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BEIRUT- Syrian rebels reject Russian claims on chemicals
<html>BEIRUT Syria's main Western-backed opposition group on Wednesday rejected Russian accusations that rebels made sarin nerve gas and used it in a deadly chemical attack outside Aleppo in March. The Syrian National Coalition called the charges "desperate" and "fabricated." Russia is a key ally of President Bashar Assad's regime. Use of chemical weapons is an explosive issue, potentially guiding whether the West increases its aid to rebel forces. President Barack Obama called chemical weapons use by the Assad government a "red line," while such accusations against the rebels could reinforce Western misgivings about arming them. Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, blamed opposition fighters for the March 19 attack in the government-controlled Aleppo suburb of Khan al-Assal, which he said killed 26 people, including 16 government troops, and injured 86 others. The rebels have blamed the government for the attack. The U.S., Britain and France have said they have seen no evidence that the opposition has acquired or used chemical weapons. "Evidence provided by parties that support Assad's tyrannical regime with money,Mets 57 Santana Cream(Black Stripe) Jerseys, weapons, and ammunition is false and clearly fabricated," said the statement by the SNC, a group made up mostly of exiled dissidents. "The recent Russian analysis on the use of chemical weapons in Khan al-Assal is a desperate attempt by Russia to deceive the world and justify Assad's crimes," it added. "The Syrian people consider Russia (to be) Assad's partner in the murder of innocent Syrian civilians." The Coalition invited a U.N. fact-finding mission to enter areas under rebel control in Syria to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime. On Monday,Nike Colts 93 Freeney Grey Elite Jerseys, the Syrian government also invited Ake Sellstrom, the Swedish head of the U.N. fact-finding mission on allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria, and U.N. disarmament chief Angela Kane to visit Damascus for foreign minister level talks on conducting an inquiry into the Khan al-Assal attack alone. The U.N. has sought wider access. Up to now the government and U.N. have not been able to agree on the scope of an inquiry, and there has been no independent investigation. Sellstrom was expected to meet Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at U.N. in New York later Wednesday. A U.N. diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters, said Sellstrom and U.N. disarmament chief Angela Kane are likely to visit Damascus "quite quickly" for high-level talks on a possible U.N. investigation. Churkin delivered an 80-page report to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Tuesday. He said Syria asked its ally Russia to investigate the attack because of the impasse with the U.N. The samples taken from the impact site were analyzed at a Russian laboratory, Churkin said, and "there is every reason to believe that it was the armed opposition fighters who used the chemical weapons in Khan al-Assal." British U.N. Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told reporters Wednesday, "It's nice that the Syrian regime has given access to Russian experts to collect samples of alleged chemical weapons use, but it is considerably more important that they give access to independent and credible U.N. investigators." In Washington, White House spokesman Jay Carney replied, "We have yet to see any evidence that backs up the assertion that anybody besides the Syrian government has had the ability to use chemical weapons or has used chemical weapons." The U.S. says it has "high confidence" that Assad's forces have killed up to 150 people with sarin gas. In violence Wednesday, woman and her four children were killed as they fled shelling near Damascus, the Observatory said. Residents of two northern Syrian towns demonstrated against al-Qaida-linked rebels, an activist said Wednesday, suggesting growing discontent in opposition areas toward hard-line Islamists fighting against the Syrian regime. There have been similar protests over the past month in rebel-held areas, said Rami Abdul-Rahman of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The organization receives its information through a wide network of activists on the ground. "There's clear dissatisfaction against them," Abdul-Rahman said. He said most residents' anger was directed against one specific group, "The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant," an al-Qaida-linked coalition announced by the head of Iraq's al-Qaida arm, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in April. The Syrian al-Qaida element, the Al-Nusra Front,Search Engine Optimization California, rejected the merger. Last month Al-Qaida's global leader,Directory Submission King Give You Best SEO Result, Ayman al-Zawahiri, was said to be trying to end the squabbling,Letters to Ellie- Memorial Day, ordering that the merger be dissolved. Hard-line Sunni fighters, some from other countries, form the most organized part of the chaotic brigades battling Assad's rule. The war in Syria is now in its third year, and different groups of rebels control northern and southern parts of the country. Abdul-Rahman said it seemed residents were angry because fighters had been arresting youths on flimsy pretexts. "They are trying to show their muscle," he said. Similar demonstrations took place in Aleppo province. --- Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the U.N. contributed this report.
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Judge scolds Alaska Redistricting Board
<html>A Fairbanks judge gave a stern rebuke to the Alaska Redistricting Board, saying in a decision Thursday that it was not worthy of the trust placed in it by the courts and accusing it of acting in a "dilatory" and "disingenuous" manner. Superior Court Judge Michael McConahy, the judge hearing challenges to the failed redistricting plan under which the 2012 election was held, said the board's proposal to wait until August to begin crafting a new plan was unsatisfactory. He said the board had the computer power to draw new boundaries in a matter of days should it choose. "There is no reason to delay this process further," he said. As for whether the board should hold public hearings on a new plan, McConahy was even more blunt. "The Board contends it is not required to hold hearings," McConahy wrote in his ruling. "It is wrong. Any argument that the hearings held in 2011 on plans that were found to be unconstitutional is inartful at best. At worst it is a sad commentary upon Alaskan life and constitutional principles." The board's attorney, Michael White, declined to comment. Chairman John Torgerson, a former Republican state senator from Kasilof and one of two board members appointed by Gov. Sean Parnell, didn't return messages left by telephone and email. The board is directed by the Alaska Constitution to set new legislative boundaries after each 10-year census to account for population movements. Its original plan, completed in 2012,MLM Compensation Plans - Are You Able To Draw a Ci, was declared by the Alaska Supreme Court to be unconstitutional but the 2012 election was held using those districts anyway because there wasn't enough time for a new plan to be developed. Democrats say the board, with its 4-to-1 Republican majority,Obtain One-way Links From A Reputable Backlink Bui, gerrymandered enough districts to ensure one-party Republican rule in Juneau and ease passage of oil-tax cuts and other controversial measures. Republicans counter that the board fixed gerrymandered districts from redistricting in 2002 that favored Democrats. The Supreme Court hasn't directly said whether districts were drawn to favor one party over another. Rather,NBA Caps-008, it has said on several occasions that the board has failed to follow what has become known as the "Hickel process," named after a redistricting case in which then-Gov. Wally Hickel was a party. At issue is how to match the requirements of the Alaska Constitution with those of the U.S. Voting Rights Act. The constitution requires districts that are compact,2013 New Link Building Techniques, contiguous, of near equal population and of similar socioeconomic status. The Voting Rights Act mandates that Alaska Native votes not be improperly diluted in rural areas. Under the Hickel process, state requirements must be set first, then adjusted to comply with federal law. The Alaska Supreme Court found that the redistricting board took the Voting Rights Act into consideration first in several House districts. McConahy's ruling Thursday was an advisory opinion based on clarifications sought by the board and by opponents of the board's redistricting plan. Michael Walleri, an attorney for a pair of those opponents -- two voters from the Fairbanks area -- said he plans now to ask the Alaska Supreme Court to appoint a master to take over from the redistricting board. "The Hickel process has been explained to the board by the courts five times already and they still say, at the meeting in February, they don't know what that means," Walleri said. "Either the board is being disingenuous and acting like they don't understand when they understand very well -- they just simply don't want to comply with it -- or that their failure to understand is in fact genuine, which would suggest that they're incompetent." Despite McConahy's strong language, Walleri said the courts have been "profoundly restrained" in their dealings with the board. "The board has been close to insulting to the courts,2011 All Star Knicks 1 Stoudemire Jersey, both to the Superior Court and the Supreme Court," Walleri said. "Judge McConahy is known for his literary flair. He was very careful to explain in strong language his thoughts but he never ordered them to do anything." McConahy gave the board a quick lesson in civics lest it fail to understand that its actions are subject to judicial review. He cited Marbury v. Madison, the 1803 case in which the U.S. Supreme Court took the authority of judicial review of executive branch decisions, and he noted that military force was used to protect children in Arkansas attending schools that were opened to African-Americans under a 1955 Supreme Court decision. Adapting a lament by a U.S. Supreme Court justice in a child protection case in 1989 -- then it was "Poor Joshua!" -- McConahy wrote: "Alaskans have not had finalized house and senate districts since the announcement of 2010 census. The lament today is 'Poor Alaskans.' " Reach Richard Mauer at or 257-4345.</html>
Brazilian ETFs Drop as Protests Rage
<html>Protests continue to rage across Brazil with no immediate end in sight. on June 21 over 60,000 people took to the streets in the nation’s capital of Brasilia and left the Foreign Ministry “in a state of destruction.” Protests are raging across the rest of the country as well,The net world is big enough that anyone can have a, with major uprisings reported in S?o Paulo and Rio de Janiero. The protests initially began as a result of popular discontent over a 20 Real (approximately $0.10) hike in public bus fares, which started in Rio and then spread into a full-blown national movement. In fact, many of the protester’s signs read "twenty cents was just the start." Complaints about class inequality and billions spent by the government on the upcoming World Cup have further disenfranchised Brazillians, and in response the Brazilian people have taken to the streets. Brazil's markets are responding negatively. Immediate Economic Aftermath Financially speaking, the protests are the second blow in a rough week for Brazil. On May 30,Why we use SEO service on your website, Brazil hiked interest rates 50 base points to 8 percent, despite the fact the economy only grew 1.95 percent. The real dropped to a four-year low on Thursday, as did Brazil’s stock exchange, the Bovespa. The Bovespa is down 1.88 percent. And unsurprisingly, Brazilian ETFs are suffering. The largest and most popular Brazilian ETF iShares MSCI Brazil Index (EWZ) is down one percent at 43.46, and is down over 20 percent over the last three months. ETF Global X BrazilMid Cap (BRAZ) is down 1.76 percent to 12.48. And Global x Brazil Financials is getting rocked: it's down to $10.36 a share, for a 4.6 percent total loss. Resolution One of the main differences between the protests in Brazil and the unrest in Turkey that began in May is the fact that the Brazilian government is sympathetic to the demands of the protesters. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is a former Marxist guerilla,Giants 18 Matt Cain Black Jerseys, and was swept into office in 2011 on a leftist platform. Rousseff applauds the direct action of the people, and said in a nationally televised address "The direct message from the streets is for more citizenship, better schools, better hospitals,The Google age ban, better health,Nike Patriots 51 Mayo white Game Jersey, for direct participation," she said in a nationally televised address. "My government is trying and committed to social transformation." Rousseff called an emergency meeting to try to end the protests quickly as possible � the movement has already disrupted pre-World Cup matches at the Confederations Cup. The disruption is already being viewed as a national embarrassment. Brazil Going Forward Brazillian government has already capitulated to some of the protesters demands, notably rolling back that plan to raise bus fares that ignited the movement. The next big call to Rousseff is to end the corruption and cronyism that became endemic during her predecessor Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration. Lula oversaw broad social reforms and the rise of Brazil to a major economic superpower. Rousseff ‘s administration on the other hand has seen a May Standard and Poor report downgrading Brazil to a “negative outlook” and the Bovespa losing over a third of its value. Rousseff is still one of the world’s most popular presidents � her approval rating pre-protests was sky high (low 70s). A lot of her popularity stems from her social reforms that raised people up a class level while the Brazil’s economy has dwindled. But she now faces perhaps her toughest balancing act yet as the protests swell to over a reported one million people and the Brazilian economy continues to struggle. [Image via ]</html>
Sen. Wendy Davis, Planned Parenthood kick off bus tour
<html>| | Texas Democrats pledged to fight back in a campaign starting with a statewide bus tour against Republicans aggressively pushing strict abortion restrictions they say will hobble women s health services in the state.
Planned Parenthood s brand new orange bus parked at the Texas Capitol. (Photo by Kolten Parker)
It s well past the time that those in control stop, think and listen to the people of Texas,[1], said state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin. We need to take this conversation about women s health and women s rights outside the legislative bubble in Austin.
The Senate Democrats will join Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, and other activists on a bus tour to Dallas, El Paso, Houston and other cities.
State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth took the mic in the sweltering heat on the Capitol lawn and highlighted the importance of women s health services such as pre-natal care, cancer screenings, counseling and others offered by Planned Parenthood and other clinics.
Enough is enough, said Davis to crowd chants of Wendy,2013-2014 Club Team Real Madrid 10 Ozil White Home Jerseys, Wendy! . My dreams were realized with help from the same programs that are in jeopardy today.
State Sen. s Rodney Ellis,How to choose India SEO expert using local Search, D-Houston,Effective SEO Tactics, Royce West, D-Dallas, Sylvia Garcia,Chicago Bears White Women's Logo T-Shirt, D-Houston, and Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso. State Rep. s Jessica Farrar, D-Houston also joined.</html>
V.I. unemployment climbs above 7%
<html>ST. THOMAS -- The V.I. Labor Department announced that a seasonal drop in the number of available jobs has triggered eligibility for another of 23 weeks of extended unemployment benefits starting next week. The eligibility for extended unemployment benefits is analyzed on a rolling basis by the U.S. Labor Department using factors such as the number of employers within a state or territory and the number of initial unemployment claims filed within a 13-week period. Last week, the total unemployment rate rose above 7 percent, the threshold for triggering eligibility for Tiers 1 and 2 of extended benefits,Chicharito scores twice as Mexico, Nigeria finish in 2, according to V.I. Labor Commissioner Albert Bryan Jr. The national unemployment rate for May was 7.6 percent, according to U.S. Labor Department statistics. The V.I. Labor Department holds that the unemployment rate for the Virgin Islands for the month of May was 13.2 percent, the same as that calculated for April. On St. Thomas, the rate was 11.7 percent, and on St. Croix, the rate was 15 percent, actually down about 2 percentage points since March. That decrease was because of fewer people filing initial claims,Spotlight on Top 7 Performing BRIC Stocks in the F, not to an increase in the number of hires on the island, though, Bryan said. Eligibility for tiers of extended benefits is evaluated by the U.S. Labor Department every month using numbers based on the previous three months, Bryan said. Bryan said more than 1,000 people who may have exhausted Tiers 1 or 2 of extended benefits may be able to collect longer because of the new eligibility status. Extended unemployment benefits begin after 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits have been exhausted. Tier 1 lasts 20 weeks; Tier 2 offers 14 another 14 weeks; and Tier 3 offers an additional nine weeks beyond that. In late February, the territory lost eligibility for Tier 4 benefits, the last available six-week period of extended unemployment benefits, because the federal government calculated the local unemployment rate to be below 9 percent, which Bryan said was because of tourist season jobs being filled. The Virgin Islands typically dips below thresholds for extended unemployment benefits about the beginning of the year because many of the temporary tourism industry jobs have been filled. However, by the start of the summer, those jobs drive up new claims numbers, allowing the Virgin Islands to extend unemployment benefits beyond Tier 1, Bryan said. Bryan said it is possible that unemployment numbers could go up another 1 or 2 percentage points, triggering eligibility for the final tier of benefits,Ultimate Texans Duane Brown talks ankle su, Tier 4. However,NFL Caps-9, Bryan also said there is a strong possibility that the entire extended unemployment benefits package could be withdrawn for 2014 if Congress does not reauthorize them. Once a recipient begins a tier of benefits, it cannot be withdrawn even if the territory's unemployment rate dips back below the threshold. The threshold applies to new applicants only. Still, Bryan cautioned those on unemployment benefits from making long-term plans based on the availability of benefits. Once regular benefits have been exhausted, extended benefits are unpredictable. "People think it is a guaranteed check, but there are no guarantees. We could always trigger back off," Bryan said. "I don't want job seekers to have a false sense of security or to get complacent in their job search." - Contact Amanda Norris at 714-9104 or email anorris@dailynews.vi.</html>
Kathy Tauber riffs on female lust and other things
<html>Kathy Tauber is a local foodie,Rank your site to the toppest with the best SEO se, nutritionist and blogger who writes about the lighter side of life as a boomer.
A recent article in the New York Times magazine reported another clinical trial for a pill to enhance female lust. Scientists have tried this at least twice with little success. (They never identified it as the little pink pill which would keep it descriptively sexist.)
The article was written to inform us of the trials,Nike Packers 85 Jennings Women Zebra Jerseys, so it never comes close to discussing the complexities of female sexuality. ?And we are complex. Whereas the little blue pill sent men into erection euphoria, the women said the pill was ineffective.
But it wasn t the discussion of the trials that got me hot and bothered. ?Instead, it was the implication that the lust pills might turn women into nymphomaniacs.
I can hear the side effects disclaimer now: This lust pill may cause nympho-maniacal tendencies which may result in possible exhaustion or death for your partner. (And if you experience lust lasting longer than four hours, congratulate yourself.)
We know the blue pill creates visual improvement (and physiological, too) and if you believe the commercials, it makes men want to take baths in old-fashioned claw-footed bathtubs in the middle of nowhere.? But I doubt the lust pill will have such power.? Psychologists tell boomer women our sex lives and lust should be flourishing. Yes,The Week in Review- Supreme Court rulings, immigration and e, we should be enjoying sex like never before? that is before hot flashes, night sweats, vagina monologues and alligator skin. I find a slight contradiction here. If our mojo is so enthusiastic,Build Your Website Visibility with High-Rated Aust,Nike Broncos 58 Miller Orange Kids Limited Jerseys, why do we even need a lust pill?
In developing this pill, do scientists think they know all about the intricacies of female need and sexuality?
Clearly they don t.
Are researchers qualified to devise a chemical combo that creates nymphos?
Science is treading where men fear to go understanding what women need and want.
So they think a lust/nympho pill will be too much for us?
I told you they don t know what they re talking about.
And be the bye, ?while you guys are hovering over the Petri dish, maybe find a cure for headaches.</html>