Saif al-Islam Gaddafi rejects calls for his father to step down telling French TV ‘we will never surrender, we will fight’ Western powers attacking Libya have made themselves “legitimate targets” for retaliation, the son of Muammar Gaddafi has warned. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi rejected calls for his father to quit Libya as the price of peace with the rebels fighting to overthrow him. “To tell my father to leave the country, it’s a joke, he told the French TV channel TF1. “We will never surrender. We will fight. It’s our country. “We have to fight for our country and you are going to be legitimate targets for us.” Asked if he had a message for the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, one of the prime movers in the Nato offensive, Gaddafi replied: “You are not going to win. You have no chance, zero chance, to win the war here. “If you are angry with us because we are not buying the Rafale airplanes, you should talk with us,” he added, a reference to the Dassault-built French warplane that Paris had been trying to sell to Tripoli before the uprising against Gaddafi. “If you are angry with us because oil deals are not going well, you should talk to us. Rebels will not give you anything because they are not going to win.” The Libyan leader’s son, who like his father is facing an international arrest warrant on charges of crimes against humanity, claimed the regime was prepared to make concessions to some western demands. “You want democracy, we are ready,” Saif said. “You want elections, we are ready. You want, what, a new constitution? We are ready. Ceasefire? We are ready. But, the other side is refusing, all the time.” In an audio message played to tens of thousands of supporters in Tripoli’s Green Square on Friday, Gaddafi urged Nato to halt its bombing campaign or risk seeing Libyan fighters descend on Europe “like a swarm of locusts or bees”. The conflict in Libya is in virtual stalemate, with rebels on three fronts unable to make a decisive advance towards Tripoli and growing strains inside Nato about the cost of the operation and the lack of a military breakthrough. It was reported on Monday that rebel commanders had slowed their advance on Tripoli because they feared an all-out offensive would cause heavy civilian casualties. The rebels were less than 60 miles from Tripoli, British Forces News said , but claimed they were waiting for an uprising in the capital before they attacked. Libya will be on the agenda at talks between Russia and Nato on Monday in the southern Russian resort of Sochi. Russia has criticised the bombing campaign, saying the mission has lost its original focus on protecting civilians and now aims to remove Muammar Gaddafi. Libya Muammar Gaddafi Arab and Middle East unrest Middle East Africa Nato David Smith guardian.co.uk
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ORLANDO, Fla. — Casey Anthony’s lead defense attorney has finished his closing argument insisting that the death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee was an “accident snowballed out of control.” Jose Baez spent most of his four-hour argument Sunday concentrating on holes in the prosecution’s forensic evidence, saying it was based on a “fantasy.” The judge overseeing the case indicated that the jury will begin deliberating on Monday. Prosecutors contend Caylee was suffocated with duct tape by her mother, who then crafted elaborate lies to mislead investigators and her parents. Baez says the toddler accidentally drowned in the family swimming pool and that her father made the death look like a murder, which he denies.
Continue reading …Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: cancer experts say ‘What, me worry?’
July 4, 2011 No Comment
If you haven’t already gotten whiplash from the ongoing cellphone – cancer debate , a freshly released scientific review might just do the trick. In the paper, published Friday, a panel of experts from Britain, Sweden and the US conducted a thorough survey of previous studies, before concluding that existing literature is “increasingly against” the theory that cellphone use causes brain tumors in adults. The researchers also questioned the biological mechanisms underpinning this hypothesis, while acknowledging some lingering uncertainties, since data on childhood tumors and longer-term research are still lacking. The results come just a few weeks after the World Health Organization released its own literature review, in which it claimed that cell phones should be considered ” potentially carcinogenic .” But Anthony Swerdlow, a professor at Britain’s Institute of Cancer Research and leader of the most recent investigation, said his group’s work doesn’t necessarily contradict the WHO, since the latter was simply seeking to evaluate cancer risks according to its own ” pre-set classification system” — under which things like pickled vegetables and coffee are also considered “potentially carcinogenic.” Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that the debate will die down anytime soon, though Swerdlow expects more definitive conclusions within the next few years — assuming, of course, that all of our brains haven’t turned to oatmeal by then. Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: cancer experts say ‘What, me worry?’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 06:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The soldier left his Helmand base on Monday morning and military units are now searching for him A British soldier is missing in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The soldier left his base in central Helmand early on Monday morning and a search operation is under way. It is believed he was finishing sentry duty at a vehicle checkpoint and rather than join his colleagues appears to have left the small base and disappeared. “The Ministry of Defence can confirm that a British serviceman is missing in Afghanistan. An extensive operation to locate him is under way,” the MoD said in a statement. “The individual was based in Central Helmand and was reported missing in the early hours of this morning. His next of kin have been informed and they will be updated as the operation continues.” The Nato command in Afghanistan said the soldier had been listed as “duty status whereabouts unknown” and a search was under way. The Taliban claimed to the BBC that they captured and killed a foreign soldier in the area after a firefight. This could not be verified, and the Taliban often make exaggerated claims for propaganda purposes. Whitehall sources cautioned that what had happened to the soldier was not known and in incidents such as these different people claim responsibility. A US soldier serving in Afghanistan is believed to be in Taliban captivity. Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, 25, from Hailey, Idaho, was taken prisoner in June 2009 in Paktika province in eastern Afghanistan and is thought to be in Pakistan. In July 2010, two sailors from the US Navy went missing in Logar province, south of Kabul, prompting an extensive manhunt. The dead bodies of both sailors were found days later in Logar. Military Afghanistan guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …The soldier left his Helmand base on Monday morning and military units are now searching for him A British soldier is missing in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The soldier left his base in central Helmand early on Monday morning and a search operation is under way. It is believed he was finishing sentry duty at a vehicle checkpoint and rather than join his colleagues appears to have left the small base and disappeared. “The Ministry of Defence can confirm that a British serviceman is missing in Afghanistan. An extensive operation to locate him is under way,” the MoD said in a statement. “The individual was based in Central Helmand and was reported missing in the early hours of this morning. His next of kin have been informed and they will be updated as the operation continues.” The Nato command in Afghanistan said the soldier had been listed as “duty status whereabouts unknown” and a search was under way. The Taliban claimed to the BBC that they captured and killed a foreign soldier in the area after a firefight. This could not be verified, and the Taliban often make exaggerated claims for propaganda purposes. Whitehall sources cautioned that what had happened to the soldier was not known and in incidents such as these different people claim responsibility. A US soldier serving in Afghanistan is believed to be in Taliban captivity. Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, 25, from Hailey, Idaho, was taken prisoner in June 2009 in Paktika province in eastern Afghanistan and is thought to be in Pakistan. In July 2010, two sailors from the US Navy went missing in Logar province, south of Kabul, prompting an extensive manhunt. The dead bodies of both sailors were found days later in Logar. Military Afghanistan guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …The soldier left his Helmand base on Monday morning and military units are now searching for him A British soldier is missing in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The soldier left his base in central Helmand early on Monday morning and a search operation is under way. It is believed he was finishing sentry duty at a vehicle checkpoint and rather than join his colleagues appears to have left the small base and disappeared. “The Ministry of Defence can confirm that a British serviceman is missing in Afghanistan. An extensive operation to locate him is under way,” the MoD said in a statement. “The individual was based in Central Helmand and was reported missing in the early hours of this morning. His next of kin have been informed and they will be updated as the operation continues.” The Nato command in Afghanistan said the soldier had been listed as “duty status whereabouts unknown” and a search was under way. The Taliban claimed to the BBC that they captured and killed a foreign soldier in the area after a firefight. This could not be verified, and the Taliban often make exaggerated claims for propaganda purposes. Whitehall sources cautioned that what had happened to the soldier was not known and in incidents such as these different people claim responsibility. A US soldier serving in Afghanistan is believed to be in Taliban captivity. Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, 25, from Hailey, Idaho, was taken prisoner in June 2009 in Paktika province in eastern Afghanistan and is thought to be in Pakistan. In July 2010, two sailors from the US Navy went missing in Logar province, south of Kabul, prompting an extensive manhunt. The dead bodies of both sailors were found days later in Logar. Military Afghanistan guardian.co.uk
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Member says commissioners will be ‘disgusted’ if shakeup in care funding – including a cap of £35,000 – is not put into action Members of the Dilnot commission will be “disgusted” if the government shelves their recommendations for a shakeup of the system of care funding, a commission member warned as the plans were published. Dame Jo Williams, one of three members of the commission, said: “It’s time for action. It seems to us that people have already waited for change far too long and want more than talk now.” The report is designed to alleviate people’s fears of losing their savings and homes. Williams said, if ministers kicked it into the long grass, the commission would certainly be disappointed. “But ‘disappointment’ is not an adequate word; ‘disgusted’ comes to mind. But ‘disgusted of the Dilnot commission’, we hope not to be,” she said. The commission’s report calls, as widely expected, for a cap of £35,000 on the amount an individual would have to pay on their own care costs during their lifetime. Above that level, the state would pay a standard rate for care, regardless of the individual’s wealth. People would still be liable for costs of accommodation and food in a care home, but this would be capped at £10,000 a year. In addition, the commission is calling for a big increase in the threshold of savings and assets above which the state offers no help with care costs. The limit should rise from £23,250 to £100,000, it says. Taken together, these two central recommendations of the report would ensure that no individual would have to spend more than 30% of their wealth on care. At present, many people are at risk of losing 90% of their savings and assets. Andrew Dilnot, the economist who led the commission, said the existing funding system was confusing, unfair and unsustainable. The proposals for change would cost the government an initial £1.7bn a year – 0.25% of total public spending – which was “a price well worth paying”. Although the commission wished to see its proposals implemented “with pace”, Dilnot said, it did not expect immediate acceptance by ministers and would be content if a white paper appeared before next Easter with a view to implementation in 2014. Downing Street rejected suggestions that the commission’s report had been “dead on arrival” and would now simply be shelved by ministers. “The prime minister welcomes the report,” a No 10 spokeswoman said. “This whole area is complex, as well as multifaceted. Certainly, the whole funding issue is not something that can be looked at in isolation. “We have always said there is a price tag, but we are not going to back away from the issue.” The Department of Health said it had approached shadow health secretary John Healey’s office last week “in order to initiate a conversation between all three parties on social care funding reform”. The recommendations were largely welcomed by charities and welfare groups. Michelle Mitchell, charity director at Age UK, the biggest older people’s charity, said the report set out “a clear blueprint” for sustainable reform. Production of a white paper by next spring was ambitious but achievable, Mitchell said. But she warned: “Delay beyond Easter would be indefensible.” Mark Goldring, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, said: “Now is the time for monumental change and it is vital that the government does not bury social care reform.” Long-term care Health Social care Health policy Public services policy Paying for long-term care Family finances David Brindle guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Member says commissioners will be ‘disgusted’ if shakeup in care funding – including a cap of £35,000 – is not put into action Members of the Dilnot commission will be “disgusted” if the government shelves their recommendations for a shakeup of the system of care funding, a commission member warned as the plans were published. Dame Jo Williams, one of three members of the commission, said: “It’s time for action. It seems to us that people have already waited for change far too long and want more than talk now.” The report is designed to alleviate people’s fears of losing their savings and homes. Williams said, if ministers kicked it into the long grass, the commission would certainly be disappointed. “But ‘disappointment’ is not an adequate word; ‘disgusted’ comes to mind. But ‘disgusted of the Dilnot commission’, we hope not to be,” she said. The commission’s report calls, as widely expected, for a cap of £35,000 on the amount an individual would have to pay on their own care costs during their lifetime. Above that level, the state would pay a standard rate for care, regardless of the individual’s wealth. People would still be liable for costs of accommodation and food in a care home, but this would be capped at £10,000 a year. In addition, the commission is calling for a big increase in the threshold of savings and assets above which the state offers no help with care costs. The limit should rise from £23,250 to £100,000, it says. Taken together, these two central recommendations of the report would ensure that no individual would have to spend more than 30% of their wealth on care. At present, many people are at risk of losing 90% of their savings and assets. Andrew Dilnot, the economist who led the commission, said the existing funding system was confusing, unfair and unsustainable. The proposals for change would cost the government an initial £1.7bn a year – 0.25% of total public spending – which was “a price well worth paying”. Although the commission wished to see its proposals implemented “with pace”, Dilnot said, it did not expect immediate acceptance by ministers and would be content if a white paper appeared before next Easter with a view to implementation in 2014. Downing Street rejected suggestions that the commission’s report had been “dead on arrival” and would now simply be shelved by ministers. “The prime minister welcomes the report,” a No 10 spokeswoman said. “This whole area is complex, as well as multifaceted. Certainly, the whole funding issue is not something that can be looked at in isolation. “We have always said there is a price tag, but we are not going to back away from the issue.” The Department of Health said it had approached shadow health secretary John Healey’s office last week “in order to initiate a conversation between all three parties on social care funding reform”. The recommendations were largely welcomed by charities and welfare groups. Michelle Mitchell, charity director at Age UK, the biggest older people’s charity, said the report set out “a clear blueprint” for sustainable reform. Production of a white paper by next spring was ambitious but achievable, Mitchell said. But she warned: “Delay beyond Easter would be indefensible.” Mark Goldring, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, said: “Now is the time for monumental change and it is vital that the government does not bury social care reform.” Long-term care Health Social care Health policy Public services policy Paying for long-term care Family finances David Brindle guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Member says commissioners will be ‘disgusted’ if shakeup in care funding – including a cap of £35,000 – is not put into action Members of the Dilnot commission will be “disgusted” if the government shelves their recommendations for a shakeup of the system of care funding, a commission member warned as the plans were published. Dame Jo Williams, one of three members of the commission, said: “It’s time for action. It seems to us that people have already waited for change far too long and want more than talk now.” The report is designed to alleviate people’s fears of losing their savings and homes. Williams said, if ministers kicked it into the long grass, the commission would certainly be disappointed. “But ‘disappointment’ is not an adequate word; ‘disgusted’ comes to mind. But ‘disgusted of the Dilnot commission’, we hope not to be,” she said. The commission’s report calls, as widely expected, for a cap of £35,000 on the amount an individual would have to pay on their own care costs during their lifetime. Above that level, the state would pay a standard rate for care, regardless of the individual’s wealth. People would still be liable for costs of accommodation and food in a care home, but this would be capped at £10,000 a year. In addition, the commission is calling for a big increase in the threshold of savings and assets above which the state offers no help with care costs. The limit should rise from £23,250 to £100,000, it says. Taken together, these two central recommendations of the report would ensure that no individual would have to spend more than 30% of their wealth on care. At present, many people are at risk of losing 90% of their savings and assets. Andrew Dilnot, the economist who led the commission, said the existing funding system was confusing, unfair and unsustainable. The proposals for change would cost the government an initial £1.7bn a year – 0.25% of total public spending – which was “a price well worth paying”. Although the commission wished to see its proposals implemented “with pace”, Dilnot said, it did not expect immediate acceptance by ministers and would be content if a white paper appeared before next Easter with a view to implementation in 2014. Downing Street rejected suggestions that the commission’s report had been “dead on arrival” and would now simply be shelved by ministers. “The prime minister welcomes the report,” a No 10 spokeswoman said. “This whole area is complex, as well as multifaceted. Certainly, the whole funding issue is not something that can be looked at in isolation. “We have always said there is a price tag, but we are not going to back away from the issue.” The Department of Health said it had approached shadow health secretary John Healey’s office last week “in order to initiate a conversation between all three parties on social care funding reform”. The recommendations were largely welcomed by charities and welfare groups. Michelle Mitchell, charity director at Age UK, the biggest older people’s charity, said the report set out “a clear blueprint” for sustainable reform. Production of a white paper by next spring was ambitious but achievable, Mitchell said. But she warned: “Delay beyond Easter would be indefensible.” Mark Goldring, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, said: “Now is the time for monumental change and it is vital that the government does not bury social care reform.” Long-term care Health Social care Health policy Public services policy Paying for long-term care Family finances David Brindle guardian.co.uk
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Hopes for Thai stability were soaring Monday after the military indicated it would accept a sweeping election win by Yingluck Shinawatra, the sister of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. (July 4)
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