60 Minutes apologizes for report of Benghazi: 'We are very distressed'

'60 Minutes' issued a brief apology in the air and correction on Sunday for his sloppy, damaged report in Benghazi attacks, but gave few details on the failures that led to the retraction of one piece had defended unconditionally.

Speaking of Dylan Davies, the man discredited in the heart of his work, correspondent Lara Logan told viewers, "we realized we had been deceived, and that it was a mistake to include it in our report." For this reason, we feel very distressed."

The venerable program forced an embarrassing retreat after had defended himself during a week on the reliability of Davies, a British security official. On Thursday night, it was revealed that Davies - who had already admitted to lying to a superior about his whereabouts on the night of the attack - had also said the FBI came close the American compound when it was held, a statement totally at odds with the detailed, heartbreaking story told "60 minutes".

It was the second apology on the air delivered by Logan. On Friday, he was on television to say that it was "wrong" that have put Davies in the air.

As it was expected, its Sunday mea culpa offered little insight into why Davies was chosen as a key source for the report, and why '60 minutes' had so fervently defended it, even in the midst of growing evidence of its lack of reliability. Also unmentioned was what role, if any, corporate ties played in the placement of Davies in the heart of the piece. A conservative stamp of Simon and Schuster, which is owned by CBS, had published a book about Davies Benghazi. That book is already removed.

Many observers of the media was impressed less pronounced:

Well, my prediction was accurate. A minimalist correction and an apology from @60Minutes tonight. Least can admit.

-Jay Rosen (@jayrosen_nyu) on November 11, 2013

A show with the legacy of 60 minutes of reporting should have turned his muscle reports on its own to explain to viewers what happened and why

-Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) on November 11, 2013

' Report. We learned on Thursday night... ' Not mentioned that other reporters appeared those articles. Not very elegant.

-Mark seibel (@markseibel) on November 11, 2013

History of the CBS National Guard: 4 fired producers, 1 anchor gradient, 1 cancelled (60 Mins II) programme. History of Benghazi? 90 section 'correction'

-Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) on November 11, 2013

"60 Minutes" an apology is not required.The answers to these questions are: why did this happen? How never will happen again? (Well?)

-vernejgay (@vernejgay) on November 11, 2013

Retract it feels like it should have been, given the magnitude of the error. It leaves many unanwered questions

-HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) on November 11, 2013

mistakes were made #60Minutes

-Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell) on November 11, 2013

I have the feeling of 60 minutes is going to want that apology had more time devoted to a commitment to act differently and less sad feelings.

-Linda Holmes (@nprmonkeysee) on November 11, 2013

It will be up to other journalists of CBS "60 minutes" of the force the probe - clearly terrified CBS from & where it will lead. http://t.co/huQdAK2NGe

-Greg Mitchell (@GregMitch) on November 11, 2013

Some reflections on 60 minutes/Lara Logan is weakly false "correction" http://t.co/JUedT4SpMK

-Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) on November 11, 2013

Media matters, which led to the accusation against the report, issued a statement of its founder David Brock, who called the apology "entirely selfish and totally inadequate".

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Texas And 5 Other States Resist Processing Benefits For Gay Couples

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On the morning of Sept. 3, the first day the Pentagon said they could, Alicia Butler and her spouse, Judith Chedville, who is a Texas Army National Guard officer, went to Austin’s Camp Mabry so Ms. Butler could get a military spouse identification card and register for the same federal marriage benefits provided to wives and husbands of heterosexual service members.

Read the whole story at The New York Times

Panthers Beat 49ers 10-9 For 5th Straight Win

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SAN FRANCISCO -- SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Carolina's swarming, opportunistic defense stopped Colin Kaepernick in his tracks.

Drayton Florence intercepted a pass by Kaepernick in the final minute to seal a 10-9 victory Sunday to snap the San Francisco 49ers' five-game winning streak and give the Panthers their fifth straight win.

Graham Gano kicked a 53-yard field goal with 10:05 remaining that held up as the Panthers (6-3) twice shut down Colin Kaepernick on last-ditch drives with swarming defense.

DeAngelo Williams broke two tackles for a 27-yard touchdown run late in the first half that pulled Carolina within 9-7. Gano missed wide left on a 48-yard field goal in the third period, but came through later.

San Francisco (6-3) got the ball back with 5:25 left at its 1, then again with 1:02 to go.

Phil Dawson kicked a season-best 53-yard field goal among his three for the 49ers, who lost tight end Vernon Davis and rookie safety Eric Reid to concussions.

Carolina fumbled twice in the closing moments, but recovered each time. First, Jonathan Stewart fumbled and Mike Tolbert pounced on the ball. Cam recovered his own bobble.

This was hardly the highly touted showdown between 2011 No. 1 overall pick Newton and Kaepernick, the sixth quarterback drafted that year, in the second round. They roomed together during the scouting combine.

Kaepernick went 11 for 22 for 91 yards with an interception and was sacked six times for a 42.0 passer rating. Newton was only slightly better, going 16 of 32 for 169 yards, an interception and four sacks for a 52.7 rating.

For two teams that have been putting up points at a prolific pace for the past month, the defenses dictated this one.

More than losing the game, the 49ers' losses of Davis and Reid could be troublesome for the reigning NFC champions as they hit the road next week for New Orleans, then go to Washington.

Davis didn't return after sustaining a concussion in the second quarter, then Reid went down on a helmet-to-helmet hit on Mike Tolbert in the third. Earlier, Reid recovered a fumble to give him five takeaways in an already-stellar rookie season that also includes three interceptions.

Frank Gore had 16 carries for 82 yards, accounting for most of San Francisco's 151 total yards.

Dawson put San Francisco ahead on a 53-yard field goal on the team's opening drive, his longest kick of the year. He kicked second-quarter field goals of 43 and 25 yards.

But Kaepernick could never get his team in the end zone in its first game since a bye on the heels of a win over Jacksonville in London.

When San Francisco's Andy Lee had his punt blocked at the end of the first quarter, Florence tried to get out of the way, but went to grab the ball at the last second and it got away from him. Reid wrestled the ball from Josh Thomas for his second fumble recovery of the season and fifth takeaway.

Carolina got going after managing only minus-7 yards passing and 12 total yards in the first quarter. The Panthers finished with 250 total yards.

The 49ers also lost tight end Garrett Celek to a hamstring injury in the first quarter, while defensive tackle Ray McDonald hurt an ankle.

Panthers linebacker Chase Blackburn did not return in the second half because of a foot injury.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

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World War II Reunions Poignant For Dwindling Veterans

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DAYTON, Ohio -- DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Paul Young rarely talked about his service during World War II — about the B-25 bomber he piloted, about his 57 missions, about the dangers he faced or the fears he overcame.

"Some things you just don't talk about," he said.

But Susan Frymier had a hunch that if she could journey from Fort Wayne, Ind., with her 92-year-old dad for a reunion of his comrades in the 57th Bomb wing, he would open up.

She was right: On a private tour at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force near Dayton, amid fellow veterans of flights over southern Europe and Germany, Young rattled off vivid details of his plane, crewmates, training and some of his most harrowing missions.

"Dad, you can't remember what you ate yesterday, but you remember everything about World War II," his daughter said, beaming.

When Young came home from the war, more than 70 years ago, there were 16 million veterans like him — young soldiers, sailors and Marines who returned to work, raise families, build lives. Over the decades, children grew up, married, had children of their own; careers were built and faded into retirement; love affairs followed the path from the altar to the homestead and often, sadly, to the graveyard.

Through it all, the veterans would occasionally get together to remember the greatest formative experience of their lives. But as the years wore on, there were fewer and fewer of them. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, just a little over 1 million remain. The ones who remain are in their 80s and 90s, and many are infirm or fragile.

So the reunions, when they are held, are more sparsely attended — yearly reminders of the passing of the Greatest Generation.

—When veterans of the Battle of the Bulge gathered in Kansas City this summer, only 40 came, according to organizers, down from 63 last year and 350 in 2004.

—Of the 80 members of Doolittle's Raiders who set out on their daring attack on mainland Japan in 1942, 73 survived. Seventy-one years later, only four remain; they decided this year's April reunion in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., would be their last, though they agreed to meet Nov. 9 for a final toast in honor of those who have gone before them.

—A half-century ago, when retired Army First Lt. Frank Towers went to his first reunion of the 30th Infantry Division — soldiers who landed at the beaches of Normandy and fought across France and Germany — he was surrounded by 1,000 other veterans.

"Now if I get 50, I'm lucky," said Towers, who is working on plans for a reunion next February in Savannah, Ga. "Age has taken its toll on us. A lot of our members have passed away, and many of them who are left are in health situations where they can't travel."

So why persist?

"It's a matter of camaraderie," Towers said. "We spent basically a year or more together through hell or high water. We became a band of brothers. We can relate to each other in ways we can't relate to (anyone else). You weren't there. These guys were there. They know the horrors we went through."

___

As many as 11,000 people served in the 57th Bomb Wing that flew missions over German-held Europe from North Africa and the island of Corsica during most of the war. Hundreds survive, according to wing historians and reunion organizers. Only nine veterans made it to this fall's event.

George Williams, 90, recalled earlier reunions with his comrades, "having a great time yukking it up and talking about things." No one else from his squadron came to this one.

"All of a sudden, it's lonesome," said Williams, a native of Visalia, Calif., who moved after his wife's death to Springfield, Mo., where his son lives. "All of the people you ran around with are on the wrong side of the grass. You wonder why you're so lucky."

But in a Holiday Inn hospitality suite with patriotic bunting, bowls of pretzels and chips with soft drinks at their tables, the stories flowed easily.

Williams remembered the tension of his first mission, his hand ready at the tag that would release him to bail out if necessary. It went without incident, and upon their return to base, a flight surgeon measured out two ounces of whiskey for each crewman. "Sixty-nine to go," he said then, because 70 missions was considered the tour of duty. Sometimes on later missions, he would pour the two ounces into a beer bottle to save up for a night when he needed numbing.

Robert Crouse, of Clinton, Tenn., is 89 years old, but he remembers as if it happened yesterday the time a shell blew out the cockpit windshield ("you could stick your head through it"), disabling much of the control panel. Another plane escorted the bomber, its pilot calling out altitude and air speed as Crouse's plane limped back to base, riddled with holes.

Young recalled flying a damaged plane back to base, hearing his tail gunner's panicked yells as Plexiglass shattered over him. "You could feel the plane vibrate; you fly through the smoke, you smell the smoke and you hear the flak hitting the plane like hail on a tin roof."

Not all the memories are bad ones. There was the late-war mission when they hit a spaghetti factory instead of the intended target ("Spaghetti was flying everywhere," recalled Crouse, chuckling). There was Williams' first Thanksgiving meal overseas: a Spam turkey, spiced and baked to perfection by an innovative cook.

"I still love Spam," he said.

Then there was R&R in Rome, hosted by the Red Cross. Young men not long removed from high school toured the Colosseum and other historic sites they had read about. They visited the Vatican; some met Pope Pius XII. Williams got a papal blessing of a rosary for his engineer's fiancee.

"It was pretty good," Williams said of his war experience, "except when they were shooting at us."

___

Some of the veterans fear that their service will be forgotten after they are gone. Crouse and others have written memoirs, and many of the reunion groups now have websites, magazines and other publications in which they recount their stories.

"You just hope that the young people appreciate it," said Young. "That it was very important, if you wanted to continue the freedom that we have."

Their children remember. Some are joining them at the reunions; others keep coming after their fathers are gone.

At this year's reunion, Bob Marino led a memorial service and read the names of 42 members of the 57th Bomb Wing who died in the past year. A bugler played "Taps."

Marino, 72, a retired IRS attorney and Air Force veteran from Basking Ridge, N.J., helped organize the gathering. His Brooklyn-native father, Capt. Benjamin Marino, died in 1967 and left numerous photos from the war, and Marino set about trying to identify and organize them. To learn more about his father's experiences, he corresponded with other veterans — including Joseph Heller, who was inspired by his wartime experiences with the 57th to write his classic novel "Catch-22."

"He never talked about any of this," Marino said, turning the pages on a massive scrapbook as veterans dropped by to look at the photos. "Once in a while, something came out. I wish I had sat down and talked to him about it."

This was precisely the gift Susan Frymier received at the reunion in Dayton.

She watched as the father who had long avoided talking about the war proudly pulled from his wallet a well-worn, black-and-white snapshot of the plane he piloted, nicknamed "Heaven Can Wait" with a scantily clad, shapely female painted near the cockpit.

She listened as he described German anti-aircraft artillery fire zeroing in on his plane. "I had to get out of there. All the flak ... they were awfully close." He described "red-lining" a landing, running the engines beyond safe speed. His voice suddenly choked.

"Oh, Dad!" said his daughter, and she hugged him tightly.

___

Contact reporter Dan Sewell at http://www.twitter.com/dansewell

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Miley Cyrus Smokes A Joint On Stage At The EMAs

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AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - NOVEMBER 10: Miley Cyrus accepts award onstage during the MTV EMA's 2013 at the Ziggo Dome on November 10, 2013 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Miley Cyrus kept her MTV Europe Music Awards performances pretty tame, but we're guessing she knew she'd get people talking with her EMAs acceptance speech.

All eyes were on the 20-year-old singer as she went to collect the award for Best Video for "Wrecking Ball," telling the crowd she didn't think she would be able to fit the award in her purse as she put the trophy on the ground.

Cyrus went on to thank her fans for making the award happen, before she started digging through her bag and pulled out what appeared to be a joint. "I couldn't fit this award in my bag, but I did find this," she said holding up the joint before sparking it up.

Cyrus isn't shy about her love of marijuana. In September she told Rolling Stone, "I think weed is the best drug on earth," and since she's been in Amsterdam for the EMAs, she's reportedly been hitting up the city's famous coffee shops that allow patrons to enjoy all the weed they want.

Though it's sold openly in cafes, marijuana still isn't legal in the Netherlands, however smokers in possession of less than five grams of cannabis have no fear of prosecution, according to the Associated Press.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misspelled the song "Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus.

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Ben Roethlisberger Denies Trade Rumors: 'I Don't Know Where That Came From'

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PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger isn't going anywhere. Not if he has anything to say about it.

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback called a report he may seek a trade in the offseason "ridiculous."

NFL.com reported early Sunday the Steelers expected Roethlisberger to ask the team to explore trade options in the offseason. Roethlisberger's agent, Ryan Tollner, called the speculation "completely wrong" and added the 31-year-old quarterback is "100 percent committed to winning a championship with the Steelers."

Roethlisberger went even further after passing for 204 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a 23-10 win over Buffalo on Sunday.

"I don't know where that came from," he said. "It is one of the most (untrue) stories that I've ever heard of. I've always said that I want to be a Steeler for life. I love it here. I'm happy here."

The report called Roethlisberger "very frustrated" by his team's ugly start. The Steelers improved to 3-6 after drumming the Bills, but still remain well out of the mix in the AFC North.

Roethlisberger, who has won two Super Bowls in 10 seasons, agreed he's "unhappy" when Pittsburgh fails to produce, but welcomed his share of the blame. Roethlisberger and offensive coordinator Todd Haley have struggled to communicate at times since Haley was hired nearly two years ago. The quarterback and the coach have spent much of the season trying to find common ground.

Steelers president Art Rooney II added "the Pittsburgh Steelers have not explored trading quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and have no plans to do so."

Roethlisberger's current contract will expire at the end of the 2015 season. He is due a base salary of $12.1 million next season, with a salary cap number of nearly $19 million. That alone would could make it difficult for the Steelers to move Roethlisberger even if there was interest.

Apparently, there's not. Tollner said Roethlisberger's roots are "firmly" planted in western Pennsylvania. Roethlisberger and his wife are expecting their second child next spring.

"I'm a Pittsburgher," Roethlisberger said. "I've told people that. I'm so proud to raise my kids here. I want to finish my career here, however long that is. I don't want to play for anybody else. This is it for me."

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

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United States sends aid to Philippine Typhoon recovery

MANILA, Philippines - MANILA, Philippines (AP) - provides to us military aircraft with relief and a contingent of Marines has left the Philippine capital on the road to the coast this devastated by the typhoon in the country.

Air base of the C-130 left Manila Vilamor Monday loaded with bottled water, generators, wrapped in plastic, a forklift and two trucks.

It was the first US aid flight to the region, where thousands are feared dead and tens of thousands more homeless as a result of the Typhoon on Friday.

The flight was headed for Tacloban, a town badly damaged by the storm and in desperate need of aid.

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' Vodka Samm' is totally sober and prevents social networks (VIDEO)

Samantha Goudie, better known by the inhabitants of the Internet as "Vodka Samm", has not had a drink since he flew un.341 and tweeted about putting the numbers tattooed on her.

Goudie name was all over the world after their tweets from jail being arrested in a game of football at the University of Iowa in August were viral, offers primary support and concern of the administration of your school. University President Sally Mason said publicly that she was worried Goudie, and a new story from ABC News reveals that the school requires to take three months of alcohol treatment.

"I needed a wake up call and I have one" Goudie said "20/20".

"Vodka Samm" has been completely sober since that epic day when she was broken by public intoxication on 31 August.

ABC News said the reason that Goudie was able to Tweet from prison due to a failure by the Iowa City police to confiscate his phone when it was placed in a cell.

"He was doing it for my friends," said Goudie's tweets. "" "No thought" Oh, this could collect. ""

The Daily Iowan Goudie interview revealed the Iowa senior overcame an eating disorder, but struggling with depression after media coverage.

Goudie told ABC News Despite social ostracism at the upper school of the nation party, however, is content changed.

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Lawrence Rothman's '#1 All Time Low' Video Is The Creepiest Thing You'll See Today

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Lawrence Rothman doesn't do everything the same way you do things. In the video for his lead single, "Montauk Fling," Rothman dressed himself as Elizabeth Taylor and seduced himself in a hotel room, and he returns with the haunting visuals for "#1 All Time Low" -- premiering exclusively on HuffPost Entertainment.

In the new dystopian video, a battered and bruised Rothman meanders through various scenes of a certain type of hell that make the grislier scenes in "Trainspotting" look like "Smurfs 2." Blood, dirty bathwater -- it's all there. David Bowie favorite Floria Sigismondi directed the video for the song.

"What I try to do during the 14 to 17 hours that i'm awake, and are participating in this rat race, is aim to experience shit that blows my mind and rattles the mundane cage of cynical normalcy," Rothman said. "Why? So that when I finally get chewed up and spit out on the other end I can say, 'Fuck it, that was great, those where the days of my life. This idea is the theme of my music."

"This video to cut to the chase, as everyone including myself, attention spam is about as long as a gif," he adds. "It's about me trying to do away with my adult jaded, cynical, self and push through a rebirth of sorts or a actually a reintroduction to my inner 'tween spirit' -- the part of me that doesn't give a fuck and goes with the flow, like when you're a kid and your parents are having a bitch-fest, but it doesn't phase you because you're too enthralled with building LEGO city."

Take a look below and let us know what you think in the comments. Viewer discretion is advised. Select tour dates follow.

10/29 - The Sebright Arms - London, UK
11/5 - Casbah - San Diego, CA (w/ Active Child)
11/23 - El Rey - Los Angeles, CA (w/ Active Child)

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Space Tourist Dennis Tito On Using Bathroom In Space: 'I Hadn't Had Toilet Training In 60 Years'

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NEW YORK – As microgravity makes even the most mundane tasks tricky, going to the bathroom in space can be a chore. How astronauts take care of that basic human necessity while in orbit has been a point of perennial fascination for the Earth-bound public.

For a moment during a Sept. 4 talk here at the Explorers Club, two of the world's first space tourists who paid their way to the International Space Station traded stories about their space toilet training, or actually the lack of training.

The Explorers Club was holding an event with former NASA astronaut Owen Garriott and his son, gaming legend Richard Garriott, perhaps best known for creating the Ultima role-playing series. They are the only American father-son team to have both gone to space. [Photos: Space Tourist Richard Garriott, an Astronaut Legacy]

While Owen Garriott flew with NASA aboard U.S. space station Skylab and the space shuttle Columbia, his son became a spaceflyer in his own right in 2008 after using his gaming fortune to buy a multimillion-dollar ticket to the space station aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule.

Adventurer and journalist Jim Clash interviewed the duo in front of a small audience and afterwards gave the night's first question to another private spaceflyer in the room: American businessman Dennis Tito.

A longtime space enthusiast, Tito made his millions in the world of finance, but was once an engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Widely considered the first space tourist, Tito paid the Russians a reported $20 million for his 2001 flight to the space station.

The younger Garriott earlier in the night said he used to look at Tito and think, "That's the guy that got my seat!" Garriott's long-held aspirations to go to space — first dashed when he learned his eyesight was below NASA standards — had to be postponed for a few years after his wealth took a hit in the dot-com crash.

A view of the toilet compartment in the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station (ISS).

Tito stood up to ask his question and paused before saying, "One experience that people always ask me about is, 'How do you go to the bathroom in space?'"

As the audience laughed, Owen Garriott jumped in to add: "Elementary school children, usually."

But Tito continued, saying that despite his eight months of training with the Russians, he wasn't all that prepared to go the bathroom in space.

"I guess the Russians really don't like to talk about these things — they have funny attitudes," Tito said. "So I got on board the station and the first thing that happened was Jim Voss, an American astronaut, gave me toilet trailing."

"Now, I hadn't had toilet training in 60 years," Tito added. "So I was wondering, did you get toilet training on the ground?"

Richard Garriott, who trained with the Russians, too, corroborated Tito's story.

"It is hilarious because every other system — everything except the toilet — you use the exact hardware you will use in space on the ground," Garriott said.

Garriott said he had a cheat sheet for which switches to turn on for when he needed to use the space commode, the toilet does not work the same way as it does on the ground.

"Gravity's actually really important for how to separate yourself from your waste and there's no discussion of that," Garriott said.

Richard Garriott as seen in "Man on a Mission," a film by Mike Woolf.

His father chimed in to give a perspective from the U.S. side, and discussed his training with NASA ahead of his 60-day stint in space during the Skylab 3 mission in 1973.

"We did receive proper training," the elder Garriott said. "For urination it's a very simple thing ... Urination is not a problem. Defecation is what you're concerned about."

Garriott said the Skylab astronauts used a simulator toilet mounted over a camera so that they could check their positioning on the ground before using the commode in space. All three Skylab crews out also brought home all of their waste to be examined by scientists, Garriott added, remarking that they never had a single toilet failure while in flight.

"One thing NASA did right," he quipped.

Follow Megan Gannon on Twitter and Google+. Follow us @SPACEdotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on SPACE.com.

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Thousands Cited For Having Pot On Federal Land

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TACOMA, Wash. -- Karen Strand didn't think she'd get in trouble for having a small container of medical marijuana when she went hiking in Olympic National Park this summer.

President Barack Obama, she remembered, had said the federal government had "bigger fish to fry" than people who follow state marijuana laws, and Washington state had just legalized pot.

But a ranger pulled her over on a remote gravel road, and Strand wound up as one of at least 27,700 people cited for having pot on federal land since 2009, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal court data. The number of citations is small compared to the hundreds of millions of visitors to national parks, forests and monuments each year.

But it nevertheless illustrates one of the many issues Washington, Colorado and other states face in complying with last month's Justice Department memo that requires them to address eight federal law enforcement priorities if they want to regulate marijuana. Among those priorities is keeping marijuana use and possession off federal property.

State officials have no plans to license pot gardens or stores on federal land, but beyond that, they say, it's not clear what they can do to discourage backpackers or campers from bringing a few joints into Rocky Mountain or Mount Rainier National Park.

"It's not one of the big topics we've talked a lot about," said Jaime Smith, a spokeswoman for Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.

Other concerns on the DOJ's list include keeping marijuana away from kids and cartels, preventing drugged driving and pot-related gun violence, and keeping unregulated marijuana grows from spoiling federal land.

Thousands of people receive tickets every year charging them with having pot on U.S. property – a federal misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $5,000 fine. The charges typically don't result in jail time, but often do require at least one court appearance. They are frequently negotiated down to an infraction, akin to a traffic ticket, and a fine of up to a few hundred dollars.

Through the first seven months of this year, at least 146 people had been cited in Washington for having pot on federal land, which makes up nearly one-third of the state. At least 135 had been cited in Colorado. Washington's figure is slightly below the same period for the past few years, while Colorado's is roughly on track.

The number of people cited nationally has dropped, from 6,282 in 2009 to 5,772 in 2012, and is on pace to hit about 5,300 this year, according to data from the U.S. Courts Central Violations Bureau. The citations were issued at national parks, seashores, forests, military bases and monuments. There were even 10 tickets issued at the Pentagon.

Officials say the actual numbers are likely greater: Park rangers and other federal agents sometimes simply write on the ticket that the offender had a controlled substance, without specifying the drug.

Defendants say being prosecuted for having tiny amounts of pot on U.S. land – especially in Washington, Colorado and states with medical marijuana laws – belies the administration's assertions that going after people who comply with state marijuana laws is not a priority. The DOJ first announced that position in a 2009 memo, though the fine print also made clear that pot isn't welcome on federal property.

Strand, 36, was pulled over for having a broken taillight, and the ranger reported that he could smell fresh pot. She was ticketed for having 2 grams – far less than the ounce, or 28 grams, allowed by Washington's recreational pot law, or the 24 ounces allowed by the state's medical marijuana law.

"It is exceptionally confusing," she said.

One morning this month, Strand sat in a small, crowded room at the federal courthouse in Tacoma for her initial appearance on charges of marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia – a pipe.

Near her sat her husband as well as several other people caught with weed on federal land, including a 21-year-old man who was accused of having 0.1 grams during a traffic stop on a highway that skirts Mount Rainier National Park.

"I just thought it was legal now," Jonah Hunt said. "I didn't know I was on federal land."

Barbara Sievers, the assistant U.S. attorney handling the cases, informed the defendants their charges would not be dismissed.

"Regardless of whatever happened in the state, it's federal law, and it's federal property," she said.

Former school teacher Melanie Cease, of Seattle, said a park ranger approached her one day in June at a secluded campsite in Olympic National Park. He came to make sure her dog was on a leash, but then saw an empty pipe on the picnic table.

With his hand on his gun, she said, the ranger demanded she turn over whatever pot she had. Cease, 48, was cited for having a "trace amount," according to the ranger's report.

"I've never been arrested in my life, and now I'm being threatened with six months in jail and a $5,000 fine for using my medicine?" she said. "It was my understanding the government was not going to mess with individual patients."

Strand and Cease both pleaded not guilty, and their cases were set for trial in October.

Strand and her husband, Thomas, said they remain troubled by what they said felt like harassment from the park ranger. He repeatedly placed his hand on his gun when speaking to them, they said.

"It's a beautiful place up there," Thomas Strand said. "And I don't know if I'll ever go back."

___

Follow Johnson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GeneAPseattle

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Kelly Rowland Works On Her Ab-Fab Fitness

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Kelly Rowland has one of the most enviable sets of abs in Tinseltown.

The singer, who made a body-baring splash on this month's cover of Shape, showed how she carves those muscles.

It's all thanks to trainer Jeanette Jenkins! Rowland says the trainer's star plank (which she easily executed above) is one of her favorite moves from Jenkins' latest video.

"The Hollywood Trainer" definitely gets the Destiny's Child diva's seal of approval -- the two teamed up for a workout DVD, "Sexy Abs Cardio Sculpt," which will be released Oct. 1.

Those abs are enough "Motivation" for us. We're sold, Kelly!

Also on HuffPost:

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Getting Off A Train Is Better When Greeted By This Friendly Russian Boy (VIDEO)

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This Russian kid doesn't know any of these people, but that doesn't stop him from greeting every single one of them as they leave the train, and it's pretty cute. He definitely has a future as a politician.

But, uh, what's with that shirtless guy?

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James Franco Gay Jokes During Comedy Central's Roast Discussed On 'The Rubin Report'

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Dave Rubin of "The Rubin Report" took Comedy Central to task over the barrage of gay jokes directed at James Franco during its roast of the Academy Award-nominated actor earlier this month. (WARNING: contains graphic language)

Joining Rubin were comedian Erin Foley and producer Jayar Jackson, both of whom were critical of the event.

"This was just was another example of what happens in comedy clubs across the country -- it's just stupid straight dudes making stupid gay jokes," Foley said. "They don't know James Franco ... honestly, it's absolutely ridiculous."

Jackson minced even fewer words, noting, "Call it a written sh*t talk night rather than a roast."

For his part, Franco doesn't seem to mind the gay speculation. Last week, he told The Daily Beast: "I don’t even care if people think I’m gay, so it was like, 'Awesome!' I mean, I wish I was. … I wish I was gay."

For more on "The Rubin Report," click here.

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The Republican Plot To Kill Obamacare -- New York Magazine

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New York:

The Republican party has voted unanimously against establishing the Affordable Care Act in the Senate and then in the House of Representatives, then voted some 40 times to repeal or cripple it; it has mounted a nearly successful campaign to nullify it through the courts and a failed presidential campaign that promised to repeal it; and it has used its control of state governments to block the law's implementation across vast swaths of the country, at enormous economic cost to those states. Yet somehow, in the wake of all this, the party is consumed with the question Have we done enough to stop Obamacare?

Read the whole story at New York

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NBC, CBS Retract Identity Of Navy Yard Shooter

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NBC and CBS were forced to retract initial reports about the identity of the shooter responsible for the deaths and injuries at the Navy Yard in Washington on Monday.

Both networks identified the same man as the shooter, and then had to walk those reports back:

BREAKING. @johnmillercbs advises the initial reports identifying the suspected shooter as Rollie Chance are wrong.

— Charlie Kaye (@CharlieKayeCBS) September 16, 2013

NBC News: we are now NOT reporting name of shooter; retracting that report. deleting those tweets

— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) September 16, 2013

NBC's Pete Williams said the error came from sources who found an ID card that looked like the suspected gunman:

.@PeteWilliamsNBC says name circulating "is not the shooter," but the name of a man who dropped ID card. #NavyYardShooting

— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) September 16, 2013

The false reports were perhaps the most prominent errors in a day filled with confusing and contradictory information.

The shooter was later identified as Aaron Alexis, a 34-year-old from Fort Worth, Texas.

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Looking For The Bed Of Your Dreams? Think Outside The Box Spring With These Fanciful Roosts

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We all know a bed should be comfortable. But there's something else a bed should be: welcoming. At the end of a long day, when you walk into your bedroom, your heartbeat should slow as you look at this refuge from a fast-paced world. Maybe I expect too much from my bed; but, unless you're an insomniac, one-third of every day is spent in it. It should be calmingly pretty. Maybe even pretty outrageously cool, pulling you onto it, like a magic carpet ride into your dreams. At least, that's what the following beds do for their owners.

Read the whole story at www.houzz.com

A Lot Of People Are Very Upset That An Indian-American Woman Won The Miss America Pageant

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Sunday night Nina Davuluri, Miss New York, was crowned the winner the 2014 Miss America Pageant. She is the first contestant of Indian descent to be crowned Miss America.

When her win was announced, Twitter immediately exploded with hateful tweets, with people calling her Arab.

Read the whole story at BuzzFeed

'Science Selfies' Spotlight Scientists, Geeks Doing What They Love Best (PHOTOS)

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Science is all around us, and nearly everyone can get involved -- from conducting a critical lab experiment to strolling through a natural history museum to simply browsing through a book on the Big Bang.

Whether you're a science nerd or a Nobel-prize winning scientist, we wanted to highlight YOU doing or simply enjoying science. So we asked readers to share their "science selfies" -- and here are our favorites. Click through and see if you can spot the girl who caught a bat... or the guy holding a real human brain!

Please share your own science selfies by adding them to the slideshow below.

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"Catching crayfish in Scotland."

"For all of my fellow bird nerds out there!"

"When our scientists' hands are busy with science, they get some help with their #scienceselfies." Here, physicist Farid El Gabaly aligns a battery electrode sample for analysis with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Celebrating Halloween at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, CA.

Junior high students experiment with fire in science class.

"I analyzed assimilable organic carbon in drinking water samples! "

A behind-the-scenes look into a quarantine area!

Posing like Einstein at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, CA.

"This is how I spend my holidays, in Costa Rica catching bats +beach time in between!"

"Spent a day doing field work electrofishing for research! A brook trout we caught!"

"Me doing a basic drug extraction!!!"

"Medicine is a science, and therefore I present Jack Sexton, CRNA!"

"Talkin bout autopsies all day."

"Nearby and in the distance exploration. Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. ? Carl Sagan." Taken at the Liberty Science Center.

"Love my job." At the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.

"Data data data data data today's data data data."

"My kiddos a few years back @ Spark!Lab in DC."

"This #realtimechem video summarizes a standard day in a synth chem lab."

"Oh hi I just extracted a human brain."

"Inside a faraday cage with a human brain."

This is what a lot of science actually looks like... "Reading/correcting the Methods chapter of my student's PhD thesis."

"Imaging my cells on the fluorescent microscope."

"This weekend was spent playing with crayfish and an ROV. The ROV before use."

Taken at the Washington University in St. Louis: "@WUSTLdbbs and @WUSTLmedschool have lots of #scienceselfies."

"I'm a bookworm, a scientist, and world traveler."

In a science classroom.

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Joe Biden Addresses Navy Yard Shooting

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SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Vice President Joe Biden says a shooting Monday at the Washington Navy Yard is a "God-awful reminder" of the need for Americans to stay vigilant.

He says he's confident the nation will get to the bottom of the situation.

Biden says the situation is still unfolding, but that his heart and sorrow goes out to all those affected. He says the tragedy is almost unthinkable.

The shooting rampage in the heart of a U.S. Navy left at least 12 people dead. One shooter was killed, but police were looking for one other possible gunman.

Biden spoke at a port in Savannah during an event highlighting the need to invest in U.S. infrastructure. He was being briefed Monday by his national security team as he visited South Carolina and Georgia.

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Health Care Polls Find Obamacare Unpopular On Eve Of Rollout

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The Affordable Care Act is more unpopular than ever, with those who disapprove divided over whether the law should be reformed or scrapped, according to a Pew Research/USA Today poll released Monday.

Forty-two percent of Americans approved of the law, while 53 percent disapproved. That's the highest rate of disapproval that Pew has found since the law's passage in 2010. Attitudes among the uninsured were somewhat more positive, with 49 percent approving and 46 percent disapproving.

An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, also released Monday, found similar opposition, with 44 percent of Americans calling the health care law a bad idea and 31 percent calling it a good idea. NBC posted a range of respondents' explanations for their opinions, from fears about "death panels" and rising costs, to happiness that preexisting conditions are covered and young adults can be covered by their parents' insurance.

HuffPost Pollster's average of all available public polls puts disapproval of Obamacare at about 53 percent.

In the Pew survey, those who disapproved of the health care law split on what lawmakers should do next: 27 percent of all respondents said lawmakers should try to make Obamacare work as well as possible, and 23 percent said they seek to make it fail.

"This strategic question is a particular point of conflict within the Republican Party," the Pew report says. Republicans as a whole were just slightly more likely to want the law to fail than to want it improved, while 64 percent of tea party Republicans wanted the law to fail.

Americans were almost evenly split on which party they trusted more to handle health care. Forty percent said they believe the Republican Party would do a better job dealing with health care, while 39 percent preferred the Democrats. It's the first time a Pew poll has found the GOP ahead on health care since at least 1990. While the size of Democrats' edge has varied widely in the past, a December 2012 poll put them 10 points ahead of Republicans on the issue.

More than three years after the Affordable Care Act was passed, 34 percent still said they didn't have a good understanding of how the law affects them. Just 51 percent knew that a health insurance exchange will be available in their state. Awareness of the exchanges was significantly higher in states that chose to run their own exchanges or partner with the federal government than in states where the exchanges will be run by the federal government.

The NBC/WSJ poll similarly found that only 30 percent said they understand the health care law "very well" or "pretty well."

"As it turns out, that 30 percent has more positive opinions about the health-care law (42 percent good idea, 45 percent bad idea), versus the 34 percent who don't understand it very well (17 percent good idea, 44 percent bad idea)," NBC's Mark Murray wrote.

The Pew/USA Today poll surveyed 1,504 adults between Sept. 4 and Sept. 8, while the NBC/WSJ poll surveyed 1,000 adults between Sept. 5 and Sept. 8. Both used live telephone interviews.

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How World Bank Plans To Eliminate Extreme Poverty, Boost Incomes Of Poorest By 2030

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By Anna Yukhananov

WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - The World Bank, faced with a tight budget and greater competition for development funds, aims to become more selective in its lending, focusing on fragile states, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and other areas where it can have the greatest impact, according to a draft strategy paper obtained by Reuters.

The 42-page paper, presented to the bank's executive board last week, is the first major strategic review under World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.

It offers the first concrete details of how the World Bank plans to fulfill his twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting the incomes of the poorest 40 percent of the population in each country.

However, the strategy paper is still vague about what exact programs the bank will cut or bolster, and how it will change its budget to reflect new priorities and falling revenue.

When asked for comment, World Bank spokesman David Theis declined to elaborate further on the plan.

Founded after World War II to help rebuild Europe, the World Bank later focused on lending money to developing countries in order to improve the lives of poor people.

The global lender is praised for its worldwide reach, stringent standards and long-term focus. But it has also been criticized for avoiding risks, delaying approval of projects, not responding enough to what countries want, and focusing more on pushing money out the door rather than program outcomes.

Kim, who came to the helm of the multilateral development institution a little over a year ago, has launched a major reorganization to change all that, driving an emphasis on flexibility, measurable impact, and evidence, or what he calls "the science of delivery."

The draft strategy acknowledges the World Bank has become less important to the growth of many middle-income countries, which can rely more on private funding and bilateral loans from emerging markets like China.

The World Bank also admits it has limited funds to tackle the needs of the developing world, where new infrastructure projects alone will require $1.5 trillion in funding a year.

Instead, the World Bank wants to reposition itself as a "solutions" bank, offering not only financing but also its knowledge of how to solve common development challenges.

"The World Bank Group's role in knowledge, convening and global advocacy has increased relative to its role in providing finance," the paper said.

Keeping the bank relevant means focusing on areas where other donors are reluctant to go, such as fragile and conflict-affected states, by 2015 home to half of the world's poorest people.

The World Bank said it also plans to use its projects and global presence to share data and promote better policies in areas like climate change.

To help address countries' needs and better coordinate development policies, the bank also plans to work more closely with other development agencies like the United Nations and with philanthropic organizations.

And it wants to promote more private-public partnerships for basic services like health, education and housing - to the consternation of some non-profit organizations that argue such programs have mixed records for helping the poor.

BUDGET CUTS

As part of the new strategy, the World Bank also plans to make some cuts to its budget. Operating in fragile states, collecting data to measure countries' progress, and ensuring a global presence have strained the bank's administrative funds.

And less lending to middle-income or stable countries also means less revenue, as the bank has made money from interest-bearing loans.

"Maintaining a minimum scale of operations is important if the World Bank Group is to influence the policy agenda and support clients in delivering effective development solutions," the paper said.

"Although the World Bank Group does not face immediate financial concerns, its financial capacity will need to be strengthened," the paper added.

The bank said it will have to be selective in what it does and make cuts to certain programs, without specifying further. It is also considering relying more on fees for advisory services and on money from trust funds, or earmarked funds from governments for specific projects.

Trust funds already account for one of every 10 dollars the bank disburses to governments, according to the paper.

The new budget will be implemented for the next fiscal year, which begins in July 2014, and may be one of the thorniest issues for the bank to resolve as it decides which departments and programs must shrink.

Changing the bank's internal culture may also pose a threat to the success of the new strategy, according to several outside analysts who reviewed the paper.

Part of the new focus means integrating the work of the bank with the activities of its private sector lending arm, the International Finance Corporation, and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, which insures investments in difficult environments.

The three agencies work with different clients and may have different approaches to specific projects, creating conflicts of interest.

The details of how the bank will change its internal organization to align with the new strategy will be presented later in an "Implementation Paper."

For now, the draft strategy will go to the governments of the World Bank's members for approval, before being formally presented during the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in early October. (Reporting by Anna Yukhananov; Editing by Andrea Ricci)

Earlier on HuffPost:

Peter Pilotto For Target Is The Best News We've Heard All Week

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Best news out of London Fashion Week so far? Peter Pilotto is partnering with Target!

That's right, the London-based design house used its Spring 2014 runway show this afternoon to drop the news that it's designing a line to be sold across the US and Canada at Target. The collection, which will feature women's apparel, accessories and swimwear, will debut Feb. 9th, 2014, and be mostly priced under $60.

Yup, you're going to want to queue up early for this one, folks. Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos, the brand's designers, have mastered the art of printed, daring silhouettes and have landed the likes of Kerry Washington, Miranda Kerr and Selena Gomez on best-dressed lists. We can't wait to see what the duo dreams up for Target's spring line, since, unlike their usual pricey fare, we'll actually be able to afford these pieces. (If we have any more money left after purchasing the fall Phillip Lim for Target line, that is.)

And don't think Peter Pilotto's forgotten its international customers; a handful of the pieces will be available on Net-A-Porter.com. So get ready to fight your way through the Target aisles -- or the e-commerce sphere -- come February.

See some stars in Peter Pilotto to get an idea of the brand's aesthetic:

More, more, more:

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Want more? Be sure to check out HuffPost Style on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram at @HuffPostStyle.

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Maroc : Un journaliste affirme avoir été brutalement agressé par la mafia

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Korrespondent CAP Radio in Fnideq, gefangen in einer Auseinandersetzung in der vergangenen Woche wurde zum Zeitpunkt der vorübergehend verlieren die Verwendung seiner Hand geschlagen. Der Mann wäre das Ziel einige Banden von Drogenhändlern, die er in einigen seiner Emissionen angeprangert haben würde. "Tiefe Besorgnis" in den Beruf.

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Ist es mit der bandagierte Hand aus universell einsetzbar, ist Ahmed Bouziane an die Presse geschickt. Mittwoch, den 10. Juli, wollte dieser Korrespondent CAP Radio in Fnideq, den ersten Tag des Ramadan in der Wohnung seiner Eltern zu verbringen. Während er mit dem Auto, begleitet von seinem Sohn geht, fand er sich in einem Supermarkt befindet sich an der Avenue Ibn Rochd blockiert. Ein Fahrzeug verhindert dann die Passage.

Ein Drogen-Baron verhaftet Dank seine Emissionen

Wenige Augenblicke nach eine scharfe Auseinandersetzung zwischen dem Eigentümer des Fahrzeugs und dem Supermarkt ausgebrochen. Halten Sie für das verletzen des Mannes, der die Straße blockiert, ist der Journalist Zeit eingemischt. Aber Herr Bouziane erkannte, dass er Opfer des Staatsstreiches war montiert, weil er sagte, seine zwei Gesprächspartner waren in Absprache. Sie kamen an den Händen und M. Bouziane entkam mit einem gebrochenen Finger und Hand verletzt. Er kleinere Operation unterziehen musste und die Arzt verschrieb ihm ein 42-Tage Arbeitsausfall.

Der Journalist glaubt, dass der Inhalt einiger seiner Programmierung beachten. In der Tat, es hat viele auf Drogenhändler von Fnideq durchgeführt. Was führte zur Verhaftung von mehr vor drei Wochen angeblich Drogen-Händler in der Region, oder auch das Land, nach dem Journalisten eine bestimmte J. Azerkan sagte "Frifra.

M. Bouziane behauptet, Opfer der Mafia aus der Stadt zu sein. Es erinnert daran, dass es ist nicht das erste Mal das er das Ziel der Drogenhändler ist, seinen Beruf, sozialen Tatsachen anzusprechen gibt, insbesondere diejenigen über den Drogenhandel. Sechs Jahre gelitten stattdessen sein Auto ein Feuer. Für Herr Bouziane gibt es Zweifel, dass er von diesen Gangstern gefangen hatte.

"Betreffen Sie", in den Beruf

Der Fall ist eine "tiefe Besorgnis" auf der Seite der regionalen Delegation der nationalen Union von der marokkanischen Presse, die eine ernsthafte Untersuchung fordert.

Gleichen Bell Sound auf die Gesamtmenge des marokkanischen Sportjournalisten (UJSM) einschließlich Ahmed Bouziane gehört. In einer Erklärung an die Presse forderte die Union Polizei "transparent und unparteiisch untersucht", die Ursprünge dieser brutale Aggression zu offenbaren

Unterdessen äußerte große Gir Menschenrechtsvereinigung ihr Mitgefühl zu Herr Bouziane und fordert für einen wirksamen Schutz von Journalisten gegen "Repressalien von Netzwerken von Drogenhändlern. Dadurch können Journalisten, nach Angaben der Association, frei über die Realität des Drogenhandels zu informieren und somit im Kampf gegen dieses Übel teilnehmen.

Club Mediterranee Presse nördlich von Marokko, das sich seinerseits zahlte Tribut 'Professionalität' und moralische Blamelessness der Arbeit von Herr Bouziane, die in diesem Jahr den ersten Preis j.m. Searle auf dem Kongress von Journalisten der Straße für eine Zusammenarbeit bei der Förderung guter Beziehungen zwischen den beiden Ufern des Mittelmeers-Journalisten zu empfangen.

Taub Gerechtigkeit?

Seit seiner Aggression hat CAP Radio in Fnideq Korrespondent einen Aufruf zum Recht, jedoch ohne Erfolg. Am vergangenen Montag kehrte er an die Gerichte, die Verhaftung seiner Angreifer zu verlangen. Er fordert zudem, dass sein Fall Institutionen nicht unter dem Druck von Drogenhändlern übertragen werden sollte.

Pologne : Médaille de bronze pour Ghizlane Siba aux Championnats du monde cadet d'athlétisme

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Hier dans l'après midi Ghizlane Siba a remporté pour le Maroc une médaille de bronze aux Championnats du monde des cadets d'athlétisme qui se déroulent en ce moment en Pologne à Donetsk. 

Ghizlane Siba remporte la médaille de bronze au saut en hauteur / DR $j("#article_img").attr("longdesc", "http://i.ycdn.org:443/files/articles/9276944a31ffb138c568c97ff1517199.jpg"); $j("#article_img").attr("title", ""); $j("#article_img").fullsize({shadow: false, iconOffset: 2, destroy : false, extraTrigger: ".myClass", parentSteps: 2});

Cette médaille au saut en hauteur est plus que méritée car elle couronnent les efforts bien évidemment de l'athlète, Ghizlane Siba, mais aussi de sa famille véritable soutien et source de motivation. Elle récompense également l'abnégation de Nacer Benhamza, entraîneur qui a toujours cru en elle et en son potentiel. A son jeune âge, son palmarès est éloquant : championne d'Afrique des cadets l'an passé et championne arabe en 2011.

Cette médaille qui nous enchante, restera historique car c'est bien la première fois que le Maroc remporte une médaille dans une épreuve de champs à un niveau mondial. Bravo Lalla Rhizlane, vous le méritez bien.

Notre pays est représenté par cinq athlètes à ces championnats dont une seule fille: Siba Ghizlane; championnats que nous avions organisé en 2005 à Marrakech avec le record de participation de 172 pays. Un record qui tient à aujourd'hui. 

5 athlètes marocains en lice

Le premier jour Marouane Aissaoui n'avait pas réussi à passer en finale avec seulement 5m28 au saut en longueur. Au second jour Jawad Douhri s'est lui qualifié pour la finale des 1500m en 3:51.09, soit le 5ème temps du tour préliminaire. De même Nabil Oussama va se qualifier à la finale des 800m avec le 5ème temps soit 1:49.95. Au troisième jour Hicham Chemlal devait participer aux 2000m steeples. Il se contentera de rester au pied du podium quoiqu'ayant réalisé son record personnel sur la distance en 5:32.92.

Ces championnats nous rappelleront la grande victoire de Siham El Hilali sur 3000m à Sherbrooke au Canada. Aujourd'hui Siham est toujours là et vient de nous gratifier de 2 médailles aux Jeux méditerranéens.

Visiter le site de l'auteur: http://azizdaouda.blogspot.com/

Navette France-Maroc et droits sociaux des chibanis : Une réforme à la marge

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

La mission parlementaire sur les chibanis a fait du bon boulot, mais ses propositions ne constituent pas une réforme ambitieuse. La question centrale de l’exportabilité des droits sociaux - notamment le minimum vieillesse - pour permettre aux chibanis de naviguer librement entre la France et leur pays d’origine est effleurée dans le rapport, sans être résolue.

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Tous ceux qui se sont donnés mission de défendre les droits des chibanis, les premiers immigrés maghrébins installés en France pendant les 30 glorieuses, aujourd’hui âgés et retraités, saluent, unanimes, la qualité du rapport de la mission d’information parlementaire sur les immigrés âgés présenté le 4 juillet, au terme de 6 mois d’enquête. Le détail de ses conclusions - 82 propositions - ne soulève pourtant pas le même enthousiasme.

« Le plus frappant, c’est le changement de climat. On entend aujourd’hui un discours politique bienveillant à l’égard des chibanis. C’est un changement non négligeable quand on connait la sensibilité des pratiques des caisses d’assurances sociales et des administrations aux directives gouvernementales », note Antoine Math, économiste, chercheur à l’IRES et membre du Gisti, avec satisfaction. Référence aux pratiques discriminatoires proches du harcèlement subies par les chibanis de la part des caisses et clairement reconnues et dénoncées par la mission d’information.

Carte de résident permanent

Beaucoup de propositions ne font pas autre chose que de demander l’application de la loi, telle qu’elle existe déjà. La carte de résident permanent, apparue dans la presse comme l’objet phare de cette réforme en devenir, existe, par exemple, déjà. La mission d’information ne propose pas de la créer mais de la donner enfin à ses justes bénéficiaires. La mission d’information propose ainsi de « rendre automatique, pour la personne ayant effectué au moins deux renouvellements de sa carte de résident, l’obtention d’une carte de résident permanent, sous réserve [...] », indique le rapport.

Une circulaire de Manuel Valls, ministre de l’Intérieur, a même été envoyée aux préfectures avant même la publication du rapport, le 25 juin. « Cette circulaire étend également la délivrance de la carte de résident permanent c’est-à- dire sans limitation de durée, dans certaines situations. Cette carte est prévue par la loi, mais en pratique, très peu délivrée », reconnait cette circulaire. « Même aujourd’hui, cette carte n’est pas proposée spontanément par les préfectures ; tous les agents ne sont pas au courant des dernières circulaires », regrette Salem Fkire, président de l’association Cap Sud MRE.

L’assurance maladie même au Maroc

Cependant, même cette carte de résident permanent, pour positive qu’elle soit, ne maintient pas, la totalité des droits sociaux des chibanis au-delà de 6 mois et un jour de résidence dans leur pays d’origine. « Globalement, aucune proposition ne résout le problème de ceux qui ont une légitimité à conserver tous leurs droits sociaux, lorsqu’ils font la navette entre la France et le Maghreb, peut importe où ils se trouvent », conclut Antoine Math. L’’exportabilité’ des droits sociaux n’a pas été réellement envisagée : passer 6 mois et un jour de résidence à l’étranger, un immigré âgé perd toujours, en principe, le droit à la sécurité sociale, à l’ASPA, aux APL.

« En théorie oui, mais le Maroc et la France ont signé, en 2011, une Convention de sécurité sociale qui assure aux Marocains, qui ont travaillé et cotisé en France, qui continuent à cotiser en France pour la sécurité sociale par l’intermédiaire des prélèvements sociaux sur leur retraite, la couverture maladie française, au Maroc », tempère Alexis Bachelay, rapporteur de la mission d’information.

Les chibanis marocains qui ne remplissent plus les conditions de résidence ne se voient donc retirer leur couverture maladie « car les conventions internationales sont supérieures et prévalent sur le droit commun », explique le rapporteur. Cependant très peu de Marocains connaissent l’existence de ce droit. De plus, cette condition de résidence continue à s’appliquer pour l’Aspa (Allocation de solidarité aux personnes âgées, ex-minimum vieillesse) et les APL (Aide Personnalisée au Logement).

Condition de résidence assouplie

Le rapport de la mission parlementaire propose toutefois de « procéder, dans le cadre de l’attribution de l’Aspa à l’examen du respect de la condition de résidence sur le territoire en fonction d’un ensemble d’indices – et pas seulement au regard de la présence pendant six mois au cours de l’année civile – permettant d’établir la nature des attaches en France. » « Nous souhaitons que soit réalisé une étude au cas pas cas et que le fait d’avoir passé plus de 6 mois et 1 jours à l’étranger dans une année ne suffise pas à supprimer automatiquement l’Aspa, si par exemple, des exigences familiales ont retenues une personne âgée plus longtemps dans son pays d’origine », explique Alexis Bachelay. Cette invitation à la souplesse dépendrait alors de la bonne volonté des caisses d’assurance sociale et des services fiscaux.

Loi Borloo appliquée

Une seule proposition sur 82 envisage de mettre un terme à la condition de résidence dans la loi, mais de façon extrêmement limitée. L’Aide à la réinsertion familiale et sociale des anciens migrants dans leur pays d’origine (ARFS) que Marisol Touraine, ministre des Affaires sociales s’engage fièrement à mettre en œuvre d’ici la fin de l’année n’est autre que la publication des décrets de lois portant application des amendement Borloo à la loi Dallo sur le logement. Ils prévoient la délivrance d’une allocation d’un montant équivalent à l’Aspa pour les chibanis vivant en foyer conventionné en cas de retour définitif au pays.

Cependant, cette mesure apparemment très généreuse puisqu’elle permet aux chibanis de bénéficier de l’Aspa même s’ils n’habitent plus en France, est à double tranchant. « Il ne faudra oublier, qu'en l'état actuel du droit, et en cas d'adoption de l'ARFS, les ‘chibanis’ vont perdre toute couverture sociale notamment le droit aux soins et la couverture maladie universelle (CMU). Ils n'ont plus de santé, en raison de leur âge et du travail pénible en France, et n'auront plus de soins », rappelle maître Abderrahm Chninif, défenseur des droits des immigrés âgés, à Perpignan. « N’oublions pas qu’il s’agit d’une aide qui n’a rien d’obligatoire, les 20 000 personnes concernées peuvent aussi choisir de rester en France », tempère Alexis Bachelay.

Carte de retraité

Le choix, les vieux immigrés l’avaient eux aussi, quand les préfectures leurs avaient proposé la « carte de retraité » : établir une nouvelle carte de résident de 10 ans ou opter pour la « carte retraité », valable 10 ans, qui leur offraient la possibilité de se rendre en France à tout moment pour une durée maximum d'1 an sans visa. « Mais les chibanis ne savaient pas toujours en optant pour la carte de retraité, qu’ils renonçaient à tous leurs prestations sociales excepté la retraite contributive », souligne, Marie Martin, juriste à Association des Travailleurs Maghrébins en France (ATMF).

La mission parlementaire a pris conscience de ce problème et propose « à court terme, d’inciter les préfectures à informer les personnes formulant une demande de carte de séjour portant la mention « retraité » sur les conséquences de son obtention. » et de l’amender à moyen terme pour que les personnes âgées ayant opté pour la carte retraité puissent retrouver leurs prestations sociales et revenir sur leur choix.

« Nous demandions, notamment que la carte de retraité, soit purement et simplement supprimée », rappelle Marie Martin. « L'une des propositions prévoit d’aménager la carte de retraité, néanmoins, je pose la question : dans combien de temps les chibanis pourront-ils bénéficier de cette mesure ? Car aujourd’hui un retraité français peut partir toute l’année profiter du soleil au Maroc, et continuer à bénéficier de l’assurance maladie alors qu’un chibani marocain qui possède la carte de retraité ne le peut pas », s’indigne Salem Fkire. « Le statu quo n’intéresse personne, l’objectif de la mission est bien de voir modifiée cette carte ou de la voir supprimée », reconnaît Alexis Bachelay. Pourquoi ne pas avoir simplement demandé sa suppression, dans ce cas ?

Préférence nationale réduite

Timorée sur la carte de résident, et l’exportabilité de l’Aspa, la mission d’information, l’est aussi sur la durée du « stage préalable » demandé aux personnes âgées étrangères pour bénéficier de l’Aspa. La mission propose de réduire le stage, de 5 à 10 ans ; « nous revenons au système qui prévalait en 2006 », indique Alexis Bachelay, mais pour Marie Martin, cela constitue une règle « de préférence nationale totalement discriminatoire qu’il aurait fallu tout simplement supprimer. »

« La mission parlementaire comptait 30 députés, dont des députés UMP [le président de la mission d’information, Denis Jacquat est le député UMP de la Moselle, ndlr], or nous voulions obtenir un vote à l’unanimité au sein de la mission pour l’adoption du rapport. Nous ne sommes pas toujours allés aussi loin que nous l’aurions voulu », justifie Alexis Bachelay, également député PS des Hauts de Seine.

Il veut que cette unanimité puisse servir à l’avenir à faire passer au parlement les réformes conformes à ces propositions. « Je vais, par exemple, déposer un amendement sur les foyers de travailleurs migrants à la loi Duflot qui sera prochainement devant l’assemblée. J’aurais plus de poids pour convaincre mes collègues UMP de ne pas voter contre, puisqu’ils se sont prononcés pour le rapport de notre mission », prévoit-il.

Manque d’ambition

« Globalement, les propositions qui concernent les droits sociaux, la nationalité et la résidence ne sont jamais très ambitieuses, mais elle sont toujours bonnes à prendre. Ce sont des propositions patchwork sans une totale remise à plat et qui visent à améliorer chaque disposition préexistante à la marge », estime Antoine Math. « On n’a été le plus loin possible dans le cadre du temps et de la mixité de la commission. On a dû faire des choix et des arbitrages. S’il n’y a pas le dessin d’une grande loi globale, c’est que la problématique est transversale et les propositions pourront se concrétiser au travers de plusieurs véhicules législatifs », défend Alexis Bachelay.

Maroc-Norvège : Le médaillé olympique Khalid Skah renoncerait à récupérer ses enfants

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Cela faisait quatre ans qu’il remuait ciel et terre pour pouvoir recouvrer la garde de ses enfants qu’il affirme avoir été kidnappés par son ex-femme norvégienne. Aujourd’hui, Khalid Skah, médaillé olympique marocain, semble avoir changé d’avis et ne songerait plus à les récupérer. Un revirement de situation qui intervient quelques jours seulement après la publication d’une lettre, rédigée par sa propre fille et dans laquelle il est désigné comme un père très violent.

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Du nouveau dans l’affaire Khalid Skah. Le champion olympique marocain, qui faisait l’objet d’un mandat d’arrêt international, lancé par la Norvège, avant qu’il ne soit interpelé le 19 juin dernier à Paris, puis libéré sous caution, ne songerait plus à récupérer ses enfants. Selon une source proche de l’ancien athlète, contactée par le quotidien arabophone Akhbar Al Youm, celui-ci serait « tout à fait disposé à sortir de la vie ses deux enfants Salma et Tarik afin qu’ils puissent être heureux ».

« Que Dieu leur pardonne »

Khalid Skah ne voudrait à présent « plus rien d’autre » à part retrouver sa propre liberté. Selon la même source, il a pris cette décision car c’est « un père qui aime ses enfants et qui comprend parfaitement leur situation ». Mais à en croire l’un de ses deux enfants, Selma, âgée aujourd’hui de 20 ans, la réalité est toute autre. Dans une lettre, rendue publique en début du mois, la jeune fille affirme qu’elle et son frère, Tarik, 17 ans, ont été maltraités par leur père, lorsqu’ils habitaient chez lui au Maroc. Des faits que le principal intéressé dément en bloc.

« Ce qu’ils ont dit à son propos leur a été imposé, que Dieu leur pardonne. Aujourd’hui, ils savent où je suis. Il leur appartient de définir la relation qu’ils voudraient entretenir avec leur père », a-t-il fait savoir dans une déclaration à Akhbar Al Youm.

Maltraitance ?

Les accusations relayées dans la lettre de Selma Skah, sont très graves. Dans sa lettre, la jeune fille affirme, notamment, que l’athlète a tenté de mettre fin à leur vie, à plusieurs reprises. « Mon père a déclaré aux médias qu’il aimait ses enfants. Le même homme a à maintes fois essayé de nous tuer mon frère et moi, nous a torturé et a abusé de nous durant les trois années que nous avons passées avec lui au Maroc », assure Selma.

« Un exemple : Le 1er novembre 2008, j’ai été exposée à une violence sévère et extrême. Je me suis retrouvée inconsciente. J’ai été frappée de plein fouet à la tête avec des objets divers, et j’ai reçu des coups de pieds tandis que j’étais allongée sur le sol. Il m’a craché dessus et une grande quantité de cheveux avait été arrachée de ma tête. Quand je me suis réveillée, un médecin que mon père connaissait était là. Il m’a aidé à me relever, m’a lavé le visage et m’a donné des calmants », raconte la jeune fille.

« il contrôlait nos vies »

Et de poursuivre : « Notre père contrôlait nos vies et tout ce qui nous entourait. Nous n’avions pas le droit de contacter notre mère, à moins que ce soit pour demander de l’argent au téléphone en la menaçant. Durant de longues périodes, mon frère et moi avons été tenus à l’écart de notre école, sans avoir le droit de voir nos amis ou notre famille ». Pour elle, Khalid Skah « doit maintenant assumer la responsabilité de ses actes et leurs conséquences. Que ce soit au Maroc, en France ou en Norvège ».

Aujourd’hui, Selma et Tarik vivent auprès de leur mère Anne Cecile Hopstock, de nationalité norvégienne. La Norvège, qui accuse l’ex-athlète « d’enlèvement d'enfants, de privation de liberté et menaces », n’a pas encore fait de demande d’extradition à son sujet. Khalid Skah, lui, est toujours en France, sous contrôle judiciaire.

Réactions au meurtre d’un migrant à Mélilia : La répression policière continue

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Deux semaines sont passées depuis la diffusion en simultanée, dans plusieurs médias, de la vidéo choc révélant par l'image la mort de Clément, Camerounais, migrant irrégulier suite à son passage à tabac, à Mélilia, par les polices espagnole et marocaine. Dans le silence des autorités, la répression contre les migrants irréguliers continue.

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Il y a deux semaines exactement, le 28 juin, nous mettions en ligne, avec plusieurs autres médias d’Europe, une vidéo choc témoignant du calvaire des migrants irréguliers qui tentent en vain de franchir la frontière de Mélilia. Depuis, plus de 41 000 lectures plus tard, dont la majorité au Maroc : rien. Sur les images de la réalisatrice italienne Sara Creta dans « numéro 9 », Clément, Camerounais, père de trois enfants, meurt faute d’avoir été correctement soigné après son passage à tabac par les polices marocaine et espagnole. En Espagne, aucune réaction officielle ; au Maroc, non plus. « Au niveau des autorités on ne s’attendait pas à une réaction, si ce n’est à un durcissement car ces images n’allaient pas leur plaire, c’est sûr », indique Eric William, membre de l’association ALECMA de défense des droits des migrants.

Si aucune suite n’a été donnée à la dénonciation de crime déposée par un collectif d’associations devant le procureur général de Nador, suite à la mort de Clément, la répression contre les migrants irréguliers subsahariens a plutôt eu tendance à se renforcer ces deux dernières semaines. « Mardi dernier [le 2 juillet], la police est passée dans la forêt de Gourougou, comme tous les jours [les migrants expliquent cette pratique habituelle dans la vidéo, ndlr] et les migrants ont fuit en grimpant plus haut dans la montagne, dans des zones encore moins accessibles. Ils sont redescendus plus tard, pour rejoindre leur campement, mais la police marocaine s’était cachée et les attendait. S’en est suivi une course poursuite. Comme cela se passe souvent dans ce genre de cas, les migrants, en fuyant sont tombés dans des ravins et se sont blessés », explique Stéphane Julinet, chargé de programme droit des étrangers et plaidoyers au GADEM, collectif d’associations pour la défense des droits des migrants.

Dénonciation de crime

Le GADEM envisage à présent de lancer une pétition pour continuer à mobiliser face aux violences qui ne cessent pas et dont la mort de Clément devient le symbole. « Nous sommes en contact avec la famille de Clément à Douala. Nous les avons prévenus de sa mort mais son épouse, à ce moment là, avait du mal à y croire. A présent, avec la diffusion de la vidéo, je pense qu’elle a pris conscience que c’était vrai. Nous espérons qu’elle acceptera de porter plainte directement », explique Eric William.

Sans cette plainte, en dépit de la dénonciation de crime, il n’y a aucune chance que justice soit rendue suite à la mort de Clément. « A l’heure actuelle, aucun migrant n’a jamais porté plainte suite à des violences policières au Maroc. Récemment, nous avons accompagné plusieurs d’entre eux pour qu’ils puissent porter plainte pour d’autres agressions car lorsqu’ils vont au commissariat, on refuse d’enregistrer leur plainte », précise Stéphane Julinet.

Nombreux commentaires

Lorsque le collectif d’association, en accord avec Sara Creta, l’auteur du film, a décidé de diffuser la vidéo sur des sites web plutôt que des chaînes de télévision, c’était pour s’assurer qu’elle soit vue par le plus grand nombre de personnes. Postée sur Youtube et diffusée sur El Pais, Yabiladi, Mediapart et la Republicca elle a donné lieu à un grand nombre de commentaires.

Ils se partagent entre l’indignation devant le sort des migrants de Gourougou, et le dédain, notamment de la part de certains marocains. « Et s'ils ont des problèmes avec les militaires du nord, c'est qu'après avoir pris leurs forces dans les montagnes, les migrants descendent en groupe dans les villes, attaquent les forces de l'ordre avec tout ce qu'ils ont comme armes, des bâtons en bois ou en fer, des couteaux [...] », assure ‘Le vrai de vrai’, dans son commentaire sur Yabiladi. « [...] tout ça vire au ridicule !!! Si ces Subsahariens critiquent autant le Maroc ? Pourquoi y restent-ils ? Surtout que ce pays n'a colonisé personne et ne pratique aucune main mise sur les richesses des pays d'origines de ces clandestins », ajoute ‘allaoui38’.

« Les Marocains doivent connaître la vérité, la réalité telle qu’elle est, même si c’est dur. Ils doivent avoir conscience de ce qui se passe à la frontière de Mélilia », répond Sara Creta, réalisatrice du documentaire. A ceux qui rejettent la faute sur les migrants, elle répond « les migrants ne peuvent pas être régularisés au Maroc, ils ne peuvent pas travailler, n’ont aucun droit, c’est la raison pour laquelle ils ne s’intègrent pas au Maroc et cherchent absolument à aller en Europe. »

France : Le ramadan fait baisser la fréquentation des palaces

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Le mois de ramadan ne fait pas le bonheur des palaces français. Et pour cause, durant cette période de l’année, la riche clientèle du Moyen-Orient préfère passer le mois sacré chez elle, en famille. Explications. 

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Le ramadan fait incontestablement baisser la fréquentation des palaces français et ce depuis trois ans. C’est ce qu’a fait savoir, jeudi à l’AFP, le cabinet de conseil hôtelier MKG. Les palaces parisiens et ceux de la Côte d’Azur, dans le sud de la France, sont les principaux intéressés par cette chute de fréquentation en pleine saison estivale. Et pour cause, la riche clientèle du Moyen-Orient préfère passer le mois sacré en famille, chez elle.

Selon le cabinet spécialisé, les palaces de la capitale française et de la Riviera accusent, depuis 2010, une chute d’occupation et, par conséquent, de leur revenu par chambre disponible (indice qui combine le taux d'occupation et les prix moyens) à l’approche du ramadan. Les clients qui viennent du Moyen-Orient  qui rentrent alors chez eux, cèdent leurs places « à une clientèle au pouvoir d'achat moins fort », explique-t-on.

14 points en moins

Cette année, le « même phénomène » est en train de se reproduire. Les prix moyens et la fréquentation de ces places ont, en effet, chuté pendant la première semaine de juillet 2013. Le 7 juillet dernier, soit trois jours avant de début du ramadan, le taux d’occupation était déjà en recul de 14% par rapport à la même période de l’année dernière, souligne MKG. Les prix moyens, eux, ont enregistré une baisse de 9% sur cette même semaine.   

« La clientèle moyen-orientale est un véritable moteur pour l'activité des palaces et contribue à la bonne résistance des grandes places touristiques françaises », affirme Georges Panayotis, président de MKG Group, cité par l’AFP. Selon lui, « ce moteur risque aujourd'hui de s'enrayer avec l'arrivée du relèvement de la TVA et d'une taxe sur l'hôtellerie de luxe, qui pourraient faire fuir les clients vers d'autres destinations que la France ».

L’impact de l’absence de cette clientèle des palaces français, ne sera connu que dans quelques semaines. Ceux-ci devraient, toutefois, reprendre du voyage après la fin du ramadan. 

France : Un mariage algéro-marocain cible d'un journal d’extrême droite

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Dix jours après la célébration de leur mariage, deux militaires français d’origine marocaine et algérienne ont malheureusement été la cible d’un journal d’extrême droite. Lequel s'est servi de la manière dont l'évènement s'est déroulé pour remettre en question l'immigration en France. Article « traumatisant et choquant », le Front de Gauche et le Mrap (Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l'amitié entre les peuples) dénoncent.

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Un « lynchage médiatique ». C’est ainsi que le Front de Gauche du Vaucluse et la fédération départementale du Mrap (Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l'amitié entre les peuples) a qualifié, hier lors d’une conférence de presse, le récent article de l’hebdomadaire Minute, sur la célébration du mariage de Sofiane Ben Ahmed et Yamina El Attari, tous deux militaires français d’origine marocaine et algérienne, rapporte l'AFP.

« Le mariage qui fait honte à la France » ?

Ils se sont mariés, le 22 juin dernier, à la Mairie d’Orange en présence de la famille et des amis. Quelques jours plus tard, le 2 juillet, le journal d’extrême droite publie, en une, une photographie du couple tirant la langue et titrée : « Le mariage qui fait honte à la France ».

L’article, dont une copie a été publiée sur le site Citoyens et Français, a été écrit sur un ton dénigrant et dégradant. Il fait état, entre autres, du déploiement « des drapeaux marocains et algériens », des infractions routières telles le blocage d’un carrefour par des « voitures archipleines » avec des invités « assis ou debout, nez au vent, aux portières grandes ouvertes, sur le capot et même sur un pare-brise ».

L'article annonce également qu’une plainte a été déposée auprès de l’officier du ministère public avec les noms et qualités des mariés, des vidéos, et un « descriptif détaillé des faits. L’identité du dépositaire n’a pas été révélée, mais son objectif est de faire coller une amende à Sofiane et Yamina. Et ce, en vertu de la « Charte du bon déroulement de la cérémonie » en vigueur depuis 2011 et qu’ils ont signé avant la célébration de leur union.

Le Front de Gauche et le Mrap dénoncent le contenu de cette publication qui reproche aux mariés, « le souk » créé par leur cortège après la cérémonie à la mairie. Selon Fabienne Haloui, conseillère municipale à Orange et conseillère régionale du Front de Gauche du Vaucluse, les convives ayant contrevenu aux règles de sécurité routière ont été verbalisés et « les mariés ne peuvent endosser juridiquement les infractions de leurs invités ».

Pour l’honneur de la France, Sofiane a perdu un pied au Mali

« C'est un traumatisme, c'est choquant à 23 ans de se voir salir comme ça quelques jours après leur mariage », a déclaré Fabienne Haloui. De plus, ajoute-t-elle, les photographies illustrant l'article ont été prises sur les profils Facebook des deux jeunes gens sans leur consentement. Pour cette élue, l'objectif poursuivi est évident. « Au-delà du fait que l'article déforme la réalité, bafoue le droit à l'image et détourne une photo n'ayant rien à voir avec ledit mariage,  il y a une volonté de contester leur appartenance à la nation française avec des propos stigmatisants, racistes et xénophobes ». 

La chose est d’autant plus choquante que les deux militaires sont présentés par Minute comme étant des « Français de ''la France d’après''». Des propos qui, selon Mme Haloui, ont suscité des « commentaires injurieux sur les sites et blogs d’extrême droite ». Pourtant, Sofiane en service à Rennes faisait partie des troupes françaises envoyées au Mali. Il y a perdu un pied et marche depuis avec une prothèse.

D'après Fabienne Haloui, tout ceci n’est qu’« une manipulation de plus de l'extrême droite ». « L'immigration est constitutive de l'identité française, avec d'abord les Belges, les Suisses….. et aujourd’hui, les Algériens, les Comoriens, …, les Marocains,… », dit-elle.

Possible déposition de plainte

Dépassé par la situation, le couple à l’intention de saisir la justice. Avec la fédération départementale du Mrap, il a déjà étudié la possibilité de déposer plainte pour « propos mensongers et incitation à la haine raciale », a affirmé Jean-Jacques Longuenesse, co-président de la fédération. Selon un militant du Mrap, Sofiane et Yamina pourraient également déposer plainte pour « atteinte à la carrière professionnelle ».

Maroc : la justice condamne un journaliste à quatre ans de prison pour « terrorisme »

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Le PJD et le cheikh Mohamed Marghaoui sont de nouveau dans l’embarras. La justice, dirigée par Mustapha Ramid, a prononcé quatre ans d'emprisonnement contre le journaliste Mustapha El Hasnaoui qui travaillait dans la première publication salafiste au Maroc, Assabile, proche du chef de l’association Prédication pour le coran et la sunna. Il est également membre du Forum Al Karama, une émanation du PJD.

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Hier, la cour d’appel de Rabat a condamné le journaliste Mustapha El Hasnaoui à quatre ans de prison pour « appartenance à une organisation terroriste ». Le 16 mai dernier, le prévenu a été arrêté par la police et mis en garde à vue. Après les douze jours légaux dans des affaires dites de terrorisme, il a été déféré devant un juge d’instruction. Le parquet accuse El Hasnaoui, de « constitution de bande criminelle en vue de commettre des actes terroristes dans le cadre d'une entreprise collective visant l'atteinte grave à l'ordre public par l'intimidation, la terreur ou la violence ».

El Hasnaoui est membre d’une ONG, proche du PJD

Sur les véritables raisons de son arrestations, force est de constater que les versions diffèrent, alimentant davantage le flou qui entoure cette affaire. L’interpellation de Mustapha El Hasnaoui serait-elle la conséquence de son transfert par les autorités Turques, le 11 mai, vers le Maroc alors qu’il se préparait à rejoindre les rangs des combattants du groupe salafiste Annosra en Syrie ? C’est l’une des hypothèses qui pourrait expliquer une telle arrestation.

Certains médias en ligne avancent, toutefois la piste Ahmed Assid. Le journaliste avait mené une campagne contre les propos du militant amazigh, jugés, par les milieux conservateurs, blasphématoires contre l’islam. El Hasnaoui appartient au Forum Al Karama que préside, actuellement, Abdelali Hamieddine, membre du secrétariat général du PJD et vice-président du conseil national de la Lampe. L'ONG s’est spécialisée dans la défense des détenus salafistes. Avant sa nomination à la tête du ministère de la Justice et des Libertés, c’est Mustapha Ramid qui était à la tête d’Al Karama (la Dignité).

El Hasnaoui travaillait dans un journal salafiste

Le 15 juillet 2005 marque le lancement de la première publication salafiste au Maroc : « Assabile ». « Ce sont des disciples du cheikh Mohamed Maghraoui, le chef de l’Association prédication pour le coran et la sunna, qui sont à l’origine de ce projet », indique Driss El Ganbouri, spécialiste des mouvements islamistes. Dès le départ, la publication se veut foncièrement hostile aux laïcs et à Al Adl wal Ihassane.

Une fois qu’il a terminé ses études universitaires, Mustapha El Hasnanou a rejoint l’équipe de la rédaction d’Assabile. C’est notamment, lui, qui est à l’origine de la célèbre vidéo sur des écolières de Tanger interdites, par le directeur, de suivre les cours parce qu’elles portaient le hijab.