Avichayil blog

Yemenis fume over bloodshed, indirect talks start

Yemeni protesters demanding an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh's rule blamed him on Tuesday for bloodshed that has raised U.S. fears of chaos, even as indirect talks to resolve the crisis got under way.

The death toll in explosions at a bullet factory in a southern town where Islamists seemed to have driven out government forces rose to at least 140, a reminder of the instability that Saleh's Western allies fear will spread in the poorest Arab state.

The main coalition of opposition groups said Saleh was to blame for the presence of militants, including al Qaeda, in Abyan province, where the blast took place on Monday after security forces quit the town following clashes with militants.

"We condemn this ugly crime and accuse the president and his people of involvement with al Qaeda and armed groups to whom government institutions have been handed over in Abyan. The chaos was planned in advance," it said in a statement.

"Saleh's continuation in power is a danger to Yemen, its people and international interests."

Abyan residents said in recent days that security forces had deserted the town of Jaar, scene of the blast. The governors of Jawf and Saada provinces in the north have also left, perhaps fearing confrontations with tribes opposed to the president.

In central Yemen, the governor of Maarib was stabbed after trying to disperse a protest earlier this month.

NO MORE CONCESSIONS

Saleh, who has been alternately conciliatory and defiant, has vowed in public to make no more concessions to opponents demanding he step down after 32 years of authoritarian rule.

A perennial survivor of civil wars and militancy, he has said Yemen could slide into armed conflict and fragment along regional and tribal lines if he leaves office immediately.

But protesters who have been camped out around Sanaa University since early February also said they found the withdrawal of security and officials in some areas suspicious and accused Saleh of fomenting strife for political reasons.

"Saleh wants to scare us and the world with chaos, which he has started causing in some areas," said Ali Abdelghani, 31, a civil servant among thousands of protesters in Sanaa.

"But we are capable of exposing this game. There are popular committees in all provinces to bring security as the president has removed security in some places for chaos to spread."

Yemen's al Qaeda wing claimed responsibility for a foiled attempt in late 2009 to blow up an airliner bound for Detroit, and for U.S.-bound cargo bombs sent in October 2010.

U.S. officials have said openly they like working with Saleh -- who has allowed unpopular U.S. military operations in Yemen against al Qaeda -- and Saleh has said the U.S. ambassador is involved in talks to find a solution.

Sources on both sides said indirect negotiations to broker a transition from Saleh to his opponents had restarted after direct talks stalled. The aim was to agree on a framework deal whose details could be worked out in direct talks later.

"There are indirect negotiations through mediators with all parties, and there are positive signs," a government official said.

A close aide to top general Ali Mohsen, who has thrown his weight behind the protesters, confirmed that mediators were still going back and forth.

POLICE AND SOLDIERS

Dozens of policemen and soldiers from different units joined the protests on Tuesday, chanting slogans such as "The people want the fall of the regime."

"We are optimistic about the success of our revolution. It is just a question of time," said Marwan Hussein, 18, a student.

Washington and its ally Saudi Arabia have long seen Saleh as a bulwark of stability who can keep al Qaeda from extending its foothold in a country that many see as close to disintegration.

Sheikh Hamid al-Ahmar, a key tribal figure who also belongs to the Islamist party Islah, said he wanted the United States and European countries to call directly for Saleh's departure.

"They should do what they did in Egypt. We don't need what is going on in Libya. We don't need that much support. But support like what was done in Egypt would be enough to finish things," he said.

Saleh's ruling General People's Congress has proposed a new government to activate Saleh's offer of a new constitution ahead of early parliamentary and presidential elections.

"Those who are hungry for power ... they should turn to elections instead of chaos. They will get to power if they have the trust of the people," Saleh told supporters on Monday.

The opposition say they believe Saleh is maneuvering to avoid limits on his family's future activities and secure a guarantee that they would not be prosecuted for corruption.

Any deal would probably involve the resignation of Saleh and General Mohsen, a kinsman and former ally who sent troops to protect the protesters last week.

Opposition figures say Saleh could hand over to a new vice-president, in line with the constitution. They expected the opposition to choose a prime minister.

However, as in Egypt, where the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak last month after 30 years in power was an inspiration to Saleh's opponents, the focus would be on amendments to the current basic law, rather than on drafting a new constitution from scratch.

The transition was likely to proceed faster than the end-of-year deadline Saleh has proposed.

(Additional reporting by Mohammed Ghobari; Writing by Andrew Hammond; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Tradition and drama mark season's Opening Day

The Opening Day of the Major League Baseball season came earlier than usual this year, but the grandest traditions of America's favorite pastime were unchanged.

Thursday was the last day of March and in many parts of North America, it still felt like winter. Only the unmistakable sounds of the crack of the bat and the ball thudding into the glove was proof that spring had arrived.

The season normally starts in early April but was brought forward by a week to ensure this year's World Series finishes before the end of October, and for baseball's faithful that meant scarves and woolen hats instead of t-shirts and caps.

That did not stop the crowds from filling the six parks that were picked for the opening day, gorging themselves on hot dogs, crackerjacks and soda as jets flew overhead and fans joined in the singing of the "Star-Spangled Banner" and "Take Me Out To The Ball Game."

There were some somber moments too, silent vigils in remembrance of baseball figures who had passed away and the victims of the natural disasters in Japan.

Atlanta rightfielder Jason Heyward hit the first home run of the season to lead the Braves to a 2-0 win over the Washington Nationals.

Minutes later, Mark Teixera slammed a three-run homer off Detroit's Justin Verlander in New York. Teixera's Yankees team mate Curtis Granderson then slammed a solo run to give them a 6-3 win over the Tigers on a bitterly cold afternoon in the Bronx.

"You don't want to start the season slow as a team or personally," Teixera told reporters. "To get this out of the way with a win and hit a big home run is great."

Cincinnati provided the most exhilarating moment of Opening Day, which was fitting given their status as the sport's oldest professional team.

They are the only team guaranteed to play home every opening day and their first games are always preceded by a street parade. It was a grand occasion and their game against the Milwaukee Brewers then exceeded all expectations.

Trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Ramon Hernandez blasted a three-run walk-off homer to steer his team to a unlikely 7-6 victory.

"This is one of the best opening days I've ever had in my career," Hernandez said. "I'm so happy that I helped my team and my team won a ballgame."

A fielding error by St Louis shortstop Ryan Theriot in the 11th inning helped the San Diego Padres to a 5-3 victory over the Cardinals while the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Kansas City Royals 4-2.

For the first time in over half a century, the San Francisco Giants were introduced as the World Series champions, given the starring role in the opening night match away to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But, exactly 149 days after Brian Wilson threw the last pitch in the Giants' win over the Texas Ranger, the party finally ended when they were beaten 2-1.

(Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta)

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

Low levels of radiation found in West Coast milk

Low levels of radiation have turned up in milk samples from two West Coast states.

Traces of radioactive Iodine-131 were found in milk in California and Washington, according to federal and state authorities who are monitoring for contamination as the nuclear crisis unfolds in Japan. But the officials say the levels are still 5,000 times below levels of concern and do not represent a public health threat.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that radiation was found in a March 25 milk sample from Spokane, Wash. The California Department of Public Health said on its website that a similar result was found March 28 in San Luis Obispo County.

The EPA always monitors radiation levels in the air at several sites throughout the country, but the agency said this week that it is increasing the level of nationwide monitoring of milk, precipitation and drinking water in response to the situation in Japan. Those substances are normally monitored for radiation only a few times a year.

EPA spokesman Brendan Gilfillan said the radiation detected in Spokane is different than what is normally found there.

"While there can be naturally occurring levels of radiation in milk — as there are in the air, at levels far below levels of concern — we don't generally see this particular isotope as part of those background levels," Gilfillan said.

The EPA has found very low levels of radiation in the air connected to the Japanese incident in Alaska, Alabama, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Saipan, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Washington state. Gilfillan said the low level of radiation most likely ended up in the milk after a cow ate grass or drank rainwater that contained it.

The FDA, which oversees the safety of the nation's food supply, said such findings were to be expected in the coming days because of problems with the nuclear plant in Japan, and that the levels were expected to drop relatively quickly. Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power complex began leaking radiation after it was damaged by a devastating earthquake and tsunami earlier this month.

"Radiation is all around us in our daily lives, and these findings are a minuscule amount compared to what people experience every day," said Patricia Hansen, senior scientist at the FDA. "A person would be exposed to low levels of radiation on a round-trip cross-country flight, watching television, and even from construction materials."

The United States had already halted imports of dairy products and produce from the affected area of Japan. Other foods imported from Japan, including seafood, are still being sold to the public but are screened first for radiation.

Japanese foods make up less than 4 percent of all U.S. imports. The FDA has said it expected no risk to the U.S. food supply from radiation.

The Atlantic’s 2011 hiring spree begins with Richard Florida

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On the heels of its , The Atlantic is about to go on a hiring spree for 2011.

The venerable 154-year-old monthly and its associated web properties plan to add 27 names to their headcount this year, Atlantic Media Company president Justin Smith told The Cutline. Twelve will be editorial employees, bringing the newsroom total to 71, said Smith.

The Atlantic will announce the first of those on Tuesday: urban studies theorist Richard Florida, best known for his research on the "creative class" of upwardly mobile professionals who, he argues, are the principal drivers of economic development in the world's post-industrial cities.

Florida, who also teaches at the University of Toronto and runs arelated to his research, will join the staff as a senior editor next month. The move will make The Atlanticwhere Florida had been a regular contributorthe "main hub" for his "ideas and dialogue," according to a press release. Florida will write and create content, such as videos and interactive multimedia, across all of The Atlantic's platforms. Smith declined to confirm whether his newest employee would be writing his own blog, as other well-branded Atlantic writers do. But Smith did say the company plans to build programs around Florida in conjunction with its events business. "It represents our interest in someone who is a thought leader in an area we think is very relevant to the Atlantic brand and readership," he said.

Smith acknowledged that it was somewhat anomalous to bring on a staff writer whose background is rooted in academia and public speaking rather than journalismlet alone one who has a professorship and consulting shop on the side. (Florida will retain both, splitting his time between Toronto and Washington, D.C.) But Smith assured The Cutline that "we have guidelines and procedures, and we work with all of our writers who have other activities under way to make sure there are no conflicts." As for Florida, "I'm thrilled," he said in a statement.

If Florida's past work for The Atlantic is any indication, he may very well be good for business. The magazine's March 2009 issue, featuring Florida's cover story about "," sold 49,685 copies18 percent higher than the average number of copies (41,398) that sold during the first six months of that year, said Smith. The Atlantic's hope in the wake of Florida's formal hire is that those additional readers will also follow Florida to his new home in print and online.

And additional readers are precisely what The Atlantic needs right now, at least in the digital space. Newhave been sprouting on its website, and The Atlantic's brass hope these launches will help mitigate the likely traffic loss when Andrew Sullivancome April. Sullivan accounts for roughly 20 percent of TheAtlantic.com's 5 million unique monthly visitors.

If you're wondering whether The Atlantic is scouting for a marquee politics writer specifically to replace Sullivan, "We're not," said Smith. "Andrew's irreplaceable in a sense. But we're definitely talking to a lot of different people and looking to expand."

(Screen-grab of Florida via YouTube)

India and Pakistan in cricket World Cup showdown

Cricket-crazy India and Pakistan head into an epic World Cup showdown on Wednesday that will showcase the bitter rivalry and common bonds between the estranged nuclear-armed neighbours.

The teams clash in the semi-final of the competition in a battle promising passion and drama, with more than a billion people, or a fifth of humanity, set to follow the much-hyped contest between bat and ball.

National pride and even regional harmony are on the line, with the event seized by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as an opportunity for some "cricket diplomacy" to improve frosty ties between Islamabad and Delhi.

He has invited Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani to watch the day-night game with him in Mohali, northwest India, and they are expected to shake hands with both teams before the match.

"Enjoy cricket it's not war!" headlined India's Mail Today tabloid, reminding readers that the country was heading for a fun game of sport rather than its fourth conflict with Pakistan since independence in 1947.

Given the region's history of militant attacks, however, police have wrapped a security blanket involving 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel around the 30,000-capacity venue to avoid any violence.

In the hotel where the players are staying, two policemen working as official food tasters have been eating three lavish meals a day to check for poisoning or other hygiene problems.

"We are leaving nothing to chance. The security will be multi-layered," local police chief G.P.S. Bhullar told reporters on Tuesday.

Pakistan has declared a half-day holiday to allow the public to watch the match. Many offices in both countries have said they will shut for the afternoon before play starts at 2:30 pm (0900 GMT).

The cricket is expected to take precedence over all government business. Share markets are forecast to be becalmed, and the normally chaotic roads will be far quieter than usual.

In Pakistan, thousands are set to take part in a mass prayer session during the day, while the chief minister of the country's largest province has promised each team member 25 acres (10 hectares) of land if they beat India.

If the Indian team were in need of further motivation, model Poonam Pandey has offered a personal inducement -- a striptease if they win the World Cup.

"India needs a lot of support and this is my way of supporting the team," she told local news agencies.

The match will be a contest between Pakistan's well-balanced bowling attack and India's star-studded batsmen, including opener Sachin Tendulkar who needs just one more century to reach 100 international hundreds.

Pakistan, World Cup champions in 1992, have lost all four of their encounters with India in the competition. India are counting on home advantage as they strive to win the World Cup for the first time since 1983.

"It's an honour to lead the side," Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Tuesday. "If you take a pressure job, you will find yourself in a pressure cooker."

Amid the wild hype and despite the frequent use of military metaphors to describe the game, there are signs that many see the match as an opportunity to bond over a shared loved of cricket.

Amarpreet Singh, a 40-year-old fan who owns a shop in Mohali, said he would cheer both countries, whose past includes the three wars and a blood-soaked separation at the end of British rule in the subcontinent.

"India and Pakistan are like brothers. It is the politicians who bring all the bad blood," he said. "One team has to lose, but the real winner will be love and brotherhood."

Prime Minister Singh's "cricket diplomacy" is an attempt to warm up relations at a time when the countries are tentatively getting their peace process back on track.

India broke off contact with Islamabad in 2008 after the Mumbai attacks, which India blamed on Pakistani militants who wrought carnage in the city over three days, killing 166 people.

Cricket has helped to dissipate tension between the countries in the past.

In 1987, then Pakistani president General Zia-ul-Haq travelled to India to watch a Test match between the two sides in Jaipur at a time when both countries were massing troops at the border.

In 2004, the Indian team went on a "peace tour" of Pakistan, their first trip to the country in 14 years. Pakistan last played in India in 2007.

The final of this year's World Cup takes place on Saturday in Mumbai, with the winner of Wednesday's game set to meet Sri Lanka.