A modest beginning, the only achievement of commitment to continue.In a the regime’s deepest givings, the most senior government officials skipped to the talks. Syrian, UN and ambassador represented the regime. The other sides say it would hard to sit with killers, but pretended detail plan for humanitarian aid, a top priority for civilians and rival areas. The UN mediator said with an agreement of the talks, aid conveys could roll back Monday into the Syrian city of Homs, a small success. But the talks have yet touched on the war itself or the future role of president Bashar al-Assad. We’re moving not even a steps, but in half-steps, said Brahimi, Deborah Amos, NPR News, Geneva. 

 

Police has now identified 2 of the 3 fatalities from a shopping mall shooting in Columbia, Maryland. A third police believe was the gunman. They’re no details about the motive. Kenas Born of number station WYPR spoke to a witness who describe the scene. 

Lourian Shetorens was walking through a store at a mall in Columbia with her husband at the time of shooting around 11:15 AM. 

“First I saw a few people running, then I saw a number of people running come to the doors in panic and they seem to be alarmed.”

Shetorens says even though there were a lot of movements at the mall, people are keeping silent. 

“People were respectful, helpful and concerned to look very worried, looks very, very shocked emotionally.”

Officials are confident the shooter acted alone. For NPR News, I’m Kenas Born at Baltimore. 

 

Former GOP presidential candidate, Senator John McCain of Arizona has been censured by homestead Republicans. They say he has not been efficientlyconservative. Tim Sifer is a spokesman for the Arizona GOP. 

“The resolution is just a language designed to refresh the sentiment of the activists within the Arizona Republican party.”

Of particular concerns to the party, McCain supports for immigration reform and he did vote to fund the Affordable Care Act. 

 

President Obama used his weekly address to focus on sexual assault the president promoted a White House task force to address the problem on college campuses. But he says society must play a role and end this crime. 

 

Winter’s icy grip let officials in Maryland to cancel the so-called Polar Bear Plunge in the Chesapeake Bay. Thousands of bears have registered. The fun benefits special Olympic in Maryland.Meanwhile, a trial for Iditarod Sled Dog Race in Alaska was cut off due to warm weather. 

 

This is NPR. 

 

International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde is warning the Federal Reserve takes bring its stimulus programs could lead to global economic weaking. At the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Lagarde adviced policymakers to be alert for potential repercussions.

 

The UN Refugee Agency says there is a new flood of Iraqis leaving central Iraq’s Anbarprovince, home to the contested cities of Fallujah and Ramadi. Lakshmi Singh reports last week surge brings the total number of homeless Iraqis to 114,000. 

The UN Refugee Agency calls it’s the largest displacement in Iraq has witnessed since the sectarian violence that began in 2006 and ended in 2008. Spokesman Adrian Edwards says this is on top of the 13 million people already displaced in Iraq. 

“According to the repot we’re getting from people in Anbar, including our own staff, many civilians were unable to leave conflict-affected areas where food and fuel were now in short supply.”

Edwards says most of the people who recently fled Fallujah are living with relatives or staying in schools, mosques and hospitals. He says research is running low and whole families are having difficulties caring for the displaced. For NPR News, I’m Lakshmi Singh in Geneva. 

 

The company at the center of a chemical spill in the water contamination in West Virginia ahs been ordered to dismantle all of its ground stored tanks in Charleston. West Virginia governor Earl Ray Tomblin wants freeze industry to take down pumping and machinery. About 300,000 people were without running water for days as a result of that spill.