ONLINE TODAY
► 13 January 2014 : Better get your chores done now, because in a couple of days, a certain someone will make it their business to completely monopolize all of your attention. If it happens to be your current partner, you can expect that the bond between you two will deepen and intensify. If it's someone new, don't be surprised if you feel as if you've known each other forever. Brevity is the soul of wit -- so be as witty as you can be today! Keep all your communications short and to the point and you are sure to blow past any competition you may have.
Right around dinnertime, the urge to connect with someone on a very deep level will cross your mind -- and your heart. You already have someone in mind, but the universe may have other plans for you. Stay open to new possibilities and don't turn down any offers to be introduced to someone new. You never know. This time might just be different.
► 14 January 2014 : Right around dinnertime, the urge to connect with someone on a very deep level will cross your mind -- and your heart. You already have someone in mind, but the universe may have other plans for you. Stay open to new possibilities and don't turn down any offers to be introduced to someone new. You never know. This time might just be different. You need to move closer to what you think of as home. That could just mean skipping work or school, or it could involve a serious, long-term lifestyle change. Whatever it is, take it seriously! Be extra careful not to let yourself become tired or run down. You'll need all the physical and emotional strength you can muster to get through today -- and, more importantly, tonight. Of course, if anyone has mastered the concept of the 20 minute power nap, followed by a cool shower and a strong cappuccino, it's you. Go ahead. Show us how it's done and make this day work for you.
Right around dinnertime, the urge to connect with someone on a very deep level will cross your mind -- and your heart. You already have someone in mind, but the universe may have other plans for you. Stay open to new possibilities and don't turn down any offers to be introduced to someone new. You never know. This time might just be different.
► 14 January 2014 : Right around dinnertime, the urge to connect with someone on a very deep level will cross your mind -- and your heart. You already have someone in mind, but the universe may have other plans for you. Stay open to new possibilities and don't turn down any offers to be introduced to someone new. You never know. This time might just be different. You need to move closer to what you think of as home. That could just mean skipping work or school, or it could involve a serious, long-term lifestyle change. Whatever it is, take it seriously! Be extra careful not to let yourself become tired or run down. You'll need all the physical and emotional strength you can muster to get through today -- and, more importantly, tonight. Of course, if anyone has mastered the concept of the 20 minute power nap, followed by a cool shower and a strong cappuccino, it's you. Go ahead. Show us how it's done and make this day work for you.
► SCIENCE DAILY 2 January 2014 : Shingles Linked to Increased Risk of Stroke in Young Adults || ► DAILY MAIL 2 January 2014 : How shingles in under-40s raises the risk of a stroke or heart attack later on in life
► YAHOO Au 11 January 2014 : Smart shirt knows when you're not up to snuff || ► AUSTRALIA NEWS 11 Jaunary 2014 : Cityzen Sciences smart shirt knows when you're tired, excited or unwell || ► STRAIT TIMES 11 January 2014 : Smart shirt knows when you're not up to snuffs
► USA TODAY 10 January 2014 : Honda says its cars last longest || ► GIZMAG 20 May 2006 : The 100 most reliable cars of the last decade (in order)
► CNN 8 January 2014 : Bill Gates 2.0? Keep dreaming, Mr. Zuckerberg || ► BLOOMBERG 9 January 2014 : Bill Gates Must Come Back to Microsoft: McNamee || ► ECONOMIC TIMES 13 January 2014 : Bill Gates most admired in the world, Sachin Tendulkar fifth: Poll || ► YOU GOV 11 January 2014 : Revealed: The most admired person in the world
► GUARDIAN 12 January 2014 : François Hollande's partner Valérie Trierweiler in hospital with 'exhaustion'
► FOXNEWS 12 January 2014 : White House fights Iran sanctions bill as nuclear deal start date announced
► E ONLINE 12 January 2014 : ohnny Depp and Amber Heard Make First Official Appearance as a Couple—See the Pic! || ► NY DAILY NEWS 12 January 2014 : Johnny Depp escorts Amber Heard to gala for date night
► ARIEL SHARON
■ CHANNEL 4 11 January 2014 : Ariel Sharon: soldier, statesman or war criminal?
■ HUFFINGTON 12 January 2014 : Five Numbers That Suggest Ariel Sharon Was a War Criminal
■ AL AKHBAR 11 January 2014 : Ariel Sharon, the "Butcher of Beirut," is Dead
■ MONDOWEISS 11 January 2014 : Ariel Sharon, whose political career was unhindered by civilian massacres, dies at 85
■ SALON 12 January 2013 : Ariel Sharon dies after 8 year coma
■ RENSE 12 January 2014 : Ariel Sharon's Criminal Legacy
■ BLOOMBERG 12 January 2014 : Ariel Sharon, Israeli Warrior Who Vacated Gaza, Dies at 85
■ JERUSALEM POST 12 January 2014 : Muslim world joins Palestinians in denouncing Sharon
■ ALJAZEERA 11 January 2014 : Ariel Sharon: Enemy of peace - Sharon's legacy is one of wanton destruction not just of Palestinian homes and lives, but of the peace process itself.
■ ALJAZEERA 12 January 2014 : ""Sharon was a criminal, responsible for the assassination of Arafat, and we would have hoped to see him appear before the International Criminal Court as a war criminal," Jibril Rajub said."
► GUARDIAN 9 January 2014 : NSA and GCHQ activities appear illegal, says EU parliamentary inquiry || ► COMPUTERWORLD 10 January 2014 : European Parliament's LIBE Stands (Up) for Liberty
► BOSTON 13 January 2014 : Dead whale found on Uruguay beach buried
► NY TIMES 13 January 2014 : Israel Bids Farewell to Sharon, a 'Complex Man'
► KSAT 13 January 2014
■ 5 things we learned from the Golden Globes - Front-runners for Oscars now set
■ Wrong-airport landing -- how does it happen?
► FOXNEWS 13 January 2014 : The Benghazi Transcripts: Top Defense officials briefed Obama on 'attack', not video or protest
► E ONLINE 13 January 2014 : The X Factor's Uncertain Future, Sleepy Hollow's Fantastic Finale, Bringing Batman to TV and More Fox Scoop
► GUARDIAN 14 January 2014 : Michael Douglas to play Hank Pym in Edgar Wright's Ant-Man
► FOXNEWS 14 January 2014 : The Benghazi Transcripts: Did White House exaggerate Obama's preparation for 9/11 anniversary?
► INDEPENDENT 14 January 2014 : I put Ed Miliband's love letter to the middle class through Google translate, but it still doesn't make sense
► Kwik Kwek Kwak of Francois Hollande
■ DAILY MAIL 14 January 2014 : 'I'm ready to forgive': 'Fragile' First Lady in hospital for a week as she prepares to give the wayward Hollande another chance after his year-long tryst with actress 7 years her junior in 'mafia apartment'. Valerie Trierweiler has said she is 'ready to forgive' President Hollande. First lady collapsed after French media reported the affair on Friday. Reported she may stay in hospital for up to a week with a 'case of the blues'. Mr Hollande, 59, has been seeing actress Julie Gayet, 41, for a year, Couple often met at an apartment with 'links to the mafia' in central Paris. President told partner of the affair on Thursday and 'denied nothing'. A total of 89 per cent of voters want Hollande to split from Miss Trierweiler
■ DAILY MAIL 14 January 2014 : Is 'cheating' Hollande about to dump 'The Rottweiler'? President 'wants to separate from First Lady after affair with actress - but is too scared to do it while she's in hospital'. Mr Hollande will hold his New Year's press conference on the economy. Comes amid media frenzy over secret trysts with film star Julie Gayet. Valerie Trierweiler is set to remain in hospital suffering from 'shock'. Socialist MP: 'There is no First Lady, it's over'
■ MIRROR 14 january 2014 : French President Francois Hollande stays tightlipped over which First Lady will accompany him to the White House
■ TELEGRAPH 14 January 2014 : Photographer reveals how he tracked down François Hollande and lover Julie Gayet
■ INDEPENDENT 14 January 2014 : François Hollande rebuffs media on alleged affair with Julie Gayet: 'These are painful moments, but private matters should be dealt with privately'
■ YAHOO AU 15 January 2014 : Is French president Francois Hollande's alleged mistress pregnant?
■ EUROPE 1 FRANCE 13 January 2014 : EXTRAIT – Santiago Amigorena : "Julie Gayet est très calme". Nicolas Poincaré reçoit Santiago Amigorena, romancier, réalisateur et ex-mari de Julie Gayet dans le débat d'Europe Soir.
■ DAILY MAIL 14 January 2014 : This is not the time nor the place': Hollande refuses to say if Rottweiler is still the First Lady after his alleged affair with actress but promises to let her know before U.S. trip. Faced the world's media for the first time since the affair news broke. Acknowledged he was going through a difficult period in his private life. Refused to answer question about if Valerie Trierweiler is still First Lady. The president left open the possibility of suing Closer over its report. Pair are scheduled to attend a formal state dinner hosted by President. Made comments at New Year's press conference on the economy. Valerie Trierweiler is set to remain in hospital suffering from 'shock'.
■ EURO NEWS 14 January 2014 : François Hollande says he and Valérie Trierweiler going through a 'difficult and painful' moment
► Iran nuclear deal to take effect on January 20 - By Parisa Hafezi and Justyna Pawlak
ANKARA/BRUSSELS - A deal for Iran to freeze parts of its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief will take effect on January 20, giving world powers and Tehran six months to agree a complete end to a standoff that has raised the risk of a wider Middle East war.
* Exclusive: Iran to get first $550 million installment on February 1
* U.N. watchdog eyes increased Iran presence to verify nuclear deal
* Next phase in Iran talks 'will be very difficult' : Kerry
► Egyptians vote in key referendum - By Michael Georgy
CAIRO - Egyptians began voting in a constitutional referendum, the first ballot since the military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Mursi.
* Exclusive: With Muslim Brotherhood crushed, Egypt targets Hamas
* Demoralized Cairo slum longs for army chief as president
* UAE premier: Egypt's Sisi could run as a civilian
► OPINION : French minds turn to scandal - By John Lloyd
The web and gossip complex have redefined political coverage in France. French leaders are forced to respond to the news media mid-scandal, unable to count on a hands-off press.
* Gumbel: France says 'Non' to the digital ageBased on the above case, and see how bad becomes Valerie, (being just a partner of Hollande, and not the wife of Hollande, so she is not flexible enough to be displayed as the First Lady in proportion, and she can not open her mouth freely to yell and asking for symphaty of media and public) I am wondering to myself, "Should I get married?" (Darling, you're too diligent to always be with me. I will name you as My Time's Craftman. La-di-dah!)
► U.S. courts oppose reform proposals for spy tribunal - By Mark Hosenball
WASHINGTON - The federal court system objects to key proposals by a presidential review panel to reform the secret court that supervises the classified electronic eavesdropping activities of the U.S. National Security Agency, a former chief judge of that court said.
* Wells Fargo organizes meeting to discuss Bitcoin rules: FT
* Germany dismisses report 'no-spy' talks with U.S. close to collapse
* Jack Shafer: Don't fear the Internet of things
► Classic vehicles take part in Paris parade
► Sochi residents braced for Olympic invasion || ► Sochi hotels gear up to receive Olympic guests
► Rumoured affair turns messy for France's Hollande
I will never understand what is interesting from Hollande so that now he is reported as closeout items, aahahhaa ...ops! Oh,ohohhoo ... Valerie, Valerie, come on, no need to feel insulted if there is another woman who likes your partner, because, -- ayaah, hehee... at least, but definitely not me -- your partner is still marketable, eehehhee ... because I -- even if I am given free -- I will reject him, ahahaha ...
And as I typed in my previous post, if what is left in this world is just me, Hollande, and my facebook account which has been inactive since a long time, then I will click "like" on Hollande only through my facebook account, and at any time, every time, I can click "like" again, so "like" has now been changed to "unlike". Ahahahaa ...without a word at all. Cool, is not it? Nice to imagine Hollande will stupefy with his clown face ... ehehehee ....
► US, Russia urge 'local ceasefires' before Syria talks
► Cambodia court frees Russian tycoon wanted over alleged scam
► Cristiano Ronaldo wins 2013 Ballon d'Or
► France's Hollande vows to deal with affair fallout in private
Stop feeling cool, Hollande! Who would actually really care about your personal affairs, hm? If the rumors are true, who you think you are? You want to be the sexiest guy from France? Ahhaaa ...
Who does not know the old French tradition? Your relationship with Gayet only perpetuates the old French tradition which has seducer presidential and politicians. Jacques Chirac was believed to have many extramarital affair. Francois Mitterand even has a daughter from his affair. Valery Giscard d'Estaing also described as a fan of women, even in his book he alluded to his relationship with Princess Diana. Nevertheless, the French people are known to tolerate their leaders adventure, which often it is proved to have little or no negative effect on their popularity.
We're just measure you. Your popularity has sunk to the lowest record, and it's not just because of how you deal with the immigration problem. You face many problems, including unemployment and housing. And my question now is, "Are you going to finish your term, considering all these problems? I personally doubt you will finish your year." Ops, please do not be too bitchy, Cisca. Do you think it's just a matter of coitus interruptus, hm? ehehehee ...
At the very least, there are three your important agenda in your leadership. First, your gait awaited by the European community in dealing with the European crisis especially with countries in crisis: Greece, Italy and Spain. Second, in the context of France, you are also expected to reduce unemployment, in line with the European economic crisis. Third, your policy toward immigrants become an important issue for you and your cabinet. France is known as a convenient and promising country for immigrants. Recorded 11.5 million immigrants come and live in France.
Of the 65 million residents of France, nearly 19 percent are immigrants.
Ops, ... one more thing, your mission in Mali: it is the most costly, you know!
► Ice Castle Dazzles New Hampshire Tourists
► SW Pilots Grounded, Jet Departs Wrong Airport
► Aluminum Revolution: Ford Introduces New F-150
► Awake for Winter: Tahoe Bears Not Hibernating
► NEWS
■ Factbox: Winners of the 71st Golden Globe Awards
■ Obamacare may get sick if young Americans don't sign up
■ Republicans defend Christie on 'bridgegate' by invoking Benghazi, IRS scandals
■ Rudy Giuliani: Chris Christie's Career 'Completely at Risk' If He Isn't Telling the Truth
■ Hungary PM to meet Russia's Putin, nuclear deal likely
■ Pope condemns abortion as sign of 'throwaway culture'
■ NJ Democrats intensify Christie scandal inquiry
■ Moscow expels US journalist
■ EXCLUSIVE: With Muslim Brotherhood crushed, Egypt sets sights on Hamas
■ Mitt's got moves: Romney does 'Gangnam Style'
■ Rare birth of naturally conceived identical triplets
► CELEBRITY ■ 2014 Golden Globes Red Carpet Report Card
■ Evan Ross and Ashlee Simpson Are Engaged!
► EDUCATION : 5 low-profile careers with high-profile salaries
► MOVIES : Lawrence's stealthy beau. Jennifer Lawrence walks the Golden Globes red carpet alone, but her on-again beau makes a stealthier entry - 8 Things You Didn't See at the 2014 Golden Globe Awards
► SHINE : The Truth About Common Nutrition Myths
► FINANCE : Pizza Hut to offer 'by the slice' amid competition
► FOOD
■ Is This the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie?
■ Should Babies Be Booted From Restaurants? Alinea Chef Grant Achatz Sounds Off
► Hollywood turns out for Golden Globes
American Hustle wins three awards at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles, while Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave is named best film drama.
* Golden Globes 2014 winners
* In Pictures: Golden Globes red carpet
► Tight security for Sharon funeral
A state memorial and military funeral for Israeli ex-PM Ariel Sharon, who has died after eight years in a coma, are to take place amid heavy security.
* Ehud Olmert on Sharon's legacy - VIDEO
* Body of Sharon lying in state - VIDEO
* In pictures: Ariel Sharon death
* Israeli, Arab press differOuch, stop it! Noisy, you know? The dead also need tranquility. A role of the play's life has ended. Why are they dancing for the death? For me it is funny. Why they did not investigate all of his crimes when he was still alive? He's untouchable, right? Israel's untouchable, is not it? And you feel strange with that fact. Do not agree? So what? What can you do with your disagreement? Well, That's your homework for ever! 8 years of coma is a mysterious time. I do not know what happens there, maybe a soul is in exile and imprisoned by a justice untouched by human laws. So, stop dancing and rejoicing in the death of your neighbor, because who will do the same for you when you die?
Well, ... now -- before he dies -- get Olmert! Can you, hm?
► HEALTH
■ Caffeine pill 'could boost memory'
■ Antibody machinery 'can misfire and cause leukaemia'
■ India hails polio-free three-year landmark
■ Green tea 'can impede nadolol blood pressure medicine'
■ Nine Swedish women receive womb transplants
► CAPITAL : Sail into the sunset: How to buy a floating palace
► MAGAZINE
■ Le blues - Key terms for understanding the Hollande love affair story
■ Suicide vest nine-year-old tells her story
► ANALYSIS
■ Conflicting emotions - Yolande Knell on why, in death as in life, Ariel Sharon divides opinion
■ Man of the moment - India's 'new broom' has political order running scared
► NATURE : Flirting monkeys 'stone' their mates - Female capuchin grimaces at potential mate
Female capuchin monkeys have been filmed throwing stones at potential mates as a form of flirtation.
* Sexy monkeys wash with own urine
* BBC Two - Wild Brazil
* Tufted capuchin videos, news and facts
► TECHNOLOGY : Singularity: The robots are coming to steal our jobs
► EUROPE : 'Affair' story will continue to rumble
► FUTURE : Jumbo-gardeners: How elephants affect weather
► Today's African Proverb : "A river that forgets its source will dry up" - Sent by Tabayo Jude Thaddeus, Kampala, Uganda
► Ex-Israeli PM Ariel Sharon dies at 85
► Al-Qaeda Syria branch executes dozens of rival Islamists - activists
► Iran, world powers agree to start implementing nuclear deal on Jan. 20
► Japan holds military drill as S. China Sea islands dispute widens
Ahahahaa.....
► 'US should stop contradicting itself, send Geneva II invitation to Iran'
► Missile defense buster: China tests new hypersonic glide vehicle
► Al-Qaeda Syria branch executes dozens of rival Islamists, activists claim
► Reddit, Mozilla, rights groups to protest online snooping in memory of Aaron Swartz
► Supreme Court hands Monsanto victory over farmers on GMO seed patents, ability to sue
► Fish testing at 124 times over radiation limit caught off Fukushima
► Leaked: UK 'wasted millions' on botched online Army recruitment program
► Lib Dem leader urges limits on party comrades' sex lives
► OP-ED : Ariel Sharon: Beyond the eulogies
► Cops acquitted of killing homeless man could face federal charges
► European Commission fails to introduce legally binding fracking regulations – report
► Space fishing: Japan to test 'magnetic net' for space junk
► NSA able to target offline computers using radio-waves for surveillance, cyber-attacks
► Key provision of net-neutrality law struck down by court
► European Commission fails to introduce legally binding fracking regulations – report
► Supreme Court hands Monsanto victory over farmers on GMO seed patents, ability to sue
► Megaparty: Kim Dotcom launches political party, holds 15,000-strong birthday bash
► VIDEOS
■ Venture Capital: Eurozone 2014 - Deja Vu All Over Again? (E23)
■ Al-Qaeda armies seize entire Iraqi cities in chaos left behind by war
■ 'Kurds largest nation in the world without state'
■ Fashion Fakes: Cheap Chinese clothes force Italian brands out
■ 'Blaming Assad a red herring, West still intends to destabilize Syria'
■ Bank & Barricades Bashed: Spaniards rally against costly boulevard plan
■ CrossTalk: Al-Qaeda World
■ Iran Deal Ordeal: 'Israel pressures US to back new sanctions'
■ Kerry gives Lavrov Idaho potatoes before talks in Paris
■ Fashion vs Politics: BBC chat to be more Dolce&Gabbana than Barack Obama? Afshin Rattansi goes underground with the former head of GCHQ, Sir David Omand, getting to the bottom of the Snowden leaks and Iraq war intelligence. Is this the worst time to be young in Britain? Author Danny Dorling brings the facts and figures. The BBC announces new plans to cut down the politics and bring on the fashion. Plus, what kind of archaic laws could still get you thrown behind bars? And why is the government supporting the adult film industry?
■ Up For Shale: Cameron 'bribes' councils to allow fracking
■ 'Autonomous 'killer robots' could soon replace drones' - Nobel Peace Prize winner Jody Williams
■ Sn-Oops! 'NSA spying fails to prevent terrorist attacks
■ 'Beatings &Burning': Dossier accusing UK of Iraq war crimes goes to ICC
■ 'Monsanto Mafia': US court backs GMO giant on seed patents against farmers
■ Too Little Too Late? Hollande U-turns as France pays heavy price for sky-high taxes
■ 'For peaceful solution in Syria we need Iran at Gevena-2'
■ Vanity Art: UK MPs splash £250k of public cash on portraits
► Witness : The Jungle Surgeon of Myanmar
► Majority of US Congress are millionaires
► Inside Story : Yingluck Shinawatra: Running out of luck?
► THAILAND : Protesters Enforce Shutdown of Thai Capital
* Thais Boycott Singha Beer
► AUTISM : Autism and Alternative Medicine - Getting real about the benefits and risks
► GOVERNORS : Top Republicans Defend Christie on Bridgegate - No one rules New Jersey governor out for 2016
► HILLARY CLINTON : Hillary the Hawk - Clinton's past support for military action could be a weakness in 2016
► SYRIA : Assad Is Using a Deadly New Makeshift Weapon - 'Barrel bombs' made of explosives and dropped from above are causing widespread destruction
► HEALTH CARE : Obamacare Signups Surge - 1.8M enrolled in December
► AVIATION : Feds Investigating Southwest Landing - Pilots touched down at wrong airport
► WOMEN's ISSUES : 1 in 3 U.S. Women Live in Poverty - And 28 million children, too
► SPIRITS : Japanese Company Buys Maker's Mark - Here are 5 American alternatives
► INDIA : Diplo Drama Hurts U.S.- India Ties - Can the friendship be renewed?
► ENDANGERED SPECIES : Poachers Are the Real Rhino Threat - Legal hunts could actually help
► FRANCE : Why François Hollande's Personal Life Is a Public Matter
► EGYPT : Egyptians Are Voting Away Their Freedoms - Why the two-day referendum is a rubber-stamp vote that will guarantee a military-backed regime greater powers
► BANGLADESH : Joseph The Hindus of Bangladesh Fear for Their Future - They're being attacked by Islamists in fights over land
► 2016 ELECTION : Christie: 'Mistakes Were Made' - N.J. governor apologizes amid scandal
► ELECTIONS : Wendy Davis Raises $12M for Gov Bid - She's not standing still anymore
► CRIME : Retired Cop Denied Bail - After shooting man texting at movie
► CURIOUS CAPITALIST : Banks Watering Down the Rules - They're operating on borrowed cash
► NATIONAL SECURITY : Guantánamo Needs New Gear - Army wants restraints and shields
► PSYCHOLOGY : You Are Where You Live - Even a brief stay in a bad nabe affects your psyche
► GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS
■ Winners | Best Picture: Drama
■ '12 Years a Slave' wins best drama
■ Complete winners list
■ Woody Allen gets lifetime achievement award | 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' wins two
■ Best, worst moments
■ Quotes from stars
■ Worst dressed
■ Best dressed
► OBITUARIES : Sam Berns dies at 17; subject of film about genetic condition progeria
► NATION
■ Surge in shark attacks causes alarm in Hawaii - Tourists and business owners are worried about a recent increase in shark attacks off Maui. Many say the threat is exaggerated.
■ Alleged Sept. 11 mastermind gives 'nonviolence' manifesto - Khalid Shaikh Mohammed issues 'nonviolence' manifesto Khalid Shaikh Mohammed suggests that Muslims should not use violence to spread Islam. He had boasted about jihad.
* Bin Laden's ex-bodyguard cleared for release from Guantanamo
► LOCAL
■ Rare tortoises are branded to make them unattractive to poachers
■ Brown's budget plan would require cuts, chief justice says
■ L.A. Mayor Garcetti to push for greater earthquake safety
ERIC GARCETTI
■ HUFFINGTON POST 9 January 2014 : These Are All The Worst Things About LA, According To 2020 Commission
■ DAILY NEWS 14 January 2014 : L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti's car, driven by LAPD, strikes pedestrian
■ NY DAILY NEWS 14 January 2014 : Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s black SUV hits, injures pedestrian; he was a passenger
■ NBC LOS ANGELES 14 January 2014 : LA Mayor Garcetti Was Passenger in Police Car That Struck Pedestrian
ALAIN SORAL
VLADIMIR PUTIN
■ FORBES 13 January 2014 : Vladimir Putin's Approval Rating Has Been Holding Steady For Almost Two Years
■ ECONOMIC TIMES 14 January 2014 : Moscow expels US journalist David Satter, a longtime critic of Vladimir Putin
■ DAILY RECORD 13 January 2014 : David Cameron accused of trying to recruit Vladimir Putin's support in the fight against Scottish independence
■ SPECTATOR 14 January 2014 : The Winter Olympics should never have been awarded to Vladimir Putin's Russia
■ HUFFINGTON POST 14 January 2014 : Ian McKellen And 27 Nobel Laureates Publish Open Letter To Vladimir Putin
■ DAILY NEWS & ANALYSIS15 January 2015 : Russia denies visa to US journalist critical of Vladimir Putin
MIKHAIL PROKHOROV
► NY DAILY NEWS 13 January 2014 : Mikhail Prokhorov to make appearance at Nets game in London
MIKHAIL KHODORKOVSKY
■ RUSSIA BEYOND THE HEADLINES 10 January 2014 : Russians indifferent to Khodorkovsky's release from prison - poll
■ REUTERS 20 December 2013 : Putin critic Khodorkovsky in Germany after pardon. Within hours of being released from Penal Colony No. 7 at Segezha, deep in the sub-Arctic forest near the Finnish border, Khodorkovsky was in the German capital and issued a statement confirming he had sought a pardon and had not admitted guilt.
This December 20, 2013 picture shows Penal Colony No. 7 where Mikhail Khodorkovsky was held at the village of Segezha, near the Finnish border, 300 km (186 miles) south of the Arctic Circle
What are the conditions in which you are being held in Segezha?
Russia's penal colony FBU IK-7 is located 150 kilometres from the Finnish border.
It is a fenced-off area of a few dozen hectares, and closely guarded by armed persons. The area includes prisoners’ dormitories, production buildings and social premises, which are separated from one another by barbed wire. I live in one of these dormitories with nearly 200 prisoners. The dormitory is small, but warm, which is important.
I work in a production building, producing plastic goods. As a worker. It is familiar to me. I have experience. I did the same kind of work 25 years ago.
Relations between prisoners vary, as is the case with any community like this, but there are not many serious conflicts.
You have been sentenced to prison through 2016. Are there political forces behind your sentences and if so, who are they?
Everyone in Russia knows that political forces are behind my sentencing, and they do not spark any kind of discussion. These are the siloviki [security service personnel] of the inner circle of [Prime Minister] Vladimir Putin. If we speak about individuals, [current Deputy Prime Minister] Igor Sechin has a leading role.
You have said that if Putin returns to the presidency, "the hope of many for reform of the present power structure will disappear, and emigration of Russia;s societally active intelligentsia will sharply accelerate".
What is the future of Russia, now that the Putin presidency has been decided for all practical purposes, and could continue another 12 years?
I assume that we are faced with stagnation. For instance, after 2015, when the economic resources of those presently in power have been consumed, any crisis may prove to be its last.
Will you be released as long as Putin is in power? What do you plan to do when you are released? Will you go into politics, will you go into business, or will you move out of the country?
Putin will release me only if he gets more benefit from it than if he kept me in prison. In addition I doubt that he would dare allow me to act in politics.
What do you feel about what will happen to Mikhail Prokhorov, who has declared himself a challenger to Putin?
At present, Mikhail Prokhorov seems to be nothing but a project of Putin, even though this might not be to the liking of Prokhorov himself.
If he really proves to be a project of Putin, he will have to guarantee Vladimir Putin a position in the political centre. But politics – and judging from the December protests, politics is coming back to Russia – is more complicated than primitive formulae. This is why I will not try to predict Prokhorov’s fate, and everything can change in a completely unexpected direction.
Do you regret having stayed in Russia in 2003? Why did you stay?
I have answered this question many times. Perhaps a short answer is the easiest for your readers to understand: I stayed because I am a Russian.
How have the years you have spent in prison changed you? How has Russia changed?
Prison destroyed the businessman in me. I doubt that I can ever think according to categories of economic advantage. The values are different. I feel that my country is also changing all the time. The civic society is taking shape. I like the views that today’s youth have started to adopt.
The European Court of Human rights has not recognised your sentence as having been politically motivated. What do you think of this?
I understand the motives of the European Court of Human rights. It did not recognise the obvious fact that there is evidence of political motives behind my arrest and imprisonment. Meanwhile, this fact is recognised publicly even by Russian civil servants.
The court also did not recognise the equally obvious and generally recognised political motivations behind the dissolution and destruction of [the oil company] Yukos when it processed Yukos’s appeal. The destruction of Yukos was the result of the discriminatory implementation of a “retroactive” law.
Positive cooperation with those who are in power in Russia is in the interests of the European Court of Human Rights, because the court fears that the impact of its decisions on the situation in Russia might remain low.
For these reasons the court is forced to relent in certain matters to those in power in Russia. Unfortunately, the concessions erode the reputation of the court in the eyes of the most active Russians who support the European trend of development.
What do you know about Finland, which is near the place where you are serving our new sentence? Do you have friends or acquaintances in Finland? Who are they?
I have been in Finland a couple of times. I skied. I bought good winter clothing. I visited your water parks and villages in the north. I tried to copy something from that for us in Siberia.
***
Russia's penal colony FBU IK-7 is located 150 kilometres from the Finnish border.
It is a fenced-off area of a few dozen hectares, and closely guarded by armed persons. The area includes prisoners’ dormitories, production buildings and social premises, which are separated from one another by barbed wire. I live in one of these dormitories with nearly 200 prisoners. The dormitory is small, but warm, which is important.
I work in a production building, producing plastic goods. As a worker. It is familiar to me. I have experience. I did the same kind of work 25 years ago.
Relations between prisoners vary, as is the case with any community like this, but there are not many serious conflicts.
You have been sentenced to prison through 2016. Are there political forces behind your sentences and if so, who are they?
Everyone in Russia knows that political forces are behind my sentencing, and they do not spark any kind of discussion. These are the siloviki [security service personnel] of the inner circle of [Prime Minister] Vladimir Putin. If we speak about individuals, [current Deputy Prime Minister] Igor Sechin has a leading role.
You have said that if Putin returns to the presidency, "the hope of many for reform of the present power structure will disappear, and emigration of Russia;s societally active intelligentsia will sharply accelerate".
What is the future of Russia, now that the Putin presidency has been decided for all practical purposes, and could continue another 12 years?
I assume that we are faced with stagnation. For instance, after 2015, when the economic resources of those presently in power have been consumed, any crisis may prove to be its last.
Will you be released as long as Putin is in power? What do you plan to do when you are released? Will you go into politics, will you go into business, or will you move out of the country?
Putin will release me only if he gets more benefit from it than if he kept me in prison. In addition I doubt that he would dare allow me to act in politics.
What do you feel about what will happen to Mikhail Prokhorov, who has declared himself a challenger to Putin?
At present, Mikhail Prokhorov seems to be nothing but a project of Putin, even though this might not be to the liking of Prokhorov himself.
If he really proves to be a project of Putin, he will have to guarantee Vladimir Putin a position in the political centre. But politics – and judging from the December protests, politics is coming back to Russia – is more complicated than primitive formulae. This is why I will not try to predict Prokhorov’s fate, and everything can change in a completely unexpected direction.
Do you regret having stayed in Russia in 2003? Why did you stay?
I have answered this question many times. Perhaps a short answer is the easiest for your readers to understand: I stayed because I am a Russian.
How have the years you have spent in prison changed you? How has Russia changed?
Prison destroyed the businessman in me. I doubt that I can ever think according to categories of economic advantage. The values are different. I feel that my country is also changing all the time. The civic society is taking shape. I like the views that today’s youth have started to adopt.
The European Court of Human rights has not recognised your sentence as having been politically motivated. What do you think of this?
I understand the motives of the European Court of Human rights. It did not recognise the obvious fact that there is evidence of political motives behind my arrest and imprisonment. Meanwhile, this fact is recognised publicly even by Russian civil servants.
The court also did not recognise the equally obvious and generally recognised political motivations behind the dissolution and destruction of [the oil company] Yukos when it processed Yukos’s appeal. The destruction of Yukos was the result of the discriminatory implementation of a “retroactive” law.
Positive cooperation with those who are in power in Russia is in the interests of the European Court of Human Rights, because the court fears that the impact of its decisions on the situation in Russia might remain low.
For these reasons the court is forced to relent in certain matters to those in power in Russia. Unfortunately, the concessions erode the reputation of the court in the eyes of the most active Russians who support the European trend of development.
What do you know about Finland, which is near the place where you are serving our new sentence? Do you have friends or acquaintances in Finland? Who are they?
I have been in Finland a couple of times. I skied. I bought good winter clothing. I visited your water parks and villages in the north. I tried to copy something from that for us in Siberia.
***
■ 14 October 2010 : In place of Military Service, Alternative Civilian Service
Karelia Youth Human Rights Group seeks to bring to the attention of conscripts across Karelia that their right to replace military service by alternative civilian service is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation and in particular by Article 59.3: 'A citizen of the Russian Federation shall have the right to replace military service by alternative civilian service in case his convictions or religious belief contradict military service and also in other cases envisaged by federal law". A conscript needs to make an application to a draft board, expressing his desire to enlist into the civilian service. If a draft board will seek to breach the conscript’s right to choose, he can call on our organization for assistance.
According to Maksim Efimov, the Director of Karelia Youth Human Rights Group:
"To serve in an alternative capacity is both honourable and prestigious. If the army tends to brainwash conscripts and can often turn a human being into a monster, Alternative Civilian Service, on the contrary, enables conscripts to realize their humanistic ideals by assisting people as part of their service. Importantly, Alternative Civilian Service leaves conscripts time for reading books and self-development. On the territory of Karelia, young men from St Petersburg have been successfully undertaking civilian service for a number of years already. And, in stark contrast to what they would have encountered as part of the military service, they face no threat to their life or health, no humiliation or attacks on their dignity and no 'cannibalism'."
Karelian Branch of the Youth Human Rights Group.
E-mail: yhrg@sampo.ru
(Official website of Karelia Youth Human Rights Group)
Карельское отделение "Молодёжной правозащитной группы"
Address: 185026, Petrozavodsk, P.O.Box 17 (Maksim Efimov).
E-mail: yhrg@sampo.ru
(Official website of Karelia Youth Human Rights Group)
Карельское отделение "Молодёжной правозащитной группы"
Address: 185026, Petrozavodsk, P.O.Box 17 (Maksim Efimov).
■ HRO RIGHTS IN RUSSIA 17 June 2011 : Khodorkovsky's Transfer to Prison: "Red Zone without Horrors". The ex-head of Yukos, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was sentenced by Moscow’s Khamovniki District Court in the so-called Second Yukos Case to eight years in prison. On appeal, Moscow City Court reduced the sentence by one year. Khodorkovsky’s transfer to a new prison (he served a sentence imposed under the First Yukos Case in a penal colony in the town of Krasnokamensk, Chita region) took place in conditions of extreme secrecy: neither Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s relatives nor his lawyers were able to obtain any official information.
■ NY TIMES 20 June 2011 : Russian news agencies, citing unidentified police and court officials, reported he would go to Penal Colony No. 7, near the town of Segezha, and join a team of inmates assigned to clean barracks and do other household chores. He may later work at a sewing shop or furniture factory, the reports said. In Chita, Mr. Khodorkovsky worked in a sewing shop.
■ YAHOO NEWS 21 December 2013 : Penal Colony No. 7 at Segezha : This December 20, 2013 picture shows Penal Colony No. 7 where Mikhail Khodorkovsky was held at the village of Segezha, near the Finnish border, 300 km (186 miles) south of the Arctic Circle
■ HRO 18 June 2011 : Этапирование Ходорковского: "красная зона без ужасов" (ВИДЕО, ФОТО)
■ THIS IS MONEY 15 January 2014 :: CITY FOCUS: Will broken oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky rise from ashes?
■ RIA NOVOSTI 15 January 2014 : US Court Orders Russian Oil Giant to Give Up Assets
■ MOSCOW TIMES 12 January 2014 : Decision Looms in $100Bln Yukos Lawsuit
Professional Prisoners (RT Documentary)
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