John Noble, who died on November 10 aged 84, spent several years in the Soviet gulag system despite being an American citizen, and later wrote about his experiences in two books of memoirs.
Noble's father, Charles, was a German missionary who had moved to Detroit, Michigan, where John was born on September 4 1923. Later, Charles Noble left the church and took over an ailing photo-finishing company for which his wife worked and whose owners had moved to California.
The Nobles eventually built the company into one of the largest in the United States.
Continued on Page 49
#1
A fascinating story, mrp, and one I knew nothing about. The fact that we now have some allies that are no more trustworthy than Stalin makes it a cautionary tale as well.
DHAKA - A severe cyclone has killed more than 580 people in Bangladesh and left thousands injured or missing, triggering an international relief effort on Friday to help the disaster-prone country cope with its latest emergency. Local officials and Red Moon-Shaped Thingy Crescent workers said 587 deaths had been confirmed.
Hundreds more were injured or missing after Cyclone Sidr struck overnight packing winds of 250 kph (155 mph). The Category 4 cyclone triggered a 15-foot (5-metre) high tidal surge that devastated three coastal towns and forced 3.2 million people to evacuate, officials and aid agencies said.
The death count is rising fast as we get more information from the affected districts, a food and disaster ministry official said. He put the official death toll at 250.
The death toll might rise sharply when search operations end in a half dozen tiny offshore islands inhabited by thousands of fishermen, and coastal areas where telecommunications were cut. It will take several days to complete the search and know the actual casualty figure and extent of damage to property, said disaster ministry official Ayub Miah.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/17/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Death toll is now over 1600, and will probably go higher.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
11/17/2007 21:40 Comments ||
Top||
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez demanded Friday that Spain's King Juan Carlos apologize for telling him to "shut up" during a summit in Chile last week. Chavez said Juan Carlos should "offer some type of apology."
Chavez is getting nervous -- this is the sort of thing a thug does when the hounds are baying at his heels.
A diplomatic row erupted at the Ibero-American Summit last Saturday when the king told Chavez to "shut up" when the leftist Venezuelan leader called former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar a "fascist."
"The least I'm entitled to as head of state is that the King of Spain -- who is not the king of Latin America -- offer some type of apology for attacking me," Chavez told state-run television VTV.
Chavez claims he neither saw nor heard the king, as he (Chavez) was addressing Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero at the Ibero-American summit. "If I had heard him ... I would have stared him down like an Indian, because I am an Indian and a little bit black and white," he said.
Zapatero on Thursday said the king was merely defending him when he intervened at the summit -- Chavez interrupted Zapatero's speech several times before the king told him "why don't you just shut up." The Spanish prime minister said the incident "took on great significance" because television cameras picked it up.
The populist and virulently anti-American Chavez made his comments during the television interview on the eve of a foreign visit that begins on Saturday with the OPEC summit in Riyadh, followed by a trip to Tehran and a visit to Paris for his first meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. How about this: "Hugo, the entire civilized world wishes you to know we're so very sorry your dad didn't pull out just a bit sooner."
#2
"If I had heard him ... I would have stared him down like an Indian Idiot, because I am an Indian Idiot and a little bit black and white nutty and slutty, oh wait, that was Anita Hill" he said
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/17/2007 8:06 Comments ||
Top||
#3
"Chavez said Juan Carlos should 'offer some type of apology.'"
So glad to hear from you regarding the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth political ad campaign, and an offer I made public at an American Spectator dinner in Washington, D.C. last week. I am intrigued by your letter, and am certainly open to your challenge.
My concern at the Spectator Dinner was, and continues to be, that you and other political figures were and are maligning the Swift Boat Veterans, and I want to prevent this important part of American history from being unfairly portrayed.
In order to disprove the accuracy of the Swift Boat ads, I will ultimately need you to provide the following:
1) The journal you maintained during your service in Vietnam.
2) Your military record, specifically your service records for the years 1971-1978, and copies of all movies and tapes made during your service.
When you have done so, if you can then prove anything in the ads was materially untrue, I will gladly award $1 million. As you know, I have been a long and proud supporter of the American military and veterans' causes. I now challenge you to make this commitment: If you cannot prove anything in the Swift Boat ads to be untrue, that you will make a $1 million gift to the charity I am choosing -- the Medal of Honor Foundation.
#4
I will bet anyone right now that we will either hear that Sen Kerry was either mis-quoted or "Doesn't feel like being drawn into some puclic debate taht will detract from the HUGE challenges facing our country tody." My favorite charity is ME but I will defer all winning to the tip jar for Rantburg.
Posted by: Thomas Woof ||
11/17/2007 16:56 Comments ||
Top||
#6
I expect to see the whole episode quietly and rapidly fade from the news.
If he holds true to form, in a couple years Lurch will refer to the episode as vindicating him. Reuters and/or AP will uncritically repeat the statement, which will attempt to become common knowledge.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/17/2007 17:45 Comments ||
Top||
#7
That may be true of John Boy, but I wouldn't be surprised if Pickens found some way(s) to keep the whole thing in the news. Publicly calling out a senator isn't something even T. Boone does every day. And having done it and watched the douchebag honorable gentleman from Mchusetts flinch, it's gotta be tough not to rub it in a little.
#8
NS makes a good point. T. Boone doesn't need the publicity or notoriety or pissing off a US Senator. He's willingly walked into this fight. I'd expect this to go however far Kerry is willing to take it- he'll undoubtedly proclaim "vindication" at several points whilst still dissembling and covering. Don't expect him to fully release his records and let the cards fall where they may, it's obvious he won't, for reasons we can all guess. I stand by my first assessment: lying narcissist euro-trash anti-american elitist "do you know who I am" Piece Of Shit. But I don't wanna soft peddle it....
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/17/2007 18:36 Comments ||
Top||
#10
Unfortunately, the debate over whether Kerry earned his purple hearts or was in Cambodia or not is beside the main point. Namely, Kerry claimed that he had personal knowledge of war crimes committed by US military personnel in Viet Nam and went so far as to implicate himself. ("Reminiscent of the manner of Jengis Khan...") This douchebag needs to answer directly for his testimony before the congress - did he or did he not lie in his testimony about putative US war crimes? If he did not lie then he should name names and times and places of these events, including his own involvement. If he did lie - which I believe is more likely - he owes one huge apology to all of those who served in Viet Nam for his lies, assisting the enemy with propaganda and his continuing career based on slamming his own country for personal advancement.
That and the sonofabitch should be hanged regardless.
#11
The general speculation is that, back in 2004, Kerry was mortified that the public would discover his relatively low grades and low IQ (as tested by the Navy).
BOSTON (AP) - Sen. John Kerry, whose 2004 presidential campaign was torpedoed by critics of his Vietnam War record, said Friday he has personally accepted a Texas oilman's offer to pay $1 million to anyone who can disprove even a single charge of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Why? Is he planning on running again in 2012?
In a letter to T. Boone Pickens, the Massachusetts Democrat wrote: "While I am prepared to show they lied on allegation after allegation, you have generously offered to pay one million dollars for just one thing that can be proven false. I am prepared to prove the lie beyond any reasonable doubt." Why didn't you do it when it might have counted?
Kerry, a Navy veteran and former prosecutor, said he was willing to present his case directly to Pickens, who provided $3 million to bankroll the group during Kerry's race against President Bush. Sounds more like grandstanding than repudiating.
Kerry said he would donate any proceeds to the Paralyzed Veterans of America. A move borrowed from his hero and mentor, Rush Limbaugh. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
The senator said Pickens issued the challenge Nov. 6 in Washington, while serving as chairman of a 40th anniversary gala for American Spectator magazine.
In the letter, Kerry offered to travel to Dallas to meet with Pickens in a public forum or to invite him to come to Massachusetts. He suggested the two could visit the Paralyzed Veterans of America in Norwood to see firsthand how Pickens' money could be used to help veterans. A copy of the letter was provided to The Associated Press.
Pickens spokesman Jay Rosser asked to review the letter before commenting.
First in the book "Unfit for Command," and then in a series of television commercials, Kerry's critics challenged the circumstances for his military awards, accused him of doctoring reports and argued he never traveled into Cambodia as claimed.
While fellow veterans and reporters disproved many of the group's claims at the time, Kerry refused to air ads responding to the criticism. His own response was muted for fear of legitimizing his critics' attacks. The senator conceded after losing to Bush that his lackluster response likely cost him the election.
That and his being a stiff, unlikable candidate with no record as a Senator and no vision for America ...
Ever since, Kerry has worked to lay the criticisms to rest. Better than him "working" as a congressman, anyway.
In May 2005, he began allowing reporters access to his full Navy personnel and medical records - something he refused to do during the campaign. Those records mostly duplicated documents Kerry released during the 2004 campaign. In addition, they included numerous commendations from commanders who criticized Kerry's service during the presidential race. That disclosure renewed questions about why Kerry did not respond more forcefully with control over the White House at stake.
Just release the DD214 and we can decide for ourselves.
Kerry decided against launching a second bid for president, but vowed to defend his record and prevent other candidates from being "Swift-boated."
In his letter to Pickens, the senator challenged the billionaire's honor. "I trust that you are a man of your word, having made a very public challenge at a major Washington dinner, and look forward to taking you up on this challenge," Kerry wrote.
#1
My understanding is that there are a number of records that have not yet been released. Some form he must sign and hasn't that will allow release of those records.
The rumor is that the remainder of the records are politically damaging so much so his career in politics would be over, even in Massachusetts.
#3
I wonder if Kerry wakes up in cold sweats at night with the nightmare that some petty clerk somewhere will do a NYT routine on him the way some one else did with classified information and put his personnel file on line to be cached at thousand unreachable places on the net. Does the word 'leak' get his attention? Of course to actual have nightmares means you still have a soul to worry about. Never mind.
#4
Bad is correct. This tool still hasn't released all his records, just trickled out favorable or neutral ones. Release em all or remain defined as a arrogant traitorous self-promoting POS, Jon Carry
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/17/2007 8:17 Comments ||
Top||
#5
It would seem that there is some risk here to JFnK. If an unresolved dispute arises between Kerry and Pickens regarding payment of the $1,000,000 and a lawsuit arises, it would seem that these deep-sixed military records could become a matter of public record.
#7
If Kerry had any real evidence, he would lay it out and say, "Here is proof".
He did everything *but* that, offering endless "get togethers", "rap sessions", "personal meetings", and bullshit like that, he could later walk out of and *say* he had "proven that everything was all lies", even though Pickens would say he did no such thing.
#9
While fellow veterans and reporters disproved many of the group's claims at the time, Kerry refused to air ads responding to the criticism. His own response was muted for fear of legitimizing his critics' attacks. The senator conceded after losing to Bush that his lackluster response likely cost him the election.
Umm, I didn't follow this all that closely at the time, since his VN service was irrelevant to, and couldn't possibly affect, his clear unfitness to be CinC. But isn't the above passage - even by current, astonishing "standards" - a jaw-dropping bit of political propaganda inserted in a "news report"?
#10
Pickens is no dummy, I expect the 'proof' meeting will have to be on video, and the 'single charge' to be refuted is stated in advance. If Jon Carry wants to prove the boat serial number is mis-stated, fine. If Jummy Carter says the pardon was for a general discharge vs the suspected dishonorable one, fine. If jane fonda is his material witness, fine.
#12
What he has done is walked into a trap. He is a gullible narcissistic buffoon who will be dropped into the s**t of his own making. There is more here than John O'Niell ever let be known and some of it very embarrassing and potentially criminal. I hope he goes through with this. Pickens didn't make his billions by being stupid unlike JFnK who married into his.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
11/17/2007 12:09 Comments ||
Top||
#13
"I am prepared to prove the lie beyond any reasonable doubt"
#16
I believe the basis for his not releasing his military records, except partially to the Boston Globe: that he is sitting on an OTH discharge that was upgraded when Jummah left office. Otherwise, why is his discharge date two years after the end of his six-year obligation??
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has decided to keep the chamber in session over the Thanksgiving break to block President Bush from making any unsavory recess appointments while Senators are out of town.
In a statement inserted in the record Friday, the Majority Leader said he will hold the Senate in a series of pro forma or nonvoting sessions to prevent the controversial practice. In the statement, Reid argued that nominations need to get on track, and that Bush has not met the Democrats halfway in agreeing to Democratically backed nominees to important commissions.
While an election year looms, significant progress can still be made on nominations, Reid said. I am committed to making that progress if the President will meet me halfway. But that progress cant be made if the President seeks controversial recess appointments and fails to make Democratic appointments to important commissions.
Senate sources said Reid made the decision after he was unable to strike a deal with White House officials that would have allowed swift consideration of several key Democratic picks for the executive branch. In his statement, Reid points to the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Nuclear Regulatory Commission as examples where Democratic choices have not been moved along. Up until recently, the President has generally discharged that obligation, Reid said. In the last several months, however, the administration has been stalling progress on Democratic appointments.
Democrats have feared Bush would look to use the upcoming break to appoint some of his own nominees that may not otherwise clear the Senate. In particular, concerns have centered on the appointment of James Holsinger as surgeon general, who has met criticism from gay rights organizations and opposition from key Senate Democrats.
Sources familiar with the talks, however, said Holsinger has never been discussed as a possible recess nominee.
Holsinger notwithstanding, one Democratic source said the administration had made clear they planned to move some nominations through over the period that were unacceptable. "They did float a number of recess appointments," this source said. "Some of them were very problematic." Heh heh. Bush et. al. said that with a straight face on the way out the door did they? Using their own paranoia against them. Enjoy your holiday, suckers!
This isnt the first time Reid has considered keeping the Senate working over a break to prevent recess appointments. Following the Easter recess in which Bush made three controversial installments, Reid threatened to hold pro forma sessions during the monthlong August break.
Later, however, he backed off that threat after reaching a deal with the White House under which Democrats would clear a host of stalled nominations in exchange for a truce over the work period.
Reid said Friday that he has worked hard since then to move quickly on Bushs nominations, particularly in confirming Michael Mukasey as the next attorney general. Reid opposed the nominee, who narrowly cleared the chamber last week.
With the Thanksgiving break looming, the administration informed me that they would make several recess appointments, Reid said. I indicated I would be willing to confirm various appointments if the administration would agree to move on Democratic appointments.
Rove probably hopes Obama wins the Dem nomination and loses the election.
I think Rove sees Hildebeast as the easiest Dem to beat ...
Former top Bush aide Karl Rove said Thursday he thinks Sen. Barack Obama has missed key opportunities to knock rival Hillary Clinton off track. In an interview with CSPAN, the man behind President Bush's two White House wins cited a recent debate in Philadelphia when Clinton was asked why more of her records as first lady have not yet been made public.
"He missed the opportunity," Rove explained. "If he had stood there and said, 'Senator, with all due respect, it is entirely within the power of you and your husband to immediately order the release of those documents. And your failure to do so reveals legitimate questions in the minds of the American people about what you might be hiding and it's not going to be good for the Democratic party or for you if you allow those questions to persist,' it would have been a moment, it would have been a big moment."
"Instead it was a vague and wandering around, and weak, and insipid," Rove continued. "There have been a number of occasions like that where a sharp and clear and respectful contrast would have created a moment."
Rove also said the Republicans will lose in 2008 unless they "articulate a positive agenda and a positive vision."
"Otherwise," Rove said, "The American people will say, 'You know what? I have got my doubts I have got my concerns and you haven't given me the confidence that I will do better with you.'"
#1
By outlining what Obama missed, Mr. Rove accomplishes a double whammy. Senator Obama looks slow-witted, unable to think on his feet, and the questions about Senator Clinton are out there for the voters -- and all the other candidates -- to think about. Oh, and neither Senator Clinton nor Mr. Clinton can answer the question without looking a bit silly.
#2
I still say that Obama is a plant by the Clintons. She needed opposition and not just any opposition - she needed someone with the opposite perspective and voting record, someone of color (remember Bill is the first Black president) and someone young to attract the MTV crowd. She could not pull that off. Then he starts raising money and fame but allows gaffe after gaffe and immaturity to shine. I believe they promised him the Vice Presidency for this act. Lets all pray that JFK remains the last sitting member of congress to run and win the presidency.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
11/17/2007 12:15 Comments ||
Top||
NEW DELHI - Indias communist parties allowed the government on Friday to start crucial talks with a UN watchdog needed to clinch a nuclear deal with the United States, reviving hope over the fate of the controversial pact. The government will proceed with the talks and the outcome will be presented to the committee for its consideration before it finalises its findings, a statement issued by a joint panel of communist and ruling coalition leaders said.
The India-US civilian nuclear cooperation agreement aims to reverse a three-decade ban on New Delhis access to American nuclear fuel and equipment, but the communists say it impinges on Indias sovereignty and imposes Washingtons influence.
The communists, who shore up Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs coalition from the outside, have been threatening to withdraw support if the government pursues the deal. Their unrelenting stand forced New Delhi to pause the deal last month and avoid seeking clearances from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), one of the next three steps needed to clinch the deal.
However, some communist leaders said this week they could consider allowing the government to hold talks with the IAEA -- but not sign a pact without their approval. That was formally agreed by the panel meeting on Friday.
The nuclear cooperation agreement has been hailed as the symbol of a new strategic friendship between the once-estranged democracies and aims to help India, one of the worlds fastest growing economies, meet its soaring energy needs.
But critics say it undermines non-proliferation efforts as it rewards India, which has not signed the non-proliferation treaty and tested nuclear weapons.
Although it faces no formal deadlines, Washington is keen the deal be approved by US Congress -- the final step before nuclear commerce can begin -- during the term of President George W. Bush and before campaigning picks up for presidential elections next year.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/17/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[9 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Indias communist parties allowed the government
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has claimed that President General Pervez Musharraf wished to meet him in Jeddah
"Yeah. Perv wuz dyin' to meet me!"
but he refused to meet the military dictator.
"But I turned him down."
Talking to Geo News while giving his opinion on a ban on the channels transmissions, Sharif said government officials had contacted him on more than one occasion and asked him to meet Musharraf in Jeddah, adding that he had categorically refused to meet Musharraf because he didnt want to settle his issues with a military dictator at the cost of the peoples interest.
"Yeah, dey wanted me to take over the gummint, bring some order and stability, but da money wudn't right, y'know?"
He strongly condemned the closure of Geo News and hoped that he and the channel would soon have a dignified return.
This article starring:
Nawaz Sharif
Posted by: Fred ||
11/17/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
NEW YORK (Mediaweek) - Walter Cronkite, the TV news icon often described as "the most deceitful mole trusted man in America," is returning to television, signing on as a regular contributor to the startup cable network Retirement Living TV. He should have retired to Hanoi, maybe with a dacha villa down on the coast somewhere.
Beginning November 20, the former CBS Evening News anchor will contribute weekly editorial commentaries during the channel's two-hour noontime program, Daily Cafe. Each of Cronkite's videotaped messages will run between seven and 10 minutes in length. Just in time to help elect Hillary.
Didn't relize Katie's ratings were that bad.
The "Cronkite's Commentaries" segments will provide the veteran newsman a platform from which to offer his take on a host of issues, ranging from politics to the environment. At least there's no threat of Leni Riefenstahl coming back to make more movies. Took long enough though.
Just what we need, too, Uncle Walter making sure we know his views on a host of issues. How have we lived without them so far ...
Retirement Living made the announcement Thursday morning, capping months of negotiations with the 91-year-old Cronkite. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Undisclosed, just like his real agenda in the 1960s.
While Cronkite signed off from CBS News for the last time on March 6, 1981, he has stayed true to his parting words, "old anchormen, you see, don't fade away; they just keep coming back for more." Over the years, he has made occasional appearances on TV, including Discovery Channel documentaries and specials. Old ideologies don't fade away in the face of reality, they just keep coming back for more victims and dupes. Retirement Livingtheoretically reaches some 29 million U.S. households, primarily through DirecTV. Its broadcast day runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.
#1
Tet was the wakeup for a very young man, myself that what today is called the Main Stream Media [MSM] had become as much a threat as a defender of the republic. That is when Walter Cronkite who up till then I had admired pronounced the effort in Vietnam futile.
For I understood Cronkite had been there in Europe in December 1944 when the âdefeatedâ Germans launched a surprise offensive in the Ardennes of Belgium. The war was about to be over. The Germans were on the run. Or so our political and military leaders let the American public believe. Our intelligence services detected no action upon the enemyâs part to commit itself to this massive assault. The Germans had resorted to hand carried communications in preparation, thus nullifying Ultra, the Allied decryption efforts. The bitter woods of southern Belgium would see the virtual destruction of the 106th US Infantry Division and the largest surrender of American forces since the Philippines in 1942 . It would result in 81,000 KIA casualties, greater than the entire Vietnam War. The fighting went on for nearly two months on the ground the Germans would contest. In the end, the enemy gained no ground and suffered crippling destruction of manpower and equipment. No where in the record of those events have I found where Mr. Cronkite, as a reporter in theater, make the same evaluation of the American effort there as he would concerning Tet and the work in Vietnam. Yet the military results of both offensives upon the enemy were the same. However, the military loses to the Americans and its allies in both battles were substantially less in the second. Here was a man who was an âauthoritativeâ observers to both acts, yet his reporting was without question compromised by personal bias over facts.
As more time passes and more historians of the classical school with far less bias and far more critical analytical skill come to write the history of the 20th Century, the judgment upon the popular chroniclers of contemporary news will be adjudged and that judgment is likely not one they will be proud of.
#4
My Dad was a member of the Greatest Generation as was my 2 uncles. He landed at Normandy and commanded a company from France, to Belgium to Germany. Walter Cronkite couldn't carry his canteen. My Dad never wavered his support for America, its values, its missions and its troops. You can't say the same about Cronkite, Rather, et. al. Writing books doesn't cut it for Brokaw either.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
11/17/2007 12:00 Comments ||
Top||
#5
re: Walter Cronkite & Co.
God Damn! Someone shoot that old treasonous coot and his acolytes.
Posted by: Red Dawg ||
11/17/2007 13:45 Comments ||
Top||
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
DHAKA - A severe cyclone has killed more than 580 people in Bangladesh and left thousands injured or missing, triggering an international relief effort on Friday to help the disaster-prone country cope with its latest emergency. Local officials and Red 
So glad to hear from you regarding the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth political ad campaign, and an offer I made public at an American Spectator dinner in Washington, D.C. last week. I am intrigued by your letter, and am certainly open to your challenge.
BOSTON (AP) - Sen. John Kerry, whose 2004 presidential campaign was torpedoed by critics of his Vietnam War record, said Friday he has personally accepted a Texas oilman's offer to pay $1 million to anyone who can disprove even a single charge of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has decided to keep the chamber in session over the Thanksgiving break to block President Bush from making any unsavory recess appointments while Senators are out of town. 
NEW DELHI - Indias communist parties allowed the government on Friday to start crucial talks with a UN watchdog needed to clinch a nuclear deal with the United States, reviving hope over the fate of the controversial pact. The government will proceed with the talks and the outcome will be presented to the committee for its consideration before it finalises its findings, a statement issued by a joint panel of communist and ruling coalition leaders said.
However, some communist leaders said this week they could consider allowing the government to hold talks with the IAEA -- but not sign a pact without their approval. That was formally agreed by the panel meeting on Friday.
Former prime minister 
