Scores missing; docked vessel was full of people going home from festival
The Associated Press
updated 10:26 a.m. PT,Sat., Nov . 28, 2009
DHAKA, Bangladesh - A triple-deck ferry packed with hundreds of travelers heading home for an Islamic festival capsized as they disembarked in southern Bangladesh, leaving at least 37 dead and scores missing, authorities said Saturday.
M.V. Coco, traveling from the capital Dhaka, went down late Friday as it arrived at Nazirhat town in the coastal district of Bhola, 64 miles (104 kilometers) to the south. Some survivors said the boat hit a river shoal as it approached the terminal, breaking the hull and allowing water in. As passengers scrambled to disembark, the vessel then tipped and partially sank in the Tetulia River.
"As I saw water in the lower deck I jumped through the window and swam ashore," said Shahidul Islam, a survivor. "Also, many passengers were frightened after seeing water in the lower deck and started rushing out causing the boat to tilt on one side."
The ferry was crowded with people heading home to celebrate the Eid al-Adha festival, but it is unclear how many were on board. Dhaka's private ETV television station said the ferry was carrying more than 1,500 people but many had already disembarked when the vessel went down.
The ferry had a sanctioned capacity of 1,000 passengers, police officials said. Authorities usually don't keep passenger lists to make clear how many are on board.
Gas torches were used to cut open submerged cabins, and local residents joined divers to search for survivors inside the ferry. Police and fire brigade divers pulled 37 bodies from the sunken part of the vessel before darkness halted rescue work for the night, said Saiful Islam and Showkat Hossain, local police officials supervising the effort. Many of the dead were women and children.
Officials did not say how many people were missing. ATN television station said up to 80 people were still unaccounted for.
Police said they were waiting for a rescue vessel coming from the southern city of Barisal to pull the submerged ferry from the water.
"The picture about the death toll will be clear once the ferry is salvaged," Islam said.
Hundreds of anxious relatives massed on the sandy river bank and searched for missing loved ones.
Some complained that rescue work was slow as officials were on holiday for Saturday's Eid celebration.
"The ferry sank just before midnight Friday, but rescuers did not arrive until the morning," said survivor Sohel Hossain.
Ferries are a key mode of transport in this delta nation of 150 million people. Accidents blamed on lax rules, overcrowding and faulty boats are common.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Posted by Secretary Tom Vilsack on November 28, 2009 at 12:49 PM EST
I have seen the consequences of a health care system in need of reform – too few insured, too costly for others and too little quality for all. Unsustainable growth in the cost of health care and the continued denial of coverage to millions of Americans is evidence that our health care system has failed.
These failings are amplified in rural America, where folks pay more for health care than their urban counterparts, but are still more likely to experience chronic illness and poor health. I applaud the National Farmers Union for their recent endorsement of the U.S. Senate's health care reform bill and their prior support of the House’s bill. Their support of the legislation and thier courage in this critical debate says a great deal about the need for reform and the consequences for rural America if we do not get it.
Consider the following statistics:
Rural Americans pay 39% of their total health care costs, out of pocket – the highest percentage for all Americans.
Almost one in four Americans living in towns with less than 2,500 people have no health insurance coverage.
Rural Americans are more likely than their urban counterparts to postpone or forego medical care because of the cost – 9% say they delayed care and 7% skipped treatment.
Approximately 80% of Rural Americans are self-employed or work for a small business – two groups greatly impacted by the rising cost of health care premiums.
Rural residents are more likely to report fair to poor health status than urban residents, have a higher mortality rate and are more likely to have a chronic condition.
These numbers aren’t just statistics – they tell the real story about the health and well-being of rural Americans. When high costs or lack of insurance deters someone from seeking needed health care, illnesses go undiagnosed and long term costs increase.
Soaring health care costs are also hurting rural economies and businesses. Small businesses create most new jobs in rural America, but they are at a disadvantage in our current health care system, paying up to 18% more per worker than large firms for the same health insurance policy. And over the last 16 years the number of small businesses offering health care has dropped to less than 40%. We can overcome this by creating a new insurance exchange where individuals and small businesses will have greater leverage to bargain for better prices and quality coverage.
The debate we are having is a good one and it will result in legislation more beneficial to the American people. But we cannot forget - we have been debating health care reform since Harry Truman was President and the status quo is unsustainable. We must seize the unprecedented opportunity for reform that will improve the health care security and stability that Americans value, strengthen our economy and maintain the character of our rural communities for decades to come. The time is now. Rural America can’t wait any longer.
Tom Vilsack is Secretary of the Department of Agriculture
Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on November 27, 2009 at 5:14 PM EST
In today's Washington Post, Charles Krauthammer takes great pains to paint a bleak picture of health care reform as "monstrous," "overregulated," and rife with "arbitrary bureaucratic inventions." The columnist's argument may be cogent and well-written, but it is wholly inaccurate.
Krauthammer describes a "better choice" for health reform as having three elements: tort reform, interstate purchasing and taxing employee benefits. All three elements are part of the current effort.
Section 9001 of the Senate bill does impose a fee on high-cost health care plans. (A PDF of the Senate bill is available here.) To clarify: This is a fee on insurance companies that offer high-cost plans that drive up the cost of health care for all Americans, not a tax on individuals.
Section 1333 of the Senate bill allows for interstate health care choice compacts. Coupled with insurance market reforms to ensure individuals are not discriminated against, this policy will expand health care choices to millions of Americans.
And while Mr. Krauthammer may try to label reform legislation as a package of programs linked only by "political expediency," the legislation actually is designed to take health care off the unsustainable path it is currently on by improving the health of all Americans and reducing costs for families, small businesses and the government. Some examples from the Senate bill:
An independent Medicare Commission that would develop and submit proposals to Congress aimed at shoring up the long-term financial health of Medicare, slowing Medicare cost growth that is hurting seniors and the budget, and improving the quality of care delivered to all Medicare beneficiaries. (Section 3403)
A program to ensure that uninsured individuals with pre-existing conditions can buy affordable health coverage. (Section 1101)
New programs to expand the health care workforce so we can ensure there are more doctors and nurses in this country. (Sections 5102, 5201, 5202, 5203, 5204, 5205, 5206, 5207, 5309, 5310, 5311, 5312)
New prevention and wellness programs such as tobacco cessation and programs to combat childhood obesity. (Sections 4001, 4002, 4003 and 4004, 4107, 4306)
Posted by Austan Goolsbee on November 27, 2009 at 4:07 PM EST
The President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board released the following statement today:
Statement from PERAB Chairman Paul Volcker on Tax Task Force
The tax subcommittee of the PERAB was scheduled to release its report on December 4th. But we have received more than 500 submissions of serious tax reform ideas from the public both in person and on our website and we had to cut them off to meet the original deadline.
I want us to review as many suggestions as possible and to have sufficient time to fully consider the hundreds of suggestions that have come in already. I have asked the Administration to extend our deadline and to reopen the website for submissions so that we can hear the widest possible range of ideas.
We still have the same specific mandate: to discuss the pros and cons of a spectrum of reform ideas relating to tax simplification, enforcement of existing tax laws and reform the corporate tax system without considering policies that would raise taxes on families making less than $250,000.
The PERAB is not tasked with providing its own policy recommendations for the Administration and the final report will be an almanac of options from a broad range of viewpoints.
We will be reopening the web submission form and extending the deadline for any suggestions in keeping with our mandate (suggestions may also be submitted via email) and will be scheduling more public meetings over the coming weeks. We expect to report back to the Administration after the holidays.
Posted by Macon Phillips on November 26, 2009 at 12:00 AM EST
Happy Thanksgiving!
Given the holiday, we are releasing the President's weekly address today. In this video, President Obama calls to our attention the men and women in uniform who are away from home sacrificing time with family to protect our safety and freedom. He also talks about the progress of health care reform, the Recovery Act, and job creation to ensure that next Thanksgiving will be a brighter day.
Posted by Rashad Hussain on November 25, 2009 at 4:05 PM EST
Pilgrims from over 160 countries, including nearly 20,000 Americans, have gathered in Saudi Arabia for the annual performance of the Hajj. They have assembled in Mina and will travel to Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mecca to offer the rites of pilgrimage. On Friday, Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid-ul-Adha. The President issued the following statement today marking the beginning of Hajj and the upcoming Eid holiday:
Michelle and I would like to send our best wishes to all those performing Hajj this year, and to Muslims in America and around the world who are celebrating Eid-ul-Adha. The rituals of Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha both serve as reminders of the shared Abrahamic roots of three of the world’s major religions.
During Hajj, the world’s largest and most diverse gathering, three million Muslims from all walks of life – including thousands of American Muslims – will stand in prayer on Mount Arafat. The following day, Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid-ul-Adha and distribute food to the less fortunate to commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son out of obedience to God.
This year, I am pleased that the Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with the Saudi Health Ministry to prevent and limit the spread of H1N1 during Hajj. Cooperating on combating H1N1 is one of the ways we are implementing my administration's commitment to partnership in areas of mutual interest.
On behalf of the American people, we would like to extend our greetings during this Hajj season – Eid Mubarak.
Posted by Heather Zichal on November 25, 2009 at 3:36 PM EST
Some exciting announcements today from the White House on our efforts to combat climate change and lay the foundation for a clean energy economy! The President will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP 15) next month, and he will take with him an emissions reduction target to drive progress toward a comprehensive and operational Copenhagen accord.
Over the last 10 months, the Administration, under the President’s active leadership, has made remarkable progress in addressing climate change and accelerating a clean energy renaissance domestically and abroad (see a list of accomplishments below). These aggressive initiatives have laid the foundation for a meaningful agreement in Copenhagen and longer term for a new, sustainable and prosperous clean energy future.
The international climate summit will bring together delegations from 192 nations and will be visited by approximately 15,000 people. For the first time in the series of these conferences, the U.S. delegation will have a U.S. Center, providing a unique and interactive forum to share our story with the world. The Center will host over 70 events during the two-week conference that will highlight the strong actions the U.S. is taking at home as well as the leadership role the U.S. is pursuing internationally to combat global climate change.
Activities in the Center will include a series of presentations by senior Cabinet and Administration officials including: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, along with Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Holdren, and Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner. Topics will range from energy efficiency investments and global commitments to renewables policy and clean energy jobs.
To help bring the events from Copenhagen back home, the State Department will be running a website dedicated solely to COP 15 events, as well as a Facebook page. More info coming on all the ways you can keep up will follow soon.
These are definitely exciting times as we work collectively to address the challenge of climate change and advance the opportunities of a new clean energy future.
Highlights of actions and accomplishments on climate change and energy by the Obama Administration in the last 10 months.
Domestic Leadership
Recovery Act: The U.S. is investing more than $80 billion in clean energy through its Recovery Act – including the largest-ever investment in renewable energy, which will double our generation of clean renewable energy like wind and solar in three years.
Efficiency Standard for Automobiles: President Obama announced the first ever joint fuel economy/greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks in May. The new standards are projected to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the life of the program with a fuel economy gain averaging more than 5 percent per year and a reduction of approximately 900 million metric tons in greenhouse gas emissions.
Advancing Comprehensive Energy Legislation: Passing comprehensive energy and climate legislation is a top priority for the Administration and significant progress has been made. In June, The U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act that will promote clean energy investments and lower U.S. greenhouse gas emissions more than 80 percent by 2050. The Senate continues to advance their efforts to pass comprehensive legislation and move the U.S. closer to a system of clean energy incentives that create new energy jobs, reduce our dependence on oil, and cut pollution.
Appliance Efficiency Standards: The Administration has forged more stringent energy efficiency standards for commercial and residential appliances, including microwaves, kitchen ranges, dishwashers, lightbulbs and other common appliances. This common sense approach makes improved efficiency a manufacturing requirement for the everyday appliances used in practically every home and business, resulting in a significant reduction in energy use. Altogether, about two dozen new energy efficiency standards will be completed in the next few years.
Offshore Energy Development: Within the Administration’s first 100 days, a new regulatory framework was established to facilitate the development of alternative energy projects in an economic and environmentally sound manner that allows us to tap into the vast energy potential of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The National Renewable Energy Lab estimates that development of wind energy alone on the OCS may provide an additional 1,900 gigawatts of clean energy to the U.S.
Emissions Inventory Rule: For the first time, the U.S. will catalogue greenhouse gas emissions from large emission sources – an important initial step toward measurable and transparent reductions.
International Leadership
The Major Economies Forum (MEF): President Obama launched the MEF in March 2009, creating a new dialogue among developed and emerging economies to combat climate change and promote clean energy. At the July L’Aquila summit, MEF Leaders announced important new agreements to support the UN climate talks and launched a new Global Partnership to promote clean energy technologies.
Eliminating Fossil Fuel Subsidies: The President spearheaded an agreement at the Pittsburgh G20 summit for all G20 nations to phase out their fossil fuel subsidies over the medium term and to work with other countries to do the same. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation nations followed the G20 lead at their summit in Singapore, expanding the number of countries committing to these subsidies. According to the International Energy Agency, this measure alone could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions 10 percent or more by 2050.
Bilateral Energy and Climate Partnerships: The U.S. is accelerating its collaboration with China, India, Mexico, Canada and other key international partners to combat climate change, coordinate clean energy research and development, and support the international climate talks.
Energy and Climate Partnership for the Americas: President Obama proposed a partnership with our neighbors in the western hemisphere to advance energy security and combat climate change. An early product of this cooperation is Chile’s Renewable Energy Center, which receives technical support from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Phasing Down HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons): The U.S. joined Canada and Mexico in proposing to phase-down HFC emissions, a very potent greenhouse gas, in developed and developing countries under the Montreal Protocol. This represents a down payment of about 10% of the emission reductions necessary to cut global greenhouse gas emissions to half their current levels by 2050.
Heather Zichal is Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change
Posted by Nicola Goren on November 25, 2009 at 2:53 PM EST
As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, let us also pause and acknowledge that many of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table. The President and the First Lady are calling on all of us to come together to solve hunger in our communities.
In this spirit, the Corporation for National and Community Service in coordination with the White House and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is launching the United We Serve: Feed a Neighbor initiative. The new initiative raises awareness of hunger issues and equips Americans with the resources to mobilize against the hunger crisis.
Here’s what you can do to get started fighting hunger today:
Find an opportunity to serve by using the keyword "hunger" in our "Find a Volunteer Opportunity" search engine on Serve.gov
Today at the White House, the President officially pardoned not one turkey, but two -- sparing both “Courage” and “Carolina,” a request from his compassionate daughters, Sasha and Malia. Before sending the birds to a life of “peace and tranquility” in Disneyland, the President took the time to express his gratitude for life’s blessings, and remind Americans that Thanksgiving is also a time to think of those less fortunate:
When my family and I sit around the table tomorrow, just like millions of other families across America, we'll take time to give our thanks for many blessings. But we'll also remember this is a time when so many members of our American family are hurting. There's no question this has been a tough year for America. We're at war. Our economy is emerging from an extraordinary recession into recovery. But there's a long way to go and a lot of work to do.
In more tranquil times, it's easy to notice our many blessings. It's even easier to take them for granted. But in times like these, they resonate a bit more powerfully. When President Lincoln set aside the National Day of Thanksgiving for the first time -- to celebrate America's "fruitful fields," "healthful skies," and the "strength and vigor" of the American people -- it was in the midst of the Civil War, just when the future of our very union was most in doubt. So think about that. When times were darkest, President Lincoln understood that our American blessings shined brighter than ever.
This is an era of new perils and new hardships. But we are, as ever, a people of endless compassion, boundless ingenuity, limitless strength. We're the heirs to a hard-earned history and stewards of a land of God-given beauty. We are Americans. And for all this, we give our humble thanks -- to our predecessors, to one another, and to God.
So on this quintessentially American holiday, as we give thanks for what we've got, let's also give back to those who are less fortunate. As we give thanks for our loved ones, let us remember those who can't be with us. And as we give thanks for our security, let's in turn thank those who've sacrificed to make it possible, wherever they may be.
Posted by Norm Eisen on November 25, 2009 at 1:08 PM EST
Building upon last month’s historic release of nearly 500 White House visitor records, today the White House releases more than 1,600 records of visits to the White House in response to another month’s worth of requests. You can view all the records in a searchable database in our Disclosures section.
We announced earlier that in December the White House would -- for the first time in history -- begin posting all White House visitor records under the terms of our new voluntary disclosure policy. As part of that initiative, we also offered to look back at the records created before the announcement of the policy and answer specific requests for visitor records created earlier in the year.
Today’s production of records is in response to over 300 requests from the public during the month of October. Those requests have yielded over 1,600 responsive records. Consistent with our earlier announcement that we will only release records that are 90 days or older, this group of records covers the time period between January 20, 2009 to August 31, 2009. All of these have been added to the online database of published visitor records in an accessible, searchable format for anyone to browse or download.
Several of the most frequent White House visitors in today's release are, not surprisingly, Administration officials who come to the White House as part of their daily work. For example, Tom Perrelli and Spencer Overton - each an appointed official in the Administration - have visited the White House many times.
Finally, as we noted last month, sometimes rather than providing clear information transparency can have confusing or amusing results. With an average of 100,000 White House access records created each month, many White House Visitors share the same name as celebrities. In October, requests were submitted for the names of some notable figures (for example Michael Jordan and Michael Moore). The famous individuals with those names never actually came to the White House, but we have included the individuals that did visit and share those names.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Norm Eisen is Special Counsel to the President for ethics and government reform
Posted by Molly Fedick on November 25, 2009 at 11:12 AM EST
At 11:28 AM EST, President Obama will speak at the official pardoning of the White House turkey. The ceremony will take place in the Rose Garden and give one lucky turkey a second chance at life. Watch it through WhiteHouse.gov/live
And in case you missed it, check out yesterday’s preview:
Tiger Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren, changed the story she told the first officer on the scene, according to law enforcement sources.
The Windemere Police Department says Tiger's wife went outside, saw that her husband had struck a fire hydrant and a tree, and then went back inside the house for a golf club to use to try and extricate him from the vehicle. But we've learned Nordegren told a very different story to the Florida Highway Patrol, and it does not involve going back in the house for a club. Our sources will not allow us to be more specific.
And we've learned there was no blood found on the steering wheel of Tiger's SUV -- putting into serious doubt that Tiger sustained his injuries from the crash.
As we first reported, Tiger had a conversation with a friend yesterday, in which he said his wife had confronted him over reports he was involved with another woman ... and that his wife scratched his face up during the argument. Tiger told the friend he then left the house, started driving off and his wife then came out with a golf club, striking the vehicle. Tiger then became distracted and hit the hydrant and then a nearby tree.
We're told cops will interview Tiger and his wife later today.
UPDATE: A neighbor tells TMZ they saw cops show up at Tiger's house this morning -- only to get turned away again. Tiger's wife, Elin, was spotted (below) driving out of the Isleworth subdivision in Windermere earlier today.
UPDATE 3:05 PM ET -- We're told cops are back at Tiger's house. Let's see if they actually get in the front door this time.
UPDATE 5:00 PM ET -- The FHP says they were turned away again -- that Tiger and his wife were not available to be interviewed by troopers. They are going to try again tomorrow.
Tiger Woods did not suffer facial lacerations from a car accident. They were inflicted by his wife, Elin Nordegren -- according to a conversation Woods had Friday after the accident.
Tiger has yet to be formally interviewed by the Florida Highway Patrol -- that should happen this afternoon. But we're told Tiger had a conversation Friday -- with a non-law enforcement type -- detailing what went down before his Escalade hit a fire hydrant.
We're told he said his wife had confronted him about reports that he was seeing another woman. The argument got heated and, according to our source, she scratched his face up. We're told it was then Woods beat a hasty retreat for his SUV -- but according to our source, Woods says his wife followed behind with a golf club. As Tiger drove away, she struck the vehicle several times with the club.
We're told Woods became "distracted," thought the vehicle was stopped, and looked to see what had happened. At that point the SUV hit the fire hydrant and then hit a tree.
We're also told Woods had said during the conversation Friday he had been taking prescription pain medication for an injury, which could explain why he seemed somewhat out of it at the scene.
In the world of celebrity, all worlds lead to Kevin Bacon. In the world of celebrity scandal ... it's Gloria Allred.
TMZ has learned Rachel Uchitel -- aka the person the National Enquirer calls the Other Woman in the Tiger Woods saga -- decided at 3:00 AM today she needed to lawyer up. She left a message for Gloria Allred at her office -- and quickly got a return call.
We've learned Rachel has hired Gloria and is considering, among other things, suing the National Enquirer for defamation. As we first told you, Rachel called the National Enquirer's report that she had an affair with Tiger Woods "bulls**t."
Could a news conference with Gloria and Rachel be far behind. We think not?
BTW -- we've also learned Rachel left a message for a second lawyer -- Mark Geragos. We just found out Geragos did indeed call Rachel back, but she didn't pick up the message until a few minutes ago. Who would Rachel have picked!?!
Tiger Woods doesn't like hitting his golf shots into the trees -- so hitting one with his SUV really sucks.
WFTV in Orlando obtained photos of Tiger's Escalade after it smacked into a tree early Friday morning. Tiger was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and released shortly thereafter.
Sources tell TMZ Woods and his wife, Elin Nordegren, were arguing right before the accident over allegations Woods had an affair.
The woman accused of having an affair with Tiger Woods says she has never slept with him and calls the entire story "bulls**t."
TMZ spoke with Rachel Uchitel, the woman the National Enquirer named as Woods' mistress. She said she has met Tiger before, but never had sex with him. She claims the "sources" that spoke to the Enquirer were each paid $25,000 for their story.
Sources tell TMZ Woods and his wife, Elin Nordegren, were arguing over the alleged affair right before Tiger's accident yesterday.
Saturday, November 28, 2009 - Page updated at 01:01 AM
CHRIS JOSEPH TAYLOR / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Kicker Nico Grasu sent the Cougars off winners in the 2008 Apple Cup.
MICHAEL CONROY / AP
Washington quarterback Jake Locker missed last season's Apple Cup with a broken thumb.
Today
WSU @ UW, 3:30 p.m., FSN
Close games are the norm in the Apple Cup
By Bob Condotta
Seattle Times staff reporter
Logic and the odds dictate that the 102nd playing of the Apple Cup won't be close.
Washington is a 24 ½-point favorite for today's 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Husky Stadium against rival Washington State. And while UW is sporting just a 3-7 record, the Huskies have shown signs of life in Steve Sarkisian's first year as coach. Meanwhile, the Cougars are enduring another rough go in Paul Wulff's second season in Pullman at 1-10 and ranking statistically among the worst teams in the nation in many key statistical categories.
Still, history dictates that no one should be shocked if today's game ends up close.
The last seven Apple Cups have been decided by 31 total points, none by more than eight. Two have been decided in overtime, and all were in doubt until the final minutes.
"That's just [how it is] with any rivalry," said UW linebacker Donald Butler. "You look and it's not one team blowing out another — it's always close. When you have two schools that hate each other, that's how it is. They are out there battling and competing down after down after down."
The Huskies found that out a year ago when despite being winless, they went to Pullman as a touchdown favorite against the Cougars but lost 16-13 in double overtime.
That was not just the only Pac-10 victory in Wulff's tenure (WSU is 1-16 in conference play the last two seasons), but the only Pac-10 game the Cougs have come within 13 points of winning in that span.
Washington State's win last year put a little bit of a shine on what was an otherwise disastrous season, and Wulff thinks the Cougars can do it again.
"I'm anxious to see us go over there and give it our best shot and play extremely well, and I think we will," he said. "I think our kids are going to come out and play well."
Frankly, that would be a change from much of the rest of the season, as WSU ranks dead last in 22 of the 33 team statistical categories kept by the Pac-10 (and eighth or ninth in five others).
But the Cougars have often saved their best for the Huskies, winning the last two in the series and four of the last five. And WSU players insist that despite their season to date, it can happen again today.
"It's us and UW — that's all we are looking at," said safety Xavier Hicks. "We're not looking at the records. Although we haven't been able to pull one out in conference play, we definitely look forward to this one, pulling this one out."
The Cougars took the last two Apple Cups with big plays in the final minute either to win or force overtime, outcomes that still sting the Huskies.
"I want to beat them a lot," said UW receiver D'Andre Goodwin. "The last couple of years it has come down to the wire and we didn't win the game. We've got them in our house this Saturday, so we are looking forward to playing a good game and being able to celebrate a victory."
Several of the factors that turned last year's game toward the Cougars favor the Huskies this year, notably the quarterback situation.
This game is at Husky Stadium, where Washington has won three of five this year.
Washington played in 2008 without Jake Locker, who missed the final eight games of the season with a broken thumb. This year, it's Washington State going with a backup quarterback in senior Kevin Lopina, in place of true freshman Jeff Tuel. Lopina was the hero of last year's Apple Cup after throwing a 48-yard pass to Jared Karstetter in the final minute to set up a tying field goal.
Sarkisian, whose Huskies have lost four in a row to fall out of postseason contention, showed the expected caution all week publicly. And in practice, he and his assistants seemed as intense as any time all season.
"It's a rivalry game," Sarkisian said. "You don't know what's going to happen, You really don't."
The Washington players, though, entered the week confident, with tight end Kavario Middleton saying on Monday that the Huskies were planning on scoring 50 points.
Goodwin exuded that same feeling when asked if had any worries about leaving UW without beating the Cougars.
"That's not in my plans," the junior said. "I plan on beating them for the next few years. So I'm not graduating from here without beating them."
SEATTLE -- No matter how much the new staff and players at Washington try to ignore last year, the stain of a winless season will forever be punctuated by an Apple Cup loss last November to rival Washington State - a game that dropped the Huskies to their lowest point in school history.
Jake Locker was a spectator for that defeat, stuck back in Seattle with a cast on his right hand watching the biggest embarrassment of Washington's winless season play out.
"It was tough. It was just another wild game that went down to the end and it's hard to be on the losing end of those," Locker said.
Now comes Saturday's 102nd matchup between Washington and Washington State, again with both programs scuffling at the bottom of the Pac-10. The fleeting bowl hopes for Washington (3-7, 2-6) evaporated two weeks ago with a loss at Oregon State, while it's been another year for the Cougars (1-10, 0-8) of blowout losses and mounting fan frustration.
An underlying backstory is the future of Locker and that Saturday could be his final chance to beat his rival before leaving Washington. Locker is only a junior, but NFL draft pundits continue to taut Locker as potentially the first quarterback drafted if he departs after this season.
It's a topic everyone at Washington wants to push aside until after the Dec. 5 season finale against California. But having lost to the Cougars on a last-second touchdown as a freshman, then watching last year's late meltdown and eventual double overtime loss has Locker determined to make sure the losing streak to the Cougars ends now.
"Those different things that come along with the atmosphere around the game makes it a little bit different," Locker said. "It doesn't put any more importance on it, it doesn't put any more of a will to win I don't think, but it definitely makes it a little bit different."
Last year the Cougars pulled out a most unlikely victory in a most hideous of matchups. It was the first game in Pac-10 history to feature two 10-loss teams and while it turned out to be competitive and entertaining, it was hardly well played.
Washington State trailed 10-3 with less than a minute remaining when a blown coverage by Washington's secondary let Jared Karstetter slip free for a 48-yard completion with 24 seconds left. That setup Nico Grasu's 28-yard field goal to force overtime, and Grasu won it in the second OT with a 37-yarder after Washington's Ryan Perkins missed from 37.
While it continued a streak of close Apple Cup matchups - only once in the last 14 games has the game been decided by more than 10 points - it also gave the Cougars a chance at an unprecedented third consecutive win over the Huskies on Saturday.
"You don't need any more (motivation)," Washington defensive end Daniel Te'o-Nesheim said. "That's good enough, just beating the Cougs, that's enough motivation for us."
But this beleaguered Washington State squad will have a hard time extending the streak. If fans thought the Cougars were awful last year during a 2-10 first season under coach Paul Wulff, the Cougars are even more putrid this year.
Beset by countless injuries that's led to 13 different freshmen starting this season, Washington State is bringing up the basement in 12 of 14 statistics tracked by the Pac-10. They rank 112th or lower in the country in rushing offense, passing efficiency, total offense, scoring offense, rushing defense, pass defense, pass efficiency defense, total defense and scoring defense.
Many disgruntled WSU fans - tired of the seven games lost by more than 40 points since Wulff took over and his 1-16 Pac-10 record - are ready for a change. But Wulff believes the Cougars are pointed toward improvement despite the struggles.
"The coaches are doing a good job," WSU running back Dwight Tardy said. "We are going in the right direction. Next year is going to be good."
If anything, Wulff's team got a little added motivation this week when Washington tight end Kavario Middleton popped off that the Huskies would score at least 50 on the Cougars. Wulff said his team will be fully aware of Middleton's comments before they take the field in Seattle.
It might not have any benefit. Washington holds a clear talent advantage at every position, even despite struggles against at Oregon State. WSU's best hope would appear to be control the clock on offense and keep Locker a spectator again.
How feasible that is remains to be seen.
"I'm confident we are going to play hard and play as well as we can play," Wulff said. "We feel we could go and play and play extremely well and execute some things and come away with a win."
Russian Officials: Bomb Caused Train Crash That Killed 26
Russian news media quote Russia's railways chief, Vladimir Yakunin, as saying a second smaller device exploded near the crash site Saturday, about 400 kilometers northwest of Moscow.
VOA News 28 November 2009
Photo: AP
Investigators and rescue workers are seen amid wreckage and damaged coaches at the site of a train derailment near the town of Uglovka, some 400 km north-east of Moscow, Russia, 28 Nov 2009
Russian officials say a bomb explosion derailed an express passenger train late Friday, killing at least 26 people and injuring more than 50 others.
Russian news media quote Russia's railways chief, Vladimir Yakunin, as saying a second smaller device exploded near the crash site Saturday, about 400 kilometers northwest of Moscow.
Russian investigators earlier said they found elements of a home-made explosive device at the crash site near the town of Bologoye in the Tver region.
Prosecutors say a criminal investigation is under way that could result in terrorism charges, but they have not identified suspects.
The Nevski Express high-speed luxury train was traveling between Moscow and St. Petersburg when it derailed. A small crater was found at the site of the wreck.
The train was carrying more than 650 passengers and at least 20 crew members.
News reports from Russia quote witnesses as saying they heard an explosion before the train abruptly stopped, causing four carriages to derail. Two carriages were overturned.
The injured were taken to two area hospitals.
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev Saturday hosted a conference on the train crash and observed a minute of silence for the victims.
The White House released a statement, saying it is deeply saddened by the terrible loss of life and injuries.
Find this article at: http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/europe/Russian-Officials-Bomb-Caused-Train-Crash-That-Killed-26-77488012.html
Striking CN engineers picket outside the company's operations in Saskatoon on Saturday.(Dan Zakreski/CBC)
Canada's labour minister is urging the union representing striking Canadian National Railway locomotive engineers to accept binding arbitration.
About 1,700 engineers represented by the Teamsters union walked off the job early Saturday after mediated talks in Montreal collapsed just before a midnight Friday strike deadline.
In a statement issued Saturday, Rona Ambrose said she's "disappointed" the union and CN could not reach an agreement before the strike began.
The minister said CN has already agreed to binding arbitration and that the government is ready to appoint an arbitrator once the union gives its approval.
"I am committed to protecting Canadians and the Canadian economy and will make every effort to shield them from the damaging effects of a strike," she said. "At a time when our economy is still recovering, our government will not support a disruption to such a vital component of Canada's economy."
Union balks at higher distance caps
The engineers have been working without a contract for close to 11 months. Their union says a strike could have been postponed had the railway agreed to negotiate and not impose a 1.5 per cent wage increase, along with higher mileage caps.
"Well, it’s truly unfortunate, but the situation started on Monday when Canadian National arbitrarily imposed changes to our collective agreement that imposed more hours on our members," Teamsters Canada Rail Conference president Daniel Shewchuk said Saturday.
"And then reluctantly we had to serve strike notice after that to protect our members from further changes to the collective agreement," he said.
"The company could not accept the excessive wage demands of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference," CN communications director Mark Hallman said.
'We feel this is a hugely missed opportunity that the union did not agree to CN's repeated requests to submit the issues in this dispute to binding arbitration," he said.
Customers shipping goods by rail cross-country will be most affected by the work stoppage. On Saturday, both Shewchuk and Hallman said the strike is not affecting passenger train travel.
A bomb blast caused the Russian train crash in which at least 26 people were killed, intelligence officials say.
The Nevsky Express derailed with nearly 700 on board as it ran through remote countryside between the capital Moscow and the second city, St Petersburg.
Investigators found "elements of an explosive device" at the scene of Friday's attack, a statement said.
Officials said a second, less powerful device went off on Saturday near the site of the first, but no-one was hurt.
There was no immediate confirmed claim of responsibility for the blast on Friday evening, which hit a train popular with government officials and business executives at peak travel time.
"Criminology experts say, on the basis of preliminary information, that an improvised explosive device, equivalent to 7kg (15 lb) of TNT, had gone off," said Alexander Bortnikov, head of Russia's domestic intelligence service.
At least three of the 14 carriages left the tracks as the train reportedly approached speeds up 200 km/h (130mph).
Russia's prosecutor-general has opened a criminal case on terrorism charges, Russian news agencies say.
If terrorism is confirmed as the cause, observers say the derailment would represent the deadliest attack outside the volatile North Caucasus region for five years.
'Attack on elite'
“ I think we can expect the Russian authorities to come up with some name soon, because this attack is politically very embarrassing ” Pavel Felgenhauer Novaya Gazeta newspaper
Pavel Felgenhauer, defence correspondent for Russia's Novaya Gazeta newspaper, told the BBC News website the key suspects for investigators would be "either militants from Russia's North Caucasus region or nationalist extremists, pro-Nazi groups".
"I think we can expect the Russian authorities to come up with some names soon, because this attack is politically very embarrassing.
"This is an expensive, high speed train, used by an elite which has been pushing to transfer parts of government functions to St Petersburg. We already have reports of several high-ranking government and local officials among the dead.
"Whoever is responsible, this attack clearly seems aimed not so much at the public, but directly at the ruling class."
'Loud bang'
Hundreds of rescuers and officials worked through the night at the scene near the town of Bologoye, about 400km (250 miles) north-west of Moscow.
Some reports say as many as 39 people have died.
The train was reported to be carrying around 650 passengers and two dozen or so staff.
About 90 people are in hospital, some taken there by helicopter.
Many of the injured are said to be in a serious condition.
According to some reports, the scene of the crash, in wooded countryside, was so remote it took emergency services two hours to get there.
Passengers spoke of a loud bang just before the derailment.
Russian television channels broadcast a recording of a mobile phone call from the train driver to the emergencies ministry.
"There was an explosion under the locomotive," he said. "I do not know what we hit. We are derailed. The locomotive and carriages, I do not know yet what else, everything is in smoke. "
Federal prosecutors' spokesman Vladimir Markin told Itar-Tass news agency that a crater found at the site was 1.5m (5ft) wide and 0.7m deep.
"Indeed this was a terrorist attack," he said.
In 2007, a bomb on the same line derailed a train, injuring nearly 30 passengers.
Two men suspected of having links to Chechen rebels were accused of planting a bomb next to the track.
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Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/8383960.stm
Deadly Russia Train Derailment Was Terrorist Attack, Officials Say
Saturday , November 28, 2009
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A homemade chemical bomb planted on the tracks in an apparent act of terrorism derailed a high-speed train in Russia carrying hundreds of people Saturday, killing at least 26 and injuring scores more.
The head of the Russian Federal Security Service told the country's news agency Interfax that traces of explosives were found at the train crash site, including chemical residue from a homemade bomb.
Alexander Borotnikov was quoted by the Interfax and RIA Novosti news as saying that an improvised explosive device equivalent to 15 pounds of TNT had detonated when the express train traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg passed over it Friday night about 9:30 p.m.
"There is little doubt this is terrorism," a source in Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's office told Fox News. Who was responsible for the derailment or why it occurred "remains unclear," the source said.
A second explosive device partially detonated Saturday during the clear-up operation near the disaster site, according to the head of Russian Railways, Vladimir Yakunin.
Remains of the device were discovered at the scene, Borotnikov said. Twenty-six people were killed in the accident and nearly 100 injured after the last three cars of the 14-car Nevsky Express went off the tracks in the Tver province northwest of Moscow.
"Indeed, this was a terrorist attack," Interfax cited Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for federal prosecutors, as saying. He told the ITAR-Tass news agency that the bomb crater on the track was 5 feet deep.
Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin told reporters Saturday that the Friday accident may have been caused by an explosion under the tracks.
The derailment of the upscale train, which was popular with government officials and business executives, would be Russia's deadliest terrorist strike outside the volatile North Caucasus region in years.
Witness accounts appeared to back up reports of a bomb blast.
"It was immensely scary. I think it was an act of terrorism because there was a bang," passenger Vitaly Rafikov told Channel One state television. He said he helped with the rescue, hauling victims from the wreckage and lighting fires for warmth.
Passenger Igor Pechnikov was in the second of the three derailed cars.
"A trembling began, and the carriage jolted violently to the left. I flew through half of the carriage," he said.
A light rain started to fall at the scene of the derailment at daybreak Saturday as emergency workers huddled around fires, wrapped in blankets, and two huge cranes lifted pieces of the wreckage clear of the site as crews continued the search for victims.
One of the bashed and battered railway carriages lay on its side across the tracks, while baggage and metal debris lay scattered in the muddy ground.
Police and prosecutors swarmed over the site and restricted access to what was reported to be a bomb crater.
Friday night's Nevsky Express was carrying 633 passengers and 20 railway personnel during its regular run to St. Petersburg, the emergencies ministry said.
The derailment occurred in a rural area near the border between the Novgorod and Tver provinces, about 250 miles northwest of Moscow and 150 miles southeast of St. Petersburg, authorities said.
Russian trains have been the targets of bombers in the past.
An explosion on the Moscow-St. Petersburg line in 2007 derailed a passenger train and injured 27 people. Two suspects have been arrested and authorities are searching for a former military officer they believe was behind the blast, but the motive was unclear.
A December 2003 suicide bomb attack on a commuter train near the Russian republic of Chechnya killed 44. At least 12 people were injured in June 2005 when a bomb derailed a train headed from Chechnya to Moscow.
Terrorism has been a major concern in Russia since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, as Chechen rebels have clashed with government forces in two wars.
But Russia has also been plagued by deadly accidents resulting from its deteriorating Soviet-era infrastructure, a high incidence of alcohol abuse and from negligence.
Russian news agencies reported that some injured passengers were taken by train and bus to hospitals in the area and to St. Petersburg for medical attention.
State-run Vesti-24 broadcast live from the national crisis response center in Moscow. Medvedev ordered authorities to help the victims and determine what caused the derailment, state media cited the Kremlin as saying.
Fox News' Dana Lewis and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Investigators probing derailment of train in Russia say they have found "elements of an explosive device"
At least 26 people killed and 100 hurt in derailment between Moscow and St. Petersburg
No immediate word on who or what group might have been behind the action
Moscow, Russia (CNN) -- Investigators have found "elements of an explosive device" at the site of the derailment of an express train in Russia and believe an act of terror caused the deadly incident.
The derailment killed at least 26 people and injured about 100, but there was no immediate word on who or what group might have been behind the action.
"One can say with certainty that that was indeed an act of terror," Vladimir Markin, spokesman for the investigative committee of the Russian prosecutor's office, told CNN.
He would not elaborate on exactly what kind of "elements of an explosive device" the investigators discovered earlier, but said the crater found beneath the railroad bed was "1.5 meter by 1 meter in size."
Later Saturday morning, a second device went off on nearby tracks going the opposite direction, Vladimir Yakunin, head of Russian Railways, told Russian TV. He said no one was injured in the smaller explosion.
Markin said investigators are "studying the site of the accident, questioning the witnesses and conducting all kinds of forensic and technical examinations."
Federal Security Service Director Alexander Bortnikov said, "Criminology experts have come to a preliminary conclusion that there was an explosion of an improvised explosive device equivalent to seven kilos of TNT.
"Several leads are being pursued now. A criminal case has been opened under Article 205 ("terrorism") and Article 22 ("illegal possession or storage of weapons or explosives") of the Russian Criminal Code."
Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev said on TV that there are possible suspects in this crime.
"There are several people who could be involved in this crime," he said. One of them, he said, is a "stocky-built man of about 40 years old, with red hair."
"There are some traces left at the crime scene which could help in the investigation," he said. "We are getting a lot of information now, and I am very thankful for people who have responded to our requests to render their assistance in investigating this crime."
A total of 681 people -- 20 of them employees -- were on the Nevsky Express as it traveled from Moscow to St. Petersburg on Friday night. The Nevsky Express is Russia's fastest train, equivalent to a bullet train.
The crash happened at 9:25 p.m. (1825 GMT) when the train was 280 kilometers (174 miles) from St. Petersburg, Russian state radio said.
At least three carriages carrying more than 130 people derailed and turned on their sides, and emergency workers were working to free anyone who may still be trapped inside.
Yakunin told Russian TV that the company will pay a compensation of 500,000 rubles ($17,240) to the victims' families and 200,000 rubles ($6,897) to those injured.
The crash happened 44 minutes after another high-speed train, the Sapsan, had successfully traveled from Moscow to St. Petersburg on the same rails, a representative of the Russian Transport Police said during a video conference call Saturday.
In August 2007, an explosion on the tracks derailed the Nevsky Express, injuring 60 people in what authorities called a terrorist act. About 27,000 passengers on 60 trains were facing delays Saturday as a result of the accident, Russian State TV reported.
CNN's Maxim Tkachenko contributed to this report
Find this article at: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/11/28/russia.train.crash/index.html
(AP) A Zimbabwe cargo plane crashed as it took off from Shanghai's main airport Saturday, killing three American crew members and injuring four other employees after it veered off the runway and burst into flames.
Three Americans on the seven-member crew died and a fourth American was injured, U.S. Embassy spokesman Richard Buangan told The Associated Press. He did not know the injured person's condition.
Shanghai television showed what it called a 61-year-old American co-pilot in a hospital bed, conscious and saying "Thank you" to staff and officials.
The TV report said the other crew were from Indonesia, Belgium and Zimbabwe.
The aircraft's tail struck the ground on takeoff, China Central Television reported. Footage showed black smoke billowing from the wreckage.
The crash occurred just after 8 a.m. (0000 GMT), the official Xinhua News Agency said. The plane was headed to Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan.
The aircraft was operated by Zimbabwe-based Avient Aviation, Xinhua said. Calls to the Zimbabwe Embassy in Beijing went unanswered Saturday.
More than 30 international flights were delayed Saturday morning, leaving about 4,000 travelers stranded on planes or in airport lounges, Xinhua said. CCTV said two runways at the airport were shut down.
Shanghai is China's largest city and its economic capital. The Pudong airport is located on the eastern edge of the city, by the East China Sea.
Recent crashes in China include two Chinese air force jets colliding in June 2008 in Inner Mongolia, with both pilots parachuting to safety. In June 2006, a Chinese military plane crashed in eastern Anhui province, killing all 40 people aboard.
Craig Robinson coaches Oregon State against George Washington U.
The Associated Press
updated 1:40 p.m. PT,Sat., Nov . 28, 2009
WASHINGTON - Oregon State gave the first fan something to cheer about.
Seth Tarver scored 18 points and the Beavers beat George Washington 64-57 on Saturday, with President Barack Obama and his family watching from courtside in the half-full Smith Center.
Brother-in-law Craig Robinson is the Oregon State coach, and the president brought along first lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha, and mother-in-law Marian Robinson.
Oregon State (2-3) led 14-0 before George Washington realized the game had started, but the Colonials (4-1) managed to narrow the deficit to 10 with a run late in the first half.
The first Pac-10 team to play in the Smith Center kept up its fast-paced offense, though, and the Beavers held on in the second half.
Obama received a basketball signed by George Washington players and coaches, along with a jersey and shorts. Coach Karl Hobbs thanked Obama and his family for attending the game and told students, “This is why you come to GW.”
Like father, like son. Larry King's 10 year-old son Chance King is following in his dad's footsteps to host his own show. Chance scored a gig hosting "Kid Pitch," an upcoming sports show on Fox Sports Network. The Show, directed by "Best Damn Sports Show Period" host Tom Arnold, will feature Chance yakking about baseball with kids his age and interviewing major league baseball players. Watch out Larry! (Getty Images)
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Striking CN engineers picket outside the company's operations in Saskatoon on Saturday. (Dan Zakreski/CBC)
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