Examples of Current Issues globally:

Ongoing territorial disputes between China and the Philippines

It is a dispute over territory and sovereignty over ocean areas and the Paracels and the Spratlys - two
island chains claimed in whole or in part by a number of countries. Alongside the fully fledged islands,
there are dozens of uninhabited rocky outcrops, atolls, sandbanks and reefs, such as the Scarborough
Shoal.
China claims by far the largest portion of territory - an area defined by the "nine-
dash line" which stretches hundreds of miles south and east from its most
southerly province of Hainan. Beijing says its right to the area comes from 2,000
years of history where the Paracel and Spratly island chains were regarded as
integral parts of the Chinese nation.
In 1947 China issued a map detailing its claims. It showed the two island groups
falling entirely within its territory. Those claims are mirrored by Taiwan, as the
Republic of China.
Vietnam hotly disputes China's historical account, saying China had never
claimed sovereignty over the islands before the 1940s. Vietnam says it has
actively ruled over both the Paracels and the Spratlys since the 17th Century -
and has the documents to prove it.
The other major claimant in the area is the Philippines, which invokes its
geographical proximity to the Spratly Islands as the main basis of its claim for
part of the grouping.
Both the Philippines and China lay claim to the Scarborough Shoal (known as
Huangyan Island in China) - a little more than 100 miles (160km) from the
Philippines and 500 miles from China.
Malaysia and Brunei also lay claim to territory in the South China Sea that they
say falls within their economic exclusion zones, as defined by UNCLOS. Brunei
does not claim any of the disputed islands, but Malaysia claims a small number
of islands in the Spratlys.

Why are so many countries involved?
The Paracels and the Spratlys may have reserves of natural resources around
them. There has been little detailed exploration of the area, so estimates are
largely extrapolated from the mineral wealth of neighbouring areas.
The sea is also a major shipping route and home to fishing grounds that supply
the livelihoods of people across the region.
How much trouble does the dispute cause?
The most serious trouble in recent decades has flared between Vietnam and
China. The Chinese seized the Paracels from Vietnam in 1974, killing more than
70 Vietnamese troops. In 1988 the two sides clashed in the Spratlys, when
Vietnam again came off worse, losing about 60 sailors.
The Philippines has also been involved in a number of minor skirmishes with
Chinese, Vietnamese and Malaysian forces.
The most recent upsurge in tension has coincided with more muscular posturing
from China.
The Philippines has accused China of building up its military presence in the
Spratlys. In early 2012, the two countries engaged in a lengthy maritime stand-
off, accusing each other of intrusions in the Scarborough Shoal.
In July 2012 China formally created Sansha city, an administrative body with its
headquarters in the Paracels which it says oversees Chinese territory in the
South China Sea - including the Paracels and the Spratlys. Both Vietnam and the
Philippines protested against this move.
Unverified claims that the Chinese navy deliberately sabotaged two Vietnamese
exploration operations in late 2012 led to large anti-China protests on the
streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam was also one of a number of nations that refused to stamp new editions
of Chinese passports which include a map showing disputed areas of the South
China Sea as Chinese territory.
In January 2013, Manila said it was taking China to a UN tribunal under the
auspices of the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea, to challenge its claims in
the South China Sea.
In May 2014, the introduction by China of a drilling rig into waters near the
Paracel Islands led to multiple collisions between Vietnamese and China ships.
Over the years, China has tended to favour bilateral arrangements negotiated
behind closed doors - but other countries want international mediation.
Even if the Philippines is successful in its attempts to pursue China at a UN
tribunal, however, China would not be obliged to abide by the ruling.
Recent attempts by regional grouping Asean to discuss new ideas for resolving
the dispute appear to have left the bloc severely divided.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark The head analyst of Norways intelligence agency says a group of
people is en route from Syria to carry out an act of terror in the West, adding that Norway has
been concretely named as the target.
Jon Fitje Hoffmann spoke in a live interview with Norwegian broadcaster TV2 on Friday but
didnt elaborate further. He was not immediately available for further comment.
However, Hans-Joergen Bonnichsen, former operational head of Denmarks intelligence
agency, told The Associated Press such information always could be disinformation because
those who discuss such plans likely want others to hear.
PST said Thursday it had information about an imminent concrete threat based on reliable
information. The threat was unspecific about what the target might be, or when or where an
attack could take place.
WATCH: Arizonas governor says she is ordering a review of the states execution process after
it took a condemned inmate almost two hours to die Wednesday.
FLORENCE, Ariz. The nearly two-hour execution of a convicted murderer prompted a series
of phone calls involving the governors office, the prison director, lawyers and judges as the
inmate gasped for more than 90 minutes.
They discussed the brain activity and heart rate of Joseph Rudolph Wood, who was gasping
over and over as witnesses looked on. The judge was concerned that no monitoring equipment
showed whether the inmate had brain function, and they talked about whether to stop the
execution while it was so far along.
But the defence lawyers pleading on the grounds that Wood could be suffering while strapped
to a gurney, breathing in and out and snoring, did no good.
Nearly two hours after hed been sedated Wednesday, Wood finally died.
A transcript of an emergency court hearing released Thursday amid debate over whether the
execution was botched reveals the behind-the-scenes drama and early questions about whether
something was going wrong.
READ MORE: Masking death penaltys violence increases suffering, Arizona execution shows
Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan read a statement Thursday outside his office
dismissing the notion the execution was botched, calling it an erroneous conclusion and pure
conjecture. He said IV lines in the inmates arms were perfectly placed and insisted that Wood
felt no pain.
But he also said the Arizona attorney generals office will not seek any new death warrants while
his office completes a review of execution practices. He didnt take questions from reporters.
Defence lawyer Dale Baich called it a horrifically botched execution that should have taken 10
minutes.
U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake convened the urgent hearing at the request of one of Woods
attorneys, notified by her colleagues at the execution that things were problematic.
A lawyer for the state, Jeffrey A. Zick, assured Wake that Wood was comatose and not feeling
pain.
He spoke to the Arizona Department of Corrections director on the phone and was given
assurances from medical staff at the prison that Wood was not in any pain. Zick also said the
governors office was notified of the situation.
Zick said that at one point, a second dose of drugs was given, but he did not provide specifics.
The participants discussed Woods brain activity and heart rate.
I am told that Mr. Wood is effectively brain dead and that this is the type of reaction that one
gets if they were taken off of life support. The brain stem is working but theres no brain activity,
he said, according to the transcript.
READ MORE: Should we worry about botched executions?
The judge then asked, Do you have the leads connected to determine his brain state?
The lawyer said he didnt think so.
Well if there are not monitors connected with him, if its just a visual observation, that is very
concerning as not being adequate, the judge said.
Wood died at 3:49 p.m., and judges were notified of his death while they were still considering
whether to stop it.
Zick later informed the judge that Wood had died.
Anesthesiology experts say theyre not surprised that the combination of drugs took so long to
kill Wood.
This doesnt actually sound like a botched execution. This actually sounds like a typical
scenario if you used that drug combination, said Karen Sibert, an anesthesiologist and
associate professor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Sibert was speaking on behalf of the
California Society of Anesthesiologists.
READ MORE: U.S. inmate dies of heart attack after botched execution
Sibert said the sedative midazolam would not completely render Wood incapacitated. If hed felt
pain or been conscious, he would have been able to open his eyes and move, she said. The
other drug was the painkiller hydromorphone.
Its fair to say that those are drugs that would not expeditiously achieve (death), said Daniel
Nyhan, a professor and interim director at the anesthesiology department at Johns Hopkins
medical school.
But the third execution in six months to appear to go awry rekindled the debate over the death
penalty and handed potentially new evidence to those building a case against lethal injection as
cruel and unusual punishment.
An Ohio inmate gasped in similar fashion for nearly 30 minutes in January. An Oklahoma
inmate died of a heart attack in April, minutes after prison officials halted his execution because
the drugs werent being administered properly.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said later that she was ordering a review of the states execution
process, saying shes concerned by how long it took for the drug protocol to kill Wood.
READ MORE: Texas can continue to keep execution drug supplier secret
Family members of Woods victims in a 1989 double murder said they had no problems with the
way the execution was carried out.
This man conducted a horrific murder and you guys are going, lets worry about the drugs,
said Richard Brown, the brother-in-law of Debbie Dietz. Why didnt they give him a bullet? Why
didnt we give him Drano?
Arizona uses the same drugs that were used in the Ohio execution. A different drug combination
was used in the Oklahoma case.
States have refused to reveal details such as which pharmacies are supplying lethal injection
drugs and who is administering them out of concerns that the drugmakers could be harassed.
Wood filed several appeals that were denied by the U.S. Supreme Court. Wood argued he and
the public have a right to know details about the states method for lethal injections, the
qualifications of the executioner and who makes the drugs. Such demands for greater
transparency have become a legal tactic in death penalty cases.
Wood was convicted of fatally shooting Dietz, 29, and her father, Gene Dietz, 55, at their auto
repair shop in Tucson.
WATCH: Israeli forces continued to bombard the Gaza Strip overnight, striking 30 homes
including the one in the video aboveand killing a Hamas leader and two of his sons. Susan
McGinnis has the story.
LATEST UPDATES:
Israeli warplanes struck 30 houses in Gaza Strip; Security Cabinet will meet Friday to consider
cease-fire
Air Canada flight circles Tel Aviv airport after reported rocket fire
Israeli military says Israeli soldier Oron Shaul was killed in battle Sunday
Hundreds of Palestinians protest in Jerusalem; Palestinian hospital officials say 5 were shot and
killed in the West Bank
Death toll in Gaza: 828 Palestinians (according to Palestinian officials), 35 Israelis (33 of them
soldiers), one Thai worker (according to Israeli army)
Scroll down to follow the latest updates in our live blog
JERUSALEM Israeli aircraft struck 30 houses in the Gaza Strip early Friday, killing a leader of
the militant Islamic Jihad group and two of his sons, as Israels Security Cabinet was to meet
later in the day to decide whether to expand its operation or consider ideas for a cease-fire.
In addition, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met twice Friday in Cairo with UN chief Ban Ki-
Moon and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri to try to bring a week-long pause in the
Israel-Hamas fighting, beginning as soon as this weekend.
Kerry delayed his anticipated departure from Cairo for several hours to talk again by phone to
Qatari officials who are serving as a go-between with Hamas, which the U.S. considers terrorist
organization and cannot negotiate with directly.
Israeli ground troops and Hamas gunmen fought intense battles in the north and centre of the
territory, Palestinian officials said.
The Israeli military said it hit 45 sites in Gaza, including what it said was a Hamas military
command post, while Gaza militants continued to fire rockets at Israel, with one hitting an empty
house.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said Israeli soldier Oron Shaulwho Hamas claimed to have
captured on Sundaywas in fact killed in battle on that day. (An Israeli soldier in the hands of
Hamas could have been a game changer in the current round of Israel-Hamas fighting and
efforts to end it).
On the 18th day of fighting, Israels Security Cabinet was to convene later Friday to consider
international cease-fire proposals, an Israeli defence official said, speaking on condition of
anonymity because the deliberations were taking place behind closed doors.
One plan calls for a five-day humanitarian truce during which Israel and Hamas would negotiate
new border arrangements for blockaded Gaza, said Hana Amireh, a senior Palestine Liberation
Organization official in the West Bank, who is involved in cease-fire efforts.
New research suggests a major oil spill in Canadas western Arctic would likely spread quickly
and foul oceans around Alaska and possibly as far west as Russia.
The research, funded by the World Wildlife Fund, comes as the National Energy Board prepares
to consider blowout prevention plans in two separate proposals for offshore energy drilling.
The authors considered 22 different oil-spill scenarios in the Beaufort Sea, off the northwest
coast of the Northwest Territories.
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They found that in all cases there would be at least an up to 50 per cent chance that an oily slick
would spread into Alaska.
In the case of a blowout, its almost certain that oil would spread across international
boundaries, with an up to a 25 per cent chance of affecting Russia.
Subsurface oil contamination from a blowout would also be highly likely to spread into Alaska.
The energy board is considering proposals from Imperial Oil and Chevron Canada for offshore
drilling in the Arctic.
Current rules require them to have a second drill rig nearby to promptly sink a pressure-relieving
well in the case of a blowout, which would make capping it much easier.
But both companies are proposing methods they say would be equally effective and much
cheaper.
The board has agreed to consider their alternatives.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia Vladimir Putin had tough talk for Canada on Saturday, saying he
understands Canadian concerns about Arctic sovereignty but Canadas stance on Russias
involvement in Ukraine is far more puzzling.
The Russian president suggested Canadas physical distance from Ukraine meant it had little
business meddling in the conflict,
adding that Russia acted within the scope of international law when it annexed the Crimean
peninsula in March.
Look at where Canada is, and look at where Ukraine and Russia are, he said in a question-
and-answer session in St. Petersburg
with senior representatives of international news agencies,including The Canadian Press
Neither Canada nor the U.S. have the same amount of interests in Ukraine as Russia does.
READ MORE: Close to 3,000 Ukrainians in the GTA could vote in upcoming election
Other than Ukraine itself, Canada is home to the largest population of Ukrainians in the world.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has called for a complete reversal of Russias actions in
Crimea and has levelled sanctions against a slate of Russian officials and
institutions.
Putin says hed be happy to meet with Harper regarding Ukraine, including in Normandy during
D-Day events next month.
We are ready for discussion, including with the prime minister, he said. And I have spoken
with him various times at summits on various issues and questions. If there is such a necessity
or desire now, we are ready.
But on the eve of Ukraines presidential election, Putin accused the West of paying short shrift
to Russias interests in Ukraine.
READ MORE: 5 things to know about the Ukrainian election
Where is the guarantee that, after the forceful change of power, Ukraine will not tomorrow end
up in NATO? Putin asked.
We hear only one answer, as if on a record: Every nation has a right determine on its own the
security system in which it wants to live, and that doesnt concern you.
Putin has said that part of what motivated Russia to annex Crimea was to prevent NATO ships
from assembling in the strategic Black Sea peninsula.
The West hopes Sundays vote could help ease the crisis in eastern Europe; the Russian leader
has promised to respect the
results.
As for Canadas concerns about sovereignty in the Arctic, Putin says he intends to respect
international law in the region and to
negotiate with all interested nations.
READ MORE: Canada, Russia continue to meet over Arctic
Russia, Canada, the United States, Denmark and Norway have all been trying to assert
jurisdiction over parts of the Arctic given
its believed to contain up to a quarter of the Earths undiscovered oil and gas.
For a very long time, we conducted negotiations with our Norwegian partners with regard to the
distribution of the shelf in
the northern seas, Putin said.
We conducted those talks over 10 years. They are always complicated questions, particularly
when theyre connected to
hydrocarbons, but we nonetheless started these talks and it seems to be the best path to
resolve all questions with regards to
the Arctic.
He brushed off Canadian objections to the Russian flag being dropped via canister to the ocean
floor near the North Pole in 2007,
comparing it to the so-called space race of the 1960s.
That was a non-governmental act; it was more of an emotional act and I dont see anything
scary in it, he said.
The Americans in their time stood on the moon and put their flag there, but we arent arguing
with them for what they did and we
dont talk about how they have ambitions to take over the moon. Thank God we are developing
co-operation in space.
FALL RIVER, Mass. A judge has rejected a motion by lawyers for Aaron Hernandez to
dismiss charges stemming from the 2013 slaying of a Boston man whose body was found near
the former New England Patriot players home.
Hernandezs lawyers argued that prosecutors hadnt shown probable cause to sustain the
murder charge against Hernandez in the death of Odin Lloyd and hadnt presented any
evidence or motive for the slaying.
READ MORE:
The Bristol Superior Court judge said in her ruling Thursday that probable cause, and a
defendants guilt, can be established by circumstantial evidence, and prosecutors dont need to
prove a motive to secure a murder conviction.
Hernandez is being held without bail after pleading not guilty to killing Lloyd, who was dating
Hernandezs fiancees sister. His trial is scheduled to start Jan. 9.
Wikipedia administrators have imposed a ban on page edits from
computers at the US House of Representatives, following "persistent
disruptive editing".
The 10-day block comes after anonymous changes were made to entries on
politicians and businesses, as well as events like the Kennedy assassination.
The biography of former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld was edited to
say that he was an "alien lizard".
One staffer said they were being banned for the "actions of two or three".
Edits from computers using the IP address belonging to the House of
Representatives have been banned before, following similar acts of vandalism.
Continue reading the main story
Start Quote
Maybe someone at the House of Representatives better think about their IT staff
Jimmy WalesFounder of Wikipedia
The latest block comes after rogue edits were brought to light by a Twitter feed,
@congressedits, which posts every change made from the government-owned
address.
'Russian puppet'
One of the acts highlighted was an alteration to the page on the assassination of
John F Kennedy, which was changed to say that Lee Harvey Oswald was acting
"on behalf of the regime of Fidel Castro".
An entry on the moon landing conspiracy theories was changed to say they were
"promoted by the Cuban government".
Another entry, on the Ukrainian politician Nataliya Vitrenko, was edited to claim
that she was a "Russian puppet".
The biography of former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld was revised,
describing him as an "alien lizard who eats Mexican babies".
One edit said the Cuban
government was behind the murder of John F Kennedy
However the edit that finally brought administrators to ban anonymous edits from
the House IP address was made on the entry for media news site Mediaite,
describing the blog as "sexist transphobic" and saying that it "automatically
assumes that someone is male without any evidence".
Mediaite had previously run a story on the rogue edits from congressional
computers.
Counter productive?
Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, told the BBC that the incident did not
surprise him, and vandalism has "always gone on and it always will".
The MediaIte entry on Wikipedia was edited to say the
site was "sexist transphobic"
But he said that the @congressedits Twitter feed may have been counter-
productive.
"There is a belief from some of the [Wikipedia] community that it only provoked
someone - some prankster there in the office - to have an audience now for the
pranks, and actually encouraged them rather than discouraged them."
He added: "Maybe someone at the House of Representatives better think about
their IT staff - they might be hunting them down this very moment."
UK government edits
Earlier this year, the BBC discovered that the phrase "all Muslims are terrorists"
was added to a page about veils by users of UK government computers.
One edit wrote that moon
landing conspiracy theories were endorsed by Cuba
That followed a report by the Liverpool Echo which found that insults had been
added to the entry for the Hillsborough disaster.
Wikipedia allows any user to make changes to a page, even anonymously.
However, the changes are policed by volunteers, known as Wikipedians, who
can reverse false edits, and even impose bans on users who continually flout the
site's editing rules.
Collective punishment
Wikipedians have been warning editors from the House of Representatives since
March 2012, and moved to block the address for one day earlier this month.
On Thursday, the IP address was blocked for 10 days, but one staffer protested
that they were being punished for the actions of a few.
Donald Rumsfeld's
biography was altered to say he was an "alien lizard"
"Out of over 9,000 staffers in the House, should we really be banning this whole
IP range based on the actions of two or three?
"Some of us here are just making grammatical edits, adding information about
birds in Omsk, or showing how one can patch KDE2 under FreeBSD."
Another user from the Hill was quick to dismiss suggestions that the rogue edits
were made by elected officials.
"I think the probability is near zero that these disruptive edits are being done by a
member of Congress."
Russia's main consumer watchdog has filed a lawsuit in Moscow against
McDonald's, urging the restaurant chain to withdraw certain products.
Rospotrebnadzor said its inspectors in the city of Novgorod, western Russia, had
found violations of food standards by McDonald's.
The US fast-food chain could not immediately be reached for comment.
Cheeseburgers and Filet-o-Fish are among the foods named in the complaint.
Russia is a major market for the firm.
In early April McDonald's suspended work at its three Crimean restaurants,
following Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula.
McDonald's operates about 400 restaurants in Russia. The first one opened in
Moscow in 1990, and the burgers quickly became very popular among Russians.
The court case comes at a low point in Russian-US relations, after Washington
imposed sanctions on some top Russian officials and firms allegedly linked to the
pro-Russian uprising in eastern Ukraine.
Rospotrebnadzor's complaint alleges contamination of a McDonald's product
tested in Novgorod and misleading nutritional information, Russian media report.
Ukraine dairy boycott
Separately, Russia's food hygiene authorities have announced a ban on dairy
imports from Ukraine.
Russian officials spoke of sub-standard quality controls. Dairy produce accounts
for only a small fraction of Ukraine's exports to Russia, Reuters news agency
reports.
The ban follows similar moves against Ukrainian food and drink exports in recent
months, amid a crisis in relations between Kiev and Moscow. The Ukrainian
authorities say Russia is using trade to exert political pressure.
Previously Russia has also imposed such boycotts on Georgia and Moldova -
former Soviet republics, like Ukraine, whose pro-Western policies have angered
the Kremlin.
A group of 157 asylum seekers held at sea will be brought to the Australian
mainland to be detained, Australia's immigration minister says.
The group have been held at sea by customs officials for almost a month.
Rights groups had voiced serious concerns about their treatment.
The case came to light earlier this month as Australia detained a separate boat of
Sri Lankan asylum seekers, screened their asylum claims at sea and returned
them to Sri Lanka.
Human rights activists filed a legal challenge aimed at preventing similar handling
of this second group of people.
Lawyers say the group, which departed from India, includes Sri Lankan Tamils.
Rights groups say Tamils can still face intimidation and violence in Sri Lanka, five
years after the end of the civil war, which pitted the majority Sinhalese Sri Lankan
military against Tamil separatists.
Under international treaties, Australia cannot return people to places where they
might face persecution. UN refugee body UNHCR has also expressed concern
about the fairness of on-water screening of asylum claims.
Earlier this month, Australia returned a boat of asylum seekers to Sri Lanka
'Will not settle'
Australian officials have not revealed where the group were being held.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that - following talks with
Indian officials - they would be brought to Australia.
Consular officials from the Indian High Commission would be given access to
determine identities and "arrange where possible the return of any persons to
India".
India would also consider taking non-nationals who were Indian residents, he
said.
It was not clear what might happen to those who did not fall into this category,
nor was the extent to which asylum claims would be assessed addressed.
But Mr Morrison said no members of the group would be allowed to settle in
Australia.
He declined to comment on where the group would be detained but local reports
say they are being transferred to the Curtin detention centre via the Cocos
Islands.
'Prolong suffering'
The move is an apparent set-back for the government, which enforces tough
policies aimed at ending the arrival of asylum boats.
Australia detains all those who arrive by boat. In recent months detainees have
been processed offshore, in camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. Those
found to be refugees will be settled in PNG and Nauru, not Australia.
Reports have also emerged in recent months of Australia towing boats back to
Indonesia, the most common embarkation point.
The government says the aim is to save lives by preventing people getting on
dangerous boats. But refugee advocates and the UN have voiced increasing
concern about the policies, with severe criticism of conditions in Australia's
detention camps.
Responding to Mr Morrison's announcement, Amnesty International said the
development showed that "stranding a boatload of people in the middle of the
sea, in an effort to 'stop the boats', has achieved nothing".
"All it has done is prolong and exacerbate the suffering of more than 150 asylum
seekers and their families," said Graeme McGregor, the group's refugee
campaign co-ordinator.
All asylum seekers must have the opportunity to undergo a "full, fair and
rigorous" assessment for refugee status, he said.
A suicide bomber has killed four people, including at least three foreign
security guards, in an attack outside Kabul airport, officials say.
The Taliban said they carried out the bombing, which targeted a key counter-
narcotics building.
Four insurgents also died, officials say. There is no word on the nationalities of
the foreigners killed.
The attack comes days after security forces repelled an attack on Kabul airport
by the Taliban.
In a separate attack on Tuesday, a roadside bomb injured a civilian close to the
Afghan meteorology department near the civilian entrance of the airport.
'Invader forces'
Heavily armed militants attacked the counter-narcotics building with grenades
and automatic weapons.
Police say the bomber rode a motorcycle and detonated his explosives outside
the main entrance, located close to a foreign military base 2km (1.2 miles) from
the main runway.
In addition to the security guards and insurgents killed in the exchange, at least
six other guards were wounded.
Broken glass and debris in the aftermath of the attack lay strewn across the road near Kabul's international
airport
Afghan and foreign security personnel were quick to arrive at the scene of the attack
This is the second attack on Kabul airport in days
An interior ministry spokesman said that the guards were protecting the entrance
to the building, where counter-narcotics operations throughout Afghanistan are
organised and executed.
Taliban spokesman Zabihulllah Mujahid told the Reuters news agency that "up to
15 invader soldiers were killed or wounded and many vehicles were damaged".
The attacks come against the backdrop of a hotly disputed election process.
The election commission is conducting an audit of votes cast during a
presidential run-off, held on 14 June.
Ashraf Ghani won the run-off, according to preliminary results. His rival Abdullah
Abdullah came top in the first round in April, but failed to secure 50% of the vote
to avoid the run-off.
Both candidates accuse each other of electoral fraud.
Australia's Senate has voted to repeal the carbon tax, a levy on the biggest
polluters passed by the previous Labor government.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott, whose Liberal-National coalition beat Labor in an
election last year, had made the repeal a central aim of his government.
Politicians have been locked in a fierce row about the tax for years.
Labor says it helps to combat climate change, but the Liberals claim it penalises
legitimate businesses.
The Australian Senate voted by 39 to 32 votes to repeal the tax.
Introduced in July 2012, it charges the 348 highest polluters A$23 (13; $22.60)
for every tonne of greenhouse gases they produce.
'Bereft of policy'
Australia is the developed world's worst polluter per head of population. But
critics, including Mr Abbott, said that the tax cost jobs and forced energy prices
up.
There were widespread protests against the introduction of the tax in Australia
and its repeal formed a major part of Mr Abbot's election manifesto.
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Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the carbon tax had been "useless and destructive"
He says he plans to replace it with a A$2.55bn taxpayer-funded plan under which
industries will be paid to reduce emissions and use cleaner energy.
His coalition does not hold a majority in the Senate but the repeal went through
with the support of senators from mining tycoon Clive Palmer's Palmer United
Party.
"Scrapping the carbon tax is a foundation of the government's economic action
strategy," said Mr Abbott, calling the move "great news for Australian families".
"We are honouring our commitments to you and building a strong and
prosperous economy for a safe and secure Australia."
Labor and the Greens voted against the repeal, with Greens leader Christine
Milne describing the vote as an "appalling day for Australia".
Labor accused Mr Abbott of "taking Australia backwards while the rest of the
world is moving forward".
"All of Australia's major trading partners are taking serious action on climate
change, including in our own region," opposition leader Bill Shorten said in a
statement.
He says his party will include a policy to introduce an emissions trading scheme
in its campaign for the 2016 election.
The Climate Institute think-tank said in a statement that the move left Australia
"bereft of credible climate policy".
"What we are left with as potential replacement policy rests on three wobbly legs
- a government fund subject to an annual budgetary arm wrestle, uncertain non-
binding limits on some company emissions, and a renewable energy target under
assault," it said.
Australia has promised to reduce its emissions levels by 5% on 2000 levels by
2020.
A target of obtaining 20% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020 also
remains in place, and Mr Palmer has said he will not support its repeal.
Because the college essay is not the same kind of essay that you write for your high school English teacher, it
does not have to have the typical essay introduction, which provides a thesis statement.
1. Your first paragraph should grab the reader
The college essay has to grab the attention of an admission's reader. It is imperative, then, that the
introduction to the college essay capture the readers attention and make the reader want to read more.
There are different ways to grab a reader.
Try starting with a question.
Begin with a bold statement.
Use an interesting quote.
Put the reader in medias res, that is, in the middle of things. Place the reader in the middle of something
happening or in the middle of a conversation.
Challenge the reader by speaking directly to him/her.
Tell the reader what you do NOT want to do in your writing.
Sometimes even a single word that stands as a paragraph can make the reader wonder and read on.
2. Be a real person, not an anonymous author
Do not be just another of thousands of applicants that do not make an impression. If you are reading a
newspaper article, the writer fades behind the facts and you know nothing about the writer except that s/he can
collect, organize, and present the facts that you need to now. You want the admissions reader to say, Ah, this
is a real person writing to me.
That means you should write with voice, that is, you need to write with your own personality. Honesty, humor,
talking the way you talk, showing the way you think, all help to create voice.

3. Dont be boring
Trying to be proper or trying to impress or trying to be intellectual can be a drag. What you should be are doing
is getting noticed as unique. Its like you are on a date with the admissions reader and you want to be asked
out again.
If you are on a date, you would naturally want to be smart, funny, nice, caring, unique, not boring. You also
want to have an opinion, not step back like an unthinking geek. Write your essay as though you would be a
great second date.

4. Make your essay correct and beautiful
Dates should look good, too. You can make your essay beautiful by giving thought to a few things. Use
a font that is readable. Consider whether or not bold type face could make your essay easier to read. Don't
crowd your essay near the top of the page, but balance it on the page and attend to soothing margins. Provide
the essay prompt at the opening. Separate paragraphs in a consistent way, either by indenting each paragraph
or by using block style, keeping all the words to the left margin but spacing extra between paragraphs.
If there are a lot of mistakes in your essay, it can not be pretty. Make sure you have spelled everything
correctly. Make sure your basic punctuation is correct.
Did you separate dialogue correctly from the rest of your text? Did you use capitalization correctly?

5. Approach the essay from a different angle
If you look at things a little differently from others you stand out. In answering an essay prompt, you need not
always do it the most normal way.
What if you were to take the negative approach to answer the prompt? What are your hopes? Maybe you
can tell what your hopes are by writing what you do not hope for.
Perhaps you can create a little mystery by not answering the prompt immediately. What to you want to
study? Maybe you could reveal that in the last sentence of your prompt after telling about all the little
things that have some relevance to your area of study. For example, you might describe many natural
flora, observe fauna, then list feelings you have about nature to lead up to writing that you want to study
biology.
You might even bury your answer to a prompt in a story or in a moral tale or even in a description.

6. Be clear and logical
As much as you wish to shine, the shine will be lost if your sentences and thoughts do not string together
logically. You must make sense to the reader.
Reread your essay as though you have no idea what the writer is talking about. Does it make sense? Are there
transitions between different sections of the essay? Is the essay organized? Have you started at the
beginning? Have you provided an ending? Have you given enough background information?
It is a good idea to make sure different audiences understand what you have tried to write. Test your essay with
a friend, a teacher, a parent, even a younger reader. Ask them not to judge but simply read to see if they know
what you are saying. "Tell me," say to them, "exactly what you got from this." If there is confusion, fix it.

7. Leave your reader with a lasting impression
People remember last things first or, at least, best. As Alan Alda said in a commencement address he delivered
to his daughters graduating college class, the most important things are said on the way out the door. His last
words in that speech were, I love you.
In the same way, you should end your college essay with something that not only summarizes the most
important aspects of you but that is also memorable. Memorable endings are poignant, making the reader feel
an emotion. Or, they capture a several-line conclusion in one pithy, well-worded phrase or sentence. Or, maybe
they end with a simple, clean truth written from the heart.

Final Tip! After you have completed your final draft, Improve Your College Application Essay at
EssayEdge.com! Let Harvard-Educated editors give you an edge!

FI ve Tips For Writing Winning Essays
Wondering what goes on inside the heads of scholarship reviewers as they read your essay? So were we. To
minimize your worries and maximize your scholarship potential, we went straight to the sources. We contacted
men and women who took part in the essay review process and found the qualities of a winning essay. We
asked what applicants could do to stand out and what kind of essays made readers cringe. Here is what they
had to say:
1. Directly Answer The Question
Too many times, writers make interesting points, but they are not about the questions at hand. If you are
asked to answer a specific question, stick to it. Listing off your merits when asked about environmental
problems can be tempting, but it can hurt your chances at a scholarship. If you find a way to twist your
swamp cleaning experience into the essay, youre very slick. When it is not that easy to do, just stick with
the direct answer.
2. Address Your Mistakes
As nice as it would be, we cant change our GPAs before sending out scholarship essays. But dont
despair because of academic problems. If you have done poorly in a class, address the reasons. Explain
what went wrong and what you are doing to improve. A few mistakes dont have to spell disaster.
Learning from your errors shows character, and it breathes life into your essay.
3. Show That You Are Well Rounded
There are many good students sending in scholarship essays. If you want to stand out, you need to
convince the readers that you are more than just your grades. List organizations in which you took part
and hobbies to which you dedicated time. Remember to explain why these hobbies and organizations
make you unique. Being part of the Frisbee club might not score you many points. For all the judges
know, you could have attended one game and watched the clouds go by. Explain how you contributed,
recognition you have received, and, if possible, leadership positions you have held.
4. Add A Personal Touch
Credentials are great and all, but a dash of personality can take your essay above and beyond. Adding a
bit of humor or sharing an interesting but relevant experience will make your essay stand out. None of us
want to ruin our chances by appearing nonchalant, but adding a little personality will help you in the final
round.
5. Last But Definitely Not Least, Proofread
We all know the importance of putting our papers through a spell and grammar check. Still,
grammatically incorrect essays continue to be turned in. Until that stops, this point deserves to be
repeated. Otherwise excellent applications can be taken out of the running because of spelling mishaps.
Even when you have put a lot of time into your essay, it may appear sloppy if it is grammatically incorrect.
You have a lot to offer. Make sure your essay stands out for its excellence and not its errors.
Do you know the difference between a great essay contest entry and one that's just
average?
1. Great Essay Contest Entries Stand Out
When you submit a contest entry, your essay will be competing with hundreds, maybe
thousands, of other entries. So you really need to think about what will make your entry
stand out from the crowd.
Some ideas include:
Using a different format: try writing a poem, a rap, or a jingle instead of a standard essay.
Using humor: make your essay funny or comedic.
Playing with language: try using puns, coining words, having fun with alliteration.
2. Great Entries Fit the Contest's Theme
When a sponsor holds a contest, they are looking for something particular, and great entries
are spot-on to that theme. Whether the contest is asking for examples of how you care for
other people, a description of your perfect vacation, or a story about how you used the
sponsor's product, that theme has to be strong and clear throughout the entire essay.
3. Great Essays Fit the Sponsor's Image
A great contest entry appeals not just to the sponsor, but also to the sponsor's target audience.
Does the sponsor market primarily toward kids? Toward young adults? Senior citizens? The
tone of a great essay will be a good fit with the sponsor's company image.
4. Great Entries are Gramatically Correct
A really good essay contest entry won't trip the reader up with poor grammar or spelling.
Most contests use grammar and spelling as part of the judging criteria, but even if they don't,
you don't want your judges thinking about how badly you write instead of the story you're
trying to tell.
5. Great Contest Entries Start Strong
A great contest entry is compelling from the very first sentence. That's your best chance to
grab your judges' attention. If your first sentence is compelling, your judges are going to be
focused on your writing and more receptive to hearing what you have to say.
6. Great Essays Are Memorable
A great essay with stay in the contest judges' mind long after they've finished reading. One
way to make a contest entry memorable is to finish really strongly. Make that final sentence
resoundingly strong so the judges can't ignore you.
7. Great Contest Essays are Clear, Concise,
Coherent
The three C's of a great contest entry are clear, concise, and coherent. That doesn't mean that
your entries have to be short, it just means that every word has to communicate meaning.
8. Great Essay Entries Flow
A great contest entry flows smoothly from one idea to the next. If your entry is disjointed and
staccato, it's going to be memorable, but not in a good way.
9. Great Essays Evoke Emotions
Really great essay contest entries tap into your most authentic feelings to evoke emotions in
your readers. Whether the emotions are joyful, sad, or angry, they will help to make your
contest entry great.
10. Great Contest Entries Follow the Rules
The absolute most important quality of a great contest entry is that it follows the rules
perfectly. It doesn't matter how good your writing is if your essay is disqualified from the
contest.

1. What Is an Essay?
Before you start entering essay contests, it's a good idea to have a firm grasp on what an
essay really is. Richard Nordquist, About.com's Guide to Grammar and Composition, covers
what essays are, how they are organized, and how you can bring your own personality into
them.
2. How to Write a Five Paragraph Essay
I learned how to write a five paragraph essay in high school, but I didn't get a lot of use out
of it afterwards -- until I started entering essay contests. Grace Fleming, About.com's Guide
to Homework Tips, covers what you need to know to write a strong five paragraph essay.
Even if you don't use a five paragraph format to write your essay contest entries, much of the
advice on how to build a logical essay is useful no matter what format you use.
3. How to Write a Personal Essay
Many writing contests are not just looking for great prose, they want to hear about your
personal experiences. Deb Peterson, About.com's Guide to Adult Education, shares some tips
on how to write an effective personal essay.
4. How to Write an Argumentative Essay
Another type of writing contest is one that asks you to make a case for something that you
believe in, for a product you love, or for an opinion that you want to share with the world.
Learn how to write an effective essay that makes an argument with Deb Peterson's article.
5. Basic Rules of Punctuation
Brushing up on the basic rules of using commas, apostrophes, and other punctuation can help
your writing be much more professional and easier to read. Richard Nordquist shares some
basic tips on how to use punctuation properly to make your writing contest entries stronger.
6. How the Writing Process Works
Creating a good writing environment can help you clear your mind and get down to the work
of creating a powerful, moving writing contest entry. Richard Nordquist walks you through
the process of writing effectively and how to create a conducive writing environment in your
own home.
7. How to Brainstorm Ideas
Once you're ready to get down to the task of starting your writing contest entries, you'll need
to come up with good ideas. Brainstorming is an excellent way to find the perfect topic for a
writing contest entry. Grace Fleming's article walks you through two different methods of
brainstorming -- pick the one that works best for you!
8. Discovery Strategy: Probing Your Topic
Another way you can generate ideas for writing contest entries is by "probing your topic."
Richard Nordquist shares some creative ways to come up with new and interesting
perspectives on the subject of the contest.
9. 10 Quick Tips to Improve Your Writing
Some very small changes can make a big difference in the power of your writing. Richard
Nordquist shares ten easy things that you can do to make a bigger slash in your writing
contest entries.
10. How to Use Transitions to Create Essay
Flow
One of the important aspects of any writing contest entry is that your writing flows smoothly
from one idea to the next. Grace Fleming covers how to use transitions effectively to create
flow in your essay contest entry.

ENTER A WRITING CONTEST!
Because once you start, you'll be hooked.
Follow these important tips, so you can have fun AND be a winner, both at the same time.
1). FOLLOW ALL THE RULES!
Following the rules is important. If the contest has a theme, you must stick with that as your topic. If the
contest has a "word count," try to get as close to that word count as possible without going over it.
2). STUDY OTHER WINNING ESSAYS!
This is a great way to get an idea of what the judges are looking for when it comes to theme and style.
3). HAVE A GOOD "HOOK"!
Make sure you have a dynamic first sentence. Suck your reader in right away! Often it's in the first few
sentences of a story, that a reader (or a judge!) will form his opinion, good or bad. (Hint: you want it to be
good)!
4). DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECK YOUR SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION!
Remember; this isn't some spur of the minute E-mail you're jotting off to your sister! If you aren't sure how
to spell a word, don't be lazy! Find out! Poor spelling and punctuation will turn the judges off - which is a
shame, if you have a great piece of writing hiding underneath.
5. EDIT - BUT DON'T GO OVERBOARD!
If the deadline allows, let your essay "sit" when you are done - then go back to it after a little while and
read it again. Chances are, you will find some things you want to change. (Remember, once you submit
your essay, it may be too late). Just don't get so bogged down with fiddling and changing and tweaking
that you miss the deadline altogether!
6). BE CONFIDENT WITH YOUR WRITING, NOT "WISHY WASHY"!
Comb through your work and look for wishy-washy expressions such as "I think that maybe I...." or "I
wasn't sure, but I thought"....JUST GET RID OF THEM! They weigh down your writing and make it far
less dynamic than it should be.
7). DON'T GIVE UP!
Chances are you won't win the very first contest you enter. Just keep trying! Perserverence; that's what
it's all about. The world would be missing out on many fantastic and famous authors if they had given up
too soon. Don't take it personally! The judge may have favored a different piece of writing because he or
she could relate to it better (judges are human too, you know)! Maybe a piece on sailboat racing won
because the judge loves sailboats. The more contests you enter, the more chance you will have of
winning.
8). DON'T LET YOURSELF BECOME INTIMIDATED!
Sometimes you will read other contest entries that make you think, Wow, that's good! That's such
excellent writing! I can't possibly complete with that! Well, just banish that last thought out of your brain.
Yes you CAN complete with "that" because your writing is just that...YOUR WRITING...unique....not
everyone's writing is everyone's cup of tea (sorry for the lame cliche....) but maybe YOUR writing will be
the judge's cup of tea. So, don't allow intimidation to create an obstacle. The fun and the challenge is in
the actual writing, itself. You'll find that once you get started, your own ideas and creative adrenaline will
take over, banishing all insecurities.
So there you have it. You're all set to go out there and beat the competition. Although you can't do that
without the most important ingredient of all....A GREAT PIECE OF WRITING. And that can only come
from you!
It all starts inside your own head....with a great idea. Then it's up to you to give that great idea life.....and
make it shine.
Remember the basic elements of writing an essay that you learned way back in elementary school
English class: Beginning, middle, end. Mindless rambling is not a good way to go. Not to thwart your
creativity or anything, but you do need some organization. Remember, others like to know what's going
on in your story.
By all means, BE MOTIVATED! Don't just enter a contest to "win the money." You should feel
EXCITEMENT about your idea. It must MOVE you in some way so you feel that SPARK; that DESIRE to
get it out of your head and onto the computer!
Get that ENERGY FLOWING....make sure your writing sucks your reader in, and keeps him engaged
throughout. Your reader just MUST keep reading to find out what happens next! You know when your
writing is like that...you can just FEEL it.
Even if your piece doesn't win the contest,you are still a winner every time you write, because you are
creating something unique. Besides, if you have fun writing your essay, plus experience the added benefit
of honing your writing skills....then entering writing contests can never be considered "a waste of time."
Following, are some current online contests that are going on. (Obviously I will need to update this
section on a regular basis)! Just pick the one (or ones) that interest you the most, and GO FOR IT.
Personally, I never pick competitions with an "entrance fee." There are enough free competitions online,
so there is no need to! But if you choose to, that is up to you. Just make sure the competition is being run
by a reputable source, such as Writer's Digest.com.
Storiesspace.com:
(Currently has a writing competion with the theme CELEBRATION. Deadline is July 31).
Manuscriptediting.com/contests:
(Has a whole LIST of writing contests)
Writing.com/writing contests:
This site does indeed offer contests - however, there are no monetary prizes. Nonetheless, the site offers
a great community environment, interactive features, the ability for you to create your own portfolio, etc...
First writer.com:
This is a great site out of the UK....tons of contests and cash prizes....
Fanstory.com:
This site is loaded with contests that have fun prompts, such as: Pretend you are a real estate agent
selling a haunted house.....then you have to write your "sales pitch." The only "caveat?" (Well, in my
opinion, there are two). You need to "upgrade" your membership to enter most contests. It only costs a
few dollars a month, but still.....AND....they actually REVIEW your REVIEWS of other people's writing.
That's a bit much....anyway, some of their prizes include cash, gift cards, or "writing bucks" you use to be
able to "do more stuff" on the site.
Writer's Digest/writing competions:
(Writer's Digest currently has a GREAT short story (1500 words) contest going on! First prize is $3000.00
and a trip to a Writer's Digest convention; second prize is $1500, third prize is $500. The only catch?
There is a $20.00 entrance fee)!
Teen Ink/writing contests;
This site offers oodles of contests for teen writers...they have a "point of view" contest going on right now
with a $200 prize.
Gigglegig.com:
This is a site dedicated to stories that make people laugh. They offer a contest every month - with a $500
prize! Not bad; you'll be giggling all the way to the bank if you win this one!
Authorstand:
Prizes are up to $250....currently, there is a "novella" contest going on..hurry, though..deadline is end of
June!
Poetry for Millions:
They now have a poetry contest running with a $1000 prize....any style of poetry is accepted. This is a
chance to get your poetry published in a giant anthem of poetry that is available at Barnes and Noble (I,
personally, have a poem in the book right now). All those who are chosen for publication, are
automatically entered into the cash prize contest.
Stage Of Life:
This site offers essay contests for both parents and teens - and even grandparents and empty-nesters
(hence, the name of the web-site)! Currently, they have a lot of "blog type" contests going on for new
parents, with question prompts such as: What product do you depend on the most as a new parent, and
could not live without? For teens, they might have a contest such as this: In 500 words or less, write
about a song that has inspired you at one point in your life. Prizes include gift card and various swag (i.e.
cool merchandise)!
Boxing With Pencils:
You will write a flash fiction piece of 100 words or less in their comment line. You must incorporate the
three words that they provide (this makes it challenging when the words are something like fungus, love,
and sunshine, for instance). But it is a FUN challenge, that's the point! (Plus, the winner gets 5 Paypal
bucks)! New contest each week!
Bookrix.com:
This site allows you to turn your writing into a "virtual book" with an actual cover, and pages you can "flip."
This can be a real eye-opener, as it allows you to view your writing in "book form." Bookrix also has
ongoing writing contests that are free to enter with cash and gift cards as prizes. In addition, they have a
young writer's group with "sponsors" available. Currently, the site has a "Young Writer's" contest going
on, and a "Drabble Contest" - a drabble is defined as a complete story written in 100 words or less.
Anyone is eligible - no entry fee - check it out!
Chicken Soup for the Soul Contest for Teens::
Chicken Soup for the Soul is a series of books of inspirational stories and motivational essays. The series
hosts a teen writing contest, accepting stories that teenagers will read "again and again."
Contest participants can submit stories written about issues that concern teens the most; including
school,life,relationships, friendships, and of course, parents (or should I say, the various ways parents
can drive you crazy)? The prize is publication in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book. The deadline in
usually December 31. Check out their website for more details.
NextStepU $100 Teen Writing Contest:
NextStepU offers contest winners not just a $100 prize, but the chance to get their work published in the
Next Step Magazine, which is a publication founded in 1995 that helps students plan for college, career
and life. The competition is open to students all over the world, and accepts short stories on all subjects.
Simply submit all stories online.
Seventeen Fiction Contest:
Seventeen is a widely-known and respected magazine for teenagers that holds an annual contest for
fiction writing. The magazine begins accepting applications in the fall, with a deadline of late December or
early January. In 2010, the winner received a $5,000 cash prize, had her story published in an issue of
Seventeen, and received a phone call from bestselling author Meg Cabot and her editor. Check out their
website for deadlines.
Adventure Write Kids:
Adventure Write Kids offers a yearly writing contest for kids and teens up to 18 years old. Criteria for
judging includes how well the story will fit on the Adventure Write website, along with creativity, spelling,
grammar and punctuation. Entrants must also complete the Totem Head's Tutorial on the site. All stories
must be 1500 words or less, and must incorporate a different phrase or idea determined each year.
(A word of caution: Unfortunately, not all contests are on the up-and-up.....you weren't born yesterday,
though, so this is probably no surprise. Check out the siteEditors and Predators to confirm that a contest
is legit.).
So what are you waiting for? Get writing! (And... GOOD LUCK)!