Christians, Muslims and Jews have united in America to pray for the country's budget, and teach Republicans and Democrats a lesson in compromise

US debt crisis: Americans pray for a resolution

Christians, Muslims and Jews have united in America to pray for the country's budget, and teach Republicans and Democrats a lesson in compromise.

President Barack Obama speaks in a rare prime-time address to the nation Photo: EPA

7:00AM BST 26 Jul 2011

So far, nothing else has worked, including President Barack Obama's negotiations and warnings from Wall Street that a failure to promptly raise US borrowing authority would result in economic Armageddon.

As the 435 members of the House of Representatives and 100 senators do battle inside the Capitol, outside some 100 believers are trying a different approach to convert debt limit doubters - a daily prayer vigil.

But it's not just any budget deal these activists want to settle for in return for raising US borrowing authority.

The vigils are a way of lobbying against any deal that slashes too much from programs that protect the underprivileged, like nutrition programs for the poor or health care for the poor and disabled.

"I hope that it's not only effective but a model for how Democrats and Republicans, who differ on many issues, can come together on a common issue to move the country forward," said Rabbi David Saperstein, executive director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

President Obama honored the San Francisco Giants for their 2010 World Series championship Monday's White House ceremony 2011

WASHINGTON -- For one afternoon, the weighty issues vexing the participants in Monday's White House ceremony -- the ongoing debt ceiling debate for one and a lackluster offense for the other -- were put aside as President Obama honored the San Francisco Giants for their 2010 World Series championship.

President Barack Obama holds a gift jersey with Giants legend Willie Mays on his right and general manager Brian Sabean on his near left and team president Larry Baer second left.

USA TODAY

The entire Giants traveling party -- even closer Brian Wilson -- was dressed in a manner befitting an audience with a head of state.

Wilson's jet-black prospector's beard ("I do fear it," the president said) and fauxhawk and rooster-tail hairdo were in fine form. But while the president checked off some of the All-Star closer's ubiquitous looks, "the spandex tuxedo, and the sea captain costume and the cleats with his face on it," Wilson was in the back row decked out in a blue pinstriped suit with flag pin and light blue tie.

Obama also singled out Giants ace Tim Lincecum.

"When Tim entered the draft five years ago, nine teams passed him over before the Giants picked him up," Obama said. "Nobody thought somebody that skinny, with that violent a delivery could survive without just flying apart. But now, with two Cy Youngs under his belt, everybody understands why he's called 'The Freak.'

"America learned sometimes it's a good idea to bet on the skinny guy. So, you and me."

In addition to the well-traveled World Series trophy, on display in the front row, the event was attended by the usual array of dignitaries with Bay Area ties. Those included the current and three former mayors of San Francisco, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein (one of the former mayors), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. But the dignitary that got the biggest response from the East Room gathering was Giants legend Willie Mays.

Obama noted that the 80-year-old Hall of Famer was just 23 the last time the Giants won the World Series, in 1954 as the New York Giants.

The 2010 Giants were dubbed as misfits by Giants manager Bruce Bochy, a team of characters with a mixed-bag lineup with one of the game's best pitching staffs.

"So even though this team is a little different, even though these players haven't always followed the traditional rules, one thing they know is how to win." Obama said.

The president was presented with a handful of gifts from the Giants: a team-signed from bat from pitcher Matt Cain, a custom glove with the president's favorite White Sox color scheme from Giants general manager Brian Sabean and a team-signed 44 Giants jersey by Bochy. Presumably Willie McCovey, another Giants Hall of Famer mentioned by Obama, is OK with having the 44th president borrow his retired number.

Obama also praised the Giants for their charitable works, supporting Wounded Warriors and their families and being the first professional sports team to join the "It Gets Better" campaign against bullying that targets gay teenagers.

Notable in their absence were injured players Buster Posey, Freddy Sanchez, Jonathan Sanchez and Pat Burrell, as well as two players no longer with the team, World Series MVP Edgar Renteria and playoff hero Juan Uribe. Despite those losses, the Giants are ahead of last season's wins pace and lead the NL West by four games, showing that perhaps the 2011 version of misfits just might be on to something again.

PRIME Minister Danny Philip has been accused by Fijian political fugitive Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara

PM Philip: “We will maintain our all-embracing policy on Fiji

PRIME Minister Danny Philip has been accused by Fijian political fugitive Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara of supporting what he described as an ‘unelected, illegal and corrupt’ Fiji regime.

According to the Pacific Scoop website, Ratu Mara had particularly harsh words for Prime Minister Philip, who he claimed has supported Bainimarama in resuming chairmanship of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

“The Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands conveniently forgets that many Fijian soldiers gave their lives for that country during World War Two and now he is siding with an unelected illegal and corrupt regime,” Ratu Mara said.

“With the support of the Solomon Islands, [the regime] has resumed chairmanship of the MSG and its plan is to use it as a front against Australia and New Zealand.”

Ratu Mara accused Prime Minister Philip for playing an instrumental part in helping the Fiji interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, obtain the MSG chairmanship.

This followed the MSG traditionally ceremony hosted by the Solomon Islands in Honiara, December year.

The Solomon Star understands Prime Minister Philip has a lot of respect for Commodore Bainimarama and he doesn’t want anything to spoil the relationship between Fiji and the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

“We will maintain our all-embracing policy on Fiji, making sure that Fiji - the most important thing to Solomon Islands is to get Fiji back on track of the 2014 election, democratic elections in Fiji,” the country’s Prime Minister said recently.

Meanwhile, Ratu Mara is planning to visit the Solomon Islands as he plans to make a whirlwind tour to the US and around the Pacific over the next month to promote his “pro-democracy” cause.

However, it is still unclear whether he would be meeting the Prime Minister when he arrives in Honiara.

The former lieutenant-colonel and a key officer in the 2006 military coup accused by human rights activists of being responsible for torture in the regime – allegations he denies – expects to visit Samoa, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Ratu Mara’s number one mission is to garner support from other Pacific nations for his cause of bringing democracy back to Fiji.

James Anderson took five for 65 as England claimed a 196-run victory over India on the final afternoon of the opening Test at Lord’s on Monday

James Anderson took five for 65 as England claimed a 196-run victory over India on the final afternoon of the opening Test at Lord’s on Monday.

With England needing nine wickets to secure victory Anderson proved the home side’s hero by taking five, including those of Rahul Dravid (36), VVS Laxman (56) and Sachin Tendulkar (12).

While Anderson’s performance on the final day was nothing short of brilliant, captain Andrew Strauss preferred to praise the overall team performance.

“I think over the two innings it was as close to the perfect bowling performance as we have had in the last two years,” Strauss said. “That’s saying a lot because we have bowled exceptionally well quite consistently.”

Strauss also paid tribute to the 22,000-strong crowd that turned out at Lord’s to cheer every ball. “I think it was a great atmosphere. We all appreciate playing Test cricket in front of full houses,” he continued.

“It makes you feel like you are doing something important and that every wicket taken or run scored is appreciated. The bigger the crowds we have over the course of the summer, the better.

“It’s a pretty worthless pursuit comparing teams but what I like is that there are no obvious weaknesses in our team and that was the case in 2005 as well.”

Meanwhile, England have named an unchanged 12-man squad for second Test against India, which gets under way at Trent Bridge on Friday.

“There was a lot to be pleased about from the opening Test at Lord’s,” said National Selector Geoff Miller. “We saw some excellent performances with both bat and ball which resulted in an outstanding win on the final day of what was a memorable match.

“While the squad from the first Test all came through unscathed we have included Tim Bresnan in the squad for this next Test and he’ll once again be pushing for selection following a short turnaround in between Test matches.”

England squad for second npower Test against India at Trent Bridge

Andrew Strauss (Middlesex) (captain)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)
Kevin Pietersen (Surrey)
Matt Prior (Sussex)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Chris Tremlett (Surrey)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)

Deutsche Bank crowned India-born investment banking chief Anshu Jain and German bankerJuergen Fitschen co-chief executives on Monday

FRANKFURT:Deutsche Bank crowned India-born investment banking chief Anshu Jain and German bankerJuergen Fitschen co-chief executives on Monday, ending a drawn-out succession process.

Jain, the 48-year-old head of investment banking, will take over fromJosef Ackermann in May 2012, and will rule alongside Fitschen, the 62-year-old Germany chief who has been with the Frankfurt-based bank for the past 24 years.

Jain landed the top job because his department has consistently delivered up to 85 percent of group profit and frequently outperformed peers in challenging market conditions.

The London-based banker with a background in trading could eventually become sole chief as the lender said his contract will be extended by five years until March 31. 2017, while Fitschen's contract will expire almost two years before that.

Jain, an avid wildlife photographer, has built a loyal following among staff known internally as "Anshu's army" to describe the legion of traders placing bets on rates, currencies, commodities, debt and equities.

The father of two keeps a low profile. Unlike Ackermann who tends to travel with an entourage of press people and bodyguards, Jain is often seen strolling into conferences alone, sporting a small backpack containing a few presentations or his iPad.

He freely admits that most global investment banks follow very similar strategies and operate in the same, often crowded, markets but is quick to point out Deutsche Bank's advantages.

"Execution, execution, execution," he says, often chopping the air with an outstretched palm to emphasize his point.

Jain and Deutsche Bank's strength come from his ability to retain staff at the investment bank, a key factor in maintaining market share.

Most of the top 15 investment bankers at Deutsche have been there for more than a decade, sparing the lender the kind of management disruption that has dogged rivals like UBS,Merrill Lynch and others after the financial crisis.

Jain, who joined Deutsche Bank in 1995 from Merrill Lynch, worked his way up to become Deutsche's highest paid board member, earning 12 million euros ($17.2 million) for his performance in 2010. That topped the 8.99 million euros awarded to Ackermann.

Jain has also been careful to strike a conciliatory note toward regulators and politicians, even though Deutsche Bank did not require a bailout during the financial crisis.

"Investment banks, just like regulators and governments, have to accept that some of their activities contributed to the crisis," Jain told an audience inFrankfurt last year.

The banker, who was born in Rajasthan, India, has also spent the past years radically recalibrating and downsizing the investment bank.

Between 2009 and 2010, assets at the sales and trading division were cut by more than 40 percent from pre-crisis levels.

Proprietary trading activities were stopped altogether, and value at risk, an industry measure used to calculate the maximum potential loss, was reduced by 55 percent from a pre-crisis peak.

Jain took the helm as co-chief of the investment bank after his mentor, Edson Mitchell, died in a plane crash in December 2000.

three-car crash last Thursday morning at a trail crossing on the George Washington Parkway once again highlights the need for the National Park Servic

A three-car crash last Thursday morning at a trail crossing on the George Washington Parkway once again highlights the need for the National Park Service to take action on critical safety improvements.

A driver stopped for a cyclist crossing the parkway at a marked crosswalk, but when an approaching pickup truck did not slow down, the cyclist hesitated. It very well could have saved her life; the nasty rear-end crash resulted in two injuries. An eyewitness captured the aftermath on video:

Trail users and parkway drivers can both attest to the constant danger at these crossings.

Solutions to these problems exist that would make the George Washington Memorial Parkway safer for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. But is the National Park Service interested in implementing them?

At least five unsignalized crossings are located near Memorial Bridge. Many of them cross two lanes, putting pedestrians in danger of a "double threat" when one lane of traffic has stopped but drivers in the other lane are unable to see the pedestrian in the crosswalk. Drivers hesitate to stop at all, as high speeds and heavy traffic on the parkway put them at risk of rear-end crashes like Thursday's.

Although the video suggests a tunnel, there is a simpler, less expensive solution that NPS can implement relatively quickly: HAWK signals, which Alexandria and the District have begun installing. HAWK signals are activated by the crosswalk user and installed at locations where a traditional stop light would not meet traffic engineering standards.

Research has shown that HAWK signals are not only more effective than other traffic signals at getting motorists to safely stop at the crosswalk, they reduce traffic delay compared to traditional signalized mid-block pedestrian signals.

Since being included in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices in 2009, HAWK signals have been installed across the nation. A news report from Providence, Rhode Island, explains how a HAWK signal works at one of that city's most dangerous crossings:

At crossings on the GW Parkway, HAWK signals could be implemented in combination with vehicle stop lines that are farther from the crosswalk. This would improve visibility for all users and reduce the likelihood of a "double threat" crash, resulting in a significant safety improvement for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike.

The recent Humpback Bridge construction resulted in significant improvements for Mount Vernon Trail users, and it shows NPS understands the trail is a significant reason to use the park. It's now time NPS made these critical safety changes a priority for all users of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.