Morales say COCA is good..

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) -- President Evo Morales says he is "proud" of coca growers in Bolivia's Chapare region for expelling a U.S. government aid agency amid charges it backs his government's opponents.

Bolivian leader Evo Morales calls the expulsion "part of a growing rebellion against the empire."

Morales calls the region's decision to suspend operations of the U.S. Agency for International Development "part of a growing rebellion against the empire," a reference to the United States.

Sinahota Mayor Rimer Agreda said Friday that USAID personnel had left the region.

Chapare's growers on Wednesday accused the agency of using aid to undermine Morales, an opponent of U.S. efforts to eradicate coca, the base ingredient in cocaine.

The U.S. Embassy has not commented.

On Wednesday, the embassy expressed concern about the security of the agency's staff in Chapare

Mugabe sworn in...

Mugabe sworn in after disputed Zimbabwean election

• Story Highlights
• NEW: Mugabe swears to "truly serve Zimbabwe ... so help me God"
  
• Opposition denounces election as "a one-man race, a one-man circus"
  
• Observers say Zimbabweans "dragged" to polling stations, forced to vote
  
• Election has been condemned as a sham after opposition candidate withdrew

Spanish PM: No more talks with ETA

Spanish PM: No more talks with ETA

* Story Highlights
* Spanish PM says his government is no longer prepared to talk to ETA
* Zapatero: "Dialogue has proved useless, seeing what ETA has done"
* ETA's 2006 cease-fire collapsed nine months ago

Ruslana Korshunova fall in New York...

NEW YORK (AP) -- A European Vogue cover model fell to her death from her Manhattan apartment building Saturday in an apparent suicide, published reports said.

Fashion model Ruslana Korshunova died Saturday in a fall from her apartment building in New York.

Ruslana Korshunova, 20, died around 2:30 p.m. in a fall from a building on Water Street, in Manhattan's Financial District, The New York Post, the Daily News and Newsday reported. The newspapers cited unnamed officials and police.

Police said the fall was under investigation. Korushnova's New York agency and a spokeswoman for medical examiners did not immediately return telephone messages.

Originally from the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, the almond-eyed, flowing-haired Korshunova appeared in advertisements and on runways for such designers as Marc Jacobs, Nina Ricci and DKNY. British Vogue hailed her as "a face to be excited about" in 2005.

Her break came when modeling booker Debbie Jones noticed her while perusing an in-flight magazine article about Korushnova's hometown of Almaty, according to the Vogue report

PM: Ka Ting has given hints

PUTRAJAYA: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting had hinted many times to the Prime Minister that he would not be defending his post in the next party election.

As such, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he was not too surprised to hear of Ong’s decision and that of MCA deputy president Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy not to seek re-election.

“I believe the MCA wants the party to continue to survive and contribute to the Chinese community and nation.

“The party can continue to discuss and reach consensus within the Barisan Nasional with Umno and other component parties,” he said, adding that there was no need to speculate on the decisions taken by the MCA.

Its a brilliant choice.... and a wise one too...

Anwar files suit against former aide

KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has filed a suit against his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan for allegedly lodging a false, malicious and libellous police report against him.

The suit was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court civil registry by Anwar’s lawyers R. Sivarasa, Ranjit Singh and William Leong at about 10.30am on Monday.

Saiful had on Saturday lodged a police report alleging that he had been sodomised by Anwar, a former deputy prime minister.

Anwar is residing at the Turkish Embassy here, saying that he fears for his life after receiving death threats.

Is time to get some fair trial ....!!!

Anwar takes up refuge offer from Turkish embassy

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sought refuge at the Turkish Embassy at the invitation of its Ambassador to Malaysia Barlas Ozener. The PKR de factor leader wrote on his blog at anwaribrahimblog.com that he had gone to the embassy because he feared for his personal safety.

“I was transported to the embassy earlier this morning (Sunday). I thank all those who offered to assist me in this time of need and am grateful to the Turkish ambassador for extending an invitation to me to seek refuge within the embassy,” he said.

“I would like to assure my family, friends and supporters in Malaysia that I am safe and remain committed as ever before in continuing the struggle for a free and just Malaysia.”

He also alleged that since the general election, he had received information from credible sources within the Government and military intelligence that there were agents from within the Barisan Nasional leadership who were plotting to harm him, his family or supporters.

Anwar said he would make public new evidence which implicated Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

He also termed the new allegations against him as a charade orchestrated by the Barisan leadership and meant to undermine the reform that started after the general election.

“The allegations that have been made against me on Saturday are nothing more than a replay of the events which transpired in 1998 when I was sacked from the office of the deputy prime minister, jailed and beaten, and then charged and convicted by a kangaroo court for crimes which I never committed.”

A group of Anwar supporters gathered outside the embassy from 4pm and later some PKR leaders also emerged.Anwar takes up refuge offer from Turkish embassy

Anwar takes up refuge offer from Turkish embassy

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sought refuge at the Turkish Embassy at the invitation of its Ambassador to Malaysia Barlas Ozener.

The PKR de factor leader wrote on his blog at anwaribrahimblog.com that he had gone to the embassy because he feared for his personal safety.

“I was transported to the embassy earlier this morning (Sunday). I thank all those who offered to assist me in this time of need and am grateful to the Turkish ambassador for extending an invitation to me to seek refuge within the embassy,” he said.

“I would like to assure my family, friends and supporters in Malaysia that I am safe and remain committed as ever before in continuing the struggle for a free and just Malaysia.”

He also alleged that since the general election, he had received information from credible sources within the Government and military intelligence that there were agents from within the Barisan Nasional leadership who were plotting to harm him, his family or supporters.

Anwar said he would make public new evidence which implicated Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

He also termed the new allegations against him as a charade orchestrated by the Barisan leadership and meant to undermine the reform that started after the general election.

“The allegations that have been made against me on Saturday are nothing more than a replay of the events which transpired in 1998 when I was sacked from the office of the deputy prime minister, jailed and beaten, and then charged and convicted by a kangaroo court for crimes which I never committed.”

A group of Anwar supporters gathered outside the embassy from 4pm and later some PKR leaders also emerged.

Why Turkey ?

Prince Harry honors fallen troops

Story Highlights

Harry serves in British Army and spent 10 weeks in Afghanistan this year
Decision was made to pull prince from Afghanistan amid fears for his safety
Harry marched with 200 sailors, soldiers, marines, airmen at parade in Edinburgh
Service took place on the same day four UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan

Sixth severed foot surfaces off Canadian coast

(CNN) -- A severed foot -- the sixth in 11 months -- washed up on the shore of a Canadian island on Wednesday, police said

The right foot was found by a woman walking on the beach, said Sgt. Mike Tresoor of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the town of Campbell River on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

"A local citizen walking on a beach in Tyee Spit located what appears to be human remains of a right foot in an approximate size 10 black Adidas running shoe," police said in a written statement.

The foot will be examined by a forensic pathologist, and DNA testing will be requested, said the statement posted on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Web site. Sandra Malone, manager of the Thunderbird RV Park and Campground on the spit, said a woman came in about 10:30 a.m. and asked her to call police, saying she had found the shoe with the foot inside it.

While waiting for police, Malone said, she walked to the beach with the woman and saw it for herself.

"You could see the foot that's inside the running shoe," she said. "The leg bones were coming out of the running shoe about 3 to 4 inches. There were no tissues or anything attached."

Truce takes effect between Israel and militants in Gaza

GAZA (CNN) -- A truce between Israel and Palestinian militants in Hamas-ruled Gaza took effect at 6 a.m. local time Thursday, after both sides spent the previous day trading blows

More than two dozen rockets were launched into Israel from Gaza on Wednesday, with Israel striking back with airstrikes. The Egyptian-brokered deal comes a year after the Palestinian Islamic party Hamas took control of Gaza from forces loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. By agreeing to deal with Hamas through Egyptian mediators, Israel appears to be bending its policy of completely excluding Hamas.

"The real question is whether the cease-fire will hold, how long it will hold, and whether it can be used to build upon and improve the situation and crisis," said Haim Malka of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

But Meir Harash, a Jerusalem resident, told CNN he had "not a lot of faith" in the cease-fire -- "cautious optimism at best."

Israel excluded Hamas from peace talks, since the group refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist. Instead, it has dealt with the more moderate Palestinian Authority leadership in the West Bank.

But Palestinians voted overwhelmingly for a Hamas-led government during a U.S.-backed vote in 2006. Abbas dissolved that government after Hamas seized control of Gaza, which had long been under the control of Palestinian forces loyal to Abbas' Fatah Party.

Clinton claims victory in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (CNN) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton claimed victory in Puerto Rico on Sunday and insisted that she is leading Sen. Barack Obama in the popular vote.

Clinton won 68 percent of the vote compared with Obama's 32 percent. Her vote tally was 263,120; his was 121,458. The win gives Clinton the larger share of Puerto Rico's 55 delegates.

The Democratic primary season ends Tuesday when Montana and South Dakota cast their votes. "When the voting concludes on Tuesday, neither Sen. Obama nor I will have the number of delegates to be the nominee," she said in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

"I will lead the popular vote; he will maintain a slight lead in the delegate count," she said.

Obama leads in the overall delegate count -- 2,070 to Clinton's 1,915.

I am right behind you Clinton ... !!!

U.N. donates tents for those displaced by xenophobic attacks

Story Highlights

• Thousands remain without proper shelter, prompting complaints
  
• The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees has donated 2,000 tents
  
• Up to 100,000 people fled their homes amid xenophobic attacks

Brought to you by Datco, your alliance in performance www.datco.com.my

Sales of Spam rise as consumers trim spending

MILWAUKEE - Love it, hate it or laugh at it — at least it's inexpensive.

Sales of Spam — that much maligned meat — are rising as consumers are turning more to lunch meats and other lower-cost foods to extend their already stretched food budgets. What was once cheeky, silly and the subject of a Monty Python musical, Spam is now back on the table as people turn to the once-snubbed canned meat as costs rise, analysts say.

U.S. food prices rose 4 percent last year, the fastest pace in nearly two decades, according to the Agriculture Department. Many staples are rising even faster, with white bread up 13 percent last year, bacon up 7 percent and peanut butter up 9 percent. There's no sign of a slowdown. Food inflation is running at an annualized rate of 6.1 percent as of April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The price of Spam is up too, with the average 12-ounce can costing about $2.62. That's an increase of 17 cents, or nearly 7 percent, from the same time last year. But it's not stopping sales, as the pork meat in a can seems like a good alternative to consumers. Kimberly Quan, a stay-at-home mom of three who lives just outside San Francisco, has been feeding her family more Spam in the last six months as she tries to make her food budget go further.

She cooks meals like Spam fried rice and Spam sandwiches two or three times a month, up from once a month previously. Pulling Spam from the shelf prevents last-minute grocery store trips and overspending, said Quan, 38, of Pleasanton, Calif.

"It's canned meat and it's in the cupboard and if everything else is gone from the fridge, it's there," she said.

Indonesia to withdraw from OPEC

Indonesia to withdraw from OPEC

Indonesia to withdraw from OPEC at end of the year, energy minister says
Purnomo Yusgiantoro says Indonesia more of an oil consumer than producer
Low production means Southeast Asia's only OPEC member is net oil importer

Grisly baby murder cases shock Germany

BERLIN (AP) -- Babies stashed away in freezers. A tiny skeleton found in a fish tank. Infants suffocated in plastic bags. Germany has been gripped by soul-searching over a series of grisly cases of mothers murdering their babies at a time when the state is pushing legislation to encourage people to have more children.

Many of the suspects have been struggling single women who hid their pregnancy from friends and family, gave birth alone and killed the newborn out of fear or desperation -- increasing calls for support programs for single mothers. In the latest case, police in the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg said Wednesday that a 20-year-old woman confessed to putting her newborn infant in the freezer about three or four weeks ago, thinking it was dead.

An autopsy has shown that the child was alive when put into the freezer and the woman, who was not identified, has been taken into custody.

Woman dies after life spent in iron lung

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (AP) -- For almost 60 years, Dianne Odell lived inside a 7-foot-long metal tube, unable to breathe outside it but determined not to let it destroy her spirit. From her 750-pound iron lung, she got a high school diploma, took college courses and wrote a children's book about a "wishing star" named Blinky.

"I've had a very good life, filled with love and family and faith," she said in 1994. "You can make life good, or you can make it bad."

Odell, 61, died Wednesday when a power failure shut off electricity to the tube and stopped the pump drawing air into her lungs. Family members were unable to get an emergency generator working after a power failure knocked out electricity to the Odell family's residence near Jackson, about 80 miles northeast of Memphis, brother-in-law Will Beyer said.

"We did everything we could do, but we couldn't keep her breathing," Beyer said. "Dianne had gotten a lot weaker over the past several months, and she just didn't have the strength to keep going."

Odell, who contracted polio when she was 3 years old, lived with her parents, Freeman and Geneva Odell, and their house was equipped with an emergency generator designed to fire up immediately in a power failure.

"But for some reason, it didn't come on," Beyer said.

Family members even tried an emergency hand pump attached to the iron lung. "Everyone knew what we were supposed to be doing," Beyer said. "It just wasn't working." Capt. Jerry Elston of the Madison County Sheriff's Department said emergency crews could do little to help. The local power company reported spotty power outages in the area because of storms.

Odell was afflicted with "bulbo-spinal" polio three years before a polio vaccine was discovered and largely stopped the spread of the crippling childhood disease. Her care was provided by her parents, other family members and aides provided by a nonprofit foundation.

"Dianne was one of the kindest and most considerate people you could meet. She was always concerned about others and their well-being," said Frank McMeen, president of the West Tennessee Health Care Foundation, which helped raise money for equipment and nursing assistance for Odell.

Odell accepted her life with grace, McMeen said.

"Everyone she encountered came to her because they cared about her," he said, "so she grew up in her 61 years thinking every person is good."

Odell's iron lung, similar to those used during the U.S. polio epidemics that peaked in the 1950s, was a cylindrical chamber with a seal at the neck. She lay on her back with only her head exposed and made eye contact with visitors through an angled mirror. She operated a television set with a small blow tube and wrote on a voice-activated computer.

The positive and negative pressures produced by the machine forced air into her lungs and then expelled it. Iron lungs were largely replaced by positive-pressure airway ventilators in the late 1950s that give users much more freedom of movement. But a spinal deformity from the polio kept Odell from wearing a more modern portable breathing device.

Joan Headley of Post-Polio Health International in St. Louis said that about 30 people in the United States still rely on iron lungs but that few users are confined to them all the time. No one keeps records, she said, on the longest confinement.

Caregivers could slide Odell's bedding out of her iron lung for basic nursing care but only briefly, McMeen said. Though Odell could not leave the iron lung, she was able to be moved in the machine. For her 60th birthday, in February 2007, friends and family held a party for her, with about 200 guests, at a downtown hotel in Jackson, a town of about 50,000 residents.

"She had a 9-foot birthday cake, and she had letters ... from people all over the country," McMeen said.

May you rest in peace, and people should learn to appreciate and your determinaton.....

Weeks of rain bring disease to Colombia

Story Highlights

Colombia flooding has left 14 dead, 100 injured and 100,000 homeless
Downpours caused Colombia's main waterway, Magdalena River, to overflow
Flood-related illnesses tied to lack of hygiene have begun to break out
Red Cross warehouses will run out of supplies within a week, officials say

Woman admits helping pass secrets to China

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Chinese woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to helping a spy provide the Chinese government with U.S. military secrets about arms sales to Taiwan. Yu Sin Kang, a Chinese citizen living legally in the United States, admitted serving as an intermediary for the delivery of classified information from agent Tai Shen Kuo to the Chinese government. Kang, 33, faces up to 10 years in prison when she is sentenced August 1 in federal court in Virginia.

Mars lander sends photos from Red Planet's arctic

Story Highlights

NEW: Photos show lander touched down safely, offer new views of Mars
Mars Phoenix Lander began taking photos shortly after traveling 422 million miles
Phoenix mission is to analyze planet's soils to find signs of life
Experts weren't optimistic about a smooth landing

New London Mayor scraps Venezuela oil deal

LONDON, England (AP) -- The British capital's new mayor, Boris Johnson is ending a controversial deal that has provided cheap Venezuelan fuel for London's transport network. The agreement, signed last year by the Conservative Johnson's predecessor and Labour Party rival, Ken Livingstone, provided discounted gas for London's iconic red buses in exchange for advice on urban planning in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital.

Money saved on gas was put into a program providing half-rate bus fares for low-income Londoners. Livingstone said the anti-poverty initiative was the idea of Venezuela's left-wing leader, Hugo Chavez, whom Livingstone said he has long admired. Conservative critics said the deal allowed one of the world's richest cities to exploit a lesser developed country and handed a propaganda coup to a man they called "a third-rate South American dictator."

Johnson echoed those criticisms in a statement announcing he would not renew the agreement when it expires in August.

Crazy or Loving ?