‘Threat to one is a threat to all’ treaty cited in White House report – but open net versus privacy analysis omits WikiLeaks The US has given the broadest hint yet that a cyber-attack on one Nato country will be regarded as an attack on all. It is a potentially dangerous development, as cyber-attacks are increasingly common, with the Pentagon reporting millions of probes a day and actions by more than 100 foreign intelligence agencies. In 2007, Estonia was almost crippled by a cyber-attack thought to originate in Russia. At the time, Estonia, a member of Nato, said it did not know if the alliance covered cyber-attacks, and the US, Britain and others danced round the issue. The development is contained in a report by the Obama administration, International Strategy for Cyberspace, in which the US for the first time sets out a strategy for dealing with the expansion of the internet and what it describes as “arbitrary and malicious disruption”. It notes the growing threats by individual hackers, companies and hostile states, and offers broad proposals on how to tackle these. It suggests that existing US treaties such as the one that set up Nato, which requires an attack on one member state to be treated as an attack on all, also cover cyber-attacks. But it stops short of saying so categorically. “All states possess an inherent right to self-defence, and we recognise that certain hostile acts conducted through cyberspace could compel actions under the commitments we have with our military treaty partners,” it says. The thrust of the report is on how to reconcile the US championing of internet freedom in places such as China and Iran with protection of privacy in the US. The report is thin on how to achieve this. The Obama administration sets out a broad objective: “The US will work internationally to promote an open, inter-operable, secure, and reliable information and communications infrastructure that supports international trade and commerce, strengthens international security, and fosters free expression and innovation.” But the report continues: “The world must collectively recognise the challenges posed by malevolent actors’ entry into cyberspace, and update and strengthen our national and international policies accordingly. Activities undertaken in cyberspace have consequences for our lives in physical space, and we must work towards building the rule of law, to prevent the risks of logging on from outweighing its benefits.” At present, international law largely does not cover the internet, nor do international treaties. But WikiLeaks, though responsible for the biggest security breach in US history, is not mentioned and was not raised by any of the speakers at the launch of the report, including secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Instead, she spoke of a need for consensus: “There is no one-size-fits-all, straightforward route to this goal. We have to build a global consensus about a shared vision for cyberspace.” But what Clinton, who has underscored the centrality of internet freedom to US foreign policy, did highlight was the internet’s role in grassroots mobilisation and attempts by governments to stop this: “While the internet offers new ways for people to exercise their political rights, it also, as we have seen very clearly in the last months, gives governments new tools for clamping down on dissent.” Commerce secretary, Gary Locke, nominated as next US ambassador to China, said he intended to keep pressing “to advance these goals and the broader set of cyberspace issues with our Chinese counterparts”. WikiLeaks was able to obtain a quarter of a million secret US state department files last year, published in the Guardian and other papers. Such a breach would not have been possible without the internet. The report wants states to work together to give better protection. “When cybersecurity incidents demand government action, officials can detect those threats early and share data in real-time to mitigate the spread of malware or minimise the impact of a major disruption – all while preserving the broader free flow of information. When a crime is committed internationally, law enforcement agencies are able to collaborate to safeguard and share evidence and bring individuals to justice,” the report says. While condemning cyber-attacks, at the same time the US, along with Israel, is widely believed to have been responsible for the Stuxnet virus that Iran claims disrupted its nuclear programme. The administration last week sent proposals to Congress to put pressure on companies to improve security. The US funds schemes to develop new technologies and train activists to evade government controls. But activists accuse it of hypocrisy for insisting the internet must also have “rule of law”: a signal that unauthorised breaches such as WikiLeaks will not be tolerated. Internet United States Nato US politics Hillary Clinton Obama administration WikiLeaks Ewen MacAskill guardian.co.uk
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enlarge Credit: Talking Points Memo A more interesting post than the one I’m about to write might be one that examines the inevitable mockery that will come as a result of Trump’s ego-stroking nonsense over the past couple of months. But I suppose it must be said: Donald Trump is not running for President . Not only is he not running, but he is certain he would win if he did run. No, really: After considerable deliberation and reflection, I have decided not to pursue the office of the Presidency. This decision does not come easily or without regret; especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country. I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election. Evidently Mark Halperin and his ilk agree and think he could have been a Very Serious Candidate if he didn’t love business so much. Watch him treat Trump like a serious candidate while providing his “expert analysis” of the situation. Of course, they mentioned nothing about the fact that his Celebrity Apprentice show was renewed by NBC and announced yesterday.That “expert analysis”, by the way, included his contention that Trump’s withdrawal from the race leaves the door wide open for Sarah Palin to step through. Click here to view this media In his wet dreams, maybe. Palin is a non-contender and so is Bachmann. My guess at this point (and I am not one of the Very Serious Villagers) is that Mitt Romney has it locked in, health care plan or no health care plan. Newt’s stupid run at it, along with his dog-whistling ways, are just part of the usual GOP effort to consolidate their base and let them believe they have a chance at putting one of their candidates in the drivers’ seat. In the end, they’ll run Mitt as a “centrist”, and he’ll lose. The more interesting question is who they’ll choose as the vice presidential candidate. We do live in interesting times. Text of Trump’s statement: After considerable deliberation and reflection, I have decided not to pursue the office of the Presidency. This decision does not come easily or without regret; especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country. I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election. I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognize that running for public office cannot be done half heartedly. Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector. I want to personally thank the millions of Americans who have joined the various Trump grassroots movements and written me letters and e-mails encouraging me to run. My gratitude for your faith and trust in me could never be expressed properly in words. So, I make you this promise: that I will continue to voice my opinions loudly and help to shape our politician’s thoughts. My ability to bring important economic and foreign policy issues to the forefront of the national dialogue is perhaps my greatest asset and one of the most valuable services I can provide to this country. I will continue to push our President and the country’s policy makers to address the dire challenges arising from our unsustainable debt structure and increasing lack of global competitiveness. Issues, including getting tough on China and other countries that are methodically and systematically taking advantage of the United States, were seldom mentioned before I brought them to the forefront of the country’s conversation. They are now being debated vigorously. I will also continue to push for job creation, an initiative that should be this country’s top priority and something that I know a lot about. I will not shy away from expressing the opinions that so many of you share yet don’t have a medium through which to articulate. I look forward to supporting the candidate who is the most qualified to help us tackle our country’s most important issues and am hopeful that, when this person emerges, he or she will have the courage to take on the challenges of the Office and be the agent of change that this country so desperately needs Thank you and God Bless America! Donald J. Trump
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Prime minister admits in speech to NHS staff that government has not explained planned changes well David Cameron has warned that the NHS will face a funding crisis without major changes and insisted reform was the only way to save the health service. The prime minister’s intervention, in a speech to NHS staff at Ealing hospital in west London, was seen by ministers as an attempt to reassure Tory MPs who fear the government’s NHS “listening exercise” is being driven by the Liberal Democrats. Cameron reached out to the medical profession by admitting the government had not explained its reforms effectively, and professed his love for the NHS. But he said the twin challenges of an ageing population and the need to save £20bn in NHS spending over the next four years – identified by the previous government – meant the status quo could not be maintained. He said the government would respond to the findings of Prof Steve Field’s “listening exercise” by the end of next month and indicated that ministers would take on board one of the main recommendations from a recent report by the Commons health select committee. Stephen Dorrell, the former health secretary who chairs it, has called for the “full institutional and managerial integration” of the NHS and social care in England. Cameron said: “Change … must tackle the longstanding and damaging divide between health and social care, including the bed blocking that still afflicts so many of our hospitals. It must assist with the challenge to increase efficiency, raise productivity and keep costs down so we can go on meeting everyone’s needs.” Other changes to the health and social care bill outlined by government include: • Wider membership for the GP-led consortiums which will replace primary care trusts. Hospital doctors and nurses will be more closely involved. • Competition will not be introduced to the NHS “for its own sake”, and there “will be choice for patients”, with no cherry-picking of services by private firms. • The changes will be evolutionary, not revolutionary. At the end of the process, the NHS will look reasonably similar and will not become a “space age institution”. • A controversial element of the bill to allow “any willing provider” will be changed to a “properly qualified provider”. The prime minister said: “Sticking with the status quo and hoping we can get by with a bit more money is simply not an option. If we stay as we are, the NHS will need £130bn a year by 2015 – meaning a potential funding gap of £20bn. “The question is, what are we going to do about that? Ignore it? No – because we’d see a crisis of funding in the NHS, overcrowded wards and fewer treatments. Borrow more so we can chuck more money at it? No – because we can’t afford to. “Ask people to start paying at the point of delivery for it? No – because, as I said, the NHS must always be free to those who need it. There’s only one option we’ve got, and that is to change and modernise the NHS to make it more efficient and more effective and, above all, more focused on prevention, on health, not just sickness.” Cameron added: “We save the NHS by changing it. We risk its long-term future by resisting change now.” The prime minister, who admitted that the government had failed to explain its reforms well, attempted to reassure the medical profession and voters who fear he plans to dismantle the NHS. “I know that some people still have concerns. They might be listening to this and thinking: ‘OK – but if you love the NHS so much, if you don’t want to take any risks with it, why do you want to change it? “But this is the point. It’s because I love the NHS so much that I want to change it, because the fact is the NHS needs to change. It needs to change to make it work better today and it needs to change to avoid a crisis tomorrow.” The prime minister said the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, accepted the need for change, adding that the government’s plans were a “logical development” of Labour’s reforms. These include payment by results, foundation trusts and the use of independent providers. Clinical commission has been around for two decades, he added. Cameron said: “The difference [with Labour's reforms] is that we plan to make these changes effective across our NHS. As I said – evolution, not revolution. That’s why, when I think about what our NHS will look like in five years’ time, I don’t picture some space age institution, a million miles away from what we have now. Let me make clear: there will be no privatisation, there will be no cherry-picking from private providers, there will be no new upfront costs people have to pay to get care. “Absolutely not. These are red lines we will not cross. Instead, our NHS will be much like what we have today.” Cameron wanted to use the speech to show that changes will be introduced to the social care bill and also to reassure Conservative MPs – who raised concerns at a meeting of the 1922 committee last week – that he is not being forced to change tack under pressure from the Liberal Democrats. The prime minister told that meeting he, and not the Lib Dem leader and deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, had decided to pause the bill. Cameron also commended Field, who was present for the speech, for his independence of thought after he raised concerns about the original health reforms. Field praised the prime minister for sanctioning a “real listening exercise”.Field, chair of the NHS Future Forum, dismissed a Downing Street health adviser’s claim that the NHS would be reshaped into a provider of state health insurance. He said Mark Britnell – an NHS boss who now works for the accountancy firm KPMG – was “wrong” to back the idea of patients being charged to use the NHS and to predict it would be turned into “a state insurance provider, not a state deliverer”. Field told a “listening” event for Guardian readers held at the newspaper’s London offices: “If he’s saying that this is going to be a system that’s insurance-led then I haven’t heard any intention from anyone in government that this is what they want to do. I don’t think that politicians want to dismember the NHS in any way.” David Cameron is personally committed to the NHS, he stressed. A final report will be produced at the start of June by the forum of 44 experts examining the bill. “We will say something strong about the pace of change in some areas,” said Field. He also voiced concerns about the wide variation in the quality of care provided by some GPs, who under the health secretary Andrew Lansley’s plans are due to start commissioning £60bn of care for patients from 2013. NHS data could be used to help tell patients who were the better or worse-performing family doctors, Field added. Patients also needed to have much more of a say in the NHS, he said. NHS David Cameron Andrew Lansley Health Nicholas Watt Denis Campbell guardian.co.uk
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Swearing at John Humphrys and mouthing Tory platitutudes: all part of the publicity for Love is What You Want After two decades scaring the horses with her drunkenness on TV and sexually explicit art Tracey Emin now risks becoming part of the establishment by dining with the Tories and opening on Wednesday a mid-career retrospective at one of Britain’s most important galleries. Well, almost. Telling John Humphrys on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme that she wanted her epitaph to be “fuck me while I’m sleeping” may mean she’s not quite there yet. Emin said afterwards she had been provoked by Humphrys’s assertion that she was mellowing. “It was very funny. I like John Humphrys, he’s a nice person. He gets people up in the mornings.” The 47-year-old artist was speaking at a preview of the most important show of her work to date, at the Hayward Gallery, London, being staged as part of the South Bank Centre’s 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain. It is not a show that could ever have been staged at the original festival. There is much that could shock: lots of the swearing, masturbation and intensely private confessional which Emin has become loved and disliked for, in perhaps equal measure. The fact that she has the retrospective is a measure of her standing in the art world and, as she pointed out, all of her forthcoming shows are museum exhibitions: at Turner Contemporary in her home town of Margate; then the Brooklyn Museum in New York and MOCA in Miami. Emin used to upset the right with her provocative art and unapologetic mouthiness. Now, with her conversion to the Conservatives, now she is in danger of upsetting the left. Yesterday Emin was unafraid of pouring oil on the fire by declaring that the Tories simply offered the best hope for the arts. “There’s no money, the country is bankrupt so the arts is going to be bottom of the list on everyone’s agenda except that the Tories have an amazing arts minister in Ed Vaizey who is particularly protective and defensive of the arts. “Also the arts cuts, they are less than they were eight years ago with the Labour government. In the present climate its amazing that there’s any money for the arts at all. “And remember, Tory people are massive collectors of the arts. For a lot of my friends, who think I’m crazy voting for the Tories – I want to know who buys their work? Who are the biggest philanthropists? I promise you, it’s not Labour voters.” Emin was speaking ahead of what she said was the biggest moment of her art career so far and the retrospective is expected to be popular with younger audiences, particularly younger women. “They can see that I’ve been on a journey and they are on a journey themselves and they relate to that,” she said. There is though a recommendation that under-16s should be with an adult because of the frank content, with even Emin admitting she feels a little embarrassed and queasy about one of the pieces – some used tampons from about 12 years ago, displayed next to a pregnancy test. “The tampons were a major surprise. I was thinking I should have cast them.” Emin is clearly fiercely proud of the show and believes visitors will easily be able to spend three hours at it, viewing some of her key works as well as seldom-seen pieces. “I hope they come out think I’m a better artist than when they went in. I’m thrilled with the show.” Two seminal works missing are her unmade bed, which Charles Saatchi is going to show at a 2012 show he is planning, and her tent – Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963-1995 – which was destroyed in the Momart fire of 2004. There are though 12 of her blankets with some of her deepest and darkest thoughts appliquéd to them – “I do not expect to be a mother but I do expect to die alone,” for example – and 16 of her neon signs including one she has made for the show – and has been adopted as its title – “Love is What You Want”. Much of the art has been informed by the darker episodes in Emin’s life, including abuse and rape and abortion, but she said she was now in a happy place and really enjoying her art. She stopped her partying for a bit but has resumed as she is now single and, frankly, life is too short. Ralph Rugoff, director of the Hayward, said much of the public was familiar with only a small fraction of Emin’s work and part of the show’s intention was to show how diverse her art was. “Tracey deals with things that everyone can relate to and on the surface she is talking about things that everyone, somehow, knows from their own life.” Tracey Emin: Love Is What You Want runs 18 May-29 August. Tracey Emin Art Art markets Museums Festivals London Mark Brown guardian.co.uk
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Kenya mourns ‘running phenomenon’ amid mystery surrounding final moments and rumours of domestic dispute Kenyans are coming to terms with the loss of the country’s “running phenomenon”, Sammy Wanjiru, who fell to his death from a balcony at his home, as police attempt to piece together the mystery of his final moments and reports of an argument with his wife. One police official said the 24-year-old killed himself, while another said he jumped to stop his wife from leaving the house after she caught him with another woman. Wanjiru’s agent said he was “100% certain” the athlete, one of Africa’s brightest sporting talents, did not kill himself. Wanjiru became the first Kenyan to win an Olympic marathon in Beijing in 2008, finishing in a Games record of 2hr 6min 32sec. Local media reports said relatives found Wanjiru lying on the concrete floor of his home in Nyahururu in Kenya’s Rift Valley and bleeding through the mouth and ears. Police said he suffered internal injuries and was confirmed dead by doctors at a nearby hospital. Eric Kiraithe, Kenya’s national police spokesman, said: “The fact of the matter is that Wanjiru committed suicide.” The police commissioner Mathew Iteere also said initial reports indicated Wanjiru killed himself, but a local official offered a different account. Jasper Ombati, the regional police chief, said Wanjiru returned home with the woman at 11.30pm after a drinking spree. “When his wife came home and found them she inquired who the lady was. They got into an argument. His wife locked them in the bedroom and ran off,” he said. “He then jumped from the bedroom balcony. He is not here to tell us what he was thinking when he jumped. “We do not suspect foul play. In our estimation we think he wanted to stop his wife from leaving the compound.” In response to questions about how a fit young man could be killed by a fall from a first-floor balcony, Ombati said the balcony was between 4 metres and 6 metres high and Wanjiru landed on a hard surface. “His head was intact but there may have been internal injuries which only a postmortem can reveal,” he said. Wanjiru’s agent, Federico Rosa, told CNN World Sport he was “100% certain” it was not suicide. “I talked to him yesterday, he seemed very relaxed, happy and everything was cool. They said it looks like he might have jumped in a certain way but it was because he had slipped and hit his head.” Wanjiru’s wife, Triza Njeri, and another female recorded police statements in Nyahururu and were later released. Wanjiru’s death is being seen in Africa as a parable of how sudden wealth can become a curse for the ill-prepared. Last December, he was charged with wounding his security guard with an AK-47 assault rifle and threatening to kill his wife and maid. Njeri later withdrew her accusation of attempted murder in court, saying the couple had been reconciled. But Wanjiru was due to appear in court on 23 May on the charge of illegal possession of a firearm. Residents of Nyahururu said Wanjiru had recently started to drink heavily, was stressed by personal problems and rumoured to be seeing other women. Capital FM Kenya reported that a 25-year-old claiming to be Wanjiru’s second wife was five months pregnant. Wanjiru was from modest origins and seemed unable to handle the financial rewards of success. Jos Hermens, a respected manager of long distance athletes said: “It is incredibly sad. An Olympic champion at 21, he was poised to become the world-record holder in the marathon. He could not deal with all the luxury. It all went too fast, too much money. “You could not say anything bad about him. He just could not deal with it all. He was a lion of a man, and he departed us in much the same way.” Wanjiru moved to Japan aged 15 and marked himself out as a major talent, breaking the world half-marathon record in Rotterdam in 2005 aged only 18. In 2009 he set a then course record at the London Marathon and became the fastest marathon runner ever on American soil in Chicago that October. Kenya’s prime minister, Raila Odinga, said Wanjiru was “steadily developing into our country’s running phenomenon.” He called the death “a big blow to our dreams.” The Ethiopian marathon veteran Haile Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic champion and world record holder, said he was “totally shocked” by the news. “My thoughts are with his family and all his friends and colleagues,” he said. “Of course one wonders if we as an athletics family could have avoided this tragedy.” Sammy Wanjiru Kenya Africa David Smith guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Kenya mourns ‘running phenomenon’ amid mystery surrounding final moments and rumours of domestic dispute Kenyans are coming to terms with the loss of the country’s “running phenomenon”, Sammy Wanjiru, who fell to his death from a balcony at his home, as police attempt to piece together the mystery of his final moments and reports of an argument with his wife. One police official said the 24-year-old killed himself, while another said he jumped to stop his wife from leaving the house after she caught him with another woman. Wanjiru’s agent said he was “100% certain” the athlete, one of Africa’s brightest sporting talents, did not kill himself. Wanjiru became the first Kenyan to win an Olympic marathon in Beijing in 2008, finishing in a Games record of 2hr 6min 32sec. Local media reports said relatives found Wanjiru lying on the concrete floor of his home in Nyahururu in Kenya’s Rift Valley and bleeding through the mouth and ears. Police said he suffered internal injuries and was confirmed dead by doctors at a nearby hospital. Eric Kiraithe, Kenya’s national police spokesman, said: “The fact of the matter is that Wanjiru committed suicide.” The police commissioner Mathew Iteere also said initial reports indicated Wanjiru killed himself, but a local official offered a different account. Jasper Ombati, the regional police chief, said Wanjiru returned home with the woman at 11.30pm after a drinking spree. “When his wife came home and found them she inquired who the lady was. They got into an argument. His wife locked them in the bedroom and ran off,” he said. “He then jumped from the bedroom balcony. He is not here to tell us what he was thinking when he jumped. “We do not suspect foul play. In our estimation we think he wanted to stop his wife from leaving the compound.” In response to questions about how a fit young man could be killed by a fall from a first-floor balcony, Ombati said the balcony was between 4 metres and 6 metres high and Wanjiru landed on a hard surface. “His head was intact but there may have been internal injuries which only a postmortem can reveal,” he said. Wanjiru’s agent, Federico Rosa, told CNN World Sport he was “100% certain” it was not suicide. “I talked to him yesterday, he seemed very relaxed, happy and everything was cool. They said it looks like he might have jumped in a certain way but it was because he had slipped and hit his head.” Wanjiru’s wife, Triza Njeri, and another female recorded police statements in Nyahururu and were later released. Wanjiru’s death is being seen in Africa as a parable of how sudden wealth can become a curse for the ill-prepared. Last December, he was charged with wounding his security guard with an AK-47 assault rifle and threatening to kill his wife and maid. Njeri later withdrew her accusation of attempted murder in court, saying the couple had been reconciled. But Wanjiru was due to appear in court on 23 May on the charge of illegal possession of a firearm. Residents of Nyahururu said Wanjiru had recently started to drink heavily, was stressed by personal problems and rumoured to be seeing other women. Capital FM Kenya reported that a 25-year-old claiming to be Wanjiru’s second wife was five months pregnant. Wanjiru was from modest origins and seemed unable to handle the financial rewards of success. Jos Hermens, a respected manager of long distance athletes said: “It is incredibly sad. An Olympic champion at 21, he was poised to become the world-record holder in the marathon. He could not deal with all the luxury. It all went too fast, too much money. “You could not say anything bad about him. He just could not deal with it all. He was a lion of a man, and he departed us in much the same way.” Wanjiru moved to Japan aged 15 and marked himself out as a major talent, breaking the world half-marathon record in Rotterdam in 2005 aged only 18. In 2009 he set a then course record at the London Marathon and became the fastest marathon runner ever on American soil in Chicago that October. Kenya’s prime minister, Raila Odinga, said Wanjiru was “steadily developing into our country’s running phenomenon.” He called the death “a big blow to our dreams.” The Ethiopian marathon veteran Haile Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic champion and world record holder, said he was “totally shocked” by the news. “My thoughts are with his family and all his friends and colleagues,” he said. “Of course one wonders if we as an athletics family could have avoided this tragedy.” Sammy Wanjiru Kenya Africa David Smith guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Kenya mourns ‘running phenomenon’ amid mystery surrounding final moments and rumours of domestic dispute Kenyans are coming to terms with the loss of the country’s “running phenomenon”, Sammy Wanjiru, who fell to his death from a balcony at his home, as police attempt to piece together the mystery of his final moments and reports of an argument with his wife. One police official said the 24-year-old killed himself, while another said he jumped to stop his wife from leaving the house after she caught him with another woman. Wanjiru’s agent said he was “100% certain” the athlete, one of Africa’s brightest sporting talents, did not kill himself. Wanjiru became the first Kenyan to win an Olympic marathon in Beijing in 2008, finishing in a Games record of 2hr 6min 32sec. Local media reports said relatives found Wanjiru lying on the concrete floor of his home in Nyahururu in Kenya’s Rift Valley and bleeding through the mouth and ears. Police said he suffered internal injuries and was confirmed dead by doctors at a nearby hospital. Eric Kiraithe, Kenya’s national police spokesman, said: “The fact of the matter is that Wanjiru committed suicide.” The police commissioner Mathew Iteere also said initial reports indicated Wanjiru killed himself, but a local official offered a different account. Jasper Ombati, the regional police chief, said Wanjiru returned home with the woman at 11.30pm after a drinking spree. “When his wife came home and found them she inquired who the lady was. They got into an argument. His wife locked them in the bedroom and ran off,” he said. “He then jumped from the bedroom balcony. He is not here to tell us what he was thinking when he jumped. “We do not suspect foul play. In our estimation we think he wanted to stop his wife from leaving the compound.” In response to questions about how a fit young man could be killed by a fall from a first-floor balcony, Ombati said the balcony was between 4 metres and 6 metres high and Wanjiru landed on a hard surface. “His head was intact but there may have been internal injuries which only a postmortem can reveal,” he said. Wanjiru’s agent, Federico Rosa, told CNN World Sport he was “100% certain” it was not suicide. “I talked to him yesterday, he seemed very relaxed, happy and everything was cool. They said it looks like he might have jumped in a certain way but it was because he had slipped and hit his head.” Wanjiru’s wife, Triza Njeri, and another female recorded police statements in Nyahururu and were later released. Wanjiru’s death is being seen in Africa as a parable of how sudden wealth can become a curse for the ill-prepared. Last December, he was charged with wounding his security guard with an AK-47 assault rifle and threatening to kill his wife and maid. Njeri later withdrew her accusation of attempted murder in court, saying the couple had been reconciled. But Wanjiru was due to appear in court on 23 May on the charge of illegal possession of a firearm. Residents of Nyahururu said Wanjiru had recently started to drink heavily, was stressed by personal problems and rumoured to be seeing other women. Capital FM Kenya reported that a 25-year-old claiming to be Wanjiru’s second wife was five months pregnant. Wanjiru was from modest origins and seemed unable to handle the financial rewards of success. Jos Hermens, a respected manager of long distance athletes said: “It is incredibly sad. An Olympic champion at 21, he was poised to become the world-record holder in the marathon. He could not deal with all the luxury. It all went too fast, too much money. “You could not say anything bad about him. He just could not deal with it all. He was a lion of a man, and he departed us in much the same way.” Wanjiru moved to Japan aged 15 and marked himself out as a major talent, breaking the world half-marathon record in Rotterdam in 2005 aged only 18. In 2009 he set a then course record at the London Marathon and became the fastest marathon runner ever on American soil in Chicago that October. Kenya’s prime minister, Raila Odinga, said Wanjiru was “steadily developing into our country’s running phenomenon.” He called the death “a big blow to our dreams.” The Ethiopian marathon veteran Haile Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic champion and world record holder, said he was “totally shocked” by the news. “My thoughts are with his family and all his friends and colleagues,” he said. “Of course one wonders if we as an athletics family could have avoided this tragedy.” Sammy Wanjiru Kenya Africa David Smith guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Kenya mourns ‘running phenomenon’ amid mystery surrounding final moments and rumours of domestic dispute Kenyans are coming to terms with the loss of the country’s “running phenomenon”, Sammy Wanjiru, who fell to his death from a balcony at his home, as police attempt to piece together the mystery of his final moments and reports of an argument with his wife. One police official said the 24-year-old killed himself, while another said he jumped to stop his wife from leaving the house after she caught him with another woman. Wanjiru’s agent said he was “100% certain” the athlete, one of Africa’s brightest sporting talents, did not kill himself. Wanjiru became the first Kenyan to win an Olympic marathon in Beijing in 2008, finishing in a Games record of 2hr 6min 32sec. Local media reports said relatives found Wanjiru lying on the concrete floor of his home in Nyahururu in Kenya’s Rift Valley and bleeding through the mouth and ears. Police said he suffered internal injuries and was confirmed dead by doctors at a nearby hospital. Eric Kiraithe, Kenya’s national police spokesman, said: “The fact of the matter is that Wanjiru committed suicide.” The police commissioner Mathew Iteere also said initial reports indicated Wanjiru killed himself, but a local official offered a different account. Jasper Ombati, the regional police chief, said Wanjiru returned home with the woman at 11.30pm after a drinking spree. “When his wife came home and found them she inquired who the lady was. They got into an argument. His wife locked them in the bedroom and ran off,” he said. “He then jumped from the bedroom balcony. He is not here to tell us what he was thinking when he jumped. “We do not suspect foul play. In our estimation we think he wanted to stop his wife from leaving the compound.” In response to questions about how a fit young man could be killed by a fall from a first-floor balcony, Ombati said the balcony was between 4 metres and 6 metres high and Wanjiru landed on a hard surface. “His head was intact but there may have been internal injuries which only a postmortem can reveal,” he said. Wanjiru’s agent, Federico Rosa, told CNN World Sport he was “100% certain” it was not suicide. “I talked to him yesterday, he seemed very relaxed, happy and everything was cool. They said it looks like he might have jumped in a certain way but it was because he had slipped and hit his head.” Wanjiru’s wife, Triza Njeri, and another female recorded police statements in Nyahururu and were later released. Wanjiru’s death is being seen in Africa as a parable of how sudden wealth can become a curse for the ill-prepared. Last December, he was charged with wounding his security guard with an AK-47 assault rifle and threatening to kill his wife and maid. Njeri later withdrew her accusation of attempted murder in court, saying the couple had been reconciled. But Wanjiru was due to appear in court on 23 May on the charge of illegal possession of a firearm. Residents of Nyahururu said Wanjiru had recently started to drink heavily, was stressed by personal problems and rumoured to be seeing other women. Capital FM Kenya reported that a 25-year-old claiming to be Wanjiru’s second wife was five months pregnant. Wanjiru was from modest origins and seemed unable to handle the financial rewards of success. Jos Hermens, a respected manager of long distance athletes said: “It is incredibly sad. An Olympic champion at 21, he was poised to become the world-record holder in the marathon. He could not deal with all the luxury. It all went too fast, too much money. “You could not say anything bad about him. He just could not deal with it all. He was a lion of a man, and he departed us in much the same way.” Wanjiru moved to Japan aged 15 and marked himself out as a major talent, breaking the world half-marathon record in Rotterdam in 2005 aged only 18. In 2009 he set a then course record at the London Marathon and became the fastest marathon runner ever on American soil in Chicago that October. Kenya’s prime minister, Raila Odinga, said Wanjiru was “steadily developing into our country’s running phenomenon.” He called the death “a big blow to our dreams.” The Ethiopian marathon veteran Haile Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic champion and world record holder, said he was “totally shocked” by the news. “My thoughts are with his family and all his friends and colleagues,” he said. “Of course one wonders if we as an athletics family could have avoided this tragedy.” Sammy Wanjiru Kenya Africa David Smith guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Answering Kurtz: Yes, Fox News IS comfortable running the 2012 field of GOP presidential candidates
May 16, 2011 No CommentI’ve been saying that Fox News has been running the GOP field of candidates for what seems like years now. Howard Kurtz asks the wrong question on CNN: Is Fox News in an “Uncomfortable Position” Because It Employs Potential GOP Presidential Contenders? Answer: No. They’re perfectly comfortable. That’s been their strategy all along. Remember, Roger Ailes has always been a pivotal media-savvy right-wing operative who orchestrated the Dan Rather episode to try and rid Papa Bush of the Wimp factor. Fox News Chief Roger Ailes is up in arms over the now famous clash between former President Bill Clinton and Fox’s Chris Wallace . He says Clinton had a “wild overreaction” and his “attack” on Wallace was “an assault on all journalists.” How supremely ironic that Roger Ailes would be saying this. On January 25th, 1988, it was Ailes who, sitting five feet away from then Vice President George H.W. Bush in his Senate office in the Capitol building, literally used cue cards to help orchestrate the now-famous Bush confrontation with Dan Rather over the Iran/Contra affair . Kurtz should be asking if it’s ethical that Fox News has its hands as deep into GOP politics. David Frum was the first Republican to say the obvious: Frum: “Republicans originally thought that Fox worked for us, and now we are discovering we work for Fox.” I’d say Frum’s point has been validated completely. I do like Howie’s show, and usually watch it every week because it does focus on the media. Reliable Sources: KURTZ: Huckabee mentioned his belief in Jesus Christ. He didn’t mention his $500,000 Fox News salary. But he says he likes having a comfortable life. But the role of Fox News in this whole preseason, Gingrich and Santorum were essentially forced off the payroll, and they both are now running. Huckabee, not. It just shows you how much of a factor Fox has become in this Republican primary. QUINN: Fox is huge, but so is Twitter. You know? KURTZ: Fox is huge, but Fox also has employed several people who either could or, in this case, didn’t become serious White House contenders. QUINN: Right. Yes. Well, I mean — KURTZ: Is that an uncomfortable position for a network? QUINN: Clearly not for them. I mean, they are making a lot of money off of these people. And, you know, if Sarah Palin, when she announces whatever she is going to do, I’m sure it will be on Fox. Huckabee, Santorum, Gingrich, Palin, Rove have all been paid employees of the network. Santorum and Gingrich were suspended by FOX because they were getting into the race and they held up on doing the same to Huckabee until he made his decision. I would say that Rove should have his contract suspended now until after the election since he’s raising millions of dollars to influence the upcoming election. Roger Aile’s gave Sarah Palin a job to help groom her for the media spotlight that she was so unprepared for the first time around. Why isn’t Sarah Palin being forced to commit one way or the other yet? We know she’s a cash cow for FOX, but this is getting ridiculous. My question is why isn’t the media outraged by the control FOX News has over the candidates running for President in 2012? And here’s a portent of things to come: KURTZ: When Sarah Palin makes here decision, it will be like LeBron James and that ESPN special about what team he’s going to play for. I think that will get a little bit of attention. LeBron James became one of the most hated men in sports overnight after his ESPN stunt. If Palin does try to make it a big spectacle about her decision and then doesn’t run, well….people will not be happy either. And her negatives are already very high.
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US mogul formally announces he will not seek the Republican nomination, claiming he is ‘not ready to leave the private sector’ Faced with the choice of hosting The Apprentice or taking on Barack Obama in next year’s election, Donald Trump opted to stick with his television programme. The multimillionaire has formally announced he will not be joining the small band of candidates seeking the Republican nomination for the White House race. Few US political commentators took his campaign seriously and many suggested he was only in it for the publicity. In a statement, he said: “After considerable deliberation and reflection, I have decided not to pursue the office of the presidency. This decision does not come easily or without regret, especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country.” Modesty is not a Trump characteristic and this is reflected in his statement. “I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and, ultimately, the general election.” He added: “I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognise that running for public office cannot be done half-heartedly. Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector.” The decision comes after the businessman was repeatedly trounced by Obama last month over the “birther” issue. Trump took doubts about Obama’s birthplace from the fringes of American politics to the mainstream, but the president undercut him by publishing the long form of his birth certificate, proving he had been born in the US. Obama humiliated Trump a few days later with a series of jokes at his expense at the White House correspondents’ dinner, with the businessman present. In spite of Trump’s claims about being frontrunner in the polls, one published on Monday by the Politico website and George Washington University showed 71% of those surveyed thought he had no chance of becoming president. Trump went through the motions of being a Republican contender, making speeches in key early states such as New Hampshire, and for a short time seemed in tune with the public mood. But he offered little in the way of policies and senior Republicans viewed his candidacy, with its emphasis on issues such as Obama’s birthplace, as an irritating distraction. The field of declared Republicans so far is small and has failed to generate much excitement. Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, who had a good run in 2008 in spite of a lack of funds, announced on Saturday that he would not be standing next year. Some Republicans see Obama as too tough a candidate and prefer to wait until 2016. Sarah Palin, who would bring excitement to the race, has not yet said whether she will seek the Republican nomination. After a quiet few weeks, she re-ignited interest on Monday when she sent out a fundraising mail shot in South Carolina, one of the key states in the battle for the Republican nomination. Donald Trump US elections 2012 Republicans Democrats Barack Obama United States US politics Ewen MacAskill guardian.co.uk
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