Hyped plan to end Syria crisis falls flat

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The much-hyped plan to end Syria's misery and guide its transition to democracy appears to have fallen flat despite the endorsement of Western powers.

Russia's objections gutted the most stringent conditions on a potential interim leader in Damascus. The Syrian opposition quickly dismissed the proposal as a waste of time and with "no value on the ground."

The U.S. and its allies insist the plan will force Syrian President Bashar Assad from power. Russia disagrees and Assad is unlikely to acquiesce.

It all leaves U.N. envoy Kofi Annan's efforts to end 15 months of bloodshed no better off than before.

Western nations needed to win Russia's backing for the plan at an international conference Saturday in Geneva, so they dropped the demand that "those whose continued presence and participation would undermine the credibility of the transition and jeopardize stability and reconciliation" would be excluded from the process.

That was widely understood to mean Assad and much of his inner circle, and while the West insisted, Assad's main allies in Moscow resisted intensely.

As a result, the plan contains no criteria for excluding anyone from the transitional government and leaves its composition entirely up to the "mutual consent" of Assad administration and the fractured opposition. Both sides presumably have unlimited veto power over members of the interim government, which could prolong the stalemate and keep Assad in charge.

U.S. and Western officials acknowledge the possibility of that scenario. But they insist that the "mutual consent" language puts the opposition on equal footing with Assad in determining who will be part of the governing body.

Annan said he could not imagine that the Syrian people would choose anyone with blood on their hands to lead them.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, going further, said the plan requires Assad to leave because there is no chance he can meet the "mutual consent" standard.

"What we have done here is to strip away the fiction that he and those with blood on their hands can stay in power," she said.

Yet as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed out, the plan excludes no one. Nor does it give anyone without a vested interest any authority to suggest who might or might not be acceptable.

That's why Assad's foes are skeptical, at the very least.

"The country has been destroyed and they want us then to sit with the killer?" asked opposition figure Haitham Maleh.

Bassma Kodmani, a Paris-based spokeswoman for the main opposition group, the Syrian National Council (SNC), said the agreement was "ambiguous" and lacks a mechanism or timetable for implementation.

Western officials say they expect Russia and China, which have blocked U.N. action on Syria, to make the case to Assad that he needs to step down for the good of his country. They hope, as Clinton said Saturday, that Assad will "see the writing on the wall" and remove himself from the equation.

So far, though, neither has shown any inclination to back away from defending Assad.

Clinton and her Western counterparts will take the Annan plan to a meeting of the "Friends of Syria" group in Paris on Friday to get a broader endorsement of the deal. This, they hope, will raise the pressure on Russia and China to convince Assad of the need to get the transition started.

Should that fail and the process remain stalled, they intended to return to the U.N. Security Council for a resolution that would compel compliance.

The SNC said nearly 800 people have been killed in violence across the country in the past week and that more than 14,000 people have died in the 15-month-old uprising against Assad's rule.

There's an urgent need for a solution because the conflict is threatening to spill across borders after Syria shot down a warplane from neighboring Turkey, which responded by setting up anti-aircraft guns along the frontier.

___

EDITOR'S NOTE ? Matthew Lee covers international affairs and U.S. foreign policy for The Associated Press.

___

Online:

Clinton statement: http://tinyurl.com/7fjpj54

An AP News Analysis

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-plan-end-syria-crisis-falls-flat-174529569.html

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Sunoco refinery to stay open in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? The oldest and largest refinery on the East Coast will stay open thanks to a deal between Sunoco and the private equity firm The Carlyle Group, with the groups announcing Monday that they have agreed to terms on a joint venture at the facility.

The new venture also will make a substantial investment in the facility to help it import lower-cost oil from North Dakota's Bakken formation, shift to refining a higher proportion of ultra-low-sulfur diesel and use natural gas from the booming Marcellus Shale formation that lies below much of Pennsylvania, Carlyle officials said.

The Philadelphia refinery, which had struggled to make money as the price of imported crude oil rose, was scheduled to close in August. In April, Sunoco announced that it had entered into "exclusive discussions" with Carlyle about a possible joint venture involving the 330,000-barrels-per-day facility, which has about 850 workers.

On Monday, the groups announced they had agreed to form Philadelphia Energy Solutions, a joint venture that will enable the facility to continue operating with the help of millions of dollars in state taxpayer subsidies. In a statement, the companies said the agreement will save all of the current refining jobs and create up to 200 more as the refinery is updated and expanded. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

"This is the best possible outcome for everyone involved," Brian P. MacDonald, Sunoco's chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement. "Existing jobs will be saved, new jobs will be created and new business opportunities will be given the chance to develop."

Federal energy officials had warned that the refinery's closure could lead to gas price spikes in some parts of the northeastern United States. Labor unions pushed to keep the facility open, and all levels of government got involved, from White House economic adviser Gene Sperling to Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, to cut red tape and speed up approvals.

"This is a big fill-in-the-blank deal," said U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, D-Pa.

Union leaders praised the agreement, while members were scheduled to vote on a new, reworked contract Monday.

"This wouldn't have happened were there not a union there willing to fight for this facility," United Steelworkers president Leo Gerard said.

A key thrust of the new venture will be to improve refining efficiency, reduce waste and emissions and cut down on the reliance on more expensive foreign oil. Carlyle Managing Director Rodney Cohen said the company planned $200 million worth of capital improvements and would bring in a new leadership team.

"We are going to explore a range of new energy and chemical businesses," Cohen said on a conference call.

One challenge will be to expand the facility's connection to domestic oil and gas pipelines.

The plans include building a high-speed train unloading facility to bring in up to 140,000 barrels a day of domestic oil, particularly high-quality, low sulfur crude from the Bakken, Carlyle officials said.

Carlyle said it also wants to expand the use of Marcellus Shale natural gas as a lower-cost, lower-emission fuel for its refinery while exploring the possibilities of producing natural gas liquids or other natural gas byproducts. A number of parties are looking at getting involved in transporting the gas to the refinery, Carlyle officials said.

Under terms of the agreement, Sunoco will contribute its refinery assets to the joint venture in exchange for a non-operating minority interest. Carlyle will have the majority interest and oversee day-to-day operations, officials said.

Gov. Tom Corbett lauded the announcement of the project, which is getting state support. A tax-free zone is possible for the site, while the state is offering up to $25 million in grants and the opportunity to issue tax-exempt bonds, Corbett said.

___

Associated Press writer Marc Levy contributed to this report from Harrisburg, Pa.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-07-02-Refineries%20For%20Sale/id-4f879cdb59ed41b7a1e038e5b667b853

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APNewsBreak: On verge of new particle discovery

GENEVA (AP) ? Scientists say the world's biggest atom smasher plans to announce Wednesday enough evidence has been gathered to show that the long-sought "God particle" answering fundamental questions about the universe does indeed exist.

But after decades of work and billions of dollars spent, researchers at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, say they aren't quite ready to set off celebratory fireworks with an official discovery announcement.

Instead, experts familiar with the research at CERN's vast complex on the Swiss-French border say Monday its massive data will essentially show the footprint and shadow of the key particle known as the Higgs boson, rather than provide proof it has been glimpsed or discovered.

CERN theorist John Ellis says "we've discovered something which is consistent with being a Higgs."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2012-07-02-EU-Switzerland-God-Particle/id-8dc73ba74fc0428b821fd7320fb3878f

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A 3-week show of prudent play

Admittedly, claiming a major tournament on a thoughtful platform of efficiency and ?prudent conservation? isn?t so sexy.

It?s certainly not as alluring or intoxicating as, say, creating history by mercilessly punishing a litany of hapless opposition, by winning through a series of lopsided results.

Spain may reign today, but everyone had hoped for more of that flashy 4-0 flourish along the way. We wanted to be treated to more of the Spanish hammer (as in Sunday?s Kiev kick-around) rather than seeing the champs chisel deliberately away with the precision tools.

But the manner in which Spain just made history really deserves proper recognition. Because the Spanish just stitched together a masterpiece ? never mind some unappreciative grumbling along the way about Spain making its case in underwhelming style.

But Vicente del Bosque didn?t bring Spain to Eastern Europe to wow and impress in first-round matches or in some early elimination contest. They came to make grand history, and such high ambition cannot be entrusted to breathless unrestraint.

We may have wanted to be entertained; but Spain simply wanted to win, coveting that unprecedented third major tournament title (Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, Euro 2012). So win they did, through patient self-regulation, through the tricky tenets of ?doing just enough.?

We talked for three weeks of Spain never achieving the best version of itself, about apparent contentment and the need for blessed discontent, about possibly lacking that final, telling pang of hunger.

But did we have it wrong all along? Was del Bosque (pictured) simply having his men play a little Spanish possum en route to Sunday?s final in Kiev?? We all wondered where the ?real? Spain might be hiding. In reality, they just didn?t need to be ?full Spain? very often.

They wisely determined just how much of the full Spanish treatment three successful weeks in Poland and Ukraine would require. So they got a lead and then got smart time and again, dropping the energy output a smidge ? while the rest of us selfishly shouted ?Go, go, go! ? Why won?t they go??

All that passing, passing, passing ? the possession for possession?s sake that sometimes looked like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso and the rest were cruising down a highway but content to travel at a safer ?school zone speed.?

It made us wonder if Spain was vulnerable. In truth, we weren?t giving Spain sufficient credit for thinking this one through. ?Italian manager Cesare Prandelli took in ample praise for getting things right against Germany, and deservedly so. But what about that wily ol? del Bosque, a cunning Spanish fox who got it right in a bigger way.

Let?s not forget, this really is a grueling tournament. The teams Sunday in Kiev were playing their sixth match in 22 days. That?s one contest about every three and a half days ? and what a taxing, debilitating slog it is.

Early Sunday the ESPN announcers wondered why del Bosque?s men couldn?t look more like they did in extra time against Portugal, when they leaned in for further offensive push, pinning the Portuguese back with the extra run, the quicker pass, the earlier ball forward and the higher intensity, generally.

But again, perhaps we weren?t giving Spain enough credit for managing the energy level, for always keeping a restrictor plate on this classic car, for doing just enough and leaving plenty in reserve.

Don?t forget, this is a Spanish team that won a World Cup by scoring eight goals (Just eight, in seven matches!), another lesson in patient application of effort. So perhaps trophy acquisition at Euro 2012 by way of wise conservation shouldn?t have been surprising at all.

By the 60^th minute Sunday, Italy looked exhausted. Yes, it was unfortunate the Azzurri had to finish with 10 men, but Prandelli?s unit would likely have been similarly pooped with 11.

The Italians, not quite good enough to hold something back and still steer through the elimination rounds, were spent.

Spain, one of the best teams of all time (there can be little argument now) could afford to pace the enterprise a bit. They did so expertly.

Source: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/01/spain-just-delivered-a-three-week-lesson-in-prudent-patient-application-of-effort/related

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Louisiana Gov. Jindal still refuses to implement Obamacare

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/louisiana-gov-bobby-jindal-refuses-implement-obamacare-despite-152429092.html

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Worker admits stealing card, racking up $4K playing Facebook games

POSTED: Friday, June 29, 2012 - 1:45pm

UPDATED: Friday, June 29, 2012 - 1:49pm

NATIONAL NEWS (CNN) ? A hotel worker in Montgomery County is accused of stealing a customer's credit card and then charging more than $4,000 playing games on Facebook.

On Nov. 18, 2011 an Illinois woman was traveling to Florida and stopped for the night at the Super 8 Motel in Clarksville on Holiday Drive.

Police said the woman paid for the room using a credit card, but her information was copied and later used without her permission.

When the victim looked at her March 1, 2012, credit card statement, there were 42 fraudulent transactions totaling $4,159.99 between Feb. 1 and 17.

The victim filed a report with her local police department in Washington, IL, who conducted an investigation and traced the source of the illegal transactions to Belinda Fay Blake, 51, of Clarksville, TN, an employee of the Super 8 Motel.

All of the transactions, except one, were to Facebook.com for online gaming such as Cityville, Farmville, etc. The one exception was a transaction for the purchase of computer security software.

On June 20, 2012, Illinois police contacted Clarksville police, who started investigating.

Police interviewed Blake, who admitted to using the Illinois woman's card information to make purchases for online gaming. Black also admitted to using several other people's credit card information to make purchases.

Blake is charged with illegal possession and use of a credit card. Her bond was set at $5,000.

Source: http://www.nbc33tv.com/news/national-news/worker-admits-stealing-card-racking-up-4k-playing-facebook-games

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US, Russia discuss Syria ahead of Geneva talks

AAA??Jun. 29, 2012?2:27 PM ET
US, Russia discuss Syria ahead of Geneva talks
By MATTHEW LEEBy MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press??

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. pay their respects during a flower-laying at the Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad, Thursday, June 28, 2012, in St. Petersburg, Russia. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. pay their respects during a flower-laying at the Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad, Thursday, June 28, 2012, in St. Petersburg, Russia. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton looks up at a monument for WWII victims in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, listens to question during his and Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalam, unseen, news conference in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, June 28, 2012. Russia is denying comments by a U.S. official that it has endorsed a Syrian transition plan that includes a call for President Bashar Assad to give up power in favor of a national unity government saying that outside forces must concentrate on convincing opposition groups to soften their demands. But, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied that Thursday. "We are not supporting and will not support any external meddling,? he said. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, listens to Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalam, unseen, during their talks in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, June 28, 2012. Russia is denying comments by a U.S. official that it has endorsed a Syrian transition plan that includes a call for President Bashar Assad to give up power in favor of a national unity government saying that outside forces must concentrate on convincing opposition groups to soften their demands. But, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied that Thursday. "We are not supporting and will not support any external meddling,? he said. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this Thursday, June 28, 2012 photo, embers of the Free Syrian Army are seen in a neighborhood of Damascus, Syria. Much of the violence that has gripped Syria has been sanctioned by the government to crush dissent. But rebel fighters are launching increasingly deadly attacks on regime targets, and several huge suicide bombings this year suggest al-Qaida or other extremists are joining the battle. A bomb blast rocked central Damascus on Thursday near a busy market and the country's main justice complex, wounding at least three people and sending a cloud of black smoke into the air. (AP Photo)

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) ? The top U.S. and Russian diplomats have held talks on Syria ahead of an international conference on Saturday that aims to ease Syrian President Bashar Assad from power.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met for about an hour Friday in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

Lavrov told reporters afterward that the two "are agreeing on most things."

The former Cold War foes have clashed repeatedly since violence broke out in Syria 16 months ago.

The U.S. wants Assad to leave power. Russia opposes any "external meddling" in Syrian affairs.

The U.S., Russia and other world powers are gathering in Geneva on Saturday. U.N. mediator Kofi Annan wants them to agree on a plan calling for a national unity government in Syria.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-06-29-Syria%20Diplomacy/id-667c025af46446f68a5a298026c1d611

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