lifepace: May 2015

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Russia Imposes Travel Ban on 89 EU Politicians

As published In 'The Moscow Times' :

Reuters May. 30 2015 14:42 Russia has imposed an entry ban on 89 European politicians and military leaders, according to a list seen by Reuters, a move that has angered Europe and worsened its standoff with the West over Moscow's role in the Ukraine conflict. More than 6,200 people have been killed in fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists. Russia dismisses accusations from Ukraine, NATO and Western powers that it is supporting the separatists with arms and its own troops. The list, which says it was compiled by the Russian foreign ministry and handed to a European Union delegation in Moscow this week, includes outspoken critics of Russia as well as security officials. Since Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014, the EU has imposed economic sanctions, visa bans and asset freezes on scores of Russian and Ukrainian citizens and organizations. A spokesperson for EU foreign affairs told Reuters that in recent months Russia had denied entry to a number of EU politicians, based on their inclusion on a "confidential 'stop list.'" "We take note that the Russian authorities have decided to share the list. We don't have any other information on legal basis, criteria and process," the spokesperson said. Asked about the list while on a visit to Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it would hamper peace efforts. "At a time in which we are trying to defuse a persistent and dangerous conflict, this does not contribute towards that," Steinmeier said. The Russian Foreign Ministry was not immediately available for comment. Blacklisted Among those on the list is Uwe Corsepius, current secretary general of the European Union council in Brussels who is due to take over as foreign affairs advisor to German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Others blacklisted include Britain's former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and former Belgian premier Guy Verhofstadt, who heads the Liberal group in the European parliament. The list also carries the names of several former and acting ministers, such as Poland's deputy Justice Minister Robert Kupiecki and former British defence minister Malcolm Rifkind, as well as Swedish tax authority head Eva Lidstrom Adler. Last Monday, Germany protested to Russia over its refusal to let a conservative German lawmaker Karl-Georg Wellmann, who had called Russia a "warmonger" earlier this year, into the country. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the list had no basis in international law. "It is not transparent and cannot be challenged before a judge. And so we condemn this act by Moscow and will tell them this."

Understanding the corruption scandal in FIFA

As reported in 'Pravada.ru' :

ZURICH / SWITZERLAND - FIFA, the supreme body of world football, is the subject of various investigations, one US and one from Switzerland. Nine leaders of FIFA were arrested in Switzerland this week after being charged with suspicion of corruption involving an amount of up to $ 150 million. By ANTONIO CARLOS LACERDA PRAVDA.RU Hours later, Swiss authorities announced that they would do their own research on the process of choosing Cups of host countries, 2018 (Qatar) and 2022 (Russia). The Swiss police entered the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, and seized electronic evidence. Why is this important? FIFA is the body responsible for world football. In recent years, it suffered allegations of corruption, particularly in the process of choosing the 2022 World headquarters - the winner was Qatar. In December 2014, FIFA decided not to release its own investigation of corruption - which, according to the organization, said the selection process was free. The report's author, American Michael Garcia, resigned. The World Cup generates billions of dollars in revenue. The arrests and the investigation cast doubt on the transparency and honesty of the selection process in recent tournaments. - See more at: http://english.pravda.ru/society/showbiz/30-05-2015/130810-corruption_scandal-0/#sthash.ntlXMqtu.dpuf How come Brazil appears in research? Three Brazilians are implicated in the corruption scheme, according to the US Department of Justice. One of them is the former president of the CBF José Maria Marin - the note from the Department of Justice does not detail the suspicions against him. The CBF was expressed about the investigation through a statement saying "wait, responsibly, its conclusion without any judgment to previously condemn or declare innocent." - See more at: http://english.pravda.ru/society/showbiz/30-05-2015/130810-corruption_scandal-0/#sthash.ntlXMqtu.dpuf A US court says José Hawilla, owner of the Traffic Group, the largest sports marketing agency in Latin America, confessed to the crimes. The Traffic owns broadcast rights, sponsorship and promotion of sporting events and players, and media companies in Brazil. Consulted by the report, the attorney J. Hawilla, José Luis de Oliveira Lima, said the owner of Traffic "supports the investigation and provided clarifications due to US authorities" and is released in the United States. The third Brazilian investigated by the FBI is José Lazaro Margulies, owner of Valente companies Corp. and Somerton Ltd., both linked to sports broadcasts. A statement released by the US Justice further states that it investigates alleged payment and receipt of bribes in a sponsorship "of the CBF for a large company US sportswear." The US court also cites the Brazil Cup, organized by CBF, as one of the competitions in which there might have been corruption in negotiating broadcast and marketing rights. The World Cup 2014, held in Brazil, is not mentioned specifically in the document. How would the scheme? The complaint states that from 1991 to date, FIFA officials were involved in various crimes, including fraud, bribery and money laundering. The court states that two generations of leaders have used their positions to make partnerships with sports marketing executives who prevented others from having access to contracts and maintained the business for them through tuition fees. Most of the schemes, according to the Justice Department, involves receiving bribes from marketing executives to marketing of media rights and marketing of various sports competitions - including Copa America, Copa Libertadores and Brazil. Who are the accused? Football key figures were arrested in Latin America, North America and the Caribbean. In addition to the Brazilian involved, the president of CONCACAF, Jeffrey Webb, was arrested, seen as a likely successor to the organization's president, Joseph Blatter. Another key figure is Charles "Chuck" Blazer, FIFA's former representative in the US, who apparently became an FBI informant. He pleaded guilty and has returned $ 1.9 million. Joseph Blatter was arrested? No. The FIFA president - and most powerful man in world football - is not among those mentioned in US indictments. But the American justice states that they were involved in the service of FIFA - of which he is president. So far, he did not comment. Blatter is likely to be re-elected to the presidency of the organization on Friday. Recently, he was forced to deny rumors that he was avoiding travel to the US because he feared arrest. Why were they arrested? The FBI has been investigating Fifa for three years. The investigations were initiated because of the process of choosing the countries headquarters of the cups 2018 and 2022 (Russia and Qatar) but was expanded to analyze the FIFA agreements over the past 20 years. The accusation of the US Department of Justice says that corruption was planned in the US, even when it was done elsewhere. The use of US banks to transfer money is a key part of the investigation. Why Switzerland? It is the headquarters of FIFA - the registration of the organization as a charity makes it pay reduced taxes. Switzerland is known as a country where non-transparent companies are welcome, especially in relation to taxes. But its extradition agreement with the US is clear: people involved in crimes may be sent to the United States. Apparently, US authorities pounced when FIFA's annual congress made everyone gather in a country that would not put obstacles to extradition. The Swiss also seem to be going after Fifa, with three ongoing investigations - including one announced hours after the arrests, on the choice of the host cities of the next World Cup. How much money is involved? A lot, supposedly. The US complaint alleges corruption involving US $150 million, and this does not include other transactions around the world. An earlier report on corruption in the Caribbean, leaked, claims that bribes of $ 40,000 were paid to officials in envelopes full of cash. Almost all income comes from the FIFA World Cup, the most lucrative sporting event in the world - surpassing the Olympics. Last year's World Cup cost Brazil about $4 billion, and FIFA profited over $ 2 billion. The cost of the next two World Cups should be higher: the World Cup in Qatar should cost more than $ 6 billion. Only competing to host the World Cup already has a huge cost: the British FA spent 21 million pounds to run for the 2018 World Cup. The Cup of Russia and Qatar will be held in other countries? This is unlikely, but not impossible. The US complaint deals with corruption in the past - the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, for example, is mentioned - but not future venues. The Swiss investigations shall be fruitful in this regard, but we would need to have overwhelming evidence to make the election again. Qatar faces complaints of mistreatment of immigrants working in the World Cup works. Changing the Russian Cup would be difficult. Few countries have stadiums, infrastructure and money to host the event in such a short time. In that event an option would be Germany, which hosted the 2006 World Cup. Qatar is much more vulnerable and has been flooded with complaints and allegations of corruption since it was chosen to host. But even after seeing several corruption scandals, an unprecedented change of a summer tournament to winter and a scandal over deaths of migrant workers, there are chances that they still Host the most important football competition in the world. But according to the US Attorney Kelly T. Currie, the investigation will not stop there. "After decades, according to the complaint, the blatant corruption, organized international football needs a fresh start - a new chance for their institutions to make an honest oversight and support a beloved sport around the world. Let me be clear: this complaint is not the last chapter of our investigation, "he said. In turn, Russia complained about the US stance with FIFA, "the world judge". The Russian Foreign Ministry said the arrests of leaders of FIFA and football marketing executives appeared to be an illegal US attempt to impose its laws on foreign states. "Without going into details about the allegations that have been raised, they point to the fact that this is another case of illegal extraterritorial application of US laws," the Foreign Ministry of Russia said in a statement on its website. The Russian Ministry also said it hoped the arrests are not used to tarnish the image of FIFA and not put a shadow over its decisions, including decisions of a personal nature. "Once again, we ask that Washington stop trying to establish itself as a judge beyond its borders, and follow international legal procedures," the Russian Foreign Ministry stated. ANTONIO CARLOS LACERDA is International Correspondent PRAVDA.RU

No camp for artists at youth fest

Depth saves quake-hit Japan

US, China in island spat

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Nestle & actors dragged to court

Hundreds huddle in police station

Ban on phones, bikes pays off

Peace call from World War II battlefield

Funds, chopper for Majuli Centre pledges largesse for island

The Bill Clinton fund-raising model

Friday, May 29, 2015

Lingerie designed for wearer, not men's eyes

US-trained Tajik commander with IS

Handshake with China in 'Tiger's Mouth'

Separatist leader Yasin Malik Linked To Hizbul Mujahideen

6.7-magnitude earthquake in Alaska Friday

IAEA confirms Nuclear Attack on Yemen, May 20, 2015

Neutron Bombing of Yemen May 2015 Confirmed

Thursday, May 28, 2015

FULL Paint the Night parade debut at Disneyland for 60th anniversary

Jihadists vs. the Assad Regime: Syria's Rebel Advance

Dementia in People with Down Syndrome or Other Intellectual Disabilities

Saal Ek Shuruaat Anek

Skyline Drive Road Trip -- National Geographic

'Cold war' hits IAF

Warming threat to Everest glaciers

Gujjar agitators face court-ordered action, 4,500 paramilitary troops sent by Centre

Putin backs Blatter and says US had no jurisdiction in FIFA arrests

Charity Aids Nepal Earthquake Recovery to Support Educational Goals

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Top 10 Acts of Chivalry To Set Real Men Apart From The Clueless

Sunday, May 24, 2015

IS militants kill 400 in Palmyra: Syria

Ladies, dial 181, whenever in distress

Most sensational IPL story

Reddit Users Helping a Mom During Huge Tragedy

Rohingyas :Boat People

The plight of 'Rohingyas' as depicted: Curtsy from my FB friend Mrinal Devburman,

Hundreds More Migrants Rescued off Indonesia

Myanmar’s Thein Sein Discusses Plight of Boat People with U.S. Diplomat

Delhi Slum Better Than Life in Myanmar, Rohingyas Say

Vietnam Condemns Chinese Ban on Fishing in South China Sea

China Stops Tibetans Leaving The Country on Vacation

Special home for rare turtles

Art world descends on Cuba

As reported in 'The Japan News' : The Associated Press People sit on deck chairs on an artificial beach as a bride and groom ride a classic American convertible car on the Malecon in Havana, Cuba, on Thursday. The artificial beach is part of a collective artistic intervention named “Behind The Wall” for the Havana Biennial art fair.

HAVANA (AP) — A surge in interest in all things Cuban is extending to paintings and sculpture, with U.S. art collectors and dealers descending on Havana for a monthlong exhibition amid expectations that art prices will rise because of the detente between the former Cold War rivals. The event known as the Biennial, or the Bienal in Spanish, was opening Friday with works by artists from 40 countries at museums, galleries and outdoor spaces around Cuba’s capital. But most of the attention is on the works of native-born artists, especially for the legions of foreign collectors and dealers who have been filling hotels and restaurants in recent days. While the decades-long U.S. economic embargo remains in place and general tourism is still illegal, the Obama administration has eased restrictions on travel and commerce. Cuban officials say the number of U.S. visitors — both legal and otherwise — was up by more than 30 percent in the first four months of the year. That is carrying over into the Biennial, said Alberto Magnan, a Cuban-American gallery owner from New York who represents artists taking part in the exhibition. “The energy is better than I’ve seen in any of the Biennials,” said Magnan, who attended five of the previous exhibitions. “I’ve seen more U.S. collectors than I’ve ever seen and it hasn’t even begun yet. Times are changing and I believe that with the new Obama policy it’s changing faster than we think.” Even under the embargo, it’s legal for U.S. citizens to purchase Cuban art, though works cannot be directly commissioned by a U.S. buyer and cannot have been financed by the Cuban government. Some collectors have taken advantage of that loophole, though prices remain relatively low, according to Howard Farber, a resident of New York and Miami Beach whose foundation publishes the online Cuban Art News magazine. He sees that changing fast. “You’re getting a lot of collectors who are running to Cuba to buy art,” Farber said. “It’s the biggest opportunity for an art collector to start a collection.” Art critic Rafael Acosta de Arriva agreed. “It’s going to be a moment of major effervescence,” he said. “It’s good to note that the Bienal is not put together to promote the commerce of art but to explore artistic themes. But the collectors tend to take advantage of this great moment and a lot of buying and selling gets done.”Speech

ISIL breaks into Palmyra’s museum

As reported in 'The Japan News'May 24, 2015 : The Associated Press DAMASCUS (AP) — Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters broke into the museum of Palmyra, though a Syrian official said its artifacts have been removed and are safe while the U.S.-led coalition conducted airstrikes on the group’s installations near the captured ancient town — the first such reported attack in the central province of Homs. The U.S. Defense Department said in a statement that U.S.-led coalition aircraft had attacked an ISIL position near Palmyra, which goes by the modern name Tadmur, destroying six antiaircraft artillery systems and an artillery piece. The ISIL group captured Palmyra on Wednesday, raising concerns around the world they would destroy priceless, 2,000-year-old temples, tombs and colonnades located in the town’s south. The strikes would appear to help the embattled forces of forces of President Bashar Assad, which have had a succession of recent defeats to the ISIL group and other rebels. But experts and archaeologists said the airstrike, coming days after the group overwhelmed the city, was too little too late. “It is like closing the doors after the horses have bolted,” said Amr Al-Azm, a former Syrian antiquities official and currently a professor at Shawnee State University in Ohio. A picture circulated on Twitter accounts of ISIL supporters showed the black flag used by the extremists raised over the town’s hilltop Islamic-era castle, a structure hundreds of years old. Al-Azm said the fact that the castle dates back to an Islamic civilization may protect it from the kind of destruction ISIL members have inflicted on pre-Islamic heritage sites such as the ancient cities of Hatra and Ninevah in Iraq. The group says the ancient relics promote idolatry, but, it also maintains a lucrative business by excavating and selling such artifacts on the black market, according to antiquities authorities. One activist in the city of Palmyra, who goes by the name of Khaled al-Homsi because of security concerns, told The Associated Press that the militants smashed a statue in the museum’s foyer — a replica that depicts ancient residents of Palmyra. Maamoun Abdulkarim, the head of the Antiquities and Museums Department in Damascus, told the AP that militants entered the museum in the town’s center Friday afternoon, locked the doors and left behind their own guards. He said that the artifacts earlier had been moved away to safety. “We feel proud as all the museum’s contents were taken to safe areas,” he told reporters. But Abdulkarim warned that the Islamic State group’s control of the town remains a danger to its archaeological sites. Al-Azm said he doubts the museum was totally emptied because larger pieces would be hard to move. He said the museum also contained at least two mummies, and carvings from the nearby tombs, mostly dating to the 1st, 2nd and early 3rd century. Al-Azm said he fears that the “real looting” will take place at the site itself, adding that the group will take its time to recruit local antiquities experts to help in running the illicit trade. But he worried that the Temple of Bel, the majestic structure in the heart of this desert oasis, will ultimately be destroyed. “It is the poster child of an IS cultural heritage atrocity,” he said, saying the temple in later years was used as a church and has walls covered in frescoes. Al-Azm said the only way to save the ancient site is by driving the ISIL group out of the town. So far, the ISIL militants have been primarily concerned with consolidating their control over the city, conducting house-to-house searches for government soldiers and pro-government militiamen and, in some cases, publicly killing those that they find, according to activists and government officials. They have also restored electricity partially to the town, and urged government employees to return to work.Speech

Saturday, May 23, 2015

'Scarlet Fever' Bombarding The Fashion World

German Girl meets Assamese Boy on Facebook, Fell in Love & Got Married in Assam

As reported in TNT News:

GUWAHATI: Love has done it again. This time in Assam’s Golaghat district when a girl from Germany arrived at a remote village at Barpathar area in the district after she fell in love with a local youth on Facebook. They have decided to marry as per Hindu rituals. The groom, Abani Koch, a class XII passed boy of Barpathar Hezari Gaon met his better half German girl Saly on Facebook about three years ago. “One day I was searching Facebook users of Koch community and found Saly Koch. Immediately, I sent a friend request which was accepted by her. Subsequently, we started messaging and finally continued to communicate,” he said. The couple continued to communicate for almost a year till they fell in love with each other. On May 17, Saly flew down to India and arrived at Jorhat. “I have covered 8000 kms to meet him. Now, I am very happy with Abani and his family. I love Assam and love my life here with Abani,” she said Abani is earning his livelihood by doing a small job in a local private tea garden to maintain his two-member family including his 55-year-old mother. The family members are now busy in doing all required official procedures to get the German girl here legally. After completion of official process, marriage ceremony between Abani and Saly will be organized. An artist by profession, she has completed international workshop on Energy, Economy and Environment modelling. Her father is a businessman and mother is a teacher by profession.

That mother of all extinctions

Ukraine Crisis: Donbass. Chronicle of Genocide. Banned on TV / Донбасс. ...

Israeli Neutron Bomb Yemen

By Gordon Duff and Jeff Smith, Editors A video received from Yemen, believed to be taken May 20, 2015, of an explosion, when analyzed by nuclear weapons experts is, by very high probability, a neutron bomb that could only have been an Israeli attack. The analysis: A. Its not a conventional 2k lb bomb. It’s much bigger. B. Its either a very large MOAB bigger than 4,000 lbs. or; ???? Max weight for an F-15 / 16 is about 2,000 lb payload per bomb rack making the deployment of a MOAB impossible. C. Its appears to be a small neutron bomb. The size, color, lightning effect and duration of the fire ball being suspended in mid air and the very large mushroom cloud is the main give away. The CCD cameras imaging device was “scintillating” (detecting Neutrons) That is the white pixel flashes in the video. When the photo has white pixel flashes in it, that is because it is being hit by neutrons from the nuclear fireball blast. It overloads the ccd’s electronic circuit producing white flashes. If the radiation is too high it will burn out the chip. They ha big problems with this in Japan with the Fukushima robots cameras failing due to very high radiation counts. D. Delivery is most likely by an IDF F-16 with a Saudi paint job on the plane. They are not even hiding their use anymore, they just don’t publicly admit it and the IAEA does nothing or says nothing. That is the true war crime. The UN just ignores it unless the US, France or GB complains…….. Russia and China say nothing. E. This is now the second known use of nukes in Yemen by Saudi Arabia………….. Jeff Smith is a nuclear physicist and former IAEA inspector.