■ Afghan President Hamid Karzai 'plans talks with Taliban'
The Afghan government was willing to talk about peace with Taliban militants. The plan, meeting for both parties would take place in Qatar before the Taliban formed a central office.
Afghan government representatives said the meeting was to neutralize the atmosphere with the Taliban. This hardliners has never admitted the government of President Hamid Karzai.
According to the government, the Taliban agreed to negotiate. But in other places, Taliban confirmed that they would not comment on the plan offered by President Karzai.
The Taliban insisted they would only talk about peace with the United States and other allies. Hearing that, Karzai was angry. He accused the Qatar and the United States have stepped over him to negotiate with the Taliban.
If negotiations with the Taliban was accomplished, Afghanistan would offer peace to the group. Afghanistan asked Taliban to recognize Karzai's Government. As a balance, Afghanistan would free the Taliban prisoners of war.
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■ Pakistan is helping Afghan Taliban, says Nato report
The Pakistan government has denied allegations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that it has been secretly protecting the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. The allegations emerged after the leaking of a NATO document stating that Pakistan's secret agents has been intentionally helping, training, and arming the Taliban.
Leaking of the document was a blow to Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, who yesterday (1 February) was in Kabul, Afghanistan, for the first time since she took office last year in order to break freeze diplomatic between the two countries.
"We did not have a hidden agenda in Afghanistan," said Khar told reporters after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai yesterday (02/01). "Claims like that (about linkages with Taliban Pakistan) has been made repeatedly. Pakistan stands behind the policies made by the Afghan government in order to create peace," she added.
NATO documents concerning the Pakistan's involvement was leaked into the hands of The Times and the BBC. It was a combination of information from Taliban rebels which successfully captured and reported to the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan last month.
The document titled State of the Taliban's claimed that Islamabad through the intelligence services, ISI was involved with the rebellion. The Taliban believes they will achieve the victory when the Western troops leave Afghanistan in 2014.
At the same time yesterday, The Taliban denied that negotiations would soon occur with the Karzai government in Saudi Arabia. "It is not true if there is a report stating that the delegation of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban) will meet with representatives of the Karzai government in Saudi Arabia in the near future," the Taliban statement on its official site.
Afghan government officials said the meeting in Saudi Arabia was the continuation of negotiations already underway in Qatar between the Taliban and the U.S.. But, it was unclear whether the Taliban who refused to speak with the Afghan government or the Saudis were reluctant to mediate the negotiations before the Taliban decided to abandon the Al Qaeda.
Previously, The Taliban has started the initial negotiations with the U.S. in Qatar to formulate a way of peace and end the war. However, yesterday the Taliban claimed that they had not entered into negotiations with the U.S. and its allies. "Before any negotiations, there should be the steps to build trust (between the two parties). And it has not been done," explained a spokesman for the Taliban. One of the demands of the Taliban to the U.S. was to free five of their leaders from prison at Guantanamo Bay.
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■ Pakistan foreign minister set for Kabul talks
■ And as the headlines enthusiast, this is too dear if it is only read by the light wind. Pakistan court will charge PM Gilani with contempt :: Supreme Court of Pakistan said it had decided to indict Prime Minister Raza Gilani Youssuf have committed harassment law because of his failure to reopen corruption cases facing the president.
The court ordered the prime minister to attend at the end of this month to hear the charges against him. If he was proven guilty, Gilani could be sentenced to six months in prison, and would be prohibited from holding the public office.
Gilani said President Asif Ali Zardari has immunity as head of state.
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A R T
■ Germany returns Afghan sculpture
■ As of 8pm EST, actions are currently happening or planned in response to extreme police violence used against Occupy Oakland yesterday in New York City, Boston, Toronto, Vancouver, Melbourne, Oslo, Philadelphia, DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Portland, Tampa, Indianapolis, New Haven, Orlando, Jackson, Des Moines, Hollywood, Baltimore, Portland ME, Tulsa, Denver, St. Louis, Eugene, Nashville, and Detroit. We have also received word that the Bank of Ideas in London is being raided!
■ Obama admits Pakistan drone attacks
US president says use of drones is "kept on very tight leash" in rare acknowledgement of controversial missile strikes.
■ The U.S. President Barack Obama on January 30, 2012 (the U.S.time)has been interviewed by Google+ and broadcast live on Youtube. Google said anyone could send questions via video or in writing through the White House account on Youtube on the night of January 28, 2012. And each person could choose the most favorite question. The questions makers would be able to participate directly in the interview event.
■ Why are so many Americans in prison?
■ Iran vows to stop "some" oil sales as inspectors visit
■ Iran "very optimistic" on nuclear experts' visit
■ UN inspectors visit Iran as nuclear tensions rise
■ US toothless against Iran rock: Pentagon seeks new superbomb
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmandinejad also said his party was ready to discuss nuclear program with a group of world powers. Iran was ready to negotiate with developing countries that have nuclear ambitions such as Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the U.S.
The phrase "blood be repaid with blood" seemed appropriate to describe the Iran's relations with the EU. After the EU agreed the new sanctions including oil embargo of Iran, the Iranian government did not stay silent. Tehran threatened to halt its oil supply to European countries. It was said by the Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Ghasemi, Sunday (01/29). "We'll be right to cut off oil exports to several countries," said Ghasemi, as quoted by Iranian news agency IRNA.
Ghasemi did not explain in straightforward which countries were referred to by him. But he asserted that the Iran's oil which was exported to Europe was not more than 20% of their total oil exports. "Therefore, Iran is not worried about the impact even if the EU stops to import the Iran oil. Iran oil has its own market, even if we cut our exports to Europe," Ghasemi said.
Iran's oil exports reach 2.5 million barrels per day, approximately 3% of world crude oil supply. About 500 thousand bpd is exported to the European region. However, most of the Iranian oil is exported to China, India, Japan, and South Korea.
On the other hand, as an ally of the United States, South Korea -- likes or dislikes -- will follow Washington's political moves against Iran. South Korea also expresses its readiness to stop oil imports from Iran.
To take a political stance, the South Korea is not so easy to deal with the fact, because so far its oil needs depends on Iranian oil. Therefore, South Korea is trying desperately to find alternative sources of oil in the Middle East countries.
Yesterday, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said he would make a visit to the oil-producing countries in the Middle East, would begin next month. Myung-bak will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates (UAE) for four days from February 7, 2012. "The visit is to secure a stable source of energy," the official statement from the South Korean Presidential Office.
Starting next month, South Korea will join with its allies --the United States-- to impose sanctions against Iran. The sanction is made to suppress Iran's nuclear program.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner made a visit to several U.S. allies in Asia, including South Korea. During the visit, he invited the countries in Asia to do the oil embargo against Iran.
On the other hand, India as the fourth-largest crude oil importer in the world declared it would continue to import Iranian oil. "It's impossible for India to decide to reduce oil imports from Iran drastically," said India Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee when he was in Chicago, USA, last Sunday. "Because, from all countries that can help the economic development of India, Iran is the most important of all," said Mukherjee.
*****
■ Iran says nuclear talks with IAEA "constructive"
■ 'Engineering War on Iran: All Options on the Table?'
■ Russia 'cannot support' UN Syria draft resolution
■ Ballistic Peace: Diplomacy of Defence
Russia will develop a new type of intercontinental ballistic missiles which designed specifically to penetrate the U.S. system of the missile shield plan. The new missile will use liquid fuel so that it has better maneuverability. The new ICBM will replace the old mainstay of the Russian ICBM during this time, the Voyevoda R-36M2, which is codenamed as the "Satan missile" by NATO. R-36M2 can carry up to 10 nuclear warheads with a range of maximum 11 000 kilometers.
Relations between Russia and the United States these days is less cordial since the U.S. and NATO insist on building a missile shield system in Europe. Russia feels threatened by the defense system, while U.S. and NATO insist the system is not aimed at Russia, but to counter the ballistic missile attacks from the "rogue states" such Iran.
According to Lt. Gen. Sergei Karakayev -- Russia's Strategic Missile Unit Commander (Strategic Missile Forces/SMF) -- Iran does not have the technology or
potential of the industry to make ballistic missiles. Despite some media reports that Iran has tested an ICBM, SMF doubts the Iran's missiles have an effective range to Europe.
He said the old Russian missiles which still using solid fuels may be difficult to break through the latest U.S. missile shield system. Solid-fuel rocket has a drawback: once the fuel is turned on, then the entire backup fuel will be burned without stopping. But with the liquid fuel, the fuel supply can be regulated using a system of pipes and valves, so that the rocket thrust force can be changed. This means the rocket will have a better maneuverability.
These advantages are coupled with Russia's plans to implement the control system of ballistic missile fourth generation (4G) starting next year. The new control system will be deployed around the command post, fixed launch sites, until car launcher facility.
This new generation control system is designed specifically to ensure a more advanced control for nuclear missiles of new generation belongs to Russia.
*****
■ Etta James: Stars attend funeral of Blues legend
Etta James, the legendary blues singer, known for her hit at Last died on Friday morning in Riverside, California. She died at age 73. Her manager, Lupe De Leon, said the cause of death was complications of leukemia. Etta, who died at Riverside Community Hospital, had been undergoing treatment for several diseases, including leukemia and dementia.
Etta recorded her name in the 1950s with single like Good Rockin'Daddy. She was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame. She also enjoyed singing pop standards, as she did in 1961 with At Last, which was written in 1941 and originally recorded by the Glenn Miller orchestra.
And among her four Grammy Awards-owned (including lifetime-achievement award in 2003) one of them to the best jazz singer, which she won in 1995 for the album Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday.
Regardless of how she was classified, she was admired. Expressing the general sentiment, Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote in 1990 that she was "one of the great singers in American popular music".
Etta herself underwent the ups and downs in her career. Partly due to changes in audience tastes, but mostly because of drugs. She had a habit of using heroin in 1960. After overcoming the habit in the 1970s, she began to use the cocaine. She frankly described her struggle against addiction and her various trips to a rehabilitation center in her autobiography --Rage to Survive-- written with David Ritz (1995).
Etta James was born with the name Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles on January 25, 1938. Her mother, Dorothy Hawkins, aged 14 at the time; her father was long gone, and Etta never knew for sure who was her father, although she remembered her mother told her that her father was Rudolf Wanderone, better known as Minnesota Fats. She was raised by foster parents and moved to San Francisco with her mother when she was 12 years old.
She began to sing at St. Paul Baptist Church in Los Angeles at the age of 5 years and switched to secular music as a teenager, by forming a vocal group with two friends. She was 15 years when she made the first recording, Roll With Me Henry, which contained her own lyrics for the hit of Hank Ballard and the Midnighter at that time, "Work With Me Annie". Because it was complained too suggestive, the title was changed to The Wallflower, while the song was not changed.
The Wallflower was on rank 2 in the list of rhythm and blues in 1954. As often happens on the recording of black artists, its lightweight version was recorded by white singers, and found a wider audience. Georgia Gibbs version, with the title and the lyrics changed to "Dance With Me, Henry", became a hit number 1 in 1955.
After decades of touring, recording for various labels floated in and out of the public eye, Etta made the headlines in 2009 after Beyoncé Giselle Knowles recorded her version of At Last. Beyonce also sang the song at the inauguration of President Obama in Washington.
Etta left her husband for 42 years, Artis Mills, two sons, Donto and Sametto James, and four grandchildren.
Although her life was colored by the end of trouble - her husband and her children were fighting over her assets - Etta said she wanted her music to cope with grief, not to reflect the sadness. "Many people think the blues is a depression," she said told The Los Angeles Times in 1992. "But it's not the blues that I sing. When I sing the blues, I'm singing the life. People who can not listen to the blues, they are hypocrites."
*****
■ Choral work seeks record-breaking bass singer
■ Gun Chaikittiwatana :Thailand's teen piano prodigy
■ Demi Moore 'smoked something' before hospital dash
■ Demi Moore Hospitalized: Can Divorce Make You Sick?
Through his Twitter account, Ashton Kutcher had never discussed Demi Mooore. Kutcher was currently busy partying in Brazil. But a source assured that Kutcher was not like that. "Ashton really cares about Demi Moore," the source said.
Kutcher was in Brazil to work on an ad campaign when Moore rushed to the hospital. "He still cares about Demi and wants the best for her. Their marriage is over and both are now living life of each."
Kutcher (33 years) and Moore (49 years) were officially divorced in November 2011, after six years of marriage bound. Demi Moore's friends were worried the signs of increasing stress on her and her health was also declining.
Moore had his critical period when Kutcher was in South America for the Brazilian fashion catalog shoot, brand Colcci. Kutcher also attended a fashion show in Sao Paulo Fashion Week and went out with a Brazilian celebrity.
Kutcher was now active on Twitter, but never mentioned Moore. In contrast, at the beginning of last week, when the paramedics were answering an emergency call from Moore's house after she suffered a seizure due to misuse of drugs, Kutcher even showed off his photos that was walking on the streets of Sao Paulo.
The source also said that Kutcher was on his way back to Los Angeles.
*****
■ Double Dates Make Couples Happy
One way to increase the longevity of a relationship is to spend some time doing a double date. Thus the conclusion of two researchers University of Maryland, USA, Geoffrey Grief and Kathleen Holtz Deal. The conclusion was obtained from interviews to 123 pairs. Both see a couple who agreed to divide the time with other couples have a happy marriage or relationship. Apparently, the average of the happy couples have at least five times to do a double date with a partner who becomes their friend (Live Science).
■ When I missed my friends from the virtual world
FB code was deemed not fit for social networks that could bring people to find their old love, get them fired or even divorced. Social networking sites such as Facebook was accused of causing a person to be difficult to forget the past, especially the relationship with a former lover. It was revealed from the results of Your Tango poll on 22 December 2010-5 January 2011 which involved 1000 respondents. Survey showed 50% of women and 40% of men often gawked at the Facebook page of their former lovers. As many as 60% of respondents who were married claiming that their former lovers still exist in their minds. In addition, 36% expressed the closeness with former lovers often affected their marriage life. And 71% admitted have been obsessed with thinking about their former lovers. "Staying connected to one of the social networking sites of your ex lovers is tantamount to trouble you to say Goodbye to your past," said Charly Emery, the author of Thank Goodness You Dumped His Ass.
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The U.S. remains ambitious to expand its military power in Southeast Asia even without a new military base. This is the impact of the role of this region which increasingly important in the economy and concerns over China.
Head of the U.S. military command in the Pacific, Admiral Robert Willard at a news conference in Washington, the U.S. yesterday (Saturday, January 27, 2012) said that the commando led by him at this time has been refracted into the Northeast Asian region. But Willard asserted his country would not seek a new military base in South East Asia.
The United States had its military bases in the Philippines. However, the base was closed in 1991. In addition, U.S. Pacific Command forces have 50 thousand troops stationed in Japan and 28 thousand in South Korea.
Willard said the U.S. Marines placement opportunities in Northern Australia as well as ships at the dock in Singapore has been a benefit for the U.S. military. It allows the U.S. to mobilize forces through Southeast Asia. In addition, he continued, the U.S. does not need to pay to maintain its base there.
Behind the defense budgetcuts made by the U.S. government, that ambition has been to reflect the interests and concerns over China's military influence in the region. Thursday (January 26, 2012) this week, the U.S. defense secretary Leon Panetta announced the streamlining of 100 thousand U.S. soldiers.
In Washington on Friday (January 27, 2012), the Philippine defense and diplomatic envoys had completed a strategic meeting with the U.S. government. From that meeting, they agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of defense. "We welcome the discussions with the Philippines, but no aspiration to build military bases in Southeast Asia," said Willard.
In his statement, Philippine foreign secretary Albert De Rosario said his country is considering to conduct joint military exercises with the U.S. on a regular basis. In addition, continued Del Rosario, his party wanted the transfer of knowledge and defense technologies from the U.S. to maintain its territorial. It is associated with an increase in the strength and behavior of China's military assertiveness in the South China Sea.
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Do you like to eat fish? In Portuguese, a lot of local food from the fish processing. Type in the consumption of fish is very diverse, ranging from marine fish to freshwater fish. There are the cod, swordfish, salmon, tuna, eel, sardines, trout, and so forth. The fish are treated with a baked, roasted, fried, and boiled.
Portugal also has a variety of seafood -- other than fish -- a lot. Starting from crab, shrimp, clams, squid, lobster, and others.
Bacalhau - it is salted and dried cod. Hundreds of recipes can be used to process Bacalhau. Bacalhau can also be distinguished from the place of origin. Therefore, there is very much the result of processing the Bacalhau.
Caldeirada - This is the typical food of Portugal, a mixture of various types of fish, shrimp, clam up. Seafood (and freshwater fish) are cooked with potatoes, tomatoes, and onions.
Peixe Espada - This food is one of the results of swordfish dishes.
Mexilhoes - Foods that are processed from shellfish
■ Portuguese Man-of-War = Physalia physalis = Man-of-War = Bluebottle
■ What is this? Hackers of the world unite. The word 'hacker' has been debased, but the 26C3 conference was a celebration of talented tinkerers everywhere. About this article : Hackers of the world unite | Mark Fonseca Rendeiro. This article was published on guardian.co.uk on Wednesday 13 January 2010. It was last modified on Wednesday 13 January 2010.
Mark Fonseca Rendeiro
■ Portuguese man
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Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with Jean Ping, chairperson of the African Union Commission, in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Jan 28, 2012.
■ African Union holds first post-Gaddafi summit - Benin's president takes the helm of the 54-nation bloc as AU leaders meet for two-day summit to resolve multiple crises.
The African Union inaugurated the use of new building into its headquarters, a gift from the Chinese government established in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
A building with a value of 200 million U.S. dollars now dominated the city skyline of Addis Ababa and it was the tallest building in the capital, which was seen as China's efforts to strengthen its influence in Africa.
At its inauguration last week, an official delegation of the Chinese government submitted a giant golden key that symbolized the building height of 100 meters to the leaders of African countries. The tower building is also equipped with a large convention center that will be the location of a meeting of African heads of state for the years to come and will commence its utilization in a formal meeting on Sunday (1/29/2012).
During the handover, the most China's senior political advisor, Jia Qinglin was sent to represent his government to Addis Ababa. "The complex of this tall building represents our high sense of friendship to the Africa citizens and a witness of our determination to always support the African development," he said as quoted by AFP news agency.
AU chairman, the president of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema said the construction of this building complex was a "reflection of a new Africa".
Most of the materials used for construction of the building was imported from China and even the furniture was also paid by Beijing, AFP news agency reported. The construction project had been initiated in January 2009 and involving 1,200 workers from China and Ethiopia.
According to project coordinator, Fantalum Michael, the AU headquarter was showing the relationship between China and Africa were more closely. "This is a proof that the relations between the two countries will be more profound in the future," he said as written by AFP.
Trade between the two sides has increased rapidly over the past 10 years to 120 billion U.S. dollars in 2011. China has a passion for Africa's natural wealth and invested the large capital in the infrastructure sector in the black continent. "The roads are built by Chinese companies very quickly," said the BBC's Will Ross in Addis Ababa. "When the other countries asked for a variety of conditions before pouring the aid, China's relations with Africa is really based on the business," Ross said. As a result, the human rights activists criticized China because China was considered to undermine the efforts of Western countries, linked the assistance with efforts to improve the government performance in Africa.
Nevertheless, the African heads of state welcomed the helping hand of China, while residents of Ethiopia applauded the emergence of employment because of the many projects funded by China. China's car production is now also made in factories in Ethiopia, where China is also building a railway line in Addis Ababa.
Africa can guarantee the economic progress of China which in desperate need of fuel and natural resources. There is copper in Zambia, there is iron ore in Gabon and there oil refinery in Angola.
In other African countries that do not have the abundant natural resources, Chinese companies take advantage of trade and investment opportunities. The needs of Africa in the manufacture of a new highway or better, school buildings, computer networks, telecommunication systems and power plants has opened a window of opportunity for Chinese companies.
At the same time, the dynamic relationship between China and Africa make the West uneasy, given that European colonialism which once dominated the African as well as complaints about the low value tenders that can not be rivaled by Western companies.
China also does not link the assistance with anything else, which is very different from Western donor countries that require the human rights conditions for the disbursement of aid and trade.
The critics say China's approach makes the undemocratic African governments is more willing to ignore the Western calls for reform because Beijing will take over.
Sudan, with large oil reserves, is the country that receives the most of Chinese investment and sells about 2/3 of its oil to Beijing. And China has been criticized because it deals with the government which is considered played a role in letting the crisis in Darfur, Southern Sudan.
However the reports of anti-Chinese protests in Zambia and the killing of nine Chinese oil company workers in Ogade region, Ethiopia, made Beijing realize the price which had to be paid in the adventure in Africa.
China insisted that they were not interested in dominating Africa. This Asian Giant said it wanted to pursue a harmonious world, as the evolution of efforts to achieve peaceful co-existence during the Cold War. Besides, China would like to invite African countries into the path of development.
Chinese companies do not rely on aid projects from top to bottom, but make a profit through the development of infrastructure, which is ultimately more beneficial in increasing trade with China.
"China always respects and supports the African countries," said the China's economic attache in Ethiopia, Yan Xiao Gang, told the BBC. "We never impose our wishes to Africa and also not to intervene in the domestic affairs of African countries."
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian officials said they still gave priority to country's development, but acknowledged the major contracts - usually - fell to Chinese firms because of their ability to reduce the costs. Many Chinese companies used the local labor with low wages. However there was evidence that the workers were also learning new skills because of the availability of these projects with funds from China. With low wages, China also began to build factories in Africa.
Analysts said Beijing was ready to be in the long term in Africa. "In order for China to become a major force, the country needs to sustain double-digit growth enjoyed for several years. To achieve that, China needs energy and markets," said Professor M Venkataraman of the University of Addis Ababa told BBC.
And it has been proven, the market received a growing trade in Africa; in 2004 has reached U.S.$ 40 billion or 10 times in less than 10 years.
Until now, most African countries have trade deficits with China, although there's tax agreements which gives the convenience to Africa.
Ethiopia exports to China, for example, reached U.S. $ 132 million in 2006 or much smaller than China's imports of goods reached U.S. $ 432 million. "It's not clear what the long-term impact of China's projects," Venkataraman said. "But the fact is clear, both sides will be equally fortunate. China will remain on this continent for a long period of time."
Relations between China and Africa in the spotlight in November 2006, when 48 heads of government attended the meeting in Beijing. China's capital was decorated with the exoticism of Africa during the meeting and after the delivery of speeches, some agreements were reached.
Tsegab Kebebew from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia attended the meeting and a year later he was still excited by the China-Africa relations. "This is a strategic partnership. There is no colonial history between Africa and China so they are well received here," he told the BBC. "There is no psychological bias against China here."
Actually, China has a history of involvement in Africa with the aid projects throughout the 1960s. Among them was a highway linking Zambia and Tanzania, which will be handled by Chinese companies. While in modern times, the Chinese aid, among others - is a conference building conference at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, as a symbol of China's commitment to African development.
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■ Slavery thrives in Chinese prisons : Prisoners forced to produce goods for major companies receive virtually no pay and endure tough conditions.
■ Cold weather kills dozens in eastern Europe
■ Cold Weather Kills In Europe
■
Hundreds dead in Ukraine, Russia and Eastern Europe
The wave of frost that has rolled over Eastern Europe has carried away hundreds of lives, paralyzed road traffic, and pushed the cost of heating homes and offices sky-high.
BELGRADE - extreme cold weather with heavy snow hit parts of Central and Eastern Europe. As a result 36 people were reportedly killed for not being able to withstand the severe conditions.
Cold conditions that swept Europe in the region has resulted in the electricity supply to some of the city was disrupted. Traffic flow was not functioning properly.
The local government immediately responded to the weather quickly. They opened shelters and distributed to the citizens of hot tea. Currently, the rescue team was focusing on dealing with the elderly who would be difficult to adapt to severe weather.
Eastern Europe became an example of how severe the weather conditions. Residents even surprised when temperatures in some areas has dropped to minus 20 oCelsius.
"As we have expected, we can not avoid cold weather. I'm frozen. It is very difficult to get comfortable with this situation,"said resident in Belgrade, Serbia Jelena Savic, as quoted by the Associated Press on Tuesday (01/31/2012).
The authorities asked residents to remain indoors and be aware of the condition. Police were looking for homeless people to ensure they are not killed in cold weather. In some places, artificial heating will be built at the bus station. But still, approximately 18 homeless people in Ukraine died because of this weather. Approximately 500 residents was treated for blood clotting, during the last three days.
Temperatures in some parts of Ukraine was reportedly down to minus 16 ocelsius during the day and reached minus 23 o Celsius at night. Authorities set up about 1,500 shelters with heating and food.
In Bulgaria, A 57-year-old man was reportedly died at his home due to cold weather.
Until now the countries of Europe issued a cold weather hazard warnings. Local governments also constructed the temporary shelters and distributing the warm drinks to the residents.
*****
Once again I'm thinking. Actually, the world has another way to get rid of humans. Eventually I used to smell it. Bitter sweet. As an old rose in a gentle wind exposure.
*****
■ Francois Hollande, French Presidential Candidate, Gets Flour Dusting From Protester
"My name is Claire Seguin. My age 45 years and I have been" killed "by the socialists in Lille. I have a blog that I call Micro Un Sous L'oreiller. I've reached the end of patience because the law is no longer applied," said Seguin.
In her blog, Seguin said she was harassed by her boss while working as a teacher. She also has claimed her life has been threatened and her privacy was also violated. She said she had often complained to many law enforcement agencies, but no action to follow up her complaint.
After pelted with flour, Hollande tried to remain calm. As soon as he got off the podium, this politician from the Socialist Party was answering the questions from reporters with ease.
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The advantage of the new world now, leaders of industry have the vision and noble mission, but cruel to me. They promise a world where every person to be rich, smart and young. However, even if I live to feel it, for me it is too late.
John Pilger is one of my favorite characters, but he is not a favorite for my partner. Nevertheless, my partner is still becoming my favorite person. What is questionable is why I accept my partner as my favorite person, while he does not like my favorite character. (Well, find out the answer, Mrs. Blue Beard!...
)
■ New Air Force One tapes give insight on Kennedy death
■ Long lost recording from Air Force one on day JFK shot
■ Camila Vallejo has led a campaign for better access to education that began in April 2011. The student movement in Chile opposes neoliberalism and shook the country's elitist democracy. She was voted person of the year in a poll of guardian.co.uk readers
■ Just Don’t Call Her Che By WILLIAM MOSS WILSON - Published: January 28, 2012 Santiago, Chile
■ Chile's Student Protesters
■ Libyans sue ex-MI6 chief for 'rendition role'- Dissidents to sue former head of UK counterterrorism over his alleged role in their rendition to Libya.
■ In Libya, a Fundamentalist War Against Moderate Islam Takes Shape - By Steven Sotloff / Tripoli
■ Ehhehehee .....Go, green? Go!
■ Blind Bangladesh child joins dots to success ; Overcoming deep prejudices, one ten-year-old pupil has used braille to beat the odds and top his class.
■ In a crowded Nigerian slaughterhouse blood, fire and smoke are normal working conditions.
Episodes of sectarian violence in Nigeria has been happening for decades. Country which has a population of about 150 million is split evenly between Muslims who generally inhabit the northern and Christian in the south. They are divided into 250 tribes.
Among these tribes, the Hausa-Fulani (Muslims) as well as the Yoruba and Igbo (Christian) are the largest tribe. In general, they live together in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city as well as a melting pot of the adherents of both religions.
Many Nigerians agreed that the main cause of their conflict was not a matter of religion or ethnicity, but rather on competition in the struggle for land, resources, and power.
Poverty, unemployment, and corrupt politics has encouraged radical groups of Islam and Christian camps to carry out the slaughter.
Although rich in oil with billions of dollars of income each year, most of the people of Nigeria only have income of no less than U.S. $ 1 per day. The conflict is also fueled by the uneven distribution of wealth and the gap.
In the Niger Delta, for example, militant groups that demanded the greater sharing blew up the oil pipelines and foreign oil workers.
Andrew Kakabadse, professor of international management development at Cranfield School of Management, UK, said the oil companies were often pitting the tribes to make a profit.
Kakabadse mentioned that the oil interests, conflict of generations, and poverty as lethal combination and trigger the sectarian tensions in Nigeria. "In Nigeria, Muslim-Christian problem is the tip of the iceberg," he said. "What visible beneath is much more complex and can not be explained only from the religious strife. You already have a recipe for conflict, and only had to be a Christian-Muslim."
In general, the sectarian conflict erupted in Nigeria since 1967. At that time, three states of eastern Igbo seceded from Nigeria and established the Republic of Biafra. It triggered a civil war for three years. The secession attempt was foiled. Nigeria integrated the Igbo region in 1970.
Muslim-Christian sectarian violence was successfully suppressed during the military rule until 1999 when Nigeria began led by the civilian government. On the one hand, democracy gives freedom of religious expression, but on the other hand, democracy also improve the political and economic friction between the tribes.
Riots in 2001 killed more than 1,000 people. Riots broke out again in 2004 and 2008 that killed thousands of people. In 2009 riots occurred again. But the victim was smaller, about a dozen people.
Relentless bloodshed worsened by Boko Haram sect attacks that threaten schism in the most populous country in Africa.
Christian citizens in 19 states in northern Nigeria which incorporated in the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have called for the separation of this country if the government is not able to cope with Boko Haram.
CAN Secretary General Elder Saidu Dogo said that the solution of his country should be made, considering the acts of destruction and murder committed by the members of Boko Haram. "If we want to stay together, come together. If not, everyone should take their own way. We can not continue like this, with the murders continue to occur. Most people do not want Nigeria as one country. Marginalization must be stopped," he said.
Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) also doubted the viability of Nigeria as a united country if the strife and murder can not be overcome.
Under these conditions, many political observers expect one of West Africa's economic power will be split into two countries in 2015. President Goodluck Jonathan, if he is unable to cope with the situation, it is expected he will be the last president of Nigeria.
However, Ahmed Gulak, special adviser to President Jonathan to political issues, dismissed the threat of disintegration. "Nigeria is not a failed state and not being at war," Gulak said. "We're just going through a phase of our life as a national and global challenges."
Jonathan government did not remain silent to avoid issues such divisions. They are now studying the conditions that lead to these predictions to ensure that the split will not happen. The government also has increased the budget in 2012 to strengthen the military and other security agencies. They have hired additional personnel to adjust to the challenges this year.
"Budget 2012 is based on information security that this country must strengthen the security agencies and personnel in order to address the increasing security challenges of this country," Gulak said.
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Unexpectedly he bought me a pair of rings for both of us. A pair of his eyes shone like two suns in a galaxy of my heart. I love him, but he drives me crazy with his initiative.
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(CZ-lacalifusa020312)
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