President Barrack Obama delivered remarks to the Israeli people at the Jerusalem International Convention Center on March 21st, 2013. President Barrack Obama laid a stone from the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in Washington on Mr. Rabin’s grave on day three of his Middle East trip as President Obama visited Israel’s national cemetery, Mount Herzl.

President Barack Obamainduring his visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, March 22, 2013. Standing behind the President, from left, are: Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau; Israeli President Shimon Peres; Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu; and Avner Shalev, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate.

President Barrack Obama Spoke:

“For here we learn that we are never powerless. In our lives we always have choices. To succumb to our worst instincts or to summon the better angels of our nature. To be indifferent to suffering to wherever it may be, whoever it may be visited upon, or to display the empathy that is at the core of our humanity. We have the choice to acquiesce to evil or make real our solemn vow — “never again.” We have the choice to ignore what happens to others, or to act on behalf of others and to continually examine in ourselves whatever dark places there may be that might lead to such actions or inactions. This is our obligation — not simply to bear witness, but to act.

For us, in our time, this means confronting bigotry and hatred in all of its forms, racism, especially anti-Semitism. None of that has a place in the civilized world — not in the classrooms of children; not in the corridors of power. And let us never forget the link between the two. For our sons and daughters are not born to hate, they are taught to hate. So let us fill their young hearts with the same understanding and compassion that we hope others have for them.”

 

OTTAWA – his morning the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Métis are entitled to a declaration that Canada failed to implement Section 31 of the Manitoba Act 1870 as required by the honour of the Crown.

Supreme Court of Canada Upholds Métis Land Claims in Manitoba

The decision marks the culmination of thirty two years of court action by the Manitoba Métis Federation against the Governments of Canada and Manitoba, seeking fulfillment of the commitments made by Sir John A. Macdonald to the Métis provisional government and its, president, Louis Riel, for a 1.4 million acre land base for the children of the Métis majority in the Red River Settlement. Under the terms of the Manitoba Act, that Settlement became the province of Manitoba.

“Our search for justice since 1870 has been vindicated by the Supreme Court today“, declared President Clément Chartier of the Métis National Council. “The entire Métis Nation salutes the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) and its President David Chartrand for pursuing our land claims in the courts since 1981 against all odds”.

The decision sets the stage for land claims settlement negotiations between the MMF and Canada. “As the only Aboriginal people excluded from the federal land claims process, the Métis finally have the leverage to start these negotiations,” said President Chartier. “It is fitting that the decision comes on March 8, the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Métis National Council, itself an expression of the continuous struggle for justice of the Métis Nation.”

The MNC represents the Métis Nation in Canada at the national and international levels. The Métis Nation’s homeland includes the 3 Prairie Provinces and extends into Ontario, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and the northern United States. There are approximately 350,000 – 400,000 Métis Nation citizens in Canada, roughly a quarter of all Aboriginal peoples in the country.

SOURCE: Métis National Council

DETROIT – There has always been greatness, strength, struggles, success, identity theft, failure, triumph, leadership and structure within the history of Black people!

From Pharaoh Khufu, King Ramses II, Queen N’Zinga, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Bob Marley, Maya Angelo, W.E.B DuBois, Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey and more.

Every great great legacy has a history of greatness and struggle. When we consider the past achievements of Blacks and we celebrate Black History during the month of February, there is always a since of humbleness that is needed to absorbed and fully appreciate the greatness of Black History.

We need not look further than museums, books, television and Pyramids to see the greatness of Black History.

It is great that we celebrate the greatness of Black History in February, but we need to continuously educate “ALL” about the greatness of Black History. The current educational system scratches the surface and does not allow children to realize how great Black History is and how great the legacy of Black people really is.

A slavery based “BLACK HISTORY” focuses on the struggles, but does teach about how “WE” started mathematics, science, religion and more.

The current education system does not provide a blueprint of how we “DESIGNED” and “ENGINEERED” the construction of pyramids and more!

2013 National Inauguration With President Obama

We have an epidemic of so-called low-performing schools, low moral and violence that can be attributed to students not learning their true history.

If we want to successfully produce greatness, we must properly educate our children and we need to have a New System Of Teaching Black History. We need to be clear about WHO WE R and what we have accomplished and Educate our children accordingly.

To really bring out the greatness that lies in “Each Of Our Minds!”

If we continue to let public institution’s improperly train, educate, nurture and raise our beloved children, then we must deal with the realities that we face today!

When we begin to retool their minds about their “GREAT LEGACY! “The knowledge and/or skillz that they obtain by learning about their “REAL HISTORY” will begin to awaken their conscience and trigger the greatness in their dna that has been embedded into us.

The act or process of educating or being educated begins and ends with learning about “HOW GREAT WE ARE!”

That is “KNOWLEDGE” & real “BLACK HISTORY” teaching!

Written By Adrian Mitchell

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I graduated from a high school that was not considered cutting edge in terms of our equipment and the quality of our books. But, we aways believed that we were the smartest kids in Michigan. Scholarships were given too families that produced scholar’s, who could not afford the tuition. While the elite Catholic school’s in Michigan had the best science labs and books, we felt safe. We all learned and most graduated from high school and great Universities/College’s.

It disturbs me when I realize that their has been an attack on Detroit’s Education System.  Every Detroit Catholic school that I have attended since 1st grade(three total) has been closed.

Just speaking for myself. My foundation was built and based upon my family, extended family members and friends.

Most of my adult friendships were directly correlated with my friendships in elementary, high school and the universities that I have previously attended. Education has played a key role in my development.

My former High School Detroit East Catholic was torn down and the cash cost is well over $1 million. More than the cost to continue operating the school. Excellent schools like DePorres and East Catholic high schools had graduation rates well above 85%. Both have produced college graduate’s, NFL stars, hall of Fame college player’s etc……….and the schools were closed without the regard to the students, staff, community, alumni and the education for the citizens of Detroit.

With the combination of Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Roy Roberts and the Archbishop “Corporation Sole” of Detroit, we are witnessing the unconscious and systematic reshaping, of Detroit’s Education System.

Emergency Manager Roy Roberts recently announced the closing of Mason Elementary, Kettering High School on the city’s east side and the realignment of Ludington Middle School.

Southwest residents who oppose the school closings of Detroit schools.

“If you close Southwestern High School, you have no options within Detroit,” says Carter, who graduated from Southwestern in 1980. “Nobody’s going to move into that area if there’s nothing to do.”

If we want to properly educate our children, we need to have a A New System Of Education. We need too be clear about what an Education really mean in our minds.

If we wait on an institution and/or a organization too train, educate, nuture and raise our beloved children then we must rethink and begin to retool our minds. The knowledge or skill obtained or developed by a learning process comes from the dna that has been embedded into us. The act or process of educating or being educated begins and ends at home.

Home education mixed with the proper supervision. Our children being taught about their true heritage. Institutional schooling. Social influence’s. All these thing define us and help in our educational process.

That is education!

Written By Adrian Mitchell

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The precision with which the pyramid was executed is often the source of marvel and speculation. It is likely that the attention to this precision was related to the many structural problems encountered in previous pyramids. To minimize many of the previous errors, the attention to precision produced a pyramid whose base is level within 2.1 cm (less than 1 inch!), with the only difference in the length of the sides being 4.4 cm (1.75 in). The base covers an area of 13 ½ acres. The blocks used in the pyramid are large, with a commonly stated average of 2.5 tons. Many blocks are indeed smaller than this, the blocks toward the top decrease in size. Some of the casing stones at the base are very large, weighing as much as 15 tons. The heaviest blocks are the granite blocks used to roof the kings chambers and the weight relieving chambers above the king’s chamber. These are estimated to weigh from 50 to 80 tons each!!

New Features Since Previous Pyramids

The Great Pyramid has an internal arrangement that is more elaborate than most of the other pyramids. Here, for the first time  we see a series of upper passageway and chambers that exist within the body of the pyramid. A unique ascending passageway leads to a magnificent corbelled gallery, know as the Grand Gallery. While it is tempting for people to think that this gallery looks to be ceremonial in appearance, the function of the gallery is more likely a holding place for large blocks which were to seal off the upper chambers after the burial of the king, in order to secure his sacred burial.

The main burial chamber has two small shafts in the north and south walls which extend through the substance of the pyramid to the surface. The northern channel is only 5″ high x 7″ wide and ascends at an angle of approximately 31°and is 235′ in length. The southern channel measures about 8″ high x 12″ wide, rises at an angle of 45° and is 175′ in length. The middle chamber, the so-called Queen’s chamber, has an even more peculiar feature. It also has similar small shafts, though these end with a closing plug and do not appear to pierce through to the outer surface of the pyramid.

 
The Passageways and Chambers

The pyramid has three main chambers. The original entrance of the pyramid is located 7.29 m (24 ft) east of the center of the pyramid on the north face, at a height of 16.76 m (55 ft) above ground level.

The Subterranean Chamber
This leads to a descending passageway which is about 345 ft in length and slopes downward at an angle of 26°31’23” first through the superstructure of the pyramid and then down through the bedrock. The end of this passage levels off for 29 feet, has an unfinished niche, and then leads to a subterranean chamber. This curious chamber is only roughly hewn out of the bedrock and looks almost as though it is a quarry. In the south wall, opposite the entrance, is a blind passageway that runs for a distance of 16.15m (53 ft). It is possible that this passageway was originally intended to lead to a second subterranean chamber,  the idea of which for some reason was abandoned. Along the east wall, halfway between the north and south walls, is a square cut shaft that has a depth of 15 ft. The bottom of this shaft is filled with rubble and debris and one account mentions that when cleared the shaft has a depth of almost 60 ft!

the evidence proposed to support this theory include the fact that the floor appears to be only roughly finished. Also, there are small rectangular apertures, in the north and south walls which lead to small shafts which appear to have been prematurely discontinued. Similar shafts in the upper chamber pierce through the surface of the pyramid. The southern shaft  of this chamber has been determined by robotic exploration to abruptly end with a plugging block. The northern shaft has yet to be explored, but no exit aperture has been found outside the pyramid.

The Antechamber

At the south end of the Grand Gallery there is an entrance that leads to an antechamber between the grand gallery and the main chamber. It has a configuration that housed large portcullis blocking slabs which were designed to be lowered to seal the chamber after the burial of the king.

The Main Chamber

The main chamber, known as the King’s Chamber, is a remarkable chamber built entirely of rose granite. It is situated at the 50^th course of masonry. The stones used to construct this chamber are the heaviest known stones in the entire pyramid. There are 21 stones comprising the floor alone. The walls are comprised of 101 stones and there are 9 huge beams forming the ceiling. This chamber contains the granite sarcophagus and also has small apertures leading to shafts on the north and south walls. Unlike similar shafts in the Queen’s Chamber, these pierce through the outer surface of the pyramids. Presently there is a ventilation fan fitted into the southern shaft and this regulates the moisture in the chamber, minimizing the damage caused by the moisture produced by the breath and sweat of visitors. As with all other exposed surfaces in this pyramid, there are no inscriptions or carved reliefs on the chamber walls.

The coffer is no longer has it’s lid and the southeast upper corner has been broken away. It is also made from a single block of rose granite weighing about 3.75 tons. Its western edge sports three drilled pinion holes that were used to hold the lid in place after the interment. The lid would have weighed over 2 tons and was slid into place within angled grooves. The size of the coffer necessitates that the chamber was built with the coffin already in place – it would not have fit through the entrance, nor would it have fit through the lower section of the ascending passageway.

The Relieving Chambers
When blocks were cut at the various quarries they were organized and cataloged in order to prepare them for transportation to the site and final placement during assembly. The blocks were marked in red ink to fulfill this purpose and these markings would include the placements information and often also the name of the work-gang that would be directly working with the blocks. When the blocks were placed the markings were rubbed off of any surface that would be showing. Fortunately, they often did NOT remove these markings on surfaces which were not intended to be exposed. This has left us with some examples of these markings which can be seen on many sites. We will see many examples of these types of markings.

  
In the Great Pyramid, chambers were discovered by blasting with dynamite that are located above the main burial chamber. These are commonly referred to as “relieving chambers” as they appear to have been included to relieve the weight of the blocks above the main chamber to preserve that chamber from collapse. Evidence that these chambers were never meant to be entered can be seen by the presence of workman’s markings in red ink. As an added bonus, the markings in these small chambers  provide us with both the name of the work-gang responsible for those blocks, but also with the name of the king that built the pyramid, King Khufu. This is the most compelling evidence of the ownership of the pyramid that we see in any pyramid until the Pyramid of Unas in the 5^th Dynasty.

The Well Shaft

 Another unusual feature if the Great Pyramid is the Well Shaft and grotto.

This well shaft is a roughly cut passage that connects the lower portion of the Grand Gallery with the lower portion of the descending passageway. It is about 28“ square throughout its course and in places there are rough footholes. It is believed that this obscure passageway was cut to act as an escape route for the workers that would slide the large portcullis blocks into place sealing the burial. Portcullis blocks were lowered into place in the antechamber sealing off the main burial chamber and then three other 7-ton granite plug stones were slid into the ascending passageway sealing off the entire array of upper chambers. The workers responsible for the plugging would be trapped in the Grand Gallery and so it is theorized that the well shaft was cut to allow for their escape. In hearing of this passage one may think that it defeats the entire purpose of the plugging blocks, but this passage is tortuous and extremely dangerous to climb through. The Grotto is a small cavity located where the pyramid masonry meets the core, though this is  25 feet higher than the pyramids base as this is an area in the bedrock where there was an outcropping rise in the central pyramid plateau that was used to full advantage in the pyramid core, alleviating the need for filling material in this section. It is thought that the Grotto may have originally been a small natural cavity in the bedrock that was enlarged during the tunneling of the well shaft. Mysteriously, there is a large granite block in the grotto, and it is unclear as to how this stone got here or why it was left here. The most likely explanation, as evidenced by its mere dimensions, is that this granite block is one of the portcullis stones that originally blocked the antechamber.

 After the escape of the workers, the opening at the bottom of the well shaft was probably sealed with a block of limestone that was designed to completely camouflage the passageway.

The Khufu Pyramid Complex
The Mortuary Temple

All that remains of the Mortuary temple of Khufu are the remnants of the floor which was paved with black basalt. The floor plan is much larger than the chapels associated with the Pyramid at Meidum and the Bent Pyramid. The temple is very different from Mortuary temples that preceded it or followed it. Sockets are evident in the floor which would have held the granite pillars that comprised the colonnade that surrounded an open court. At the western end of the temple is a recess thought to be a sanctuary and signs of an outer wall. This is flanked by two vestibules. The interior walls were made of limestone and were carved with fine reliefs. There are no sign that there were any niches in this temple. This temple is the first known temple to make use of limestone, granite and basalt.

The Valley Temple of Khufu

The Valley Temple of Khufu has not yet been found though it is assumed that it existed and lies at the end of the causeway. Presently, this leads to under the present day village of Nazlet el-Saman, and has yet to be uncovered and explored.

The Boat Pits

Five boats pits have been discovered in the immediate area around Khufu’s pyramid. Two are on the southern side of the main pyramid, two are on its eastern side flanking the Mortuary temple and the last is to the north of the causeway. In the southeastern pit the first intact boat was found dismantled in the pit. This was reassembled and now resides in a special climate controlled museum on the south side of the main pyramid. The southwestern pit has been found to contain yet another boat which still remains in situ.

The Satellite Pyramids of Khufu

This is an excerpt from the book,
Guardian’s Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Primer,
available soon.

Copyright © 2000-2005 Andrew Bayuk
All Rights Reserved

Credits for Illustrations

The Great Pyramid – diagrams – Guide to the Pyramids of Egypt, Alberto Siliotti
Copyright © 1997 All Rights Reserved

The Grand Gallery in the Great Pyramid - The Pyramids of Egypt – I. E. S. Edwards

Illustration of the Subterranean Chamber of the Great Pyramid - The Egyptian Pyramids - J.P. Lepre

Illustration of the girdle stones in the Ascending Passageway of the Great Pyramid - The Egyptian Pyramids - J.P. Lepre

Illustration of Queen’s Chamber in the Great Pyramid – P. Smyth

The Antechamber of the Great Pyramid showing Portcullis blocks - The Complete Pyramids – Mark Lehner
Copyright © 1997 All Rights Reserved

Illustration of the rose granite coffer of Khufu - The Egyptian Pyramids – J.P. Lepre

The Relieving Chambers – J & M Edgar

Plan of the Well Shaft and Grotto of the Great Pyramid – J & M Edgar

Bibliography and Suggested Reading

Edwards, I.E.S. The Pyramids of Egypt. New York and London, Penguin Books, 1985

Fakhry, A. The Pyramids. Chicago and London, 1969

Hawass, Zahi, The Pyramids of Ancient Egypt. Pittsburgh. 1990

Lehner, Mark. The Complete Pyramids. London. 1997

Lepre, J.P. The Egyptian Pyramids. North Carolina. 1990

Mendelssohn, K. Riddle of the Pyramids. New York. 1974

Petrie, W. M. F. The Pyramids and Temples of Gizeh. London. 1883

Siliotti, Alberto. Guide to the Pyramids of Egypt, Cairo, 1997

Andreu, Guillemette, Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids. Ithaca and London. 1997

Weeks, John. The Pyramids. Cambridge, 1971

The memorandum of understanding on geology and mineral resources cooperation and an agreement for the development of financial cooperation were signed after talks concluded between Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping and South African Vice-President Kgalema Motlanthe in the Great Hall of the People.

According to the memorandum of understanding, the cooperation will focus on geology and sustainable mineral resources management, utilization and development in both countries on the basis of mutual benefit.

According to the agreement signed by China Development Bank and Development Bank of South Africa, the two banks will provide financial support for bilateral cooperation in infrastructure construction, transportation, water resources utilization, housing, health and education.

Cooperation in the two areas is a priority for the two countries and both sides have pledged greater efforts in the future.

In addition to the deals, Xi also proposed that China and South Africa give full play to their advantages and strengthen trade cooperation.

Calling the development of bilateral relations in the past 10 years “a great leap forward,” Xi said China and South Africa should join hands and promote their comprehensive strategic partnership for “better and faster” development in the next 10 years.

China and South Africa established a comprehensive strategic partnership in August last year.

“Our cooperation in all areas scored many new achievements in one year. The two countries witnessed closer high-level exchanges, greater strategic mutual trust, a more consolidated political foundation for bilateral ties, expanded trade cooperation, increased active cultural exchanges and closer cooperation in international affairs,” Xi said.

He also appreciated South Africa’s “valuable support” on the Taiwan and Tibet issues.

Xi called on the two countries to deepen political mutual trust and make their partnership a model of cooperation between developing countries. The two sides should expand exchanges between political parties and exchange governing experience.

He also called for more bilateral cooperation in human resources training, education, technology and media, as well as cooperation within various mechanisms, including the United Nations, World Trade Organization, G20 and the group of countries known as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

The two countries should keep closer negotiation and cooperation on major international and regional issues and maintain their common interests, Xi said.

Motlanthe echoed Xi, saying South Africa will work with China to further expand cooperation in trade, investment, aviation, mineral resources and international affairs.

It will also strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China within the framework of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, so as to benefit the two peoples and contribute to Africa’s peace and prosperity.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao will also meet with Motlanthe in Beijing during the second leg of his China tour.

Before coming to Beijing, Motlanthe visited Shanghai. He will wrap up his visit to China on Sept 29.

Source: (Xinhua)

News Corp’s senior management is starting to think about what the company might do if James Murdoch stepped aside, sources inside and close to the global media empire said.

With Rupert Murdoch’s younger son under increasing pressure from the phone-hacking scandal enveloping the company, News Corp executives want to be prepared if he wants to “take a breather”, one News Corp source said.

“The company is still trying to operate as if James isn’t going anywhere,” said another high-ranking insider. “But everyone is thinking about what will happen if he has to step aside.”

Through a representative, Rupert Murdoch and News Corp senior management said it was “absolutely not true” the company was thinking about the possibility that James may step aside.

If James was pressured into leaving News Corp, two of the sources said the departure would not likely be permanent.

“Even if he did step out of the spotlight for a while, that wouldn’t necessarily mean he wouldn’t come back when things are quieter,” said another source who asked not to be named because of a relationship with the family.

Time to drop out?

James, who is 38, is known for “doing his own thing”, one News Corp executive noted. A tattooed, ear-pierced record label owner before becoming the last of Rupert’s children to join the company, he now presents the image of a nattily dressed, conservative corporate executive.

“I’m waiting for the moment when he says, ‘What the hell am I doing here, I need a breather,’” the source said.

“And I wouldn’t be surprised if the people who are speaking to him and watching him aren’t wondering if the time has come for him to drop the [corporate] act.”

A third source close to the Murdoch family added, “There needs to be some kind of separation for James from this issue before he can run the company more broadly.”

James Murdoch is News Corp’s deputy chief operating officer and chief executive of News International, which oversees the company’s European and Asian businesses.

Last week, during a conference call to discuss News Corp’s earnings, Rupert Murdoch, who is 80, said in response to a question about any near-term succession that chief operating officer Chase Carey “is my partner, and if anything happened to me I’m sure he’ll get it immediately, if I went under a bus”. He added: “But Chase and I have full confidence in James.”

Three sources pointed to that comment as evidence that News Corp was at least considering life without James.

The sources asked not be identified because of the sensitive nature of the matter.

Relocating to New York

News Corp remains insistent that James Murdoch will retain his current position and is the front runner to succeed his father in the long term.

Plans are still in place for James to relocate to New York early next year.

But the first News Corp insider characterised the move to New York as an attempt by the company to remove him from the line of fire in the UK, not as a logical step in his ascension.

The hacking scandal, which led to the closure of News Corp’s News of the World newspaper, was thrust back into headlines on Monday after UK authorities publicised a letter by fired News of the World reporter Clive Goodman accusing senior executives of knowing about phone hacking by the paper.

The letter was written four years ago by Goodman as an appeal to News Corp’s then head of human resources, Daniel Cloke, against his dismissal from the tabloid. Goodman had been fired after being accused of phone hacking.

Goodman, a former royal reporter at News of the World, said in the letter that the practice of hacking had been openly discussed until then-editor Andy Coulson banned any reference to it.

Until earlier this year, News of the World’s parent company News International, a unit of News Corp, had maintained that Goodman was a “rogue reporter” acting on his own. Goodman spent four months in jail in 2007 for hacking.

James Murdoch, who took charge of News International shortly after Goodman and private detective Glenn Mulcaire went to jail, has repeatedly claimed that he only learned recently that phone hacking by the newspaper had gone beyond those two individuals.

13th arrest

On Thursday, however, James Desborough, a former Hollywood reporter for News of the World, was arrested on suspicion of phone-hacking, the 13th arrest made as part of the investigation in the scandal.

The Parliamentary committee overseeing the phone hacking investigation has said it plans to question additional News Corp executives next month, and there is speculation that James Murdoch will be called back to give additional testimony.

“Legally, it’s clear this stuff has got to get sorted with him,” said a third source involved with the company.

“His position does appear to be getting weaker,” one investor in BSkyB where James is chairman, told Reuters, though he added that he was not aware of any institutional pressure for action to remove Murdoch from his role. News Corp was forced to drop its bid for full control of the satellite broadcaster after the scandal broke.

Family ties

Murdoch’s children have moved in and out of the company at various times. Elisabeth Murdoch, Rupert’s daughter, recently reemerged when News Corp bought her company, Shine Group, and her father has expressed his desire to bring eldest son Lachlan back into the company’s fold. Lachlan, who once held the deputy COO position now held by James, left News Corp in 2005.

Two of the sources said that when Lachlan was in London a few weeks ago helping his father and brother prepare for their appearance in Parliament, Rupert again asked him if he would accept a position in the company.

Lachlan declined, the sources said.

“He’s happy where he is,” one of the sources said. Lachlan Murdoch owns an Australian investment firm called Illyria. He is also interim chief executive of Australian television company Ten Network Holdings.

One of the sources even thought the scandal could end up helping James in the long run. This source said that James was a forward-thinking executive with a lot of credibility in the business world, and that the strong performance of News Corp’s Indian and German assets, along with BSkyB, Sky Italia and the Times newspaper’s digital strategy, is owed to him.

“When he gets through this he will be a better executive and a better candidate for CEO. He will have been battle-tested like his father,” the source said.

Ultimately, James’ fate rests in the hands of his father.

“There’s only one decision maker, of course, and he is often willing to hold his course against public opinion,” said one of the sources close to the family, referring to Murdoch senior.

Though the Murdoch patriarch is loath to bow to public opinion, he has already been forced to sacrifice two of his closest executives, Les Hinton and Rebekah Brooks, as a result of the phone hacking scandal.

News Corp’s Australian arm News Ltd. competes with Fairfax Media, publisher of this website.

Source: Reuters

The “Holy Tibet – Treasures from Land Closest to the Sky” exhibit is open to the public in Zhengzhou, capital of Central China’s Henan province.

The statue was stored in Norbulingka (literally the “Jeweled Park”), formerly the Dalai Lama’s summer resort in Lhasa. Over 127 precious items are being shown in the exhibition, which will run for two months starting July 6.

Source: chinadaily

Elephant Festival

The Elephant Festival is a unique event held annually in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Groomed to perfection, glittering in gold, row upon row of elephants catwalk before an enthralled audience. The elephants move gracefully in procession, run races, play the regal game of polo, and finally participate in the spring festival of Holi. It is festival time for the elephants.

Activities

A festival where elephants are the centre of attraction. The festival begins with a procession of elephants, camels and horses, followed by lively folk dancers. Elephant races, elephant-polo matches and a most interesting tug of war between elephants and men, are all part of this spectacular event.

History

The Jataka stories of Buddhism refer to the tradition of Hastimangala (the Elephant Festival). A royal mount from time immemorial, the elephant has also been a symbol of strength and wealth. For the Rajput kings, the elephants were of especial significance not only during war but also during the royal festivities-a must at royal pageant. Nishan-ka-hathi, the flag carrier, led the procession. The king always mounted a caparisoned elephant. Special hunting programs and elephant fights were organized to entertain the royal guests. Jaipur was a favorite with the important personalities of the British Raj and the Maharajas always arranged for their guests of honor elephant rides up to the Amber palace. Even today, the mahouts take tourists up to the Amber Palace on elephant back.

Rajasthan Tourism revived the tradition by including the Elephant Festival in the cultural calendar. The present-day pageant, originated only a decade ago, was devised especially with the tourist in mind. The inclusion of the game of polo is more recent, being inspired by a cartoon in Punch magazine that showed the Indian polo team atop an elephant after it won all the international tournaments. Every year on the day after Holi, the old stadium at Jaipur, the Chaugan (originally planned for elephants), forms the venue for a spectacular jamboree.

http://www.rajasthantravelguide.com/rajasthan_fair_festivals/elephant_festival.html

The story of gold is as rich and complex as the metal itself.

Wars have been fought for it; love has been declared with it. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs portray gold as the brilliance of the sun; modern astronomers use mirrors coated with gold to capture images of the heavens.

By 325 BC the Greeks had mined for gold from Gibraltar to Asia Minor. In 1848 AD John Marshall found flakes of gold whilst building a sawmill near Sacramento and so triggered the gold rush in California.

Held securely in national vaults as a reserve asset, gold has an irrefutable logic; released from the tombs of pharaohs and emperors alike, gold has an undeniable magic.

In Heritage we describe just some of the key moments from gold’s history. Further sections take time to discuss important fundamental issues such as the relationship of demand and supply, gold’s price history; the golden constant and gold’s contribution to society.

Numbers and facts draws together some of the more extraordinary statistics which gold has accumulated across the centuries and around the world.

http://www.gold.org/world_of_gold/story_of_gold/