U.S., Canada close door on Hamas
Countries say new government must meet international demands

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, left,
and Mahmoud Abbas after the swearing in.

Hamas sworn in On the day Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his 24-member Cabinet were sworn in to take the Palestinian helm, the United States and Canada on Wednesday formally cut ties with the government.

U.S. diplomats and contractors were already expressly forbidden from contact with Hamas, U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters, adding that the new order was necessary to avoid any confusion, because the U.S. still has contact with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

"We are now in a period of transition and change from a Palestinian Authority that was committed to seeking a two-state solution, seeking peace with Israel via negotiation, to a Hamas-led government which does not," McCormack said.

The militant organization came to power via a landslide victory in January's Palestinian elections. Though the organization runs a network of social and charitable organizations for Palestinians, it refuses to renounce violence or recognize Israel's right to exist. (Watch how two new governments will play out in the Middle East

The U.S., Israel and European Union consider Hamas a terrorist group and say it must reverse its stances on violence and Israel. The United States and Canada say Hamas must also abide by past Palestinian agreements to seek a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has delivered an ultimatum, which he reiterated at a victory rally for his Kadima party after Israeli elections Tuesday, stating that Israel's borders will be defined in the next four years, with or without Palestinian input. Olmert's current plan is to evacuate small Jewish settlements in the West Bank and annex the larger ones.

Though there have been few signs that the Hamas-led government is ready for fruitful talks with Israel, Haniyeh said Wednesday that Palestinians were not averse to all negotiations with their neighbors.

After being sworn in as Palestinian prime minister, Haniyeh gave Abbas his blessing to negotiate with Israel, according to the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz.

"If the PA chairman, as the elected president, wants to jumpstart talks, we have no objection to it," the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz quoted Haniyeh as saying. "If whatever (Abbas) presents to the people as a result of the negotiations serves our interests, then we will also redefine our position."

U.S. order toughened

The existing U.S. "no contact" order forbade diplomats from dealing with groups deemed to be terrorist organizations. It also required all contractors receiving U.S. funding to sign pledges promising they would have no contact with such groups. Audits are conducted to make sure they keep their word.

The State Department issued a travel warning February 27, banning all U.S. government employees from traveling in the West Bank or Gaza except on "mission-critical business."

The warning said American employees of the embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, and the consulate in Jerusalem, were not allowed to use public transportation or patronize discos or nightclubs.

Wednesday's beefed-up order does not prohibit contact with Abbas or non-Hamas members of the Palestinian Parliament.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Peter McKay on Wednesday said his country was cutting ties with the Palestinian government because it hasn't "addressed the concerns raised by Canada and others concerning nonviolence, the recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the road map for peace."

However, International Cooperation Minister Josee Verner added that Canada remains committed to a two-state solution and will continue to provide some assistance to Palestinians.

"Working with our partners and through the United Nations, its agencies and other organizations, Canada will continue to support and respond to the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people," Verner said.

The United States, too, is reviewing its aid programs to the Palestinians, and McCormack emphasized Wednesday that Hamas will not receive any U.S. funding.

"We're looking at ways that we can increase humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people," McCormack said. "On the other hand, we've said it before, and I'll reiterate it, that we are not going to provide funds to a terrorist organization."

McCormack was asked Monday about Haniyeh stating he was ready for dialogue with the Quartet, made up of the U.S., the EU, Russia and the United Nations.

"The onus is now on Hamas," McCormack responded. "But in terms of dialogue, Hamas needs to meet the conditions laid out by the international community."

Which of These Fastest Growing Careers Is Right for You?

You've had enough of your job. It's time to reach higher, earn more and be fulfilled in your profession. Lucky for you, some of the fastest growing jobs offer excitement, prosperity and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. Acquire the knowledge and skills in high demand in these industries, and you’ll be a degree closer to making your dreams a reality.

Which field most captivates you?

Education

With about one in four Americans enrolled in educational institutions, educational services is the second largest industry, accounting for about 12.7 million jobs. Most teaching positions -- which constitute almost half of all educational services jobs -- require at least a bachelor's degree. Some require a master's or doctoral degree, much like the position to which Aretha Rhone-Bush aspired.

Serving as assistant principal at Hilton Head High School (Hilton Head, S.C.), Rhone-Bush saw the opportunity she'd been waiting for -- one that would not only enhance her career, but ultimately her education, too.

"I saw the proposal for the bond referendum to build the [new] school," she says. "When I was hired as an assistant principal at Hilton Head High School, I told my principal I wanted the opportunity to lead the school."

Investigate these rapidly expanding fields:

* Education
* Nursing
* Information Technology
* Business
* Criminal Justice

And, after she led a 55-member committee through the design and build process of Bluffton High School, a state-of-the-art technology school, Rhone-Bush was unanimously chosen as principal. At age 34, she is one of the youngest high school principals in the nation.

"This position is my destiny," says Rhone-Bush. "I didn't just happen upon this job." Which is why she decided to expand on her existing knowledge by enrolling in an online Ph.D. program in Leadership for K-12 Programs Specialization through Capella University.

Nursing

It's time to help others and help yourself by exploring a career in health care, specifically nursing. With almost 500,000 health care establishments across the country, professionals who can fuse human compassion with advanced medical technology are in great demand. From cleansing a child's scraped knee and caring for the terminally ill to working side by side with doctors and surgeons, professionals like yourself work hard to improve the lives of those around them and are recognized accordingly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing is among the top 10 occupations with the largest estimated job growth. Choosing an educational program that fits your life is an excellent prescription for advancement in this flourishing industry.

Take Terri Welborn, RN, manager of trauma services at a 415-bed hospital in Midland, Texas, for instance. She completed a legal nurse consulting certificate online at Kaplan University last April, and is now enrolled in Kaplan's newly launched online bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN) program. "I am married and have three kids, and three grandkids under the age of 7. And, my husband is a police officer and is looking at retirement in about five years," says Welborn. "So I'm looking for a way to take my career in a direction that allows me to utilize the experience and knowledge I've acquired in the past 25 years, but not to be tied to the hospital 40 hours a week."

Information Technology

If you're driven by the digital world, why not capitalize on your cyber-savviness? With fast-growing fields such as Web design and development, systems engineers, and database management, you can connect to a career opportunity that is exciting, cutting-edge and creative.

One stepping stone to an IT degree that many are taking advantage of is certificate programs. In fact, computer systems design and related services industry is cited by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as one of the top 10 fastest growing industries in the economy, adding more than 600,000 jobs between 2002 and 2012.

Statistics like that are encouraging, especially to someone like Debra Wall-Czech. When she got laid off, she immediately faced difficulty finding another job because she didn't have a college degree. With so many responsibilities to juggle -- taking care of a family and traveling the world with a country/rock band -- the 41-year-old decided the best option for her was to get a degree online.

"I can log onto classes from home or when I'm traveling." In fact, Debra has even accessed her classes at Internet cafés and military-base computer labs. Even with her demanding schedule, Wall-Czech successfully earned two bachelor's degrees from DeVry -- one in computer information systems and one in business information systems. She has since enrolled at DeVry's Keller Graduate School of Management where she'll complete a master's degree in project management this year.

Business

If you're intrigued by all things business -- yes, even beyond 'The Apprentice' -- it's time to make your corporate mark. Power your pursuits with a degree; advanced study is especially impressive in the boardroom of any business. MBA earners are consistently courted by corporate bigwigs, and with some programs offered entirely online, there are more options from which to choose. You can specialize in areas such as accounting, project management, marketing and more.

Deb Hagan wanted to succeed in the boardroom and knew that a master's degree would help her do that. Having a full-time job and being a busy mother of two wasn't going to stop her from getting it. In fact, neither was giving birth to her third child, which happened right in the middle of her online coursework at the University of Phoenix.

Two days after her son was born, she wrapped up a statistics class; less than one week after that, she registered for two more courses. Crazy? Ambitious is more like it. Deb saw an opportunity to make professional and personal advancements through online learning, and now that she's latched on, she's not letting go.

Criminal Justice

Crime prevention, litigation and legal disputes -- and the need to protect confidential information and property of all kinds -- will always create opportunities for people with degrees in criminal justice. In fact, employment of private detectives and investigators is expected to grow faster than the average occupation across the next decade. Accordingly, various certificate and degree programs focusing on theses exciting and important career avenues are flourishing.

For Brenda McGreevy of Guilderland, N.Y., the convenience of distance learning allowed her to earn her associate's degree in criminal justice almost entirely online, while working full time for the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, and volunteering 20 hours a week as an emergency medical technician for the Western Turnpike Rescue Squad in Guilderland. "I decided to go to school for a degree after my youngest daughter went to college and that left me being the only one in the household that hadn't gone to college," says the now 49-year-old McGreevy, who's a mother of two grown daughters. The academic fit she found helped her graduate with a 4.0 G.P.A.

In addition to state and other public service career opportunities, the field of criminal justice is booming in the private sector as well. Attorneys always need assistance from skilled professionals with a working knowledge of the field, not to mention the endless demand for investigators in the corporate world. Corporate investigators monitor the tumultuous financial activity of the world's businesses and are experts at assessing internal and external financial losses and preventing industrial spying by competitors. Additionally, two newer fields -- cyber-security and homeland security -- are rapidly growing alternatives for those looking to apply their business degrees to criminal justice.

Senate Panel Approves Immigration Bill
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved sweeping election-year legislation Monday that clears the way for 11 million illegal aliens to seek U.S. citizenship, a victory for demonstrators who had spilled into the streets by the hundreds of thousands demanding better treatment for immigrants.and that not in CANADA


With a bipartisan coalition in control, the committee also voted down proposed criminal penalties on immigrants found to be in the country illegally. It approved a new temporary program allowing entry for 1.5 million workers seeking jobs in the agriculture industry.

"All Americans wanted fairness and they got it this evening," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass., who played a pivotal role in drafting the legislation.

There was no immediate reaction from the White House, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C. said he hoped President Bush would participate in efforts to fashion consensus legislation. "The only thing that's off the table is inaction," said Graham, who voted for the committee bill.

The 12-6 vote broke down along unusual lines, with a majority of the panel's Republicans opposed to the measure even though their party controls the Senate.

Sen. Jon Kyl (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., seeking re-election this fall in his border state, sought repeatedly to insert tougher provisions into the legislation, but was generally rebuffed. "This has been a very, very important and historic debate," he said.

Committee chairman Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania was one of four Republicans to support the bill, but he signaled strongly that some of the more controversial provisions could well be changed when the measure reaches the Senate floor. That is "very frequently" the case when efforts to reach a broad bipartisan compromise falter, he noted.

Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. had originally said debate on the issue would begin Tuesday, but an aide said those plans had changed.

In general, the bill is designed to strengthen enforcement of U.S. borders, regulate the flow into the country of so-called guest workers and determine the legal future of the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.

The bill would double the Border Patrol and authorizes a "virtual wall" of unmanned vehicles, cameras and censors to monitor the U.S.-Mexico border.

It also allows more visas for nurses and agriculture workers, and shelters humanitarian organizations from prosecution if they provide non-emergency assistance to illegal residents.

The most controversial provision would permit illegal aliens currently in the country to apply for citizenship without first having to return home.

"Well over 60 percent of Americans in all the polls I see think it's OK to have temporary workers, but you do not have to make them citizens," said Kyl, who is seeking re-election this fall.

"We have a fundamental difference between the way you look at them and the way I look at them," Kennedy observed later.

Older Americans need another six months to sign up for the Medicare prescription drug benefit, a Democratic congressman, who's also a pharmacist, said Saturday.

Rep. Marion Berry of Arkansas also said the government needs to think long and hard about meaningful Medicare law.

Berry said people eligible for the prescription benefit are confused by the various offerings, and some are even paying more for medicine now than they were before they joined the program.

"We need to extend the sign-up period by six months to give seniors more time to make sense of this benefit, and we need to eliminate the Bush administration's prescription drug tax,"May 15 is the deadline for enrolling in the new Medicare drug benefit plan, which was enacted by Congress in 2003. People who sign up later probably will have to pay higher premiums.

Americans who want to sign up complain they're confused by the myriad of private options offered in the prescription drug program. Many poor people ran into problems when they were switched over from their drug benefits within Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor, to the Medicare drug benefit.

And many pharmacists are struggling because they haven't been paid for drugs administered by the program,.

"I will never forget one conversation I had with a pharmacist from DeWitt, Arkansas, who had given away $60,000 in free medications in just one week because he knew his customers might die if they did not receive their refill that day. Medicare Part D is the FEMA of health care," .

Medicare could bargain for lower drug prices to save money for the government and for the elderly,.

"Every American deserves the best health care we can provide. We do not have to accept a failed benefit and we do not have to tolerate a culture of corruption or leaders who are afraid to admit their mistakes. Democrats have the answer, and under a Democratic Congress, we will give seniors the prescription drug benefit they were promised years ago. Together we can do better,".

Canadian hostages heading home

Mr Sooden and Mr Loney will continue campaigning,
Two Canadian peace activists held hostage for almost four months in Iraq are due to leave Baghdad as they begin their journey home.
Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, and James Loney, 41, were released along with Briton Norman Kember, 74.

They were freed from a house west of Baghdad by multinational forces.

Christian Peacemaker Teams , the group the men were campaigning for, said all three were still committed to working for peace in Iraq.


They are concerned for justice for all different ethnic groups here

Mr Sooden's 33rd birthday - said: "I don't know if it will be here, or if it will be in another country but they are still very concerned.

"They are concerned for justice for all different ethnic groups here."

All were unharmed during their captivity, she added.

Mr Sooden and Mr Loney were due to arrive in Dubai at 1730 local time on Saturday before making their way back to Canada, the CPT office in Baghdad said.

Mr Kember spent Friday night in Kuwait flew to Heathrow Airport in London on Saturday.

The rescue followed a weeks-long operation by British troops and US and Canadian special forces.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the Canadian special forces were only in Iraq temporarily to carry out the rescue.

US citizen Tom Fox, kidnapped at the same time on 26 November in Baghdad, was found shot dead earlier this month.