• Water-skier killed in tree crash
• 3D takes the plunge in a diving epic Down Under
• Lights camera takes your licence in one go
• Dutch in crisis over Afghanistan role
• Obama sues tobacco industry for billions
• Tower collapse kills dozens of faithful
• Missionaries tell Oprah of DIY rescue in quake-ravaged Haiti
• Rookie firefighter found guilty of murder, arson
• Father dies in rescue drama
• Sex and the seniors plan for lessons
• Greens take on sceptics
• Men want women’s work rights

Former Secretary of State Al Haig Dies Associated Press February 20, 2010 Former Secretary of State Alexander Haig, a four-star general who served as a top adviser to three presidents and had presidential ambitions of his own, died Saturday of complications from an infection. (Feb. 20)

Former U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig died Saturday at the age of 85 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, of complications from an infection.

Haig was a United States Army four-star general who had a key role in the talks that led to the Paris Peace Agreements on ending the Vietnam War. But he was only an Army colonel after seeing combat in Korea and Vietnam, when made Military Assistant to national security adviser Henry Kissinger (1969–1970). President Richard Nixon then promoted Haig to Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (1970-1973) during which time he helped arrange Nixon’s historic 1972 visit to China. Nixon promoted Haig that year from a two-star general to a four-star rank, passing over 240 high-ranking officers with greater seniority. He served as the White House Chief of Staff (1973–1974) under President Richard Nixon and briefly under President Gerald Ford, then was NATO Supreme Commander (1974–1979) and briefly the United States Secretary of State (1981–1982) under President Ronald Reagan.

During the height of the Watergate affair and last few months of President Nixon’s tenure (1969-1974), as White House Chief of Staff, Haig had a hand in the negotiations leading to the Nixon’s resignation and to Vice President Gerald Ford assuming the presidency. He kept the White House running as the distraught and despondent Nixon was driven from power by the threat of impeachment in 1974. Following Nixon’s resignation, Haig stayed with the new Ford administration for about six weeks whilst Nixon was pardoned for any crimes committed while in office.

Gerald Ford was the Republican president from 1974 to 1977, followed by the Democrat Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981. Haig returned to the military as commander in chief of U.S. forces in Europe and supreme allied commander of NATO forces from 1974 to 1979, when he stepped down during the administration of President Jimmy Carter over the handling of the Iran hostage crisis.

The Democrat Jimmy Carter was only a one term president, being followed by the Republican Ronald Reagan, whose presidency ran two terms from 1981 to 1989.

After a short time in private industry, the retired General Haig went back to public service as President Ronald Reagan’s secretary of state (1981–1982). It was during this period that there was the unsuccessful 1981 assassination attempt on President Reagan.

Whilst speaking with reporters after the shooting, Haig tried to reassure Americans that the government was functioning by saying, “Constitutionally, gentlemen, you have the president, the vice president and the secretary of state, in that order. And should the president decide he wants to transfer the helm to the vice president, he will do so. As of now, I am in control here, in the White House, pending return of the Vice President and am in close touch with him, and if something came up I would check with him”.

This proved to be a controversial comment and was criticised for exceeding his authority, with then-Vice President George H.W. Bush flying back to Washington from Texas.

In 1982, Haig conducted shuttle diplomacy between the British and Argentine governments, as he tried in vain to prevent the war over the Falkland Islands between the Britain and Argentina. Though professional diplomats have praised Haig for his efforts toward a stable relationship with the Soviet Union during his 17-month tenure as Reagan’s secretary of state, before resigning after conflict with other administration officials – including Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and national security adviser William Clark.

In 1988, Haig ran unsuccessfully for the Republican Party nomination for president. The successful nominee was President George H.W. Bush (1989-1993).

Alexander Haig is survived by his 81 year old wife and their three children, Alexander Patrick Haig Sr. and Barbara Haig, both of Washington, and Brian Haig of Hopewell, N.J.; and eight grandchildren. Son Brian Haig is an author. Daughter, Barbara Haig, is currently the Deputy to the President for Policy & Strategy at the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington, DC.

References:

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Haig

The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/us/politics/21haig.html

• Indonesians heed call to scrap paper and go for gold
• The bohemian who leads a crusade against the West
• Khamenei says bomb would be against Islam
• Dalai Lama awarded despite China’s anger
• UFOs fail to fluster British military
• Britain’s turn to say sorry
• Tower collapse kills dozens of faithful
• Missionaries tell Oprah of DIY rescue in quake-ravaged Haiti
• Rookie firefighter found guilty of murder, arson
• Natalie Bassingthwaighte is pregnant
• Extravagant Lady Gaga broke, homeless
• Simon Cowell proposes with $450k ring
• Eddie McGuire on thin ice over gay jibes
• Harry Potter book ideas ‘were stolen’
• Actor Sean Penn charged over attack
• One in four women over 35 never have sex
• Rumours fly as Australian Idol crew jump ship

New website digs up the criminal dirt in detail

Stripping out crime statistics from the Chicago police department and posting them on the internet for people to see crime levels in their neighbourhood led to a website that is redefining the idea of news.

Crimes

Recent crimes reported in Chicago by the police department can be found at: http://chicago.everyblock.com/crime/

• Lara Bingle splits from her latest manager
• Simon Cowell proposes with $450k ring
• Harry Potter book ideas ‘were stolen’
• McGuire, Molloy under fire for gay jibes
• Gloom spreads over ‘Club Med’
• Joe Stack’s consolation: crashing his plane to end the insanity
• Hardcore comics sidestep porn law
• Success spreads: push for My Uni website
• Delhi Games security plans stolen

The woman who portrayed a character with Down Syndrome on the Fox animated comedy “Family Guy,” enraging Sarah Palin, actually has Down Syndrome and says the former Alaska Governor needs to lighten up.

After the ‘Family Guy’ episode aired, Palin accused the show of using her 22-month-old son as the butt of a joke.

“This world is full of cruel, cold-hearted people,” Palin said in an interview.

The voice of the character, 39-year-old Andrea Fay Friedman, responded to Palin’s comments.

“My parents raised me to have a sense of humour and to live a normal life.”

Friedman says the episode was making fun of the former governor, not her son.

`Family Guy’ Actress Has Down Syndrome Associated Press February 19, 2010 The woman who portrayed a character with Down Syndrome on the Fox animated comedy “Family Guy,” enraging Sarah Palin, actually has Down Syndrome and says the former Alaska Governor needs to lighten up. (Feb. 19)

Psychologist: Austin Plane Crash ‘act of Terror’ Associated Press February 19, 2010 A psychologist at Georgetown U. says people who strike back at authority figures have always drawn support from some segments of society. He says the internet makes it easy for people with virulently anti-goverment views to connect. (Feb. 19)

Wesley Snipes comments on his Tax troubles and the man who flew a plane into a Texas building housing Internal Revenue Service (IRS) workers this week.

Wesley Snipes is an American actor, film producer, and martial artist. He has starred in numerous action-adventures, thrillers, and dramatic feature films but is best known for his role as Blade in the Blade trilogy.

On April 24, 2008, Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison for willful failure to file federal income tax returns. While defense lawyers urged leniency, prosecutors argued that Snipes should be made an example of because of his fame.

As of 2010, Snipes remains free on bail to work, even traveling internationally, while he appeals his conviction.

Wesley Snipes on His Tax Troubles Associated Press February 19, 2010 Actor Wesley Snipes comments on the man who flew a plane into a Texas building housing IRS workers this week. Snipes is appealing a 3-year sentence for tax evasion. (Feb. 19)

Polanski’s ‘Ghost’ Haunts New York Associated Press February 19, 2010 Stars Pierce Brosnan and Ewan McGregor talk about director Roman Polanski at the New York premiere of their new political thriller, ‘The Ghost Writer.’ (Feb. 19)

Roman Polanski, seventy six year old movie director of the political thriller, ‘The Ghost Writer’, could not participate in the New York premiere. Instead he’s wearing an electronic ankle bracelet, under house arrest at an Alpine chalet in Switzerland, fighting extradition to America.

In March 1977, Polanski was arrested and charged with a number of offences against Samantha Gailey (now Samantha Geimer), a thirteen-year-old girl. Polanski pleaded guilty to having sex with the girl and in exchange for the plea, the judge dropped a string of harsher charges and sent him to prison for a 90-day psychiatric evaluation. He was released after 42 days but fled the U.S. before he was to be formally sentenced. He feared the judge would jail and then deport him.

On September 26, 2009, Polanski was detained by Swiss police at Zürich Airport while trying to enter Switzerland. This following a United States request that Switzerland apprehend him in relation to his outstanding U.S. arrest warrant. Polanski was to attend the Zurich Film Festival to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Swiss authorities won’t extradite Polanski to the United States until courts in Los Angeles rule definitively if he will serve time behind bars on 32-year-old sex charges.

The 2008 Home Box Office (HBO) documentary “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired – documents the darkness of his films, the Manson-led murder of his wife, Sharon Tate, and friends. All of this years before he pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and then fled the country before sentencing.

• Aussie Winter Olympic gold medallist Torah Bright
• Barriers to Skype on mobiles evaporate
• US school spied on students via laptops
• Global cyberattacks hit firms, governments
• Highlights from the Media 2010 conferenceThis article contains a video that will play automatically.
• Tablets take off as ABC gets on board
• Strange smell downs BA flight
• Less crashes but more airline deaths
• Thailand warns Aussies not to go to Bangkok
• Extra seats won’t mean less comfort
• China furious after Obama meets Dalai Lama
• Village survivors dug out from avalanche
• Boy dies in Russian Roulette game
• Man arrested after school teacher killed

• Young girl ‘kidnapped, sexually assaulted’
• Bikie ‘goaded 52-year-old woman to fight him’
• More charges over 12-year-old prostitute
• Schoolboy fights for his life after pool trip
  
  

New Website Blippy.com Broadcasts What You’re Buying Associated Press February 19, 2010 A new social network website lets credit card users post their purchases online. The Co-Founder of Blippy.com says the site encourages people to be more open about their spending and has an extensive security policy to protect users. (Feb. 19)

Quietly and Carefully, Obama Welcomes Dalai Lama Associated Press February 18, 2010 President Barack Obama personally welcomes the Dalai Lama to the White House and lauds his goals for the Tibetan people. But the get-together was kept low-key, the AP’s Mark Smith says, to avoid inflaming tensions with China. (Feb. 18)

Oscar Nominees Pose for Class Photo Associated Press February 18, 2010 For many attendees, the highlight of Monday’s Oscar-nominees luncheon was posing for the Academy’s annual class photo. (Feb. 18)

Man Angry at US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Crashes Plane Into Building Associated Press February 18, 2010 A software engineer furious with the Internal Revenue Service plowed his small plane into an office building housing nearly 200 federal tax employees after setting his home on fire Thursday, officials said. (Feb. 18)

• Man sought over sex attack on girl
• Lovett in court over rape charge
• Rudd issues whaling court action deadline (video) (audio)
• Placebos activate brain’s ‘heal switch’
• Few things less likely than Australian default: RBA
• Abbott opens up on joys of sex
• ‘I’d have to kill you’: Obama trip details stay secret
• Taliban ‘using human shields’ in battle for Marjah
• Pilot crashes plane into tax office (video) (photos)
• AC/DC electrify Sydney (video)

Movie ‘Shutter Island’ Comes to New York Associated Press February 18, 2010 Stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sir Ben Kingsley and Patricia Clarkson hit the red carpet for the New York premiere of ‘Shutter Island.’ (Feb. 18)

Raw Video: Tornado Rips Thru Farm in Australia Associated Press February 18, 2010 A freak twister in Australia tore through a north Queensland state cornfield on Tuesday and turned at the last minute, sparing the house of a family who moved in only three weeks ago. (Feb. 18)

• One dead in Germany school attack
• Australian bobsledder injured in crash
• Cartoons, TV and pollies create school bullies (audio)
• Mid-air and fiscal dramas dog Qantas (video) (audio) (photos)
• Iraqi refugees ‘heading to Australia’ (photos)
• Former Socceroo’s autopsy inconclusive (video)
• UN climate chief quits
• Asylum seeker boat intercepted
• China drama over Obama-Lama talks
• Proceeds of crime to combat drug trade
• Avalanche kills 19 in Pakistan

Eight of 10 Detained U.S. Missionaries Freed Associated Press February 17, 2010 Eight of the 10 U.S. missionaries arrested in Haiti on charges of child kidnapping have been freed from jail and allowed to leave the country. (Feb. 17)

Numerous Crashes on Treacherous Downhill Associated Press February 17, 2010 A treacherous women’s downhill course wiped out numerous skiers on Wednesday at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. (Feb. 17)

Clinton Resumes Public Schedule, Talks Procedure Associated Press February 17, 2010 Former President Bill Clinton says he has no intention of slowing down despite last week’s procedure to unclog a blocked artery. Clinton told an event on childhood obesity that he will manage his stress better, and sleep and exercise more. (Feb. 17)

Raw Video: Truck Cab Dangles From Overpass Associated Press February 17, 2010 A crash left the cab of a semitrailer dangling off a highway bridge in Muncie, Indiana. The driver of a car involved in the Wednesday afternoon crash was seriously injured, while the truck driver was able to safely climb from the cab. (Feb. 17

Georgian Community Criticises Olympic Officials Associated Press February 16, 2010 The Georgian Association says Vancouver Olympic and luge officials should be ashamed of blaming the Georgian luger for the training accident that caused his death on Friday. (Feb. 16)

The Bipartisan Policy Center hosts Cyber ShockWave, a simulated cyber attack on the United States. Cyber ShockWave provides an unprecedented look at how the government would develop a real-time response to a large-scale cyber crisis affecting much of the nation. As reports of the fake attack rolled in, Washington veterans imagined themselves as certain cabinet positions and collectively advise the president on how to act.

Communications Attack *** SIMULATED Associated Press February 16, 2010 Former high-level government officials participated in “Cyber ShockWave.” The event featured a full-day SIMULATION of an attack on the U.S.’s mobile and Internet-based communications infrastructure. (Feb. 16)

Dubai Shows CCTV, Hunts Killers of Hamas Man Associated Press February 16, 2010 Dubai is demanding a global hunt for suspects it says are linked to the killing of a Hamas commander. Officials in the UAE city state released dramatic CCTV footage purportedly showing the suspects tracking the victim. (Feb. 16)

Top Taliban Leader Captured Associated Press February 16, 2010 The Taliban’s top military commander has been arrested in a joint CIA-Pakistani operation in Pakistan in a major victory against the insurgents as U.S. troops push into their heartland in southern Afghanistan. (Feb. 16)

• Monks bashed in monastery raid
• Garrett phones mum after son’s insulation death(video) (audio)
• Residents clean up as deluge eases in south-east (video)
• Girl, 4, goes missing near river
• Pair charged over parrot theft
• CCTV footage could show Mossad hit squad (video)

Allied Forces Meet Resistance in Afghanistan Associated Press February 16, 2010 Allied forces are now starting to encounter strong pockets of resistance in the southern Afghan city of Marjeh. The operation is the largest since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan. (Feb. 16)

Roof Over High School Gym Collapses Associated Press February 16, 2010 Some 1,200 students in Blacksburg, Virginia, will be staying home this week after the roof of their high school gym caved in over the weekend. (Feb. 16)

Oscar Nominees Do Lunch Associated Press February 16, 2010 Sandra Bullock, Jeff Bridges and Gabourey Sidibe share tales from the private 82nd Academy Awards Nominees luncheon in Los Angeles. (Feb. 16)

• Water world: chaos as storm hits Brisbane (video) (photos)
• Bali bombmaker seeks clemency
• Players’ association slams Lovett sacking (video) (audio)
• BBC presenter admits mercy killing
• Beer sales leave bitter taste for Fosters (video) (audio)
• Ex-policewoman admits sex with girl
• Two diggers injured in Afghanistan
• Overhaul urged after girl’s spa death (video)
• Top Taliban chief ‘captured in Pakistan’
• Abbey Road studios up for sale (photos)
• Spring clean leads to $2.5m windfall