tiffany earrings silver heartAL-QALAA, Libya (Reuters) - Libyan rebel fighters launched offensives on two fronts to the south and east of Tripoli on Wednesday in the biggest push in weeks toward Muammar Gaddafi's stronghold in the capital. In the Western Mountains southwest of Tripoli, hundreds of fighters advanced toward the government-held village of Al-Qawalish, while on the Mediterranean coast east of the capital, rebels pushed westwards from the city of Misrata. The advances came as reports proliferated that Gaddafi -- under pressure from a five-month uprising against his rule, sanctions and a NATO bombing campaign -- was seeking a deal under which he would step down. His government has denied that any such negotiations are under way, but a senior Libyan official told Reuters on Wednesday there were signs that a solution to the conflict could be found by the start of August. cheap tiffany earrings
Western Mountains rebels traveling in Toyota pick-up trucks arrived at first light to launch their attack on Al-Qawalish. Many had anti-aircraft guns welded onto the truck beds. Several tanks were also brought to the front on lorries. The rebels began firing rockets and mortars at dawn, cries of "Allahu Akbar!" or "God is greatest!" echoing through groves of olive, almond and fig trees with each outgoing blast. Gaddafi's forces responded with intermittent volleys of Grad tactical surface-to-surface rockets. Clouds of black smoke came from the hillsides where the incoming rounds exploded. tiffany pendants
The rebels' aim was to push the 10 km (6 miles) from the town of Al-Qalaa to Al-Qawalish. The fighters were pushing south-east, away from the capital, but taking Al-Qawalish is strategically important because beyond it, further to the east, is the larger town of Garyan which controls the main highway north to the capital. After several hours, the rebels had advanced a couple of kilometers toward Al-Qawalish and NATO warplanes could be heard in the sky. Ambulance workers said they had treated about six people with injuries. MISRATA PUSH Fighting across Libya has been largely static for weeks. In the eastern third of the country, rebels are unable to break through to the oil town of Brega.
tiffany sets Misrata's rebels made a push toward Tripoli in May, soon after forcing Gaddafi's forces out of the center of the city, but since then they have made only incremental advances. The last rebel advance in the Western Mountains was last month when they pushed 30 km north to the outskirts of the town of Bir al-Ghanam. In the past, rebel advances have frequently become bogged down or quickly turned into a retreat. Near Misrata, rebel commanders told Reuters they had pushed 20 km west overnight, taking them to within about 130 km of Tripoli. Reuters journalists were unable to confirm the advance independently because it was not possible to reach the front line.
discount tiffany pendantsThe new rebel positions were coming under intense bombardment from Gaddafi's forces who were using mortars, artillery and Grad rockets. A Reuters reporter at a field hospital in Dafniya, on the western outskirts of Misrata, said he could hear the sound of ordnance landing every few seconds. He saw three wounded fighters brought into the field hospital. The stretchers on which they were brought in were quickly washed down and sent back to the front line to transport more wounded. Fighting in the same area on Tuesday killed 11 rebels and injured dozens more, medical workers said. Gaddafi, who has ruled oil producer Libya for 41 years, has said the rebels are armed criminals and al Qaeda militants.
tiffany silver sets He has described the NATO campaign as an act of colonial aggression aimed at stealing Libya's oil. DEAL TALK A Russian newspaper this week quoted what it described as a high-level source as saying that Gaddafi is sounding out the possibility of stepping down on condition that there is a political role for one of his sons. A Libyan government spokesman denied that report, saying Muammar Gaddafi's future was not up for negotiation. Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim said in an interview with Reuters in Tripoli on Wednesday, said a solution to the conflict could be found before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins early in August. He did not give any details about what that solution might involve, however. "There are signals that the crisis will find a solution in the coming weeks. We will do whatever possible so that our people will spend Ramadan in peace. cheap tiffany sets
So we hope that a solution will be possible before the month of Ramadan," he said. "Currently the key hurdle to a solution is the NATO military campaign, and we hope that our friends in the African Union organization will do whatever possible to convince it to stop its aggression against our people." Responding to reports of a possible deal, several NATO states have said the Gaddafi family must relinquish all power. "We believe that there will need to be a political process at some stage within Libya but it needs to be completely understood that Gaddafi and his family have no part to play in the government of the new Libya," David Lidington, Britain's minister for Europe, told reporters on a visit to Moscow. tiffany sets online
tiffany lock key ringWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Health officials are seeking to clear up confusion about safety rules for dietary supplements by issuing draft guidelines for when manufacturers need to notify regulators about new ingredients. The Food and Drug Administration asked for public comment on the document, which was issued over the weekend. It is intended to help companies comply with a 1994 law regulating new dietary ingredients in tablets, powders, liquids and other supplements. The law requires manufacturers to file a safety notification with the FDA before marketing dietary ingredients that were not on the market when the law passed. But in about 16 years, the FDA received only about 700 notifications of new dietary ingredients. cheap tiffany accessories
The agency believes there are more than 55,000 dietary supplement products. Companies often struggled to determine which products required a notice and to provide the documentation to show products were safe, said Ivan Wasserman of law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. Cara Welch, vice president of science and regulatory affairs at the Natural Products Association, said some companies had to submit notifications multiple times. A food safety reform law passed in January included a requirement that gave the FDA six months to issue draft guidelines for when to file a new dietary ingredient notification, or NDI, and what evidence is required to show product safety. tiffany accessories
The draft document answers questions such as whether an ingredient used in food, but not marketed as a dietary ingredient, needs an NDI notification. The answer is "yes" and the guidelines provide a template for filing notices. "Once everyone understands what it means and how to comply with it, you'll see compliance increasing," Wasserman said. "If (the FDA) doesn't see an increased number of NDI submissions... I wouldn't be surprised to see some type of uptick in enforcement." Welch said the Natural Products Association plans to ask the FDA to ease up on some guidelines, such as the documentation to show an ingredient was on the market before 1994. cheap tiffany rings
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday it would formally submit an application to the United Nations next year in the hope of redrawing the map of the Arctic, giving itself a bigger share of the resource-rich territory. The plan follows a pledge last week to send troops and weapons to its icy north to guarantee its Arctic interests. The formal application to the United Nations would change the region's borders and allow exploitation of the energy-rich Arctic territory. Russia, Norway, the United States, Canada and Denmark are at odds over how to divide up the Arctic seabed, thought to hold 90 billion barrels of oil and 30 percent of the world's untapped gas resources, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
cheap tiffany rings sale"I hope that next year we will present a formal, scientifically grounded application to the commission of the U.N.," state-run RIA news agency cited Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov as telling a government maritime board. Top energy producer Russia has said it will spend millions of dollars on studies to prove that an underwater mountain range -- rich in oil, natural gas and mineral deposits -- is part of its own Eurasian landmass. Canada and Denmark reject the claim, saying the geographical formation, known as the Lomonosov Ridge, which stretches across the Arctic Sea, is a geographical extension of their own land. tiffany rings for men
Global warming has boosted expectations that the Arctic may provide new mining, fishing and shipping prospects as the ice cap melts. Russia submitted an application to the U.N. to claim the Lomonosov Ridge in 2001, but the document was returned and Moscow was asked to provide more proof for its claim. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said late last month that Russia would finish its mapping of its Arctic shelf by 2013 and submit its application to the U.N. on its claim to the Lomonosov Ridge by 2014. Canada has said it will submit its application on the territory in 2013. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea says that any coastal state can claim undersea territory 200 nautical miles from their shoreline and exploit the natural resources within that zone. tiffany rings for women
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Wednesday it regretted the decision by Moody's ratings agency to downgrade Portugal's debt, saying the move underlined "questionable behavior" of ratings agencies.
"...The timing of Moody's decision is not only questionable, but also based on absolutely hypothetical scenarios which are not in line at all with implementation. This is an unfortunate episode and it raises once more the issue of the appropriateness of behavior of credit rating agencies," European Commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj told a regular news briefing. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso also said the decision added to the speculation in euro-zone debt.
Pandora Earrings "Yesterday's decisions by one rating agency does not provide more clarity. They rather add another speculative element to the situation," Barroso told a news conference in Strasbourg. The downgrading of freshly bailed-out Portugal's credit rating to "junk" by Moody's shocked financial markets on Wednesday and cast new doubt on European efforts to rescue distressed euro zone states without debt restructuring. CAIRO, (AP) — A sonic boom over Cairo has caused jitters around the capital where many residents called emergency services to report what they thought were explosions. Pandora Charms for bracelets
State television reported Wednesday that an airplane breaking the sound barrier was the cause of loud booms that shook buildings over large parts of the city of 18 million. Sonic booms are rare in Cairo. Egypt has been in turmoil since the uprising that ousted longtime leader Hosni Mubarak in February. There have since been sporadic protests, riots, clashes and a marked deterioration in security with fewer police on the streets. Pandora Charms Online
New York prosecutors will meet with the lawyers of Dominique Strauss-Kahn on Wednesday to discuss the increasingly difficult sexual assault case against the former IMF chief, CNN reported. The news network cited a source with knowledge of the case. Neither the lawyers nor prosecutors could immediately be reached for comment. The case against Strauss-Kahn suffered a major blow last week when prosecutors cast doubt on the credibility of the maid at the luxury Manhattan hotel who accused Strauss-Kahn of assaulting and attempting to rape her on May 14.
Pandora Earrings SilverLast week Strauss-Kahn -- a prominent French politician once seen as in line for the presidency -- was released from house arrest after prosecutors disclosed their doubts about the Guinean-born maid. US media have since reported that prosecutors plan to drop the charges. On Tuesday a French writer filed a complaint alleging that Strauss-Kahn attempted to rape her about eight years ago, indicating he could face further legal woes if and when he returns to France. Strauss-Kahn resigned from the International Monetary Fund in May to battle the US charges, leading to a change in leadership at the global lender during the Greek debt crisis threatening the eurozone. Pandora Necklace
pandora setsJohn Pistole has a vision for the Transportation Security Administration and its employees. But weird things keep obstructing the view. Pistole is administrator of the TSA, where transportation security officers who screen passengers and baggage at the nation’s airports recently voted to join the American Federation of Government Employees. It’s also the place where TSOs have come under criticism for following procedures that might seem silly, yet are designed to keep us safe, and making silly mistakes that could compromise safety. Pistole defines his vision with three cornerstones — redefining the mission of TSA as a national security counterterrorism agency, supporting the workforce and engaging outside stakeholders. He emphasized his agency’s role in an air safety national security continuum that includes foreign intelligence, federal and local law enforcement and the public. pandora packages
At the end of that continuum are the air marshals and TSOs, he said: “We are really the last line of defense.” Pistole wants to ease the cumbersome passenger screening process by promoting trusted-traveler programs that would allow officers a stronger focus on more likely risks. “We’re undertaking a major redefining of the agency mission and the way we execute on that mission,” he told the Federal Diary on Tuesday. The security officers, of course, will be a major part of that process. But the agency has a bad reputation for low employee morale. Any manager will tell you that’s not good for implementing an ambitious agenda that’s designed to sharpen the agency’s standing as a key player on the nation’s counterterrorism team. Publicity over the 95-year-old woman in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., who had to remove her diaper to get through security for a June 18 flight to Detroit also doesn’t help morale or the image of the agency and its workers. Pandora Charms On Sale
Nor does the case of the man who flew from New York City to Los Angeles a week later with an invalid boarding pass. In Florida, the officers apparently were following procedure, however repugnant it might be. In the second case, the officers, and the Virgin America ground staff, really screwed up. Pistole said the officer who didn’t catch the invalid boarding pass has been taken off the line for remedial training. The publicity surrounding both cases can’t help morale at an agency that has repeatedly scored at or near the bottom in employee surveys. Union President John Gage promised that morale would improve once the officers were able to choose a union and negotiate a contract.
Pandora BeadsPistole said he expects unionization will lead to “greater uniformity and consistency” within the agency’s workforce and with that, “I hope it would only improve the experience the traveling public has.” He expects coupling greater consistency with the redefinition of the agency’s mission to improve employee morale. Building morale was a key reason Pistole gave for allowing collective bargaining by TSOs, a decision Capitol Hill Republicans continue to harshly criticize. “Data from employee surveys has repeatedly shown TSA ranking poorly in terms of employee morale and engagement. Employee engagement and security are interrelated and therefore directly affect our capacity to carry out our mission,” Pistole wrote in his February decision to allow collective bargaining. “We must ensure that our TSOs are motivated and engaged as their judgment and discretionary effort are critical to achieving superior security. Pandora Charms
We must and will continue to do better with and by our employees to ensure we continue to accomplish our mission.” With TSA approaching its 10th anniversary in November, Pistole said: “I see collective bargaining as being one of the pillars that will help move the agency” into its next decade. By supporting the employees and with their support, Pistole envisions a time not too far away when security officers can spend more of their time looking at people who might pose greater risk and less time on those who have been pre-screened, as is the case with the crewmember identity verification system the agency is testing. Pandora Beads Sale
Part of that includes better training in behavioral detection for officers whose job it is to spot suspicious people by the way they act. Pistole wants all the officers to “focus on what we’re really paid to do, and that’s be a counterterrorism agency to prevent a terrorist from getting on a plane and blowing it up. .?.?. I think we can go about doing this in a smarter, more efficient way using more common sense and then focusing on those threats that are most critical to our national security.” Pandora Bangles
Cheap Pandora JewelryMONACO (AP) — Monaco's reigning prince, Albert II, wed Charlene Wittstock of South Africa on Friday in a long-awaited civil ceremony that transformed the one-time Olympic swimmer into the Princess of Monaco. Wittstock succeeds Hollywood beauty Grace Kelly, who wed Albert's father, Prince Rainier III in 1956, had three children with him but died in a car accident in 1982. Residents of the Riviera principality cheered and brandished Monaco's white-and-red flag when the couple appeared at a palace window following Friday's ceremony, the first of two days of royal events. The newlyweds waved back at the crowd and kissed each other shyly, sparking another round of cheers. Wittstock wore a silken blue jacket with ankle-length palazzo pants, an outfit press handlers said was made by famed fashion house Chanel, while the prince sported a sober dark suit and shiny white tie. pandora packages
When asked if they take each other in marriage, both quietly responded "Oui." The marriage became official — and Wittstock became a princess — when Philippe Narmino, president of Monaco's Council of State, pronounced "I declare you united by the bonds of marriage." Albert's sisters — Princess Stephanie in khaki, and Princess Caroline in an oversized straw hat — were among an audience of several dozen inside the throne room, the red silk-walled hall where Grace and Rainier once took their vows. The royal couple signed the marriage register with a specially created pen in gold and precious stones and adorned with their monogram made by the German luxury penmaker Montblanc for the ceremony. On Saturday, the new royal couple is holding an elaborate religious wedding ceremony and a star-studded wedding gala. Pandora Bracelet Charms
Although Albert, 53, was seen for decades as one of Europe's most eligible bachelors, he had long resisted marriage. Many in Monaco — known the world over for its lax tax laws and glamorous casinos — feared he might never tie the knot. With her bright blue eyes and delicate features, the 33-year-old Wittstock has often been compared to Kelly, an American movie star known for her iconic fashion sense. Monaco's 7,618 citizens and their partners were invited to follow the ceremony on oversized screens set up on a square in front of the palace.
Pandora Beads SaleMany were decked out for the occasion, wearing suits and fancy dresses under a blazing sun. Monegasque citizens were also invited to post-ceremony cocktails on the square Friday, to be followed by a concert by French composer Jean Michel Jarre and a laser light show. Friday's wedding was the first for both Wittstock and Albert, although the soft-spoken prince has acknowledged fathering two children out of wedlock. Rumors raged over the past few days that a third illegitimate child had recently surfaced and that development allegedly prompted Wittstock to try to call off the wedding at the last minute and return to South Africa. Pandora Jewelry
The palace dismissed the stories as "ugly rumors" born out of jealousy. A top aide to the prince, speaking earlier this week on Monaco-Info TV, said the couple were "affected" by the rumors but were concentrating on last-minute preparations. Still, the tensions were evident when Wittstock talked in a TV interview before the wedding about wanting to have her own children. "I love children and have always wanted to have children of my own," she said on BFM television, sitting next to Albert with a close-lipped, tense smile. "We'll see in the next couple of months or years." Wittstock also joked that she would bring South African barbecue traditions to Monaco. Pandora Beads
The guest list for Saturday's festivities included the kings of Spain, Sweden, Lesotho and Belgium, the presidents of France, Iceland, Ireland, Lebanon, Malta, Germany and Hungary, France's richest man, celebrated opera singers, top models and race car divers. The Catholic ceremony will also take place in the palace, followed by a gala dinner by three-time triple-starred Michelin chef Alain Ducasse. Besides the Champagne and the South African wines, everything served at the sumptuous buffet is being sourced in a 10-kilometer (6-mile) radius from Monaco, Ducasse told The Associated Press in an interview. Pandora Charms
More than 1,000 journalists from around the world have been accredited for the festivities, which kicked off late Thursday with a free concert by the legendary Los Angeles band The Eagles. The prince and Wittstock attended the show, he in a dark suit, she wearing a strapless black pantsuit that was more rock-and-roll diva than royalty. Wittstock was born in Zimbabwe, but moved to neighboring South Africa as a child and swam for that country at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Albert met Wittstock during a 2000 swimming competition in Monaco. Wittstock then began appearing regularly at social events and moved to Monaco in 2006. Albert has been an International Olympic Committee member since 1985 and competed in five Winter Olympics as part of Monaco's bobsled team.
Pandora Bracelets SaleOutspoken Aboriginal education representative Alca Simpson has called on the community to embrace the new version of Dubbo College. Mr Simpson, a member of the Dubbo Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and a parent at Dubbo College Senior Campus, yesterday described the model announced by education minister Adrian Piccoli as workable. “Having two junior 7-10 campus linked to a Year 11-12 senior campus is much better than the previous idea of former education minister Verity Firth.
Pandora Beads Sale“She wanted to segregate public secondary education in Dubbo with a Year 7-12 school in South Dubbo set apart from a Year 7-9 school in West Dubbo and a Year 10-12 senior campus in Yarrandale Road.” At the time of minister Firth’s announcement Mr Simpson accused the NSW government of pushing Indigenous policies in Dubbo back 50 years. “This latest announcement will allow public education in Dubbo to continue to cater for everyone,” Mr Simpson said. The Teachers’ Federation is not happy with the retention of the split campus college model and has not ruled out industrial action. Mr Simpson said teachers are entitled to express their opinion.
Pandora Jewelry “But for the sake of student outcomes the entire Dubbo community needs to accept that a decision has been made,” he said. “A new model for public secondary education is being put in place and it is now up to us all to work together for the sake of student outcomes.” Mr Simpson applauded minister Piccoli for taking the time to visit Dubbo to listen to parents, students and the Indigenous community. “From where I sit, I would have preferred to stay with two junior Year 7-9 campus and one Year 10-12 senior campus,” he said. “Dubbo College didn’t need to change but there were concerns about how it was being managed. Pandora Charms On Sale
“Minister Piccoli has addressed that issue by appointing a school education director to oversee the college in a temporary capacity until a permanent person is appointed.” Three motorists were lucky to escape without injury yesterday after their vehicles collided on the Mitchell Highway near Dubbo. Dubbo Police, the NSW Ambulance Service and the Rural Fire Service attended the accident, 12 kilometres out on the Narromine road, but no one was taken to hospital. A spokesman for the Ambulance Service said one patient was treated at the scene, however they did not require further medical attention.
Pandora BanglesThe other two motorists were reportedly fine. Yesterday’s accident was one of several to occur on the Mitchell Highway, west of Dubbo, in the past month. A 55-year-old man died on the stretch of road near Trangie on June 16 after his vehicle collided with a tree, about 85km from Dubbo. A 21-year-old male died after a motor vehicle accident on the Mitchell Highway between Narromine and Trangie on May 27. Police investigations into yesterday’s accident are continuing. Pandora Charms Online