Min Lwin, a director-general in the Myanmar Foreign Ministry told reporters at the Manila airport, the Myanmar's military-ruled government has a plan to release the  pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Ky soon . Min Lwin relates to reporters after he attend a two-day meeting of fellow diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United States before boarding a flight to Singapore en route to Yangon.

Aung Suu Kyi. the Nobel Peace Prize laureate  has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years, and not been able to speak publicly since she was last taken into detention in May 2003.

Min Lwin relayed to reporters that the junta intends to free Suu Kyi soon. But officials have given no time frame and have made no real moves to release her despite hinting they would.

Although there is no indication that the government would allow Suu Kyi to run in the election. Since Myanmar's constitution provide provisions that bar Suu Kyi from holding office and ensure the military a controlling stake in government.

The National League for Democracy, Suu Kyi political party has not yet decided  if they would take part in the polls.(Facts Source: Associated Press)

Malik Nadal Hasan, a soldier who opened fire at the U.S Fort. Hood Army base in Texas.He killed 12 people and wounding 31 in a shooting spree with the help of two army officers.

Major Malik Nadal Hasan, 39, a soldier who has pending deployment to Iraq, and he was overheard speaking negatively about America's role in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The authorities killed the gunman, and apprehended two other soldiers suspected in what appears to be the worst mass shooting at a U.S. military base.

The shooting began around 1:30 p.m., Lt. Gen. Bob Cone said at a news conference. He said all the casualties took place at the base's Soldier Readiness Center, where soldiers who are about to be deployed or who are returning undergo medical screening.

Malik Nadal Hassan is a psychiatrist who worked at Walter Reed for six years (and got a poor performance evaluation there). Hasan was transferred to Ft. Hood and worked at the psych ward there. He complained about deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

U.S President, Barack Obama vows to help the tribal groups in America in furtherance of pursuing the American dream. The president  told the leaders of 564 federally recognised tribes at the Tribal Nations Conference in Washington that few US groups "have been more marginalised and ignored by Washington for as long as native Americans". With this,he is committed to giving their communities a equal opportunity to pursue the "American dream". 

In his speech on Thursday: "I know that you may be sceptical that this time will be any different, you have every right to be.I want you to know now that I am absolutely committed to moving forward with you in forging a new and better future together.It's a commitment to getting this relationship right so that you can be full partners in the American economy and so your children and grandchildren can have an equal shot at pursuing the American dream."

The Native Social Condition

The American tribal groups suffered from high levels of unemployment and poverty. Obama also acknowledged that some native American reservations have unemployment rates of about 80 per cent and that about one quarter of people living on reservations are mired in poverty.

Obama relayed: I know you've heard this song from Washington before, I get it. I am on your side. I understand what it means to be an outsider. I was born to a teenage mother. My father left when I was two years old. I know what it means to feel ignored and forgotten and what it means to struggle. So you will not be forgotten as long as I am in this White House."

The court awarding Patch family in the amount of $850,000 for the death of their son Brandon  Patch  on 2003 in a baseball game. Brandon Patch, 18 years old, was a pitcher, who died when a baseball hit by an aluminum bat struck him in the head and died within hours after suffering the head injury. Patch’s family sued the bat maker.

The maker of baseball bat of Louisville Slugger failed to warn the dangers the product can pose,  with this, the Lewis and Clark County District Court jury awarded a total of $850,000 in damages against Louisville, Ky., compensation were ordered  Hillerich & Bradsby for failure to place warnings on the product.

Brandon mother, Debbie Patch was surprised by the verdict since she never expected it. The family rejoiced and cried as the verdict was read. Patch said: "We never expected it," she said. "We just hoped we could get the truth out for more people to see." She hopes the decision will make more people aware of the dangers associated with aluminum bats and that more youth leagues will switch to using wooden bats.  "We just want to save someone else's life," Patch added.

The family of Brandon Patch argued that aluminum baseball bats are dangerous because they cause the baseball to travel at a greater speed. They contended that their 18-year-old son did not have enough time to react to the ball being struck before it hit him in the head while he was pitching in an American Legion baseball game in Helena in 2003.

Curt Drake, one of the family's attorneys, said the jury arrived at the total by awarding $792,000 to Brandon Patch for his lost earnings and pain and suffering, an amount that goes to his estate. The family was awarded $58,000 for their pain and suffering and damages. The attorney added, the family's victory will not likely change the way aluminum bats are used, but that it could help give momentum to efforts calling for a switch to wood bats in youth baseball.

On the contrary, the spokesman, Rick Redman relayed that for the legendary bat-maker said  the company did nothing wrong and the verdict "appears to be an indictment of the entire sport of baseball." "We made a bat in accordance with the rules," . "That bat was approved for play by baseball's organizing and governing organizations." 

However, the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association's Don't Take My Bat Away Program, a sporting goods trade group, said that while it is true that the death of Brandon patch is tragic, the exact same thing could have happened with a wooden bat.

The jury also decided the product was not defective as cited in the verdict. Drake said that decision was not significant, since the jury found it posed a threat without an adequate warning label. (Facts Source: Associated Press)