BALTIMORE, Maryland March 25, 2014 - Despite the turmoil, the games continue to go forth. On Sunday, Dnipro beat powerful Shakhtar Donetsk, 2-0. That result, combined with Dynamo Kiev's 4-0 victory over Metalurg Zaporozhye has jammed up the Premier League Standings, even as the regular season quickly approaches its conclusion. Artem Fedeckyj scored at time in the first half to put Dnipro ahead and Matheus Nascimento hit the back of the net in the 83 minute to give the visitors a bit of breathing room over the final minutes. Dnipro keeper Denys Boyko recorded the shutout after making six saves. Because of these results, Shakhtar's lead in the Premier is trimmed to two points over Dynamo Kiev and three points over Dnipro, and Dnipro has a game in hand. Shakhtar has not defeated Dnipro since September, 2012.
In other results, Hoveria Uzhhorod defeated Karpaty, 1-0; Volyn Lutsk and Vorskla Poltava played a scoreless draw; Metalist Donetsk shutout Zorya, 4-0; Tavriya and Ch Odessa drew at 0-0; and Dynamo Kiev defeated Matalurg Zaporozhye, 4-0. The match between FC Sevastopol and Metalist Kharkiv was postponed for obvious reasons. These are the up-to-date standings:
1. Shakhtar Donetsk: 41 points, 13 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses
2. Dynamo Kiev: 39 points, 12 wins, 3 draws, 4 losses
3. Dnipro: 38 points, 11 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses
4. Metalist Kharkiv: 34 points, 9 wins, 7 draws, 1 loss
5. FC Chornomorets Odesa: 33 points, 9 wins, 6 draws, 3 losses
6. Metalist Donetsk: 27 points, 7 wins, 6 draws, 6 losses
7. Vorskla Poltava: 27 points, 6 wins, 9 draws, 4 losses
8. Zorya: 25 points, 6 wins, 7 draws, 6 losses
9. Volyn Lutsk: 24 points, 6 wins, 6 draws, 7 losses
10. Karpaty: 19 points, 4 wins, 7 draws, 7 losses
11. FC Sevastopol: 19 points, 5 wins, 4 draws, 9 losses
12. Mariupol: 18 points, 5 wins, 3 draws, 10 losses
13. Hoverla Uzhhorod: 18 points, 5 wins, 3 draws, 11 losses
14. Tavriya: 9 points, 2 wins, 3 draws, 14 points
15. Metalurg Zaporozhye: 8 points, 1 win, 5 draws, 13 losses
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
14 Dead, 176 Missing in Washington State Mudslide; Emergency Crews Make Astounding Rescues
BALTIMORE, Maryland March 25, 2014 - A mudslide so large and encompassing that it mowed down everything in its path with a wall of mud has killed at least 14 people and left up to 176 others unaccounted for and missing. In the wake of the completely unanticipated occurrence, accounts of astounding rescues are emerging even as the President declared a disaster area and instructed FEMA to delve into all resources to aid the affected. The disaster area is in Snohomish County, Washington, which is some 55 miles east of Seattle. The mudslide is said to have been one mile wide and was made up of mud and debris created when one side of a large hill, some fifty to 70 feet high, gave way. Emergency calls to 911 depict victims screaming for help as entire communities are swallowed up in the mud.
Emergency workers made some truly amazing rescues. In one instant a four-year-old boy was pulled from mud and water that completely submerged him. In another case rescue workers were told to halt their advance because of the extremely dangerous conditions ahead of them, but they heard the cries of an infant and continued forward, then dug with their hands and yanked the child out of the mud, thereby saving his life.
The President made his declarations in Washington. Scores of emergency workers from around the country are descending on the area to search for survivors. Authorities have said that the list of missing may be high as descriptions of some of the missing are believed to be duplicative of each other.
Emergency workers made some truly amazing rescues. In one instant a four-year-old boy was pulled from mud and water that completely submerged him. In another case rescue workers were told to halt their advance because of the extremely dangerous conditions ahead of them, but they heard the cries of an infant and continued forward, then dug with their hands and yanked the child out of the mud, thereby saving his life.
The President made his declarations in Washington. Scores of emergency workers from around the country are descending on the area to search for survivors. Authorities have said that the list of missing may be high as descriptions of some of the missing are believed to be duplicative of each other.
Ukrainian, Russian Foreign Ministers Confer; Obama tells European Leaders to Spend More on Defense Because He is Slashing Defense Spending; Russia sends 10,000 Additional Troops to Ukraine Border
BALTIMORE, Maryland March 24, 2014 - The foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine have met face-to-face for the first time since the current crisis began in February of this year. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukraine's Acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia sat across a table from each other in a room without other diplomats today in Brussels, where both are attending a nuclear security summit in The Hague. At the same conference, USA President Barack Obama told Western leaders that they need to spend more on defense spending because he is slashing defense spending. This, as a new intelligence report says that Russia increased the number of troops on the Ukraine border by 50% over just this past weekend.
While few details about the meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian foreign ministers are known, Lavrov told the Western press at a briefing later that the two men "set forth our vision to establish good national dialogue taking into account all residents of Ukraine." A report in the London Evening Standard said Lavrov reportedly demanded constitutional change to give more autonomy for Ukraine’s regions. The Weekly Standard story said Russia is eager to retain its influence in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking eastern regions, including cities such as Donetsk, and prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. It is not known what Deshchytsia's reply was. Nor did Obama elaborate on his warning to his fellow Western leaders. He did not justify the huge cuts in USA defense spending.
Intelligence sources said that before this past weekend Russia was believed to have about 20,000 soldiers massed on the Ukraine Border, but rushed another 10,000 soldiers to the prospective front in the last three days. Those troops are known to be equipped with tanks, armored personnel carriers, attack helicopters, war planes, and heavy artillery.
Western leaders did agree to suspend Russia from membership in the G8 and change the group's name to the G7. Their next meeting was to be in Sochi, Russia, but that meeting has been changed to Brussels in June. Lavrov told the media that Russia was "unfazed" by the suspension, saying that Russia's membership in the group has "worn out its usefulness."
"If our Western partners think that this format has outlived itself, then so be it. At the very least, we are not trying to cling on to this format," Lavrov told reporters.
While few details about the meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian foreign ministers are known, Lavrov told the Western press at a briefing later that the two men "set forth our vision to establish good national dialogue taking into account all residents of Ukraine." A report in the London Evening Standard said Lavrov reportedly demanded constitutional change to give more autonomy for Ukraine’s regions. The Weekly Standard story said Russia is eager to retain its influence in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking eastern regions, including cities such as Donetsk, and prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. It is not known what Deshchytsia's reply was. Nor did Obama elaborate on his warning to his fellow Western leaders. He did not justify the huge cuts in USA defense spending.
Intelligence sources said that before this past weekend Russia was believed to have about 20,000 soldiers massed on the Ukraine Border, but rushed another 10,000 soldiers to the prospective front in the last three days. Those troops are known to be equipped with tanks, armored personnel carriers, attack helicopters, war planes, and heavy artillery.
Western leaders did agree to suspend Russia from membership in the G8 and change the group's name to the G7. Their next meeting was to be in Sochi, Russia, but that meeting has been changed to Brussels in June. Lavrov told the media that Russia was "unfazed" by the suspension, saying that Russia's membership in the group has "worn out its usefulness."
"If our Western partners think that this format has outlived itself, then so be it. At the very least, we are not trying to cling on to this format," Lavrov told reporters.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Memo to NCBWA and Baseball America: If you won't take the time to do the polls seriously, just don't do them.
BALTIMORE, Maryland March 24, 2014 - This is a memorandum to the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association and, specifically, to the folk responsible for their Division I Baseball Rankings, and the folk at Baseball America who are responsible for their Division I poll. And let me get right to the point. You both do weekly College Baseball Polls. I'm sure you tell yourself how gosh darn seriously you take your job and I am equally sure you all work at it very very hard. And I'm even sure that when you all are in each other's company, you tell yourself, you know, we really do know more about college baseball than anybody else. Just between friends, that's what you think, right?
You know what? You don't take it all that seriously. You don't work at it all that hard. And you darn sure don't know more about college baseball than a lot of other people.
Now I will be the first to admit that I have an angle here. I'm an alumni of the University of Maryland - the really big one - the one in College Park. I mention that because it is painfully obvious that very very few of the people responsible for those two baseball polls know very little about Maryland. I'll be the first to admit that the Terps haven't been all that good over the years. They haven't been to the NCAA Tournament since 1971 and their all-time record in the ACC is 1-6. Since 2006, when the ACC began holding their end-of-season baseball tournament with the less-successful teams from the conference not invited, Maryland hasn't even played in that tournament. The ACC has been holding baseball tournaments since 1973 and Maryland has never won it. They only made it to the Championship game once, and that was in 1976. Their three ACC Championships came before there was a post-season tournament. There were a couple of seasons where they started off like a bat out of you know where, but as soon as the ACC season started, things went downhill fast. I think it was two or three seasons ago when Maryland opened the season at UCLA and took two out of three. Then, they didn't lose another game until later in March - when the ole ACC got revved up. Right before the conference season started one of the polls actually ranked Maryland. Then they opened at Wake Forest and lost three straight. The rest of the conference season went just about the same. Maryland's ACC regular season record over the last dozen years is downright terrible.
But the reason I am incensed right now, and with good reason, is that the Terps didn't just sneak up on people. They were much better last year. The ACC hardly rolled them over as it had in recent years. They won at least one game in every conference series save for one, and they won a series or two. You could see them getting good, but only if you were paying attention. They did lose their top pitcher from that team, but they have lots of the good players back, and once again they are winning in the ACC. Over the weekend they swept North Carolina State. Swept them! But despite that sweep, North Carolina State is still ranked in both of the above-mentioned polls. Maryland is not. This, even though Maryland has a better conference record and much better overall record. And Maryland's non-conference schedule is better and tougher. To make it even ore ridiculous, Maryland hardly even got a vote in either poll. When something like that happens, it tells people that the voters are asleep at the switch.
But you fellas and ladies at the NCBWA and Baseball America do not know that. It's not like the Terps are from some little-known conference up north. They play in the ACC. The ACC! (okay, it is Maryland's last season in the ACC. But I'm talking about these polls, the ones for this week, and I'm talking about this season, the one where Maryland is still in the best or second-best baseball conference in America.) Maryland opened the season at Florida, then ranked No. 21. Now you understand that when Maryland goes to Gainesville, Florida in the middle of February, they probably haven't been outside much before the trip. It snows here in Maryland, and this winter it snowed a lot. It is icy and cold, and when it isn't icy and cold it is icy and wet. We've even had a couple of "Polar Vortex" drop by. The lads down in Gainesville know nothing about these things. Still, the Terps won the Saturday game. Then there is Florida State. They are No. 1 or No. 2, depending on which of the above polls you're talking about. When the Terps and Seminoles got together in early March, it was the first conference series for both teams. It was played in Tallahassee. Maryland won one of the three. They've already played the best of the ACC (except Virginia) - I think six teams from the ACC are ranked in the polls - Florida State, North Carolina, North Carolina State (plus Florida). They are 16-6 overall. They are 5-4 in the ACC. Their ranking in the RPI is Number 8. They are the only unranked team in the RPI Top 20. (Now, before I get totally ahead of myself, I am aware that at least one or two of the guys from NCBWA voted to rank Maryland. In writing this post, I'm not talking to you.) But then again, I'm just a fan. What do I know?
Guys and gals at the Polls: It is Maryland, spelled M - A - R - Y - L - A - N - D.
You know what? You don't take it all that seriously. You don't work at it all that hard. And you darn sure don't know more about college baseball than a lot of other people.
Now I will be the first to admit that I have an angle here. I'm an alumni of the University of Maryland - the really big one - the one in College Park. I mention that because it is painfully obvious that very very few of the people responsible for those two baseball polls know very little about Maryland. I'll be the first to admit that the Terps haven't been all that good over the years. They haven't been to the NCAA Tournament since 1971 and their all-time record in the ACC is 1-6. Since 2006, when the ACC began holding their end-of-season baseball tournament with the less-successful teams from the conference not invited, Maryland hasn't even played in that tournament. The ACC has been holding baseball tournaments since 1973 and Maryland has never won it. They only made it to the Championship game once, and that was in 1976. Their three ACC Championships came before there was a post-season tournament. There were a couple of seasons where they started off like a bat out of you know where, but as soon as the ACC season started, things went downhill fast. I think it was two or three seasons ago when Maryland opened the season at UCLA and took two out of three. Then, they didn't lose another game until later in March - when the ole ACC got revved up. Right before the conference season started one of the polls actually ranked Maryland. Then they opened at Wake Forest and lost three straight. The rest of the conference season went just about the same. Maryland's ACC regular season record over the last dozen years is downright terrible.
But the reason I am incensed right now, and with good reason, is that the Terps didn't just sneak up on people. They were much better last year. The ACC hardly rolled them over as it had in recent years. They won at least one game in every conference series save for one, and they won a series or two. You could see them getting good, but only if you were paying attention. They did lose their top pitcher from that team, but they have lots of the good players back, and once again they are winning in the ACC. Over the weekend they swept North Carolina State. Swept them! But despite that sweep, North Carolina State is still ranked in both of the above-mentioned polls. Maryland is not. This, even though Maryland has a better conference record and much better overall record. And Maryland's non-conference schedule is better and tougher. To make it even ore ridiculous, Maryland hardly even got a vote in either poll. When something like that happens, it tells people that the voters are asleep at the switch.
But you fellas and ladies at the NCBWA and Baseball America do not know that. It's not like the Terps are from some little-known conference up north. They play in the ACC. The ACC! (okay, it is Maryland's last season in the ACC. But I'm talking about these polls, the ones for this week, and I'm talking about this season, the one where Maryland is still in the best or second-best baseball conference in America.) Maryland opened the season at Florida, then ranked No. 21. Now you understand that when Maryland goes to Gainesville, Florida in the middle of February, they probably haven't been outside much before the trip. It snows here in Maryland, and this winter it snowed a lot. It is icy and cold, and when it isn't icy and cold it is icy and wet. We've even had a couple of "Polar Vortex" drop by. The lads down in Gainesville know nothing about these things. Still, the Terps won the Saturday game. Then there is Florida State. They are No. 1 or No. 2, depending on which of the above polls you're talking about. When the Terps and Seminoles got together in early March, it was the first conference series for both teams. It was played in Tallahassee. Maryland won one of the three. They've already played the best of the ACC (except Virginia) - I think six teams from the ACC are ranked in the polls - Florida State, North Carolina, North Carolina State (plus Florida). They are 16-6 overall. They are 5-4 in the ACC. Their ranking in the RPI is Number 8. They are the only unranked team in the RPI Top 20. (Now, before I get totally ahead of myself, I am aware that at least one or two of the guys from NCBWA voted to rank Maryland. In writing this post, I'm not talking to you.) But then again, I'm just a fan. What do I know?
Guys and gals at the Polls: It is Maryland, spelled M - A - R - Y - L - A - N - D.
Group of Tatars Cross Into Poland, Seek Refuge; Soccer: Pawlowski, Teodorczyk lead Lech Poznan over Lechia Gdansk
BALTIMORE, Maryland March 24, 2014 - A group of some 32 Crimean Tatars have crossed the border into Poland and have sought political assylum, the Polish Radio Web Site has revealed. Their actual arrival in Poland was one day after the Russian Duma formally ratified the annexation of Crimea into Russia. Russia invaded Crimea in early March and occupied the Black Sea Peninsula with over 20,000 troops. With the troops in the streets and on the coast of Crimea, a "referendum" was held on whether the people wanted to remain a part of Ukraine or become a Russian Province. Russia won, the Russian military announced. Western Nations including the United States, Canada, Poland, England, Germany, France and the Netherlands, have imposed sanctions on Russia. For its part, Russia has massed thousands of heavily armed troops on the Ukraine-Russian border, and reinforced those troops with heavy armor, including tanks and armored personnel carriers, fighter jets and armored helicopters.
The Tatars have lived in Crimea since medieval times. They are believed to be descendants of Genghis Khan's armies, which swept over much of Europe. The Tatars were then forcibly exhiled from Crimea by former Russian Strong Man Josef Stalin. Some Tatars returned to Crimea after Stalin's death. At the time of the Russian invasion, Tatars were said to make up 12% of the Crimean Population.
Many Crimean Tatars boycotted the recent referendum. There is a centuries-old population of Tatars in Poland, Polish One reported. The group that crossed the Polish border last week were believed to have been from the Yevpatoria area of Western Crimea. It is the largest group of Crimean Refugees to come to Poland since the Russian Invasion. The Polish Tatar community issued this statement:
"We, Polish Tatars and Muslims support the Crimean Tatars' inalienable right to a dignified life in their native land. We express our strong opposition to Russia's imperial actions, which violate all human rights and international law."
The leader of the Crimean Tatars, Refat Chubarov, had urged all Tatars to boycott the Crimean referendum. He called the referendum's results "predetermined." Some early printed ballots were said to have offered, as the only choice for voters, "Join Russia."
22,497 see Lech Poznan Defeat Lechia Gdansk, 2-1 Luke Teodorczyk and Szymon Pawłowski scored and a swarming Poznan defense shutout Lechia Gdansk until injury time as Lech Poznan gained the Vice-League Leader position in the standings. Patryk Tuszyński scored the Gdansk goal.
The match between Piast Gliwice and Legia Warszawa is getting under way as I post this. In other weekend scores, Slask Wroclaw and Gornik Zabrze battled to a 1-1 draw, Pogon Szczecin downed Ruch Chorzow, 3-1, Podbeskidzie and Cracovia Krakow drew at 1, as did Jagiellonia and Korona Kielce. Friday night, Zawisza Bydgoszcz beat back Wisla Krakow, 1-0 and Widzow Lodz and Zaglebie Lubin played a scoreless draw. These are the standings pending the outcome of the Legia Warszawa v. Piast Gliwice match:
1. Legia Warszawa: 51 points, 16 wins, 3 draws and 7 losses.
2. Lech Poznan: 47 points, 13 wins, 8 draws and 6 losses.
3. Wisla Krakow: 45 points, 12 wins, 9 draws and 6 losses
4. Ruch Chorzow: 44 points, 12 wins, 8 draws and 7 losses
5. Pogon Szczecin: 42 points, 10 wins, 12 draws and 5 losses
6. Gornik Zabrze: 41 points, 11 wins, 8 draws and 8 losses
7. Zawisza Bydgoszcz: 39 points, 10 wins, 9 draws and 8 losses
8. Jagiellonia: 37 points, 10 wins, 7 draws and 10 losses
9. Cracovia Krakow: 35 points, 10 wins, 5 draws and 12 losses
10. Lechia Gdansk: 34 points, 8 wins, 10 draws and 9 losses
11. Korona Kielce: 33 points, 8 wins, 9 draws and 10 losses
12. Piast Gliwice: 32 points, 8 wins, 8 draws and 10 losses
13. Slask Wroclaw: 30 points, 6 wins, 12 draws and 9 losses
14. Zaglebie Lubin: 26 points, 6 wins, 8 draws and 13 losses
15. Podbeskidzie: 24 points, 4 wins, 12 draws and 11 losses
16. Widzew Lodz: 18 points, 4 wins, 6 draws and 17 losses
The Tatars have lived in Crimea since medieval times. They are believed to be descendants of Genghis Khan's armies, which swept over much of Europe. The Tatars were then forcibly exhiled from Crimea by former Russian Strong Man Josef Stalin. Some Tatars returned to Crimea after Stalin's death. At the time of the Russian invasion, Tatars were said to make up 12% of the Crimean Population.
Many Crimean Tatars boycotted the recent referendum. There is a centuries-old population of Tatars in Poland, Polish One reported. The group that crossed the Polish border last week were believed to have been from the Yevpatoria area of Western Crimea. It is the largest group of Crimean Refugees to come to Poland since the Russian Invasion. The Polish Tatar community issued this statement:
"We, Polish Tatars and Muslims support the Crimean Tatars' inalienable right to a dignified life in their native land. We express our strong opposition to Russia's imperial actions, which violate all human rights and international law."
The leader of the Crimean Tatars, Refat Chubarov, had urged all Tatars to boycott the Crimean referendum. He called the referendum's results "predetermined." Some early printed ballots were said to have offered, as the only choice for voters, "Join Russia."
22,497 see Lech Poznan Defeat Lechia Gdansk, 2-1 Luke Teodorczyk and Szymon Pawłowski scored and a swarming Poznan defense shutout Lechia Gdansk until injury time as Lech Poznan gained the Vice-League Leader position in the standings. Patryk Tuszyński scored the Gdansk goal.
The match between Piast Gliwice and Legia Warszawa is getting under way as I post this. In other weekend scores, Slask Wroclaw and Gornik Zabrze battled to a 1-1 draw, Pogon Szczecin downed Ruch Chorzow, 3-1, Podbeskidzie and Cracovia Krakow drew at 1, as did Jagiellonia and Korona Kielce. Friday night, Zawisza Bydgoszcz beat back Wisla Krakow, 1-0 and Widzow Lodz and Zaglebie Lubin played a scoreless draw. These are the standings pending the outcome of the Legia Warszawa v. Piast Gliwice match:
1. Legia Warszawa: 51 points, 16 wins, 3 draws and 7 losses.
2. Lech Poznan: 47 points, 13 wins, 8 draws and 6 losses.
3. Wisla Krakow: 45 points, 12 wins, 9 draws and 6 losses
4. Ruch Chorzow: 44 points, 12 wins, 8 draws and 7 losses
5. Pogon Szczecin: 42 points, 10 wins, 12 draws and 5 losses
6. Gornik Zabrze: 41 points, 11 wins, 8 draws and 8 losses
7. Zawisza Bydgoszcz: 39 points, 10 wins, 9 draws and 8 losses
8. Jagiellonia: 37 points, 10 wins, 7 draws and 10 losses
9. Cracovia Krakow: 35 points, 10 wins, 5 draws and 12 losses
10. Lechia Gdansk: 34 points, 8 wins, 10 draws and 9 losses
11. Korona Kielce: 33 points, 8 wins, 9 draws and 10 losses
12. Piast Gliwice: 32 points, 8 wins, 8 draws and 10 losses
13. Slask Wroclaw: 30 points, 6 wins, 12 draws and 9 losses
14. Zaglebie Lubin: 26 points, 6 wins, 8 draws and 13 losses
15. Podbeskidzie: 24 points, 4 wins, 12 draws and 11 losses
16. Widzew Lodz: 18 points, 4 wins, 6 draws and 17 losses
Missing Malaysian Jet Certainly Crashed in Southern Indian Ocean, Prime Minister Announces
BALTIMORE, Maryland March 24, 2014 - The missing Malaysian Jet with 239 people aboard has certaily crashed in the Southern Indian Ocean, the Malaysian Prime Minister announced today. Speaking in Kuala Lumpur, where the ill-fated flight originated over two weeks ago, Najib Razak somberly announced that a thorough analysis of new satellite data has led to the regrettable conflusion that the flight ended over the ocean and the plane then crashed into it. Razak said he has met with family members of the passengers and informed them of the news.
The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/chinese-search-plane-spots-suspicious-objects-in-hunt-for-missing-malaysian-jet/2014/03/24/b6783ac6-b314-11e3-8cb6-284052554d74_story.html) and the very respected aviation blog "Plane Talking," written by Ben Sandilands and carried by the Crikey Media outlet in Australia, said Razak spoke at 10 pm local time. "This is a remote location, far from any possible landing site,” Razak said solemnly. “It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that according to this new data, Flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.” He said the families of those on board have been informed of this “heartbreaking” news. The Sandilands article is at: http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2014/03/25/mh370-the-flight-ended-in-the-southern-indian-ocean/
There was news Monday of new citings of debris and new information about more debris, although none of it has yet been recovered and analyzed to see if it is from the jet, a Boeing 777. It was en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, China when it went missing. Satellite data has indicated that the plane took one of two "corridors" after it turned inexplicably left, off of its intended course, about 40 minutes into the flight. Radio contact was terminated before the turn and the last transmission from the crew did not indicate any problem. Originally it was reported that the plane's transponders, which transmit flight data and permit it to be tracked more easily by radar, had been turned off manually before the last radio transmission, but that has been changed. Now, it is unclear if the transponders were turned off before or after the last radio transmission.
A Chinese search plane reported on Monday that it saw a new batch of debris, but another search plane was unable to verify it. A Chinese Navy vessel was en route to the scene of the citing. Another search plane saw what spotters identified as a wooden pallet over the weekend, but that also has not been confirmed and the spotters could not photograph the debris because of poor visibility and lighting. A variety of satellite sightings have not been confirmed by airplane or boat crews.
According to Mr. Sandilands, Najib had commented earlier on Monday that he had met with representatives from the UK satellite company Inmarsat and the UK’s Air Accident Investigation Board, and they told him that new analysis that had been performed on the electronic traces of MH370 that had been registered by that satellite had eliminated the possibility that the jet could have come down along a northern corridor of possibilities.
This is Mr. Razak's press statement:
This evening I was briefed by representatives from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). They informed me that Inmarsat, the UK company that provided the satellite data which indicated the northern and southern corridors, has been performing further calculations on the data. Using a type of analysis never before used in an investigation of this sort, they have been able to shed more light on MH370’s flight path.
Based on their new analysis, Inmarsat and the AAIB have concluded that MH370 flew along the southern corridor, and that its last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth.
This is a remote location, far from any possible landing sites. It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that, according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.
We will be holding a press conference tomorrow with further details. In the meantime, we wanted to inform you of this new development at the earliest opportunity. We share this information out of a commitment to openness and respect for the families, two principles which have guided this investigation.
Malaysia Airlines have already spoken to the families of the passengers and crew to inform them of this development. For them, the past few weeks have been heartbreaking; I know this news must be harder still. I urge the media to respect their privacy, and to allow them the space they need at this difficult time.
Malaysia Airlines posted this statement:
Malaysia Airlines deeply regrets that we have to assume that MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean. As you will hear in the next hour from Malaysia’s Prime Minister, new analysis of satellite data suggests the plane went down in the Southern Indian Ocean.
On behalf of all of us at Malaysia Airlines and all Malaysians, our prayers go out to all the loved ones of the 226 passengers and of our 13 friends and colleagues at this enormously painful time.
We know there are no words that we or anyone else can say which can ease your pain. We will continue to provide assistance and support to you, as we have done since MH370 first disappeared in the early hours of 8 March, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
The ongoing multinational search operation will continue, as we seek answers to the questions which remain. Alongside the search for MH370, there is an intensive investigation, which we hope will also provide answers.
We would like to assure you that Malaysia Airlines will continue to give you our full support throughout the difficult weeks and months ahead.
Once again, we humbly offer our sincere thoughts, prayers and condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy.
The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/chinese-search-plane-spots-suspicious-objects-in-hunt-for-missing-malaysian-jet/2014/03/24/b6783ac6-b314-11e3-8cb6-284052554d74_story.html) and the very respected aviation blog "Plane Talking," written by Ben Sandilands and carried by the Crikey Media outlet in Australia, said Razak spoke at 10 pm local time. "This is a remote location, far from any possible landing site,” Razak said solemnly. “It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that according to this new data, Flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.” He said the families of those on board have been informed of this “heartbreaking” news. The Sandilands article is at: http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2014/03/25/mh370-the-flight-ended-in-the-southern-indian-ocean/
There was news Monday of new citings of debris and new information about more debris, although none of it has yet been recovered and analyzed to see if it is from the jet, a Boeing 777. It was en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, China when it went missing. Satellite data has indicated that the plane took one of two "corridors" after it turned inexplicably left, off of its intended course, about 40 minutes into the flight. Radio contact was terminated before the turn and the last transmission from the crew did not indicate any problem. Originally it was reported that the plane's transponders, which transmit flight data and permit it to be tracked more easily by radar, had been turned off manually before the last radio transmission, but that has been changed. Now, it is unclear if the transponders were turned off before or after the last radio transmission.
A Chinese search plane reported on Monday that it saw a new batch of debris, but another search plane was unable to verify it. A Chinese Navy vessel was en route to the scene of the citing. Another search plane saw what spotters identified as a wooden pallet over the weekend, but that also has not been confirmed and the spotters could not photograph the debris because of poor visibility and lighting. A variety of satellite sightings have not been confirmed by airplane or boat crews.
According to Mr. Sandilands, Najib had commented earlier on Monday that he had met with representatives from the UK satellite company Inmarsat and the UK’s Air Accident Investigation Board, and they told him that new analysis that had been performed on the electronic traces of MH370 that had been registered by that satellite had eliminated the possibility that the jet could have come down along a northern corridor of possibilities.
This is Mr. Razak's press statement:
This evening I was briefed by representatives from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). They informed me that Inmarsat, the UK company that provided the satellite data which indicated the northern and southern corridors, has been performing further calculations on the data. Using a type of analysis never before used in an investigation of this sort, they have been able to shed more light on MH370’s flight path.
Based on their new analysis, Inmarsat and the AAIB have concluded that MH370 flew along the southern corridor, and that its last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth.
This is a remote location, far from any possible landing sites. It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that, according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.
We will be holding a press conference tomorrow with further details. In the meantime, we wanted to inform you of this new development at the earliest opportunity. We share this information out of a commitment to openness and respect for the families, two principles which have guided this investigation.
Malaysia Airlines have already spoken to the families of the passengers and crew to inform them of this development. For them, the past few weeks have been heartbreaking; I know this news must be harder still. I urge the media to respect their privacy, and to allow them the space they need at this difficult time.
Malaysia Airlines posted this statement:
Malaysia Airlines deeply regrets that we have to assume that MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean. As you will hear in the next hour from Malaysia’s Prime Minister, new analysis of satellite data suggests the plane went down in the Southern Indian Ocean.
On behalf of all of us at Malaysia Airlines and all Malaysians, our prayers go out to all the loved ones of the 226 passengers and of our 13 friends and colleagues at this enormously painful time.
We know there are no words that we or anyone else can say which can ease your pain. We will continue to provide assistance and support to you, as we have done since MH370 first disappeared in the early hours of 8 March, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
The ongoing multinational search operation will continue, as we seek answers to the questions which remain. Alongside the search for MH370, there is an intensive investigation, which we hope will also provide answers.
We would like to assure you that Malaysia Airlines will continue to give you our full support throughout the difficult weeks and months ahead.
Once again, we humbly offer our sincere thoughts, prayers and condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy.
Russian Military Prepared to Strike Ukraine; Forces on Ukraine Border Doubled in Size with Heavy Armor; World Leaders Gather at The Hague for Talks
BALTIMORE, Maryland March 23, 2014 - A top United States and NATO Military Official said today that the Russian Military is mobilized for war on Ukraine. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, the top NATO commander, termed the Russian buildup on Ukraine's eastern and southern borders "very very sizable and very very credible."
Russian Strong Man Vladimir Putin has promised not to move further on Ukraine, but few give that promise and weight. He said the same thing about Crimea and also made similar statements about Georgia, before invading both. Putin's actions indicate that he is attempting to reassemble the holdings of the former Soviet Union. But his military agressiveness has caught USA President Barack Obama by surprise. Obama blasted the GOP Candidate in the recent Presidential Elections for stating the Russia was still one of America's biggest threats. Now, as Putin masses forces, the USA and the EU arrange economic sanctions. And a top Russian banking official admits these sanctions are hurting Russia. The Government-Run VTB Capital Bank in Moscow said that Russia's economy, the world's ninth largest, will shrink for at least two quarters as it absorbs penalties for its military takeover of Crimea, a Ukrainian province. A spokesman said te sanctions will curb investments in Russia and raise the cost of borrowing. Further sanctions, which, as leaked to the Media, include much tougher economic measures that are also much broader in scope, will cause economic turmoil in an economy that never was that strong.
Obama and other leaders are at the Hague today for talks that will center on Ukraine. But Ukraine is not the only place Russia is on the move. The breakaway Republic of Trananiatria, which is part of Moldova, has asked Russia to annex it as it did Crimea. The government there broke with Moldova in the 1990's, and a war between it and Moldova in 1992 did not bring it back under Moldova's control. The Russian Military has a presence there already.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke over the weekend with Putin and warned him of the sanctions he will earn if he moves again against other parts of Ukraine. The Ukrainian government has said it is ready if Russian military moves into its nation. Western nations continue to say they will not intervene militarily, and so the only issue is whether Putin is ready to accept the economic slaps that another incursion will bring. The UN is powerless to prevent Putin from acting since Russia is a permanent member of the security council.
But the EU has now signed an association agreement with Ukraine. Russia has let it be known that it wants a government in Ukraine that declares neutrality and has a federal constitution that will enforce such a posture. But months of demonstrations resulted when the then-Ukranian President, Viktor Yanukovych, broke a promise to move toward the EU and instead announced an intention to join the Russian Customs Union. After the demonstrations turned violent, Yanukovych fled and an interim government with decided pro-West tendencies took its place. Russia reacted by invading Crimea.
Now, USA intelligence describes the Russian Military build-up along the Ukraine Border as poised and ready, with forces about double of what they were only a month ago when Putin ordered war games along the border. The forces have been reinforced with armor, attack airplanes and helicopters, and substantial logistical support that indicates they are ready for sustained action, Bloomberg reported today. Breedlove said last week in Brussels that "we have to be positioned differently and be more ready. We have continued to try to make a partner of Russia and now it's very clear that Russia is actin much more like an adversary than a partner."
Despite the huge military buildup, the Russian ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizov, said in an interview with BBC TV that “Nobody has anything to fear from Russia, nobody in this world.”
Russian Strong Man Vladimir Putin has promised not to move further on Ukraine, but few give that promise and weight. He said the same thing about Crimea and also made similar statements about Georgia, before invading both. Putin's actions indicate that he is attempting to reassemble the holdings of the former Soviet Union. But his military agressiveness has caught USA President Barack Obama by surprise. Obama blasted the GOP Candidate in the recent Presidential Elections for stating the Russia was still one of America's biggest threats. Now, as Putin masses forces, the USA and the EU arrange economic sanctions. And a top Russian banking official admits these sanctions are hurting Russia. The Government-Run VTB Capital Bank in Moscow said that Russia's economy, the world's ninth largest, will shrink for at least two quarters as it absorbs penalties for its military takeover of Crimea, a Ukrainian province. A spokesman said te sanctions will curb investments in Russia and raise the cost of borrowing. Further sanctions, which, as leaked to the Media, include much tougher economic measures that are also much broader in scope, will cause economic turmoil in an economy that never was that strong.
Obama and other leaders are at the Hague today for talks that will center on Ukraine. But Ukraine is not the only place Russia is on the move. The breakaway Republic of Trananiatria, which is part of Moldova, has asked Russia to annex it as it did Crimea. The government there broke with Moldova in the 1990's, and a war between it and Moldova in 1992 did not bring it back under Moldova's control. The Russian Military has a presence there already.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke over the weekend with Putin and warned him of the sanctions he will earn if he moves again against other parts of Ukraine. The Ukrainian government has said it is ready if Russian military moves into its nation. Western nations continue to say they will not intervene militarily, and so the only issue is whether Putin is ready to accept the economic slaps that another incursion will bring. The UN is powerless to prevent Putin from acting since Russia is a permanent member of the security council.
But the EU has now signed an association agreement with Ukraine. Russia has let it be known that it wants a government in Ukraine that declares neutrality and has a federal constitution that will enforce such a posture. But months of demonstrations resulted when the then-Ukranian President, Viktor Yanukovych, broke a promise to move toward the EU and instead announced an intention to join the Russian Customs Union. After the demonstrations turned violent, Yanukovych fled and an interim government with decided pro-West tendencies took its place. Russia reacted by invading Crimea.
Now, USA intelligence describes the Russian Military build-up along the Ukraine Border as poised and ready, with forces about double of what they were only a month ago when Putin ordered war games along the border. The forces have been reinforced with armor, attack airplanes and helicopters, and substantial logistical support that indicates they are ready for sustained action, Bloomberg reported today. Breedlove said last week in Brussels that "we have to be positioned differently and be more ready. We have continued to try to make a partner of Russia and now it's very clear that Russia is actin much more like an adversary than a partner."
Despite the huge military buildup, the Russian ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizov, said in an interview with BBC TV that “Nobody has anything to fear from Russia, nobody in this world.”
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