ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan's decision to head to a climate change conference in Brazil as dozens died in sectarian clashes this week has angered allies and opponents.
At least 92 people have been killed in violence between Muslims and Christians in the northern city of Kaduna in the past three days, sparked by suicide bombings of churches on Sunday, thought to be the work of the Islamist sect Boko Haram.
The sect, seen as the number one security threat in Africa's top energy producer, has also stepped up its insurgency in the northeastern heartland, where 40 people were killed in the city of Damaturu in clashes with the military between Monday and Wednesday.
But at the height of the unrest in both cities on Monday, Jonathan flew to a United Nations climate change conference in Rio de Janeiro.
Angered by his decision, members of the lower house of parliament voted on Tuesday to summon Jonathan for an explanation. It is rare for lawmakers to demand an audience with the president.
'It's akin to a head of family leaving his home still consumed by a raging inferno but finding it convenient to attend a village meeting on cleanliness of the village square,' said the opposition Congress for Progressive Change, whose candidate Muhammadu Buhari was Jonathan's main rival in April polls.
Information Minister Labaran Maku defended Jonathan's decision.
'The world is now a virtual society, the president can take decisions from anywhere in the world,' Maku told Reuters.
'The vice president effectively takes charge of affairs once the president is out of Nigeria and he is in touch with the president on an hourly basis.'
Jonathan's political opponents have been keen to make political capital from his failure to deal with the crisis in the north, frequently publishing criticism.
A growing perception of him as a weak president is likely to make it harder for him to push through key campaign pledges, such as improving Nigeria's woeful electricity supplies.
'SADDENED'
When suicide bombers blew up three churches on Sunday, killing 19 people and sparking riots in which another 52 people lost their lives, local press quoted a statement from his office saying that he was 'saddened' by the violence, a response many Nigerians felt was inadequate.
'Does that mean that the climate change conference is more important to the president than the lives and property of Nigerians?' asked Benjamin Aboho, a member of parliament for Jonathan's ruling People's Democratic Party.
The escalating violence has raised fears of a wider sectarian conflict in a country already reeling from months of attacks on government buildings and churches by followers of Boko Haram.
Social networking sites highlighted the anger felt by some Nigerians over Jonathan's absence.
'If this government was for the people of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan would not be in Brazil, he'd be in Nigeria sorting out this security mess,' Japeth Omujuwa, a Nigerian commentator with 30,000 followers, said on his Twitter feed on Wednesday.
Jonathan said in March that Boko Haram's insurgency would be over by June, antagonising the Islamists, who pledged to prove him wrong and embarrass his government, something they may have achieved this week.
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Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Melting Sea Ice Could Decimate Emperor Penguins
Since detailed information on most colonies is not available, the research focused on one well-studied colony of emperor penguins, at Terre Adélie in East Antarctica, to get an idea of what might happen to emperor penguins over the course of this century.
Their results aren't reassuring; they project this colony is likely to decline from 3,000 breeding pairs to 575 by 2100, a potentially 'huge decline,' said lead researcher Stéphanie Jenouvrier, a biologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Sea ice is important for penguins and for other things living around Antarctica. For instance, krill, the tiny shrimplike animals that penguins and other animals eat, feed on algae that grow on the underside of sea ice. What's more the penguins raise their young on the ice during the harsh Antarctic winter. However, this makes getting close enough to the birds to study difficult for scientists.
In work published in 2009, researchers with the British Antarctic Survey used satellite images to identify 38 locations with colonies around the continent by looking for the stains the emperor penguins' droppings left on the white ice.
While sea ice in the Arctic has receded to new lows in recent years, the dynamics are different at the southern end of the planet. The West Antarctic Peninsula, which juts north, has warmed rapidly. And one emperor penguin colony, historically located on Emperor Island in the peninsula's Dion Islands, appears to have disappeared entirely.
However, shrinking sea ice is not the case for all of Antarctica's waters, but, ultimately, global warming is expected to shrink Antarctic sea ice significantly.
The current research focused on a colony of penguins at Terre Adélie. It is located near a research station making it possible for scientists to make detailed observations of the birds every winter since in 1962.
Based on observations at this colony, Jenouvrier and colleagues developed a mathematical model describing the population dynamics of emperor penguins, factored in the effects of sea ice and looked at how climate change may affect the penguins' numbers using a series of climate models.
They produced a wide range of results. At one end, the projections showed the complete loss of the penguins before the end of this century; the most optimistic projection predicted an increase in population until just before 2080 and a sharp decrease the last decade or so of the century.
The median, or middle, projection, however, estimated a decline to 575 breeding pairs by 2100.
'Overall, the ensemble of models predicts that population declines are far more likely than population increases. We conclude that climate change is a significant risk for the emperor penguin,' the researchers write of their results detailed today (June 20) in the journal Global Change Biology.
Follow Wynne Parry on Twitter @Wynne_ParryorLiveScience @livescience . We're also on Facebook & Google+.
- Image Gallery: Sex Habits of Penguins
- Antarctic Album: Chinstrap Penguins of Deception Island
- Happy Feet: A Gallery of Pudgy Penguins
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Colorado firefighters get break from hot weather
That spot fire ignited by embers from the main fire has grown to about 200 acres.
A break in hot, windy weather, though, should help firefighters there and at a 1,100-acre fire in the foothills west of Colorado Springs. Temperatures were expected to be in the 70s - about 20 degrees cooler than previous days.
A fire that broke out Tuesday in northwestern Colorado spread to about 3 square miles, or 2,000 acres, forcing some evacuations in a subdivision. However, the Craig Daily Press http://bit.ly/MFaTAB ) reported that the evacuation has been lifted.
The largest Colorado blaze, which is burning on 65,738 acres west of Fort Collins, was 55 percent contained and has destroyed at least 189 homes since it was sparked by lightning June 9. Incident commander Bill Hahnenberg said it could be weeks or even months before it's finally controlled.
In California, firefighters were able to contain 75 percent of a 1,000-acre wildfire in mountainous eastern San Diego County despite gusty winds that kicked up Tuesday and low humidity levels. Full containment was expected Wednesday night.
One mobile home and recreational vehicle were burned, and 150 homes have been evacuated. Evacuation orders remained in effect Tuesday because of road conditions and emergency equipment in the area, said. Capt. Mike Mohler of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
One firefighter was treated for minor heat exhaustion and returned to duty. The cause of the wildfire, which started Sunday, is under investigation.
Elsewhere:
- In Wyoming, nearly 300 firefighters are battling a wildfire burning in remote and mountainous area of the Medicine Bow National Forest that has burned about 4 square miles since Sunday.
- In New Mexico, a fire that has destroyed 242 homes and businesses in southern New Mexico was 60 percent contained. A fire in the Gila Wilderness, the largest in state history, is at 463 square miles and is 80 percent contained.
- In Arizona, firefighters built containment lines around a 3,700-acre blaze on the Tonto National Forest to try to protect electric transmission lines that provide power to the state's major metropolitan areas. The fire was 15 percent contained Tuesday.
- In Nevada, a 10,000-acre wildfire north of Ely was 15 percent contained.
- In Hawaii, a 6-acre fire in Maui that damaged three homes was contained late Tuesday and residents were allowed back home.
This article is brought to you by DAILY HOROSCOPE.
Yesterday Spring, Today Summer. Weather? Same.
='en' xmlns:fb='http://www.facebook.com/2008/fbml' xmlns:addthis='http://www.addthis.com/help/api-spec' > Yesterday Spring, Today Summer. Weather? Same. « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth
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Yesterday Spring, Today Summer. Weather? Same
='en' xmlns:fb='http://www.facebook.com/2008/fbml' xmlns:addthis='http://www.addthis.com/help/api-spec' > Yesterday Spring, Today Summer. Weather? Same « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth
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Tuesday, June 19, 2012
As dry weather sweeps Midwest, corn prices jump
Agricultural commodities jumped Tuesday as traders worried that hot, dry weather in the Midwest will shrink this summer's crops.
That followed price increases on Monday after a dry weekend and forecasts for more of the same.
'It's hot and dry over much of the Midwest, and it's supposed to stay hot and dry for the foreseeable future,' said Darin Newsom, senior analyst at DTN. 'For the foreseeable future, this pattern isn't going to change.'
July contracts for wheat, corn and soybeans all jumped Tuesday, one day before the official start of summer.
Corn rose 29.5 cents, or 5.5 percent, to $5.635 per bushel. Soybeans jumped 49.5 cents, or 3.6 percent, to $14.337 per bushel. Wheat jumped 19.25 cents, or 3.1 percent, to $6.495 per bushel.
Another shift over the weekend was that more commercial traders, rather than just speculators, are buying, Newsom said. Speculators are investors such as hedge funds, which don't actually use the commodities they're bidding on. Commercial traders are investors such as exporters, who do. Newsom said he pays attention when the commercial traders get involved: It's likely that they're rushing to place orders because they're afraid there won't be enough supply later in the year.
Prices for other commodities, including coffee, orange juice, cotton and sugar, also rose.
Stocks were up Tuesday, though it didn't necessarily mean that investors were hopeful about the economy. Rather, they were hopeful that the Federal Reserve, which is meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, will decide the economy is so sluggish that the government needs to pump more money into it.
July copper rose 3.8 cents, more than 1 percent, to $3.4335 per pound. Copper tends to rise when investors believe that manufacturing or construction could pick up. The government said Tuesday that U.S. homebuilders broke ground on more single-family homes in May, and requested more permits to build homes and apartments than they have in the past three and a half years.
But copper was an anomaly among the metals, with others, both precious and industrial, shedding value.
Gold for August delivery fell $3.80 to $1,623.20 per ounce. July silver fell 30.3 cents, more than 1 percent, to $28.368 per ounce. September palladium fell $3.75 to $629.40 per ounce. July platinum fell $3.60 to $1,480.50 per ounce.
Energy prices were mixed, and the forecasts for hot weather didn't seem to have a uniform effect. Heating oil added 1.74 cents to finish at $2.6351 per gallon. But natural gas, which is also used to heat homes, lost 9 cents to finish at $2.545 per 1,000 cubic feet.
Some traders are concerned that fighting over Iran's nuclear program will crimp oil supply. Negotiations between six world powers and Iran - a major oil producer - appear to have accomplished little this week in Moscow.
The effects of that development were also varied. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 76 cents to end at $84.03 per barrel in New York. Brent crude, which helps set the price for oil imported into the U.S., fell 29 cents to end the day at $95.76 per barrel in London. Wholesale gasoline fell 1.94 cents to $2.6415 per gallon.
This news article is brought to you by DEPRESSION - where latest news are our top priority.
That followed price increases on Monday after a dry weekend and forecasts for more of the same.
'It's hot and dry over much of the Midwest, and it's supposed to stay hot and dry for the foreseeable future,' said Darin Newsom, senior analyst at DTN. 'For the foreseeable future, this pattern isn't going to change.'
July contracts for wheat, corn and soybeans all jumped Tuesday, one day before the official start of summer.
Corn rose 29.5 cents, or 5.5 percent, to $5.635 per bushel. Soybeans jumped 49.5 cents, or 3.6 percent, to $14.337 per bushel. Wheat jumped 19.25 cents, or 3.1 percent, to $6.495 per bushel.
Another shift over the weekend was that more commercial traders, rather than just speculators, are buying, Newsom said. Speculators are investors such as hedge funds, which don't actually use the commodities they're bidding on. Commercial traders are investors such as exporters, who do. Newsom said he pays attention when the commercial traders get involved: It's likely that they're rushing to place orders because they're afraid there won't be enough supply later in the year.
Prices for other commodities, including coffee, orange juice, cotton and sugar, also rose.
Stocks were up Tuesday, though it didn't necessarily mean that investors were hopeful about the economy. Rather, they were hopeful that the Federal Reserve, which is meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, will decide the economy is so sluggish that the government needs to pump more money into it.
July copper rose 3.8 cents, more than 1 percent, to $3.4335 per pound. Copper tends to rise when investors believe that manufacturing or construction could pick up. The government said Tuesday that U.S. homebuilders broke ground on more single-family homes in May, and requested more permits to build homes and apartments than they have in the past three and a half years.
But copper was an anomaly among the metals, with others, both precious and industrial, shedding value.
Gold for August delivery fell $3.80 to $1,623.20 per ounce. July silver fell 30.3 cents, more than 1 percent, to $28.368 per ounce. September palladium fell $3.75 to $629.40 per ounce. July platinum fell $3.60 to $1,480.50 per ounce.
Energy prices were mixed, and the forecasts for hot weather didn't seem to have a uniform effect. Heating oil added 1.74 cents to finish at $2.6351 per gallon. But natural gas, which is also used to heat homes, lost 9 cents to finish at $2.545 per 1,000 cubic feet.
Some traders are concerned that fighting over Iran's nuclear program will crimp oil supply. Negotiations between six world powers and Iran - a major oil producer - appear to have accomplished little this week in Moscow.
The effects of that development were also varied. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 76 cents to end at $84.03 per barrel in New York. Brent crude, which helps set the price for oil imported into the U.S., fell 29 cents to end the day at $95.76 per barrel in London. Wholesale gasoline fell 1.94 cents to $2.6415 per gallon.
This news article is brought to you by DEPRESSION - where latest news are our top priority.
Hot, dry weather still stressing Nebraska crops
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Parts of southern Nebraska have received some much-needed rain, but northern and western parts of state remain hot and dry, which is putting stress on crops and pastures.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in Monday's weekly report that 62 percent of the corn is in good to excellent condition. That's below the average of 78 percent.
Sixty-one-percent of the soybean crop is rated good to excellent, also below the average of 78 percent.
South central, east central and southeast Nebraska got 1 to 3 inches of last week. Little or no rain was recorded elsewhere. The USDA says 63 percent of Nebraska's topsoil and 65 percent of the subsoil are dry.
The wheat harvest continues across southern Nebraska. Alfalfa and pastures are showing little growth in many areas.
This article is brought to you by ASTROLOGY.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in Monday's weekly report that 62 percent of the corn is in good to excellent condition. That's below the average of 78 percent.
Sixty-one-percent of the soybean crop is rated good to excellent, also below the average of 78 percent.
South central, east central and southeast Nebraska got 1 to 3 inches of last week. Little or no rain was recorded elsewhere. The USDA says 63 percent of Nebraska's topsoil and 65 percent of the subsoil are dry.
The wheat harvest continues across southern Nebraska. Alfalfa and pastures are showing little growth in many areas.
This article is brought to you by ASTROLOGY.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Corn prices surge as crops droop in hot weather
The price of corn jumped 3.5 percent Monday as crops have begun drooping under a blanket of hot weather across the Midwest.
The blistering weather has sent temperatures above normal in parts of several states, including Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa.
Recent U.S. Agriculture Department reports have shown deteriorating conditions in the corn crop. About 66 percent of the crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition for the week that ended June 10. That compared with 72 percent the previous week.
Traders questioned whether dry conditions would erode the quality of the crop and lead to a smaller harvest than has been expected.
If there isn't sufficient rainfall soon, yields could fall below 160 bushels per acre, predicted Mike Zuzolo, president of Global Commodity Analytics & Consulting LLC. That compares with the U.S. Agriculture Department's recent forecast of 166 bushels per acre.
Corn for July delivery rose 20 cents to finish at $5.995 per bushel. July wheat gained 20.75 cents, or 3.4 percent, to $6.3025 per bushel and July soybeans increased 8.25 cents to $13.8425 per bushel.
Other commodities were mixed as concerns persisted about Europe's debt crisis after Spain's borrowing rates hit levels that prompted other countries to seek bailout funding. It was an indication that investors were afraid Spain could default on its debt and require a bailout.
Traders have been worried that slower economic growth in Europe, China and the U.S. will continue to erode demand for commodities such as oil, copper and other industrial metals.
Gold for August delivery fell $1.10 to finish at $1,627 per ounce, July silver fell 6.9 cents to $28.671 per ounce, July copper gained 1.2 cents to $3.3955 per ounce, July platinum fell $3.10 to $1,484.10 per ounce and September palladium increased $2.75 to $633.15 per ounce.
The concerns about Spain's economic problems also pressured oil prices. Benchmark crude fell 76 cents to end at $83.27 per barrel. Heating oil declined 2.88 cents to finish at to $2.6177 per gallon and gasoline futures ended down 4.08 cents at $2.6609 per gallon.
The hot weather benefited natural gas as traders bet that demand would improve from utilities that use the fuel to generate electricity for air conditioning systems. Natural gas rose 16.8 cents, or 6.8 percent, to finish at $2.635 per 1,000 cubic feet.
This news article is brought to you by IN LOVE WITH A CANCER MAN - where latest news are our top priority.
The blistering weather has sent temperatures above normal in parts of several states, including Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa.
Recent U.S. Agriculture Department reports have shown deteriorating conditions in the corn crop. About 66 percent of the crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition for the week that ended June 10. That compared with 72 percent the previous week.
Traders questioned whether dry conditions would erode the quality of the crop and lead to a smaller harvest than has been expected.
If there isn't sufficient rainfall soon, yields could fall below 160 bushels per acre, predicted Mike Zuzolo, president of Global Commodity Analytics & Consulting LLC. That compares with the U.S. Agriculture Department's recent forecast of 166 bushels per acre.
Corn for July delivery rose 20 cents to finish at $5.995 per bushel. July wheat gained 20.75 cents, or 3.4 percent, to $6.3025 per bushel and July soybeans increased 8.25 cents to $13.8425 per bushel.
Other commodities were mixed as concerns persisted about Europe's debt crisis after Spain's borrowing rates hit levels that prompted other countries to seek bailout funding. It was an indication that investors were afraid Spain could default on its debt and require a bailout.
Traders have been worried that slower economic growth in Europe, China and the U.S. will continue to erode demand for commodities such as oil, copper and other industrial metals.
Gold for August delivery fell $1.10 to finish at $1,627 per ounce, July silver fell 6.9 cents to $28.671 per ounce, July copper gained 1.2 cents to $3.3955 per ounce, July platinum fell $3.10 to $1,484.10 per ounce and September palladium increased $2.75 to $633.15 per ounce.
The concerns about Spain's economic problems also pressured oil prices. Benchmark crude fell 76 cents to end at $83.27 per barrel. Heating oil declined 2.88 cents to finish at to $2.6177 per gallon and gasoline futures ended down 4.08 cents at $2.6609 per gallon.
The hot weather benefited natural gas as traders bet that demand would improve from utilities that use the fuel to generate electricity for air conditioning systems. Natural gas rose 16.8 cents, or 6.8 percent, to finish at $2.635 per 1,000 cubic feet.
This news article is brought to you by IN LOVE WITH A CANCER MAN - where latest news are our top priority.
Expectations low for Rio+20 U.N. development summit
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - As Brazil welcomes nearly 120 heads of state and government for a summit on global development this week, the mood could not be more different than it was two decades ago, when global leaders gathered here for the landmark Earth Summit.
Back then, once-arcane concerns about climate change and deforestation had finally grabbed the world's attention, leading to a global treaty on biodiversity and decisions that cleared the way for the Kyoto agreement on greenhouse gases.
Now, though, the minds of global leaders are elsewhere.
Instead of clean energy, food, the oceans and other topics scheduled for debate at Rio+20, as the summit is known, political focus is attuned to a teetering Europe, turmoil in the Middle East and a presidential campaign in the United States.
Although more than 50,000 visitors are expected in Rio de Janeiro by the end of the three-day event starting Wednesday, few concrete results are expected from the summit.
At best, officials could agree on clarity for proposed 'sustainable development goals,' a loose tripod of economic, environmental and social objectives that proponents believe could help guide global development.
So dim are the prospects that Brazil's lead negotiator in the run-up warned that the summit risked being 'held hostage' by other priorities.
'We are here to think about the long term,' said Luiz Alberto Figueiredo, an undersecretary at Brazil's Foreign Ministry, 'not crises that may be overcome in one or two years.'
But hopes have long been low for the summit, officially called the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
U.S. President Barack Obama said months ago he would not attend. The leaders of Germany and Britain are staying home, too.
Many of those who do come likely will be focused on matters discussed Monday and Tuesday at the Group of 20 meeting in Mexico, where leaders of the world's major economies are debating the global economic downturn.
Still, some reject the notion that gains cannot be made in Rio. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, on a conference call about climate issues, called Rio+20 an important 'working conference.'
'Everybody has made all the speeches they can make,' Clinton said on Monday, predicting that delegations from the United States and Europe would still be productive despite the absence of major heads of state. His wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is leading the U.S. delegation.
FOCUS ON DEVELOPMENT, NOT ENVIRONMENT
Brazil, a prominent voice in the environmental debate as home to the world's biggest rainforest, for months has been tempering the hopes of environmentalists seeking a repeat of the 1992 summit. After a decade-long economic boom, Brazil and other big emerging nations refuse to put environmental concerns ahead of their own drive for growth.
'The summit can't just be about the environment,' Antonio Patriota, Brazil's foreign minister, said in a recent interview. 'It has to be about development.'
Environmentalists say the planet is no better off now than in 1992. With continued melting of polar icecaps, record greenhouse emissions last year and a global population on track to grow to at least 9 billion by 2050, according to U.N. projections, existing policies have done little to assuage human demands on the global ecosystem, they argue.
A key difference from two decades ago is that the Earth Summit was the culmination of years of negotiations to fashion some of the first international environmental policies ever created. This meeting, by contrast, is the beginning of a process to establish so-called 'sustainable development goals.'
When established, the goals are expected to build upon a current round of objectives, known as the millennium goals, which U.N. members agreed to pursue at least through 2015. Those objectives include eradicating hunger and extreme poverty, improving access to education and reducing child mortality.
LITTLE PROGRESS IN PRE-SUMMIT NEGOTIATIONS
U.N. negotiations are slow-moving processes that require finding common ground among 193 member countries and bridging huge gulfs in priorities between the developed world and emerging markets. And the sustainable development goals, while still being defined, are built around three vague issues that mean different things to different countries: economic development, social inclusion and the environment.
'The specific objectives differ globally, between and within societies,' Jeffrey Sachs, the Columbia University economist, wrote in a recent essay, noting no consensus on priorities.
Delegations hammering out a declaration for Rio+20 in recent days have not gotten far on building that consensus. After plans to wrap up a draft by the weekend failed, delegations are now scrambling to get something together by the time their leaders descend upon Rio mid-week.
'We see a lopsided victory of weak words over action words,' said Lasse Gustavsson, leader of the World Wildlife Fund's delegation at the summit.
As with long-simmering differences over greenhouse emissions, use of the seas and other divisive issues, negotiators are haggling over wording and implications the text could have on the entrenched positions of rich countries, developing nations and regional blocs.
The United States, for instance, opposes the inclusion of a phrase favored by emerging markets.
The phrase, 'common but differentiated responsibilities,' reflects what developing nations consider their right to catch up with the rich world and as such have more leeway on emissions and other environmental concerns. China, for instance, is now the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases but it is still far behind developed nations in per-capita prosperity.
The timing of the summit also means countries are reluctant to consider financial commitments. Talk of the creation of a $30 billion fund for development goals quickly faded.
'We dont think there is any one fund that can solve these problems,' Kerri-Ann Jones, an assistant U.S. secretary of state, said in a briefing last week.
RIO BRACES FOR GRIDLOCK
In Brazil, organizers hope that at least the logistics of the event come off successfully.
As the country gears up to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, it is scrambling to upgrade highways, airports, stadiums, and other facilities needed to accommodate the expected crush of visitors. With millions of new cars on the road after a decade of prosperity, cities like Rio and Sao Paulo are routinely crippled by traffic and minor emergencies that strain old and rickety infrastructure.
In recent days, Rio residents have been bracing for gridlock once authorities close lanes, slow air traffic and beef up security to make way for expected leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Meanwhile, the already colorful city has seen a splash of summit-related demonstrations by activists.
On Sunday, demonstrators on Copacabana beach unfurled a giant 'trillion dollar bill' to protest fossil fuel subsidies by governments. On Tuesday, demonstrators are scheduled to cart a replica of a military tank, made of bread, into a slum to protest the precedence of defense budgets over social spending.
This article is brought to you by ASTROLOGY.
Back then, once-arcane concerns about climate change and deforestation had finally grabbed the world's attention, leading to a global treaty on biodiversity and decisions that cleared the way for the Kyoto agreement on greenhouse gases.
Now, though, the minds of global leaders are elsewhere.
Instead of clean energy, food, the oceans and other topics scheduled for debate at Rio+20, as the summit is known, political focus is attuned to a teetering Europe, turmoil in the Middle East and a presidential campaign in the United States.
Although more than 50,000 visitors are expected in Rio de Janeiro by the end of the three-day event starting Wednesday, few concrete results are expected from the summit.
At best, officials could agree on clarity for proposed 'sustainable development goals,' a loose tripod of economic, environmental and social objectives that proponents believe could help guide global development.
So dim are the prospects that Brazil's lead negotiator in the run-up warned that the summit risked being 'held hostage' by other priorities.
'We are here to think about the long term,' said Luiz Alberto Figueiredo, an undersecretary at Brazil's Foreign Ministry, 'not crises that may be overcome in one or two years.'
But hopes have long been low for the summit, officially called the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
U.S. President Barack Obama said months ago he would not attend. The leaders of Germany and Britain are staying home, too.
Many of those who do come likely will be focused on matters discussed Monday and Tuesday at the Group of 20 meeting in Mexico, where leaders of the world's major economies are debating the global economic downturn.
Still, some reject the notion that gains cannot be made in Rio. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, on a conference call about climate issues, called Rio+20 an important 'working conference.'
'Everybody has made all the speeches they can make,' Clinton said on Monday, predicting that delegations from the United States and Europe would still be productive despite the absence of major heads of state. His wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is leading the U.S. delegation.
FOCUS ON DEVELOPMENT, NOT ENVIRONMENT
Brazil, a prominent voice in the environmental debate as home to the world's biggest rainforest, for months has been tempering the hopes of environmentalists seeking a repeat of the 1992 summit. After a decade-long economic boom, Brazil and other big emerging nations refuse to put environmental concerns ahead of their own drive for growth.
'The summit can't just be about the environment,' Antonio Patriota, Brazil's foreign minister, said in a recent interview. 'It has to be about development.'
Environmentalists say the planet is no better off now than in 1992. With continued melting of polar icecaps, record greenhouse emissions last year and a global population on track to grow to at least 9 billion by 2050, according to U.N. projections, existing policies have done little to assuage human demands on the global ecosystem, they argue.
A key difference from two decades ago is that the Earth Summit was the culmination of years of negotiations to fashion some of the first international environmental policies ever created. This meeting, by contrast, is the beginning of a process to establish so-called 'sustainable development goals.'
When established, the goals are expected to build upon a current round of objectives, known as the millennium goals, which U.N. members agreed to pursue at least through 2015. Those objectives include eradicating hunger and extreme poverty, improving access to education and reducing child mortality.
LITTLE PROGRESS IN PRE-SUMMIT NEGOTIATIONS
U.N. negotiations are slow-moving processes that require finding common ground among 193 member countries and bridging huge gulfs in priorities between the developed world and emerging markets. And the sustainable development goals, while still being defined, are built around three vague issues that mean different things to different countries: economic development, social inclusion and the environment.
'The specific objectives differ globally, between and within societies,' Jeffrey Sachs, the Columbia University economist, wrote in a recent essay, noting no consensus on priorities.
Delegations hammering out a declaration for Rio+20 in recent days have not gotten far on building that consensus. After plans to wrap up a draft by the weekend failed, delegations are now scrambling to get something together by the time their leaders descend upon Rio mid-week.
'We see a lopsided victory of weak words over action words,' said Lasse Gustavsson, leader of the World Wildlife Fund's delegation at the summit.
As with long-simmering differences over greenhouse emissions, use of the seas and other divisive issues, negotiators are haggling over wording and implications the text could have on the entrenched positions of rich countries, developing nations and regional blocs.
The United States, for instance, opposes the inclusion of a phrase favored by emerging markets.
The phrase, 'common but differentiated responsibilities,' reflects what developing nations consider their right to catch up with the rich world and as such have more leeway on emissions and other environmental concerns. China, for instance, is now the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases but it is still far behind developed nations in per-capita prosperity.
The timing of the summit also means countries are reluctant to consider financial commitments. Talk of the creation of a $30 billion fund for development goals quickly faded.
'We dont think there is any one fund that can solve these problems,' Kerri-Ann Jones, an assistant U.S. secretary of state, said in a briefing last week.
RIO BRACES FOR GRIDLOCK
In Brazil, organizers hope that at least the logistics of the event come off successfully.
As the country gears up to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, it is scrambling to upgrade highways, airports, stadiums, and other facilities needed to accommodate the expected crush of visitors. With millions of new cars on the road after a decade of prosperity, cities like Rio and Sao Paulo are routinely crippled by traffic and minor emergencies that strain old and rickety infrastructure.
In recent days, Rio residents have been bracing for gridlock once authorities close lanes, slow air traffic and beef up security to make way for expected leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Meanwhile, the already colorful city has seen a splash of summit-related demonstrations by activists.
On Sunday, demonstrators on Copacabana beach unfurled a giant 'trillion dollar bill' to protest fossil fuel subsidies by governments. On Tuesday, demonstrators are scheduled to cart a replica of a military tank, made of bread, into a slum to protest the precedence of defense budgets over social spending.
This article is brought to you by ASTROLOGY.
China says developed nations must lead in Rio
China said Monday wealthy countries should take the lead in tackling climate change, repeating its long-held stance ahead of a global UN summit on poverty and the environment in Rio de Janeiro.
Premier Wen Jiabao will outline China's approach when he addresses the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio this week, Vice Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng told reporters at a briefing in Beijing.
'The development of the green economy will be a long-term and daunting task, we believe the international community should strengthen cooperation in this area and avoid shortcomings,' said Xie.
'It is necessary to provide a favourable external environment for developing countries, in particular support for financing, technology and capacity building.'
Beijing has long insisted developed nations with their long industrial history take the lead in addressing global environmental issues such as curbing green house gas emissions.
That insistence on the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities' was central to the failings of the 2009 Copenhagen climate summit as developed nations baulked at undertaking the bulk of responsibility.
'Our position is when establishing sustainable development goals, the Rio principles should be adhered to, especially 'common but differentiated responsibilities',' foreign ministry official Tan Jian said at the briefing.
The Rio Conference on Sustainable Development is the 20-year follow-up to the Earth Summit, where UN members launched offensives to roll back climate change, desertification and species loss and work to root out poverty.
Its objective is to establish 'Sustainable Development Goals' to replace the UN's Millennium Development Goals after they expire in 2015, but defining them will be left to a later conference.
Wen will also make official state visits to Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Argentina, during his trip through Latin America which runs from June 20-26.
This news article is brought to you by DESTINATION-TIPS - where latest news are our top priority.
Premier Wen Jiabao will outline China's approach when he addresses the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio this week, Vice Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng told reporters at a briefing in Beijing.
'The development of the green economy will be a long-term and daunting task, we believe the international community should strengthen cooperation in this area and avoid shortcomings,' said Xie.
'It is necessary to provide a favourable external environment for developing countries, in particular support for financing, technology and capacity building.'
Beijing has long insisted developed nations with their long industrial history take the lead in addressing global environmental issues such as curbing green house gas emissions.
That insistence on the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities' was central to the failings of the 2009 Copenhagen climate summit as developed nations baulked at undertaking the bulk of responsibility.
'Our position is when establishing sustainable development goals, the Rio principles should be adhered to, especially 'common but differentiated responsibilities',' foreign ministry official Tan Jian said at the briefing.
The Rio Conference on Sustainable Development is the 20-year follow-up to the Earth Summit, where UN members launched offensives to roll back climate change, desertification and species loss and work to root out poverty.
Its objective is to establish 'Sustainable Development Goals' to replace the UN's Millennium Development Goals after they expire in 2015, but defining them will be left to a later conference.
Wen will also make official state visits to Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Argentina, during his trip through Latin America which runs from June 20-26.
This news article is brought to you by DESTINATION-TIPS - where latest news are our top priority.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
N2K Presidential Race: Romney Takes Inspiration from the Weather
BRUNSWICK, Ohio - It was pouring rain at the outdoor pancake breakfast in this northern Ohio town just moments before Mitt Romney arrived to address the crowd on Father's Day. But moments after taking the stage, the sun began to shine on the nearly 1,000 breakfast-goers, leading the presumptive GOP nominee to compare the improving weather to the state of the country -- as long as Barack Obama is voted out of office.
"Boy, that sun feels good, you know that?" Romney said to the crowd as people began putting away their umbrellas and removing plastic garbage bags that acted as rain ponchos. "Things are drying out here. This feels great! And I can tell you something else - the sun is coming out in this country. Our brightest days are ahead. Things are getting better in America as long as we get off the course he's put us on."
Romney continued the weather metaphors throughout his speech, telling the Ohioans that "three and a half years of dark clouds are about to part." He even found a weather-related way to attack the president's signature piece of legislation, the Affordable Care Act, which he called "a great cloud that's been raining over small business." Read more
--Sarah Huisenga
NATIONAL JOURNAL'S PRIMARY REPORT
Romney Says U.S. Shouldn't Bail Out European Economy
[National Journal, 6/17/12] Mitt Romney said on Sunday that the U.S. should not take any steps to "bail out" the European economy, and that he hopes whatever happens there, "our banking sector is able to weather the storm." His comments come in advance of this week's G-20 summit, at which the eurozone crisis is likely to take center stage.
What Type of Vice Presidential Candidate Will Romney Go For?
[L.A. Times, 6/17/12] Conventional wisdom dictates that Romney will choose an uncontroversial running mate, but what role will that person play? Reinforcer, attack dog, young gun, or something else?
Heavy Focus on News Shows in White House Race Ads
[Associated Press, 6/17/12] The Associated Press spent a few hours in two battleground states watching the barrage of ads from both candidates and found that they're intensely negative and tend to air around news shows, in part to appeal to the well-informed undecided bloc of voters both Obama and Romney want.
Santorum: Romney 'Trying to Walk a Line' on Immigration
[National Journal, 6/17/12] Rick Santorum on Sunday gave a lukewarm defense of Mitt Romney's response to the White House policy shift on immigration, asserting that Romney was trying to 'walk a line' on immigration so 'as not to sound like he's hostile to Latinos.
Raucus Iowa Convention May Signal What's To Come
[NPR, 6/17/12] Iowa Republicans faced a raucous state convention this weekend in part because what many said were Ron Paul's supporters taking over -- a possible preview of what can be expected at the RNC later this summer.
The Rust Belt is Dead. Long Live the Rust Belt!
[National Journal, 6/16/12] Even if the Rust Belt has lost its relative economic clout, it is still a mighty force in electoral politics, as evidenced by Obama and Romney's focus on the area in ad buys and campaign stops.
Obama Supporters Disrupt Romney Event
[National Journal, 6/17/12] Presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney's "Every Town Counts" bus tour made a slight detour from its planned route through eastern Pennsylvania after over 100 protestors affiliated with the Obama campaign and MoveOn.org showed up at a gas station where he was scheduled to stop.
Romney Borrows a Page from Santorum
[National Journal, 6/17/12] Facing a group of social conservatives, his most restive constituency, likely GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney on Saturday tried on some talking points from former primary opponent Rick Santorum, a hero to the far right during the Republican primaries this year.
President Obama's Hispanic Gamble
[The Hill, 6/17/12] Though he won 67 percent of Latinos in 2008, of late he's received criticism from Latino activists frustrated with inaction on immigration reform. But his move on Friday won't shore up the Latino vote entirely, as opponents in the GOP could make this a headache for the President.
Meet Your Cousin, the First Lady: A Family Story, Long Hidden
[New York Times, 6/17/12] In this excerpt from American Tapestry: The Story of the Black, White and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama, by Rachel L. Swarns, we meet Joan Tribble, a Georgia grandmother who is distantly related to Michelle Obama through ancestors who owned slaves.
Gov. Obama? Romney Makes Dig at Opponent's Credentials
[Wall Street Journal, 6/16/12] A misstatement turned into an opportunity for Romney, when he stumbled and called Obama a governor and then used it to question Obama's qualifications for president.
Plouffe: Romney Embracing Boehner's Agenda
[National Journal, 6/17/12] White House Senior Advisor David Plouffe on Sunday cast a scheduled appearance in Ohio by Mitt Romney with Speaker John Boehner as the GOP presidential candidate's embrace of the congressional Republican economic agenda.
Attend a National Journal LIVE event | Sign up for National Journal newsletters
This news article is brought to you by BABY-BOOMERS - where latest news are our top priority.
"Boy, that sun feels good, you know that?" Romney said to the crowd as people began putting away their umbrellas and removing plastic garbage bags that acted as rain ponchos. "Things are drying out here. This feels great! And I can tell you something else - the sun is coming out in this country. Our brightest days are ahead. Things are getting better in America as long as we get off the course he's put us on."
Romney continued the weather metaphors throughout his speech, telling the Ohioans that "three and a half years of dark clouds are about to part." He even found a weather-related way to attack the president's signature piece of legislation, the Affordable Care Act, which he called "a great cloud that's been raining over small business." Read more
--Sarah Huisenga
NATIONAL JOURNAL'S PRIMARY REPORT
Romney Says U.S. Shouldn't Bail Out European Economy
[National Journal, 6/17/12] Mitt Romney said on Sunday that the U.S. should not take any steps to "bail out" the European economy, and that he hopes whatever happens there, "our banking sector is able to weather the storm." His comments come in advance of this week's G-20 summit, at which the eurozone crisis is likely to take center stage.
What Type of Vice Presidential Candidate Will Romney Go For?
[L.A. Times, 6/17/12] Conventional wisdom dictates that Romney will choose an uncontroversial running mate, but what role will that person play? Reinforcer, attack dog, young gun, or something else?
Heavy Focus on News Shows in White House Race Ads
[Associated Press, 6/17/12] The Associated Press spent a few hours in two battleground states watching the barrage of ads from both candidates and found that they're intensely negative and tend to air around news shows, in part to appeal to the well-informed undecided bloc of voters both Obama and Romney want.
Santorum: Romney 'Trying to Walk a Line' on Immigration
[National Journal, 6/17/12] Rick Santorum on Sunday gave a lukewarm defense of Mitt Romney's response to the White House policy shift on immigration, asserting that Romney was trying to 'walk a line' on immigration so 'as not to sound like he's hostile to Latinos.
Raucus Iowa Convention May Signal What's To Come
[NPR, 6/17/12] Iowa Republicans faced a raucous state convention this weekend in part because what many said were Ron Paul's supporters taking over -- a possible preview of what can be expected at the RNC later this summer.
The Rust Belt is Dead. Long Live the Rust Belt!
[National Journal, 6/16/12] Even if the Rust Belt has lost its relative economic clout, it is still a mighty force in electoral politics, as evidenced by Obama and Romney's focus on the area in ad buys and campaign stops.
Obama Supporters Disrupt Romney Event
[National Journal, 6/17/12] Presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney's "Every Town Counts" bus tour made a slight detour from its planned route through eastern Pennsylvania after over 100 protestors affiliated with the Obama campaign and MoveOn.org showed up at a gas station where he was scheduled to stop.
Romney Borrows a Page from Santorum
[National Journal, 6/17/12] Facing a group of social conservatives, his most restive constituency, likely GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney on Saturday tried on some talking points from former primary opponent Rick Santorum, a hero to the far right during the Republican primaries this year.
President Obama's Hispanic Gamble
[The Hill, 6/17/12] Though he won 67 percent of Latinos in 2008, of late he's received criticism from Latino activists frustrated with inaction on immigration reform. But his move on Friday won't shore up the Latino vote entirely, as opponents in the GOP could make this a headache for the President.
Meet Your Cousin, the First Lady: A Family Story, Long Hidden
[New York Times, 6/17/12] In this excerpt from American Tapestry: The Story of the Black, White and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama, by Rachel L. Swarns, we meet Joan Tribble, a Georgia grandmother who is distantly related to Michelle Obama through ancestors who owned slaves.
Gov. Obama? Romney Makes Dig at Opponent's Credentials
[Wall Street Journal, 6/16/12] A misstatement turned into an opportunity for Romney, when he stumbled and called Obama a governor and then used it to question Obama's qualifications for president.
Plouffe: Romney Embracing Boehner's Agenda
[National Journal, 6/17/12] White House Senior Advisor David Plouffe on Sunday cast a scheduled appearance in Ohio by Mitt Romney with Speaker John Boehner as the GOP presidential candidate's embrace of the congressional Republican economic agenda.
Attend a National Journal LIVE event | Sign up for National Journal newsletters
This news article is brought to you by BABY-BOOMERS - where latest news are our top priority.
On Bus Tour, Romney Hauls Out the Weather Metaphors
BRUNSWICK, Ohio - It was pouring rain at the outdoor pancake breakfast in this northern Ohio town just moments before Mitt Romney arrived to address the crowd on Father's Day. But moments after taking the stage, the sun began to shine on the nearly 1,000 breakfast-goers, leading the presumptive GOP nominee to compare the improving weather to the state of the country -- as long as Barack Obama is voted out of office.
"Boy, that sun feels good, you know that?" Romney said to the crowd as people began putting away their umbrellas and removing plastic garbage bags that acted as rain ponchos. "Things are drying out here. This feels great! And I can tell you something else - the sun is coming out in this country. Our brightest days are ahead. Things are getting better in America as long as we get off the course he's put us on."
Romney continued the weather metaphors throughout his speech, telling the Ohioans that "three and a half years of dark clouds are about to part." He even found a weather-related way to attack the president's signature piece of legislation, the Affordable Care Act, which he called "a great cloud that's been raining over small business."
Romney is on the third day of his bus tour through battleground states, with Sunday's itinerary taking him across the state of Ohio. Two of his sons -- Matt and Craig -- flew in to join their dad on the trail, along with their wives and five of Romney's grandchildren.
At Sunday's event, Romney was not interrupted by a mass of protestors as he was on Saturday. About 10 people stood across the road chanting 'Pay more taxes!'
But the Democratic National Committee has been doggedly following the tour and planned a news conference in Madison, Wis., on Sunday afternoon to highlight what it said were Romney's failures as Massachusetts' governor. It also sent the media articles on how Romney had to reschedule an event in Pennsylvania after Obama supporters rallied at the bus tour stop.
Both of Romney's sons used the occasion of Father's Day to pay tribute to the man who raised them, along with their mother Ann. Matt, Romney's second oldest, told a story about how his father had helped out when his wife was on bed rest during a pregnancy, building her a television cabinet and installing cable in her bedroom and finding someone to help her run errands.
"I just look at that," Matt said while sharing the stage with his dad, "He taught me to be both a father and a husband. '
Romney's youngest son, Craig, was also in attendance, along with his son Parker, who was often seen on the trail with his grandfather in 2008.
The family is traveling throughout the state with Romney along with Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who served pancakes with the group following Romney's speech. Portman is considered a likely contender for the vice presidential nomination, though he downplayed the possibility when it was brought up by one of his constituents in the pancake line.
"I'm happy where I am, you know?" Portman told the man. "I'm lucky to be where I am."
This news article is brought to you by CRUISING - where latest news are our top priority.
"Boy, that sun feels good, you know that?" Romney said to the crowd as people began putting away their umbrellas and removing plastic garbage bags that acted as rain ponchos. "Things are drying out here. This feels great! And I can tell you something else - the sun is coming out in this country. Our brightest days are ahead. Things are getting better in America as long as we get off the course he's put us on."
Romney continued the weather metaphors throughout his speech, telling the Ohioans that "three and a half years of dark clouds are about to part." He even found a weather-related way to attack the president's signature piece of legislation, the Affordable Care Act, which he called "a great cloud that's been raining over small business."
Romney is on the third day of his bus tour through battleground states, with Sunday's itinerary taking him across the state of Ohio. Two of his sons -- Matt and Craig -- flew in to join their dad on the trail, along with their wives and five of Romney's grandchildren.
At Sunday's event, Romney was not interrupted by a mass of protestors as he was on Saturday. About 10 people stood across the road chanting 'Pay more taxes!'
But the Democratic National Committee has been doggedly following the tour and planned a news conference in Madison, Wis., on Sunday afternoon to highlight what it said were Romney's failures as Massachusetts' governor. It also sent the media articles on how Romney had to reschedule an event in Pennsylvania after Obama supporters rallied at the bus tour stop.
Both of Romney's sons used the occasion of Father's Day to pay tribute to the man who raised them, along with their mother Ann. Matt, Romney's second oldest, told a story about how his father had helped out when his wife was on bed rest during a pregnancy, building her a television cabinet and installing cable in her bedroom and finding someone to help her run errands.
"I just look at that," Matt said while sharing the stage with his dad, "He taught me to be both a father and a husband. '
Romney's youngest son, Craig, was also in attendance, along with his son Parker, who was often seen on the trail with his grandfather in 2008.
The family is traveling throughout the state with Romney along with Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who served pancakes with the group following Romney's speech. Portman is considered a likely contender for the vice presidential nomination, though he downplayed the possibility when it was brought up by one of his constituents in the pancake line.
"I'm happy where I am, you know?" Portman told the man. "I'm lucky to be where I am."
This news article is brought to you by CRUISING - where latest news are our top priority.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Kayaker dead in British bad weather snap
A male kayaker died in 'challenging' river conditions Saturday as the Environment Agency issued five flood alert warnings across Wales.
Wales has been battered by heavy rain in recent days, with around a thousand people moved to safety last weekend near Aberystwyth on the west coast as flash floods hit caravan parks. Many rivers are still swollen.
The body of the kayaker was recovered from the River Conwy in Betws-y-Coed, northeast Wales.
'The investigation is still ongoing and the next of kin have yet to be informed,' a North Wales Police spokesman said.
'Emergency services would like to advise all watersports people visiting the area that the rivers in the vicinity are very full and conditions are challenging.'
As midsummer's day approaches, Britain's run of rainy, unseasonable weather continued with blustery gales sweeping the country, reaching up to 56 miles (90 kilometres) per hour.
In southwest London, two nine-year-old boys suffered serious head injuries when a tree fell at a cricket ground. A third boy was treated for leg injuries.
Meanwhile in the seaside resort of Blackpool in northwest England, Elton John's concert was called off nearly two hours into his set due to strong winds.
The inaugural gig at the Blackpool Tower Headland outdoor area was cut short on police advice as the temporary stage was being buffeted.
'I have been told there is some really bad weather on the way,' John told the crowd of almost 11,000 people.
'The police say you need to leave right now in an orderly fashion.
'I'm sorry but I don't want anyone to be hurt.'
This news article is brought to you by DATING ADVICE 201 - where latest news are our top priority.
Wales has been battered by heavy rain in recent days, with around a thousand people moved to safety last weekend near Aberystwyth on the west coast as flash floods hit caravan parks. Many rivers are still swollen.
The body of the kayaker was recovered from the River Conwy in Betws-y-Coed, northeast Wales.
'The investigation is still ongoing and the next of kin have yet to be informed,' a North Wales Police spokesman said.
'Emergency services would like to advise all watersports people visiting the area that the rivers in the vicinity are very full and conditions are challenging.'
As midsummer's day approaches, Britain's run of rainy, unseasonable weather continued with blustery gales sweeping the country, reaching up to 56 miles (90 kilometres) per hour.
In southwest London, two nine-year-old boys suffered serious head injuries when a tree fell at a cricket ground. A third boy was treated for leg injuries.
Meanwhile in the seaside resort of Blackpool in northwest England, Elton John's concert was called off nearly two hours into his set due to strong winds.
The inaugural gig at the Blackpool Tower Headland outdoor area was cut short on police advice as the temporary stage was being buffeted.
'I have been told there is some really bad weather on the way,' John told the crowd of almost 11,000 people.
'The police say you need to leave right now in an orderly fashion.
'I'm sorry but I don't want anyone to be hurt.'
This news article is brought to you by DATING ADVICE 201 - where latest news are our top priority.
Philippines pulls ships from disputed shoal due to weather
MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines has pulled back two vessels from a group of rocks disputed with China because of bad weather, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Saturday, ending a two-month standoff between the two sides, at least for now.
Lightly armed Philippine coast guard ships had since April taken turns to escort a civilian fisheries boat guarding the mouth of Scarborough Shoal, a group of rock formations about 124 nautical miles west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon.
At one time, China had nearly 100 civilian surveillance ships, fishing vessels and smaller utility boats in the area, raising tension in the South China Sea, threatening trade, tourism and political relations between the two sides.
On Friday, the Philippines said China still had 26 ships and fishing boats in Scarborough against the two from the Philippines - one a coast guard vessel and the other a fishing boat.
'Last night, President (Benigno) Aquino ordered both of our ships to return to port due to increasing bad weather,' spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters, quoting Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.
'When weather improves, a re-evaluation will be made.'
China has territorial disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan across the South China Sea, each searching for gas and oil while building up their navies and military alliances.
(Reporting by Manuel Mogatol Editing by Nick Macfie)
This news article is brought to you by BED-BREAKFAST-INNS - where latest news are our top priority.
Lightly armed Philippine coast guard ships had since April taken turns to escort a civilian fisheries boat guarding the mouth of Scarborough Shoal, a group of rock formations about 124 nautical miles west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon.
At one time, China had nearly 100 civilian surveillance ships, fishing vessels and smaller utility boats in the area, raising tension in the South China Sea, threatening trade, tourism and political relations between the two sides.
On Friday, the Philippines said China still had 26 ships and fishing boats in Scarborough against the two from the Philippines - one a coast guard vessel and the other a fishing boat.
'Last night, President (Benigno) Aquino ordered both of our ships to return to port due to increasing bad weather,' spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters, quoting Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.
'When weather improves, a re-evaluation will be made.'
China has territorial disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan across the South China Sea, each searching for gas and oil while building up their navies and military alliances.
(Reporting by Manuel Mogatol Editing by Nick Macfie)
This news article is brought to you by BED-BREAKFAST-INNS - where latest news are our top priority.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Texas Weather is like an Impulsive Southern Woman
FIRST PERSON | DALLAS -- When it comes to weather, this spring was somewhat bizarre. It was too hot too early and then too cold and then hot again. So here we are in the month of June that feels like August. Our Texan calendars should speak up and say: "Howdy y'all. Today is June 14 but it feels like August 30. Have a nice day!"
Back in May, I heard from my family in Bosnia. They had two inches of snow. I guess that's why I don't live close to mountains anymore. I miss trees and deep green shades of foliage that change into tangerine orange and cayenne brown in September. I miss hiking trails in July and pure white mountain peaks in December. I miss Bosnian cold spring waters and I miss my family. Fifteen years ago, I chose Texas to be my home. People say that you could fit 11 Bosnians in Texas. I don't need 11 of them, but sometimes I would love to move that one Bosnia of mine and fit it here between my favorite Texan Plains and my Dallas heart.
Texas weather can be kind of like a youthful and impulsive Southern woman. She is pretty and gregarious, sweet and yes, she is definitely hot.
But there is a moment when this young lady seems to be fed up with all the stuff that's going on in the world in which she did not choose to participate: greenhouse gases, pollution, dirt, toxic waste and fumes, energy imbalance, not to mention people and their wooden and cement structures that crawl all over this planet like an unstoppable illness. So, Nature gets up makes this quick fussy sound, and then we all know that a perfect storm is approaching.
Yesterday, a pretty picture of my Turtle Creek backyard framed in a large window became a little murky. I went outside to check it out. The air carried an aroma of rain and I sensed a few drops of drizzle. It was windy. I could see the thunderhead coming from the North. An immense gloomy cloud was moving at high speed. The wind was blowing in my face and I felt so small. We are so tiny in front of these intense forces of our planet.
The storm passed through. It picked up some tree branches, ruined a few windows and messed with people's yards, lawn chairs, umbrellas and golf carts. A family of ducks in the nearby creek that rushed to hide long before the storm revealed itself was now coming out.
A sharp thunder was still rumbling through the air. This again reminded me of my homeland. Mother Nature did not cause Bosnian thunder; it was people that managed to dislike each other so much that they became murky and destructive themselves.
The same way it's happening here, after this Dallas storm, my native city of Sarajevo is recovering. Something new and much better is surely coming our way, and we desperately need it.
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Thursday, June 14, 2012
Coryton refinery workers take fight to government
LONDON (Reuters) - Workers at the bankrupt Coryton refinery in Britain took their fight to the country's government on Thursday and marched towards a court where Prime Minister David Cameron was giving evidence in a bid to save their jobs.
Around 100 protesters marched from the Department of Energy and Climate Change in the government district of Whitehall in central London to the Royal Courts of Justice where Cameron is giving evidence about his links to media baron Rupert Murdoch.
'Save our jobs,' they sang as they approached the courts.
Previously the workers demonstrated outside the Shell building, headquarters of Royal Dutch Shell, which the union said on Wednesday was looking to turn the refinery into a storage terminal, threatening the vast majority of the 900 jobs at the plant.
On Monday, workers disrupted the supply of fuel heading to some petrol stations in the southeast of England to protest against the plant's likely closure.
Coryton is currently being wound down as crude supplies run out, and redundancies are expected next week.
(Reporting by Simon Falush; editing James Jukwey)
This news article is brought to you by ADDICTIONS - where latest news are our top priority.
Around 100 protesters marched from the Department of Energy and Climate Change in the government district of Whitehall in central London to the Royal Courts of Justice where Cameron is giving evidence about his links to media baron Rupert Murdoch.
'Save our jobs,' they sang as they approached the courts.
Previously the workers demonstrated outside the Shell building, headquarters of Royal Dutch Shell, which the union said on Wednesday was looking to turn the refinery into a storage terminal, threatening the vast majority of the 900 jobs at the plant.
On Monday, workers disrupted the supply of fuel heading to some petrol stations in the southeast of England to protest against the plant's likely closure.
Coryton is currently being wound down as crude supplies run out, and redundancies are expected next week.
(Reporting by Simon Falush; editing James Jukwey)
This news article is brought to you by ADDICTIONS - where latest news are our top priority.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
These Birds Make Peace In Bad Weather
Click here to listen to this podcast
After a hurricane or earthquake, people often band together and cooperate to deal with the recovery. And we're not the only species that becomes more cooperative in tough times.
Female Yuhina birds in Taiwan usually fight over space in the community nest when they're trying to lay eggs. But in bad weather the birds tend to leave each other alone.
The finding is in the journal Nature Communications. [Sheng-Feng Shen et al, Unfavourable environment limits social conflict in Yuhina brunneiceps]
Researchers monitored groups of yuhinas for several years, in fair and foul weather. When the scientists combined their data with a game-theory model, they found that periods of fighting between female yuhinas were 50-percent shorter when the weather was bad-which increased the overall success of the breeding group.
During times of heavy rain, food becomes scarce. And getting wet means that the birds have to expend more energy to stay warm. So the birds apparently institute a truce, which cuts down on energy wasted fighting, and increases everyone's chance of survival. In other words, in bad weather birds of a feather stick together.
-Amy Kraft
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast]
Scientific American is part of the Nature Publishing Group.
Follow Scientific American on Twitter @SciAm and @SciamBlogs. Visit ScientificAmerican.com for the latest in science, health and technology news.
© 2012 ScientificAmerican.com. All rights reserved.
This news article is brought to you by ARCHERY - where latest news are our top priority.
After a hurricane or earthquake, people often band together and cooperate to deal with the recovery. And we're not the only species that becomes more cooperative in tough times.
Female Yuhina birds in Taiwan usually fight over space in the community nest when they're trying to lay eggs. But in bad weather the birds tend to leave each other alone.
The finding is in the journal Nature Communications. [Sheng-Feng Shen et al, Unfavourable environment limits social conflict in Yuhina brunneiceps]
Researchers monitored groups of yuhinas for several years, in fair and foul weather. When the scientists combined their data with a game-theory model, they found that periods of fighting between female yuhinas were 50-percent shorter when the weather was bad-which increased the overall success of the breeding group.
During times of heavy rain, food becomes scarce. And getting wet means that the birds have to expend more energy to stay warm. So the birds apparently institute a truce, which cuts down on energy wasted fighting, and increases everyone's chance of survival. In other words, in bad weather birds of a feather stick together.
-Amy Kraft
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast]
Scientific American is part of the Nature Publishing Group.
Follow Scientific American on Twitter @SciAm and @SciamBlogs. Visit ScientificAmerican.com for the latest in science, health and technology news.
© 2012 ScientificAmerican.com. All rights reserved.
This news article is brought to you by ARCHERY - where latest news are our top priority.
Lingering Rain Chances, But Severe Weather Not Likely
='en' xmlns:fb='http://www.facebook.com/2008/fbml' xmlns:addthis='http://www.addthis.com/help/api-spec' > Lingering Rain Chances, But Severe Weather Not Likely « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth
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