Russia scraps anti-crime deal with the US

MOSCOW (AP) ? Russia pulled out of an anti-crime accord with the United States on Wednesday in a move the U.S. called "self-defeating," the latest sign of rising tensions between Moscow and Washington.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed an order to scrap the 10-year-old agreement "because it was no longer relevant," his office said.

The agreement covered fighting terrorism, corruption and cross-border crimes such as drug smuggling and human trafficking.

Alexei Pushkov, head of Russia's parliamentary foreign affairs committee, said the decision reflected Russia's ability to manage its affairs without outside help.

"Russia is changing the format of its relations with the U.S.," he tweeted. "We are ending our dependence on 'the country No. 1.'"

The Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude to the U.S. for providing $12 million in aid for crime-fighting projects under the accord, but said Moscow no longer needs such assistance.

"From a recipient of Western aid for anti-crime projects, Russia has turned into a donor for such programs in Central Asian nations and Afghanistan," it said in a statement, adding that Moscow was ready to continue cooperation with the U.S. in fighting crime, including drug-trafficking.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland expressed regret about the Russian move, saying that the agreement provided a framework for "very fruitful cooperation with Russia on rule of law, counter-corruption efforts, preventing trafficking in persons, counter-narcotics and strengthening our mutual legal assistance cooperation.

"From our perspective," Nuland said, the decision is "self-defeating because most of the work we were doing under this agreement was also involved in training Russians, training them on trafficking in persons interdiction, training them in implementation of the mutual legal assistance treaty that we have, training them in implementation of their own new criminal procedures code ? which was something that they sought our help on."

The agreement is just one of several bilateral cooperation deals that Moscow has decided to abandon. Last year, Russia expelled the U.S. Agency for International Development and also warned it wouldn't extend the Nunn-Lugar program helping it dismantle nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons stockpiles.

On Friday, the U.S. withdrew from a joint civil society group.

President Barack Obama's efforts to "reset" relations with Russia have met a markedly colder wind from the Kremlin since Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency in May. Faced with unprecedented street protests against his 12-year rule, Putin accused the U.S. State Department of staging the protests in order to weaken Russia.

After Putin's inauguration, the Kremlin-controlled parliament then quickly rubber-stamped a series of laws imposing new restrictions in an apparent bid to curb American influence in Russia. Non-governmental organizations funded from abroad were required to register as "foreign agents," a term intended to ruin their credibility among Russians for whom the term sounds synonymous to spies. The Russian definition of treason was also expanded to include potentially any contact with a foreign organization.

Two U.S.-based NGOs have closed their Russian offices in response to the new laws. The business daily Kommersant reported Wednesday that the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute, which ran programs championing democratic rights, moved their staff to Lithuania after Russian security officials threatened to prosecute them under the new treason law.

Amnesty International Russia's director, Sergei Nikitin, wrote on his blog Wednesday that the closures "show the stability of the general trend: the pressure on civil society in Russia continues."

After Congress passed a law introducing sanctions against Russian officials involved in human rights abuses, Russia responded by banning all adoptions of Russian orphans by Americans. The country's top investigative agency is also investigating a sexual abuse case against American parents already convicted in the U.S. of abusing their adopted Russian child but given suspended sentences.

Lawmakers in the Kremlin-controlled lower house have also rushed to propose such measures as banning English phrases from Russian and limiting marriages between Russian officials and foreigners.

Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told NPR on Wednesday that the Russian adoption ban was "tragic" and the decision to expel USAID "really hurts the Russian people."

____

Bradley Klapper in Washington and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russia-scraps-anti-crime-deal-us-163842823.html

HGTV Dream Home 2013 eric cantor eric cantor HGTV Sugar Bowl 2013 chick fil a chick fil a

Michael J. Stover appointed vice president of operations services for Marathon Oil Corporation

Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) announced today that Michael J. Stover, currently manager of the Company?s mid-continent production operations, has been appointed to the newly established position of vice president, Operations Services effective Feb. 1, 2013. In this role, Stover will?have oversight responsibility for Marathon Oil?s Upstream Development, Technology, Technical Excellence, Global Procurement, Land and Commercial Services, and Drilling and Completions activities. Stover will be based in Houston and report to Marathon Oil Corporation chairman, president and CEO Clarence P. Cazalot Jr.?Establishing this new position and capturing the increased organizational alignment associated with it is consistent with our ongoing drive to achieve greater efficiencies throughout Marathon Oil,? said Cazalot. ?Mike possesses a strong blend of operations, technical and planning experience and expertise that will play an important role in our ability to further optimize the contributions of these key services to our continued success.?

Stover earned a Bachelor of Science degree in petroleum and natural gas engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1986.? He joined Marathon Oil that same year, initially as a roustabout, followed by operations and reservoir engineering assignments for the Yates Field located in West Texas. In 1991, he transferred to the Company?s international group in Houston and was responsible for reservoir and economic studies for fields in Ireland, Tunisia, and Norway. From 1995 thru 2000, Stover was located in Anchorage, Alaska, where he worked both development and exploration projects associated with Marathon Oil?s operations on the Kenai Peninsula.

In 2000, he joined Marathon Oil?s Corporate Strategic Planning group in Houston. In this assignment, his responsibilities included business planning and corporate portfolio modeling to support the reorganization of USX Corporation that lead to the establishment of Marathon Oil Corporation as a standalone company.

Following that assignment Stover relocated to Aberdeen, Scotland, where he held the position of European Business Unit Subsurface and Business Planning Manager. In 2005, he relocated to Houston where assumed the role of East Texas/North Louisiana Asset Manager. In 2006, his area of responsibility was expanded to include Marathon Oil?s Oklahoma oil and gas properties.

In 2009, he assumed the position of Director of Central Evaluation and Financial Planning. In this role, Stover was responsible for providing financial and portfolio analysis across the business enterprise. In late 2011, he assumed his current role of Mid-Continent Asset Manager with responsibility for Marathon Oil?s assets and operations in Oklahoma, East Texas, North Louisiana and Colorado.

Source: Marathon Oil Corporation

To access over 3,000 of the latest oil projects from across the world visit Projects OGP for free trial today

Source: http://www.yourindustrynews.com/blog/?p=17946

mark wahlberg merle haggard ladainian tomlinson pipa keystone xl sopa bill sopa and pipa

'Ice Bowl' of disc golf hits Pine Hills this weekend

On the eve of Super Bowl XLVII, the biggest game of the NFL season, Ottawa's Dana Vicich has borrowed the nickname of one of that sport's most famous games for a fundraiser played in his game ? disc golf ? though the similarities may not end with just that moniker.

Vicich, a nationally-ranked performer in the up-and-coming sport of disc golf, has for the second straight year organized "The Ice Bowl," a disc golf tournament held at the Pine Hills Golf Course this Saturday and benefiting the Ottawa Community Food Basket.

Named after the famed 1967 NFL championship game between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys where temperatures reached 15-below zero, this year's event will also experience a big weather-related challenge. After a few days of light snow and frigid temperatures, the course that day is expected to see temps around 28 degrees and more flurries, making the competition even more interesting to competitors and fans alike.

"I think it's great that it might actually be the challenge of a true 'Ice Bowl' out there that day," laughed Vicich, a star in the Professional Disc Golf Association. "A couple of years ago when we had the big snowstorm, Joliet had one a day or two later and still had 80-90 people come out, so ours will be played. ? We'd hope to get around that many people this year, if road conditions allow for the people coming from Bloomington, Joliet and the Quad Cities.

"Disc golfers are a tough bunch, not like the ball golfers who hide all winter," he joked. "They also know things are tough for families out there, and they love to help a good cause."

Last year's tournament drew around 30 two-person teams and raised over $1,100 and 200 pounds of food for the pantry.

This year's event is already on its way toward beating that goal. Along with Pine Hills donating the greens and cart fees for the day, the Kohl's Distribution Center "Associates in Action" have already contributed $500 and again will have on hand volunteers to assist running the event.

Vicich, who finished the 2012 season ranked 20th in the PDGA rankings, has tied several good causes to his efforts. Last summer, he accepted pledges and donations based on his efforts at the PDGA World Championships and contributed $1,000 to the American Cancer Society's fight against cancer, specifically theovarian cancer and leukemia that had claimed the lives of his mother and aunt.

"In the last three years I've taken some pretty big steps in my career, and this year I hope the trend continues," said Vicich, 28, also a substitute teacher in the Ottawa school systems and who plans to get married in the fall. "It's also neat to be able to help others along the way."

Participants for this weekend can register in advance by calling Pine Hills at (815) 434-3985 or from 9-10 a.m. the day of. The entry fee for competitors is $25 to $30, depending on competitive division, though spectators are encouraged to bring canned goods to donate out to Pine Hills, enjoy its restaurant and bar and watch the competition from the warmth of the clubhouse.

Tee off is at around 10:15 a.m.

For more information about this event and others that Vicich has planned for this coming spring and summer, go to danadiscgolf.com.

?

Source: http://www.mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=469737

victoria beckham London 2012 rhythmic gymnastics Meteor Shower August 2012 jessie j jessie j David Boudia David Rakoff

Georgia College Homecoming Concert Lineup Announced

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://hancock.13wmaz.com/news/arts-culture/81485-georgia-college-homecoming-concert-lineup-announced

Aj Mccarron Girlfriend linkedin linkedin CES 2013 joe budden notre dame notre dame football

Sharon Hope Church bands together to support member Jose Matos

As the entire church sang ?This Little Light of Mine? together with Jose Matos, the spirit of a community at Hope Church was clear.

?If you have an extra kidney, I can use one,? Matos joked with the crowd, eliciting a bubble of laughter from the all ages audience. Though he kept his tone light, the suggestion was all too real for Matos.

Currently, the former Marine and Vietnam veteran is waiting to be called to Louisville, KY, where he is a potential recipient for a new kidney. The Hope Church member and preacher, who also receives regular dialysis treatments, hopes to continue his work preaching around the country with the help of a healthy new organ, even joking about how convenient it would be to have an organ store.

In order to ease the financial burden of Matos?s potential call to Kentucky, Hope Church hosted ?A Night of Inspiration? this past Saturday, Jan. 26, to collect donations and raise awareness about Matos and his story.

?We wanted to do something to show him our love and support,? Tina Lopez, a member of the church and one of the event?s organizers, said over the sounds of acoustic guitar coming from the altar. ?We want to be a hope and support for someone in need, so we thought we?d take a leap of faith and try to plan something.?

The evening, which lasted from 7-9 p.m. and consisted of several volunteer musical acts and an intermission complete with snacks and punch, came together with the help of everyone from Sharon High School to ?friends of friends of church members? who just wanted to support a good cause, as Lopez explained.

Musical selections involved everything from an a capella group to saxophone jazz to Matos himself performing for the participant audience. When an act requested ?more voices? for their songs, the people filling the pews were quick to join them.

Even during the brief intermission, the crowd gathered together in the church basement over sweets and drinks, laughing and congratulating those who had already performed.

Despite the seriousness of the cause that brought them together, the attendees of ?A Night of Inspiration? were nothing if not positive, joining together to help someone Lopez described as ?part of [the] church family.?

?There?s always hope for everybody,? she explained. ?No one should ever feel hopeless.?

Donations for Jose Matos can be made as checks written to Hope Church with a memo stating that they are for ?Matos kidney transplant fund? and will be accepted at the church.

Source: http://www.wickedlocal.com/sharon/news/x171139356/Sharon-Hope-Church-bands-together-to-support-member-Jose-Matos

Hollister old navy walmart black friday walmart black friday Target Black Friday PacSun apple store

Wide area of U.S. faces unusual tornado threat in January

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A wide area of the central and southeast U.S. faces the unusual threat of tornadoes in January over the next 12 to 18 hours as an approaching cold front clashes with unusually warm air, a meteorologist said on Tuesday.

The first tornado warning of the approaching storm was issued on Tuesday for western Missouri, said meteorologist Bill Bunting at the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma.

A warning is intended to signal residents to take cover because a tornado could be forming. A less urgent tornado watch is in effect for a region from extreme northeast Texas through virtually all of Arkansas, western Tennessee and extreme southern Illinois.

"It's a little unusual," Bunting said of the tornado threat. "We don't see this every winter with this kind of warmth preceding a storm system."

Bunting said a lesser threat of severe storms and possible tornadoes extends over a huge area as far north as Chicago and extending east to Cincinnati, Ohio and Nashville, Tennessee and south into Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

"This weather system will reach its peak intensity this afternoon into the evening. It will only get stronger and cover a larger area over the next 12 to 18 hours," he said.

In Arkansas, forecasters predicted winds of up to 80 miles per hour and possible tornadoes throughout the state on Tuesday night.

The National Weather Service made a special release of weather balloons in Arkansas on Tuesday because of the threat.

The tornado threat was the latest development in a turbulent weather pattern.

Several cities set records for warmth on Monday and a few more record high temperatures were expected on Tuesday, although there were more clouds overhead to moderate temperature, Bunting said.

The high reached 74 degrees Fahrenheit in Kansas City on Monday, encouraging residents to go outside for a winter round of golf or to a park wearing shorts and flip flops.

By midmorning on Tuesday, the temperature had fallen to 43 degrees in Kansas City and was expected to fall to 28 overnight with a chance of snow.

The temperature was 61 degrees as far north as Chicago on Tuesday and the warmth extended into Indiana.

"The tornado and damaging wind threat will continue well after dark tonight," Bunting said, adding that people should be aware of the weather and be monitoring media reports.

Tornadoes are most dangerous after dark when residents are sometimes unable to see the approaching storm in time to take cover.

(Reporting By Greg McCune; Additional reporting by Suzi Parker in Little Rock and Kevin Murphy in Kansas City; Editing by Leslie Gevirtz)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wide-area-u-faces-unusual-tornado-threat-january-182537981.html

Early voting results BBC Dick Morris Daily Show provisional ballot npr rush limbaugh

5 Money Smart Moves for the New Year ? By Scott Gamm | One For ...

With the new year upon us, we tend to start tackling our resolutions in many areas, whether financial, academic or health-related. When it comes to managing money while in college, you?ll have a leg up if you consider these five money moves to make in 2013. From credit cards to savings to student loans, it?s time for a financial checkup.

1.? Credit Cards ? Get Them to Work For YOU

First on the list are credit cards. College students have too many. According to a 2009 Sallie Mae study, 50% of college students have over four credit cards.?Students only need one credit card. Period.

Why? Because the more credit cards you have, the more temptation there is to spend money, which will put you more at risk for getting into debt.

Credit cards should be viewed as a tool to build up a solid credit history and not as a way to finance a fancier lifestyle. This means using credit card for small purchases under $50 per month. This is a manageable monthly balance to pay off in full each month.

2.? Get Serious About Retirement

It sounds crazy to think about retirement while in college. But the earlier you start, the more you?ll end up with later on? thanks to compounding interest (which is simply interest on interest). Consider opening up a Roth IRA, for example, through an online discount brokerage firm or other financial institution. If you save $1,000 per year for the next forty or so years, just over $33 per month, you?ll have $250,000 in your Roth IRA at age 65 (given an average rate of return of 7%). That?s a lot better than spending that money each year on movie tickets!

This is easier said than done. To take action when it comes to retirement, you want to set aside a certain amount of money each month that will be entirely devoted to your Roth IRA?and not clothes or frozen yogurt.

3.? Pay Interest on Your Student Loans

Unless you have subsidized direct loans where the government pays the interest while you?re in school, interest will accrue during your college years (as opposed to simply starting to accumulate once you graduate).

If you have student loans, do everything you can to pay the interest on those loans?while you?re still in school. This will dramatically reduce the time it?ll take to become debt-free and you?ll save thousands in interest over the life of the loan.

4.? Think About Repayment Plans

If you are graduating in May, start thinking about how you?re going to repay those loans. With federal loans, you?ll be automatically enrolled into a 10-year repayment plan. If that monthly payment is too high, consider switching into the 25-year payment plan, which will result in a lower monthly payment.

But there is a catch. With that lower monthly payment, you?re actually paying more in interest over the life of the loan, compared to the standard plan. So try and stick with the 10-year plan, as it?s the fastest and cheapest repayment option. You also may be eligible for several income-based repayment plans that limit your monthly payments based on your income. Contact your loan servicer to inquire about switching plans.

With private student loans, there are fewer options and it will ultimately be up to the bank and the terms of the loan as to how your repayment plan will be structured.

5.? Make it Automatic

Streamline your finances by automating everything: your savings, bill payments and retirement savings. Have a certain amount of money (10% of your income) automatically transferred from your checking account to your savings account. this will force you to make do with less. Head over to your bank?s website to set this up. It takes a few minutes but is ultimately worth it in the long run.

Scott Gamm is author of MORE MONEY, PLEASE and founder of HelpSaveMyDollars.com. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter. He studies finance at NYU Stern.

Please note:

This article has been posted for your edification.? The views expresses in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Higher One, Inc.?In addition, the posting of this article by no means represents an endorsement by Higher One, Inc. of any of the products or services that may be included therein.

Source: http://www.higherone.com/oneforyourmoney/2013/01/28/5-money-smart-moves-for-the-new-year-by-scott-gamm/

hologram pulitzer prize winners nfl 2012 schedule gmail down tim lincecum ryan oneal file taxes online

Russian state TV presenter apologies for insulting parliament

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A presenter on Russian state-owned television has apologized for insulting parliament after lawmakers suggested they might bring in a law barring foreigners criticizing Russia on state media.

Vladimir Pozner, who holds Russian, American and French passports, angered deputies in the Duma by making a reference to "dura", which translates as "fool", while discussing a law banning Americans from adopting Russian children on his talk show in December.

Deputies responded by floating an idea to ban critical foreign passport holders from state television, which dominates the viewing figures and is seen very supportive of the Kremlin.

But in the latest edition of his Channel One show on Sunday, Pozner apologized for what he said was a slip of the tongue in saying "dura" by accident.

Deputies then said they were willing to put aside any plans for legislation over foreigners on state media - for now.

"Of course if such comments towards the higher authorities are repeated in the future, it will be impossible for us not to react," ruling United Russia party deputy Mikhail Starshinov said on Monday, according to Interfax news agency.

Since returning to the presidency in May, Vladimir Putin has enacted a string of laws that critics of the former KGB spy say are designed to stifle dissent and roll back democratic liberties, such as tightening Internet controls and raising fines for protesters.

(Reporting by Sonia Elks; Editing by Alison Williams)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russian-state-tv-presenter-apologies-insulting-parliament-171750907.html

strikeforce davy jones deep impact miesha tate vs ronda rousey idiocracy usssa baseball alex o loughlin

Google+ Becomes 2nd Most Used Social Media Network | Boston ...

It?s beginning to seem like anything that Google touches becomes Internet gold. Google+ has now become the 2^nd most popular Social Media Network in terms of share of users. While Google+ currently ranks 2nd at 25%, it has now surpassed Twitter and YouTube, who both came in tied in 3rd at 21%. Google still has a ways to go before catching up to the Social Media giant known as Facebook, with a stunning 51% of internet users are actively on Facebook.

http://www.getfoundquick.com/blog/company-news/google-becomes-2nd-most-used-social-media-network

glee boxing news Coptic Christian saturday night live julio cesar chavez jr Topless Kate university of texas

Man of Steel Writer ?Adores? Donner Films But Wanted More Real ...

Since the launch of the New 52, DC Comics has gotten quite a bit of mileage out of the idea that Superman would be a scary thing to come face to face to for the first time?and the revelation that Superman is an alien? Well, that would just be off the charts for many people.

It appears that Man of Steel is playing with a numebr of the same ideas, as screenwriter David Goyer told Empire Magazine this week (via CBM).

?We?re approaching Superman as if it weren?t a comic book movie, as if it were real,? said Goyer, who worked with producer Christopher Nolan on Man of Steel after the pair finished their work on the Dark Knight Trilogy. ?I adore the Donner films. Absolutely adore them. It just struck me that there was an idealist quality to them that may or may not work with today?s audience. It just struck me that if Superman really existed in the world, first of all this story would be a story about first contact.?

The writer added, ?He?s an alien. You can easily imagine a scenario in which we?d be doing a film like E.T., as opposed to him running around in tights. If the world found out he existed, it would be the biggest thing that ever happened in human history. It falls into that idea of trying to humanize the inhuman. He?s made out of steel, he?s not made out of flesh, metaphorically speaking. We are portraying him as a man, yet he?s not a man.?

That?s a pretty clear perspective on the character, although one that some readers might not agree with. That said, developing that approach was more difficult than figuring out how they wanted to approach Batman years ago.

?It is obviously a much longer process with a character like Superman. It is much easier to do a realistic take on Batman. You know nothing can hurt Superman, presumably other than Kryptonite,? Goyer said. ?The challenge was simply: can we figure out a way to make those elements work, quote unquote, in the real world? It?s very much a story of a man with two fathers.?

GD Star Rating
loading?

GD Star Rating
loading?

Man of Steel Writer ?Adores? Donner Films But Wanted More Real Approach, 10.0 out of 10 based on 1 rating

Source: http://comicbook.com/blog/2013/01/28/man-of-steel-writer-adores-donner-films-but-wanted-more-real-approach/

micron susan g komen kenyon martin kenyon martin big miracle slab city super bowl snacks