NBA free agency news roundup: Knicks frontrunner for Metta World ...

Metta World Peace will meet with Knicks executives in Las Vegas, making them the frontrunner for the small forward's services. Meanwhile, Brandon Jennings may want out of Milwaukee and the Wolves are still trying to ink Nikola Pekovic to a new deal.

Now that Metta World Peace has cleared through the amnesty waiver process, he's free to sign with whichever team his heart desires. And it's looking like the New York Knicks are his preferred destination, as he's scheduled to meet with team executives in Las Vegas in the next few days, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Knicks are reportedly the "strong frontrunner" for World Peace, with a deal likely being for about $1.6 million. A possible deal could include a second year with a player option.

After World Peace was amnestied by the Lakers last week, he claimed that he had little intention of playing in the NBA next season, mentioning interest in China and arena football. But despite this and some reservations about even playing in New York, he and the Knicks seem like a good fit.

World Peace grew up in New York and went to college at St. John's, so he's very familiar with the area. The Knicks could also use the small forward's prowess on the defensive end against players like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

World Peace has also been linked to the Los Angeles Clippers, and he told Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times on Sunday that he's interested. However, there's currently no meeting set up between the two parties.

Jennings unhappy in Milwaukee

At the outset of free agency, it appeared that Brandon Jennings wanted to return to the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Bucks supposedly wanted him back. But things have changed, and Jennings is "not a happy camper," according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times.

The Bucks recently made a strong play for Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague in restricted free agency, offering Teague a four-year offer sheet worth about $32 million. The Hawks matched the offer, retaining Teague and leaving Jennings free to possibly return to Milwaukee either on a multi-year deal or a one-year qualifying offer.

But Jennings might not want to go back considering how hard the Bucks courted Teague, and Woelfel believes a sign-and-trade of the young point guard is "inevitable." SB Nation's Bucks blog Brew Hoop still believes that Jennings will end up back in Milwaukee, but that the situation will be somewhat awkward for all involved.

'Status quo' on Pekovic front

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been working toward an agreement with restricted free-agent center Nikola Pekovic, but negotiations are currently in a "status quo," according to Jerry Zgoda of The Star Tribune.

The Wolves recently offered Pekovic a four-year deal worth about $50 million, but it appears that the center is holding out for a bit more money. However, there aren't really any other teams who can make Pekovic a better offer, so there's not much reason for Minnesota to budge unless the big man seriously threatens to take the one-year qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

More from SB Nation:

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? Lakers sign former lottery pick Wesley Johnson

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Source: http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/7/14/4523594/2013-nba-free-agency-news-rumors

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Egypt; the military may weed out dictators but can?t plant democrats

For Egypt it is back to square one or to be precise back to Tahrir Square. This time the people were spurred on by the military which reared its head and literary threw down the gauntlet demanding the impossible.

The now deposed and detained Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy was asked to deal with the demands of the protesting crowds all over Egypt within 48 hours or the army would move in.

Impossible because the myriad of problems Egypt is now facing especially those related to democracy and human freedoms are many decades old related to the dictatorial military arrangements of the past 50 or so years. To solve them in two days would require the Lord Himself.

As predicted the army moved in and installed a stooge; a Supreme Constitutional Court Judge Adly Mansour.

Deposed Mohamed Morsy came to power after winning an election. His was always going to be an uphill task. Being from the Muslim Brotherhood the pressure from within Egypt awaited him. Then the Middle East that is battling militant Islam and all forms of religious extremism was not comfortable either.

But the most potentially effective and real opposition would come from Israel and the West. There is no way the two were going to allow a confessed Islamist party to sit pretty in the Middle East. Their laid back reaction to the coup speaks volumes.

Another disadvantage for Morsy is that he was a Commander in Chief of an Egyptian Army which has mastered the art of opportunism. Their ability to switch sides and back the right horse at the right time is becoming all too perfect and legendary.

When Hosni Mubarak who had ruled Egypt for 30years from 1981 to 2011 was opposed by the masses in Tahrir Square, the army made a correct calculation and looked on as Mubarak fell and ended up in jail.

They remained neutral playing wait and see as they witnessed the election that brought Morsy to power. When the people went back to Tahrir Square, they saw that theirs was the right to back.
Now Egypt is back to square one. Senior figures of the Freedom and Justice party the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood have naturally dug in. They will not accept the coup that ousted their leader. There are already reports of protests from the brothehood and skirmishes to which the army has responded with live ammunition in some places.

Effectively, the army is going to be in charge from here to the future; hand picking and dropping leaders like hot potatoes as the situation warrants.

The lesson here for Africa and Uganda is that the army as an institution has remained the same and changed at the same time.
It is the same in that its primitive instinct means that overlooking the Constitution and resorting to raw force is still very much an easy and workable option for them. The change is that they no longer go to the Presidential Palace and play the role of King. They simply kick out one dictator and then play King Maker. They place their man in the seat. That man does not necessarily have to be a democrat. He has to be their man.

The army may remove a dictator but it is not the right institution to lead a movement to install a democrat. That is not in their nature even if they love to masquerade and posture about the same.
It makes matters worse if the army is operating in an environment where an unpopular leader has been in power for long which is 20 to 30 years. The army will definitely be part of all that make that President -especially the bad side.

It will have played a role in the massive corruption, degrading of State institutions like the Court of Law, militarising the police and repression.

When they sense that the tide is against the dictator they heap all the sins on him like a sacrificial lamb and encourage him to be pushed away like it was done with Mubarak.
Though on the surface that may look good, the outstanding issues remain because the State still finds itself without institutions that ensure effective democratic governance. The situation remains fragile and always in apparent need for a quick fix, which the army is always willing and able to provide. That is how the army becomes part of the political fabric.

Lesson is that when the army tastes the liquorice of politics they will often malinger but rarely let go. That is not good for democracy. The masses in Egypt still have many days of protest ahead of them.

Mr Sengoba is a commentator on political and social issues. nicholassengoba@yahoo.com

Source: http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/OpEdColumnists/NicholasSengooba/Egypt--the-military-may-weed-out-dictators-but/-/1293432/1908726/-/kr5uib/-/index.html

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SF officials: Possible 1 plane victim run over

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? San Francisco fire officials say there is a possibility that one of the two teenage girls killed in a plane crash at San Francisco International Airport was struck by an emergency vehicle.

Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White and Assistant Deputy Chief Dale Carnes both raised the possibility at a news conference with first responders on Monday.

San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault earlier said his office is conducting an autopsy to determine whether one of the victims was run over and killed by a responding vehicle.

He said his staff was notified of the possibility by senior San Francisco Fire Department officials at the crash site on Saturday. More than 180 people were sent to hospitals following the crash.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sf-officials-possible-1-plane-victim-run-over-180411565.html

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Keen On? The Cave: What Silicon Valley Can Learn From The 2012 Election

Who says that the Beltway always lags behind Silicon Valley? In The Center Holds: Obama and his Enemies, his best-selling book about Barack Obama's 2012 Presidential campaign, veteran political journalist Jonathan Alter writes about "penetrating" The Cave - Obama's top secret digital command center.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/oLEEZDtPBI0/

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Watch this beautiful aerial film showing New York City's always impressive architecture?shot by Jaso

Watch this beautiful aerial film showing New York City's always impressive architecture?shot by Jason Hawkes. Jason is a professional aerial photographer. His photos are always so perfect they look almost unreal.

Have a great day!

You're reading Kinja's front page, the showcase of the very best, must-see stories and discussions from Gawker Media blogs and the Kinja universe. Follow us on Twitter.

Source: http://front.kinja.com/http-vimeo-com-68384616-incredible-aerial-film-of-nyc-657111298

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T-shirt store starts new fashion trend in Libya's Benghazi

By Feras Bosalum

BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Browsing through the racks of printed T-shirts and scarves, a handful of shoppers inspect the latest designs in what has become one of the most popular clothing stores in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.

One of them, Ali, a student, holds up a T-shirt printed with a popular Libyan expression "Grab what is new before it becomes old", one of the many catchphrases that adorn the designs in Boza, a small shop in an upmarket neighbourhood.

"I always bought clothes with English writing on them but now for the first time, I am buying a T-shirt with Arabic print," he said. "I am so happy."

Ali is one of the hundreds of Libyans who have flocked to Boza since it opened a few months ago, eager to get their hands on designs that have become a talking point among the youth in Benghazi's popular coffee shops.

Its name meaning "stylish", the store - the first of its kind in Libya according to its owners - sells T-shirts, bags, head and neck scarves printed with "Made in Libya", "Walk like a Libyan" or a jumble of letters spelling out Benghazi.

Some T-shirts are printed with "I love Cyrenaica", referring to Libya's eastern province where calls for more regional autonomy have heightened since Muammar Gaddafi's ouster in 2011.

Benghazi was the cradle of the Libyan revolt and discontent has mounted over continued neglect from Tripoli. Easterners say their oil-rich region was starved of cash under Gaddafi.

Other colourful T-shirts carry portraits of King Idris, whom Gaddafi ousted in his 1969 coup.

"Our designs have political messages, it is difficult to separate daily life from politics," Ahmed Benmussa, a 32-year old oil engineer and Boza co-owner, said.

"We take inspiration from Libyan heritage because we have a rich culture. Reviving history is one of our aims."

Some of the T-shirts tackle the serious issues plaguing post-war Libya - the mass of weapons on its streets and the armed militias which have hobbled governance.

"Better the devil you know" reads the message on one T-shirt accompanied by the drawing of a knife.

"Some of the messages are critical, perhaps in a more humorous way," Benmussa said. "This is how we express ourselves, unlike those who actually use weapons."

PERSONALISED DESIGNS

The shop itself is a mix between old and new. An old record player lies idle in the middle of the store while a large television screen beams Boza's latest designs.

Importing blank T-shirts and scarves from Turkey, its designers use a small printing machine to decorate the clothes and accessories. Customers can also personalise goods or propose new designs on a "suggestion wall" in the store.

Boza's T-shirts, which sell for around 50 Libyan dinars, are popular among Benghazi's youth who say the designs allow them to express themselves - a still relatively new freedom after Gaddafi's 42-year iron-fisted rule.

"This is a great way in which you can express yourself in a modern and fashionable manner," Alaa al-Baba, a 24-year old engineer, said. "It would be great if everybody could do that."

Boza's owners use social media site Facebook to promote the store, both at home and abroad, posting pictures of the owners' friends wearing designs around town like professional models.

"We have sent T-shirts to customers in Saudi Arabia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, United States, Qatar, Ireland, France, Egypt and Spain," Benmussa said.

Capitalising on Boza's success in Benghazi, plans are now under way to open a branch in the capital.

"There will be a Boza in Tripoli in coming days," he said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/t-shirt-store-starts-fashion-trend-libyas-benghazi-090344589.html

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Obama: US will give allies info on spying claims

President Barack Obama gestures white speaking during a news conference with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete at the State House in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Monday, July 1, 2013. The president is traveling in Tanzania on the final leg of his three-country tour in Africa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Barack Obama gestures white speaking during a news conference with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete at the State House in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Monday, July 1, 2013. The president is traveling in Tanzania on the final leg of his three-country tour in Africa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at a joint press conference with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete after meeting together at State House in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Monday, July 1, 2013. Teeming crowds and blaring horns welcomed President Barack Obama to Tanzania's largest city, where the U.S. president's likeness is everywhere as he arrived on the last leg of his three-country tour of the African continent. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP) ? Facing a European uproar over more U.S. eavesdropping claims, President Barack Obama argued Monday that it's no surprise that governments spy on each other but said the United States will provide allies with information about new reports that the National Security Agency bugged European Union offices in Washington, New York and Brussels.

The latest revelations were attributed in part to information supplied by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. Obama on Monday also said the U.S. has held "high-level" discussions with Russians to get Snowden out of a Moscow airport and back to the United States to face criminal charges.

Obama, in a news conference with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, pushed back against objections from key allies over a report in the German news weekly Der Spiegel that the United States installed covert listening devices in EU offices. He suggested such activity by governments is not unusual.

"We should stipulate that every intelligence service ? not just ours, but every European intelligence service, every Asian intelligence service, wherever there's an intelligence service ? here's one thing that they're going to be doing: they're going to be trying to understand the world better and what's going on in world capitals around the world," he said. "If that weren't the case, then there'd be no use for an intelligence service.

"And I guarantee you that in European capitals, there are people who are interested in, if not what I had for breakfast, at least what my talking points might be should I end up meeting with their leaders. That's how intelligence services operate," Obama added.

European officials from Germany, Italy, France, Luxembourg and the EU government itself say the revelations could damage negotiations on a trans-Atlantic trade treaty between the EU and the United States. Agreeing to start those talks was one of the achievements reached at meetings last month in Northern Ireland between Obama and the European members of the Group of Eight industrialized economies.

Obama said the NSA will evaluate the claims in the German publication and will then inform allies about the allegations.

At the same time, he tried to reassure allies such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and British Prime Minister David Cameron that he relies on personal relationships, not spying, to determine what other leaders have on their minds.

"I'm the end user of this kind of intelligence," he said. "And if I want to know what Chancellor Merkel is thinking, I will call Chancellor Merkel. If I want to know President Hollande is thinking on a particular issue, I'll call President Hollande. And if I want to know what, you know, David Cameron's thinking, I call David Cameron. Ultimately, you know, we work so closely together that there's almost no information that's not shared between our various countries."

Obama's remarks came shortly after Hollande demanded on Monday that the United States immediately stop any eavesdropping on European Union diplomats.

Obama also said law enforcement officials in the U.S. and Russia were working to find a way to get Snowden back to the United States, where he is charged with violating U.S. espionage laws. The U.S. does not have an extradition treaty with Russia. Moreover, Russia has claimed Snowden is not technically on their soil because, while he is in the transit terminal of the Moscow airport, he has not passed through immigration. The U.S. has revoked his passport.

"We are hopeful that the Russian government makes decisions based on the normal procedures regarding international travel and the normal interactions that law enforcement has," Obama said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-07-01-Obama-NSA%20Surveillance/id-fc3bc063a6c646edb2b0449467a15954

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