Interim leader’s speech fails to convince protesters blocking off Cairo bureaucratic headquarters and road to Suez canal Protests have brought Egypt’s administrative and commercial nerve centres to a standstill , as government attempts to stem a growing wave of opposition to military rule succeeded only in galvanising demonstrators further. The interim prime minister, Essam Sharaf, took to the airwaves late on Saturday pledging to “meet the people’s demands”, following mass rallies across the country in which Egyptians accused the ruling council of army generals of betraying the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak this year . In a short and strained address to the nation, Sharaf said all police officers accused of killing protesters would be stopped from working, and promised that the trials of former Mubarak ministers and other regime officials would proceed “as soon as possible”. He insisted that social and economic problems would be reviewed by the army-appointed transitional cabinet. But activists dismissed the announcement as empty rhetoric and claimed it contained nothing substantive. “His speech sounded like one of these tricks of the old government,” Sherif, an engineer in his late 20s, told local news website Ahram Online. “If this government is unable to take serious steps, it should resign.” Several thousand people flocked to Cairo’s Tahrir Square after Sharaf’s speech. Anti-government activists have taken control of the roads there and an open-ended sit-in began on Friday. By Sunday morning, access to the Mugamma – a giant concrete building on one side of the square that serves as the bureaucratic heart of the Egyptian state – had been blocked off, with some employees reportedly joining the protests. In Suez, another focal point for political unrest, the families of some of those killed in the anti-Mubarak uprising helped protesters cut off the main highway between Cairo and Sokhna port, the main transit point for goods entering and leaving the Suez canal. The canal has also been targeted by strikes and protests in recent days, although officials insisted that international maritime traffic remained unaffected. Sharaf – a popular choice among revolutionaries when he was first appointed interim prime minister in March – has repeatedly claimed that he draws his legitimacy from Tahrir, and said again on Saturday that “the people” were the only sovereign power in Egypt. But analysts believe that the army generals have given him little control over policy and personnel decisions, and in recent weeks the 59-year-old has cut an increasingly frustrated figure in public. Egyptian newspapers used their Sunday editions to highlight the widening gap between the supreme council of the armed forces, which assumed power in the aftermath of Mubarak’s overthrow and has promised democratic elections before the end of the year, and large sections of the general public who believe that the pace of reform is too slow. “Protesters: Sharaf’s decisions are not enough — Calls for hunger strikes and civil disobedience,” stated the front-page headline in state-owned al-Ahram, the country’s biggest-selling daily. Al-Tahrir, a new Egyptian paper that emerged out of the revolution, splashed with a smiling photo of the country’s de facto leader, Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, under the words “The Marshall doesn’t respond.” Activists have called for another round of mass demonstrations on Tuesday. Egypt Arab and Middle East unrest Middle East Africa Jack Shenker guardian.co.uk
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Increasing numbers of schools encouraging pupils to submit forms as early as September, says Mary Curnock Cook Teenagers are applying to universities several months too early, the head of the university admissions service has said, signalling a potential overhaul of the system. Mary Curnock Cook, the chief executive of Ucas, said many teenagers were applying to institutions to which they had “no intention” of going and had not yet visited because of pressure to complete their application forms at the start of their final year at school. Applicants should send their forms by mid-January to start their degrees in the autumn, but Curnock Cook said increasing numbers of schools encouraged pupils to submit the forms as early as September. Preliminary findings of a Ucas review into the admissions process showed that applicants were applying “earlier and earlier” and that many later changed their minds after they applied, Curnock Cook told the Guardian. Ucas will report the full findings in the autumn. “Giving people the opportunity to make choices later might be a helpful development,” she said. “A couple of terms might make a difference and give people the opportunity to make their choices later. Most visit the universities after they have applied and lots change their minds. Our research shows lots put names on their forms that they have no intention of going to.” Her comments could pave the way for a system in which students apply to university only when they have their final A-level grades. At the moment, teenagers apply with predicted grades. However, such a change would not be for a few years and would mean that exams were moved forward, shortening the school year. The government’s white paper on higher education, published last month, stated that ministers were considering moving to this system, which it said could bring “significant” benefits. Applicants are encouraged to designate one university as their top choice and another as their “insurance”. However, Curnock Cook said, there was considerable misunderstanding among schools and pupils, with the review showing that 40% of insurance choices were for universities that demanded the same or higher grades than applicants’ top choices. She said Ucas was looking into whether it could “design something better”. Curnock Cook said applicants who were “at the lower end of the high ability group” were narrowing their chances by only applying to top-20 universities. “It is not a good strategy for them to put all their eggs in one basket,” she said. “Sixth-form advisers need to make these things much clearer.” On Monday universities will hear whether a quango has approved their targets to improve their mix of low-income and other students from under-represented groups. Universities that want to charge tuition fees of more than £6,000 a year from autumn 2012 have to have these targets approved by the Office for Fair Access (Offa). It will publish each university’s “access agreement” later this week. University administration Higher education Students Colleges Jessica Shepherd guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Increasing numbers of schools encouraging pupils to submit forms as early as September, says Mary Curnock Cook Teenagers are applying to universities several months too early, the head of the university admissions service has said, signalling a potential overhaul of the system. Mary Curnock Cook, the chief executive of Ucas, said many teenagers were applying to institutions to which they had “no intention” of going and had not yet visited because of pressure to complete their application forms at the start of their final year at school. Applicants should send their forms by mid-January to start their degrees in the autumn, but Curnock Cook said increasing numbers of schools encouraged pupils to submit the forms as early as September. Preliminary findings of a Ucas review into the admissions process showed that applicants were applying “earlier and earlier” and that many later changed their minds after they applied, Curnock Cook told the Guardian. Ucas will report the full findings in the autumn. “Giving people the opportunity to make choices later might be a helpful development,” she said. “A couple of terms might make a difference and give people the opportunity to make their choices later. Most visit the universities after they have applied and lots change their minds. Our research shows lots put names on their forms that they have no intention of going to.” Her comments could pave the way for a system in which students apply to university only when they have their final A-level grades. At the moment, teenagers apply with predicted grades. However, such a change would not be for a few years and would mean that exams were moved forward, shortening the school year. The government’s white paper on higher education, published last month, stated that ministers were considering moving to this system, which it said could bring “significant” benefits. Applicants are encouraged to designate one university as their top choice and another as their “insurance”. However, Curnock Cook said, there was considerable misunderstanding among schools and pupils, with the review showing that 40% of insurance choices were for universities that demanded the same or higher grades than applicants’ top choices. She said Ucas was looking into whether it could “design something better”. Curnock Cook said applicants who were “at the lower end of the high ability group” were narrowing their chances by only applying to top-20 universities. “It is not a good strategy for them to put all their eggs in one basket,” she said. “Sixth-form advisers need to make these things much clearer.” On Monday universities will hear whether a quango has approved their targets to improve their mix of low-income and other students from under-represented groups. Universities that want to charge tuition fees of more than £6,000 a year from autumn 2012 have to have these targets approved by the Office for Fair Access (Offa). It will publish each university’s “access agreement” later this week. University administration Higher education Students Colleges Jessica Shepherd guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …There has to be a law against this, right ? House Minority Leader Eric Cantor made it known today that tax loopholes would now be allowed consideration in the debt ceiling negotiations. According to the Associated Press , the statement was a break from his former position that they only be considered in an exhaustive overhaul of the tax code. It is a slight break in what has become a deeply entrenched partisan-specific debate. But Rep. Cantor has a problem with conflict of interest with regard to the negotiations, something that was made public a week ago. So why hasn’t he recused himself not only from the negotiations but from having anything to do with the debt ceiling talks and/or its subsequent vote? Last week, Salon.com ran an article revealing that Rep. Cantor had up to about a $15,000 investment in ProShares Trust Ultrashort 20+ Year Treasury EFT, a fund that deals in “shorting” U.S. Treasury bonds. To explain: a “short” increases in worth when something fails. In this case: U.S. Treasury bonds. If the debt ceiling is not raised and the United States defaults on its loans, treasury bonds are likely to see increased market volatility and an assured drop in worth. If that were to happen, Cantor stands to make a lot of money on his investment. Yet, the congressman is in negotiations with Vice President Joe Biden and others in what is supposed to be attempts at resolving the debt ceiling issue and keeping the government from shutting down, which could occur should a compromise not be reached by Aug. 2, the last day Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner maintains he can keep juggling the government’s bills in order to keep it running smoothly without defaulting on at least some of its debts. You read that right. Eric Cantor will personally profit if we default on the debt ceiling. I had written some weeks ago that I thought this whole debate was nothing more than kabuki theater , because ultimately, the GOP would not go against their Wall Street masters and destroy the full faith and credit of the country. But when your lead negotiator is lining up side bets that we will, in fact, fail, then you have to wonder where his loyalties lie and whether any negotiations coming from the Republican could be considered “in good faith”. With the news that Boehner has canceled his scheduled meeting this morning with Obama because the White House will not absolutely take tax hikes off the table, I’d say it’s time for the White House to separate distinctly and definitively the discussions of the debt ceiling and the deficit and tell Congress to vote to raise the debt ceiling without delay.
Continue reading …There has to be a law against this, right ? House Minority Leader Eric Cantor made it known today that tax loopholes would now be allowed consideration in the debt ceiling negotiations. According to the Associated Press , the statement was a break from his former position that they only be considered in an exhaustive overhaul of the tax code. It is a slight break in what has become a deeply entrenched partisan-specific debate. But Rep. Cantor has a problem with conflict of interest with regard to the negotiations, something that was made public a week ago. So why hasn’t he recused himself not only from the negotiations but from having anything to do with the debt ceiling talks and/or its subsequent vote? Last week, Salon.com ran an article revealing that Rep. Cantor had up to about a $15,000 investment in ProShares Trust Ultrashort 20+ Year Treasury EFT, a fund that deals in “shorting” U.S. Treasury bonds. To explain: a “short” increases in worth when something fails. In this case: U.S. Treasury bonds. If the debt ceiling is not raised and the United States defaults on its loans, treasury bonds are likely to see increased market volatility and an assured drop in worth. If that were to happen, Cantor stands to make a lot of money on his investment. Yet, the congressman is in negotiations with Vice President Joe Biden and others in what is supposed to be attempts at resolving the debt ceiling issue and keeping the government from shutting down, which could occur should a compromise not be reached by Aug. 2, the last day Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner maintains he can keep juggling the government’s bills in order to keep it running smoothly without defaulting on at least some of its debts. You read that right. Eric Cantor will personally profit if we default on the debt ceiling. I had written some weeks ago that I thought this whole debate was nothing more than kabuki theater , because ultimately, the GOP would not go against their Wall Street masters and destroy the full faith and credit of the country. But when your lead negotiator is lining up side bets that we will, in fact, fail, then you have to wonder where his loyalties lie and whether any negotiations coming from the Republican could be considered “in good faith”. With the news that Boehner has canceled his scheduled meeting this morning with Obama because the White House will not absolutely take tax hikes off the table, I’d say it’s time for the White House to separate distinctly and definitively the discussions of the debt ceiling and the deficit and tell Congress to vote to raise the debt ceiling without delay.
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Click here to view this media Even with the country on the brink of default, the Senate’s highest ranking Republican says his “single most important” goal is to make Barack Obama a one-term president. “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told National Journal ‘s Major Garrett in October. Fox News’ Bret Baier asked McConnell Sunday if that was still his major objective. “Well, that is true,” McConnell replied. “That’s my single most important political goal, along with every active Republican in the country.” “But that is in 2012,” he added. “Our biggest goal for this year is get this country straightened out and we can’t get this country straightened out if we don’t do something about spending, about deficit, about debt and get the economy moving again. So our goal is to have a robust vibrant economy to benefit all Americans.” McConnell told Baier that a “Grand Bargain,” where Republicans agree to tax hikes in exchange for cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits, was likely off the table. “I think it is. Everything they told me and the Speaker is to get a big package would require big tax increases in the middle of the economic situation that is extraordinarily difficult with 9.2% unemployment. We think it’s a terrible idea. It’s a job-killer.” “Nobody is talk about not raising the debt ceiling,” McConnell later insisted. Taking a break from debt limit talk, the Senate’s top Republican also said that it was time to send more terrorism suspects to the detention center at Guantanamo Bay. “They are going the try a couple of foreign terrorists in Kentucky, my state, whose fingerprints were found on IED’s in Iraq. These foreign terrorists are enemy combatants. They should be taken to Guantanamo. They should be tried in military commissions.”
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Click here to view this media Even with the country on the brink of default, the Senate’s highest ranking Republican says his “single most important” goal is to make Barack Obama a one-term president. “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told National Journal ‘s Major Garrett in October. Fox News’ Bret Baier asked McConnell Sunday if that was still his major objective. “Well, that is true,” McConnell replied. “That’s my single most important political goal, along with every active Republican in the country.” “But that is in 2012,” he added. “Our biggest goal for this year is get this country straightened out and we can’t get this country straightened out if we don’t do something about spending, about deficit, about debt and get the economy moving again. So our goal is to have a robust vibrant economy to benefit all Americans.” McConnell told Baier that a “Grand Bargain,” where Republicans agree to tax hikes in exchange for cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits, was likely off the table. “I think it is. Everything they told me and the Speaker is to get a big package would require big tax increases in the middle of the economic situation that is extraordinarily difficult with 9.2% unemployment. We think it’s a terrible idea. It’s a job-killer.” “Nobody is talk about not raising the debt ceiling,” McConnell later insisted. Taking a break from debt limit talk, the Senate’s top Republican also said that it was time to send more terrorism suspects to the detention center at Guantanamo Bay. “They are going the try a couple of foreign terrorists in Kentucky, my state, whose fingerprints were found on IED’s in Iraq. These foreign terrorists are enemy combatants. They should be taken to Guantanamo. They should be tried in military commissions.”
Continue reading …NY Times Mocks Bible Christians, Red-State Righties in ‘Saving the Space Program’ Cartoon Slides
July 10, 2011 No CommentHere’s some New York Times humor for your Sunday (hat tip: nkviking). A Sunday Review slide show on “Solutions for Saving the Space Program” includes some mockery of Bible-thumpers: “Garner wider support by sneaking pro-science verses into the Bible.” Underneath this caption is a suggested verse: “Galileo 3:16: For God so loved the universe that he made it full of really awesome stuff for mankind to check out.” Such whimsey! Apparently, the Times thinks NASA’s problem funders are the conservative hayseeds, not “progressive” President Obama. There’s also these whacks at the capitalist bubbas: – “Hype up the unregulated nature of space to encourage business exploration.” Slogans include “In space, no one can hear labor’s screams.” And: “The Moon: No atmosphere, no taxes.” – “Convert the retired shuttle fleet into a Nascar team. Use winnings to fund future missions.” – It has Obama declaring war on Mars (because we’re apparently suckers for “intractable quagmires”). – “Take the entire country on a field trip to a science museum.” The guide is saying “Come on, Kansas! I know you won’t believe any of this, but attendance is mandatory.” Earth to Kansas: The New York Times thinks you’re all science-hating rubes. If you’re from South Carolina, don’t miss the “space tourism” jokes about “South of the Border” on Interstate 95.
Continue reading …NY Times Mocks Bible Christians, Red-State Righties in ‘Saving the Space Program’ Cartoon Slides
July 10, 2011 No CommentHere’s some New York Times humor for your Sunday (hat tip: nkviking). A Sunday Review slide show on “Solutions for Saving the Space Program” includes some mockery of Bible-thumpers: “Garner wider support by sneaking pro-science verses into the Bible.” Underneath this caption is a suggested verse: “Galileo 3:16: For God so loved the universe that he made it full of really awesome stuff for mankind to check out.” Such whimsey! Apparently, the Times thinks NASA’s problem funders are the conservative hayseeds, not “progressive” President Obama. There’s also these whacks at the capitalist bubbas: – “Hype up the unregulated nature of space to encourage business exploration.” Slogans include “In space, no one can hear labor’s screams.” And: “The Moon: No atmosphere, no taxes.” – “Convert the retired shuttle fleet into a Nascar team. Use winnings to fund future missions.” – It has Obama declaring war on Mars (because we’re apparently suckers for “intractable quagmires”). – “Take the entire country on a field trip to a science museum.” The guide is saying “Come on, Kansas! I know you won’t believe any of this, but attendance is mandatory.” Earth to Kansas: The New York Times thinks you’re all science-hating rubes. If you’re from South Carolina, don’t miss the “space tourism” jokes about “South of the Border” on Interstate 95.
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• Alonso enjoys first victory of the season at Silverstone • Vettel ends up second while Button fails to finish Fernando Alonso won his first grand prix for nine months with the 27th victory of his career as Ferrari continued to improve their competitiveness. It was a memorable way for Ferrari to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their first win here. It was the Spaniard’s first victory since his win in South Korea in October last year. But the real thrills were taking place behind him, with Red Bull team-mates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber battling it out for second place and Lewis Hamilton coming under increasing pressure from Felipe Massa. Vettel, who still managed to increase his lead in the world championship table by three points to 80, did hold off Webber to take second. But despite saying in the past that the two drivers were free to race, Red Bull gave Webber the chilling message on the last lap: “Mark, maintain the gap.” Webber though, appeared to ignore the message and continued to race Vettel until the end of the race. Hamilton had a brilliant afternoon. Starting in 10th place, with a car well off the pace over the weekend, he charged up the field, overtaking Paul di Resta to take sixth place, before moving up to fifth by passing the other Briton in the race, his team-mate Jenson Button. He eventually finished fourth. But it was another difficult day for McLaren. Button, making his 12th attempt to win a podium place in the British Grand Prix, failed to finish, retiring after a pit-stop mistake resulted in his front right wheel almost falling off. Hamilton only just finished the race, running out of fuel and having to slow down as Massa closed on him. Hamilton was brilliant but his recent criticism of the team was justified. But the day belonged to Alonso. He said afterwards: “This is a very special day for Ferrari and I’m very happy. It means a lot to all the guys who work for Ferrari.” Formula One Fernando Alonso Ferrari Motor sport Paul Weaver guardian.co.uk
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