United Front Justice Coalition files complaint with Whitehouse against FBI Director James Comey

Official White House photo: by Pete Souza

October 28, 2015

President Barack Hussein Obama
Vice-President Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr.

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President and Vice-President:

This is an official request upon your office to remove the FBI Director James Comey from office. There are no statutory conditions on the President’s authority to remove the FBI Director. He has exhibited irresponsible and reckless behavior in his deliberate actions and shown that he does not have the good judgment needed to fulfill the responsibilities of this office. Under his leadership the Citizens of America have been subjected to undo election stress and confusion due to his lack of regard for the laws of our country.

Netizen Report: As protests rage in Ethiopia, Zone9 bloggers return to court

Zone9 bloggers left to right: Abel Wabela, Zelalem Kiberet, Mahlet Fantahun, Atnaf Berahane, Befeqadu Hailu, Natnael Feleke. photo: via Martin Ennals Awards

The Advox Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world

(GLOBAL VOICES) ETHIOPIA, October 26, 2016 - As protests rage over land rights and ethnic discrimination, bloggers and independent journalists in Ethiopia appear to be losing ground in their struggle to exercise free expression. Alongside other recent arrests, four members of the Zone9 bloggers collective, who spent 18 months in prison on terrorism-related charges from 2014-2015, returned to court on October 21 following an appeal by the public prosecutor. Their case was adjourned yet again, with a new court date scheduled for November 15.

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Federal government must think big, aim high and act boldly by investing in mental health innovation and the economy

photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

(CNW) Toronto , October 21, 2016 - In today's digitally interconnected world, we must look to new innovations to address some of the greatest challenges of our time such as mental illness. As a strong partner at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, Canada is well-positioned to lead in the global fight against mental illness. It's why the government must move its bold innovation agenda from words to action, says APEC Digital Hub at UBC chief financial officer Phil Upshall.

First distinguished Presidential Fellow named

 
Yoani Sanchez named first Distinguished Presidential Fellow, one of the University of Miami's 100 Talents, an initiative launched by UM President Julio Frenk at his inauguration.
photo: University Of Miami

(PRNewswire/ USNewswire) Coral Gables, Florida, Oct. 20, 2016 - Cuban independent journalist Yoani Sánchez, a brazen defender of free speech and founder of 14ymedio, the island's first independent daily digital news platform, has been named a Distinguished Presidential Fellow at the University of Miami, making her one of the 100 Talents, an initiative introduced during UM President Julio Frenk's inauguration.

As part of the 100 endowed talents, an initiative that seeks to enrich the curriculum and enhance the academic reputation of the University, Sánchez will teach a non-credit course in the spring 2017 semester, give academic lectures and participate in events with members of the faculty and student body. "It is an honor to welcome Yoani Sánchez to our University as a Distinguished Presidential Fellow," said Frenk.

Threatened with suspension over its rights record, Maldives up and quits the Commonwealth

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011. The Queen and state leaders.

photo: flickr/The Commonwealth, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

 
(Global Voices) On 13 October, the Maldives government announced that the country will leave the Commonwealth of Nations, an intergovernmental organisation of 53 member states that were mostly former territories of the British Empire. In 1982 Maldives joined this elite group of countries who share values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

The decision comes as the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, a rotating group of foreign ministers from eight member states, convened a meeting in September and discussed Maldives's lack of progress in resolving a protracted political crisis. The meeting has put Maldives on a watch list and warned that if there is no sign of substantive progress across the priority areas before the next meeting in March 2017, the group would consider suspending the country from the Commonwealth.

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Child marriage takes a brutal toll on Syrian girls

Child marriages are on serious incline in Syria leaving it hopelessfor many of the girls who are taken as brides by men far more their age. photo: buzzfeed

(UNFPA) April 14, 2016 - Child marriage has long been a concern in parts of Syria. But since the conflict started three years ago, the numbers of child marriages have increased. Many people are now displaced and living in cramped shelters. The majority of them are unemployed, and families are spending their meagre savings just to survive. Many have come to believe that their daughters will be better protected and provided for if they are married off.

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Secretary-General, Marking Day of Reflection on Rwanda Genocide, says healing, reconstruction essential amid threats to peace, security in Great Lakes Region

Today is the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda, marking 22 years since the start date of the genocide in which more than 800,000 people were systematically murdered over a period of just 100 days. photo: united nations

(United Nations) April 7, 2016 - Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda, observed on 7 April:

In 1994, more than 800,000 people were systematically murdered throughout Rwanda.
The vast majority were Tutsi, but moderate Hutu, Twa and others were also targeted. On this Day, we remember all who perished in the genocide and renew our resolve to prevent such atrocities from ever being repeated, anywhere in the world.

Will peacekeeper plan help end Burundi violence?

Political violence has made finding dead bodies around Bujumbura an increasingly common occurrence. ©désiré nimubona/IRIN
  
KAMPALA (IRIN) December 19, 2015- Plans for the African Union to deploy 5,000 peacekeepers to protect civilians in Burundi have been broadly welcomed, but will they help end months of deadly political unrest ignited by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s quest for a third term?

Virginia Police Investigator Melvin Grover honored for role in identifying violent perpetrator

Detective Melvin Grover accepted the Federal Bureau of Investigations 2015 Biometric Identifications award from the Federal Bureau of Investigations Services section chief William McKinsey. Left to right, Deputy Commonwealth Attorney, Phil Evans, Commonwealth Attorney, Greg Underwood, Police Chief, Michael Goldsmith, Virginia State Police Captain, Thomas Turner, William McKinsey. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

 (FBI) December 3, 2015 - The 2015 recipient of the FBI’s Biometric Identification Award (formerly known as the Latent Hit of the Year Award) is a member of Virginia’s Norfolk Police Department (NPD) who played a key role in the identification of a dangerous serial offender. Congratulations to Melvin Grover III, an investigator with the forensic section of the NPD’s detective division.

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Secretary Of State John Kerry to address Climate Change and National Security at Old Dominion University

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry addresses reporters at a news conference following Syria-related meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu, and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir at the Imperial Hotel in Vienna, Austria, on October 23, 2015. photo: state department

(BMLTV) NORFOLK Va., November 7, 2015 - On Tuesday, November 10th Secretary Kerry will travel to Norfolk, Virginia to deliver a speech on Climate Change and National Security at Old Dominion University.

ODU’s Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Initiative has facilitated research and education in all aspects of climate change and sea level rise, and it houses the Hampton Roads Sea Level Rise Preparedness and Resilience Intergovernmental Planning Pilot Project, which is the first of its kind.

While in Norfolk the Secretary will also tour the USS San Antonio ship and receive a briefing from the Maritime Operations Center. The Secretary’s speech will be streamed live on state.gov.

Army Corps of Engineers - City of Norfolk announce three-month delay in Coastal Storm Damage Reduction Project

Willoughby Split, Norfolk Virginia. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

Army Corps rejects bid due to high cost

(BMLTV) NORFOLK, Va. - September 4, 2015 - The US Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Norfolk announce a three-month delay in the start of construction of a coastal storm damage reduction project for Willoughby Spit and East Ocean View beach areas due to the receipt of an unacceptable bid in response to the solicitation.

EU pays price for lack of migration planning

Refugees and migrants line up to board a night ferry from the Greek island of Kos to Athens.
© socrates baltagiannis/UNHCR

 
by kristy siegfried

(IRIN) OXFORD, August19, 2015 - Migrant arrivals to Europe in 2015 were widely expected to surpass the record levels reached in 2014, as conflicts in Syria and elsewhere raged on. But the staggering number of sea arrivals to Greece in recent weeks appears to have taken many by surprise.

Virginia Governor announces agreement to continue operation of the Virginia Commercial Space Authority

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe speaks with press post announcement at Old Dominion University.  photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

The Governor also announced a separate agreement to build a 3,000-foot runway for Unmanned Aircraft Systems 

(BMLTV) Norfolk Va., August 6, 2015 - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today an agreement has been reached between the Commonwealth of Virginia and Orbital ATK regarding repair costs and insurance coverage following the October 2014 launch mishap that damaged portions of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS).

Red tape tangles Nepal reconstruction

Residents walk past a building damaged during the earthquake in the city centre in Chautara, Nepal, on 8 July 2015. © Juliette Rousselot/IRIN
 
by Juliette Rousselot

(IRIN) KATHMANDU, August 5, 2015 - More than three months after a massive earthquake devastated Nepal, hundreds of thousands of people remain homeless as reconstruction efforts are blocked by logistical and bureaucratic hurdles.

Dutch Dialogues: Virginia life at sea level

Arial view over the Elizabeth river looking into the Norfolk Freemason
community. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

Visionary plan adds more green space, innovative land use concepts

(BMLTV) NORFOLK, VA. - Slover library was buzzing with innovative ideas that inspired city officials in Norfolk and Hampton to advance regional agenda as Dutch Dialogues: Virginia Life at Sea Level wrapped up.

CLIMATE DEBATE GOING FORWARD?: An exciting and tumultuous time, fraught with inherent risk if we do not act boldly today, decisively in our Era

Code Pink activist at the Peoples Climate March New York City, September 20, 2014
photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

(BMLTV) NEW YORK CITY, September 24, 2014 - We live, work, and exist in an exciting, tumultuous time which poses many current and future risks and threats to our well-being, ability to thrive and prosper; and thus far we don't seem to have had the political will to mobilize an effective strategy against a great deal of these risks and threats to our society. In particular, most - nearly all - experts agree now that the largest threat to our current and future well-being as a species as well as the stability of the entire biosphere climate is in fact humanity's influence on climate change.

Ebola Outbreak: 6 Nonprofits team up to fill a 737 with 15,000 pounds of medical supplies

Emergency medical supplies from Direct Relief loaded onto 737 charter flight for Liberia. Photo: prnews/Direct Relief

(PRN/USN) FORT WORTH, Texas, August 25, 2014 - In collaboration with Airlink and Fort Worth-based ATX Air Services, LLC, Direct Relief today loaded a charter jet with emergency supplies bound for health workers on the frontlines of the Ebola epidemic in Liberia. This shipment, which includes several thousand pounds of urgently requested gloves, masks, gowns, and other medical resources, follows five others from Direct Relief to the region.

U.S. Postal Service honors groundbreaking singer Janis Joplin on limited-edition Forever Stamp

The U.S. Postal Service unveiled the Limited-Edition Janis Joplin Forever stamp at the Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco on August 8, 2014.

photo:prnewsfoto/u.s. postal service

SAN FRANCISCO, August. 11, 2014 - The U.S. Postal Service on August 8th. added legendary singer Janis Joplin to its Music Icons Forever Stamp series during a first-day-of-issue ceremony at the Outside Lands Music Festival at Golden Gate Park.

Alarm over post-Haiyan evacuation center shortage

Shelter Relief for survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines in November 2013, has been limited in some areas. photo: ana p. santos/IRIN©
 
(IRIN) MANILA, June 23, 2014- A shortage of viable evacuation centres in areas hit by Typhoon Haiyan (locally named Yolanda) has humanitarians and officials in the Philippines concerned that survivors will not have alternative accommodation in case of another one. The typhoon season usually lasts from June to November.

Soldiers in schools: The impact of military occupations on education

Female student leaves al-Furadh School at the end of the day in Yemen. Soldiers relax outside the school walls. They lived in third-floor classrooms for several months. priyanka motaparthy/Human Rights Watch©

 
(IRIN) BANGKOK, June14, 2014 - Schools are targeted in conflicts around the world - they might represent ideas viewed as controversial, the destruction of a civilian building that is important to a community inflicts terror, and a school reduced to rubble can rob an entire generation of education. But attacks are only part of the problem, as significant harm can also be done when educational buildings remain intact and armed forces move in.